Mon 4/25/2011 10:42 AM

Hey everyone,

This week was a crazy week for us here in Passaic. On Tuesday we took one of the youth out with us and a new convert. The people we were going to see were not home so we wanted to do some knocking. My companion and the new convert knocked one side of the street and I knocked the other side with the youth and we said we will meet at the car at 5:45pm. When it got to 5:45 Alex and I got to the car and saw my companion and the new convert down talking to a police officer. We walked down to see what was going on. I guess some lady called the police, after they knocked on her door, and the police said we can't solicit without a licence to do so. My companion didn't have his ID on him so they wanted to take him in to get finger prints done and when my ID got scanned it said felon so I almost got arrested and my companion taken in also. They let us go after about an hour of asking questions. It was a fun day. The next morning - on Wednesdays and Thursdays they sweep the streets and each day they do one side and each day at a different day. Really each street in the city has a day. So for two hours you can't be parked on that side at that time. It's really confusing. So I woke up to a $50 parking ticket on Wednesday. Wow what a week. On Wednesday we were able to find a single mom with 3 kids. Two of the kids are old enough to get baptized. We shared the restoration and they loved it. We are going to set them with a baptismal date this week. On Friday we had a wonderful zone conference. It was a great experience. We are really working as a mission on teaching simply. We also are getting some flooding here with all the rain we have been getting. On Sunday I was able to talk to my last companion in Princeton and the three kids we have been teaching were baptized yesterday. It's great to be able to see that family, that was once less-active, now all be strong members again. This week I have come to learn how important this work really is and that nothing can stop the work from moving forward.

Sincerely,

Elder Tyler Sanders

Mon 4/18/2011 8:43 AM

Hey,

Well I am now serving in Passaic and live in Paterson with the Paterson Elders. It's fun having two companionships in the same apartment. My NEW ADDRESS is 963 E. 27th st. 2nd floor Paterson, NJ 07513. The New York Giants stadium is in my area. It's such a nice stadium. We live not too far from Newark and New York. We can see New York from our area. I am excited because in June we go to the temple again and we are a lot closer than Princeton. I do miss the Princeton ward. This is a really poor and dirty area. Reminds me of Mexico. It's mostly Spanish so the Spanish missionaries here have lots of work to do. This week we went to a Chinese buffet and we tried trype aka. sheep intestant. Wow is that nasty. Yesterday we went to an investigators house for dinner and it was really good. But they had pigs feet. I wasn't a fan of that. Really fatty and not for me. I am excited to see what else that is wierd I will be eating here. I am sad that next week I wont be there for the 4 baptisms on sunday in princeton. We have lots of investigators here but nothing really happening right now. I am not to excited about this area. Yesterday at church, I didn't really enjoy being in a branch and only 80 people at church on a good day. I would much rather be in a ward. Not much to write about - I am sorry.

Elder Sanders

Mon 4/11/2011 9:27 AM

Hey,

Well, tomorrow is tranfer conference and I am being transfered so next week I will let you know where I am and my address. I am excited to be going to a new area but also sad to leave Princeton. I love the area and the ward. On Easter we have 4 baptisms set and at least 3 of them will happen for sure but all 4 look good as of right now. The work here is great and we are staying very busy. Many good things happening. About 3 more baptisms to follow so it's hard to move on but I guess the Lord needs me somewhere else. Other then that not too much is going on. I really enjoyed conferince. I don't like this whole marriage thing they kept talking about though. I am a missionary and don't want to be thinking about that yet. I am excited for that day but it's coming faster then what I would like. Life just moves way too fast. I am sorry I don't have more to say. I hope all is well.

Elder Sanders

Easter Testimony

I would like to invite any who would like to leave a comment, with your testimony, for Elder Sanders to read for Easter. Not only does the sharing of your testimony help strengthen you but it helps to sustain and srengthen the missionaries as they recognize that they are not alone. On behalf of Elder Sanders, we wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope you have a wonderful time with family celebrating the Resurrection of the Savior.

Heidi Sanders

Carl Bloch

I wanted to share a little of a letter I am sending to Elder Sanders for Easter:
This picture is one of Carl Bloch’s that we viewed at BYU and one of my favorites because without the Atonement there was no need for the Resurrection. And when I pause and reflect about how painful and difficult life’s experiences are and often it seems that the burden is too much to bear and that Christ took upon himself those feelings and burdens for everyone, it becomes even more astonishing that He was able to accomplish it and increases my understanding of why his body bled from every pore. The weight of his suffering was so intense and He had to endure it until He felt that it was accomplished. And it was so great that an angel from Heaven had to come down and sustain Him. Even on the cross He recognized when the work was done and then gave up His spirit.


What I love about Carl Bloch’s works is his ability to express through color, shadow, texture, deeper meaning behind the scriptures. He understood the scriptures on a deeper level and went beyond the surface. The Savior understood his audience no matter if it was a woman at the well who was seeking healing and guidance because of her suffering. That is why I love that picture. It was not coincidence that the Savior approached her. The Savior knew her and new the desires of her heart and came to her in answer to her prayers because she suffered greatly. He knew the man at the pools of Bethesda and knew the desires of his heart. He knew his audience, whether they were the hardened hearts of the Sanhedrin or the Pharisees or Sadducees. He knew the heart of the blind man and the woman who touched his robe. I would encourage you to pray that you might know the hearts of the people you come into contact with, that you might know what they need; that you might see beyond the surface clothing, the anger, and understand the sin and suffering. By understanding your audience you will yield greater power through the Spirit and become a great tool in the hands of the Lord.
I leave with you my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that it has been restored in these latter-days. That Christ is our Redeemer and suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for all the pains and heartaches that each of us endures and that our pains go deeper than just sin. That he knows the desires of our hearts and the burdens we are asked to bear. That He was resurrected and we have the joyous opportunity to share that testimony to the world and extend a hand to others that are seeking and looking for healing. I know the challenges and the discouragement that you face but also the great joy that comes from missionary service. No other service that we do brings the blessings and joy that comes from missionary service.

Love,
Heidi