April 28, 2014

Hello again,

This past week was good. We got our window fixed so now we don't have to listen to the plasic bag that was covering the gaping hole rattle around while we drive. To answer dad's questions about the car it is automatic and generally Elder Sorenson drives because he is a little more legal. The foreign drivers license doesn't really count for much here but since he actually has one that is up to date it will look better if we get pulled over, basically if that ever happens we just pull the stupid american card to get out of trouble for driving without a permit. Mission life. 

So we had zone conference today and it was really good. President Roney is giving a big push on member work and working effectively. I like that because member work really is the best way. Especially for a sector like Vitrolles. The work is different here because there aren't any real big villes with many people out. Vitrolles itself doesn't even really have a centreville (the middle of the city with squares and shops and such) so when we go contacting we have to drive to other villes in the sector. 

Ami-wise this week we had an excellent rdv with the Akobé family. They are that family of 4 that I mentioned last week. Things are beginning to pick up with them. We have been working hard to develop a good relation with them and keep in daily contact to remind them to read and pray. As they begin to do the essentiel things like that they are bound to feel the spirit and see a change in their lives. We have really high hopes for them so please keep them in your prayers for us! Other than that we have been working to get to know members better and they are all super awesome here. On multiple occasions we have shared spiritual thoughts with members who have had non member friends and family with them. There are some really great member missionaries here. 

When we were at a members house this past week we asked if there was anything we could do to help them in their callings. After a minute of thought they asked us if we could fill in for them in teaching the young adults class on sunday. Of course we said yes and were happy to help. He gave us the lesson plan and what do you know we got to teach about Balaam. For those of you who aren't familiar with that story it is the weird one in the old testiment with the talking donkey. It was one of the more interesting lessons that i have had to teach in french so far on my mission. But hey it went fairly well and we were glad to be able to help.

Anyway work is continuing to go well here in good old france and I'm glad to be serving here. I love you all!

Elder Swenson

Pictures from Vitrolles

April 21, 2014

Bonjour,

So this was an interesting week. Like I mentioned last week we have a car here. Well on tuesday we had stopped by the appartement to grab a bite to eat. When we came back out we found that someone had broken our back window and stolen a bag that Elder Sorenson had forgotten in the back seat. This resulted in many hours spent dealing with the police and finding a place to get the window fixed and dealing with the fact that our car doesn't have the right registration in it. We should have our window replaced by thursday if we are lucky.

Vitrolles is an interesting sector. It covers a pretty big area and Vitrolles itself isn't super big. There isnt really anybody on the streets so we have to drive to another ville in order to do any contacting. But there are some other nice little villes in our area with a few people so that is good. We definately need the car here.

The ward here is nice. Right now we are trying to work with a couple part member families to try and get them fully converted. We are also working with a family of four that has seen the missionaries off and on for the past couple of years. Hopefully we can help them resove any of the concerns they have and get them baptized.

Just a heads up, next week we have a zone conference on monday so you won't be getting my email until tuesday. Any way i love you all,

Elder Swenson

Pictures From Grenoble

April 14, 2014

Hello again,

So it seems i am back to my old ways of moving around alot. I am now serving in Vitrolles with Elder Sorenson. Vitrolles is just north of Marseille so I am coming back close to my bleu ville. It is a ward of about 70 or so people and we are the only equipe here. Because we have a huge sector and the public transport here is a joke we have a car.This is my first time having a car so that is pretty cool. Though I will really miss Grenoble and am sad that i couldn't stay longer I know that this is where the Lord needs me most and I am excited to be here.

Elder Sorenson seems really awesome. He is from Draper Utah and is pretty new in the mission (1 transfer younger than elder Kiser). So far we get along really well and I'm sure we will have a good time serving together.

We had a good last week in Grenoble. We were able to see lots of people and we even got to make some green jello with one of our amis because it was his birthday and it doesn't exist in France. Good times.

We are actually passing all of our amis to the other missionaries though because they are taking one of the equipes out of Grenoble so that they could open up some other places. Also because there were more missionaries going out than coming in this transfer. Speaking of that, I got to say good bye to both of the sisters who came in with my group at the lyon train station today as they are now finished with their missions. It was a weird feeling. I feel so old. Anyway i love you all! Until next week,

Elder Swenson

April 7, 2014

Bonjour,

This was a great week. We had multiple opportunities to serve others. We visited many less actives and partial member families. We had family home evenings with some of the more lonely members. We were in charge of an activity for the youth and we got to spend all sunday with members and amis listening to conference and feeling the spirit together. I really love the members here in Grenoble. This transfer has gone by so fast and i feel like i just got here and yet i already feel like i know and love everyone here. 

Conference was great! Don't let all of the messages from conference go to waste. Be doers of the word and not just hearers. I know that we all felt inspired to do something more or change in some way because of something that we heard. 

I feel like a strong theme that i heard at conference was about love and how we treat and interact with others. I can promise you that the best way to develop love for others and to become more like our savior is to serve others. The more we serve someone the more we care for them. I remember earlier in the mission President Roney shared a message about this priciple. He talked about how our mothers are probably the ones who love us the most in the world. They are also the ones who have served us the most by taking care of us and providing everything that we need as we grow and develop. 

As we do our best to reach out and serve others we begin to see them as God sees them. In conference Elder Rasband taught that serving others helps us value and love what the Lord loves. I invite you to look for more opportunities to serve others. Pray to see more opportunities to serve others. Service doesn't always have to mean doing someones yard work. It can be as simple as talking with someone who is lonely, smiling at someone, praying for specifically for the needs of someone, or frankly forgiving someone who doesnt neccesarily deserve it. As you strive to serve more people your love for them will grow, you will be happier and less stressed about lifes trials, and your knowlege and understanding of the gospel will grow. I know this because i have seen it over and over through my interactions with all of our brothers and sisters here in France.

I love you all!

Elder Swenson