Updates from Jacob....
Dear Family,
Well, I will just jump into the week and see how things go. This week
was spiritually uplifting for me and it has really shown me what I am
doing over here no matter how slow or challenging the work gets.
So Tuesday we had District Meeting and it was a great time. I taught
how we need to take the Sabbath day more seriously especially over
here on the mission. How can we teach about these things that we
should not do on Sunday if we as missionaries do them all the time? We
all had a great talk about how we can set the example in all that we
do over here. Tuesday night we had half of the zone at our house
because the next morning we all needed to be at the mission office at
7:30 am and that is not easy for the far areas. It was good to be able
to catch up with Elder Larson and see what has been happening to him
over in Miag-ao.
Wednesday we had our Mission Tour. That is where a member of the Seventy
comes and talks to us about how we can improve and what we need to do
to become the best mission in the world. Anyway it was also really
cool because I got to see a ton of the elders and sisters from my
batch and the other zones. After we had all settled down and were
waiting for the Seventy to get there, we found out that it was going to be
Elder Bowen who would be training us. When he arrived we all went
outside to take pictures and then his wife gave a training to the
sisters and the elders about when we go home, how will we chose a good
person to marry, and how we can take the mission experiences and put
them into our lives when we get home. I really love when they do that
because I think that every day is preparation for the real world back
home. Elder Bowen trained about three steps to help us have a
successful mission. I had what you would call an epiphany. He told us
that it is the simple rules that most Elders don't follow that hold us
back from miracles. One, we all need to arise at 6:30 am and when he
said arise it not just wake up! It's be ready for the day at 6:30. I
know that it is true. When I wake up at that time and work out I am not
tired or lazy that day I just want to get after it. Two, always do
daily planning even when you are very tired, just do it. Me and the
comp have been doing that for a long time. We feel when you plan the
night before for the most part the plans will go through but they
always have the chance of not working. But it's good to be prepared.
Three is to use time wisely. I did not come all the way over here to
sit in the house and not go out and talk to people. He really went
after the lazy elders in the mission. If we want to waste time then we
should wait till it's ours to waste.
After his training, he came up to me and asked to speak with me in 30
minutes in the president's office. I was really nervous at first
because I was like I hope I have not done anything. It was funny
because this has been the hardest I have worked in my mission so far
and I thought I was in trouble. In the end it was so spiritually
uplifting. He asked me how the mission life has been and about my
family. He seemed to be trying to get a feeling for the mission and I
hope that I was able to give it to him. All in all it was a great
interview and I really have liked this new energy for missionary work
after it. It was funny when the two of us walked out of the office all
of the elders and sisters were just quiet. I had to tell everyone that
I was not in trouble. He just wanted to talk about the life over here.
Some people still think that I am headed to the office but who knows.
All I know is that the transfer is almost over and that is so cool.
It's almost my year mark and I will be so happy to be half way done!
Friday was a great day. Elder Mudrow and I taught 6 lessons and for us
that is a ton in one day. On our way home, we came to this back ally
that we have never been down. As soon as we headed in, I felt this cold
chill go down my back. Walking toward us were two figures; one was a
Bakla or cross-dresser and the other was a small guy. Elder Mudrow was
walking ahead of me and as he past it I could see that he was
physically shaken. As I walked passed it, I saw it's face and I felt
and knew that this poor person had let one of Satan's servants flow into
it's body. It tried to brush up against me and I pushed it away and it
let out a shrill laugh. Then Elder Mudrow and I were out of there!
It really hurts me that a person can let their life mean so little. I
have never felt that close to the Adversary before. I could tell that
he had control of that person and God had lost His control. After we
were far away, we both prayed for safety and that we could make it
home in one piece. It was a good reminder that we are not the only
ones out here working day and night. Satan is putting in just as many
or sometimes more hours than us. It's our duty as members of this
sacred church to never let him win.
The rest of the week was full of lessons and Elder Mudrow and I
working our butts off. We are leading our zone in lessons every week,
so with hard work will come the blessings, at least that is what we
believe and pray for.
I love you all and just know that the work is true and I am proud to
represent the Lord at this time.
Love, Elder Swanton
Well, I will just jump into the week and see how things go. This week
was spiritually uplifting for me and it has really shown me what I am
doing over here no matter how slow or challenging the work gets.
So Tuesday we had District Meeting and it was a great time. I taught
how we need to take the Sabbath day more seriously especially over
here on the mission. How can we teach about these things that we
should not do on Sunday if we as missionaries do them all the time? We
all had a great talk about how we can set the example in all that we
do over here. Tuesday night we had half of the zone at our house
because the next morning we all needed to be at the mission office at
7:30 am and that is not easy for the far areas. It was good to be able
to catch up with Elder Larson and see what has been happening to him
over in Miag-ao.
Wednesday we had our Mission Tour. That is where a member of the Seventy
comes and talks to us about how we can improve and what we need to do
to become the best mission in the world. Anyway it was also really
cool because I got to see a ton of the elders and sisters from my
batch and the other zones. After we had all settled down and were
waiting for the Seventy to get there, we found out that it was going to be
Elder Bowen who would be training us. When he arrived we all went
outside to take pictures and then his wife gave a training to the
sisters and the elders about when we go home, how will we chose a good
person to marry, and how we can take the mission experiences and put
them into our lives when we get home. I really love when they do that
because I think that every day is preparation for the real world back
home. Elder Bowen trained about three steps to help us have a
successful mission. I had what you would call an epiphany. He told us
that it is the simple rules that most Elders don't follow that hold us
back from miracles. One, we all need to arise at 6:30 am and when he
said arise it not just wake up! It's be ready for the day at 6:30. I
know that it is true. When I wake up at that time and work out I am not
tired or lazy that day I just want to get after it. Two, always do
daily planning even when you are very tired, just do it. Me and the
comp have been doing that for a long time. We feel when you plan the
night before for the most part the plans will go through but they
always have the chance of not working. But it's good to be prepared.
Three is to use time wisely. I did not come all the way over here to
sit in the house and not go out and talk to people. He really went
after the lazy elders in the mission. If we want to waste time then we
should wait till it's ours to waste.
After his training, he came up to me and asked to speak with me in 30
minutes in the president's office. I was really nervous at first
because I was like I hope I have not done anything. It was funny
because this has been the hardest I have worked in my mission so far
and I thought I was in trouble. In the end it was so spiritually
uplifting. He asked me how the mission life has been and about my
family. He seemed to be trying to get a feeling for the mission and I
hope that I was able to give it to him. All in all it was a great
interview and I really have liked this new energy for missionary work
after it. It was funny when the two of us walked out of the office all
of the elders and sisters were just quiet. I had to tell everyone that
I was not in trouble. He just wanted to talk about the life over here.
Some people still think that I am headed to the office but who knows.
All I know is that the transfer is almost over and that is so cool.
It's almost my year mark and I will be so happy to be half way done!
Friday was a great day. Elder Mudrow and I taught 6 lessons and for us
that is a ton in one day. On our way home, we came to this back ally
that we have never been down. As soon as we headed in, I felt this cold
chill go down my back. Walking toward us were two figures; one was a
Bakla or cross-dresser and the other was a small guy. Elder Mudrow was
walking ahead of me and as he past it I could see that he was
physically shaken. As I walked passed it, I saw it's face and I felt
and knew that this poor person had let one of Satan's servants flow into
it's body. It tried to brush up against me and I pushed it away and it
let out a shrill laugh. Then Elder Mudrow and I were out of there!
It really hurts me that a person can let their life mean so little. I
have never felt that close to the Adversary before. I could tell that
he had control of that person and God had lost His control. After we
were far away, we both prayed for safety and that we could make it
home in one piece. It was a good reminder that we are not the only
ones out here working day and night. Satan is putting in just as many
or sometimes more hours than us. It's our duty as members of this
sacred church to never let him win.
The rest of the week was full of lessons and Elder Mudrow and I
working our butts off. We are leading our zone in lessons every week,
so with hard work will come the blessings, at least that is what we
believe and pray for.
I love you all and just know that the work is true and I am proud to
represent the Lord at this time.
Love, Elder Swanton
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