Here is yesterday's letter from Daniel's mission companion, Elder Ames, to his family:
Querida familia!
How is everybody?! I don't think that there will be anybody there to receive my message, but that is okay. You will just have to write an extra long one this next week! (some of us were at girls camp) This week has been great! We are continuing to be extremely blessed and we are so grateful for all that we have received. The Lord truly does love His missionaries! We are going to have the baptismal service of Delmira this coming saturday. She is so ready for baptism. I have never met anybody as solid as she is. She finished up her finals and dedicated a lot more time to reading the Book of Mormon. She is going to be a kingdom builder. I think that she should serve a mission. She would be great! We are going to try to teach her sister. She is not as interested as Delmira though.
We are also working with a man named Rafael who is getting over an addiction to acohol, we have helped him to develop a personal relationship with the Lord and he is really seeing and feeling the difference. If all goes well, he should be baptized on the 12th, but he may need a little bit more time. We have a pretty cool teaching pool right now. We have representatives from quite a few countries.
We have:
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Peru
Colombia
Ecuador (Maybe)
I think there are more, but those are the ones I can think of. That is one of the coolest parts about being in this mission. It makes it super hard to develop a good accent. So I stick with gringo. :)
So I have a question for all of you. This is a concern of one of our investigators... If someone has done something to you that has made it really hard for you to forgive them, how can you develop the courage and the love to forgive that person? How can you let go of those negative feelings that are built up inside of you? The concern is, she doesn't know that we know that this is her concern. It is a delicate situation.
When we do not forgive those that have offended us, we are letting those people have control and influence over our life. It is when we sincerely learn to forgive that we find freedom.
Well, I have to get going... I hope that you all have a great week! Have fun at your activities! Take pictures! And I will send mine home after the baptism! I love you all so much!
Con Mucho amor
Elder Ames
First day
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
5.26.10
Hey family!
It's great to hear that you all had a great time in Oregon. I miss it a lot! It sounds like it was a really good trip. (For those of you we didn't see, I'm sorry! We were only in Junction City for part of the day on Sunday -k) I had a good week as well. We pushed Delmira's baptism to next Sat. due to stake conference and she had finals in school. It just works out better this Sat.
We have been doing a lot better on finding new investigators lately. We had one member invite us to meet her boy friend and his kids. He has been to church once before and really wants to learn more. We starting teaching the husband of another investigator, Adela, who might get baptized with his wife.
We have really been struggling with Natali, Lourdies and a few of our other investigators. There are a lot of little things that are holding them back. We have many people who are so close to baptism, they just need to do it!
We had a competition within the zone to see which district could get the most amount of member referrals. Because member referrals are so much better, hopefully some of them will turn into progressing investigators.
Elder Ames and I are still having a good time and we are motivating each other to work hard. (Well sometimes we motivate each other and sometimes we distract each other. but that's ok! lol)
I love you all and I wish everyone in the past month and in the coming month a happy birthday! I'm sorry I can't make it special with a mariachi band, but i will make up for it someday!
Elder Sorensen
Hey mom,
did you know Amanda Ashton is getting married in Aug? do you know exactly when and where? (If anyone has more info I can pass along to Daniel, please let me know ASAP -k)
It's great to hear that you all had a great time in Oregon. I miss it a lot! It sounds like it was a really good trip. (For those of you we didn't see, I'm sorry! We were only in Junction City for part of the day on Sunday -k) I had a good week as well. We pushed Delmira's baptism to next Sat. due to stake conference and she had finals in school. It just works out better this Sat.
We have been doing a lot better on finding new investigators lately. We had one member invite us to meet her boy friend and his kids. He has been to church once before and really wants to learn more. We starting teaching the husband of another investigator, Adela, who might get baptized with his wife.
We have really been struggling with Natali, Lourdies and a few of our other investigators. There are a lot of little things that are holding them back. We have many people who are so close to baptism, they just need to do it!
We had a competition within the zone to see which district could get the most amount of member referrals. Because member referrals are so much better, hopefully some of them will turn into progressing investigators.
Elder Ames and I are still having a good time and we are motivating each other to work hard. (Well sometimes we motivate each other and sometimes we distract each other. but that's ok! lol)
I love you all and I wish everyone in the past month and in the coming month a happy birthday! I'm sorry I can't make it special with a mariachi band, but i will make up for it someday!
Elder Sorensen
Hey mom,
did you know Amanda Ashton is getting married in Aug? do you know exactly when and where? (If anyone has more info I can pass along to Daniel, please let me know ASAP -k)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
5.19.2010
Hey family,
It sounds like life is a little stressful back home. I hope everyone is doing ok, i will definitely keep you all in my prayers. Elder Ames and I had a great week full of meetings. Elder Robbins from the 70 came to the mission and met with all of the ZL (Zone Leaders) on wed morning, fireside on wed night, and then a conference on Thursday. It was an amazing experience to be taught by him and I really took a lot out of it.
In the meeting with the ZL he taught us a lot about taking responsibility for our actions. He shared a lot of stories from both his church callings and his business career. He talked a lot more about life skills than missionary skills, which can easily apply to the mission. I also had a short interview with Elder Robbins along with a few other ZLs. He just wanted my opinion on the mission and he taught me some good pointers on leadership.
Yesterday we had interviews with President Smith which was really good. He has a great gift of helping people feel like a million bucks. He really expects a lot from us and holds us to those expectations. In my interview I received a clear answer to one of my prayers and helped me know that what I was doing was right. I feel much better because of what he told me.
Delmira called us the other night to share a great experience she had with HF answering her prayers. She is taking this baptism very seriously and is striving to properly prepare herself. She knew she had to repent of everything before she got baptized and make reconciliation with everyone she had offended. There was one person who stuck out in her mind and she couldn't ignore. She knew that she had to ask for forgiveness from this person. The problem was that she didn't have any way of getting a hold of them. She offered a prayer for an answer and the next morning that person sent her an e-mail, inviting her to an event! She said that she doesn't know why she keeps getting surprised that He answers our prayers, but I feel the same. It amazes me every time how we get our answers.
Rafael is doing well and he accepted a date for mid June. He seems to get stronger and stronger with each visit and his testimony is growing brighter and brighter. He wasn't able to come to church last week due to work but we did meet with him that night.
Elder Ames and I are both doing well. We have starting running in the morning and our goal is to be able to run 5 miles by the end of our mission. We also started the perfect push-up program again so we are both super sore. I don't know what president was thinking putting two dying missionaries together! lol No, we are doing really well and keeping each other excited in the work.
Well, I hope you are all doing well and good luck with upcoming finals! I love you all and hope the best for you. Thank you for being such a strong support for me and a great example. See ya soon! lol
Elder Sorensen
It sounds like life is a little stressful back home. I hope everyone is doing ok, i will definitely keep you all in my prayers. Elder Ames and I had a great week full of meetings. Elder Robbins from the 70 came to the mission and met with all of the ZL (Zone Leaders) on wed morning, fireside on wed night, and then a conference on Thursday. It was an amazing experience to be taught by him and I really took a lot out of it.
In the meeting with the ZL he taught us a lot about taking responsibility for our actions. He shared a lot of stories from both his church callings and his business career. He talked a lot more about life skills than missionary skills, which can easily apply to the mission. I also had a short interview with Elder Robbins along with a few other ZLs. He just wanted my opinion on the mission and he taught me some good pointers on leadership.
Yesterday we had interviews with President Smith which was really good. He has a great gift of helping people feel like a million bucks. He really expects a lot from us and holds us to those expectations. In my interview I received a clear answer to one of my prayers and helped me know that what I was doing was right. I feel much better because of what he told me.
Delmira called us the other night to share a great experience she had with HF answering her prayers. She is taking this baptism very seriously and is striving to properly prepare herself. She knew she had to repent of everything before she got baptized and make reconciliation with everyone she had offended. There was one person who stuck out in her mind and she couldn't ignore. She knew that she had to ask for forgiveness from this person. The problem was that she didn't have any way of getting a hold of them. She offered a prayer for an answer and the next morning that person sent her an e-mail, inviting her to an event! She said that she doesn't know why she keeps getting surprised that He answers our prayers, but I feel the same. It amazes me every time how we get our answers.
Rafael is doing well and he accepted a date for mid June. He seems to get stronger and stronger with each visit and his testimony is growing brighter and brighter. He wasn't able to come to church last week due to work but we did meet with him that night.
Elder Ames and I are both doing well. We have starting running in the morning and our goal is to be able to run 5 miles by the end of our mission. We also started the perfect push-up program again so we are both super sore. I don't know what president was thinking putting two dying missionaries together! lol No, we are doing really well and keeping each other excited in the work.
Well, I hope you are all doing well and good luck with upcoming finals! I love you all and hope the best for you. Thank you for being such a strong support for me and a great example. See ya soon! lol
Elder Sorensen
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
5.11.10
Family,
Hey it was great hearing from you all last sunday! I am glad to hear that everything is still the same back home and not too much has changed. I can't wait to see everyone and meet little Claire.
Elder Ames and I had a great weekend with two baptisms. The Rodriguez kids got baptized and it was an amazing service. This branch does really well supporting each other. Hopefully we should have many more soon to follow.
This week we have Elder Robbins from the Seventy coming to our mission. The Zone leaders have a meeting with him this Wednesday and our half of the mission will meet with him on Thursday. It should be really good and hopefully it will lift the mission to a higher level.
Delmira is our next baptism, at the end of the month and she is doing amazing. We are still working on her testimony of Joseph Smith and the BoM but I know it will come and she continues to ask. Last Sunday as we taught her I had the impression that I was in this area because of her.
Natali is doing a lot better now too. She came to Blanca Rodriguez's baptism, who is her good friend. Her dad bore a powerful testimony and she also came to church last sunday. Elder Ames and I feel like she will be baptized very soon.
Rafael is doing a little better on the wow (Word of Wisdom). We are going to try and give him a set date this week. Other than him we have a lot more potential but still need to find more.
I love hearing Griff's letters and know how he is doing. I wish i could write him more now but it's hard. I'm sure the mission is changing him just as it is changing me.
Well I love you all and hope you have a great week. Good luck with all of your adventures for the week and say hi to Grandpa and Grandma for me. Thanks for all that you have done and I will talk to ya next week!
Elder Sorensen
Hey it was great hearing from you all last sunday! I am glad to hear that everything is still the same back home and not too much has changed. I can't wait to see everyone and meet little Claire.
Elder Ames and I had a great weekend with two baptisms. The Rodriguez kids got baptized and it was an amazing service. This branch does really well supporting each other. Hopefully we should have many more soon to follow.
This week we have Elder Robbins from the Seventy coming to our mission. The Zone leaders have a meeting with him this Wednesday and our half of the mission will meet with him on Thursday. It should be really good and hopefully it will lift the mission to a higher level.
Delmira is our next baptism, at the end of the month and she is doing amazing. We are still working on her testimony of Joseph Smith and the BoM but I know it will come and she continues to ask. Last Sunday as we taught her I had the impression that I was in this area because of her.
Natali is doing a lot better now too. She came to Blanca Rodriguez's baptism, who is her good friend. Her dad bore a powerful testimony and she also came to church last sunday. Elder Ames and I feel like she will be baptized very soon.
Rafael is doing a little better on the wow (Word of Wisdom). We are going to try and give him a set date this week. Other than him we have a lot more potential but still need to find more.
I love hearing Griff's letters and know how he is doing. I wish i could write him more now but it's hard. I'm sure the mission is changing him just as it is changing me.
Well I love you all and hope you have a great week. Good luck with all of your adventures for the week and say hi to Grandpa and Grandma for me. Thanks for all that you have done and I will talk to ya next week!
Elder Sorensen
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5.5.10
Hey Family,
How's everyone? I am doing really well and our area is really taking off. We have two baptisms this sat from the Rodriguez part member family. Also we set a baptismal date with Delmira, our tall domican. We were talking about Alma 32 with the whole seed thing and as we were talking about her testimony she compared herself to a flower who was about to bloom.(get baptized) She said that she just faulted a little more "water."
The branch is really excited to have two more missionaries because we split the area. They have given us a ton of referrals and told us about a ton of part member families. I guess out of the 7ish young women who come to all of the activities, one of them is baptized. This area should do very well in the next few months.
My companion's name is Elder Ames who is from Arizona and goes home one cycle after I do. I have served around him before, he was one of my district leaders in North Manhattan. He really likes to work hard and he is very humble and a spiritual giant. I am sure it will be an amazing cycle and he will probably be the elder to "kill" me off.
So we had a super weird week with not one normal day. Between moving, cleaning and cars breaking down; I am a little tired. We had two different cars break down on us Sunday and Monday and we are currently without a car. I don't really know what we are going to do. lol Don't worry, it's not my fault!
On Thursday we had the most trunky experiance of my mission life. We got up super early to help drive all of the missionaries leaving, back to the airport. The whole drive my stomach was going crazy. And then we had to drive all around, Queens, Brooklyne, South Mahattan, I saw everything, to drop of one missionary to meet his parents. When he got of of the car his mom did a little jump up and down and then gave him a big hug. It was super wierd. It was cool I got to see a ton of stuff though.
Well I am out of time, I hope you are all doing well. I will keep little Clair in my prayers and I hope she does better. I remember I went through a lot of the same problems when I was younger. I should be calling at 8 sunday night. love you got to go!
Elder Sorensen
How's everyone? I am doing really well and our area is really taking off. We have two baptisms this sat from the Rodriguez part member family. Also we set a baptismal date with Delmira, our tall domican. We were talking about Alma 32 with the whole seed thing and as we were talking about her testimony she compared herself to a flower who was about to bloom.(get baptized) She said that she just faulted a little more "water."
The branch is really excited to have two more missionaries because we split the area. They have given us a ton of referrals and told us about a ton of part member families. I guess out of the 7ish young women who come to all of the activities, one of them is baptized. This area should do very well in the next few months.
My companion's name is Elder Ames who is from Arizona and goes home one cycle after I do. I have served around him before, he was one of my district leaders in North Manhattan. He really likes to work hard and he is very humble and a spiritual giant. I am sure it will be an amazing cycle and he will probably be the elder to "kill" me off.
So we had a super weird week with not one normal day. Between moving, cleaning and cars breaking down; I am a little tired. We had two different cars break down on us Sunday and Monday and we are currently without a car. I don't really know what we are going to do. lol Don't worry, it's not my fault!
On Thursday we had the most trunky experiance of my mission life. We got up super early to help drive all of the missionaries leaving, back to the airport. The whole drive my stomach was going crazy. And then we had to drive all around, Queens, Brooklyne, South Mahattan, I saw everything, to drop of one missionary to meet his parents. When he got of of the car his mom did a little jump up and down and then gave him a big hug. It was super wierd. It was cool I got to see a ton of stuff though.
Well I am out of time, I hope you are all doing well. I will keep little Clair in my prayers and I hope she does better. I remember I went through a lot of the same problems when I was younger. I should be calling at 8 sunday night. love you got to go!
Elder Sorensen
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