Just do it!

Hey hey Fam! 

So how were the pictures in the email? Cuz if they are good then ill just do a couple per week like that because its super easy. So, to the questions. 

• My day. I wake up, then at about six I work out for a half an hour. 
• Then I get ready for the day and then study scriptures and whatever else for an hour. 

• Then comp study, then we head out! 
• We get back at 8 because we dont eat dinner till we get home. 
• Then we close, eat, get ready for bed, then sleep! 

We are teaching a lot of people. So many people. Some kids some adults. We teach about an average of 4 or 5 lessons maybe a day, and if we want we could make them all new investigators because of how many people want to hear the gospel. 

Im eating noodles, pancakes, eggs bread, bananas, and fufu. Im starting to get the hang of that nasty stuff. I do most of my cooking. 

The baptism was just someone that i hadn't taught very much. Its a girl who is about 14. She is so cool. Its kinda weird but families here don't really all attend the same church. 

I don't hand wash my clothes...one of the kids in my apartment has a washer he he. So I use that all the time. 

I'v been learning like crazy. My brain is getting tired, but its sweet. Dad that study guide you got me about Jesus Christ and his apostles is awesome. I'm learning so much from it. Every day I learn more and more about life and about why we are here and about the after life and about everything pretty much. I wish i could write everything I'v been learning. Its just too much and too hard to try and put down. 

One thing i can explain is about work. I was way too lazy at home. Like super lazy, and I have realized that we just need to stop thinking about ourselves for a second and get the stuff done that we need to even though we may be a little uncomfortable. We just need to do it. 

I feel like I am getting more comfortable with the people and with talking and teaching. I am able to answer questions and give quotations from the bible. The first discussion is super super easy now, so that makes talking to people that much easier.  

So things I did during the week? We as a district went to a restaurant and ate American food so that was kinda nice! I got to give my comp a blessing because he wasn't feeling good and I also got to anoint for this women who was sick and helped give her a blessing. Another thing is I can feel the spirit with me a lot stronger. I love it. 

Enough about me! Kennedy I'm so glad you're keeping the lemon grab voice alive! You better be a pro when i get back. Thats awesome you guys got to go to Oregon. I wish I could have been there. Kennedy i love your hair! Momo...oh momo...the boys better watch out. Kiss styx huh? Just be wise with your first kiss k? Momma I miss your cooking everyday. I had a dream last night that I was able to come home for one night and eat at our house and then I had to leave again! Kinda crappy but still. 

Dad thats awesome that you got to speak in front of that many people. so for family night tonight: Dad I want you to teach about Christ's earthly ministry and about how he actually established his church. Then about the apostasy and how the truth and priesthood was lost. Then the restoration and about how the church came back. That's one thing we talk about a lot out here and I think it would be a good thing for our family to really know.

One more thing I have learned is that no matter what happens everything will be ok. Our heavenly father is here for us and he is watching out for us. no matter what situation we get into or no matter what we are going through. It will be ok. 

One more thing is that if we keep the commandments we have been given we will be blessed. So so much! haha sorry one more thing... I have realized that I kinda act like a child when it comes to some things. I think it is a lot of pride and a lot of just having to be right all the time. That is something I am trying to work on. 

Maybe another thing you could do for FHE is go to the Christ like attributes in PMG and each choose one you want to work on. I have kinda noticed that I am very prideful and also that I am lacking a lot in almost all of those attributes. So thats one thing I am trying to work on. Anyway family I love you so much! Till next week    

-ya bro, elder madsen

PS... also Morgan. my mtc friend is in love with you and wants to marry you. Kennedy he thinks youre absolutely beautiful but you're too young. Sorry. Any way. love ya! 

Good Missionary Morning!

Hey hey hey family! 

its monday already...wow. so this week was pretty good. i got to go to the mission home and see all my friends from the mtc. ill try to send a couple pics of that. and we have been teaching a lot. we had another baptism! it wasnt my turn so i havent baptized anyone yet but it'll come...dont worry. 

so i dont know if i told you guys about this but there was a little kid who had a huge beetle tied to a string and it would fly around. he was flying it around just like a kite! it was awesome. and also i went to buy some water from a little shop and started speaking twi with the ladies. they loved it so much and we all were just having the best time. i can understand sometimes what people are saying and its pretty sweet. 
im really starting to see why i was called here. im having so many teaching opportunities and im learning a ton!

one thing i think of a lot though is about humor. im afraid im going to lose my sense of humor, and if we become perfect, what are we going to laugh at? yes we will have complete joy and happiness in the after life and stuff...BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LAUGH AT? it sounds silly, but seriously. it kinda scares me. 

anyway! i love you all more than you know, and you know whats interesting? in the time ive spent away from you, i feel like ive gotten A LOT closer to each of you. i cant wait to see you and hug you. i know im not the most huggy person, but right now i just want to have a biiiiggggg family hug. will you do one for me? love you guys. keep writing. tonight talk a little about the plan of salvation. and what our purpose of this life is. love you!!! bye bye

My First Area

Hi Family!

So first off, I'm sorry for what I said last week about the long letters, I absolutely love them! I realized that knowing what is going on at home is more important than rushing through everything. This last email was perfect, just something from everyone, I don't care about the length I just want to know what's going on at home!

So Happy Birthday to everyone that had one! (Macquel, Morghan & Dad) I hope you guys had an amazing day! I also hope my new cousin is doing well, tell Danny & Jess I said congrats & that I'm so happy for them! I also love the cute little notes you guys left (in my suitcases). I've found mom's, Jessica's & Kennedy's, I love them. Are there more. The question mark key doesn't work, so sorry.

To answer your questions, I'm in an area called Kronum and we walk EVERYWHERE. I'm losing weight like a contestant on Biggest Loser! My comps name is Elder Eze (eh zee), he is such a hard worker, he's awesome. A day working...we walk so much and we talk to so many people. At first it was a little hard but it's getting easier.

I have an idea, I'd like to contribute to Family Night so I want to give a little something each week that you guys can add to the lesson. This week, read The Family A Proclamation to the World. Also Dad, challenge accepted-can you send me those 300 doctrinal statements? And Dad, the scriptures you gave me are my most prized possessions. I love them so so much. I even bought a copy to take out with me so that I wouldn't ruin yours, I love them so much.

I'm learning so much, I go to sleep with random scriptures in my mind, and I can teach the first discussion moving on to the second. I'm able to think more deeply and I'm really getting into the doctrine. I love it, and Dad you're amazing. Certain things you taught me about how to teach, like using the pictures in the Book of Mormon, my trainer now uses them because of how useful they are.

Bridger, read these scriptures: D&C 11:21, 84:85, and 100:4-6. I love them, they pump me up like crazy! Morghan, you're sixteen now, be careful. I know you like to joke around, but please please please be careful. When is Easton's bday? I found the question mark key by the way.

My mission definitely is getting easier as far as emotions go. I can sometimes see the potential of my mission and I start to get excited. And then when I'm learning things I start to get super excited and I start thinking that I don't have enough time to learn everything I want to. I'm getting so much closer to this church and my Savior, I can feel the Spirit strongly and I love it.

Sorry this letter is kinda scattered, I just have so many thoughts and things I want to share. Guess what? We were walking through traffic and someone opened their door and I tried to dodge it. My shirt got caught on the door and the back of my shirt just ripped right open! It's a pretty big hole. Whoops! It's ok though, I might need to buy a new shirt.

Well family, I love you a ton! Keep writing, keep up your goals, I love you all so much! Talk to you next week!

Elder Madsen

"I'm not in Kansas anymore..."

Hey fam!

So I decided Id start out with a lil bad and then move to the good. So first off...the mornings are so bad. I just wake up and remember that I'm 1 million miles from home. But then my day continues and I start to get happy again. Sometimes I feel like im getting depressed but then I'm like, wait...that's not Chase! So I buck up and start focusing on what I'm doing and it makes me way happier. So don't worry. I'm sad sometimes but it passes, and I'm not depressed and I never will be. That just cant be me.

Your letters help a lot. But I don't have a ton of time so if they could be a little shorter that would be awesome. Not saying I don't love them cuz i do. I just have a ton to do. I don't even have time to send photos ever. I don't know how other missionaries do it.

Anyway, first off I got to bless a little girl. She's been sick and I got to help, so that was awesome.  Second is SOMEONE TRIED TO PICKPOCKET ME! scariest thing in my life. We were in town and its crazy crowded there. What they'll do is lightly brush your back pockets to see if there is anything in there. Thank goodness my back pocket has buttons on it. I could feel them trying to get into my pocket for my wallet and I kinda turned my head and they stopped. And then they tried AGAIN. So I turned around more and they didn't try again. crazy. Another thing is the girls here are so funny. Girls my age will ask if I'll take them back with me when I go home. I don't really know how to respond.

So the people here are amazing. When we teach certain people they get a little defensive because we believe different things, but when we ask them to pray at the end they pray for us and that our message about God will be heard. Literally everyone does and all they want is for everyone to know the truth. It's so cool. Also some advice for Bridger...study preach my gospel as much as you can. Memorize the  concepts like crazy and then teach it in your own words. Please do it man, it'll help a ton I promise.

And now this is just for the kids. Sisters and bro, we have the best parents of all time. Seriously. Cherish all the moments you have with them and listen to them. Dad is unbelievably smart and my Momma is the most loving mom ever. They really do know what's best so listen to them. Challenge from Chase: if they ask you to do something...just do it. Please. They really are amazing and I realize now everything I took for granted.

A cool quote from my mission pres., "If by the end of your mission you can say you've become more Christ like, your mission has been a complete success".  I thought that was pretty cool and it gave me hope. I was going to say that so far my testimony and love for the church has grown so much, and if that's the only thing that I get from my mission, then it'll be worth it.
love you guys!