Let the fire begin! - July 20, 2015

Ya' at eeh! (this is the correct spelling, Momika)

This week has been a crazy productive and amazing week.

First off, I just found out my companion got his visa to Brazil and will most likely get transferred within the next couple weeks or so. We will see. This will mean that I will have had four companions in one area if I stay. Kind of a rare occasion. Even more rare if he gets transferred after this one because that will mean the only person I have had longer than a single transfer is my trainer. Guess these elders can't put up with me more for longer than six weeks! :D

Miracle of the week that I wish to be particular highlight on is Latawnya and Richard. Truly they are the definition of being prepared by the hand of the Lord to receive the gospel. These two have been in Monticello for the past week or so. The reason they are here is because Richard did some time and got put in the Monticello jail. Being in jail was a humbling experience and found a great desire to grow a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. He's never been baptized into any church, but Latawnya ( his wife) was baptized at eight and because of this, they were both inclined to the LDS church.

When Richard got out just the other day, they were walking around town looking for a phone to make some calls to someone. They just happened to run into a family we have been working with, our golden less actives- the Hallidays, and they let Richard use their phone to make some calls. They ended up talking and found out that they both have had similar obstacles in life and ended up clicking together quite well. The thing that is so amazing about this is that we challenged the Halliday's to be more social and open with the people around them. Not sure why we felt inspired to do so, but we did.

The Halliday's offered a place to stay in one of their apartments until Latawnya and Richard could get back on their feet. One of the conditions with staying there is that they had to meet with their favorite missionaries, us! We met with them, had an amazing lesson, and Richard has agreed to be baptized! They truly have been humbled by the Lord and are prepared to receive the fullness of the Gospel. They both showed up to sacrament meeting on Sunday and with the little time that they had, Richard has already read the homework that we left him with the Book of Mormon.

There have been so many little things that cannot be contributed to a "mere coincidence". It is the Lord's hand guiding this work and it is incredible!

Something that is interesting about this mission is the fact that every investigator has to come four out of six Sundays before they are baptized, and the last two have to be in a row leading up to their baptism. This requirement has made it difficult for some people, but proves to be very beneficial with creating long term success and conversion. I hope and pray that Richard and Latawnya can continue to come and progress! Prayers are appreciated!

These two are only the beginning of the success that is starting to occur. This area is seriously starting to blow up as to those we are finding and the involvement of the wards and branches. A lot of the members are surprised to hear about how many people are actually receiving the word, and it is all attributed to having high expectations for the people and the area. It's amazing how far a little positive thinking can go.

Love you all!!

Pray for the cause and pray for the courage to take part in it.

Elder Sandberg

Look OUTWARD!

Good day!

Hopefully, I am not bugging any of you with these emails each week. 

Elder Sandberg has hit a new level of experience with the mission this week. I have started training, and honestly it feels like I'm starting all over again. 

With all these changes and an added level of responsibility comes challenges and frustrations, but despite the weight that is being placed upon my shoulders, I have come to learn a very very valuable lesson. It is a principle that Christ Himself emulated and defined His very character. It is the act of looking outward towards our heavenly family and concerning ourselves more with their state than our own. 

Every single day in the life of a civilian we are caught up in the constant bustle and rush of getting here or there. An agenda is continually begging for our attention and time. Different responsibilities and opportunities attract our attention and pull us in. Using myself as an example when I get home there will be countless things that need to be addressed and taken care of- Where will I work, where will I go to school, who will I marry, where do I live, and countless other things that will demand my attention. Every single one of those things and others as well are all focused on one thing- me. I will be looking inward. 

The sole reason that a missionary comes home a completely different person is because they are looking outward to serve others and their Heavenly Father for 18 to 24 months. It is a conundrum of thinking that when we help other people, we are only improving ourselves. It can be one of the most difficult things when weaknesses and shortcomings in oneself are so prevalent, and the answer to it all is to help other people.  

Lately more and more I am able to see a common thread that is preventing individuals from coming closer to Christ. The bi-product tends to have the appearance of depression, addictions, idleness, criminal misconduct, and many many other things. The root of it all is a festering and lingering feeling of looking inward. It is the natural man. It is the act of thinking more of the situation that one is going through, and getting caught up in oneself, that prevents them from moving forward. It is dwelling on the task at hand that is bringing pain, frustration, limitations, and everything else that prevents the powers of the Atonement to take place and relieve the heavy burdens placed upon us. 

Christ was the perfect example of looking outward. It is ingrained into His character. It is my testimony and witness that the only reason He was able to perform that infinite and eternal sacrifice for all of mankind, was because as He suffered He did not think of Himself. I think that if Christ were to think even for a split second about Himself and not what the Father wanted, that that split second would be more unbearable than the entire time He suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross. 

Looking inward will always outweigh the weight of the world when looking outward. In all that you do, with all the demands you face, recognize and allow your true motivation to be for those you love. 

No matter the challenge you are facing, look to God, look to the Savior, and trust that He will not lead you astray. Trust that He will take better care of you than you can.

I love you all

Elder Sandberg