Sometimes I Just Realize that I'm a Missionary; and That's Pretty Cool

Why HELLO dear people.

Big news of the week: first, Sister Sorensen and I are both staying here another transfer! :D :D Second, we are soon going to be Facebook missionaries. What the heck. It's gonna be interesting.


So Tuesday we did service at the HUM and scrubbed down the shower and bathroom. The people that need to use it deserve a clean place to shower!

Went tracting and felt prompted to knock on a door... and met Bronson! We asked if he had faith in Christ, and he said he kinda does. His beliefs just don't align with traditional ideas of hell, etc. What he believes is actually really close to parts of the Plan of Salvation. We're excited to see him again.

Dinner with the Boyces and gosh their kids are cute. We taught the 5 year old that she does have a testimony. And asked them to play "testimony tag" with each other. Also I ate salmon and it was actually good??? I dunno how to feel about that.

Then we had a sleepover with the Bunnell Sisters because...

On Wednesday there was a hastily planned special meeting that only a handful of missionaries were invited to. Big ol training leading up to us getting Facebook. I was not one of those invited, so I spent the day with Sister Herrod! :D

We found some awesome people and talked to everyone. She's not remotely afraid of starting awkward conversations with people.

Switched back at like 7:30 and saw the Abresches. They're probably not gonna get married until Thanksgiving time, because they want to be with their family in Indiana and don't have the money to get up there. ;-; So we changed their date... to December 2nd.

Thursday we missed out on District meeting to go down to the mission office and get a new tiwi. Lovely traffic down to Orlando.

We helped Sister Allocco clean her house. It's hard for her to keep up with/know if it's clean, because she's blind. Scrubbed down another shower. She just... deserves to have her house be clean. She's so sweet and just wanted to talk to and get to know us.

Friday, Sister Brady came over to our house at like 6, because Sister Glover was at her departing temple trip. We went and did service at the New Smyrna chapel. They had a party on Saturday, "Around the World in 80 Minutes". So we traced and cut out iconic places like the Eiffel Tower and the Coliseum. 'Twas fun.

Saturday we met some more cool people. Taught Shakira a bit again but it was a little crazy.

Got froyo and waited for transfer calls. Super excited for this next transfer. :)

Um. I dunno. Knocked some more. Talked a little with a less active family. The dad wants to be active and go to the temple. I have no idea about the mom though. She's been asleep when we've gone over.

Sunday was church, wooo! The day kinda felt like a blur. We've been so tired this week. So busy. :) Met a less active family. They're super confusing and I don't remotely understand them. But I'll work on loving them. :P

Today we got up at 5:30 and went to the beach!!! We got there a little late, but we still got to see most of the sunrise. It's so gorgeous. I'm so happy to live here. As a Zone, we read Moroni chapter 10 to finish off our Book of Mormon challenge. Read it in just about 5 weeks! It was amazing to me how, reading it so fast, I just became way more involved in it. It felt like a story, I wanted to finish it! I actually had to slow down the past few days, haha. To quote our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson, "If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so." It's a fantastic book. And it will make a positive difference in your life if you prayerfully study out of it. :)

Have a fantastic week, y'all. I love you!

Love,

Sister Stevenson

A pretty cat we found and harassed.

Also, partying with Sister Herrod. She's great.

Johnny Cash the dog. He's HUGE.

And SUNRISE ON THE BEACH

Of birds. 

And also an alligator we made.

On Top of the World

I AM CURRENTLY STANDING ON A LIGHTHOUSE
There's WiFi up here. Weekly email to come later.
(Letter following first three pictures.)

All right, I've got like 30 minutes; let's do this email:

Hello lovely people!

This week has been incredibly busy and pretty darn awesome.

Tuesday we had interviews, which was so good. President asked if we were teaching anyone promising. "I don't know yet. Dunno who we're teaching." xP

Met a guy named Curtis who is a minister and LOVES TO TALK. Oh my goodness. I wanted to bash so hard. But all that you can really do in those situations is bear testimony and try to love them.

Wednesday finally finished dental nonsense for now. They played music that I love. Apparently President Clark has said to think of that as a tender mercy. Haha.

Had a kind of refreshing discussion with someone who is not remotely interested in learning more... but asked questions. Missionaries love questions. 

Met Sister Mellen, a less active. She just kept asking us, "How do I get my faith back?" She feels like every time she starts to feel really happy, something catastrophic happens. And I just felt for her. Shared my mission scripture, Alma 32:27, which has a ton of meaning for me. Just told her to do what she can do, and more would follow. She was glad we came.

Then we visited with Sister Gavin, an 82 year old who does not look or act it. She's basically less active because she feels like people will judge her for wearing nice clothes and jewelry. :P

Thursday, more tracting. Haha. Met another guy who probably isn't interested, but I know we needed to talk to him. Maybe one day he'll be more prepared.

Then we went to try and see an old referral, and the way up the stairs was blocked by someone sitting on her phone having a smoke.

My thoughts: "Oooooh awkward. Do we ask her to move? Start preaching the gospel? Just walk around?"

Sister Sorensen: HELLO THERE, HAVE THE GOSPEL.

Bless companions.

So we met Shakira, and it turns out that she's really struggling and searching for peace right now. She was raised Baptist but hasn't gone in a long time. And she knows she needs that faith in her life, and to raise her four boys with that.

Later we were invited into a home where we sat with 6 and 10 year old girls while their mom got ready to leave. The 6 year old whose name I have no idea how to spell looooved Sister Sorensen's hair. We did end up talking to the mom, Leslie. She just is super fixated on things like what race God is. So. Ended up talking to her about family history.

Friday, planning n stuff. Except for the first part of it we just rearranged our apartment. It looks fantastic now. woo.

Our ward has, every year, a spring and fall concert. So we went to the spring concert, in which members of the ward and the YSA branch sing/play an instrument. It was super fun. The best was the end, where two people played a duet on the piano and organ. It was awesome.

Saturday we just went around and met a BUNCH of people. Highlight: Kenny, a former investigator who is super nice, fantastic at interior decorating, and KNOWS THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE... but feels comfortable in his church. DARN IT KENNY THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH. We'll get him. He told us to come by whenever his car is there. So we definitely will.

Also it rained for the better part of the day. Mostly a drizzle, but we walked around a ton, so we were VERY WET. And it was freezing rain. Also thunder happened. And a man who was either drunk or a hippie or both pointed out hawks searching for a mate to us. It was a good day.

Sunday was church! :D We went to both the ward and the YSA branch. Also found out that the daughter of a member in my last ward is now in our ward. So that's cool. Got roses and chocolates and stuff even though I'm not a mom yet.

Had an awkward encounter in which our dinner appointment forgot that they were having us for dinner. Then made us take a whole watermelon to compensate.

THEN SKYPED FOR LIKE 3.5 HOURS SO THAT WAS GREAT

Today we climbed the Ponce Inlet lighthouse which was fantastic. I wanted to buy the entire gift shop.

And that's been my week.

Go out and hug someone who needs it this week. That doesn't have to be a physical hug. Spiritual hugs are good too.

I love you all. Have a fantastic week. "Don't forget to drink your Ovaltine."

Love,

Sister Stevenson

It rained and I was very happy. Even if I don't look it.

RAINRAINRAIN

A flower.

A tree.

LOOK AT THIS VIEW.
ON TOP OF DA WORLD.

More Lighthouse Pics:

Spiral stairs are my fav.

Look at that lighthouse.

Look at that squad.

In Which We Whitewash for the Second Time in One Transfer

Hello my darlings. Hope your week has been wonderful. Mine has been exceptionally confusing. :)

Ooookay. This week. Has been interesting. So our area changed because of the ward boundary changes. And so we were essentially whitewashing. So most of the reports from these days will be "and then we knocked a million doors".

Tuesday. We knocked a million doors. Tried to find some members and less actives. We came across a lady gardening and offered to help her. She declined, saying that she loves it and calls it her prayer time. "I'm already on my knees." She wasn't really interested, but as we testified and prepared to leave, she started to cry and was so happy to say a prayer with us. Am I a terrible person if I say I like making people cry when teaching?

Wandered into a magical land near the beach with tons of land and horses and very few people.

Just walked around for a bit in Magic-Land-By-The-Sea. It was a beautiful day and we talked to some people.

Wednesday we had District meeting, and talked about the traveling salesman problem, where it's literally impossible to compute the best route to take (or to plan out the best thing to say when contacting). But when you just go for it to the best of your ability, you end up coming very close to the best. So instead of waiting and trying to figure out how... just go for it. Just talk to that person. Just say something.

Tons of apartment complexes to tract. We walked around a strange neighborhood that weirded me out. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. Or on Camazotz (from A Wrinkle in Time).

Met Brother Kiel and he explained why he was less active. And talked. And talked. And talked. People like him help me to be bold and just say what I feel needs to be said. Just straight to the point.

Thursday we served at the Jewish Federation and did some wonderfully monotonous tasks.

Then... GUESS WHAT

Tracting.

Met Angela; she was less active but has been trying to come back. Man, she's had a rough time. It's like she's forgotten how to be happy and it broke my heart. :( But she's trying to read/listen to the scriptures again.

We saw Joan, a less active we met earlier in the week. She's essentially an investigator; she doesn't remember a ton. She believes a lot of things from a lot of different religions. While there we got to hold her TWO WEEK OLD PUPPIES. Also she was happy to get a new Book of Mormon. That's important too.

Friday we did some more service at the Federation. Finished the jobs we'd started Thursday.

Then.

We got a call.

From the Zone Leaders.

Asking how much work there was in our new area, how safe certain areas in our old area were, where we would be most productive but also safe.... Then we decided that we'd move to their apartment and they to ours, and we'd now be back to the area that we were in at the beginning of the transfer. SO.

We went and saw K....., because she'll be ours again! :D I love their family so so much. Her mom came out and talked to us for a while. She's been trying to stop drinking coffee this week. Send some prayers her way for her to overcome that!!

Last ice cream with the Corders. <3

Saturday we cleaned and packed and cleaned some more. 

Moved.

Cleaned more in the new apartment. Threw out a TON of expired food. (What the heck, Elders?)

"Cleaning is more exhausting than tracting." -Sister Sorensen

Sunday we went back to our previous ward and confused eeeeveryone. Haha. Relief Society was just spent with short introductions from everyone. Because this ward got a piece of the neighboring ward, and because they used to have two Relief Societies. 

After we went trying to find some of our new people, with the help of Elder Jensen's iPad.

Then we had two dinners and almost died.

So I have a new address for the next two weeks at least. We'll see. :P This transfer has certainly been a new and interesting adventure.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week. This week, pray about someone you can reach out to. Whether just to say hi, or to share the gospel with them. Someone out there needs YOU! :)

Love,

Sister Stevenson

I love the signs at other churches.

Sister Corder lent me a puzzle. <3

 A bird I tried to take a picture of.

But it was rude and left.

Sister Sorensen with all the technology. All of it.

Farewell to the Trio :(

Good afternoon~

So this morning we arose at 3:30 a.m. and drove to the mission office in
Orlando to leave behind my dear companion Sister Peterson. She's off
to another area. It was kind of unexpected in the
middle of the transfer, and it's been a little rough. But she's going
to be fantastic down there. President then told Sister Sorensen and me
to go home and get some sleep. So we did. Then we've been having some
intense nerf gun wars today, which is why this is getting written so
late.

Also I'm behind on my journal again. So.

On Tuesday, I hit SIX MONTHS IN THE FIELD. And I'm still just not sure
how that happened. I was just in the MTC, just in PHS knowing
absolutely nothing, just having Christmas, just meeting my second
companion, just packing up to move here. And now it's been SIX MONTHS.
Shoot dang.

We had a super weird lesson with one of our investigators, in which
she told us that she wouldn't be joining the church "at this time",
and then asked if we wanted a tour of her house. I love her house. But
the whole time I was just thinking "what the heck is even happening
right now". Then we hammered her with testimony and tried to figure
out what to do. And like... It was super frustrating and weird but it
just solidified my testimony SO MUCH. I KNOW this is true.
Theeeeen had a root canal. What a party.

Tried to eat dinner after having a root canal with half of my face
numb. Again, party.

Wednesday we had exchanges, woooo! Sister Glover stayed with Sister
Peterson and me in our area and Sister Sorensen went elsewhere
with Sister Brady. Exchanges are just so fun.

Met a recent convert, Walfrido. His cousin entered and sat down, and
Walfrido jokingly asked if he wanted to be baptized. He responded,
"Yeah, what do I have to do?" So we taught him the Restoration. Here's
the twist though. Kenny speaks NO English. Only Spanish. So we taught
super duper simply so Walfrido could translate for us. He's now on
date to be baptized May 20th. What the heck.

Had the best dinner appointment ever with the Cordells. Man they're so
funny. His friend walked in the house at one point, and Brother
Cordell immediately said, "These are my other wives!" We lost it.
Also got eaten alive at some point so I've been murderously itchy all
week. *crying*

Zone Conference on Thursday! Where I got to see MY DEAR FRIEND SISTER
ANGELO. I've missed that girl so much. Everything was again focused on
the Book of Mormon and how to better use it in teaching. It's
powerful. It's important. If you aren't reading it, read it.

Afterwards we tried to figure out what's happening with the areas in
our Zone. We still have no clue what the heck we're supposed to be
doing. We think we're in the new ward. But. We'll see I
guess.

Friday we did service and planned and I played pool again because I'ma useful missionary.
Um. Passed off the Ab....h family (K, who was just baptized and her family) to
the Elders since we're now in the new ward??

Saturday morning we got the news from President. :( :( Said goodbye topeople, went to a baptism, had slushes with the STLs.
Sunday we went to our old ward sacrament meeting to say goodbye to
people. Then to the new ward, which was awesome! I was
falling asleep during both sacrament meetings, oops. It's still kind
of a mess and we have a lot to figure out. But we'll get there and
it'll be good.

Okay, this is kind of jumbled, but we're running out the door. If I
don't reply to other stuff I'm sorry. D: Have a great week, and know
that I love you all!

Love,
Sister Stevenson

The Trio
Sisters Stevenson, Sorensen, and Peterson

Picture from MTC companionship
Sisters Sorensen and Stevenson

Okay, I have so many pictures this week, but here are a select few:

Top down in a convertible bug. That's how we roll.

A dumb fluffy cat

SISTER ANGELO is back!

Snowball the rat. I was so excited.

#thetrio

#thetrio

#thetrio

#thetrio

Man I just have way too many good ones to choose from. I'll close with
this last one.

(One more added from Sister Peterson's photos.)