Happy Birthday Junie

My sweet June is turning 14. Wow! The other day when I learned my Father's passing would be soon, I prayed he wouldn't pass on June's special day.  I talked to her and got her blessing to come and be with Momma and Daddy and the folks here in Missouri.  She understood what I was going through.  Turmoil....missing June's Birthday versus missing the special time with Daddy.  She encouraged me to come.

Heavenly Father's timeline is perfect--a perfect tender mercy!  I am in Missouri, here with my first family.  Daddy passed away last night. Today June is 14.  Happy birthday to my darling auburn-haired ballroom dancer.  I love you!!!!

(Grandpa can now see you dance! I'm sure he's proud of you!)

this week

We did alot of planning to hit all of our goals. We charted it and made plans early to hit all of these goals. But as the week went on, we were just not hitting our goals and people would consistantly cancel. 

So on Sunday, when we wern't looking super good to hit our goals, I had a little bit of a talk with my companion and discussed my concerns. In talking to him, Elder Peel really helped me to have faith in the time remaining and mostly in the Lord. 

So we went out and saw miracle after miracle. And I know that they were all from the Lord. 

We had an LA call us and set up for right after dinner. right as we were leaving, a person who was stopped right outside of the church wanted to take a tour after talking to him for a little bit and it just so happend that the member was still there and it helped his testimony to help us accompany that lesson. Also, a man who has had a horrible life because of choices that he made called us and set up a time for that night. We shared with him from Alma 36 about repentance and as we prayed with him, he said that he felt just like the lamb that Christ was holding on the front of the Restoration Pamphlet that we shared with him aswell. 

As we strive to hit our goals, Heavenly Father will help us to accomplish that which is important like helping LA's regain their testimony and helping the heavy hearted feel the truth of the gospel.

It is a new move call today. We are not going to move! YEah!! It is going to be a super good move call. and a super good month aswell. Lately I have really been thinking a lot about how lucky I am to be on a mission and how wonderful the work is. I absolutely love it. Helping people change their lives. nothing like it.

THis week was a little bit tiring because we did a double exchange. We had a chance to go with one companionship on thursday over to friday afternoon and then two hours later, we went and exchanged with some other peeps from friday over to saturday. It is really great to be able to serve with the people. 

One of the greatest things was reading in Mosiah and also recently from King Benjamin with how they lead and that is that they work side by side with the people that they are leading. I had a little taste of that feeling. I think that we will probably go on alot more exchanges this next move call. It is really fun. Great missionaries.

Good to hear that peeps are moving on with their lives and getting married like james, glen and elli. I actually got an invitation from James. I was going to write him back and tell him that he forgot to put the address of the place that he would be doing a reception in taiwan. Cool cousin.

 

 Well, I hope that all goes well this week!

 

-ELder Sanford

 

I have a problem blogging these months.  A while back a friend was talking to me about blogs.  She was talking about privacy issues.  Ever since it's been difficult to share Colby's Mission news and stories.  I'm not blaming my friend, but it did make a difference.

Logan's Eagle

Logan getting his Eagle pin
Jamille Adams Sanford, Logan Timothy Sanford, Jeffrey David Sanford, Norman Sorensen, BenjaminGoodrich

Sunday 27 May, 2012 Logan had his Eagle Court of Honor.  It turned out rather nicely.  It was short and sweet. I'm proud of Logan.  It's nice that there are now flagpoles standing in front of two of the meetinghouses in our stake where, before his project, there were none.

Claire Graduates twice

Claire's friend since they were 3 (Betsabe Ramirez) and Claire after Seminary Graduation

 On Sunday 20 May, 2012 Claire graduated from 4 years of Seminary. She attended early morning Seminary instruction ( the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints) every school day (barring illness and a few choir/band trips) for 4 years...no small feat.  Good Job Clarence!

Jeffrey David Sanford, Claire Sanford, Jamille Adams Sanford

It's been almost a week.  Claire graduated from Provo High School on Thursday 24 May, 2012.  I am so happy for her. It was pretty crazy the last week, what with the rollercoaster grades.  Everything finally came up and she ended up with a 3.5 GPA for her last term of Public School.  Not too shabby!

Gabriel Johnson, Claire Sanford, Amanda Ahlman, Jacob Bigler

Last week was Prom.  Claire went with a nice guy named Gabriel Johnson.  She had a great time.  her best friends were in her group.  That means they all went on a day date and then to dinner and to prom together.  I understand they even went on a stroll in the local Macey's Grocery store.  I guess coming down the majestic steps of the Library wasn't enough "airtime".

You might wonder why Claire has a black heart on her dress.  SHE DOESN'T.  It's an arrangement of peacock feathers.  She really wanted to jazz up her dress, so she did.  I think she looks beautiful.

This picture is of Claire and her best friend Amanda and their dates.

This is Colby's 69th week on the Island, and here's his letter:

I really like what you said about the Atonement. It sounds like it was really well thought out. Elder Zhuang is entering his last few move calls and keeps reminding me of how old he is. I have been in the office a lot longer than I thought I would have been. It seems like Elder Zhuang will be getting a  new guy to train as a new Recorder on Monday and that will go for 3 weeks as a 3 some. and then I think I may have as much as one more move call in the office before getting out. We'll see, it may be more. Most are in for 3 and it's already been 3.5. I'm loving it though.

 It is raining a lot here. 

 We have one guy who we have been working with that is doing good. He should be baptized in the end of the month. We finally got to meet at his house the other day and found out that it was a 9x9 room with a bed and a lap top. A little bit sad. I got to see into who he is kind of a little bit more. I could see that we need to get him some pictures of Christ to hang on his wall. We went to storage today and picked something nice that is framed. There is good power in art.

 I had a chance to help give a blessing to one of the brothers in the english branch the other day. He is in the hospital across the street. For the first time, I really felt the weight of what I was saying as I had my hands on his head. That I use Priesthood power that I am worthy of and is real and I do it in the name of Christ who makes this all possible just makes it so real. I know that the things that he was blessed with are true.

 Well, I'm just trucking along and having a good time. I hope you have a good time as well. The technique with the vacuum is tough at first but once you get the swing down it flows pretty well. It took me a while. It's hard to think I did it for so long. But yes, that was finite too. 

 Have a good week