This week has continued to get better. We've still been
trying to clean up the ward lists of Less-Actives and individuals who
have moved out. Last night we visited with Sis Brotherson. She's not a
member I guess and her husband died a few months ago. So we will have
to take them off the list. Luckily no other deaths this week, but lots
of move outs and "Don't Contact". It's sad to see people get baptized
and then want nothing to do with the church. Our wards have less than
300 people now which technically falls into Branches now. Hopefully
Church Headquarters will see our efforts in cleaning it up and hopefully
they will combine our small "wards" again. Last week I counted 30
"families". (Pretty much just counted sections/benches where people were
sitting). Sounds like a good bunch but it's just so surprising to see
how small. But it's fun getting really close to the members and not
have an overwhelming amount.
It's been SUPER hot here. So miserable. Yesterday
it was 111. President told the mission he's cutting our car miles to
get us out biking and walking more. Yeah now he tells us when it's the
hottest months coming up! Urgh... I wouldn't mind biking Oct-April. But
May-Sept is the hottest! I love Pres. Gelwix but man we are all
loathing this change coming up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed with
being Spanish, a Sister, and in a wide area that he'll let us keep ours.
If not, pray that people will let us in and cool us off! We've been
doing our tracting in the evenings which helps but as Sisters we're not
really suppose to be doing that after 6. Oh well.
Yesterday at church we taught 3rd hour in both wards
about Missionary work. We tied in a lot of what was said last Sunday
in the Mission President training. I really hope the wards see the urge
and help us with referrals and team-ups. We met with Bishop Nuno to
set goals with him for this next month, and we will have quite the work
to do. He feels we can have 4 baptized in the Mercy Springs ward! We
didn't have ANY this last month and he thinks we can get 4 just for that
ward. We still have Los Banos! We will be pushed but we actually have
2 set already. Anthony Lagunas is getting baptized this weekend!!! We
are just so excited for him. He's been wanting this for quite some time
now but his family has been having a lot going on. His sister Alyssa
finally had her Sweet 16 party Saturday,
so now the family can focus on Anthony's baptism. Brother Betham will
be baptizing him. Then we set another baptism for Howie for the end of
July. He is the boyfriend of one of the YW in the ward. We can only
teach him on Sundays down in Dos Palos, so we have to really cram the
lessons together to get through all of them. The Croninger family (the
members) are really good in helping him with the questions he has when
we're not there. Emily Croninger, (the girlfriend) has a sweet
testimony that I know will help him. Now we just need to keep these 2
and find 2 more! And some in Los Banos! :)
Saturday
we helped out Sis Lagunas get the church all set up for Alyssa's party.
Not sure if we should have helped her all day long, but we ended up
doing just that. We felt bad that no one was there helping and she was
very stressed. It was fun though. It felt more like we were setting up
for a wedding reception, but once we got the balloons up it was looking
more like a Birthday party. Ha ha.. I felt really bad because they had
a family friend do the cake and it was UGLY! Sis Lagunas cried and
cried. I could have done a cake better then that! I wanted to call
Sabrina up though and ask for emergency help! Ha ha.. The dad and
grandma drove to Merced though and quickly got a replacement cake so
that was another reason we helped stay longer. They are a great family
and I'm so blessed to have gotten to know them. It's sister Millers
birthday tomorrow, so the Lagunas are having us over tonight for a fun early party for her. :)
Well work in Los Banos is picking up. We went
tracting by Cardoza and found some great people. After finishing one
section of the street, we were debating on whether to turn around and do
the other side of the street back to the car or just finish the little
col-de-sac. We chose to do the col-de-sac and the first house we went
to, they were moving in! Andrea, the owner of the house was shocked to
see us and asked where we came from. She ran inside and said "your
missionaries are here!" to her cousin that was the one who was moving
in. Well the cousin didn't come out, but Andrea let us talk with her.
Elders have stopped by before and talked with her. She really enjoyed
it. She is such an awesome woman. She has opened her doors to the
homeless and helps them get back on their feet. One of the men we met
that night has been living with her for the last 3 years just in the
garage. He takes care of the yard and helps her with moving and all
other little things she has to keep him busy and pay her for letting him
stay. I don't think I could ever do something like that myself, but to
see the love she has for those around her is incredible. She's working
to get a unit here in Los Banos for the homeless to help them get back
on their feet. It was nice talking with her. Last night we got a text
from the MTC with a referral on the street that we had tracted this
night. They must have not been home but took the card we left and
looked it up online and requested for Missionaries to stop by! We are
excited to meet this person and see how we can help them. I've never
had someone actually call our number or request a visit from pass along
cards on doors. Hopefully I can say it really works! We're stopping by
tonight so I will let you know next week how it goes! :)
I don't know if you all have kept up with the Easter
Project I sent to you all a while back. I finished it this morning!
It's been amazing to read more of Christ and see the miracles and
stories of his life. This morning I really enjoyed reading about taking
his name upon us. Every Sunday
we ask God to help us remember him and we commit to him to take his Son
Jesus Christs name. As a missionary, I wear his name on my heart. As
Elder Neil A. Andersen says, those that don't have the badges, paint one
on your heart. It's amazing to meet people and see how deep of faith
they have. I'm saddened when they have such faith and here I am with
the truth and I have half that faith they do. Why is it that we know
this is all true and yet we don't show it. I'm not saying we need to
shout Hallelujahs all day long to everyone we meet, but why don't we see
it more of as Gods hand in our lives and not coincidence. I am very
guilty of this. Being here I always just say it's just coincident or it
was going to happen either way. I need to be better at seeing the
Lords hand in all that I do. I know their are miracles everywhere and
that we can have that strong faith that many others do if we really just
act on our faith and put all our trust in him. I know this Gospel is
true. I've always known it. It has been tested many times, but seeing
those who don't have it hurts my heart. It strengthens my beliefs. I
know families can be together forever! I know I lived with my Father in
Heaven before this life and I can return to live with him again. I
know I can be forgiven of my mistakes. I know the Book of Mormon is
another testament of Jesus Christ! God is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. I am glad to be here and help others come to know what I
know.
I love you all so much and pray for you every day. I hope you all have a fun and safe 4th of July.
One of the older couples in the Los Banos ward holds a giant party
where they block off the roads and invite the whole neighborhood. The
missionaries before always celebrate with them, so they of coarse
invited us and we accepted! I'm so excited! Fun BBQ and socializing!
We'll be there from 6-9 and hopefully get to see some fireworks. Hope
all is well and you all are staying cool too! Take care!
xoxoxoxoxo
- Hermana Sorensen
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