Skype and a grave!

Yesterday was awesome! I finished the Book of Mormon again that
morning and got to receive another awesome answer that it is true!
Then we went to church and afterward this little girl got baptized and
the family had a big lunch party they invited us to afterward then we
went home and I went to the bathroom and I think I broke our toilet
because it hasn't flushed since... but then we went over to the
Giaimo's house and they let us Skype our families from their home! It
was so awesome to be able to see my nephews and I guess seeing the
rest of my family was good too! Hahaha but I loved being able to talk
with them and see their faces. And then the Giaimo's fed us a late
dinner. So overall an awesome day yesterday!

On Tuesday I had the privilege of going on exchanges with the Zone
leaders and I got to be with Elder Bryan for the day! He is awesome!
We handed out a bunch of BOMs and we also got in contact with an
awesome lady named Patty who loves the missionaries. We just had a
good day overall.

On Wednesday we got called from a member that her dad who is 94 years
old and is not a member needs help with his yard. So we show up and we
help fix up the yard but then he comes up to me and hands me a shovel
and says in a said voice "Time to dig the grave..." I looked at him
and was just in shock thinking this guy needed me to dig his grave.
But then he said it was for his dog so that made it a little better
but the weird thing was. The dog is still alive! So as I was digging
this grave for his dog the dog was running around my feet! It was
probably one of the weirdest services I have ever done. But ya so I
dug a grave for a living dog...

On a brighter side we were going down to Aliquippa for the day and we
had a ton of people we needed to visit. But for some reason a former
investigator came into my mind. So we decided to try her first to see
if she was interested in meeting with missionaries again. So we pull
up and there is this guy standing outside her house so I go up to him
and ask if she lived there. He looked at me laughed and said "You
don't know who I am. Do you?!" I looked and was like am I supposed
to?! He said I am Brother Jones. He is a less-active in our Ward that
we had never met and his address is a different address but he
happened to be at this house because he was selling it. And the former
we were looking for is his daughter-in-law. He said you guys are lucky
because no one lives here anymore and you caught me here on the last
time I was coming here ever again. He said but I want you guys to
start to come visit me so we said we would and he said my son and his
wife need you to visit them too. She wants to be baptized and my son
needs to get back to church! So I was just in complete amazement that
in one house we tried we found 2 less-actives that want help coming
back and an investigator that wants to be baptized... I thought that
was incredible! Always listen to the first name that comes into your
head of people to visit!

Yesterday I also got a surprise visit from the former Sister Goff! She
came and showed up to my ward yesterday because she has a friend that
is in the ward and they told her that I was serving there and so she
came to visit me! Sister Goff served in my home ward for about 9
months so it was weird to see her again!

Well this is the last week of the transfer so I'm excited to see what
happens next week. But this week we are hopefully going to start get
the work here in Beaver moving and putting some people on date to be
baptized!

I love you all and have an awesome week! Hope you are all doing well!

Movie!!!

This week went by so fast it is crazy! So this week started out with
service of course! We help a lady run a furniture storage unit. It
gets furniture donated to it and whoever does have furniture can come
pick up whatever they need. And so we are usually the muscle we help
load it into trucks. But this week afterward she said I won't be here
next week can you guys run it for me next week and then she handed us
a key and so now we are in charge of running it tomorrow! Hahaha
figures crossed that it goes smoothly!

On Wednesday nights we usually have BOM class and the institute
teacher came to sit in and we happened to be going over Jacob 5 and
non of us missionaries even the sisters who where in charge of leading
the discussion knew what it was really about so the institute teacher
took over the class and he blew all our minds!!! He described what
each tree represents and he just opened up my eyes to Jacob 5!

On Thursday we went on splits and I went with a couple named the
Nelsons they are an awesome older couple and we went and visited our
less-active Linda. She hasn't been to church in over 40 years. So we
decided to go over the restoration and teach about basic beliefs
because she doesn't remember anything about what our church believes.
I thought I was going to have to lead the discussion by myself because
my companion was somewhere else but the couple I was with seemed to
have studied PMG because they would pick up on some of my teaching
points at the right time it was awesome the spirit was so strong and
she said she would read and study the BOM to know if it was true. It
was just a great lesson!

On Friday we had Zone conference!!! I got to see a bunch of good
friends which was great because a lot of them will be going home soon!
It was an awesome experience and really got me thinking on how I can
be a better missionary. It truly showed me how I have gotten stuck in
a rut and need to focus on getting out of it. We also had a surprise!
President let all of us at Zone conference watch a movie!! We put on a
movie for the whole group and had popcorn for us! The movie was
Chariots of Fire! It was an awesome movie and was very inspiring! I
was happy because I finally got to watch a movie! It was also fun
distinguishing next to good ole Elder Davidson! We just kept laughing
and cracking jokes it made for a good time! Haha

Well on Saturday we went to a stake service project were we did a
project for a Billion Graves. We went around a cemetery and took
pictures of the head stones on their special app and so we had to
clean off the head stones so they would be clear in the picture. Only
problem is that it was raining the whole time and they told us we
would just be cleaning off grass off the head stones nope some of the
head stones were buried under 6 inches of mud so it turned out to be a
very dirty and messy service project! But it was definitely
interesting!

Then yesterday we had a regional conference we're we went to the stake
center and they had a broadcast for a bunch of stakes in the area. It
was cool because we got to hear from Elder Gong, Elder Perkins, Sister
Cordon, and Elder Oaks! So it was an awesome broadcast to watch and
was very inspiring! After that we went to dinner at a family called
the Neeleys! It is crazy how many connections I have with them! Their
daughter just returned from her mission and she just got back from
Mountain House, CA hahaha also their other daughter lives down in
Pittsburgh in the Pitt 7th ward and I had dinner at her house almost a
year ago! She showed up and saw me and was freaking out because since
I saw her and her husband last they have had a child. Haha it been
more then 9 months since I ate at her house I guess... hahaha but it
was cool to see them again. Haha small world.

Oh I almost forgot! Shout to my homie Gabby aka Sister Fuhriman in
London for hooking me up with a media referral! I almost died laughing
when I saw the note attached to the referral! Thanks Gabby!

Well that was my week. Hope you all had a great week. I love and miss
all of you!

Service and Nuclear Power Plant

So this was full of service! And by full of service I mean half of
Tuesday, all of Wednesday, half of Thursday day, most of Friday and
all of Saturday. So non-stop service! But it was fun we did everything
from helping landscape the church, we helped landscape a members farm,
we cleaned the baptismal font, we helped at a soup kitchen, we helped
move furniture for people who can't afford furniture, and even helped
a lady fix some electrical wiring in her house. So it was an awesome
week. I truly came to understand the scripture in Mosiah 2:17. "When
ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service
of your God."

Well the sisters in our Ward had a baptism and it was so cool! His
name is Mike and he is one of the coolest guys I have meet. When we
talked before his baptism he opened up to me and we talked about a lot
of stuff and trials in our lives and he was the most amazing example
of repentance. He without a doubt knows what it means to have made a
mistake but yet be forgiven of it through repentance. He told me some
things he never has told anyone but he said "I know that I have been
forgiven so that haunts me no more." It was just such a great
testimony builder to me that if we repent God will forgive.

Another cool story is we had a lot of extra miles to use on the last
day of the month so we planned a trip yesterday to go out to the far
parts of our area where no missionaries have gone and track down the
less-actives and some old investigators that I guess where forgotten
about. So we went out in Hick town USA! These places where some back
wood places but it made it fun! We found out that some members that
lived out there moved so now missionaries don't have to go there
again. But the cool part is that we went to this less-actives door and
before we went up. I saw his last name and it sounded familiar like I
knew someone in my old areas by that name. And we walk up to this
house and he is sitting on his porch and he yells out "Dang it! You
found me!" And I just started laughing. And as we sat and talked with
him. I came to realize that his parents are in the Williamsport Ward!!
I knew his parents and his sister!! Hahaha funny how small of a world
it can be. But it broke my heart because he said that no one from the
church had tried to contact him in years. He said "I thought the
church had forgotten about me." That broke my heart to think that
someone as nice as him would be forgotten because he lives "too far".
Well I'm not sure how much of an impact that visit might have had but
I hope that he could feel that we still care about him to find him. We
need to be like Christ and find the lost sheep that have been
forgotten. What would you want someone to do if you had been
forgotten?!

Well on our way back from this boondocks trip we passed the good ole
beaver power plant and yes it is nuclear power! So of course we had to
stop and take a picture because it's not everyday you see a nuclear
power plant in person. Hahaha

Well I hope you all had a great week! Love and miss you all!

Baptisms on the horizon

So this week has just exploded with investigators! So first we have a
young man in our Ward who is dating a non-member girl and her and her
family of 4 are interested in meeting with us. So we went over there
and this is like the second or third visit and we share the
restoration with the mom and the daughter. And the mom had already
started doing her research and read the restoration pamphlet! So she
talked about how amazing of an experience Joesph Smith must have had.
And she said she has started reading the Book of Mormon and they said
that when the dad can get work off on Sunday they will come to church.
The only problem is that he does air traffic control so that's kinda
hard to get time off. But we keep praying. So this is my first ever
family of investigators and I am pumped!

Next we got a referral and it was for a part member family that we
already knew about so we were confused on why this was even sent. But
we listened and went over to their house and knocked on the door. The
husband who is not a member came to the door and sat on the porch with
us. He had already talked to missionaries before but he looked at us
and told us how his father in law really wants him to be baptized. He
said I'm not sure how this will work but what do we have to do to get
me baptized. Now this might take me a while but be patient with me!
Hahaha I couldn't believe that he just said that. My jaw dropped and I
couldn't stop smiling! We to,d him that the first step is to start
meeting with us. And he said ok sounds good. So we scheduled a time
and he said he would start reading the Book of Mormon before our next
visit. Beaver Valley is prepared! Me and Elder Gatrell are pumped to
see what we can do in this area!

We also got a new investigator named Debbie that wants to meet with
us. The only problem is that she is a JW and she wants to teach us...
hahaha she invited us to come to her church and a bible study that her
church has. So we will see what happens I guess. Haha

We also went to Pitt 4s area and helped them work their area. It was
great to be with the ZLs and not be one. Hahaha the elder I was with
kept asking me for advice and kept asking questions and I was laughing
on the inside because I still have no idea how to be a missionary! But
it was fun working in another Elders area and we talked to some
interesting people and found them like 4 New investigators!

So most embarrassing part of my mission so far happened yesterday! All
four missionaries were called to give talks in sacrament meeting about
our road to serving a mission. And so I was the third one to speak and
I get up there and I just got so into my talk I put so much emotion
and thought into it and then when I sat down I realized I had gone
over time by like 10 minutes... the missionary after she just got up
shared a scripture and bore her testimony and then we were so late
that they had to skip the closing song all because I rambled... I was
so embarrassed that I took that long but every still seemed to enjoy
my talk I guess. But I guess I am too much like my father if I talked
that much! Hahaha

It was also a sad week because I had my last ever interview with
President Johnson! It was sad to know it would be my last one! I love
him and sister Johnson so much. And I will miss walking into
interviews and him starting out every interview with "So elder swisher
how are those kings doing?" "Oh wait you don't need to tell me we
already know the answer to that! Hahaha" I did not appreciate it but
it will be missed! Hahaha

Easter in Beaver

Beaver is a pretty cool place! We cover a decent amount of area. And
the ward is huge!! We have probably the biggest ward in the mission!
We have about 210 active members! My first Sunday I just couldn't
believe how big it was and I was even told that because of Easter not
many people were there! Oh also I get to drive a truck! So I have been
so happy driving!

So my companions name is Elder Gatrell. He is from Layton, Utah! I was
laughing when he told me because all I could picture was Kellan
correcting me and telling me to not pronounce the T. He is into
robotics and already has an associates degree in Engineering. He is
really smart. He kicked my butt at chess the other day. And we have
been getting along great! I think I scared him at first because our
personalities are opposite but I think he is used to me now! Haha

My last day in Harrisburg we went a toured the state capitol and that
was fun. Then on Tuesday was transfers and I was in charge of all the
driving so I drove from Harrisburg to state college then from state
college I had to drive a trailer to Pittsburgh and then from
Pittsburgh I had to hop in my truck and drive up to cranberry and drop
an elder off and pick up my companion and then we finally drove to
Beaver! So long day of driving. But it was fun.

So for Easter we went over to a family named the Tames for Easter
dinner they are a really nice family and made us and the Sister
missionaries in our Ward a huge dinner with ham and potatoes and the
works. We spent most of the day contacting some referrals and we were
able to drop off a Bible and BOM to a lady and she was pretty happy
that it came on Easter.

So we get a text from our recent convert here and he told us to come
over. So we went over and as we pull up him and his wife were taking
their kids to the park in a tractor! So they told us to hop in and
come with them so we drove around for a little bit in the back of this
trailer pulled by his tractor he has been working on. So we then
shared a little message with the family at the park while their kids
played. It was a fun night!

The ward asked us to track down the less-actives so we have been going
around looking for them. And we knocked on a door for a guy named
Johnny and this old dude answers the door with a cigarette in hand and
he blows the smoke right in my face then tells us to come in. He was
such a cool guy! I walked in there and saw pictures of a bunch of old
American muscle cars. So I asked if he had one and he took us into the
garage and showed me his 69 GTO! It's was sweet! It reminded me a lot
of my camero! He then let me try on his confederate flag bike helmet!
He was pretty awesome. We invited him to come to church but his wife
from the other room yelled "Heck No!" So I guess we can see why he
hasn't been in a while but it was still really cool to get to know him
and see his car!

Well I hope you all had an awesome Easter! I love you all and hope you
have an awesome week!