Pictures!

So, I'm assuming this one was while she was still walking.

In a wheelchair! 

At least they are smiling!

Stake Conference

Lunch at the Gutierrez home after Stake Conference.

This picture was text to me on Sunday.

Arcadia Zone Conference

 The meal afterward. Look at her face, goodness!!!! (She's far right)

Now she's far left

 Now.... if I can get a video to load, y'all will have a great belly laugh. It's a video of her in the wheelchair trying to maneuver on the sidewalk.

ENJOY!

Wheelchairs and Chinese food

Yes, that's right, you read the first word correct. Wheelchair! {Groan} I was making dinner 

when she emailed and didn't read it until an hour later. This was her first paragraph to me:

"Hey mom!

Let's just get this sucker out the way, the sprain is bad. I didn't take care of it like I probably 

should have. I thought I could walk and over time, I just couldn't. BUT... (please stay calm) 

a member had a wheelchair that I'm using. I went to the doctor today and nothing is broken. 

However, both my ankles are weak now because I didn't do everything I needed to the first 

time! Geez. I have to stay off of it for 4 weeks and always elevate and ice. He even gave me 

exercises. I'm seriously fine. Yes, it's not very comfortable and it's kinda hard. But it will all get 

better soon. PLEASE REMAIN CALM! PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING ME HOW I'M DOING 

AND MAKING SURE I'M TAKING CARE OF IT!!!"

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. To be honest, NOT AT ALL WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR!!!! 

My first instinct is to fly out there right now and after that passed to call the mission home and 

ask to speak to her. No, she's fine. This is hard. BUT.... I can do hard things! I tell my kids that 

phrase ALL. The. TIME! But seriously.... 

OK. Here's her version to you. And, yes, take note of the food comment. Bless her heart!!!

Hey y'all! It's been a week for sure! 

As y'all remember from last week, I sprained my ankle. I've been wearing a brace, but because we walk everywhere 

it hasn't gotten better. We called the mission nurse and she told me to stay off of it. Well, I can't just sit around all 

day! So a member in the ward is letting us use a wheelchair she has. It's pretty fun going over bumps and flying 

downhill! Sister Cluff mostly pushes because no one trusts my steering. I will send pictures!  

I also went to the doctor today and I have to be in the wheelchair for another 4 weeks. He said I really messed it up,

but it actually doesn't hurt too bad. Just pray that everything will heal :) 

I think the best part of the wheelchair is people stop for us! We've been handing out flyers for an event coming up 

in the stake and people are willing to take it and talk to us. 

The super awesome, great news is that David and Alicia are on date for baptism in April! Hopefully everything 

works out. 

We had stake conference (a huge meeting for members in the area) and we had 3 Investigators at the adult session 

and 5 at the regular Sunday meeting! We were so happy to see our Investigators so committed. Stake conference 

can feel pretty long. Sheila was one of the Investigators who came. She has lots of good questions! I just love her! 

She's from Texas, so it's nice to hear a little southern accent. 

Tomorrow we're going to the temple visitors center with Michael! Ahhhhhh I'm so excited for him! He's getting 

baptized this Saturday and he's so ready! I'm just so happy y'all! It really makes it worth it! 

The weirdest thing I ate was REAL Chinese food. If you know me really well, I'm not a fan of Asian food! I had a

migraine Thursday, so I was still a little sick on Friday at Zone Conference. It was the Chinese ward's turn to make 

lunch.... It was a guessing game. But it made me really grateful that I'm not somewhere foreign! 

Thanks y'all for all the prayers and sweet emails! I really appreciate it. 

I love this gospel and I'm so fortunate. I get to serve Heavenly Father's children every single day. It brings so much 

happiness! I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. He truly was a prophet of 

God. Studying the scriptures will bring so much joy and knowledge. Mark those babies up! 

Have a wonderful week y'all! 

Sister Sorensen 

I'll post pictures tomorrow. She sent some and I have others that were text to me and on the

Facebook page. 

Much love to each of you!

THE MOM

Tommy's and Ankles

Hey y'all! It's been a week!

So, I sprained my left ankle on Tuesday! It's funny because this time last year I sprained my right ankle! It's not as 

bad though. I have a brace and my companions make me rest, which is great. I'm still able to walk, which is super 

awesome! Thank goodness for the Savior because I don't know how I would do it :)

That's probably the only downside of this week. All our investigators are improving and growing! We're in an 

amazing area! Sheila still comes to church and is earnestly praying about the church. David is really wanting to grow 

closer to his loving Heavenly Father. Alicia accepted baptism. No date yet though. Micheal is so solid! He's going to 

be baptized on March 4th. That's also my 2 month mark! :)

Aunt Sarah, I got the shoes. SO STINKING CUTE! They fit really well and they work with my ACE bandage and 

everything :) I've worn them since I got them. It's nice to have some colorful shoes.

Pa, I went to Tommy's Burger's today! SO good! I'll make sure to send pictures! This lady in the ward, Sister Carey, 

always takes us shopping and she was very willing to take us to Tommy's. We're "her girls," and she loves spending 

time with us! She said we're her favorite sisters and we're the best trio! I love our companionship! :)

For P-day, we also walked around old Monrovia. We looked around this old antique shop. It was so cool! We also 

went to a music store to look at ukuleles for Sister Cluff and a cute ma and pa candy shop. It was so awesome! 

I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ! I'm grateful for the priesthood and the blessings all of us receive from 

it. I'm so grateful for eternal families and all the other blessings the temple brings. Thanks for all the prayers! I 

appreciate it! 

Remember the Savior and all He does. He is there in all things!

Love,

Sister Sorensen

1. El Pollo Loco

2. PACKAGES! (Feel free to send mail! I love it!)

3. More fun at El Pollo Loco   

I don't know if I included my address, but it's 614 W. Foothill Blvd Arcadia CA 91006. I live in a back house to a back 

house, so I don't really have an address. That's the mission office :)

(BE SURE TO PUT SISTER MACKENZIE SORENSEN)

California Roller Coaster ride

Hey y'all! 

It's been another great week of hard work! I find that in a day, you'll feel really low and than all of a sudden, BAM. 

Spirit hits you hard and you're back up again. 

We taught Michael last Monday and committed him to baptism! Yesterday afternoon, we asked him to be baptized 

on March 4th and he accepted! It was so amazing! When Sisters Cluff, Colson, and I did weekly planning, we all 

prayed about it and all felt that March 4th was the date. He has such a strong testimony and I'm so happy to see 

him accept the gospel! 

David is struggling a little bit. I just hope that he'll lean on what he already knows.

Pamela and Stephanie are doing really well! We're trying to help them read the book of Mormon and grow their 

testimonies. Last Wednesday we watched a video called the Testaments. It shows how the book of Mormon and the 

Bible work together. Pam and Steph were very attentive and asked a lot of questions. 

Shelia... Where do I begin with her. She's so awesome. Shelia was a referral who wanted to know where the church 

was. We've met with her a couple of times, but just on her front porch. We had a church tour this past Saturday for all 

our investigators and people of the community. Shelia was the only one who came, which was alright. Even if we 

have just one soul, how great is our joy! Because of the church tour (and because I was speaking in sacrament 

meeting and promised an amazing talk ;)) she came yesterday! She got there before all the other members. Keep her 

in your prayers please. She's being prepared, I can just tell. 

Alicia is trying to do better with coming to church and reading the scriptures. She said baptism could be a possibility, 

but she still wants to learn more first. 

The spirit tends to make missionaries very beautiful. Other people tend to notice, which makes a lot of our street 

contacts men. Either they talk to us first or they're the only ones interested. Either way it's funny. 

For those who don't know, bikes arent nice to short people! When I got bike, I was shocked when my feet couldn't 

touch. Not even my toes! Luckily I'm becoming a pro ;)  thank you mom for the beautiful bike! 

Sorry this email is pretty long. We've just had a lot of awesome experiences! Happy early Valentines day and spread 

the love of God and Jesus Christ! Love y'all! 

Sister Sorensen

         The view from my window! So pretty with the orange tree

           A chapel right next to my pad (that's what the mission calls our houses and apartments)

      Me sitting next to a mini waterfall today. Shout out to Sister Colson for her awesome picture taking skills

     Y'all love the mountains... SO LOOK AT THOSE! It's so pretty here!

   My feet over the edge and 2 minutes later, my camera case fell... I got it back by the grace of 
                Sisters Cluff and Ballard. Bless their hearts.

Me standing on a rock... not much else to say. But I'm not wearing a skirt! Crazy!

Parrots and Sunsets

Hey y'all!

It's been another great week! I hit my month mark this past Saturday! I feel like I just left NC! 

I got a camera now and I'm so excited! There's so many pretty churches, palm trees, etc. This week we actually saw 

PARROTS! I got a couple of pictures and videos. I'll send those :) 

This week, we've taught Michael, Alicia, Pamela, Stephanie, and now David! They're all trying to work out their own 

questions right now. Pamela and Stephanie are from a part member home and they come to church with their 

grandma and dad. Michael comes to church every week. David is working on coming to church and Alicia goes to 

the Spanish branch a lot. 

The highlight of my week was when the 3 of us were walking down the street and laughing so hard at something. 

This man goes, you girls are just way too happy! He chuckles and says, "y'all are Mormon missionaries aren't you!?" 

He's inactive (meaning he doesn't go to church much). He was so cool and offered to buy us dinner. We had an 

appointment to get to, but I wanted to keep talking to him! He seems pretty open to coming back. I just love how he

recognized our spirit and happiness! 

I also loved contacting this referral we got. Sheila is prepared! I felt the spirit the whole time we talked to her. I hope 

we can see her again this week! 

I got a hair cut today! I'll send a picture soon :) I look just like my mom! I carry a picture of us when I was a baby. 

Everyone says we look just alike! It makes me very happy. 

Well, not much else has happened! Please pray for the people of Arcadia! I hope the missionaries here and find and 

teach those who are ready! 

Love y'all! 

Sister Sorensen 

_________________________________________

I asked her about several things, like what meetings she's been to, done anything fun on 

Monday (not yet) how getting her bike went (NO bike yet, Grrrrr.....) what service they do

(work at a thrift store and serve at a soup kitchen) I also asked if she's getting fed by members 

(She is!!!) So, here is a shameless plug for feeding the missionaries... 

DO IT! They work so hard. Knowing that someone is taking care of my daughter makes me 

so dang happy!!!! Knowing that some man on the street offered to buy them dinner, well, it just 

brings me so much joy! I'll be offering a prayer for God to bless him.

Here are the pictures! Enjoy! Til next Monday.... Love, serve, pray  -The MOM

A parrot

My companions

My new haircut! (She chopped it, gasp)

A gorgeous sunset Saturday

PARROTS

PARROTS

The mountains! 

Sister Campbell! I thought of you when I saw this school!

A panorama of our room. It's not as big as it looks :P