Hi Everyone!
Well this week was amazing! Going to the temple, zone training meeting, shaking President Nelson's and Elder Ballard's hands, hugging Sister Marriott, and a whole lot of service make for a pretty solid week.
In ZTM we talked about a lot of the normal stuff like improving our teaching skills, and things like that. But what struck me was the go-home testimonies. It's a tradition in our mission that the missionaries going home that transfer bear their testimonies in their last ZTM. They're always really good, but for some reason they really hit home this time. All of the elders bawled, it was so sad. One of them said that he kept getting annoyed with all the missionaries who said they wanted to be in his place, because he would much rather be in theirs and still have months of time left. He said that his biggest piece of advice would be to "make it hard to leave this place." Shoot, I already have a hard time when I get transferred because I feel like my heart is being torn in two. I can't even imagine how it's going to be to leave the mission. I think, now that I'm in my last few transfers, it's starting to hit me how much I love my mission and how much I don't want to leave. I also got to hear Sister Whitney's and Sister Burns' go home testimonies because Sister Porzline called me and put me on speaker phone, so that I could hear them even though I'm not in their zone anymore. It's the beginning of the end of the Hermanas, and it's so sad. We've had a unique mission in that we (the 8 Spanish sisters in the mission) all came in together, and we all go home together, so we've served our whole missions with each other. Time goes by way too quickly.
On Saturday, we had the opportunity to go to the temple, which I definitely needed after the craziness that has been going on the past little while. I love being able to leave all my worries at the door and just focus on the Spirit and what the Lord wants to teach me that day as we attend the temple.
Well this week was amazing! Going to the temple, zone training meeting, shaking President Nelson's and Elder Ballard's hands, hugging Sister Marriott, and a whole lot of service make for a pretty solid week.
In ZTM we talked about a lot of the normal stuff like improving our teaching skills, and things like that. But what struck me was the go-home testimonies. It's a tradition in our mission that the missionaries going home that transfer bear their testimonies in their last ZTM. They're always really good, but for some reason they really hit home this time. All of the elders bawled, it was so sad. One of them said that he kept getting annoyed with all the missionaries who said they wanted to be in his place, because he would much rather be in theirs and still have months of time left. He said that his biggest piece of advice would be to "make it hard to leave this place." Shoot, I already have a hard time when I get transferred because I feel like my heart is being torn in two. I can't even imagine how it's going to be to leave the mission. I think, now that I'm in my last few transfers, it's starting to hit me how much I love my mission and how much I don't want to leave. I also got to hear Sister Whitney's and Sister Burns' go home testimonies because Sister Porzline called me and put me on speaker phone, so that I could hear them even though I'm not in their zone anymore. It's the beginning of the end of the Hermanas, and it's so sad. We've had a unique mission in that we (the 8 Spanish sisters in the mission) all came in together, and we all go home together, so we've served our whole missions with each other. Time goes by way too quickly.
On Saturday, we had the opportunity to go to the temple, which I definitely needed after the craziness that has been going on the past little while. I love being able to leave all my worries at the door and just focus on the Spirit and what the Lord wants to teach me that day as we attend the temple.
Then that night, President Nelson, Elder Ballard, Elder Maynes, Elder Davies, and Sister Marriott came and did a fireside, and it was so amazing. They didn't say anything earth shattering, and it was all things we had heard before, but the Spirit that was there was so tangible, and everyone just felt at peace. They just talked about how much they love us and are praying for us, and that God is very much aware of what everyone is going through right now. Their messages were so hopeful and peaceful, and definitely what everyone needed to hear. On Sunday, they had 3 Sacrament meetings in each of 4 different buildings. We went to all 3 in the Baton Rouge stake center, so we got to hear President Nelson and Sister Marriott speak 3 more times! Again, it was just so uplifting. It was also breathtaking to see a sea of yellow in the congregation. There were so many people from neighboring states, it was incredible! If there's one thing I've gotten out of all this disaster business, it's that there really is still good in the world. The love here in this city right now is unreal. And it's not just from all the Mormons. Everyone is helping everyone else out. I haven't met someone so far that hasn't either been affected by the flood, or is helping someone who was affected by the flood. I'm sure Heavenly Father knows the full reason for this trial, but I think a huge reason is that there is an outpouring of love and brotherly kindness throughout this whole area. Everyone has been a little bit kinder, a little bit more willing to listen. It's wonderful! :)
As for our part of the clean-up, we keep knocking down walls and tearing out floors. Not going to lie, it is quite the stress reliever to kick in some dry wall, or chuck some floor boards into the piles that line the streets! I highly recommend it! :) Luckily, we still have a ton of investigators and less active families to work with, so we stay plenty busy. This week FLEW by because we have so much work to do, and I know this next week will be no different. We already have most of the week planned, which means it will feel like 2 seconds until I'm writing all y'all again. Time is the weirdest thing on a mission.
I love you all so much! Thank you for all the prayers for Baton Rouge. Things are going great and the morale here is high, but we're not finished yet so keep the prayers coming! Have the best week ever!!
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen