Madison on a Mission

It's RAINY SEASON! 

I enjoyed this week. I've learned a lot from our investigators-- we are so blessed to have such special investigators here in Lingsat. They are what makes everything worth it. Feeling so much love for them as you teach them and wanting to be there for them in their darkest hours of need. I've noticed that God has sent us to people that desperately need love and hope and comfort. 

We continue to read the Book of Mormon every day and apply it to our lives.  I believe that it is key to helping us overcome all things. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” We will place more emphasis on it as we teach and help others come closer to the gospel. 

We taught the plan of salvation to Grace this week -- a teenage girl that has been abandoned by her parents and has been taken in by a member. As we taught her about her divine worth and what Jesus Christ has done for her, it was so sweet to see such a troubled teenager actually smile and say how beautiful it was to hear those words. I'm sure that no one has ever told her that in her life -- that she is important, she is loved, and there is someone who suffered for her and will walk with her every step on the way back to her Heavenly Father. That is such a special knowledge that we have that I know at times I have taken for granted!!!! As we hugged her at the end of the lesson, I just wanted to squeeze the life out of her I love her so much. She needs Christ and His love in her life. 

I've seen how that love has changed the life of one of our recent converts, Sister M. It's easy to see that her life has been so hard. They live in very poor circumstances and she doesn't have much support at home. She has turned to her friends in the past but that led to more sadness and misery. She tried many different churches to relieve the feeling but never find her. And that's when she met the missionaries -- who told her her worth and what God wants for her and the laws of God that would make her happy. It wasn't an easy road of change. There were times she felt like giving up. There were times that she was troubled. But she didn't give up. Little by little -- she transformed bit by bit. The Spirit started flowing into her life -- and especially since she has made the decision to be baptized -- she now just glows and radiates with happiness no matter what her circumstances are. She helps her siblings and loves them. She never misses church and always reads the Book of Mormon.  She works with us and testifies to all of the change that has taken place in her. She had a dream that in a few years after she graduates from high school that she is going to serve a mission. 

We absolutely love the G family. They are growing in faith little by little. We talked about their marriage the other day and they are making plans, but they said that their goal and their main plans were the temple in a year. We were so proud of them. They are growing stronger and stronger as a family as they hold family time and prayer, counsel as husband and wife. As we shared 1 Nephi 7 with them and told them that with faith they can break the old habits that have held them captive, Brother C committed to completely stop smoking. That made us so happy. 

Sister V is growing in her faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement. She knows with all her heart that this gospel is true. She had been searching and searching for the truth and has suffered much of her life but has rose over it and has used her whole life to defend and rescue others that suffer. We know she is and will be a strong member of the church. Her husband is struggling though. Of course that breaks our hearts, but we are holding a special fast for him with our family. We are so so grateful for the support that the members are showing in going to visit and fellowship that family. 

Ever since the missionaries have started visiting sister Lynn and her family, they have been hit with some of the sorest of trials. Their 5 year old son got infected with a virus that has spread to his brain, leaving him unable to even digest food for himself. But that hasn't broken Lynn's faith in God. She does all she can for him, never leaves him, does all she can to care for him. She loves her son so much. She is learning and understanding the doctrine and Christ from reading assignments in the Book of Mormon. She believes that the gospel is true. She is a beautiful example of unwavering hope. I know that the source of unwavering hope comes from Jesus Christ -- who because of him we can hope for a better world and help from burdens and sins. He is sure and steadfast and unwavering. As Lynn has had to suffer in her circumstances, she testified to us that the Lord is lifting her burdens to bear them with ease.

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. 

KC and Jarwin are growing in their faith. KC is very bright and loves to read everything she can. She finds hope in this gospel and wants to learn. They also want to be married. We are hoping that they can get permission from their family so that we can have it sooner rather than later.

I have noticed that it has been such a blessing to learn how to sacrifice our lives to serve others. That's what I want to do with my life and what I know brings true happiness in our lives no matter what. Somethings don't work out exactly the way we plan, but we will never be disappointed in ourselves, we will see the world as beautiful, and we can face anything as we come to learn our relationship with the Savior and learn of His love and share it with others. That is what I want to continue to develop. I want to be rid of the natural man and become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ. I want to become what God wants me to be.

Sister Porter

Cultural Notes:

I had goat intestine soup the other day. It was pretty good actually:)

Me and Sister Jensen are having fun baking American treats for missionaries:)

It's mango season -- our investigators love to give us MANGOES:)