FINAL EMAIL; Elder Sorenson - September 17, 2018

EVERY MISSION HAS AN END, BUT IN LIFE EVERY ENDING IS JUST A NEW BEGINNING
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For my last email, I want to leave with you lyrics of a song that explains exactly how this mission has been...

 I love this Work. I love my Savior. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the Church.

The hardest thing I ever loved to do

was letting go of everything I ever knew

eighteen years of dreams left in my room

as I buttoned up the jacket of my suit

And the hardest word I've ever loved to say

was goodbye to my mom and walk away

choking on my tie and on my tears

as I walked down the hall into those years

And the sweetest song I've ever loved to sing

filled the MTC on angel's wings

the chorus filled my soul 5000 strong

and I wished it would just go on and on

The firmest hand I've ever loved to shake

was my trainer's with that big grin on his face

he grabbed my bag and put his arm ‘round me

and whispered

"I'm gonna work those Mr. Macs right off your feet"

And the hardest words I've ever anguished for

came just before some lady slammed her door

my trainer left me hanging out to dry

as a minute of painful silence rolled right by

But the hardest tears I ever loved to cry

fell as I opened up my mouth and testified

between the tiny walls of a stranger's living room

the Spirit told their hearts my words were true

   The most wonderful sound I've ever heard

is the sound of water running in the church

as someone I'd come to love got dressed in white

my eyes saw their first glimpse of Heaven's light

The hardest thing I've ever come to see

is a man down on his knees in agony

a drop of blood falls down on olive leaves

and for a moment he suffers there for me

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do

was getting on this plane and coming home to you

in a million ways completely torn apart

as a land so far away still owns my heart

in the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed

I thank my God for each and every day

For the blessing of the man I've come to be

As I walk up and kiss my mama's cheek.

See you on Wednesday.  I love you.

Elder Sorenson

Elder Sorenson - September 10, 2018

Well, in about a week I will be packing my things up and coming back home. I will have finished my two years here in Ecuador. I honestly don’t know what to say. I could go on and on, about how many miracles I have seen and how amazingly difficult these last two years have been, but that wouldn’t do it justice. I truly know that this is His work! I know 100% that the missionary service for two years of my life has been the biggest blessing, not only for me but for my entire family as well. #bok 

While I write this, I’m listening to a hymn and the words just bring me to tears. “I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine. That He should extend His great love unto such as I, sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.” I am here to say that He rescued this rebellious and prideful son. I stand all amazed at the love and support He and you have given me over the past two years. This hymn says it all, “Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!” 

I love Him and I know He loves me. There are many words and feelings that are in my heart right now. The love and compassion I have for Heavenly Father and His Son is indescribable. I will always stand all amazed and try my best to keep His Commandments.
I have changed and have been converted in this Gospel and what is so “wonderful to me” is that I have been able to help convert other people while finding and converting myself at the same time! I know I could list a bunch of things that I have gained out of this experience and stories I could tell, but I am going to save them for the classic “campfire story telling”.

I love you all and I’m COMING HOME!

Love Always,

Elder Sorenson

Elder Sorenson - September 3, 2018

Hi Everyone!

T -15 days until I see all of you again! I’m going to see you this month! How crazy is that? My letter today is that I wanted to look back at the past two years and see how much I’ve changed. The purpose of a mission is to CHANGE YOURSELF before you change other people. I know quite a few missionaries who don’t change on a mission. Yes; they work hard but they never capture the essence of a true change. Whether that change be more humility, patience or love towards people some are not able to truly recognize it and they aren’t able to change.

I am sorry about my English today; it is terrible and I don’t know what’s going on. Haha! But anyways, this change needs to come from the heart! It’s not something that will happen the next day. It could happen, I don’t know, in 2 years as a Disciple of Christ! There are many more details on the importance of change in each one of our lives. If we don’t change, or better said, if we deny that we are changing, we are also denying the Atonement of Christ. We change everyday! Whether it be for good or bad reasons, we are always changing.

Now the purpose of changing is that we are able to do so willingly and with an open heart. When we do those things, we can say we have been changed and it will bless our lives. I am here to say that I have changed and I have truly converted in this gospel. Yes, I am still the crazy singing randomly in stores and sarcastic Kyle, but I have an unbreakable testimony of the Gospel Jesus Christ. I know why I am here and what I must do to accomplish the goal I yearn so much for. To be with my forever family! I love you and I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His church here on earth. I love this gospel and I love how much it has changed me.

I hope that these last two weeks will be amazing and that I can enjoy every single second. And to finish, just like the song says, “I have been changed for good.”

I will see you soon!

Elder Sorenson

View of Guayaquil, Ecuador

Elder Sorenson - August 27, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I don’t know where time is going. I guess the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” has been in full affect these past two years. I can’t believe I only have three weeks left, it feels like just yesterday I was in the MTC not knowing a lick of Spanish!

I have learned and grown beyond belief. I have learned how to teach, how to depend upon the Holy Ghost, how to have fun during the work, PATIENCE and LOVE. I have learned that the Lord protects his missionaries, no matter what! I mean, 2 years in Ecuador without being robbed? That’s a miracle! Ha ha! I have also learned priorities I have in my life. I want to return to my loving Heavenly Father and I will do all I can to fulfill this eternal goal! I have learned, better said, I am still learning His will and that everything happens for a reason. He has a plan for each of us and according to our obedience it is a plan of happiness, joy and peace. It is a plan that gives us the knowledge and comfort that Christ lives! That He atoned for our sins and that, through Him, we can be saved! ( 1 Corinthians 15: 21–22)

I love and will always love being a Disciple of Christ in every moment. I love this church. I love missionary work. I love the Book of Mormon. I love my Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. And I love this restored gospel! I hope that we can all Come Unto Christ and always obey His commandments. I hope that each of us can become obsessed with the reading and studying the Scriptures every day. I hope that we can pray earnestly, with a sincere heart, not doubting anything.

I promise, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that as we do all these things, we will surely receive the promise given him D&C 59:23. We shall receive “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” I pray that we may all be faithful and endure to the end!

I love you and I honestly can’t wait to see all of you. You have been and will always be my inspiration and part of the reason why I am out here serving these two short years. Please be obedient to the Commandments, be faithful and always remember how much your Father loves you!

Elder Sorenson

D&C 106:99-100

Elder Sorenson - August 20, 2018

Hi Everyone,

Wow, once again I am sending out another letter to talk about how great this mission is. I have loved these past 23 months and I have received answers to prayers and I have strengthened, better said, found my testimony in this Gospel. I know this church is true and that He lives. I know for a fact that my Heavenly Father loves me and He knows what I can handle. I also testify that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. This week I want to share with you what I learned in my studies!

I was reading Mosiah 18, and it talks about when Alma leaves his past, sinful life and really comes to Christ. He repents of his sins and goes off, secretly, to teach the words of Abinadi: he taught and preached repentance and redemption and faith in the Lord. He became a missionary! He taught what I teach everyday as a Disciple of Jesus Christ! Later on, he invites them to be baptized and how did they respond to the invitation? vs.11 “they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed: THIS IS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS.” Now, the mission is not all butterflies and lollipops with no rejections or sadness. It would be awesome if all of my investigators gave me a standing ovation after the first lesson and said, “Baptize me.” Or “This is the desire of my heart!” 

What do you want in life? What are your priorities? Is it to come to Christ and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places? Are you willing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort? 

I promise, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that you too can have this desire in your hearts. Over the past 23 months I have developed my desire to always serve Him and serve others. I have found myself and really know what my desire in life is - to never stop serving the One who gave me so much. I love Him and I love you. 

I invite you to always ask yourself the question, “What is the desire of my heart?” and realize who is truly at the helm and what you can do now to help Him.

Elder Sorenson
Mosiah 18

Elder Sorenson - August 13, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Last week I had transfers again and I am back in the city of Guayaquil with a new missionary. I had forgotten how crazy this city was. When I got here there was loud music, everyone was out in the street, and the food - it is completely different! My new companion, Elder Ribera, is from Bolivia. He is really cool just super duper shy. I know that the Lord has sent me here for a reason and I really am looking forward to learning at ton more in these last 5 weeks I have left here in Ecuador.

Yesterday, out of the blue, I was asked to give a talk and I had about 3 minutes to prepare for it. I was scrambling for a topic and I thought about what I have been studying in the morning. I talked about the great Sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. Their example really has shown me how I should be, not only during the mission but after as well. In Alma 17, it says they, "waxed strong in the faith for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently...but this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; and when they taught, they taught with power and the authority of God."

I applied this to us and how we should have a holy understanding on why we are here on earth (Alma 34:32) and we should ALWAYS study the scriptures to learn more and more (John 5:39) BUT this is not all, we need to pray and fast to have the "power" or energy we need to sustain us (2 Nephi 32:9). I hope that we can always wax strong in the truth and teach with the Authority we have that was restored through prophet Joseph Smith. I know the blessings we can receive are huge and really can change our lives so we too can have a holy understanding of this Restored Gospel. Every single one of us can teach with power and authority if we put into practice what we learn from reading the Book of Mormon and apply it to our daily lives.

I love you and will see you all soon!!

Love Always,

Elder Sorenson

Elder Sorenson - August 6, 2018

Elder Sorenson did not have time to write a letter this week; however, here are a few pictures he sent us! :-)