3-22-10 "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission..."

...When I have grown a foot or two...A sister from the ward where Whitney is serving forwarded this photo. Her husband teaches primary and last week their lesson was on missionary work so he invited

Sister Smith, Sister Hoskins and Sister Smith to visit the class.

By the looks on their faces, I think ALL the missionaires,

present AND future were having a splendid time

Teaching and preaching and working as missionaries do!

3-22-10 "There's Pollen on my Nose"

I have never seen so much pollen in my life. For the last two weeks, the pine trees have been spurting their pollen into the air and everywhere else, so that it seems the whole world, or at least the whole city of Tomball is now a lime green hue. We parked our car in the middle of the parking lot at church last week, not under any trees, and what did we discover when we came out but a car lightly--and sometimes not so lightly--dusted with pollen. We washed our car the next day, but it still got incredibly covered every succeeding day. Such is springtime in Houston. Luckily, I don't seem to have any allergies or reactions to it. Dad wouldn't be so lucky! Also, the trees and flowers have all been blossoming for about two weeks. I can't complain about an early spring, except that I know a hot summer is right around the corner.. Which, actually, I am not worried about. It's just something you endure. I'll attach some photos of us at the temple last week on St. Patrick's day. I hope you can see the beautiful blossoming tulips in the background. They apparently only bloom for two weeks, so we were lucky to see them. That's what I call blarney.

Saturday was the day we found out if someone was being transferred. We went to a celebratory/anticipatory dinner at a local hot spot that night before the call came in. Mel's Country Cafe is the home of the Mega-Mel burger: 1 1/2 pounds of beef, 1 pound of bacon, a big bun and all the trimmings. If you eat it in under two hours, you get a free burger on your next visit. If you're ever hungry again. We didn't try it, but my cheeseburger was delicious. And as for transfers... Drumroll please. Sister Smith will be going to Katy, and Sister Christensen will be coming to Tomball. I'm excited to stay here for at least another six weeks, but it'll be sad to see Sister Smith go. We were just starting to get to know her, and I love her. I hope I was a good example to her of a missionary. It is a big responsibility to be companions with a brand new missionary, and I now I wasn't perfect at it. The biggest challenge now will be for Sister Hoskins and me not to exclude Sister Christensen. We have become such good friends over the past few months that I'm afraid we often left Sister Smith out of jokes and things, although we tried to be inclusive. I just know we could have done better. Sister Hoskins and I just have a lot of fun together. Her craziness plays off of my not-so-craziness and creates a lot of good times. Here's to six more weeks of that. And hopefully six weeks of finding success and new investigators. Let's see. Last week I also went to the doctor. I took Sister Tetreault from the ward because I wanted another set of ears, even though I had determined to put my foot down and Just. Say. No. to the nerve study. Which I did. He didn't argue with me too much about it, which makes me think it isn't really as urgent as he originally tried to make it sound. Sister Tetreault doesn't think it should cost $5000 either, so she said she would do some investigating. I gave them your number to call for the bill, but if they didn't call you, I don't know why. They said it would cost about $100 for that office visit.

Yesterday we had two appointments. One was with a sister who is less active and her non-member husband and whoever else happens to be at their house. They fed us shrimp as an appetizer and then homemade spaghetti sauce and Italian sausage. Delicious. Also, key lime pie and Blue Bell ice cream. Have I told you about Blue Bell yet? So good. You think it's going to be just ice cream, but oh no. A. Maz. Ing. Last week we found a flavor I'd been looking for for a while: Cake and Ice Cream. Chunks of chocolate cake interlaced into a vanilla cake-flavored base with chocolate swirls drizzled throughout. And I guess I did tell you about the Pistachio Almond. The only thing I can think to compare it to in amazingness is the Coconut Almond stuff from Reed's Dairy. Which I am craving by the way, so they'd better still be making it when I come home. Dad, you would love Blue Bell homemade vanilla. It's the best vanilla ice cream I've ever had. I wish there were a way to get it home on a plane.

Anyway, for our second appointment, we went to visit a sister in our ward who lives with her sister and her family. Their family is originally from Mexico. The sister in our ward moved in with her sister when her sister's husband got cancer so she could help out with their two little boys. While we were there, instead of sharing a traditional message, Sister Hoskins asked if we could play the piano and sing some hymns. The husband made lots of requests for some of the best ones, and the Spirit was there, not in an overpowering, overwhelming way. Just calm and comforting and full of truth and peace. I felt so blessed to be there and to be able to play the piano for the singing. It kind of reminded me of being in London and my piano skills being needed.

Hooray for BYU! I don't think they've won in the first round forever! Too bad they got out, but such is life. I'm very sorry to hear about Kansas, Dad. I probably would have picked them to go pretty far as well. I love me some Kansas basketball. Eli, thanks for cheering on Houston. They need it. I hope you all enjoy your theatrical pursuits.

The pictures of the missionaries to be are fabulous. Was Jace home on spring break or something? The Nukaya boys look so grown up. Cassidy, you just shine! Best wishes to Elder Hatcher and Elder...I just forgot Conor's last name. Hilton. Elder Hilton. Anxiously anticipating the news of Cody's mission call.

Last, the spring outfit. Um, I will say that, not that I'm focusing on things that far ahead, but I do want a pair of red converse when I get home. However, I have been wondering if you could send me some short sleeved shirts or some more white under tees from Down East. You decide how to spend the cash. I'm sure it'll be great. Actually, I just bought a new blue skirt last week, which looks very springy. And yes, leggings are allowed, but not my favorite either.

I think that's all.

Still shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

Pictures are: the whole district, the companionship, and the flowers.

3-17-10 "Camera Can't Lie"

I have to say I love this picture of Whitney so much. It will probably appear on the book jacket of her first best seller, entitled, The Road Less Taken. Watch for it in a bookstore near you in about 2-3 years.
Sister Hoskins and Sister Sorensen....pausing from a day of tracting to smile for the camera.

A trip to the Houston Temple. Whitney has been greatly blessed to be able to attend the temple almost monthly on her mission. I know not all missionaries are allowed to do this and she can testify of the great blessings that the temple has brought to her while she serves.


Plus, after the temple session, you can always have fun striking clever and creative poses for the camera. Missionaries are such hams!

Whitney meets John Wayne. He wasn't quite ready to hear the good word of God, but if you close your eyes and listen real hard I think you can hear him say,
"Well, hello, there, little lady."
It takes real true grit to be photographed by a poster outside the door of a complete stranger!

3-15-10 "Beware the Ides of March"

Guess what? I forgot about Pi day. Well, almost. Actually, last night one of the elders called us to say, "Happy Pi Day!" I was very sorry I'd forgotten about it. But I wasn't really craving pie. And I could only remember this much of Pi: 3.14159. So I'll submit myself to the contest, but assume that I lost. However, I remember my Shakespeare very well, because I know today is the Ides of March, an ominous day if one is Julius Caesar, but not so much if one is a missionary. Because today I have been in Texas for eight months. Crazy!

I'm sending a couple of pictures. One is of me with the Tomball High School cougar statue. I'm imitating it, although I'm not that kind of cougar. I'm the BYU kind, of course. The other one is of Sister Hoskins and Sister Smith on their way out to do missionary work one day. I'm really trying to remember to take more pictures. This week we're going to the temple, so we always get some good ones there. I wish I could send more. I have a whole bunch of our bowling excursion a few weeks ago, but I can't decide which to send. So I'll send them later.

This week we were either mistaken for paparazzi or celebrities or both. Here's the scoop: we were on our way home for dinner one evening, just driving along the highway. We notice a school bus next to us, but then we realize that instead of saying SCHOOL BUS, some of the letters have been scratched out so it says C-OOL BUS. Sister Hoskins gets her camera out and starts snapping photographs, and Sister Smith is doing some pretty clever driving to keep us in the right place to get said photographs. Soon we're on the back right side and someone in the bus comes walking back and waves at us! But it gets better! As we speed past the bus, everyone on the bus starts taking pictures of us. We're talking six cameras with flash pointed at our little missionary mobile. Best story of the week.

We've still been tracting and tracting and tracting like crazy, but the ward continues to support us with meals and everything else. Sister Tetreault is one of my favorite people. A second mother, if you will, and one of the nicest ladies I've ever met. She took us out to lunch last week, a little cafe in town called "Whistle Stop." I'm sure it gets its name from the same source. Delicious tortilla soup and a great sandwich. I have a business card I'm going to send you. Great place.

I'm also happy to report higher spirits and more joyful days. The more I focus on missionary work and throw myself into it heart and soul, the easier it is to find joy in meeting so many new people everyday, even when some are less than nice. Like the lady who threatened to call the police on us for tracting in her neighborhood. She didn't.

Hooray about Cody! Hooray! He's going to be an amazing missionary. Which reminds me. Yesterday we got invited to go to Brother Tetreault's primary class since the lesson was on " I want to be a missionary." We told the story of Ammon, and at the end of the class, he gave all the little seven-year-olds future missionary badges. If you want the picture, e-mail Sister Tetreault. I'm sure she could get you a copy.

Dad, thanks for the news about the Chilean missionaries. We all enjoyed it. It's amazing to see what the Lord can do through revelation if we only but listen to His counsel.

I feel like there's more to say, but maybe I'll send another e-mail when I re-read yours.

Love,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. I'm glad to hear my handwriting looks good, because I've been practicing. And my typing skills are definitely low today. I've caught many typos, but I'm sure some slipped through. Please forgive.

3-8-10 "March is in the air..."

Thanks for the pictures. I love the ones of Eli playing the piano. He's my little maestro. I think there's a similar picture of him playing the piano when he's a baby. It could be like a visual representation of the progression of his musical talents. Macy and Jace look so grown up! He looks just like Cade, and her hair is getting so long! Love, love, love the vocabulary choices he's making. That's my boy! Cassidy and Conor look great in their Alice in Wonderland glasses, although I'm not sure how a big screen movie in 3-D would be. I'm not really sure I'm keen on the idea. I think it would make me seasick, personally, but hopefully it was good.

Also, many congratulations to Miss Bullock for her big win. She's always been my favorite, and I'm certain it was well-deserved and that she delivered a classy speech in a classy dress, because she's just that kind of classy lady. Or so I hope. No worries about letting me know about "worldly" things. I get excited for them, but it doesn't really take my mind off the work. I almost think that for me, personally, it would take my mind off of it more NOT knowing. Like when I ask about tennis and stuff. Be sure to keep me posted if you can about March Madness. I realized this week that this is the first time since I started doing it in seventh grade for Mr. Patterson's class that I won't be able to fill out a bracket for the NCAA tournament. Oh well. No biggie. Life goes on.

Speaking of which, I can hardly believe it is already March. Where does time go? February seemed like kind of a slow-moving month, but March promises to be more fast-paced and exciting. We are still working endlessly on finding people to teach, trying to change up a few things so that we can have more time to work and find. This week was one of the hardest of my mission so far. We knocked and knocked and knocked and knocked, and only had just a few long conversations. Neither of those individuals became investigators, and we are having a really hard time getting in touch with the investigators that we do have. I know Satan is trying to hedge up our ways, but I'm trying to throw his discouraging and doubt-ridden thoughts aside the moment they arise. Saturday and Sunday were especially hard days. I started thinking I was a failure in this area, that I haven't done anything good or worthwhile since I got here, and that I should just give up. Now, who does that sound like? I have come to realize that any extreme thought usually come from Satan. Ideas like "you've done nothing" or "the Lord cannot use you." I really have to fight them off because sometimes they feel so enticing and, although it sounds strange, comforting. There's something oddly pacifying about feeling you've been judged and found worthless, so you don't have to try anymore. But I know that that is not what I want, not what would make me happy. So I just have to take the time to banish those thoughts and temptations. And I tell myself that He wouldn't be tempting me if there wasn't a great work in store for me to accomplish for the Lord. Why would he come to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove if he didn't see Joseph as a threat to his kingdom? I must be doing something right, or he wouldn't be tempting me. So, to sum, thanks for your prayers. I can feel them. We will be blessed and guided to the right people and families. Keep me in your prayers.

Yesterday night was when things started turning up. We had dinner with our ward mission leader's family, and that was just calming and peaceful. He encouraged us and expressed great faith that we will be able to find success. Then we were able to visit a less-active couple that is really desiring to come back to church. They have eight cats, each with its own story and personality. I love it when we get to visit with them, because I am strengthened by their sincere faith and hope in the gospel. I feel blessed to be able to associate with them. And last, we got to visit with my favorite little recent convert family in the Spanish ward. The young girl we've been working with even made us chicken and rice. Delicious! Or, should I say, delicioso! As I was sitting there in their home, I watched Sister Hoskins and Sister Smith interact with the kids for a few minutes, and my mind wandered to the feelings in that home. The Spirit of the Lord is so...abundant there. It's not an overwhelming, slapped-in-the-heart by the Spirit kind of feeling. It's more like you walk in and five minutes later you're just happier and calmer and more peaceful than you've been in a long time. And it can only be attributed to the Spirit they invite into their home. Their home feels almost like a temple, helping me regain a perspective. At least it did yesterday when I was feeling so down on myself. Pure joy. It feels like a foretaste of the fruit of the tree of life. Even my minimal interactions with this family are one of the greatest blessings of my life. And I've done nothing to deserve them. I only know that I experience them, and I cannot find words for how precious they are to me.

Hmmm, it feels like I've come to the end of my letter, but I'm sure there are more things to say. I'm glad you are enjoying your fun events at the Colonial. Greetings to my favorite folks in Mackay. I love you both! Congratulations to Phil Crepeau. He can greet Minneapolis with a smile. And a million hoorays for Cody. He's still my brother, more than any elder I know on the mission who's ever felt like a friend and brother. I know he will bless many lives as a missionary.

Love to all,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

3-1-10 "No Novios"

My apologies in advance in case of any blatant typos. This computer has a stiff spacebar, so I'm doing my best, and it's getting a little better, but even the best editor cannot catch everything when she's on a time limit. Please take this into account. Many more thanks.

What a week! We had zone conference on Wednesday, which was all about faith and obedience. Zone conference is always a spiritual boost, but this time more than ever before I was determined to take what I learned there and not just let it be spiritual truths recorded in a notebook, but actual principles that I put into practice. Lucky for me, I got to do so right away by going on exchanges with some Spanish hermanas. One of them went with Sister Hoskins and Sister Smith to work in our area until Friday morning, and I got to stay in their area and work with Hermana Christensen. I felt like I was on fire that day. My fear of tracting has almost entirely vanished, it seems, and at the risk of sounding prideful, I won't say I love it, but I will say that I see so much more purpose in it now, and I'm really trusting that God will help us find people through that means. Anyway, back to Wednesday. Hermana Christensen and I did just a little bit of tracting, and we saw a few people who were interested in maybe having the sisters come back at another time. Always a good sign. Sometimes you go tracting and no one has any real interest at all. That night, we were able to teach two first lessons. We were trying to find William, someone the sisters had met before and who wanted them to come back. But we knocked on the wrong door. But the young woman let us in to talk to her. She has quite a difficult life, but she is looking for a church. I love being able to testify about God's love using the Book of Mormon. And after we met with her we did find and teach William. Luckily, all of this was able to happen in English so that I could be a support to Hermana Christensen. The next day was not as easy. It seemed like no one was home, or no one would open the door, or no one had time, or a million other things. But we kept going. Finally, in the mid afternoon, we were able to teach a lesson to the teenage sons in a family the hermanas have been teaching. We taught the ten commandments, the law of chastity, and the word of wisdom, and we did it the only way that every really works: straightforward with no mincing of words or beating around the bush. (Although with a few more words than Mom's usual strategy: Don't do drugs. Don't have sex.) And then my favorite part of the day: we had a conversation with the mom in the family. In Spanish, because she speaks very little English. You'll be pleased to know that I held my own, although my vocabulary is not what it once was, and my verb conjugations in different tenses are less than stellar. Although sometimes I would start thinking of a response in German in my head, I eventually was able to get the Spanish to start flowing unimpeded. There were only a few times when I didn't understand what she was asking me. We talked all about my family and my education and my plans for life. For some reason, the only time I had a hard time producing a truly coherent answer was when she asked, "Tienes un novio?" ("Do you have a boyfriend?") All I could say was, "No novios!" She got the message. We giggled and laughed. It was just one of those moments you wish could go on forever, like meeting a kindred spirit and somehow communicating both with and without words. Words are only one medium of creating friendship. One of my favorite mission memories so far.

Back in good old Tomball, the work continues to move forward. We've had more luck in being able to teach lessons to people who've expressed interest in the past. We got to teach one man who lives right down the street from our ward mission leader, and he said he would read the Book of Mormon. What a victory! That is the most vital resource we have to aid in conversion. I know it is at the center of my own testimony of the gospel, along with the witness from the Holy Ghost that its message is true. As time goes on in my mission, I see my own weaknesses in even greater light, but that only gives me greater resolve to conquer them. I'm striving to open my mouth more readily to absolutely everyone I meet about the message we carry. It's starting to feel like time is running out, and there is so much more work to do. No matter the challenges, I know the Lord will guide us to the right people, or He will guide them to us. We are going to have great success, and none of our efforts are wasted. We started meeting once again with the Vietnamese lady we were teaching when I first arrived in Tomball. It will be a challenge for her to progress in the gospel, since her husband presents some opposition to her, but he doesn't stop us from coming to visit her. We are praying that his heart will be softened, and in the meantime we are striving to help her maintain her growing testimony.

I am so relieved to hear that Mark is okay. We heard about the earthquake at our first appointment on Saturday morning, and I immediately thought of him. I was sure you all would be worried but faithful. I'm glad to hear so many prayers have been answered. His mission certainly will be different from what he expected it to be, but in times of crisis servants of the Lord have such a great opportunity to show the Lord's love for everyone. A few years ago there was a semi-severe hurricane in the Houston area, and the missionaries spent two or three weeks just going around neighborhoods helping with clean up. I know that in those tragedies the Lord has a way of preparing the way for the gospel to be received and softening hearts. Including if that service is at a food pantry doing more than just dropping off cans.

Tell Eli that scriptural comics still leave plenty of room for creativity. Sister Hoskins likes to draw them, too, actually. She most recently drew one of the last chapter of the Book of Ether. I did get your news about Jordan Walker. I'm not sure I remember him, but I'm sure I would if I saw his picture.

Oh. The Olympics. Over once again. Sounds good. I have no regrets about Team Canada winning on home soil. It's how it should be. Let's face it: nothing could ever beat 1980. And who won the women's figure skating gold? Any one I know? Probably not, since you didn't bring it up. Here's to counting down to London. Those will be amazing.

Must go. Gotta do some shining. Actually, we're going bowling today. Wish me a few strikes and a score of over 100.

All my lovin,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

2-22-10 "It's Basically Useless But Totally Amazing!"

I can't remember what brought it up, exactly, but this week I decided that the subject line would be a great slogan for some crazy product. Something like Billy Mays used to sell before he bit the dust. As long as you say it in a loud voice, people would want to buy it. Kind of a lame start to the e-mail, but we thought it was funny at the time. You probably had to be there. Anyway, I'll tell Elder Parker he loses points for originality but retains them for creativity. And no matter what, it's a great turn of phrase.

Speaking of useless but awesome things, yesterday we were eating lunch with a member and we met some creatures called "nutrias." They're in the dictionary and everything. As we drove up to her house, she has a pond, and Sister Hoskins looked out the window and yelled, "Beavers! Beavers! Beavers!" Sister Vidrine was saying, "They're not beavers; they're nutrias." But since we'd never heard of nutrias, we thought she was kidding. No. She wasn't. Nutrias are medium-sized water rats with webbed feet, red pointed front teeth, and long rat-like tails. At first I thought they are going to be gross, but they weren't that bad, and totally Southern. Sister Vidrine keeps them as pets, and she was so sweet with them. Sister Hoskins held one in her lap for half an hour while it ate a bagel. Also, they don't smell at all. Surprisingly sweet. Nutrias: basically useless, but totally awesome. Look up their picture on Google TODAY! (Are you sold yet?)

Housekeeping: Congratulations to the soon-to-be Mrs. Ronnie Stringfellow. I'm sure he's great. Watson is a nice name for Roger and Jen's baby boy, although I'm fairly certain if this kid ever has a sidekick it'll be Lewis. "Watson and Lewis." Nice ring to it, don't you think? As for where the yearbooks are, you've kind of stumped me. I thought they were still on my bookshelves somewhere, probably on the far left in the closet, although I might actually have put them behind the books on that side of the shelf. Or they might be behind the books or binders in the middle shelves. Or in my desk drawer, bottom right (the one with a couple of built-in dividers). Maybe they're even on that little thing with wheels right next to my bed somewhere. But if they're not in one of those places, your guess is as good as mine. Hope that helps. I'm really curious about who this Jordan is. The only name I can remember is Jordan Johnson, but Jordan is such a common name that it could be quite a few more people than that. Whoever this person is, I hope you discover somehow. And if you see him again, give him my congratulations on being called to the Houston area. He's going to love it.

This week we finally got in with a media referral named Eddie. Great name, eh? He is very open about the gospel, and doesn't feel like he's attached to any church necessarily, although he has a strong Christian faith, and does NOT believe in the Trinity. I love it when that happens. One of the most prevalent false doctrines out there, and they just outright don't believe it. It's happened to me a few times on my mission, and such people are always special. We invited him to church yesterday, but he didn't make it. In addition to trying to find new people to teach, one of our biggest struggles right now is keeping in contact with the investigators we do have. They either live far away, or hardly ever answer the phone, or are hard to get a hold of. Nevertheless, persistence is key and our efforts will be rewarded.

We are also helping the Spanish elders right now with one of their investigators. She is a young teenage girl, whose family speaks Spanish, although she knows English very well. She's had quite a few struggles in her life, but we're trying to help her discover her worth as a daughter of God and find the joy of the restored gospel. Sister Hoskins has a special connection with her, but I feel blessed to be able to go in a meet with her. Her family lives in such humble circumstances, but they are so generous and giving. Last time we were there, they gave each of us two oranges. If I were Grace Kelly herself, I could not have felt more like a princess, although to the naked eye we were not in a palace. Discerning the true charity in this family's heart, I knew I was in the presence of spiritual royalty, a family whose value comes not from the amount of their worldly goods but the love in their heart. Being around them expands my spirit inside of me, almost to the point where I feel the my body can hardly contain it and my ribcage is literally expanding to hold it. I hope that makes sense to you, because to me it is one of the deepest truths I know. I just have a hard time fitting it into words.

Eli, we had some tostadas this week. They were delicious. You should try them when you get the chance. Your cake looks great, however. Was it a "joint" effort to make it? Cassidy: you look so elegant with your longer hair. You just shine.

Thanks for the medical advice. I'll take it to heart. I know that everything will work out just fine. Don't worry. And I know you're not.

Must run, but I love you all and send a million hugs your way! Stay warm!

Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. I almost forgot to write about the Olympics. We heard about Evan Lysacek. I knew Cassidy would be on cloud nine. We heard there was a bit of a controversy surrounding it, but I usually just want to tell the Russians to "take that." I hope there is a MIRACLE repeat, although it could never be the same as the first time. Congratulations to Apollo: he deserves it. I guess congrats to Bode, too, although he probably doesn't deserve it as much. But what about Eric Heiden? I thought he had the most gold medals from a single winter olympics? How do Apollo's records compare to his? Finally, way to be, Mitt! You amaze me. If missionaries were allowed to comment on politics, I'd say I wish he were our president instead of our current one, but since we're not, I won't.

P.P.S. I have a joke for you. Mostly for Dad, but you'll probably all laugh at it. Moses was landing at Houston International Airport on the same day as George W. Bush. George Bush sent his secret service agents over to have Moses come and talk to him. Three times he refused. Finally, President Bush asked them to ask why he wouldn't come. Moses responded, "Last time I talked to a bush, I spent forty years in the desert and I got the only land in the Middle East without any oil on it." Hope you like it. I shortened it because time is majorly up. BYE

2-15-10 "To Eternity and Beyond"

Today's subject line is brought to you by Elder Parker. He coined the phrase a few weeks ago, obviously spinning it off of Buzz Lightyear's catch phrase, and I've forgotten to tell you about it for a few weeks running. I like it. He also said he might have that written on his car after he gets married, instead of the typical, "Just Married." Inspired, I think.

Sister Hoskins, Sister Smith and I are getting along swimmingly. Sister Hoskins and I were already great friends, but I think having a third person there helps us to get along even better, because we certainly have different personality types. Sister Smith loves music, just like Sister Hoskins, and movies, just like me. She knew what I was quoting when I said, "Presidential flashcards," so That Thing You Do! is one of her favorites, too. So far, having three people hasn't been too much of a challenge, except I hope that we are giving her sufficient opportunity to speak her mind and testify, too. With three of us, it's really easy for someone's voice to get lost, and I don't want that to happen. I guess since I'm aware of it I'll know to try and combat it. I'll send pictures when I can. Sister Smith is from Bellevue, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha, and loves the Cornhuskers.

Our Valentine's Day was also filled with being served by members. I'm glad to hear the elders enjoyed the manicotti. It's fabulous, so they should have. I made some red velvet cupcakes for district meeting on Friday, and they were consumed in minutes, too. That was actually before I received your package with the mix and frosting. I ended up making my own homemade cream cheese frosting, but we'll put the other to good use, too, when we make the next batch. Anyway, yesterday we actually ended up with both a lunch and a dinner appointment. First we had a typical Texas supper: brisket, red potatoes, green beans, fruit salad, made for us by a nice couple in the ward, the Crandalls. Then we had dinner with the Merrills: breakfast for dinner, featuring more fruit, spinach quiche, and popeye pancakes. Delicious, and just what Sister Smith needed, since her family tradition is to have breakfast for dinner on Sunday night. So whlie you were feeding and giving rides to the missionaries, your missionary was being well-fed, too.

Thanks for the two great Valentine's boxes. We will be enjoying them for days. The CDs are great! All I really wanted was the picture of the Idaho Falls temple, but I got two, and Mt. Timpanogos and President Monson to boot. The one of the IF temple in the rain is actually my favorite, and it reminds me of the day I went through the temple for the first time. That was kind of a grey morning. I'll always have a special place in my heart for the Mt. Timpanogos temple, but lately I've been thinking just how much I really do love the Idaho Falls temple, and now I can ponder it in all its simple majesty. And I loved the cards. Actually, we recently started volunteering at an animal shelter, and I think last week I WAS kissed by a dog. But only very briefly. Special thanks to Eli, my sweet baboo, for the "infinity plus one" card. I love YOU the moster more, too. And I definitely love you more than Celeste, even though I'm sure she's a nice girl. Just remember, I got your heart first, so I get to decide when you have secret admirers. Although, if I remember correctly, second grade Valentine's day was when Kevin May proposed to me, so maybe it just runs in the family.

Cassidy, I'm not sure I know who you're talking about that knows me and may or may not be named Jordan. Any more details? Is he really young? What's his last name? But that's cool that he got called to the Houston South mission. I don't know if it's as great as the original Texas Houston mission, but I'm sure it's still amazing.

Thanks for the addresses. I'll be sure to get a letter off to Miss Amanda, and I'll probably send something to Elise soon. I got a letter back from Aarika this week. See if you can find out what her address is now, because I know she moved from where she was living last. And if you have any time to peek at blogs, check out damonjaclyn.blogspot.com because Sister Hoskins and I have been blogged about. She also has a craft blog with another sister in our ward, so maybe the link to it is on there. I'm not sure. You can never have too many blogging friends.

Thanks for the Olympic updates. Members have been keeping us kind of posted. Everyone fell asleep before the torch was lit, but we heard all about the icebergs and whales thing, and the tragic death of the luger. Not good. They said they even showed the footage on the news. Tacky. I'm glad to know Mr. Gretzsky got his moment to shine. He really is the king of ice. And if the 1980 team got to light it in Salt Lake, Wayne deserves to light it in Vancouver.

Mom, could you call Dr. Mathews office and ask for a phone consultation? Sister Hansen thinks we should just ask him for a second opinion about the nerve conduction study thing, and the fact that this doctor has now taken me completely off the sulfasalazin and wants me to have only one plaquanil a day. I haven't been feeling really bad, but I certainly haven't been feeling as good as I did when Dr. Mathews was treating me. See if you can do that.

I know there's something else I want to say, but I cannot at this moment think of it. It'll come to me later and hopefully I'll remember to say it next week. But until then, "to eternity and beyond." Sorry this week seems like a bunch of disjointed thoughts. Just think of it as a President's Day surprise, because we weren't sure if the library would be open.

Love from the always shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. Mom, the thing about flying with words was not cheesy. It made me feel really good, actually.

P.P.S. Go U.S.A!

2-8-10 "Three's Company"

I actually hate the show Three's Company, but the title does seem appropriate in light of the news we have about transfers. I have to tell you the whole story in context however, so don't get ahead.

On Saturday morning, the Spanish elders had a member who invited our whole district to breakfast. The Waller elders were unable to come because of miles and busy-ness, but we were privileged to go. This lady has a darling little yellow house, and she speaks very little English. Like practically none. Sister Hoskins was pretty good at communicating with her, but I was terrible. I would start thinking of things to say in my head, and they would be in German, not Spanish. I wish I had been able to say more, but the morning was great nonetheless. She made a TON of food, and the elders (who were interpreting for us half the time) said that if you don't want more, you shouldn't clear your plate. Leave just a little bit left, or she will make you eat a whole other plate. I was served first, but I was the last to finish. And after everyone had been served she puts another full plate in the center and directs us, in Spanish, to be sure all of it's gone. She made these round, flat, little tortilla-like things with a red sauce, chopped potatoes, and cheese on top. They were good, but very filling. I couldn't even finish all my five, when really, if I were doing my part, I would have eaten those plus one more from the table in the center. One of the elders had to eat like 8! In the middle of breakfast, we hear our phone beep, but we don't get to find out who called us until after we leave. Back to breakfast. So as we're reaching the end of our plates, she starts asking us if we want milk, because there's actually a dessert course with breakfast. Sweet breads and muffins and such. Saturday also happened to be Sister Hoskins's 23rd birthday and Elder Bell's two-years-on-a-mission birthday. So Elder Parker had brought candles to put in their breakfast dessert. The candles were lit, we sang a little ditty, and they made birthday wishes. Now that we are FULL, we go to the couch to share a little message. And by "we," I mean the Spanish elders, since my scriptures are in English. Even though I couldn't produce any Spanish, I was able to understand most of what Elder Parker was saying. It was a great message, and I certainly felt the Spirit even if I couldn't understand all his words precisely. When it came time for the closing prayer, the member decided to offer it. I was catching fewer of her words than Elder Parker's, but about halfway through the prayer I get the distinct understanding, even though I can't understand completely, that she's praying for Elder Bell to find a wife and have many beautiful children. I'm not describing it very well, but imagine hearing something in another language, and knowing it's in another language, but still being able to comprehend what is being said. I'm not saying I have the gift of interpretation of tongues or anything, but, sure enough, after we're outside the house, Elder Parker looks at us and says, "Do you know what she just prayed for?" I respond, "It sounded like a wife and children for Elder Bell." He just smiles and nods. We all had a good laugh about it. And now the phone calls. It was from the assistants to President Hansen. "Call us back. We have some news about transfers." We did. One of the assistants right now is my first ever mission field district leader, Elder Hiatt. He answers the phone and says, "Can you both hear?" "Yes. Sister Hoskins is driving. Should she stop?" He laughs. "No." The gist of it: we are going to both be staying in Tomball, but we will be training a brand-new missionary from the MTC. All we know about her is her name. Sister Smith. We will meet her on Thursday morning, and we get to go to a special temple session and training meeting that day. I'm excited, even though having three in a companionship will be something of a challenge. Wish us much luck. We'll need it, but I know it's going to be great.

That story was much longer than I intended it to be. I just wanted to give you all those details about the breakfast. It's one of my favorite mission memories so far, getting to glimpse into the Spanish-speaking work. It reminded me of over a year ago when our whole apartment arranged to go on a date, but then one of Marcie and Ana's friends was getting baptized that night, so we went to the baptism as part of the date. Fun and nice, and a bit similar of an "interpretation of tongues" experience, since the whole service was in Spanish then, too. I'm not saying I'm sad not to be a Spanish-speaking missionary, because I have always thought my work was meant to be in the English language, but I just have such a powerful testimony that the work going on in other languages changes lives, too, and brings people closer to the Savior. I'm really having a hard time finding my words today. What I just wrote doesn't even come close to truly expressing my emotions, but it'll have to do, because I have more to say.

Also this week we did a little tracting in a fairly affluent neighborhood. We were trying to make contact with a less-active man, but we decided just to tract around because we weren't sure when we'd be out there again. Towards the end of our tracting, we come to this house with a truck and a sports car in the driveway. On the back of the truck, there is a hitch with the bat signal on it. Interesting. I look at Sister Hoskins and say, "I wonder if Batman lives here. Are you prepared to teach the first lesson to Christian Bale?" She just laughs, like I'm crazy. Which I kind of am. But then, as we're knocking on the front door, I look at the doormat beneath our feet and it has a big, emblematic "W" on it. W. As in Wayne. BRUCE WAYNE. Not a coincidence, I'm thinking. Again, I turn to Sister Hoskins: "I think we're going to get to see the batcave today..." But alas, Bruce must have heard us talking, and didn't want to give away his secret identity. We told the elders about it that night, and Elder Parker had actually taken a picture of the batmobile that day. In any case, I'm pretty sure Mr. Wayne has a winter home in Houston.

So much more happens, but I only can tell you the best of the best. Congratulations to Eli for winning his chess match. Genius, genius, genius. I don't think I've ever even won a chess match, but I never really could get into it. He's following in the footsteps of my favorite Harry Potter character, however. Ron loves to play wizard's chess. Cassidy: CREEPY!!! about the Johnny Cash testimony. I've had weird dreams before, but I've never really called them visions. I'm not even sure how "Walk the Line" was an answer to his question. Is he supposed to go sing at Folsom Prison? Is he supposed to become a drug seller? Is he supposed to grow a long, ugly beard like Joaquin Phoenix and act crazy on David Letterman? And what exactly does a John Wayne tie look like? My advice: I'd "keep my eyes wide open all the time" for this guy, especially if he's all in black, because he may have "shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die." Not cool. Mom, yuck about getting sick on Tuesday, but kind of funny that you worried that you would die one a bad hair day. That's kind of like saying, "Don't let me die with my boots on." (Is it on or off? I can never remember.)

Happy Olympics on Friday. I'll be rooting in my heart, but focusing on missionary work. All three of us will be having dinner with one of our favorite families in the ward, Brother and Sister Brewer. Sister Brewer is almost my adopted mother. Love her. Thanks also for the music. We've been enjoying the tracks we can listen too, although I'm not sure what some of the last ones are. Any more hints on 12-14?

Last thing: People have been sending me mail without an apartment number on it. It gets to me, but you might want to be sure to include that from now on. Here's the full address: 29807 State Highway 249 #376 Tomball, TX 77375.

Much love and shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

2-1-10 "The Least Likely Chess Club Member"

Before I forget, let me tell you that this Saturday is when we find out about whether or not we'll be transferred. I'm about 50/50 certain that I'll stay in Tomball, but I'd suggest sending all mail to the mission office just in case. Also, I have a package waiting for me at the Tomball office of the USPS as we speak, so rest assured that I have (almost) received it. I will send a letter to Aunt Lenore, and I should be sending a card this week. Laura Robinson sent me a check and a card for Christmas, so I'll be sending the check home. You can just put it in my checking account.

Now for funny story of the week number one. Sister Hoskins and I were at the elders' apartment complex, waiting for them to come out so we could drive to district meeting. We're just sitting in our car, studying the scriptures, minding our own business, but kind of watching for the elders to come out, too. As we're doing this, a young guy, early 20s, drives by in a white car. He looks like he thinks he's a pretty cool guy, and I think I said something to Sister Hoskins about that. But as he turns the corner, emblazoned across the back of his back window is this banner: www.NWHoustonChessClub.com. Not exactly what we were expecting? You could definitely say that. And while we're on the subject of chess, I'll ask if Eli has seen the episode of Even Stevens when Tom is in a big chess competition and Louis and Twitty come to cheer him on. Shirtless, if I remember correctly. Hil. Ar. I. Ous. All I can say is, if he can learn to do a Rubik's cube, he's smarter than I am, because my roommate Ana spent a long time last winter semester trying to teach me how. I could do some of it, but I never learned the final secret move that conquers the cube. Maybe when I get back he can teach me. In the meantime, it sounds like he's still a genius, and getting smarter all the time.

Miss Cassidy: It sounds like you had a busy week, what with becoming a full-time mother for a few days and trying to keep up on our boys in the Australian Open. You have to know I'm grinning from ear to ear to hear that Mr. PeRFect has claimed yet another victory. Poor Andy Murray. It seems like he'll never win a major open title, but at least he doesn't have the temper of Roddick or the bad luck of Nadal. I really am sorry he had to withdraw. That happened last year to Novak D., who was the defending champion. Maybe that's what happens to every defending champion. But hopefully not next year. As for the other adventure, I'm trying to think of my favorite part of "Yours, Mine, and Ours" or "Cheaper by the Dozen," but the only thing that's coming to mind is Ashton Kutcher's facial expression when he says, "This is the moneymaker. I'm not that good of an actor." Hopefully that makes your day.

100 million congratulations to Tommy Hatcher for his mission call to Arizona Phoenix. At the risk of repeating the error we made when I got my mission call, I'm going to ask, didn't Russell Cheney serve in that mission? I know he lives in Dallas, not Houston, but I think he served in Phoenix, not Mesa. Speaking of cousins, Sister Hoskins and I are going out to dinner with Nichole and family on Wednesday night, as long as I can find the restaurant. Don't worry: I'm a very good navigator.

Now for funny story of the week number two. Sister Hoskins and I were at lunch with our ward mission leader and his wife on Saturday afternoon. As we were leaving the restaurant, we needed to get through this narrow little aisle by these people, so Sister Hoskins went first, and I followed her. I think my foot caught on the edge of the tile or something, but all of a sudden I'm on the floor. On my knees, actually. Sister Hoskins turns around and, fairly loudly, asks, "Did you just fall, Sister Sorensen?" I stand up as quickly as humanly possible and--lying through my teeth--say, "No, I'm fine." Outside of the restaurant we rush in gales of laughter that refuse to die until we get about two miles down the road. Later, I realize what I should have said was, "No, I just thought I should say a quick prayer." But missed opportunities come again. Later that night, we are at a member's home for dinner. Sister Hoskins and I are both sitting up to the bar while dinner is being prepared. She is petting the family's cat. She puts it down and gets up. About a minute later, I decide to stand up, too. The first step I take I hear a cat hissing sound. As I'm taking the next step, hopefully out of the cat's way, I look down to discover it going more and more underneath me. Step two produces a larger hissing sound, and finally I just decide to fall instead of risking taking another step. The cat scatters off into the closet, and I am left on the floor for the second time in one day. But don't worry. I didn't fall at all yesterday.

The missionary work has been picking up rapidly in the last week. We taught two great lessons from tracting. One was on the doorstep with a girl who nannies for an LDS family. She had a lot of questions about the Church, and we were able to teach and testify to her about a few things. The next day, a very similar thing happened. No joke, the third door we knock on, and the first where anyone was even home, a young married woman lets us in to answer her questions about the church. Neither of these people were interested in becoming investigators, but it was a sign that the Lord was guiding us to people who are prepared. And we were able to contact and teach three referrals from various sources this week, resulting in two new investigators, one of whom was planning to come to church (but did not). Nevertheless, attempting to pick her up resulted in my favorite story of the week.

So here it is: Ever since I arrived in Tomball, the Spanish elders have been teaching a family, and most of the family members were baptized at the end of November. The others either have been since or will be soon. Up until a week ago, I had never met a single member of this family, but by virtue of serving around the elders who were teaching them, I felt somewhat of a great desire for their spiritual growth. I've even had dreams about meeting and teaching this family. Anyway, one of our investigators, the one we were trying to pick up for church yesterday with a member, lives on the same street as this family. And we'd met one of the little girls in the family who just got baptized a while ago while trying to contact this investigator. Let's just say two girls in skirts or two men in ties would stand out in this neighborhood. Anyway, I keep digressing. I'll edit it later when it becomes the basis for a short story. Our member had brought the investigator a few cinnamon rolls, but when the investigator didn't answer, we saw the little girl and her friends and gave the cinnamon rolls to them. The little girl, the one who just got baptized, was so gracious and giving. I don't remember a word she said; I just remember feeling and knowing intuitively as she spoke that she was clean and pure and speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost. I could just feel it. I don't know how to explain it except to say I could feel it and know it was the Holy Ghost testifying to me that she was not only blessed to be baptized, but was living in compliance with her baptismal commitments and knew well how to live righteously.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Love y'all the moster more,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

1-25-10 "Do you want some eggs to go with that car?"

I am appalled. Guess what I discovered this week? There is a theme park where you can meet and greet all the characters from Peanuts. We're talking shaking hands with Linus and Lucy and Snoopy and Charlie Brown (and probably Peppermint Patty, if you happen to want to meet her). How did I find this out, you may ask? From the southern California-ites in my district, Sister Hoskins and Elder Dexter. I think we were at lunch after going to the temple, and I said, "I wish there were a theme park where you could meet Charlie Brown." And Elder Dexter says, "there is. Knott's Berry Farm." I now have a new goal for my life list. I need to meet Charlie Brown. No rush. I could do it when I'm fifty. I just need to do it.

And while we're on the subject of being appaled, you'll never guess what happened to us on Saturday night. Well, you actually probably could guess, based on the subject line, but I have to tell you the whole story anyway. We were out visiting a family in our ward way out in the country. After we left, on our way to our last stop of the night, we're driving down a country road. I am driving. We're just chatting. Nothing strange. BAM! BAM! Two very loud sounds from the passenger side of the car. I'm thinking I ran into a mailbox, although I was driving nowhere in the vicinity of any. I ask, "What was that? Did I hit something?" and Sister Hoskins says, "No, no..." I'm intently driving straight forward now, my eyes glued to making a perfectly straight line with the car, and she's looking around. Three seconds later, "we just got egged." Me: "What?!?" Her: "Our car just got egged. Pull over. We're going to call the police." I comply. We put on our hazards, and find the phone. A guy in a truck pulls up next to us, going the other direction, before we can call anyone, and asks, "Did y'all just get an egg thrown at you?" Sister Hoskins explains that we did, and that we're going to call our friend who's a cop. (The husband of the family we've just been visiting works for the police department.) When we call the family, at first the wife answers, and when we tell her what's happened she's all in a panic, but quickly the husband gets on the phone and says, "Just come back. We'll clean you off." On the way back, we nearly get egged again, because as we approach the scene of the crime, we slow down and see white things flying. Sister Hoskins, who is now driving, stops, rolls down her window, and yells, "We called the cops!" A rustle of clothing and some kids, basically teenagers, running. We then notice that there are eggshells all over the road right there. We get back to the house, they wash off our car with a hose, and send us on our merry way. The car smells RANCID; we're sure they threw ROTTEN eggs at us. Blech! The next morning, we still had eggshells in the passenger window. Well, there's something that never even crossed my mind as something that could happen to me in my life, let alone on my mission.

We are turning the corner here in Tomball, I can feel it. We had an appointment yesterday that fell through, but we have one with a different person on Wednesday at the church. Actually, that was arranged by the zone leaders. Someone who lives across the street from the church (which is our proselyting area) walked into the chapel and got a copy of the Book of Mormon from their ward's bishop, talked to them for a little bit, and set up an appointment. Grand things are on the horizon. We've been having more and more success with less active families, and I'm even starting to feel better about tracting, thanks to the example of Sister Hoskins and the testimonies of other missionaries that it can be done, it can be productive, and it has a purpose whether you find people or not. The Tomball ward is amazing. Almost every member family we meet with has some neighbor they're working on sharing the gospel with, and some have many. We're striving right now to implement the ward mission plan, which will certainly channel all those efforts and inspire even greater missionary success.

Good for you for having the missionaries over last minute. You are obviously one of their favorite families. I know we have a few families we can stop by on when we don't have a dinner, and it never fails, they'll invite us to stay. It requires a little humility, but I think of Alma when he first meets Amulek: "Will ye give an humble servant of God something to eat?" (Alma 8:19). And the best part is, once when we did that, later the mom told us that the lesson we shared on that spur of the moment dinner really helped her in her calling. It inspired her to testify more. God's hand is in everything.

Speaking of the Olympics, I would be sad too if I were a Canadian missing the Canadian Olympics. A missionary in our district right now goes home two days before the opening ceremony, and while he's not rubbing it in or even acting like he's on his way home, I'm trying my hardest not to be a little jealous. By thinking things like, "well he missed both Torino and Beijing!" and "missionary work only comes around once in every life--the Olympics happen every two years." They'll be over in the blink of an eye, and my goal is to be so focused on the work that I don't even notice. My best advice would be, just give the the highlights in your e-mails. Less than 250 words per week should suffice. Satiate my appetite, but don't leave me craving more.

But you know what I am craving: more stories about Eli's genius vocabulary and future career as a book reviewer. Love the title of the book. Love the fact that he knew "realistic fiction" and "acrostic." I didn't know that in second grade! All I knew in second grade was the poem from Matilda about how to spell difficulty: Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. F-F-I, Mrs. C, Mrs. U, Mrs. L-T-Y. (To which the Trunchbull responds, "Why are all these women married?!?") And that's the book I'm going to add to his list: Matlida. Unless you think the Trunchbull will scare him. I think he'll love it. It will make him laugh out loud. Maybe not as much as Splat the Cat, but I haven't even read that book. So hopefully I won't die very soon. And if he's old enough to write a book as morbid as "What All Kids Should Read Before They Die," he's old enough to read Matilda. And the visual aids thing is also hilarious. Maybe you should show him that Shakespearean poem, "The Seven Ages of Man." It sounds like he's already got most of them, but it might give him a few more ideas.

I'm sorry to hear Uncle Ellis passed away, but I agree that he's probably enjoying Grandpa and Grandma McClellan's company once again. I'm glad to hear Jason Wilding is headed for Brazil, home of the 2016 Olympics. Which mission? It's a shot in the dark, but someone from the Tomball ward just headed to Londrina, but there are like 20 or 30 missions in Brazil. Just wondering. And the most exciting news of all: Co-dizzle! Yeah! Go on a mission! Date a tall redhead from Rupert! (And probably in that order, although letter-writing is a fine art to be cherished and developed in between.) A redhead from Rupert...that reminds me of my favorite redhead, who happens to be named Rupert. I first started loving him in H.P.A.T.C.O.S. Also a good book for developing geniuses. Wow. Hopefully, he won't have read all of them by the time I return.

When I get to this point, I always feel like I have more to say, but I can't remember what all your letters said, or if there's some great news from my side I'm forgetting. No, I never did get a letter from Aunt Lenore, but I'll send thanks along if you get me her address. And I'm making calls today about visiting an opthamologist. I'm leaning more and more towards getting a new doctor, but I think I'll wait a little more and see how I feel. I may just go to him once more, because I'll likely be transferred after my next appointment, which is in March. President and Sister Hansen are always great to counsel with me. "It'll work out." That was President Hinckley's motto, and I'm striving to make it my own. In addition to "less is more."

And since "brevity is the soul of w(h)it," here I make my end with LOVE:
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. All the debutantes in Houston couldn't match the bussel in my hedgerow!

1-19-10 "What is genius, anyway?"

(I mentioned recently to Whitney in a letter that the original Rainman, Kim Peek, had passed away. The girls sometimes call Eli "Rainman" since he retains every bit of information ever known to man. Thus, the rainman reference in the letter.)

One example of genius is Rainman. I heard from someone recently that he had died, but now I can't remember who said it. This mystery person was also saying that Rainman was a Latter-day Saint and had his scriptures memorized. Imagine that. I'm not really sure if that's true though. I'm sorry to hear that he died also. I don't think I've ever actually seen Rainman, but I know I've seen the scene (how's that for internal rhyme?) where Dustin Hoffman counts cards and says to Tom Cruise, "The Queens. There are a lot of them."

Another example of genius is my brother, the P.A.C.E. testing champion of the world. I had no doubt in my mind when you said that he had taken the test that he would pass with flying colors (which is an expression that makes no sense, but kind of makes a nice image in my mind). The boy can do really difficult multiplication tables, sometime even more than his teacher can do without a calculator. (Eli can do them without a calculator and the teacher cannot. That's a double entendre.) The boy knows the word "embroidery." I would say that P.A.C.E. was a great program for me. I was obviously never in it in 3rd and 4th grades, but I loved having that one day a week to go and do something a little different from the rest of the week. I made really good friends from all over the school district, and I got a chance to stretch my skills in the learning department. I think he would like it, but I wouldn't say it's absolutly essential if you want him to be happy. Maybe he just wants to be a regular student. I'd say, let him give it a try if he wants to. Congratulations, genius brother! I love you the moster more!

But the prime example of genius this week is me. I finally got a haircut. A. Maze. Ing. I love it. It looks about like it did when Witney's mom gave me one. Short and flirty and fun. The bangs are back to their fabulous selves.

Hmmm. We are kind of on a time crunch today, so I have to write quickly. Thanks for the Olympic news. I'm trying to decide if I want you to tell me who wins things. I probably won't be able to say no. Let me know about cool people like Evan Lysacek and Shawn White and anybody new who comes along. Maybe even tell me about uncool people like Bode Miller and Johnny Weir(d) and Bode Miller. Are there any good female skaters? You know I'd love to be able to witness it with my own eyes, but if the vcr's not working, maybe I'll just ask you to buy the 2010 Vancouver highlights DVD or something as a Valentine's gift.

Speaking of which, my Valentine's Day requests are: 1. a picture of the Idaho Falls temple. Nothing elaborate. Something transportable. Just a picture of my temple. 2. More music. We always need more music. Classical is nice and acceptable. If you burn something, could you send the version of "Lead, Kindly Light" from the Pioneer Sesquecentenial (sp?)? And if you are able to find the "Together Forever" soundtrack on CD, we wouldn't say no. And I'm not being sarcastic in either this sentence or the last one. Really. Ugh. That's the trouble with sarcasm. When you don't intend it, it still sounds sarcastic.

That's all for this week. Sorry it's so short. Martin Luther King Jr. took up our time. We have to go find people to teach.

Love,
Sister Whitney Sorensen

1-14-10 "Take a Picture...It'll Last Longer"

...Even more photo gifts from our missionary. Again, thanks to the lovely Kimberly for her sweet scanning skills!The feet of them that preach. In rain, in sleet, in mud, in floods. A good pair of shoes is worth at least $150!
Whitney's dream of meeting a President finally comes true. He seems a little cold, though.

Fellow elders and sisters on temple day. Elder Ced/Ed is front and center. Shia's personality twin is Elder Bell, arms crossed, attitude proudly showing!

Will it blend? Are we allowed to make Coke Can chicken on a mission?

Sister Kemp and Sister 'Squints"
Alex after his baptism. Word from Whitney, "Remind investigators of proper post-baptismal attire." I still think he looks great. Glowing and groovy!

All the well-wishers after Alex's baptism.
Two are clowning for the camera. Two are not.

1-11-10 "Pictures of Me, For You"

The Queen of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, we made a Charlie Brown Christmas tree

Downtown Houston during the worst blizzard of the year! Ha!


The beautiful Houston Temple Sister Sorensen and Sister Kemp preparing to design a gingerbread house
The finished product
The tree from some members

Festive aprons for the cooks in the kitchen

Christmas morning
A calender from her sweet baboo!
More Christmas gifts
Reunited with Sister Hoskins...her companion from the MTC. They're getting ready to 'rip it up in Tomball! Happy New Year, y'all!

1-11-10 "Put Up Your Duke"

I hope you get the big e-mail I just sent with only pictures (mostly). Unfortunately, I couldn't attach the best picture of the week because it's on Sister Hoskins's camera, but have no fear, I'll find a way to get it to y'all. We met John Wayne this week! "How?" you ask. "How could you meet John Wayne, since he is dead?" We were tracting! We were tracting a street in a neighborhood, also trying to contact a former investigator to see if she'd like to learn with missionaries again. We didn't get in contact with her again, but at one house at the end of the street, there was a lifesize poster of John Wayne hanging up on the door that leads from the house to the garage. After we talked to the person inside, we asked if we could take a picture with it. So, I met John Wayne this week, and I have photographic proof. Rooster Cogburn and I bared our true grit together. I'll see if I can get a copy of the picture today and send it along.

In other news, still no investigators, but the work always moves forward. We'll keep trying, and in any case we're really having success with less-active families. We're getting in with a lot of them, and we're also dropping by on members a lot. We really think we need to get to know the whole ward in order to get them to all work together on this and build up the work in the area. Sister Hoskins really has a fire underneath her, determined to get it going again, and I'm glad to be her companion. She is great at talking to people and just keeping the conversation going. We are about to find the people who are prepared in this area. I just know it. I can feel it. We had interviews with President Hansen this week, something we do every six weeks, and I just felt so optimistic about the future that day. Some days are harder than others, but I am determined to keep going.

Now, about the weather. Yes, it has been very cold here the last four or five days. The humidity makes it feel much colder than it actually is, too, but the cold snap is almost over, so I don't think I'll need a warmer coat or a scarf or anything. I've been wearing my lovely rain coat everywhere, which is really more of a joy than a pain since I love it so much, and I just wear a sweater underneath to stay warm. I've also been wearing my gloves, and as long as I keep my hair down over my ears, I'm fine. I'm an Idaho girl. I've been through cold way worse than this. Suffice it to say, I don't think I'll be needing any additional winter-type clothes, but I'll keep you posted.

Hmmm, I feel like I don't have much to say this week, although everything's been good, and I have been writing it all down in my journal, so everything I can't remember when I'm sitting at a computer I can at least tell you later. Alex. He hasn't been to church in four weeks now, and we were really starting to get worried. We'd called him and called him. Last week, we were worried that he just didn't know about the time change, but he never called us back after we left like three messages. He wasn't at church yesterday either. But finally last night we found out that the Elders Quorum secretary saw him at Walmart and learned that he (Alex) is apparently moving to Russia! I still haven't heard that from Alex himself, but at least we know he's not missing in action (MIA) or absent without leave (AWOL).

Love the picture of Cassidy saying "Hasta Luego" to Elder Tobias. He'll love it. I also finally got to see the pictures of Christmas morning and Beatles Rockband. Too cool for words. What's with the magic wands? Did they come with Harry Potter on DVD or something? Cassidy, you make a good-looking Ringo, as does Eli, but why are Madeline (sp? too many ways to spell that name anymore) and Cassidy being attacked by Kim? Is she Yoko or something? Any word on when Mr. Chicago is putting in his mission papers? And is Conor just living at home until he hops the country to the MTC and then to Lithuania?

Also, Elise. I'm so glad to hear she's on her way to London. She'll love it. Every minute of it. Just think. Who'dve thought I would be the trailblazer for Ronnie and Elise to go to the London Theater Study Abroad program? Do you know if Elise ever got my letter? I sent her one like three months ago, but I never got one back. Life as a college co-ed is busy, I know, but did she at least receive it? And how is Miss Ronnie? Use my facebook to find out, if you are not yourself her FBF (facebook friend).

I definitely think doing sealings at the temple counts, and doing initiatories is also wonderful. You absolutely have the right to change it up, Mom, so do it. Speaking of which, love the irony in the fact that my at home desk and my former desk both had weights in them and needed to be moved recently. I'm even more glad to hear that my desk made it's Idaho Falls debut and was not only on stage, but was the stage for a dance number by Lily St. Regis and Rooster and Miss Hannigan. Fab. U. Lous. You could have had them sign it, but after a while it might have gotten old. Of course, they could always do like some missionaries do and carve their names into the drawer. Or, come to think of it, my other desk, the one that got moved with thirty additional pounds, had several names carved into the desktop itself. So signing with a sharpie would have been nicer, since the desk remains flat when you don't carve into the surface.

Doctor: yes, I am going to the doctor on Thursday. I'm a little nervous, but I know I can assert myself and get my position across. It's not like he can do the procedure without my consent.

Oh, and to further clarify the apartment situation. Apartment #1 in College Station burned down, so we moved to #2 in the same complex. #3 was when I moved to Tomball. #3 is also Cobblecreek. #4 is when we moved and the hilarious desk incident occurred. I currently live in #4 which is on State Hwy 249 and is called the Park and Spring Creek, not Cobblecreek.

Okay, time's up. I hope this week's letter wasn't too boring.

Love,
Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. I just got gum all over my blue skirt from sitting at this computer desk at the library. Hopefully ice will get it off. If not, it was only ten dollars. But I really like it! Pray for it. Last week, Sister Hoskins had a skirt incident. She sprayed what she thought was oxiclean, but was actually bleach in an oxiclean bottle on her blue skirt, and when it started turning pink she screamed. We called the elders to jokingly ask if they could bless the bleach out of a skirt. She ended up bleaching the whole thing pink, and it doesn't look too shabby. I wonder if they've ever blessed the gum off of a skirt...

1-4-10 "Greetings Idahoans and Earthlings"

If this e-mail address seems a little strange, it's not because I was taken to the planet Vulcan. Although I did make the "Live long and prosper" sign with my hands everytime I read those words in your e-mail, Mom. No, it's because all the missionaries are getting new e-mail addresses since they are updating the much outdated missionary e-mail service. (Question: why is update the opposite of outdate? Shouldn't it be downdate? or indate? Curious...) So here it is, my new e-mail address: whitney.sorensen@myldsmail.net. Almost the same as the old one, but a little less complicated. All your old e-mails will be sent to this box, so if you accidentally forget, don't worry, I'll get them. But try not to forget.

Which brings me to the discussion of another address change. Didn't I tell you like two months ago that Sister Kemp and I moved apartments? It was even before Thanksgiving. And I thought I told you my new address at that time, not just last week. (By the way, the zip code here is 77375, just like the old one.) If I didn't, you missed a great story. Well, actually a pretty okay story. That was clear back when the missionary often reffered to as LaBeouf was still here, over six weeks ago. Ced/Ed is still here, but he is on the third companion he's had while serving in this area. Anyway, the great/pretty okay part of the story involves my desk. When we were moving, we had two senior elders plus the Spanish elders plus the zone leaders here to help us carry all the heavy stuff. We lived on the second floor, too, so things were a little tricky negotiating angles and stairs and such. Almost everything was carried out, except my desk. They were out of room in the truckbed and trailer they'd brought, but they still thought they could maybe fit it in. Plus, they just wanted to get everything out of the apartment. So the zone leaders were trying to carry my desk out of the apartment. They got it through the front door, and they stopped for a minute on the landing. One of them looked like he was really straining, and I remember thinking that was odd because a) he's not really a weakling, and b) the desk shouldn't be that heavy. After about a minute, they picked it up again and carried it down the stairs and over to the truck. Five or ten minutes (but not six, seven, or eight) later, Sister Kemp and I were in the apartment...we looked out the window, and what did we see? Two elders discovering two weights IN THE DESK! We're talking the kind of weights you would put on the end of a bar to do bench presses. Probably 30 or 40 pounds, all concentrated on the side of the straining (seemingly needlessly) elder And then Sister Kemp has a revelation: "Oh yeah, I forgot we put those in there!" Apparently, earlier in the summer, she and Sister Cook (her old companion) had been cleaning the apartment and found the weights. Wanting to get them out of the way, they put them in the desk. And forgot about them. I do remember seeing them once myself, but I never used that part of the desk, so I didn't even think to clean it out. We felt really bad. We were sure they thought we'd played a prank on them. We mentioned it to them, trying to apologize and make them see the humor in the situation, but they kind of brushed it off a little. "Sure you forgot about them." Oh well. I still think it's kind of funny. Maybe that's cruel.

Moving onto current events, the first part of this week was spent mostly in transfering Sister Kemp to Katy and transferring Sister Hoskins to Tomball. All the switching happened on Wednesday. I'm very excited to work with Sister Hoskins again. We need her in this area. She has no fear of tracting, and in fact loves it. Hard to believe, I know, Dad, and I'm sure I'll never love it, but doing it with her makes me less afraid of it. I have that goal to become a fearless tracter (not a fearless tractor), and if anyone can help me accomplish it, it's her. We've already spent quite some time tracting, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming, and she's so good at keeping a conversation going that we have great success talking to people, even when they make it clear at the beginning that they don't want to have us teach them. My favorite thing this week has been having people tell us they already have a copy of the Book of Mormon. It's so strange and exciting, because it happens when you'd least expect it. The mission is focusing right now very strongly on using the Book of Mormon, and President Hansen keeps saying that "the Lord has a special blessing in store with the Book of Mormon." I'm starting to think that this is at least part of it. Who would have thought that the Bible belt would be filled with hidden copies of the Book of Mormon? Not this missionary. Apparently, President Benson's call to "flood the earth with the Book of Mormon" is not lost. We're still sowing and reaping its blessings.

On Thursday (New Year's Eve), we had our first district meeting with our new district leader, Elder Bell, aka Ced/Ed. The more I think about it, I don't really think he looks like Ced/Ed at all, but now that that's his nickname, I've got to use it. Anyway, it was one of the best district meetings we've had in a while. I could sense the attitude of the district turning around with the three missionaries newly added to our district. For the last six weeks, all three companionships have kind of been in a finding--and not succeeding at finding--slump. But I have a feeling that's all about to turn around. I am the designated piano player. It's not a calling, necessarily, but we did kind of vote on it. It felt kind of nice to use common consent for something even as simple as that. Like they wouldn't just assume that I would do it. It feels...official. That night before that Sister Hoskins and I were delivering some Gospel Principles manuals to members of the Relief Society who hadn't picked theirs up yet. We stopped by the Carpenter family's house. The Carpenter's are very strong and active, but Sister Carpenter has been very sick. We had such a nice visit with them, during which time I learned that using the title "Miss" followed by someone's first name is a very strong Southern tradition and a sign of great respect. So, Miss Joy, you are a true Southern lady now. The Carpenters also had us over the next night (New Year's Eve, again) for steak. We had to eat at like four, because President Hansen wanted all missionaries "in their apartments, no questions asked" by 5. With the unsaid motive being to avoid drunk drivers.

Friday most of the day was a mission-wide conference to gear us up for the new year. I loved every minute of it. Lately, despite the hardship of feeling like we have no one to teach and worrying that I'm wasting the Lord's time, I feel like I'm hitting my stride as a missionary. Every missionary meeting I just come away with a strong sense of determination and purpose, like I know that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, and I know exactly where the Lord would have me improve the most. And yesterday I know the Spirit was guiding us as we did our work. I think part of it was it being fast Sunday, so I was feeling closer to the Spirit, but we'd forgotten the ward list at home, so I had to go entirely from memory. We decided to drop a Gospel Principles manual by to some less-active, fairly recent converts whom I'd never met. They have never been home when I've gone by with Sister Kemp, but their name came into my head three or four times, so we drove over there. They were home! She was so excited to get the manual. She even kissed it. She and her husband expressed the desire to come back soon, so hopefully Sister Hoskins and I will be able to get in with them again soon. They didn't express any animosity toward the church, and spoke so fondly of the missionaries that had worked with them. We had a great conversation. After that, I felt that we should go to another less-active family's house, a husband and wife who haven't been to church in ten years or more. Sister Kemp and I have been stopping by on them since I got to the area, but usually when we get there, something crazy has just happened. Once, they were worried that one of their horses' leg had been broken. He was so worried about it. The next time we stopped by, he said that after we'd left, he'd gone inside and just said a heartfelt prayer, leaving it all in Heavenly Father's hands. And the horse turned out to be okay! Skip to me reading through the conference Ensign. I was reading President Packer's talk about prayer, and there's that great story about their son praying for the cow to be all right. I immediately thought of the family, so I'm sure the Lord was telling me to share it with them. So we did. And it was the best lesson we've ever had with him. He really wants to come back to church again, because he has temple work he wants to do, not just for himself but for family. I just feel so strongly that serving them is one of the many reasons the Lord needs me in this area. It's people like them that make the hard times worthwhile. He also gave us some slices of a traditional Southern cake he'd baked: "Sock-it-to-me cake" is a yellow bundt cake with cinnamon and pecans in the middle. I don't usually like pecans, but this was delicious. Not quite red velvet, but approaching.

Wow, I haven't really responded much to your e-mails. Glad to hear you're having a very white January, although I'm not really jealous. I'm glad to have a snow-free (for the most part) winter as a missionary. It's definitely got it's challenges, and who needs snow on top of that? I can't wait to read THE BOOK, but I suppose I'll have to. Something to look forward to, just like writing my own books, and watching the Olympics one winter after they occur.

Oh, I did get the Christmas card/package finally. A lot of mail got lost in transit, but it's all mostly out of it now. The picture card looked great. I'm keeping it in my journal. I played Christmas bracketology by myself. My winner: "For Unto Us a Child is Born." How could anything else win with that on there? It's almost not fair. Next year we should exclude that one. Songs I'm glad you didn't include: "Christmas shoes" (punk or otherwise), "Domnick the Christmas Donkey," and "I Wanna Kill Your Mother for Christmas." Song I was sorry you excluded and exchanged: "Merry Christmas, Baby" by the Beach Boys. I substituted it for "Little St. Nick" because I like it better. I think it actually made it to the final two. Let's just say I think the right side was more competitive than the left.

Okay, I have to go now, but I love you all I'm definitely shining brighter than a vulcan.
Love,
Sister Whitney Sorensen

p.s. Ooh, and I forgot to mention that on the way to district meeting on Thursday we figured out that Elder Bell was also a part of his Scholastic bowl (nerd bowl, as he referred to it) team. He's from Idaho. Crazy small world. We would have been at the same state competion at least once, but probably never competed against each other because he's from a smaller school. But maybe we did. I can't really remember if we ever played against Soda Springs.