Taiwan Taichung Mission Photo

Our Favorite Missionary is on the back row--4th from our right

...just past the bush, in line with the door frame.

(ps--Colby's MTC companion Elder Olsen, is in the bottom right corner of the closeup pic.)

27 weeks in Taiwan

Hey,

SO this week was pretty good. Elder Braby and I are trying a new thing: Having our investigators meet at the same time. To be honest, it is kind of an accident most of the time, but it is working pretty well. It is interesting to see how it doesn't matter what situation they are in, they become friends because they are both looking into the gospel. It gives the people that have met with us a little more to testify of what they know and the newer investigators to get a testimony from somebody very close to the situation that they are in. I think that is may not be the most effective thing as far as numbers go, but that doesn't matter, we have some great investigators making some great progress. The only problem is that I don't know if we have as much of an opportunity to focus in on the one persons need as much as if we were sitting down alone with them. It is cool to see them encourage each other towards baptism though. Really cool.

I'm greatful for the chance to serve with Elder Braby because he has really put a new spin on the work for me. Yesterday, he figured out mid lesson that our investigator wasn't applying the gospel to him self. A lightbulb went off in my head like never before. It is something that I have heard over and over and over to apply what we are saying to the person, but until I was in the situation and It was pointed plainly out to me that "Look, our investigator isn't making any progress because what we tell him, he doesn't apply to his life or even think about how this can benefit him at all." I was just a little embarrassed when I thought, "Oh, so that is what they mean." It makes so much sense. I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about each of our investigators and how we could help them actually take the principles that we tell them and apply them. The simple analogy came into my mind that you can tell somebody all day how much more comfortable they would be if they would plug the fan into the wall. But they won't feel it for them selves until they plug it in. So that is a lot of what I am thinking about. Helping my investigators plug the fan into the wall..

It is going to be a good month.

The wonderful thing about the gospel it that it is true, and there's nothing that any of us can to about it. You can always be sure that the Lord loves us and will always forgive us and pull us back into the fold. The promise of help and it just so miraculous.
Anyways, have a good week!

-ELder Sanford.

Mr. Branson is retiring :(

The saying on the door is:

"A Good Teacher

is like a

Candle-

It consumes itself

to light the way

for others."

I'm not sure who was in charge of decorating his door for Teacher Appreciation, but they picked the perfect quote to describe Mr. Branson! He is exactly as the quote suggests. This was Mr. Branson's last year of teaching as part of the Farrer Elementary faculty. He taught Junie 5 years ago when she was in second grade and he taught Esther this year when she was in second grade. I'm so very greatful that our two youngest daughters had the privelege to have him as a teacher. He is very kind and dedicated. He could figure out a way to get each and every child to learn any subject. He expected the children to succeed, and they did.

He certainly was a light to them.

As I drive by the school and watch the progress of it's demise, I couldn't help but notice that the bright blue banner that was put on Mr. Branson's door is still there. It likely will be the last classroom to go...as far as I can tell. If you look at the destruction photo straight up from the fire hydrant on the ground floor, Mr. Branson's door still stands, brightly decorated in blue, and the yellow flame of the candle shines brightly.

Logan--7 years ago

Look Ma, no hands!

Last Saturday at Marco's Goodbye party Logan made a "shelf" for his plate. Silly!!! These Sanford men think of everything. :D

Little Logan who is 6 feet tall, turned 15 today

Happy 15th Birthday, Logan Timothy Sanford!

Thanks for being in our family! You're funny, and fun to be around.

We love you Logan!!!!

The little boy in the poster with his mouth wide open looks like Logan from 7 years ago, but that isn't him.

Crazy times...

That is what this summer has been so far... (and apparently will be for the rest of the summer!)

They left for California late on June 5th (Lila's Birthday happened while they were gone) and were back by the wee hours of the 17th. This week was Youth Conference, so others left for the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Things will be relatively "normal" around here for a week or so, then for the month of July it's going to be here and there for some of us...Scouting expedition, visit to Missouri, trek to San Fran to take Claire to the beginning of her adventure: Scout Jamboree in Sweden, back to Provo in time for Junie's Girls Camp, then Logan's Timberline... Claire will come back...and then a few weeks of normal summer break and then it'll all start again...SCHOOL. Oh yeah in the middle of these things is Logan's birthday, Our Anniversary, and the 4th of July... lots of fun and crazy times this summer!!!