Dear Family and Friends,
Fire ants are of the devil. Luckily I didn't get fully attacked like some missionaries do, but two bites were enough to know a) why people are deathly afraid of them and b) why they're named fire ants. Ugh.
Anyways, everything's great down in New Orleans! The weather actually feels like fall here (meaning 75 degrees). This week feels like a blur because we've had so much to do. We also had zone conference on Friday which took up a good part of our day. It's always great to see other missionaries, especially other sister missionaries! My companion and I are the only sister missionaries, English or Spanish, in New Orleans at all. There are some across from us in West Bank and in Chalmette, but that's a good hour, hour and a half away. So yeah, it's just us! It's always good to see President Hansen and his sweet wife. I love them so much!
Fire ants are of the devil. Luckily I didn't get fully attacked like some missionaries do, but two bites were enough to know a) why people are deathly afraid of them and b) why they're named fire ants. Ugh.
Anyways, everything's great down in New Orleans! The weather actually feels like fall here (meaning 75 degrees). This week feels like a blur because we've had so much to do. We also had zone conference on Friday which took up a good part of our day. It's always great to see other missionaries, especially other sister missionaries! My companion and I are the only sister missionaries, English or Spanish, in New Orleans at all. There are some across from us in West Bank and in Chalmette, but that's a good hour, hour and a half away. So yeah, it's just us! It's always good to see President Hansen and his sweet wife. I love them so much!
Nothing really new happened this week in terms of the work. We still have a ton of people to see and places to go. Unfortunately, we're still not seeing the progress we would like to. For example, Daisy, the first investigator I taught and who had a baptismal date, totally dropped us this week. We've been trying 2-3 times a day to find her because we haven't seen her at all since we gave her a baptismal date. On Tuesday night we tried because we saw the cars were there and the lights were on, so we knocked and nothing happened except for the house got really quiet. We waited because we really did hear people talking, so then we knocked again and they turned all the lights off in the house. That was kind of a bummer because up until that point we just thought she was crazy busy, not that she actually didn't want to see us. So we go back a couple days later and holy miracle she's actually there! But right when we saw her we knew something was off because she's normally SO excited to see us and she just looked kind of annoyed. Then she hits us with the classic "Sorry I've just been busy. I'll call you when I want to meet with you again." So we tried to get a return appointment and we got a "No don't worry, I'm doing fine. I'll call you when I can find the time again." So yeah that happened. We did find an amazing family this week though and we're excited to see where that goes! It's actually a mom and a dad who are married and actually love each other very much and work together to raise their kids. Their kids are great and neither of the parents work on Sundays! So it has to go somewhere, right?!
However, the same as the last two weeks, our investigator pool is actually balanced out because on the one hand we have a ton of non-progressing investigators, but on the other hand, we have Juan Pablo, the wildfire convert! He has literally been to every church function from church, to a baptism, to a ward activity, to random soccer nights with the elders' quorum. He absolutely loves the church and has now, as of Saturday, had every single one of the lessons! Also, he's so so so excited to get baptized!!! The baptism for sure now is on October 10 and we're working hard with the ward to make sure it goes well!! We seriously feel like we have played zero role in his conversion, except to be there to show him where the church is and help with paperwork. I can't even believe how prepared he is!
However, the same as the last two weeks, our investigator pool is actually balanced out because on the one hand we have a ton of non-progressing investigators, but on the other hand, we have Juan Pablo, the wildfire convert! He has literally been to every church function from church, to a baptism, to a ward activity, to random soccer nights with the elders' quorum. He absolutely loves the church and has now, as of Saturday, had every single one of the lessons! Also, he's so so so excited to get baptized!!! The baptism for sure now is on October 10 and we're working hard with the ward to make sure it goes well!! We seriously feel like we have played zero role in his conversion, except to be there to show him where the church is and help with paperwork. I can't even believe how prepared he is!
Funny missionary moment of the week-- Okay this actually isn't that funny, and it's not even our story, but this week we found out that the Elders in our area started a new thing where they put a star on the top of the page in their planner if they had a good day, meaning they actually exercised, wrote in their journals, etc. They were so proud of themselves because they each had three stars in a row and they were so excited to tell the district. It just goes to show how many creative ways there are to stay positive and stay on track on a mission! Even if we have to revert back to a kindergarten rewards system! Sister Whitney and I are going to do the same thing but we have Frozen and Spider Man stickers! :)
I love you all so much! Challenge for the week-- go read Alma 36! It's one of my very favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, and we share it all the time with investigators and less actives! Thank you all for everything you do! Hasta luego!
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen
Here's some Q and A's from Lindsey this week:
Teaching: I don't know if you're asking if we have a lot of lessons, or if I personally get to teach in lessons. The answer is yes to both! Like I said, we teach a ton every day, with investigators and less actives alike. My Spanish was good from the MTC so I've never had to just listen in lessons. I teach just as much as Sister Whitney which is great.
Splits: We have splits once a transfer and it's with the sister training leaders, and they're english speaking. We're actually going on splits tomorrow afternoon-Wednesday night! I think I'm staying in Kenner again so I'll be on my own with the whole Spanish thing. I feel pretty fluent so I'm not worried.
Best food: Oh man. Lots of things. I honestly love just red beans and rice (usually also has sausage in it). It's a Louisiana thing, and it's just great! I think though that the best thing I have eaten is either empanadas from Hermana Martinez or tamales from Hermana Macias. Baleadas are also super good! I've also had some really good jambalaya and a lot of other amazing Latin food!
Worst food: I just still do not like cole slaw, so any time we get that I struggle. I still eat it all though because it's a rule that you have to. Latinos will get legitimately offended if you do not finish every last thing, which is a struggle sometimes. This is why we don't ever take lunch or dinner breaks. It means that some days we don't really eat anything at all, but some days we get fed way more than we can handle.
Cockroaches: Yes, cockroaches are a huge problem here. Not in our apartment because we have a nice apartment and we take care of it, but I have seen two huge ones in our apartment. Other missionaries have huge infestations sometimes though, so I'll take just seeing two in the two months I've been here!
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen
Here's some Q and A's from Lindsey this week:
Teaching: I don't know if you're asking if we have a lot of lessons, or if I personally get to teach in lessons. The answer is yes to both! Like I said, we teach a ton every day, with investigators and less actives alike. My Spanish was good from the MTC so I've never had to just listen in lessons. I teach just as much as Sister Whitney which is great.
Splits: We have splits once a transfer and it's with the sister training leaders, and they're english speaking. We're actually going on splits tomorrow afternoon-Wednesday night! I think I'm staying in Kenner again so I'll be on my own with the whole Spanish thing. I feel pretty fluent so I'm not worried.
Best food: Oh man. Lots of things. I honestly love just red beans and rice (usually also has sausage in it). It's a Louisiana thing, and it's just great! I think though that the best thing I have eaten is either empanadas from Hermana Martinez or tamales from Hermana Macias. Baleadas are also super good! I've also had some really good jambalaya and a lot of other amazing Latin food!
Worst food: I just still do not like cole slaw, so any time we get that I struggle. I still eat it all though because it's a rule that you have to. Latinos will get legitimately offended if you do not finish every last thing, which is a struggle sometimes. This is why we don't ever take lunch or dinner breaks. It means that some days we don't really eat anything at all, but some days we get fed way more than we can handle.
Cockroaches: Yes, cockroaches are a huge problem here. Not in our apartment because we have a nice apartment and we take care of it, but I have seen two huge ones in our apartment. Other missionaries have huge infestations sometimes though, so I'll take just seeing two in the two months I've been here!