Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

Me and a bird. What's that they say? A bird in the hand....

Hiiiiiiii How are you doing?

Good. That’s good. This week was grand as ever:)

We had interviews and I learned a lot from President, he always helps me feel better in my calling. I’m grateful for leaders who act out of love.

*On Wednesday we went on exchanges and I went to Pleasant Hill with Sister Stephens, we got to bike all day and I just lovedddd it! We went to service and had to bike there with no shoulder roads and scary Florida drivers, it was pretty crazy not gonna lie. At times we had to quickly swerve off the road and ride in the grass to avoid fast cars. We got to talk to lots of people outside so it was worth it.

We found some potential new people to teach this week so we are excited to see what happens!

And we started a “heart attack” trend with the Ward but with snow flakes. It’s been tons of fun.

*Friday was trainers follow up so I got to see Sister Schomaker and Sister Peterson and hear all about my old area and how the people are doing there:)

*On Saturday I went with Sister Baer to her area and she led out for the first time. We helped out with a Stake 5k that morning.. and it was freezing outside and I was not prepared. We had a dinner with one of their members, Sister Baer is just learning Spanish.... The member really only speaks Portuguese... and I don’t speak either:) So that was fun:) but still despite that, we were able to bring her a message with little words that brought tears to her eyes, it confirmed to me that the spirit really does all the teaching. There’s not too much we do, and there’s nothing we can do without it.

I’m also grateful that Heavenly Father answers prayers because I hit such a tender mercy this week.

Sister Sorensen and Sister Staton

* Last Sunday I sat in the chapel and I asked Heavenly Father for one simple thing...I just wanted a hug. Just one good hug from someone I knew loved me.

When we exchanged back with the sisters we were at the Stake Center in Orlando South, well conveniently Lake Crescent was there having their Christmas party... I ran into the room and saw all my old members, I was so happy to see them. But really I searched for Sister Sampson, who I became really close to while I served there, I went out to the hall and saw Brother Sampson, all sweaty from his Santa outfit as he was last year, then I saw Sister Sampson down the hall and there is no joking when I say, I RAN to her, she dropped all her boxes and enveloped me in her arms, like one of those mom hugs, and I’m not going to lie and I cried! Cried I did. The members walked by hugging me and a million memories flooded back, I’m so grateful for my experiences and the people I have met in Florida.

Heavenly Father answered my prayer. However simple the request, he fulfilled it (I think) in some way just to show his love for me and the things I care about. Sometimes we just need to ask for the simple things to feel his love.

As I’ve studied this week I’ve reflected on the Saviors love for us, and one concept that’s always deeply meaningful to me is how He works by our faith, this story in particular is one of my favorites because of the amount of faith that is shown on the part of the leper to know our Savior can heal him and ask only that he does so according to the will of the Lord. We need to believe that the simplest sins as well deepest can be healed through the Savior.

And How beautiful the response he gives, “I will”

- Sister Sorensen🌞

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First off I got the letter from Taylor and Camila and I loved it very much. It made my whole day! Especially Taylor’s drawings, I’m always so amazed by his cartooning.

*Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to the temple with a recent convert Sister Staten got close to in her last Ward. We did a session and it made me so happy!

I miss the temple so much, there are so many blessings in being able to go as often as you would like. I’m always certain that I can get answers to my questions within the temple.

Orlando Temple

*On Wednesday we had our mission tour with Elder Klebingat. He taught us the importance of memorizing scriptures and how to memorize them and also on the importance on talking to everyone and asking for referrals.

Mission Tour

After that I went on exchanges with the YSA sisters to their area, and get this!

They had dinner with a member that night that lived in the Lake Crescent area! So I got to drive through it again… right by my old apartment and everything. It felt kind of strange and wonderful.

Exchanges with the YSA sisters

Sister Anderson

That night we had permission to go to Disney springs because they have a missionary member activity there sometimes! So we saw all the Christmas lights and I ran into a family from lake Crescent! It was the best possible of days.

Disney Springs

It DOES 'Snow" in Florida

*The next day (Thursday) the sisters were completely out of miles so we just walked everywhere and it was awesome. We had so many people to talk to and we saw so many miracles. We found people who were sincerely searching.

I learned a lot from those sisters. I was with Sister Angelo and Sister Knapp and they are stellar missionaries.

*(Friday)Then we had MLC the next day and Elder Klebingat talked with us one on one for a couple of hours.. he talked a lot on the mission culture and made me really want to train again.

He also talked about respecting each other as missionaries. I loved that emphasis that when people change and repent and improve we need to let them change.

I think that’s so important to learn through our lives. I think that’s the worst thing when we try to change and you know you have and people don’t let you so I think we could all try a little harder to be that for other people.

*Saturday we went on exchanges with Sister Mull and I in Lake Nona and we did a lotttttt of walking and met some really cool people.

Exchanges with Sister Mull

Light the World Bottles.

A lot of them spoke Spanish speaking.

One guy was sitting outside his house and was having really bad day so we sat down in the grass with him and taught him the Plan of Salvation

It was so cool to talk to him about things deep down inside he already knew and he recognized it.

I’m so grateful for the gospel that helps me be better everyday.
- Sister Sorensen🌞

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A few highlights from this week.

*Tuesday: We had exchanges. Sister Petty came here with me in Lake Nona and we had a fabulous time. I truly loved being with her. We have so many random things in common and so we geeked out the whole day.

Our day together just felt so fulfilling of our purpose. We had so much love for the people we were contacting and for each other.

"And then she hit me for no reason"

*Wednesday: We went to the Orlando South Zone training meeting together the next day and we were also able to do service with everyone.

*Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

We made all these little crafts and handed them out and we had one dinner with a member who invited a bunch of non-members from different countries so we were able to share a lot of our message. And our other dinner was with our recent convert/investigating family! Lots and lots of food.

Thanksgiving Day!

*Saturday I got to go on exchanges with a Sister Robbins and it was her first time leading out an area and she was amazing. I know it's a sin but I envied her. I wish I were back at the beginning of my mission again. It's such an exciting time when everything is new! But it does get better and better and you learn more and more.

That night the assistants had a baptism that we attended and it was so beautiful! Also the Daytona Elders came out because they knew the person getting baptized so I had a lot of fun having them catch me up on my old area. It made me so so happy; it was just a really happy day. Anytime I hear anything about Daytona my day is lifted. I loved that place.

We also have had a lot of fun sharing #LighttheWorld the past couple of days!

It's going to be really good this year!

It's the best time of the year! Enjoy the snow... Cause I'm not getting it.

ALSO.

I came to the conclusion of the Book of Mormon this week.

You know that quote "you don't have to eat a whole cake to know it's good?"

I believe that's very true. Because every time I complete the Book of Mormon I guess by the significance of endings I think that's the real time to ask and know if it's true or not.

BUT the truth is as I came to the last verses and knelt in prayer, my thoughts were turned to every spiritual experience I've had while reading. And I realized that from page 1 to the end, I've known it's true.

It's as true at the beginning as it is at the end, and therefore you can always know.

The Book of Mormon fills me with light. It lightens my world. That's always the first thing my testimony affirms me of, it's light. I understand so much more, about myself, others around me, and most importantly about my Savior and the relationship I can have with him. The Book of Mormon helps me to feel understood. I swear there are times I've come to certain chapters or verses and I've been moved to think that it just HAD to be written just that way for me. Heavenly Father not only knew I needed to hear that, but I needed to hear that in such a specific way.

The Book of Mormon brings me to know that the church has been restored. That this is Christ's church, he stands at the head.

The Book of Mormon has helped me recognize my Savior and my Heavenly Father and how they communicate not only with all children but also with me personally.

One thing I've been made certain of is that you can never read it enough.

God reveals new truths to me Every. Single. Time.

And I know the Book of Mormon is true and I love it with all my heart.

"Sister Petty was taking pictures of me as I was reading scriptures to her"

- Sister Sorensen🌞

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Hi 👋🏻 This week was great!

We saw some amazing things happen.

First off, Monday most of our plans had canceled so we decided to stop by a few former investigators and it was getting really dark. We saw this family pull up to their home. And the mom attempting to get two young kids inside. One of girls escaped from her mom and ran up to us. We got to know the mom more, and explained who we were and she open up to us about some family issues. And then invited us to come on a walk with her and her kids the next day.

The next day we went by and there was no answer, so we decided to walk to the park where she said she would be.. she was not there. So we went back to her house and tried one last time and she answered! She said she was so embarrassed by how messy her house was (not even that messy, she has a 9 year old and twins under the age of two) so we helped her clean up a bit and went on a walk. She told us her whole life story and everything she's going through and said she has been praying for God to guide her.

It's always really beautiful to see how God puts us in the path of those searching for truth. I think sometimes the beauty that matches that is seeing people wisely use the agency that God has given them and make correct choices to follow his guidance.

We also were able to have a really cool lesson with our recent convert family in the Ward. Where one of the girls who is not a member had a breakthrough in the Book of Mormon. She was able to see it speak right to her.

There was a Zone training meeting this week for one of our zones. Everything went really well and I always enjoy learning from other missionaries. I made a little handout for everyone that said "One fold and One shepherd." As a little reminder to be unified together.

Then we got to weed someone's yard. And I loved it. I'm not being sarcastic. It was the best part of my day. It was so nice outside, it felt like Utah. We just listened to conference talks and weeded. Mom I'll help with everything when I get home I promise.

But Friday and Saturday... were my favorite days. 😊

As you know we did service. Both of our zones were signed up to volunteer at this convention for the Prader Willy Syndrome kids.

This Syndrome means that these kids and adults live with insatiable hunger. They can't get full, also they aren't able to throw up if they do eat to much because of extreme low muscle tone. They have a very strict diet and food has to be kept away from them. It's super sad. Their behavior is close to those of autism.

Most of the missionaries were separated with the teens and adults and only a couple set of sisters went with the kids under the age of 6. That was me.

So yeah, I basically babysat on my mission. Which was extremely painful as to the fact that we couldn't hold them or let them sit in our laps and we really wanted to.

It actually really made me miss nannying.. ,even though it was exhausting.

We made crafts and played games and did puppet shows and I got to read a bunch of kids books which I'm guessing is okay. Also we made a dance to a song from Moana. And it's been stuck in my head ever since.

But on a serious note. I loved these kids. I've been very lucky on my mission to be apart of every opportunity to work with special needs kids. You know how soft my heart is for it. I was just so... happy. So happy.

I don't know what I'll do with the rest of my life, but that has to be involved. These spirits of the children are so pure and so sweet. There was one little 5 year old boy in particular that my soul connected to. His name was Eli. I think we may have meant in Heaven because I loved that little boy. He came around with me everywhere. We were best friends. I'll send some photos of everyone.

My best friend Eli was attacking me.

Okay this is going to sound really bad.... but I've had many moments on my mission that have made me be like ehhh actually maybe I won't have kids 🙃

But this weekend I felt more... I want kids ASAP and 100 of them 🙂

Anyway it was a good week and I learned a lot

I've had really amazing personal Studies this week that I'm very grateful for that.

I was reading in 2 Nephi Chapter 4 and I realized I'm am Nephi.

First of all my soul too delights in the scriptures. But I know that even with God's goodness and love and mercy... I'm usually frustrated with my imperfection. I think there literally has been a time or two I've said to myself " O wretched man that I am!"

I want to rejoice in the goodness of God and I want to just be so encompassed in happiness but I've been sad because I mess up so often and fall so short. As I read more of the chapter I highlighted the promise blessings that Heavenly Father will be there for us.

From verses 20-23

Promised blessings:

my support
Led though afflictions
Preserved me Filled with his love
Confounded enemies
Heard my cry
Give me knowledge

Then I got to verse 28, which I've read I’m sure 100 times but I understood it differently.

28 "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."

And for the first time I saw it less as a result or a moment of change but more as the DESIRE of Nephi's soul being exclaimed in a single verse. More like he was telling himself to AWAKE instead of that he was now awake.

It's so important for me to read the scriptures everyday because without fail I get new inspirations from simple and familiar scriptures.

I know the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible is meant for more than just teachers but a way to have the door open to personal revelation.

- Sister Sorensen🌞

Me as a Zombie🙀

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