10.28.09

Family,

Hey everyone, what's up? Elder Wilkins and I had a good week with some success all around. We are all still fired up from Elder Pace and the hard work will soon pay off. I don't have any crazy stories this week but overall we had fun and worked hard.

District meeting was probably the highlight of my week as far as things go. I did a training on the doctrine of the plan of salvation. I think studying for trainings is the best part of being a district leader. The whole week I prayed and studied and prayed some more on what my district need to hear. I know that I received a ton of revelation for exactly what my district needed. It was one of those few times when without a doubt the Holy Ghost was putting words into my mouth. I learned a lot about the Plan of Salvation and how it really applies to us as missionaries. I feel a lot more motivated to do better and set an example. One scripture that has been going through my head none stop after my training is 3 Nephi 12:14-16. I know I need to be a better example to my district and set the tone for how we work.
I have been going on a lot of splits lately and I've learned a lot from them. All of these missionaries have been asking me for advice like I'm their father or something. I don't know what to tell people who are having problems! All I want to tell them is to suck it up and work harder. But don't worry I try to take it very seriously and give them my very best advice. It's a lot of responsibility this district leader thing. All well, I guess I'll have to take my own advice and suck it up and work harder.

We found this really cool guy last week named Pedr*. His sister in law is an active member and he just got here from Mexico. He investigated the church a while ago and now he's back into it. He was one of the last people I thought would come to church and after only a half an hour of sleep for the whole night of work he shows up! We gave him a date for next month and so hopefully he will hit the goal.

So I don't really know where I will be going in exactly two weeks but I doubt I will stay in the city. I really want to be in the city for Christmas but I doubt it will happen. Christmas is one of the best times on the mission and all I really know is the Bronx. In the city it's a lot easier to go caroling, singing on the subway, street meetings with free hot chocolate and Christmas presents of wrapped DVDs. I'm sure it will be a lot of fun somewhere in the middle of nowhere too.

Well family that's all of the time I have today. I hope you all have a great week. I'm super excited to hear about all-state tryouts and to see pictures of my nonbraceface sister. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Sorensen

PS Dad, I have no idea what I'm going to do with school and I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm leaving all options open and when it comes time to make a decision I'll pray about it. I hear ya though on the Idaho part. I've been thinking a lot about the thanksgiving hunt. Are you excited? I'm jealous!

PPS hear is my letter from president and to president for those who want to hear more from me:

Dear Elders and Sisters,
What a wonderful mission tour we had with Elder Pace. Sister Smith and I learned a great deal and we are looking forward to implementing some of the ideas with you in the future. Congratulations on a great month of baptisms during October! If everything goes as planned, we will have a total of 44 baptisms during October – The second highest month during the past year.
Hard working, obedient missionaries + engaged and committed members, sprinkled with a good dose of heavenly miracles = great success.
If we continue this rate, the declining projected trend in baptisms per missionary per year which Elder Pace pointed out will surely not happen. Keep up the good work. Our mission goal for baptisms in November is 42. Zone leaders will let you know how this will break down by district. I know you can do it. Great blessings will come as you do your best.
As promised, here is the quote from Elder Scott which we discussed during our recent meetings:
Learning Truths from the Scriptures
o Read, ponder and pray about the meaning of specific verses.
o Be instructed through inspiration as you search the scriptures.
o Analyze and unite the core content of related scriptures so as to prepare a statement of principle that embodies the truths distributed throughout several passages.
As I have begun to follow this process, I am preparing an interesting list of individual statements of purpose with accompanying scriptural references. It is truly amazing what truths and insight I have gleaned from individual verses and also related scriptures which I have found. It is as though I am preparing my own personal compendium which reflects what I truly believe.
SISTER SMITH SAYS:
Few missionaries have received flu shots. Sister Schouten in the mission office is researching where free or low cost flu shots are available in your areas. It appears that the best resource is to check with your local fire department as to whether they can administer the shot. If you are not able to find a location, please call sister Schouten and she will hopefully be able to advise you of the location nearest you.
Determining if you have a temperature is very important when you feel sick. Since many apartments do not have thermometers, we will make them available for each apartment. These will be distributed at zone conference.
Sister Smith will have a special surprise (probably more jelly beans) for those obedient missionaries who have received a flu shot prior to our combined zone conferences which will be held November 16 and 17.
Remember to take the time to step back and take a good look at your mission experience. Ask: “Where am I and where do I want to be?†In his letter to me last week, Elder Marr quoted a statement by Elder Neil Andersen. "I know I am not what I need to become" The thought made me ponder as to Sister Smith’s and my mission experience – where do we want to be?
We love you all very much. (muy muy mucho)
President and Sister Smith


President,
Elder Wilkins and I had a great week with a lot of success. We have been working hard and being obedient and expecting miracles to happen. I know if we continue to do all that we can the Lord will make up for the rest. We personally could work on our 10 contacts. We have definitely improved a lot but we can do better. I am excited to see where this area will be going in a few weeks.
In the district we have been focusing a lot on member work. Next Sunday Elder Fox and Martindale will be baptizing a member referral from one of my recent converts which is a huge blessing. We are also doing trainings with the members every other Sunday during the third hour. Last week really showed a lot of results when we asked the members for names that we could start to pray for. We ended up getting over a hundred names from our members! Not all of them live in our areas but if our goal as a district is at least 4 per month, than out of that 100 we should be fine.
Thank you for all of the good advice in the e-mail. Our district is really fired up and working hard!
Elder Sorensen