Anything but routine

Dear Family,

Ok, well this will be a good one for starters, its sounds like things
back home are getting back into the routine of how they should. My
week however has been anything but routine.

Tuesday we had our zone training and it went really well. We showed
the missionary broadcast that we all watched when we did mlc two weeks
ago.The message that we wanted to get across got there and it went
good. After we headed out and taught sister Tess and her family.  We had
a great lesson with them about the plan of salvation and how if she
uses the gospel she can go back to live with her father in heaven.

Wednesday was our day over in Buliloa and Bakaw. It turned out to be
one of the best days in my mission lesson wise. These people are
progressing and they are becoming truly converted to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. The Solimon family wanted to learn how to pay tithing
and they are not even members yet, so our lesson was on how tithing
and fasting can help to call on the powers of God. He is also working
on beating a horrible addiction to smoking. I have watched the spirit
work wonders with this family and it really makes me want to be the
best missionary that I can. Not for me but for all the people that we
teach and meet everyday.

Friday turned out to be a big day for us in so many different ways.
Early in the morning we got a call from the APs that later that day
they would call about transfers. In our mission we will no longer have
transfer day, president will transfer people when ever and were ever
he gets the inspiration. We went out and had a great day of finding
and teaching new people all over the slums of our area. But the
tension was in the air for transfers. Right before the APs called us
our phone died and we were so far away from the apartment, so we
jumped onto a jeep and raced home. When we got home we called and
found out that Elder Robertson would be transferring to Sigma, Roxas
and that means right back into the Mountains. My new comps name was
Elder Crichton a big old Australian. He would be coming down from
Kalibo witch means he speaks Tagalog and not very much illongo so I
will be taking the lead until we both feel comfortable with the
teaching.

Sunday we really had a good turnout for the second time we had 8
investigators come to Church and it was so fun to have the ward
fellowship them and make them feel like family. For the first time in
my mission I feel like the work is really come full circle and we are
doing what the lord really called us here for. The ward loves the
people that we keep finding and teaching and then we can just keep
finding more and the circles never end.

I am so pumped to pick up my comp later today and see what crazy times
we can have together in this crazy awesome area. I know that the Lord
wants us to really help this ward become the best in the Mission here.
Just know that we will do all we can to get the job done and have fun
at the same time.

I love you all,
Elder Swanton

Elder Swanton with Elder and Sister Robinson

Prepare for change

Dear Family,

I am so glad that everything went smooth and good back home this past
week. It was cool to read the talks that Michael and Dad gave, I hope
it was what everyone needed back home.

Tuesday I was able to meet up with bunch of my batch mates at our
mission Leader Conference.  It was the next big step for our mission
we were able to watch a special missionary broadcast. It talked about
how we need to change our Mission Culture, the Apostles came up with
the Culture of Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts. After we had a
big open forum about how we can help the mission and all the areas
that are really struggling.

Wednesday we were able to hear training's from all of our Aps and also
from President Aquino. I love going to all these meetings and learning
about how we can turn our areas into the best that they can be. I now
also understand how important this calling is, not only do we have to
work in our area. We are also in charge of two stakes of missionary's.

Thursday my comp was sick so we did not get very much done but I was
able to get a lot of reading and journal done. Its funny cause the
last few days when we have been teaching, especially the Plan of
Salvation, I have felt grandpa just standing right behind me almost
saying "you can do it". Every lesson we teach has more meaning to it
and they make me want to help as many people as we can.

Friday I was able to head back to my old area in Molo and have some
fun with my old comp Elder Mirasol. We had some crazy times just
jumping around to all my old investigators and visiting with some of
the members that i really got close to back in molo. Me and Mirasol
are a good team and it was cool to see how much he has progressed in
just a short time.

When I woke up Sunday morning, I had a lot on my mind. I was fasting
that all of our investigators would come to church and partake of the
untold blessing that would come from it. I also was fasting that my
family back home would be at peace with the whole Funeral Service and
be able to move on with no problem. I got the biggest surprise when I
got to church, by the end of sacrament meeting we had a total of 9
Investigators. It felt so good to finally have some real progression
come out of our area. They all had such a good time at church and our
ward did some great fellow shipping.

This week has been something else, I think the Lord is prepping me for
a big work next transfer. I will do my best to get ready for it, I
miss all of you and cant wait till we get to Skype again.

Love Elder Swanton