Funerals and Last Emails

Hey y'all!

This is my last email as a missionary in the California Arcadia mission! Wow! It's been a blast and it's been a great learning experience. 

This week was pretty great! A member brought a nonmember friend to church and we taught her last night and she's so sweet! Her name is Caitlin and I'm so excited for the sisters to continue to teach her.

Vincent came to church too and he called and was like, ya know I think I will become a member! I was filled with so much joy! 

Well, I hope y'all know how much I love this gospel. I have loved my mission and all the people that I've met. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know that God has restored His church. 

Thank you so much for the continued support and prayers on my behalf! God speed and I'll see y'all soon!

The Lord loves you and so do I!

Sister Sorensen 

When a missionary goes home, it's called dying and they have a "funeral" the Thursday before they go home.

The zone!

Fire Burnin

Hey y'all! 

This was a pretty uneventual week :( we didn't find too many people, but we're hopeful for this upcoming week! It's the last week of the transfer so it's time for the grind!

Melissa is doing pretty well. We weren't able to have a formal lesson with her, but we should be seeing her this week!

Alvaro is still super cool. Danise, our BFF who's the best member present, came with us on his lesson. We're trying to get him to come to church!

Super cool miracle: we walked into our dinner appointment with this family and their daughter had a nonmember friend sitting RIGHT THERE! His name is Alex and he's a super sweet kid that seems pretty interested. We taught him the Restoration right there! Prayers that he'll keep being interested and actually meet with us!

Crazy story: my companion and I were really not smart and were burning some wax crayon and let's just say things didn't go well... so I now have a bunch of second degree burns in my fingers! Haha they don't really hurt but the blisters look ugly! Don't play with fire kids...

I am so grateful for JOY! This mission thing has been pretty hard, but I'm full of JOY! I absolutely love these people! Man I'm going to miss them!

Pls pray that I won't be too trunky :P (trunky is being really ready to go home)

Love y'all! 

- Sis. Mecham and I were looking dang cute, so we took lots of pics

- Me soaking my hands after the burns! Haha!

- it's been hot so we definitely needed ice cream sandwiches

Corn in the Front Yard

Hey y'all!

It's been a good week full of exchanges! I went to Heritage and the YSA ward. It was so fun! 

Melissa's date will have to change, but she can do it! I know miracles can happen!

We missed Alvaro this week :( but we should see him soon! 

We found a mother and daughter this week and they are so cute! Reminds me of my mom and I! I sure hope they keep learning the gospel together!

So, the subject line. There's this family who literally belongs on a small farm. They are so cool! They raise chickens for eggs, RABBITS FOR MEAT (which we had for dinner and it was pretty good!), 2 dogs for fun, and a whole bunch of vegetables. They grow corn in the front yard and Bro. Young is so proud of it. Haha!

Quote from their dinner: if you grow corn in your front yard, you might be a redneck. 

I just finished the Book of Mormon yesterday and I am so grateful for this other testament of Jesus Christ. I know that it's true! I know that we can gain peace every single day by simply reading it.

I'm also grateful for Memorial Day and the opportunity for us to reflect on our freedoms and the price paid for them. I am so grateful for my freedoms, especially my right to worship God the way I believe. 

Love y'all! Have a great week! 

1. Such a beautiful rose!

2-5. We walked around downtown Claremont and decided to take pictures while we waited for our ride. (Check out that nail polish tho in numba 2)

6. A dang cool flower. SoCal is so gorgeous! #blessed

Teachin' and Preachin'

Hey y'all!

It's been a good week! It's been kinda chilly... like high 60s, low 70s. Haha, I'm gonna die in Rexberg! 

Melissa is so awesome AND SHE HAS A DATE FOR JUNE 2ND! I'M SO STINKIN HAPPY! <3

We got a hold of Steven to see if he got settled in. He sounds like he's doing good!

Alvaro is literally the cooliest dude out there! He agrees with like, everything! He likes the idea of apostles. And every time we come over, there's a new friend there for us to teach! We just hand them the pamplet and start teaching! And if someone walks up part way, he's like, "you wanna learn about Jesus?" We just gotta get him to church!

Emily is doing good. We gotta get her to church too!

Wednesday was my last zone conference and in our mission, you share a departing testimony at your last zone conference. 2 of us are going home in June and I went dead last! It was so bittersweet! How do you describe in 2 minutes your wonderfully frustrating, yet extremely joyous mission?! Not possible!

Funniest moment happened on Tuesday. We went by a former investigator and someone came up to the door and started yelling at us that we were just looking for a slave! Haha I have no idea where she got that idea... We just said have a good day! We laughed pretty hard once we got up the street!

I'm so grateful for institute manuels... I know, super duper random! Institute is basically a Bible study for young adults. I've been reading the New Testament and it really helps me get more out of my studies! I am so grateful that I get to study the scriptures daily for about an hour! How lucky am I?! 

Have a great week! Love and miss y'all! 

Sister Sorensen 

- Sis. Mecham and I 

- zone activity! Sis. Wells, the mission presidents wife, came bowling with us. She whipped me. I'm not good at bowling! Haha!

- a really cool rose

- please enjoy this absolutely ridiculous selfie cause I opened my camera and it was already in selfie mode. Thus it created a great opportunity to capture the moment. 

Mother's Day

Hey y'all!

This is going to be a short one since I don't know what to write about!

I got to talk to my family yesterday and I am excited to actually see them next month (like, literally)! #crazy

We saw some amazing miracles! We found 7 new investigators! That's pretty freakin awesome! One guy, Alvaro, is so dang cool!

Steven is moving and I'm super sad about it! It'll be good for him to start fresh. 

Melissa is doing good too! Working hard at her new job!

I am so grateful for my mother. I know her role is so divine and God is so aware of the things mothers have to do! I know that all women, weather they have children of not, can exercise those divinely given attributes to those around them. I think of women who don't have kids but are mother figures to their nieces and nephews, primary, young men and women, and even MISSIONARIES! 

Love y'all and have a great week! 

Sister Sorensen 

That's My Goldfish

Hey y'all!

Its been a good week! We've seen some pretty awesome people! 

Emily was a new investigator from last week and she's so cute! We love her so much! We read 3 Nephi 12 with her, which is when Jesus Christ teaches the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount. After we read it, she's like, "So wait. What's the difference between the Bible and the Book of Mormon?" we were like, LET US TELL YOU ABOUT IT!

We also met Brenda and her daughter, Armarissa. They are so sweet and really need the gospel in their life!

On Friday, we were really worried about Melissa because we haven't seen her in a while. Later that afternoon we were biking by her house and saw her car. We pulled over ASAP and found her! Tender mercies are real! 

We did SO MUCH SERVICE ON SATURDAY! We helped Lorraine weed her backyard and then we helped Steven with some stuff around his house. It was in the low 90s and the sun was OUT! 

For P-day we went to a Mongolian BBQ place and then played tennis at a members house with some other missionaries from our zone. It was so fun! Didn't get any pictures :( but we played this game called where's my goldfish? 

The point of the game is to figure out what the rule is from someone who gets it. It sounds complicated, but when you get into it, it's pretty fun. Everyone was yelling, "is that my goldfish?!" 

I am so grateful for the scriptures! They really help me feel better when I'm feel really stressed out about missionary work or just life in general. I just finished 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, which is when Jesus Christ ministers to the Nephites. I know that He is the same and loves all His children the same. 

Love and miss y'all! 

Sister Sorensen 

(The pics haven't stayed in the same order, so I'll just describe them) 

-a sign in Emily's house. I thought it was pretty cool! 

-2 of me and Sis. Mecham doing service 

-there's a sign in Claremont called Brigham Young... 

Gonna Die in Claremont

Hey y'all!

Its been a pretty good week! 

Melissa is doing well! We started talking to her about the Word of Wisdom. Hopefully that'll go well!

Steven is doing well too! I love him to bits! He's too funny! Hopefully he'll be able to keep reading the Book of Mormon. 

The Wirtes family were finally able to meet with us and they're doing good! Juliet is doing great with softball, so that's exciting!

We've been able to meet some really cool people! There was one woman who was just so friendly and has great faith in Jesus Christ. We should be seeing her on Friday! 

This weekend was stake conference and it was all about member missionary work! It was great! We hope the members will be pumped to share the gospel!

Awesome miracle: this member from Upland pulled over and demanded to get us some smoothies <3 his name is Tony and he was so cool!

Today is transfers and both Sis. Mecham and I are staying! It's my last transfer of my mission and it's kinda crazy! Dying in the mission means that you're going home soon. 

I have a testimony of God's love for us. Throughout my mission, I have seen how God loves each and every one of His precious children! Everyone is a VIP in His eyes! 

I sure do miss y'all! Hope y'all have a great week! 

Sister Sorensen 

1. There's a really good ice cream shop in downtown Claremont

2. I wore my Mexican dress yesterday! 

3. Selfie! 

4-5. Sis. Mecham and I! 

6-7. Smoothies! 

At the Crosswalk

Hey y'all!

Its been a good week! It's starting to hot, but at least it's not in the 100s yet!

We had a bunch of lessons this week! I love teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Melissa is so awesome! She got a priesthood blessing and she's seeing a difference in her life! Her kids are adorable! They're not old enough to be baptized, but Gavin (her son) is like, "baptism and the sacrament sound super important... When can we get that done?" SO CUTE! <3 they came to church and they love it. In Relief Society (a group of women who meet together the last hour of church) we talked about the Proclamation, which discusses the roles of families. She loved it! Hopefully we can set her with a baptism date soon!

Steven is doing good too! He's like my cool uncle who is so sincere and funny all at once! We went over the Restoration again and he really wants to find out if it's true. He promised us he would read the whole Book of Mormon before next week! We know the Book of Mormon is true and will really help him get an answer. We hope to give him a baptism date too!

We haven't seen the Wirtes :( so we heart attacked their door and they loved it! 

We got a referral named Joanna and she's so stinking cute! We should be meeting with her tonight! 

It was Danise's birthday this week! We got candles and a card that wished her a happy 29th birthday! 

Super cool miracle: on Saturday, one of our lessons went a little long so we were on the street right across from Bonnie's house. Right as we're about to bike away, Bonnie Pless calls and is like, "SOS I NEED HELP!" God's hand was in that! I love Sis. Pless/Bonnie :)

Another cool miracle: there was this biking event taking place all day on a major street in our area. We happened to be down there with our bikes and it was fun talking to people! We even ran into members from the Rancho Cucamonga area.

To explain the subject line, we were standing at a Crosswalk and I saw this thick card. So I pulled it out and it was basically about how global warming is cause by the vadican and the government. There was even a quote by an ex-Satanist! Only in SOCAL :P

I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that as we have faith, repent, be baptized and confirmed with the priesthood, and endure to the end we will be blessed beyond measure! 

Have a great week y'all! The Lord loves you and so do I! 

Sister Sorensen

1. SO HAPPY TO BE A MISSIONARY! 

2-3. Heart Attacking the Wirtes! 

4-5. Pictures Gavin drew for us! The first one is a picture of us and his family that says you're the best! <3

6. Dress from Mexico! Man Cali has some cool stuff! 

Sorensen and Mecham Weeding Company

Hey y'all!

Its been kinda a weird week! We did SO MUCH SERVICE! 

All we did was weed, but y'all! When them things have deep roots, it's a trip! We did most of Danise's yard and all of Sis. Pless' yard. Sis. Please treated us to Starbucks cream Frappuccinos and Penical Peak (a really good steakhouse with country music).

We also had a couple of good lessons. Lots of people cancelled, which was a bummer :( but Melissa is so good! She's so cute and I love her! She has a lot going on and I just know the gospel is going to help her!

I just LOVE the people here in Claremont and Pomona! <3

Anyway, for P-day we got pedicures as a zone... With the elders... It was great! 

This week I also got my pre-trunk papers! Trunky is when you're at the end of your mission and you're really excited about going home. I'm trying hard not to get TOO trunky! 

I LOVE the Book of Mormon SO MUCH! Whenever I'm feeling stressed or frustrated, I find so much peace in the Book of Mormon. I was on the phone with Steven yesterday and he said that some of his friends are trying to convince him not to read the Book of Mormon. He said that he has to read it and find out from God Himself. I LOVE THAT! It's so true! If we want to know if the Book of Mormon is true, we have to pray about it with real intent, just like Moroni 10:3-5 says. 

Sorry there's not much of an update! I sure do miss y'all!

Sister Sorensen 

1. All the elders getting their feet done! 

2. Sis. Mecham and I with our lovely shoe tans 

3. PRE TRUNKS! 

4. Sis. Mecham and I at the salon 

5-6. There's a sketchy ice cream truck that goes through Pomona and we finally got something! 

Waffle Fiesta

Hey y'all!

It was a good week! We found some new people to teach, which is always exciting! I really love the people we get to see! <3

Steven is doing pretty alright. He's been through a lot, but he has great faith! We should be meeting with him tonight! 

We met this new woman named Melissa and she's so cool! She joined in on a lesson with another investigator, Lorraine. She's looking for a good church for her kids and we were like, COME TO OURS! AND SHE DID WITH HER TWINS! It was so awesome! We're going to see her tomorrow. 

We also met with Isabeau. She's such a sweetie! Hopefully we'll see her this week! 

We've done a lot of service for older members. We're weeding Bonnie Pless' yard. She's a returning less active who will give you the Pep talk of your entire life! She's amazing! 

We also helped Danise, a recent convert from Texas weed and we washed her windows. On Wednesday, our afternoon plans fell through, so we went over to Danise's house and helped her weed in our dresses! It was a funny sight for sure! 

COOL MIRACLE! We were unlocking our bikes and this guy is walking with his mom and he stops and says, "y'all are Mormon right? Where's your church?" we jumped on it right away and got his phone number! He wasn't able to come to church this week, but it was a super cool experience! 

For a zone activity, we had a Waffle Fiesta and a nurf gun war! It was so much fun! I cooked a ton of waffles and even brought some chicken to have chicken and waffles! I converted an elder from Utah to the southern ways! After a sugar high, we all shot each other with a bunch of nurf guns! 

I really love Heavenly Father! It's so awesome seeing all the beautiful creations, including His special children! He loves us SO MUCH! He created so many unique people who are so amazing I different ways. I'm so blessed to be able to meet His special spirits.

Have a great week! The Lord loves you and so do I! 

Sister Sorensen

Since we haven't gotten our Waffle Fiesta pics yet and we didn't take any the rest of the week, here's a B&W Pic of Sis. Mecham and I and some sweet peas that a member gave us! 

General Conference and Temples

Hey y'all!

 Sorry this is coming a day late because WE GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!! It was my last temple trip of my mission! Bitter-sweet moment...

This General Conference was AMAZING! LIKE Y'ALL! I felt the spirit so strongly throughout the whole conference. I know President Nelson is a Prophet of God and he is receiving revelation!

I think one of the sweetest moments was when he announced that a temple will be built in RUSSIA! I felt an overwhelming joy for the saints in Russia who may not have access to all the blessings that we have here in the US. This truly is a worldwide church and God truly loves ALL His children.

We saw some great miracles this past week! We were able to run into a new investigator that we haven't seen in a while when we were walking to another investigators house!

We finally saw the Wirtes! They're doing great pretty well. We're going to start reading the Book of Mormon with them more.

Steve is still going through some hard things, but he knows that he needs to put the Lord first and everything will work out.

Yesterday we had a lesson with a woman named Isabeau. She's so sweet and AMAZING! She's talked to missionaries before and really recognizes that we carry the spirit with us. Hopefully we can help her reach her spiritual goal of being baptized!

We also went on exchanges yesterday and that was another bitter-sweet moment. I was with Sis. Ricks ans I love her so much! We've been in the same zone for my whole mission. She goes home next month and this was our last exchange together! We were kinda sad, but I know I've made some amazing friends here on my mission!

The temple was so awesome! We went with half the mission and it was a beautiful experience to see us all in white, doing work for those who have passed on the other side. I know that we can find true peace and personal revelation in the temples of the Lord. I love to see the temple!

I'm so grateful for this past Easter season! I love the time we're given to reflect on the Savior and His sacrifice for all of us. I know he really did die for us so that we can return to the Father. I know He feels everything we do and literally carries us when we need it.

Love and miss y'all! The Lord loves you and so do I!

Sister Sorensen

 1-3. Sis. Mecham and I at the temple this morning!
 4. Cute Easter picture! Shout out to Sis. Mecham for doing my hair
 5-6. Weekly Planning can be hard sometimes... So we took a quick selfie break
7-8. Just being goofy while Sis. Mecham plays the piano!