8 months. Workin Hard.Tired. Happy!

H O W Z I T       H O W Z I T        H O W Z I T

         "get ready to always... be tired, all day, every day" - Elder Thomas.

        This was said to me the first day we got assigned to be ZL companions. There is nothing but truth in his words. Tired is what I am, no doubt about that. But, I am the most happy, content, accomplished and excited missionary. I am in love with my mission and this work. I am so happy to be a missionary. This experience has and will continue to change my life, but if only I let it.

       This week has been crazy busy so many lessons to teach, new people to meet and a whole lot of fun. YSA work is definitely different than working with families. Im lovin every minute of it. We have been able to meet so many wonderful young people this last week. A ton of miracles, and tender mercies. We set 4 baptismal dates this week and our area is on fire!

        I was on exchanges this week with Elder Coggins, and was able to lead my new area for the first time. I was pumped to go out and work hard. We taught 5 lessons that day and invited 4 people to be baptized 3 said yes but we only set an actual date for 1. I haven't taught that many lessons in 1 day in such a long time. i was so happy. I love teaching, going from one lesson to the other sharing the gospel and helping those individuals feel the love our Heavenly Father has for them.

       "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God" - Moroni 7:13. This scripture has consumed my thoughts and caused me to do things i normally wouldn't because of fear. It has propelled me to press forward, it has motivated me to do good, it has helped me to be bold and just go for it. When i broke it down, in the mindset of, This is Gods work, its not your work, its His "and He is always to be in control". I combined the scripture with this idea and it has helped me, DO GOOD. That no matter what i do if it inviteth to do good, If it helps one love God, and to come closer to him it doesn't matter the outcome. If we simply DO good works the God will work everything out to our benefit. The outcome of the invitation is His to decide and control. If it invited to do good, it will work out in the end. And i testify that this is true.  :)

       I got to meet a recent convert named Dylan. He invited Elder Coggins and I over for breakfast in his apartment. We had breakfast burritos and got to know him a little better. He is 20 and just got Baptized in April. As we talked about snowboarding (i want to snowboard so bad) and sports we shared scriptures together. He had one of the most humble hearts, as he expressed his love for the savior. The work Meek came to my mind as his character impressed mine. After we left I wanted to have that same humble and meek spirit as he did. I wanted my character to be loving and sweet as his was.

       It is very easy to get caught up in the "youth" part of working with YSA wards and easy to loose track of your purpose as a missionary. Since we are serving in the ISU boundaries it feels like BYU-H. The atmosphere, the energy, all of it. I felt my self reverting a little bit back into my excited jack jack ways. Not that there is anything wrong with that lol its just, i know i can get outta hand and a bit tooo crazy sometimes =P. There definitely has to be a balance between being energetic & outgoing, and remembering your purpose and being reverent. I know that this is what i am to learn this transfer. How to be in an atmosphere i once knew, a very worldly environment, and be able to set my self apart from those worldly things and natural desires. I feel like this experience, if i can overcome it, will benefit me when i return home to BYU-H and to be able to continue being an example of Christ when surrounded by worldly distractions. But i know that it is possible through the Atoning sacrifice that the Savior has so freely given me. To be delivered out of every trial that comes. I will meet my trials with gladness and joy for i know that my redeemer lives.

       ****Shouts out to my little sister ALEX, you deserve every bit of congratulations and praise that is offered to you. I am so proud of you and your hard working example. Always doing your best and pushing yourself to become who you are today. always looking to increase your knowledge and understanding. I know that UH will be cake because of the determination you have. i know that you will continue to do great things in your life. I love you and am so very proud of you.

I love my Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in my life right now.

missing the ocean more than ever right now, enjoy it for me. :)

I miss you and love you.

Elder Soren

Elder Gatchellion, my trainers trainer from the Philippines

Elder Thomas is a very special child of our Heavenly Father... lol

5. 19. 2014

H O W Z I T

       

         This week has been awesome! We have been working hard but still having a lot of fun. We have been organizing our records and paperwork, but also helping the missionaries in our zone. Things have been great! It's getting hot and my farmers tan is looking pretty good. Starting to fit right in with all the Idahoans. We got to spend a lot of time in the country with one of our districts. The 1 hour drive reminded me of home with all the mountains and fields. I am so blessed to be surrounded by our Heavenly Fathers creations. We have been having a lot of beautiful sunsets as well its been good. 

        I love working in YSA. We work a lot with less actives. When the YSA stake centers were dedicated it was promised by the one of the 70s that "the way we will find our investigators, will be through working with less actives". This is because there are always non member room mates that live with the less active young singles. This past week we were able to teach so many wonderful people. I love working with people my age and helping them find their testimonies again! 

        Elder Thomas and I are doing so well together, we are unified in all we do and he is doing such a great job at training me on how to be a great leader. We have been able to teach a lot this week, I just love teaching. We are so personable with our investigators and really help them understand that the gospel applies to each and everyone of us in our own circumstances. I am so excited to be working here. I know that this will be such a great opportunity to magnify my calling and be who i really am. And to use my personality with these young single adults to help them come unto Christ. I love working with Less Actives as well they are just as important as non members, especially in this vital point in their lives where big decisions have to be made. I see the light in their eyes, they truly have a testimony of the gospel deep within them. I know that as we help these young people prepare for temple covenants they will be able to receive all the wonderful blessings the lord has in store for them. 

        I am loving my mission. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. I love serving the Lord and i hope to continue in this wonderful service for the rest of my life. There is no greater happiness than when you are in the service of your God. I truly believe this and i know that it is the way to a have a happy life. We receive so much more than we could ever give. Every thing we have is His. The only thing that is ours is our hearts and everything within them. Once we give our father our hearts, our dreams, desires, our families, the things we "want", our whole selves He will take us and mold us. He will help us reach the Divine Potential that HE sees in us. And what he sees in us is far greater than what we could ever see in ourselves. When we fully submit our selves to him, He will provide and bless us with opportunities to magnify our callings, to exercise faith, and to build our testimonies. I love Him and i know He loves me, as he does each and everyone of us. 

miss you much

Love you 

Elder Soren

XoxOXOxOX

We did this service project with some ware wolves from twilight it was crazy! haha

YSA ALL DAY

HOWZIT HOWZIT!

     This week has been so awesome! I am so excited for this transfer, my new area and companion. I am so grateful and blessed to have the calling I do. It has helped me be myself and use my talents and personality to move the work forward. As well as serve and help out other missionaries. I am so happy and I am very anxious to work hard in my new Zone.

      Elder Thomas and I are already brothers, we work very well together. He is an awesome missionary and I am glad that he will be able to train me on how to be a great leader. We were able to set a baptismal date the first night we were together. We get along and he really loves all the missionaries in our zone. He is such a great example. We work hard and we're happy.

       Our first Zone training together went really well, we were unified and prepared. I was pretty nervous being my first zone training but there was a power that came as we counseled together and shared my training. It was a power that came from my calling. It was so cool to feel the difference. The zone showed and expressed how motivated they were to continue setting monthly goals to baptize and the fire they have is so awesome! I am so excited for the miracles that will come forth in this Zone. We have a bunch of great missionaries, hard workers that really love the work. I am happy that I will be able to work and to learn from such great missionaries.

       We have been able to work a lot already with the missionaries in our Zone. This weekend we were able to attend 2 baptisms and help set them up for our missionaries. I love going to baptisms even though they're not mine, just having the opportunity to feel the spirit and see the happy faces of those who are entering into a covenant with our Heavenly Father makes my heart swell with joy. Just knowing how much this decision will bless their lives for eternity, I get so excited and I can't hold back a smile. This work is so heart warming and beautiful.

       We have a lot of potential in the YSA wards. I am so excited to serve the young singles here in Pocatello. I know that this type of missionary work will help me be who I really am and use my fun and energetic personality. The stake leaders and bishops are so fun and really love those they serve. I hope to stay here for a while, especially with elder Thomas he's the best.

      

        I am so excited to be a missionary, I love it more than anything. I hope to be a missionary all my life. I am loving my mission and I am so happy that I was called here to Idaho, the people, the environment, the missionaries, I know I was meant to be here.

      

        Hope Yall had a great mother's day with your mums!

ALOHA O'E

Elder Soren

Companions Elder Thomas & Elder Soren

Elder Finau from Maui

Zone Leaders

                                                           we helped out at a food bank

                                                           and roller skating hahahahaha

Zone Leader May. 5. 2014

A L O H A

          Crazy crazy. This week has been nuts. So many tender mercies and so many changes. I am so happy and so excited for this next transfer.

President Brinkerhoff called this Thursday and flipped my world upside down. He called and said "Elder Soren, were gunna throw a tailspin, you ready?" .... I thought he was gunna have me train, but he called me to be a Zone Leader in the Pocatello South Zone. I was speechless haha I wasn't expecting that at all, especially only being out 7 months...I was pretty skeptical about it because I have so much more learn about mission fundamentals and organization but I know it will come as I serve with all my heart. I was happy and sad. I finally knew what it was like to love your district. I don't want to leave my missionaries in my district they have taught me so much and I am so sad to leave them. But I know the Lord has great things in store for me and my new calling. I know that this will help me be the missionary I want to be. I know it will bless my life and the lives of my fellow missionaries. I am so thankful that the Lord has entrusted me with this opportunity to Lead.

A Zone consists of 2 districts. Zone leaders are in a companionship, so there is 2 of us taking care of the 2 districts which will be nice. My new comp is Elder Thomas and he is literally a giant. We cover the YSA wards! this should be fun :) and we have a truck to drive because we cover a huge chunk of Poky finding all the young single adults. Im gunna gain so much weight... yayyyy. But im excited to do something different and experience new challenges.

I had the opportunity to attend Mission Leadership Council this past Thursday. It was so powerful and very motivating, It was exciting to be surrounded by the leaders in our mission. There was a spirit in the room that was different than most meetings. Everyone was working together towards one goal, helping other missionaries succeed in this marvelous work. I loved it and it answered so many questions I had and showed me how important being a mission leader is. I am so excited to improve and to learn.

This Saturday one of the Sister missionaries who is Samoan and lived in Laie for 2 years, baptized a Samoan Lady and her Grandma! I was so stoked. I got to interview them, I recognized a spirit and feeling i've felt once before. It was so heart warming to feel the Aloha that came from their love for the Lord. I was so happy to be in their presence.

At their baptism on Saturday I was in Heaven, I miss Polynesian people and culture so much. I have taken it for granted growing up and now that I have experienced a little bit of it in Pocatello (of all places) I yearn for it. I miss it so much. There was tons of family and the speakers were so awesome. I felt like I was at one of our home wards. After the baptism of course tons of food. I was so excited for this part. O tai and..... are you kidding me right now!!!! LUMPIAAAAAAA I about died when I saw it, I didn't even care if dinner was in 20 minutes I ate sooo much.

this week has been such an amazing experience for me on my mission. Its pretty crazy how even though im in the states there is a sense of belonging and love. That there is culture hidden within Pocatello.

 I love my mission so much. 2 years is too short. I would be happy serving here forever. I absolutely love it. I never want to stop serving my Heavenly Father.

I miss you all and wish you all my love.

Kia Kaha

Elder Soren

XOxox

Elder Thomas my new giant companion

LUMPIIAAAA

April 28. 2014

Talofffaaa

       This week has been pretty great. Things feel back to normal now that our baptism is over. Back to finding new investigators and working with old ones. Elder Edwards and I are excited for May! transfers are coming up and were hoping to stay together. We have had miracles MOVE IN to our area. And we know that the Lord has prepared them to hear our message.

        This sweet, sweet, older single lady named Sandra moved into our area and she is one of the most optimistic and enthusiastic people I've met. She is very open to hearing our message, and she even came to a ward potluck by herself. I was stoked because it wasn't the best turn out of members but she came anyways and had a great time meeting people. After the Potluck we had a Church tour with her and. She had expressed that "The Book of Mormon has to be true, it makes so much sense". You don't know how happy that makes a missionary feel :) We are so excited to start teaching her and helping her have spiritual experiences so that she can recognize the convincing and comforting power of the Holy Ghost.   

         We also had a family of 4 move into our area as well. And they are looking for the truth. WE HAVE IT! we are going to start teaching them and I am so excited because I love working with families. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much happiness and peace in the home, unifies, and strengthens families. My experience with the Edwards family in my last area has caused me to have such a soft spot for families. Today I am gonna get my hair cut from Sister Edwards and she always expresses how grateful she is for us coming over and spending time with her kids and having good fun. I try to pattern and have fun family experiences like we had back home, fun, crazy, loud, but when it came to the lesson or the Gospel, love fills the atmosphere and the spirit is invited into everyone's heart. And we get to look across the room and see that we are where were supposed to be. Surrounded by our loved ones, "encircled about eternally in the arms of his love" (2 Nephi 1:15)

  

        This week I've realized how vital the Holy Ghost is in conversion and the work. That He is the 3rd companion to us, as well as to the Father and the Son. I had the opportunity to read a talk by Elder Holland called " The Divine Companionship" this talk helped me understand how important it is to strive to be worthy of the gift of the holy ghost. To qualify for the blessings and gifts he provides.

 I am grateful for everything I am experiencing on my mission.

 I am so thankful for My Savior Jesus Christ and his continuous Atonement.

I miss you all and Love you all

hope you have a great week:)

Elder Soren

April 21, 2014

HEY HEYYY

HAPPY EASTERRRSSS<3

Hope yall had a great Sunday with the ones you love, and a great Easter dinner cuz I did! (not a good thing... packin some extra poundage lately...)

This week has been soooo good. I feel as if there is a weight lifted from my shoulders. There is a great desire that has crept its way into my heart to go forward with my whole soul to serve the Lord and show my love for him.

There has been so many tender moments this week, which have opened my heart, and have reminded me of my true self.

I had a wonderful experience interviewing a 9 year old girl for her baptism this past Saturday. She was nervous but as I joked around with her and made some weird faces she opened up and was comfortable so we began. She answered the interview questions flawlessly and I could tell she was speaking from her heart. At the conclusion of the interview she said a closing prayer. It was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever witnessed. She prayed for the missionaries, she prayed for the homeless, the poor, family, friends, and "for a good baptism". She prayed for everyone but her self. There was so much power in the sweet words in which she spoke. Not because of the words that were said but the meaning behind them, for the Charity she expressed for these people who had less than her. The song "a child's prayer" started to come to my mind. I was filled with light as she expressed the final desires of her heart. As I sat back in my chair I was overwhelmed with this young girls prayer. I thanked her and reunited her with her Mom in the foyer.

Often times we mistake children for being incapable of possessing certain attributes because of their inexperience. But we have a great lesson to learn from them. They have more knowledge than they are conscious of, and more than we are aware of. There is so much that we dont understand about "these little ones" as Christ taught the multitude, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." -(Mathew 18:10) I understand why Christ blessed the children, I understand why children shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for they truly do behold the face of the Father. They are examples of our Christ.  Mosiah 3:19 expresses the thoughts and observations I have of these childlike tendencies. "becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." I know that as we learn from the children we our selves will start to be more obedient, patient, loving and giving, to our fellow brothers and sisters. Through them we will be able to learn how to become Christ like.

Saturday was one of the most beautiful and the most peaceful days in Idaho. The morning air felt different the sky was a little more blue. And there was a familiar breeze that reminded me of home. This was the peace I felt, this is when I felt the weight leave my shoulders. As we drove to prepare for Anthony's baptism. The process of guiding Anthony to this point has been one of the most stressful things I've had on my mission so far. Just because of all the outside sources that tried to stop this from happening. But it was one of the most rewarding learning experiences as well. He has completely changed his life from being incarcerated to be a disciple of the Savior.

The baptism was small, short and powerful. He was so excited to know that everything he once was will be forgotten. That everything from this point on will be so good. It won't be easy but it will be so good. I had the privilege to preform the baptism, and as we changed into dry clothes he expressed how he felt, a common response but a truth of this ordinance "I feel clean" he said. No other words could describe this sacred feeling. True cleanliness.

 The Sunday after he was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the holy ghost. He left right after for an Easter family function, but later that night texted us words which made my day 100x better "thanks guys, I am happy". Simple but powerful.

I love my mission especially after the trials are over haha I think we all are. But like Anthony our trials dont stop at Baptism or Temple. It only gets harder, but we know that we have the capabilities to overcome these things because of HIM. The enabling power of the Atonement is the greatest force we have in this life. we receive strength not in our selves but in Him.

I love my Savior and I am so very thankful for His selfless sacrifice he preformed so that we may LIVE.

I love my family and all who support me in this experience I feel as if I do not deserve.

What a joy it is to know that we can live again because of Him.

I been day dreaming about surfing a lot lately, you can ask my companion I always walk on the bottom of the hill and act like im hacking hue tail whips on the grass hahha and making weird noises to emphasize the buckets Im throwin hahaha

Miss ya Love ya

Elder Soren

Anthony's Baptism

found some LARPers hhahhahaha I thought this was only in movies

nutella on erreh thang

April 14 2014

HEY HEY HEY

          I am grateful that there's finally consistent weather here in Poky, I can finally wear short sleeves everyday. Hopefully get some of my tan back... hahah farmers tan that is. It defiantly has been a very busy, but fruitful week.

           We have a baptism coming up this Saturday for Anthony Norman. He's 30 years old and is ready to forget his past and move forward as a disciple of Christ. This baptism is the first in 5 months in this area. So we're very excited.

          Anthony has had a very rough past. He just recently got out of prison and has been reading the Book Of Mormon for years while he served his time. He is definitely doing all he can to be a faithful member. His motivation and diligence is humbling to me. He reads everything we invite him to read, He is at Church every Sunday without fail. His life has been turned upside down as he has been taking the lessons but he never failed to miss one. It's so amazing to see someone completely do a 180 in life and we are here to help him do so. This is one of the reasons why I love my mission. We have the opportunity to help people change their lives and have a happiness one could never find anywhere else. A life in Christ.

          This will be a quick email. But before I leave the first presidency of the Church has asked all of us as members and non members to view this Easter video and share it on all social media.

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

or youtube: "Because of Him"

It's an amazing video, the video clips and typography is very inspiring and uplifting. Please share this with as many friends and family members as you can. Share this video that shows what's most important in this world... a Life of peace, happiness and change.

I miss you all and hope you have a great week

Love

 Captain Jack