{23 Months}

Well guys, it's here.

In less than one month, my best friend will be back for good.

I've run out of words to describe just how excited I am! I truly can't believe it's this close.

Cya in 26 days Elder (:

Last Package

Today things got REAL real. 

No more stamps.

No more tracking numbers.

No more questions about if my package has anything that will blow up. 

No more decorating the flaps of boxes.

I'm sure I'll miss it, but as I struggled to cut paper to perfectly fit the sides of that box, I was sure I wouldn't miss it a bit. (;

Theme:

"Finish Strong"

Contents:

-pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe/kit

& a bunch of healthy/protein/"strong" treats!

Kept it real simple because...

He's coming home!

Caden {10.26.15}

Well today we are in Lebanon, MO. Yesterday we were in Springfield and the day before we were in Bentonville. Today we are going to St. Roberwood/Ft. Leonardwood. It is so fun to be on the road but the blow up mattress is less then ideal. Still way better than the floor!:)

Caden {10.18.15}

Well... my days as an office assistant are through..... after much prayer, discussion and council: President Loveland is going to put me in as Traveling Assistant. Unfortunately I don't have an address to give.... as we will be living out of a suit case in the trunk of our car and sleep in other missionaries apartments as we pass through. This gives us the chance to do more hands on training with the Zone Leaders and troubled areas. I am very excited and blessed to have this opportunity. There will still be Assistants in the office that cover 3 of the zones near by and we will be over the remaining 10 zones. Most of the zone leader areas are split so it will be pretty busy! About 60% of the missionaries in the mission have not yet hit there 7 month mark. Me and my companion (Elder Brown) are ready for the challenge! 

Here in Bentonville:

Doug McMillon (Walmart CEO) is a potential investigator that we can't get in touch with. Due to the major drop in stocks, which was planned, there were a few lay offs and his house is surround by police officers and undercover agents that we saw! They are not really trusting us. Especially cause a few of them are members of the church. They escorted him in after his recent trip to China;)

We had a very powerful lesson with Diann and committed her to baptism. The family from last week is going to be hard to say goodbye to! I love those kids! I TRULY hate to be leaving because of her and everyone in this area! I have loved a lot of areas pretty quickly, and there are still people in other wards I love more... but if I could I would get those people and bring them to this area! It is SOOOO amazing and supportive and the people LOVE being members and high activity rate and the gospel is so powerful here. We keep finding and having really good lessons. Not to mention that they all work for Walmart or own their own well know companies so that is just kinda fun! I love you all! I don't know how the next few weeks will be yet so just in case....

I love you tons!!! See ya in 6 weeks:)

Much Love,

Elder Madsen 

Caden {10.12.15}

Okay... well it has been a GOOOOOOD while since I emailed... so I never really updated y'all but on Saturday we had three baptisms! 3 little kids in a part member family and I just love the whole family! They have helped my testimony SO much lately. We had a lesson with them last night and Cami (the mom) invited her friend to join... her friend was VERY opposed to the thought of our church. She is a dovoted pentacostal and she didn't plan on that changing. The Book of Mormon changed that for her.. she said "if there is more truth out there.... I better humble myself and accept it! I NEED to be close to God". How neat is that!?! So we are going to teach her. It was just a really fun experience. The last few weeks were just crazy but so fun. I have gotten to see Morg a lot and I got to hang out with my man Elder Gordon "Uncle Gordon". It has been an awesome few weeks. This coming week we are getting ready for transfers! I have 51 or so days..... that is only 1 transfer and 9 days.... holy cow! I love you all so much! have a blessed week and Jesus loves you.

{22 Months}

22 Months!

"On top of the world" because that cute boy has been serving for a real long time!

Good thing too, because I am obviously running out of ideas for these pictures. Lol. 

No but I am overwhelmed with how soon this is happening.

Don't get me wrong, totally excited. 

But woo. 

Never thought I'd make it to this point alive.

We have very minimal communication recently with his new calling and my chaotic life, but we've made it work and things are so good. (:

Caden {9.13.15}

Well this week Morgan came into the mission and it was super awesome! I was SOOOO excited to see him. I missed him a ton! My new companion is SUPER cool. I met him at the start of his mission and it has been way fun to know him through out this time and now serve with him! Christy got baptized and I was able to get up there to perform it!:) Also some good fun with Elder McKenzie and Jones.

Caden {9.8.15}

Well right now I am in the mission office in Bentonville. I was transferred here yesterday but it was supposed to be Thursday. So my work as an Assistant covering the Bentonville 1st ward has begun. It has already been VERY eventful with a lot of work. I will be going back to Willard Saturday to perform her baptism. I am so excited! Love you all:) We had a kid named Luke on a practice mission with us for a week! I set up my hammock (which I had to take back down) and I saw Elder Reynolds. Everything is going well:) 

{21 Months}

21 Months!

Ahh time is flying by!!

During this month, I started working at two different dental offices and I love it!!

At one I'm a pediatric assistant --- so I get to clean kids teeth all day.

At the other I'm a Dental Hygienist Assistant --- so I get a glimpse of my future life.

School is.. busy. 

But busy and I get along quite nicely, so I'm pretty darn happy with how things are going!

Caden is doing really good too! 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to drag him home in a couple months because he loves it there.

He is currently serving in Bentonville, Arkansas as an AP {assistant to the president}

Which.. is huge.

I'm so proud of him and so glad all of his hard work has payed off!

Him and his companion, Elder Whitehead, are kept pretty dang busy but they're having so much fun!

Only three more months til I have my BFF back.

Caden {8.31.15}

Well this is Elder Madsen here.... It was a really good week! Our Zone has been doing awesome! The missionaries here are very hard working and neat people! Right now Morgy is in the MTC waiting to come better the work out here! Well we had a surprise party for Christy this week! She completely quit smoking so we got some balloons and streamers and made her close her eyes while us and the exchange decorated her house REALLY fast and ya... it was not much but she was very surprised and refused to be in the picture! She is still on date for Sept. 12th. We are really excited for that! We had a blood moon last night! That was neat. I have a really nice outfit today! BE JEALOUS!! And I had a perfect knot. It has happened before but this one was just to prime!

I love and miss you all very much! In the double digits now!!!!!! Love Elder Madsen!

Caden {8.24.15}

Things sure have been speeding up a little but it has been not too fast! It is just exciting to see how it all plays out! Morg goes to the MTC on Wednesday and then comes here to me! Wyatt is home and has not emailed me....... he also can’t get over the fact that Kayla hasn't broke up with me and we are still serious. Tehehehe. It was a really good week! I loved it! We hung out with Spencer and Blain Rasmussen and that was a blast for sure! It involved some bubbles and my camera and I also got the chance to give a blessing that was extremely powerful! I don’t know how it will end up but I was grateful for the opportunity I had to give it! The young lady was very in tune! I don’t think she realized how in tune she was. But if nothing else it helped my testimony! I got to see a couple people from Neosho at the church building. That was fun! We ate at some guy’s house that made soooooooo much food. We were all sick when we left! Then went to do service. People. Clean your freaking houses. Thanks! Don’t let it get to the point that missionaries have to come in and fix it! As we were cleaning, everyone in the house lightened up. It was more spiritual in there! Please people. Love Jesus.... clean your houses! And I got to see one of the Elders that sat in on Trav's conversion! Elder McKee lives here in Missouri and is a member of the ward i am over! He was recently in an 18 wheeler role over but doing fine!!!!! Hahah he showed me this record of Travy getting baptized. I thought that was pretty dang cool!

Caden {8.17.15}

Well it has been a LONG week. We had MLC and then a missionary gone home:/ and then many other things that have just tried to halt the work and in the end we hit the standard and had a really fun week! Elder Merryweather was with us for a few days along with cute Elder Whitehead! Love that guy:) We got up to play ball at 4:50 this morning and that was super fun! Just a good crazy week.

Caden {8.10.15}

Well it was a great week! This was by far one of my best birthdays ever! I got surprised from my mom and Kayla and of course that involved the rest of my family but that were the activists! Goodness I loved this weekend! Lots of love from everyone! I am slightly overwhelmed by it all! But I appreciate everyone that participated in the surprises and I even went for a ride in a Tesla S 80 D. It was soooo sweet! I loved this week besides all that because I got to butcher a liver, brain, and testicles of a cow! And oh ya we got pics! Oh ya and an alligator snapping turtle!... Very not okay but it works.

August 8, 2015

Happy 21st Elder Madsen!

August 8, 1994 was the day that my all-time best friend was born! Today he turned 21 and I can hardly believe it! Of course, I can't say I've known him that entire time, but I have known him since he was 16 and I can say that I absolutely love and adore the man that he has become! Each and every day he surprises me and gets even better and better and I love him so much.

Cade, I hope you've been having the best day and know how much we all would like to celebrate this day with you!

You are loved and cared for by more people than you'll ever be able to imagine.

Hope you have the best birthday sweetheart! 

Birthday Package:

This Elder is all about Batman, so this year I decided to send him a superhero themed package!

Hope he loves it and all it's dinky-ness.

Birthday Video:

P.S. definitely didn't forget your birthday you silly guy (; 

{20 Months}

Guess my first customer at the new job knew today was a big deal. 😉2⃣0⃣⬇️

Just kidding….. 

But my brother gave me the twenty, so does that count? Hahah!

But in non-sarcastic news..

- I'm now waitressing at Su Casa until school starts

- Caden is still in Willard, MO

- He is still Zone Leader but he is also training a brand new Elder

And…

He comes home in four more months!! Ahh!

Caden {8.3.15}

First little bit with Elder Ashby is going well. We had an awesome week and hit the FULL standard. So that is always good. We have an awesome zone and our zone did the best percentage wise the past week! I am really excited about that:) But we did go to Lambert’s with good food, throwed rolls and good people and I had to say good bye to some of my best friends:( but I will see them at my homecoming (that is a threat not an invitation.)Well I love yall:)

P.S. I almost forgot!!! WE ATE NUTS!!!!

Caden {7.27.15}

Well....... I am still going to be a zone leader but there is a little twist on it! Normally I would have my companion be a zone leader as well cause that is just how it works, but this time i am going to be training a brand new missionary! I am really excited about this:) I am also proud to say that Elder Chapman, Wyatt, and (drum roll) Elder Porter is training! I am super proud of them and I Love that Elder Porter is birthing my Grandson the same time I am getting his Brother ;). I am really excited about this. Out of 24 zone leaders there are only 2 of us that are training. I feel very blessed because I love training so much and me makes me think about my Miho Elder Nelson! I really miss that kid:) I hope you all are well and I miss ya! The baptism went VERY well. The confirmation was a really good experience and I am so grateful Jesse asked me to perform that. While visiting her we had a really crazy imminent threat thunderstorm warning that LITERALLY formed over our heads! It was soooooo cool. Never seen that before:)

Caden {7.20.15}

So Monday, Bentonville for MLC. Lasted two days so we came home Tuesday. Then some Prep day stuff on Wednesday and then Tulsa on Thursday which was interesting and really fun! Then proselyting like crazy the weekend days and still got our standard done and had an awesome week! Still planning on Jesse's baptism on the 25th and bowling with her today! And on Wednesday night the Assistants stayed over for an exchange! It was a good week.

P.S. we went through a fire right next to us on the highway!

Caden {7.15.15}

We had MLC Monday and Tuesday so email day is this day! It was an awesome week last week and so far this week. Everything is going well. We are ALWAYS super busy. The Loveland’s are really neat and fitting in very well. We are just getting better. He is just pushing harder on the stuff we were already doing. We worked cattle which involves shots, castration (if they are young steers) and tagging their ears! We done got some cow balls to fry up and hiked a waterfall. I really love the picture after MLC with the 6 missionaries in front of the Garden of Eden which IS NOT what you might think it is. Promise it is not a warm and fuzzy type of place unless with in the bonds of marriage between male and female (can’t wait;)) ya! Just a lot of awesome stuff. I love and miss you all.

Much love,

EM

Caden {7.6.15}

Took the loot from an old time friend. Thumb still very damaged and I look great in red;) You're welcome world! Hahah this week was awesome. We DOUBLED the standard of excellence. We taught 43 lessons with 4 new investigators. 2 at church and kept 64% mp. It was all around an awesome week and the zone is doing really good too. I only have 5 months left which is really strange but exciting!!! President Loveland is such an awesome guy! I am very excited for these next five months. He fits in very well with this mission. 4th was good.... nothing too special. But fun. Jessie will be baptized on the 25th so that should be really awesome! Me and Paventy are still going strong pagan!

{19 Months}

Is it too obvious I'm back in the USA or? (;

I'm happy to be back and even happier to know that Elder Madsen has been out for 19 whole months!

It's going to be different getting/writing letters again.. haha

But I'm SO excited to send him my journal of the past six months this week (: