January 16, 2023

Kamehameha Highway- We travel this road going north every weekday and south if we are headed to town (Honolulu). The road gets even closer to the water in some places. 

Aloha Friends and Family, 

Happy New Year 

Sister Soderborg: It was the first day of Winter semester and I was sitting at my desk when I heard someone playing the bell chimes. I went outside to hear what they were playing and why. It was between classes and students were walking, skateboarding, biking and scootering to and from classes. They were smiling and excited. The hymn that was being played was “Come Ye Children of the Lord”.  It touched me to think of the words and see these children of God from all over the world preparing for the future.

How the students get around at BYUH. I think the students need to be reminded not to run over senior missionaries.

We are now in the beginning our second semester at BYUH. We learned a lot fall semester and are implementing some changes and new strategies to help our students. We been assigned about 30 students to meet with weekly. Plus, we are teaching a study skills class. We work in an office with two other missionary couples who have become dear friends. We work from 8:30 to 5:00 and stay busy the whole time. We enjoy the work and are happy and tired when we leave. I usually take a nap when we get home. We eat dinner and do some scripture study. If we’re not too tired, we do a puzzle or try to find something missionary worthy on the internet to watch. Any suggestions? I have my art to do, I’m going to learn how to play the ukulele and take a hula class, but mostly I nap.

It's winter in O’ahu. As far as I can figure it out it means there are not quite as many flowers blooming. The plumeria trees have lost all their leaves, but the flowers are still blooming.  It’s cooler and rains more. I love winter here with its gentle breezes.

Plumeria tree behind the temple. The flowers just keep blooming. 

Elder Soderborg: Sister Camille Johnson spoke to the missionaries in the MTC a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful talk which spoke deeply to us. She said,” “Elders and sisters, you are stars — placed in an orbit orchestrated by the Creator, our Savior, Jesus Christ,” “You are in your divine orbit because of your faithfulness. You reflect the light of Christ and shine brightly. What a glorious opportunity is yours to lift, teach and testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of His loving Father, our Heavenly Father, and of the divine nature and potential of every one of us.

She referenced the parable of the woman at the well, noting that Jesus recognized her divine potential even though she was involved in serious sin. I think we can tie that story into our job of recognizing the divine potential of our students, even when they struggle.

President Johnson invited the missionaries to do the same. “Blessed by the Spirit through your faith and obedience, you will see the people you teach as children of God with divine potential. You will meet them at their well,” or in our case, in our office, or in our class or on campus, and “will teach them in a way they will understand.” That is what we are hoping for.

We also recognize the divine in our family and friends who support us and pray for us. We pray for you, too.