Written by Sister Maren Madsen. Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, Spanish Speaking
Hola Familia y Amigos! Espero que todos tuvieran un buen Dìa de Gracias! Yo si!
To answer your questions... Referring to page 17 of the missionary white handbook "spend as much time as possible proselyting.. Holidays are excellent opportunities for finding and teaching because many families are together and are at home" yeah... This is what it says but if also forgets to mention that while spending time with the family (at least this has been my experience with holidays) missionaries are less welcome because it's family time. But maybe we will just have to give it a better try at Christmas. But no we mainly spent Thanksgiving with members. I'm really bummed cause we didn't get any pictures:( We first started off the day with some soccer! It felt so good to play again! We had lots of fun and my team won! Woohoo.... I mean.... It wasn't too competitive;) That was us and the elders and the Owens (pretty cool family in the Branch) Hermana Tester even played with her broken foot! (granted she couldn't do lots of kicking:)
Afterward we played some basketball with Angel who is an investigator. She's pretty funny, but she definitely needs a good example in her life. Later we had just enough time to shower and drive over to Warren to enjoy a thanksgiving feast with The Bryant's and later some pie with the Worthens! It's pretty nice being a missionary and getting to see lots of members on holidays. Plus we got to try everyone's different food. :) yum!
The only difference from a southern Thanksgiving and a Western Thanksgiving is that first of all they use giblets in the gravy and nobody would tell me what that was but I think it's something gross having to do with chickens. And second everyone kept on talking about "dressing" and I just assumed that was gravy; but finally (about halfway through the dinner) someone pointed at the stuffing and said, did you try the dressing?? Click..... that was kinda confusing for a little while. Just to clear things up for everyone when Southern people say "Dressing" they really mean Stuffing.... Steven Taylor has been telling us since October that he makes the best dressing, he says that he has had people who hate dressing "desire" his dressing the way he makes it. It was kind of a bummer we didn't get to try it:( But after Steven was telling us that he rubs the turkey for a half hour and then cooks the dressing inside the turkey....yes inside the turkey. So I was a little relieved that I wouldn't be tasting it.... I'll stick with Betty Crocker stuffing.
Then on Friday we went over to the Cochrans.....she is so awesome! Her house is amazing and so organized! That was the best food ever! She invited her friends over who are pretty much gourmet chefs.... I was stuffed and still went back for seconds just to keep tasting it. Man... I could eat that again! Then we had pumpkin cheesecake.. That was pretty scrumptious as well. I'll send a video of what we did after we ate.. It was pretty funny and Sister Cochran gets real sassy! Love her so much!
We had a really cool experience yesterday. We have been trying to get in-touch with one guy Edgar. We had a really hard time finding his house and so we ended up just having to go back before it got too late. But last night we found it! We were just going to head home after spending much of the day in Warren. But we decided that we had better try to find his house otherwise we'd never see him. It was kinda crazy how many times we drove past it trying to find it, but a huge blessing that we did and didn't just drive on back to Monticello. But he pulled up behind us and we were able to talk to him a little bit. The lesson kind of started off a little awkward and we could tell he was uncomfortable. He didn't really want to read because he was clearly overwhelmed. We found out that he is divorced and having lots of problems with the shared custody and his Ex. He told us that he doesn't have much faith. He feels like he is lost and stressed. We shared a little about how the Book of Mormon has changed our lives and how Jesus Christ is our rock. We invited him to look for tender mercies in his life to help strengthen his faith. He started to cry a little and suddenly we knew that he was an answer to our prayers and we were an answer to his. We showed him the Because of Him Video and bore our testimonies. It is so amazing how much God uses us to get to His Children. I'm not sure I'll ever stop being amazed at how much love He has for each of us. It's times like these that make me super nervous that Spanish will be taken out of the area, because people like Edgar need us! But I know that President Wakolo is an inspired man and only does what God would have him do with this mission. I love the Savior, and I love missionary work! Hurrah for Israel!
Missionary work is so hard, Hermana Tester and I came up with an acronym... Now we just need to make them into t shirts..
P- Preaching
I -Is
L-literally
E-exhausting
...yeah we are piles:)
But we don't regret it!:)
Les Quiero!
Hermana Maren Madsen
Three Dinners= Holiday Dieting!--November 30, 2015
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Miracles and a Cute Dog - Elder Joshua Avery
This week was pretty awesome. We saw a lot of miracles and I am sure that we were led by the Spirit to many of the people we were talking to. This week we have increased our faith by setting an expectation for baptism to everyone. This week we taught about baptism in about 60% of our contacts with potential investigators. I guess that might sound intimidating, but that is a key part of our purpose and is the next step for those we meet. We have found more people to talk to as we talk about baptism and feel like the contacts go better when we talk about baptism.
This week one of our lessons fell through so we began contacting in his area. We saw a guy sitting outside of a car repair shop and talked to him about baptism. He told us he wasn't interested, but afterwards we were approached by some teenagers who are part of some charity group that seemed fishy and they were just asking for money. We offered to volunteer an hour or two a week at their place but they didn't seem too thrilled about that. They talked to us for too long, and after we were able to get away from them something miraculous happened. The guy we had talked to at the car repair shop came up to us and said that he had changed his mind and asked us more about baptism. We met him a couple days later and now he is on date for the end of January. Cool! The change in him from the first time we talked to him to the second were so dramatic that we are worried that he might have some other hidden motive. But for now he says, "all I do is work and go to sleep, and then start it over. I feel like there is something more".
We found 9 new investigators this week.
5 from a big Indian family
1 Vietnamese lady who speaks Chinese
2 from an Indian couple
1 from the car shop guy
K** couldn't come to church again...I'm a little worried about him.
We have a new Branch Mission Leader who is close to our age. We met with him and read through Preach My Gospel, Chapter 12, where it talks about what a branch mission leader's responsibilities are. I think he will take his calling seriously. We have been struggling with teaching less active members, but this week a member at church was able to help us get to know who they are and what their situation is. Getting member present lessons has been hard lately because many of our potentials and investigators can't confirm their time until a couple hours before we come, and most of the families here have only one car which is being used by another family member. I think we will try and set up more appointments at the church. I think that will be easier for members to come.
Love you,Elder Avery
Goodbye, Elder Lee (November 22, 2015)
Christmas Zone Conference (December 6, 2015)
Monday, November 23, 2015
Saved by the Power of Prayer--Sister Maren Madsen
Hola mi familia!
This was an eventful week! I'll just start off by saying sorry I haven't really had much time to answer all your emails and questions! But hey gotta do whatcha gotta do. :) this has been a week of tender mercies and Tornados! (Well almost tornados) Monday and Tuesday were pretty rainy so it was not surprise when mid-Tuesday we got a text message from the office telling us to head inside for tornado watch, well that was super convenient because we were on walk week, my companion has a broken foot, and we were not at all close to the apartment. But despite the tornado warning and the stress or walking back a few miles home we had a great lesson with one of our investigators, who accepted a baptismal date! She is working on quitting smoking and wants to "find her own church" after the lesson with her we started walbling (I walked she hobbled) home. Then is started to get hot and I hear that's a tell tell sign of an oncoming tornado is "the calm before the storm" and heat. After about half a mile her leg started to hurt and we were just praying to make it home before the storm and the rain hit, because having a wet boot is nasty! Not two minutes later a lady pulled over and offered us a ride! We gratefully accepted. Not one minute after we got into our apartment it started to pour down rain... Buckets and buckets! I have a video I'll send, but you can't really tell. What a miracle! Really helped remind me of how blessed we are, did Heavenly Father have to wait until we got into the apartment to let it rain? He could have just let is started raining while we were in the car, but He waited for us to "get home" so there was no doubt about it that our prayer was being answered exactly. Now neither of us will forget that experience and our testimonies of prayer are that much more strengthened.
Then we had Blitz on Thursday and Friday, but we had specialized as well. I love the meetings that we have, we get learn more and they help give us instruction on how to be the most effective we can. The ride situation was a huge mess and it ended up being us two, the Monticello Elders and the Spanish STL's! It turned out to be a really fun road trip! We ended up getting lost and started to head toward Little Rock instead of Monticello from Hot Springs where the specialized training was. But just after about a half hour of going north instead of south(wouldn't really have been a problem if there were mountains here), we were back on the road! Good thing we don't plan appointments on meeting days because ain't nobody knows what's going to happen, especially when there are a bunch of missionaries piled into a van, not really sure the directions with no GPS.It turned out to be really fun especially since we stared to do some riddles and we got pretty excited as we figure them out before the smarty-pants elders, they took quite a while to get them... Hehe..
After the STL's left we realized that our phone was missing... Uh oh! So it's been interesting getting ahold of district leader and President Wakolo until we get it mailed back to us. But overall good blitz! Since Hermana Ponce is an STL now I was more excited to do blitz! I realized that from the beginning of my mission to now, I really have changed in lots of ways that weren't clear to me before I got to be back with my trainer for a day. It's crazy this mission life, but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I love seeing Gods hands in people's lives is humbling. We really are nothing here on earth, sometimes our significance to the world seems microscopic, but the significance that each of us are in the heart of our God is beyond belief. Because of him in our lives we are something, and one day we will stand before him and plead our case to have Him see what we did for His plan. Did we make it harder at times? Did we help it? How are we going to respond? Would we make excuses for ourselves? Hermana Hunt (a member in Horn Lake) was one of the best member missionaries I know, when was bold and she told us that the reason she was that way is because when she stands before God and He asked us why we didn't take the opportunity to change ourselves, or help someone, or teach an intimidating person, she said that "I was scared" just isn't a valid excuse. God is the only one we should fear. The more I think about that, I realize how dumb society is. I will forever be grateful for this 18 months I get to escape society and have a clear mind to focus my efforts on something eternally important. Thank you Hermana Hunt for helping me understand that fear is not a fruit of Godliness, and I am also learning that never is Awkward.. Satan is the one who makes us feel that way. Telling myself that "I'm awkward" is like saying "I'm just a liar" it shows that I am giving up and just accepting myself as a sinner. But I want to be a "Saint; or a Sinner who keeps trying."
Thanks for all the love and support and everybody have a yummy THANKSgiving and be grateful for the Atonement that has to power to better us daily.
Love,
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Goodbye, Elder Lee! - Elder Joshua Avery
Haha, well this week was a roller coaster! Between Elder Lee leaving and getting stuck in Ipoh till Thursday night, many of the weeks plans went down the drain. I did have a pleasant time in Ipoh, and we were able to find a lot of potential investigators there, including a group of 6 Christian women from Indonesia who attended a school of theology.
This week Elder Brown and I increased our faith as we set a transfer vision our first day in Sitiawan. Our vision statement is, "The future is as bright as your faith". We know that the zone is 11 baptisms away from our year goal, and if you divide that by 3 it comes out to roughly 3 baptisms per district. Elder Brown and I are looking for four baptisms this transfer, and we feel we will need to find 2 "golden" investigators by the end of this week or middle of next week to make that goal. I have really come to find goal setting to be an act of faith, and increasing goals is a great way to increase our faith.
Yesterday was full of "finding" miracles. We were on the way to the church for an appointment with a less-active member and his soon to be an investigator girlfriend. I looked down at my watch as we were biking and noticed we still had some time to spare, so I slowed down and decided to bike by the shop lots rather than the main road so we could talk to more people. As we passed a bank I noticed two people out side. One was a very well dressed Chinese lady and the other a slightly ragged Indian man on a moto.
The other day the branch president and his wife took us to meet some of their friends. I was so happy to get that phone call from them when they invited us. Being fed by members is great, but I'd give up every well-cooked meal by members for every member to be actively engaged in missionary work, and more importantly the gospel.
Love you all times 12,
Elder Avery
This is Handsome Boy (November 15, 2015)
Miracles and a Cute Dog (November 29, 2015)
Monday, November 16, 2015
The Book A Norman-- Sister Madsen
Written by Sister Maren Madsen A missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, Spanish Speaking
It is seriously so funny! Ya know people are so bored when missionaries say they are from Utah that anything other than there gets a bigger reaction. But when your companion is from Alaska this is typically the reaction
"ALASKA!?!?! Really? What part? I have a ----(fill in the Blank)--- Who lives there, is it true that it's dark all the time there? How often does the sun go down in the summer time? Man I bet that's beautiful! Can we come visit you when you go home?
Me: "Utah has snow too!"
Ya know, I really am starting to think that the reason I didn't have lots of friends growing up was because I wasn't from Alaska! hahahaha But we are going to have to take a trip to visit her!
That's so crazy that November has already come and soon it will be gone! I DON'T UNDERSTAND TIME!!
So this week was pretty good. We were able to commit Joseph to Baptism.The more I am here in the South, the more I realize how lucky I was to have a good established church to support me. Because Joseph and all of his siblings just seem kind of lots.They do not have that good moral compass in their home life. But I know that the church can offer that support, and if we let it, it can be our family. What a blessing. I also get to continually see how necessary the Book of Mormon is to compliment the Bible. We were talking the other day and the people in the BOM had a hard time accepting the Bible! It just blew my mind! And even Nephi (a Book Of Mormon Prophet) quoted from the Bible to help the people see the need for both.
We turned a huge corner with Angel this week. She came to church with us and she started crying. We were so happy because we know that it the Spirit testifying to her and she wouldn't listen to us but then she said to us "I'm starting to get attached to y'alls church, where you used the Book a Norman" (hahaha she calls it the Book a Norman no matter how many times we remind her it's Mormon, with an M) We are just continually learning lots and I love this work! To be able to see people like Angel progress makes the text messages on our phone of being dropped, worth it.
Well love y'all and hope everything plays out well this week!
Love
Hermana Madsen
Saved by the Power of Prayer Nov 23, 2015
Teaching with Tester Nov 9, 2015
It is seriously so funny! Ya know people are so bored when missionaries say they are from Utah that anything other than there gets a bigger reaction. But when your companion is from Alaska this is typically the reaction
"ALASKA!?!?! Really? What part? I have a ----(fill in the Blank)--- Who lives there, is it true that it's dark all the time there? How often does the sun go down in the summer time? Man I bet that's beautiful! Can we come visit you when you go home?
Me: "Utah has snow too!"
Ya know, I really am starting to think that the reason I didn't have lots of friends growing up was because I wasn't from Alaska! hahahaha But we are going to have to take a trip to visit her!
That's so crazy that November has already come and soon it will be gone! I DON'T UNDERSTAND TIME!!
So this week was pretty good. We were able to commit Joseph to Baptism.The more I am here in the South, the more I realize how lucky I was to have a good established church to support me. Because Joseph and all of his siblings just seem kind of lots.They do not have that good moral compass in their home life. But I know that the church can offer that support, and if we let it, it can be our family. What a blessing. I also get to continually see how necessary the Book of Mormon is to compliment the Bible. We were talking the other day and the people in the BOM had a hard time accepting the Bible! It just blew my mind! And even Nephi (a Book Of Mormon Prophet) quoted from the Bible to help the people see the need for both.
We turned a huge corner with Angel this week. She came to church with us and she started crying. We were so happy because we know that it the Spirit testifying to her and she wouldn't listen to us but then she said to us "I'm starting to get attached to y'alls church, where you used the Book a Norman" (hahaha she calls it the Book a Norman no matter how many times we remind her it's Mormon, with an M) We are just continually learning lots and I love this work! To be able to see people like Angel progress makes the text messages on our phone of being dropped, worth it.
Well love y'all and hope everything plays out well this week!
Love
Hermana Madsen
Saved by the Power of Prayer Nov 23, 2015
Teaching with Tester Nov 9, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
This Is Handsome Boy - Elder Joshua Avery
Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.
Dear Family and Friends,
This week we were biking in an area that we had chosen to street contact. Though the feeling was really subtle, we felt guided down a couple streets and to make the story short, we landed ourselves in front of a green house with a large picture of Mary in front of it. We knocked the gate, despite the fact that I try to avoid knocking houses. Out came a very happy Indian man who recognized us. The man introduced himself as D**. Elder Lee, with his impressive talent of recalling of names, dates, phone numbers,etc. remembered a teaching record of a former investigator with nothing but a house number as an address with the name D** Jr. and asked, "are you D** Junior?". The man said "yes!"
One of the young men in our branch decided to come finding with us, so when D** invited us in we were able to have a member present for the lesson. We taught D** the Restoration lesson and at the end he said, "Yes, I have always believed God would send prophets and apostles before Christ comes again/" He is heavily involved in his church and hard to get in touch with, but it was a spiritual lesson, and we made sure to get his full address after the lesson.
That same day we found a Buddhist, I think...or maybe BaiShen....who's husband was baptized Christian. She said we can come to share with her. It was really interesting because the conversation started sour, but improved to a good conversation, and ended with "okay, when you call just tell me 'this is handsome boy' and I will remember"...it's funny because that was the only part of the conversation I didn't understand because it was in English and my brain was still in Chinese mode. She had to repeat that part about 3 times before Elder Lee told me she was speaking English, haha!
We also taught an awesome 15 year old named Y**, which is Chinese for Eternal Life. Cool! He seems pretty prepared and is scheduled for baptism the day after Christmas.
We didn't get to see K** at church this week because he got in a moto accident Saturday, but he was fine. Just one day in the hospital, pain medications, and some cuts and bruises. I'm worried about his smoking. We have fasted every Sunday this month for him...yikes!
That is all for now. I am waiting for transfer news.
Love You All,
Elder Avery
Birds of a Feather (November 8, 2015)
Goodbye, Elder Lee! (November 22, 2015)
 |
| I'm such a sap for puppies! |
This week we were biking in an area that we had chosen to street contact. Though the feeling was really subtle, we felt guided down a couple streets and to make the story short, we landed ourselves in front of a green house with a large picture of Mary in front of it. We knocked the gate, despite the fact that I try to avoid knocking houses. Out came a very happy Indian man who recognized us. The man introduced himself as D**. Elder Lee, with his impressive talent of recalling of names, dates, phone numbers,etc. remembered a teaching record of a former investigator with nothing but a house number as an address with the name D** Jr. and asked, "are you D** Junior?". The man said "yes!"
That same day we found a Buddhist, I think...or maybe BaiShen....who's husband was baptized Christian. She said we can come to share with her. It was really interesting because the conversation started sour, but improved to a good conversation, and ended with "okay, when you call just tell me 'this is handsome boy' and I will remember"...it's funny because that was the only part of the conversation I didn't understand because it was in English and my brain was still in Chinese mode. She had to repeat that part about 3 times before Elder Lee told me she was speaking English, haha!
We also taught an awesome 15 year old named Y**, which is Chinese for Eternal Life. Cool! He seems pretty prepared and is scheduled for baptism the day after Christmas.
We didn't get to see K** at church this week because he got in a moto accident Saturday, but he was fine. Just one day in the hospital, pain medications, and some cuts and bruises. I'm worried about his smoking. We have fasted every Sunday this month for him...yikes!
That is all for now. I am waiting for transfer news.
Love You All,
Elder Avery
Birds of a Feather (November 8, 2015)
Goodbye, Elder Lee! (November 22, 2015)
 |
| Notice, I got the Thanksgiving tablecloth you mailed! |
 |
| Elder Lee cooking |
 |
| These bad boys are everywhere, haha! |
 |
| Dinner time with Elder Lee |
 |
| This just made me laugh! |
 |
| Working hard in Sitiawan, Malaysia |
Monday, November 9, 2015
Teaching with Tester-Sister Maren Madsen
Written by Sister Maren Madsen, serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.
Well this was a pretty good week! Hard to believe that I have only been with Hermana Tester for just four days! Time is something I just will never understand. Hermana Tester is from Alaska and served 10 months of her mission in Mexico. She got sick and had to go home and then got reassigned to the best mission is the world. She actually follow up trained Hermana
Hudson and when she got reassigned the transfer she came in was with my generation. We get along pretty well and she has been able to help me understand Spanish and plus she is a bomb teacher. I'm going to learn lots from her.
Thursday we set Four dates!! It always shocks me how stuck in the form I am until a new missionary comes into the area and all of a sudden it's easier to see the progressing and of course the growing to love the investigators more like my own. It's a humbling experience.
We were able to teach the cousin of one of our investigators (both have decided on baptism the 21 of this month) and that was just a very good lesson. We went into that lesson planning to teach the Law of Chastity and came out with two baptismal dates. It was a memorable experience as we invited Deandra to baptism and she smiled big and you could see something change. Ya know I've realized that I make it all too difficult as I talk myself into the idea that everybody has a counter argument and nobody wants to listen to what a lifelong Mormon girl from Utah has to say because that is all that she knows. When in all actuality nobody even needs to care about me, I am not the issue, and that when I start to think like that my tongue is bound and I cannot fully testify with the power the investigator deserves. (Once again., I hate that satanas) but I am learning how to overcome that and I am hopeful that soon I won't even think twice before being bold and answering questions. Because I am starting to realize how much I let satan influence me. (Seriously.. Hate him)
Missionary work is the most insane experience! But I am loving every minute of it! My testimony grows stronger daily as I read the Book of Mormon. I am lucky to have this book. Also I am eternally grateful to be a member of Jesus Christ's church on earth, and take part in the knowledge it brings!
Book of Mormon challenge! We started one as a mission on October first to finish before the end of the year. But for Y'all Finish the Book of Mormon before the end of January, this book is changing my life and (my companion and I were talking this morning about this) every time I read the stories something new pops out, it's because the Holy Ghost is so cool and he can personalize ANY situation! Just give him the attention he deserves. Because really he just wants us to return to our Father and I don't know bout y'all but I can use all the help I can get.
Les quiero mucho y cuidense.
We found some fish in the road.... Yes ... fish... God has sent all the crazies to the south... I swear..
Hermana Maren Madsen
Giant Mushroom!! Nov 2, 2015
 |
| Hermana Tester and Hermana Madsen |
Well this was a pretty good week! Hard to believe that I have only been with Hermana Tester for just four days! Time is something I just will never understand. Hermana Tester is from Alaska and served 10 months of her mission in Mexico. She got sick and had to go home and then got reassigned to the best mission is the world. She actually follow up trained Hermana
 |
| Hermanas Tester, Hudson, Macfarlane, Ponce, Madsen |
Thursday we set Four dates!! It always shocks me how stuck in the form I am until a new missionary comes into the area and all of a sudden it's easier to see the progressing and of course the growing to love the investigators more like my own. It's a humbling experience.
We were able to teach the cousin of one of our investigators (both have decided on baptism the 21 of this month) and that was just a very good lesson. We went into that lesson planning to teach the Law of Chastity and came out with two baptismal dates. It was a memorable experience as we invited Deandra to baptism and she smiled big and you could see something change. Ya know I've realized that I make it all too difficult as I talk myself into the idea that everybody has a counter argument and nobody wants to listen to what a lifelong Mormon girl from Utah has to say because that is all that she knows. When in all actuality nobody even needs to care about me, I am not the issue, and that when I start to think like that my tongue is bound and I cannot fully testify with the power the investigator deserves. (Once again., I hate that satanas) but I am learning how to overcome that and I am hopeful that soon I won't even think twice before being bold and answering questions. Because I am starting to realize how much I let satan influence me. (Seriously.. Hate him)
 |
| ALL the Hermanas in the ALRM Minus 2 |
Book of Mormon challenge! We started one as a mission on October first to finish before the end of the year. But for Y'all Finish the Book of Mormon before the end of January, this book is changing my life and (my companion and I were talking this morning about this) every time I read the stories something new pops out, it's because the Holy Ghost is so cool and he can personalize ANY situation! Just give him the attention he deserves. Because really he just wants us to return to our Father and I don't know bout y'all but I can use all the help I can get.
Les quiero mucho y cuidense.
We found some fish in the road.... Yes ... fish... God has sent all the crazies to the south... I swear..
Hermana Maren Madsen
Giant Mushroom!! Nov 2, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Birds of a Feather - Elder Joshua Avery
Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.
Dear Family and Friends,
We had another wonderful week here in Sitiawan. The haze has cleared out, so it was nice to actually been able to see the sky and not worry about getting lung cancer in my later years every time I was biking outside. Maybe I was over reacting, but it was bad!
Early in this week we met with Mr. Z**. His catch phrase is "meiyou ganjuedao" which means "I haven't felt anything". We felt prompted to read Enos with him (just the verses the Spirit guided us to) and helped him learn on his own. We asked him what he needs to do to be like Enos and he told us "No more really short prayers" haha! We also invited him to write one thing he is grateful for in the back of his Book of Mormon everyday. I think that will bless him greatly. We sang for him before we left and for the first time I've seen it he looked happy.
We taught K** a couple days ago. While I was starting my language study I was thinking about what language I needed to study for K**'s lesson. I felt prompted to call an audible on the lesson and teach him about the law of the fast. I feel very strongly that fasting will be a big player in him overcoming his smoking addiction. The official fast was yesterday, but he ended up getting called into work so he couldn't come to church, we couldn't teach him, and because his work involves heavy manual labor I don't think he fasted...bummer but thats what we will do this week! yay!
Mr. Z**'s car broke down on the way to church so he couldn't come...no! But we did have a Christian family from Pakistan and a less active family come. So that was a blessing. Things are going well.
Love you all!
Elder Avery
Conference in Singapore (November 1, 2015)
This Handsome Boy (November 15, 2015)
Dear Family and Friends,
We had another wonderful week here in Sitiawan. The haze has cleared out, so it was nice to actually been able to see the sky and not worry about getting lung cancer in my later years every time I was biking outside. Maybe I was over reacting, but it was bad!
Early in this week we met with Mr. Z**. His catch phrase is "meiyou ganjuedao" which means "I haven't felt anything". We felt prompted to read Enos with him (just the verses the Spirit guided us to) and helped him learn on his own. We asked him what he needs to do to be like Enos and he told us "No more really short prayers" haha! We also invited him to write one thing he is grateful for in the back of his Book of Mormon everyday. I think that will bless him greatly. We sang for him before we left and for the first time I've seen it he looked happy.
We taught K** a couple days ago. While I was starting my language study I was thinking about what language I needed to study for K**'s lesson. I felt prompted to call an audible on the lesson and teach him about the law of the fast. I feel very strongly that fasting will be a big player in him overcoming his smoking addiction. The official fast was yesterday, but he ended up getting called into work so he couldn't come to church, we couldn't teach him, and because his work involves heavy manual labor I don't think he fasted...bummer but thats what we will do this week! yay!
Mr. Z**'s car broke down on the way to church so he couldn't come...no! But we did have a Christian family from Pakistan and a less active family come. So that was a blessing. Things are going well.
Love you all!
Elder Avery
Conference in Singapore (November 1, 2015)
This Handsome Boy (November 15, 2015)
Monday, November 2, 2015
Giant Mushroom--Sister Madsen
Written by Sister Maren Madsen, serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.
For Halloween we decided to save our planning for that night so we could use the morning hours to proselyte. So we found some black duct tape and made some stellar mustaches and wore our dog costume sombreros from Walmart. I also made some pretty good rice! (Finally because the last 10 times I tried it was just a wreck)
We got a call this morning and My Companion Hermana Hudson is going to Little Rock. :,( But esta bien porque we will still be in the same zone.
This week we have already seen many miracles in the Spanish area! We got a referral for a house and it turned out to be a convert of 5 years and her daughter who just moved into the area and are looking for long term stay. And the best part is that she speaks both English and Spanish fluently! She has also gone teaching with missionaries before, showing us that that she is missionary minded! Well as you can see we are starting to see the fruits of our labors! I am starting to realize that just because the area is mostly in English I still need to use my Spanish as much as possible! No more excuses for myself:) but we also followed up on a Spanish family we taught last week and they were very excited for us to come. They were asking us about where the building was and what time it started and if there were more than just the Sunday services.
I have learned lots this week about how differently I was raised from the people here in the south. As I have gotten to talk to Miss. Carol who recently got baptized this summer, she has started to open my eyes on how similar churches are. Ya know growing up in Mormonville. I guess I just assumed that no other religion taught the truth and it was all wrong. But now I can see that really these Baptist and Methodist and Pentecostal churches have lots of good doctrine, but their knowledge is just limited because of the lack of a living prophet and the lack of another testament of Jesus Christ or the Book of Mormon that gives us the more full complete understanding. Not to mention the revelations received when the restoration of the church was underway. I find myself less frustrated with those who disagree with us and more understanding as I realize that really they are just limited in the belief of more revelation. Because honestly this church would crumble if it weren't for that. Because we know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so why wouldn't he help us in these scary last days?
I know this to be the ONLY gospel on earth that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. Thanks to that, we are able to make covenants with Christ and progress. Knowledge is amazing.
Les Quiero mushisimo! Nunca olviden!
Hermana Maren Madsen
Don't mess with the Plan Lady!-- Oct 26, 2015
Teaching with Tester Nov 9,2015
For Halloween we decided to save our planning for that night so we could use the morning hours to proselyte. So we found some black duct tape and made some stellar mustaches and wore our dog costume sombreros from Walmart. I also made some pretty good rice! (Finally because the last 10 times I tried it was just a wreck)
We got a call this morning and My Companion Hermana Hudson is going to Little Rock. :,( But esta bien porque we will still be in the same zone.
This week we have already seen many miracles in the Spanish area! We got a referral for a house and it turned out to be a convert of 5 years and her daughter who just moved into the area and are looking for long term stay. And the best part is that she speaks both English and Spanish fluently! She has also gone teaching with missionaries before, showing us that that she is missionary minded! Well as you can see we are starting to see the fruits of our labors! I am starting to realize that just because the area is mostly in English I still need to use my Spanish as much as possible! No more excuses for myself:) but we also followed up on a Spanish family we taught last week and they were very excited for us to come. They were asking us about where the building was and what time it started and if there were more than just the Sunday services.
I have learned lots this week about how differently I was raised from the people here in the south. As I have gotten to talk to Miss. Carol who recently got baptized this summer, she has started to open my eyes on how similar churches are. Ya know growing up in Mormonville. I guess I just assumed that no other religion taught the truth and it was all wrong. But now I can see that really these Baptist and Methodist and Pentecostal churches have lots of good doctrine, but their knowledge is just limited because of the lack of a living prophet and the lack of another testament of Jesus Christ or the Book of Mormon that gives us the more full complete understanding. Not to mention the revelations received when the restoration of the church was underway. I find myself less frustrated with those who disagree with us and more understanding as I realize that really they are just limited in the belief of more revelation. Because honestly this church would crumble if it weren't for that. Because we know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so why wouldn't he help us in these scary last days?
I know this to be the ONLY gospel on earth that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. Thanks to that, we are able to make covenants with Christ and progress. Knowledge is amazing.
Les Quiero mushisimo! Nunca olviden!
Hermana Maren Madsen
 |
| Gigantic mushroom... we poked it for sure! |
Don't mess with the Plan Lady!-- Oct 26, 2015
Teaching with Tester Nov 9,2015
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Conference in Singapore - Elder Joshua Avery
Written by Elder Joshua Avery, serving in the Singapore Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Mandarin Chinese.
Dear Family and Friends,
This week was great. We flew to Singapore on Monday and got there with time to help make English Class books, go to China town, and eat malaxiangguo! Yummy! If I were to summarize the training into one sentence it would be: "Do what you know you should be doing". It was good stuff. We had a lot of great trainings by President Simmons and the Zone Leaders.
After Singapore we got back Thursday night, and I will admit I was sooo pooped. From Friday to Sunday most of our appointments fell through, but there was still a lot of miracles.
Saturday we went to visit a less active Iban named R**. Sadly she was not home. She lives in smelly flats, with garbage, and children running around everywhere. Elder Lee and I went and talked to all of the people in the flats offering help, praying with them, or singing a hymn for them. It was nice and I felt the Spirit strong.
Outside the flats we found some really muscley Iban men who are in the Navy celebrating one of the guy's little kids birthdays. They were really nice and kept giving us some delicious pork. WOOO! Afterwards they asked if we would pray for their children. We prayed with them and then went out and cleaned the chapel. It was a good day :)
Yesterday K** came to church and some of the other men in the branch came with us that evening to teach him. We are still helping him quit smoking. Last night we all wrote down bad habits we have, and shared with each other how we are going to avoid "triggers" and support each other. K** liked it and got emotional towards the end. Ether 12:27 for life :)
That's all for now folks!
Love Ya'll,
Elder Avery
Pancakes, Sunshine, Miracles (October 20, 2015)
Birds of a Feather (November 8, 2015)
This week was great. We flew to Singapore on Monday and got there with time to help make English Class books, go to China town, and eat malaxiangguo! Yummy! If I were to summarize the training into one sentence it would be: "Do what you know you should be doing". It was good stuff. We had a lot of great trainings by President Simmons and the Zone Leaders.
After Singapore we got back Thursday night, and I will admit I was sooo pooped. From Friday to Sunday most of our appointments fell through, but there was still a lot of miracles.
Saturday we went to visit a less active Iban named R**. Sadly she was not home. She lives in smelly flats, with garbage, and children running around everywhere. Elder Lee and I went and talked to all of the people in the flats offering help, praying with them, or singing a hymn for them. It was nice and I felt the Spirit strong.
Outside the flats we found some really muscley Iban men who are in the Navy celebrating one of the guy's little kids birthdays. They were really nice and kept giving us some delicious pork. WOOO! Afterwards they asked if we would pray for their children. We prayed with them and then went out and cleaned the chapel. It was a good day :)
Yesterday K** came to church and some of the other men in the branch came with us that evening to teach him. We are still helping him quit smoking. Last night we all wrote down bad habits we have, and shared with each other how we are going to avoid "triggers" and support each other. K** liked it and got emotional towards the end. Ether 12:27 for life :)
That's all for now folks!
Love Ya'll,
Elder Avery
Pancakes, Sunshine, Miracles (October 20, 2015)
Birds of a Feather (November 8, 2015)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)