Dear Friends and Family,
We have had an interesting week. Okay it was actually pretty slow numbers wise etc, but there were some fun things. Last Monday was super crazy with moving, doctor's appointments, teaching appointments and so on. But things slowed down from there--partly I'll admit because I slowed down. Tuesday night we went and taught the Achievement Night girls and had a very good lesson with them. They were surprisingly open to missionary work and in fact two of them had brought non-member friends with them to the activity. The funny thing is that we didn't have a dinner appointment that night and I was trying to remain obedient to the directive to take naps but when I woke up I was SO out of it. Oh my goodness, I wish I had a tape of it, it highly amused my companions.
We had an excellent Sister's Conference on Wednesday--this one was rather a surprise Conference as we only found out about it the week before. But it was very good because we have a LOT of "younger" sisters. Here's an interesting side note: every single sister I have served with until Sister Methot (who is my 10 companion) has been older than me. The next event of interest was Saturday night. We met a mother and daughter when we were out tracting (the one's Sister Methot and Sister Curtis had a 2 hour lesson with on Saturday). They told us they would only come to our church if we went to theirs so we got permission from the Assistants to the Mission President and we went to their church service on Saturday night. It is the first time on my mission that I've attended another church and the first non-denominational church I've gone to. While their Pastor was a very good orator (he would make an excellent youth fireside speaker), it was just too casual for me. The music was very pop and everyone was in jeans, but mostly it just didn't feel like church. Plus I have to say we all disagreed with the pastor about his interpretations of Proverbs. But it was interesting to go. One of the ladies who worked at the church was raised Mormon and was really surprised to see us there, but she seemed kind of excited about it and came over to talk to us during the "meet and greet" time and after the services. In fact we all kind of felt like an attraction because people kept coming up to us afterward to talk to us and ask us why we were there. Oh, and before the church services they usually show this testimonial from one of the church members or one of the people who works there and his testimonial highlighted moving to Gilbert, Arizona when he was about to enter highschool and how unwelcome he felt by "all the Mormons". The "former Mormon" wanted us to know after the service that the testimonial was not planned for our presence; I have to say the coincidence kind of made me laugh.
And of course the news you all have been waiting for. I did go to the doctor this morning and got my blood tests back. I did test positive for mono, but we aren't sure yet what exactly that means for me (in terms of coming home etc). So I'll let you know one way or another once I know.
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
P.S. Editor's (Mom's) Note: I got a call that LIndsay will be coming home on Wednesday (March 12th) for a period of recuperation. Her plans are to return to her mission as soon as she receives the "all clear" from medical authorities.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Grounded!
Dear Friends and Family,
Well last week was pretty slow--especially in the teaching lessons with a member present area, or with members generally. But we did find two new investigators in Lincoln 2nd which was exciting. They may just be baptist bashers, I'm not sure because I wasn't at the return appointment. But apparently Sister Methot and Sister Curtis spent 2 hours talking to them on Saturday.
So what did we do last week if things were slow? We actually spent a lot of time splitting up and doing double visits. That is definitely one reason why I love being in threesomes because that is so much easier to do. We did have some good visits with members, just not nonmembers. Friday Sister Curtis and I had to drive up to Gridley for Trainer/Trainee while Sister Methot went to go work with the Sisters in Orangevale for the day. The meeting was pretty good, much smaller than the other ones I've been to because not as many missionaries came out in this group. It was kind of fun to have a more "intimate" group and training meeting with President and Sister Perry. In fact during lunch President Perry came to sit at our table and he fielded some of the Elders' doctrinal questions and that was interesting to sit in on too. President Perry also told me "not to get sick" so I'm working on that one.
The other big event of last week was that at Trainer/Trainee Sister Perry took one look at me and "grounded me" for Saturday. I have to admit I was pretty piqued to be told I could not go out; I think it's because it meant I had to be "babysat" ALL DAY by one of the 75 year old ladies in the Dry Creek ward who I really didn't know. I was pretty dubious when she gave me a cheese sandwich on cinammon, raisin, walnut bread. But you know, it was surprisingly good.
I also got to make my first mission trip to the Doctor's today (also per Sister Perry's request). It was kind of fun though, because the doctor's office is the one where lots and lots of missionaries go and so the nurse and doctor were fun and easy to talk to. I also learned that I have good blood pressure, that I've lost a little weight since I haven't really had an appetite (and thus haven't eaten much) for the last 3 weeks, and I am legitimately 5'5 tall--no rounding necessary. Then they took 4 tubes of blood out of me which was pretty interesting to watch as well. But I'll get all my blood tests back next week so we'll find out anything and everything then.
I hope you're all having a great week. Oh and to keep up with Elder Sorensen, I am currently on my 4th area (Antelope counts right?) and 10th companion. That's pretty good for a Sister.
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Well last week was pretty slow--especially in the teaching lessons with a member present area, or with members generally. But we did find two new investigators in Lincoln 2nd which was exciting. They may just be baptist bashers, I'm not sure because I wasn't at the return appointment. But apparently Sister Methot and Sister Curtis spent 2 hours talking to them on Saturday.
So what did we do last week if things were slow? We actually spent a lot of time splitting up and doing double visits. That is definitely one reason why I love being in threesomes because that is so much easier to do. We did have some good visits with members, just not nonmembers. Friday Sister Curtis and I had to drive up to Gridley for Trainer/Trainee while Sister Methot went to go work with the Sisters in Orangevale for the day. The meeting was pretty good, much smaller than the other ones I've been to because not as many missionaries came out in this group. It was kind of fun to have a more "intimate" group and training meeting with President and Sister Perry. In fact during lunch President Perry came to sit at our table and he fielded some of the Elders' doctrinal questions and that was interesting to sit in on too. President Perry also told me "not to get sick" so I'm working on that one.
The other big event of last week was that at Trainer/Trainee Sister Perry took one look at me and "grounded me" for Saturday. I have to admit I was pretty piqued to be told I could not go out; I think it's because it meant I had to be "babysat" ALL DAY by one of the 75 year old ladies in the Dry Creek ward who I really didn't know. I was pretty dubious when she gave me a cheese sandwich on cinammon, raisin, walnut bread. But you know, it was surprisingly good.
I also got to make my first mission trip to the Doctor's today (also per Sister Perry's request). It was kind of fun though, because the doctor's office is the one where lots and lots of missionaries go and so the nurse and doctor were fun and easy to talk to. I also learned that I have good blood pressure, that I've lost a little weight since I haven't really had an appetite (and thus haven't eaten much) for the last 3 weeks, and I am legitimately 5'5 tall--no rounding necessary. Then they took 4 tubes of blood out of me which was pretty interesting to watch as well. But I'll get all my blood tests back next week so we'll find out anything and everything then.
I hope you're all having a great week. Oh and to keep up with Elder Sorensen, I am currently on my 4th area (Antelope counts right?) and 10th companion. That's pretty good for a Sister.
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Mono on the Brain
Dear Family and Friends,
Sister Methot, Sister Curtis, and I are having a blast together--rest assrued we are also working as hard as we can given the necessary travelling arrangements. But one of our favorite jokes this transfer, and yes this is slightly irreverant, is explaining away the silly, unexpected, dysfunctional, or random things I have done because I have mono brain. Well last week I was actually feeling very much like I had a little more than mono on the brain.
Okay, there is a factor of paranoia here, but Sister Perry sent me several articles on the symptoms of mononucleosis and I couldn't help but notice that indeed I had been experiencing many of the less common symptoms. But I was determined that I could and would push through whatever it was and I would NOT tell any of the mission nurses. But by Friday, which was Zone Conference and typically one of my favorite days of the transfer, I was really fighting hard. I will freely admit it is the most physically tired I'd ever felt as well as a combination of mental wear down (but perhaps I can blame some of this on trying to figure out how to balance two areas' finding, ward, and investigator needs). My left eye has been twitching in the most annoying way for 10 weeks now and I was particularly perturbed by that on Friday, after all that seemed something that I should be able to control. So after lunch at Zone Conference I went to ask Sister Perry about what she knew about eye twitches. She didn't really know much, but promised to look it up for me before I see her at the end of this week. What was less comforting, however, is that by the end of the conversation she turned to me and told me I did not look at all well and that I was "ordered" to take naps. Oh, that always makes you feel good!
But, before anyone gets too worried, here is the rest of the story. By Saturday night I was really feeling very, very tired and completely worn out and awful so kind Sister Methot called and asked the Zone Leaders to come and give me a blessing. I'll admit I kind of follow the philosophy of "I should get better on my own," but it was really a wonderful blessing. I'd had an absoltely killer headache which was making me extremely nauseous when the blessing started and it was completely gone by the time we finished. And as of today I'm still tired, but I am feeling so, so much better. It was a nice little faith promoting experience to feel such comfort from what Heavenly Father had to say to me.
So it is onward and upward. It looks like the three of us will be doing the balancing act of the two wards for the rest of the transfer. I'm actually all right with that because I love both of my companions and I didn't want to lose either one of them. I hope you are all doing well!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Sister Methot, Sister Curtis, and I are having a blast together--rest assrued we are also working as hard as we can given the necessary travelling arrangements. But one of our favorite jokes this transfer, and yes this is slightly irreverant, is explaining away the silly, unexpected, dysfunctional, or random things I have done because I have mono brain. Well last week I was actually feeling very much like I had a little more than mono on the brain.
Okay, there is a factor of paranoia here, but Sister Perry sent me several articles on the symptoms of mononucleosis and I couldn't help but notice that indeed I had been experiencing many of the less common symptoms. But I was determined that I could and would push through whatever it was and I would NOT tell any of the mission nurses. But by Friday, which was Zone Conference and typically one of my favorite days of the transfer, I was really fighting hard. I will freely admit it is the most physically tired I'd ever felt as well as a combination of mental wear down (but perhaps I can blame some of this on trying to figure out how to balance two areas' finding, ward, and investigator needs). My left eye has been twitching in the most annoying way for 10 weeks now and I was particularly perturbed by that on Friday, after all that seemed something that I should be able to control. So after lunch at Zone Conference I went to ask Sister Perry about what she knew about eye twitches. She didn't really know much, but promised to look it up for me before I see her at the end of this week. What was less comforting, however, is that by the end of the conversation she turned to me and told me I did not look at all well and that I was "ordered" to take naps. Oh, that always makes you feel good!
But, before anyone gets too worried, here is the rest of the story. By Saturday night I was really feeling very, very tired and completely worn out and awful so kind Sister Methot called and asked the Zone Leaders to come and give me a blessing. I'll admit I kind of follow the philosophy of "I should get better on my own," but it was really a wonderful blessing. I'd had an absoltely killer headache which was making me extremely nauseous when the blessing started and it was completely gone by the time we finished. And as of today I'm still tired, but I am feeling so, so much better. It was a nice little faith promoting experience to feel such comfort from what Heavenly Father had to say to me.
So it is onward and upward. It looks like the three of us will be doing the balancing act of the two wards for the rest of the transfer. I'm actually all right with that because I love both of my companions and I didn't want to lose either one of them. I hope you are all doing well!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
To All Those Folks in Rio Linda!
Dear Family and Friends,
I guess Rush Limbaugh used to give shout outs to Rio Linda, I don't really know not having been a big Rush fan, but that's where I've been spending plenty of my time the past couple of weeks. So I'm still in a threesome and we are still travelling back and forth between our two areas. In one way this means that we are always very busy, but in another it means we sometimes spend an awful lot of time just driving back and forth in the car! Actually until today we were juggling between two cars switching off each day so we didn't put too many miles on either one, but today they took one back because some Elder broke his wrist this weekend and can't ride his bike in his cast. I admit this is somewhat a relief since I didn't want to have to clean two cars for car inspections this Friday; but it also means we won't have the satisfaction of at least trying to get both 1st and 2nd place in the car inspections.
Last weekend was a little stressful. We were checking on less actives, investigators, and potential investigators on Thursday and set up a lesson appointment with one potential investigator Sister Kawasaki and I met tracting way back on December 23rd for Friday at 1:00 in Lincoln. The problem being that we had an appointment on that same Friday at 4:00 and another at 5:00 in Elverta, and then another set of Lincoln appointments at 7:00 and 8:00 at night. Now from my Palo Cedro days it kills me to have to drive back and forth like that, but what am I going to do, turn down an appointment with an investigator? Surely not. I tried to get an exchange to just take me up to Lincoln, but that didn't work out. So in the end we drove up to Lincoln for Friday Morning Planning and the appointment (which he wasn't there for by the way), then back down to Elverta/Antelope where our 4:00 appointment also cancelled (after we'd spent an hour during planning making phonecalls to get a member to go with us), then as we were a little late heading in to our 5:00 appointment our 7:00 appointment called to reschedule. We still had to drive up to see the McKinney's however, and their appointment went very well. So 2/4 wasn't so bad.
Well then by Friday night we had to make arrangements to get rides because we forgot Saturday was our "no car" day. But rides to and from Lincoln as well as to a member's home where we were to teach our Lincoln lesson actually came surprisingly easy. But we still had to wake up at 5:30 to clean our apartment for an unexpected Saturday apartment check (usually they are on Mondays). I can tell you I was very glad when that day was finally over!
Okay, so this is kind of a "down" letter, but please just know that Sister Curtis, Sister Methot, and I are working hard. Even if I suspect that occassionally Sister Methot and I scare Sister Curtis--when you get two Easterners together, you had better watch out as to what will happen! I hope you are all enjoying this year's Skunk Mating Season--it is pungently underway in our neck of the woods!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
P.S. Notable facts about Rio Linda: one of its famous landmarks is a gas station with an extremely large cow on top, and it has a very large random arch at one of the central four-way stops. Yep, that's pretty much it!
I guess Rush Limbaugh used to give shout outs to Rio Linda, I don't really know not having been a big Rush fan, but that's where I've been spending plenty of my time the past couple of weeks. So I'm still in a threesome and we are still travelling back and forth between our two areas. In one way this means that we are always very busy, but in another it means we sometimes spend an awful lot of time just driving back and forth in the car! Actually until today we were juggling between two cars switching off each day so we didn't put too many miles on either one, but today they took one back because some Elder broke his wrist this weekend and can't ride his bike in his cast. I admit this is somewhat a relief since I didn't want to have to clean two cars for car inspections this Friday; but it also means we won't have the satisfaction of at least trying to get both 1st and 2nd place in the car inspections.
Last weekend was a little stressful. We were checking on less actives, investigators, and potential investigators on Thursday and set up a lesson appointment with one potential investigator Sister Kawasaki and I met tracting way back on December 23rd for Friday at 1:00 in Lincoln. The problem being that we had an appointment on that same Friday at 4:00 and another at 5:00 in Elverta, and then another set of Lincoln appointments at 7:00 and 8:00 at night. Now from my Palo Cedro days it kills me to have to drive back and forth like that, but what am I going to do, turn down an appointment with an investigator? Surely not. I tried to get an exchange to just take me up to Lincoln, but that didn't work out. So in the end we drove up to Lincoln for Friday Morning Planning and the appointment (which he wasn't there for by the way), then back down to Elverta/Antelope where our 4:00 appointment also cancelled (after we'd spent an hour during planning making phonecalls to get a member to go with us), then as we were a little late heading in to our 5:00 appointment our 7:00 appointment called to reschedule. We still had to drive up to see the McKinney's however, and their appointment went very well. So 2/4 wasn't so bad.
Well then by Friday night we had to make arrangements to get rides because we forgot Saturday was our "no car" day. But rides to and from Lincoln as well as to a member's home where we were to teach our Lincoln lesson actually came surprisingly easy. But we still had to wake up at 5:30 to clean our apartment for an unexpected Saturday apartment check (usually they are on Mondays). I can tell you I was very glad when that day was finally over!
Okay, so this is kind of a "down" letter, but please just know that Sister Curtis, Sister Methot, and I are working hard. Even if I suspect that occassionally Sister Methot and I scare Sister Curtis--when you get two Easterners together, you had better watch out as to what will happen! I hope you are all enjoying this year's Skunk Mating Season--it is pungently underway in our neck of the woods!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
P.S. Notable facts about Rio Linda: one of its famous landmarks is a gas station with an extremely large cow on top, and it has a very large random arch at one of the central four-way stops. Yep, that's pretty much it!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Countdown
Dear Family and Friends,
No, no, there is no need to worry. I am not getting trunky ("missionary" for mentally already have bags packed and are just thinking about home). No my friends this countdown is the countdown to see if Sister Sorensen gets Mononucleosis. So let's back up and see how this happened. And don't be disappointed, there was no kissing involved.
Last Tuesday, my last day with Sister Rollins, we headed back into Rocklin to go to the doctor for what we thought was an ordinary visit telling her she was getting better. But she came out with the doorprize of a positive diagnosis for Mono (nobody knows how she got it), lucky girl. She was told that she would need to spend a minimum of 2 weeks inside and that she couldn't go ANYWHERE. Well, I thought to myself, Sister Methot--her new companion--won't like that. Then we packed all of her massive amount of luggage into Sister Evans car and headed up to Yuba City where we were meeting Sister Methot and I was picking up my new companion. Her name, by the way, is Sister Curtis and she is from Pleasant Grove, UT.
Tuesday morning I got a call from Sister Craner the "head mission nurse." I guess Sister Perry got super nervous about Sister Rollins having Mono since it is very contagious and we were in very close contact for so long , so she asked Sister Craner to look into it. Well basically I have 4-6 weeks to see whether or not I will come down with it. Personally, I'm not worrying too much about it because there really isn't anything I can do! Either I got it and I'll come down with it sometime this transfer, or I didn't and I'll finish out my mission no problem. But it does make for fun jokes for at least the next 5 weeks. But, the story continues. President Perry called Salt Lake to talk about Sister Rollins's diagnosis and it turns out that it is church policy to send missionaries with Mono home IMMEDIATELY. So Sister Rollins flew home Thursday morning and I inherited a third companion and a second ward . . . in a second stake. So the three of us are currently serving in the Dry Creek ward in Antelope Stake as well as the Lincoln 2nd ward in Rocklin. The perks? The APs gave us unlimited miles since we have to drive back and forth between the two areas (it's a 40 minute commute). Plus I don't have to worry about the fact that I've almost entirely tracted out the Lincoln 2nd ward because now I have Antelope to tract too! Oh, and I get an awesome third companion. Sister Methot is very on top of things. This does mean, however, that we are living out of Antelope currently because our room at Mary's wasn't big enough. Plus, I think we might be moving out of Mary's house soon. So send all mail through the mission office. I repeat, SEND ALL MAIL THROUGH THE MISSION OFFICE.
I hope you all have a great week! Here's hoping I don't have mono and end my mission early!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
PS For those of you who are concerned about Sister Rollins, she does have an open call and can return to the mission when she gets better. I, however, will not have time to finish out my mission if I have to go home as my deferment from BYU ends in Fall 2008.
No, no, there is no need to worry. I am not getting trunky ("missionary" for mentally already have bags packed and are just thinking about home). No my friends this countdown is the countdown to see if Sister Sorensen gets Mononucleosis. So let's back up and see how this happened. And don't be disappointed, there was no kissing involved.
Last Tuesday, my last day with Sister Rollins, we headed back into Rocklin to go to the doctor for what we thought was an ordinary visit telling her she was getting better. But she came out with the doorprize of a positive diagnosis for Mono (nobody knows how she got it), lucky girl. She was told that she would need to spend a minimum of 2 weeks inside and that she couldn't go ANYWHERE. Well, I thought to myself, Sister Methot--her new companion--won't like that. Then we packed all of her massive amount of luggage into Sister Evans car and headed up to Yuba City where we were meeting Sister Methot and I was picking up my new companion. Her name, by the way, is Sister Curtis and she is from Pleasant Grove, UT.
Tuesday morning I got a call from Sister Craner the "head mission nurse." I guess Sister Perry got super nervous about Sister Rollins having Mono since it is very contagious and we were in very close contact for so long , so she asked Sister Craner to look into it. Well basically I have 4-6 weeks to see whether or not I will come down with it. Personally, I'm not worrying too much about it because there really isn't anything I can do! Either I got it and I'll come down with it sometime this transfer, or I didn't and I'll finish out my mission no problem. But it does make for fun jokes for at least the next 5 weeks. But, the story continues. President Perry called Salt Lake to talk about Sister Rollins's diagnosis and it turns out that it is church policy to send missionaries with Mono home IMMEDIATELY. So Sister Rollins flew home Thursday morning and I inherited a third companion and a second ward . . . in a second stake. So the three of us are currently serving in the Dry Creek ward in Antelope Stake as well as the Lincoln 2nd ward in Rocklin. The perks? The APs gave us unlimited miles since we have to drive back and forth between the two areas (it's a 40 minute commute). Plus I don't have to worry about the fact that I've almost entirely tracted out the Lincoln 2nd ward because now I have Antelope to tract too! Oh, and I get an awesome third companion. Sister Methot is very on top of things. This does mean, however, that we are living out of Antelope currently because our room at Mary's wasn't big enough. Plus, I think we might be moving out of Mary's house soon. So send all mail through the mission office. I repeat, SEND ALL MAIL THROUGH THE MISSION OFFICE.
I hope you all have a great week! Here's hoping I don't have mono and end my mission early!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
PS For those of you who are concerned about Sister Rollins, she does have an open call and can return to the mission when she gets better. I, however, will not have time to finish out my mission if I have to go home as my deferment from BYU ends in Fall 2008.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Ch-ch-ch-changing
Dear Family and Friends,
Well, we have had a desperately less effective week. Though, actually, we had several really good lessons with less actives and one of them completely shocked us by coming to church! Sister Rollins has done a lot better on the antibiotics, though late last night I had a really good glimpse of exactly how giddy they could make her (their side effects were extreme nausea and giddiness, so at least you're happily uncomfortable)! But she kind of had a back-slide Thursday and we were in a bit more than we would have liked for the weekend. I did spend last Wednesday in Auburn though. I had forgotten that we were supposed to go on exchanges with the Auburn sisters this week. I had a really great time with Sister Fultz, the sister from Pennsylvania. We did some great tracting and three people stopped to talk to us about President Hinckley's passing.
Saturday was pretty busy, we had to drive down to Rocklin to the Stake Center to watch the broadcast of the funeral, then back up to Lincoln where we live to meet our ride to Orangevale (one of the people Sister Rollins taught was getting baptized and so we went to the baptism), then we were dropped back off at home for an hour before driving back down to Rocklin to the Park building (where we have church) to go to the "final" ward activity as a giant ward. It was good, but it was a little too taxing for Sister Rollins. Sunday was busy too, we had church--our early morning meeting was cancelled, but nobody told us that, then a dinner appoitnment, a lesson, and the ward boundary change meeting. Well the lesson ended up being cancelled, so we had to spend an extra hour and a half in Rocklin (trying to conserve miles). The boundary changes were pretty unexpected. We actually still do live in the 2nd ward, I thought there was no way of that happening. But we lost all of Sun City--so almost all our wonderful old people--and half of Lincoln Crossing. So we actually can't travel from one end of our ward to another without leaving and then re-entering ward boundaries. What I also realized late last night is that by about the beginning of March, maybe even sooner, I'll have tracted EVERY STREET in the Lincoln 2nd ward as it now is. I'm going to have to get creative or start over again.
That said I'll fill you all in on the exciting world of transfers. As predicted I am staying in the Lincoln 2nd ward (though actually they only decided which ward I would be covering about 10 minutes ago), but Sister Rollins will not. I feel bad because half of her time here she has been sick; that can't be remembered as a very fun area. I am going to be training again, so I don't know who my companion is until tomorrow. I hope you all can stand the anticipation. But I do get to hope back up to Yuba City for an hour or so, so I might look up some investigators/members.
I hope you all have a great week. You all have a wonderful reason to have gospel conversations with friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers this week with a new prophet and a new First Presidency so I hope you take that chance. Incidentally, I was happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf (I'm not entirely sure I spelled that correctly) had been called into the First Presidency.
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Well, we have had a desperately less effective week. Though, actually, we had several really good lessons with less actives and one of them completely shocked us by coming to church! Sister Rollins has done a lot better on the antibiotics, though late last night I had a really good glimpse of exactly how giddy they could make her (their side effects were extreme nausea and giddiness, so at least you're happily uncomfortable)! But she kind of had a back-slide Thursday and we were in a bit more than we would have liked for the weekend. I did spend last Wednesday in Auburn though. I had forgotten that we were supposed to go on exchanges with the Auburn sisters this week. I had a really great time with Sister Fultz, the sister from Pennsylvania. We did some great tracting and three people stopped to talk to us about President Hinckley's passing.
Saturday was pretty busy, we had to drive down to Rocklin to the Stake Center to watch the broadcast of the funeral, then back up to Lincoln where we live to meet our ride to Orangevale (one of the people Sister Rollins taught was getting baptized and so we went to the baptism), then we were dropped back off at home for an hour before driving back down to Rocklin to the Park building (where we have church) to go to the "final" ward activity as a giant ward. It was good, but it was a little too taxing for Sister Rollins. Sunday was busy too, we had church--our early morning meeting was cancelled, but nobody told us that, then a dinner appoitnment, a lesson, and the ward boundary change meeting. Well the lesson ended up being cancelled, so we had to spend an extra hour and a half in Rocklin (trying to conserve miles). The boundary changes were pretty unexpected. We actually still do live in the 2nd ward, I thought there was no way of that happening. But we lost all of Sun City--so almost all our wonderful old people--and half of Lincoln Crossing. So we actually can't travel from one end of our ward to another without leaving and then re-entering ward boundaries. What I also realized late last night is that by about the beginning of March, maybe even sooner, I'll have tracted EVERY STREET in the Lincoln 2nd ward as it now is. I'm going to have to get creative or start over again.
That said I'll fill you all in on the exciting world of transfers. As predicted I am staying in the Lincoln 2nd ward (though actually they only decided which ward I would be covering about 10 minutes ago), but Sister Rollins will not. I feel bad because half of her time here she has been sick; that can't be remembered as a very fun area. I am going to be training again, so I don't know who my companion is until tomorrow. I hope you all can stand the anticipation. But I do get to hope back up to Yuba City for an hour or so, so I might look up some investigators/members.
I hope you all have a great week. You all have a wonderful reason to have gospel conversations with friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers this week with a new prophet and a new First Presidency so I hope you take that chance. Incidentally, I was happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf (I'm not entirely sure I spelled that correctly) had been called into the First Presidency.
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Thursday, January 31, 2008
"We Thank Thee, O God, For Our Prophet"
Dear Family and Friends,
Well in terms of proselyting our last few weeks have been slow, and sadly they will continue to be so. Sister Rollins was sick all last week and her rather nasty cough simply became nastier so we went in to the doctor again today for a new diagnosis: laryngitis and possibly a kidney infection as well. We also got to go and get some fun chest x-rays. So it looks like we will round the transfer out with another week inside. I have not been completely kept in, however, I have been able to arrange for exchanges to go and cover lessons. Sadly, however, only one of our investigators is really doing well right now and seems to actually want to meet with us--that always makes you feel good. But she is doing well and I am thankful for that.
The Lord also sent me a few other "tender mercies" last week (that reference is in 1 Nephi, one of the early chapters). Tuesday, after we went to the doctor, I called to try to cancel our dinner appointment, but the lady wouldn't let me because she had a surprise for me. This is a less active, part member family who I struck up a good relationship with because it turns out she is the aunt of one of my college roommates who was serving a mission at the same time (though she has since returned home). And the surprise, as I rather guessed it would be, was that she had invited Jamie, my old roommate, over for dinner because she had returned home from her mission just the Friday before. I admit it was very fun, but also a little strange to see her again. It was very handy, however, because when she found out my companion was sick she offered to come out and do some missionary work with me and so on Friday she came back down and we went out tracting and to a few lessons. Ah it was good to go tracting again; that was probably the thing I was the most scared of when I came out on my mission, but now it is honestly one of my favorite things to do. I also got out and had some great lessons with several other ladies from the ward, and Mary has been very good about coming home if at all possible to "babysit"-- I know that sounds mean, but Sister Rollins herself uses the term--my companion so that I can go out.
We also got a call Tuesday that we needed to bring our car down to the Roseville Stake Center on Wednesday--they transfered it to another area to balance out the miles put on it--and that we would get a new one. So I am now driving another brand new car--I am being very, very careful--but this time it is a Malibu so I have to figure out another set of car controls. We decided to name this new one Sophronia after Joseph Smith's sister since our last new car was Don Carlos. I like the way it drives, but it is much bigger than I am used to and hence it's turning radius is not what I sometimes would wish and the night vision on it is weird especially with our winter rains. But oh well, what am I going to do about that?
I was also able to find a sister in the ward who was staying home on Sunday with sick kids and was able to get the Relief Society President to come pick me up and take me to our early meeting on Sunday morning and actually go to church this week. I was particularly anxious to do so because a couple of our investigators were supposed to be there, though in the end none of them came and that was quite sad. I also admit it seemed very strange to be sitting there in the pew by myself (particularly since our investigator and her kids didn't show up). And then, on top of all this, we were all stunned by an announcement from the Stake that next Sunday they are realigning all of the wards in Lincoln and creating a 5th ward. Okay, yes, our ward was HUGE and it really does need to be split, but I was surprised by how very much attached I have become to this giant ward. I love all of the leaders and so, so many of the members. This does, however, alter my predictions for transfers and I believe that I probably will end up staying another transfer here in Lincoln as I think they will keep us over the Lincoln 2nd ward and probably they will have us cover the Lincoln 5th ward too. All of these changes on top of the fact that Sister Rollins has pretty much been out of commission for half the transfer most likely indicates that I will stay.
Then after reeling from this news, we likewise were surprised by the death of President Hinckley. I'll admit, my first few thoughts went something like the following: "Hmmm, that is unexpected. . . Well I guess now this means he'll be with his wife again and that will make him happy. . . . Wow, what a fantastic week this would be to tract. His death is sure to be in the news with Mitt Romney still running. Too bad I'm stuck inside again." This may be an indication that I've become missionary minded, or it may simply prove that I'm not very sensitive, as my companion has lovingly told me several times in the past week (don't get me wrong, I've been very nice to her and I have been serving her very well).
Well I hope this week finds you happy and healthy. While the news of President Hinckley's death is of course sad, please think of how I will not be tracting and take the opportunity to have some great gospel conversations with your friends, neighbors, and co-workers!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
Well in terms of proselyting our last few weeks have been slow, and sadly they will continue to be so. Sister Rollins was sick all last week and her rather nasty cough simply became nastier so we went in to the doctor again today for a new diagnosis: laryngitis and possibly a kidney infection as well. We also got to go and get some fun chest x-rays. So it looks like we will round the transfer out with another week inside. I have not been completely kept in, however, I have been able to arrange for exchanges to go and cover lessons. Sadly, however, only one of our investigators is really doing well right now and seems to actually want to meet with us--that always makes you feel good. But she is doing well and I am thankful for that.
The Lord also sent me a few other "tender mercies" last week (that reference is in 1 Nephi, one of the early chapters). Tuesday, after we went to the doctor, I called to try to cancel our dinner appointment, but the lady wouldn't let me because she had a surprise for me. This is a less active, part member family who I struck up a good relationship with because it turns out she is the aunt of one of my college roommates who was serving a mission at the same time (though she has since returned home). And the surprise, as I rather guessed it would be, was that she had invited Jamie, my old roommate, over for dinner because she had returned home from her mission just the Friday before. I admit it was very fun, but also a little strange to see her again. It was very handy, however, because when she found out my companion was sick she offered to come out and do some missionary work with me and so on Friday she came back down and we went out tracting and to a few lessons. Ah it was good to go tracting again; that was probably the thing I was the most scared of when I came out on my mission, but now it is honestly one of my favorite things to do. I also got out and had some great lessons with several other ladies from the ward, and Mary has been very good about coming home if at all possible to "babysit"-- I know that sounds mean, but Sister Rollins herself uses the term--my companion so that I can go out.
We also got a call Tuesday that we needed to bring our car down to the Roseville Stake Center on Wednesday--they transfered it to another area to balance out the miles put on it--and that we would get a new one. So I am now driving another brand new car--I am being very, very careful--but this time it is a Malibu so I have to figure out another set of car controls. We decided to name this new one Sophronia after Joseph Smith's sister since our last new car was Don Carlos. I like the way it drives, but it is much bigger than I am used to and hence it's turning radius is not what I sometimes would wish and the night vision on it is weird especially with our winter rains. But oh well, what am I going to do about that?
I was also able to find a sister in the ward who was staying home on Sunday with sick kids and was able to get the Relief Society President to come pick me up and take me to our early meeting on Sunday morning and actually go to church this week. I was particularly anxious to do so because a couple of our investigators were supposed to be there, though in the end none of them came and that was quite sad. I also admit it seemed very strange to be sitting there in the pew by myself (particularly since our investigator and her kids didn't show up). And then, on top of all this, we were all stunned by an announcement from the Stake that next Sunday they are realigning all of the wards in Lincoln and creating a 5th ward. Okay, yes, our ward was HUGE and it really does need to be split, but I was surprised by how very much attached I have become to this giant ward. I love all of the leaders and so, so many of the members. This does, however, alter my predictions for transfers and I believe that I probably will end up staying another transfer here in Lincoln as I think they will keep us over the Lincoln 2nd ward and probably they will have us cover the Lincoln 5th ward too. All of these changes on top of the fact that Sister Rollins has pretty much been out of commission for half the transfer most likely indicates that I will stay.
Then after reeling from this news, we likewise were surprised by the death of President Hinckley. I'll admit, my first few thoughts went something like the following: "Hmmm, that is unexpected. . . Well I guess now this means he'll be with his wife again and that will make him happy. . . . Wow, what a fantastic week this would be to tract. His death is sure to be in the news with Mitt Romney still running. Too bad I'm stuck inside again." This may be an indication that I've become missionary minded, or it may simply prove that I'm not very sensitive, as my companion has lovingly told me several times in the past week (don't get me wrong, I've been very nice to her and I have been serving her very well).
Well I hope this week finds you happy and healthy. While the news of President Hinckley's death is of course sad, please think of how I will not be tracting and take the opportunity to have some great gospel conversations with your friends, neighbors, and co-workers!
Love,
Sister L. Sorensen
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