November 7, 2022

Sister Soderborg writing here.

I was sitting with some other sister missionaries a few weeks ago. One sister and her husband will finish their mission at the end of the semester, but they are not going home. Her husband has been hired to teach one more semester of institute classes. She said, “We will be doing the same thing, except not wearing the badge.” We all agreed that not wearing the badge wouldn’t change things too much. But I said they wouldn’t have to smile when they go into stores.

We wear our badges everywhere we go. Even on p-day and when we go to Costco. I sometimes I forget I have it one and I will see someone look at me and I’ll touch the badge and think, ‘Oh yeah, I’m a missionary. Smile and be nice.”

I am happy to be able to wear a missionary badge. It’s been a wonderful blessing for us. The most delight that I get out of wearing the badge is interacting with the students. So many are international students who have served missions. Some of them see us and their faces light up. We know immediately that some senior missionaries in another part of the world have had a big influence on them.

It makes me wonder what kind of influence we will have here. This is what I wrote in my journal after we had been here about a week.

We had a meeting Monday with our department. Our supervisor, secretary and the young assistants, with emotion, explained that the senior missionaries bring such a spirit with them that impacts the students. I was a little taken back, because I haven’t been sensing that spirit. What I’ve been sensing from myself and a little from the others is confusion, fear of making a mistake, being overwhelmed, and all kinds of other emotions. But yesterday we met with a student who may be sent home if she doesn’t do better. At one point we told her that there is a reason she is here and has this opportunity. I could almost see a physical reaction as the spirit touched her.

I’ve been here two and a half months now and I still wonder what we can say and do that will influence the students.  I’m a fixer. I want every problem to go away, but some of these students have challenges so great, they can’t be fixed in a visit.  And may never be fixed, only endured. We are trying to learn how to encourage these young people to turn to the Savior for strength and peace.

We had lots of activities this week after our workdays. We went to the student production of Momma Mia to see one of our students. We took the elders in our ward to dinner. The Tongan village in the PCC held a devotional for the senior missionaries. There was a food fest where the student clubs sold food from their countries, and we had a Close the Fast dinner with the senior missionaries.

I have two new interesting items to add to our lists. First, we meet our first student from Myanmar. She had us proofread a paper for her. She is graduating and has straight A’s.  And to my interesting missionary callings I’m adding ‘A mission to make fudge”. There is a sister who works in the sweet shop and makes the fudge.

We love you and appreciate your prayers

Sister Soderborg and Elder Soderborg