The Dread Pirate Roberts

Dear Family and Friends,

Okay so truthfully, my week did not include any encounters with men of the nautical or mariner persuasion of any degree of infamy. Tuesday, however, I did come down with that dreaded disease of every winter more commonly known as the flu. Luckily it turned out to be a pretty quick case as I was back in Pros (for non missionaries this is a mission term short for Proselyting and is in reference to the clothes worn by missionaries for Proselyting purposes) by Wednesday--even if knocking a fairly easy street for an hour did require me to sit down in the car afterwards and do a practice teach with Sister Kawasaki to gear up for heading out again. The highlight of that experience was that I completely passed out for the very first time in my life; an interesting experience probably more indicative of my own lack of thought than the severity of the sickness. It was fortunate that I managed to pass out at a time and in a location where the event was unwitnessed by either Mary (the member we live with) or Sister Kawasaki. I did learn on this time around with the flu that Gatorade is an effective combatant because you can drink it just a few sips at a time, which will keep your stomach from becoming fully aware of the nutrients you are sneaking in and getting too angry with you, and it helps replenish the sugars and salts in your body. You can also heat it up in the microwave and have it hot for when you're cold. Things to keep in mind Elder Sorensen in case you are ever in need of such remedies. I have to admit, however, that it is strange drinking hot Gatorade. Anyway I'm glad to have gotten somewhat innoculated against the flu, and to be better.

The work the last few weeks has been going quite slow for Sister Kawasaki and I. Our finding has been so low and our investigators so flaky that it has been quite difficult getting lessons with a member present. I have been rather fretting over this for a few weeks now, but the Lord has been patient and last week I finally was able to connect a few dots, have a very effective weekly planning session, and I think put in place a plan for this week which should yield some more results. I do, however, plead with you all to do what you can to help your local missionaries including asking them if they can/will take you on a tour of your local meeting houses. I realize this is not fully implemented in all missions, but it is something that we have been trying to focus on since this summer and the members have been so slow to get behind this great finding method. I crunched the numbers myself this week (based on the average from the British Columbia mission who have been doing chapel tours for a while and have 1 in 7 of the people who go on these tours with members take the lessons and be baptized) and in our mission it means that if we could take 10 nonmembers on a tour per stake per week we would double our baptisms, which is something President Hinckley asked us to do as a church in 1997 and which we have still not been able to accomplish. That's it 10 people per stake! That is typically less than one person per ward. And then when missionaries do what missionaries do on top of that (tract, do service, street contact, work with part member families etc) imagine the results! So please, just take 30 minutes and go on a tour I promise you will see the possibilities and will be able to think of someone you know who you can invite on a tour. And your missionaries will be very happy!

Love,
Sister L. Sorensen

P.S. Here is a picture of Speedy, the hero of last week's entry. As you can see, he is not on my head, you will just have to imagine that particular scene on your own!