Tuesday, December 30, 2014

HAPPY NEW YEARRRRRR!

Well family, although our call was a bit chafa, I was still a very happy lady here in the land of Poptun to talk to all of you! It was the best Christmas gift I could receive!  I hope all of you as well enjoyed your holiday and drank lots of hot chocolate.

After we chatted Hna Guerrero and I went to work and went out to the boonies again with this fun little family. They fed us Ponche and we read a bit from the Book of Mormon with them. We also found one of their neighbors to teach who has a lot of faith her name is Lezbia. SO it was a very happy Christmas!

 Also we went to teach this other family yesterday and a pastor showed up. That is always fun because all they want to do is cause contention and talk about Joseph Smith. Also he got into the fact that America is a bad Country because it is hard to go there and it just felt bad for the poor guy.

We also taught our fecha , Aracely. Hna Guerrero and I have been so excited for her because she had a change of heart and has been changing her life so much! We had so many spiritual lessons with her this week! Her fecha for baptism was on Saturday... weeelllll she didn't come to church yesterday. Dumb ole Satan....So we will see what happens with that lady. We were very sad.

On Saturday we had ward Christmas Dinner and it was DELICIOUS. Also.. the ward choir can not sing but shhhhh...  In about 2 weeks we are organizing a ward talent show...we will be doing the cotton eyed joe WOOT WOOT:

Our Zone Leaders are PILAS (aka reaallll cool.) Their names are E. Orosco (who was my las DL) and E. Cabrerra. They are really spiritual and motivate us to be better. My DL is E. Lopez. Just go talk to Jacob Hola and you about got an idea of who he is. LATINO TWIN. The other sisters I adore in my district.

So one tender mercy this week was Hna. Guerrero and I were praying to be able to find a member to go on visits with us for  the day because we were way behind on our goals for the week for lessons with a member. Well, we were calling, and begging, and feeling bad because it was Christmas Eve in the after noon. Well, we go walking to lunch and one of the Hermanas in the ward stops us on her motorcycle and apologizes becaise her phone is broken but asks us if she can help us. BOOOM MIRACLE. It was just such a litttle tender mercy of the power of prayer and faith.

This week I was studying about how the Book of Mormon and BIble testify of each other and read in Isaiah 29 and 2 Nephi. It is just so cool that these books really work hand in hand! I don't understand how people can believe in the bible, read the Book of Mormon and not know it is true! This gospel just makes sense to me.

Also DyC 12.8 is a real winner. "And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."

Well, I know the church is true and I love Christmas! Everyone make a good goal to be a little bit stronger in the gospel this year.

LOVE YOU!

Hna. Sorensen

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

More fun in Poptun!

Ho ho ho!

 I hope you all had a lovely week before Christmas and you are all preparing for spectacular Navidad this year! Hna. Guerrero and I had quite the interesting week here in Poptun. But we are loving our time and we are only a little excited to talk to you lovely people (not baggy, (homesick) just excited.)  I opened every single thing you sent me on the day I got it.  (Sorry, mom, I didn't do the little daily plan you had!)  I just decided to open it all, get over the homesickness all at once,and then focus the whole month on the work and on our Savior. So my companion and I just opened it all up right there in early December!  And, you know what?  I didn't get homesick opening it!  I just felt happy and so grateful and amazed at my blessings.  It has been fun sharing the chocolate etc. with other missionaries and other things. Re-gifting is a beautiful thing!



Tender Mercy of the week? Well, this week we had Zone Conference in San Benito. I could name a few tender mercies. Number one: We had to wake up at 5 in the morning to get there. I just wanted to sit on the bus and sleep... welllll they put all of Poptun on this bus and we had 4 fat ladies sitting on a 2 seater bench. I was kinda just kneeling on the floor with part of me on the corner. But Heavenly Father loves me and had some people get off the bus before San Benito so I could have a seat of my very OWN! 

Tender Mercy number 2, Let me just describe something to you, when you go to Zone Conferencel they always tell you 3 months before, "Study a doctrinal subject because they are going to pick someone in the EXACT moment who is going to talk so BE PREPARED!" Well, I have had 3 zone conferences and usually they have called the people before and let them know ahead of time. But I studied anyways because that's just what you do. But basically it's just like the Hunger Games. President stands up and announces who is going to talk, Everyone is just dead quiet and thinking, "Please no, Please no." Well,  that man just stands right up takes a gander at all of us 100 missionaries and says, "We will now here a 10 minute talk from Hna. Sorensen." Then everyone just looks at me with big sad eyeballs like 'Pobrecita.... Good luck.' And I'm just in awe and trying to gather all of my bajillion things to take up to talk to all of these missionaries saying a little prayer in my heart. Well, my tender mercy is, Ususally, I'm always super nervous when I talk in front of people, but I didn't feel super nervous. I just kinda gave my talk about prayer and tried to relax. It wasn't as bad as I thought. The only part I was nervous for was when everyone had 10 minutes to ask me questions after... that's not fun. 

Tender Mercy numero 3, People... we watched FROZEN! No big deal I was just the happiest person on the planet!

My favorite investigators right now is this family we found who live clear out in the boonies. Their first language is Queqchi so we have to take it real slow with them. But they are so nice and humble and get so excited whenever we come to visit them! We invited them to church and they were like in awe that we would be so kind to do that!... Well... They didn't come, but like I said we are taking it slow. I love them! Also, fun fact! The grandma is 137 years old!!!! Well... they say she is... but she looks exactly like the witch in Brave so... I kinda believe it...

 This week I learned how to hand wash clothes... that made my back very tired... it's work people. But,  THAT was a fun little cultural moment for me. Everything is dirty.. you just love the dirt and become one with it.. like a caveman...

Mom keeps asking me why I mentioned I get so cold.  I am healthy mother. I'm only cold in the night in my bed... but thank you grandma and grandpa! I bought myself a blanket for Christmas and now I'm super toasty. No, Peten is one of the hottest places in Guatemala right now. It is just humid and I am pyscho. Don't you worry your pretty little mind.

ANNYYYY whooo... I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas cuz I sure am! My eyes are really being opened to how lucky we are. Not only for things temporal, but spiritual also. When I first got here I thought that lots of people wouldn't have stuff for Christmas like gifts or trees and those material things, Well, that is very true, And it makes me sad! But what makes me evern more sad is how 90 percent of the people here really don't understand what Christmas is, and why we celebrate it. Or they just don't choose to focus on that. They don't know who their Savior is and many really aren't interested to know. How lucky are we to know that someone died for us!? I am so grateful for this time to remember an love my Savior!

Have a Merry Christmas and I will talk to you on jueves!

Les Amo!!
Hna. Sorensen




Sorensen


Monday, December 8, 2014

Feliz Navidad!

Murryyyy CHristmas Everybody!

I am so happy that it is officially la Navidad! This is the best time to be preaching the gospel. Right now, more than ever, people are searching for their Savior. I know what we will be seeing a lot of miracles this holiday season. So yesterday we had changes (transfers). I am a jolly little human and am happy to announce we did not have changes. I will be staying here in Poptun with my lovely little Mexican companion to preach the holy word. We were both very happy and did a little dance in our kitchen to some Christmas hymns last night when we found out. So yes... It was a swell week.

Usually we teach about 20 lessons a week.. mas o menos... (more or less). I think that we had 18 this week. We had a few days where Satan was working on the people and our lessons fell through. I am working with some less-active members. Apparently the branch has a whole lot of less actives but we do not know of all of these people because we have failed to get the ward directory. So we are working with about 7 right now. They are all so different and are not assisting (helping us) for so many different reasons. Usually the less actives are a little bit more mean to us than the complete strangers. They know why we are there and what they need to be doing, so I think they feel a little bit uncomfortable when we knock on the door. But we do have lunch with a less active everyday... she fed us chicken feet.....

Tender mercy of the week? Elizabeth Olsen's package to me of peppermint tea and my fam bam's package of candy canes which are now on our ghetto Christmas tree!

We saw lots of miracles this week! I don't remember if I mentioned last week about this family that just showed up to one of our activites. Well, they live clear out in the boonies in the jungle. We went to go find them and we were just about to get lost. I say 'just about' cuz right when I was wondering where we were, this little boy comes walking towards us ' HOllaaa Hermanassss!' And I just thought, “Who is this child and where are his parents?” But it was the son of the family! So he just showed us exactly where they lived! We probably never would have found it with out him! Then our lesson was perfect! We invited them to be baptized and they said they would pray about it but feel like it is something good to do. AHHH more information to come.

Okay, the Christmas package was perfect. I am spoiled. I opened everything at once. I can't explain how grateful I am! It was ADORABLE!  I don't need anything. Just your love and prayers! I will talk to you all on Christmas. Which by the way... no we have no information on  that little phone call.  I know we can only talk for 40 minutes. ...and you guys will probably call me like we did on Mothers Day cuz those little Polo chic elders are clear out in the boonies and that is how it is so the whole mission is equal. So... there is that.

Health-wise, my face is WAY better. I am also way less stressed out. I adore my companion and we get along really well so there is no stress with that. I'm also speaking the language better. I think I m the least stressed out I've ever been in my mission. I'm just enjoying my life singing songs and eating all of the blessed chocolate you sent me. (insert smiley here). You ask me if I'm taking care of myself physically? Yessss... Well.... We are making goals tonight to be healthier this change and run EVERY MORNING: hahahhahha... yeah... we will see how that goes. I should probably drink more water...

Also I would like to give a happy birthday shout out to My most beautiful Grandma in the world Grammy Geri and Also my somewhat decent of a human and brother-in-law revin Devin. Have a jolly day! Also Happy anniversary Mother and Father. Your marriage is a good thing because since you were both married, I was brought into the world. And I am a cool person (please do not include last sentence in blog. People read it and do not understand how hilarious and sarcastic I am. ) LOVVVE YOU ALLLLL!

Hna. Sorensen

(Mom is now deciding to leave that last line in the blog because Lexi is hilarious and sarcastic, and I think people probably know her sense of humor!)

Monday, December 1, 2014

Poptuuuunnnn!

So, first of all I would just like to say I am dying of cold.  Don't worry it's only like 70 degrees here, and I am FREEZING! So when I come home if you could have a blanket ready for me,  that would be dandy. I have no clue what is happening to my body. I'm from Utah for goodness sakes!

This week it rained. LOTS AND LOTS... I love the rain. This equals happy Hna. Sorensen... and a very wet Hna. Sorensen.

So, you asked for an update on our work, specifically on Mishel and if we convinced her that salvation doesn’t come cheap?.  Mishel.... oh Mishel... well,  I just am not quite sure she will be finding her salvation with me and Hna. Guerrero. But we prayed a lot about it and went to her house to teach her one last time to see.  Wanna know what happened?  Her little brother, who is 15, came out and started to listen! And we think he could have potential. So we are leaving Mishel and starting with Epo. God just has a perfect plan and knows why we are in certain places and for what.

Miracles of the week?  So this week we had a ward activity called the Barra de Hierro. On Thursday I was trying to send a text out to a whole bunch of the members to remind them.  Well, I still don't know all the members, so I basically just tried to guess from the names in our phone.  I ended up (cough cough the spirit told me to) sending a message to this family that the Hermanas had taught one year ago. They ended up coming to the activity. Well they also ended up coming to church on Sunday and want to start with the lessons again! I don't know why they weren't baptized before but I also know that that wasn't a accident. I am so excited to get to know them!

Christmas cultural experience and how are the Guatemalan people getting ready? Lots of tacky lights and baby Christmas trees. It is adorable and hilarious. Byt it is so cute, everyone just makes their own little Christmas decorations and people are starting to sing lots of Christmas songs. WOOT WOOT! This week we went to one of our investigators stores (she owns like a 'sugar and spice' store) and helped her decorate a Christmas tree. I am very excited! Oh, and everyone makes tamales... always.

Favorite laughing moment of the week? Oh dear... SO just put this picture in your head. It is Tuesday night and we have correlation. We can't be late so we hurry and finish our lesson. Meanwhile a hurricane decides to blow on into town. If you think I am exaggerating you are wrong; the palm trees were swaying. But we can't be late for correlation. So me and Hna Guerrero just say a little prayer and head on out into the night. Well, the house we were at has a little canal in front with a little pathway, We forgot about this and couldn't see so we go a stumbling into the canal.  KAPOW! Soaking wet. I was dying laughing trying to get Hna. Guerrero to stand up and run and she was just sitting in the canal laughing trying to find her shoe because it fell off. It was really funny. Then we ran to the church and made a puddle during correlation.

Weellll the church is true and life is good.  Peten is pretty and I lived through a hurricane. Everyone share the gospel with a pal this week. We are pretty lucky to have it!

Hna Soresnen

ps, These ghetto computer labs don’t allow me to upload pictures so you will never witness the coolness I am experiencing. LO siento

Monday, November 24, 2014

Hohohohoho I'm Christopher Columbus

Bueno, Happy 4th of July!

This week was very good and very fast. My days are starting to blur togthter and I honestly am forgetting everything that is happening. Not a whole lot whole lot happened this week and I am seriously struggling to think what I should tell you lovely people.

Well I will tell you about one person who we are teaching, We have this ancient investigator and her
name is Mishel. She is 17 and has a 1 year old named Mishel. We are really struggling with her because
she is sweet and nice but doesn’t pay a whole lot of attention in the lessons. She wants to be baptized
and we can see that she really does have a testimony that the church is true. Problem = she doesn't pay
a whole lot of attention in the lessons and doesn’t like coming to church. So, basically she is a less active. She is a toughy cuz’ we don’t want to leave her when she has a testimony, but also Salvation isn't cheap. We are going to have a fast about this one.

We have a menos active (less active person) who is so sweet and has A LOT of faith. His name is Daniel. He used to drink a lot before his baptism and sadly has returned to that. We have been searching for him for a long time to try and help him. (Apparently one night he was very drunk and almost killed his mom.) We found him this week in his sister’s house and we have been talking to him and he really wants to change again. He is the perfect example of a “broken heart and a contrite spirit” because he is just SO SAD. That is what sin does to you, it weighs you down. But he has such a desire to change and come back to the fold. We are making plans and trying to help him overcome his addiction again. We have been talking a lot about the atonement. Isn't it amazing that he can feel completely free of this burden?! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL!!

I LOVE PMG (Preach My Gospel), but this week I am going to share with you what my DL has been
doing with us this week. He has been asking us every night what miracles we have been seeing in our
days. I stinking love it cuz’ at first I was like uh........ I donno. Which is muy malo cuz hellloooo, I'm a
missionary! MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERYDAY! But by the end of the week Hna Guerrero and I would say to each other, “OH! That was good, That is our miracle that we can share with Elder Orosco” So everyone should start to do that. That’s all.

What is the best memory you made with your companion this week? This drunk lady started following
me this week.. . . . that was funny...

You are all winners.Thank you for your love and support! Have a good week and happy Thanksgiving! I can’t describe my gratitude for all of you!

Hna. Sorensen

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Pop pop pop tun!

Bueno bueno buenoooo,

Well let me just begin by describing my LOVE for this little city! I adore it here! The people are so nice and accepting-- well not necessarily of the gospel always-- but they always let us in and chat with us for a bit. Our area is called Poptun 3. We have another group of sister missionaries and 2 elders in our rama (branch). They completely cleaned the whole entire area which means the whole ward has new missionaries. So basically none of us know ANYTHING. It has definitely been an interesting week getting lost and trying to figure out where everyone lives. But we are getting there.

I can't describe how important the members are in the missionary work. Without them we would be dead. The members are really nice and helpful here. Poptun reminds me of like little Bear Lake or a little water tower town from a country song. Everyone is just jolly like they are all on vacation.
CCM amigos reunited! Hna. Hansen is in the Rama and Elder ORosco is our District Leader.

This week was kinda longish. We had transfers on Tuesday and drove all night until 11:00 p.m. until we stopped  in San Elana to sleep in the Sister trainer's house. (By sleep I mean we laid on the floor in our skirts with our name plaques still on, and just zonked for about 2 hours until we had to leave again to make it here to Poptun.) Then we unpacked and got started! Cleaning an area= 2 sister missionaries just walking around in circles asking a bajillion people were other people live.
But want to know something? I thought I would be dying of heat here from what the other missionaries told us,  but the weather has actually been pretty nice! Aka how could my life get better? Answer-it. . . couldn't.

Hna. Guerrero is a lovely human. She likes to work hard and she is SUPER sweet with everyone. We get along really well. Yep.
We made fiambre. A typical Guatemalan food for dia de los muertos. Excuse my faces: someone was talking to me.

We took a 20 minute hike to the 3 Cruces.
Well, I absolutely adore it here! I don't have much to say but we are really trying to get things going. A Seventy is coming soon, so apparently they cleaned out the area because it all depends on us 6 missionaries to make the rama (branch) a barrio (ward) for him to visit us or something like that. I donno but we are all definitely feeling the pressure.

I'm way excited to see what God has in store for us here! I know that his plan is perfect in all things!

Lalallalallove you all!

Hna. Sorensen

Monday, October 27, 2014

Peten. . Here I come!



Yes, I love this!  (Of Course, I've been singing Christmas Songs for a couple months now!)
Fam bam and other Cache Valliers!

HOLLLAAAAA. HOPPY HALLOWEEN! I would like you all to enjoy this jolly holiday mucho because on Friday, I will be dressed up as a missionary and celebrating as well.

The big news for this week is I got a transfer!  WOOT WOOT WOOT! ME VOY POR PETEN! Alright so we had changes!  I'm going just about as far from civilization as you can go (besides Polochic, thank goodness.)  I'll be in Pup ten Peten. I am very excited and nervous. My companion is Hna Guerro de Mexico and she has the exact same time as me so that's interesting We are cleaning the area so a lot of contacting is in my future but ohhhh welll. I’m pro after this change, right!   Also, in Peten, it is  WAYYYYY HOT; like imagine el infierno times 3.  Well, that's what I hear. So I am going to sweat my fat away. Haha
Peten is 8 hours away, so I will not be coming to Coban until.. who knows. Today they told me that it is so far away that they usually keep you in Peten when they send you there becaue it's so  far away. So.. we will see.  On transfer days, what we do is we all go to the stake center and change up companions and move in with our new ones.  Apparently whereI am going to live is in one of the nicest and biggest houses in the mission. WAHOO!.  They have a little store there where I can buy stuff. Not as big and nice as the one here, but todavia it’s great.  Peten is just like another state--like Coban is another state. So we still have a district and a zone there that is far away from the office. The office will send me the stuff when it gets there, so it will take more time, but I will still get it.
This man loves the United States and we are always having chats about US history stuff.

I am sad to leave Los Campos and excited for the future!  Like I said, we have been contacting a whole lot this change! One thing that never gets old when we contact, and contact, and contact, is telling people that they have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for them SO much. Ninety percent of the time the people just shake their head and ignore this grand message I am trying to bring to them, but without fail, every time I say it, the spirit testifies to me that it's the truth. God really does care for them and for me. Also, this week we talked about how Abinidi had 0 baptisms, but ended up converting Alma; and look what he did. I’m fine if I’m just an Abinidi.
My 'mama' (first trainer) is heading home!

This week was a little bit of a chafa a week cuz’. . . . . announcement number 2. . . . I got another parasite! WOOT! WOOT! I don't know why this is happening because I never eat in the street, and I wash my hands. But I live in Guatemala andddd these things happen. So, I actually spent the whole night on Wednesday puking and the whole day Thursday sleeping. But, I got my drugs and besides being a tad tired, I am golden!  But then, the next day,  Hna Velarde was the same and had 2 parasites so.... we didn't have the opportunity to work a whole lot this week.  One tender mercy that I experienced this week from my Heavenly Father was that I had the opportunity to ask the Elders for a blessing. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE PRIESTHOOD! It was just so simple and they just blessed me that I would be well enough to work--probably 30 second blessing. But I just know that God knew that's all I needed to hear!

Well, I Love you all a lot and thank you so much for your prayers.  I’ve set a goal to do a ’40 day fast’ of not talking about ‘TIME’.  Not gonna think about the amount of time that I have already spent here--or how much I have left.  J 

 I will be writing you next week from Peten,  if I don't melt into a puddle!
LOVE YOU!  Hermana Sorensen J

Monday, October 20, 2014

Happy Six Months to Meeeee!


Helllooooooooo,

Well, This was definitely the roller coaster week of being a missionary. For reals, I was at the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. But through it all I was with my Savior,  and I will always be grateful for that.
So first of all this week,  I learned a lot about agency and how great this gift is  that we have. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for us to become like our Heavenly Father without our right to choose right or wrong. This is why we have trial,s and we all know how strong our trials make us.
I am just more and more amazed at the great love that our Heavenly Father has for us! But also, let me express my deep hate for agency. No. One. Listened. To. Us. This. Week. No one people. Even our recent converts or less actives were busy! We contacted all day everyday. Everything fell through. I wanted to DIIIEEEE. We were so frustrated cuz we were working SO hard and really trying to do all we could, then at the end of the day we just put big fat goose egg zeros next to our champ goals. Aye aye... these people were not using their albedrio very wisely. I just knocked on their door and really wanted to say,  'Hello how are you? My name is Hermana Sorensen and I have for you your salvation!' But apparently people don't go for that, so I stick with leaving  the folletos (brochures), and enjoy people leaving me in the rain. Vaya, I'll see you in judgement. But at the end of the day, I am happy that these fellow brothers and sisters of mine had the CHOICE to choose even if it was wrong -- cuz’ one day they will have another opportunity!

This is me saying 'What up? Do you want to be saved?' and... Anai...
Also, another little ‘Guat’ experience that I will mention since Mom keeps asking. . . not to complain because I am totally fine and I don’t want to focus on the physical side of my life; but on the spiritual. . but,  .my hair is falling out.  A lot.  And all the Nortes hermanas say that it happens.  So, yes, there is that.  And, I have a ton of zits.  So, that is fun also. . but all is well!  Must be the humidity.  I was told to put baking soda on them (the zits. .not my hairs. . ) so I have done so and it seems to help.  I have many spider bites and that is interesting also!  But, no more lice or parasites that I know of at this time!  

This old couple--they are crazy, and I always have a lot of spider bites after our visits with them.

Heidi, Schelder and Brandon's Bautismo!
Andddd the high of the week! Hna Heidy, Schelder and Brandon were all baptized on Saturday! I was such a happy little lady here in Guatemala! Her Husband ended up coming and I about cried when she expressed how baldy she really wants ALL of her family to be members one day. I know it's going to happen. I can just see them all in the temple together someday,  and wanted to cry! I love families and the temple and this gospel!


Zone Activity to Cuevas de las Candelarias

Today we went to the Cuevas de Candelerias.(The Candelarias Caves).   It was really cool and wet and I almost died. I LOVED IT! It was also very humid and sweaty. But I love Guatemala and I just could imagine all of these cool Nephites hiking through the jungle as we were on our way to the caves. I love Guatemala. You people must visit this lovely lugar.
Welllll.... This is my life and I like it a lot.
I know that this gospel is true and So amazing! I am so grateful to be a part of it! Don't forget to use  your agency wisely this week and remember that every decisIon you make will put you that much closer to, or farther from, our Savior, even if it is just a teenie tiny decision.
Feliz tardeeeeeee!
Hna Sorensen

Monday, October 13, 2014

I Lost our Phone. . Pues, it was stolen. . but, SUPER week!

 Helllooooo!
So this week went by SUPER FAST, but slow at the same time. I continue to adore my companion. I am really learning so much from her and we are working super hard and are doing AWESOME! 
Divisions and Little Children!
 My tiny miracles/tender mercies that I have found this week are that I am really learning to depend a lot more on the spirit. We read a lot in the scriptures about the authority of our calling and how really we can do amazing things with this power. Even just being a member of the church, we have authority to do things. I mean when we were baptized we took upon ourselves the name of our Savior. Holy hanna!  How powerful is that?   So, this week I tried really hard to listen to the spirit about WHERE and WHO we should talk to.  Lots of times I wasn't sure if it was just my own brain or the spirit speaking.  I read a scripture about how if we just open our mouths, the spirit will put the words there, but if we don't open our mouths and try,  our gifts will be taken away. I really tried to put that into practice and talk with everyone this week, and we really found more people who have potential!  Everyone needs to do this! Pray to get rid of your fear and let the spirit guide you!  
In some ways, this week was a little frustrating because Hna. Velarde and I felt like we have been working SUPER hard and we have been SUPER obedient, but we basically contacted new people the whole entire week. So towards the end of the week we were getting really discouraged. Well, we went to go visit this less-active brother, and he is the only member of the family. We went to share a short Mormom Message from Elder Uchtdorf,  and also Alma 27:26, to explain that if he could continue to be faithful, his family eventually would see his example. This message was definitely more for us. As I was telling the story of Ammon and his brothers before reading the scripture, the spirit testified to me that I just need to be patient. He really does have something planned for us. So we have been praying to be more grateful for what we do have. Prayer is so powerful. And who knows how this week will go, but I know that our attitudes will definitely be different.
What was the favorite cultural thing/ food/ habit/ activity clothing or thing about the country that you saw this week? Well the cortes are EVERYWHERE! But one thing I was thinking about telling you that they do here that is a little strange is that they all keep their dogs on their roofs.... I'm always afraid they are going to come flying  through the air and bite my head.
Today We went shopping in a Paca for me.. and only me... with Hna. Adair and Hna Cerrato... I think that they are feeling bad for me and my nunness... (Looking so stylin’ in my outfits.)  So yeah,  I bought like one outfit. But later we are going to get rings from the mission for 10 quetz! I will get you lovelies something. I bought the most lovely Guatemalan tie for my dear father the other day!. 
This week we had Zone Conference. It is ALWAYS AMAZING! One thing I LOVED that Presidente shared is that in the Book of Mormon they talk about A LOTof wars. There is almost always a war going on in this libro (book).   One thing I have never thought of is that today we are all in a war also; but our war is spiritual. When you look at all of the great leaders or people in the Book of Mormon,  they ALWAYS had a strategy to take on the enemy. He asked what we are doing to have a strategy and fight off Satan. That really hit me because Satan is so tricky with the people. Gah!  I wish I had the wisdom of Moroni or Helaman!
This week I also had divisions with Hna Adair. Quick story from our division. 1 I love that lady. I could talk with her all day long. 2. We went to visit these people and they would not stop talking to us. They ended up talking to us for THREE HOURS: I wanted to literally die. We kept trying to talk with them, but aye... they told us that they beieved that the Book of Mormon was written by animals and all of this other stuff that just made me want to stomp on their little Guatemalan toes!   So finally I just interrupted them, and told them we had another visit.  I asked them to pray and that I was going to have us pray,  and whoosh,  I ran away.
Any who,  life is lovely here in mission Los Campos. I love you all a lot! Have a jolly good week and take care!  Eat your veggies cuz we don't eat a lot here and I like that stuff.


LOOOOVVVEE
Alfalfa 

A snake, Brenda and I in the rain. . . .

Elder and Sister Utt took us out to lunch.  :)

Monday, October 6, 2014

General Conference is the BOMB.COM!

Dear family, friends, animals, insects and all other beautiful living things in my blessed home town of Logannnnn,

Holy hanna! How energized and motivated are all of you lovely people to live this stinkin’ life after conference!?? Cuz I will tell you what, I am about ready to just dominate this life here on Earth. I have such an appreciation here for conference. Everyday Hna. Velarde and I woke up saying our countdown, “Tres dias mas hasta conferencia!!!”   (Three more days until Conference!)  We were a little excited, and for good reason!  People we are listening to a LIVING prophet and apostles!!  Why have I never realized the significance of this. But yeah... it was a jolly good conference and week, and I hope you are all making goals and changes in your life to be closer to our Savior after  listening to it.

Basically all of us ‘gringo’ missionaries watched it in the stake center in English, so I was just with all the other missionaries in a little room. It was really special when they prayed or talked about the missionaries....

I ADORED the talk by the Chinese guy, haha,  of course because it was about missionary work! It was so valid. We really do need everyone to help work together and bring souls unto Christ. Here in the mission I’m learning how vital the members are. I‘ve always thought that missionary work is just for the missionaries. I can’t imagine how this work would take off if everyone put in their part and we all worked together to accomplish this great work!

Also the talk by the German guy... hahah, sorry,  I don’t remember names. But he talked fast and about 7 things we should be doing. It made me realize that I need to start taking better care of myself physically here as well... no voy a regressar gorda voy a empezar a cuidarme! (I’m not going to return fat, I’m going to start to take care of myself.) (That will be a tough one, right?!)

Alright, so my companion is Hna. Velarde. She is from Bolivia (but everyone thinks she is from Japan). I was going to tell you guys that she was from China and is learning Spanish as well but... like I said I’m trying to be a better human after conference, and lying is not in-line with those goals.  She has 14 months and is a CHAMPION! People I LOVE this lady! We work so hard together and laugh our stinkin’ brains out!  We don’t waste one minute! I just like her. She kinda reminds me of T...(my best little Asian buddy at home) and not just cuz’ she looks Asian haha hahahahaha!

This week, it rained buckets. Usually this would be a time to go for our boots, but we really wanted to visit this lady. SO we literally walked through a river.  I can’t describe it exactly to you, but it was, for reals,  a river in the street. But we just did it and laughed and got to our visit, which was actually really special. SO yes.... Hermana Velarde and I  like each other and get along quite well so far. But who knows, in one week she may turn into the hulk, for now I am enjoying my little ‘Japanese’ lady!

The first week of the change is usually a little slow and also we had less lessons scheduled because of General Conference. But if you want to hear a cool story about prayer, this week we put a fecha (date) with Brandon for baptism on the 25th.   WAHOOO! But in order for him to be baptized this day,  he has to attend church three times with his mom, and we only have 3 Sundays until this date. Well his mom had work and couldn’t get it off. We prayed every night that she would be able to find a way and on Sunday morning,  like 30 minutes before conference,  she called us and said she could come! WOOT WOOT! True--prayer works people.


So this week our joy in Los Campos is the Elders had a wedding!  They threw it together in one day. It was SO special! Just like a movie! In one day they called a lady who does weddings for free here, we helped make some streamers and balloons and the bride just wore a white dress she had in her room. The Relief Society President made sandwiches and we picked some flowers from outside of the church. In all, we had about 10 people there. We sang Families Can be Together Forever , and BOOM, they were married. They are getting baptized next week. AH it was so cute!

Also this week I have been studying a lot about desires. I studied the scriptures and the general authority’s talks.   Really SO many things in our church talk about desires and how important our desires are. I know without a doubt that as long as we have a desire to do something, it will eventually happen, God wants to help us. If we truly have Christ written in our hearts, and our desires to serve him are pure, then making decisions and prioritizing things will be a lot easier because we will understand where we stand with Him and what He expects of us. I've been asking myself a lot, “What are my desires truly?!” Obviously,  I always say that I want to follow Christ and be obedient, but if I'm doing worldly things or not really following His commandments, where are my desires?

I love you all and I hope you are all like Pres Monson said-- motivated to be a little bit kinder, work a little bit harder and make a change in the next six months! (Which by the way is just about my year mark... thats SOOOO weird.)

Les ammooooo! ( I LOOOOOOVE you all.)

 Conferencia!!
This little fruit is called Lecha and is DELICIOUS!!!!!!!
Thats all..



Monday, September 29, 2014

LOS CAMPOS!

Buenas Tardesssss Mis amigos!

Happy almost October! I hope you are all living the fall life in pretty Utah and eating some delightful pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies like my pretty sisters sent me, cuz' puchika were they GOOOOOD!

This week went SO incredibly fast. The time in the mission really is starting to whip on by. Hna. Munoz and I worked hard and really enjoyed our last week in Los Campos.

Well, I thought it was my last week; I have served here my whole entire mission. I basically spent my week kind of saying good bye to everyone until Saturday arrived and . . . . . .TADA! The people of Los Campos are still in need of some 'Hna Sorensen' Love. They just haven't had enough, pobrecitos.... But my new companion's name is Hna. Velarde. She was the trainer of Hna. Munoz, so that is funny. She has 14 months and perfect skin. I am looking forward to working hard with her for the next 4 weeks (cuz' this change is only one month. Why? Nobody knows.)

La mision Guatemala Coban es el mejor en el MUNDOOO. (The Guatemala, Coban mission is the best in the world!) I just can't even get started. What is there not to love about this insane BEAUTIFUL country? I think one of my favorite parts about it though is the culture. I am in a place where they are still wearing their corte and traditional clothing everyday. The ancient language of Queqchi is still going strong, and I am not only getting lots of Spanish experience, but everything else as well.  It is amazing for me to see all I have to be grateful for. The rich here in Guatemala are like the poor at home. I'm learning so much!

I'm also so thankful for the spiritual experiences that I have had. We had a lesson yesterday with Heidy and her 3 sons. They all came to the baptism of the elders in our ward on Saturday. I asked her what she thought, and she just started crying and said that she knew without a doubt that this gospel is true when they baptized them. Ah, I almost cried too! She also told us about how one of her sons, never believed in God or Christ and hated church until the day that we knocked on their door and invited him to all the activities. After the first activity, he just told her he knew there was something different about us. I never would have guessed this because he really is always so willing to go to stuff with us. From the very beginning I have witnessed and I know that God really is preparing the hearts of people for us!

 Do you work on developing your language skills in other ways besides just surviving each day? Why yes , thank you for asking, I am a champ Spanish activity-maker and frequently have Hna Munoz do activites in the street with me. Sentences, songs, body parts, animals. All are part of my daily routine... well almost daily. (I am lazy sometimes.) This week I focused on body parts and drew a picture of a human and labeled all the parts, then carried it around with me. Yes I do use that little book that we purchased and it is almost full . . . haha soo... I'll have to buy another. But the other day Hna .Munoz was reading through it and found a very inappropriate word that I had heard and never found the meaning in a dictionary... whoops!

Another spiritual moment this week was the Women't Conference! (So I hope you all went!) I loved how they talked about temples. I am so jealous of all of you that you can go. So GO! Because so many of the people here don't have that privilege. I love how they talked about how each of us are temples and that we need to be keeping ourselves clean and bright. Another thing I was thinking about is how I don't want to just know who Christ is I want to KNOW Him – like as my friend--with all of my heart. Me and Hna Munoz were talking about how literally everything we do is going to put us that much closer , or that much farther from our Savior. G Ah! It's hard! But SO essential to keep trying ALL THE TIME!

Well I will see you all next week and tell you about my new experiences here.... in Los campos... But with a new COMPANION! WAHOO!


Everyone enjoy conference! How lucky are we to hear from our beloved prophet this week? I love that guy!