I sure love you North Carolina

my dearest loved ones, 

This week has been filled with every emotion imaginable. I sat in church yesterday with my heart so full of love and admiration for the people of this branch and the people of North Carolina that I have come to know and love. I've been keeping it quiet that my time was coming to a close and yesterday during sacrament meeting President Craven said, It's a tender day today for us and for Sister Webber. It's her last Sunday as a missionary, there was an audible gasp, followed by some very kind and tender words from President Craven that filled my entire soul with so much comfort and peace.

I had my exit interview with President yesterday and my heart just wanted to explode. It was such a wonderful thing. 

It was hard to hold back the tears I've been trying to cover the last six weeks, even the last eighteen months.

As a missionary, it seems that your time will never end, that you'll never return to 'normal' life, and that you'll never see your family again. and then it just comes, and you realize that this land and these people hold your heart and you don't want to leave.

I am grateful for my time as a full time missionary. This sacred experience has taught me more than anything I ever imagined. I am eternally grateful for my loving Heavenly Father who knew I needed this in my life and for my life.

I know I'm coming home this week, but I'll never leave the North Carolina Charlotte Mission. The principles I've learned and applied here have made me a new person. Still Madi, but I now know who I am. When we know who we are, we act differently.

I know this is the work of the Lord. The Doctrine of Christ transforms our lives if we live it! I know God lives! He knows us and loves us and wants us to return to live with Him again. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer! The saving ordinances of the priesthood unlock the Redeeming power of His Atonement in our lives. Through making andkeeping sacred covenants, we change.

Thank you for your endless love and prayers. I could not have done this without each and every one of you.

See you soon. :)

All my love,

Sister Madison Rose Webber

3rd Down 9 Yards To Go

Family,

It has been a faaaantastic week.

Dorothy's baptism was wonderful. She was so nervous. When we pulled into the Durfee's place and she saw the pond she said, "Ohhh me, I'm going to drown." We all were cracking up. It was all so beautiful. We had the entire service outside complete with this tiny little piano that I played hymns on.

Two of her brothers, her mom, and 94 year old aunt came. It was an answer to prayers. We, along with so many of the branch members were praying that her family would come and support her. It was so great to have them there. The Durfee's had a little luncheon all ready for after the baptism for the branch members and her family that came. it was all so perfect.

Also, I reached my big 18 month mark this week, and after district meeting on Wednesday to celebrate, we all went to lunch. It was so fun. I'm going to miss being surrounded by missionaries all the time. They are my best best friends. I love them all so much.

We are teaching some really great people right now! There's a young man who is quite similar to my favorite Dall-yon that just committed to baptism in August. He moved down here from Kentucky a few weeks ago and was meeting with missionaries there and came to church all on his own! He's hilarious. We had dinner with him on Saturday night and I was just dyyyying. I morphed into Madi/Dallin mode and was just laughing my head off the whole time. It made me SO happy.

Miracle story of the week: Sister Simmons lost her ipad the other day and when we came in that night we were searching everywhere in our apartment for it and decided that it was at the church so we went outside to go over there. When we were crossing the street, a girl stuck her head out of the car and said, Are y'all missionaries?? Yes, we are. Who are you.

She went on to tell us how she 'used to be a member', recently moved to stuart, and that six years ago when she was 13 her parents died and she stopped going to church. she said she had seen the church house in stuart but had been too afraid to go on her own because she didn't know anyone.

Sister Simmons never loses her ipad, and it wasn't even at the church. but it happened because God knew where Hannah would be at 9:15pm and that she needed the church back in her life.

It was a miracle! This work is miraculous! I know God is our Heavenly Father!! He loves us! I love all of you too! I'm looking forward to seeing you:) but not until I'm finished here! There's work to be done!

Love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Webber

O

Merica

My loves and lovers,

Happy late 4th of July to you all! It sounds like you all had a great weekend. :) heh heh ;)

Also, someone please wish Noni a happy birthday today for me!! Tell her she doesn't look a day over 30! and that I love her to death!

We have had a wonderful week! The more time that passes, the more tender my heart is about everything that is going on. We had zone meeting this week and I went on my 75th and last exchange. I couldn't believe it. It was really great! I'm grateful I've had the chance to spend so much time with so many different wonderful sisters on my mission. It has been quite a learning experience!

Earlier in the week after we had dinner with our Branch President and his wife, they took us to a lady's house and kept referring to where we were going as "felecia's meeting" There is a well known woman in the area that is known for being very...spiritual, I guess would be a good word to use. and once a week has a meeting at her house where people of all different faiths gather and discuss different topics. I was a little apprehensive when they would talk about it but figured it could be a good teaching opportunity, so we went. Everyone began with a prayer. We all took a turn and it was fascinating to listen to the different prayers offered. Felecia decided that the topic was going to be idols. the subject got changed multiple times throughout the discussion and Sister Simmons and I sat back, observed, and listened.

After time had passed, President Taylor pointed at us and said, the sisters are being pretty quiet! I know they aren't! So Felecia asked us a question about what we thought of idols and asked our opinion of the younger generation. We talked about how anything could be seen as an idol if it's distancing us from God. I referred to a mormon message we had watched earlier that day from Elder Christofferson about daily spiritual sustenance and explained that anything that was keeping us from gaining that daily spiritual sustenance was an idol to some degree and we were putting that before God. She asked what could give us spiritual sustenance and we started listing the typical "sunday school answers", prayer, scripture study, attending church, the sacrament, service, etc.

It was fascinating to watch the reaction of the people in the room. Felecia grabbed a piece of paper and started writing down everything we said and told us this would all be perfect for her addiction class she conducted each week.

I reflected on the experience all evening and over the next several days and thought it was interesting that the simple truths we are taught in nursery and primary to strengthen ourselves spiritually and help us build our relationship with our Father in Heaven was such a novel idea to these people who are so deeply rooted in religion and the Bible. My heart was full of gratitude for the knowledge we have and the constant revelation we receive from a prophet of God on how we can grow spiritually.

It was quite an experience. Felecia is going to be a great member in the very near future. I know it.

The fourth in Patrick County was less than exciting! But we wore our red, white, and blue with pride and watched a sad firework display from our window. They tried though, so that's what really matters, haha. I've been spoiled my whole life with the Cedar Hills fireworks. they just can't compare :)  

I love you all very much. Thank you for all the love and support you so freely give! I know this is Christ's church, lead and guided by living prophets and apostles! I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us perfectly. This is the Lord's work! It is a miraculous thing to be apart of! What a blessing!

Love y'all!!

Love,

Sister Madi Webber

also, they sent me all my travel plans in the mail this week. every time i picked them up, my heart started pounding. ahhhhh its so soon. cant wait to hug you forever:)

Family, Family.....

What a week it has been! I don't even know where to start.

Monday night we had dinner with the branch president and his wife. It was so great. The people here are just the best. They just love you to death and make you feel like a million bucks. They haven't had missionaries much in this area and they truly are so kind and show so much gratitude for everything that Sister Simmons and I do. President and Sister Taylor have a giant great dane named Samson. I was scared of him but we became fast friends. I'll attach a picture. The pictures don't do him justice though. he's huge. also, on the way back from their house they stopped at this place called lover's leap. once again, the camera doesn't do it justice, but just know it was beautiful! This place is beautiful!

Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday were normal days. We walked, and talked, and taught, and had a good time. We volunteer every week at this place called the Jesus House. It's like a thrift shop but it's free. and the funniest southern ladies named rhonda and belinda work there and i just die. I'll have to record them so you can just get a feel for the kind of people i've been surrounded by the last eighteen months. I LOVE THEM ALL.

Friday we had Zone Conference down in Winston-Salem. It was wonderful. Since being in Stuart, it's like we're in our own little mission out here and I forgot what it was like to be in meetings and be with President and Sister Craven and it's only been like three weeks. But zone conference was great! They asked me to train for a bit and it went really well. It was a refreshing meeting and they talked about a lot of really good things. President Craven was so excited for us that we had someone on date. He said, "Let me know exactly when that is. I'm looking for any reason I can to make a trip up to Stuart." Gladly President, gladly! :) hah

During the meeting they talked about the mission president's seminar they had in Atlanta a few months ago and talked about the intensity of Elder Holland's remarks in regards to returned missionaries. Sister Craven said he was weeping to the point that it was difficult for them to understand at times throughout his talk. talking about returning missionaries, He said, "we know that they go home. But we cannot let them go back. They can't ever go back." This simple statement taught an entire sermon on its own. It shows the concern and worry the brethren have for the returned missionaries in the church.

Yesterday, Sister Simmons and I had the opportunity to speak in church! I didn't realize how long it had been since I spoke in church and was pleased with the comfort I felt being behind the pulpit. I prayed so hard that the spirit would be present and teach them something they needed to know. I shared so many personal experiences from my mission, prior to my mission, and stories of my wonderful family. It went really well. Dad, you'd be so proud of how much my speaking skills/willingness to speak have improved. I have a vivid memory from before my mission of you telling me you'd be able to see the growth I'd experience by how willing and able I was to get up and speak in sacrament meeting. :) I'm embarrassed of the internal fit I threw about speaking at my farewell. Ohh the irony. Also, someone in the branch found out I played the piano so you can bet all those piano lesson have been paying off since I've been on a mission. I still freak out a little when they ask me to play at church and at meetings, but I have received divine help when I have to play a song I've never seen before. It's a miracle.

Have I told y'all lately how much I love being a missionary? I wish I could be a full-time missionary forever. I had a dream this week that I was in my interview with President Noble and I was being released. He told me in order to receive my 'honorable release certificate', I had to give him my nametag. It didn't go over well. :) I wanted to keep it on. I kept trying to convince him that I could be home and still be a full-time missionary. I am in awe of the countless miracles I've been blessed to witness as a missionary. After I gave my talk yesterday, I sat and thought about all the miracle stories I shared and thought, MAN. What a blessing. President Craven once in a meeting said, missions aren't a sacrifice, they're a blessing. at first I was slightly defensive about it and thought that my 18 months sure had been a sacrifice, but I've realized, that this sacred time truly is a blessing. a miracle that saved me spiritually.

I am eternally indebted to a loving Heavenly Father who cared for me enough to allow me to serve a mission. I'm changed forever. I'm going home soon, but I can assure you, I won't be going back. :)

I love you so very much! to the moon and back!

Love,

Sister Webber