Tranfers!

So big news for this week is that I am being transferred to Ganado. Not too far away. I don't know my address yet, but I will next week. I am forwarding my mail so if you send something I will still get it in Ganado. I am companions with Elder Halamen from Magnolia, Texas. I know him from teen camp and such, but he is right out of training which is pretty scary. Not sure how that will go.

Funny story of the week! The new truck we got was broken when we got it and was leaking trany fluid, so we didn't drive all week. I was sick on Tuesday anyways, so we only got two lessons this week. Pretty good lessons though. SO since we didn't have a truck, we decided to walk to our housing compound. To get there we had to hop a 12 foot fence. So I hopped it and cut my hand a little, then Elder Hirschi tried hopping over, but decided that he couldn't so we walked for awhile to find a lower place.

As we were walking he said, "Dude! We gotta go home."

I was like "Why?"

"Bro - look at your pants!" My pants were ripped from belt to my knee. They were my Calvin Kleins. Pretty sad about that.

So pretty fun week but not a whole lot happened.

I watched Ephraim's Rescue for the first time!

Elder Sorensen

Gilbert AZ Temple Dedication

Elder Sorensen was able to attend the dedication of the Gilbert Arizona Temple on Sunday, March 2. There is a limited email connection, so we haven't received any of Elder Sorensen's pics, but we'll post them when we get them! Below is a link where you can see some pictures and video of the day from the Mormon Newsroom.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-dedicates-142nd-temple

The local ABC network aired a special in January on what happens inside LDS temples. Here's a link for you to check it out:

http://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/gilbert/gilbert-mormon-temple-what-happens-inside-lds-temple

Week 9 - Off-road in a suit

So this week has been a fun one. It rained a few days ago and when it rains here, it floods because the ground is so hard and dry - and keep in mind there are no roads!! So we went mudding on Saturday basically. We got stuck in about a foot of water. I have some pics. The truck sank about 8'' in the mud. I had to get out in my suit and push the truck and put the tracks under the tires, which did nothing. It was freezing and I was soaked in my suit!!! We would have been there forever if a member didn't stop by in his monster truck thingy. haha. He pulled us out then we went home dried off and went back out! So this all happened on March 1. The first is usually a bad day because everyone goes to Chinley to pick up their welfare checks then use them to get wasted. And the Navajos hate rain. If it sprinkles or even gets cloudy they are sick. So Saturday and Sunday we had zero lessons and only 3 contacts. But on Sunday we pushed some people out of the mud, then we almost got stuck again. We have done a lot of service lately. I love the mud. I need a Jeep when I get home so I can go mudding.

On a more spiritual note... We were going to go see Robert, the perma-drunk, so that we could say we weren't coming by anymore. It was really hard to do. On the way to his house I almost cried because I felt so bad that we had to stop seeing him. We love him, but he can't remember anything because he is still wasted and messed up in the brain even though he stopped drinking 3 months ago. So we sat down in his house with him and his hundreds of black cats; he asked what we would be teaching, Elder Petersen and I looked at each other, and said a silent prayer. We both were sad about what was going to happen. We started to talk then the Spirit said, ''No way Jose, you aren't dropping him! We are going to ask him to be baptized!" So we went with it. Didn't drop him and now he is getting baptized!! Thanks Spirit :) We got in the truck and we were like ''whaaat??" Felt like a minion from Despicable Me. haha

So two white mormons are tracting in Arizona on an Indian reservation and find 3 Filipinos..... haha

Week 8 - Mutton

Zone conference was one of the best days ever. It was really good. My zone leaders are awesome. We talked about extending commitments and being bold in dropping people. We talked about not fluffing anything up with people - say "This is why we are here. This is what you need to do and if you can't handle that we will find someone who will."

I am feeling good. I had mutton for the first time. I had it 3 times on Sunday. First in a soup, then like noodles then just a straight up sheep on the table. Mutton is sheep/goat intestines by the way.

So it has been a weird week. Some days we set the world on fire; other days nothing happens. We had a day with one lesson, then a day with 7 and 9 door contacts and 2 new investigators, then a day with 0's across the board, then another 6 lesson day then another 0 lesson day. It's like a weird version of the pride cycle!! No consistency. I had a fun experience with a drunk guy who couldn't find his Grama and asked me to pray for his truck to come back.

We shop at the gas station (haha) or Bash's where all the drunks hang out.

I will try to write letters. But don't be mad if I don't. It is really hard to find the time but I will try!! Tell everyone I love them and cuddle Dixee for me.

Oh and tell work Andy he should get baptized! Tell everyone in seminary "Hi" and I actually miss seminary. haha. So yeah. Glad the family is participating in missionary work! Remember Pres. Alleman said we have to do this together!! I am proud of all of the family.

And he's off...(Week 1)

Elder Burke Sorensen reports to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, UT on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. What a great way to start the year! We know that you all want to shower him with letters of encouragement and support, so be sure to check out the current mailing address on the right.

Elder Burke Spencer Sorensen
FEB11  BRA-BEL
2009 N 900 E Unit 129
Provo UT 84602

Also, you can use Dear Elder to write him letters for free over the 8 weeks he's there. We'll forward any comments here on the blog and from Facebook to him so watch for his responses.

And in case you were wondering what Elder Sorensen will be learning at the MTC, here's a link with info about the MTC, along with a Virtual Tour.

August 23, 2010 Update

Hello,

Well, this week was much better than last week. We went finding a lot and we were very blessed for our diligence, and our faith. We started off the week by not finding anyone, until Thursday when we counted 2 part members. Then on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we found 12 new investigators. We worked really hard and we talked to as many people as we could, considering our restrictions. And we had 3 of our new investigators come to church. It’s always really good when people come their first week. All together we had 6 investigators at sacrament meeting. The three that weren’t new have been coming for about 2-3 months (Kavitha, Romya, and Giri Babu).

One new investigator family lives opposite to our branch president, but he thought it wouldn’t be good to introduce us, and the daughter is also the team manager at the McDonald’s we visit each week. Her name is Priya and she has been letting us come behind the counter, take orders, make burgers, and do just about everything we want to at McDonalds. Her family is Pentecostal, and don’t care about being baptized twice, because they have been! We met them last night and they liked the message and were excited to pray about the message of the restoration. Their biggest concern, which is HUGE in their eyes, is the fact that we don’t say "Praise the Lord" and stotrum when we pray and when we meet. We talked about how we praise God in our actions, and not words. They seemed to accept that and be quiet. But, if they end up hating our guts it could be really bad because we might get some spit in our burger...lol.

Today, since my companion is being transferred, we are going to go bowling at India’s largest mall. That sounds fun. I don’t really think it’s necessary, or a great idea, but he really wants to go. I hear they have a Taco Bell...with unlimited refills. It’s the small stuff in life, when you are in India.

Kavitha and Romya are doing well. We have been teaching them and their family members English once a week and they are loving it. When they learned that they would be staying here for this big Hindu festival they were excited that they would be able to come to church. They have both, for a second time, told us that they believe in Jesus Christ and that they should follow him. They are very nice, and want to be baptized, but their older sister is not allowing it. I think that’s dumb because she has no say in this anyways. We are trying to help them understand what it really means to become Christian, and now it will be a different culture than that of the Hindu society. Their family members, who are members, are being very helpful. I love the Ramakrishna family.

That’s about it for this week. Next week I will tell you about an Australian family that we are teaching...stay tuned...and on the edge of your seats. I love you all. Hugs and kisses from India!

Love,
Elder Sorensen

August 16, 2010 Update

Namaste,

Well, nothing much has happened since Wednesday...and the email guy is trying to kick me out. lol.

This week I have been praying for more ways to serve the people of India. I have seen that as I have done this, Heavenly Father has been putting people who need a helping hand in my path. Just the other day while we were walking a little girl crashed her cycle into a ditch...not like y’all think but a small 18 inch deep ditch. She busted up her elbows and shins, but was ok. When she saw me she stopped crying, maybe out of fear. I helped her pick up the cycle and she was off without a word, except "Thank you." Another little girl was trying to put up her kick stand, but the bike kept falling, and I know that she had to get groceries, so I held her bike for her. When she came out she said thank you, and was off. I saw her later that night and she gave me a chocolate. I didn’t eat it, because I cannot have milk, but I did thank her when I took it. I have loved being in the service of my fellow man (Mosiah 2:17).

I have also been thinking a lot about Pres. Uchtdorf's talk "You are My Hands" as member of His true Church we shouldn’t be spectators in showing love, we should be doing it. Just as did Jesus Christ when He lived on the earth. I am grateful for the Restored Gospel and the opportunity which I have to preach the Gospel. I love my Savior and my family. Have a great week.

Elder Sorensen