Goodbye Tuba City! Hello Holbrook!

What a powerful week it was!

Someone else told this story, but it is now mine..

There we were, looking down into the world where we would gain our bodies. It was easy to see with everything that was happening in the world, that things would be tough. Despite the foreseen challenges and obstacles, we were excited to go down there to receive a body to learn and grow. On this specific day, a brother of mine was to go down. It was his time to receive his glorious gift of a body that could feel, touch, hear, smell, and all else. 

Before he readies to depart, we talk about the life that we have accepted.. He tells me that he is going to be born into an area where the culture is very strong. He knew that he would have the opportunity to have the gospel in his life, but would struggle to stick with it.. He pauses, and looks at me, and with a deep sense of sincerity, asks me to come find him in the case that he doesn't stick with it.. He knows the family he has been given responsibility to care for when he grows older, and doesn't want them to be robbed of the privilege of making it to the temple. He once again makes me promise to find him, and his family. Once again, with tears in my eyes, I agree and promise to do so.. 

38 years later, these brothers unite and what was promised long ago, is fulfilled. At the time, it doesn't make sense. No such recollection of an agreement or promise is found, but for some reason, a spark is found upon reuniting.. Only to help one another return up above.. 

Oh how true this is in so many cases.. There is one in particular that this references to, but I believe with all my heart that there are many other people that such promises, and agreements were made. I'm so grateful to know and see the angels in my life that have kept their promises.. What a glorious knowledge it is to have this gospel.. I'm so grateful to know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going...

I love you all!!

Away I go to Holbrook Arizona!

New mailing address:


517 West Hopi
Holbrook AZ, 86025

Elder Sandberg

"I'm an alboan Samoan"

What an eventful week it was! Full of lots of service, the Spirit, and just overall a good time..

We started the week off with doing some gardening.. The stake here is huge on gardening because of the skills and attributes it develops.. They are qualities that many people here need- self reliance, faith, patience, diligence, and other great stuff.. There is so much that can be related to the gospel through gardens.. I'm definitely going to come back home with a desire to do more of it! Well, more suggests there is more to increase on, I am going to do gardening upon getting home.. The garden basically needed to be sized down due to various reasons.. It was a great team building experience.

Then we did service at the Hopi Senior Center.. What a blast that was! We did all kinds of stuff from washing dishes, cutting fabrics, to playing SIT DOWN VOLLEYBALL.. What a blast that was! Oh my goodness. I never thought that would be so fun, but with those classy older people, it was great.. They are actually pretty good.. We younger guys like to just smash things, which is not good for a super small court and light ball.. I have only one once against them... Yup......

On the way to the Senior Center, we found a lost dog of a member that had been missing for about two months.. THe poor thing had its leg broken, was super skinny, and overall filthy.. It was sad to see him, but cool to see Sister Brock and her son reunite with their dog..

The next act of service, which is what the pictures are all about, as well as the subject line, was Elder Ah Chee and I going to the boarding school to dance.. We have a Samoan we are working with here, which is HUGE for the rez, and he had his sister and her boyfriend come into town.. The son of the brother we are working with did a report on Samoa, and so it was perfect timing for those coming into town to show some traditional dances..

Since my comp is Samoan, they asked him to dance, and I had the privilege of joining them! It was an absolute honor.. Absolute blast.. Half the time I had no idea what I was doing, but it was great.. I scared some little kids doing the Samoan Haka which was beneficial... :D

We did the Haka, as well as some Samoan Slap Dancing.. Super interesting.. I might keep practicing just cause.. The "Alboan Samoan" subject line comes from a teacher asking if I was from Samoa too.. Of course, with my timing being impeccable as always, I responded I was an Alboan Samoan.. RIght as I say that an Albino Navajo walks by and the teacher just gets a shocked look on her face pointing at him! HA! :D


Like I said, there was tons of service rendered, as well as a ton of teaching opportunities.. There are quite a few miracles that occurring all the time.. It's great.. I love being here and I feel sad to know I will most likely be leaving..

The lesson to learn this week was that of idleness.. I think one of the biggest downfalls to individuals, and particularly RM's, is that of idleness.. So much of my life has been idled away and I've noticed in those idle moments, that some of the darkest experiences have come.. The best cure for being idle is work! Effective planning, and execution is vital to missionary work and life.. I feel it is a big thing I am to learn.. Too much of my life has been slept away, time to wake up even more, to be better, and reach new heights..

Love you all!!!

Elder Sandberg

Getting Autographs!

 Things have been pretty crazy... Lot's of testimony builders.. Elder Corbridge, of the 70, came and spoke to us.. He wrote one of my favorite talks called, "the Fourth Missionary". That talk set the course of my mission before I came and it was awesome to meet him.. It's kinda tacky, but I got him to sign my copy that I had brought out :D

Elder Quentin L Cook is coming the 30th of April! And our whole mission is going to be there! I'm so excited, it will be a blast..

Transfers aren't until the 23rd!  

Elder Sandberg 

Can I Smoke Here?

Hello,

You might be wondering about the subject line so I will just start there.. The Carnival came to town! Whooo! With this being the reservation and occurrences like that, it's like Christmas I swear.. The other elders and myself went there to go check it out and while we were walking amuck, a man walked up to me and asked, "are you the owner here?" Probably supposing that because I'm dressed up and everything..

I responded, "No! We are missionaries! We teach about Jesus Christ." 

He looked a little confused and said, "Can I smoke here? I was looking around and didn't see anyone else smoking so I was seeing if it was alright.." He clearly didn't get what I was saying.. Oh well..

"Nope! You can't smoke here.. Or any where near hear... Sorry" :D

Saving one life at a time :D 

This was an extremely eventfully unproductive week! We did not get a ton of missionary work done in our own area, but there was a lot of work done with those within the zone, and ministerative work that doesn't normally get tracked.. Which is completely fine with me because the long term impact will be of far greater value than anything else.. 

Started the week off with an awesome Zone Conference! Elder Ah Chee and I have once again dominated with having the cleanest truck.. I might not be the cleanest person in the world, but you can sure bet that if there is a competition that I will work my butt off for it. :D That's probably the reason we spent an entire P day cleaning... Yup...

Then after Zone Conference one of the elders asked me to give him a blessing.. He's someone I've known for quite a while and it was honestly just an honor that he reached out to me and asked for my help... Had the opportunity to give a blessing that neither he or I will forget..

It was then after this that I went on a surprise exchange with no overnight clothes! Yaya for stinking with no showers! :D After the exchange I came back into one of the more civilized parts and had a DLC (District Leadership Council) It was a powerful experience where we had a commitment to do a comp inventory with one another.. I love our zone and I love those serving in leadership positions.. They are beautiful individuals..

Then the next day went on another surprise exchange. Mainly because a certain elder forgot his notebook in Chinle, about 3 hrs away, over 2 months ago. We had just received the notebook and decided that a certain elder would need that notebook for conference to take notes! So away we went to Monument Valley! The elders out there stay in a fifth wheel so Elder Ah Chee and I stayed the night on the floor with the little miceys that they have had! No sleep! Wahoo! Over 1 hr and 45 min away! It just happened that we had the perfect amount of miles to get there to finish the month off.. It was inspired! 

Then General Conference! Holy Cow! Spiritual smack down. I've found that the best way to get a lot out of General Conference, or really any meeting in general, is to come with questions prayerfully prepared.. Doing so invites the windows of heaven to pour out upon your heart and show you another world.. Every single question I wrote down was answered.. What a marvelous blessing! PLUS I stayed awake the whole time! That was an accomplishment in my book..

If any of you haven't listened to it, or seen all of it, I would challenge you to take the time to do so and have those questions in mind.. I've already written a ton and still need to write my mom! Whoops! Here are some pictures.. I will get better at taking them... 

Love you all!

Elder Sandberg