Wednesday, November 27, 2013

2 months down, 22 to go!

Konichiwaaa


          This week was a bit slower were trying to find more people to teach. We were able to commit 2  people to baptism this week at a church tour. Church tours are awesome it helps those we take feel the spirit of the chapel without all the crying babies haha. We have a strong testimony of church tours. But since we baptised Fabian it got slower to were trying to keep busy but its good. Me and my Comp Elder Duano are like brothers we didnt want to be seperated at this last transfer and when we found out we were staying we were happy.
       I found that one of my favorite days of the week is Sunday. I love going to sacrement meeting and being in the chapel for 3 wards haha. I remember when i couldnt even handle 1 hour of sacrament now i go to 6 hours every sunday haha but i love it. its so relaxing being able to listen to hymns and people speak and just sit back and feel the spirit.
        Its sooooo cold i cant handle sometimes! its only like 20 degrees and  I freeeeze! Somtimes i do push ups on the side of the street to get some body heat hahah but i thought my fingers were gunna fall off the other night!
       My Testimony has grown so much these past few weeks and my personal conversion is getting stronger as well. ive been trying to work harder and be more obedient. Ive accepted my life as a missionary for the next 2 years. Battling with my old self and feeling more like this is a trip that l'll be going home soon or something but now ive adjusted and know that this is my life, and i love my life! i love learning and reading. studying the scriptures is my favorite thing i wish i had 3 hours of personal study everyday but we only get 1:( i feel like college will be easy after developing good study habits and searching for the meaning of symbols in the scriptures!
      My heart is always filled with so much joy when I take the time to listen to the spirit in all that i do. I found that actually living the gospel every minute is how we can all be so happy. It's like the secret to life haha its crazy to think about how people seem so unhappy sometimes and its right infront of them especially members too! being a missionry has taught me so much and i am so blessed to be able to share the secret to life with others.
  I've been learning about personal revelation in my studies and ive been working harder to develop a stronger relationship with the spirit. In doing so, i see how important "personal reveloation" is for everyone. We pray to speak to our Heavenly Father. When we read the scriptures He speaks to us. When we read the scriptures and apply our specific situation to the teachings he reveals his truths and answers to our prayers. He guides us through the scriptures. i feel like if anyone asked me what should i do about this or that easy, pray and read the scriptures. I have a testimony that when we ask and read that Heavenly Father answers those questions and we receive so much joy and happiness.
i love being a missionary and i am so happy to hear about all those who are geting their calls around the world especially my friends. To be able to embark on this wonderful happy journey spreading the gospel and helping bring families into eternal happiness.
love you miss you
Elder Soren
xoxoxoxo



                              Some other Elders had Musubis and they shared with us.
                                                         SO happy :)



Knocked on the wrong door?













Monday, November 18, 2013

Baptism of Fabian


YEE
      This week has been pretty good trying to keep busy. Weve been working with the members a lot and we have been seeing the work grow in our area. Since conference and the hastening of the work, we've been pushing member missionary work and how they can help. Its been amazing to see how much the wards are helping now and we've been getting alot busier.
Its the end of transfers this week and me and Elder Duano are staying togeather in our area! Im so excited I didn't want to change companions. He is called as district leader, so were gonna be busy this next 6 weeks! Im excited for him and us as companions. We've been getting along so well and were motivated to do our best to be good examples for our district!
  Last night we had a baptism for Fabian. Its so wonderful to see him grow and to see him share his testimony at the baptism, it blew my mind. His conversion is solid and he is such a great guy. Only being 15 and now the only LDS member in his family. His brave example will help his family and he wants to show them the light that he has felt.  It's so awesome! One of the best part of missionary work is seeing others testimony grow and grow and to see their conversion. It warms my heart to know that i was able to help someone see the light and help them understand the gospel. I am so glad to be a missionary.




 I've kinda been homesick I guess, if you could call it that. Im not depressed or anything  hahaha I just always think about the beach and surfing and being with my sisters. But I've been looking for examples in the Book of Mormon to help me out. Like Alma the younger that just got home from teaching the Zoramites, stayed for only a little bit, then went back to teach the city of Melek and the City of Ammonihah (i think that was the city).  But just seeing that he constantly was going on missions not only for 2 years but much longer. Also Lehi when he left his gold his silver and the land of his inhertiance to obey the Lords commandments. I applied that to my life and how I left my family (my gold) the beach (my silver) and the land of my inheritance to serve the Lord! because like the sons of mosiah saw that every life was precious and they didnt want any to perish. This has helped me alot and I am not home sick at all!



I love being a missionary and sharing the gospel and seeing the spirit work in others and helping them see the light. There is no happier thing on this earth than living the gospel. The joy that comes from it is just so wonderful and so pure. Thats what I want others to see how happy the gospel makes someone and how it blesses families. I'm so happy to be a missionary.
miss you all
Love 
Elder Soren
XOXOOXxoxoOXoxOXoxOXo(beeg hug) (leeto hugg)









Monday, November 11, 2013

Stomach Flu - Week 7


WASSSUUPPP



this week has been alright nothing too exciting just fulfilling the Lords work n all, ha nah its been pretty good just visiting a buncha families and people!
One of the things ive learned this week is to have faith that our Heavenly Father will deliver you. I got a stomach flu Saturdaynight and I was back n forth to the bathroom all night. pretty miserable. On top of that I was feeling a little home sick and was over being actually sick so it wasn't fun. I just wanted to be at home watching movies with rani or something. I wanted to lay on the beach and chill on the sand. I was feeling like 2 years is soo long:(
 Because I was up I watched "Legacy" the pioneer movie. Seeing all that they went through I felt pretty lame just having a stomach flu while they were dealing with deadly illnesses and deaths and I was complaining about a flu. I was humbled watching these faithful members knowing that they are on their way to zion and through their trials and tribulations they still had faith that the Lord would deliver them. One part in the movie the family has to send their father off on a mission, a husband off to the war. these men were away from their families for who knows when and if they would ever make it back but they still went because of their faith in the Lord and their desire to serve. I was motivated seeing their example and the strength of their testimonies. that I have it so good being a missionary in these latter days being able to email my family and have all the wonderful things we have today.
My humbling experience with this stomach flu has helped me have more appreciation for the things I have and this wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord and build up his Kingdom. I am so grateful to be able to be a missionary!
other than that nothing to exciting, my companion and I are doing awesome he teaches me a ton of stuff hes very smart with the doctrine. getting ready for the cold!!!
hope everyone at home has been doing okay despite the ugly weather! Miss everyone
miss the beach but I know this is where I need to be!
email ya next week
love
Elder Soren
XOXOxoxoXOxoXx




Monday, November 4, 2013

100% committed


This week...
has been pretty slow considering Halloween were were on lock down, we had a bunch of service projects, so I didn't really feel like missionary work. especially that it was much slower than usual but its picking up this week!
yesterday one of our investigators, Fabian who is 15 bore his testimony and told the ward the date of his baptism. I was so proud of him I was smiling from ear to ear.
I have come to realize the reason of my joy in this work is seeing the spirit work in others. that I am a worthy instrument in the lords hands to cause people to feel the power of the spirit.
my companion makes me give all the blessings of comfort and healing to help me get better and experience them more. and I have seen the blessings of the power of the priesthood and it makes my heart so happy to be able to give some one a blessing and know that there is peace in their heart.
we had dinner at a members home with 2 little girls, twins, recently divorced and as we finished a fun lesson about the good Samaritan, he asked us for a blessing. after I gave him the blessing he stood up with tear filled eyes as he thanked us and walked us out. on our way home it the windy cold streets of Pocatello the only feeling in my heart was warmth. I was so happy that I was a servant of the Lord. A worthy tool in his work. to be able to bless the lives of others and bring happiness and comfort in their lives. My appreciation for worthily having the Gift of The Holy Ghost has grown so much knowing that it is only through him that these things are possible. For if it were not for the spirit we will fail at this work...
Concerning the Temple situation with the Gov. I have complete faith that the Lord will no let this evil thing bring down his holy temples. I know that the Priesthood axillaries who hold the authority and keys will be able to overcome this test of our faith. that we as members should do all we can to not take matters into our own hands and take away the authority of leaders that have been called upon for specific situations like this. that we will pray and fast and do all we can on our part with our responsibilities as members and have faith. that we must stand on our foundation which is upon the "rock of our redeemer...that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds...it shall have no power over you...because of the rock which ye are built" (HEL 5:12) this is one of my favorite scriptures because I know the foundation that is under my feet is of Christ and he shall not let me fall.
my mission is the best thing ever I have come to love the families and people of Pocatello and my heart is so happy to be apart of this sacred work.
I am motivated even more this next week to be the best missionary I can be!
love you, miss you
Elder Soren