June 2nd 2014

The Family,

Long week. So first things first im glad everyone is going good back at home. Ben i know has probably had a tough week with his wisdom teeth but if that was tough for him he would've had a rough month going to the old guy i went to! Anyways im in a new place with a new comp but still trying to do all i can. Tuesday was a rough day had a 4 hour bus ride and then still went to the area for like 6 hours but it was good. This place, Madadeni, is pretty chill and very flat but its nice. it reminds me of Willcox or a place like that its not little ghetto shacks any more. Its been a change forsure with weather and all but most of all from my last area to here. My last area as we all know was walking and i worked hard there but here its driving and things are so much slower i honestly dont even feel like im working very hard but i dont have a choice cause i dont know the area yet! My comp is actually really cool guy and im loving my time with him we sometimes dont talk much but i continually pray to figure things out that interest him. he very stubborn as most african missionaries are but we teach very well together and i just have to continue exercising patience and love! He has a pretty cool story though and when you look at things through other peoples eyes you understand why they do certain things. For example he is from kenya and joined the church about 2 and a half years ago and has spent one year of that on mission so thats something i really gain respect for him over! but to be a leader you first must gain the trust, love and respect of those around you and my mission president has really seen me doing that so i think i'll probably be training in 3 weeks when the new transfer starts so its all going pretty good. just gotta get a nice warm jacket cause its like africas october right now and im already freezing. but if possible send me a few church movies like 17 miracles, Work and the glory, things like that cause i havent been able to sleep much here but it'll improve thats just mission you gotta always be exhausted or you are doing something wrong. i have really come to love reading tho which is nice cause i always havent liked it at all. i dont think i have finished a book in my entire life unless it was Dr. Suess but i read a 200 pg book in like 4 hours so its nice and the knowledge continues to grow! But anyways i love you all so much. looking forward to hearing from all of you next week and make sure to keep me updated! i love you

Love,

ELDER SORENSON

Service with the new comp chopping down trees and standing on sharp fences

              Elder Summers the AP in his last transfer

Me and Oleg (a member from Berea Ward) and chipeta

                                       Madadeni Chapel

                         My new legit American bead tie

May 26th 2014

Fam Bam,

Another week down. Pretty long one in my opinion but anyways last monday night i threw up like 3 times and then tuesday and wed i was sick and dizzy and just light headed so Wed i decide i should just take it off cause working i wasnt going to get better so i slept all day and just did some thinking and took a Z-pack for meds. but as i thought i was thinking about when i should be coming home and about baseball. We all know i have been struggling with making you that decision whether come back before school so i can get my freshman year of baseball or loose out and come back after 2 years. its tough and i have been quite stubborn with it, several times through out my mission i have gotten confirmation to stay the full two years but its been tough to grasp it. But Thursday we had interviews with President Zackrison and i opened up about everything on my mind. He is truly an inspired man but as he thought about it he said its a hard choice i have to make and while he was thinking he got some revelation of a quote that was perfect for me... "Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; For, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. it was through this sacrifie, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; And it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the Truth's sake, not even withholding his life,and believing before god that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on Eternal Life" (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith 6:7). So this was perfect for me but doesnt mean im giving up baseball. i will play three years if possible and take it from there. but the Lord knows how big of a sacrifice this is for me and my mission president promised me that the blessing for sacrificing this will be so great! and i know that i'll be a better ball player by giving up that first year! no one be disappointed i love you all and i have decided that this is the best thing for me to do! its going to be tough but i can.. i will do it! but in other news im being transfered to a new place called Madedeni its up in Newcastle and i leave tomorrow its a 4 hour drive so not too excited but im excited to get a new comp... Elder Aman'galia from somewhere in africa so its cool! but Sunday we had a confirmation of Nthando the only person that got baptized while i was here. Anyways i love you all so so much!

Love,

ELDER SORENSON

                                 Package from home

                                      Elder Chigede and I

                  Goofy with my homeboy Elder Allen

                                         Berea Chapel

          Nthando the only baptism from Mayville for me

Chipeta and I with Syril a Ex pro soccer player here in South Africa

                                                 Mayville

                                             Mayville and I

                  One of the many hills i have been walking

May 19th 2014

Fam Bam,

Wow it was a slow and very long week. My Comp wanted to get transfered cause he is sick of walking so he has really showed he isnt happy but this up coming week they might transfer him and i'll get someone new but we might not stay in this area. but some crazy news we got from our mission president today, Szawiland is no longer part of our mission. the gave it and the 14 missionaries and the senior couple to the Mozambique Mission cause i guess since jake left they need to bring in 16 missionaries to make up for it! haha but thats crazy news. but next week i could be leaving this area or atleast getting a new comp. so its exciting but will be a long week until my current comp is gone. not much to share really so i'll just share a cool talk from church. the lady did amazing! so she talked about Eagles and why in the bible and stuff people are compared to eagles. Anyways First an Eagle Flies the highest because the higher it flies the better it sees i applied this as we have high standards or we can see the bigger picture we are able to see whats most important and be able to see the temptations of satan better. Second, the eagle nests high in the mountains whichs is like the temple we need to set our sights on the temple. Third, they take time and make sure they build a beautiful strong comfortable nest in the mountains with their own feathers for warmth and comfort, which is like building our homes and making them an place of love and peace built on the principles of the gospel. Forth, eagle lays one egg per seasons so they care for they baby with their lives and they see is as an individual, we must care for childern tons and one by one salvation comes and even the sacrament comes one by one with broken and unique pieces cause everyone is different. Fifth the chick is fed the very best of every kill and we need to feed our families with the gospel or the very best that we have. Sixth, as the chick is ready to fly and leave he is scared and doesnt want to so little by little day by day the mama makes it a little more uncomfortable and takes the nest apart which trains the chicks core muscles and talons cause he has to hold on and balance and for this sometimes we have to be chastened by the Lord so we can hasten the work or even our progress. Lastly when the baby tries to fly he looses alttitude but the parents will fly down and catch the chick on their back and then the fly high with it there then they dump him off and the continues till the baby flies well. but this applies in so many ways but we need to help others as they fall or even allow people to help us when we get to close to the world. but theres another story with the eagle beut i wont share it now. but i hope everyone is doing great i hope things will get better for me out here very soon! i love you all so much!

LOVE,

ELDER SORENSON