Mini Bennie

Seventh Floor High

Week 20: Seventh Floor High

This week was super awesome!  I can't believe I've already been gone for 20 weeks though...  That's like, 1/5 of my mission!! 

This week we had a really good lesson with M-!  We talked to him about more of the commandments and he agreed to live them!  He'd already been working on them by himself, which is super legit!  Oh, and he and M- are engaged now!!  Craziness!!!  :D It's so awesome to see him progress.  His baptism is scheduled for November 16th, and I know he's gonna be able to be baptized that day! So cool!! 

I also got to talk to C- this week.  She's doing great! We haven't been able to meet with her in a while, because she teaches elementary school and so her life is crazy right now; but I think she's still doing well. It's awesome just to get to see her regardless because she's such a nice person!

We had another lesson with M- this week too.  He said he really wants to get to church again because he gained so much from coming last time, and he also brought one of his friends to our lesson.  It is rewarding to see M- is doing great, and his friend A- is interested as well! 

We had a really cool opportunity this week.  It's stake conference for us, and on Friday they had a meeting in the seventh floor general assembly room in the temple.  We asked permission from President Cooke and he said we could go.  It was such a special, and spiritual experience.  We got to hear from the temple matron and president.  There are only two temples in the world that do seventh floor meetings, and so I'm really blessed to have gotten to go.  I just felt closer and closer to home as I walked higher and higher up the stairs. It has definitely strengthened my testimony, and my conversion. 

Transfers are this week, you asked about how these work. It usually works like this: Saturday night we get a voicemail that says whether we're staying or not in our area.  If we are leaving, we know to pack our things for Wednesday.  Wednesday at transfers meeting they tell everyone their new areas and new companions as well as introduce the new missionaries. 

So, turns out both Elder Horowitz and I are staying in our current assignment.  At first I was confused, and a little surprised to be honest, but throughout Sunday I had a few conversations and experiences that showed me its important for me to stay in this area for the time being; I have more to do here. 

Anyway, it's been a stellar week, and I'm excited to see how transfers play out! 

Love and miss you all!

Elder Sorensen

Staying Positive

Week 19: Staying Positive

So, looking back on my week I'm noticing something really interesting. Numbers wise and appointments wise and such it was the worst week I've had out here, by far.  And generally I'd be really upset with myself, and frustrated and want to be down on myself and probably consider quitting and just going home cause I'm a cruddy missionary.  That's what high school me would have said.  But through the whole week I just felt so happy, and full of peace and joy!!  I look back and I don't think what a crappy week, but I look back and see some cancelled appointments, and lots of room to improve!  And I'm excited about that!  I don't know, it's weird.  I'm definitely gaining a greater testimony of bearing our trials through faith, and knowing that everything will work out how it should as long as I follow the spirit, and keep learning and growing, as I should! 

But, I'll talk about a few things that happened this week because stories are always fun!  So, there's this guy named S- in our ward who got baptized in June.  He got baptized in a different ward, but then moved his records over here.  Anyway, he's been going through a rough time because his godmother, the one who introduced him to church, passed away.  I know it was tough for him, and then he we had no idea where he went.  Well, we finally were able to meet with him this week! We brought the Ward mission leader, Jason, and he and S- just talked about a lot of similar experiences that they've had. They were able to connect really well.  I'm so glad that we were able to find him, and that Jason was able to make it that day!  It was great! 

I got to go bowling this week!  One of our investigators, J-, took us with A-, his fiancée who is in our ward.  It was super fun, and we were able to share a spiritual thought before we left also!  J- is seriously awesome, and I'm so glad I've gotten to know him.  I just feel so overwhelmed out here all the time because of all the amazing people the Lord allows me to meet and interact with.  I am so happy I have to opportunity to serve a mission and to meet all these great people!! I'll wrap this up before I explode with feelings. All in all it was
an awesome week!

My Birthday Was Great

Week 18: My birthday was great!!!

This week was sweet! We had a few good appointments; most of our appointments cancelled on us though. Lame! There was a challenge this week from Elder Lussier-Houle. He made everyone in the district sign a contract that said if we don't meet our goals this week we will have to eat a scotch bonnet pepper for district meeting tomorrow. Well, it took tons of effort and Facebook teaching finally saved us and got us our last goal! Woot! We were the only ones in the district to meet all their goals, so we get to watch everyone else suffer. There will be videos sent home of that. 

Other than that what happened this week......Oh yeah!! I turned 19! Haha, I had a fantastic birthday filled with good appointments, and good friends and good food! On my birthday, we had Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch, then went to some appointments and stuff. Ryan took us to sushi for dinner and then we had a lesson. Finally we went to Ryan's house for cake and presents. They got me lots of pumpkin spice flavored stuff, and Jason got me a really nice ping pong paddle!! It's sweet! I got your package that morning! It was really nice to have that cool stuff! :) I missed you guys a lot. 

Another big thing is that Saturday was my 4 month mark! 1/6th of the way done already?! I don't believe it. Anyway, I'm hoping our investigators don't cancel on us again this week! Urgh! On a good note, M- is doing awesome! He's totally investigating for himself now, and I can tell he really wants to learn and progress! The joys of being a missionary abound! Haha, I love you guys tons! Have a fantasmalistic week!

Elder Sorensen

Conference Week

Week 17:  Conference Week

This past week seemed a bit slow- lots of our investigators were too busy during the week to meet with us. Plus, Zone Conference and General Conference took up lots of our time. 

We had a really good lesson with M.  His baptism is going to be on November 16^th which will be next transfer.  This is sort of sad because I might be out of the area by then. But, it'll all work out.  His little brother plays lacrosse and is into all the Con Bro Chill stuff, so M has seen it and I have someone to express my inner LAX-er with.  Shang hai!

Oh, we also finally met K.  He is one of Elder Rummler’s and Elder Archibald’s investigators who left for the summer. We were finally able to set up a meeting with us for Thursday night!  It was awesome!  He's pretty cool, and I think he'll start to progress really well soon. 

We got at least seven of our investigators to watch one+ sessions of conference!!  I was so stoked to hear about that!!!  I hope they were able to take as much away from it as I did.

One night this week we went to visit one of our less actives.  As we were standing on his doorstep I saw the most horrifying thing of my life.  A spider, not a tarantula, but it was at least the size of my hand. It haunts my thoughts and dreams. It was so big! Things shouldn't be that big.....Bleh!! 

Oh!  I remembered what else happened this week!  We had some conference, which took up a lot of our week.  Anyway, it was a pretty good week, and yeah, it'll be a great birthday week.  Jason, the ward mission leader, is going be hanging out with us that day.  I'm anticipating a good week!!!

Stay safe! 

Elder Sorensen

Elder Sorensen's Birthday!

Elder Sorensen's Birthday is next Thursday, October 9th!
He would love any letters and emails wishing him a Happy Birthday!
Email- bsorensen@myldsmail.net
Address- 6210 Belcrest Rd. apt # 1310
                 Hyattsville, MD 20782

Car Maintenance Meeting

Week 16:  Car Maintenance Meeting

Anyway, this week we had a few pretty sweet experiences!  I think the first I'll talk about is getting our car’s oil changed.  Now you might be thinking, “Oh yeah that's great that your car didn't break cause your oil was low,” but it's actually what happened while we were waiting.

We took it in on Thursday and they said it would be two hours so we were like... Eh.   We set up an appointment for Friday at 1 o’clock instead.  Well, it was still two hours (more like two and a half); but while we were waiting inside the shop there was a guy sitting across from me.  I would look up occasionally and he would be looking at me. I thought it was kinda weird, but he finally piped up and asked, “So you guys are missionaries, right?” 

Well, that started a two hour conversation with him.  He is Catholic and so he was curious about our beliefs and we ended up discussing some of the similarities and differences for that whole two hours!!  I think we really piqued his interest.  We gave him a card with General Conference info, the Visitors Center address, and our phone number/email!  So hopefully he gets back into contact with us! 

Then another miracle is that we finally got M to come to church!!!  He's been learning since July. So obviously we had invited him numerous times, and he made it this week!  I was so happy!  He really liked it too!  He is also getting excited for General Conference!

Speaking of General Conference, A, the one who I got to baptize is headed to Utah for conference weekend! He has tickets to one session, and is going to be doing baptisms for the dead as well. He's so awesome.  He's gonna be a great missionary one day! 

I'm currently hanging out at the institute building with five other missionaries.  I've been doing really well at ping pong.  I almost beat the institute teacher twice this week 19-21 and 20-22.  He's crazy good...  but I'm gonna get him tomorrow!! 

This morning we woke up at five to go see the sunrise behind the Washington monument!  It was so pretty!  I took a time lapse on my iPad.  I'll post it on Facebook sometime today probably.  Anyway, it was a stellar week out here!!! 

I love you all!!  Stay safe!!

Elder Sorensen