Elder Kyle Sorenson: December 2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Skyping Elder Sorenson - December 25, 2017

CHRISTMAS 2017

Nevada Skype - Christmas Eve

Elder Sorenson Skyped his dad, stepmom, and brother on Christmas Eve, 12/24/17!!

California Skype - Christmas Day

Elder Sorenson Skyped his mom, sisters, his dog Shadow, and several of his Fuller Family members on Christmas Day, 12/25/17!!

Elder Sorenson, his mom, and sisters had time to talk to and laugh with each other during his Skype call on Christmas Day!

Elder Sorenson - December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas!

Espero que este dia esta lleno de alegria y memorias spectaculares!

Honestly, I still do not believe it is Christmas because 1. It is 95° here, and 2. There aren’t any Christmas lights. So I feel like it is just in the middle of June right now. Ha ha! But I know and feel all of the love that you have this Christmas season!

It was quite an up-and-down week this past week because all of the non-missionary stuff we had to do. We had another Christmas devotional and my companion and I had to mop, clean, and set everything up. It was quite a stressful day and it didn’t turn out how I would’ve liked, but I know the Christmas spirit was there and it made a lot of people feel the true meaning of Christmas!

I know that Christ lives and I know that the true meaning of Christmas is to help other people. I have been given a great opportunity to do that 24/7 here in Ecuador. I love the work and there is honestly nothing better. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I am also very grateful for all of your support and prayers. I feel them every day as I walk the streets of Ecuador. You don’t need to worry about me here because I truly am in good hands.

To close my letter this week, I want to end with one of my favorite verses of Christmas. “Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.”

Merry Christmas from Ecuador!

Love Always,
Elder Sorenson

Luke 2:49
Don’t worry about me!

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Elder Sorenson - December 18, 2017

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas season is here, but it does not feel like we will celebrate the birth of Christ in a week! I guess part of the reason is that I am not huddled next to a fire like usual because in Ecuador, this time is the hottest time of the year. To really picture Ecuador at Christmas is not hard. They aren't really festive and don't really have lights, but the majority of people have a little tree in their family room. They care more about blowing things up than anything else.

I have really gotten caught up in the work because I didn't realize it was Christmas time until recently. But that is okay because I need to forget myself and go to work, right? We had a baptism of a little girl named Valentina and she reminded me of my little cousins (just speaking Spanish). Haha! It was honestly super spiritual and she asked me to confirm her as a member of the Church which was such a privilege to do! Another soul saved that can enter God's Kingdom!

Honestly, the best part of the week was the Christmas Devotional that our mission put together for a few stakes last night. My companion and I are both into music and know how powerful it is and so we started planning the devotional in October. But everything in South America is last-minute so we didn't start rehearsing until last Thursday. Haha! We got it done and it was successful. There were about 300 people who showed up to the devotional. The music was so powerful to me. Once I get my hands on the video, I will send it to all of you!

I hope you all have a wonderful and memorable Christmas! This is the "most wonderful time of the year" if you remember it for the right reasons. It is to remember the Lord's birth and to give service to others.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from me to you here in Guayaquil, Ecuador! I love you all.

Love Always,
Elder Sorenson

Luke 2

Elder Sorenson and his companion "Lighting the World" with a little bit of paint!

"The good looking (and single) Christmas choir" reports Elder Sorenson

Baptism of Valentina - a little girl who reminds Elder Sorenson of his little cousins! Elder Sorenson confirmed Valentina as a member of Church.

Elder Sorenson's covert from his first sector!

Monday, December 18, 2017

Elder Sorenson - December 11, 2017

Hi Everyone!

This week was the same as usual, working hard and sweating a lot. It is quite the opposite Christmas season here, intense heat and no turkey! I am at least with an American this holiday season and we can think about the good-ole-days when were in the states! But I wanted to talk about the program that the church is doing this Christmas. It is called Light the World and is such an amazing thing to be a part of! Being in a third-world country has really made me grateful for what I had and sadly, took advantage of in the states.

This Christmas, I really want to think of others and I want you all to do the same. We have been blessed with homes, families, food, cars, etc. and there are so many people who don’t have any of that. This program #LighttheWorld, is helping us remember that TRUE meaning of Christmas. I love serving the Lord and it is honestly such a humbling experience to realize how much poverty there is in the world, but with the love we have in our hearts, we can help one soul at a time.

When Chris came here to earth, he healed the sick, deaf, blind, and dumb. He was His only Begotten Son who came here and atoned for our sins. I am trying to be like Jesus and I know for a fact that living this Gospel helps me become more like Him each and every day. I am not perfect, but I know I can be perfected through Him at the last day. This holiday season is helping me do that! I invite you to go on this website and see what each one of you can do to Light the World! Matthew 25:31-40

I love you!

Elder Sorenson

#LightTheWorld

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world

My companion and I at a service project!

Getting prepared for Christmas, they paint these things and then blow them up on Christmas and New Years!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Elder Sorenson - December 4, 2017

Hi Everyone!

It was quite a frustrating week for many things that happen. I know not everyone is perfect and we make mistakes, but this week was rough. We have an investigator, her name is Sandy, and she wants to be baptized. Honestly, we could fill a baptismal font tomorrow. The rest of her family is baptize, so we are trying to complete the family to make all of them members. The only challenge that she has is that she isn’t married, just like about half of Ecuador. But she wants to get married and is super excited about it! For the past four or five weeks we’ve been trying to get her to go and get married with a member because she can’t go by herself. Every single time, the member will cancel on us and our investigator will get really sad that she can’t go! It should be the opposite! Obviously, everyone is busy and has things but when you make a commitment to someone, you have to follow through or let them know ahead of time that you can’t go. We have expressed our frustrations with the Bishop and I hope this week will be better, I mean, it’s a new week!

We also talked to our Mission President and he agreed to let us put together a Christmas choir that travels to all the stakes in the mission! We start our practice this week and I hope that we will find a lot more people to teach through this!

Also, my companion celebrated his 20th birthday this week and I am his companion so it was my birthday too! They feed you so much food here, it is in sane. My companion I had two breakfasts, three lunches, and then four dinners. I literally felt and looked like a giant balloon because of how much food I ate!

I really learned patience this week. A lot of patience, not only for other people but for myself too. I know the Lord tested me this week and I tried my best to pass! I love you all and hope that you’re doing good this holiday season!

Love Always,
Elder Sorenson

#LightTheWorld
Mormon.org
25DaysOfChristmas

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Elder Sorenson - November 27, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Well, changes came this week and I am going to stay with my companion for another 6 weeks. I am super excited for it and it will be super fun because this sector is full of people to teach and baptize!

I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was great and memorable! Mine sure was! I mean, I was at lunch with another gringo this year and we celebrated with a ton of coca-cola and some “papi-palls.” It is like fried chicken with fries, covered in ketchup! We worked the whole day and we were running to each appointment. I am grateful for all of the things that I have here and am super grateful for the support you have given me. I love the mission and I really don’t want to came back!
Also, my companion and I are both quite musically talented. We got asked to sing in a “Stake Choir.” If any of you have been to South America and have heard them sing, it isn’t too pretty. But I was really grateful to sing and help them out! All of the missionaries in Guayaquil went to the temple to do a session and it was amazing. I know that temple work is true and it helps families be forever. I have a firm testimony of this Gospel and know what I am doing is true. This is the Lord’s work and this is His church.

If any of you are wandering how my Spanish is doing, it is better to ask me how my English is because I sang in English yesterday and I literally was reading it like it was Spanish. It is amazing to me how one can learn a whole other language so fast and convert people to the Gospel using it!

I love you and Happy Thanksgiving! Be careful with Black Friday shopping!

Love Always,

Elder Sorenson