Dear Family,
Thanks for all the letters, it was good to hear from you. Glad to hear you went to the cabin! I love going to the cabin. We are teaching fake investigators every day we have to teach and get them baptized, it is hard. I have gotten so many blessings already and will continue to get more. We have 10 people in our district. A district is who you are in class with and when we have district meetings we talk about a bunch of things. Everything we do, we do as a district, when we go to the temple we go as a district. Everyone in my district is going to the Philippines! People can be going to different missions as long as they are learning the same language. I have not got to be a greeter yet, maybe next week. One of our teachers served in the Manila Mission, he said they have no hot water anywhere and that people don't use toilet paper. He did say we will be able to get it, just the Filipinos don't use it. He also says you shower with a bucket of water and a ladle! So I guess I am in for a treat!!! I also have to take my own water bottle with a purifier in it.
I hope all is going well back home. It was pretty cool to talk to Dale Bowman, he is a funny feller. I hope Grandpa and Grandma are doing well, tell Grandma I miss her and think of her every day. Keep me updated on Parker and his football games. I am glad to hear they are starting the Payson Temple. Take care and I can't wait to see you all again.
Love Elder Swenson
Elder Landon David Swenson
Friday, September 23, 2011
Life in the MTC
The Missionary Maffia
Elder Stauffer, Elder Swenson, Elder Stauffer
Elder's from Spanish Fork and Salem all in
the MTC at the same time.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
M.T.C. I am Still Here
Hello Family,
How is everybody doing? Things are going pretty good over here at the MTC. I went to the temple again this morning, it was awesome as always. No better way to start the day. The language is really hard. Everyday they just show us more rules and more ways to speak it. I pray for the gift of tounges like 10 times a day. I think it's helping! I would like to thank everyone for all the prayers. I can really feel them and all of your love. My companion is Elder Andrew Halterman and he is from Minnesota. There are 12 of us in our district. One left last week and one is leaving today so we will only have 10. I am excited to get out of the MTC, I have about 5 or 6 weeks left. I just know the Philippines will be awesome.
I have really changed since I got here. I have gained a few pounds, I don't drink any chocolate milk or anything. I just drink skim milk (3 glasses for each meal) and water for every meal. I am more spiritual that I thought I would be! You come to realize a lot of things while you are here. I have had lots of spiritual experiences some are just kinda hard to share. We have had some awesome devotional's this last week and we learn so much from them. One brother mentioned that the mission turns a boy into a man and a man into a celestial being. I believe that! It's very true.
Thanks for all the letters and packages they have been great. Grandpa thanks for sending me the article about Granpa Mel. I have heard many great things about him and I wish I could have met him. I will listen to his words and honor my name and make something good out of life. Laurie I like Elder Anderson's Conference talk you sent as well. I look forward to seeing you all again and spending time with you. Thanks for everything , I know I am very blessed to have a wonderful family. The gospel is amazing!!! Fill me in and update me with whatever may be going on. Tell Parks I love him and miss him. I am grateful to be a missionary!!!
Much Love,
Elder Swenson
How is everybody doing? Things are going pretty good over here at the MTC. I went to the temple again this morning, it was awesome as always. No better way to start the day. The language is really hard. Everyday they just show us more rules and more ways to speak it. I pray for the gift of tounges like 10 times a day. I think it's helping! I would like to thank everyone for all the prayers. I can really feel them and all of your love. My companion is Elder Andrew Halterman and he is from Minnesota. There are 12 of us in our district. One left last week and one is leaving today so we will only have 10. I am excited to get out of the MTC, I have about 5 or 6 weeks left. I just know the Philippines will be awesome.
I have really changed since I got here. I have gained a few pounds, I don't drink any chocolate milk or anything. I just drink skim milk (3 glasses for each meal) and water for every meal. I am more spiritual that I thought I would be! You come to realize a lot of things while you are here. I have had lots of spiritual experiences some are just kinda hard to share. We have had some awesome devotional's this last week and we learn so much from them. One brother mentioned that the mission turns a boy into a man and a man into a celestial being. I believe that! It's very true.
Thanks for all the letters and packages they have been great. Grandpa thanks for sending me the article about Granpa Mel. I have heard many great things about him and I wish I could have met him. I will listen to his words and honor my name and make something good out of life. Laurie I like Elder Anderson's Conference talk you sent as well. I look forward to seeing you all again and spending time with you. Thanks for everything , I know I am very blessed to have a wonderful family. The gospel is amazing!!! Fill me in and update me with whatever may be going on. Tell Parks I love him and miss him. I am grateful to be a missionary!!!
Much Love,
Elder Swenson
Friday, September 9, 2011
Elder Swenson & Dale Bowman
Laurie answered the phone today at work and the caller said this is "Dale Bowman, you will never guess what happened yesterday. What happend? I was working at the MTC and went into a room I thought was empty and found 2 Elder's studying. One Elder said are you from Salem? and in the Tabernacle Choir? I met Elder Swenson and took a picture for Grandpa Vaud. He looks great, has a great spirit and loves serving the Lord" I can't believe he recognized me, Laurie told him he has been to Salem Days and that Dale is "famous." Thanks for sharing this Dale!!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Advice to the Little Brother
September 2, 2011
Parker,
Hey buddy, how are you doing? I sure do miss you. I hope that football is going good for you. Remember what I told you the last time I talked to you? I told you 2 words, that I don't want you to ever forget. Always listen to Mom. Tell her thanks for everything she does. Always do your homework, I promise if you can learn how to work hard when you are young you will be very happy when you get older! Remember to practice your baseball as well. I miss you lots.
Love Ya,
Elder Swenson
P.S.
Here's 3 letters
A- Attitude
D- Discipline
E- Effort
Parker,
Hey buddy, how are you doing? I sure do miss you. I hope that football is going good for you. Remember what I told you the last time I talked to you? I told you 2 words, that I don't want you to ever forget. Always listen to Mom. Tell her thanks for everything she does. Always do your homework, I promise if you can learn how to work hard when you are young you will be very happy when you get older! Remember to practice your baseball as well. I miss you lots.
Love Ya,
Elder Swenson
P.S.
Here's 3 letters
A- Attitude
D- Discipline
E- Effort
Week 3
September 2, 2011
Hello Family!
I am just sitting in the MTC on this beautiful Friday morning. I had the chance to go to the temple. That's always a good start to the day! I have lots to do and really busy but I love serving the Lord. Missionary work is amazing and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Last Tuesday Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to all the Missionaries. It was the most spiritual experience I have ever had! I was crying the whole time and it was just incredible. I wish you all could have been here an experienced it. I took notes on it so I will send them home and you can get a feel for what was said. I have learned so much here, I know the Lord blesses the missionaries in so many ways. We are teaching people in Tagalog almost everyday. It's really hard but the spirit always takes over and it always goes well. I love you all and miss you all so much. I will send some pictures home and some things that I don't really need. Give me the scoop on things and let everyone know that I am doing really good! It's is not always easy but nothing is better in the world than this. It's a roller coaster every single day, but it's a good kind. Thanks for all the letters and support, it means so much that I have such a wonderful family and friends. I am so blessed. I am glad to hear you only have to buy 4 gallons of milk instead of 10, that is one plus of me being gone!!!! Tell everyone that I love them and I am thinking about them. You are all in my prayers, Thanks for everything. The gospel of Jesus Christ is Amazing and I love being a missionary. I can't wait to get to the Philippines. LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Swenson
Hello Family!
I am just sitting in the MTC on this beautiful Friday morning. I had the chance to go to the temple. That's always a good start to the day! I have lots to do and really busy but I love serving the Lord. Missionary work is amazing and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Last Tuesday Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to all the Missionaries. It was the most spiritual experience I have ever had! I was crying the whole time and it was just incredible. I wish you all could have been here an experienced it. I took notes on it so I will send them home and you can get a feel for what was said. I have learned so much here, I know the Lord blesses the missionaries in so many ways. We are teaching people in Tagalog almost everyday. It's really hard but the spirit always takes over and it always goes well. I love you all and miss you all so much. I will send some pictures home and some things that I don't really need. Give me the scoop on things and let everyone know that I am doing really good! It's is not always easy but nothing is better in the world than this. It's a roller coaster every single day, but it's a good kind. Thanks for all the letters and support, it means so much that I have such a wonderful family and friends. I am so blessed. I am glad to hear you only have to buy 4 gallons of milk instead of 10, that is one plus of me being gone!!!! Tell everyone that I love them and I am thinking about them. You are all in my prayers, Thanks for everything. The gospel of Jesus Christ is Amazing and I love being a missionary. I can't wait to get to the Philippines. LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Swenson
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