Week 4, here we go!

Well, it has been another exciting week in the Cronwpoint New Mexico Branch. Navajo's really know how to cook. Not only that, but when they like you, they feed you. A TON! I'm pretty sure I might have gained weight, but I have no idea. There have been several days where we get invited to three different dinners. Then of course they ask if we want more, and we politely accept. The most dominating thought throughout all of this is what my companion explained to me about the blessing that these people get by feeding the missionaries. He basically said that if we deny their food, we are denying them blessings! So eat away I do! 

With it being the Christmas time of the year, this email is going to be more along the lines of the Spirit that can be felt by those who listen. 

This Christmas for me is one full of emotions. For various reason, I have been feeling the ups and downs of this time of the year. This Christmas, I have never been more grateful to Heavenly Father for His son than I have right now. He truly is the absolute greatest gift we have received. 

Let's take it back five years in the life of Elder Sandberg. I was going nowhere. Not only that, but I felt as if I was nowhere. Felt completely lost, alone, scared, and broken. Didn't know where to go. I truly had hit rock bottom. If it were left up to my ability alone, I would still be there. Honestly, I probably would have been dead. As I type each of these words, I can't truly express the intensity of emotion and heartache that was swallowing my life up. Amidst all the darkness in my life, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for me. This light was warm, loving, inviting, and continually calling out to me by name. As I came closer to the light, I still resisted. As the light continued to call out to me, I stumbled, I doubted, and I wandered. Each and everyday was one that I either grew closer, or farther away from this light. But I now knew that it was there. After all the hardships and trials and blindness, I now knew it was there. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't deny it's existence. 

Throughout this entire process, I have thought to myself that I knew what this light was. Each of you are thinking and have an idea about what this light is. This light is Jesus Christ, and although I knew He was the reason for me finding my way, I have never truly known Him. Not sure if in this life that I will ever truly be able to comprehend the purity and power of His existence. The reason for such a gratitude in my heart this time of year, is that I have never known like I do now who He is. Him as an individual, as a friend, a mentor, a brother, and a God. 

The absolute greatest thing that someone can have in this life is a relationship and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Take away all the presents, the roof over your head, your job, clothes, car, phone, computer, even your very life, and He is what's going to still be there. Even if we get caught up in our lives and forget about him, or get distracted, busy, or whatever it is, He is still there. The longer that we resist to acknowledge and accept His existence more and more fully into our lives, will be the greatest reason for frustration and heartache. If you are having a hard time wherever you may be, it may be because we need to reevaluate and look more fully to Him. I love each of you very much and hope at this time of the year, that you can more fully see Him in your lives. Never settle and get comfortable, because this life, and the reason for His, is for us to grow! 

Love elder san

Week 2!

It has been an adventurous week here in the Farmington New Mexico Mission. For those of you who wish to know the area a little bit better where I'm at- I am in Crownpoint New Mexico, and I live in the trailer behind the church on church road. The people here are of the Navajo Tribe, and most of them are of a Traditional belief when it comes to religion. For those of you who don't know what those beliefs or rituals consist of, look it up :) Everywhere I go there are what's called "Res Dogs", short for reservation. Just about every house out here has anywhere from 1-7 dogs. Not exaggerating. They all like to bark up a storm and look like they're tough, but for some reason if you just reach down like you're grabbing a rock or something, they run the other way. It's actually quite hilarious! The kids down here are all adorable and are a blast. Elder Martin and I have had a good time playing basketball with some of the kids down here, and has led to us teaching some families because they remember playing ball with us! The people are very very humble and I clearly have a lot to learn from them.

Miracle for the week was with a family of 4 children. They live in the housing for NTU. Two boys and two girls. The parents have been on date to be baptized for quite some time now. When we go and visit, the two little girls are normally jumping all over my companion and I while the tv is up pretty loud to keep them distracted. (doesn't really keep them distracted) The miracle was was Elder Martin and I were going to give a lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel and the importance of the Priesthood in all of that coming about. It's kind of hard to really have an impactful lesson when all of these things are going on. So Elder Martin prayed before hand that the tv would be turned off and that the kids would be reverent. Within 10 minutes of us being in there, the mom told the kids to go to bed and asked her husband to turn the tv off. It doesn't sound that big, but it was detrimental to giving this lesson we had prepared. The Spirit is a very quiet voice that can only be heard when you pay close attention. In life we tend to get caught up with all the things of the world and it can be hard to hear those subtle promptings that we are to receive. Having the tv turned off and the kids go to bed, was absolutely needed for the Spirit to testify of our message. 

Miracles happen everyday and it is a wondrous opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Things that might not seem so big to me, are making the world of a difference to those around me. Each day I can see more and more that the Lord is preparing individuals, and already has, to receive his truth from us knuckleheaded missionaries.

The absolute greatest part about the mission is being able to be with people. This is the absolute greatest work that any man could commence on because it's being led by God. The Lord's Kingdom is being established on the earth at a very fast rate, and more each day His children are starting to see the difference between what the world would have us do and what he would have us do. This work is more than just trying to get someone to come to church. This is so much more than us trying to baptize people, or read books, or simply meet with us. This is HIs way established on the earth for us to find the absolute greatest amount of happiness and peace. It's not just the right thing to do, but it is the most intelligent thing to do. If there is a God and if he does have a truth that he has established, what greater reason do we have in life than to find what he would have us do? There is no greater reason. Because when all is said and done, wither we acknowledge Him or not, He is there.  He is continually reaching out to each of us to help and guide us along the path. Take His hand and He will take care of you....

Love you all so much!!!

Elder Sandberg

 

 

Week 1 is done!

This has been a crazy adventure and it has only been a couple of weeks. It feels like time is flying by so fast, but then again not really. The days are slow but the weeks are fast. 

So my trainers name is Elder Martin. He is from Evanston Wyoming. Really good guy. I like how he goes about things and gets stuff done. When him and I teach a lesson, it's like white on rice. Spirit flows like a river! It's amazing.

The people out here are absolutely amazing. More and more each day I am loving the Navajo people. They are so humble and observant. Every move I make I feel as if they know what it is I am doing. Right now it feels as though I am in a foreign country. I'm on the reservation on the outskirts in a city named crownpoint. It's extremely small and not a whole lot goes on. Everyday when we drive to teach and find people, we have to drive at least ten minutes and will most likely be needing to drive on a dirt road. The reservation doesn't allow any outside businesses to come sell goods or anything, so I'm basically out in the middle of nowhere. There are dogs EVERYWHERE literally every house has at least 3 dogs. It's nuts. At times it can be intimidating, but if you just lean down and look like your picking up a rock, even the scariest of dogs will run away with their tail between their legs. Haven't gotten bitten yet, but it is likely to happen. 

Every single day out here there has been a miracle in one way or another. One of them was a man by the name of Albert Brown. Doesn't say a ton, kind of shy and laid back. But we were going to meet with his brother in law Winston, but he wasn't home. We were about to leave when I asked him if we could share our message with him. We stepped inside and learned that he had been talking with a Sister from the church for quite some time who has been helping him along the way. He has been reading the Book of Mormon on and off, but just needs a little extra moral support to stick with it. This was the first time my companion and I were to meet with him, but we put him on date to be baptized. Which is really rare. My companion looked at me like I was a mad man when I gave Albert a date for him to prepare to be baptized, but he accepted. Right now we are working towards helping him through the gates January 24! Let's hope it goes well. 

Things are a little slow right now in how many appointments we have, but every single day Elder Martin and I are finding new people and answering prayers in little ways..

Something funny for you all, is we were driving along one the dirt roads (heart Butte) and it had been raining for the past few days. So we were sliding all over the place in the NIssan Frontier we were driving. But about five miles off of the main road, we found this bus that was stuck in the mud. It was the strangest thing I've ever seen. A bus, middle of nowhere, muddy trails, stuck! I'll send pics soon, but I'm having the hardest time with it I don't know why. 

Growing more and more each day in my testimony of the Gospel, but most importantly, the Atonement. It has and continues to shape and make possible the change needed in my life. Out of everything that I could learn to help these people, the one thing that sticks out the most is loving them. Charity never faileth, and I know that as I continue to focus more on those around me, the better the work will go. 

I love you all so much and appreciate the emails of support and love!!

Elder Sandberg

Called to Serve!

So I am now in my area of the Farmington New Mexico Mission. The Lord's hand truly is in this work and is guiding each and everyone of us. It's incredible to hear about all the miracles and things that are happening back home. I've figured out that homesick is only bad when it is disabling. Thinking of all of you and home is something that can be enabling. Times when I didn't even know I was down, I would read an email or letter from one of you and things would be uplifting. This opportunity is a time for me to help not only everyone out here, but each of you as well. I no longer do this mission because of what it will transform me into, what it will allow me to see, what it will do for me, but what it will do for all of you. This life is meant to be given to our God and those around us. There is a reason that it is the great commandment. With commandments, there are blessings. I'm so grateful for the people in my life that make it so easy to learn to love. Love is the essence of the Gospel. We can't and won't do anything without it. It is the driving force behind the Lord's work and it is the bridge between all of us imperfect human beings.

Meeting lots of new Elders and Sisters whom I know I will know for a life time. THey each posses things that I will always admire and strive to obtain. 

My mission president is incredible, as is his wife. I know I'm right where the Lord wants to be.

I challenge each of you this week to know how to more fully lose yourself in what it is you do. Thinking inwardly is the root of all sin. As you start to do and say things for those around you, you will see the power and happiness that comes. Christ said "my yoke is easy and my burden is light". The reason is because of his devoted love to all mankind. If someone cuts you off, it is easier to not get mad because of the burden that is going to be carried through your day. When people's imperfections and lack of common sense effect you, it is easier to know that we all have imperfections and that ultimately you have something to learn from this person. Getting frustrated and upset because someone else has a hard time with whatever it is, will only weigh you down.

Don't have a ton of time but just wanted you all to know all is well and that things are great!! 

 

Elder Brayden James Sandberg