Mere Kirihimete!

Kia ora!!!

     It was so good to hear everybody on the phone today.  Everybody sounded great.  I'm glad that everything is going well, and that you're all enjoying the Christmas season.  Its been great here too!  We've had heaps of feeds and so the scale says I'm healthy.  For Christmas Brunch we went to the Holtz family's home.  They fed us all with french toast, yoghurt/granola, sausages, bacon, and cresaunts (its french, I don't know how to spell it).  For drinks they had some nice citrus fizzy (pop), and sparkling grape juice, red and white.  Then for dinner we went to stake President Poutu's for lunch/dinner.  If I wasn't full enough already they started to eat about half an hour after I got there.  They had a nice potato/kumera salad of some kind, Ham, and a pork roast with pineapple, and more sparkling grape juice.  So that put me at the top, full.  So they decided to bring out a huge cake (the short side as long as from my elbow to my finger-tip) maple/chestnut and caramel ice cream, and a second chocolate cake.  I tried to say no.  But they said "its Christmas, its a day you can eat as much junk as you want".  So I ate some.  I barely survived.  After some talking they wanted to do a nativity story/narration.  So President cut out parts and passed them around.  It was really good with both narration and scriptures from the Bible and Book of Mormon.  Then we talked more and that was our Christmas day!  

     I hope everybody's Christmas was as good as mine, and were able to remember the true meaning of Christmas!  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ our Savior.  He truly did come, and this is such a wonderful season to celebrate it.  Even thought for me its a bit warmer than I'm used to, the meaning is the same, and even amplified for me on a mission.  As we went to church and also had the nativity, I felt the spirit very strongly, testifying that it is true.  It brought me love for my Savior, and a renewed desire to share that love with all those around me.  I love you all, I'm praying for you and appreciate your prayers for me.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

 Arohanui!

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Dec 19th, 2011

Kia ora!!

     A wet greetings from Kiwi-country.  It has sure felt nice cooling off with all the rain we've had.  Last week it rained from Sunday pretty much straight through till Thursday, Friday was unbearably humid and hot, Saturday was tolerable then rain yesterday and today.  So I've had some pretty wet days.  Thank you Mum and Dad for the rain jackets.  I'm pretty sure they've kept me from getting sick from biking in the rain.  So thats been a bit exciting.

     On Saturday we had the ward Christmas party at the a beach.  Helen and Ryan came and really enjoyed it and connected well with the ward.  We went to a beach (I forgot the name) where nobody goes.  So it was nice and pristine and just the ward.  We played a mean game of touch, walked on the beach looking for shells, and had a big kai (feed).  I'll send some photos.  I also built a driftwood boat and had Ryan take it out on his surf board to launch it.  I told him it was a tradition that my dad always did, and he felt honored to take it out to launch it.  Pretty fun.

     This last week started off looking really good.  By mid-week we had some really good lessons, a couple new investigators, and three families committed to come to church, which is what we're really trying to focus on.  Then at the end things just fell apart.  Nobody came to church.  I'm trying to figure out what went wrong so that we can fix it and prevent it from happening again.  

     With Helen and Ryan he only thing that is holding them back, that we know of, is simply teaching them.  They love church, they have heaps of fellowship, and so the only thing thats keeping us from teaching them is the mum's medical condition.  Still don't know what it is, or what it does, but she has a hard time timing how she'll feel, Ryan's schedule and the fellowships schedule.  But I know that if its supposed to happen, which I sincerely believe it is, then it WILL happen.  

     We had our Christmas conference on Tuesday with Elder Watson of the first quorum of the seventy.  He was amazing.  He talked all about God our Heavenly Father and where He fits into everything, so that we can teach it to investigators simply.  He is our Father, separate from Christ, he knows what we're going through, this is His gospel, and Christ always points to Him.  It was really amazing and he told of a couple of stories from serving as a secretary to 7 Presidents of the church, starting with President Kimball.  

     I'm not sure if I mentioned about Adam Tahere from when I was in Tokoroa, but I found out his dad and brother live in Whangarei 2nd ward.  They're a pretty Maori hard family, and when we saw them at church the dad did a Hongi with us.  Thats the Maori greeting  where you shake hands then touch foreheads and noses together.  I think that was my first real Hongi (because everybody says that if a drunk person does it, it doesn't count).  

     So we had a pretty fun week last week.  And Christmas is NEXT WEEK!!  I'm looking forward to calling home and hearing everybody!  Hopefully I'll call on our Monday morning about 10 am here and that should hopefully be about 2 pm there.  Hopefully I'll also be able to call and set up a time like last call.  Well I love you all heaps, and I keep you in my prayers!

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

 We caught a cool looking bird... 

 and brought it in the flat to play with.

 Beach

December 12, 2011

Kia ora!!

     Its been a wet week here in Kiwi-country.  A really nice break from the hot, unforgiving sun through the ozone hole.  But you know Murphy's timing.  It rains to get humid, then when we decide to ride to portland again the sun comes blazing and makes it almost unbearable.  I think Murphy and Satan must be cousins, or brothers, or something.  But its still fun and I like doing it.  Speaking of rain we had to bike to church this week in the rain.  

      Helen and Ryan came to church again this week and loved it again.  Because of her condition she hasn't felt up to lessons at her house, and can't make it to her fellowships house.  But thank goodness they're both just as keen as when they walked into church!  We asked her if we could help out around her yard and she agreed, so we talked to the young men's president and got the young men on board to do a service project.  Perfect timing too, because December is their big service month.  So things are great with them.  

     We also found a keen family that was taught by Elder Spence a while ago.  Its a family of 6, 3 are baptismal age and the mum is a less active since youth.  They already agreed to have lessons every week on Thursday at least, and other days if they can.  So things are looking good for both families!

     Last Tuesday they decided to cancel district meeting for a specialized training from President Lekias.  It was really good, all about planning.  Then straight after President and the AP's all decided to do a trade off with the Whangarei Elders.  And guess who was fortunate enough to get to go with President, yep, me and Elder Kitara.  It went pretty good.  We got him to talk to somebody on the street, give a blessing to a non member, and have a walk in lesson with a new investigator.  The best part was that we didn't have to bike, but got to ride in his car.  Its pretty flash (fancy) with a back up camera and everything.  

     And then tomorrow is our Christmas conference.  I can't remember the name of our key speaker, but he's from the seventy I think, and he's been a secretary to a few prophets.  I think it starts with a W.  Anyways, I heard him once at a come and see fireside in Auckland for investigators, and it was way good!  So I'm pretty excited for tomorrow.

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

 Our district minus Elder Utai

Portland Warf

 Portland countryside

Monday, DECEMBER 5th, 2011

Kia ora!!!

     This last week was a busy week with a lot happening.  We went out to Portland a couple of times this week to so how things are out there.  Thats where our stake president lives.  President Pautu (Po-2).  Found a less active family and a former investigator, so that made the trip worth it.  Its a pretty fun bike ride, about 30 min either way, give or take.  We found out that tomorrow President Lekias is going to come up again for a specialized training tomorrow for District meeting, so I'm looking forward for that.  And we also had the big Christmas in the Valley concert on the field right behind our flat.  So we went and talked to heaps of people.  Saw some less actives, investigators, members, drunks, smokers, we saw the police chase somebody who I think was smoking weed or something, and Santa came in a big fire engine and totally ruined this lady's song.  I thought it was hilarious, especially because she tried to play along singing an improv song.  Crack up haha!  

     So that was all pretty fun.  But to even out all the fun I've been having some stress with my companion not respecting me or my seniority.  I'm not trying to be the senior companion who is bossy and what I say goes, but my patience is getting very thin when I say lets go this way, because I feel good about it, but he goes that way because he wants to.  But enough about that.  Sadly Helen had a "relapse" with one of her conditions this past week, so they didn't make it to church.  But we found out where she lives and went by to visit.  She's still just as keen!  She has a couple of pen pals in Utah I think and they're both members (which she doesn't believe is a coincidence) and she started asking them about baptism.  We didn't have time to teach about it on the first lesson, but the way she said that they referred her question back to us and the way she talked about it sounded like she wanted to!  She did say she was very scared of the water, but that she wanted to talk about it.  Pretty cool huh!  Then we also found a former investigator who was so close to baptism and then some things happened, but he still has a testimony and still wants to get baptized.  So that makes me pretty happy.  

     Christmas is coming up pretty fast.  I'm looking forward to it!  Lots of kai (food), parties, and a call home!!  Love you all and praying for you all.  I appreciate your prayers for me!!

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Monday, Nov. 28th, 2011

Kia ora!!

     This week was a good week.  Only one day with a bit of rain, and the rest as sunny and hot as last year was.  The sun here is so intense!  You can feel a noticable difference between shade and sun, like if you're in the shade and something moves and you're then in the sun, its so hot.  I have a feeling its going to get worse too.  I'm a bit short on time today so I thought I'd share the biggest experience of the week.  

     We had an experience that really softened my heart this week, a true miracle.  I had been praying to get some people to church on Sunday.  On Saturday night the prospects were still zero.  So when Elder Tucker, our district leader, made his daily calls I asked him to pray for us as well.  Today as I looked at my email from my mum, I noticed that she said she's been praying for us to have success and investigators to church.  So we went to sacrament meeting, and sadly there was no investigators.  But after sacrament meeting ended Sister Popham came up to us and told us there was a lady there to investigate our church, and that we should go talk to her.  We introduced ourselves and asked her what brought her to our church.  She said that she has only been a Christian for about a year, loves the Lord, and feels His love and really enjoys it.  But she was getting frustrated with  other churches that she's been going to having the attitude of "do what I say, not what I do," and that she was asked a number of times to stop asking questions.  We explained that what our purpose as missionaries is full time teachers and that we'd love to sit down and answer her questions and teach about what we believe.  She was grateful and accepted the invitation.  So during Sunday school we taught her the restoration of the gospel, and she was so happy about it.  In fact during one point in the discussion she said to her 12 year old son, "I think we're going to feel at home here."  Her name is Helen and her son's name is Ryan.  Apparently he's quite the committed christian as well.  His mum said that he gets in fights at school for standing up for what he believes in, and he's not afraid to ask questions.  Sadly the next available time to meet with her is going to be next Sunday, but they'll definitely be there.  A true undiluted miracle!  God has not ceased to work miracles!

     I love you all and appreciate all you do for me and your prayers, they truly work!  Sometimes you just need to keep waiting and praying.  

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

21/10/2011

Kia ora!!

     Wow, I realized I forgot to mention that last week was transfers.  It came so fast that I didn't realize it till Tuesday.  Elder Kitara and I are both staying for another transfer.  So that makes 2 companions for 2 transfers, and all the rest just one each.  And so we get to start again at week 1.    I forgot that Thanksgiving is coming up this week too.  And no, they don't celebrate it here at all.  Most people ask, what's that?  I usually say its an excuse to get off work, meet with family, and eat.  Most people here like that idea.  So we don't have any plans for thanksgiving.  Well that day falls on a day that the ward members feed us, and the family that signed up, Elder Kitara says they usually put on big feeds for the missionaries.  So I might get something haha.  

     And that means Christmas is just a month away.  I'm sure looking forward to the phone call home.  It'll be good to hear you guys again.  Christmas is on a Sunday, and so they're going to do a combined 2 ward, 1 hour Sacrament meeting.  Tomorrow is a Zone Conference, so I'm not sure if the mission is going to do a Christmas thing.  I sure hope its like last year.  It was pretty fun.  We had a variety show, islanders singing, a devotional and a big feed.  I've come to realize that something one missionary told me in the MTC is true.  He said "if you go hungry in NZ its your own fault."  The members feed us pretty good everywhere we go.  This is the best mission in the world.  

     Yesterday the speakers didn't show up for sacrament, and so over the pulpit the 1st counselor asked both of us to speak about service for 5-10 minutes each.  Its a good thing I've already started preparing my talk for next week, and so I used a bit about charity and selflessness from that talk.  So hopefully this ward doesn't get sick of me talking.  

    Other than that, not much is happening here in Kiwi-country.  Thanks for your prayers and I keep you in mine.  Love you all!!

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Service Project- Before

Service Project- After

I found a lizard...

 ...TO EAT!!!

Kiwi mail 14/11/2011

Kia ora kotau katoa! (hello everyone)

     I can't believe yet another week has gone by.  Even with all the work and sweat and challenges time is still moving so fast.  Its getting a lot more humid up here in Whangarei because its been raining in the night and morning, and then sunny during the day.  Sure makes it hot and sticky sometimes.  But thats why I'm glad that they make spray deoderant (thanks for the idea Jake).  Its a miracle in a can.  I swear the hills change sizes depending on the temperature too. 

     Its been another trying week with investigators.  None area really progressing, and none came to church.  I've been thinking about something one of my past ward mission leaders said to me.  "Consistency is the key.  Once people get into the routine it will be a success."  That was in relation to a weekly trade off with the missionaries and for any ward member who wanted to do some visiting.  It started off a bit rocky at first, but he was right and consistency was the key, and it was a success.  
     I think I'm going to keep this in mind for the rest of my mission, and apply it to getting investigators to sacrament.  For some reason it has never been a huge push for any of my companions in the past, but I'm going to put a much bigger emphasis on it from now on.  
     I've also had a few thoughts on some statements President Kimball made about repentance.  He said trying isn't enough.  If we really could have done something, even if it was hard, and we didn't, we need to repent.  Its hard to explain the encouragement I got from it without writing everything I wrote in my study journal, but I have a new drive in mind that if I can remember and keep it in mind, it will give me the motivation and strength to push to my limits and to see miracles as God takes me farther.  
     Elder Kitara is doing better.  He's working harder now that I'm putting more responsibilities on him.  I'm not sure if he's noticed it consciously, but the result I've seen is that he is working harder.  We've had a couple instances of being separated while biking this week, and luckily we met back at the flat and nothing happened.  He doesn't seem to think its a big deal at all, but I'm trying to teach him that this is one of the bigger rules never to break.  We're still working, and I'm working with him.  I'm really grateful for the improvements he's making.  I just hope they stick with him.  Trials and experience are seldom easy, but I'm becoming more grateful for them (which is part of the new mindset I have).

     I still love New Zealand and all beauty, both of the scenic and personic.  I'm enjoying every minute of it.  I'm still working hard.  Thank you all for your prayers, and keep praying for me and all the missionaries.  I need all the miracle 'points' I can get.   

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen