Touring Cusco (A Missionary Update)

I've been so busy lately that it's become easier to post every two weeks for the Sweetest Missionary Ever. I hope we actually have some readers out there! Marissa is loving her mission, but missionary life isn't easy. It's a lot of work. You can support Marissa by writing her e-mails often, at least once a month. Share what's going on in your life with her, but don't remind her too much of home, if that makes sense. Be encouraging and she'd love it if you share your favorite scripture verse(s) with her, favorite hymn or something else that is spiritually uplifting. I'll include Marissa's email addy at the end of this post. Enjoy the photos!

We were very happy to hear that Marissa received her first care package from us, with every single item I had included. It was costly to send, but she's totally worth it! We will be sending her another package in June, so if you'd like to contribute, let me know. We are very happy with the private mail service we found. They got her package directly to the mission home.

On one of her p-days, the whole group of missionaries were treated to lunch at Chile's. Yum! (A p-day happens once a week and is a missionary's personal day for emailing home, getting laundry done, and a little bit of approved fun.)

One day, all the missionaries were celebrating an elder's birthday.

There were two cakes, but one ended up on the floor. Marissa said everyone's reactions were pretty funny to watch.

Marissa and Hermana Sosa, who will soon be going home as she is finishing up her mission.

Marissa did not give me much details about these photos, except that she was touring part of Cusco and learning some of the history. I'd love to hear about the last photo! Maybe you could ask her about it! Her email is: marissa.madsen@myldsmail.net 

If you'd like to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what we believe, you can visit my faith page on this blog. You can also visit lds.org or Mormon.org. 

Dobby (A Missionary Update)

This update covers two weeks...

Giving service in a bakery

I loved General Conference and was so happy to be able to watch it in English, although we had a couple of scares when we had no connection. We were all surprised to hear about the changes to home and visiting teaching, and to hear about seven new temples. We were all so happy. 

Did Marcus tell you about Dobby? She's this dog that seems to have adopted us and some days she'll follow us around. We've had to chase her out of stores. She's here with us today in the computer place. She has also followed us on buses until we led her off and left her. She makes me happy. I love her so much.

I love your emails, I look forward to them all week. That is, when I'm not busy thinking about my investigators. We have made lots of progress this week. The other week we were walking and heard someone talking about our church, except I wasn't sure I was hearing it correctly. When my companion turned and introduced herself, I knew that I did.

Celebrating a birthday

One of the guys we visited this week came to church. He has this cute daughter, so quiet but so cute. I got to bring her to Primary and since they had no teacher, my companion and I got to teach. So that was fun. The kids were rowdy so we played some games with them. Games in Spanish are difficult for me, but I can keep up and they are all patient and helpful.

Marissa often walks up and down this mountain

We've visited a recent convert as well, my companion actually knows him from Quillaybamba. He's 13 (14?) and so we had a lesson with him and his brother (another convert) and friends. Then we played games, in which I'm sure I didn't say a thing right, but I tried. I actually know a lot of thing games, but in Spanish it's almost like new. 

Hermana Madsen, Miguel, and Hermana Garcia

We have been over at the pizzeria a lot. Sometimes for an emergency bathroom break. The guys are fun and they let us help out. I get to wash dishes. We got to wait tables one day as they were short handed. There's only three of them that work there: Oscar and his wife, and Evar. Their little kid runs around, making noise and wanting to play with us. The day that Evar wasn't there, we helped wait tables and clean up after customers. They sometimes feed us, sometimes pizza, sometimes another dish. 

She not only ministers to people, but to animals as well!

It's weird but whenever I start singing in English, people ask me to continue singing. I've also been asked to sing in English. It's a little unnerving, but since I love singing I'm ok with it.

Love, Hermana Madsen

                          

Please email Marissa! She told me she hasn't heard from many extended family members or friends. Please pray for our missionaries as well, as they bring the light of Christ, and his gospel to those searching for spiritual truth in an ever-darkening world.

Marissa's email is: marissa.madsen@myldsmail.net 

March Recap

March was a busy month for our family because David, Zach, and Marcus tackled a remodeling project which turned our house upside down! It all started when David decided to make better use of our family junk room den by transforming it into my craft room. In one Saturday, everything was taken out of that room and the carpeting was ripped up. For weeks afterwards, we lived with clutter in our upstairs hallway (for lack of another location) while the guys worked hard to design, paint, build, and assemble.

Here is the reveal...

It turned out wonderfully, don't you think? Some of my nieces and nephew were the first to try it out when they visited us Easter weekend.

Other happenings last month...

I took dairy out of my diet to see if I have a food sensitivity. I ended up trying some new recipes and some were vegan. I especially loved the vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I made. Yum!

David had spinal implant surgery for his pain. He was really sore for days afterwards, but now his back is healing nicely and he's feeling a lot better.

We got more snow. We also had pretty yellow flowers poking out of the ground in my first ever tulip/crocus garden. I can't wait 'til they are in full bloom!

Our month ended on a beautiful note- General Conference and Easter weekend all wrapped up together. Zach had a friend over, and our niece, Heidi, and her boyfriend joined us as well to watch the sessions, eat a ham and potato salad dinner, go on an egg hunt and dye eggs. Lots of fun!

For any family reading this, stay tuned for an update from the Sweetest Missionary Ever. She's having a delightful time serving the people (and animals) of Cusco. If you haven't written her lately, please do so! Email her at: marissa.madsen@myldsmail.net