Mellow Week

This week went by pretty quick.  We had Zone Conference which was awesome.  We focused on D&C 4, the classic missionary section in the D&C. 

We found a new investigator this week her name is Courtney.  She left home from Alabama to Rigby just so she could go to church & get away from a home that kept her from using her agency.  She is a sweet girl and is happy to be here.  We took her on a tour of the Church with her fellow shippers and we invited to her to be baptized and she said "Absolutely!"  That was one of the best responses i've had from a baptismal invite in a long time.  i know the Lord has prepared her to accept his Gospel.  She is planning on being baptized at the end of this month.  A huge blessing for Elder Coggins and I.

We got to teach Joel last night, Louis' uncle.  We randomly stopped by at 8:30pm (being so late we had no idea where to go) just to set something up and just he was home.  We talked and shared scriptures.  Answered some of his questions and he shared a lot about what he's going through.  He thanked us for coming and said he needed it.  I'm glad that God directs us with his Spirit to those who need us. 

A part of this "Direction by the Spirit" i've been studying about is Conversion.  And a big part of it is turning our will over to God.  I read a bit in "Continuous Conversion" by Brad Wilcox and in the last chapter it talks about how when we turn our will, our plans, over to God he will lead us to those who need ministering and caring for along the way.  Like the Woman with the Blood Disease who touched Christ's cloak & he took the time to stop and comfort her.  Even though Christ was about the multitude with plenty of distractions and people, as well as on his way to healing someone else or His current "to do" on his list, he stopped when there was a tug on his cloak.  Often times we miss the little tugs in our lives.  Because of Priorities and *Our Will* we miss what God is trying to tell us.  But when we turn our will over to God and put him FIRST we will be led to those who need us most. 

I've found when we turn our will over to God and put him first everything else falls into place.  And we are a lot happier.

Elder Coggins is awesome.  He loves Church History and has taught me so much about it.  We've been having a ton of fun as we go along.  It helps so much with stress.  We've been super positive and proactive in our area and the fruits that come from it make us 100x happier.  It's important to have "Joy along the Journey." 

Life's good being a missionary.  I'm content doing this for a lot longer.  I love missionary work.  I hope you do too. 

Stoked 2 Serve

Elder Soren

                                      All the Polys in Idaho Falls area.

                                    Elder Ah Puck!

This week was sweet.

Last week

We got transfer calls this week.  I'M STAYING IN RIGBY!  i'll be here 7 1/2 months total!  it's crazy.  I have never been in an area this long.  it's an interesting experience.  A lot of amazing lessons have been learned here.  There has been a change in my heart as i served here.  I love this place. 

I know God teaches us something everyday, every month, sometimes it's exciting other times it's long and drawn out, even hard really hard.  But he never gives us more than what we can accomplish.  As i have learned to rely on the Lord's strength and not my own i've seen Him pull me through some tough spots.  I always come out a little more converted each time. 

I had some sweet news this week.  Someone Elder Duano and I taught in Pocatello was re-baptized this Saturday.  Joe Jenson.  He left the Church when he was young and hadn't had the gospel in his life for a long time.  Elder Duano and I started to teach him.  He was really reluctant at first but we kept going over and teaching him.  He progressed in our lessons.  He always joked with us and gave us a hard time.  We loved Joe.  After we left the area Elder Duano and i would ditch our comps and go visit him on Pdays haha.  We loved to visit those we taught rather than play Basketball.  We had great lessons with Joe. He was always happy to see us.  When we got the news last week that he was getting re-Baptized my mind was blown.  I called him up and talked with him.  It was so sweet to hear what he had to say.  It softened my heart so much.  Joe expressed how grateful he was for Elder Duano and I for caring about him and helping him feel God's love.  It was a sweet surprise.

This week

We had transfers it was crazy!  One of our Districts got all brand new missionaries in it. So we spent a lot of the week assisting them and showing them around their areas.  We have some awesome missionaries! 

The work's been good.  We went to watch Meet the Mormons with Louis and his other uncle this week and then they took us out to dinner.  They liked the movie a lot, they were able to relate to some of the stories.  I love teaching Louis.  He's been a lot more open with expressing himself and tells us about some of his spiritual experiences throughout the week.  We get so excited when we see him progress.  I know he will make the decision to be baptized soon! 

This week has been pretty positive.  We are finding a lot more people to teach and been working with the ward members a lot. 

We had an awesome Mission Leadership Council this week.  The training's were on being bold, enduring to the end and conversion.

 It was one of the most spiritual MLCs i've been to.  It was awesome!

things are going good. still kickin it in Rigby! 

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren

Joe 

Lunch with Louis and Joel

Sistas'

We had another Zone Bonfire

The Sisters that left last week

i still got it!

This week was awesome.  It's so great when you notice the little blessings more than the big miracles.  It makes everyday a special day.  Especially being a missionary we see small blessings that we used to look past.  And it's because of the little things that great things are brought to pass.

Last week Sarah Nielson was baptized at the Stake baptisms, and now the Nielson family is complete!  What a blessing it is to help whole families come into the Gospel.  The Nielson family means so much to me.  I know that our Heavenly Father has given me an opportunity to know the Joy that comes from teaching families.  The lasting Joy from this is far greater than just an hour or a day's worth of happiness.  Joy and Happiness are definitely 2 different things.  I am so grateful that i know what joy is because of my mission. 

The Swanson's made some ono foood this week for me!  Kalua pork and cabbage!!!  I was especially stoked on the cabbage!  No one knows about da cabbage!  was winnahz cuz.  They put me on pineapple duty... even though i don't know how to cut pineapples but i rushed it and tried to remember what my mom taught me haha.  I even remembered to wash it with salt!  It was an awesome dinner.  SOOOO GOOOD.  And the Swanson's are the best.

We've been tracting a lot lately trying to find new people to teach.  Our teaching pool is low but we have found 2 new people we hope to have consistent lessons with.  We're just being patient and positive!  That's the most important part! 

This is an exciting experience that i was able to have this week, that i could use my talents in the work.  We started teaching Louis, he comes to our soccer night and we started teaching him at his house a few weeks ago. Louis reminds me of myself and friends back home.  We have a lot in common, so it's fun to teach him and talk about skating and art.  Louis works at a barber shop called "Graffiti" it's themed as well.  It's a sweet idea for a barber shop.  Louis asked his uncle if i could paint one of their walls.  So that's what we did this week!  We went up to Rexburg and painted!!!!  I haven't touched a can in 16 months.  I was in Heaven!!!  I almost died when i smelt the paint!  I miss it so much!  It was super fun!  I was pretty nervous at first that i would be a bit rusty but it turned out pretty good for not painting my whole mission!

            We had a good time.  Troy, Louis' uncle was super chill, reminded me of some of my friends i used to paint with.  And i met this guy Keoa who grew up in Millilani graduated from Kam and started his own head wear company called "NATIVE head wear" it's pretty sweet i bought a hat to support.  He's going to BYU-I.  We talked a lot about home and especially POUNDERS ahhhh. 

         We had a ton of fun. There was a moment that topped it all off, Louis' Uncle is an RM, and has been trying to help and be a good example to Louis.  When i finished we had shared a scripture and we were gonna close with a prayer.  I asked Louis if he wanted to and he said yes.  He said an awesome prayer.  As we were at the cars, Louis had to lock up the shop, his uncle thanked us for teaching Louis.  He got really emotional and started to cry.  He said "to hear him pray man..." and just broke down.  It was totally unexpected but tender.  I told him that his example would have more of an influence than us and he replied that he needed to step it up.  This was the cherry on top.  To see someone like my friends back home, cry because of how much the gospel means to him, made me so happy. 

It gave me hope.  It gave me a vision of what's possible no matter who you are or the hobbies or habits you have, that the gospel can soften any heart.  That Heavenly Father loves every one of his children.  That sometimes even the roughest of characters can be sweet and feel His love.  That Change is possible. 

Also that we can be who we want to be, do the things we enjoy doing, if they are good.  We don't always have to be "molly mormons" to be an example or a light to others.  We just have to keep the commandments, stay true to who we are as sons and daughters of God, and LOVE LOVE LOVE. There is no room for judgement. 

Ironically, there was a new video released on mormon.org about a guy who changed from a gangster to a good man.  I LOVE THIS VIDEO! mainly because there's a lot of graffiti and i dress similar to him haha.  I feel like this is me without the violence haha.  I'll put the link up and invite you to watch it and see a little bit of my hope.  

My hope is to be a "Good Man"... to not completely give up talents or friends but to use them in a different way to promote good.  To be an example of the Believers and be original.  To be Myself and live the Gospel and Love. 

The Lord teaches us lessons in very mysterious ways.  I am so grateful for these lessons and who i've become because of them. 

I love you all and invite you to be the force for good for someone in your life. 

Always Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren 

         

Watch 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/his-grace/from-gang-member-to-good-man

Sarah Nielson Baptism Day!

Pineapple Duty

Pork & Cabbage

It's been 16 Months!

The Late Ones in Rigby

Troy on the left Louis on the Right

Rad Haircut Elder Thomas!!!

Gods Love.

Hey Home!

I don't have much time to tell you about my week but I wanna share something I sent one of my missionary friends about a lesson I've learned about LOVE.

"Guess what tho! I LOVE GOD. 

not just a missionary love, but a real love.  Everything I do now is for Him and only Him. Not that it wasn't before but now I understand what you have been talking about your whole mission.  That kind of love.  That love that has gotten me out of bed every morning.  It makes me do things I wouldn't normally do.  My obediance has increased 100x because He's asked me to be obedient.  This is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. When you stop worring about everyones opinion and the only one that matters is GOD's your whole life is changed." 

I am so grateful for the lessons I've learned on my mission so far.  All the lessons life teaches arent only for us, they are really meant for others. 

As we ask for strength in the Night for our day tomorrow it is because we need to strengthen our brothers and sisters the next day.  We pray for wisdom, not to take to Heaven but to share on earth. 

Everything God blesses us with is for others and not our own. 

Prayer- in the Bible dictionary taught me that there's a huge chunk missing when we pray. 

"We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart."

I invite you this week to talk to God.  Don't just pray.  Talk to Him.  Develope your relationship with Him.  Talk to him as you would your Father. 

These prayers have changed my life.

I love you all and hope your life is changed by God's love.

Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren

Jan 19 2015

I love being a Missionary!!!

This week was transfers, it's different without Elder Fontes, but I'm so excited to get to serve with Elder Coggins. We're stoked to be together and serve in Rigby!!!

We had an awesome experience with a family who is housing a Foreign Exchange Student. Her name is Harper. She's 16 & from Thailand.  She's so sweet.  We went to the Temple and watched "Meet The Mormons" at the Visitors Center.  We asked the VC Sisters if they had a Thai Book of Mormon and they did!  We asked Harper if that is the language she knew from home and she got excited and said yes!  Then we told her that she could have it.  She got soooo excited!  She started looking through the pages and had a huge smile on her face.  The Sisters came back and gave us the first 3 lesson pamphlets in Thai as well and Harper got even more excited.  As we waited for the movie to begin she was looking through them reading all about the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  She looked so happy, it was awesome to see! 

We watched the movie (and it was even more awesome the 2nd time!)  I love "Meet The Mormons" i hope you all take your friends again!

After the movie we were mingling in the VC.  We had the idea to ask the VC Sisters if they had the Christus recording in Thai and they did!  We sat there with Harper listening to the Christus in her native tongue.  She had a smile on her face looking down listening to the words.  At one point she looked up quickly and starred at the Marble Christ.  She said she loved the part when He told us to love all our Brothers and Sisters.  We asked her if we could teach her more and she said YES! 

We are so excited to be able to teach Harper.  It's such a blessing to find someone from the other side of the world here in Rigby that we can share the Restored Gospel of Our Savior with.

My heart was so happy.

I am so excited for this new transfer and all the blessings ahead.

Sorry for the Short Email

I love you all 

Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren

Serving in Rigby 2015

Transfers next week.

This week was awesome!  It continues to snow, with piles of it everywhere.  I love snow but its getting to the point that its almost like sand.  It's everywhere. haha

We've been working hard this week and have seen blessings as the Zone recommitted themselves to work.  We doubled our efforts and have been doing awesome in the Rigby Zone. 

Sometimes I get hard on myself about the work but i find a lot of success helping other missionaries in my assignment as a leader.  We got to have a great study with some of the sister missionaries who are struggling a little.  We helped them with their concerns and talked it out with them.  It's amazing to get to know the missionaries we serve, as we do investigators.  Learning about them and their life stories and the righteous desires of their heart.  Helping them in any way we can in fulfilling those desires.  We set goals with them on how to improve, where needs work, and love them.  As we have done this there has been a great change in the Zone.  We literally doubled the success this week and there are a lot of great things that will be happening this month including baptisms. 

I love it!

We got transfer calls this week.

Elder Fontes will be leaving and going to Idaho Falls.  It's weird, 4 1/2 months together, i don't know how i feel.  I think the reality of it hasn't hit yet and will once he's gone.  I think I've learned more than i ever have these past 4 months with him.  & we've had so many blessings.  More blessings prob in my whole mission here in Rigby in the short time together. My testimony has grown so much and so have I. 

My new companion will be Elder Coggins.  He served as one of our District Leaders in Pocatello.  Elder Bebee and I made him a Zone Leader and now were gonna be companions!  He's awesome and i know we will do great together!  

It's gonna be different but I'm excited.  Change is good and bad, it's our attitude towards Change that, we accept the Lord's opportunity to repent and change to be more like him. 

I know this new transfer will be an opportunity to change and grow as everyday is when you are on the errand of the Lord. 

Blessings to be a missionary.  Thanks to God for His love. 

I hope you all had a great Holiday Season and hopefully are excited for this new year ahead. I wish that we all look forward to what's coming and respond to the opportunities of the new year that the Lord brings with haste. 

I love you all and pray for you daily.

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren :)

We spent a lot of time with the families we have been able to develop great friendships with and a love for & as Elder Fontes says his good byes, these are some of the people we get to see each week and teach them more about the Gospel.

The Francia family

Darlyn Fox, Shaun and Bryan

The Hassests' our new Ward Mission Leaders

the Priests in the 7th ward

the Jones family

the Neilsons'

the Richins' Family
(Son to my left going to New Zealand, Wellington Mission)

Carol Getsinger

Rocky's Baptism! Happy NEw YEars

This week went by way too quick. Since it dumped snow Christmas Eve things have been a lot colder. Snow Everywhere!. It's fun tho! it makes things a lot more exciting and fun. 

My email today is short but sweet.

Rocky Williams was baptized this week. We've been working with Rocky since i got here. Rocky is legally blind. He is soooo awesome! The whole town of Rigby knows him and loves him. He goes around town riding his 3 wheeled bicycle. We love teaching him and being able to hear all of his awesome stories. He loves Christ and his faith is so strong. He always had things holding him back. For a year there has been missionaries working with Rocky. Mostly Sisters. One of the Sisters that previously taught him is back in Rigby and made it happen. Rocky has taken the next step in his life to be baptized. It was an amazing baptism. 144 people attended his baptism. The spirit there was so strong. I am so excited for Rocky and his decision to be baptized.

I am seeing miracles each day as we work hard and trust God.

Transfers are coming up soon. I'm praying that nothing changes. I love Rigby and the Zone. They are like family to me. 

I hope you all had a warm Holiday Season!

Love you much miss you more

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren