Happy Holidays Everybody!
It's my favorite time of year! From Thanksgiving to New Year’s we just get to focus on family and joy and Christ! I haven't seen it yet, but rumor has it the Church put out the new Christmas video yesterday, so now it's all y'all's job to go share it literally everywhere. We definitely will be. The game plan for December is, besides our normal work, to go tract out our whole area (or as much as we can) and share the video in every home, testify of Christ, invite them to learn how they can follow Him more, and also invite them to our Christmas music night.
This week was different for sure. I didn't expect it to feel like a holiday, and it obviously didn't feel the same as home, but it still felt great. Not sure how to explain it. We had a crazy and fun Thanksgiving though! First, I made my mom's banana cream pie and pumpkin pie for one of our dinner appointments and also for our district, and they were not nearly as good. We had some issues with the crust melting off and turning to charcoal in the bottom of the oven while the pumpkin pie filling cascaded also to the bottom of the oven. Good times. Overall though, the pies were decent and everybody liked them, so all things considered, mission accomplished. Second, we got invited to Thanksgiving dinners at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Holy smokes. I'm still full. I really only enjoyed the first one... and even that was a struggle! Thankfully though, the next three took pity on us and were like no worries, we know y'all have had a bunch today, so we're not going to be offended if you don't eat a ton. We definitely took them up on that and just had a little bit at the next three. But still, 4 in a row was nuts. Hispanic thanksgiving was very similar to American thanksgiving. We had more rice and less mashed potatoes though. Also we had macaroni and cheese at all 4, so apparently that's a Hispanic tradition or a southern one. I think the best thing I had was either Sister Lazo's turkey (not sure how she did it but it was like heaven!) or Sister Gerrero's sweet potatoes. It was like mashed sweet potatoes with this amazing crumble stuff on top with pistachios. It was delicious! So yeah, it was definitely a different Thanksgiving, especially because after our last appointment we went back out and taught some lessons with some investigators and life went on as usual. It was a super fun day though, and we got to spend some time with our new district which was fun because we had three changes in the district this transfer. Also, speaking of changes, because of the hit and run, we had to trade cars with the Baton Rouge sisters so it could get fixed up there, so now we don't have our red car anymore. Sad day! But at least we still have a car, so we're still counting our blessings. Anyways, that was Thanksgiving part 1, 2, 3 and 4, and then we had round 5 and 6 on Friday because someone gave us a ton of leftovers. We just ate it at district meeting instead of going out to eat, and then we went to see one of our less active families right after. She asked if we wanted something little to eat (and you can't say no) so we're like yeah sure! Little?! It was Thanksgiving part 6. We thought we were going to die! Definitely pulled out some of our tricks like stuffing things in napkins or hiding things under the bones from the turkey. Needless to say, I think I'll be full until next Thanksgiving.
It's my favorite time of year! From Thanksgiving to New Year’s we just get to focus on family and joy and Christ! I haven't seen it yet, but rumor has it the Church put out the new Christmas video yesterday, so now it's all y'all's job to go share it literally everywhere. We definitely will be. The game plan for December is, besides our normal work, to go tract out our whole area (or as much as we can) and share the video in every home, testify of Christ, invite them to learn how they can follow Him more, and also invite them to our Christmas music night.
This week was different for sure. I didn't expect it to feel like a holiday, and it obviously didn't feel the same as home, but it still felt great. Not sure how to explain it. We had a crazy and fun Thanksgiving though! First, I made my mom's banana cream pie and pumpkin pie for one of our dinner appointments and also for our district, and they were not nearly as good. We had some issues with the crust melting off and turning to charcoal in the bottom of the oven while the pumpkin pie filling cascaded also to the bottom of the oven. Good times. Overall though, the pies were decent and everybody liked them, so all things considered, mission accomplished. Second, we got invited to Thanksgiving dinners at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Holy smokes. I'm still full. I really only enjoyed the first one... and even that was a struggle! Thankfully though, the next three took pity on us and were like no worries, we know y'all have had a bunch today, so we're not going to be offended if you don't eat a ton. We definitely took them up on that and just had a little bit at the next three. But still, 4 in a row was nuts. Hispanic thanksgiving was very similar to American thanksgiving. We had more rice and less mashed potatoes though. Also we had macaroni and cheese at all 4, so apparently that's a Hispanic tradition or a southern one. I think the best thing I had was either Sister Lazo's turkey (not sure how she did it but it was like heaven!) or Sister Gerrero's sweet potatoes. It was like mashed sweet potatoes with this amazing crumble stuff on top with pistachios. It was delicious! So yeah, it was definitely a different Thanksgiving, especially because after our last appointment we went back out and taught some lessons with some investigators and life went on as usual. It was a super fun day though, and we got to spend some time with our new district which was fun because we had three changes in the district this transfer. Also, speaking of changes, because of the hit and run, we had to trade cars with the Baton Rouge sisters so it could get fixed up there, so now we don't have our red car anymore. Sad day! But at least we still have a car, so we're still counting our blessings. Anyways, that was Thanksgiving part 1, 2, 3 and 4, and then we had round 5 and 6 on Friday because someone gave us a ton of leftovers. We just ate it at district meeting instead of going out to eat, and then we went to see one of our less active families right after. She asked if we wanted something little to eat (and you can't say no) so we're like yeah sure! Little?! It was Thanksgiving part 6. We thought we were going to die! Definitely pulled out some of our tricks like stuffing things in napkins or hiding things under the bones from the turkey. Needless to say, I think I'll be full until next Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving though, things slowed way down, because both Sister Johnson and I got super sick with bad colds. Mine only lasted for a day, but Sister Johnson is still pretty sick. We came home early on Friday, had to stay in all day Saturday, and a good part of yesterday (Sunday). She's feeling better today finally, but still not great. I just feel so bad for her. Being sick is never fun, but especially not fun on the mission because you just feel guilty for not being able to be out working. I still think though that sometimes Heavenly Father lets us get sick so that we'll take a break to breathe for 5 seconds before we go out again. It was kind of nice to be able to get things done around the apartment that needed to be done, but I'm definitely praying that she'll get better soon because I've already seen all our movies, organized literally everything, gone through and planned a ton of recipes, and completed a 550 piece puzzle we randomly had in our apartment. So fun.
This week we have been focusing on helping our new investigators from last transfer to progress. Last transfer our goal was to find a bunch of new investigators, and we definitely did, so this transfer is going to be all about getting them to progress. This week has been heart break after heart break with so many people not reading the Book of Mormon. If only they knew the power and knowledge and light they were holding in their hands! I've decided to be super dedicated in my reading of the Book of Mormon during personal study, so that I can have more power behind my testimony, so that the Holy Ghost can work through me to help these sweet people feel the importance of the Book of Mormon. Also, we're trying to read with them only pieces of chapters, and then committing them to finish the chapter with specific things to look for. We hope that that way they don't just get comfy with us doing their reading with them. Stay tuned to see if that works out this week! I'm reallllyyyyy praying and hoping and working for some progression because it makes me so sad every week to see the first 4 key indicators as zeros because no one is getting baptized, no one is accepting baptismal dates (which is not for a lack of effort because we give everyone a date), and no one is coming to church despite everything we can do. I'm trying to not let it get me down because truly some things are just out of our control and we have to keep everything in perspective that it's all on the Lord's time. I definitely feel the weight of the zeros on my head and I will do anything I can possibly do to get those numbers to say anything but zero. I know it's going to happen. :) Tengo fe! :)
This week we have been focusing on helping our new investigators from last transfer to progress. Last transfer our goal was to find a bunch of new investigators, and we definitely did, so this transfer is going to be all about getting them to progress. This week has been heart break after heart break with so many people not reading the Book of Mormon. If only they knew the power and knowledge and light they were holding in their hands! I've decided to be super dedicated in my reading of the Book of Mormon during personal study, so that I can have more power behind my testimony, so that the Holy Ghost can work through me to help these sweet people feel the importance of the Book of Mormon. Also, we're trying to read with them only pieces of chapters, and then committing them to finish the chapter with specific things to look for. We hope that that way they don't just get comfy with us doing their reading with them. Stay tuned to see if that works out this week! I'm reallllyyyyy praying and hoping and working for some progression because it makes me so sad every week to see the first 4 key indicators as zeros because no one is getting baptized, no one is accepting baptismal dates (which is not for a lack of effort because we give everyone a date), and no one is coming to church despite everything we can do. I'm trying to not let it get me down because truly some things are just out of our control and we have to keep everything in perspective that it's all on the Lord's time. I definitely feel the weight of the zeros on my head and I will do anything I can possibly do to get those numbers to say anything but zero. I know it's going to happen. :) Tengo fe! :)
I think that's about it this week. Inevitably, as soon as I log off email, I always think of some funny story or quote or something that I should have told... but I think I got all the good stuff in there this week. I love you all so much! Seriously, go share the Christmas video everywhere possible!
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen
Con amor,
Hermana Sorensen