January 24,2011

Kia Ora!

Its been a wet week here in kiwi-land. Its rained for about 3 days now. It really feels nice to get out of the hot sun for a while. Although it is kind of annoying to get as wet as we do. Mum, your right, I love the rain until I get caught in it ;). Nah, I still love it. Everybody here calls the rain "rubbish weather." But its rained so much that the river is really high. If it rains as hard and long as it did yesterday, then it might run onto the road like it has in the past. I took a picture on the way over here, but its already gone down a bit already. (see pic.)

Last Monday we went on a pretty good bush walk. Its just out of town about 2 k's. I got some pretty cool pictures. It felt just like it looks walking through a tropical jungle. It was way cool. Really hot, but fun. We went with some members, and they all went for a swim in the river, but of course I couldn't join them. Instead I just stood under a waterfall. My companion and I ran up a big as hill to see if we could see into the next valley. By the time we got down I was dripping from sweat. It gets so humid here. Still not used to being so wet from sweat.

Yesterday my companion Elder Luckhardt and I gave a fireside to get the member work going more here in the branch. We've knocked on pretty much every house except maybe a few random houses. So this week we're starting round two for tracting. We don't have very many K's allocated to us this transfer, but the zone leaders said that they're going to give us some more next transfer. I don't know if thats a little bit of a hint that we're going to be staying for next transfer. They're on Thursday this week, so I don't know whats going to happen until probably Wednesday.

Oh yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!!!! I hope its a good one! Treat yourself to something nice, on me ;). Ofa la Hiatu, Love you all so much! Thanks for all you do for me in supporting me!

Until next week...
Ka Kite!
Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen

Elder Bednar in NZ

Jan 17,2011

Kia Ora!

Its been another hot week here in Kiwi-land. Not much has really changed here either. I'm still in beautiful country, but the people that come with it are pretty complacent. The work here in Te Kuiti is pretty slow. We only have 2 people actually progressing. We started teaching the branch mission leader's wife and she's set for baptism on the 29th of January. Kasey (branch mission leader) was less active and his wife had been through a few sets of missionaries. Kasey has fully come back to church and loves is, and his wife has really clicked with us. And then we met a guy named Owen, and his partner Tiaroha. He had made a resolution after his nan (grandma) died to really change his life and really look into religion. He really likes what we teach and is accepting it pretty readily.
Tracting is getting really hard here. Its frustrating when so many people openly reject God like they do here. I can understand when they have a different religion, but a lot of people here openly/bluntly reject God in their lives. And the hard part is we don't have many investigators to see, and we're running out of ideas to do other than tract. But the work is moving forward regardless.
We had interviews with President last Wednesday. It was pretty good. I love talking one on one with President Porter. I'm going to miss him when he leaves in July. Today we were going to go to Mt. Ruapehu (Mt. Doom) but there's bad weather down there, so we'll go on a bush walk today, and hopefully Mt. Ruapehu next week. A week from Thursday is transfers again. We'll see what happens, and I have no predictions.

Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen

      Temple in sunset

Total Rejection

Interviews Temple View District

Jan 10, 2011

Kia Ora!! and Happy New Year!!

Can you believe its 2011 already? I come home in 2012. I know that's a trunkie thought, but I don't think there's a missionary here that doesn't think of home every day. Sorry I didn't get to email you last week, New Years holiday carried over to monday, and all the shops were closed. It sounded like Sister Porter sent out an email explaining it a little bit. Things here are starting to pick back up from holiday brake, so we're able to see more people. We have two people set for baptism down in Taumarunui, but we can't see them very often because we don't have very many Kilometers given to us. Thomas (11 yrs old) is about as golden as they come. He has fellowship that worked with him until he was ready for the missionary lessons. His parents are both members. His dad is active, and his mum was active until a couple of years ago. He keeps every commitment we leave him, and he even called us one night and told us that we forgot to leave him something to read. They other investigator's name is Hazel Rerekura (35). She was almost baptized back in 2003, but she said she won't let anything stand in her way this time.

New years was pretty lame, well from a missionary's perspective. There were some guys drinking outside our flat until like 4am. There were a few fireworks, and a drunk guy singing happy birthday to 2011 really loud. Sounds like you had a fun New Years with the blessing and Xcountry skiing and things. I didn't realize it, but I'm a cold weather kind of person. I love the cold. Last Friday was really hot!! 85 degrees F. and 70% Humidity. And we went out tracting all day! but that night I popped the monster zit that you can see in pic #3, and it was just like that volcano that was on my chin a long time ago. Super disgusting.

Time's up, Love you all! You're in my prayers!

I'm in Kiwi-land

 cooking butter chicken curry in my apron

 trackting (I have a monster zit on my cheek)

Ka Kite!
Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen

January 3rd Happy Birthday Mum!

Dec. 27,2010

Kia Ora!

     Marry Chrismas (a couple of days ago)!!! And happy new year in a few days!! Next week when I email you I'll have been on my mission for 4 months! Crazy eh? That's 1/6 done with my mission already. Well I've been transferred to Te Kuiti/Taumarunui. These two towns are about an hour apart from each other. Makes for a long drive, but it is very beautiful country, what NZ is really all about. The people in these towns are mosly Kiwi or Mouri. We're the first missionaries based in Te Kuiti in about 3 years. I think President has seen the major work that's happened in this branch and wants us to see how well the progress continues. We've found a few potential investigators already, and we have a baptism set for Feb. and an 11 yr. old who wants to be baptized. Sounds like the work here is going to be pretty good. Even if we are way out in the wop-wops (boondocks/country). We're probably about an hour away from anything.
     Christmas here was not the same. Sure it was filled with lots of food, but it was pretty hot. And who does bbq's for Christmas?...Kiwi's, thats who. It just doesn't hold the same effect without the snow and the Christmas carols. Its weird having the seasons switched around. December and January should be cold! Thats something I miss as well. I didn't think I'd miss the cold near as much as I do. I like being outside and playing sports and stuff, but I love the cold too. Anyways, for Christmas we had 3 massive feeds, and 3 desserts. I think I probably gained 4 or 5 pounds on Christmas day alone. I need some serious workout routine to get this weight off. If sleep wasn't so precious then I think I'd get up early and excersize more.
     Well not much has changed since I called you last. And I have to go now.
Love you all and I'll talk to you next week. I appreciate your prayers.

Ka Kite!
Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen

December 21, 2010

Kia Ora!

I am so sorry I haven't been able to email for the last two weeks. Things have been really crazy in my missionary life. We had another mission conference, I found out I'm opening a new area (and am here now) and things have been a bit stressful, but life is good now. I've been transferred to Te Kuiti. I'll be covering two branches, Te Kuiti, and Taumarunui. The Te Kuiti branch covers Otorohanga to the North as well. My address here is 2 Broadfoot Rd.
I'll be calling home probably on your Christmas day my Dec 26th. Nevermind. I'll call later this week to set up a time. Probably my thursday morning (your Wed. afternoon). I still need permission to call from my DL, but it'll all work out. As a back up my flat number here is 07-878-5947. I don't know about country code or anything, but that's a back up. Sorry the library here is only letting us email for 30 min, and my time's pretty much up. I'll tell you all about everything when I call on Christmas.
I'm happy, healthy, and no, my head is not on a spear of some Mouri tribal leader. Sorry I can't talk any longer.
Love you all, I'm really looking forward to talking to you on Christmas this week!! Talk to you later!

Ka Kite!
Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen

Te Kuiti/Taumarunui

 

 

  

December 6th, 2010

Kia Ora!

It has been a long and stressful week this week. We had a lot going on trying to sus things out for the baptism. Its been a little bit cooler weather which I'm happy to welcome. I think I'm really going to miss the snow this year. Send me some pictures. this week was pretty full on with lessons some days, then others we pretty much had none. But over all we met pretty much all of our goals and it was a good week.

So the reason the baptism was so stressful was because we moved it forward a week from what we had planned. So we had to run all over talking to people to see if they'd be willing to give talks, prayers, baptize, etc. like every day. So on Friday, everything was all good to go and set up. Then Saturday morning came. We called about 9am (the baptism was at 10) to see if everything was alright. Kattie (17 yr old daughter) answered the phone and told us how Rosie didn't want to be baptized. So we ran over to her house and talked to her. She was saying that she was so excited for this day, and when she woke up nobody was up or getting ready. And Matekino just up and left for the church without her wearing an immodest skirt. She was super frustrated that her family wasn't supporting her. So we talked to her and tried to calm her down and convincing her to get baptized. Nothing seemed to work. She agreed to still let Whetu (12) get baptized and that she'd take him over and watch him. When she got to the church she still didn't want to get baptized. We saw brother Kaituu walking up in his white clothes and he said "It was hard to find, but I got some white pants! They're not ironed, but I got them." After seeing "his glow" Rosie decided to get baptized. We had 3 jump suits but none of them fit her. Luckily one of the members said that they had some white clothes that she could wear. They were the members that we had dinner with the night before, and who weren't planning on coming. Heavenly Father was truly working in the background all along. It was truly a miracle. After she was baptized, she gave a powerful testimony like I've never heard from any convert. She said that she had this burning feeling all through her, and that she's never been so happy in her life. She even called the ward her family. Before she was one of those people that utterly rejected the missionaries, but now she is happier that than she's ever been.

Kattie her daughter is set to be baptized this Friday! That family has really turned around. Rosie, Matekino, and Kattie have all quit smoking, and Rosie quit coffee. They've had trials from every way you can imagine. But because of accepting Christ in they're lives, they're happier than ever. This church is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know He restored it through Joseph Smith. I'm so glad to know that because of the restored priesthood, our family is sealed together forever.

I love you all, you're all in my prayers. Thank you so much for your prayers in my behalf and your support. I couldn't do this wor without it.

I'm pretty sure that I'll get a calling card from down here, and I'll use the phone from our flat to call.
I got your second package early this week. Thank you so much! I can't wait to open them! I already have the Christmas tree up on the desk, and the stocking hanging.
Some traditions in NZ...hmmm. There are a lot of different cultures here. So some people have a big bar-b-q beach party (which is the ward Christmas party this year), and some people do hangi's. which is the pig roast under ground. Those are the only two different traditions I've heard of so far. If I hear of more, I'll let you know.

Random cannon in Mangere Bridge...

Ka Kite!
Sincerely,
Elder Sorensen