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| Salt Flats: April 8, 2019 |
Well, it’s getting pretty cold over here. Sounds kind of
funny, I know. We had a good week even with all the wind and rain and cold.
Ok. Martes/Tuesday we had our district meeting in the
morning and then got back to Betanzos and had lunch and went to work. In the
evening we met with Virgilio and Remedios. Normally Virgilio (the boy) is happy
and joking around the whole time, but this time he seemed kind of mad and like
not himself. We tried to cheer him up or joke with him, but he was just quiet.
Well, we continued with our plan to read Ether chapter 12, and after 20 or so
versiculos/verses, he changed and was himself again. After, I was thinking how
awesome the Book of Mormon is; it literally helps in every situation. I have
really been learning about the importance of the Book of Mormon. (I’ll share a
little more later.) While reading Ether 12 with Virgilio and Remedios, I really
liked verse 41 that says, ''I would commend you to seek Jesus'' and also
verse 28 that says faith, hope and charity bring us to Christ.
Mièrcoles/Wednesday was a pretty good day. We went to see
tons of past contacts and investigators, but either they forgot about the cita/appointment
with us and told us to come back later or they weren´t home. We did visit with
the Hermana Daría. Well, actually she wasn’t home either, but we went in
anyways and cleaned her like restaurant and kitchen and such, and then
eventually she showed up. Hahaha. She’s awesome. We also visited with Renaldo
and Nelinda and read the verses in Ether 12 that I liked from the other day.
Jueves/Thursday we had several citas in the morning, but
they also fell through. Dang. In the afternoon we biked out to Tecoya and had a
good day. We visited first with Jose Luis and his brother Daniel and helped
them a little bit. (Daniel is building his house.) Then, we saw Victor out in
his field and walked out there to him and helped him pick carrots and then
carry them from his field to the road. Right about when we were finishing, it
started raining pretty good. We left soaking wet and went to the Bishop’s house
looking for shelter, but nobody was home so we just stood by the wall to not
get as soaked. It was pretty dang cold. Eventually the rain stopped a little
bit, and the bishop got home about that time. We visited with him and talked
about how we can prepare more for the temple and stuff for the ward. Then we
went out and visited the Flia Estrada (Estrada family). We read about Daniel
and the lion’s den. I really liked when it says that Daniel was saved because
he “trusted in his God.” I was thinking later, do I trust in God as much as
Daniel did?
Viernes/Friday we had an awesome day. In the morning we
visited Vernaldina (an lady who speaks only Quechua and has a leg problem). It
was sweet because I understood a lot better and my comp speaks fluently, so we
were able to talk with her a lot better. In the afternoon we visited with
Claudia and read Alma 34 with her. I have come to love reading the Book of
Mormon, by myself but even more with investigadores and members. Later we
visited with Raul and Julia and also read Alma 7 about Jesus Christ and His
Atonement for each one of us. We also helped them prepare a ton of food that
they would sell the next day.
Sabado/Saturday we visited with 2 abuelitas/grandmas who
only speak Quechua. They are super awesome and funny. One of them I could
barely understand anything, and the other one I understood almost everything. Hahaha,
man its tough. It was super fun though.
Domingo/Sunday was awesome. Church was great, and I shared
my testimony in Quechua. That was fun. I think I’m getting the hang of it, but
other times I am lost. Haha. After church we taught a Temple Prep class. It
went super good. Preparing the class, I learned a ton and felt the Spirit super
strong. When I started the class, I asked how many had been to the temple and
only like 5 had and like 12 or more hadn't. During the class, I was learning a
ton myself. Teaching them about the Plan of Salvation and all, I realized how
extremely important Jesus Christ is to the whole plan. We need Him, I think
more than we realize. I love 2 Nephi chapter 9 verses 10-13. Only through Jesus
Christ can we overcome spiritual death and physical death. After more thinking,
and our institute class on the Book of Mormon, I realized the Book of Mormon is
soo important because when we read it and live its teachings, we really can
come soo much closer to Jesus Christ. For example, I loved Ether 12 verses 28
and 41. The Book of Mormon is full of teachings of our Savior and how we can
come to him. I really love 2 Nephi 2 verse 28 (I shared it in Quechua in my
testimony Sunday), “And now, my (friends), I would that
ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments;
and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will
of his Holy Spirit.” I am starting to realize how everything connects together
and why certain things are so important. I love being a missionary and being a
representative of Jesus Christ. This week was awesome :)
My comp is awesome and speaks
Quechua a lot better than me. We have started reading the Book of Mormon in
Quechua everyday together out loud. It’s fun, and we are both learning from
each other. I love it out here in Bolivia. The food is alright, hahaha. Lots of
potatoes. My mom asked me about the water and electricity and food and such hahaha
sooo... well we don’t have much water out in Betanzos. We only get water from
the city like once every 2 or 3 days. When it comes we fill up every tank in
the house, but it doesn’t last very long with washing clothes by hand and
cooking and showering. So normally... hahaha I only shower like 2 or 3 times a
week. Also for electricity, normally its good, but like twice a month, it will
be shut off for like 24hrs normally. So I’ve gotten used to studying by candle
light at night. Hahaha. Kind of funny. It’s also getting super cold over here,
but there’s no such thing as heating, only just wear more clothes and put more
thick blankets on the bed. Hahaha. I’ve also gotten used to walking around in Bolivian
abarcas (shoes from truck tires and leather) and carrying my scriptures in an
awayo (a blanket that rolls into a backpack). Hahaha. I love it out here :) Love
ya all lots.
Les amo
Elder Sorensen
PS: Here's some pictures from our pday last Monday to Salt Flats.
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| Our Zone @ Salt Flats E. Sorensen, second from left |
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| E. Sorensen |
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| Sunset @ Salt Flats |
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| Reflections at Salt Flats |