56th Week in Japan, 64 Weeks

Transfers and I Pads!

Hey everyone!

So I am staying in Shinoro and my new companion is Elder Bickel! We are whitewashing Zone Leaders in Shinoro now. ( That means that they moved the area where the ZL`s are and both of the ZL`s changed). Plus I am still District leader. So this transfer is a little busy. On top of that we are getting Ipads. Next week on Saturday. That is going to also make things super busy and easy at the same time. I think it is a good thing so that I dont wan paku! (naughty boy). 

Today time is short so I will summarize.

Got I Pad training by the top guys in the church. It was so so good. The approach with using technology in missionary work is so good. This should really help us to become better people. Plus we can be more effective in our planning and studying as well as our ability to talk to people. I cant wait! 

I found a sweet star wars towel that was cheap.

My trainer went home. (That is some weird kimochi(feelings))

And I freakin love missionary work! 

Got to teach a members son, who is getting ready to be baptized, about the Restoration! 

Ok I love you peoples and follow Christ!

Elder Swenson

I found a sweet star wars towel that was cheap.

Got to teach a members son, who is getting ready to be baptized, 

about the Restoration!  

 My new companion is Elder Bickel! 

55th Week in Japan, 63 Weeks

Hey guys no time today!

I flippin Love my companion and this district! 

This week while I was on splits with the ZLs, President Nakatsuka called me and said he wanted to dendo with us. I guess he had an assignment to go out with the missionaries and he dreamed that he should go to Shinoro, so he came and did all of our dendo that we do! I was so nervous!:0 But it was a blast! 

Tomorrow we have transfer calls and next monday we will have Ipad training! Yahoo! That means next week on Wednesday will be Pday. So do not freak out if you do not see an email from me. 

Love changes peoples lives. So share it with others!

Ok sorry love you guys! 

I got some waffles! That is rare in Japan.  

54th Week in Japan, 62 Weeks

I love reading all of your guy`s emails! Thanks!

This week we had the Mission Tour with Elder Ringwood! He is an awesome guy! I have never had such a spiritual meeting on the mission. My mind was blown. And it wasn`t that it was some special new doctrine, or some crazy in depth analogy about missionary work and other stuff, he just loved the missionaries so much, the Spirit confirmed everything that he said. It was AWESOME!

So this week the other highlight was talking to some Jehovah`s Witness missionaries for an hour at the train station! They go out and dendo almost just as much as we do! And 90% of it is all member work! That is why they have 20 million members. They do member work. We can`t let them beat us!(Not like it is a race or anything...but it kinda is). This week I really understood urgency.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, full, and true. When people do understand this, the Holy Ghost bears witness to them that it is from God. But unfortunately, many churches like the Jehovah`s Witnesses, do not allow their members to accept flyers, pamphlets, or to listen to anything having to do with other religions. The missionaries at the train station would not even take my simple mormon.org card. So we have to get out, and go dendo! If we dont find those who are looking for Christ, they might not get a chance to know of His goodness, and His Atonement, and His relationship with us. And I am not bagging on the J.W.`s, they are fantastic people, I just want everyone to have a chance to hear our message! So next week our finding numbers will be fantastic!

Okie dokie I love you guys and I apologize for no pictures(:

Elder Swenson

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

53rd Week in Japan, 61 Weeks

This transfer is half way gone! :0 That is so weird! I really can`t believe that I am living in Japan. Tomorrow marks my 1 year anniversary for living in Japan. 1 year ago today I was on a plane headed to Japan! I still remember when I was walking through the streets in Sapporo smelling all of the ramen shops, Bakerys, and old rotting fish! It was like walking into Disneyland for the first time. The only thing that has changed over a year has been me! My testimony of the gospel has grown deeper and stronger, God has taken my Japanese skills and improved them, Christ has replaced my heart with one more like his. I am so grateful that God loved me enough to entrust me with His mighty work of bringing hope, light, and love that comes from His Son, Jesus Christ.

This last monday we had a zone activity at Shinkotoni and played sports! I was a part of team batman (really original name right?) and we destroyed the comepetion. That was a blast! Thanks to my family, I was able to share the joy that Hostess treats bring with my district and zone leaders at DTM. And the rest of the week was just teaching lessons to eternal investigators!

This sunday I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament and it was a super special experience.This week I was reading in 2 Nephi 16 and it talks about Isaiah`s vision in which he saw God. Isaiah realizing his unthworthiness exclaims " Wo is unto me! for I amundone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwellin the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyeshave seen the King, the Lord of Hosts."　Then a coal is placed in his mouth and he is told "Lo, this has touchedthy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sinpurged." When I was blessing and partook of the sacrament, my mouth became very hot almost as if the bread had just come out of the oven 2 min earlier. But it hadn`t. Then that scripture popped up into my head and I knew that it was the Spirit confirming to me that I had been forgiven and renewed. It was so cool! The sacrament is the most sacred ordinance in the church and everyone can partake of it and be clean! Isn`t this gospel awesome!?

Ok I love all you peoples, especially my family and Nephi Bushman! (Soon to be Elder Bushman!)

Elder Swenson