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