The coolest thing was when...

[I’m a little slow getting this out, but here is Madsen’s email from last week (October 5)]

This week went by really slowly but I learned a lot from it.

On Tuesday we met with Cam and talked about his baptism for a little bit then the rest of the day Elder Nielsen packed and I sent out texts to the guys in our ward asking them to extend the invitation to watch conference to their friends. Then we got to go to transfer meeting. It was a fun time but I definitely liked it much more when I didn't have to worry about getting a new companion. I'm still in the San Clemente YSA ward but now I am with Elder Davies. He is from Cedar City, Utah and did a year at SUU before he came on his mission, he has only been out here for one transfer more than I have (6 weeks) making our area one of the youngest in the missions since all four of us have been out less than 6 months.

We had a ton of meetings this week because it is the first week of the transfer but we were able to get some good lessons in with Cam and Ross. We were able to set a baptism date with Ross which was awesome. He is so faithful and wants so much to serve God and even plans to serve a mission when he is allowed to.

I was extremely stressed for much of the week because of Cam and his baptism. Because he is from Lebanon, President Orgill wants to make sure that his family will be safe if he gets baptized. In discussing this with Cam we learned that his mother lives in Syria so President Orgill wants to meet with Cam before the baptism happens. I spent much of the week in prayer and fasting regarding this situation hoping it would all work out and that Cam would get baptized on Saturday. Unfortunately President is a very busy man and didn't have time. When I got the call that we would have to move the baptism I had to hold back tears because of how disappointed I was. I felt like my fast was a waste of time and I was sad that we would have to wait to baptize Cam even though he is so ready. I was sad for Cam because I know how much he wants to get baptized and confirmed and make that covenant with Heavenly Father. As I thought about it all I realized how important this General Conference was and that if his baptism had gone on as scheduled I would not have been able to watch the Saturday morning session because I would have been filling the font and that because of that I would have missed some answers to questions I had. Our hope is that President will meet with Cam this week and that he will get baptized this coming Saturday and then the next Sunday is when we have Ross' date set so there is a lot of good stuff happening here.

Last night was amazing too. Down at Camp Pendleton I had the opportunity to give a blessing to a marine who wasn't a member, unbeknownst to me, but who wanted some help. In the blessing I felt prompted to mention that he should remember the promises that he has made with God, again I thought he was a member so I was thinking stuff like baptismal covenants, and then that he should also remember the things he has been taught and that as he did so he would be guided and protected through his training. After the blessing he talked about how he promised God he would serve him and that he was a lot closer to God as a child and was just starting to try to build that relationship again. The coolest thing was when we were talking about it he said that as I gave the blessing he was almost positive that he could hear somebody telling me what I should say to him! The faith that these boys, because they are boys just the same age as me, have as they serve our country is amazing and I'm so glad that I am worthy to hold the priesthood and bless the lives of others through it.

General Conference was amazing. All those who spoke are called of God and teach His truths. Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet today called by God to lead and guide us in these days and I love him and all them members of the first presidency and the Quorum of the 12 so much. I know with all my being that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father and that His Son and our brother Jesus Christ truly did suffer for our mistakes and our shortcomings and that he paid the price so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again someday. He is our greatest example and should be our best friend because no matter what we are going through he will always be there to support and strengthen us. I know that this gospel is Christ's true church established on the Earth today and that we are guided by prophets, seers, and revelators who commune with our Father and Christ. I love serving them and bringing the lost sheep back into the fold. These People are good and I need to be with them.

Love

Elder Cheever