Halloween Parties

Hey y'all!

Its been a great week! We've had so many ward things going on, it's crazy! 

We had our ward Halloween party and y'all... This thing is THE party of the year! Over 400 people come to this thing. And they go ALL out. It was awesome! We met a bunch of nonmembers and got to know some less actives. We left a flyer on a less actives door that we've been trying to find and SHE SHOWED UP! A former investigator even brought a friend! I was filled with so much joy! 

They also have a Spook Alley... Nope. Luckily we got to go on splits and Sis. Parker was able to go. They make it super creepy and that just ain't for me y'all! 

We finally set one of our investigators on date! That's super exciting and I'm praying so hard for them! We also have been able to get a former investigator to church a couple of times in a row! What a blessing!

So, for our 5th Sunday lesson (it's when the men and women have a huge lesson together, usually in the chapel) we talked about emergency preparedness and self-reliance. We have actors and directors in our ward, so we did a Skit. Sis. Parker and I were in it and it was SO MUCH FUN! I love this ward so much!

I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I KNOW that God has a plan for us and His Son is central to it. If we follow the example of our Savior, we WILL be happy in this life and in the next! We will still have challenges, but we know that we can go get through it. 

Love and miss y'all! 

Sister Mackenzie Sorensen 

1-2: Pumpkins from our Bishops block party. He invited some nonmembers for us to meet!

3-4: the Bishop's dog, Rockwell. Like, Porter Rockwell. HE'S SO CUTE!

5: Me, Sugar (Jennifer), and Sis. Oliva. Love them so much! 

6: Me and Bro. Veliz! He was so scary! 

7: a very puny sticker on a less actives door. 

8: Sis. Parker and I! Aren't we so cute?

9: The Extra Smile! I thought it was pretty dang funny.

My Day to Love, My Call to Serve

Hey y'all!

So, I LOVE SUNLAND! I love the ward to pieces, I love our investigators SO MUCH... I'm just full of joy and love! 

We FINALLY GOT SOME NEW INVESTIGATORS! And they are AWESOME! 

Sofia is the wife of a member. She's so awesome! She said to us, "how do people not accept the Book of Mormon as scripture? How can anyone deny this?" I literally felt my heart just leap! 

Charles is the husband of a member (part member families are AWESOME!). He wants to make changes in his life and he wants baptism! I'm so stoked! His family is super supportive and AH I'M JUST SO HAPPY! 

The Brown's are doing well. We stopped by out of the blue and Michelle was reading the scriptures with Moe <3 made me so happy!

Dennis is doing well! We're trying to get him to read the Book of Mormon every day. 

A recent convert family and a returning less active (meaning they haven't came to church in a while) are about to go TO THE TEMPLE! I'm so excited for them! I love the temple so much. 

We had a zone activity today (ultimate frisbee)  and I sat on the side by the goal because I had a migraine. Well, someone threw the frisbee and I caught it, with one hand, sitting down. It was awesome! So a scored a point without even trying!

I know this gospel is true! I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet today. I know Jesus Christ lives. I love what I'm doing, even when it's SO HARD! Because missionary work is hard! But I've never seen so much joy and so much love! Its such a privilege to be an instrument in the Lord's hands! 

Love y'all! And sorry this is long! 

Sister Sorensen

1. We went up the mountains and it had some pretty views! It felt a little like home with all the dirt roads. 

2-3. We went up another mountain and we saw the damage the fires did back in September! Crazy! 

4. Messing around during dinner

5. A less active gave us roses! I LOVE roses! 

6. Mi companera y yo. Isn't she a cutie?! 

It's Gonna Take Work

Hey y'all!

Its been a hard working week! We've knocked so many doors... And no one was really interested or home.

I think the funniest moment from Tracting was a man, half way holding the door open, and saying really quickly, "Hey, whatcha need? I got dogs and naked babies!" Maybe he thought it would scare us away. But it was pretty funny!

Despite not seeing immediate results, we have started to receive and recognize the blessings! A guy named Dennis called the Bishop and asked for a ride to church. We're going to stop by his house this week and see if he's interested in learning. We also were able to set up a return appointment for one of our potential investigators that we've been trying to contact for months! 

Our mission is going to have a mission tour by one of the general authorities! We get to meet with him and his wife this Thursday! I'm really excited about that. 

I have a testimony of faith. Faith is such an awesome thing that allows us to see miracles. Without faith, we wouldn't have very much hope or know a lot about the gospel. It is through our faith that we can gain spiritual knowledge. I'm grateful for my faith. 

I love and miss y'all! Missions are tough sometimes, but I'm having a blast! 

Sister Sorensen 

1. Mexican soda. It's pretty good! Sis. Parker is getting me Cultured! 

2. We have these little beads that make the room smell good. One was left in water and one got dried out... Yes this is the kind of stuff we do with our free time. 

3. Sis. Parker and I were getting dehydrated on Saturday, so we stopped by a gas station. Apparently they charge for the ice! 

4. Knocking on doors after 5ish hours. 

She went to the temple last Wednesday and here are the pictures from that trip. This is the Los Angeles temple.

Temple Trip

Hey y'all!

Sorry this email is so late! We had a temple trip today, so our P-day changed to today!

This past week was interesting. We're trying to find new people to teach, but it's a bit of a struggle right now. But, we know that the Lord sees our efforts and that we will be blessed!

We had a couple of good lessons though! That's always exciting. We finally had a formal lesson with Dennis! Moe and Michelle have come to our Book of Mormon class often!

So, my companion, Sister Parker, used to be in Spanish work. She misses the food A LOT. She buys and makes a lot of Mexican food, which means I have to try them too. Dinner dishes are great. The snacks? Not so much for me.... But to each their own!

Well, not much else is going on! I love and miss y'all! Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement!

Love,

Sister Sorensen

1- Duritos. It's like fake pig skin? I don't know. They add Valentina and lime juice (I think)

2-Pretty sunset

3- it was President Wells birthday yesterday and we sent this... The woman on the card belongs to our ward 

Conference and Transfers

Hey y'all!

Its been a good week! Sis. Bullock had a birthday! #20 so that was super awesome.

A lot of our appointments didn't go according to plan, but we still had a great week!

Sunny is a little challenging right now, but we're letting the Lord guide us.

The Brown's came to our Book of Mormon class, so that was super awesome!

Didn't get in contact with Amanda :( but we know the Lord has a plan!

So, transfers are today and my new companion is Sister Parker! She's so sweet! She used to be in Spanish work, so I'm so excited! We'll be able to contact more people!

Not much else is going on here! General Conference was amazing! I loved how bold our leaders were. I also loved how they said it doesn't matter what your race, ethnicity, language, or culture is. Everyone is a child of God. I know that to be true. God loves everyone, regardless of who they are. I'm so fortunate enough to learn that on my mission!

Have a great week y'all!

Love,

Sister Sorensen

1. This really cool light thing a member has

2. Always on the phone....

3&5- playing around with a street sign

4&6- the district!

7&8. Matthew Veliz. This crazy and funny recent convert.

9.lol this sign cracks us up!

10. I made a rose with play dogh my mom got me!

11. The Consolo's have a pet mouse and it just ran around during conferences! Heck no!