Hello,

Monticello is by far one of my favorite places on the entire planet. I love the people here and the relationships that are being built will last a life time. With my current companion, he is reaching the end of his mission. Actually, I am taking him to Farmington tonight and picking up my brand new companion tomorrow morning. Not sure what his name is, but he's from the MTC! Anyways,
people have often asked Elder Anderson what his favorite thing and take away from the mission was and he said the relationships that he has built. There couldn't be anything more true than this. I've only been out 7 months, and already I can see that the friendships that are built while out here is what makes the work worth it. One of the most rewarding aspects is when we are able to help the people we have made the relationships with to come closer to  Christ. Whether it be member, investigator, less active, whatever they are. It doesn't matter. They are all children of God and need to come closer to His Son. 

Lately the most rewarding family to work with has been the Hallidays. I'm not sure if I have talked about them in the mass email or not because I talk about them to everyone. They are incredible and never cease to amaze me. I write this with the full confidence with knowing that they would be okay with it. Adam and Kim have both had to overcome some addictions in their life. After much travail and due diligence, they have been able to clean up their lives and be sober for the past 27 months. They have both grown up in the church, but have fallen away. The timing must have been perfect because they have never ever let the missionaries in their house before. Something that was said, I'm not sure what, when we first met them led Kim to allow us to come over. 

Ever since meeting with them they have shone with the Light of Christ and have "felt to sing the song of redeeming love". They have "tasted as I have tasted and have seen eye to eye as I have seen". They know of the power of the Atonement and know what it means to apply the Saviors atoning sacrifice in their lives. I think every single one of us can learn something from them. No matter where you're at. Be it a Bishop, a deacon, a beehive, everyday student, it doesn't matter. The principle of recognizing our weaknesses and taking it to the Lord is something we should all continually be doing. 

Kim and Adam have been progressing like no one I've seen before. Every time we leave them a commitment, they keep it. Every time we invite them to step outside of their comfort zone just a little bit, they accept with a willing heart. Being able to help them grow has developed a very very deep love for them and their daughter. Someday, and maybe someday soon, they will go to the temple. A family who has been through the ringer, and have stained their clothes, but have been washed clean. What an amazing family they are.

I love you all so much and hope you can all continue to look for your weaknesses and recognize "your own nothingness, and the greatness of God". I promise as you do happiness and mysteries to your life will unfold before your eyes.

Elder Sandberg

Super Sandberg - with humility, of course

I want to make a point of telling you that Elder Sandberg shared this story with a few out of humility.  But upon reading it we feel it needs to be shared.  We can learn from his example of following the promptings of the spirit.

Hello family,

I didn't want to send this to absolutely everyone because I do not want to allow the "praises of the world" to ring in my ears. So, I am just going to share it with each of you.

Miracle of the week-

Not sure how many of you know, but our area right now if you were to drive from one end to the other, would take about an hour and a half. The town I cover is more that just Monticello, it is also La Sal, and Paradox Colorado. We only go out to La Sal one day and Paradox one day because that's what seems to make sense to distribute our time. (four wards in Monticello, two branches, only sixish days to work)

Last week while we were out in La Sal the rain was coming down like never before. Utah doesn't typically get a lot of rain and when it does what happens is a flash flood. We just got done with an appointment and were driving to find someone else to teach when we drove across a flood of water going across the road. It wasn't too deep to drive over, so I decided to drive through it and get the truck clean. 

When we got on the other side we could see that the water was following a path towards a home just right off the road. There was a fence outside the house that had some kind of barrier that was redirecting the water, but was still flooding in around the sides of their house. This barrier that the fence had was creating at least a couple feet of water all around the fence. Which made it nearly impossible to get in without getting wet. We stopped and got out to see if they were in need of help at all. After standing on the edge of the water and seeing that there was no way to get in without opening the gate and letting all the water in, I took a step back and gave my best effort to clear the water and the four foot fence. I landed on the fence and took a solid leap off to the other side. 

My companion was having a tough time getting over, so I just went ahead to see if they needed help. I made my way to the back of the house to knock on the door and see if anyone was home. After I knocked curiously wondering if anyone was home, and after not receiving an answer, I started to yell and call out to see if anyone would hear me. A voice came from behind a tree that was blocking my view, but I could see that there was a garden on the other side. As I moved around the tree to get a better view, I could start to see a huge garden that had been the place where the water was gathering. The depth and expanse of water and mud that existed was intimidating. In the mud I first saw an older woman who was reaching out to her husband who must have been at least seventy years old. Her husband was on one knee with the other stuck, and was using a very flimsy plastic green chair to keep himself up out of the very deep mud. It was obvious that he had been struggling for a while to get himself out. 

After taking all of this in within an instant I started to take steps towards the mud that awaited to suck me in. The wife immediately exclaimed, "No! Your clothes are so nice, it's okay!" After looking down at myself and then looking at this older man, I shrugged it off and made my way to help him. As I took a step into the mud, it must have gone up to at least mid calf. Even for a young guy like myself, this was a sticky situation to be in. I reached out and we clasped right hands and I put my left hand under his right armpit to start pulling him up. He was able to gain his footing with care, but was losing one of his boots in the process. I continued to hold him up and reached down to pull his boot more securely on. We then made our way out the mess of about eight feet wide of this deep mud. As we were getting out and onto solid ground, my companion made his way to us and helped keep him sturdy as we sat him down on his porch. He then asked his wife to run and grab his oxygen because he was out of breathe and normally needed it to even survive. 

I don't know exactly what could have happened to this man if we didn't come. Maybe he would have gotten out, maybe he wouldn't have, but I do know that that mans heart was softened. Moments before I arrived he was cursing and swearing up a storm, and then as he started to realize his struggle and what could potentially become of him, he started to pray that the Lord would forgive him and help him out. Literally right after his prayer, I showed up. 

This experience was truly humbling to know that I could have helped someone like that. I'm not the greatest missionary in the world, but I'm grateful to know that the Lord allows me little opportunities like this to help someone in need. I hope and pray that all of you might be able to look for those around you who are "stuck" and reach out to them. In a very real sense, their life is at stake. Our own lives are at stake, and the only way to save them is to lose them. 

I love you all! Sorry this was so long!! The work is going great!

Elder Sandberg

What a Wonderful World!

Monticello Utah, is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. For those of you who have never been here, I highly recommend checking it out, after I leave. The people are amazing and the work is going even better. Words cannot describe the joy that fills my heart each and everyday while out here. 

So for those of you who don't know, I can be a bit of a goober some times. I feel absolutely horrible when I tell this story, but I hope some of you might be able to get some enjoyment out of it. Elder Anderson and I were on splits with a young man and saw some of our investigators walking down the road. We decided to stop and chat with them for a minute and see how they were doing. One of them, who was the father, has suffered severe injuries from different things and has lost his teeth due to his addiction to tobacco. He was with his son and they were walking to the gas station to grab some cigarettes. When we pulled up, we started some friendly conversation and asked how they were doing. The father expressed that he was a dollar short for cigarettes and was implying that we would help him out. As much as I would have loved to help him out, I didn't have a dollar for such a purpose, but recently just bought some sunflower seeds that I like to use so I don't fall asleep at the wheel. After letting him know I couldn't give him a dollar I countered by asking if he wanted some sun flower seeds. There was a bit of an awkward pause, and he laughlingly asked me how he was supposed to eat sunflower seeds without any teeth. I defintitely felt a little dumb and quickly offered his son some who excitedly accepted and took some... What a day... 

Another fun thing happening has been getting to know some of the active members. One of them just returned from his mission serving in Samoa. They had a homecoming party yesterday and it was islander style. We were able to watch PJ shoot a pig, gut it out, and prepare it to be cooked over night. Of course, whenever their is an animal being butchered, I've got to take a picture with it. 

That's all for now! Love the people and the work is going great!!

Elder Sandberg