Elder Coleman Madsen's Mission Blog: September 17, 2012 Letter

Coleman and his companion at the temple (photo from mission pres blog)

Hello Family and Friends!!

A lot to report on this last week!

We went on an exchange with Elders Clanton and Dunn again this last week. I was with Elder Dunn again, this time in Montgomery. We had a two-day exchange, so I spent Tuesday and Wednesday night there. Wednesday during our lunch hour I was able to see the Martin Luther King Jr. home and take a tour of it. It was a neat, almost spiritual experience for me to see. The marks are still there from where the bomb exploded. A lot of cool history happened in Montgomery.

We had some really good teaching experiences while I was in Montgomery. Tuesday night we had dinner with a man they had met on the street with his family. It turned into a good lesson on our beliefs, and we were able to resolve a lot of their concerns about the church. When you are on exchanges and are in a different area its always a bittersweet experience having good lessons, because you really enjoy them but at the same time you know that you wont be able to teach these people. While we were there we spent a lot of time contacting former investigators. Wednesday night we were able to go on splits with the ward mission leader and teach some of the less active members in the ward. I enjoyed the experiences I had there. While Elders Clanton and Kaupert were in Highland Home Elder Clanton interviewed Cubert and Becky for baptism.

Friday we had the funeral for Chic, the less-active man who died last Sunday. I won't say it was a fun experience, because funerals never really are, but it was good to see the community there to support the family. A lot of the people in the branch were really supportive. Two ladies spent over 30 hours each this week helping the family prepare for the funeral. A brother-in-law who lives in Clanton (out of our area) who is an active member of the church "preached" at the funeral, and dedicated the grave. It was comforting that even though a lot of the family has distanced themselves from the church recently, they still had a Melchizedek Priesthood holder conduct the funeral. Events like this, sad as they are, sometimes open the door for us as missionaries to reach out to those who have experienced loss of a loved one. Hopefully this experience will open those doors.

Friday afternoon Elder Jensen (Elder Kaupert's previous companion) and his companion Elder Zundel came from Hamilton and spent the night with us. Although they didn't teach them the missionary lessons, Elder Kaupert and Elder Jensen did a lot of service for Cubert and Becky before I came, and they wanted him to be able to share the special day with them.

Saturday was the baptism. It was the most spiritual baptism I have ever been to, and everyone else involved said the same thing. A lot of Cubert and Becky's children and their families(who are less actives) came. President and Sister Holzapfel showed up, which was just as much a suprise to us as it was to everyone else. Cubert really enjoyed when President Holzapfel spoke to the branch on Pioneer day, that first Sunday I was here, so he was really happy to see him again. Elder and Sister Callister, the senior missionary couple who came with us to a teaching appointment with Cubert and Becky a month-and-a-half ago, came as well. Everyone was crying. Jerry, Cubert's nephew and the High Priest's group leader in the branch, conducted and gave a talk at the baptism. Elder Kaupert also gave a talk, and I accompanied the hymns and played the interlude music (Highland Home is short on pianists). Everyone involved was spiritually fed. President took pictures which should be on the blog soon. [I have one picture from the event but I think the one he has is better.]

Sunday we were able to confirm them members of the church (I confirmed Becky). Its hard to describe how amazing of an experience this was for me. Suffice it to say I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world right now than Highland Home. I have some more information on the baptism which I will send in a different letter.

Well, a lot to report on, and little time to do it in. This is just a brief summary of some of the good experiences we had this week, it would take me hours and hours to adequately describe them.

Love and Miss yall!