The Wilkins' baptism day.

Bill's baptism day.

Hair cut day w/ Sis. Stover.

Mark waiting his turn in true Mark fashion.

2 phone calls from Indiana this week.

The 1st one to say that Mark's $150 Walmart bike fell apart (surprise) and that he needed more $ to buy a bike off a missionary going home. They are going to use all the parts from Mark's broken bike and another Elder's bike to make a new bike for soemone else. "So it's all good mom. We're helping someone else."

The second call was from Bro. Osbourne in the branch where Mark is serving. He wanted us to know how much he appreciates Mark - for being a good missionary and a good teacher. What a treat for us.

:) the mom

Promised Pictures

Clinton's Baptism Day.

Email from 7-6-10

We have a new mission president his name is President Collins!!!! He is so awesome!!! Everything is changing!!!!!!! They are adding more to Preach my Gospel and changing/adding some things!!!!! but thanks for everything mom!!!! i love you so much!!!!!! I'll send another email next tuesday and a letter too!!!!!!

I LOVE PRESIDENT BURDETTE(atake pres. in his old area - who called us (the mom and dad) to tell us what a great person/missionary Mark is) !!!! WOOHOO CARE PACKAGE!!!!! so anywho, nothing really new, except one of our investigator is in prison now. Charges will soon be dropped. We are seeing him in there for a half an hour today so wish us luck. OH OH OH HEY!!!!!!
elder Swanson

p.s. SAY HI TO PHILIUS FROM ME!!!!!
Phillip flew home from France today - arriving at 10:06 p.m.

Mom's response to email sent 6-29-10

Mark didn't want his actual email posted this week. He's feeling frustrated. Much like in the times when Christ was on the earth, those who actually listen to and embrace the good news of the gospel are those that have sunk to the depths of despair and need God’s tender mercies most – sinners (aren’t we all). To a missionary, this is a wonderful blessing to be able to lift, comfort and help “lost” souls come unto Christ and by so doing help them turn their lives around, find happiness and become givers in the society instead of takers. So what’s the problem? Just like in Christ’s earthly time – those already in the church – born in the church – often see these humble souls only by the labels society has put upon them – druggies, felons, etc. – not worthy of our association or support. They sometimes forget what it means to be Christian and act like the Pharisees and Sadducees, looking down on those sorry, unworthy ones. Mark – who loves ALL PEOPLE can’t understand why some in his local congregation are not more welcoming. Which give us all a chance to ponder…. Am I seeing this person in front of me as God would see him/her? Am I lifting or putting down? Are we not all sinners, dependant on the Lord’s mercies? Do we not want to forgive and nurture others so that the Lord will forgive and nurture us? I’m grateful Mark was born with the gift of love for all mankind. He has overcome many challenges in his life and knows he would be nothing without the forgiveness and healing of God. He knows he will make many more mistakes – as we all will – and trusts that if he does his best, the Lord will forgive, strengthen him and help him be a better man. He gets it. That’s all a parent could ask. Thanks for being supportive friends and examples of Christlike behavior.
Sincerely,
Marjean, The Mom

email sent June 22, 2010

Hi Everyone!!

I’m now in Lebanon Indiana!!!!! Everyone calls it Lebanin because they don’t want to be confused with the "terrorist country" it’s kind of funny. Last night sucked!!!!!!!!! We got home and planned, and then we saw some sort of light flashing outside. So we went outside and off in the distance it looked kind of like a whole lot of fireworks were going off!!! UNTIL WE FOUND OUT IT WAS LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!! Lightning was spider webbing across the sky like mad! It wasn’t dark for more than 2 seconds at a time!!!!! And it was loud!!! So just in case we packed some emergency gear, watched it for a bit then around 11:30 we crashed. Around 2:30 in the morning I woke up randomly, I lay in bed trying to get back to sleep, when the tornado sirens went off!!!!!!! It was so freaky!! So we got dressed and grabbed our stuff and headed to the basement of the apartment, which required RUNNING OUTSIDE INTO A PSYCHOTIC LIGHTNING STORM!!!!!!! We stayed there for a bit. Nothing particularly exciting happened after that but this lighting storm lasted from about 10:15 at night until 5:00 in the morning!!! It was freaky!!!

So anyway, my new comps name is Elder Empey (just remember military police, MP) he is awesome!! He is from Idaho Falls Idaho!!!! This transfer is going to be so awesome!!!!! We get along even better than Elder Ricks and I did. A cool thing that’s happening is we have a wedding date coming up soon for Will and Tammi!!! The area’s sweet black couple that loves the gospel, has three crazy kids, and wants to be baptized!!!!!! So their wedding is on July 24th!!!! I get to go to my first wedding of the mission!!!! Cool eh?? The branch is awesome!!! We get fed almost every night. But the girls here are crazy!!!!!! They don’t even try to hide the flirting!!! It’s like they want us to falter!!! I guess wanting a missionary is good but a missionary that would do something like that isn’t worth anything!!!! It’s insane!!!

Anywho me address is:

318 N Jameson St
Lebanon, IN, 46052

So hope you guys have an awesome week!!!!! LOVE YA!!!!

Elder Swanson