Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

Florida's Skies Win! Always!

Mom and dad thank you for comforting me this morning. After finishing our email conversation I got up to make cookies for our YSA branch for FHE tonight. I decided to listen to a conference talk while doing so. I said a little prayer and asked God to direct me to something I need to here. I closed my eyes and made it to "Grateful in any Circumstance" by Elder Uctdorf.

I cannot explain how much I needed that talk. I believe in a way that had to be written for me right now. Ha-ha.

As for the week!

A couple of things

1 BROTHER MA.! A couple of weeks ago while trying to clean up our records we went by Brother Ma.'s home. He answered and quickly wanted to invite us in. Of course we couldn't, we asked him about his activity and he said he joined the church in another state, but upon moving to Florida six years ago, he never came to church here and no one had ever contacted him. And then he called us Saturday night and came to church Sunday! We walked out of sacrament early so I eagerly stood up and chased him outside and to his car. He said he didn't feel well but he was happy he came and Bishop went to see him after!

I made a friend.

Mr. M is no more.. ha-ha (also for the best) because he got a little creepy. T. is awesome! We're going to see her tomorrow

We were texting a bunch of formers and we found one who was like "Oh I loved meeting with missionaries! I've moved though" she's still within our area, but it's just barely in the elders area.. same team. But she wants us to come over tonight and start her off on the lessons again.

It's not suppose to say in the beginning God made Mormon.org...
But hey.
We did CHALK art to try to attract some new people.

I just hope you all know how deeply I love this gospel. In the hardest points of my life there has been nothing else that has cured the tempest in my soul. Nothing else.

God set a plan for us. A plan he wishes for us to find immense joy in, despite the difficulties of the journey.

At times when "counting the blessings" seems too difficult we can be thankful, I can be thankful at least for God giving me the ability to grow. For loving me enough to hurt me.

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed."

We can be thankful for the journey. Joyful in the ride.

I'm grateful for the journey God has given me.

-Sister Sarah Sorensen🌞

CONVERSATION

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CONVERSATION

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Let me start with my typical Sister Sorensen passion rant© (I have copyright – “Passion Rant-it is mine)

I think I finally understand what it means to be a robotic missionary. And In some ways, regretfully I have been one. I think that a robotic missionary is one that thinks about him or herself. Right? They want to have the lessons down. Memorize every point. Quote every scripture in its perfect spot. Not skip a beat.

These aren't necessarily awful qualities. But a rote presentation.

Even if you try to throw a little of "you" in there - now it's an uncomfortably life-like robot. But still, robotic.
Being a good missionary, an honest and genuine missionary - is when you leave the ego behind. And it's not about you. It's about them. It becomes about the love of God's children. And the honor and appreciation you have for the message. Ya gotta love the message. But the message needs to be you. I still believe I need to study harder. Know more. Practice more. I owe that to my investigators. So when I do get there, they are first. Their needs are first. And I am second and the message is based on their needs and their concerns and my love.

Thought straight from the pulpit: "If we wrote down everything we did wrong everyday - we would feel like a trash full of poop."

First off, there might be as many bug bites on my legs right now as doors I've knocked on my mission, and trust me that is a lottttttttttt.

I tell ya, all week things happen and I'm like "okay remember this to tell the family on Monday" and I forget.

So I saw these condos and I really felt like we needed to knock every door that was near the street. So we did, first we met John who just had his son and grandma die. We had the most amazing conversation on the plan of Salvation. And then we met Tony. Ha-ha. Tony basically argued that he disagreed with our beliefs but yet everything he said we believe too. He kept talking and I was like "Tony, same!" And he's like "Nah, nah, you ain't the only true church tho." But at the end he told us he knew we were true representatives of Christ and thanked us for not shoving our message down his throat. Ha-ha. When we got to the end of our conversation it was getting pretty dark, He goes "Girls, you just got to let me walk you to your car, not everyone out here are believers." It was so funny.

We also had Zone Conference. Which always makes it a good week.

We've been having a lot of success getting less actives to church. This week we had dinner with a part active family. We didn't push her to come we just said we would love to see her there. And she showed up. Her husband came up to us after and said, "This is because of you, thank you."

We had another recent Convert who has been less active, we went by her home but she wasn't there so we left a note and the next day she was at church, her visiting teacher came up to us and said that she saw that we left a note and decided she wanted to start coming again.

These successes matter a whole lot to me, because I know they matter to the Lord. When I got to this area I was overwhelmed by the amount of people on the list that weren't active. And of course I want to find new people to teach and bring them to the fold but we've been struggling to find solid people. Maybe God is asking us to minster in this way right now.

However, it's helped in all ways. When we were looking for less actives, we went by the home. Apparently they have moved out. But there were all these guys working on cars in the front yard. We explained what we do and how we share a message about Christ. And the dad comes over and is like "Okay I'll listen." So we teach the restoration on the spot, said a prayer with the whole family. And he's having us back for dinner and a lesson tonight. (Everyone wants to feed us)

Spiritual thought: I read this quote somewhere this week, I can't remember where but it made an impact on me. It says, "The gift is to want what He wants” I put it right above my study desk. That really would be the greatest gift we could obtain. Really that's what I want, is to want what he wants. Not want it because I know I should or because I want the associated blessings. But to truly want what he wants. That has to be a gift, a spiritual gift nonetheless. But certainly a gift worked for and earned. Because to want what the Savior wants is to be full of perfect joy. That's something I find very meaningful, not necessarily just doing what he wants, but also wanting it. And I want to work on that, wanting it MORE.

CONVERSATION

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Daytona Beach

This week was crazy! It went by so fast.

We had ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) this week. Talked all about Facebook.

After Zone Training Meeting

Monday night and Tuesday night we got bashed... ha-ha. I don't know why; it just makes me laugh, it probably shouldn't. Monday night it was this member’s non-member husband. We showed him a video and it turned into a straight hour of him trying to explain how religion doesn't make sense or something like that. Folks, he literally got up and used a whiteboard to demonstrate! Ha-ha and the next night it was this guy from Jamaica. We had a return appointment with him. I won't even explain because honestly I don't know how. I don't understand any of the points people try to make when they bash us so I usually just let myself forget most of the conversation. I think it's better that way.

One other funny story, so we're trying to figure out all these members we have on our list right? So we go by this one house, pull up, and there are just tons of cars parked in front. I'm like okay cool this might be a little awkward they are having a party or something. We walk past the front window and I see everyone is sitting in chairs and immediately in my head I think "ohh no it's a bible study" but I press on… right? Knock on the door. We just hear everyone yelling inside "OH ITS THE JDUBS!" (Jehovah Witnesses) and someone very excitingly opens the door. There's just all these men staring at me. Everyone was so intrigued, Bible in hand, you know getting ready to bash. And then a little disappointed to see it's just two young Mormon girls. Anyway, long story short apparently this man is not a member and we have the records wrong, but he basically just kept trying to get us to come to his church and have coffee and we were like, nah. It was hilariously uncomfortable.

SHA! My girl. She's the one we met on the steps in front of her apartment. She's progressing so well, she's so excited to read the Book of Mormon and she remembers everything we teach. She has 4 boys under the age of 5 and man, are they cute.

Also we got a referral from the other sisters, a guy they met in Walmart who came up to them!! And he said, "I have Mormon family, I think it's time I learn." So cool. So so cool. He's solid. Our lesson went so well and the spirit was so strong and he said all of this just makes sense to him, he feels that all the events in his life are just leading him to this. His daughter was there too and she's super into it. He's such a good guy, and he is a veteran.

I don't remember much else from the week. I'm just a very sandy happy missionary.

I'm just a Sandy Missionary

Picture with my "baby".

P-Day at the Beach

I will share how much I've been thinking about being my first Convert. I just want the gospel to be fully who I am, not a part of me or a"mission" me but completely who I am. I believe wholeheartedly that God is aware of me. And he wants me to know that. I believe he drives to show all his children that every single day if we pay attention.

God is the nature of happiness : )

Tracking in the rain with my lovely companion.

Exchanges with Sister Brady

CONVERSATION