Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

P-day and we met with H We were reading the Book of Mormon with him. I get really excited about the story of Nephi so he probably thought I was crazy. And then we had a lesson with a part member family. Their son L is the one I've told you about who really wants to be baptized, but they never come to church. So we've set up a weekly FHE with them and we're trying to get the family back on track and hopefully the husband more interested in the church. 

We had temple service and then we did service at a members house. We had a lesson with a member who's husband is debating leaving the church. We sat in her closet and talked about how Satan in a Bratt (sounds weird now that I'm typing it) We had dinner with Sister Munns and she is going to let us have P-day at her house on the lake next week:) and we went and tried to find a few people. And had a lesson with Heather about the temple. And she said the sweetest prayer thanking god for us.

Pretty much had service all day, then dinner. Then we had a lesson with C. This is pretty much how our lessons with her go, "So I read this on the internet" (something anti - shocking)" "Its only by grace that we are saved" something about how she doesn't like Jospeh smith. "God can't be flesh and bone" And usually it goes back into the trinity. Haha. After those lessons I'm pretty exhausted. Here's the thing though, we have a really great relationship with her and she really trusts us. So I feel comfortable with her as well. So at one point she was going off about the trinity and I asked her a question, she didn't answer it or didn't have an answer for it so I said "Well C I love you, but that doesn't really make any sense right?" And my trainee was just ultimately shocked. But she wasn't offended and she even realized that it didn't really make sense either. 

I figure this. Okay people either have the wrong information or not all of the information. And if I don't at least teach them what is right, then who will? Who else is going to do it? 

I love what you said mom about being sweetly bold. You have to do it with love and trust or it doesn't work. But you do have to be bold! It's God's message not mine, and if I'm the only one who gets to teach them the truth, I'm going to teach them the full truth so there's not confusion. 

We went finding and I made a friend ( I call him Portobello) he just chilled on my hand the whole time 

I about cried when I got the flowers and skinny pop. I love you so much Family, the gifts meant so much.

This week was a little different. We had a lot of meetings so it took up a lot of our day. For instance: Monday – P-day. Tuesday- only open day. Wednesday- double service. Thursday- interviews. Friday - trainers follow up/weekly Planning. Saturday- exchanges. Mmm hmm Things are going good though! Valentine's Day in the mission was probably the best one I've had ha-ha. We had a candle light dinner with members and then we “heart attacked” a bunch of people. We were able to see people we hadn't in a while. Side note: I'm an idiot and left the bag of hearts on top of the car so as I'm turning around and driving back down the street I see all these hearts in the road... ha-ha so that was pretty entertaining cleaning up hearts in the dark. But it was so fun! Ah I just loved that day being able serve and love everyone else and not worrying about myself.

Exchanges, little boys ran up and gave us flowers.

Heart attach prep.

We had a stake wide youth activity based off the "escape room" mixed with the plan of Salvation. It was so much fun! Our investigator came.

K keeps trying to send us anti or ex Mormon videos. In her mind none of that would happen if the church were "true" and I always think “well people are imperfect and the world is crazy so why wouldn't it happen”. It's like saying no one would reject Christ if he really were the Christ... but they did and he IS the Savior! L went out of town but she is amazing and has been reading the Book of Mormon. S and P are doing well! I just worry that P isn't really trying or wanting to know if the church is true. But again, I can't force anyone. I can just teach. That's been a big lesson for me. Letting others agency be the deciding factor.

I know a lot more things happened this week but my missionary brain is coming in full force and I can't remember. So I will leave it at that. 

Just want you to know once again how much I love being a missionary! I'm trying to work on being more humble and submissive to gods will. I just want to get out of the way and do what he wants me to do. Something I really loved reading this week was John 17, about the 10 lepers. Only one comes back to thank him and I thought it was interesting how the first thing Christ says after he thanks him is "Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine?" It's seems like he isn't asking it to the one who returned because really what was he suppose to say? "I'm not sure" Ha-ha. But he is asking it to us. Christ knew that his words would be recorded and read by us. Maybe he was implying that he should go find those men and bring them unto him. Like finding those who have left the church or don't recognize where their blessings come from. But I think more likely or partly he was saying, “Where are the nine?” because the rest of the world’s children needed to hear it. Have a fantastic week I love you.

Puppy love to Lincoln and Oakley

K. was baptized Saturday! It was so wonderful and I am consistently so amazed by him. He asked for me to speak at his baptism as well! Ah, that burst my heart. His parents came too and I think it was really good for them to see. I have a good feeling about them. I don't think they are ready yet, but I know they are being prepared. K is just so awesome. Like I said the most prepared person I've met. The next day at church I ran up to him and asked him how his confirmation went. (We had a meeting and couldn't go) He was like "It was amazing, I really, really felt it." Then one of the elders started asking me about one of our other investigators and I mentioned that they were running a little slower. K says,"Does that happen? Do some people just take a long time to get it?" And I laughed and said "Yeah Kenny it happens, everyone's timing is different, you on the other hand just happened to get it fast." He said, "Oh yeah I know I was ready before you even found me." Hahaha

Tried to take a picture of Brother G.

Okay so earlier this week we went to do service at Brother G's home. How much I adore him I can’t describe. After we're done cleaning up his backyard we walk back into his house and he's coming through the door and he looks on the ground and goes, "ooo that's a big bug" And I say, "Brother G that's a leaf" "No” he says, “that's a mighty big bug, you’re trying to trick me. Get it out of here." My companion picks it up to show him and he starts backing away and yells, "It has legs!" I was rolling on the ground laughing, tears streaming down my face. It was obviously a leaf.

On Wednesday we had a lesson with a sort of investigator. K. She's the referral from the other elders, she grew up in Brazil and her grandmother was a member. She's very strong in her church, but she keeps inviting us over and keeps asking questions. So we brought a member that I knew she would get along with and they immediately hit it off. Right after we left she texted me asking for the member’s number. Then later that week we were driving home from getting an oil change (yes can't you believe the things I've learned to do) I knew that she wouldn't let us really teach her so I left her with a bunch of pamphlets in the hopes she would get curious. So she calls us and says she's been reading about the Plan of Salvation and she had all these questions. It was really cool.

L is awesome; she didn't make it to church unfortunately because they went out of town. But she told us about her background more. She keeps a Book of Mormon on her nightstand still…because her dad wrote his testimony in it. She said her husband would be willing to learn as well. The problem is that her mom is very much against the church. She doesn't feel she can join until after she passes. She said her husband’s parents are the same way. All I can do is pray for the hope that her family's hearts are softened or that the Lord provides a way of courage in the midst of it. I know she isn't a coincidence. We were meant to find her.

C's kids said I needed surgery so clearly you can tell I have a good ol cast on my arm.

We have had trouble seeing C and she keeps canceling on church. Because of work. She has to get a new job. But we were able to stop by once this week and say hi. She is so overwhelmed that she just broke down crying so I held her as she cried. It broke my heart.

You know what is very frustrating about being a missionary or I guess being me and being a missionary? I just want to solve their problems myself. Agency is my most frustrating blessing. I know the gospel will help! Life won't change completely, you won't get a new job or house or family. But it makes everything better, easier, and lighter. I almost want to scream "JUST DO IT! JUST DO WHAT IM TELLING YOU TO DO!" Then people don't. And they get more frustrated and madder at God. The first thing I tell anyone we are teaching is talk to God. They say "I can't I'm mad at him" or "I can't I don't even know if he's there”. I tell them, "Then tell him that! I don't care. Tell him you're mad at him or you don't know that he's there but just talk to him.” You can pick up the phone and not know if someone is on the other line but you can't know that until you pick up the dang phone.

D came to church on Sunday! And he brought his partner. But get this; the sacrament meeting lesson was on . Dun dun dun... Eternal Marriage. Yes I cringed in pain the whole time. But I just had to remind myself. God knew D was coming, he must just feel like being very bold, I don't know.

One of our other investigations H is improving so much. He really is trying now. On Sunday he said he finally was starting to feel the feelings we talk about. And last night he texts us, "How do you know you love god?" Woah H. So we had a really good discussion about that. That's a good question, how do I know I love God. First, look around you. Every time I'm biking home and I look at the moon I think, "Yup, there must be a God." Look at a baby! I remember holding baby Nora one time when I was babysitting and thinking "Wow, This has to be from God! Look at her!" Second, I've experimented. I've done the things that I've been told would tell me God is there, and I've done them for myself. I have read the scriptures. I've prayed and sought for answers. Third, I have gotten answers humbly. When I have prayed, and asked if he was there he answered. I add humbly because I didn't match it to some expectation that I would see an angel or some crazy manifestation, but even that the small and simple feeling is enough.

Well I think that's it. Also something you should know about Florida. It so crazy dark at night that biking is terrifying! Why there are no street lamps is beyond me, but I made it. I'm alive folks.

I just wanted to share something from President Hinckley's book that he got from a Deseret news article. “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. … Life is like an old-time rail journey--delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. “The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” (Deseret News, 12 June 1973