¡HOY ES EL DIA!

Hola familia y amigos!!!

I AM IN URUGUAY. How did that happen? Time is flying, I can´t believe I have been serving for almost two whole months now. Like always, I feel like I have so much to tell you all and so little time. So...here goes nothing.

Uruguay. Is. Beautiful.

I love it here, the people, the culture, the everything!! My area is called Carmelo! It´s this quaint little town on the west side of the country. IT´S THE CUTEST. My house is pink with a charcoal gray door so you all know tha I´m lovin´ it. hahaha My companions name is Hermana Chen and she is from Guatemala. She has been serving for three months and doesn´t speak a lick of English..so as you can imagine, I´m learning quick!!! My dictionary from the MTC has become my very best friend the past week, and I don´t think I picked it up once at the MTC. Whoops. I would´ve hashtagged that ´whoops´ but I am not sure how to do it on this keyboard..haha the keyboards here are JACKED so I´m just going to apologize in advance for any spelling errors I make. Anyway, my companion. I love her!! She is so helpful and gives me hugs all the time since I can´t talk..it´s kind of funny because I think she thinks I like need a hug or something..but really I am fine, just confused. I bet you´re all imaging my deer in headlights face..it´s permanatly like that here. So..that´s awesome haha. She is very patient and laughs at me a lot, so that makes things better. We laugh a lot...but most of the time I´m not really sure what we´re laughing at haha.

The people here are the best. (sorry) But seriously, I love them. They are so happy with so little. They live in the tiniest houses  e v e r and most of them have dirt floors. They sleep where they eat, and they eat where they do laundry and they do laundry where they watch tv. It´s so sad. We are so blessed to live in America and have all of the things that we have!!! I have given like half my wardrobe the girls in the branch because they only have jeans for church! I feel so bad!! But it´s okay, I way over packed anyway. hashtag, imagine that. 

Okay so when my companion picked me up she was like talking about our area and she was like ¨there are more dogs than people¨ and I thought she was likely exaggerating but NOPE....there are dogs every where. Don´t mind the pit bulls!!! But the other day we were helping Floriana (a recent convert, she´s twelve) write her testimony down because Sunday was the primary program and she had to share her testimony..and all of a sudden I hear a mix between barking and chiken bawking (does anyone really know how to spell bawking? haha doubt it) and I look over and this freaking dog is mauling a poor chiken!!!! He killed it!!! Then the family just left it there! I just started crying..seriously embarassing. Because my companion and Floriana were like engulfed in this lesson and then there is me all emotional over a c.h.i.c.k.e.n. ahahah seriously?  All I can do is laugh at all of this. It´s so awesome being here!! It´s so different than what I am used to and I am loving seeing another part of the world. What a great opportunity.

Everyone kisses eachothers cheeks to greet..it´s different, but I don´t mind it! But it was hilarious, this guy went to do it to me and as sisters we´re not allowed to with men (obvi) but anyway and I like had to matrix to get out of it haha..it was so funny haha Yo trying to be obedient here!!! haha I wish someone had it on video because I am pretty sure I was like horizontal with the ground. It. was. awesome.

I was so excited for church on Sunday because it was Primary program which means I could probably understand what was being said haha wooo!!! It was such a good meeting....I had to listen very carefully, but I understood. Most of the kids in the Primary are the only ones that are members in their homes...they have such strong, powerful, yet simple testimonies. They were just so grateful for the missionaries, and for the happiness that they have found in the Gospel. A lot talked about wanting to serve missions in the future....the cutest. 

The gift of tongues is real!! Heavenly Father is helping me tremendously. During Young Womens, I was kind of frustrated because all I wanted was to understand our teacher (who speaks at like 343794 words per minute mind you) and I couldn´´t...BUT the spirit was so strong! Bring on the water works!!!!! I don´t think I have ever felt the spirit so strong in my life...It was incredible. I think it´s because I wasn´t familiar with the language..so I just focused on listening to the Holy Ghost...Guys...breaking news!! THAT WORKS. I could feel my Saviors love for me and I know that I am not alone in this!!!

We are so busy all of the time, so sending home letters is going to be nearly impossible..But if you guys want to send me letters still then my address is: 

Sister Safari Natalia Sorenson

Uruguay Montevideo West Mission

Enrique Martinez 1167

C.P. 11. 800 Montevideo

Uruguay

USE IT!!! 

Oh and since I know you´re all dying to send me packages...it takes three weeks to get here and it´s best to send through US POST MAIL..All of the other services take like 8 weeks apparently..Also print off some like hail mary stickers or pictures of Jesus and put them on the box so that people wont steal!! Christmas is right around the corner, and I don´t really need anything!! Hearing from you all is all I need. I love you all so much, and I am loving the work in Uruguay. 

PS: I don´t have time to attach pictures this week, next week. So sorry! 

PSS: Due to the humidity, all I have to work with is my natural curls. haha so yeah...look forward to pics of that. 

¡HOY ES EL DIA! TODAY IS THE DAY!

Con amor,

Hermana Sorenson

semana de consegracion

¿QUE PASA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS?

I had such a blast this week. w e l a u g h s o m u c h. I love it here but six weeks is just enough time for me to be over it. I can't wait to get to Uruguay, only 3 more days!!! How did that happen? It's weird I feel like the Lords time is different for missionaries...the days are way long so that we can learn everything, yet the weeks are short so that we don't go loco. (too late.) I really don't even know where to start this email, I have so much to tell you! So many hilarious and spiritual experience that happened, I'm going to have to leave some out. Just know that there wasn't a time this week that I wasn't either laughing hysterically or feeling the spirit. So I would say it's been the best week at the empty sea ladies and gentlemen. 

Okay so first and foremost..I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS! I fly out Monday morning at 8:30 to Chile, then we have a five hour layover (I plan to convert at least 16 travelers during that time) and then we fly from Chile to Uruguay, I don't arrive in Uruguay until like 5:30 the next day. DON'T MIND MY JET LAG. hahaha

Do you guys want to hear a way funny joke?? K. So Joseph Smith was running away from an angry mob when he came across a river that was about a mile wide..Standing beside the river was Mark Twain and a river raft. Joseph Smith then said "Quick! I need you to help me get across the river on your raft to get away from the angry mob" Mark Twain then pointed to Joseph Smiths Book of Mormon and said "I will if that book of yours tells me too.." So Joseph Smith knelt down and said a quick prayer, stood up, and opened his scriptures to 3 Nephi 12:41....YOU ALL DIED! That's hilarious huh? Is that funny to the outside world or just those of us with the black name tags? I need to know.

GUESS WHO WE GOT TO HEAR FROM AT OUR TUESDAY NIGHT DEVOTIONAL!? Elder Tom. L. Perry!!! It was so great. He has such a quite dignity about him that I love and admire so much. The spirit was just in his voice..he spoke so soft, yet had such powerful words! You could hear a pin drop in there, as you can imagine, the spirit was so strong. He spoke on missionary work and he said that "Tommy" told him to tell us hi and that he loves us! How cute is that!? I was dying. I'm sad you all couldn't be there to experience that with me! I am so grateful I came to the Provo MTC so I could hear from two of the Apostles..not to mention, I got to be in Utah for fall! How great is that!? It's so beautiful here. I am turning into my grandma haha "oh look at the mountains, they're so pretty" blah blah blah. I'm getting old. Speaking of grandma, everyone always calls me "Abuela" in my zone haha because I'm 21 and all of them are like..ya know 18, 19...haha SIIIIICK GUYS!

I don't have much time, but I want you all to know that I love you so much and I am so grateful for your love and support. I am not sure when I will get another P-day..so just hold tight if you don't get an email next week from your girl!!! I love this work, and I love being a missionary, I am so grateful that I get to serve, I already love the people of Uruguay so much! If you're having a bad day, go watch "The Phone Call" on lds.org. You will die of laughter, we watched it in Spanish this week and it was even more funny. Oh one last thing!! Please keep Elder Mckean in your prayers..he is an Elder from my district who is having a really hard time! Also, don't forget to pray for those affected in the Philippines. Don't worry about me, I am doing great and loving every minute of this! Oh and semana de consegracion was alright...let's just say my Spanish improved..but my English deteriorated..So it was a solid balance...I don't even want to think about my English for my homecoming talk.... buenos suerte con eso Hermana Sorenson! haha. 

Next time you hear from me it'll be from Uruguay. HOLLA!!! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Sorenson

HERMANA SORENSON SANDWICH AT THE TEMPLE THIS MORNING! :) 

holar

Lovers!!!! I have been here an entire month, can you believe that!? Only seventeen more to go. t i m e f l i e s h e r e a t t h e m t c. 

Okay so a week ago today we had to teach each other something out of Lesson 1 in Preach My Gospel that would pertain to the certain individual..lucky me, I got put with Elder Cuevas!! He is such a spiritual giant and I just love him. Anyway, he started talking about how the adversary in our lives is similar to the adversary in Josephs Smith life. STAY WITH ME HERE PEOPLE. I was thinking "K Cuevas, where are you going with this..." He then said. "What if Joseph Smith would have gave up. What if when he knelt in prayer, and the dark spirit (the adversary) that came over him would have won?" "What if Hermana Sorenson? We would have nothing. No church. No Book of Mormon. No nothing." He then compared it to our lives today. He told me that the adversary is working SO HARD on us every single day. To get us to give up, to give in. He said, if we gave up..those people in Uruguay would have nothing. No church. No Gospel. No Book of Mormon. No hope. No happiness. NO NOTHING." Lucky for us Joseph Smith withstood the darkness and pulled through. Those people in Uruguay deserve our persistence, and our strength. This work is not always rainbows and butterflies (even though most of the time it is) but when it's hard...we cannot and will not let the adversary win!! We're better than that, and we're stronger than that!!! Anyway, I loved the analogy and inspired me to fight a little harder, and be a little better! Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can accomplish all things, and do so with a happiness that most people don't get to experience in this life! Hasten the work peeeps, everyone deserves this in their lives.   e v e r y o n e.

Okay, forgive me for my ramble about that. But I'm a missionary, it's in my nature, to share, invite, challenge..yada yada yada. Speaking of challenges, who's been going to the throne during their prayers!? It's the best right!? I love it. You will gain an even greater love and appreciation for your Savior as you do this. I SWEAR. 

Who's ready for a funny story or two!? Let me just start by saying that there is  N E V E R a dull moment with our district. We've had teachers and leaders tell us that we're the funnest district they've ever had. #holla Anyway, remember the girl I told you about last week who thought John was in the Book of Mormon..? Ya with me? K so this same sweet soul is convinced that "HOLAR"  is the Spanish verb for "to greet." Hahahaha bless her heart. So this might be confusing for some but in Spanish we have conjugation charts and so we have her convinced that it's "yo-holo" "tu-holas" "usted-hola" "nosotros-holamos" "vosotros-holais" and "ustedes-holan." IT IS SO FUNNY. We got 21 new missionaries in our zone yesterday and they walk in and she goes "HOLAN!!!!" They all gave her the deer in headlights look while the rest of us we're "tebow-ing" behind her. If you speak Spanish, then you're probably dying over this right now, if not well then...just know that "holar" is not a verb. hahaha 

UNO MAS! Okay, the other day we somehow got on the topic of me being half Egyptian and one of the elders goes "Are you from Menassa?" and I was like "No?" and he goes "Oh, well are you from Ephraim?" and I was like.."I'm from Layton." hahahaha pray for me.

So at my farewell I had a book out for people to write little letters in for me to take with me on my mission and read. For some reason I didn't read that until last night and it was a w e s o m e. But one letter in particular stood out to me. Someone very close to me in my life who is not active in the church wrote as follows " I don't know how I feel about this step you are about to take. Mostly because you are leaving so much behind, dance, school, life, and opportunity. I worry this will be lost time." I NEED EVERYBODY TO KNOW, MEMBERS, NON-MEMBERS, IN-ACTIVES, E V E R Y B O D Y...that this is just the opposite of lost time. I am so appreciative of your love, support, and concerns. But I want to assure you all that you don't have to worry. This is the Lords time and it is the best thing for me. My mission has been the greatest opportunity I have ever experienced. I love this work, I am happy, and I would do it over and over again (says the girl who's only been out a month, but still.) I just don't want anybody to worry about me, I am in THE BEST hands. :) I am happy as a lark, and my heart is constantly full and I have never experienced a joy so great. I know I  sound like such a missionary, but just know that I am still me, and still funny as ever (says me)....I just want everybody to be as happy as I am. 

At 5:00 PM tonight we start " semana de consegracion" consecration week. That means we have to speak 100% Spanish, 100% of the time. hahaha pray for me. or should I say "Ore por mi." Although I think it'll be a huge slap in the face, I am so excited to start. I'll let you know how it goes next Thursday. Spanish is great, the Gospel is even better.Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and letters. I could not ask for a better support system. YOU GUYS ARE MY ROCKS. I love you all so so so so much and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you and pray for you. I love this work and I love my Savior. 

w r i t e m e. 

Sister Safari Sorenson

URU-MONW Unit #934

2025 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

Only eleven more days left in the empty sea. Weirdest right!? "accant believe it" (Fat Amy voice) 

XO-Hermana Sorenson 

Hermana Paris and I at the oh so beautiful Provo temple this morning! :) 

First day snow day of the year!!! Don't ask what my hand is doing, and don't mind the giant Y in the background...It hurts me too.