Christmas and Ashlee's Baptism

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My email will be short but sweet.

This week was one of the best! 

Ashlee Andrews was baptized this Saturday and Confirmed yesterday. I had the Opportunity to baptize Ashlee. I wish to share my feelings in this experience. 

The program, started and brief talks were given. Before i knew it we were walking towards the font, at the top of the stairs and into the water we went. As i began the prayer i realized what i was doing. A lot of feelings and information came into my mind and heart within seconds. At that very moment i was filled with light and the Love of our Father. Everything looked a lot brighter. She went under the water but i saw her elbow pop up. So we did it again. The feelings were just as strong the second time i prayed as the first. It was a wonderful feeling. Indescribable. She was so happy. Her excitment reminded me of Jaque's enthusiasm when she was baptized.  The Spirit was so strong.

Elder Fontes and I after we got changed, along with her mom and uncle bore our testimonies.

I had the prompting to share with her what i felt as we were in the water, this is what i remember of what i said, "I felt that as a missionary we sometimes have the wonderful opportunity to perform the ordinance of baptism for those who we teach. I haven't had this opportunity since the beginning of my mission. I am so very grateful for this opportunity, because i felt like i was standing next to someone who was pure and full of love and light. I know Heavenly Father is smiling down upon you this day."  I concluded with my testimony of Christ. Every word was truth and my feelings i know with all my heart were from the Spirit. I got emotional as i told her. I don't get very emotional as i teach or testify but the Spirit was very overwhelming.  It was not easy to hold back watery eyes.

I love the Neilson Family with all my heart. Sarah the youngest is getting baptized in Feb. with the Stake baptisms. Their whole family will be in the Gospel and that makes my heart happier than anything. 

What a joy it is to be a missionary.

Christmas was too fun. We had a good time with the Zone. The Rigby Zone is the best. We are all unified in the work and are friends. It feels like a big family. 

Christmas Eve we spent with the Halls and Christmas morning with the Zone and the Benions, it was a lot of fun.

I am excited for the New Year and for new beginnings. 

I hope you all have a great Holiday Season and Blessings for the New Year! 

Mahalo's for all of your love and support and gifts both spiritual and temporal. :)

Sorry i have to be brief but i love you all so very much.

Always Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren  

Ashlee's Baptism

with Rudolph & Elder Thomas

The Elders

Rigby Zone!

the Sisters loved their flowers!

buried the Sisters car in snow lol

the Jones Ohana

                                         The Halls

& it just Keeps getting Better, Merry Christmas!

This week was BUSYYY. But Amazing!

Carlos Morales got baptized! There was a lot of family & support. Carlos told us the night before he invited his sister who is struggling to come to his baptism. He also invited her to be baptized too! He knew how much this decision would bless his family and he partook of the fruit and desired that his family may partake as well. Carlos is such a great example to his family and i have no doubt that his brothers and sister will join him because of his righteous example. When Carlos walked down the hall i felt as if i was greeting a Bishop. He looked so good in his suit and walked with a very respectful manner. He will probably be a Bishop one day garanteeeee. 

Yesterday i had the wonderful privilege of confirming Casey a member of the Church, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and giving her a blessing. I have never done it before so it was a very special moment. It was a weird feeling. I was completely disconnected from the world and forgot about everything around me so i was somewhat startled when i opened my eyes and saw the whole 7th ward looking at us, haha. I dont remember what i said but i know it was good because of the feeling in my heart. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a messenger and a tool in the Lords hands. This is His work and we are just the Physical means to represent Him here on earth. What a blessing.   

We got to meet Ashley! Justin Nielsen's older sister. We had a great first lesson with her. Her desire to be baptized is so wonderful. We talked about the Savior and his example and when we invited her to be baptized she cried and said "ive been waiting to hear that for sooo long." She was taught by the missionaries when she was 12 and then she moved and never saw missionaries till we came over. It's amazing that even through all those years she still had the desire to be baptized, she didn't give up. A lot of times, especially with such a long time in between with no contact with the church people tend to loose desire. But she didn't. 

So for those you know who you feel as if they have lost desire, don't give up on them. Help them know that they are a child of a Loving Father in Heaven. I promise that when you show them God's love for them their hearts will change. They will see the tree of life along the beaten & narrow path, and they will desire to partake of the fruit as well.

I have definitely seen that one of the most important things we could ever do for another human being is to Listen to them and show that you care. There have been recent experiences with the missionaries that have lost some desire to work and have completely turned around because someone was willing to listen.

I invite you to be that instrument to someone who you feel isn't heard. To turn outward and love the unloved. I promise you an inward and subtle reward of great joy within your heart because you've mourned with those who mourn and comforted those who stand in need of comfort. 

With this Christmas season I've seen so much good in the town of Rigby. Always an outward expression of giving this time of year. It's a good feeling. 

I leave you with my testimony of the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that his humble beginnings brought life, love, peace and joy to the world. He is the Gift that our Father so freely has given us. GOD's LOVE IS HIS SON. That's what i've come to know that is true in my heart this Christmas. I know with every fiber of my being that God loves EVERY one of His children. He knew the price that His Son would pay. But he sent him anyway to redeem the rest of us from the sting of death and our sins. There was no other way. I know that the little baby born in Bethlehem is Jesus the Christ. He lives and loves us. Because of him there is a way. I know that when we discover and embrace this gift our lives will forever be filled with his light and love. I know when we come to Know Him, our very countenance can change and others will see His face in us. 

I invite you to share this Gift with all those who have forgotten or have no knowledge of it. Give those in need that knowledge & it will be a gift that will change their lives. It's priceless all it requires is love & courage. 

I love you all so very much and hope with all my heart that you will have a warmth in your heart this Christmas Season. That you may feel our Savior's love. 

Peace & Blessings

Melekalikimaka & Aloooooohhhaaa

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren

*Carlos and his family

*Some of my greatest examples at our Christmas Conference 

Miracles..... nuff said

THIS WEEK WAS CRAZYYYY

CASEY WINFREE GOT BAPTIZED!!! The text she sent us on Saturday came true and we planned her baptism in 2 days and it turned out fantastic! She was sooooo happy! She said last Friday night she was painting her new apartment and she had this overwhelming feeling that she has been so blessed in her life and that she needed to be baptized. It was awesome. The night before her baptism we had a member send her a text to say congrats on her decision, right then Casey was doubting herself and wasn't sure if it was the right decision but when she saw the text she knew that it was what she was supposed to do and was comforted. We were so stoked! the baptism was sooo goood. we were so happy for Casey. 

We saw Carlos Morales this week as well, He is still getting Baptized this weekend. It's all planned out and he and especially his wife are so very happy. The Lord truly has his own timing we just have to be willing and worthy to be entrusted with such blessings.

Our Recent Convert Justin Nielsen's older sister flies in tomorrow so were gonna teach her all the lessons and she's going to be baptized on Dec 27th. 

These miracles have strengthened my testimony that this is God's work. We are only the way and means of helping His children make covenants with him. But the spirit and His love does the converting. We are just physical representatives of the Savior and guides to the Narrow Path.

I am content and very Happy that i have this opportunity to be one of those guides. And a tool in our Father's work.

This week we had our Christmas Conference with the Missionaries in the North part of our mission. Elder Fontes and i had the opportunity to conduct the meeting. I conducted the First half, i was pretty nervous at first because Elder Craig C. Christensen of the quarum of the 70 was sitting next to me. haha. He spoke in this last April conference. But after a few announcements i got comfortable on the mic and it went well.

For the Talent show at the Conference we had a Polynesian Performance it was pretty fun! I haven't done something like this in a while haha and it's kind of out of character but it was so fun. I enjoyed it a lot and stoked that we could share some of our Culture with the missionaries.

It was a good week. We are way too busy and it's good.   

Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren

President & Sister Brinkerhoff

Happy 20th Birthday Elder Soren!  What a great birthday present!!!
"awesome huh?!" 

Best Bday Everrr

This week was soooooooooo awesomeee. 

It stopped snowing but it's windy and cold! it's so crazy that the year is almost done. Time goes way to fast. I'm loving every second of it tho and soaking it all in.

We had Christmas Parties this week and a lot of our investigators came. It was tons of fun. The members here are so awesome. 

There was some thick fog out here it was crazy i've never experienced fog! it was awesome!

I wanna invite you all to go to this link and watch the "He is The Gift" video. I love it it! and i know you will too!  It helps remind us of the true meaning of Christmas!!  Please share it with those who come into your thoughts who might need to see it!

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

I had a sweet experience on splits with our ward mission leader. We taught 2 lessons and contacted a buncha people to come to the Christmas party that night. We knocked on this one door but they weren't home. I saw a woman and a guy (found out they're siblings) sitting on their front steps across the street smoking. Brother Lindsay and I went over to invite them. They were members not active tho. I asked if i could share a Christmas message with them and they invited us in. We talked about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. The woman started to cry. She expressed how things have been hard lately. Her Brother told us how he just got back from the Hospital that morning. We asked if he would like a blessing and He accepted. We shared a little more and invited them to the Ward party. We ended up seeing them that night with big smiles on their faces. The Lord truly leads us to those who need his Love in their lives. 

On Saturday (Ma Dbday) i had the most awesome day ever. Sister Lindsay the member we live with made us breakfast! it was sooo goood. Then we went to a Polynesian practice in Rexburg for the mission talent show. It was a ton of fun. We're doing the haka, a sasa dance and a hula about the restoration. There are a ton of Poly's in the mission. They were all there. It's so awesome to be able to share the Aloha Spirit with the Idahoans. 

Then we went for lunch to "Big Juds" famous 1lb meat burger challenge. You gotta eat the Huge burger, basket of fries and a large drink in 30 min. Elder Thomas took the challenge and beat it hahaha he got his picture taken and a shirt it was awesome!

During Lunch we receiveed a miracle text. We've been trying to teach this family for months now but never got in because they got offended by past missionaries. We've tried and tried but no luck. In the text we got, their fellow shipper said, "Game on you can teach the Davis family"!!!!  We were sooo stoked!  They are an awesome family and I know they would make amazing members!

Half an hour later we received another text from Kasey who we've been teaching every week since i got here. She was never really sure about baptism but out of no where she said, 

"I want to be baptized"

"by you guys"

We freaked out!!! we couldn't believe it!

She has been super busy with moving so we still yet have to have a sit down and talk to her about it.  But it was an awesome birthday present that I'm sure all missionaries would love to read. 

I had such a great week and thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes it meant a lot!

I'm always gunna be Stoked to Serve

Peace and Blessings this Holiday Season, missin you more than ever right now!

Much love 

one love

Elder Soren

Stoked! the Big 20...

What an amazing week! I am so stoked to be a missionary!!!!!!

Life's great, i've gotten to the point that this is the only thing i know haha. I'm just completely immersed in this work. All my thoughts (most of the time) are, who i can help or who needs our message. It's awesome!

Time is going by way to quick. It's so crazy to think i'm gunna be 20 in a few days. I still feel 17. haha its good tho. I've lost all track of where i'm at on my mission. I try my best not to do the math of how long i've been out, i just say "over a year." I love my mission and i'm so happy to be here.

We had an amazing Baptism this weekend! Mariah Winn was baptized on Saturday Nov 29th and Confirmed in sacrament meeting Nov 30th. There was about 70 people at her baptism Saturday morning. She was glowing and radiating with cheer, what a wonderful sight to see. I'm lucky that the Lord blessed us with this experience. We were also able to take her and her Family to the Temple Visitors Center. It was very spiritual and the feeling of Eternal Families was in the center. What a blessing it is to have a temple so close and to feel the special spirit it has. 

We got transfer calls! Elder Fontes and I are staying for the Holidays! it's gunna be a ton of fun! Our Zone's changing quite a bit, but some old friends from Poky will be joining us in the Zone so i'm excited!

We had a great ThanksGiving! We had 3 dinners and tons of Pie appointments! haha no worries, i neva gain any weight! It was a ton of fun! We had some great families that we spent the day with. I am so grateful for all the members who love and support us. Who share their Ohanas with us and make our day feel like home. 

We had a service project at a dairy farm. We were initiated to become true idahoans.... only once in a life time opportunity to help cows have babies ;) (See pic Below) hahahah CHEEEEE HEEEEE

Stoked for this week! 

Stoked out of my mind!

Love ya

Elder Soren!

Thanksgiving dinner with the Warner's

Too Many Miracles

This week was great! It warmed up a bit and the snow is all melting. Just in time for football at the park with the kids for Thanksgiving. I'm stoked for the holidays and for all the blessings we've had lately. We have about 14 invites for Thanksgiving… it's gonna be an interesting week. haha.

We're preparing for Mariah Winn's baptism this coming Saturday! She is so awesome. Shes one of the most positive 9 year olds I've met. She loves the gospel and is so excited to be baptized. The Winn family is awesome, we have a lesson with them tonight its gonna be sweeeeet. 

We've been meeting a ton of new people and having some really great conversations with them. I love that about missionary work. You get to have good conversations, most of the time with complete strangers. But by the end of the conversation we're already best friends. 

We had an awesome experience driving home from a lesson one night. It was 9:30pm and we were exhausted! But we past a U-haul truck and figured those people just got there and now they have to unload it. We both had the feeling to turn around and help them so we did. We walked up and asked if we could help. They were surprised but happy to let us. We later found out that right as we walked up they had just arrived and opened the back and Her Book of Mormon (quad) fell out onto the street. She picked it up and there we were. We got antiquated and helped them move in. The Jackie family. A husband and wife with their 1 son who is 9. We chatted for a little after moving in and set up a time to come visit. 

The Second time we saw them we had a great conversation about the gospel and about life. They mentioned that they haven't been to church in a bit and felt that the other night was a sign. We were having a wonderful conversation i didn't want to leave. I'm happy the Lord led us to this family.

We met the Rigby Detective. We were riding on our bikes one day and he pulled us over. He greeted us with excitement "HEY ELDERS!" and he had the normal questionnaire about where we're from and how long we bin out. Then he offered to buy us dinner anytime we needed. So the other night we took him up on the offer at the local mexican restaurant. We talked forever with him! He served his mission in Scottland and told us all his crazy stories. We asked him a lot about the crime in Rigby haha there's more than we thought. He is a great example to us we asked questions about balancing police work with living the gospel and he taught us a lot of valuable things. It was a great dinner. 

It's a blessing to be able to meet new people and hear their stories and relate everything back to the Gospel and how much our Father in Heaven loves all of his children. I've gotten to a point where numbers don't matter as much to me, i do things more out of love and having the desire to help these people see the joy that comes from the gospel. I am very grateful for this blessing in my life, to serve a mission.

I am so thankful for my mission

I am thankful for the Gospel in my life

I am thankful for my family and friends

i am thankful for the experiences in my life both good and not so good

I am so thankful for a Father in Heaven who loves me and a Savior who sacrificed his life for me.

There are a lot more things to be grateful for but what good is it to keep these things to ourselves. I desire to share these things with all who are placed in my path and i invite you to do the same.

Hope you have a great week! Happy Thanksgiving! I miss da imu turkey laidat! 

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren

Snow Snow Snow

This week it Dumped Snow on us! It was bitter cold for 2 days at first with a little bit of snow. Then SNOW tons of SNOW. I LOVE IT! its not too cold not as bad as the first 2 days. We started playing Christmas music in the car already. Might as well take advantage of the snow during this time of year. It's my last winter here! Better make the most of it! 

We had a mission tour this week with Elder Martino from the 70. It was such an awesome day. He blew my mind. So many new ideas and ways to more effectively do missionary work. One of the most important things, we are making an emphasis on teaching in members homes. He shared with us the example of Alma and Amulek and how Amulek astonished all who heard him. We are finding our Amulek's who would be able to relate to our investigators and have them in their home. There are about 500 ideas that came to my mind about how i wanna start working more efficiently. Im so excited to use them! 

Elder Fontes and I have been seeing amazing things happen. 

One successful tracting story haha. We were driving to set up an appointment and i drove past their house on accident and turned around to go back. We got out and felt that we should knock this door. A lady answered and after she greeted us we could tell she was a member and introduced ourselves and talked a little. She told us she was coinsidently trying to get her 9 year old baptized... We were like uhhhh we can help with that haha. So we set up a lesson. Saturday night we went over and met the whole Family. The Winns. They are a sweet little family. Mariah the 9 year old is cute and so happy. We set a date for her baptism 2 weeks from Sat. Nov. 29 and they all were happy and excited. Brother Winn said "that's awesome because its our anniversary that day!" it was so cool. This was a miracle for us. We had no one who was ready to be baptized for this month and the Lord handed us this amazing blessing. The Spirit truly guides us to those who are ready! 

We also met another family, The Lunds. They are Raddd. Brother Lund is a member not really active and his wife isn't a member. They were so nice to us and we felt like family within the first 20min of being there. We talked for a while and shared a message. We asked them if we could come back and he said yep how does every Monday at 7pm work? uhhhh we were like, that's awesome lets do it! Usually we have to be the ones setting the appointments but Brother Lund is awesome. They even offered to feed us every monday. He wants to learn all the spam recipes i know hahah. So next Monday is Spam night. Imma make musibis and maybe fried rice! so stoked. Heavenly Father is really guiding us to help those who need the gospel.

We had another lesson with a lady named Lori and her daughter who is dating a RM. They never really let us in but since the daughter was there she let us come. Lori is evangelical and is very open about her love for Jesus. She heard a ton of things from members who have left the Church. So she had a ton of questions. We did our best to answer. But her daughter told us about when she died giving birth and her experience. It was so heart warming to hear what heaven is kinda like. it was so cool to see. One thing i loved that night was how open Lori is about her beliefs. I want to be that way to. I want to overcome that fear of being looked at weird because i love the Lord so much. Lori is so awesome!

I'm so excited to be a missionary. The Lord is really looking out for us and it's so awesome to see his hand in our lives. I definitely know anything and everything is possible. The Lord always provides a way to accomplish the task at hand when we trust him.

I love this Gospel and hope to share this love with everyone that is placed in my path.

untill next week, Love ya

Stoked to Serve
Elder Soren

*Elder Sitivi from Samoa

*more poly missionaries and our companions

Wood projects to heat our investigators house

our bonfire!