Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

(I caught a frog and it peed on me)

Well we had a lot of cool, random lessons this week. And have a bunch of new people to teach.

The couple we've been teach were both able to receive a priesthood blessing on Friday. It was such a special sacred night. We had originally just planned on just the wife receiving a blessing of comfort but after she had her blessing, the husband asked if he could have one too. They are going through a lot of financial hardships right now so everything has been pretty crazy. And because of their lack of family situation, they don't have anyone to spend Christmas with. So we are most likely going over Christmas morning and making/having breakfast with them. The husband is a pretty straight forward guy, so I'm just pretty straight forward with him haha. At the end of our last lesson, the member we brought goes "Keep listening to these girls.. they are pretty amazing and they will be able to guide you." And the husband goes "Oh I know they are".. (pointing to me) "Especially that one, she really keeps me in check."😂 and yes... I do.

(Me just giving up)

We also met the sweetest older man the other day, and I sat in his garage on a foot stool as he told us all these crazy war stories and how he never once worried because he trusted in the lord. He is one of the most amazing examples of truly handing your whole soul over to the lord. He is in such bad Health and still thanks god everyday and kept saying "I never complain, I trust my god." I walked to the car in tears at how much he had touched my heart.

I've been thinking so much this week about what I am really giving to the lord. Because yes I am giving 18 months. My time and talents and energy. But more than that I'm sure what he really wants, is me. My heart and mind, not just my might and strength. If I really expect a mission to change me, I have to let (him) change me. Which takes patience ( I'm still working on that.) I think it's so important to realize that we will all come up short sometimes, but we also all have a responsibility (even if that is just our own salvation.) and though we say "do your best" we have to understand what doing our "best" really is.

I'm understanding more and more everyday that looking my weaknesses in the face doesn't make them more prominent, It just gives me the opportunity to change. You can't change what you don't know is wrong.

Okay last story Yesterday we were in gospel principles and I was sitting next to a Brother (this sweet less active Colombian older man) and we were paired up reading and at the end he goes "very good.. you did a very good job reading that." And I said "oh well thank you!" And he goes "your English is very good!" And I said "Well I sure hope so, I've had lots of practice" and he goes "That's good! Because you speak Spanish right?" And I said "no" and with this shocked look on his face he goes "What?! Aren't you Spanish?" And I said "No I'm American, do I look Spanish?" And he goes "why Yes! Very Spanish.. but like a blonde Spanish." 😂 so this whole time we have been meeting him he thought I understood his wife who mostly only speaks Spanish because he thought I was Spanish haha. Me. Ha. Guess I will take that as another hint I need to learn Spanish. Anyway! Excited to talk to you on Sunday, love you very very much! Have a wonderful week preparing for Christmas! Remember the reason for the season.

I'm now in a trio! Sister Crabb has joined us and she is spectacular! She's super sweet. Trios are a interesting thing to get use to, it requires a lot of patience and organization.

I had a member give me a blessing this week for comfort in starting a new transfer and he blessed me repeatedly with patience. The couple we're teaching are progressing pretty well! The wife was able to make it to church yesterday, but the husband had work. They just keep surprising us with how much they are changing in their countenances. And they have such great fellowship in the Ward too. We have a great relationship with all the people we are teaching.

On Thursday we volunteered at an Autistic Carnival (so yes my dream) it was amazing, I loved every minute of it. I was in my element. So many tender moments. We also had a cool experience where we were bringing cookies to a girl in our Ward for her birthday whose dad left the church. He use to be super active and involved, but apparently got into some anti and that was it. When we got to the house, the wife and kids weren't home yet but he had invited us in and told us about his mission, and even invited us back for dinner. When his wife came home and walked us out to the car she told us that she was really shocked he invited us in, let alone back for dinner. And she was so happy to see that.

We did service for the less-active lady again this last Saturday and we went out to eat and I swear she took like 30 fortune cookies. 😂 she seriously kept getting up from the table and coming back with like 10 more. She is the sweetest lady. She has this amazing ability of really remembering redeeming qualities in other people. We're still working on convincing her to hangout with us for Christmas though.

Last night we went and visited this older lady from Long Island. She's hilarious. She's not totally interested In the church right now, but I think that's mostly because she doesn't even know what to be interested in. We talked on her front porch forever and she keeps going "you are really pretty ladies." And as I'm trying to tell her about the gospel she just stops me, grabs my hand and goes " your pretty, it's nice to look at someone pretty. People are so ugly now days." 😂 so naturally we all start laughing and she says "no I'm seriously, I was very pretty when I was younger I can prove it, and people these days are so homely." .. needless to say we had a good laugh. She asked about my family and I told her about everyone, including mollie and Rachel and how I have the knowledge of eternal families and she goes " wait that's interesting, maybe I will think about changing my religion." Hahaha. She really appreciated us visiting because she doesn't have many people to talk to because she is alone. So we are going to continue visiting her. I love New Yorkers.

(Our Christmas Tree)

New transfers and all it seems to be just more of an adjusting week. It's moving along though! Bitter/Sweet seeing the pictures of everyone at temple square! Just reminds me of how much I love you all so much. I guess I can live without you for a Christmas or two, we have eternity together.

(WE Served at an Autistic Carnival this week and it was the best thing ever)

Okay also I read a talk by Elder Holland this week called "The first great commandment" I encourage you to read it. Once, and then again and again. It's amazing.

A Man in his Backyard Shaving his Head

I can't even imagine that there is snow in Utah, it's so strange to think about as My companion and I are driving with the windows down and the sun shining.

We got transfer calls on Saturday! Sister Bromley and I are staying together 6 more weeks:)

The start of this week was a little rough because I was super sick and frustrated. I was on the verge of throwing up nearly every 5 minutes. but we're all good now! I think I just had food poisoning.

On Monday we ran into this women that was.. upsetting. She told us that she couldn't even wish us "God speed" because of our beliefs and wouldn't even watch a video produced by our church. We said kindly that we respect her choices and moved on.

I can't make anyone understand unless they want to. All I can do is make sure I am worthy of the spirit, and have it with me so that if they are open, they may feel it to. It's crazy to think you can be rejected because you are trying to bring joy to someone. Really all we're trying to do is make people's lives happier.

Our bishop pulled us out of relief society yesterday, and sat us down in his office and I was super worried for a minute. Then he told my companion and I that he was so impressed with our work, and most importantly that we thought and worked by the spirit, and to remember that because after we get back from our missions life changes and some people forget how that feels and leave all that they once believed in. I think of it like they are walking away from God and then asking him to speak louder. And when he calmly says " just come closer." They pout like a child and say " he won't answer me, he must not be there I'm done." And I can't imagine how painful that must be for our father in heaven. It just reminds me that we're all imperfect and no one is ever going to reach a point in this life that they don't need to ask god for help, or stop reading or praying or attending church. We don't just eat a sandwich and say "okay I'm now fed for the rest of the month." It's just not the way it works.

(Posters I made for the ward Christmas party)

We had a lesson with a couple that's investigating this week and it was amazing. I had this strong impression that we should ask this member in our Ward, to come who is just recently starting to come back to church. When we called him he was very hesitant. But he agreed. At the beginning of the lesson our investigator was not in a very good mood and I felt awful. He snapped at our war member when he asked where he worked and it was truly awkward.Then all of the sudden his heart melted in our hands. He was asking our member all these amazing questions about prophets and how he knew for himself this gospel was true. Mind you our investigator is a very skeptical guy, and usually pretty grumpy. But he just opens up and looks at sister Bromley and I and tells us how grateful he is for us, and how he has seen a change in himself and his life since the moment he met us. And that every time he comes to church, or meets with us or a member of the Ward or thinks about the things we have taught him he feels a feeling like "a warm blanket" when we asked him to explain more of the feeling he said. " I don't know if it really can be described, its feels bigger than us." Sister Bromley and I couldn't even speak because we were so touched and Our ward member says. " I think what the sisters are trying to say is that feeling you have is the spirit." After we left Our ward member thanked us for inviting him, I told him while praying for this couple, his name kept circling in my mind. He told me that he never thought he could do something like that and felt pretty inadequate, but that he had now had such an amazing experience sharing the gospel. They came to our Christmas party as well on Friday and had an amazing time. We have really seen a change in him, he's happier and more positive. It's amazing to see the change in someone's heart.

(Lunch with the sisters on Friday)

In other news, we got a few new investigators this week! Super exciting. And at our Ward Christmas party as well we had a members neighbors come who are the Catholics that did sister a bromley's "'make over". They are still crazy as ever and I adore them. She told us that she will never change religions but then invited us to dinner. And she always texts us random things to pray for. It took her a while but I think she is finally understanding we're not nuns. Her husband told us he is still on a search for truth he just doesn't really know how to find it. I know they will get there. Last night we went to this really fancy "night of Nativites" party that a member throws. There were all these high end lawyers there and a opera singer and everything. This one lady was asking me all these questions about our church, I'm glad I got to talk to her and clarify that no I don't have 5 moms and yes I am normal. She was so sweet and so shocked to hear I would choose to stop everything and serve the lord for a year and a half. I realized 2 things

Were really not as weird as people think we are We're a lot different from people as I thought we were

It's been an amazing week! Praying for each of you everyday. Also I have been reading in Grandma Mollies book " a new spirit within you" every morning. And have felt it helping me so much, I feel so much closer to her and really feel her Influence around me.

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace." Ezra Taft Benson