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.