7.14.10

Family,

This is it! The time is far spent and the Hymn "God be with you till we meet again" hasn't left my brain in about a week! lol Man it's hard to stay focused when everyday you have to say goodbye to someone or you get some phone call about when your going home! Don't worry I'm still fighting the good fight, Yesterday we taught 7 lessons and got two new investigators, which is an amazing day.

The few people who I had in mind to be baptized next week won't be ready by next week, but that's ok because it should give Elder Ames a great last cycle. I have seen plenty of success here and it will help Elder Ames go out with a bang.

We are struggling with a few of our recent converts but the rest are really thriving. I guess that's how it always goes. I guess I just have to keep praying for them and hope they come back.

The weather has been a lot nicer, I've been praying for it to let up for a week. It has rained a ton which cools things down a little. I don't exactly know what we are going to do next week but I will figure it out. The mission office messed up and the new missionaries are coming in on tuesday so we might not be able to spend the night at the mission home. We are going to the temple and dinner on Friday and I think they may want the people who are getting picked up to meet with their parents on Tuesday. I think they are still trying to figure it all out but that's what I guess will happen.

Am I still giving a talk next Sunday? What's my topic? I also have to give a talk here this Sunday. When are we leaving for Utah to see Nick and Deb? I guess it doesn't really matter if I ask questions because you will be able to tell me in person before I can check my e-mail.
I love you all! I can't wait to see you. Elder Ames and I are still doing great and we are both excited to go home. Thank you for supporting me and pushing me to be my best.

Elder Sorensen

Thank you all for your prayers!
Dad, am I giving a talk that next Sunday? What's my topic? You guys will probably pick me up on tuesday. I hope the mission office calls to tell you details because I have no idea.

comp letter 7.7.10

This last week has been a good one. We are dying here in the heat and the humidity! IT reminds me of home,I have yet experienced heat like we have in AZ. I am not looking forward to it. We are struggling to help our investigators to progress. It seems like the adversary knows that incredible things are about to happen and is working extra hard to keep it from happening. One thing that I have recognized as a missionary is that there really is an influence out there that wants us to fail and he will do all that is in his power to make it happen. We continue though to work with faith and hope that we will be able to come out conquerors and not conquered. I love missionary work so much. There is nothing greater! We started teaching this lady who lives with the relief society president! She is super scared because it is something completely different than that which she used to. She promised to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. It was a little difficult to get to that point though. She has one of the most amazing examples to follow though, her roommate is amazing! We are also teaching a bunch of part member families. They are sometimes very difficult to work with. They are so hit and miss. It is hard when the family itself is not very solid, but we are seeing success working with them!
So we got permission from our president to go to a branch campout!! We were able to go up saturday morning! Missionaries never permission for things like that. It was super fun! All of the missionaries in our branch went. Five of us. We got back at 5:30. It was super fun. We played a pretty intense game of soccer with the members. We had to drive 60 miles to get there. We were shocked when he told us we could go. I think it was because we are dying. He loves us! :)
We also had a mission wide luau yesterday! That was super hot! We were dying, but at the same time it was so much fun. I was able to see all of my old missionary friends from the city! My old district, Elder Prue, Elder Canfield, Sister Chatfield, Sister Child, Sister Lythgoe. It was like a family reunion! It is sad because we never see the missionaries who serve in the city. We saw our mission president and his wife dance the hula. It was hilarious. I learned that Elder Lambert can shake his hips like a pro! We were there all day, because we helped with set up and clean up. We had fun! I think that you should write a letter to Elder Canfield! Just to cheer him up. Help him to feel like he is on the top of the world. He really needs it, but don't tell him I said that!
Elder Sorensen is doing great, he tries his hardest to stay focused. It is so funny at times. We have these moments where is like oh wow, we're really going home. It still doesn't sink in though. So I make comments such as, Okay Elder, imagine this... And I start creating a ridiculous story about dirving home from work after a long ten hour day and being great by a young kid yelling daddy!!! And running up and grabbing on to his leg and then being greeted by his wife with a kiss. :) It is so much fun! We don't get distracted though. Those kind of things scare us so much.
Well, I better get going. I hope that you all have a great week and that you enjoy your last 6 weeks of peace. I want you all to know that I love you! And that I pray for you all everyday, so that angels will watch over you. Have a great week!

Con mucho amor
Elder Ames

7.7.10

Family!

Man, I don't know what to write anymore! Anything that has happened will be so much cooler to say in person, because we will be able to do that in a few weeks! I got your letters, thanks for writing me so consistently! I'm glad Brent has got himself a little girlfriend. It will be cool to hang out with him again, man I wish Griff was there too. I guess he is in a better place. lol

So the mission through a huge party for me before I go home! Well I guess it wasn't exactly just for me but it was still a lot of fun and I got to see the whole mission one last time before I go home. It is very rare when the whole mission gets together. It was a big Hawaiian Lu Aow, however you spell that. It was really good and they had some of the missionaries from the Pacific Islands put on a show for us, it was really cool.

So it has been SUPER hot around here! On Tuesday down in central park they had a record breaker of 103. It's not very fun to walk around in this, I feel bad you guys are coming here in this heat. This morning isn't as bad because there is some good clouds and rain. Hopefully we will have a cool streak here next week.

On Saturday, I couldn't believe we actually got permission to do this, we went up state about and hour and a half to the branch camp out. We spent all morning fishing, eating really good food and playing soccer. Spanish people know how to camp! We got back around 4:00. It was super fun and really weird at the same time, I didn't really feel like a missionary, I was having too much fun! I got a lot of sun and have a pretty good farmer's tan again. lol

Delmira, our recent convert is doing super well. She is now the RS secretary, been to the temple and bore a powerful testimony last Sunday. It is so amazing to hear the testimony of a recent convert. She is going to help build this kingdom so much! Adela is also doing really well. She is studying the Bible and BOM (Book of Mormon) a lot recently and learning a ton. She discovered for herself why worshiping the saints is so bad and she really understood. It's amazing what people can learn by themselves after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Well I think that's about it for now. I have to work on my obituary for president! lol Present asks us to write a mission experience letter to him before our exit interview. I love you all so much and I 'm grateful for such an amazing family. I love you all and I will see you in less than two weeks!

Elder Sorensen

PS. Mom-Please thank the Farvers profusely for their generosity. I will have to do something for them when I get home. Love you.