I love that Colby sounds SOOO good!!! I love how committed he is. I'm so thankful that he is experiencing growth and gets to see, and be a part of, miracles. Here's his letter--I interject in orange:
Hey
Let me start off by saying that this week has been the best week of the mission yet.
Today is the start of a new move call so that means alot of people are moving around and on thursday, all of the new Sisters and Elders arrived. One of the best things was seeing an old friend come on island. On "Dan Jones" night, I had the chance to take him around, and so we talked for a little bit. He is doing great. You'll never guess who it is. Remember at the MTC there was that one Atheist ELder in my District. Yeah Elder Hansen! He went home, studied alot of Chinese, got his act together and decided to try again. This time, he got further than just one week in the MTC. He's going to be a great missionary. I am actually really happy that he came back. He's already a great missionary.
Yahoo Elder Hansen--the Sanford's are soooo happy for you!!!
But that is only one of the miracles that I saw this week.
Let me tell you a little about my Elder Rostedt and my new investigator. Elder Rostedt actually found him. He was one of those that I didn't think much of because he didn't give us a phone number, only an address. Elder Rostedt and I went and visited him. We went over to his house every single day this week. Each and everyday, he was drunk as can be. But another thing was noticable, he really loved Chirst and wanted to be helped, wanted to be saved.
For the first few days, we just testified to him that we were representatives of and sent by Christ to help him. He came to the CHurch a few times at 10ish, so we got permission to step out the door early and talk with him. Still always drunk. (One time, he even asked to use the bathroom and came back smelling like smoke. We asked him and yes, he had smoked in the church. oops). So we couldn't really do anything because in this drunken state, everything would go in one ear and out the other.
This part confused me until I remembered the Elders teach an English as a second language class. Maybe that's when the man came to talk to them?
On saturday though, we were determined to get him to sacrament meeting sober. So we thought that if we got him to come to the church, he could watch movies there or something until he was sober and then he could stay at his sister's house or something over night. We spent 4 hours trying to get him to come to church with us to help him. He was the most drunk I had ever seen him though. he wasn't willing to come so we let him go and stay at his house. Saying a prayer, we went about our day. We saw alot of miracles just that night and got a few great lessons to make up for the amount of time that we used on Huang Jia Wei.
On Sunday though, was the best miracle of all we went to his house just to see him and if he happened to not have drunken yet that day, he could maybe come to church. But when he opened the door, he was fine. Had a bottle of water in one hand and said that he had just been drinking that because he promised us he wouldn't drink alcohol. He was able to come to church and he loved it. When we went over to his house later, we found him sitting and reading a gospel priciples book that he had slipped into his bag from church. He said that since church, he was just sitting and reading that and drinking water. Then we were able to teach him a powerful first. He is well on his way to baptism. Heavenly father is a God of miracles.
When we do all that we can, then He will step in and help us with our goals. I know this to be true and I feel it everyday. I love it. This gospel is so cool.
The language is going well. It being the start of a new move call, I have a plan to get all the way done with Phase 2. I'll be memorizing about 50ish words a day. Before my mission, there would be no way I could do that. But I realize now that can rely on the Lord's help, so it is totally possible. If there is anything that you want to do in life that is productive, good, virtueous, lovely, or praisworthy, then I guess, in reality it would be a waste to not ask for the Lord's help. That is a principle that I didn't take full advantage of before my mission. Anyways, yes, the language is coming along. There are still countless times in the day when I have no idea what people are saying to me, but less and less every day.
I know that this gospel is true. I have seen miracles and I can not deny it. THank-you for all of the prayers.
Love Ya All
-ELder Sanford.
P.S. I love to hear that Marco (Vergaray his best friend since birth) got his call (to Portland Oregon, Spanish speaking. He enters the MTC June 22). Say congradulations to him for me. WHOOO!
I can tell by his English wording that Chinese is coming easier for him. When I got home from my Chilean mission I spoke "backwards English". I hear that already in his English and it makes me smile!!! I love our Colby and the joy I feel for him and his successes is great!!!
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