Week of Nov 24, 2013

Super busy week this week. But somehow it didn't show up in our numbers. But that's completely fine, that happens sometimes. We always had something to do, and people to visit, but we didn't really teach all that much, mainly because everyone is super busy, because now it's super cold outside and appearently no one was prepared for it.

 

Basically we worked a lot with our ward mission leader this week and also our bishop. Ever since I got in St. James, our bishop has never liked us. At least not the District leader and his comp. That just happends to be my companionship. I guess that was because he didn't like my last companion, but Elder Martin and I found a less-active member who was on the lost and unknown list, and we thought he was an investigator, but we talked to bishop about him, and bishop was so happy that we found him, he actually started to like us now. Super funny.

 

We've been doing a lot of service this week, but Wednesdays are now our busiest days. We have our district meetings, then our ward coordination meetings, we meet with Joe, dinner with our ward mission leader, and then we go to mutual. Super busy, but they make the week go by so fast. So this Wednesday was good, but Elder Martin actually hit somebody with the truck, didn't cause any damage to our truck, but a pretty major dent in their door, so now, I'm driving. Pretty great when the roads are all ice.

 

This week, on Friday, we traveled out to Starbuck again. Just as a refresher, Starbuck is 45 min. West outside of Winnipeg, and most of it is dirt roads. This time, it was ice dirt roads. I'll send some pictures, It was a pretty great trip, And luckly the boy from Utah was driving. Also, we tried this new finding idea with a movie night. We played Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, and we invited everyone in our ward including their friends, our investigators, and less-actives. Basically everyone, and it ended up in a huge turn out! It was so good. We had Joe, our investigator there, and he loved it. We packed the gym with a lot of people.

 

So to follow-up on Joe, He's doing really well. He reads from the BOM every day, and prays every day. He's starting to quit smoking and his whole countinance has changed. It's amazing to see what the atonement does for people! I'm really happy for him, and excited. The only thing is, his family isn't supporting him to much, and don't believe he can make his baptismal date. I believe he can. He just has to start coming to church more often, because he's really only came twice.

 

Well, I always report on the weather so here it goes. So basically It's really flat here, so it's really windy sometimes, so when it gets below 0, there's a lot of windchill. This last week when we went out to Starbuck it was -20*C. That's around -1*F. But we had a -30*C windchill and that's -22*F. In other words, it's some of the coldest weather i've ever seen. It's super fun when you go outside and your nosehairs start sticking together.

 

I'll try and stay warm! I've gotten good and bad news from everyone this week, but I'm staying strong. Love you guys.

Elder sorenson

Week of Nov. 17, 2013

Well, it's been an other week up here in the great white north. And now I can actually call it the great white north, because there's snow on the ground. So this last week was just an other slow one. We mainly tried to stay busy, and ended up doing the forbidden-TRACKING. But it was good. We actually have a "tracting ban" where our president basically said that we offend people by tracting, and we only do it as a last resort. Well, this week, we had to turn to our last resort.

 

Mainly, we couldn't get a hold of anyone except for a few less-actives, so we taught them. But the whole week was slow, but before I knew it, It was over. We did teach a group of 4 investigators on tuesday who are all very interested, except for one, who just wants to bash. But it was a good lesson regaurdless. The whole week wasn't all bad though. Yesterday was probably one of the best days. Church was just fantastic, We had a meeting with our bishop that actually went somewhere, (Just a little backround, Our bishop has no desire to do missionary work, and our ward doesn't really like us too much), after church we had a pot luck meal that was really good, and then we got in contact with a less-active family and learned how to index as well. 

 

The best part about yesterday was when we finally got in contact with Joe, and went and taught him. He's been struggling for a while with somethings in is life, and  he's been trying to get away from friends, and drugs, and things like that, but it's been super hard for him. But finally, he just made the choice to move out, and start a new life. He now lives 5 streets away from us! He's been humble for some time, and somewhat taking in the gospel, our lessons always go really well, but he never keeps commitments like comming to church, but he always reads. So Elder Martin and I didn't really know what to teach him, because he'd been taught everything, so we prayed, and it came clear as day. We needed to teach him about the atonement again. Specifically faith, repentence, BAPTISM, the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. And set a baptism date for him. He'd been invited to be baptised, but never really accepted it.

 

So we went and taught him with the member we always bring. And the lesson went better than we could have hoped. Joe just ate it up, and seemed so humble. The spirit was so stong, and finally I invited him to be bapised, and he finally accepted, and accepted a date. So hopefully, he'll be baptised by the 21st of Dec. I might not be here by then, I might get transfered, but it's for Joe.

 

I'm looking forward to this next week. It's going to be cold, We finally got snow, although on thursday I was walking around in short sleeves, but now it's an average of -9*c outside. With -16*c Windchill. That's for now, winter's just staring at me, and i'm excited haha. We have meal appointments every day this week, we might even eat Balut! (look it up) also, we're making an other trip out to Starbuck. dirt roads in the snow. Alright. I'm happy to be here, and time's flying.

 

Love you guys,

Elder Jake Sorenson

Nov. 12, 2013

Hmm, Where to start with this last week? Guess we'll start with the good stuff.

 

Monday was a good day, just a basic p-day and we got to hang out with a lot of the other missionaries. We had a dinner appointment with a guy in our ward named Fred Kelbert. He's crazy! haha, it was his birthday, and we just went over and ate dinner, and afterwards we went to teach him just a basic lesson, and he wanted to role-play as a teenage investigator. He's 65 by the way. It was really funny. He said things like "we played xbox in 3D!" it was just... Halarious.

 

I guess the rest of the week was mainly a normal week. We taught Joe, who's not really progressing at this point, and Jason, who we actually had a really good lesson with. We taught him about the importance of the BOM and invited him to church, so hopfully he'll show up! He said he didn't promice this sunday, but next. He's really smart, and quick on his feet. We also learned how to index through this less-active family called the proudloves. They're amazing. They fed us dinner, and are really funny. We hope to start working with them, and bring them back to church.

 

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all dead. They were just some of the worst days I've had. We had some appointments, but they all fell through, so we went street contacting, and no one wanted to listen to us. All of our finding efforts just were not working, no one even seemed to be home, or answering their phone. Some people even got offencive with us. And on top of everything, it was a mix of rain and snow. It was really miserable. I just tryed to pray for strength but nothing seemed to be working, so we just went through the days, and then crashed.

 

I guess all of our efforts weren't wasted. By sunday night, people were actually starting to get back to us, and we got a lot of appointments set up, and one guy actually responded to the mormon.org cards we gave out, and now we're going to teach him this week! So i'm looking forward to this next week. I'm hoping it'll be a good one, or atleast better than last week. But the weather is starting to get really cold. The other morning I woke up and it was a frosty -25*C outside! that's -4*F! so all of you guys back home who think it's cold. Think again.

 

Well, I love all you guys. I'll try and find some more funny stories for next week okay?

Elder Jake Sorenson.

Week of Nov. 3, 2013

Alright, this last week has been crazy, just kind of up and down really. Mainly just the air of transfers was stressful, we were busy just packing, and having Elder Hatch say goodbye to everyone. We taught a lot this last week, and nearly hit our mission standard. I was so happy. Basically, my week was very normal, just busy durring the first half, teaching people and actually getting referalls from members, finally! And then came Wednesday.

Wednesday morning we picked up the Elders who were in Thompson (the area Elder Hatch transfered to) and spent the day with them. We packed up elder Hatch, and dropped him off at the Grayhound station that night. I was then with Elder Schofeild for the night, and we went and taught my investigator, Jason and actually got somewhere. It was a really nice lesson. And we had really nice studies on Thursday morning.

Basically on Thursday we didn't have much to do untill transfer meeting, and I got my new companion, so we went and got what's called poutein. It's basically fries, mixed with gravy and cheese. It's really good, but sounds not so much. After poutein, we went to transfer meeting, I gave a sister in my district a blessing, and I met my new compainion, Elder Martin. He's a Small town, red-neck from Idaho. He's laid-back and we get along great. Although, we don't have a lot in common, but I get along with just about everyone.

It was nice that it was Halloween, and we had to be done teaching by 5, so we just did some stop by's, and then went to Ed's and had a fire for the rest of the night. So when Elder Hatch was here, he was here for a transfer before me and knew the area really well, and knew everyone it seemed. And so all of the sudden he's gone, and I wake up Friday morning, the stress hit. I'm suddenly left to take care of this area, as the junior comp. as the trainee, who doesn't know the area, or the people at all, and Elder Martin's looking at me wondering where to go, or who everyone is. I didn't know what to do, and started stressing out. I just turned to what I already knew, and just worked through it and it got a little better.

By Sunday, It started to get a little better. Church was normal, and the weather wasn't dismal and brown as it had been the last couple of days. After church and all of our studies, we walked to our appointments/stop bys which were on the edge of our area, which the walking calmed me down a lot. And lets just say today's a much needed p-day. But I'm relaxed now, and ready to go to work.

One thing that is bugging me, but I hear I should be greatful, is this slow decend into winter here. The weather is really bi-polar. Today it's been really nice, and I don't even need a jacket. And it hasn't even snowed yet. Winter's still not even here, and everyone said we should have had snow by Halloween. But I should be greatful, I mean, this is Winterpeg.

Well, if I sounded dipressed in this letter, I'm not. I'm really happy and exctied for the upcomming weeks here in Winnipeg. Elder Martin's great, and i'm exctied to finish my training with him. Anyways, I love you guys!

Elder Sorenson