Departing Missionary Temple Trip

Dear Sister Soren,

Attached is a picture of your missionary from our departing missionary temple trip. We have truly enjoyed serving with him.  His testimony of the gospel has been evident in every aspect of his service.   We will miss him. 

Thank you for supporting and loving your missionary.  We appreciate his service and dedication in the Idaho Pocatello Mission.

With love and appreciation,

President and Sister Hancock

Heyyy

I’m sorry for not writing for the last 2 weeks :(

These past few weeks have been awesome. Elder Brooks is my new companion. He’s from Mesa Arizona. He is good friends with Elder Thomas one of my favorite companions. Elder Brooks is sooooo awesome! We get along so well and have a ton of fun while we work. He’s humble and ready to learn. He’s down to do anything. I try to give him every opportunity to do uncomfortable things and he willingly does it and does it well. He has such an amazing testimony, very powerful. He is such a good teacher too; I always have to remind my self that he’s only been out for 3 weeks. I am so grateful to have him as a companion. 

We’ve been really busy with those we are teaching. Unfortunately Caitlin and Alberto might be baptized after I go home due to their wedding being moved. But that’s okay. As long as they are ready and receive the blessings of baptism soon after I go, I am still so happy. They are such a rad couple and I’ve really grown to love them. Caitlin is like a big sister, its weird to think about, haha, I felt like I always had older brothers like Izik, and Aaron Puzey. But never an older sister! 

We’ve also been teaching The Christensen family I dunno if I’ve mentioned them before. They are such an awesome family. None of the kids have been baptized; we hope before I leave they will be. They are the sweetest kids ever. Always well behaved when we come over and love the lessons. They have been gone to Utah for 3 weeks so we weren’t able to see them for a while. When they came back we saw them at a family BBQ and the littlest one Harper who is 6 saw me and ran up and gave me a hug. It was so sweet. I love the Christensen's we always have fun lessons with them.

Another awesome kid were teaching is Demitri Kraus he’s 16 and was adopted from Russia when he was little and has been here in the valley for a while. He loves the Book of Mormon. He keeps it on in his center console and reads it when he feels down. He’s awesome, he has a ton of friends and they all support him. Yesterday at church it seemed like the whole football team was there haha it was cool. Demitri wants to be baptized hopefully on Oct. 10th he just needs to ask his mom so she will let him. Prayers would definitely help Demitri with asking his mom!

Life has been soooooo goood in Driggs. I’ve bin so happy, so many great people who I’ve come love here and relationships that I will always cherish. Friends and Family I’ll always come back to visit. 

My perspective on missionary work has always been the same but I feel like the true spirit of missionary work has been clear as I prepare to return home. Numbers don’t matter, recognition for anything doesn’t matter, social or mission status doesn’t matter. Just pure love for everyone around me. Serving the people whole and not worrying about pressure from others. Priority is to serve who ever, whenever, and whatever. Preaching works 15% of the time. Loving works 100% of the time. The times when I’ve let #s be my motive I was unhappy; when love was my motive I had joy in the journey. Love is and will always be key in missionary work, full time and member. 

This week was awesome we had Zone Conference and I was able to see so many of the missionaries that I love! All my friends from Rigby and Pocatello. It was such a great zone conference, so much inspiration and answers to my prayers. You definitely need to put yourself in places where you can have the opportunity to receive answers. Spiritual places. 

I’m going to miss all these wonderful opportunities :( the past few weeks, my mind has been playing reruns and memories of SO MUCH that has happen within the past 2 years that its crazy to realized EVERYTHING that happen here. This is one of the greatest blessings in my life. It’s hard to email cuz I’m bummed to leave. I keep my mind off of it by working but when you have dinners like last night where the wife lived with brother and sister Thompson in the Laie 2nd Ward and talk about POUNDERS, its hard not to think of home haha but I just go about it with a positive attitude. I love love my mission. I love these people. 

i hope to have more detail on experiences for next week.

i know our message is true

Stoked 2 Serve

Elder Soren

got to see Solomon and Coggins at Zone conference!

I'M TRAINING AGAIN! LAST 6!

Transfers are this Wednesday and i will be training a new missionary in Driggs! I’m sooo excited! Elder Johnson is going to Blackfoot. I know he will like it there. 

I’m excited to train because it will keep me on my feet for the remainder of my mission. Annnnddd there has been some awesome miracles here this past week.

So last Sunday we met a young engaged couple, Alberto and Kaitlyn at Sister Harlow’s home for a BBQ and first discussion (working smart ;)  and it was awesomeee. Kaitlyn is 23 and has 2 sons from another dad and Alberto is 19. Kaitlyn has such a strong faith in God and Alberto hasn’t been very religious growing up. We taught them about Christ and the Book of Mormon and they loved it.  We took them on a tour of the Stake Center 2 days later and showed them the font. They happily accepted to be baptized on September 19th aaaannd also get married before that!  This was one of the biggest miracles here in Driggs and i hope, hope, everything works out so that I’m here for it all! So we get to plan a baptism and a small wedding!  We’re gonna be busy! Its so exciting, the both came from rough home lifes and want a fresh start with their little family. They are soaking everything in and are lovin it! With the Harlow’s they consider us family because they don’t have anyone else who cared about them, with this short week we’ve seen them almost every day. 

They had a huge trial the next day after the tour. Kaitlyn had a miscarriage :( they were so sad. On their way home from the Doctor’s, Alberto saw through a rainy stormy sky a sun beam and clouds shaped like an anchor and a whale (the theme they were gonna use for the baby shower if it was a boy) they saw that it was a sign of God’s love for them and their little son. We gave them both blessings and taught them the plan of salvation.  They were comforted knowing where their baby was and excited to be able to raise him again. I shared with them about my dad and my (i believe it’s a boy) little brother that didn’t make it with my mama. They appreciated that and the night was filled with the Spirit. 

I love teaching the plan of salvation, it’s my favorite lesson to teach because it means so much to me. 

On our way from Rexburg the other day we got caught in a hail storm!  It wass soooo crazy we couldn’t see anything!  Good thing we were with a member.  i thought it was sooooo exciting!

Looking forward to transfers! I’m excited to finish strong!

We helped out at the 4H fair, there’s little Edie and Ruby Barnes, we’ve been teaching their dad. Awesome family. 

This week Elder Miskin who stayed with Elder Duano and i when i was being trained got home from his mission and i got to see and hear his homecoming talk. He’s from Driggs! so awesome! 

and we went on a hike this morning with Mama Starkey!

Love you all! 

Stoked to Serve 

Elder Soren

Edie and Ruby Barnes

with Elder Miskin

hiking with Mama Starkey

The Priesthood

This week was sweet. We were able to attend our Stake Priesthood meeting last night in Jackson Wyoming. We have been visiting the Sheline family still and Evan the husband was ordained an elder and got the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is sooo awesome. Evan was inactive for a number of years while in the military. As his wife was taking the discussions he came back and supported her and baptized her. He was in the Navy for a few years on one of the Seal Teams. He’s rad. Such a good dad to his kids and husband to his wife, they have such an awesome family. After the conference was finished we went into the Relief Society room for his ordination.

This was one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve had with the Priesthood. The Bishop and a few of the Elders quorum were there for support. Evan sat in the front in the chair and he asked everyone who was able, to join in. 14 of us gathered around him and placed our hands upon his head. His Father gave one of the most amazing blessings to his Son. It was so powerful. I remember during the prayer the thoughts that came into my mind was "the priesthood is true, it has truly been restored to the earth". I cannot deny the feelings I got last night, Brothers all surrounding this Humble man who was so worthy of receiving this gift from God. 

Evan will be leaving tomorrow on a job in Egypt and when he returns home he will bless his baby boy. I am so happy for the Sheline family, they have come such a long way. Now Evan, the Priesthood holder and patriarch of his home will be able to bless his family for ever and ever. This makes me so happy. He is such a great example to me and what kind of father I want to be for my family. 

You’ll never find experiences like this anywhere else. I know that the fullness of the Gospel had been Restored to the earth by the power of God. And what an honor we have to receive the blessings that come from the Priesthood.

We walked past the skate contest in Driggs this week.... i had to stop! 

Blessings and more blessings. 

Stoked to Serve in Driggs

Elder Soren

Huckle Berries

This week was good, Elder Johnson and I have been finding more and teaching. There are so many missionary minded families here. They are so supportive and helpful. 

We’ve been working with Trent still. He’s pretty awesome, his boy Rowdy is so big now, healthy and strong. That’s sooo good cuz little Rowdy was struggggling. 

We have been able to see the Barnes family. We helped them move down the street a few weeks ago. Kind of a bummer for them cuz they moved into a smaller house and have all the kids and to much stuff :( but we’ve been helping them out. They are such a great family.

Since we got here Elder Johnson and I have been visiting a guy named David Nolan. He’s a convert, he has special needs and he lives on his own and is older. We go and visit him every now and then to share a message with him and after play a game of Uno. He loves Uno. He doesn't have much company so he’s always excited to see us, its good to do this kind of missionary work. Most of the time there’s a lot of pressure to teach and baptize but when we have lessons with people like David they are always sweet and memorable. 

We went Huckle Berry picking with Brother and Sister Starkey this morning. It was fun! Afterwards we went to the Kearsley’s and made smoothies and shakes. We’re taking advantage of all the Idaho things to do here. Driggs is so beautiful. 

We had dinner with the Olsen family. A big Filipino party! soooooo muchhh LUMPIAAAA. It was soo good. Tons of Filipino food & so many crazy Fillipino aunties all laughing and yelling! Hahaha reminded me of home! i love it! 

Life’s been good. Love my mission. Missionary work feels like normal life, it’s just what we do and who we are, its’ weird to think of life without a white shirt and name tag. Trying not to think of home. not trunky ... haha 

Always Stoked to Serve

Elder Soren

 

i didnt actually paint that bridge.... it was bear spray… 

                                    good thing i didnt have real paint or i would have….

LYNNDEE

This week was SOOOOO AWESOME! So in Rigby Elder Fontes and I were teaching LynnDee Romrell a recent convert who is amazing. We taught her the whole 9 months i was there she soaked everything up. She was even apart of our Zone. She went out with the Sister Missionaries for hours every week teaching and testifying. She even came teaching with us! She came to our Zone activities and we always had a blast with her. We were there through her hard times and good times. She is one of the most awesomestest persons I’ve ever met. We're like her big brothers. The best part is LynnDee just received her call to serve in the Philippines! And this Saturday we went through the Temple with her to receive her Endowments. It was so special. I am so proud of her and for her faith and determination. She has been such a great example to me. I learned so much from her through the experiences we had in Rigby. One of the greatest highlights on my mission. I know she will do soooo goood on her mission. 

Brother Joseph Duano came to visit us! It was good to see him :)

I am so grateful for the amazing people i have met on my mission.

Much Love & Aloha 

Elder Soren