Awesome Miracle Answer to My Prayer

Here is my email!!!  Whoooooo!!  Okay, this week was freaking rad.  No joke. 

So, I'll start with Wednesday because it was definitely the best day.  We went to the temple!!!  I prayed about some really important stuff that I've been struggling with in the celestial room, and I felt really uncertain afterward.  That night we were headed out to the ASL class in Ashburn, and it takes us two hours to get there, and we usually get there right on time.  Somehow, we showed up 40 MINUTES EARLY.  We walked into the overflow, (that's where we have the class,) and the Ashburn sisters were there with D- and D-.  They had set up a whole lesson, and everyone expected us to be there, but we had no idea about, so we walked in and had a super awesome lesson with D- about Prayer and The Restoration and he accepted a baptismal invite and it was just the most amazing miracle ever.  Best part?  That was one of the things I had prayed about in the temple.  I was starting to get really frustrated about not feeling like I had a lot of work since Glendale back in December and January and I felt like I had just been wasting my time, and then right after I had a really good talk with Heavenly Father I had a cray awesome miracle answer to my prayer...  Oh my gosh.  It was the best.  Okay.  Just appreciate that with me.  It was great. 

Thursday was Sister May’s birthday!!!!  We went to Joe's Crab Shack with her!  I have a video and a picture for you guys.  It was so much fun.  It was fun to give Sister Mays something fun because she gives us so much and we were able to do this for her.  She said it was her favorite birthday yet.  She's awesome. 

Friday was the day of service.  We went up to Frederick and mowed a member’s lawn.  But it's not a lawn...  It's like...  quintuple the size of our yard at least.  Elder Parker and I both mowed for 5 hours and finally finished.  It was so much fun.  Except when my allergies started acting up after.  But after that we helped them move stuff out of their basement and attic for a yard sale.  It was pretty freaking fun to be honest.  We had lunch and dinner there.  And the Baltimore Elders from that area came and ate with us.  It was fun. 

Okay, Saturday we went on exchange.  Elder Parker and I got asked to remove a stump from one of our members backyards, and we knew that I was not the best suited to remove a stump cause it was huge.  So Parker took Elder Levi, and I hung with Gipson in Glendale!!!  We had dinner with one of my favorite members, and then after we went to go see some of the people I had been working with.  I set them up an appointment with K-. I think I've mentioned him a few times in the past, but he's one of my favorite people I taught there.  Also, we stopped by one of Elder Gipson’s old area members house and they had baby turkeys so I got to hold and pet a baby turkey.  It was pretty cool. 

Transfer call out was that night.  Good news is, I'm staying in the ASL program.  Bad news, Elder Parker is leaving me!!!!  So so sad.  We're thinking I'm gonna get Elder Tracy back because the other ASL Elder is staying in his area.  So we'll see how this works out.  I'm really excited to be companions with Elder Tracy again if it happens.  

Sunday we had another miracle happen.  We had a dinner appointment in Westminster, and we always use the GPS.  Well, the GPS cord had gotten smashed, and we didn't find out until we were trying to leave.  We knew the general direction, but I had an impression to check our car’s driver manual.  We had found a wifi hotspot in our car before, but didn't know the password.  I opened to the back and found the section where it talks about it and we were able to hook it up and get the maps on my iPad to show us the way!!  It was so cool!  We ate with the Lawrence's, and it was so much fun.  The Lawrence's remind me so much of you guys, so I felt awesome.  I dunno.  It's like my home away from home it feels like. 

Today we had a nerf war at the church, and then went to bdubs (Buffalo Wild Wings- a p-day tradition) after.  The NCAA lax championship may or may not have been on.  But it was not a really good game...  So I was disappointed.  Anyway, I'll let you guys know what happens this week, because it'll be pretty crazy. 

I contacted a couple really cool people while this was happening today too.  While we were at the church I ran out to get something from our car, and here was a guy sitting there after a run.  And I talked to him and ended up giving him a Book of Mormon.  It was awesome.  Then we were at our old apartment complex hanging out after bdubs, and a couple with their baby walked past and were signing so I went up and started talking with them.  It was super cool, and it helped me feel so much more confident with my sign.  Elder Tracy complimented me afterward, because when I first started I would only talk of people talked to me, but I feel confident enough to start conversations now and it just feels so great.   And I have another whole transfer to learn more.  I'm so stoked.  

Love you guys!!  Have a good week!!!  

Elder Sorensen

Sister May's birthday

Elder Gibson with a turkey on his shoulder

338 Days

This week was pretty great. On Monday we had Zone Activity and it was pretty good.  We played water games with a water slide and Capture the Flag which ended up just turning into a big giant water balloon fight and people throwing water at each other and dumping trash cans full of water.  It was a really good time! Elder Gipson tackled me at the very very start it was pretty fun. That day was also my 11-month mark which is cool because that means I only have a month until my year mark.

HUMP DAYYYY.   

Tuesday we did some home-improvement. We went out to Home Depot and got new light bulbs for all my lights because a lot of them are out and then we cleaned up the whole apartment because it was certainly a kind of mess.  Then we went to Brother See’s Institution Service and after that we had texted our member Doris to see if you can stop by.  She offered to feed us dinner so we ate dinner with Doris and Brother Diaz and Briella and Minnie May.  It was really fun.  It was my first time meeting Brother Diaz and I was able to talk with him pretty fluently.  He was really impressed by my skills of only 9 weeks learning sign out here. 

Then Wednesday we had a really interesting day.  It started pretty slow but the end of the day I was blown away.  We met with D- out in Ashburn. I don't know if I told you about him yet but he is our investigator.  He had some questions for us and about the difference between Mormons and Christians so we able to teach him about the Book of Mormon and The Restoration, it was really good to have a lesson with him because he is genuinely interested. On the way home we got a call from our Zone Leaders and found out they had been released...  Mid transfer...  So...  We have brand new zone leaders.  Elder Fuller who goes home next week, and Elder Tanner who was a District Leader for four weeks. 

Elder Buonocore had a band back home, and he gave me one of their CDs this week.  I felt cool.  Thursday we just tried contacting people because we only had a baptismal interview for a different area that night.  (because Elder Parker is the district leader he interviews all the baptismal candidates in our district.)  Something else cool happened Thursday night, I finished my first journal!!!!!!!! I wrote 338 days of life consecutively in that book, and now it's all full.  So I've started my second one!  Woot!  

Friday was stellar.  We went to Mike and Michelle's wedding!!!!!!!!!!!  (Mike was Bennie’s investigator and baptism in November.  He has been able to stay in touch with them.) It was so much fun to see them together, and so happy and just... Yeah.  It was awesome! The wedding took place at a farm/museum venue.  It was pretty rad.  I also got to see one of my friends from Glendale who is Michelle's cousin.  She moved to Maryland for the summer, and then back to Utah, and came out to the wedding.   So that was cool.  

Saturday we went down to Suitland and played basketball.  And then we worked on contacting inactives and possible investigators—typical missionary work.

Sunday was super long.  We had Branch Council at 9 am and President Cooke came to that.  It was good to have him there.  Then at sacrament meeting a couple I didn't recognize walked in, so I went and started talking with them.  Well, they were just visiting.  But guess where from? Orem Utah.  They're in Nanny and Grandpa's home ward!!  Brother and Sister Adams?  It was cool, so they got my picture and are going to take it to show Nanny and Grandpa!  Such fun times serving a mission! I voice interpreted the start of sacrament meeting for them, but then after the sacrament they went to finish the sacrament meeting in the College Park Ward.  Then after church we took the sacrament to two people who lived an hour and a half apart—more missionary work that I love.

At home we grabbed some quick dinner and went up to Why I Believe (Sunday Fireside Meeting at The Visitors Center.) It was pretty fun.  Another senator spoke.  I forgot his name.  But next month is the Navy head football coach, so that'll be good. (This coach was featured in the Meet the Mormons movie.)

Today we played hockey and went to Buffalo Wild Wings as always.  It was pretty awesome! 

So, you asked me share a spiritual experience. It comes from the wedding.  Sara wanted us to sit with her, because none of really knew anyone but each other, so we went to find a table and most of them were full except one in the back.  We started talking to the other people who were sitting with us and it turns out they had just recently gone to Salt Lake City on a trip and saw all the temple square stuff.  We were able to teach them and talk to them a little.  I just love how The Lord will put people in your way in the craziest and most unexpected places! 

I love you guys!  Have a good week!!!

Elder Sorensen

Interpreting

Okay, so, I just talked to you guys...  But hey, why not tell you everything again! ;)

We did some more family history this week. It's pretty fun actually.  We also got a couple of referrals, but unfortunately we didn't actually find any of them..  And we didn't hear back from them either. 

We set up a lesson with R-.  I told you guys about that, but I'll explain it again.  So, I don't usually call people myself on our videophone because my signing and receptiveness isn't that great yet.  But I felt like I needed to call him, so I did, and he happened to pick up.  And then he set up an appointment with us for Sunday.  It was cool.  

We went out to Ashburn again for the ASL class, and we picked up a new investigator there! It was cool.  He and Elder Parker get along really well, so I'm pretty happy because he's really interested in learning more with us.  We got to go to T-'s house this week.  He goes to the Rockville group.  Elder
Parker had me plan and lead the lesson.  It was really nerve racking, but I did pretty good.  T- complimented my signing afterward.  

Friday we met with an investigator, and all he really tried to do was convince us religions are wrong. So I don't know if we're going to continue meeting with him. 

Saturday we had a BBQ with the Gallaudet students who are leaving for the summer.  It was pretty fun.  We got to spend time with a lot of the members and hang out together.  

Sunday we went and interpreted at the Rockville ward.  I actually interpreted a talk in sacrament.  It was pretty intense.  But Parker said I did okay.  Then I got to Skype you guys!!!  It was so good to see you!!  I love you all so much!  (Sidenote: In our phone call, we asked Bennie if he feels Heavenly Father’s help with his signing at all because he is at a disadvantage where he did not go through the MTC as an ASL missionary.  He explained that he can hold his own with casual conversations throughout the week with the people he meets but that when he goes to church he can keep up and interpret at much faster speed and it also comes more quickly to him.  He knows he gets divine help!)

Today was our zone activity.  We had slip n slide capture the flag.  Which actually just turned into a massive water balloon fight, then water war.  It was pretty fun.  All in all it was a good week.


Elder Sorensen

Linger Longer

Okay, my week was interesting. We had interviews with president on Tuesday.  I wasn't really happy with mine...  Because president told me I won't be in the ASL program forever.. And it doesn't make sense to me because he was saying he wants to get more ASL missionaries, and that's what I am now...  So...  Yeah.  We did get a new sister in the ASL program on Tuesday.  Something weird about ASL missionaries is that they never arrive on transfer days.  It's always like, two weeks before or after.  But we got a brand new sister missionary this week.
We got to go up the Walter reed hospital and give a blessing this week.  And as we were leaving they were putting the place on lock down because the president was on his way there.  Like, president of the United States president.  Then we went out to Ashburn Virginia that night to help teach one of Elder Parker's recent convert's ASL class.

Thursday we had our zone district meeting, and then we went to Sister May's house for lunch.  It was super fun.  Then to celebrate our roommates impending move out we slept over at our old apartment, and when we woke up in the morning and went to our apartment they were gone.  I love the kids to death, but it was super cramped, and they left so many messes...  Just me and Elder Parker now.  

Elder Parker was feeling kinda stir crazy on Friday so we spent most of the day going around doing random things to keep him from going completely nuts.  

Saturday we had branch correlation with our branch mission leader plus breakfast.  Then we went and did yard work for three hours with a member, and then she fed us.  Then we went and gave one of the sisters a blessing, and then drove all the way up to Woodbridge for dinner with a member, then he asked us to help another member move, so we were doing that, but we ended up driving to the place for like, two hours so by the time we started we pretty much had to be home.  And then we still had to go set up tables and chairs for the linger longer at church the next day.  So we got home really late... It was a long day.  

Sunday was cool because it was the highest attendance our branch has had this year, and the second highest in 9 years.  Then at the linger longer we were all eating and Sister Phillips bit into a tomato and it sprayed all over me..  It was pretty funny.  She felt so bad. I was able to get it into the wash pretty quickly so it didn't stain. Then today we just kinda chilled.  It was pretty solid.

Elder Sorensen

A Solid Week

So, we had some pretty fun times early in the week, like Monday night when we were walking off Gallaudet campus and it started straight pouring rain.  When we got to the car we were soaked all the way through.  It was actually really fun.  And there was awesome lightening with it.   

Tuesday Elder Parker had leadership meeting, so I went with Elder Levi whose companion also had it.  The awesome part is that Elder Levi is in Glendale YSA right now which is my first area, so that was super awesome!!  Then we went to sister mays for lunch and met back up with elder Parker.  Two elders ate the scotch bonnet peppers that day.  Those were some of the worst ones I've seen. They were dying.  Then we went up to see a returning member and check his progress.  He's doing great. Elder Parker had me share the spiritual thought.  It was really intimidating at first, but as I went I got better and less nervous.  On the way home we passed the APs on the highway so we got to yell hi to them really quick which was cool. Then when we were tracting that night the very first guy we ran into was an older Russian guy who had a copy of the Book of Mormon signed by Heber J. Grant.  Elder Parker and I were covering it super hard... He's not a member, and he said he's too old to have a religion at this point.  But he said if there's a ever a book he'll give to his kids to learn about god it's the Book of Mormon.  So that's cool.   

Wednesday I woke up feeling pretty sick..  So we stayed home. The ASL sisters asked us our plans for the day and I said I was sick, and next we knew they were dropping off a pharmacies worth of medicine to help me feel better.   

Thursday was pretty fun.  We had our zone district meeting. After that we went to go do some family history.  We both ended up doing indexing.  I was indexing Minnesota World War Two draft registrations.  It was really cool. Then we had an appointment at 7 in the city, but he dogged us, so we went out street contacting.  We had two really cool experiences.  We were sharing the Because He Lives Easter video and one of the guys after the video asked us if Jesus Christ was real and was the son of God, and so we got his information and were able to give it to the elders in his area.  It was awesome. Then one of the last people we talked to started crying during the video and was super happy we stopped to share it with him.   

Friday we indexed more, then went down to institute at Gallaudet then we had an appointment with a new investigator that went really well! And after that we went back down by Gallaudet to union market and met with another new investigator. His signing was really proper ASL grammar and super fast so most of the conversation went right over my head... But he's pretty cool.   

And Saturday was cool because we had four meal appointments!  Breakfast at our branch mission leaders house, and our branch correlation meeting.  Lunch with the 2nd counselor of the branch presidency and his wife. And their crazy dogs.  Dinner with the previous branch president which was super good.  And then second dinner with a less active that were working with.  It was an awesome day.   

Then Sunday we had stake conference with a regional broadcast. Elder Kacher who came to our mission recently was conducting so that was pretty cool.  It was a really good conference.  Then we had dinner with the new Elders Quorum president and his wife.  Then today we played hockey.  It was just a solid week all the way around.

Elder Sorensen and Elder Parker

Transfers: I Got Elder Parker!

This week was fun! 

Elder Tracy our last days together...  But we did have a really fun last week together, and ended on a good note. 

Then on Wednesday I GOT ELDER PARKER!!!!  (Elder Parker was an apartment mate with Bennie in December.) Elder Greding, one of my old roommates came up to me after the meeting and all he said was, “I can't believe you.”  He's jealous I've had such a nice mission.  The only thing that could have been better this transfer was if Elder Tracy stayed too, but we'll make do.

That night we got to go to Gallaudet campus and eat dinner with J-.  It was pretty good.  He invited us back to eat breakfast there Friday morning because they make awesome omelets and wraps and stuff.  It was delicious. 

Anyway, Thursday, we started a Family History initiative in the Silver Spring zone.  It was a good meeting, and they helped figure out how easy it can be to get stuff done on there. 

Then Friday, we had breakfast with J-.  Awesome.  We also went to go see a less active.  It was a pretty ghetto place of DC- we call it Trinidad.  Anyway, then we went back to campus for lunch with the Wardles, and institute.  It was super fun.  The Wood family came to institute too.  Elder Wood is a WDCN missionary who ended his mission on Wednesday and his family came and picked him up and stayed here for a couple days.  Anyway, it was a really good turnout for institute because of them. Then we had a few appointments cancel later in the day so we just tried contacting people. 

This week we got two referrals.  So we've tried emailing them because that's the only info we've gotten from them.  Sunday we went and interpreted at the Carrollton Ward because a member there had a baby blessing and invited some non-member friends.  They weren't interested, but they appreciated us being there.  Then we got called last minute to teach Priesthood and Gospel Principles.  Well, the deal was we asked the Elders Quorum President to help us with Priesthood, and Parker interpreted Priesthood and I would teach Gospel Principles. 

Well, right when Gospel Principles was starting our Branch President came in and said, there's no one in gospel doctrine, so you guys come join us.  I got off the hook for both because we combined Priesthood and Relief Society too.  It was great.  Parker was so mad; it was hilarious.

Sunday night we had a Why I Believe Fireside at The Visitors’ Center.  The new director of the Visitors Center spoke with his wife.  It was pretty fun. 

So, I know everyone likes a good language flub story to tell people about, so here's mine.  It's from a couple weeks ago.  We were at dinner with a less active member, and I was trying to sign that I was full, so I put my hand on my stomach and moved it out.  Turns out that's the sign for pregnant...  So I got some heat for that one...  Haha.  If you're full hit the back of your hand on the bottom of your chin.  Today we played hockey.  It was pretty fun.  I got some good videos with the Go Pro. We should figure out some iCloud thing so I can share this with you guys!  Now we're at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch.  It's been a great week!!!