Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

Deception of what we did during our quarantine

I got out of quarantine Wednesday night. It was so great though it was like paradise. Sister Schwendinger and I just sat in bed all day; we slept in. We watched movies (the same ones over and over again), we played board games, studied the gospel, and all our meals were brought to us in bed, it was heaven sent.

Bored during quarantine

But it's so nice to be free, and not feel sick anymore. Feeling that sick was miserable. It's nice knowing I can actually work. Also it feels good to go to bed tried, rather than going to bed not even wanting to sleep.

That was such a strange experience, still can't believe it happened.

Sister Pulse's backyard is not a bad view.

Sister Sorensen and Sister Schwendinger enjoying the view

Anyway,

So Thursday I got to go to MLC. Sister Pulse told us the only way she was allowing us to go was if we wore masks.... And I had to give a training.

So just my luck I walk into a meeting with our missions finest missionaries, every leader in the mission and I'm looking like a person you avoid standing near at all possible costs. (The Mask) Then president was merciful and let me take off the mask. It was wonderful.

Forced to wear masks to missionary leadership meeting (Why wouldn't that happen to me) just me

Friday was pretty cool we did weekly Planning and we had a Bible referral and we went to deliver and she let us right in and we sat down with her and her husband.

Her name is Lucy her husbands name is Jonnie. They live in the projects but they are really working their way out. They told us all about the place they live and the horrible things they have seen there.

They both have a strong faith in Christ and it’s carried them through their multitude of trails throughout their lives. Lucy wants to go back to church but more than anything she wants to quit smoking. Sister Naylor made some pretty cool promises to her that if she read the Book of Mormon everyday she would quit smoking and have no desire to go back and she really took that promise to heart, it made her cry.

The thing that was really cool to express to them was how much we knew this message would improve the quality of their lives and they are just people who are ready and willing to change.

Anicesha and her son came to a church tour with us on Saturday, they loved it. She's been battling a lot and we're really just trying to help her find some peace in the struggles right now.

She promised us she would be at church the next day and she kept her promise. With all her social anxiety we were really proud of her for coming and staying the whole time. Her son loved church and he has his own copy of the children's book of Mormon, which he loves (given to him by the canyon view 8th ward primary)

Our investigator Regina also met this family and invited them to church so we had a whole family there, which was pretty cool. They stayed the whole time and the kids just absolutely loved it.

I'm happy to be well and working again:)

Sister Naylor and I after accounting (or during)

- Sister Sorensen🌞

CONVERSATION

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Okay so Monday we didn’t have enough miles to drive out to the stake center for P-Day so we just went to our chapel with all the sisters, it was good we got to know them more and we all were able to go out to lunch together.

Also a less active family invited us over for dinner and their daughter just turned eight and they want us to help prepare her for baptism because she hasn’t been going to church and doesn’t know a whole lot. So now they are going to have us over every other week for dinner and lesson:)

Later that week We saw sister Sjuts and she’s still been reading in the temple pamphlet. She had us explain to her a bunch of the words and she seemed very happy that day.

Our appointment with Ramone stayed and it was a pretty good lesson on his back porch. He didn’t really grasp the full restoration but it could have been the language barrier.

Thursday, Call comes in at 6:39 this morning, it's Sister Schwendinger, and she's asking if we can take her to urgent care. So for three hours we sat in the waiting room at an urgent care where our poor Sister friend, Sister Schwendinger got tested for the flu. Some guy in the lobby invited us to a fish cook off at his church, he even texted his pastor and asked if the Mormon missionaries could join in, I'd go.. But I hate fish.

But anyway, we went to drop her off only to have her throw up outside the car a few feet from their home. She stopped for a minute as the cars drove by and said "wow that was humiliating."

Then we came home, had a late breakfast, took a quick shower and went out to see Sister Sjuts. We just read the book of Mormon this time. She talked about her frustrations that she gets too frustrated with people. I could relate.

Then we went home. Started our studies that were primarily focused on... Billy Thompson. He source of my anxiety and anticipation. The Thompsons, the cute Methodist family of 9. If I had to guess with no prior knowledge, I would have guessed they would be Mormon. Honestly, they have it more together than the most of us. But anyways.. We studied and studied and tried to figure out what to teach them. We drew blanks, but we felt it needful to focus on the Book of Mormon.

So ALL DAY I was worried about this lesson. From dawn to 6:15pm

We walk in and it's the cutest home, cutest family. That was a home where the spirit definitely is present, there's no doubt about it. Billy and his family are just down right good people. They didn't mind the elders in the past, he said he didn't continue meeting with them because they were busy. They asked about a million questions about us as missionaries personally. Then Billy admitted that he stopped his search on the book of Mormon because he saw it as something completely separate from what he knows. His wife didn't know a whole lot so we just simply taught the restoration. We asked them if they would be willing to find out if what we are saying is true. Pause. They admitted that they were good in their faith and they weren't looking for anything more. Billy opened up, he said he felt that the elders in the past were a bit condescending. Like they were just trying to preach at him, instead of just talk about God with him.

I felt Impressed to tell them that we didn't just want to shove our religion down their throat. And that we recognize that they have a strong faith in Christ, we respect it and we believe that something from their years of experience could help us to.

OH well he lit up after that, everything changed. He felt as if that was the kind of mutual respect they had wanted established. And they would love for us to come back as long as they can share their thoughts as well.

I think with this one, we just need to be friends, with mutual respect - first. That's the step that needs to be taken. I want them to come to know the truth so bad. So badly, nearly with all the energy of my soul. I love this family, I want to see them accept the gospel, but I will definitely take time and a building block of trust. I just really hope they keep the door open for us.

PRAYERS

Then we saw our dear Danielle and Eli. Eli hasn't been reading and he still has the question about being baptized again that he can't seem to get past. But he brings it up all the time because we know he wants to get past it.

Danielle just yelled this whole lesson, that women cracks me up.

She turns to me and says "who should I listen To, God or man?" "God" "right well God told me to speak up so I SPEAK UP!"

And oh boy does she know how to speak up.

But hey she helped us get Eli to say the closing prayer so all is well that ends well am I right?

Friday we Found out today that Sister Schwendinger has the flu, she's quarantined 3 days inside. Well I woke up with a scratchy throat. No big deal probably just Allergies? Something like that. Yeah? Day continues.. Throat, eh a little more scratchy. Then coughing every so often becomes more often than not.

Fast forward to the end of the night and my body is aching... And shoot.

16 months I've made it without getting sick and I'm FAILING MY STREEK.

We went by the Keller’s and invited them to the ward social Friday tonight. Steven is such a good guy we just want to get his wife on board.

Then we went by Hazel, she's just a sweet old black women that says things like "finna" and not even to be slang but just like it's a language. She told us stories about her late husband and asked us to come around more, missionaries taught her in the past but she wasn't really keeping up with commitments. Hopefully things are different this time around, she's a real sweet lady.

She very Sternly told us were not aloud to be in her complex after dark and If she found out we were she would woop us, I believe her.

The ward social was awesome, not many ward members came so that was disappointing but Steven Keller came! With two of his kids. They all seemed to really enjoy it. Everyone was so welcoming to them. I hope he keeps coming around and that this motivates him to meet with us and make the time to read.

We played family feud and it was hilarious. I don't remember anything from the outside world.

"Things you do in the car"

"Put on make up"

"Yeah, us guys do that in the car so women don't judge us."

And… here’s how the week ends.

Quarantined.

3-5 days.

Rough stuff man. Saturday I was pretty ill. Like I mean I just laid in the floor with a sweater, and a hoodie and windbreaker jacket, under two blankets.

And I couldn't get warm, but later in the day I started to feel at least more decent so we went out.

Got home that night and it started all over again.

Sunday morning I woke up and I just knew we couldn't go to church, I took my temperature - 102.4

So problem there, Sister Schwendinger have the flu so that means no missionaries at church.

We told our mission doctor that I was feeling sick (gave minimal details) so I would go stay with the Sister Schwendinger and so my companion and her companion could go to church.

And she immediately requested I go to urgent care. She told me i was quarantined 3-5 days and not aloud to shake anyone's hands for 10 days.

So, we go to urgent care.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnddddd Sister Sorensen has the flu.

Then... then.

Sister Pulse (our mission doctor) and President requested then that I and Sister Schwendinger stay at her home in the guest bedroom for a couple days and she would take care of us and our companions would work together.

Another problem, transfers are on Tuesday and Sister Schwendinger is getting transfered. But Sister Pulse told us she talked to President Clark and he will just delay her transfer, and figure something out with our companions. I made it pretty far without getting sick and let me tell you, getting sick on your mission is like the worst possible thing. Ever.

So Sunday evening I went to Sister pulses home.

Last night just watched church movies with Sister Schwendinger and laid in bed. The ward is the sweetest of all to us, everyone has been texting us and reminding us they are praying for us and Sister Gunnels made us soup and the Drennans brought us cookies. Everyone has been feeding us dinner in bed. They are so good to us

Before we went to bed Sister Pulse came in and said she was inspired to do this and I believe her. She reminded us tonight “Sisters this is from the Lord that you are both here, not me.”

We got priesthood blessings and I was reminded that my mission is not yet over and I have much to accomplish. That I might not see the seeds I plant bear fruit, but they will bear fruit.

What a reminder, I needed that.

This week certainly didn’t turn out like I thought it would, but I have just felt so much peace and love from the lord and the people around me.

- Sister Sorensen🌞

CONVERSATION

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It’s Me again. I’m clingy.

Monday we had our Zone P-Day, Sister Pulse, I’d say our mission nurse but she is more like our mission doctor.. and she’s not just over our mission. Anyway she’s the coolest and she is in our ward and she’s an orthopedic surgeon. She let the whole zone come to her house and fish off the dock and play sand volleyball and she even bought us a bunch of pizzas. It was loads of fun!

Sister Fiu and I then went exchanges, she is from Hawaii. This is her first transfer and she’s already a stellar missionary. We were out in the middle of nowhere… Lacanto. Later that week We went to an apartment complex to find some less Active members, when we were driving through the parking lot this tan white middle aged man with gold teeth and a thick southern accent started talking to us, he was nice enough to help us find the building number and he called me baby girl about 5 times. He made my day. His name is Big Toe.

We also had interviews with President Clark. President told me that Sister Naylor and I will be companions in the celestial kingdom. She’s an amazing companion and I was truly blessed and given tender mercies of the Lord to get transferred to Leesburg to be with her. Really I’m so very lucky and I should never complain. Looking back I’ve learned so many wonderful and beautiful lessons on my mission, I’ve worked hard, I’ve struggled, I’ve given my heart out of my chest to those I love.

Thursday we went early in the morning and had a lesson with Anicesha. She is going through a whole bunch of trials right now and she’s just looking for some comfort, she has a young son who is about the age of 10. I hadn’t met her before, the sisters only had taught her briefly but now she’s allowing us to teach her about 3 times a week. We were very pleasantly surprised to discover she had read about 6 chapters and when we went through and reviewed them with her she really started to see how they can relate to her life personally and we asked if she had any more questions and she said “no but can we just read more?” Seeing the hurt in her is heartbreaking but we know that the gospel can help her and she’s very willing and that’s all that matters first anyway, is desire. Also who doesn’t love a black women’s OH FATHER GOD prayers!

Sly and Regina fed us dinner that night. His granddaughter wasn't listening to him so he just goes. “It says it right there in the Bible. Thou shalt respect thy parents or thou shalt be beaten"

Sly is a recent convert and Regina is our investigator, she struggles with a lot of heath issues but on Sunday we was at church all done up and ready and so happy. And it made me so happy.

Friday had a lesson with Anicesha in the morning again, it went very well she kept reading and she asked all the “preach my gospel” questions. Lesson went over and we were late to lunch with Sister Wright.. She had us meet her at the food court in the mall, that was hard to find. It was weird being in a mall. She talked politics, and I was confused. People forget we don't know anything.

Then we went and found a member.. Who actually isn't a member and was baptized in the break off of the LDS church.

Saturday We had two church tours today. First was with Steven Keller, we were hoping that his whole family would join but just his daughter came. He seemed totally like it though. His job keeps him really busy so it’s just going to be a lot of consistency that we’re going to have to create with him. We know he has strong desire and wants to learn, it’s just the ability to act on it and we need to get his whole family on board.

We went and checked up on some of the people Sister Naylor met on exchanges, and they weren’t around but as we were driving away we saw a lady out by her car and the spirit told me immediately that we needed to turn around. Once we did and started talking to her, we discovered she didn’t speak English at all but then her son rode up and we started talking to him and he’s letting us come back next week to teach him!

Then we had a church tour with Eli, Danielle didn’t come because she was sick apparently. He’s He loved the church tour he said he will do anything to come next week. His only issue is he has already been baptized and he firmly believes that he doesn’t need to be baptized again but we just need him to pray and read and he knows we have promised he will receive the answers.

Sister Naylor and I had lots of good conversations this week about how much we owe to our missions, we know this experience isn’t for everyone but I’m so grateful it was for me, there’s so many things I would have missed out on if it hadn’t of made the decision to serve. My life is forever changed. And I know everything can change in an instant, so I learned the proper tools to keep myself on the right path and focused on what truly matters to me.

- Sister Sorensen🌞

CONVERSATION

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Look who I found! (This is our favorite place Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory)

I had the privilege this week of going on exchanges with Sister Jamison in good ol’ Sumterville. Which aka is the middle of nowhere and actually more like what I pictured my mission in Florida to be like. Think of a mile of fields and trees covered in Spanish moss, spotted by trailer parks and 55+ communities. There’s always some tan older couple riding a golf cart. Their church building is all but one small hallway and a leveled chapel that turns into the classrooms.

First, the sisters live on a sketchy street in a very ill lit neighborhood in a very very old house. Sister Jamison and I woke up that morning and after exercising we had breakfast in the kitchen, then we got ready and started Studies...and then we walk out of the study room (only an hour and half later) and.. termites! All over the floor, covering the entire kitchen. It was like the start to some horribly written horror movie.

We had a great day though, we were tracting in this small town in their area, I looked up a record of a women that a few weeks before dropped the sisters for no apparent reason and told them never to come back. And I felt impressed we should go she her and later Sister Jamison felt impressed we should go as well.

When we got to this home, we were led around back by her sister to a small shack that this lady and her husband and two kids live in. She came out and... if looks could kill, I’d be dead. She told us she’s no longer interested and I asked her if it was because of something she ran into (anti-Mormon stuff, because it’s always always anti) and she denied it but coughed up some questions that denoted that anti-Mormon information was indeed the culprit.

After a while of us answering her questions the best we could, her heart and her countenance softened and she invited us to sit down. She opened up and expressed all the pain and guilt she is experiencing and we were able to have one of the most power lessons testifying of Jesus Christ and his atonement. She’s still got a long way to go and I think the sisters can help her, but it proved to me so clearly that the Savior can and will change everything - if you let him and if you trust him.

#thetracksuitpics

Okay are you ready?

Sister Naylor and I have been acting on faith this week and we have been putting lot of people on “hold” that are not in any way progressing.

There was a women who Sister Naylor taught before I got to the area and one of my first weeks some things happened with her that caused us to keep some distance.

We went by the other day to clear things up and wish her well.

Her life has been a little crazy, she told us she loves us very much but she is very Bible based and she’s willing to listen and study with us as long and whatever we teach doesn’t contradict what she believes. Which... doesn’t work.

Anyway, that’s not the story. So she has this dog, (the day before the dog was attacked by this other dog and her ear was ripped in half) and as we’re talking to her (she’s not really letting us leave) her friends who went to go get medicine for the dog show up. She shouts out the door to them “hey the Mormon girls are here!” And one of the ladies jumps out of her golf cart marches straight up the stairs and tells us it’s time for us to leave... gladly.

It was very awkward and extremely uncomfortable. Our friend calls her out and tells her not to disrespect us because we are just women preaching about Christ and she goes off on her for a minute about disrespecting people In her home. But then she won’t stop talking to us and we’re trying so very hard to get out the door with little success. We get to the front porch and the other lady who was sitting in the yard now comes storming up the porch and tells our friend that they are leaving because she’s had enough. So we just turn and start walking to the car, and this lady... starts screaming at the lady we were visiting “I TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES TO NOT LET THOSE GIRLS IN YOUR HOME, YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE FROM A CULT.” Wowza. I mean I think everyone in the whole neighborhood heard her. It was crazy and honestly just so sad that someone who knows nothing about us, not to mention we were just helping her friend out. Would say such things about us and make us a hiss and a byword. Hey, what can you do.

We also saw our friend Danielle this week. Sometimes she just goes off about how paper should still be trees and if we walk out of her house and there’s a newspaper she shouts “Oh look another thing that should still be a tree.”

She loves god and all god creatures very much, so cockroaches and bugs crawling around her home are a given and she refuses to kill them.

One of the cool things is we recently met her roommate Eli and he’s actually super interested in the Book of Mormon and coming to church so we’re excited to see him this week.

HIGHLIGHT of the week for sure though was Jasmines baptism.

Brother Rich and his wife drove us back out my old area. Jasmine asked me to speak at her baptism and it was so great to see her finally take this leap of faith.

Jasmine's Baptism

I’m so proud and grateful to witness how her faith has grown in the time that I’ve known her.

She’s already such a light and so good and sharing the gospel and she’s going to do so many amazing wonderful things.

Sister Naylor and I have now created a rule where we will never marry anyone who doesn’t treat us like brother rich treats his wife, two years ago she had a stroke and now he just fully takes care of her. And he treats it as if it’s the upmost privilege. Goals.

I’ve learned so much here in Leesburg IM SO GRATEFUL!

Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

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“The only reason I went to the Pentecostal Church was because the lady that took me bought me ice cream.”:Week 71

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Sister Sarah Sorensen

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Sister Sorensen Orlando Florida Mission

Happy to be Well and Working Again: Week 73

CONVERSATION

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Quarantined.......:(:Week 72

CONVERSATION

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“The only reason I went to the Pentecostal Church was because the lady that took me bought me ice cream.”:Week 71

CONVERSATION

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Jesus Christ is Awesome, Truly Awesome:Week 70

CONVERSATION

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Sister Sarah Sorensen

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