Week of September 22, 2013

It's weird being in Utah one moment, then not the next. It didn't hit me we were actually leaving untill we were on the bus ride up to the airport. And when we passed through P.G. at 3AM, it hit me that I wasn't going to see it again for 2 years. But I wasn't sad. We then boarded the plane, and it was clear and nice in Utah. I took a nap on the plane and we passed over some clouds and they're pretty, I'll send some pictures. It was nice above the clouds though, wish I could have seen what we were flying over. We then landed in Minnisoda, and passed through the clouds. It was raining like crazy, and so humid. But I loved it. It was so pretty in Minn. I then called jess because we landed early and had about an hour untill we had to board. We then boarded our next plane, went back above the clouds again, and flew into Canada. This time, when we broke through the clouds, it wasn't the sight I was expecting.... Everything here is flat. It wasn't really green, actually it was quite brown, and It looked like a mix between Idaho, and Oklahoma. Home for the next 2 years...

Customs took forever and then we got to meet pres. Thomas who is the most chill guy ever. And he calmed my nerves. We then went to the church and had about 4 hours of meetings, and I fell asleep durring most of them seeing how I was only on 1 1/2 hours of sleep. We then went to the mission home and had a great meal, and dessert and even more napping =P We met with president who gave us the basic run down of the mission, told us we don't really bapise that much, and people here aren't too interested. but everyone's really friendly so that's good. We parted our ways and I spent that night in the mission office with a bunch of elders who went home the next day, and gave me tons of advice.

The next morning, we went back to the church, got some intruction, and got assigned to our first areas, and were told bassically what kind of a drive we were in for that day. As for me, Winnipeg is my first area, so my drive was 10 min. :) My companion's name is Elder Hatch, he's from Logan, and him and I get along really well. He's the district leader, and he has a lot of confidence in me and says he doesn't even have to train me. which makes me feel good, to some degree.

So It's not even really cold here yet. It has been off and on. Yesterday and today have been really nice, but winter is supposed to set in here in about 2-3 weeks, so i'm looking forward to -40. Oh and that's an other thing. Everything is in metric. Which I'm going to have to get used to. But it is really beautiful here, the buildings kind of look and remind me of downtown salt lake, just not as friendly. Same goes for the people. I'll see what happends within the next couple of weeks. I'm super excited, and I'm not scared as much as I was the first couple of days. Still weird to think I'm going to be doing this for 2 years, but hey, I already has 2 1/2 weeks down. only a lot more to go.

Few more things, Letters will take about 5-6 days to get here, but they'll sit in the mission office untill they're delivered to me. If you send packages to me, you have to write the contents on the outside and write an estamate of the value of them, because if it's over $60, they'll charge me extra to pick it up. Which i'm willing to pay if it's something awesome.
My mission has a facebook page, but mom, you're the only one that's allowed to be a part of it, but everyone can veiw it. Go look it up, my mission president's wife has probably already posted a ton of pictures of us eating.

Well, love you
-Elder Sorenson

Oh, Canada

Got this e-mail tonight.

Dear Parents,

Your missionary arrived today in Winnipeg.  They were a bit tired, but excited to be in the mission field.  We gave them lunch and some orientation.  About 5:00 we headed for the mission home for a wonderful ham dinner.  They were hungry but still excited.  We had  a brief testimony meeting, sang the mission song and enjoyed skookies for dessert.  By now they had been awake for way  too many hours and they just all wanted to go to bed. 

Tomorrow they will enjoy breakfast, head back to the church for missionary training and assignments.   Some trainers will be there to meet their new missionary, others may  travel 10 hours to meet their new companion.  We will see they get lunch  before they head out to their first assignment.

These missionaries arrived with happy faces and strong spirits.  We are delighted to have them serving with us.  Thank you for sharing your sons and daughters with us.  We love them already!

 They will email you on Monday.  Please respond with love, and support as they adjust to their new assignments.  Missionaries love to get mail and your support is critical to their success.

If you would like to write him, his address is:

Canada Winnipeg Mission

Elder Jacob Hardy Sorenson

845 Shaftesbury Boulevard

Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M5

Canada

This is the mission home but sending things there will always get to him where as if you send things to his current assignment it may not get to him if he gets transferred before it arrives.

Send packages to the same address just remember that some parcel services charge a duty tax to bring packages to Canada so sent it by regular postal services.  Packages should be marked "Missionary Supplies" or "Gifts"

  Christmas Packages need to ARRIVE at the Mission office NO LATER THAN Nov. 30th.

Sept 4, 2013

First letter from Jake in the MTC

Dear Family,
     I'm good, safe and made it to the MTC obviously. (I dropped him off, so obviously) basically I don't have a lot of time to write this letter, we're in a rush. basically, here's my day- get dropped off-> met host-> got tags->and everything->went to class and met my companion, Elder Gardner. He's alright, but kinda quiet. I'll see if I can break him out :) ->orientation->dinner-> teaching-> more orientation -> this letter -> and off to bed and stuff. I'm still freaking out. but I love you guys. see you in two.
Elder Sorenson

Packing, packing, packing

Today Jake is packing up the last of his things.

 I am hemming his baptism pants.

 He is refilling his prescriptions to take with him.

 I am trying to not think that this is the last Monday for 2 years.

I am truly happy that he has chosen to serve the Lord and teach the gospel.

But I am going to miss him.