tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11497620510607712932024-03-05T18:40:14.956-08:00Crikey!A sister missionary's adventures in AustraliaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09039016342174392264noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-30075369316106018172015-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:002015-03-02T09:26:02.746-08:00The Greatest Life Lessons Learned in Just 18 Months<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Dear family and friends,</span><br />
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I can't believe how time has flown by. I never thought I would come to this day being the last week on my mission. I don't even know where to begin expressing all the things I've learned, experienced, people I've met, etc. My heart is full of gratitude for all that the Lord has given me. I know that the Lord has sent me here to Sydney Australia for a reason and I'm forever grateful for this opportunity that I've had being able to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What an honour it has been being able to wake up every morning and put on my name badge with my name "Sister Sorensen" and my Saviour Jesus Christ's name right by the side. I know that all things have been made possible through my Saviour, Jesus Christ.</div>
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Many say that missions are training fields for the rest of your life and I definitely agree with that. I've learned so much more about people and about life in general. I've made a list of some of the main lessons that I've learned while I've been on my mission.</div>
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Here they are:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> As I trust in the Lord all things are made possible. I have gained a strong testimony of relying on the Lord in all things. Now when I don't know what to do in a situation the first thing I do is pray.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> I have learned how to recognize the promptings from the Holy Ghost. I have learned to be "quick to observe(Mormon 1:2)" just like Mormon was. I have come to understand more fully that all good things come from God and therefore all good thoughts are of God and I should act upon all good thoughts, that is how the spirit guides.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> I have come to have a great LOVE for the scriptures. I have come to understand just how helpful the scriptures can be in our everyday life. The scriptures have all the answers to life's greatest questions. It is through the scriptures that God is able to speak to us.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We have a loving Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. Everything that we have in this life is because he's given it to us. Each and everyday I received another witness that God loves me as he showed me through the tender mercies in my life that I'm never alone.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Fasting coupled with prayer is a powerful tool in being able to find answers to questions we have in life and to strive to gain self control and to grow spiritually.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Another great thing that I have learned is the importance of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have developed a strong testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he was truly called by God to do such a "marvellous work and a wonder." Because of the restoration we have everything here on earth and are able to have the fullness of truth once again for us to partake of. What a great blessing is that?</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Every single person on this earth needs this message of the restored gospel. We are the ones that can bring it to them because we have the truth. That is something that we should not be afraid to share. This is something that everyone needs in their life.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Another great lesson that I've learned is of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Now this is a subject that is so deep and hard to comprehend with our human mind but, I've began to gain a better understanding of it. I have realized that the atonement reaches farther than I ever imagined. The Saviour's arms are always outstretched towards us. He will never let us down. He knows us each individually and knows what we're going through and what we've been through before. I learned the importance of daily repentance. Repentance is a good thing, it allows us to become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ. As we apply the atonement into our everyday lives, we will become stronger and stronger and become the children God has sent us to be.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Another great thing that I have learned is the importance of goal setting and trusting in the Lord when you set goals. Goals are a great way to help you achieve all that you desire, it pushes you to take action and have motivation to do the work. I know that all things are made possible with the Lord by our side.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> The last thing that I wanted to share that I have learned is that Obedience=Liberty. I know through experience that obedience brings blessings, but EXACT obedience brings miracles. As we do all that is required of us and do our best, that is when the Lord blesses us even more. Commandments aren't to bind us but they are to free us and help us along this journey in mortal life. They often protect us from danger and help us to live according to the Lord's standards.</li>
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I know that there are many more things that I have learned on my mission but here are just some of the main points that I wanted to share with all of you. I don't know where I would be now without serving my mission. I have learned so many things that I don't know I would have learned elsewhere. I encourage all of you that are debating of whether or not to serve a mission, I would say GO! It will be one of the greatest decisions in your life. Yes, a mission is hard and you won't understand until you are out in the field but it is so worth it. This is the most rewarding work I have ever done. It is because our Saviour is right by your side in the work and you are spreading forth His gospel. You can't fail with the Lord on your side.</div>
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I would like to thank each of you that have supported me throughout my mission and gave me the encouragement and strength I needed to keep going. You would have no idea how many you have helped me. My commitment to each of you is to "stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.(Mosiah 18:9)" Stand up for what you believe in and help all those around you to be able to receive the gospel if they haven't already and also to LIVE IT!</div>
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I want to leave my testimony with all of you that I know that I'm a daughter of my Heavenly Father. He loves me unconditionally and is always there for me. I know that my Saviour lives and loves me too. I know that because of my Saviour regardless of the many mistakes that I will make in this life that I can get past them and become more and more like Him. My favourite book is the Book of Mormon. It really has all the answers. I know that it is the word of God. That book can bring you nearer to God than any other book. I have witnessed that myself. The more I read and learn of Christ the easier it becomes to know what path I should take. I know that this is the Lord's true church upon the earth. This church has the fullness of truth and you can only know that as you turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer. He answers prayers! I know that he does each day.</div>
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Thanks for all that you do. I love you all and will be seeing you all very soon.</div>
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Love Always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">FHE with the Hailame's and Caspa and her boys.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Its been raining a lot so we have fun walking in the rain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">P-day with Whitney (one of our favorites in our ward)</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-75363101687297059472015-02-26T13:34:00.000-08:002015-02-26T13:34:06.678-08:00Elder Bednar Came To Sydney!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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Oh wow it has surely been an incredible week of learning and many wonderful experiences! As I mentioned in the title of my email we had a wonderful opportunity to have an apostle of the Lord, Elder David A. Bednar to come and speak to us. We had a combined mission conference with the Australia Sydney North mission also. We had about 400 missionaries in one stake Center. Talk about a powerful force right there. The spirit was so strong! Along with Elder Bednar we had 4 members of the 70's that also joined in this conference.</div>
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I had another wonderful experience with an apostle of the Lord. (Thanks to my wonderful mother!) We had several speakers and when Elder Bednar got up to speak he began by saying hello and then said, "now I have one item of business that I must take care of before I begin," My heart dropped and I knew instantly that once again my mother had done something for me. He said, "Can I have Sister Heidi Sorensen come forward?" I'm pretty sure my face went bright red and I didn't know what to think. I went up on stage and he talked about my wonderful mother and what an awesome job she does in the temple. He even mentioned that she gave him a big piece of pie that day that she gave him something to give me. He got a big smile on his face. He then gave me a bag of candies and a note from my mom. Then he had his wife give me a big hug. It was very sweet of them to do that for me to help me to have an unforgettable experience. It was an embarrassing/ exciting experience in my life. Thanks mom for all that you do! Everyone afterwards kept saying how awesome that was and that I was famous and I just replied, "no I'm not famous my mother is, and I just happen to be her daughter. :) Thanks for letting me have that experience, mom.</div>
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This conference was one powerful conference and I learned so much more than I could ever record in words. It is hard to describe the feeling that was in that conference. Elder Bednar being the great teacher he is set up this conference a lot different than I've ever seen before. He had us read some conference talks before we came so that we were ready and prepared for it. He then asked us to share some of the things that we learned from the readings. He then let us ask him questions and it was all more of a discussion rather than him teaching us the whole 3 hours. It was a great experience because it allowed the spirit to be the teacher. He taught us a lot about the importance of using this tool in the way that we teach. We are truly not the teachers, we are the instruments in the Lord's hands in bringing this message to them. Here are some of the other things that I learned...</div>
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Not all spiritual experiences are dramatic. Most of them are subtle and are received by a still small voice. I had a lot of thoughts and personal revelation come to me as I was listening. It was really cool also when he was letting us ask questions. At one point he stopped and said, how many of you by a show of hands have had a question in your heart or mind that you haven't voiced but have had it answered? We looked around the room and majority of the room had their hands raised. He said now that is a miracle! how could that be? He then pointed out that, that is how the spirit works. As the spirit is present in a meeting you will learn and be edified and often find answers to questions you haven't verbally shared.</div>
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I also got a greater understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I learned how the Savior knows us each individually and how he suffered for our sins each as individuals. It was one by one that he felt our pains, sorrows, disappointments. I always thought of it in a completely different way. I thought of it as just a feeling that all goes into a bowl and he took all of those pains and sins upon him all at once. But this helped me to understand how he truly knows us each personally and has felt what we feel and knows exactly. He thought of us individually in the garden of gethsemane. He knows us individually and wants what is best for us. That was one of the best lessons I learned this week.</div>
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I know that my Savior lives and that he loves us each individually. He can truly lift our burdens and help us in our life to get through anything that comes our way. He is our Savior, our Redeemer and Mediator. I know that He is there for each one of us.</div>
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Thanks so much for all of your wonderful examples and support. Hope you all have a great week!</div>
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Love Always,</div>
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Sister Heidi Sorensen<br /></div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-4215372474384816482015-02-16T19:24:00.003-08:002015-02-16T19:24:44.712-08:00Aligning with the Lord<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Know that I love you all!</div>
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This has been a bit of a crazy week but the work must go on! There are still so many great things that are happening here and it just goes to show that the Lord is in charge. This week it was a cancellation week. It was crazy how we could have a full day planned with heaps of appointments but by mid day they had all cancelled. It was a great learning experience that we aren't in charge. This is the Lord's work and sometimes he was much greater plans for us than we may even know. Here are some of the events that happened this week.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> On Monday night we only had a short time left in our day and we wanted to make every minute count. We both felt like we needed to go and see this older woman who is in-active. She is in her 90's and still very active and able to do a lot. We were able to meet with her and talk to her. When I was choosing the scripture to share with her I felt like we needed to teach her about prayer. We came to find out that Sister Tuhi has not prayed in a long time and wasn't sure how to do it anymore. We were absolutely amazed and so we taught her how to do it. She was a little afraid to say a prayer and we were finally able to get her to say one. The spirit was so strong! She also said that she felt good and she had remembered that good feeling. It was amazing to see that such an older woman could be almost like a child spiritually. We were so happy to help her and we are hoping that little by little she could strengthen her spiritual body.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We have an investigator who is so difficult to get a hold of and we haven't been able to see her in over a week and we were praying about her. Well on Tuesday we were walking to our appointment and we were running late. The whole time I was praying that somehow we would be able to make it to our appointment on time. I wasn't sure how it would happen but somehow I knew that we could. We kept walking as fast as we could. Then this car pulled up along side us and someone yelled "Sisters!" We turned and looked and it was our investigator, Lisa whom we have been praying to see. She offered us a ride to our appointment. Although when we got to our appointment the woman was just leaving and had to cancel. Lisa turned to us and said, "maybe this was meant to be, can you teach me?" Of course we said we would love to teach her and help her. It was an answer to my prayer. It was a powerful experience as we taught her in her car. I think it was also so good for her to see that the Lord knows what she needs and will guide her if she does what is right. What a tender mercy!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We were able to go on trade offs with the Sister Training Leaders. I got to go with Sister Finau and it was such a great experience. There is one event that happened that I will never forget. We got of the car wanting to find someone new to teach. We began with a prayer and I knew that we were going to find someone. It was amazing how the Lord completely guided our feet. He lead us down and around this neighbourhood as if there was a sign that said, go this way. On this particular street we found this man who was changing his tire. Well we both went up and asked if we could help him. The funny thing was neither one of us knew how to change a tire anyways but it was a good conversation starter. He happened to be Tongan and Sister Finau is Tongan as well. And in the Tongan world everybody knows each other. Sister Finau was able to find a lot of connections with him and his family. He invited us to go inside his home and to talk to his family. We talked with his wife and kids and it was a great conversation. They mentioned that they had had elders come around a long time ago and they have family that are members. They then said that they weren't interested in our church but are willing to have us around. I knew that the Lord had literally guided our feet that day so that we could find some of his choice children. Even though they aren't interested we know better and we know that this is the time for them to come unto Christ whether they know it yet or not. :)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Yesterday we had 4 investigators come to church! That was so great to finally be able to get several of our investigators to come to church. What a great step for them to take. They all enjoyed it. We had Lalitha (temple referral), Angela (single mother of 4), and Sam and Stefanie (who are alcoholics but making enormous changes, it is incredible!)</li>
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This week I have learned so much about the importance of aligning our will with the Lord's will. One way that we can do that is by aligning ourselves with our leaders. It has been amazing on my mission how much you learn about the organization of the church and how perfect it is if we do it correctly. We have been striving to work smarter, not harder by working with our ward council and members. It has been a bit challenging but in the end many good things are coming. I know that the work of Salvation is being hastened at this time and it is important for all of us to take part in the wonderful work. We each can make a difference as we put our trust in our Heavenly Father. All things are definitely made possible with the Lord by your side. I have such a strong testimony of this gospel, I know without a doubt that this is the Lord's true church restored to this earth for all of us to be able to partake of. Take advantage of it, live the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can promise you that as you live the gospel, you will find so much more happiness than you could ever find in the world today.</div>
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I love and appreciate each and every one of you. May the Lord bless you!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Becci Pemberton took us miniature golfing last p-day...so much fun!</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-70677308876658808282015-02-10T11:40:00.000-08:002015-02-10T11:40:05.360-08:00Referral from the Temple President!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Wow this week has been incredible! I know I say that pretty much every week but it is so true! Each week there are so many great things that happen. That just goes to show that with Christ in your life, so much good comes out of it. Here are some of the amazing miracles that have happened this week:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> This week we were fortunate to get a referral from the temple president, President Barr. He asked us to come in so that he could tell us about the people he wanted us to go and see. It was a great opportunity to go inside the temple and to receive counsel from President Barr and to receive a referral. There was a couple that went inside the temple this last week wanting to see this beautiful building. Well as we know they wouldn't have been able to get very far but President Barr talked with them and said that he would give them some pamphlets that teach them more about the temple and how they would be able to enter inside one day. They are a younger couple from India and they happen to live about 5 minutes walk from our flat. What a miracle! We went to see this couple right away and we met a woman named Lilitha. She was such a kind woman that was truly seeking the truth. We saw her Saturday night and invited her to come to church the next morning. Well the next morning she wasn't there but she called us Sunday afternoon and she apologized for not coming but wondered if there would be an evening session. We quickly called some members and arranged a chapel tour for Lilitha. Sister Koster and I had never really done a chapel tour before but we followed the spirit and showed her around. It was one of the most powerful experiences on my mission. The spirit that was felt was indescribable! We had our relief society president and her 1st counsellor with us and we all testified of truth and pretty much were teaching the restoration as we went from room to room. The final room that we went to was the chapel. There we talked about Christ and what he had done for us. Lilitha was someone who came from a background of Hindu and doesn't know much about Christ. It was there that Lilitha shared with us that lately she has felt like something has been missing in her life and that she had been getting consistent dreams about Jesus Christ and wanted to know this man. She said that is what led her to the temple in the first place. We assured her that she was in the right place and we all bore our testimony. She said that she wanted to come to church and to learn more!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We went to visit a less active this week that we had never met before. We sat down and talked with her and her husband and found out that her husband was not a member. He was wandering around a little bit so we were teaching Sia but the whole time I felt the need to talk to him (Sifa). When he finally came back and sat down I started to talk to him. Come to find out his dad is a member and so he knows some things about the church and has always been very curious. He wanted to know about the Book of Mormon and what makes is so special. He is so eager to learn and has agreed to take the discussions with us. We look forward to meeting with him and teaching him!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We had also another new investigator this week named Emily. We meet Emily and her mum a few weeks ago while we were walking down the street. Kym (Emily's mum) is a personal trainer and was trying to get us to come to her gym. We listened to what she said and then began to share what we had to share. She then said that she wasn't too interested but she knew that her daughter would be. Emily was so excited to listen. We just barely were finally able to meet up with them again on Saturday. It was such a great experience! I would call Emily a "Joseph Smith" for her time. She is wise beyond her years and is so eager to learn about Christ and Heavenly Father. She has great faith but just hasn't ever known how to show her faith. We taught her how to pray and she was smiling from ear to ear. She never knew that she could pray to Heavenly Father. She then said she wanted to come to church. Her mum brought her to church yesterday and she loved it! We are so blessed to be able to teach Emily and help her to know the truth.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> Another tender mercy when we were at the temple was I was able to see one of the less-actives that I taught in Green Valley enter the temple. Just as we were leaving the temple after talking with the temple president she was going inside for her endowment. What perfect timing! It was so fun to see how much she has changed and to be there on her special day. Everything happens for a reason!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">This week we were walking down the street and I saw a sign that said, "gluten free bakery" you know me I love those signs! So of course we went inside to just see. Just at that time I felt the need to talk to the woman at the desk. Come to find out she is an inactive member and hasn't seen missionaries in a long time. It was great to talk with her an to remind her of what she once knew! See who would have thought that a gluten free bakery is where we needed to be!</li>
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There are so many more things that I could share but those are some of the many miracles that we witnessed this week. I love this gospel I know that it is true! I love you all and hope that you have a great week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Our recent convert named Devmini. She is so awesome!</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-71163372660601804152015-02-02T09:47:00.001-08:002015-02-02T09:47:10.088-08:00The Lord's Work Continues To Move Forward in Oatlands Ward<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
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Dear family and friends,</div>
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Wow I love missionary work! This week has been another incredible week! Miracles continue to happen each and every day. I just can't record them all. I have learned a lot about our loving Heavenly Father. He has infinite love for each of us and will bless us as we continue with faith and trust in Him. Here are a few of the events/ tender mercies that happened this week.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We got another 3 new investigators! One of them is from a less active family named the Hyland's. I may have mentioned it last week but we just met this woman and she mentioned that she had two kids that have never been baptized and they are both of age to be baptized. We talked to her about teaching her kids and she really desires that her kids get baptized. She also mentioned how much she still loves that church but is held back because of her husband who is catholic. We just met with the kids this week and it was really good. We are hoping and praying that the dad will allow us to help them to get baptized. But that was a blessing that we found that family and they are open to have us over.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">In that past we tried so many of the houses of less-active members and we never could catch them home but this week we took members with us to visit. And we were finally able to meet all of those that we've tried for weeks to catch. That is the miracle that comes when you take members out with you.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We had a really funny experience this week as we took the Bishop's wife out with us visiting. We went to visit this less active and as we were walking up to the house we could begin to smell a terrible smell. The yard looked very savage and not taken care of. We could see dead cockroaches inside the window as we knocked on the door. This woman right away open the door as a big wave of animal urine BO came at us. This woman had bandages all over her face and she looked just a little crazy. We of course talked with her and she welcomed us into her home. We were not really wanting to go inside but we accepted her invitation. Inside was even worse! I could tell that all 3 of us were holding our breath as we went inside so that we didn't have to smell anything. It is so hard to even describe some of the things we saw inside this house. Dog poop on the ground, fish tank black and the fish barely able to move inside, rubbish everywhere, boxes stacked high to the ceiling, statues of pigs and these other squirrel looking things all staring at us. Lets just say it was a little hard to focus at that time. We all just wanted to go. But we got to know her a little bit and shared a brief scripture with her. She didn't really pay much attention to what we said and only wanted to talk herself. She didn't have any interest in what we shared. So we kindly said a prayer and left. Well I didn't realize just how much it had effected my companion. She was almost sick because of that house. It was crazy to see how some people live. That was one experience I will never forget. That sure made me more grateful for what I have and the hygiene that I've been taught to have. It also goes to show how much the gospel can help us in all aspects of life including health and wellness/ hygiene.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We went over to another one of our less-actives house named whitney and made some cookies and brownies with her. It was so fun to be there and to talk with her and her sister. We then were able to deliver some cookies to various members and investigators thanking them for all that they do. It sure feels good to serve and make someone's day.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We had an appointment with one of our newer investigators named Angela. She is a single mother of 4 girls and we love her! We have only met with her once and this time she had kept all of her commitments and was so excited to have us come and teach her. She is so keen and ready to hear the gospel! We invited her to be baptized and she said she would! We are now figuring out a right date for her. But miracles are happening and it is great that the Lord is trusting us with some of His choice children to teach and to show them the way. We are meeting with Angela today and can't wait to see her progress towards baptism.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Just yesterday we were able to take some of our investigators who struggle with being alcoholic's to a fireside. It took some time to get them there but they really enjoyed it and are looking forward to making big changes in their life for the better.</li>
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Sorry if that didn't make much sense but those are some of the great things and experiences that happened this week. This work is absolutely amazing and I'm so grateful to be apart of it. I know that this is the Lord's church. It is so great to see the lives of many being changed by this great message of the restoration and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel is true and can help others to come closer to God than any other. This is the way and I see that each and every day. The Lord has shown us the way and all he's asking us to do is follow Him and come unto Him. I hope that each of you are continually doing the small and simple things that will keep you strong and strengthen your testimony. Because the Lord is coming soon and NOW is the time to repent and to come unto Him.</div>
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I love you all and am very grateful for all the wonderful people that have helped me to become who I am today. May the Lord bless each of you!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4sjMpxP7bmul0FKvEORLIDSFSf2oqx9olOljGEwRrXTZQ0ZIxGcvEoRoKjEvHhTMvdUwd37EtZ6-keS-cPjjzVpzdnWEoAG5byMjWtxsmwc-uu6mn0MS_V7r2el4eAgRjf4p4bYEgp7T/s1600/DSC02615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4sjMpxP7bmul0FKvEORLIDSFSf2oqx9olOljGEwRrXTZQ0ZIxGcvEoRoKjEvHhTMvdUwd37EtZ6-keS-cPjjzVpzdnWEoAG5byMjWtxsmwc-uu6mn0MS_V7r2el4eAgRjf4p4bYEgp7T/s1600/DSC02615.JPG" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Kiara Pemberton is a little 8 year old girl that we love. she was just baptized on Saturday and we are so proud of her!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PDkcn1k6EiEMpr6RAdXRiAul_jFF6EJbxhaJslidtF9V1M9EU5uatGOftgmzUbfJcyD2FriLfqHEpwuWh8SdYhlLORFL7OPKTsfPeO6-H80V7i5FXNd_7udqOwyS0Hgk-rJJWEHsHHOZ/s1600/DSC02618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PDkcn1k6EiEMpr6RAdXRiAul_jFF6EJbxhaJslidtF9V1M9EU5uatGOftgmzUbfJcyD2FriLfqHEpwuWh8SdYhlLORFL7OPKTsfPeO6-H80V7i5FXNd_7udqOwyS0Hgk-rJJWEHsHHOZ/s1600/DSC02618.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is Sam and Stefanie, some of our investigators that went with us to the recent convert fireside. And also Milla who is one of our dear friends who helps us so much in the work.</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-48291078640618115272015-02-02T09:36:00.000-08:002015-02-02T09:36:19.277-08:00Catch the Wave of Missionary Work<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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Wow what a great week it has been in the Oatlands area! I don't know if I can possibly share everything that happened this week, there is just way too much! Lets just say that the Lord is definitely leading our every step and guiding us in His work. Specifically in the Oatlands Ward. We just got a new Ward Mission Leader, Brother Hailame and he is amazing! He is so excited about missionary work and so it is just contagious. We have had so many meeting with his since he's been called and we are setting so many great goals. I can't wait to see what is in store for these coming weeks. Here are some more of the wonderful things that happened this week:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We got 3 new investigators just this week! One of them is Angela. We met her at a members house. We got her information and just the other day we were in the area and we thought of her. We went by to see her and it was such a great visit. We shared with her a lot of the restoration and the unique message that we share to the world. She is so curious and ready to learn. I love people that are prepared and open their hearts to the message! We are having another lesson with her this week.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Another new investigator is a girl named Jade. She is a little Chinese woman who has never known or believed in a loving Heavenly Father. This week we had the opportunity to teach her about God and who He is and who we are. Her eyes lite up as we taught her. The best part was when we taught her that we can pray to him and talk to him. She had never done that before. We had her practice a little bit with what she could say to Him. Then we had her try it for real. The spirit filled the room! It was an incredible experience and I don't know if Jade was able to recognize it yet but it is just the beginning for her and finding out who she really is. I love my job! We are unfortunately going to have to pass her to Mandarin speakers so that she can progress farther but it was great to be the first ones to meet her and to teach her.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">The third new investigator we found as we were walking down the street. This woman was laying on some old mattresses that we stacked outside. She looked like she was from Africa and that she had been through a lot. I felt the need to talk to her so of course I did. She looked like she was 16 years old, she was literally skin and bones. She didn't have much. But it turned out that she was 30 years old and had 2 children over the age of 10. We taught her more of who we were and God's plan for all of us. We set up a time with her and left her a pamphlet. She started reading it right away and is so eager to learn more.</li>
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There are so many more experiences that I could share but unfortunately my time is very short. I know that this is definitely the Lord's church. He knows our needs and will be there for us if only we turn to him. Miracle do happen and they happen each and every day as long as we have the faith we can see them. Look for them in your everyday life. They are there!</div>
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Love you all very much!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Heidi Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiOf7qHC6AaT1aEIJoocMp2uwxPYyBgwkJzSyu79ogXTwfMuua6BQoQUZn1x0xG9zOiTrKX6u_qkcS4sJ2M0f2qV4B5fsG0a1rFWufvaJSDE27jd6DY5CzBZMBv3t-TL5T84sEKcIguwy/s1600/DSCN1700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiOf7qHC6AaT1aEIJoocMp2uwxPYyBgwkJzSyu79ogXTwfMuua6BQoQUZn1x0xG9zOiTrKX6u_qkcS4sJ2M0f2qV4B5fsG0a1rFWufvaJSDE27jd6DY5CzBZMBv3t-TL5T84sEKcIguwy/s1600/DSCN1700.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Here is what we had to wake up this Sunday morning...a Huntsman Spider! Got to love Australia!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6UgVBSr9HbcEHshLtMJV_jiOGfgRigiUhm5CZQkt5qT8M9ABDHUvZAc0MPnXnSHUk11Are5EjUWeaDx1xeZkBvnUp4WpWinF-BqKKpvOzSnvH8Q5Pxjob-PHzIyo5ZiDmTWDqPCnkeXc/s1600/DSCN1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6UgVBSr9HbcEHshLtMJV_jiOGfgRigiUhm5CZQkt5qT8M9ABDHUvZAc0MPnXnSHUk11Are5EjUWeaDx1xeZkBvnUp4WpWinF-BqKKpvOzSnvH8Q5Pxjob-PHzIyo5ZiDmTWDqPCnkeXc/s1600/DSCN1706.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy6IwA27TeYx6qplmp-hyn_WRO76k0mJiWVVxpJkZDJWSwpaeg4CS7kOh0VFWejx-ZL6y8pYHaSWx13vuDz5tvAlVEPDVD0BzFzCklJPLpofNyRTKPCTSNk0L_LyKO8AEH7doRN-q-2-C/s1600/DSCN1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy6IwA27TeYx6qplmp-hyn_WRO76k0mJiWVVxpJkZDJWSwpaeg4CS7kOh0VFWejx-ZL6y8pYHaSWx13vuDz5tvAlVEPDVD0BzFzCklJPLpofNyRTKPCTSNk0L_LyKO8AEH7doRN-q-2-C/s1600/DSCN1715.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Australia Day yesterday!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D4lw1Eb1fHD0PVKEQyoxqiiT0SMhVcHhYasgLEKbw0SckwnkQPH_gZL5pKUKLop6e0UTfY5P8Bd-ZppVonNX2lIm6zPmBzxfwkUAZh4jWw4pBx9i6B6tQ_5a90oMXQiqqt96rMPRbh_H/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D4lw1Eb1fHD0PVKEQyoxqiiT0SMhVcHhYasgLEKbw0SckwnkQPH_gZL5pKUKLop6e0UTfY5P8Bd-ZppVonNX2lIm6zPmBzxfwkUAZh4jWw4pBx9i6B6tQ_5a90oMXQiqqt96rMPRbh_H/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKijPl8XzvXd2qk-d0Lnp19l7JnnwMX-CfiQ9m-DDq4brrSi8kru_IPlms8qq2Q9TB5X6r_zKlr0FdbN9uYEPOf1wBb3g66JnpWYNuCqiiA2LPeJPD8fBpEAaCbl7FM2OaNGWMUbT_hZs/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKijPl8XzvXd2qk-d0Lnp19l7JnnwMX-CfiQ9m-DDq4brrSi8kru_IPlms8qq2Q9TB5X6r_zKlr0FdbN9uYEPOf1wBb3g66JnpWYNuCqiiA2LPeJPD8fBpEAaCbl7FM2OaNGWMUbT_hZs/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We went to this families house to celebrate Australia day. We had a blast! Here are a few of the funny photos that we took.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvTP_c5zJ64B5z9HHXi_iU5lKOVGGCwdh2ZE5U3p50YCJEW-rH43L7-QFIIf4eC42Dr1zb9SX75NBybWhvpnXucweWfo52kPRYpeIcv7ezMGxvq_GXYPRVClkKtwRh-kuyKr9FT2XcMSq/s1600/photo+5+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvTP_c5zJ64B5z9HHXi_iU5lKOVGGCwdh2ZE5U3p50YCJEW-rH43L7-QFIIf4eC42Dr1zb9SX75NBybWhvpnXucweWfo52kPRYpeIcv7ezMGxvq_GXYPRVClkKtwRh-kuyKr9FT2XcMSq/s1600/photo+5+(1).JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-70541493798260690162015-02-02T09:24:00.002-08:002015-02-02T09:30:34.452-08:00"Line upon line, precept upon precept..." 2 Nephi 28:30<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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I hope that all of you have had a great week! I know that Sister Koster and I have sure had a good week. It is hard to explain all the tender mercies that we have received this week. The work is beginning to pick up in the Oatlands Ward. We've been focusing a lot on the members and having them assist us more in the work. There have been so many that have stepped up to the plate and have helped us out heaps and heaps! There are so many great people in this ward that now we're trying to bring all those wonderful people together and unite them in the work of salvation. That is definitely a challenging task that takes a lot of time but I know that it is all made possible through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.</div>
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One of the main things that I have learned overtime is the importance of alignment. The Lord's organization is perfect, everything works in its proper order when we do it His way. He has called prophets and apostles to guide us and along with that area seventies, Stake President's, Bishops, etc. It is so important for us to be in line with them because if our leaders are in alignment with their leaders and we follow them. That means that we are in turn in alignment with the Saviour. I have learned so much of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to be in alignment and to improve ourselves. I know that I probably talk about this a lot but it is because time and time again the Lord has reminded me and bore witness to me of the power of the Atonement and just how crucial it is in our lives.</div>
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This week I was reading in Joseph Smith History and it was a great experience. I've read it before but this time it was completely different and it meant a lot more to me. One thing that stuck out to me that has never stuck out before was when Joseph Smith spoke of his weaknesses and imperfections. When I think of prophets of apostles I think of them as just perfect, how could they really do anything wrong. But it humbled me to know that they too are only human. They have weaknesses and imperfections just like all the rest of us. But another thing that Joseph did was he was quick to recognize them and then also quick to repent and turn away from sin and push forward with faith. He is such a great example to us. One of my favourite scriptures is found in Ether 12:27 which reads, <em>"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weaknesses. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." </em>One thing that I learn from this is that it is okay if we have weaknesses, we are human! But a Christ-like attribute is recognizing our wrong doings and turning to the Lord for strength. As we humble ourselves we will become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ. That is ultimately why we are here on earth, to become like Him.</div>
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Just last week I was asked to speak in Sacrament. I was actually very honoured to speak and I knew that is would be a good experience. I studied all week and really focused on the people in the ward an what they needed to hear. I also fully relied on the Lord to know what I needed to share. I prayed so hard the day of and I got this overwhelming sense of comfort that everything will work out. When I got up to speak the spirit was so strong. I don't know what I said but I remember the feeling that I had at that moment. I knew that at that time my prayers were answered and that I was not speaking just my words but I was speaking the words of the Lord. I know that the Lord needs our help to spread forth His gospel and that we can be effective instruments in the Lord's hands today as long as we have a willing heart and mind. Its all about submitting our will to the Lord's will.</div>
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My testimony has grown so much and continues to grow each day as I strive to give all that I have. I know that each of you can do that same as you place Christ at the center of your lives. He is truly the way, the truth, and the Life (John 14:6). I know that to be true! It is hard to do so but just turn to the Lord in prayer and I know that he will guide and direct you.</div>
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I love you all very much and I'm extremely blessed to have so much love and support. May the Lord bless you as you strive to align your will with His. I love you all heaps!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We had a district p-day this last week. We went laser tagging and bowling. It was so much fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp00zPHI1F8wi-caGM9yv9ok0eaGWKyifPyLgQw7gJI5RrdLewaVQ9biUzcWiBP-aXs1DHj00bwJnz_XKO8umdhQpYahO9rHclbsVBeKbc0_su7sNqBYvB903BChmA5sT8W5y_WQilNEF/s1600/DSCN1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp00zPHI1F8wi-caGM9yv9ok0eaGWKyifPyLgQw7gJI5RrdLewaVQ9biUzcWiBP-aXs1DHj00bwJnz_XKO8umdhQpYahO9rHclbsVBeKbc0_su7sNqBYvB903BChmA5sT8W5y_WQilNEF/s1600/DSCN1671.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">"Aussie As" is something that is so common here in Australia. They add "as" on to everything. So I just had to get a picture of that to remember the weird terms that they use. "Cool as," "Sweet as," etc.</span></td></tr>
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Me and my wonderful companion, Sister Koster. I love her!</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-66667463581208713202015-02-02T09:21:00.003-08:002015-02-02T09:21:36.790-08:00Being an Affective Instrument in His Hands<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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This week has been a wonderful week! I hope that each of you have taken the challenge that I left with you this last week to read the Book of Mormon and seek for the words of Christ while you're reading. Let me know how its going. I'd love to hear all of your insights and thoughts!</div>
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There is so much that is happening in this area now, it is wonderful! This week we had the opportunity to have Elder Pearson of the seventy come and teach us. He is the President of all the Pacific Area. He is such a powerful teacher. We got to hear him several times at many different events. He was traveling around Sydney speaking to many different groups. We were privileged to have him come to our zone conference. Man I tell you what that was surely the most rebuking/spiritual conference ever! He is a very powerful teacher. Without a doubt I know that he is called of God. He is really making a difference and I hope that the mission will lift due to his visit to Sydney. Thank goodness for the atonement so that we each can do better and become more like our Saviour.</div>
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President Pearson taught a lot of important principles that really stuck with me. He taught a lot of the importance of planning and setting goals. He did this great demonstration to teach an important principle about the difference between trying and doing. It will be hard to explain over email but the quote that he shared was, "Do or do not, there is no try!" He said it so powerfully and it hit me hard. That we are to be "doers of the word and not hearers only" ( James 1:22).</div>
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After zone conference Sister Koster and I spent a lot of time setting goals and planning out how we were going to improve and truly uplift this area. It has been amazing how the Lord has already been blessing us and helping us to execute those goals. He is definitely leading this work and helping us.</div>
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One miracle that we've seen this week is that the Lord has helped us to know who we need to focus on in our investigators, less- actives, and recent converts. We've been fasting and praying to know how to help them and we are already seeing so much success with them. This work is incredible and I'm so glad to be apart of it!</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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Pictures:</div>
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We found these awesome pens this last week! They are perfect for walking missionaries in the heat of Australia. They have pretty powerful fans on the end of them to keep us cool while we're walking. They are our favorites!</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-63558512979766302742015-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:002015-01-05T10:57:34.745-08:00"Just roll with it, because Heavenly Father's driving"<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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Happy New Year to you all! I can't believe how fast this year has gone by but as I look back I'm so grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened this past year. My heart is so full of gratitude for the love that my Heavenly Father shows to each of us consistently. I absolutely love this gospel!</div>
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It has been a wonderful week! To be honest, I'm so grateful that the holiday's are over so now we can focus on the work more and we can also have the focus of the members. It is starting to really pick up and we are loving it! The Oatlands ward is a wonderful ward, there are so many great people here. But our main goal now is to take all those wonderful people and unify them to all be on the same page. It is a big challenge but we know that this is the Lord's church so as long as we do it His way, we can do anything. That has been the main focus in this area is the members. We've been visiting more members than anyone else because if we don't have the members by our side the work is a whole lot harder. It felt so good to go to church yesterday and to be able to recognize most of the members there and to already have the relationship with them. I love when that starts to happen!</div>
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We've had so many great experiences this week and so much that I've learned. Here are a few of the things that happened this week:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> P-DAY: On Monday for p-day we went to the Sydney Olympic park. It was a really fun park and we had a lot of fun walking around and seeing where all the events took place during the Olympics. We also got as close to swimming as you can on a mission. We ran though a few fountains to cool us off. It was so hot that we dried instantly afterwards.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">ALMARIO'S:On Tuesday we went by to meet this part member family named the Almario's. The mother is the only member of the church and she has two daughters that are not members. They are both in their early 20's so we thought it would be good to get to know them and be able to help them. The elders before us were trying to teach them but they said that they never had a whole lot of luck because they never wanted to listen. But we had such a great lesson with them. We got to know them and was able to have a great spiritual discussion. It helped us to see where they were at spiritually and what we can do to help them. While we were there I had this strong feeling like these two girls are the reason why we are here. Now it is just the beginning of teaching them but I know that we can help them to understand just how this gospel can help them personally and that it is for them specifically. I can't wait to see their progression!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">NEW YEARS:For New Years Eve we had to be in our flat by 6pm so that was a little bit of a downer. We were meant to do a deep cleaning but because I live there it was already really clean so we didn't even have to do that. So we made a nice dinner together and just relaxed a little bit, which is un-heard of as a missionary. haha! We had a lot of fun with the sisters that we live with, Sister Prete and Sister Brewer, they're awesome! We also got to play one of my favourite games, "Ticket to Ride" as we celebrated the start of a new year.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">20 REFERRALS: On Friday we were struggling because we hardly had anyone to see that day. Well I mean there is always someone we can see but we didn't have any set plans. We were just putting names down to try but that day I really felt like something good was going to come. The Lord always has greater plans for us. That day during lunch we received 20 referrals! Because our area is right across the street from the temple we received a lot of referrals from the Christmas lights that they do at the temple every year. It was such a tender mercy. Our plans soon changed as we had so many more people to go and see. We were able to have a member come with us and we started down the list and contacted a lot of people. With one of them we even had a full lesson on his door step and many of the other ones we tried invited us back for another day. So now we have so much to do and so many wonderful potentials!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">FASTING: Yesterday was such a great Sunday! I was fed spiritually for sure as I was fasting. I love fast Sunday's! Church was great and there was a lot of wonderful testimony's shared. After church we decided to just go out and walk until dinner time. Well lately its been between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius here (which is super hot for those that don't know). It has been really humid as well. We weren't sure where we would end up and how we would do in the heat with no water or food in our bodies but we knew the Lord would provide and help us. We walked and tried a few houses and no one was home so we kept going. But it got to a point where I could see that both of us were really struggling. I know for me I didn't know if I could make it so I told Sister Koster to stop and we said a little prayer for strength. We kept going in the faith and knew the Lord would provide. Just when I was about to give up hope and grab some water there was someone home! We went inside and started talking and shared a good message with them. It wasn't until after we left that I can realized the hand of the Lord in our lives just then. We no longer were struggling, we had more energy and were able to keep going. I KNOW that the Lord will look after us even when you're about to give up...hang on and HAVE FAITH! He will always bless you and help you! That was such a testimony builder to me that the Lord knows our needs and is by our side.</li>
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This week our mission has started a new Book of Mormon challenge. Instead of just reading the Book of Mormon we have been asked to read and highlight all the scriptures that speak of Christ or where Christ is speaking. I cannot put the Book of Mormon down! I love it and I have gained an even stronger testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I have read the Book of Mormon so many times before but this time it has put it in a new perspective. I'm now looking for Christ and I'm realizing more and more just how much the Book of Mormon truly testifies of Christ. I never knew how much he spoke to His children and how much He helped the people in the Book of Mormon.</div>
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I challenge each of you to start this challenge for yourself. Get a new Book of Mormon, just those small, cheaper ones are great. And just start looking for His words and I promise you that if you have the desire you will find Him and you will come to know Christ more. For me it has helped me to learn more of the Character of Christ and who He truly is. Let me know how the challenge goes. I will send the paper for you to check off along with me if you'd like to.</div>
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Now you're probably wondering where the title of my email came from... Just yesterday we went to a members house for dinner and we had such a good discussion with them. I learned so much! This is one of the quotes the Sister Danielson said and I really liked it. We were talking about the importance of putting our trust in the Lord and in our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and will be there for us. He has provided the Lord to be there for us and to help us in our lives. I know these things to be true because I've seen it in my own life, countless times.</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">On Christmas day we went to this beautiful waterfall and wildlife place. It was really cool!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Olympic Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Sister Koster and I at the Temple, Christmas lights.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book of Mormon Challenge</td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-78588393499512064092014-12-29T18:53:00.000-08:002014-12-29T18:53:41.968-08:00Christmas in Australia!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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This week has been a wonderful week! I hope that all of you have had a very Merry Christmas! I'm really liking this Oatlands area. There are so many wonderful people here! It has been a bit challenging getting around and getting to know everyone without a car. But the members have been very helpful. This week we've been going through a long list of unknown names and trying to figure out who they are. It is always a long process and hard when you don't see a lot of success in one day but I know that our efforts are never wasted. It has been good because we are finally just beginning to see the needs of this area and seeing who we have to work with. Even though we didn't get to see a lot of people this week we were able to talk to some people on the street and were able to find 3 new investigators this week! So I definitely know that the Lord is guiding and directing us.</div>
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Even though it was a holiday this week we have many members willing to come out with us all throughout the week. That is true dedication right there! The members were also very kind in inviting us over for lunches and dinner to help us feel at home this Christmas season.</div>
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For Christmas Eve we went over to a families house named the Mackie's. They are originally from Utah so it was good to have that common ground. We went out that night and delivered Cup cakes to people that were in need that night. It was great to see them smile big as they found a nice treat on their door step.</div>
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On Christmas day we went to several different families houses in our ward. My favourite part of Christmas day was the evening. We had the opportunity to go over to the Laugery's house. They are a young couple in the ward, Racheal is the Relief Society President and her husband is the Elders Quorum President. They are so much fun! We had a wonderful typical Aussie Christmas dinner and we played some fun games! It was so much fun to finally get to play a game again and to feel a bit more like home this Christmas.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"> There were so many more wonderful events that happened but I wish I had more time to share them. I know that this is the Lord's church. I learn so much each and everyday. I hope that all of you will take the spirit of Christmas with you all throughout the year. Because we are God's children and we need to reach out to those around us and help them to find the true joy and happiness that we all feel. May the Lord bless each one of you.</span></div>
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Thanks so much for all the love and support you each give me!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Dinner at the Laugery's</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Skyping my family!</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-30427053971824198462014-12-29T12:35:00.002-08:002014-12-29T18:43:51.288-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Dearest family and friends,</span><br />
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My heart is so full of gratitude for everything that the Lord has blessed me with. This week has been a wonderful week, a bit of an adventure but it has been great! My new companion is awesome! Her name is Sister Koster and she is from Denmark. She is so great! I'm so blessed to have her as a companion. She is already pre-trained, literally so its been easy to transition. She has been serving in her own country for 3 months waiting for her VISA,then she went to the New Zealand MTC, and finally now made it to Australia. So she knows already a lot about how to be a missionary and now I just help her to know the ways of being a missionary in Australia. She has said that Australia is so different from Denmark so its been fun to help her and to know some of the differences. But she has so much desire to serve and so much energy I absolutely love it!</div>
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Our first week in our area has been wonderful! We've gotten such a warm welcome from the Oatlands Ward it is unbelievable. They are so excited to have sisters back in the ward. They had taken out the sisters a little bit ago and now just put us in so everyone wants us over. So its great with the timing as well so that we can have a place for Christmas. I love the desire that these members have to do missionary work. There is so much work to be done here but I can see that as we all work together, it will be a great success as we strive to bring others unto Christ. I hope that each of you are striving to do all that you can to help assist the missionaries in your area because it makes it so much easier to do the Lord's work. So if you are doing missionary work, keep it up...if you aren't I encourage you to get involved. This is the greatest work that I've ever done. I thought I knew how to be a missionary but now I realized that I was probably the worst at doing missionary work before. This work is so important and so many people are searching for truth and without us they won't be able to find it. The Lord needs each and every one of us!</div>
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This week I had the wonderful opportunity to go back to my old area for the baptism of Donelle and Leo Tuipulotu. It was a great opportunity to see them again and to witness their baptism. The spirit was so strong! I know that the Tuipulotu family is the reason for why Sister Parr and I were there. The Lord has perfect timing and that was the time that they were ready to receive the truth. Those boys will be such great examples to their family and friends. I can see so much potential in them! I love being able to see some of the fruits of our labors as others enter into the waters of baptism. It is the greatest feeling in the world!</div>
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Just yesterday we were able to go into Mortdale to the Mission Office. The entire mission met together for a big Christmas conference. It was so much fun to see all my past companions and all the wonderful elders and sisters that I've served with throughout my mission. It was so weird that I knew the majority of them this time around. Last year I didn't know anyone and now I have so many wonderful friends. We had a wonderful and inspiring Christmas program, the spirit was so strong! I'm so grateful for this wonderful Christmas season and the opportunity we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is truly the greatest gift our Heavenly Father has given us. I hope that all of you can slow down a little bit this season and REMEMBER CHRIST... for he is the REASON FOR THE SEASON!</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! I love and appreciate all of you.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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Pictures:</div>
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My companion, Sister Koster and I...everyone thinks we're twins. and the other picture is with Donelle, Leo, and Nari. I love them!</div>
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*****</div>
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This is all of my district from the MTC. We are all still here, it was fun to see them all again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Re-united with one of my best friends, Sister Schwab. She is such a great blessing in my life. It was so great to see her!</span><br />
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-27774336620179224272014-12-29T12:31:00.001-08:002014-12-29T12:31:45.016-08:00Transfers...Shotgun Training!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Dear Family and friends,</span><br />
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It has been a great week. So this weekend was transfers again. I can't believe how fast this transfer flew by. I found out on Saturday that I was being transferred again. I kind of saw it coming though. I'm going to miss so many of the investigators that we're teaching especially Nari and her boys. They have been the biggest miracle of this transfer. In fact this coming Saturday Donelle and Leo are going to be baptized! I've already got the approval to go and I can't wait for that day. Those boys are so excited and the Lord has definitely prepared them for this time to be ready for baptism.</div>
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I've been transferred to a place called Oatlands. I've never heard of this area but I'm told it is near the temple in a place called Parramatta. I'm training a new sister! So for the next couple days I'm in limbo land with a few sisters who are also training. I haven't been to my new area yet but I look forward to go in the next couple days. My new companion arrives tomorrow! I'm so excited to meet her and to get to start in a new area again.</div>
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I'm sorry my email is short this time. But I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I've learned so many things that I can't even begin to tell you. I'm excited for this next chapter on my mission and to meet some new people. Thank goodness that I have the Lord by my side and the spirit to guide me in this work or else I don't know if I could do it. I know that this is His work and He stands at the head of it.</div>
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Merry Christmas to you all. I love you heaps!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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Pictures: the one by the sign is of Donelle and the boys and Moetahi. They are all going to be baptized soon.</div>
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The other pic is of my investigator Melelupe. I'm going to miss that girl. I used to teach her in Green Valley and so it was cool to teach her again.</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-56434806999208784872014-12-07T18:46:00.002-08:002014-12-07T18:46:40.644-08:00"Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36)<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Dear family and friends,</span><br />
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This week has been another great week here in Australia. I can't believe it's already December! Time is flying by but I'm loving it here so much. There are so many wonderful people here that we're working with. Here are some updates on some people. Nari and Donelle and the other boys are doing wonderful. We are still teaching them every week. We go over almost every single day to keep them going and to make sure everything is going good. They are starting to get more and more involved in the ward activities. The baptism for Donelle and Leo is still on for December 20th of this month and we can't wait for that day to come! We are so very blessed that God trusted us to be working with this wonderful family. We love them so much!</div>
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Here are some of the tender mercies that happened this week:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">This week one of the recent new investigators that I met in the Green Valley area we were finally able to meet with him. I was a little unsure of how keen he was to learn. But it turned out to be a great lesson. Hamlet was so eager to learn! He read the Restoration pamphlet and we went through it with him. We gave him a Book of Mormon towards the end and he was already reading it. He was so happy to learn more and to see what it was all about. We look forward to working with him and hopefully he continues to have the fire and desire to learn more of restored gospel of Jesus Christ.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">I went on exchanges with the Samoan sisters in this area. I had the opportunity to go with this new sister in the mission, her name is Sister Esau. She is amazing! She has only been here for about a month but she taught me so much and is a great missionary! Her area is actually the same area as Green Valley but they just cover the Samoan people so that whole day in their area I was trying to remember any Islander families that I knew of that could help these sisters find people to teach. I've never searched so much for islander, specifically Samoans in my life. I was on the lookout all day long! They don't have a car in that area so we were walking all day and so it was so great because we got to talk to heaps of different people. We had one cool experience...We were walking on our way to this less-actives home when we saw these islanders outside their house. We were so excited and started to talk to them. This one boy in particular was very interested in religion and had been searching for a while in all the religions. He was truly seeking truth and Heavenly Father had led us right to him. We taught him of the Restoration of the gospel and we testified of the Book of Mormon. He said that he would read the Book of Mormon and the Sisters have an appointment with him this coming week. It was such a blessing. I know that those sisters struggle with finding people to teach, especially Samoans so that was great to see the hand of the Lord in the work that day.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We had a great experience this week as we were going through the ward list. We're still trying to meet some new people and especially all the ward members. We tried many different houses and we went to one of them and no one was home. But as we were getting in the car a woman drove up. Her name was Priscilla. She said that the man that lived there was her x-partner but now she lives there with her daughter. She was the sweetest woman and we got talking about who we were. She was very interested in learning more and we were able to set up an appointment with her. That was such a tender mercy to meet her that day. The Lord is so good to us, it always happens that way. After a long day of no one home we were able to have a little tender mercy with Priscilla to help us know that he is there and that we are doing the right thing. What a blessing!</li>
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I don't know if any of you have heard about the new initiative that has come out by the church. It is called "HE IS THE GIFT." It is a great program that is going and we are taking it on strong. We pass out so many of those cards each day and we are really seeing lots of success during this Christmas Season as we are striving to put Christ back into the Christmas season. If you haven't already seen this mormon message please do! Or have a look at<a href="http://christmas.mormon.org/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">christmas.mormon.org</a>. Invite EVERYONE that you know to take a look at this. It has been a great blessing in my life and has helped me to remember what Christmas is all about. </div>
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As I was doing my personal study one day this week I came across the scripture of Mark 5:36 which I entitiled this email. It was something that really stuck out to me. We've met so many people that are fearful of where the world is headed but as I got to thinking, we really have no need to fear. As we trust in the Lord and live a righteous life, we won't have to worry because we know that we are on the winning team. Are you on the winning team? Are you on the Lord's team? I encourage each of you to evaluate your life and see if you are doing all you can to do what the Lord has asked us to do. If not there is still time, the Lord is always there for us and can help us to get on the strait and narrow path towards our Heavenly Father.</div>
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I know these things to be true! this is the Lord's church. I hope that you all have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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PS. the pictures are of Nari and Donelle. And then the other one is of Simi, Nari's little boy. He is so cute!</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-63841620690698513182014-11-30T18:05:00.003-08:002014-11-30T18:05:58.378-08:00Testify of the truths that you DO know<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Dear family and friends,</span><br />
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It has been another incredible week this week. I've loved it and I've learned so much. That is my favorite part, I'm constantly learning and growing each and every day. This week I have seen the hand of the Lord continually leading us and guiding us in this work. Here are a few of the tender mercies that happened this week...</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> On Monday we were sitting in the mall eating lunch when this Vietnamese woman came and sat by us. She constantly was looking at our badge so of course we turned to her and started to talk to her and get to know her. She shared an incredible story with us...she said that about 20 years ago she lived in the Philippines as a younger girl and she said that she was in a concentration camp? We weren't quite sure what the conditions were with that camp. She mentioned that missionaries just like us would come and teach them English and would teach them of Jesus Christ. Melody was her name and she said that she grew to love those missionaries and they really helped her. Well she lost contact and it wasn't until she saw us that day that all those memories came flooding back to her mind. She then invited us to come to her house sometime. She unfortunately isn't in our area but we passed it to the sisters in that area. It was a big testimony builder of the power of ever planting seeds and no effort is ever wasted. It may even take 20 plus years to prepare someone to receive the restored gospel.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Wednesday I had the wonderful privilege of going back to my first area, GREEN VALLEY! I have been looking forward to this for the longest time and it was such a great experience. That day the relief society just so happened to put together a lunch and it was great to be able to go and see all the relief society women there. It was so great to catch up with them. I was also able to catch up with Anikka, my recent convert. She's been struggling lately and so we went and picked her up and took her with us for the day and we taught her along the way. I think she really needed that boost. It was perfect timing. The sister there have been struggling to find new investigators so we parked the car and just walked the whole day. It was so great! We didn't let a single person pass us by without talking to them, it was great. We were able to find 2 new investigators and find a heap of new potentials for the green Valley area. It was amazing!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Friday we had a lot of appointments to start the day off, but they all cancelled on us. Every single one of us. But we went forward anyway and just prayed constantly to know where we needed to go next. There was one tender mercy after another. One great experience that we had was this our two older ladies that we visit at the nursing home. We went to visit Dawn and Faye that day. And that particular day they were dying to have a Hamburger. They haven't had one in the longest time so we ran and bought them a hamburger. You should have seen their faces. They were so excited to have one and they ate it so fast. It made our day to see them and to do a little service for them to brighten up their day.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Just this past week the Tongan sister passed us a referral for a less-active that they met on the street. No one knew about this woman named Sister Allen. We were able to visit with her and she has mentioned that she hasn't been to church in many many years but she wants to come back now. She is so eager to learn, she wants us to come and re-teach her all the lessons again because she has forgotten so much. She would like to work towards the temple and just get back on track. It was so cool to be able to meet her and now be able to bring her back to Christ.</li>
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I have learned so much this week but one main principle that I've learned this week is the importance of testifying and sharing your testimony. We had an appointment with one of our investigators and I began to feel very inadequate because he knows the bible really well and I don't. But we had our ward mission leader with us, thank goodness and he was able to testify but he was testifying more of the importance of the restoration and all of the basics. Peter, our investigators had many questions and things he didn't like about the Book of Mormon. But one thing that I learned is that we don't have to know everything. All we have to know is the basics of the restoration and the plan of salvation. And as we testify of the truth, the holy Ghost will testify of the truth, if only the investigator has an open heart. I know that this is the Lord's work and he will help us to know what to say right at the right time and I've seen that time and time again. Don't be afraid to open your mouth because this is the best message that you can share to anyone and we are on the Lord's side. I know without a doubt that He will be by our side to help us.</div>
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I love you all very much, thanks for all your love and support.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going back to Green Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Dawn and Faye and their hamburgers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">All of us serving in the Liverpool 1st ward.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-54500899376021542902014-11-25T21:08:00.003-08:002014-11-25T21:08:50.672-08:00Faith To See Miracles<br />
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Dear Family and Friends,</div>
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Wow I love being a missionary! I know I say that every week pretty much but it is so true. I'm so blessed to be able to serve at this time and I know that this is exactly where I need to be at this time. Its been another great week here in Liverpool. Sister Parr and I are continually striving to get to know more members and more people in this area. It always takes time to get to know people and to see what the area needs but things are going so well.</div>
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This week thanks to Sister Jordin Giles email last week gave me a boost in my faith to see miracles and I saw such a big difference. I noticed that we were lacking some faith. This week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with a Sister from Tonga named Sister Taufa. She is such a sweetheart. For that day we set some good goals for the day and we were both so ready to see some miracles and to go out and find some people to teach. </div>
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We had some great experiences! One experience I'd like to share was when we decided to go walking for part of the day to find some people. We were walking towards this home for a potential investigator when I suddenly felt like we were going the wrong way and that we needed to turn around and go the other way. So we turned around and when we turned around we noticed this girl that was walking a little bit behind us. Yes...someone to talk to we thought! We introduced ourselves and started to talk to her. We then ended up sharing with her pretty much the whole Restoration. She said that she would love to meet again. We set up an appointment with her. I knew that the Lord had answered our prayers and because of our faith we were able to see miracles and to meet Nikki.</div>
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We had another miracle this week. On friday Sister Parr and I had an appointment at the Liverpool Library with this new investigator. Well we waited there and waited there and realized he wasn't coming. So then we started looking at the people around us whom we could talk to. We went over and talked to this african guy. It was so cool to talk to him. We ended up teaching him the whole restoration as well. He is so ready to learn more and willing to listen. I knew that we weren't there for Peter that day but we were there so that we could meet Dave.</div>
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There are so many more stories that I could share but I just know that this is the Lord's church here upon the earth. He definitely knows what he's doing and will guide us to where we need to go. We just have to have the faith. I know that as we pray for miracles and constantly expect them and exercise our faith that the Lord will put people in our paths. I'm grateful for this gospel and I know with all my heart that it is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ can change lives and will shape us to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ...He is the way.</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful week. </div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We went bowling with these sister last week. It was so much fun! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">A pic of me and my wonderful Soa, she's the best!</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-681710738350176732014-11-17T17:35:00.000-08:002014-11-17T17:35:34.795-08:00Trusting in the Lord is key!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Dear family and friends,</span><br />
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It has been a great week here in Liverpool. I think we are now starting to get the hang of this area and starting to get to know the people in this area more and more. There is still so much work to be done but we are excited that we get to be apart of this work and building the Liverpool area. We have seen so many tender mercies this week. Here are a few of them:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Wednesday I was on exchanges with a sister from Germany named Sister Ziegner. It was a bit stressful because I have to be the example and I really don't know this area so it was a challenge. We didn't really have too many set appointments either so I was putting down a bunch of random names that I was finding in the area book. And I also was trying to get some members to come with us and in the midst of all this panic. There was a sweet member that called us and asked if we needed her to help fellowship for the day. It was an answer to my prayer! We were able to go out with her for the morning and it was a great experience. We got to meet some more people and also be able to meet a lot of potential investigators. I love members that are proactive and help us!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Saturday we had a great day! We had Sister Deo (the member that came out with us on Wednesday). We wanted someone to come out with us to visit the Tuipulotu family that we've been working with a lot. I knew that Nari would need some friends and I felt very strongly that Sister Deo needed to come to that lesson. It turned out that Sister Deo knew Nari and has been trying to for years to get her to come back to church and since then had lost contact. So it was great to re-unite them and it was good to have her there to help with the boys. We set Donelle (oldest 14 year old boy) and his brother Leo (8 year old) up with a baptismal date. They said yes! I love the desire that all of these boys have to learn the gospel. They don't know hardly anything but they love it so much. I know that they don't really understand baptism yet but they want to follow Jesus Christ and Nari wants them to be baptized as well. We are so excited!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">After visiting with Nari and the boys we went to contact this referral that Nari gave us. She lived just around the corner so we walked. The woman's name was Ruth and she was on the phone when she answered the door but she was willing for us to come back. On our way back to our car we saw this woman out in her yard. We all said hello and kept walking but after we passed her I felt the need to turn around and talk to her more. It turns out that all 3 of us had that feeling. She was a very kind woman, she was a religious woman herself and really liked seeing young people out sharing the gospel. We began to share with her a little bit of our unique message. While we were talking I felt like we needed to give her a Book of Mormon. So we testified of the Book of Mormon and she was eager to read it and find out more about it. We are going back this week to share more with her!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Sunday we thought we would just leave Nari and the boys alone and test them to see if they could come on there own without us pushing them to come. And sure enough they came! It helped us to see the great desire all of them have to come and to learn. It is such a blessing to be working with this wonderful family. We love them so much!</li>
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There are so many wonderful things that are happening here and I can't wait to see what else is in store for this transfer. I've learned a lot about trusting in the Lord this week. He really knows what He is doing and we have no need to worry as long as we rely on Him and do His will. Sister Parr and I don't know this area but the Lord does and He can guide us to know what it is we need to do now. I have see him guiding us this week in what needs to be done now in this area. I'm so grateful to be here and to be able to be serving at this time. I learn so much each and every day. This gospel is so true! I know that there are countless blessings that come our way when we are keeping God's commandments and doing all that we can. I'm also so grateful for the atonement and the knowledge that I know that I can be forgiven. Yes we will make mistakes, I do way too much but I know that I can be better. We need to constantly be re-evaluating ourselves and looking for those weaknesses so that we can be stronger and more like Christ.</div>
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The Lord has given us so many tools and things that we can use to learn of Him and to become better. God is all powerful and can do all things. We just have to trust in God in all things. One scripture that stuck out to me this week was when I was reading in Mormon 1:2 it talks about Mormon only being 10 years old and the wonderful faith that he had. One attribute that stuck out to me that it mentions that he was "quick to observe." I thought about that phrase quick to observe this week and I've been striving to apply it into my life. Are you quick to observe the commandments and the promptings that you receive from God? When the spirit guides you to do something, do you do it? I know that I have a lot to work on when it comes to that aspect but as I've focused on that this week I've seen so many tender mercies as I just followed and ACTED as soon as I got the prompting. Remember faith without works in dead (James 2).</div>
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My COMMITMENT for you this week is to evaluate yourself and see if you are "quick to observe" like Mormon. I can promise you that as you strive to more fully listen and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost that you will have many miracles. Your life will be blessed tremendously and you will be an effective instrument in the Lords hands in bringing forth His gospel.</div>
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Thanks for all your love and support!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-79123767594110630352014-11-09T19:57:00.000-08:002014-11-09T19:59:52.609-08:00Tuipulotu Family Miracle<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Dear family and friends!</span><br />
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Another great week has come and gone in the mission field. I just wish that time would slow down a little bit but we do what we can. This week has been a bit of a challenge as Sister Parr and I have been trying to get to know this new area and discern the needs of the people in this area. It has been great to get to know so many new people, this is a great area. It is still so weird to be back in Liverpool but I know that I'm here for a reason. It has been good to start fresh in a new area, new companion, new everything. It has been great to look back and see just how far I've come and the things that I've learned to get me to this point. I know that the Lord knows us each individually and knows where we need to be. It has been great to see how all of my past experiences are now helping me in this new area to know what to do and how to deal with different situations.</div>
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TUIPULOTU MIRACLE:</div>
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This week we had a huge miracle! The Lord is so good to us and definitely guides this work! Just this week we got a referral from the elders for this less-active. So we went to visit them on friday night. When we knocked on the door this man answered and he looked at us and said, "missionaries?" He then said he'd be back. Following that his wife came out, she was so happy to see us. We began to talk to her and get to know her more. We came to find out that she hasn't been to church in over 15 years. She also has 5 boys that have never been to church or anything. She expressed how much she wants to come back to church and she feels like its time for her boys to learn of the gospel too. Her oldest boy is 14, then she has a 8yr, 7yr, 4yr, and 10 month old.She was in tears as we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it is not too late to come back and that Christ's arms are wide open and ready for us to come to Him.</div>
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We set up an appointment with her and her boys the following day (Saturday). Her boys are so cute and so ready to learn! We started from the very basics. We taught them about our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They never really knew about any of that. We taught them the song, "I am a child of God" and they loved singing that one. We then taught them how to pray, we went around the room as each one of them said their own prayer. You should have seen those boys eyes light up as they came to know that they had a loving Heavenly Father that they could talk to and that could help them with anything. We then invited them to come to church the next day. All the boys were so excited to come! Nari, the mother expressed the concern that they didn't have any clothes and didn't want her boys to be judged for their appearance. We expressed how it doesn't matter what you wear but as long as you go. But regardless we were scrambling to find some clothes for the following day so the boys could come. </div>
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Sunday morning we stopped by their house to walk with them to church with some clothes for them to wear. Nari wasn't sure she wanted to come but we were able to help her realize the importance of letting her boys have that experience as well as herself. We left her to get ready and we went to church. Church was starting and they had still not arrived. So Sister Parr and I left sacrament and walked to their house to get them. They were all ready to go just needed an extra push to get them there. We walked with them to church and they had a great experience there. The boys were so happy and loved primary and loved young men's. Nari was in tears the whole day, I know that she felt the spirit strong that day. What a miracle!</div>
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I know that the Lord prepared Nari at this particular time, she is so ready to come back to church and to get her whole family to know of the gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
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I'm so grateful for this gospel and all the blessings that come from living the gospel. I'm so excited to be a missionary at this time and to be able to witness miracles like the one we had with Nari and her family. I know that as we do all that we can and strive to be obedient in all things that the Lord will be able to use us as effective tools in His hands in bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to His children. After sharing this miracle, do you have anyone that comes to your mind that you could share the gospel with? I encourage you that if you have to ACT upon that thought. It may seem scary to share the gospel to someone that you know or especially someone that you don't know. But I can promise you that by sharing the gospel you are giving someone the greatest gift you could ever give someone. So my commitment to you is to pray for a missionary experience, pray for someone that you could share the gospel with. And if you don't know what to say, Pray! Our Heavenly Father will give you the words to say, he has promised us that. I know that this is the Lord's restored church on the Earth today. He loves us so much and is always there for us.</div>
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I hope you all have a great week. I would also love to hear your miracles so feel free to share them with me. It always uplifts me and helps me to keep going.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI2Qo4OnISdKMvVDtQ2x0xc3IgOVq98qtMvEw9EwcE6-rw2hXi6ZQSoz_o3ea2502pVCve8hOusXoN8cv8c5oOQaIDvYTMojgwefBykp8M1dtk1hsnlJnZU3eJ5C1pz0IFSZ2ehDZ7RSn/s1600/DSCN1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI2Qo4OnISdKMvVDtQ2x0xc3IgOVq98qtMvEw9EwcE6-rw2hXi6ZQSoz_o3ea2502pVCve8hOusXoN8cv8c5oOQaIDvYTMojgwefBykp8M1dtk1hsnlJnZU3eJ5C1pz0IFSZ2ehDZ7RSn/s1600/DSCN1098.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Here are some of the photos we took at the trunk of treat activity. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYL3FclGP4w9dXHlOffZC6J5yuAs53GnVXBOVZmzmI7Vk527kEnlTiBs37jrxcev45U_lV9ApoqYkJGhNcrFYvDDN7lO3n7Lu76vpUafVQ6TMyiWkG0dJqE1AgW8CYCCFUNiLHeWwH-Vx/s1600/DSCN1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYL3FclGP4w9dXHlOffZC6J5yuAs53GnVXBOVZmzmI7Vk527kEnlTiBs37jrxcev45U_lV9ApoqYkJGhNcrFYvDDN7lO3n7Lu76vpUafVQ6TMyiWkG0dJqE1AgW8CYCCFUNiLHeWwH-Vx/s1600/DSCN1142.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">My new companion, Sister Parr (far left)! Sister Bretzing was also with us for the first couple days as she was waiting for her new trainee. I lived with Sister Bretzing for the first 6 months of my mission so it was fun to be with her again for a little bit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ6K_1isUXqWTVfmGt3VKAu5jW5dvz81S2sNF4yseEX8-4mkAX9T0ODcJtjgWONRSXP4ZUQSpSs5lIUDCKel-AXyMAJx7xxf89pnvtid4exh0RnS49rTnmsJU2vVEkWtqi5lyU8u14u5f/s1600/DSCN1161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ6K_1isUXqWTVfmGt3VKAu5jW5dvz81S2sNF4yseEX8-4mkAX9T0ODcJtjgWONRSXP4ZUQSpSs5lIUDCKel-AXyMAJx7xxf89pnvtid4exh0RnS49rTnmsJU2vVEkWtqi5lyU8u14u5f/s1600/DSCN1161.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">These girls are some of the ysa in the Green Valley Ward. I was able to see them this week, they are all working towards their missions now. :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaQ8Eliq8BfR6NP6rYNs7VYNQKJzMqEwKF2TIGL5gvaIBBiIbFumdjWhcQLO-AtiaogidzGrE92OAkX6KrFrZytww3JdvKiEyn4diVBjxWXfdl1cOf_NyRNM-QvCb4rcil5DmVBzK8Uew/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaQ8Eliq8BfR6NP6rYNs7VYNQKJzMqEwKF2TIGL5gvaIBBiIbFumdjWhcQLO-AtiaogidzGrE92OAkX6KrFrZytww3JdvKiEyn4diVBjxWXfdl1cOf_NyRNM-QvCb4rcil5DmVBzK8Uew/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">I wasn't able to send some of the pics from Sister Tito and I's last exchange together. We went to this beautiful place called Narooma with some sisters named Sister Hoeft and Sister Rushing. We had so much fun there...except for the time that we got attacked by seagulls at dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPXpL9Xadlbgev07hJuc1DULqqscDDyFsNOkOaIfC5OTRo-gyFAjIh55EBuYTzwgr4dQHTphZyXQ4JirqoYp-ZychCqp2naEZdlrYCBnKAqLcjWbWOYqijJBzNmTd7NICV_069mYqK99U/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPXpL9Xadlbgev07hJuc1DULqqscDDyFsNOkOaIfC5OTRo-gyFAjIh55EBuYTzwgr4dQHTphZyXQ4JirqoYp-ZychCqp2naEZdlrYCBnKAqLcjWbWOYqijJBzNmTd7NICV_069mYqK99U/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narooma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzauxpt9IwbKb9SwmYhKxRDgSMg-NWATmHpMcOB8eLgGCKQkNXZknu4x4v8IErRySRb9rQnVuzymho7kF0SOZF8IZo1IWRHMTE3fHmcSy8HI4KjPOIOQZvnZr9RSnkEdWg9oyT1Liam0HF/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzauxpt9IwbKb9SwmYhKxRDgSMg-NWATmHpMcOB8eLgGCKQkNXZknu4x4v8IErRySRb9rQnVuzymho7kF0SOZF8IZo1IWRHMTE3fHmcSy8HI4KjPOIOQZvnZr9RSnkEdWg9oyT1Liam0HF/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This was at the Halloween party before I left Belconnen. Jennifer just got baptised yesterday in Belconnen ward, she is awesome! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgRJkyVxxYvimli-wdEt6JOLFJjC-ofUHltAKSiJxNlTxnTHuAbHcXAfYISzAMAhYfe-ZE5R6-JcXMlfIId8UEl5yRtMNkcRrS8gQYMriSYgloAhmWADjZ74a8npucu_1l5OdopAaKNU1/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgRJkyVxxYvimli-wdEt6JOLFJjC-ofUHltAKSiJxNlTxnTHuAbHcXAfYISzAMAhYfe-ZE5R6-JcXMlfIId8UEl5yRtMNkcRrS8gQYMriSYgloAhmWADjZ74a8npucu_1l5OdopAaKNU1/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Our investigator named Felicity who is getting baptised this next week. I'm going to miss that girl, she is so strong and so willing to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ. We were both in tears as we had to leave but I know that we will see each other again.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> </span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-25811598204238572792014-11-03T18:42:00.001-08:002014-11-03T18:42:17.127-08:00BACK TO LIVERPOOL!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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This past week has been an incredible week, once again. I've loved being able to serve in the Belconnen Ward! But unfortuntely my time has come to an end in that ward. I have now been transferred back to Liverpool (which was my first Stake) but now I'm just serving in a different ward. I'm serving in the Liverpool 1st ward. My new companion is Sister Parr. She is awesome! She is from Auckland, New Zealand (another Maori). I'm so excited to be with her and to be serving in Liverpool again. We are shot gunned so we both don't know anything about this area but the great thing about that is that we have the spirit to guide us and to help us in this work. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that we are not alone. We "can do all things through Christ which strenghtheneth me(philippians 4:13)." I know that I couldn't do this work, the Lord's work on my own. I know that this will be a another great experience for me and that the Lord has sent me to this new area for a reason. I'm so ready to go out and apply those wonderful things that I've learned in my last area and to help the people here.</div>
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There were so many tender mercies that happened this past week. Here are a few:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We confirmed the baptismal date with our young 14 year old African investigator. She is cleared for baptism on this coming sunday. We are so happy for her. Unfortuntely I won't be there but Sister Tito will be there to help her.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We also have a baptismal date with Felicity for the 15th of November! She is so keen for that date and is working towards it. She is awesome!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Dat ( a new buddhist investigator) came to church! He is the first buddhist that I've met who is so open minded. He is so ready to hear the gospel and it was so great to be able to share with him the truthfulness and the fulness of the gospel.</li>
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I wish I had more time to give you more of an update but I want you to know that I know that this is the Lord's church. It is the only one that holds the fulness of truth and you can find true happiness and joy by living His gospel. I have gained a strong testimony on obedience. I know that as we are obedient we will recieve blessings and as we are exactly obedient we will see miracles. I have seen that so much on my mission and I know that I'm the happiest when I doing what God wants me to do. I LOVE this gospel and I know that it can change lives. I know that our savior loves us so much and is there for us. He knows what we are going through and all He wants us to do is turn to Him.</div>
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Have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-7574137056500616512014-10-28T20:27:00.002-07:002014-10-28T20:27:23.814-07:00Goo-ba-lee-Goop!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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You must be wondering what the heck the title of this email is all about but I will explain. But it has been another great week full of so many wonderful experiences and tender mercies. Sister Tito and I continue to work extra hard in order to help all of those that we're working with to progress and come unto Christ. Here are some of the events/ tender mercies that happened this week.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Wednesday I went on an exchange with a sister named, Sister Ilalio. We are running low on kilometers so we decided to walk the whole day. Unfortunately we weren't able to get many set appointments so it was an open day full of unknown. But in a way I love days like that because it strengthens my faith and helps me to trust in the Lord to go where He wants us to go. There was one miracle after another. One of them that sticks out in my mind was when we had been walking almost all day and it was really hot. I was really struggling to keep going and just was praying really hard that I could have the strength to keep going and that we'd find someone that would recieve us. Just after that, Sister Ilalio looked over and saw that there was a door that was open and people inside. I said, "lets go!" We knocked on the door and it was such a nice woman and listened to what we had to say. We set up a return appointment and it was good to know that there were really some nice people that are ready and prepared at this time. I don't know if that woman will be super receptive but at that moment it was a tender mercy to meet her. She boosted my energy and helped me to keep going. I'm so grateful for that experience.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Emily Van Dyek is changing day by day. It has been incredible to see the changes in her. We started the stop-smoking program with her this week. She was able to crush a whole pack of new cigarretes on her own. But unfortunately she wasn't able to make it the full week. She hasn't fully decided that she wants to quit. So we continue to teach her and encourage her and I know that she will be able to quit. It has been great to see just how much the gospel can change people. Even those that you least expect. All you need is a willing heart and an open mind and the spirit will be able to teach them and show them the way. I don't know if I'll be here for Emily to be baptized but I'm grateful to be able to say that I was one of the first missionaries that introduced the gospel to her. I know that she will one day come unto Christ.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On friday we had a few cancellation and so we were walking around the suburb by our flat. We saw this lady spraying off her driveway. We of course went up to talk to her and she was a lovely lady. We talked about the beautiful weather and then she took us around and showed us her garden. She was so nice that she didn't even notice we were missionaries until after we'd been talking for a little bit. She then started yelling GOO-BA-LEE-GOOP! i thought it was a little strange at first and then she explained that she likes to feed the mag-pies and that is the call she uses to call them in for their feed. So Sister Tito and I joined in by yelling and all of these birds came in and started eating. It was sure a funny experience and now Sister Tito and I like to use that phrase whenever we see a mag-pie. The lady was very kind and we set up a return appointment too. Something I learned from Bev that day is the importance of treating everyone with respect. She didn't even notice we were missionaries she just talked to us like anyone else and I hope that I can do the same thing with everyone that I meet.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Our wonderful Mission President gave us permission to go to the temple with Mini for the first time on Saturday. Mini went with the relief society and stayed the night there in Sydney and we surprised her and got a ride early in the morning with a member. We surprised her and you should have seen her face. She was so excited that we were there with her to help her. It was a great experience to be able to see Mini glowing as she was able to help some people that have passed on to recieve that great blessing of baptism that Mini just recently was able to experience. Mini loved it!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Sister Tito and I also had the opportunity to do an endowment session and what a great experience that was. After not being able to go so long, it was a great blessing to be in the temple that day. I learned so much and it really was a good boost of spirituality. I LOVE the temple and I'm so grateful that we have them on the earth today.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">We set a baptismal date with Felicity for November 15th. We are so excited for her and are ready to help her to get there. Please keep her in your prayers!</li>
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There are so many more wonderful experiences I could share but those are some of the highlights of the week. I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I'm so grateful to be able to now share the gospel to those that are ready to recieve it at this time. I know that the Lord is hastening the work at this time and now its our time to stand up and to proclaim the truth to all the world. I commit you to pray and fast this coming fast sunday to know of someone that you can share the gospel with. Or even someone that needs strengthening at this time. I know the power of fasting and prayer. I know that if you have the desire to share the gospel that you will know who is ready. And as the scriptures promise us that we have no need to worry what to say but the words will be given us at the very moment we need them. So go out and share what you know to be true!</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for all the love and support!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-36111233624678600872014-10-19T20:14:00.001-07:002014-10-19T20:14:55.751-07:00We are nothing without God (Alma 26:12)<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear Family and Friends,</div>
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It has been another wonderful week here in the Canberra area. I don't even know where to begin with the week that I've had. Its been full of so many wonderful experiences and lessons that I've learned. Here are some of the tender mercies that we saw this week.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">EXCHANGES WITH SISTER MATA'AFA: This last monday after emails we drove to Nowra (3 hours) to go on an exchange with those sisters there. I had the wonderful opportunity to go with a sister named, Sister Mata'afa. In Nowra there are heaps of old people because its a retirement place near the coast. So we visited a lot of older people. We went to the nursing home and we talked to a lady that is a member and she was a great example to me of a faithful woman regardless of all the rough times she's been through in her life. We also visited this other member who is about 80 years old and she is so missionary minded. She doesn't even seem like she is that age and has invited so many to hear the gospel. I want to be like May when I get to be that age! It was a great blessing to meet all of those wonderful people that day.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">EXCHANGES WITH SISTER BOITEUX: The next day we went on exchanges with the Woden Sisters. I got to go with Sister Boiteux. She is amazing as well! We got to see some cool miracles that day. The first one was when we went to visit this investigator named Jeanette. She wasn't home at first and so we tried some doors around her and no one was home. So we headed back to the car but Sister Boiteux is new to the area and can only get around with a gps. The gps wasn't working at all and we didn't know what to do. So we decided to pray. The gps still didn't work and so we decided to just get out of the car and start walking and find out why we were supposed to be there. We talked to several people and after a while we headed back to the car. The gps still wasn't working but as we were trying to figure it out we saw Jeanette walk by and go into her house. So of course we jumped out of the car and went up to her door. THAT WAS WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE! We had a powerful lesson with her on her door step about prayer and putting the Lord first. By the end of it she said she was about to cry and wanted to go inside to pray some more and ask for forgiveness for some things. When we went out to the car the gps started working again. I knew that the Lord needed us to talk to Jeanette that day.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Another thing that happened with Sister Boiteux was we got to teach this little boy named Brodie. He is 9 years old and has a small attention span. So we decided to make the lesson really fun for him. It was one of the best lessons ever. I taught him basketball as we were teaching the lesson. We related basketball to prayer and Christ was a the coach and how we have to listen to him and talk to him. Sister Boiteux said that was a miracle that he was able to listen and understand the lesson. It was so fun! All those years of basketball pay off even on a mission!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Emily and Kristy and her family came to church! That was a huge miracle that they came. We went on splits before church to round everyone up for church. Sister Tito and Faith Stubbs went over to wake Emily up and she did not want to come. But with a little bit of the spirit and a little bit of petrol from the members she drove herself to church! It was awesome!</li>
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There are so many more miracle to share but those are some of the few. It was a great week and I'm loving every minute of my mission. One thing I learned a lot about this week is the power of the Atonement. Many times I find myself always wanting to do better and always falling short of what I want to do. And instead of getting angry with myself I have learned how to turn it over to the Lord to help me to make those weaknesses my strengths and reach new heights. I'm so grateful for the power of the Atonement that allows us to be better and to become more like our Savior.</div>
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Thanks for all that you do. I hope you have a wonderful week.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Momma Mini!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZzzdl_dY1ZLvGipsIgpAdQHZWFb8E-H3gSEO1CGUD6c2T86Ypi7YJ7-95KuFZX-jqe4W0_JK_GIBH_2uqkl7Y7LapzNKcdH0D6NtCREH7IFR7uO42W2uEbTr2RZBMI3H9xwnUL9l_hN_/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZzzdl_dY1ZLvGipsIgpAdQHZWFb8E-H3gSEO1CGUD6c2T86Ypi7YJ7-95KuFZX-jqe4W0_JK_GIBH_2uqkl7Y7LapzNKcdH0D6NtCREH7IFR7uO42W2uEbTr2RZBMI3H9xwnUL9l_hN_/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">The wonderful and fun Kikkert family</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RpTARALqo71qkSsbZwjDWwhJP1l6uz2o72loIk2KdOgZ9pWzJnvhlrhRIWEUx4_nDM5xsfv7z3Yo6OpG2SN0nCw9mFv0jBgDPeTmm_catZHExl3zp8yGzWoMl3hv5ziSRuWPFyISHOel/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RpTARALqo71qkSsbZwjDWwhJP1l6uz2o72loIk2KdOgZ9pWzJnvhlrhRIWEUx4_nDM5xsfv7z3Yo6OpG2SN0nCw9mFv0jBgDPeTmm_catZHExl3zp8yGzWoMl3hv5ziSRuWPFyISHOel/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">splits with Lata and Faith sunday morning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWpAlpJ3qh_xVnW8C-RzWEJg6nnJPmlUxRTIkBkn1M4nEFIexgXc8K2xurDWPUiDJMpPrriOv_BgpiNaA-Nmfo8vY0RWZLtAaB89itLDL1n0Wx_B04tg7IvV7sUIwhBxsDGQgJVrpllWy/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWpAlpJ3qh_xVnW8C-RzWEJg6nnJPmlUxRTIkBkn1M4nEFIexgXc8K2xurDWPUiDJMpPrriOv_BgpiNaA-Nmfo8vY0RWZLtAaB89itLDL1n0Wx_B04tg7IvV7sUIwhBxsDGQgJVrpllWy/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">If this is what it takes to get someone to church then we are willing to do whatever it takes! The Green's filled up a can with petrol the night before to give to Emily so that she could come to church.</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-36944206287802321402014-10-12T20:41:00.002-07:002014-10-12T20:41:49.560-07:00Another INSPIRING General Conference<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear Family and friends,</div>
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I know that all of you probably watched general conference last week and now that is old news for you but for us in Australia we just barely were able to watch it this past weekend. It was so amazing and I learned so much from the sessions. Aren't we so grateful to be able to listen to the prophets at this time and to know what we can do to lift to new heights and to more closely follow God's plan for us? I don't even know where to begin with all the things that I liked from conference. I think I took at least something from each of the speakers that I could use or improve on.</div>
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WRITTEN QUESTIONS:</div>
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One thing that I learned this week is the importance of writing down the questions that you want answered. For the first couple sessions I just had a few questions that I had in my mind that I hoped to have answered but some of them weren't very clear and I didn't fully know what I wanted answered. But thanks so my wonderful companion who helped me and inspired me to just take some time and write them down. So I did that very thing. I took some time aside and prayerfully wrote down some of the questions that I had in my mind and also some others that I had not really thought of before.</div>
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I went to the next couple session of conference with those questions written down and it was amazing how much more I was able to get out of conference. Not to say that I didn't get anything from the talks beforehand but the spirit was so much stronger as I realized I was more ready to recieve revelation and open to what God wanted to tell me. God isn't just going to give us everything and expect us to do nothing for ourselves. He wants us to do our part and to prepare ourselves so that we can recieve all that he has in store for us. I noticed that by the end of conference that each of those questions that I had written down was answered by at least one talk. It was a great lesson to learn and what a great experience I had.</div>
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One of my favorite talks from conference was President Monson's talk. It was definitely an answer to one of my questions. I loved it how he said, "Walking WHERE Jesus walked is not as important as walking AS Jesus walked." I LOVED THAT! I've always wanted to know how I can develope a stronger relationship with my Saviour, Jesus Christ and I think I've always known but this talk just really enhanced it and helped me to recognize it more than ever before. If we want to come to know someone or even strive to become like them we have to do as they would do. Our purpose in this life is to become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ and the way we do it is by being a little kinder to our fellow brethren, keeping ALL of His commandments, and just by putting aside the natural man and the things of the world for the things that truly matter most in life.</div>
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This conference we had a few of our investigators come which was so great to see! We had our investigator Emily Van Dyek come which was a bit of a shocker. She even stayed for both sessions on Saturday. I think she was a little bit overwhelmed by the end but I think over all she really liked it. We also got Jennifer to come to one session and I think she really liked it as well. I wish that I had more time to share some of the insights that I recieved from conference but I have ran out of time.</div>
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I hope that you all have a wonderful week and strive to apply all the things that you learned from conference. WE ARE SO BLESSED! I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and I'm ready to share that with everyone else that is willing to listen.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5NMeO47Ps7xObn-81cbbo8nZJM0yqbnp-JehnJbplHXr9gB5OaoiE96k-ClZlCBDFbX5-qdQ_OCJoaRuBkPDvR1fAJXVQPjgCKtIz3rUIcLiYiCXbeJKg3ujLUOE4dRqdKnYgPPwTX3F/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5NMeO47Ps7xObn-81cbbo8nZJM0yqbnp-JehnJbplHXr9gB5OaoiE96k-ClZlCBDFbX5-qdQ_OCJoaRuBkPDvR1fAJXVQPjgCKtIz3rUIcLiYiCXbeJKg3ujLUOE4dRqdKnYgPPwTX3F/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We went to the Parliament building this last pday. It is really cool!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV1Yqy3PDtHcwXZq5NQ0K70uX5a8vxsn5CWrHAo-zFYIR4v_TpwEbD93p4XTAY_vtVkBnxSrxmDvLxM22G_wD-GXn2pE_WftIcXTaWZqpFpiXuf6bwwPg31PfSAeC5lTd1zwuH4vNYqrm/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV1Yqy3PDtHcwXZq5NQ0K70uX5a8vxsn5CWrHAo-zFYIR4v_TpwEbD93p4XTAY_vtVkBnxSrxmDvLxM22G_wD-GXn2pE_WftIcXTaWZqpFpiXuf6bwwPg31PfSAeC5lTd1zwuH4vNYqrm/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMFEl1j0JkY1ChSoFud9beirUg1eGRHwVfaIopewaaD7jwDBJNbHUC9el16_uCh8mKOabJpYVu_MM1-9GYT_gfrQ76s5uYpniGAXC3m_jwP1pki-Jt0TfbpBti7tVa4i5ITjLFfnst-fC/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMFEl1j0JkY1ChSoFud9beirUg1eGRHwVfaIopewaaD7jwDBJNbHUC9el16_uCh8mKOabJpYVu_MM1-9GYT_gfrQ76s5uYpniGAXC3m_jwP1pki-Jt0TfbpBti7tVa4i5ITjLFfnst-fC/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Brother Baker (Ward mission leader) took us all out for lunch in between the Saturday sessions. We had Emily with us too. She is the one that doesn't look very happy but i think its because she's not used to having so many happy people around her. And of course Mini came with us too. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuTM-ShwEHhBeotJ-PwW6eAzOFWPouLHBi2mxRab2_sha3r5cM5cIJkYpsY8w5K9YW6vzRQYMceOw0HTVgSowZcixuJkLi97GigQowv6GaFzWrwl6XbYgoLayvaV1saVEbNOp5DAVH2Xn/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuTM-ShwEHhBeotJ-PwW6eAzOFWPouLHBi2mxRab2_sha3r5cM5cIJkYpsY8w5K9YW6vzRQYMceOw0HTVgSowZcixuJkLi97GigQowv6GaFzWrwl6XbYgoLayvaV1saVEbNOp5DAVH2Xn/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is me and Shayla Arnold. I love that little girl. yes I'm still a kid at heart and was playing with her, I had a lot of fun with this 3 year old.</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-60309151889281222622014-10-08T18:49:00.000-07:002014-10-08T18:49:07.601-07:00Reflecting on the Year<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear Family and Friends,</div>
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This week has been another really busy week but full of so many miracles, it is unbelievable how blessed we've been! Like always I would love to share a few of the tender mercies that happened througout the week:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;"> We were able to see Sister Levine before she left to go return back to Hawaii. We sang her a song and spent some time with her and her parents. She is looking a lot better. She is opening her eyes and she is able to squeeze your hand a little bit. But she is still not able to talk or respond. But she is breathing on her own. It is a tender mercy that she has improved enough to be able to return home. Hopefully she will continue to improve. Keep praying for her!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Mini is such a sweetheart. She had us over for lunch and provided lunch for us for the week pretty much. We ran around so much this week that we didn't even have time to stop at all this week for lunch but she provided some food for us so we packed that around with us everyday. We LOVE Mini!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">This week the members were wonderful in assisting us in the lessons. We were able to have 12 member present lessons this week as well as last week. We've made it a goal to have a member at every lesson. It has been a challenge at first but they have been very supportive. With all the people we have to visit, the members have been able to lift the load a little bit. I've gained a strong testimony on gettting the members involved in the lessons so that the investigators build a relationship with more than just us.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">There was two investigators (Deb and Steph) that we met a few weeks ago. We were walking down the street and there were two women out gardening. We decided to jump into to help them garden. We had a good conversation with them and set a return appointment with them. Unfortunatetly they had to cancel that return appointment last week because of sickness. We were planning on setting up another appointment soon but on our way to district meeting on friday morning Steph gave us a call wanting to have us over in the next couple days. WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! Of course we jumped at that invitation and set it for the following day. When we went to Steph's house the next day she had a whole white board full of questions to ask us. I have never had an investigator do that. She said that she read the Restoration pamphet and was very interested to hear what we believed in. We had an incredible first lesson with her as we taught the Restoration. She was happy to hear about it and was so curious. We were able to answer all of her questions and she is keen to continue to learn more. We are so excited to work with Steph!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">On Monday it was a holiday so we had a normal proselyting day. We had an appointment with an investigator named Emily. I was struggling to find a member present to come with us but I knew that the lesson would go better if we had a member there. I had Sister Hedley put a post on facebook to see if there was someone willing to come with us and within a short time we had a member give us a call. We had a great lesson with Emily and we found the perfect member present! It worked out just wonderful! Sister Lopez is so great, she invited Emily over for dinner and even offered to take her to General Conference this next weekend (we still haven't see General Conference here but we get to this weekend). It was such a great experience and I have never seen Emily smile like that before. She is so happy to know that someone cares for her.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 3px;">Also on monday I was on exchanges with a Sister named Sister Tsai. We had some service that we were doing that day for our recent convert Trish. We were going to mow her lawn and pull some weeds. Well we had borrowed a Lawn mower and when we got there and tried to start it it wouldn't start. I couldn't figure out what the trick was for it to start. We tried and tried and then we decided we would say a prayer. Not long after the prayer there was this couple walking down the road. We simply asked the man if he could help us and he said he would give it a go. Right away he got it started and we were so thankful! I think the Lord was testing us to see if we would humble ourselves to turn to Him first. Then immedietly he was able to bless us. You think we'd learn by now but we still haven't.</li>
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There are so many more tender mercies that I could share. Just as President Uchtdorf shared in the Women's conference about how the Lord is always showering blessings upon us each day. It is just up to us as to whether we're going to let our umbrella down so that we can receive them. I loved that!</div>
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ONE YEAR:</div>
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This week is my year mark and I've been reflecting a lot on the year that I've had so far on my mission. It has been incredible! I don't even know where to begin with the heaps of different things that I've learned. One of the main things that I have learned is the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and just how far Christ's hands are outstretched. I have learned that the Atonement is not only for the worst of sinners but it is for each of us because we each sin every single day in one way or another. The Atonement allows us to become better. It allows us to reach new levels that we may not have ever thought was possible. All the Lord wants us to do is to apply His atonement and he will continue to build us up.</div>
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I have also gained a strong testimony of the power of prayer. Before my mission I would pray but I have never prayed this much in my life. I have learned how to fully rely on the Lord. And I have discovered just how much our Heavenly Father hears our prayers and how he can help us with anything! Now when I may struggle with something my first step is to kneel down and pray. And each time that I have done that I have been comforted and been strengthened to keep moving forward. The Lord is the only one that understands everything that we are going through so I've now understood just how much he can help us because he has felt it before. He knows how to comfort us and to help us push through our trials.</div>
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I have gained a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and also the importance of the Restoration. The Book of Mormon is by far my favorite book ever! I can't go a day without reading that book. It is truly the word of God! I know that because I've read it multiple times and each time I get something new out of it. I have come to find that just as it reads in the introduction, "...a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE! I have come to know God and have come to know my Saviour just by reading this book. I know that God will answer your prayers and it often does that as you read His Word. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, there is no way that he could translate the Book of Mormon on His own. It is far more powerful than any man made thing or any man written book. Just like I was saying last week. The restoration of the gospel is so powerful. I have come to know just how significant and how percise everything layed out so that christ's gospel could be on the earth today for each of us to partake of it. If there is anything that you wanted to share about our church, I would say share with them the Restoration of the gospel. As someone understands that, then they are able to understand that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is not just any church, this is the Lords church on the earth. I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE!</div>
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Another one of the million different things that I have learned is the importance of having Charity. I have come to love people more and more and I have only begun to see others as our Heavenly Father sees them. And as I have come to rely on the Lord and to have Charity for all men, it has really made all the difference. We are all very different and we have different talents, ideas, beliefs but all in all WE ARE HIS CHILDREN. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that we can find that each of us have in common. Every day I look around at how many of God's children have either rejected his word or they are living in ignorance and don't know of Christ's gospel. And that gives me more of a motivation to just keep working hard so that everyone can experience the joy and happiness that I feel each day while I'm living this gopel. I have also learned about just how important it is to do the small and simple things in our everyday life such as prayer, reading scriptures, service, and attending church. That is what will help us to stay strong, we will be able to resist temptation. We need to put on our armour of God each day or else we shall fall. I have seen the blessings that come from putting the Lord first in my life and I know that it is the only way to go. We need God in our lives and it is up to us as to whether or not we will let Him in.</div>
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I know that this is super long but I have just so many things that I wanted to share. I have learned so much and I have experienced so many wonderful things on my mission and I'm so very blessed! Thanks for all your love and support. I hope you all have an amazing week!</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Heidi Sorensen</div>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-65741363746831000592014-09-30T17:48:00.001-07:002014-09-30T17:48:54.694-07:00The Miracles from using the members in the work of Salvation<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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Wow what a week! It has been a crazy week but so great at the same time. Since we are the only sister in the area now we have sooooooo much work to do. You should see our sheet with all of the teaching pool that we have and it continues to grow each day as we meet new people. We have seen miracles after miracles and we were able to reach far above all of our goals this week...thanks to our wonderful members.</div>
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Here are some of the tender mercies from the week:</div>
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- We were able to meet Dorothy ( who was a former investigator) she is about 50 years old and her parents are members in England. But she never has joined but she came out and said that she believes that this is the only true church she just doesn't feel worthy enough to be apart of it. We assured her that she didn't have to be perfect to join the church but in fact it is for everyone. She was happy to hear that and we knew that we were in the right place at the right time. We look forward to helping her on her path towards our Heavenly Father.</div>
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- On Wednesday after a long day of seeing people but not having any member presents we were praying that we would find someone that was available. That night Sister Whaite (member) texted us and said she was free and would love to come out with us if we could use her. That was an answer to our prayer! We went over to get her right away and were able to visit a few of our investigators. It was great to have her with us.</div>
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-On friday we had our district meeting which is always so good. We learned about the importance in using the Book of Mormon in every aspect of the work. During our training we watched a video that was showing how an investigator had decided that the "mormon stuff" wasn't for her. But the elders working with her went over anyways just to invite her to read the Book of mormon and find out for herself and then she can decide to stop learning or not. Well at that moment Sister Tito and I looked at eachother because we had just had a similar experience with one of our investigators. They had called up and said that they belived they had the truth and didn't really want us to come back. But we realized then that we had forgotten to even reply or do anything about it. We knew that was a prompting then to do something about it and not just leave them. We decided right after that we would go and see the Hurley family. I'll be honest we were a little bit afraid of what they might think but we trusted in the Lord that he would help us to know what to say. It was a powerful experience as we saw them and just testified of the Book of Mormon and invited them to read it themselves. They agreed that they would take a look and then let us know what they thought. We felt so much better afterwards and we were so glad that we were able to go.</div>
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-Friday night we had this appointment with this new investigator we had met on monday. He said that he lived in a place called Murrumbateman which is about 30 minutes outside of Canberra. Well we called the number that he gave us and it was to some random number. We realized he had given us the wrong number so we were trying to decide whether or not the address would be right. It was a hard toss up. We didn't want to not go and miss out on an opportunity to teach but we didn't want to waste our Kilometers by going out and not finding anyone. So we decided to pray for guidance. Sister Tito felt good about going. We weren't really sure at that time why it was good but we were going to follow the spirit and just go. We got one of our YSA members, Faith to come along with us for the ride.</div>
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We found the address and it was in a country town so very few houses. They has this long drive way and so we drove up there. We could see the people in the house and since it was night time they saw us coming. When we stopped we said a quick prayer and when we opened our eyes there they all were with a Torch (flashlight) and all just wondering who we were. We got out of the car and introduced ourselves. We asked if Daniel was there. They said that that was there son but he had moved out several years ago. We figured as much that he wouldn't be there but since we had driven all that way Sister Tito and I were ready to just give everything we had. We knew the feeling that we had to go so there must have been some reason. It was a couple probably in their 60's. The man said that they were Catholic and were content with what they had. But the woman was more open and wanted to hear what we had to say. Soon the man walked inside and we started teaching Francis (his wife). She was such a sweet lady. While we were talking to her I had this strong spiritual confirmation that we were in the right place and that Francis was the reason why we had come. Sister Tito said she had felt it too. Well soon her husband called her in and she had to go but we left her a Book of Mormon and a Restoration pamphlet and also testified of the truthfulness of the gospel. It was such a cool experience!</div>
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-We were able to meet one of the other sisters investigators named Jennifer. She is a 14 year old girl from Kenya. She is so ready to hear the gospel. We had our first lesson with her and we invited her to be baptized. She said she would and we set a date for October 18th. She also came to church for the first time and LOVED it!</div>
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- We were also able to get Craig Baxter to come as well. He is so awesome and he enjoyed church so much. He wants to come every week now.</div>
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We had so many other cool experiences but those were some of them that I wanted to share with all of you. The work of salvation continues to move forward. This wee was incredible when it comes to the help from the members. Half of the total lessons were member presents. So if you aren't helping the missionaries I would encourage you to do so. It helps so much to have members there to help investigators to come into the gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
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I know that this is the Lord's church and that he continues to lead and guide us today in every aspect. I couldn't do this work without him and the Holy ghost as my constant companion. My testimony is growing each and every day of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've been studying that this whole month and it has been incredible all of the things that I've learned. The Restoration is the unique message that we have to the world. This is the restored church, the same church that Christ established. And His authority is here on the earth. How powerful is that? And we have prophets and apostles today to lead and guide us in these latter-days. I encourage all of you to share the message of the restoration with at least one person this week and I can promise you that it will change their life and they will come to know Christ more through that message.</div>
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I hope that you are all doing well and that you have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4z6Xp7GzL1xyHBfl7BFN2szS-rfEiI9qgA1AOqHmgWI8XynkVug_Tjp_8_XZXca_wvLMTwAjz1_jipSVrSva12OWWAi_1cqDsEDYa24xDEKCT486LoN0fHPb9JVNjZgjkZ9YYmCXDXqh/s1600/DSCN1038+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4z6Xp7GzL1xyHBfl7BFN2szS-rfEiI9qgA1AOqHmgWI8XynkVug_Tjp_8_XZXca_wvLMTwAjz1_jipSVrSva12OWWAi_1cqDsEDYa24xDEKCT486LoN0fHPb9JVNjZgjkZ9YYmCXDXqh/s1600/DSCN1038+(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> This is Jennifer. She is such a sweetheart.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUIxSt2wbTx1qWsL1vh1uKyXxGwyYuI3i6RqP8G69epPUODgf-DM6ziGZoyv6AGZ6IfoYreR7duP4b7culUaGvfCeqY2ahr2MTqGMCXW9pXk5SEr_CDfRi4V8ltlT4JIOaaPsNJQSzlic/s1600/DSCN1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUIxSt2wbTx1qWsL1vh1uKyXxGwyYuI3i6RqP8G69epPUODgf-DM6ziGZoyv6AGZ6IfoYreR7duP4b7culUaGvfCeqY2ahr2MTqGMCXW9pXk5SEr_CDfRi4V8ltlT4JIOaaPsNJQSzlic/s1600/DSCN1042.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is the Amosa family. And then Jordan's girlfriend Melanie (the other white girl) is one of our investigators. She is Croatian.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwldzXMGUXb67-l30bG3EkNNq62NLfeUc2LHghkyhTbnJtTFyXjQaHNVHmjGmLT_MRfdvmxGKpXnL38Oio8QFZW1nf8QMUL87ThqLHaF710_l1tKNKGQtLhnDLClHMoyF_S7H-SspXdu4N/s1600/DSCN1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwldzXMGUXb67-l30bG3EkNNq62NLfeUc2LHghkyhTbnJtTFyXjQaHNVHmjGmLT_MRfdvmxGKpXnL38Oio8QFZW1nf8QMUL87ThqLHaF710_l1tKNKGQtLhnDLClHMoyF_S7H-SspXdu4N/s1600/DSCN1046.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> the wonderful Whaite family. We love them!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjV4Jdd318lbPvRqej2rf6R4sk19ytZSEeUfYxyVHopMbIDuHhnm0axHgOw-zFh6m_RyAGnJekaurqJUg1XmBnIdYrdYPeTpY5w0s2Q-G5kr4S6MyRcGW0mLxTkNuDTP02XNHH_DVUb32/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjV4Jdd318lbPvRqej2rf6R4sk19ytZSEeUfYxyVHopMbIDuHhnm0axHgOw-zFh6m_RyAGnJekaurqJUg1XmBnIdYrdYPeTpY5w0s2Q-G5kr4S6MyRcGW0mLxTkNuDTP02XNHH_DVUb32/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">this is Sister Hedley. She is so helpful and is always willing to help us out. We love her!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCOIgfuNvwWZwmcrVxN6PP8yPSZR2Fn1_MaEiXd9sWJ3eF8n7ns9_O12FSw37QEs_AvR3mknj2BRDRPtOlAXzPDUq2TPGHQ-ebX4aO8PGBSqX8R8yMftMWw6Qf4bZm-sYSdrV6Av7GMbD/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCOIgfuNvwWZwmcrVxN6PP8yPSZR2Fn1_MaEiXd9sWJ3eF8n7ns9_O12FSw37QEs_AvR3mknj2BRDRPtOlAXzPDUq2TPGHQ-ebX4aO8PGBSqX8R8yMftMWw6Qf4bZm-sYSdrV6Av7GMbD/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Sister Hedley is pretty darn fun as well. We loved being with her most of Saturday.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyfh6LIkWAbsoxq9sBSMOOL8uj7g-tl-Lsrsu20N5fQBcgHLwBarjwrQa6t8wRnj3EqtY-duOAkxk97CuPWtidL_rHsJlVXEvwxi0wIJnHeeAqJ7WTG1881lNHjBPfhlr4Kz-lzXeHQ1p/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyfh6LIkWAbsoxq9sBSMOOL8uj7g-tl-Lsrsu20N5fQBcgHLwBarjwrQa6t8wRnj3EqtY-duOAkxk97CuPWtidL_rHsJlVXEvwxi0wIJnHeeAqJ7WTG1881lNHjBPfhlr4Kz-lzXeHQ1p/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is Achok and Awak they are some Sudanese girls that we just met yesterday. They are so cool and we are going to start working with all of their family</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-uSiX1Sw-S4kKkj7UG88kDa6RmzvUv3sUFntSwo9ZDA36ktoDd6M4Y6ysDLFQhDKWnCQK9JMVCsqf5QNrn-ZE40OCXuW31JAL0BOKh8wW-FMoN53kIDNBS2UMzFUr8z4AJTuD4C2tqH8/s1600/RSCN1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-uSiX1Sw-S4kKkj7UG88kDa6RmzvUv3sUFntSwo9ZDA36ktoDd6M4Y6ysDLFQhDKWnCQK9JMVCsqf5QNrn-ZE40OCXuW31JAL0BOKh8wW-FMoN53kIDNBS2UMzFUr8z4AJTuD4C2tqH8/s1600/RSCN1049.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is our district after district meeting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD1L1ab6hM2eqnuKXtMiYp_9kwcF2luIM_KbUl11FBMUrN7ezFsnb2nneKcGxchtYc-EkGvTDC1HTkywdBDLz3C1iT0ilmMGyGxFbbfmH9FS-q_8n9Y6ZIeHBkKGUsOuiCbpyzPML83xR/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD1L1ab6hM2eqnuKXtMiYp_9kwcF2luIM_KbUl11FBMUrN7ezFsnb2nneKcGxchtYc-EkGvTDC1HTkywdBDLz3C1iT0ilmMGyGxFbbfmH9FS-q_8n9Y6ZIeHBkKGUsOuiCbpyzPML83xR/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is the Dobson's they live in Murrumbateman. We were able to visit them when we went out there. They don't ever get visitors so they were happy to have us come.</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-18837354866693261102014-09-22T21:48:00.006-07:002014-09-22T21:48:42.907-07:00"You always get what you want the most"<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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Wow this has been a wonderful week for Sister Tito and I. It's now the beginning of another transfer, wow time is flying! But Sister Tito and I are staying here in the Belconnen Ward in Canberra and I'm so excited for this transfer. Transfers is always a bitter sweet. Missionaries come and go but I love being able to start fresh again with new goals and new opportunities. I know that it is truly inspired that we as missionaries have transfers every 6 weeks. It helps to stay moving forward and continually strive to make improvements. Sister Tito and I are so excited for this transfer to come. As we were evaluating our last transfer I think we both realized just how much more we could do and how much more we want to do. We have felt like even though we were doing what we were supposed to be doing we were still in a rut a little bit and not knowing how to get out. I have realized that is why we haven't been able to achieve some of the goals that we have set for ourselves. So Sister Tito and I are ready to redeem ourselves and make this transfer a great transfer. I'm so excited!</div>
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I'm so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to repent and be better each and every day. It is such a powerful gift that our Savior has given us. It is only because of his suffering that we don't have to suffer and we can become more like him and closer to entering into God's presence. I think that is one of the biggest lessons that I have learned on my mission is that the Atonement is for everyone, not just those that do serious sins. We all sin and need to repent in order to be with God again for eternity. I strive continually to apply the atonement into my daily life and recognize my weaknesses and those mistakes that I've made so that I can let go of those and reach to higher levels.</div>
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This week has been full of so many miracles! We were able to reach most of the goals that we set for the week. Prayer and Fasting really does work! Like I was saying in my email last week we've been struggling to find some new people to teach and expand our teaching pool. Well this week we were able to find 5 new investigators! We were praying so hard that we might be able to find some and it was like Heavenly Father just placed them in our path. The Lord is very much apart of our lives and I'm so grateful for His guidance and direction in the work. This is truly his work. Also just this last transfer the other set of sisters in our ward and also in our flat were taken out and so its just us in the ward. So now we have double the amount of work we had before. So we have HEAPS to work with. Now it is just striving to figure out who to focus our efforts on and who needs us the most.</div>
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Here are a few of the tender mercies the happened this week:</div>
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- We were able to catch Visnja at home after several weeks of her cancelling on her. We really felt like we needed to go there and at first she was a little hesitant but at the end of our visit she was so thankful that we came. She is starting to feel the difference of when we come and share the gospel with her and when we aren't there. We helped her to understand that all good things come from God and all bad or confusion feelings are from the adversary. We also helped her to understand that as she continues to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ that she will face many challenges but that the teachings will help her through her trials. So now she said there are no excuses for me I want you to come every Saturday to see me.</div>
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-We were finally able to get inside a less-actives home to meet her and to share a message with her. We are excited to work with her now and we can see that it is her time to come back to church and she's ready to listen again to the truth after many years of confusion.</div>
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-Just before church on Sunday we decided we would try one last house in the area we were at. We knocked on this person's door and it was this girl named Emily and her dad David. The dad didn't seem very interested but we taught about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and at the end Emily asked if we could come back. What a tender mercy!</div>
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There are so many more that I could share but one thing that I have learned and has stuck with me lately is something that our ward mission leader, Brother Baker said. It is my title for this email and that is, "you always get what you want the most." That is so true. We will put all our effort into something that we really want so I encourage all of you to evaluate and think about what you truly want the most. What matters most to you in this life. I know for me I have come to a greater understanding of the importance of this gospel and what a difference we can make in the lives of others as we stand as witnesses of Him at all times.</div>
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I hope that you all have a wonderful week and remember to always do the small and simple things in your life ( Alma 37) and I can promise you that great things will come to pass as you do so. Stay strong and know that God is always there for you. All you have to do is let Him in.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkFlyfJYVd0Ssc6Evzqwga5fww1z__X4qbu4s8dhZHZ0Vn4k0Ax3jZYafwMI4UCJXHUOWq_jXkHgNDAGOL45lpDBQm_bpMByaoiqmzY__uozWFcnaYTaIweZAxJy_h29KquIkMlTbqqII/s1600/DSCN0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkFlyfJYVd0Ssc6Evzqwga5fww1z__X4qbu4s8dhZHZ0Vn4k0Ax3jZYafwMI4UCJXHUOWq_jXkHgNDAGOL45lpDBQm_bpMByaoiqmzY__uozWFcnaYTaIweZAxJy_h29KquIkMlTbqqII/s1600/DSCN0999.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Sister Sunday's birthday. We threw a little party one night for her. We had so much fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekz818VEplfsmWif3wWORdsh_T8SQ9_c9klw-OwD8RCzZr7Q6ZSLE2ZFoyxcbblElLdmL0V8U0b7TxnjRMn1HTaLSR1nhMaMkwpHlT7Fsk7IhEsEUaIkt7HrSpVsNktyrHLLt62CquCg9/s1600/DSCN1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekz818VEplfsmWif3wWORdsh_T8SQ9_c9klw-OwD8RCzZr7Q6ZSLE2ZFoyxcbblElLdmL0V8U0b7TxnjRMn1HTaLSR1nhMaMkwpHlT7Fsk7IhEsEUaIkt7HrSpVsNktyrHLLt62CquCg9/s1600/DSCN1002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Birthday cupcakes for this Birthday girl!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8OhGdHzNVpg5wK_6G5uLYIGseb_oImXUFK_zXY6im_P2G1ZjspkP_PYALvDI84znZ9VyKYBMUUI_4TqiAdgbOzzH0Eto83rbp7RFZoiecqOlVhn1KKzCIYwFYT4bEA5euflS7CIDwtrK/s1600/DSCN1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8OhGdHzNVpg5wK_6G5uLYIGseb_oImXUFK_zXY6im_P2G1ZjspkP_PYALvDI84znZ9VyKYBMUUI_4TqiAdgbOzzH0Eto83rbp7RFZoiecqOlVhn1KKzCIYwFYT4bEA5euflS7CIDwtrK/s1600/DSCN1010.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">the Campbell's (less-actives) have these cute little kittens.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4h9YuTKADrHEGB-Ru9niM4CPwz0huIhT63BZ-7ZZ-hzLxyMs6-RF86OVG_PUoB8wLx_aP55tN9s4Ony_LZHrIFs717vBuhhpzbAZ02seeTKDFEG0TBb9YyP69HdrlmUXSythf5RBnB2j/s1600/DSCN1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4h9YuTKADrHEGB-Ru9niM4CPwz0huIhT63BZ-7ZZ-hzLxyMs6-RF86OVG_PUoB8wLx_aP55tN9s4Ony_LZHrIFs717vBuhhpzbAZ02seeTKDFEG0TBb9YyP69HdrlmUXSythf5RBnB2j/s1600/DSCN1023.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">These are all the sister in the zone. I'm going to miss those sisters that were transferred.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUKdnGYrp28l8xqmcPKR2aYN_jaEe2rGLKAigK9Cy5wi3hv-H_9O6xD_qr0LEk0-8k-_ul4R5rgoLe0b8-mIbKqh4KmbF7y0gBw9b71kXOtVdS10dkYhAGuenj6GnUMMqsQJdztdOYdiZ/s1600/DSCN0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUKdnGYrp28l8xqmcPKR2aYN_jaEe2rGLKAigK9Cy5wi3hv-H_9O6xD_qr0LEk0-8k-_ul4R5rgoLe0b8-mIbKqh4KmbF7y0gBw9b71kXOtVdS10dkYhAGuenj6GnUMMqsQJdztdOYdiZ/s1600/DSCN0892.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDKep3hEkDPZ1NDuQIZO3bQFj6oqcbPi2ddlWkR9nyq7pkQmrHFmmOhevrOW6Q5r_fdl3YxCyzyKaQTUMiRVoFeizhTQpHXVBPGi8O3wqpe6L2wsFKDUfSfjy1NpQrL-e3ycSxc2EPfke/s1600/DSCN0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDKep3hEkDPZ1NDuQIZO3bQFj6oqcbPi2ddlWkR9nyq7pkQmrHFmmOhevrOW6Q5r_fdl3YxCyzyKaQTUMiRVoFeizhTQpHXVBPGi8O3wqpe6L2wsFKDUfSfjy1NpQrL-e3ycSxc2EPfke/s1600/DSCN0901.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfXQgRkfz_s1PUfgOUYtNhA9ED4SofeGe_7tYdXeQ8zBWskOjugGtGk1DH6b0ansVQj6dkyC7bhuY36KqQKy3XexdfeDkleNYY2bfkzq2CZcHjQ2_b__P2v792Bbp5Cdm6l9wBjWO4RLH/s1600/DSCN0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfXQgRkfz_s1PUfgOUYtNhA9ED4SofeGe_7tYdXeQ8zBWskOjugGtGk1DH6b0ansVQj6dkyC7bhuY36KqQKy3XexdfeDkleNYY2bfkzq2CZcHjQ2_b__P2v792Bbp5Cdm6l9wBjWO4RLH/s1600/DSCN0911.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Last p-day we went to this place called Floriade. They run it every year. It is where they have so many beautiful flowers and all kind of designs in the flowers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4scddrTekfgNoo7dz8-56TW3mLs6EkrTtoKDYGQt9lhzWo-maW7qhilYN9bgVxikMljnwc1ipfKWYoFiynRhnOGCvp3Z4z1-NNs5Dkoops6ZlUcJVsEkexZuWxRgsXKMHulOrayZZeEGl/s1600/DSCN0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4scddrTekfgNoo7dz8-56TW3mLs6EkrTtoKDYGQt9lhzWo-maW7qhilYN9bgVxikMljnwc1ipfKWYoFiynRhnOGCvp3Z4z1-NNs5Dkoops6ZlUcJVsEkexZuWxRgsXKMHulOrayZZeEGl/s1600/DSCN0933.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Rella (one of our less-actives) B-day. We heart attacked her, so much fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrbK5RBdkdrlVNH1BsBHYjyWi4vQR5I4oQjlyeXI0KjF0Q6eTvZzFfrq-YSrc9my_qsPGkftU6y4lkSDK_YvALXaboNyqoAeE93soBpLY1n4MVihSVw9wZekAxNw04P7SXbQl4uUKgdaO/s1600/DSCN0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrbK5RBdkdrlVNH1BsBHYjyWi4vQR5I4oQjlyeXI0KjF0Q6eTvZzFfrq-YSrc9my_qsPGkftU6y4lkSDK_YvALXaboNyqoAeE93soBpLY1n4MVihSVw9wZekAxNw04P7SXbQl4uUKgdaO/s1600/DSCN0943.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We went to the Baxter's home (investigators) for lunch. They are the funnest people. this is Lynette and her son Craig.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aFhpFGaUgl9ydw5gHnEbge_mBsKIJGqdzaCXf9YxRsrDtRUHRkxMEe9wP7imaKqbrH3eW7EXm2MQKYxTymMH1JQ2nC_NErfi_tvz9rJvpB8nsxCxP9RD1trxAvmeM4BlSZ2aalue9ZmM/s1600/DSCN0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aFhpFGaUgl9ydw5gHnEbge_mBsKIJGqdzaCXf9YxRsrDtRUHRkxMEe9wP7imaKqbrH3eW7EXm2MQKYxTymMH1JQ2nC_NErfi_tvz9rJvpB8nsxCxP9RD1trxAvmeM4BlSZ2aalue9ZmM/s1600/DSCN0957.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">on day 17 we went on trade offs with these beautiful sisters. Sister Ilalio, Manutulila, and Finau.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejCD9Fz4Wu4gwpHQR4t_850xM3OXxrUnjVdT5bQWTHMQLuyM24-l5ba61olEQJzXk6z1M0hoxKVLrplHngH1iflzJycDb0aqe-OcTZAEmxdFIXFRFwivQGrkK01HZ6RM-58T7BNnyrcA1/s1600/DSCN0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejCD9Fz4Wu4gwpHQR4t_850xM3OXxrUnjVdT5bQWTHMQLuyM24-l5ba61olEQJzXk6z1M0hoxKVLrplHngH1iflzJycDb0aqe-OcTZAEmxdFIXFRFwivQGrkK01HZ6RM-58T7BNnyrcA1/s1600/DSCN0987.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This elderly couple that has been serving here for 18 months left for home. We are going to miss Elder and Sister Larkin!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4T4tRec-2UMQZgvvOXMt8NAVFbFgLTYnAYE8E_vO23QtRiO1hMwRacwo25uxNz-y2L7IGDwY3ESG3I23uHbkuGygb7LP8KD-Osvis9kHd2NXExlXrHNleR-5yYkj06DjtxdvH_ahVMQ7N/s1600/RSCN0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4T4tRec-2UMQZgvvOXMt8NAVFbFgLTYnAYE8E_vO23QtRiO1hMwRacwo25uxNz-y2L7IGDwY3ESG3I23uHbkuGygb7LP8KD-Osvis9kHd2NXExlXrHNleR-5yYkj06DjtxdvH_ahVMQ7N/s1600/RSCN0965.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">
Sister Tito's sister's birthday. Sorry that probably was confusing but we celebrated that for her. haha</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hsUR7KIFlKfmSnRTydtQR-rHQUnEE_da3nwkoH6AcBUKYdSzjhK4Wdm4yOCL2Y71zZd_uPsZ49mvV3P8m34z3wgwfFS8CpdN4j4FAclZVyzzr-BNjxD8NlD23OqOFSwUX6ekZjy-LUQz/s1600/RSCN1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hsUR7KIFlKfmSnRTydtQR-rHQUnEE_da3nwkoH6AcBUKYdSzjhK4Wdm4yOCL2Y71zZd_uPsZ49mvV3P8m34z3wgwfFS8CpdN4j4FAclZVyzzr-BNjxD8NlD23OqOFSwUX6ekZjy-LUQz/s1600/RSCN1031.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Just last night we went over to this member's home for Family Home Evening. We love this family!</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149762051060771293.post-78642770933447754352014-09-16T19:10:00.002-07:002014-09-16T19:10:32.192-07:00The Ups and Downs Of a Mission<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
Dear family and friends,</div>
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This week has been an interesting week that is for sure. We just had an adventurous morning. We went on another hike this morning and we all forgot our keys for the flat. So we came back from hiking just to find out that we were locked out. We tried everything we possibly could to try and break into our flat. Our district leader came and couldn't do anything and our Zone Leaders came. We waited for about 3 1/2 hours and finally Elder Hay (looks over the flats) came with a key from the agent. Wow the adventurous of a mission! But lets just say that mistake won't ever happen again. haha But it was all for the memories of course. We went to a members house down the road and she fed us some breakfast. We are so grateful for wonderful members!</div>
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I know for several weeks now I've been saying how great it is to have so many people to work with. This week has been kind of a down week as we found that several of our investigators aren't really ready at this time. We are struggling with finding people who are keen to hear the word. But I've seen this so many times throughout my mission and its always a learning experience. I know that everything is not going to always be going great, we have to face challenges and difficulties in life so that we can be strengthened. I have learned a lot about trusting in the Lord this week as we've been striving to build up our teaching pool again. I know that its not going to come all at once but I have faith that the Lord will provide a way. Just as it says in 1 Nephi 3:7 "...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." He will always prepare a way for us to acheive what He would have us acheive.</div>
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Despite all the challenges we still got to see several miracles this week that assured us that the Lord is still there for us. Here are a few of them...</div>
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- We went to try an investigator's home the other day and they weren't home. But we knocked on the doors around her and we met this man named Bryan. He was such a nice man to us after a few doors slammed in our face. He is a strong Catholic and has taught religion in primary schools for about 20 years or more. But we had a good conversation with him and he invited us to come back. What a tender mercy!</div>
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-We have this Chinese investigator named Rei. She has never been religious before and so it has been a big change for her to hear about Jesus Christ and about Heavenly Father. Well there was this baptism for a chinese girl and so we thought it would be a perfect opportunity for her to meet some more just like her. We were struggling with finding her a ride though. We were frantically calling everyone and trying to figure out a way she could get there. But as it approached the hour before the baptism was to start we got a message saying that she had found a ride with a friend and they were going to come on their own. That was a big shock to us and we couldn't believe it but what a blessing that was. They said that they really enjoyed the baptism and are willing to come to another one.</div>
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- Just yesterday after church we had some plans to go to a families home for dinner. They are the family that just got sealed in the temple this last Saturday. That was also such a great blessing and it is so great to be apart of it. But they invited us over but the rule is now that only one companionship can go to a home for dinner now. And the elders were also planning on going over there. Well that messed up our plans but they asked if we wanted to join another family for dinner. They said that our investigator would be there. So of course we took that opportunity to teach our investigator. It ended up being so great and it was right where we needed to be. We have been struggling to meet with this particular investigator and were finally able to teach her. We believe that she is so ready to be baptized.</div>
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There are so many other tender mercies I've seen in my daily life as a missionary. I'm so grateful for those tender mercies that keep me going and help me to know that i'm on the right path. I'm continually being humbled and learning so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It just makes sense and that is what I love about it so much. I know that this is the Lord's work and He stands at the head of ths church. I have gained such a strong testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. It is truly the word of God. It always seems to answer my questions and helps me to come to know my Saviour Jesus Christ. I encourage each of you if you aren't already to consistantly read the Book of Mormon or the scriptures for that matter. Because as you read you will be strengthened and your burdens will be made light.</div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful week!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Sister Sorensen</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNa0cDy8ej9bB5YG6wtiOCpzl5omOkR7n1V1hHBYcf9hAZ6f0An2KcMpcCih7sQByhEkPs9BhBN9vskY9VcTmr5iKQijKULYHOUZS0ytRiupXwQ9RM1-ULDlJLusu95r43UwW22ZqB0qf/s1600/DSCN0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNa0cDy8ej9bB5YG6wtiOCpzl5omOkR7n1V1hHBYcf9hAZ6f0An2KcMpcCih7sQByhEkPs9BhBN9vskY9VcTmr5iKQijKULYHOUZS0ytRiupXwQ9RM1-ULDlJLusu95r43UwW22ZqB0qf/s1600/DSCN0806.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> Sister Ilalio and the Woden Sisters. We love them!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIvzOcEnkGGopFls7bCQm6qX1cCtAzgz0zbcqGozSCv2yCJmFs41RAjSFERIpZrA0bGHn9-dMGcsriTWscgHPP8QbkGvmwXquhUkeENifum-kxAQf_W64s9d9Lce0H8QnXj2A_l9VsNRh/s1600/DSCN0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIvzOcEnkGGopFls7bCQm6qX1cCtAzgz0zbcqGozSCv2yCJmFs41RAjSFERIpZrA0bGHn9-dMGcsriTWscgHPP8QbkGvmwXquhUkeENifum-kxAQf_W64s9d9Lce0H8QnXj2A_l9VsNRh/s1600/DSCN0815.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is the Sione Family before they headed to Sydney to be sealed as a family. It was sweet to be there and to study with them before they went to the temple.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil_1erzlSV2nJ1AZaWTA9bn6XL57FML1ZHyjNJjf6kG56KD9BZ6CbYRrUuyzrkDwp0APOj6-AalDsI1OhnSj6JHdu22UTX92WFpSRVUxaIC-cRkvDmxS0r4msHBxiiz5xoc8XxVLFu_Kn/s1600/DSCN0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil_1erzlSV2nJ1AZaWTA9bn6XL57FML1ZHyjNJjf6kG56KD9BZ6CbYRrUuyzrkDwp0APOj6-AalDsI1OhnSj6JHdu22UTX92WFpSRVUxaIC-cRkvDmxS0r4msHBxiiz5xoc8XxVLFu_Kn/s1600/DSCN0818.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Tim Tam Slams are always the best with these Sisters! I love them!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGKyIHt5eEwEpYolj7PFELpGd2CkX_e_eudkRBoWb-wwirRFmiERQFG0SMWknkv1ymW8hMo3z13cLv3o_q-mVdK9mdWkFbfQ3_AjWXgsmSBiD_t3vnJjYV3eUfpAiA8dIIUIYmiIFsV7A/s1600/DSCN0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGKyIHt5eEwEpYolj7PFELpGd2CkX_e_eudkRBoWb-wwirRFmiERQFG0SMWknkv1ymW8hMo3z13cLv3o_q-mVdK9mdWkFbfQ3_AjWXgsmSBiD_t3vnJjYV3eUfpAiA8dIIUIYmiIFsV7A/s1600/DSCN0822.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">
Well day 13 was a failure. We totally forgot to take a picture that day for some reason but here is day 14- We had dinner with this family yesterday. Paige made us pavlova!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAYRv8taoSG7bsGZ-cidfMfrXlF23Rb5FTFjUiN2BUysIyAkTWLXWZ7c28iU1baaPm8nbo9MSrxJz6DihMgsHG7ST-fAJwOmrvaVhpyvmZPh39QsAgW54u1iufqccmPmg45pHkk7sr492/s1600/DSCN0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAYRv8taoSG7bsGZ-cidfMfrXlF23Rb5FTFjUiN2BUysIyAkTWLXWZ7c28iU1baaPm8nbo9MSrxJz6DihMgsHG7ST-fAJwOmrvaVhpyvmZPh39QsAgW54u1iufqccmPmg45pHkk7sr492/s1600/DSCN0826.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">We went on a hike with the elders serving in our ward with us. They are great!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRnc_6HzThDlZ7apyQOIhLtDZnJnU0SXOS8InMaJfUz749YuwuoCRgIjJAIugGE8hOVKPKIpoOBSUxFGVC7AShOqnpxNaDcEvQZeSTGjL1f7XkO1mpjXYksLuas2Ps4oA31vOiU2wH2Ge/s1600/DSCN0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRnc_6HzThDlZ7apyQOIhLtDZnJnU0SXOS8InMaJfUz749YuwuoCRgIjJAIugGE8hOVKPKIpoOBSUxFGVC7AShOqnpxNaDcEvQZeSTGjL1f7XkO1mpjXYksLuas2Ps4oA31vOiU2wH2Ge/s1600/DSCN0832.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"> I love these sisters. As you can see, we have a lot of fun together.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8rfboWdLhyNK_KiaDy1jYK4LCltjWEGIlKNe66sGQJzf_BK6If1q2WoyoR8z6z6DTDr6QmfXS4X6mLXe2FrY9jXIs3uFx4estWh0MeI6GTOfKjAC_DTriWghik2U6N06EIboHwubO7Bw/s1600/DSCN0844+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8rfboWdLhyNK_KiaDy1jYK4LCltjWEGIlKNe66sGQJzf_BK6If1q2WoyoR8z6z6DTDr6QmfXS4X6mLXe2FrY9jXIs3uFx4estWh0MeI6GTOfKjAC_DTriWghik2U6N06EIboHwubO7Bw/s1600/DSCN0844+(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">After trying to pick the lock of the door this morning forever we gave up for a little bit and just sat in the hallway at our flat waiting for the elders to come and try.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0cWdjhPYpJW51_7ZkoGi3odaUi5_-MNhdHfVbskGlhIPZC5Kqtus1BD7bVVzJXwf9Rf4SbzU7LEvvu2CLvMuRcWrGcV248WXZf0IvCh8zeV3Mzwj9QE5i-htvET763Rz0l7B9VpXuTb/s1600/DSCN0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY0cWdjhPYpJW51_7ZkoGi3odaUi5_-MNhdHfVbskGlhIPZC5Kqtus1BD7bVVzJXwf9Rf4SbzU7LEvvu2CLvMuRcWrGcV248WXZf0IvCh8zeV3Mzwj9QE5i-htvET763Rz0l7B9VpXuTb/s1600/DSCN0861.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">One attempt of us breaking in our flat was going onto the roof to get to our balcony to try the back door. Don't worry mom we didn't get hurt. haha</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUPfI4RJjfgFxKSZRS-fQKTPMR2ah6ayWhZ4o2OtW8TAZ2Jam80zeyuQ_bihDP5CYFRRdycAcxY-F7GctXtU4IC1mT8gml30Z3J8jK9MnBRVuFb2HqkcAnKJmVU67W78eI7rUp_fOSN5u/s1600/DSCN0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUPfI4RJjfgFxKSZRS-fQKTPMR2ah6ayWhZ4o2OtW8TAZ2Jam80zeyuQ_bihDP5CYFRRdycAcxY-F7GctXtU4IC1mT8gml30Z3J8jK9MnBRVuFb2HqkcAnKJmVU67W78eI7rUp_fOSN5u/s1600/DSCN0866.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">This is when the Zone Leaders made their attempt to break in and them planning their way up to the balcony. Oh what good times.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefeH9BDnk5I9kwp04TQHf6qC0Tyrar2-dWQ_5zs651qx5r7zGpIYoWRnME40QAj94sHlzqNw42VPvQd-GEhsZMRW3Anw4Z3aHZNBoXuLnFmti8Q8H8dXHKJuK1uOqE4eWawSTcjWhFl8H/s1600/DSCN0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefeH9BDnk5I9kwp04TQHf6qC0Tyrar2-dWQ_5zs651qx5r7zGpIYoWRnME40QAj94sHlzqNw42VPvQd-GEhsZMRW3Anw4Z3aHZNBoXuLnFmti8Q8H8dXHKJuK1uOqE4eWawSTcjWhFl8H/s1600/DSCN0876.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Breakfast at the Amosa's this morning while we were still locked out. We had some Coco Rice it is the best thing ever!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxRv3nYmmaxHBb2d3XH6my60Fn659qm5HUgai-aZZgAa5gRtZVg95ua7-NCU2h_cDzDmyEyqZ2IaW4sjJe_p0gWXph0N-e9Atmqsqp8pDjkM6ZJA1R5x3WCgZLLMYNPwE4_zearMJs1OU/s1600/DSCN0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxRv3nYmmaxHBb2d3XH6my60Fn659qm5HUgai-aZZgAa5gRtZVg95ua7-NCU2h_cDzDmyEyqZ2IaW4sjJe_p0gWXph0N-e9Atmqsqp8pDjkM6ZJA1R5x3WCgZLLMYNPwE4_zearMJs1OU/s1600/DSCN0799.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Sister Ilalio (Sister Levine's companion) came with us for a few days. We were at Mini's house and little Soli is the daughter of one of our new investigators that just moved in with Mini.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPUaO4eFazG9kIWqv-ZSTPdg65fkuGWFxa4ueFGY_J2MkII0BtH9zCrCDl-GFTmz6aM6VlpbOTtXmuFA8u1BB0PGx0GjYkXILO1OWIcJdQ6Qmn4bgyLbt1tN2_hdU6gJ7DiLnKq9XwGCS/s1600/DSCN0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPUaO4eFazG9kIWqv-ZSTPdg65fkuGWFxa4ueFGY_J2MkII0BtH9zCrCDl-GFTmz6aM6VlpbOTtXmuFA8u1BB0PGx0GjYkXILO1OWIcJdQ6Qmn4bgyLbt1tN2_hdU6gJ7DiLnKq9XwGCS/s1600/DSCN0800.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Our service this week for a less active brought me back to the good old days of cleaning houses. It was fun to do that again.</span></td></tr>
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Ashley Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03537615981445945455noreply@blogger.com0