There's no way it's already March.

February 26, 2018

I have kept re checking the calendar over and over and I seriously can't believe it's already almost March. It seems like time is flying by and I'm just trying to keep up.

Well, once again I have kind of used up all my time... sorry! But I am setting a goal to be better at emailing! Yawl can all hold me accountable starting next Monday. :)

This week was amazing!

On Tuesday we saw one really awesome miracle. One lady who is a potential investigator sent out a big group text to tell everyone that her number had changed. No big deal. Until about ten minutes later when we get a text from one of the other people in the group message asking if this was still the "elders from Utah." We said we were now Sisters and we were from Idaho but we do the same thing. Turns out it was a former investigator who saw our number in the group message (which was saved to his phone as the elders from Utah) and it sparked his memory. He said he had actually been thinking about reaching out to us and meeting with us again! We set an appointment to meet with him this coming week! It was a really neat experience because we had been reaching out to former investigators for the past few days because our mission president encouraged us to. But we hadn't reached out to him. So because the Lord knew we were trying to be obedient, he blessed us! It was a really neat experience.

Another cool experience was that we were teaching one of our investigators, Larry. Larry is a really sweet, older gentleman. We were talking to him and another member of our church and someone walked by and asked us who we were and what we were doing. We told them we were the missionaries and we were teaching a lesson and they asked what church we were from. We told them "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Which is actually the church that he goes to!" and pointed at our member. Then Larry Pops in and said "and my church too!"  It was a really sweet moment. So at our next lesson with Larry we invited him to be baptized! He said yes and is praying about a baptismal date. We are so excited.

This week we were also able to teach our investigator, Kevin. He is a really sweet guy. He asked us what the difference is between the Book of Mormon and the Bible. We started to talk about it and we asked him "What's your favorite band?" He said "ACDC". "Okay." we said "What's one of your favorite songs by ACDC?" He kind of chuckled and said "Highway to Hell." We chuckled and said "okay. so what's another one of your favorite songs by them?" He said "Back in Black." So we said that the Bible and the Book of Mormon were just like Highway to Hell and Back in Black. They were both made by the same person, because they're both the word of God, and that they were both intended to increase our love for the same person, the same way that really good songs will increase the fan's love for that band. So they are both the word of God intended to bring you closer to your Savior, so the only difference is that one was written in Jerusalem, and the other in the Americas. It was really neat when we got to see the light pop into his eyes and all of a sudden it just clicked and made sense. He understood what they both were and why we have them both. It was such a good moment! 

 

Another tender mercy I saw this week was that I got to see my dear MTC friend, Sister Naegle! We are serving (kind of) close to each other now so we will see each other at meetings! It was so sweet! We haven't seen each other since around June so it was so fun to get to see each other and catch up.

This week I just want to testify of of trials and the blessings that come from trials. We were talking to a family yesterday and they were telling us about how hard the last year of their lives have been. One of them almost dying, their cars breaking down, having other family members pass away, etc. It was a way hard year for them but the wife made the comment that she watched a movie called "collateral beauty" that helped her see it differently. I am NOT advertising the movie, I know nothing about it BUT I loved the phrase. Collateral damage is something that was damaged because it was in the wrong place at the wrong time, it just happened. It was acted upon. But collateral beauty is the same thing but opposite. It's learning and improving from the fact that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Learning from the unfortunate things that happen to you and making choices that will bless you! I love that because, as my dear companion loves to say, "sometimes the wrong one, is the right one that will lead you to the best one." Sometimes the wrong choices and that hard choices are the ones that will take you to the best decisions and choices. Just remember what the Lord says in Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8
 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

I love yawl! Have a great week!

~Sister Madisen Lloyd

 

Pictures: we carpooled with elders... they fell asleep. Sister Naegle and I and my companion and I with a member who takes awesome care of us!

One year.

February 19, 2018

Well friends, this week I hit my one year mark on the mission which is crazy! I can't believe it. It's bizarre. But it's been the best year of my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

This week... I got transferred! Y'all already knew that though. Here I sit in Parsons, Kansas. It's a cute, old, tiny town and I love it! The architecture is beautiful and the people are kind! I love it! We have had a few awesome lessons with people so far. We have some really great investigators! One really cool thing is that two people just showed up to church yesterday and wanted to start meeting with us and learning more! So that is really exciting! We are going to meet with them this week! I would tell you about people but I am having a hard time remembering who is who. There's quite a few people to keep straight.

One really cool thing that I wanted to share is that we had a lesson with our investigator named Laura. She is really sweet! We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the things that that gospel entails (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end). We talked about the Holy Ghost a lot and the fruits of the spirit. She made a really cool comment that meeting with the missionaries and learning about the gospel really helps her to feel uplifted and encouraged. It was a really neat comment for her to make because truly anything that is light and is good is from Christ and so we need to make an effort to recognize those good, light things and to pursue them and to remove anything from our lives that doesn't bring light and doesn't invite Christ.

One scripture I'd like to share is Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I love this scripture because it is so true that Jesus Christ is a SURE foundation. We are constantly moving, growing, changing, being tested and tried but Jesus Christ is the one consistent and constant thing in our lives. He loves us always and is always ready to forgive and help us to overcome. If we build on him we surely won't fall. How blessed are we! I love yawl and I hope yawl have a great week!

~Sister Madisen Lloyd

Pictures: There's a lot here. One is of me holding a rice warm up thing a member made for me.... I warmed it up and it melted and caught on fire. I was sad. Some is of me saying goodbye to the old people we did service for in Mountain Home. Sister Garner bought me a goodbye dinner because she's da best (we ate alligator). One is of Sister Garner and I during District meeting when we should have been paying attention.

Buy me Ruby slippers and call me Dorothy cause I'm going to Kansas

February 14, 2018

Hello everyone! Today's email is going to be very short but I did want to send a quick update that, as my title says, I'm being transferred to Parsons, Kansas! My new companion will be Sister Dale and I'm so excited for this new adventure!

 

I also want to share a scripture with y'all! 

Ephesians 6: 10-17

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

I love those verses and I know that if we are doing everything we can to withstand the evil in this world that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will bless us and enable us to be strong. Yawl are amazing! Have a great week!

--

~Sister Madisen Lloyd

Crazy day! Crazy week!

February 5, 2018

I feel like I've been so busy lately that I don't have enough time to get everything done! IT'S THE BEST! I am almost out of time this week but I will share two really cool experiences we had this week.

We had a lesson with our investigator Mary and it was amazing. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and when we started she had kind of a hardened heart but we started talking about and read through the scriptures and the pamphlet and talked about all of the blessings and when we finished reading, she put down the pamphlet and just whispered "I know this is true." and started crying. So of course Sister Garner and I started crying. It's amazing to be able to help people come closer to Jesus Christ. 

Another cool experience we had was that we went by a potential investigator's house and gave her brownies because her friend told us she passed her test at school! So we stopped by and gave them to her and she said we could come back a different day! We were thrilled! So we started to drive away and she called us and said "hey! my roommates sick and she wants you to come back and pray for her and then tell her some of what you believe." so we whipped the truck around and drove back. We talked with her, her roommate and her daughter for about an hour and had a really good conversation about The Plan of Salvation as well as the Atonement of Jesus Christ and forgiveness. It was a beautiful conversation and the spirit was so strong. It was one of the coolest lessons we have ever had. It was amazing. God is oh so good!

This week I want to share a scripture. I prayed to know what scripture to share with yawl this week and this is what I opened up to. It's found in the Doctrine and Covenants section 127 verses 2 and the first half of 3:

"And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; I feel like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it. 

Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel's God is their God..."

I love that because we are all called to pass through perils and hard times but the God of Israel is your God! There is a video called "Zion's Camp" that was made by the church, it's a really good video and an amazing story. If yawl haven't watched it, ya should. But in the movie this boy is asked who leads the camp he is in and he responds "the God of Israel, leads the camp." and I love that because if the God of Israel leads your camp then you can rest assured that you are going in the right direction. I can testify that the God of Israel leads this camp. He is the light by which we are led. How blessed are we. Have a great week! I love yawl!

~Sister Madisen Lloyd

Picture:

Me playing the ukulele for the older people. picture and skirt credit: sister garner.