Sister Madeline Brown: Week 14 - Nebraska City

Hello! I've been out for 3 months this week!! Crazy how time flies.

This week was probably the craziest week of my mission so far.

Tuesday we had a blizzard and got 10 more inches of snow on top of the 13 that was already on the ground, and we weren't allowed to go outside that day so we played lots of cards and painted a ton.

Wednesday we went knocking in Auburn and we weren't having any luck, then we came to this building in the neighborhood we were in and we couldn't tell if it was a house or a church, (this happens a lot in the midwest) so we just knocked anyway and immediately there was a man screaming at us from inside asking who was there and we just replied "the Sister Missionaries" and he continued to scream so we were about to just leave, then he opened up the door and that's how we met Jordan. He told us that it wasn't a house, it was an abandoned church, I asked if he was restoring it (because the inside was torn apart and cluttered with pipes and tools and wires) and he replied, "Nah, I live here. I'm a bum." This is when we realized he was also on drugs. We told him why we knocked and he started crying and said he was so happy to see us but told us he wasn't really interested in our message, but would love to talk, so he told us about how he thinks Jesus was a monk in Asia and how the Rasta movement and "free love" was the best thing that happened to the world, then gave us some of his rock collection and sent us on our way.

Thursday we went to Lincoln and had our last district council for the transfer, which was really sad.

Friday JOEI WAS BAPTIZED!!! we all went to Lincoln together and her whole family came! (Which is a miracle) the spirit was so strong and you could see she was just glowing. We love her so much and she has been working so hard towards this step in her life, it was a really amazing service. She chose Mosiah 18:21 for her baptism scripture and it was perfect. I'd recommend reading and pondering that scripture sometimes.

Sunday we had a beloved ward member pass away. This small ward is such a tight-knit family so it took a toll on all the members. It was a sad day, we went and just shared scriptures and prayers and comforted the family and friends. He will be missed, but there is hope in the Plan of Salvation, and I know he is having a happy reunion with his parents and his brothers and sisters that have also passed on.

I love you all so much, and I love hearing from you all even though sometimes I don't have a lot of time to reply to all of you.

I know this Gospel that I have the opportunity to share is true, and that patience brings blessings. hahaha. The Lord's timing is perfect.