Elder Heaton's New Friends... ;) ...and a few updates...

(The Real Friends...)

Yeah my mission president is an amazing man. I love him. He's just called me to be a district leader and trainer so I get a greenie fresh from the states! haha but it will be interesting. so elder stokes {companion} is transferring. elder nasis and headman are also leaving so I'll be getting 3 new elders in the house. so we will see what will happen. im excited. a bit nervous for the new leadership but i know with the Lord's help I can do it. I'm loving the work.

The work is going well I am really learning to make and acheive goals. Goals are way important. it helps give us direction in life. in the things we are doing. I wonder if that's why some of us don't progress to our full potential. We find excuses instead of ways. I once told my companion. A good missionary finds ways not excuses. So effective goals and planning for goals is extremely important. Without them we don't receive revelation for ourselves our work or anything else. Goals are what the Lord has given us to help us find what we want in life. It is in the setting and achieving of goals that we progress to happiness, wealth, health, success, and even godly perfection. I have strong testimony that goals help us to move along with life and not get stuck into a plateau. God's plan is a plan of progressing. Being better than you were yesterday. I know thats true.

Being a representative of the Lord is even better but like all things it bring lots of responsibility. if I don't do what im supposed to do or what Christ would do how on earth can I get them to hear this message of truth? How can I show them that what I'm teaching are the words of Christ? Like in spider man, "with great power comes great responsibility" how true it is. We have seen some amazing things here and I don't think that they will stop. I'm loving this work and loving all I'm doing.

Airport Shenanigans... On to Peru!

They had to be at airport at 4:00am to catch a 6:00am flight that got cancelled! This was the day after the ‘big blizzard’ that hit us. Long story but they got another flight out and arrived at the MTC in Lima at 2:00am (12:00am MST) Nov 24th. Dane is the one in the funny Peruvian hat!

Elder Madsen's last Provo update!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Provo MTC

Thanks mom so much for all the packages you sent me. I love all of them and so did my comps, district and zone with all of the treats lolz. I’m doing great and all is well here. I’m totally focused and barely think of home at all. I’m getting lost in the work but can still do better. Things are hard but the spirit is strong and I love it here and love what I’m doing. I can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks since I got here. Wow time flies. I can’t wait to get out to Peru and can’t wait so serve the lord. I’m gonna send a lot more letters and stuff home today when I write to tell you more about stuff. I love you all so so so so much. I love my family and love the gospel and love my mission work. I got to go to the temple and was able to see Uncle Mike again today and was able to give him a huge long hug at the veil. That felt so amazing and I really felt the spirit when I did. Tell him thanks and that will probably be the last time I go to the Provo temple while I’m here cause we leave at 6 am next Wed. We might try and do a Tues sesh but we will see what happens. Well hope all is going well at home. I love all of you so so so much. Keep the letters and stuff coming I love them and tell Lynda and Judy and gma Madsen thanks for the letters. You all will be getting letters from me today hopefully and keep the letters coming. But I want you to know that I love all of you so much and I’m doing great. Don’t worry about me. I love it here and all is going amazing. I can’t wait to be in Peru in 8 days. I’ll write a lot of letters and send them home soon. No worries. Love all of you so much and I’ll talk to you soon.

Dane

Photos from Elder McGavin!

Elder Madsen Provo MTC Update!

Wednesday November 10, 2010

Provo MTC

Hey family,

Sorry I forgot to tell you my companion’s name is Elder Biliter. He’s from Florida and went to BYU Hawaii for a year so he is a surfer dude and hates the cold but he’s nuts and we get along perfectly together. Even though he’s a Cougar, I still love him lol. He wants Erika to write to him lol.  Thanks for writing to dear elder. I get those and letters everyday but emails only on pday which is on Wednesday.  So my roommates are so so awesome and so funny and my district is so tight and so funny. We have 8 elders and 4 sisters in my district so it’s a good size and they’re all awesome. Our zone is all Spanish and they’re pretty sweet too. One of my elders in my district wants an autographed book by John if that’s at all possible. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions this week but I can’t believe that a week has gone by already.  It was long days but fast weeks. It’s crazy.  I love the spirit here and the work is so so hard. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done but I’m loving it and I’m not gonna quit!!  We get up at six twenty am every day and have class and study time for so so long. Ahh it kills me but we get exercise time everyday so I won’t go insane and get too fat. I’m eating so much here. The food isn’t the best but it’s not that bad. The MTC is pretty sweet and the spirit here is strong. Today we got to go to the temple and I got to see Uncle Mike and it was so nice to see him and it was really nice to go to the temple. It recharged my battery. Good luck with the Rosetta stone. Start now, you’re gonna need it. Spanish is confusing but I’m getting there slowly but surely. I hope I get fluent before I go to Peru but doubt it lol. Tell momma Heaton I love her and I hope I can get on to see the blog. I love you mom and dad and the girls too. I can’t wait to see the family pictures. Give Zeus a big hug for me and let him sleep on my bed lol, I miss cuddling with him. Hope to hear from you soon and give my love to everyone.

Peace and much love

Elder Madsen

Elder Madsen and Elder Biliter

Provo MTC District

Elder Madsen's first letter from the MTC!

So today was pretty sweet. The MTC is so so so so sweet. I got to see Jace, Devin, Sam Sherrif, Eric, and Bobby Shiazawa. I’m lovin it and I can’t write again till next week but it’s all good. I’m trying to get settled in and we’re just getting use to the rules and what’s going on. I got to wear a orange dot so people know I’m a rookie. and my comp is so so so so so sweet. He’s from Florida and there is another companionship that is going to the same mission as me the same day too. I’m so so so stoked and I’m ready to do this. Forward this to whoever wants to read it. Anyways stay strong and have fun. and tell everyone I love them and I’m having a blast. My district is sweet and my comp is way tight. Well I’ll have more next week. Much love

Elder Madsen 

Dane

Elder Madsen entered the MTC on November 3, 2010.

He will be serving in the Lima, Peru East Mission.