Close of another week 9/5/09

We have come to the close of another week. On Saturday the young single adults come to the church at noon and play sports of one sort or another. It rained all day yesterday and most of the night, so even though it is not raining today, everyone thought it too damp out to play soccer, so we stayed at the church and played floor hockey.  There were only two YSA here, so we played 2 on 2--the one young man (Egil) and I against one of the sister missionaries and the young lady (Torunn) who showed up.  We used a whiffle ball about the size of a baseball and sticks made for the purpose. It was a "friendly" game, but got exciting at times. Last week they played soccer and I started playing, then was pleased to turn it over to someone younger who showed up.

On Thursday avening, we split with the two sister missionaries--Nancy with Sister Engebretsen and I with Sister Johnson and we went to contact people on the street (on the bridge which crosses the river in the middle of town). They took one side of the street and we took the other. We met some interesting people and one young man whom Nancy and Sis E met came to the church on Friday afternoon so they could teach him a lesson. He said he will come to church on Sunday and will meet with them again next week. We have been contacting all of the Young Single Adults on the branch list, trying to visit them and encourage them to become involved in the Church.  We are also contacting the less active members to do the same. We met on Thursday evening with a nice young man who has not been to church for about the past 7 years.  We will continue to visit him and hope we can encourage him to become active again.

Torunn (the young lady who played floor hockey today) told me she bought a pair of water skis and wants to learn how to ski. I asked if she had a boat and she said she has a friend who has one. I told her I would be more than happy to teach her to ski, just tell me when.  Hopefully it will happen.

We went to choir practice on Tuesday night (yes, I participated also) and afterward, as the choir director and husband were leaving, they called us to come to the front door. There had been a thunder storm earlier and now the sun was setting. I am attaching a picture of the sky at that time.

We are loving it here, meeting a lot of good people--in and our of the church and finding good things to keep us occupied. The man who lives in the house in front of ours was a silver medal winner in the last winter olympics in the nordic combined (ski-jump and cross country). He will be participating in a large event here in Trondheim in early decemer.

Sending our love to all of you.

 Elder and Sister Sorensen

sky after a storm

 sky over the river after the storm - same as the header picture

Response from Bud & Gaye:

How we love missionary reports.  Sounds like you are touching many lives already, and a great blessing to Norway  We were released from the Chicago temple Presidency the end of August.  What a wonderful send off.  Much food all week long, a wonderful framed picture of the temple, many hugs and well wishes, more toys and books than we can possibly take to Ghana, but we will find good places for them here  We were asked to bring toys for the Youth Center, and I am sure we have enough for several orphanages and schools.  We have never felt so loved and appreciated. 

We are busy now getting ready to go.  We are currently having several trees trimmed or taken out so we don't have to worry about them falling over while we are gone.  Also some work done on the roof, replacing screens the squirrels chewed through, etc. etc

We spent several day last week in Door County in Wisconsin with Alain and his family.  They spend a week up there every year.  It was so good to spend so much time with them.  Beautiful country and the best company possible. 

Last week Caryn and Jim came and did a session in the temple with us.  It was a thrill to have them with us.  Unfortunately they had to walk 3 and a half miles to the temple after getting off the metro.  They thought there would be a taxi to take them the rest of the way.  We did not know they did not have a car.  We took them back and now know where the metro lets you off closest to the temple. Good thing Jim had a GPS.  They come in handy when walking too. We very much enjoyed some one on one time with them.  We are most happy Chicago  is finally getting to be a popular visiting spot for family.  Wonderful.

We love you, we pray for your continued success, and anxiously look forward to our departure for Ghana. God bless all of us to make a difference in the world.  Love,  Bud & Gaye