The subject line comes from one of Sister Hoskins's most quoted movies, Zoolander. I've never really had the desire to see it, but she does say that phrase all the time. Sadly, I must admit that I didn't recognize the full punniness of it until this week, even though she's been saying it for four months. This week sometime, I turned to her and said, "Oh, I get it. News. Walter Cronkite. He's a newscaster!" It's a little bit like "Nice play, Shakespeare."
Anyway, moving on to the actual news, Walter. This is the last week of the transfer, so I recommend sending mail to the mission office rather than our apartment directly, just to be sure it gets to me. That usually means not getting much mail this week, but at least I get it eventually rather than never. As far as shirts go, I do have a pink one and a navy blue one with little stars and a green one. My red one unfortunately shrunk in the wash, so that might be nice, or a nice cool white shirt. The summer is fast approaching here. The humidity is getting kicked right up, and the high today could be 85. Sorry to hear y'all are enjoying winter relapses. Spring will come and go faster than you know it, so enjoy it while it lasts. The apricot tree looked lovely in the pictures.
Wow. Quite a bit of news from your side of the world this week it seems. I am so sorry to hear about Mitch Seamons. I will keep his family in my prayers. I never really knew him, but I remember him being legendarily tall in junior high school, and I remember working with Bro. Seamons when I was on the youth conference committee. I'll bet Mark's letter was very heart-wrenching, but it sounds like his spirits are high and he is learning and serving well. Congratulations to Ryan Stone, man of magic, for landing a call to Chile as well. By the time he goes out, I'll already have been in Texas for a year. Can you believe that a year ago I opened my mission call? Even more crazy, I thought about it recently, and if I weren't on a mission, I could have graduated from BYU last week. Yipes! I have a feeling some celestial calculus went into me NOT graduating right now. I certainly know I need to be here, and I have a feeling that some great opportunities await me when I get back.
In the meantime, we are still finding success as we put in our diligence. There is certainly always room for improvement, but the Lord's hands are in this work. We got to go to the temple on Thursday. I felt very spiritually rejuvinated there. I could tell the Lord was giving my spirit the courage to be patient and humble in trials. My mind keeps going back to the scripture I put on my missionary plaque. My heart cannot comprehend and my eyes cannot see the great things the Lord has in store for me after my mission. The problem is becoming that the more I feel of that, the more eager I am to see what those blessings will be. But I know the Lord will bless me in time, and there are still many hearts remaning to be touched by His love through me. I hope I do everyday what He would have me do. I'm learning not to be so critical of myself, while still being honest about what I need to change and how important the little things are. I feel a greater sense of confidence as I come through these struggles.
I can totally see the image in my mind of Eli's face as his derby car is a little less than speedy. It tugs at my heartstrings, but also makes me smile, that face being one of the most priceless memories I have of him and will always carry. I don't think I would be much help in making the car go faster. A few years ago we did a pinewood derby for a ward activity at BYU, and as the FHE mom I was somehow responsible for making the car. I didn't even know you were supposed to add weight to it, so it didn't even finish the race. Oh well. What's a girl to do?
I liked the story about grandpa just feeling like he needed to get back to Mackay, Grandmother. The Lord is so often like that: He gives us general feelings without explaining, and as we carry them out, we come to know what the purpose of the general feeling was. Mom sent me some pictures of Mackay, and when my companions saw the mountains in the background they said, "Wow, that's beautiful!" I had to agree. I do miss those mountains, but Tomball has enough trees to make up for it.
We made a small exchange this week with some other sisters, and we had to go pick up Sister Hoskins and trade back on Saturday. While we were there, I saw a little store called "Front Porch Friends." I immediately thought of you, Mom. I hope you are enjoying a new blog already. Don't mourn the old one too long. Think of yourself as Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. When her little bookshop closed, it felt like the end of the world, but then she started writing which she loved to do. In your case, you get to write on both sides of the equation. In the world of celestial calculus, we call that a win-win.
That's all for this week. I know I can feel your prayers in my behalf. I miss you all from time to time, but I know I need to be here and that time is ticking (maybe a little too quickly) to when I'll see you again. I guess you could say, "the time is far spent."
Signing off from the news desk for this week,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
Monday, April 26, 2010
4-19-10 "Celestial Calculus"
Yesterday was ward conference in the Tomball ward (and next week is stake conference, which means we will have all three conferences in the same month!). The stake president of the Cypress Texas Stake told a cool story about going to get his truck inspected. There was some minor problem with it, which made him have to stay at the mechanic's shop much longer than he had planned, but he ended up talking to a preacher's wife in the waiting room all about the gospel and what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes. He said that when she asked him if he was a Christian, he realized that God had been doing some celestial calculus figuring out how to get them together for a period of time. I just like that: Celestial Calculus. So I thought I would use it as a subject line. Because it really is true. I feel like many of the people on my mission I've met, I only met through celestial calculus. And I can't even do earthly calculus.
Anyway, we have had a fairly successful week. One of the people we met tracting last week invited us to come back this week. We shared a nice lesson with her, and she expressed her gratitude that we have inspired her family to start going back to church, but they want to start going to a Lutheran church because her husband was raised a Lutheran. Still, we left her with a copy of the Book of Mormon, and she wasn't opposed to us coming back later. Unfortunately later means over a month from now. On Thursday we were contacting a lady who we met several months ago, who had said she had questions about the church. Initially, she said she didn't really have questions anymore, but as we kept talking to her she invited us in to talk some more. We also left a copy of the Book of Mormon with her. Lastly, we've been getting to know our newest investigator very well. We read a chapter from the Book of Mormon with her, and we helped her with her garage sale on Friday. We even met her husband. He taught us all how to tie a neck tie, and then they invited us to lunch at this great Mexican restaurant. The best fajitas ever! (Although, I am craving a little Plum Loco, now that you mention it, Mom.) So, the work moves forward slowly but surely. I still get a little overwhelmed and worried at times, but finally yesterday I just asked our ward mission leader to give me a blessing. In the blessing I was told not to be so hard on myself and to walk before I run. (Which, come to think of it, is a reference to a great Cary Grant movie.) I just felt so much calmer after that. I know everything will be okay.
I'm glad to hear Grandma Rick's birthday party turned out so well, and that she liked my little note. I will call Nichole this week and see if we can make a time to meet soon. I'm especially glad to hear that her dad is doing okay. She was very worried on the phone when she had to cancel because she needed to fly to Utah to see him. Grandma Ricks sounds like her fiery old self. I bet she would be great at BINGO. They love it down here in the South. But I will agree what reading five or six Joseph Smith books is a much better use of time. What a lady!
I love the story about Reagan Sermon. When I read it, my little heart just went, "my little brother has the Holy Ghost now. And he knows how to listen to it." Thank goodness y'all were driving by there when you were. That's what I call celestial calculus.
One last story, not really about me, but just to follow up. Remember when I told you that we got to sing at that family's house where the husband had cancer and there were two young boys? Well, sadly he passed away last week. The Relief Society president from our ward was involved in the funeral arrangements and everything, and she attended the funeral. She said the wife was a pillar of spiritual strength. She gave the eulogy of her husband and testified so powerfully that she knew their marriage was eternal, that this would only be a temporary separation. That is the power of the Atonement for you. The Atonement is what conquers all separation. Just wanted to pass that along, knowing it made my worries feel small and helped me get a better perspective on my own aches at separation from family and loved ones.
Still shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
PS Yes, I did get the package, Grandmother. Thank you so much. Grandpa looks great in the picture in the article. Too bad the season's almost over, but there's another one on the way. Don't freeze.
Anyway, we have had a fairly successful week. One of the people we met tracting last week invited us to come back this week. We shared a nice lesson with her, and she expressed her gratitude that we have inspired her family to start going back to church, but they want to start going to a Lutheran church because her husband was raised a Lutheran. Still, we left her with a copy of the Book of Mormon, and she wasn't opposed to us coming back later. Unfortunately later means over a month from now. On Thursday we were contacting a lady who we met several months ago, who had said she had questions about the church. Initially, she said she didn't really have questions anymore, but as we kept talking to her she invited us in to talk some more. We also left a copy of the Book of Mormon with her. Lastly, we've been getting to know our newest investigator very well. We read a chapter from the Book of Mormon with her, and we helped her with her garage sale on Friday. We even met her husband. He taught us all how to tie a neck tie, and then they invited us to lunch at this great Mexican restaurant. The best fajitas ever! (Although, I am craving a little Plum Loco, now that you mention it, Mom.) So, the work moves forward slowly but surely. I still get a little overwhelmed and worried at times, but finally yesterday I just asked our ward mission leader to give me a blessing. In the blessing I was told not to be so hard on myself and to walk before I run. (Which, come to think of it, is a reference to a great Cary Grant movie.) I just felt so much calmer after that. I know everything will be okay.
I'm glad to hear Grandma Rick's birthday party turned out so well, and that she liked my little note. I will call Nichole this week and see if we can make a time to meet soon. I'm especially glad to hear that her dad is doing okay. She was very worried on the phone when she had to cancel because she needed to fly to Utah to see him. Grandma Ricks sounds like her fiery old self. I bet she would be great at BINGO. They love it down here in the South. But I will agree what reading five or six Joseph Smith books is a much better use of time. What a lady!
I love the story about Reagan Sermon. When I read it, my little heart just went, "my little brother has the Holy Ghost now. And he knows how to listen to it." Thank goodness y'all were driving by there when you were. That's what I call celestial calculus.
One last story, not really about me, but just to follow up. Remember when I told you that we got to sing at that family's house where the husband had cancer and there were two young boys? Well, sadly he passed away last week. The Relief Society president from our ward was involved in the funeral arrangements and everything, and she attended the funeral. She said the wife was a pillar of spiritual strength. She gave the eulogy of her husband and testified so powerfully that she knew their marriage was eternal, that this would only be a temporary separation. That is the power of the Atonement for you. The Atonement is what conquers all separation. Just wanted to pass that along, knowing it made my worries feel small and helped me get a better perspective on my own aches at separation from family and loved ones.
Still shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
PS Yes, I did get the package, Grandmother. Thank you so much. Grandpa looks great in the picture in the article. Too bad the season's almost over, but there's another one on the way. Don't freeze.
4-12-10 "Knock and It Shall Be Opened"
I'm running out of time, so this will have to be a quick e-mail this week. But, I'll have you know that we found two new investigators tracting this week! On Tuesday we were knocking one of the longest streets in our area for hours. Just keep going, just keep going, I kept telling myself. As we were leaving one doorstep, we saw an older woman trying to rake up some leaves in her yard. We asked if we could help, but before she could protest we just started helping anyway. We had a really nice conversation with her. She didn't become an investigator, but a few houses later, we found a woman with three sons and a husband who's out of town a lot on business who said she's met with missionaries before and would do so again. We did not have this woman's information in our area book, but I know the Lord wanted us to be on that street that day. He also didn't care that we spent nearly four hours there. He considered that a good use of His time, even if we only made one really good contact. Hearts are really starting to soften in this area, I can feel it.
Then on Friday after district meeting, we had some more time to go tracting. We went to a part of a neighborhood that may have never been tracted by us. It was in the middle of a Friday afternoon, so we weren't expecting anyone to be home, but someone was at everyhouse. That's just strange. So it felt like something was going to happen. We got to a corner where we'd need to decide to keep going on one side or swap to the other. I just paused for a moment and closed my eyes, hoping the Spirit would give us specifics of what to do. I don't remember getting any specifics, but I also wasn't considering any selfish motives (like, "If we go this way, we'll be done sooner," etc.). We decided to keep going on the side we were on. And the very next door, the lady let us in! That basically never happens. But it did! I know the Spirit wanted us to knock on that door. This woman is open. She's asking questions. She's been studying religions for a year. She has a lot of questions about the afterlife. I could just see her quest for truth all over her beautiful face. She's one of those people you meet on your mission that you just think, "she's beautiful," even though she doesn't fit the worldly standards of beauty. I can't wait to see her again.
Anyway, in other news this week I held a baby racoon at the animal shelter where we volunteer on Wednesdays. We had a great zone conference about repentance. And I wish I could write more but time's basically up.
I love y'all!
Sister Whitney Sorensen
Then on Friday after district meeting, we had some more time to go tracting. We went to a part of a neighborhood that may have never been tracted by us. It was in the middle of a Friday afternoon, so we weren't expecting anyone to be home, but someone was at everyhouse. That's just strange. So it felt like something was going to happen. We got to a corner where we'd need to decide to keep going on one side or swap to the other. I just paused for a moment and closed my eyes, hoping the Spirit would give us specifics of what to do. I don't remember getting any specifics, but I also wasn't considering any selfish motives (like, "If we go this way, we'll be done sooner," etc.). We decided to keep going on the side we were on. And the very next door, the lady let us in! That basically never happens. But it did! I know the Spirit wanted us to knock on that door. This woman is open. She's asking questions. She's been studying religions for a year. She has a lot of questions about the afterlife. I could just see her quest for truth all over her beautiful face. She's one of those people you meet on your mission that you just think, "she's beautiful," even though she doesn't fit the worldly standards of beauty. I can't wait to see her again.
Anyway, in other news this week I held a baby racoon at the animal shelter where we volunteer on Wednesdays. We had a great zone conference about repentance. And I wish I could write more but time's basically up.
I love y'all!
Sister Whitney Sorensen
4--5-10 "Where to Begin?"
General conference was a big blessing this weekend. My favorite talks include: Sister Beck on Saturday morning. Wow! She knows how to testify of the worth of women while still directing them to change. I was so worried that she was going to be released, but thankfully she was not. Saturday afternoon was an amazing session, with Elder Bednar and Elder Holland back to back. I was so excited when I knew I was going to hear from Elder Holland. That talk was quintessentially him. He starts off with what sounds like a cute story, only to drop the bomb two minutes later: Pornography and Lust! But, in his gifted way, he treats it with precision and care, not beating around the bush, but not missing any opportunity to testify of the atonement. Nevertheless, I think my favorite talks were from the Sunday morning session, President Uchtdorf and Elder Scott. President Uchtdorf has been building his talks from the last several conferences into each other. Last spring he talked about being a disciple, and in the fall he talked about the love of God, so what he spoke about this time comes directly from those two previous subjects. It was almost like how being a disciple helps us feel and show the love of God. I agree, Dad. That was very powerful when he testified that everyone is equal and a VIP in God's eyes. The world tries so hard to make us forget that. All too often I do. Elder Scott's testimony of the Atonement was so pure. I cannot wait to read his words again. And Mom, I think the talk you liked from Sunday afternoon was an Elder Martino. The one with the baseball story. We were well taken care of yesterday, having both a lunch and a dinner, so we got two Easter feasts: ham, deviled eggs, rolls, asparagus, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes. All the fixins. Easter is the best because it means ham. Sorry to hear you didn't get a Dove egg. They were definitely enjoyed on our end.
Now for the big news: I'll have you know that I guessed exactly where he was going when I read Mom's subject line. Connecticut! He'll be great. He'll do so much good there. He'll be an amazing missionary. I'm so excited and proud of him. It hardly seems like it was almost a year ago when I was opening my mission call and he was there to watch. I would say I wish I could have been there, but I know I need to be here. Even though this week feels like one of the hardest on my mission, and it's only going to get harder. Because even though I was feeling distressed and downtrodden when I came to e-mail this morning, every member of the family sent me words of encouragement this week which put me in my place and made me realize how blessed I am even to have this opportunity. When I first got RA, I was sure that meant I would never get this chance. So I was glad when I got to be a branch missionary instead. But not that it's not instead but in-addition-to, it's the hardest thing I've ever done, but President Hansen keeps telling me the Lord is preparing me for future opportunities. And because I have faith in the future, I'll keep pushing ahead. Thanks for everything.
Cassidy, you are just the best concert-goer ever. You almost touched Jonathan Jones!?! That's just as good as when that guy from Camera Can't Lie was all singing to you and stuff. I'm SO GLAD you heard Please Shine. Again, I'd say "I wish I were there" but I know I will be one day. And that day is always coming nearer. It'll be so hard when I have to give up being a missionary. Yes, life will probably seem easier, and time will be my own again, but I have such a potential to make a difference and come outside of myself while serving in this calling. I'll never really get that again. And I think that's what's worrying me about this area. I'm afraid I'm not helping anyone but myself. And this is so not about me. I came on this mission to forget about myself, but with every new challenge it seems I only become more selfish.
I'm glad you all had fun bowling for Dad's birthday. Did you get the card I sent? I know you also had fun and great food in Mackay. Tell Aunt Ila hello for me.
Yes, I did get the medical debit card. My next appointment is on tax day, April 15. Speaking of which, did you get my taxes taken care of? Do I need to sign them or anything? And did you include me in your census report? We weren't really sure what to do, so I still have the thing if you didn't include me. I just want to make sure I get counted.
Mom, could you do some digging for me? Is Ashley Crockett still on her mission? Could you send me her address, whether or not she is? I've been thinking about her lately and what a good example she is to me, hoping she is doing well. And I'd like to send Elder Sorensen in Japan some greetings, knowing he's almost been out for year. No rush. I just figure at least I know I'm good at writing letters, and that's something that gets me thinking outside myself.
Love,
Sister Sorensen
Now for the big news: I'll have you know that I guessed exactly where he was going when I read Mom's subject line. Connecticut! He'll be great. He'll do so much good there. He'll be an amazing missionary. I'm so excited and proud of him. It hardly seems like it was almost a year ago when I was opening my mission call and he was there to watch. I would say I wish I could have been there, but I know I need to be here. Even though this week feels like one of the hardest on my mission, and it's only going to get harder. Because even though I was feeling distressed and downtrodden when I came to e-mail this morning, every member of the family sent me words of encouragement this week which put me in my place and made me realize how blessed I am even to have this opportunity. When I first got RA, I was sure that meant I would never get this chance. So I was glad when I got to be a branch missionary instead. But not that it's not instead but in-addition-to, it's the hardest thing I've ever done, but President Hansen keeps telling me the Lord is preparing me for future opportunities. And because I have faith in the future, I'll keep pushing ahead. Thanks for everything.
Cassidy, you are just the best concert-goer ever. You almost touched Jonathan Jones!?! That's just as good as when that guy from Camera Can't Lie was all singing to you and stuff. I'm SO GLAD you heard Please Shine. Again, I'd say "I wish I were there" but I know I will be one day. And that day is always coming nearer. It'll be so hard when I have to give up being a missionary. Yes, life will probably seem easier, and time will be my own again, but I have such a potential to make a difference and come outside of myself while serving in this calling. I'll never really get that again. And I think that's what's worrying me about this area. I'm afraid I'm not helping anyone but myself. And this is so not about me. I came on this mission to forget about myself, but with every new challenge it seems I only become more selfish.
I'm glad you all had fun bowling for Dad's birthday. Did you get the card I sent? I know you also had fun and great food in Mackay. Tell Aunt Ila hello for me.
Yes, I did get the medical debit card. My next appointment is on tax day, April 15. Speaking of which, did you get my taxes taken care of? Do I need to sign them or anything? And did you include me in your census report? We weren't really sure what to do, so I still have the thing if you didn't include me. I just want to make sure I get counted.
Mom, could you do some digging for me? Is Ashley Crockett still on her mission? Could you send me her address, whether or not she is? I've been thinking about her lately and what a good example she is to me, hoping she is doing well. And I'd like to send Elder Sorensen in Japan some greetings, knowing he's almost been out for year. No rush. I just figure at least I know I'm good at writing letters, and that's something that gets me thinking outside myself.
Love,
Sister Sorensen
3-29-10 "March Madness"
By the end of this week it'll be official: I will have been in Tomball for six months. I would say "crazy," but I don't really think that's the right word. More like unbelieveable. Or inconceivable. Because it feels like time here has both slowed down and flown, like some kind of science fiction aircraft traveling at the speed of light. When you arrive at your destination, you haven't felt the effects of time, but much of it has past. Anyway, I know that it's been almost six months because I found out I was coming to Tomball last time it was general conference weekend. I'm so looking forward to what President Monson and the apostles will have to say. There is such power in their words of revelation. I've been studying a bit from the more recent general conferences. I love, love, LOVE President Uchtdorf's talk about the love of God. He's one of those speakers that everything he says sounds simple and true when you first hear it, but the more you ponder it, the more profound you realize it is. I am also becoming quite a fan of Elder Christofferson, although my sentimental favorite will probably always be Elder Holland. He's the one who always has the right words that always seem tailored to me. We did not get to watch the YW broadcast, but I wish we had. However, I will be studying the talks as soon as I can get my hands on them.
Speaking of young women, we got to go to a baptism yesterday. The girl we've been working with with the Spanish elders got baptized. She seemed nervous and excited. I can see a greater light in her, and I hope this step helps that continue to grow. She's made a lot of changes in her life--BIG CHANGES--and at the baptism, someone from her branch gave her a personal progress book. Which made me think of you, Mom, because you had suggested that we do the same thing. I know that the personal progress goals really can help her apply the gospel and make this change a lasting one. It was nice to be at a baptism in Spanish. You can feel the Spirit even as they speak and sing in Spanish, and it's always fun to see how much I understand of what they are saying. More than I would expect. As a side note, I became the last minute designated pianist, something I am always willing to do, and certainly the surest and quickest way to make me feel useful. It's like when I was attending church in London and I got to play the piano for sacrament meeting. The bishopric was changed halfway through our visit in that little ward, and the new bishop mentioned something about how the piano music had added a spirit of reverence to the sacrament meeting. Not that it was just me, but just that I felt my small talent allowed me to contribute to the kingdom. Same feeling yesterday. No matter how deeply I'm feeling discouraged, there's nothing the sacrament and feeling useful for playing the piano cannot cure.
On Saturday we also had the privilege of helping at the Primary Activity Day. The theme was "I Spy" the life of Christ. They split the kids into four groups. Sister Hoskins and I were in charge of one group of about 12 kids. I don't know what has happened in the last nine months, but somehow I am not nearly as good at keeping kids in line. Maybe I don't feel like as much of an authority figure around them as a missionary because we are told to be so careful around kids. Nothing super crazy happened. I just don't remember being that exhausted by trying to maintain kids before. They did some relay races and a carpentry thing. They did a scavenger hunt where they had clues about some paintings in the halls of the church and they were supposed to find the right one. That one was hardest because we were trying to help the younger kids but stop the older kids from going too fast. I was glad to be asked, and I was glad to help, but I was also glad for it to be through. Sister Hoskins said it doesn't deter her from wanting twelve kids. But I tend to agree a little more with one of the sisters in the ward who looked at me and said, "Is this like permanent birth control?" Not permanent, but I'm certainly in no rush to surround myself with kids.
I'm very sorry to hear about Saylor. I will definitely keep her in my prayers. She is my favorite little nursery girl. I love those pictures you sent me of her eating popcorn on the porch and in her Halloween costume. It will be an adjustment, but it will be okay.
The missionary front sounds very exciting at home. Congratulations to Matt Weaver. He will make a great missionary. We have an elder in our district right now who is from Canada Alberta. He has a lot of Canadian pride. I still remember when Matt and his brother would come be our home teachers. They are some of the most faithful ones we've had. Home teaching is everything. I'll be thinking about Cody on Thursday, but knowing that his mission call is NOT an April Fool. It makes me sad to picture Mark/Elder Tobias getting overwhelmed by the devastation, but I know he's strong enough to keep going. He'll be in my prayers, too. And all I have to say for Dylan is YIKES! Sounds like his companion is hard to get along with. I've seen a few missionaries on my mission that I can imagine are difficult to get along with, but nothing like that. I guess that's where all that Student Body President charisma comes in handy. We have a saying in the mission: you can hit your companion once, but not twice. Oh, I know everything will turn out well for him. If the mission president makes all those changes and assignments to him at once, that shows a lot of faith and trust in him.
I think I've reached the end of my comments this week. I'll be making another appointment with Dr. Khalaf today, but that'll probably be my last. I'm still off of the one medication, but he did say we might try to go back on it. I also convinced him that I should stop taking the pain pill/antidepressant because it was not helping and it was just making me groggy in the mornings. Thanks for forwarding the e-mail from Aarika. Who knows about Ronnie and Elise. Maybe they heard you were hacked.
Grandmother, I loved the story about the funeral. Is our governor still Butch Otter? Must have been some well-to-do Mackay-ite to merit the governor coming to his funeral. I pray for springtime for y'all soon. It's almost gone here, and that means that summer is near. It'll be a heatwave.
I'm forgetting something but by the very nature of forgetfullness, that means I can't remember it, so...
GO DUKE!
Love,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen, the shining one (but not the shining)
PS Oh, I totally understand about not answering the friend requests and such. I guess my mind was just wondering who they were, but that's really not important right now. I don't want to be like a missionary using facebook on his or her mission. And I don't want to get hacked.
Speaking of young women, we got to go to a baptism yesterday. The girl we've been working with with the Spanish elders got baptized. She seemed nervous and excited. I can see a greater light in her, and I hope this step helps that continue to grow. She's made a lot of changes in her life--BIG CHANGES--and at the baptism, someone from her branch gave her a personal progress book. Which made me think of you, Mom, because you had suggested that we do the same thing. I know that the personal progress goals really can help her apply the gospel and make this change a lasting one. It was nice to be at a baptism in Spanish. You can feel the Spirit even as they speak and sing in Spanish, and it's always fun to see how much I understand of what they are saying. More than I would expect. As a side note, I became the last minute designated pianist, something I am always willing to do, and certainly the surest and quickest way to make me feel useful. It's like when I was attending church in London and I got to play the piano for sacrament meeting. The bishopric was changed halfway through our visit in that little ward, and the new bishop mentioned something about how the piano music had added a spirit of reverence to the sacrament meeting. Not that it was just me, but just that I felt my small talent allowed me to contribute to the kingdom. Same feeling yesterday. No matter how deeply I'm feeling discouraged, there's nothing the sacrament and feeling useful for playing the piano cannot cure.
On Saturday we also had the privilege of helping at the Primary Activity Day. The theme was "I Spy" the life of Christ. They split the kids into four groups. Sister Hoskins and I were in charge of one group of about 12 kids. I don't know what has happened in the last nine months, but somehow I am not nearly as good at keeping kids in line. Maybe I don't feel like as much of an authority figure around them as a missionary because we are told to be so careful around kids. Nothing super crazy happened. I just don't remember being that exhausted by trying to maintain kids before. They did some relay races and a carpentry thing. They did a scavenger hunt where they had clues about some paintings in the halls of the church and they were supposed to find the right one. That one was hardest because we were trying to help the younger kids but stop the older kids from going too fast. I was glad to be asked, and I was glad to help, but I was also glad for it to be through. Sister Hoskins said it doesn't deter her from wanting twelve kids. But I tend to agree a little more with one of the sisters in the ward who looked at me and said, "Is this like permanent birth control?" Not permanent, but I'm certainly in no rush to surround myself with kids.
I'm very sorry to hear about Saylor. I will definitely keep her in my prayers. She is my favorite little nursery girl. I love those pictures you sent me of her eating popcorn on the porch and in her Halloween costume. It will be an adjustment, but it will be okay.
The missionary front sounds very exciting at home. Congratulations to Matt Weaver. He will make a great missionary. We have an elder in our district right now who is from Canada Alberta. He has a lot of Canadian pride. I still remember when Matt and his brother would come be our home teachers. They are some of the most faithful ones we've had. Home teaching is everything. I'll be thinking about Cody on Thursday, but knowing that his mission call is NOT an April Fool. It makes me sad to picture Mark/Elder Tobias getting overwhelmed by the devastation, but I know he's strong enough to keep going. He'll be in my prayers, too. And all I have to say for Dylan is YIKES! Sounds like his companion is hard to get along with. I've seen a few missionaries on my mission that I can imagine are difficult to get along with, but nothing like that. I guess that's where all that Student Body President charisma comes in handy. We have a saying in the mission: you can hit your companion once, but not twice. Oh, I know everything will turn out well for him. If the mission president makes all those changes and assignments to him at once, that shows a lot of faith and trust in him.
I think I've reached the end of my comments this week. I'll be making another appointment with Dr. Khalaf today, but that'll probably be my last. I'm still off of the one medication, but he did say we might try to go back on it. I also convinced him that I should stop taking the pain pill/antidepressant because it was not helping and it was just making me groggy in the mornings. Thanks for forwarding the e-mail from Aarika. Who knows about Ronnie and Elise. Maybe they heard you were hacked.
Grandmother, I loved the story about the funeral. Is our governor still Butch Otter? Must have been some well-to-do Mackay-ite to merit the governor coming to his funeral. I pray for springtime for y'all soon. It's almost gone here, and that means that summer is near. It'll be a heatwave.
I'm forgetting something but by the very nature of forgetfullness, that means I can't remember it, so...
GO DUKE!
Love,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen, the shining one (but not the shining)
PS Oh, I totally understand about not answering the friend requests and such. I guess my mind was just wondering who they were, but that's really not important right now. I don't want to be like a missionary using facebook on his or her mission. And I don't want to get hacked.
Y'all come back now, y'hear?
Apologies all around to any readers of Whitney's mission blog. Because it was attached to my original blog, the hacking nightmare affected this one as well. Hopefully this will be the last time we have to re-do this. Now you can sit a spell and enjoy catching up the adventures of Miss Whit in the Lone Star State!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
