Rollercoaster

Week 23: Rollercoaster

Tuesday began relatively normal as we did our usual things; but we had a nice dinner planned with a member.  We were going to go to the restaurant where our investigator A- works.  Then as we pulled into church to connect to Facebook, we got a call from the bishop.  Our rollercoaster of  a week began then.

He informed us that we needed to give one of the ward members a blessing.  Sadly J-, who we arranged a blessing for last week in England, passed away.  His fiancée, A-, has been so grief stricken and was in need of a blessing.  All of the news of J- has been so hard for us to deal with too.  He was such a nice fellow.  As a missionary, I wonder if I did all I could to help him progress closer to Christ.  I just haven’t really come to full grips with this news yet. It has been hard to deal with even as the week went on.

Wednesday was another crazy day- but in a good way.  We found four new potential investigators that day!  It was awesome!  They’re all working on campus as “campus crusaders” who are active student body members and representatives for their own churches on campus.  So, they were very interested in what we had to say and had some really good questions for us.  Although their question could be pretty intimidating, it was super cool to talk to them. 

Also on Wednesday, M- passed his baptismal interview, and C- agreed to be interviewed for baptism.  We have been working with both of these investigators for so long, it is wonderful to reach this point with them.  So cool!

Not much happened Thursday besides our weekly planning session.  But Friday we had Elder Kacher, a General Authority who spoke in General Conference , in town for a tour of the mission.  He talked a lot about using The Book of Mormon as a tool for teaching powerfully.  It was kind of like a “duh” moment; but he had a scripture reference for like…EVERYTHING!  It was insane.  He is really cool. 

Saturday our group had song practice for our fireside on Sunday.  That was fun.  I got to go to Chipotle for a burrito wrapped in a quesadilla along the way.  It was divine.  I did have to be at the church for a long time so Elder Horowitz could get some things done for when he goes home.  I think he is registering for school and stuff.  Luckily, the ASL sisters came by to work on their baptismal programs so I had someone to talk to for a bit.

Sunday was a great day!  M- was baptized—Woohoo!  Everything went according to plan, and it was such a special feeling the whole service.  I loved being there and was so touched to be the one to baptize him. 

Our “Why I Believe” fireside was after the baptism.  Our “Nearer Our God to Thee” song went well.  It is easily the best time we have ever performed it.  I also had the chance to meet Dennis Pitta there.  I would say, Sunday was definitely one of my best days or here.  It has been great to end the week on a spiritual high after the low we have had with J- passing. 

Love,
Elder Sorensen

Boldness Not Overbearing

Week 22: Boldness Not Overbearing 

Familia & Amigos!!!

This was one of the craziest weeks yet!  I was with the ASL Elders during P-day and left a message for Elder Longhurst in Rochester, NY on his video phone.  Our P-days are full of games- we meet with the other elders and play hockey and soccer.  We also go to the institute building for ping-pong and board games.  I am really enjoying the Killer Bunnies game plus booster sets you sent for my birthday. 

Today’s P-day had two highlights.  I was playing the institute teacher in a game of ping-pong.  He hit a really hard shot right; I knee slid to return it and got back up to the table just in time to keep the ball going.  It was super cool.  Then, Elder Longhurst actually called back and we were able to talk for about 10 minutes!  That made my month!

This week we had a really nice lesson with M-!  He’s dong awesome and is still on schedule to get baptized this weekend.  He asked me to baptize him which makes me feel great. His fiancée, M-, is a member and her dad’s a branch president for the French branch.  I am very happy to be a part of their lives right now.

Then I also got to call the Birmingham, England mission this week.  J- is in England on business and got really sick, so A- had us find someone who could give him a blessing.  That was something unusual but worked out well.  We didn't get to have a lesson with M- (metro contact fellow) this week, unfortunately.  

I have been out here for more than 150 days now.  It still feels like I’ve only been gone for two weeks, though.  Being a missionary is really “Different (Mr. Fox hand motions required.)”  But I am doing well- Elder Horowitz and I work had and do well in our numbers week after week.  Jason, the ward mission leader, told me recently that I have developed as a teacher since first arriving.  He says I am less nervous and reserved.  I would describe it as having boldness without being overbearing.  I may have gotten overbearing a few times when I got super excited and half yell what I am teaching because I love it so much, though! I am singing at the Temple Visitors Center this Sunday and next.  It is a super cool piece, so I hope they post it on the Mission Facebook page.  If not, look up Vocal Point’s “Nearer My God to Thee.”  It is stellar.

I love you all!!

Elder Sorensen

Short & Sweet Letter

Week 21: Short & Sweet Letter

The big event this week were transfers!  I'll explain transfer’s meeting and how it works.  We go to the visitors’ center at the temple.  The whole dang mission is there!! We all get there and go to the big theater room.  We start with a few announcements and other stuff.  Next they announce new trainees and their areas.  Then we announce all the other new areas, and the people in each area stand up. 

The people who are leaving are given the chance bear their testimonies before they head home. This transfer was a bit different because we got to watch Meet the Mormons!!!  Woot!!  It was super good!  I loved it!!!  After all of that, we go out and do missionary work again!  Transfers’ Days are really, really fun. 

This week we had an awesome lesson with M-!  He's definitely going to get baptized. I'm so stoked! 

This week was also stake conference over the weekend.  They were reorganizing the stake presidency so there were two Area Seventies here: Elder Gerard and Elder Perkins.  They talked a lot about listening to Christ’s invitation to "Come and See."  Their talks especially focused to this theme in regards to missionary work!  It was very inspirational to have general authorities here; plus I got to hang out with the ASL missionaries and they're super cool. I didn't realize the diversity of our stake until Elder Perkins pointed it out. We have French, Spanish, ASL, YSA, and English missionaries in our stake.  Holy cow! 

Anyway, I've got to get my haircut now, so have a good week guys.  I love you!

Elder Sorensen