One week down in California Arcadia Mission - I'm not counting how many to go!

I was on pins and needles all morning and into the afternoon patiently waiting for an email. The 3 hour time difference was hard. In fact, one Mom asked on the Facebook page when P-Day (Preparation Day) was. Yep, today.

I finally got an email about 4:30! Hooray!!!

So here it is with pictures and all. She didn't write anything about the pictures. I'll have words with her about that! Some, no explanation required. Enjoy!

Hey y'all! 

I made it safe and sound to California! I love my area so much. It's gorgeous. There's palm 

trees everywhere, WILD PARROTS (fire at a pet store in Pasadena years ago), beautiful, yet 

different houses... It's so fun. There's also a ton of lemon and orange trees in people's yards. 

At the stake center there's 2 lemon trees, so my companions and I picked some and made 

fresh lemonade. 

Yes. I did say companions. I'm in another trio! I seriously love them. They are so much fun and 

have the spirit with them. I'm with Sister Colson and Sister Cluff. 

We're teaching a couple of people. Micheal is from Australia! Pa, where is Brian from again? 

We're also teaching a part member family. We mostly teach 2 girls, Pamela and Stephanie. 

Their grandma, Sister Jones, is the cutest little Mexican grandma. She always talks about her 

mission and how she always shares the gospel. She even gives referrals to missionaries in 

Mexico. She's amazing and loves to feed us. Last but not least, Alicia. She's taken the 

discussions before, which is pretty helpful. 

I'm sorry if I don't reply to your emails right away! 2 hours to email flies by. 

The funniest thing from this week was the plumbing. Our plumbing was soooooo bad that when 

we flushed the toilet, stuff came out of the drain in the shower! So gross! We had to go to a 

member's house to shower. We had no bathroom for 4ish days. Gross. Luckily, there's 2 back 

houses and one of them is vacant. We just used that one until they fixed it this morning. Oh the 

joys! 

Another weird thing is that some church puts cards all over the side walk bashing mormons and 

spreading false doctrine. We have to pick them up all the time. It's kinda funny because it's just 

so strange. 

Well. I think that's it! I'll try to send some pictures. Love y'all so much! Keep up the emails and 

such. 

Love,

Sister Sorensen 

She made it, I have proof!

What a happy day yesterday was. Tender mercies all around for which I am so very thankful for. 

I joined a "Mom's and Dad's" Facebook page three weeks ago. Lots of pictures, lots of posts, lots of love. One Mom posted a picture of her daughter in a sea of Sister missionaries in the MTC with the caption, "In just a week, some of these ladies will be warming up in CA!" A few days later, a member of the Monvoria Ward said that they were getting a new Sister missionary and were super excited to meet her. Fast forward 2 days and she commented that they got Sister Sorensen. My heart jumped for joy! Until you have a missionary out and have no idea where they are at, you wouldn't understand the struggle. I mean, as a parent you know where your child is. At school, work, driving, friends house, you have SOME idea. I was thrilled that I now knew WHERE she was and not lost in the abyss in my mind.

Then there was visual verification. Be still my heart!!!! I was overjoyed to see Kenzie's smiling face. This was sent by the mission office.

Next the lovely lady from Facebook messaged me back. Oh, may blessings rain down on her. The Sister missionaries come to her house every Monday to do laundry. I got her cell phone number and she promised me a picture. I don't know if she is the Ward Mission leaders wife, or what, but she has a missionary son serving in Arkansas. If I can one day meet her.... She did text me a picture like she promised and I got it this morning (3 hour time difference!)

Sister Colson, Sister Sorensen and Sister Cluff. "Met your adorable Sister Sorensen! She is so sweet, we LOVE her NC accent... she is happy... she got to meet the bishop and Ward mission leader today... she said, 'I love you Mom'... gave her 2 hugs for you! This is her with 2 companions Sister Colson and Sister Cluff... they are amazing... she is in great hands"

Then, this morning, there were a ton of pictures posted to Facebook. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Until Monday.... 

No email this week

Sorry folks! No email this week! She's leaving on Delta to go to LAX! Arcadia, here comes Sister Sorensen!!!

I talked to her and she was tired and filled with all kinds of emotions! She had to wake up at 3 am, get on the shuttle and called about 7:30 her time. It was a quick chat, 2 pay phones for 9 missionaries. I just wish she weren't so tired. Oh well. We talked about Christlike attributes, like love, service, charity, humility. Something for you to think about.

Sister Sorensen sends her love to each of you. Be on the look out Monday for a new email. I'm hoping to get a picture of her and her Mission President tomorrow or some time. Meanwhile, enjoy this picture I received last week, not from her, but she was tagged in a post by Emma Hart's mother. Emma was a friend from BYU-Idaho that lived across the hall. I met her when I took Kenzie out to school. What a sweet girl!

They were singing in the choir a week ago tonight. 

And I just got this picture. Don't know when it was taken but it's of Sister Sorensen and Sister Overson. They are both from North Carolina, both serving in California and both went to BYU-Idaho. Sister Overson is a cousin to one of Mackenzie's friends in our ward.

Now that Sister Sorensen is OUT in California, prayers for her safety, strength and love are appreciated by me, her mother, and her I'm sure.

Pictures week 2 ~ Enjoy!

1. Left to right: Sister Luke, me, and Sister Gibb using this Olay narr stuff to get some hair off! 

2. The whole zone on Sunday           

3. All the sisters in the zone. Of course I'm not looking.

4. Selfie of the zone

5. Left to right: Elder Spense, me, Elder Gradeless

6. Me and sister Gibb with matching buns

7. Me and Elder Ameny. He's a good foot taller than me! He left Monday for California Ventura! 

Pictures!!!! Lots of Pictures! From Week 1.... sorry!

1. Out in front of the Provo, UT temple that is by the Missionary Training Center.

2. Close up picture of above temple. Who knew a picture like this would bring a tear to this mama's eye.

3. Sister Sorensen, Sister Luke, Sister Gibb

4.  I just LOVE this picture!!!!

5.  Sister Sorensen's group of missionaries she spends the most time with, her district I think.

6.  In no particular order because I can't see their name tags and have no idea who is who, BUT.... Sister Luke, Sister Sorensen, Sister Gibb, Sister Riches, Sister Goodwin. *I think.... ;)

7.  In a class room, being taught how to be the BEST missionaries they can be!

Week 2

Got another email from Kenzie, Sister Sorensen yesterday but with sick kids and dinner that didn't go as planned, here it is.

Hey y'all! I made it to another week! I'm in this huge laundry room right now. It's ways super busy. 

This past week has been filled with so many spiritual experiences. My companions and I just finished teaching Leyla and Kouji. Both committed to baptism, which is super awesome! The spirit was so strong and it was amazing to see their faith increase. We'll be teaching McKelle and Linda now. I haven't met McKelle yet because yesterday afternoon I had a migraine. But I was able to meet Linda! Super sweet woman :) 

I honestly don't know what to say because all my days are messed up. It's like my days and weeks are all strung together. The MTC has a way of doing that to any missionary. 

I think the joke for the past 2 weeks is how much I love cranberry juice! All the Elders pick on me, especially Elder Powell. If you're ever thinking of me, cranberry juice will always win my heart ;) 

Shout out to Anne Sorensen for sending me Krispy Kreme! It was pretty good. The food here definitely isn't anything to write home about. Can't wait to have In n Out, Tommy's, and Mexican food that's Not from a cafeteria. 

Sunday was super awesome because I got to meet the new MTC presidency. President Martino is a convert from Texas! I loved to hear him and his wife because they had the cutest southern accents that I haven't heard for a while. Sister Martino even mentioned Blue Bell ice cream! 

I'm so thankful for the gospel and all the blessings it brings. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and he restored Christ's church here on the earth. Pray and study the scriptures daily, especially the book of Mormon! Love and miss y'all! I love reading emails. 

Love, 

Sister Sorensen 

I get some personal emails too, because, well, I'm the Mom! One thing she mentioned was during Tuesday devotional, Elder Neil L. Anderson came from the Quorum of the Twelve apostles. So, that's cool! She went to another devotional last night and said that she was singing in the Choir.

She leaves the MTC and finally goes to Arcadia in 6 days!!! I'm sure excited about that.

Last thing. She's emailed pictures so I'll put those up (I hope). Everything is well!

Sister Sorensen in Arcadia, California Mission

Sister Sorensen in Arcadia! Hopefully you'll enjoy her emails, my feeling and insight to having a missionary in the family.

Mackenzie is serving a church mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS, or Mormon.

We are grateful for Mackenzie's willingness to serve the Lord for 18 months in Arcadia, California.

Here is the first email!

Hey y'all! I sure do miss all y'all, but the MTC is pretty amazing. The spirit is so strong and I just can't explain it. 

I made it and settled okay. I will get into further detail on my next P-day, which will be next Thursday. I will send a pretty long one. 

Study the scriptures and pray often. Follow the spirit. Let the Lord guide you as you go through the day. :) The gospel is such a great thing and I thank y'all for teaching me. 

I cannot wait to tell you everything next week. 

Don't forget that I love you so so so so SOOOOOO much! I know that this is where I'm supposed to be though. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers! 

Love,

Sister Sorensen (woooaaahhh that's super weird)

I was super surprised when I got an email today, Thursday, January 10th. I had just finished lunch, washed the dishes and went to pick up my phone. As I sat down on the couch, I thought, "I need to check my email". I NEVER check my email during the day. What a joyful surprise! I was so glad that I had followed through with the prompting!

Hey y'all!

Hope everything is going great! 

The MTC is for sure a Rollercoaster emotionally. One minute everything is great and you're at this spiritual high. 

The next thing you know, you're crying and so is your companion. But the days get better and better. 

I made it to the MTC just fine. I didn't cry as much as some others because my parents had already said goodbye at 

the airport. Although, it's not very fun balling your eyes out in the middle of the airport around serious business 

people. ;) 

Before I arrived, Sister Grimm (an old friend that used to live in North Carolina) took me to lunch at BrickOven. It's a 

pizza place right by the MTC and BYU.  Apparently it's the place to go. Then it was time to go to the MTC! 

The coolest thing we did the first day was sing "We'll Bring the World His Truth." we sang "and we are now the lords 

missionaries." isn't that super cool? 

My district is the best! I'm in a companionship with Sister Gibb (Colorado) and Luke (Utah). We're going to Arcadia 

California. Sister Riches(Utah)  and Goodwin (Utah) are going to Redlands California with Elder Sandstrom (Virgina) 

and Kurr (Minnesota). Elders Spence (North Carolina) and Gradeless (Indiana) are going to Roseville California with 

Elders Powell (Tennessee) and Davis (Utah). They're so funny and I just love them. 

In the MTC, we teach a lot! Most of them are members, but we never know if there's a nonmember in the mix. It's 

just good practice to act like they're learning everything for the first time. The spirit is so strong! I just love the 

people! 

I don't have pictures right now, so I'll send them later.  Love y'all so much! Don't forget to read your scriptures and 

pray! The scriptures give great guidance. 

Sister Sorensen

I GOT A PICTURE!!!!