October 27, 2014

Bonjour

This past week was kinda rough due to dropping a few amis that we were excited about. The good news though is that all is looking well for our ami Danielle and so she will be getting baptized this week.

This past week i did an exchange and we held district meeting in St Etienne. It was great going back and seeing it again after over a year. I have always enjoyed going back to past areas and it is fun to see what has changed and what has stayed the same.

I feel like this week will go by pretty fast. Tomorrow we will actually be driving clear over to Bordeaux because there is a new missionary arriving and due to the office and everyone being busy with the zone conference he will need someone with a car to drive him over there. I knew i had another trip accross the country in me before the end of my mission. We will be driving over there, spending the night, and then heading right back wednesday morning. I believe it should be around 5 hours each way.

This thursday Elder Kearon of the seventy will be visiting us for a conference so it should be great. I feel like we've been having quite a few visitors to the mission lately with Elder Andersen, Elder Ballard, and now Elder Kearon. I really like Elder Kearon so i'm excited to hear from him again. The good news is that since we live here close to lyon we wont have lots of travel and wont have to deal with sleeping on the floor of another elders appartment.

Friday should be the only normal day that we have and then on saturday there is a big geneology activity going on and after that of course will be the baptism. 

Things are going well and I feel like the next time i blink the mission will be over. The best news of all is that i only have to write one more of these emails before i come home. I always struggle knowing what to say. Love ya

Elder Swenson

October 20, 2014

Hey everyone,

Things have been going well here. Our amis are doing well. Danielle is progressing very well and will be baptized here in 2 weeks. We've also met some other really cool people lately. One is a 19 year old kid who invited us to come teach him at his house. His mom and sister were there as well and we were able to teach them the restoration and leave them with a few copies of the book of mormon. They were very touched by the message and invited us back this week to come eat with them and teach the plan of salvation. I really like it in the villefranche area because alot of the people there haven't had much contact with the missionaries and so they seem to be more curious and willing to talk with us. 

This past week we were also able to do some service for members in the ward. We planted trees at the stake presidents house and were able to give 3 blessings to various members. All three of the people we blessed had long names that were neither english or french and so we had a fun time attempting to pronounce those. 

Yesterday there was this big meeting in lyon for all of the young adults. It was crazy seeing members from all of the areas that i served throughout my mission as well as some of the returned french missionaries who served in this mission. My mind was litterally flooded with memories of my whole mission. At times it seems like i haven't been here all that long but at other times i realize just how much i've done and how many people i've met these past 2 years. I had this same feeling as well when we were at the stake presidents house earlier this week and they were talking about various members throughout france and i knew them all. I guess that's just how it is when you've served in 9 different areas. 

I really love the mission and am glad that i've had the chance to meet all of these people and make all of these friendships. Looking back and remembering all of these people makes me wish that i didn't have to leave so soon. I'm so glad that i was called to serve here!

I love you all!

Elder Swenson