Hi!
I'm doing great! I have been working hard and I can't believe this
transfer is half way over because that means I probably only have 3
more weeks here. I'm excited for change but sad because this ward has
become my family. I know everyone and I love everyone so much in this
ward!
Diane is going to be baptized this Saturday and she asked me to
baptize her so I am excited and nervous at the same time! But we have
it all planned and she is going to be baptized at 11:00am this
Saturday!! It is cool to see someone from the beginning of teaching
her all the way to her baptism! We have decided to move Janet's
baptism day back to give her more time to grow her testimony. But ya those are my investigators for you.
We have gotten stuck in the rain a handful of times but that's just
what happens being a walking missionary. I absolutely love walking
around talking to people. It is so much fun to OYM and give out Book
of Mormons. I am trying to get used to the humidity but it can be
killer.
Spiritual experience this week was we were teaching this part member
family named the Bains. And I have never had the spirit help me be
able to figure out people's needs like this lesson. I was sitting
there teaching the restoration and I felt the prompting to ask if she
believed the story of Joesph Smith. And she looked at me and said "I
have had the missionaries over a lot and they teach the same thing but
none have asked me that before and honestly I'm not sure." And from
there we were able to address that need to find out what is keeping
her from believing the first vision. Afterwards she thanked us and
said she never had a missionary lesson like that before.
Other cool experience is we got notified that someone requested a
bible. So we went to her house to drop off a bible and Book of Mormon
and she wanted us to come back over and teach her. So we did and it
was a pretty cool lesson she is open to learning and to change she
came to church yesterday and brought her 3 little kids and they seemed
like they had a great time! She wants us to come back and teach her
family more!
Well that was my week full amazing blessings. My favorite scripture
that couldn't be more actuate for the week is Alma 26:12. I couldn't
have done any of this without the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus
Christ. Without them I truly am nothing.
Love Elder Swisher
Hello!
So this week has been crazy.
It started with Elder Davidson being transferred. He is now serving in
New York! A new guy came in. His name is Elder Goeckeritz He is from
West Jordan Utah. He is big into wrestling!! Hahaha it's feels like
home haha. But He is about 5 foot 2 inches tall but very muscular. He
is very chill and we get along really well. We had some fun catching a squirrel at our apartment! (pics below)
It fun to lead out an area because you have the say on who to see and
what to do and when to do it. It is a lot of work but I like it.
Our mission boundaries changed! Two of our zones moved to the Baltimore Maryland Mission. I was pretty close to going to my sister's mission. She was hoping but I am glad to be staying in the PPM.
So cool story for the week was on Tuesday. It was the day of transfers
so me and my Zone Leader Elder Halls had to be companions for the day
while we waited for our new ones to come. We had a bunch of
appointments set and we were excited for the day. Towards the evening
all of our appointments cancelled. But we had a team up driving us
around so we decided to go knock on some potential investigators
doors. So the first one that came into my head was a guy I had only
met once his name is Mark. So I thought we would stop by and see if he
was interested. When we knocked on the door he came out and was so
happy to see us he said that his son just got arrested and is going
through a hard time. He said I really needed you guys to stop by today
because I could really use a prayer. So on his porch with him we said
a prayer Elder Halls said a sweet and short but very powerful prayer.
And it was just Ana we some moment he looked up at us and said thank
you so much you guys are welcome to stop by again and share a message
with me. It was one of the coolest experiences ever!
So for a funny story Me and Elder Goeckeritz were walking home and we
started talking to this guy on the street and he was saying how he
doesn't believe in organized religion. And then he started telling
about when he was "saved". He the looked right at me and said "from
then on I can look any Christian in the eyes and see if they are on my
level of spirituality. It is rare to be on the same level as me." Then
he went off on some other tangent and ended it with "Did you know you
are talking to a STAR PUPIL OF GOD?". Man the people you talk to in
Williamsport are entertaining. Never a dull moment here.
Well I absolutely love it here. I love the families I love the place
and my companion is really cool. God is Great, Life is Good, and
Williamsport is Crazy.
Love Elder Swisher
Hey!
I am doing great! Me and Elder Davidson taught 22 lessons this week!
That is the most either one of us have ever taught! It was crazy how
hard we worked and we definitely saw the blessings of hard work this
week. We were running around like crazy teaching so many people. I
absolutely loved this week.
So Diane doesn't seem to have the desire to do anything so her baptism date just keeps getting pushed farther and farther back. But we had an investigator named Janet come to church yesterday and she said she loved it and wants to come back next week!!
Funny story of the week was we were teaching this lady the restoration
and I had just gotten done telling the first vision. And she started
crying a little bit and so ELder Davidson asked her why does she think
this story brought tears to her eyes. We were thinking it was going to
go somewhere fantastic. NOPE. She looked at me and said "I'm crying
because when I was little I had the same thing happen to me. And I
didn't act on it but if I did I could have had a church of my own."
Uhhhhhhhh... I had no idea how to respond to that. I looked at Elder
Davidson and he looked at me and we didn't know what to do. So we just
ignored that and continued teaching and made sure to express
priesthood authority. Hahaha
Best part of my week was Zone Conference. It was awesome to get
training from President. I love being around all those missionaries
and being able to learn from all of them. And we got Chick-Fil-A after!
Other funny part of the week was last weekend President Johnson came
to our ward stake conference and he told the stake don't be afraid to
call on missionaries to give talks. And right as he said that I felt
Bishops arm grab me and he just started laughing. So big surprise
guess who gave a talk yesterday. Yep that's right. Me.
Well that's all for this week
love
Elder Swisher
SaveSave
Hey Everyone,
Happy Memorial Day! So this morning we went
to the annual Ward breakfast and that was so much fun. Then to a BBQ at the bishop's house for dinner. What a great Pday with lots of food!
Anyway nothing too much happened this week. Me and Elder Davidson have
changed our momentum from teaching to finding. We realize that a lot
of these less-actives we teach have had the missionaries visiting them
for years and nothing has changed. So we have started visiting some
people less. And focusing on finding new people to teach and it has
been pretty cool. We have expanded our teaching pool by a lot. We are
hoping that some of these new people will continue to have potential.
It's a great feeling that passing out a Book of Mormon is just a daily
thing now.
So Sunday bishop was talking to the congregation and he made fun of me
at least 4 times in front of everyone. And at the end he just said he
picks on me because I'm the greenie and the youngest missionary!
Wherever I go I seem to be made fun of! Hahaha I don't know what it is
about me but people like to joke with me!
I just love this Ward so much and I love being a missionary. There is
nothing better.
Have a great week!
Love Elder Swisher
 |
| making fried chicken |
