"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