November 13, 2012 letter

Coleman playing at the Zone Conference

Happy Early Birthday Mom!

Family and Friends,

Sorry I wasn't able to write yesterday! The public library was closed due to Veteran's Day.

As you've probably seen on the mission blog, we had a Zone Conference last Thursday. This is actually the first Zone Conference I've ever had (not including the multi-zone conference in August. It went really well. The musical numbers I organized turned out. It's hard putting three different numbers together in 20 minutes, but we sang some easier hymns and luckily we have some singers in our zone.

Even though I don't (or at least shouldn't) follow politics on my mission, I couldn't help overhearing the outcome of the presidential election last Tuesday. Tuesday night we were teaching a lesson at an investigator's house, and when we left Florida was tied up with 75% of the votes counted. I was more than slightly disappointed with the outcome, but I have faith that God let happen what needed to happen. I think it's just important that we fast and pray for our leaders, regardless of their party affiliation. We live in turbulent times today, and our leaders need all the prayers they can get. [Did the education measures pass?]

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but as part of my personal study each morning I've been reading 30 minutes of the Book of Mormon. I started a little bit before I got transferred here, and I'm now about half-way through Alma. I think there's something special about reading the Book of Mormon cover-to-cover that you don't get just studying chapters or verses from it. I feel that when you read it in its entirety you really improve your understanding of how it fits together. I've really been enjoying my personal studies lately, especially reading about the Book of Mormon missionaries (Alma, Amulek, Sons of Mosiah etc.).

It has been another kind of slow week. We've done a lot of tracting and have a few new investigators, though none who are really interested in what we have to say (at least yet). We went to Fort Deposit for the first time yesterday, and tracted a little up there. We are still teaching Patrick, although he hasn't progressed very much this week. We've done a lot of service the last few days for a family (members), helping them clean up their house to be inspected later this month. They hope to move into an apartment soon. 

We do have a lot of investigators right now, just not a whole lot who are really motivated to really pray and find out if what we say is true. Some feel the spirit, and feel that what we are saying is true, but we just have got to get them to act on what they feel. The work sometimes is frustrating when people don't keep commitments, but it's still a great work and its great to be a part of it.

I am excited for the Boise Temple re-dedication this week, even though I won't be there for it. I hope that all of the members there have an opportunity to see it.

I love you all!

Elder Coleman Madsen

photos courtesy of Mission President's Blog:

Coleman and another missionary practice discussion techniques