Email for 8-30-10

Remember folks - Dad says I shouldn't edit these, so you get what we get. This kills the teacher in me, but you get a better sense of Mark's enthusiam. enjoy!! The Mom

i suck at journal writing so i figure i better keep track somehow. but to let you know how bad at writing and updating i am. we had a baptism on saturday of Millie Minor. she is like our grandma. she is so awesome! we've been teaching her for about 4 1/2 months but we also have a baptism on wednesday for Scott Peachee he is an Eternigator. he's been investigating the church and has known its true for about 6 years. his only problem was smoking. he said he's seen many many many many many missionaries and they have all tried to get him baptised. but he will remember us because well (elder empey and i are rather blunt sometimes and we pretty much told him to put up or shut up. he says its what he needed. i love this area. all of the branch members love us. they say that we have been the best missionaries they've had in about 2 years because we are both real people. because we dont project ourselves to be perfect or something. so its nice. but i love you guys sooooo much too. philius has messaged me once a week and i guess he's picking up longboarding O_O wow right?? but everything is fun here in lebanon. OH MAN!!!! TRANSFERS IS ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AND ONE OF US IS LEAVING FOR SURE!!! BUT THE DAY BEFORE TRANSFERS.......................................... THE FIRST LITTLE CAESARS IS OPENING HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and next monday is going to be really super fun. we are going to spend some time over at the Milakovics for LaborDay/Pday and play some football and BARBEQUE!!!! i'll send some pics sooner or later. hope ya'll are doing well. i dont have an accent yet but i do say some words funny already. but HAVE A SUPER RAD WEEK!!!!!

Email for 8-26-10

So this week was pretty good. Thank you for your prayers. i need them a lot. anywho im writing today instead of yesterday because zone conference was yesterday.Elder Golden from south africa came and spoke to us. it was so cool!! we are spiritually drained today just because IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!! he talked a lot about not assuming things because "when you assume.... it makes an ass out of you and me" that stunned a lot of people but i was laughing pretty hard. anywho it was way fun. i talked with all my mission buddies, and we ate pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. then we came back into the chapel and Elder Golden taught some more. i didnt take notes this time. i was just reveling in the spirit. it was sooo amazing. anywho so i met my little brother Elder Aguerra. he my trainers new trainee. but everything is going well here i love the work. on a side note i hurt my back somehow so i've been taking it kind of easy this past week. i dont know how i did but i've been hurting. will you guys send me letters from time to time?? its nice to get mail during the week instead of just on monday. and so guess what........ i lost my camera again...... i always lose it. anywho ot much else to say besides I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

L-dur swanson

Pictures From Lebanon (pronounced Lebanin) IN

Mark in a tank and hanging out w/ a hairless rat. Random


Mark w/ the Swain Family. Youngest - Brandon Swain. They look like they get along well.


A tornado siren, Elders watching a storm, and Bro. Osbourne - who calls Mark's parents regularly to let us know how much he loves Elder Swanson. Bro. Osbourne is 95 years young.



Indy clean up day.

Mark's companion - Elder Empey

Email for 8-9-10

Exciting news this week. 2 of our investigators, Mike and Amanda are getting MARRIED!!!!!! he proposed last wednesday and they are getting married Sept 19th THIS YEAR!!!!!! AWESOMENESS!!!!! so we are dropping one of our investigators this week as well. his name is roger and he isnt ready for the gospel. it sucks so bad. we've been teaching him for a long time. longer than i've been here in lebanin. but it just isnt working.

anywho guess what?!?!?! For Elder Empey and i alone........... THE LORD OF THE RINGS SOUNDTRACK IS APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! i love that soundtrack so much. so send me some pics of ya'll again, so i can put some in my scriptures!!! love you guys lots and have an awesome week!!!!

Love,
Marko

Email for 8-2-10

Not much new here. im in lebanon for another 6 weeks. the branch members say they love us!!! they had a spell of lamo dry missionaries or something i guess so its nice to be liked. umm oh yea im starting to weight lift in the mornings and do lots of sit ups/pushups. and im starting to eat healthy too. no more kraft mac n cheese or microwave burritos. just fruit, chicken, salad, yogurt and stuff like that. but im excited to start losing a bit of weight and get some muscle. thats all really. im for real going to send a letter with a bajillion pictures this week, but I love you guys!!!!!!

Elder Swanson