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.