7-25-11 Email

elder downs and i are loving this area. we have some great investigators. im finally learning how to have an open conversation with the spirit. and i must say it is fantastic. i love this gospel.

as for updates about me....... hmmm....... not really much to say. besides i am doing well. you could tell everyone that a letter would be nice. i only get letters from one person. and they are fantastic letters. but no one else has written me in a while.

tell everyone i love them and to go give somone a freakin book of mormon dangit!! wow...... i should use the back space but i wont.

missionary work as of august 10th is being overhauled. the new program they implemented here will now be fully implemented and is going to require the members to do missionary work. not just hand out pass along cards or give somebody a dvd. but to actually step forward and invite people to meet with the elders. 5 from elders quorom, 5 from relief society, 5 from high priests, 5 from young mens, and 5 from young womens. it also says the elders should be teaching 20 lessons a week minimum. boy would that be nice.

the branch here is doing excellent at implementing the program. its all relatively new but they are getting in the swing of things. i love this branch. this is probably my favorite area in the entire mission. anyways im going to run. have fun talking in church and i'll write again on monday!!!

elder swanson

News for 7-18-11

Mark accidentally washed a RED pen with his white load in the morning and had to spend the rest of the day getting the stains out. Some wonderful person helped him not only get the pen out, but his whites have never been whiter. :)

From his letter: the work is going well. i love this area. we met with the salvitiis last night(sister salvitii is like my mom out here) we are pretty close. she is probably one of the people i will love forever from indiana. i love this place. its rather small but i could live here.

tell phil to taze some people for me.

elder downs and i were talking yesterday and we think we received some revelation as to what was going to happen next transfer. if it comes true. pray for me please. im not the best example of a loving person when it comes down to some things, but im going to have to start. if our predictions come true.

again i wasnt trying to offend anyone with my opinions but as you all know, i've always been open about my opinions. anyway have a good week.

love
elder swanson

Email 7-5-11 Back in Lebanon - one year later.

hmmm. so yesterday was super fun. we spent all day with the salvitti family the milakovic family and the snyder family. it was a blast.

so we just had district meeting that was sweet. tons of revelation flowing. something interesting though is your comment on with blessings come demands. i feel 10 times more mature and prepared to help the branch out than last year. everyone keeps telling me im quiet compared to what i used to be. im pretty excited to be working here again. the work is already going super well. we talked to a guy named wes the other day, we were walking and almost just passed him and his family when the spirit turned us around and we went and talked to him. his dad just died 2 months ago and he is feeling really lost. we talked a bit about the plan of salvation and eternal families with him and he invited us over on thursday of this week to sit down and teach more about it. we also found another 2 solid potential investigators that day. is it not amazing to see how the lord prepares us? im so glad i came on a mission. it has helped me get my priorities in line and also helped me grow up finally. i love this gospel. there is so much power in prayer and through scripture study. hmmm. anyway not much else to report but have a super week!!!! love you guys!!!!

Elder Swanson