Elder Sanderson Goes on a Mission

 This last week (Feb 5-11), Elder Sanderson stayed truly busy with is service activities. He participated in district council and his Preach My Gospel study group.   He carried loads of gravel as he continues to work on building a sitting place in our woods.(Here is a pic of the sitting area he is working on...featuring Ian's dog Ammon). He helped man the front desk and archiving.  He did his first volunteer shift at the Museum of the Barrens in Glasgow, KY. He did decide, after getting a tour of the storage areas, not to venture there again, after an employee popped out and profoundly startled him.  He assisted in cleaning the chapel.  Last, but not least he drove down to Nashville and did Baptisms for the dead.  This trip was very special as Elder Sanderson performed the ordinance for the first time, baptizing his father. This next week you can all look forward to hearing about his adventures in Louisville as he attends Zone Conference. 

 This last week Elder Sanderson was very busy. He, of course, attended District Council, his Preach My Gospel Study Group, and did daily scripture study. He also helped clean the church again. This week it was especially appreciated as only one person from this week's rotation was able to make it, and as a result they were EXTRA glad to have a hard working Elder come help clean. He continues to work on creating a sitting area in our woods for those who cannot walk the entire distance. He also made another blanket.  He was able to go the museum and Glasgow and get all the paperwork filled out for him to start doing volunteer work there. Last, but certainly not least, he helped get his great-grandpa to medical appointments and go grocery shopping. 

 This last week Elder Sanderson continued to attend his District Council and study group for Preach My Gospel. He made another blanket for foster children, and helped clean the church. He also worked outside helping carry heavy bricks to help create a patio sitting area for those who need to rest when walking through our woods. We are especially excited this week because he has heard back from the Glasgow Museum who are thrilled that he wants to volunteer. We will be filling out the paperwork for that this week! 

 This last week made service both more available and more challenging at the same time. Over the last week we got repeated snow storms, weather as cold as -2 degrees Fahrenheit, icy roads, school closures, library closures, and difficulty even leaving our home. Despite all of that Elder Sanderson moved forward undaunted. Over the last week he attended his weekly district council, his Preach My Gospel Study Group, church services (despite the weather), and his second to last Temple Prep class. He provided service by braving the weather and road conditions to help clean the chapel. He helped make a trip down to Edmonton to get his great grandparents some needed groceries. He also made his first fleece blanket for foster children. His goal is to make one blanket a week, every week of his mission. We are still waiting to hear back from some of his service opportunities such as the Glasgow Museum, and are preparing for his February zone conference. 

Elder Sanderson's first day of his mission started January 7th in the evening as he was set apart as a missionary for service mission at our stake center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Monday morning he faithfully attended his first District Council via Zoom. He picked and led the opening song, and introduced himself to the other service missionaries. Throughout the week he found ways to serve. He helped clean the church. He helped with outside work. Each day he has devoted time, with our family, as he studies the Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, and the missionary handbook. On Wednesday night he joined a Preach My Gospel study group with the other service missionaries. He attended a baptism. We drove down to Bowling Green and picked up his brand new suit. While we were down there we purchased fleece for his service project making blankets for foster children. On Sunday he gave his very first talk. He spoke about faith and the example Nephi set. We look forward to this u...