Happy New Year

Hello!

It has been a little while since the holidays. As for me, things are going really well. My heart is full each day and I am so thankful for the things I have. The opportunity to do even the smallest thing for somebody is a wonderful blessing in my eyes I have realized so much and opened my eyes in so many different ways. I love being a missionary!!

I will catch you up to date with a couple of stories. This is a funny one. So a few weeks ago my two companions and I were cleaning out this apartment because transfers were coming up and new missionaries were gonna be living there. So it was in the evening and dark outside and the zone leaders drove past the apartment and saw some light on and they knew nobody was living in that apartment. So the called my companion to see if we were that and we were like no you better go see who is there. So my companion put on his huge rain jacket that was black and it almost went all the way down to his feet. Then he put this black thing over his head and picked up a baseball bat in the corner. The missionaries outside saw people moving inside so they were way scared and my companion opened the door and started going at them and they started backing away and it was the funniest thing I have ever seen. You had to be there, because the area is rough. I guess I would have been scared to.

We went Christmas caroling right before Christmas, it was good to sing some Christmas songs and bring the spirit of Christmas to San Diego. I am not used to 70 degrees during Christmas time. I almost forget it was Christmas. One day we were doing some missionary work and one of the member by the name of Tony Gomez came with us to see his home teaching family that was having some really tough times. Tony is 38 years old, he used to be involved in gangs and involved in drugs but has been a member for 2 years now. He has no car and does not really have much at all. He lives in an apartment and just started going to college. On the way home from visiting the members that had just lost his job and a whole bunch of money. Brother Tony said you know what guys I am grateful I haven't got nothing because nobody can take nothing from me. He has the gospel and he is the happiest he has ever been and will be. He said he does not want money or anything because he wouldn't know what to do with it. So as that day went on I kept pondering about that and will never forget what he said. Not saying that I don't want to have a car, money and other things but just think about that.

I have been eating lot of Filipino food and it's weird but I am getting used to it. I have ate some weird things. Ya'll need to try balut...it's super good;) If you don't know what it is... I highly recommend you look it up on google I have also had clams and squid and thare are not so good. I had goat and it was not to bad.

If any of you come to San Diego you need to go to the church historic site in Old Town San Diego. It's a really neat place and you get to take an awesome tour so yeah. They put a whole bunch of Christmas lights on the temple during the holidays so we were able to get a few investigators to go the temple to see the lights!! A few weeks ago we went to Pacific Beach and walked down the beach. We didn't go on the sand sadly but we got to see people surf and go in some cool surf shops and take some pics!

Serving in the Filipino branch is a whole new world from a regular ward. They are crazy, the parties they have are something else. We live in Mira Mesa and it is like 70 to 80 percent Filipino. Sometimes I think I am in the Philippines.... We had two baptisms last Saturday and it was an awesome experience. I will fill you in later.

The gospel is soooo true my friends. Whether you think so or not...I know!! I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the guidance and protection it provides. As we lived the gospel it will take us to higher ground. We need to heed the prophet and his teachings. The world is spinning out of control but members of the church of Jesus Christ do not have to worry. I love you ALL May peace be with you all, today and forever!!!

Elder Swenson