Monday, June 30, 2014

Chee 2 tha Huuu June.30.12

Hey Hey!


    This week was filled with tons and tons of fun and hard work! There were so many tender mercies and miracles that we have been blessed with! Stoked on life right now! Elder Bebee and I are working so hard and we are seeing fruits being born from our efforts.

     I don't even know where to start...

  We met with Jaque (pronounced -Jackie-) this week and had a church tour with her. President McNabb one of my favorite people in Pocatello came to the tour with us (he's our Stake President). It was one of the most powerful Church tours I have ever bin on. Jaque is such a special spirit. She had a lot of questions and concerns about some things she has heard from friends. But with the help of the spirit and president McNabb we were able to help her understand the eternal principals and promises behind the doctrine. She expressed a little more about her desires and her past. She shared with us things that were dear to her heart.

It was so touching to hear some of her experiences and for her to be searching for something in her life that will bring her happiness. She has a strong desire to have faith in our Heavenly Father. There is something about Jaque that Elder Bebee and I are almost drawn to her. We cant wait for our next lessons we just want to be in her presence. I don't know what it is but I know the Lord has great things in store for Jaque. Lessons with Jaque are filled with the spirit and lessons like that is why I love being a missionary. I am so happy that the Lord has blessed us with one of his special daughters, to share the gospel with.

      We had another amazing lesson with one of our favorite investigators named Mike. He is 21 and is one of the funniest investigator i've had so far. He doesn't have much of a belief in God even though his parents were LDS. He never really wanted to meet with us but his best friend Sebastian wants to be baptized with him so he makes him come to lessons. Sebastian didn't show up only Mike. But he stayed and listened.  We read Alma 7 with him and when he read it he started laughing. We were puzzled. He say, wow I never thought about how the Jesus has felt every single emotion i've had, even when my headphone cord gets caught on the fridge and rips in half! haha he shared more of the random things that irritate him and was grateful that someone actually knows how Mike feels. He had 3 other epiphanies in the lesson where he was so mind blown he was laughing at how perfect the book of Mormon was haha. It was sooo awesome! We invited him to read and pray about the book of Mormon every day. He accepted! and responded with

 "I like this book I always need more "mons"... pokemons,..digimons and now mor-mons!"

hahhahaha sometimes I wonder if the rest of the world compares us to an out there idea such as pokemon...

        We were able to run into 2 new investigators because of my love for art and music. One of our appointments fell through and so we were headed back to the car. But I saw some graffiti in an ally way so I told elder bebee lets go take pics. As we were lookin at it we heard some Christian rap coming from the building behind us, haha don't ask me how I know what Christian rap sounds like... but then this head pops out of a window. It was a young man living in the apartments he was curious as to what we were doing. We asked him if that was "Lecrae" the Christian rapper and he said yes! we ended up talking to him and his friend who happen to be YSA age for 45 min. They are both looking for a fresh start and a new light in their lives. We shared scriptures and left them with a prayer. I could tell, Ramone was his name, was teary in the eyes after we said amen. I was grateful that we were placed in their path to help them feel Gods love.


        This week I also got to see... idk what to call him ... my brother? uncle? or that one friend you can never get rid of? haha nah nah Carlos!!!! one of my favorite human beings came to visit me! with Hailey and Baby maddy! we had an awesome lunch at sizzlers and talked about the good old days and ART! i'm not gunna lie I was pretty distracted by my thoughts for the rest of the day but he helped me remember who I am. I was so so glad to see him and to hear his weird comments. hahahah my favorite part! I am so grateful for the brothers my Father in Heaven has blessed me with. I always wanted a brother to wrestle with and to tease and He has blessed me with one like Carlos.

I am so happy to be a missionary.

the Lord truly works in mysterious ways 

Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren



with Carlos

Elder Soren, Carlos, Hailey & Maddy Mozo




one of the Larpers we teach let me put on his armor






Maddy


Elders Soren & Bebee

Yum!



Monday, June 23, 2014

6/23/14 New transfer... same Poky... i love it

 Hey heyyy. This week has bin cray cray! haha we have been going 500mph this week with transfers and missionaries heading home. its bin wild. I am so excited to start a new transfer it feels like i get another fresh start. 

       Elder Bebee and I are the same people. I am so happy to be able to serve with him. He has taught me so much already he is a really powerful missionary. I need someone like him this transfer! we have had so many blessings within these 4 days we have been together. We have bin working so hard and getting the area back in shape! were so stoked on life right now! 

       We were able to have one of the most spiritual lessons i have had in a while. We met this really amazing girl in her early 20s, and came over to answer some of her questions. During our lesson we answered her through the scriptures. We taught a lot about the plan of salvation and how much our heavenly father loves all of his children. She started to express how she had a rough life and started to cry. She said she hasn't cried at all in years. We did our best to comfort her. I shared my testimony about my experiences in life and some of the struggles. But testified of how they have benefited me and made me a stronger person. Elder Bebee testified as well of the blessings of the Atonement and how the Savior is always with us. We know the spirit touched her heart. She said she didnt know why she was crying and she thinks its so weird that she's feeling this way. We helped her recognize that it was the spirit and she was at peace. She told us that we should come back as soon as possible  Elder Bebee and i both told each other how we both wanted to give her a big hug. We felt like we loved her right off the bat. We are so excited to be able to teach her tomorrow.

       After the lesson with her we got to go to a wonderful lunch appointment with Wolf, Hailey and baby Maddy!!! She is one of the cutest babies ever!!!! i was so happy to see them! Maddy is so sweet and smiley, i wanted to take her with me!!! ahh. It was so good to catch up with Hailey and meet her mom. We had a lot of fun, i really enjoyed the short time we had together. So glad i got to see some of my family. 

       I am so happy to be here. Last transfer i didnt feel like i worked as hard as i could. But now having a new start i am so so excited. I have recommitted myself to consecrating these 2 years to the Lord. And doing my best by giving up the natural man, and give everything i have for the Lord. There is a quote from C.S. Lewis that has really got me reflecting and evaluating my mission. 

       "Give me all. I dont want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want you. All of you. I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man. But to kill it. No half measures will do. I don't want you to only prune a branch here and another there, rather I want the whole tree out. Hand it all over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desire, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them over to me, give yourself to me and i will make of you a new self in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange i will give you myself. My will shall be your will. My heart your heart." C.S. Lewis

        I am so grateful for my Savior and the Atonement. I am grateful for a loving God and my family. I know that if we give ourselves to Him, he will make us, shape us, and mold us into someone who we could never think possible. All because of his LOVE for us. i love being a missionary.

miss you, love you 

stoked to serve!

Elder Soren

Elder Soren & Maddy Mozo

with Hailey & Maddy Mozo
(formerly Miss Price who was Elder Soren's 5th grade Teacher)






Monday, June 16, 2014

Happy Father's Day

HEY HEY! 

         This week has been crazyy! so many blessings and changes going on its exciting! we had this crazy thunder storm that started a fire in the Hills! and we got transfer calls this Thursday and Elder Thomas will be leaving me! i am super bummed that he's going. He has taught me so many important lessons that i know only he could help me understand. One of the greatest things he has taught me is to trust in the Lord and to have a positive mindset always. This has helped me overcome so many of the trials we had this transfer and i was always happy! i am going to miss him a lot but i know the Lord has called him another way to help other missionaries as he has helped me.

Were also Shipping Elder Finau home today, back to maui :(

        My new companion will be Elder Bebee!!!! my first Zone leader when i came out. Elder Malaulu, Bebee, and Duano picked me up from the mission home the day i got here. Ever since then Elder Bebee and i were pretty much best friends. He was with me for all the holidays, Halloween, Christmas, and New years! We have very very similar interests and he has a super chill personality. We've talked about being companions for a long time now and its finally happen!!! I am sooo stoked to have him he is such a great missionary. This transfer is gunna be sickkk! The only bummer is that this is his last transfer in the mission. He goes home to Texas in 6 weeks. But were gunna make this next 6 weeks the best 6 weeks he will have in his mission. We're planning on working hard and doin the best we can!

                                                          STOKED

        This week has been nuts within the past 4 days we have found 7 solid potential investigators and renewed our teaching pool. We have so much work to do. So many people to teach. I pray that the Lord will bless us with a baptism for Elder Bebee's last transfer. I'm ready to work hard. The Lord has been merciful to us this transfer. I know He has watched over us and has blessed us with those who he has prepared. 

         During sacrament meeting yesterday i was able to ponder about life and this beautiful gospel plan. It being Father's Day, the talks were focused on this subject. I really enjoyed all of the talk s and i was happy to hear all the different stories, i thought about all the fun times with my dad and all the cool stories we have. There was peace and comfort in my heart, one of my favorite sacrament meetings. 

I thought about how our Heavenly Father is Hastening the work here on earth and in the Spirit world. What an honor it is to be a missionary alongside my dad. I know that He walks with me to appointments, i know he visits me when i need him, i know that he is teaching those in the spirit world and building up our Fathers Kingdom in Heaven. I rejoice to know that my Dad and I are out serving the Lord together. Both having been called to  preach the gospel. I am one of the luckiest missionaries in Idaho. To be able to serve a mission with my dad. I love my dad with all my heart and i am so grateful for all that he has taught me. His lessons continue to teach me as i go throughout my life. His love having more meaning to me each day. 

And what a blessing it is that we Have A loving Heavenly Father that has blessed us with eternal companions. Our families sealed for all time and eternity... to love us and to continually guide us and help us grow. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and that he has blessed me with the best Dad in the world. 

 I am so grateful for My Heavenly Father, for blessing me with this opportunity to be a missionary. To have my dad as a Heavenly Companion. To be with me throughout my mission and throughout my life. 

I hope you all had a great Father's Day like i did, and i hope you told him how much you love him.

I love my mission
I love my companions
I love the Gospel 
i love my family


Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren


Elder Finau & Elder Soren with tiny Elder Thomas






Monday, June 9, 2014

Killed, Cooked, and Fed

A   L   O   H   A

           This week has been so awesome! We have had so many wonderful experiences and great meetings. The weather has been nice got some of my tan back, which is good! We had to ride our bikes for a couple of days it was pretty fun we were all over Pocatello my legs were killing me at the end of the day. I got to used to driving a car hahha. But things have bee great Elder Thomas and I have been having a lot of fun and workin hard!

            Last P-day was Elder Finaus birthday, he wanted to have a BBQ so we did... We had the Elders in Downey Idaho, a very small town in the middle of nowhere find us a pig... That Monday morning we went and acquired a 60lb pig from a couple of farm boys and put the squealing pig in our trunk hahahhah. We killed, cleaned and cooked it in the yard. Rotated it on a stick and everything. Then we went to the stake softball parks and hade a huge BBQ with Kalbi ribs, pok'e, hot dogs and a lot of rice. Probably one of the best pdays ever!
.
            We had another Leadership meeting this week, Elder Perry met with our mission president and challenged him that every missionary baptizes 10 people by next June. So we are having a Zone training to introduce this new Goal and Challenge for the mission. The result when we succeed will be more than 2,500 baptisms in a year! its double of what we got last year. but we know that it is possible because it has been inspired by one of the Lords most Faithful servants Elder Perry. Elder Thomas and I are planning on having a sick meeting with our zone that will get them pumped and excited. We definitely know that it is possible.

            A dear friend shared her favorite scripture with me, before I left and it has helped me especially with challenges such as this. "I know, in the strength of the Lord I can do all things" Alma 20:4. I know our mission will be able to Accomplish this as we do all that we can, trusting in the Lord. I am so excited to be here serving in this wonderful mission at this time when the Lord has great things instore for the people of Idaho.

             We have been teaching a lot and much success has come our way. We were able to meet with a guy named Johnathan who hasn't been to church in 6 years he's about 24. We have been meeting with him for 2 weeks now. During one of our lessons we testified of church attendance and how it not only blesses you spiritually but temporally as well. He came to church that next Sunday in a suit. We were so happy! He stayed all 3 hours and loved it. The next time we met with him he said how he posted on facebook that he went to church for the first time in a while and he showed us the response. There were his young mens leaders who responded, family and friends who liked his post and offered encouragement and complements. Johnathan felt loved and important. He is planning on attending church regularly now.

             It makes me so happy to be able to help all of our Heavenly Fathers children. The joy that comes from sharing the gospel is something that no vice in life could bring. I am so grateful for my mission and this opportunity to serve the Lord for these 2 short years. I know that the Lord is working beside us in this last great work. Not only the Lord of the vineyard but all of those in the spirit world as well. What a blessing it is to serve alongside great missionaries here on the earth and in the spirit world. To serve alongside my Dad in building up the kingdom of our Father is one of the greatest privileges I could ever have. 

I love missionary work in all forms of it.
I love my Heavenly Father
I love my Savior Jesus Christ
I love my Family

I wish you all a great weak, Find some one to share the gospel with and I know you will have one of the best weeks ever!

Love you

Elder Soren


Elders Soren & Thomas











Snake on my head!