Greetings family and friends,

How are you guys doing this week? I am hoping to hear from you all. 

This week has been great. We had some awesome experiences. We were able to attend a Training that was focused entirely on finding new investigators. It turned out to be just what we needed! We were able to have a great time trying to implement the things that we learned into our daily efforts.

One of the great experiences that we had was with a guy named Darren. He was a potential that we had been trying to visit. We had stopped by in the past, but he was always busy. We stopped by him a few days ago and he responded the same as always, that he wants to meet up but he's busy. We started talking with him and we asked him very simply, "why do you want to meet with us?", a question that seems to not accomplish much but helped him to open up and begin talking about how he was searching for the truth and everything. We answered a ton of questions for him and left him with a prayer. At the end of our meeting he said something to the effect of, "This didn't just happen. You guys are here for a reason". The Lord does prepare people and they are searching for truth. That's why it's so important to share this gospel with everyone.

I love all of you. You are all awesome. Keep it up!

Love,

Elder Sanderson :D

Hola mi familia y amigos

To start off I wish to tell of an experience I had not too long ago. The story of my first California haircut. In the past I have been able to get haircuts from other missionaries. When I got here in Huntington a month or so ago that was not the case. I went to a small barber shop and sat down. The lady asked my how I wanted it cut and I told her how I wanted it. She proceeded to cut my hair. She was quick and it was over surprisingly fast. This should have been my first red flag. She showed me my hair and it looked nice. I felt that it was good and so I paid and left. Upon further inspection I realized that the sides and back of my hair had been cut just fine but I saw that she had only blended in the top of my head. The top of my hair had not been cut at all. My bangs reached almost to my nose and I didn't want to go back to have it cut again out of fear of embarrassment. I had to do my best to get my hair in a good enough of a side-swept motion so as to hide the unmissionary-like length of my hair.

What on earth does that have to do with anything. It has very little relevance to anything, I just figured that ya'll were extremely interested.

This week was pretty good. We had much more lessons than usual! We were challenged to invite someone to be baptized this week and we did! She said no D: Just kidding she didn't really answer it very directly. She said that if the Book of Mormon was true then she would. So, in short she will probably be baptized soon because the Book of Mormon is true! But seriously, the Book of Mormon can really be an anchor for any situation. Do not be afraid to open it. No matter what your situation. Maybe you need help with a problem, maybe you need a voice of reason, maybe you're having a hard time with knowing if this church is really true. Never be afraid to turn to the Book of Mormon. It doesn't matter if you've read it a hundred times or if you've never even opened it before of your own free will. It doesn't matter if you grew up going to primary or if you've never stepped foot in a church before. It doesn't matter if you go to church every week or if you haven't gone to church for years. The Book of Mormon is not biased, it does not judge. The only thing that can keep you back from receiving answers from it is yourself. Read it and see if it does not speak to your very soul. I know it speaks to mine so the principal is the same for all of you.

To those of you who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, cherish the precious truths that bless you daily. To those who are not, try it for yourself and ask God if it's true. To those who have fallen away or those who feel as though the church has let them down, do not give up, remember that the Lord always welcomes change with open arms. The people may not be perfect by you can sure bet that the Lord is, and he's the one that runs this church.

I cannot express how much this gospel has blessed me. I know it blesses us all. Thank you for all that you do; for all the love and support. I cannot adequately express my love for each and every one of you. Nonetheless I will continue to try my best. My heart and prayers are with you all.

Much love,

Elder Sanderson

My beloved friends and family,

I have come to the realization of something quite crucial. Something that I was quite sure of but had never yet confirmed my feelings about. I will elaborate. Not too long ago I took a trip to a nice place called Walmart. While I was shopping I came across an exceedingly curious food item. I looked at the label which read: "MEGA STUFF OREOS". I paused for but a moment, then made my choice; I purchased them and then was on my way. Normally this is where our story would end; but there's more. I arrived home later that day. I decided to give my new Mega Stuff Oreos a try. I opened the package and took out one of the overstuffed cookies. I took a bite and...Too much stuff! If there is one thing that I would say I am now extremely passionate about concerning food, I would say that it would be that Mega Stuff Oreos have too much stuff. Never in my life have I said that an oreo had too much filling, but that was before mega stuff. There are many of those reading this, I would indeed not doubt most, that may think such things as, "you're exaggerating" or "it can't be that much stuff". To those people who may think this way, I implore you to listen to reason. I was once in your shoes. It is too much stuff for one human to handle.

On an unrelated note things are going pretty well here. It's been in the high 80's, low 90's and that is considered the worst that it will ever be here so I'm not even mad. We were able to teach a few new people this week. Which is always good. It's been a little tough to find people to teach in this area so it's nice to see that our efforts are beginning to pay off.There's a gentleman we've taught a few times named John. He's very good friends with a few members of our ward. He's a very involved member of the church that he attends but is very nice and respectful. We stopped teaching him a few weeks ago because it seemed like he was just talking to us because he thought we were nice guys. Nevertheless, we talked to a member that he is friends with yesterday at church and he received a very interesting message from John. John expressed that he was confused as to why we stopped visiting him and he was saying that he really enjoyed the conversations we had about doctrine. It came as a bit of a shock to us. We were so glad that we were able to get through to him a little bit. Even if it was something as little as him saying that he enjoyed discussing doctrine with us, we were able to see that we were bringing the spirit into his life. We were so grateful that John had member friends who he could contact. Otherwise, we would have had no way of knowing that he still wanted to meet with us. Now, I'm not 100% sure if this means that things will begin to progress with John, but I do know that we helped him feel the spirit and increase his faith, That's honestly enough for me.Sometimes trying to do missionary work as a non full-time missionary can be like Oreos. While the creamy filling that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be delightful when put on the chocolaty, crunchy, foundation that comes from being raised in a good family, too much pushing or pressuring can cause the partaker to be overwhelmed, wanting nothing to do with that Oreo. Remember that the Lord works "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little." (2 Ne 28:30)I cannot manage to go a week without expressing my gratitude for each of you and for your love and support. I love each of you and pray that the Lord will bless you in each of the things that you need. 

With love,
Elder Sanderson

Week of September 1st, 2013

Herro friends and family,

This weeks been pretty cool. My son and I killed it this week. His name is Elder Roe. He's one cool cat that's for sure.

On the real though, it's been kind of tough. Isaac got baptized so we don't know what to do with ourselves. We've been trying super hard to find new investigators but it's been tough. We did have the chance to teach a 100% Japanese woman. Well, we didn't really teach because she doesn't speak much English but we did have a member of our ward who served his mission in Japan come teach her. It was one of the more gangster things that I've ever been a part of. We didn't really know what was going on because, as some of you may know, I don't speak a dang lick of Japanese. But other than that I understood pretty much everything.

It's been hotter than usual here. It got up to 97 which never happens here in perfectweathervlle. Things are good though. The members are awesome, someone bought us Subway, and we got 3 or 4 new missionaries who are all baller status basketball players so mission life is good. 

I love you all. Each and every one of you. Keep it realz.

PEACE!

Elder Sanderson

New set of compact scriptures to carry in messenger bag.

Dearest Friends and Family,
I got the package. Both of them. I made a special little box for them. I'll show some pictures in a little bit. I've started just carrying those around. It makes my bag much lighter and hurts my shoulders less. The bad isn't too bad though. It doesn't cause excessive strain. If it was unsafe the church would not have decided to do it. I'm glad I found a bag that I liked. I'll have some pictures of it on the SD card I send home. It's a neat little messenger bag. My camera is being extremely goofy but I think I have a theory on how to make it work. All is well.

This week has been a solid week. Teaching wise not so much, but other than that it's been great! We were able to attend Isaac's baptism. It was a really really cool experience. It was especially great because his brother Sal preformed the ordinance. It's so great to be able to see families grow closer because of the gospel. The ward support at his baptism was also incredible. The whole middle section of the chapel was filled up. It was so great to be able to see how much love the ward had for him and for missionary work.

On a little bit of a sadder note, my companion Elder Roothoff will be leaving me on Tuesday.
On a happier note, I'm going to be training my very own greenie! I'm going to have my first son! I'm excited and nervous but the excitement outweighs the nervousness. I guess the Lord must really trust me to do a good job. I hope that I don't mess him up too much. I'll make sure to keep the hazing to a minimum. 

There is also something else I wish to speak of. The last 6 weeks have been tough. The area I'm serving in is not a particularly "fruitful" area. There have been a lot of long days and a lot of disappointments but what it really boils down to is I know that I am where I belong. I know that this is the right place and right time. There will always be blessings. There will always be good things to find. Remember that we are never given anything that we cannot handle. Remember that all will be well and that the gospel will always bring happiness.

I love you all and I hope that all is well.

Elder Sanderson :D

Dear Friends and Family

It's been super busy here! Fountain Valley has been so great!  The members have been so helpful and they are pumped to do missionary work. We've has some wonderful lessons because of the willingness of the members to help out.  I want to tell you how our most recent investigator found out for himself the truthfulness of the Gospel.  His brother had joined the church a few months ago.  Their mom was unhappy about this because she believed they needed to remain in the religion they had been raised in.  Through church attendance this young man knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offered him more than what he had.  After a couple of lessons, he took the challenge to read and pray to know if the Church is true.  After a sincere prayer, he went to his phone to read from the Book of Mormon.  Instead of opening to the main page like he expected, the app. opened to Alma 32:31 which says: 

"And now, behold are ye sure that this is a good seed?  I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto it's own likeness.

Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good" (Alma 32:31 - 33)

This young man, as most of us would, took that as an answer that the Book of Mormon is true.  Some of us, who have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, can point to a time where a decision about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon was made; some of us cannot.  I would urge you, I would exhort you, remember the feelings that you have about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  Remember that it is an ever-growing faith. Remember that the Lord gives precept upon precept...[and] unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say;  We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have (2 Nephi 28:30).

I love you all and I keep you all in my prayers and thought.  Thank you for the love and support.

Love,

Elder Sanderson

Weekly Letter

Salutations Friends and Family!

This week has been so great. The past few weeks and months have been great actually. I cannot express how good of a time I'm having here helping people to come unto Christ. The blessings that have come from my mission have been amazing. The ward that I am serving in has definitely "caught fire" as some say. The ward members are becoming more and more involved with the teaching and fellow shipping of investigators and we have been able to see a difference. 

We have one investigator I would especially like to tell ya'll about. His name is ****** and he's an 18-year-old guy. His brother was baptized about a year ago and they've both been coming to church for quite some time. We began teaching ******officially about 4 weeks ago. He has been progressing very well. Last Sunday we set a baptismal date for the 24th of August. The only problem was he lives in a city called Santa Ana which not only isn't in our ward or stake, but it isn't even in the Long Beach Mission! We were worried with how it would work out because his brothers records are here in the Fountain Valley Third Ward and he said that he wants to go to this ward. This posed a major problem. He was most likely going to get baptized in the Santa Ana Stake. Some of you may notice I am speaking in the past tense even though this is a future event. Allow me to explain. We spoke with the Bishop of our ward and he spoke to the Mission President. Some how, I'm still not sure how, we got permission to have the baptism here in Fountain Valley. This is definitely a miracle because this process usually takes weeks to work out. It took him 2 days. We are extremely excited for******to be baptized because now we will be able to attend.

The Lord will always work things out. He always has, he always does, and he always will. All we can do sometimes is have hope that things will work out and they will. I know they will.

Thank you for all your wonderful support. You are all awesome and I love you all. I appreciate everything that you all do. Keep being the great people that you all are.

Love,

Elder Sanderson :D