I'm alive!

May 27, 2024

Its been a month or two and a lot has happened, quite a bit!

Transfers were about a week ago and I am back in a spanish ward! The ward is called Huntington Park, here in Downey Los Angeles! Its a pretty rad place, it is very packed with Spanish folks. This ward is huge! Tons of members come every week and they are such good examples of helping out and working hard in the Gospel! Its interesting how we need to work to be able to enter into His rest, but oh how sweet it is!

Our church buidling is super cool it was built in 1920ish! 

My new companion is named Elder Olsen, we are the Zone Leaders here in Downey and we got a good crew here of Elders and Sisters! This is my compa's last transfer so we have been working hard seeing many miracles! 

Much Love Elder Sandyyberg!!!!

3 jews and and a bunch of little kids about to be baptized!!!

April 29, 2024

This week wet by quick just like the rest! On Monday the Hernandez Family (They arr our Recent convert: Fany's minister family) they invited us, Fany and Fany's nonmember daughter to a family home evening, it was just wonderful!

On tuesday we met with our RC dwight, he is in a special case because he cant really move to well and is bed ridden although we visit him once or twice a week and he calls us about everyday!. We also met with our RC Richie that day, he is doing well, our bishop is taking some sweet time to ordain him though... it's been too long! hopefully he will be ordained this sunday and then he can go to do baptisms for the dead!!! Richie is real excited for that! 

Wednesday we had exchanges, thursday was a good day! Was kinda slow until later that night we finally got in contact with the Bradford family! El Butterfield took us there more than 2 months ago when I was new to the area so i didnt remember them much, then last sunday we visited two member families and they both talked about the Bradford family and how they need to come back to church because they are such a great family! Anyway fast forward to thursday, our lessons fell through and we didnt feel like our back up plans were what we needed to do, then this family that El Butterfield took us to more than 2 months prior popped into my head! We went for it! When we got there I connected the dots that this family was indeed the Bradford family, the one that the ward wanted us to visit! We arrived right when the dad was getting home and on the one day this month the mom didnt work night shift!!! Miracle! We shared a message with them and had a great visit! We then called the member families who have also been trying to reach them, to tell them what happened and they said: "Man Elders that makes me so happy, you two are do such good things!" That kinda made our day!

Last sunday our RC fany (her calling is to pass around our meal calendar, she hasnt been to church in a long while so our calendar has been pretty scarce! Although she came last week and passed it around during sunday school! And everyday this week we had a member meal! saturday we even had two!!! It was such a great opportunity for us to get to know so many more members! On saturday we met with Bro Barnett, his wife Allison is not a member and Jewish! Butttt is quite opening to coming to church which is amazing! He told us about his mission in the philipines and he said he baptized about 500 folks on his mission! We about crapped our panta and fell off our chairs!

2 weeks ago sister Sheflo reached out to the ward council about her ministering assignment sister Friedman, Sister Friedman and her nonmember husband: Jonathon Chance, needed some big help weeding out their old yard! We of course jumped at that opportunity! We went over this friday with Elder Roberts and Elder Heaton! And we cleaned that yard up in no time! Jonathon was so Shocked and excited! He is a reformed Jew and this whole time his sweet wife sister friedman has been teaching him the Gospel, they even watched general conference together and they even watch Sunday church on Zoom every sunday, they have been doing that for quite some time now too!!! After the service they took us all out for lunch! They are so sweet and we began to talk about religion and he said he has a few questions which we were able to answer! We then set up a time on saturday to visit and share a message! He knows the gospel so well he has already read half of the BOM!!!! Ya know when they say: the field is white and ready to harvest! Thats what it felt like! We asked if he had ever asked to know if the BOM was true, he said he hadnt! So we invited him to do so! And he said he would!

Another Friend We are teaching named Kathy Barker is also a Reformed Jew! She is so sweet, she has been taught for TEN YEARS! (The eternal Investigator) she says she has had a love affair with the LDS church, just recently she has been so open and willing to meet and get serious about joining the church miracles all around!

The majority of the folks we are teaching are 9-12 yrs old + their member parents or Jewish! Pretty rad! All these good folks have come to love the BOM and thaf is something really neat!

Being in Zone Leader in English work is fun (Very Challenging but thats a good thing)! But its cool to speak spanish! One day I will be back baby ¡yippee ki ay!

Such a good week! Dont forget to pray!

Study your scriptures! And decide to be happy! Why are you happy? Because I decided that today would be a good day and I want it to stay that way! :))

Peace and Love 

ELDER ERIC SANDBERG

Locked out of the apartment Slept at Presidents house this week!

April 15, 2024

This week we had some exchanges, about 3, tuesday we had an exchange with Elder Blandamer, he came here to our area in Granada Hills, Elder Blandamer is having a tough time, he is origionally assigned spanish speaking but was having a tough time with the Language so now he is in an English ward. We try our best to encourage him but he has a hard time to help teach. He is a very quiet Elder who needs extra help and love but thats what we are here to give!

When we came home that tuesday to meet up with the Northridge Elders and finish our exchange (they are our aprtment mates) we tried to plug our code into the door to open it up.... and the code didnt work... and there was note on the door that said: "Notice to pay rent or quit" so they changed the code on our door and locked us out!!! It was exciting and fun. ive gotten good at staying calm in those types of stressful situations it wasnt really stressdul it was more just funny.

Anyway, we called president Egbert and he told us to come down to the mission home. We got there and let me tell ya! They have some NICE beds and a NICE shower and..... CARPET!

We slept there that night and president made us breakfast in the morning. Funny thing was, that morning was our big Zone Conference with the whole half of the mission, to those big conferences all the Elders need to wear suits, and a few days prior, the assistants called me and asked me to conduct the big meeting... so that wednesday morning we didnt have our suits sooo... I confucted the big zone conference without a suit on, just short sleeve white shirt and tie, it was pretty funny! Although we got to brag about the nice beds and that president made us breakfast!

Thursday we had an exchange with Elder Satini, I went over there to be with him in his area, this Elder is real tall, real goofy and acts like a big ol Gangster. He just hit 18 months on the mission! He told me this and I noticed but he was running out of steam and slowing down, I wqs able to help him keep the energy and keep it on the pipe!

Ive been out now for 20 months, time goes by so quick! Last transfer there was a lot of negativity in the zone and now we are going smoother, we have been trying to be good examples and keep smiling, and hard working!

The third exchange we did this week was with the Assistants to the president: the Big dogs!!! Fun fact one of them: Elder Hodgsen, was in the MTC with me! Elder Hodgsen came here to our area, we had an enjoyable day!

There is truly nothing else like this work and the plan Heavenly Father has made for us. Ive been learning that this whole mission thing is made to give people blessings, funny thing is it only gives blessings if you allow it to. Ive met a lot of fine Elders who are out here only because they "Have to" and not because they "want to" life is much better if you want to be there. A lot of times its hard to "want to" be here but when one changes their mind about that, its so worth it.

20 months is a long time, i dont want to go home, ive truly fallin in love with sharing the Gospel, but I will say the mission has been the hardest, most exhausting and demanding thing Ive ever done and its kicked and been kicking my butt... (Mostly in a good way) but when the time comes ill be ready for it.

"President, Im not trunky, im just tired haha"

The best part is, when I do go home, the work don't stop, in fact it just gets better. The Gospel is truly the best thing there is and Im not gonna stop sharing it, it has blessed me so much!

In this Area, we have been working with a lot of Less active part member families, (parents get married in the church, go inactive, then raise kids outside the church) its sad to see how many there are but its amazing to see how well 9-16 yr old kids recieve the message, they love it! Plus this sunday, 3 of those families we are teaching came to church!!! 

And I think teaching little kids the Gospel is definetly my favorite thing ever!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed conference! I sure did, I was able to watch 4/5 sessions in SPANISH! It was tough but worked out, this whole English assignment is fun but I am excited to back into the spanish trenches!!!

2 Nefi 9

Much love

Eldery Sandyberrg

Good Week!

April 1, 2024

We had transfers! 

My new comp speaks portuguese so he understands spanish and I understand Portugese so it's awesome sauce!!!

Peace and Love!

2 nephi 2 is my invitation for you great folks to read. The adversary's desire is for us to be miserable! But listen to Lehi's desire/Intention:... for the Welfare of our souls. Now if an inperfect Father of 4 boys has that intention for the WHOLE human Race. How much more magnificent is the Intention of our Loving Father which is in Heaven.

Now, I invite you to ponder: How can you, Share the Gospel this week!?

March 18, 2024

 It was an excelent week! Very busy and FULL but great, MLC was Tuesday (Rad meeting with all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders) and is always a blessing to be a part of.

Intereviews with President was a joy, he said he eas proud of me and I almost began to cry. Combined district council was a success. We tried something new, instrad of trainings and that we had a big council and before hand we presented all the important applicable things we learned from MLC and on the district council day we discussed them and made action items of how to apply it with the whole Zone. We think it went well although I am still learning how to be a ZL so its trial and error with all things.

 An Elder we live With: Elder Bradshaw once said: " there is no failing, just learning" and I love that, thats exactly what repentance is. This week we found 1 new friend! Her name is Gabby Quiroz she is the daughter of Brother Martin Quiroz, a less active member. Now 3 weeks ago we visited Bro Quiroz and began to meet with him then we asked the CRUCIAL question that every missionary needs to be good at asking:

 "Is there anyone else who would like to hear the message?" I love that question because it is so true! The Gospel is for everyone. 

He said: "well, the daughters are asleep and.. hold on..." gets up and drags his wife over and sits her down (not forcefully just in a very loving way) we began to teach. Fast forward to this week: same deal we meet with Bro Quiroz and we asked that magical question.... gets up brings his daughter over. Gabby is very sweet and enjoyed the visit, and the Coolest part about it Bro Quiroz has come back to church two weeks in a row!! and on wednesday we had a good discussion about Elders Quorum. Anyway Longer story short, you never know who is interested especially when you present the gospel in such a confident way explaining how it will only bless the person. 

Bro Quiroz opened up to us and said his one regret in life is not teaching his Family and Daughters the gospel because he said that his happiest times in his life were when he was a kid in the Church.

The Church is true, life is awesome! Seek and ye shall find. If you look for the negative it will be found in abundance! Same deal if you look for the GOOD, life is only sucky if you say its sucky. Its about your perspective. English work has been fun; there are a lot of members here that speak spanish, especially Bro Ovando, we are best friends now... i need to take a picture with him... hes about 75ish and full of energy, hes from Guatemala!

Other news! Our friend Richie is progressing well! We set a baptismal date for march 30th! We said: Richie, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised by someone who holds the authority of God on March 30th?

He said: "Yes Elder Sandberg, Yes Elder Butterfield, Yes Brother Bergmann I will be baptised!" Such a neat experience. He has come to church the past 5 weeks in a row and we have met with him every tuesday and thursday! 

If you are going through a hard time, the church is definitly the best place to start.

Faith proceeds the miracle! 

I love you guys!

Alma 34:32-34

1 nephi 28:1-4

Ether 12:4

¿Como quieres construir tu barco?

 ¿De la manera del Padre Celestial o del mundo?

Love

      Elder Sandberg.

Nuevamente, bien ocupadito

Big busy this week once again

Peace and Love Bros and Sistas!

Lots of Exchanges with some very fine Elders! 19 months is around the corner, its been tough but im so very grateful for every second, im loving the people and seeing miracles, its all about being humble, building, encouraging, listening ALOT ALOT, relying on the the spirit, putting your shoulder to the wheel!

Down shift clutch feather and keep her on the pipe!

We have been praying ALOT! Dont forget to pray, we need him every hour, we arent cabable to do it alone :))

I invite you to rwad 1 nephi 16, look for nephis example and look for lamans example!

Peace and Love

Elder Sandyberg

Buenas noches!!!

February 26, 2024

An excellent and productive and Busy week!

Not much time for a long email this week, the Zone is doing well

The church is true, missions are tough but tough things are great things!!!

We had an exchange with Elder Heaton hes a fine Elder who is growing and progressing, he will be a great leader!

Time is slipping througg my fingers

Alma 17:3

Jacob 6:12

1 nefi 3:7

Love Elder Sandberg