Hey family!
It sounds like you are all having a great start to your summer vacation with a little bit of crazy weather. We have had a lot of rain here and some thunderstorms but nothing too crazy. I'm working harder than ever lately and really pushing to improve and get people to church. I've really learned a lot from the older missionaries around me and so I'm trying to apply them and improve. I am also trying to work on my Spanish using any spare time to study.
We had a pretty good week with a lot of miracles. We had eight with member appointments which is really good. We were struggling all week to get new investigators but the Lord blessed us with a few little miracles in order to hit standard of excellence. No one new came to church so we have to work on coming to church. That seems to be the hardest thing to get people to do and so that is what we have to focus the most on. I know if we use our members and the scriptures well we can get them to church. That is another thing I'm really trying to work on, knowing the scriptures. I thought I had a fairly good knowledge of the scriptures before the mission, but I have a lot to learn so I'm really taking advantage on my study time to better know the scriptures.
Dan**la came to church for the fourth time in a row which is great but we are having trouble still finding time to teach her. She really wants to get baptized but we have to be able to teach her everything before. She is still doing well and we are really impressed with her church attendance.
Mig**l also came to church for the second time with his wife, the member and baby girl. The gospel principal's class was a little rough for them but I still think it was a good experience for them. The wife hasn't been to church in a long time and doesn't remember too much but we are also have trouble being able to teach her with Mig**l because she works nights and he works days. He is doing a little better and understanding more, I think it will just take time.
We had a great miracle last Monday which helped me better understand the power of prayer with faith. Last week we taught this Mexican couple who seemed interested but the husband works on Sundays. He expressed that he would go to church if he could but he needs his job. We said a prayer at the end of the lesson that he would be able to find a new job and then we left. Last Monday we found out that a half an hour after we left some one called and offered him a better job that works Monday through Saturday with Sunday off. It was a huge miracle and we helped him see that is the Lord providing a way to come to church. He won't be able to come this week because it's his last week but they are going to come next week.
Yesterday I went on a split with one of my Zone leaders to his area and I really learned a lot and we had an amazing day. We got 7 new investigators and 5 with members in one day! The Lord truly blessed us for working hard that day with some amazing new people. I also learned a lot from how Elder Sanders teaches and I am trying to apply them to my own teaching skills. I need to work on asking better questions and using the scriptures better.
I got the small package you all sent, thank you very much. It sounds like Mandee had a great time at EFY and both girls are having a great summer. If you guys could send a copy of the EFY cd that would be amazing. None of us have the 2009 efy so it would be sweet to have a new cd. I also am excited to hear about Griff's mission call, it doesn't matter where he goes, and he is going to do amazing. Well that's about it for me. I'm really having a great time and learning so much. I expected a lot of blessings from the mission but I never dreamed how much it really is. I am not only setting up for the rest of my life but for after too. I love bringing others into the gospel and it is worth all of the hard work. Thank you all so much for the support and everything you have given me. Keep up the good work and tell Griff to write me as soon as he gets his call. I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Elder Sorensen
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