Updates from Jacob....
Dear Family,
I think mom used the right words when she said the week flew by. Elder
Mudrow and I had about 4 days this week were when we walked in the
door at 9:30 PM we both said "where did today go?". I love it and at the
same time it is super hard to catch up on sleep so our body are really
starting to feel it. Ok so now for the week which I am sorry if it is
not all that long because I really can't remember that much of it.
Tuesday we had our district meeting and Elder Faamoe taught a lesson
about it is important that we learn how to teach people, not lessons.
Over here sometimes missionary s get the idea that the number of
lessons is more important than the quality of the lesson. We are not
here to teach lots of lessons. We are here to help people come unto
Christ. It was good for the district to think about all the lessons
they teach in that way.
Wednesday Elder Mudrow and I have become the Branch Home Teachers for
real. We spend most of our time each day going to each and every
member in the area we are in and we visit them and see how they are
doing. Then we see if they need any help and we share a verse with
them to so that they can feel the spirit after we leave. It has really
been sad to see that even when we do all we can to help people
sometimes they still chose not to come back to the fold. But as
missionaries all we can do is invite and remind them that God is
waiting for them to do their part and they need to step up.
Thursday I was able to go on splits with Elder Faamoe. He is serving
in Guimbal and he is kinda new in the mission, he has been out about 7
months. He is from Samoa and we both get along really well, I don't
know what it is about Island people but we click. It is always a
complement when they say "if you came to my place my family would love
you and not try to kill you" hahaha for me it feels good to know that
I can get along with all kinds of people. We had a good day full of
Hood rat things or playing Basketball with little kids and helping as
many people as we could with chores. As always super fun and when we
got home it was strait to the workout so that when we get home we look
good for all the ladies. I forgot to mention that he was a
professional Rugby player in Samoa so the mission was a huge life
change for him so its always sick to see someone who is willing to
give it all up to serve the Lord.
The rest of the week was full of being punted and teaching all the
less actives we could find. With Transfers coming up I have this
feeling in my stomach that I am out of here so I am really trying to
give it my all to get just one more baptism. Tigbauan has really been
the hardest test a missionary could ask for. We work day in and day
out but the work seems to stay the same, just like the people. This
area is famous for having the rudest people in the whole island
because the Catholic church is so strong here. Just the other day we
met a woman and she said the Pastor at her church told her that
Missionary are just Satan in nice clothes so when we get close the
members should tell us to leave. I hope that someday the people here
will wake up and see that the truth has been right in front of them
the whole time. But one thing is for sure the missionaries will be
here through the good and the bad, the rain and shine.
I love you all,
Elder Swanton
I think mom used the right words when she said the week flew by. Elder
Mudrow and I had about 4 days this week were when we walked in the
door at 9:30 PM we both said "where did today go?". I love it and at the
same time it is super hard to catch up on sleep so our body are really
starting to feel it. Ok so now for the week which I am sorry if it is
not all that long because I really can't remember that much of it.
Tuesday we had our district meeting and Elder Faamoe taught a lesson
about it is important that we learn how to teach people, not lessons.
Over here sometimes missionary s get the idea that the number of
lessons is more important than the quality of the lesson. We are not
here to teach lots of lessons. We are here to help people come unto
Christ. It was good for the district to think about all the lessons
they teach in that way.
Wednesday Elder Mudrow and I have become the Branch Home Teachers for
real. We spend most of our time each day going to each and every
member in the area we are in and we visit them and see how they are
doing. Then we see if they need any help and we share a verse with
them to so that they can feel the spirit after we leave. It has really
been sad to see that even when we do all we can to help people
sometimes they still chose not to come back to the fold. But as
missionaries all we can do is invite and remind them that God is
waiting for them to do their part and they need to step up.
Thursday I was able to go on splits with Elder Faamoe. He is serving
in Guimbal and he is kinda new in the mission, he has been out about 7
months. He is from Samoa and we both get along really well, I don't
know what it is about Island people but we click. It is always a
complement when they say "if you came to my place my family would love
you and not try to kill you" hahaha for me it feels good to know that
I can get along with all kinds of people. We had a good day full of
Hood rat things or playing Basketball with little kids and helping as
many people as we could with chores. As always super fun and when we
got home it was strait to the workout so that when we get home we look
good for all the ladies. I forgot to mention that he was a
professional Rugby player in Samoa so the mission was a huge life
change for him so its always sick to see someone who is willing to
give it all up to serve the Lord.
The rest of the week was full of being punted and teaching all the
less actives we could find. With Transfers coming up I have this
feeling in my stomach that I am out of here so I am really trying to
give it my all to get just one more baptism. Tigbauan has really been
the hardest test a missionary could ask for. We work day in and day
out but the work seems to stay the same, just like the people. This
area is famous for having the rudest people in the whole island
because the Catholic church is so strong here. Just the other day we
met a woman and she said the Pastor at her church told her that
Missionary are just Satan in nice clothes so when we get close the
members should tell us to leave. I hope that someday the people here
will wake up and see that the truth has been right in front of them
the whole time. But one thing is for sure the missionaries will be
here through the good and the bad, the rain and shine.
I love you all,
Elder Swanton