Transferred~ Follow up trainer...ilifia 2/23/2014

Kauhu~ Elders I came in with from the MTC

Elder Drake

Well, This week has been eventful! Elder Drake finished with Elder Fiefia this week! So Elder Riddle has been staying with us. I also got a new bed that is super comfy! And Elder Riddle took his fan from their house and brought it to ours! So It has been the best 3 nights of refreshing sleep I've had..

Okay so this week,

We are teaching Alilia and we committed her to Baptism next week! We tried to go back but she
was sick so we weren't able to teach her. But we taught her twice and she is super cool and I think she is ready so that is cool! We also went back to Moana but her Dad is a missionary/ minister for the Church of Tonga so he keeps trying to get rid of us! So they will keep trying! But other than that we didn't do much because we have been with Elder Riddle (ZL) and we have to do all the stuff he has to do. Take care of the missionaries! Also we had a visit from Neil L. Anderson and he came and spoke to us! So we had to go out to all the Motu (Smaller Islands) and get all the Elders from there! So that took awhile! Then had to drive them around all week so we didn't do much work! But we learned a lot from Elder Anderson. He taught us about the doctrine of Christ! His Testimony was incredible! I know he is an apostle of God! He is a stud! But After that was Transfers.. And guess what.. Yes.. I got transferred. I don't know what time this week I'll leave but I will be leaving soon! I am follow up training a Palangi from Cali. I will be training Elder Katolo still staying in Vava'u but in an area called Houma. He has been out 12 weeks. I'm really nervous about it but I know that if I was called to do it I'll be able to do it! It's gonna be hard and instead of being able to ask my comp how to say something, He'll be asking me that.. I'm still not good in the language but I can do it.  It'll be an amazing experience and I'm up for it. I think we are going out for Pizza tonight for a last celebration and a goodbye party! The pizza is a whopping 34 bucks... And we need 2.. HAha so It's a sacrifice! But it's worth it. American food is worth any amount of money!!! Haha! Well I'll let you know how everything else goes! Love you all and I've never asked for prayers though I need them.. But I'm asking now because I'm gonna need them more than ever! I love you all and miss you all!

Ofa lahi atu!

Elder Swan

My companion Elder Haleki

Much better!!!

Pizza and Paradise 2/16/2014

Hey mom!

 Not much this week either. We actually got new bishops and everything so hopefully things will take off! We went tracting this week and found 3 new investigators to teach and one day baptize! It's super cool! There isn't a lot to tell you! I've gotten close with Elder Drake. He finishes this week with Elder Fiefia! Try and get a hold of Fiefia! I told him to visit you! I love that kid more than anything! He's part of the Fam! But I think things are gonna start taking off here. I love it. I don't have much to say and I apologize! Next week will be better. Because we have a lot of teachings! Oh we taught a family and he was the Faifekau of a church. (Preacher) But they seemed like they enjoyed the lesson but like I said everyone has hard hearts and they just want to stay in the church they were born in or that their spouse is in. Even if they know the truth... It's so sad and It really does break my heart! I love you though and  I don't think I need anything from Hawaii besides the choc! Love you mom! Wait, and P days we just e mail and then talk and hang out! But I love you!

Hey Dad, How's everything going. What company do you work for?? Or is that unknown to us?? Haha Wish I knew what was going on there. We haven't been having success but Hey we got three new investigators and two of them at church so that's cool. We teach all of them tomorrow So I'll let you know next week how it all goes. Transfers are next week. Hope I stay with Haleki but we will see. I got attacked by D.A.N once... Daily afternoon nap.. Haha But I'm doing good. I've been a bit dizzy and tired lately but It's all good! I love and miss you! Glad you get to go home soon! I'll be right behind you! Psych!!!! HAha Tell me about those new weapons! I want a gun when I get home! Concealed weapon! So just a gift Idea for you! Love ya dad!

Yes, I am in Paradise

My companion Elder Haleki

 
  Valentines night we went out for PIZZA!
We got to see some of the Olympics. I haven't seen a T.V. or a place like this in awhile. I love it!!!

 

 Yes I have boils ~ just wanted to show you 

   I know it looks bad but it is healing!

With faith comes blessings 2/9/2014

So this week was a little better! We work hard everyday but things are kinda slow! It's hard because a lot of people here are loto fefeka (hard hearted)! But we still try. We actually had a cool experience this week. We went to our Fafanga and afterwards we were walking and my comp said he needed something at the house then all of a sudden decided he didn't. Then we walked a little ways and my comp goes lets go this way, a way we have never been. Then I said hey lets stop here and see where we should go. So we stopped and all of a sudden a Palangi guy stands up in his little shop and started talking to us. We talked for a good hour and a half and shared a few messages and he invited us over again on Sunday to have pie and talk. So yesterday we talked to him again and he likes his religious ways but agrees with a lot of the principles we teach. The Spirit literally guided us to him! It was really cool! He is from Melbourne Australia! Another really cool event. We went to this ladies house. Her name is Kelese. As we were talking to her we found out her knee is really bad and she hasn't been able to walk for a year! As we were talking I felt an impression to promise her a blessing so I began to think of a way to say it in my head and as I was doing so my comp promised her exactly what I was trying to say. The Spirit is working with us and that makes us excited! That sad part is is that she doesn't want to listen. She believes the B.O.M but Is happy in her Church.. That just goes to show how loto fefeka they really are! Kinda sad! But I know that nobody has faith like me! just kidding, but With Faith comes blessings. I know I'm helping people even though I can't really see it. And the coolest part is I'm seeing these crazy changes in me. I love studying, I love people, I am nice to everyone. My heart breaks when people try and tell us we are wrong and when people don't want to listen.. It's the hardest thing in the world, but we were all blessed with Agency. God is preparing people for us and we will find those ready and willing to live this Gospel! Mom, I've been reading :The Infinite Atonement!" It's amazing! You should read it. Or buy it. That goes for all of you who read this :) But I love you all! This week we are hoping to get a few new investigators and a baptism! 

Ofa lahi atu!

Elder Swan                                                                                          

A lady made me this bag.... It is super cool!!!!

Some super good looking Tongan Twins made us this cake
YUM!

 

We found an avocado and made Guacamole
What better thing to dip in it than Flamin' Hot Cheetos!
Thanks for the Cheetos mom, send more!!!

I'm gonna rock this tie~   (Thanks Tara)

MUD!

Best week so far! 1/26/2014

 This is my new area in Pou'ono

The water here is beautiful, it is so amazing!

Okay so this week was pretty good! It was actually the best week of my mission! I actually feel like a real missionary! I don't stay home and study all day! I go out and work my tail off! My comp and I are working super hard! We love talking to everyone! My Tongan has gotten a lot better with the help of Elder Haleki! We have 2 families we are teaching and also a few Catholic families that love us but we are trying to teach! They are awesome! It is amazing how much work two White Elders can do just by smiling and being nice to everyone! My Area is in the middle of town. It takes like 2 min. to walk there. Also the Wharf is there. It's a beautiful view! My house looks the same as my other one! All MQ's are the same, well, most of them. SO this week our numbers were really good! We work all day and our area is HUGE so we just walk and talk to everyone. We plant many seeds! This area has a lot of work for us and we love it. My comp is like my best friend and we just laugh all the time! Our district only has us two and the Zone leaders! So all of us speak English and they can all help me! All four of us are super close and it is awesome! I don't really know a lot about our investigators! But one is really shy and committed to reading Alma 32. His name is Tevita. We are also teaching a family of 8 and a family of 7 and plus the Catholic families. They are all so nice and I hope they will receive the desire to search for the truth. There is this 12 year old boy named Sione and he is the only one that is active in his family! He was the one that wanted us to go see his family! So we do and they are willing to listen but the Dad is kinda unwilling to change. I have been studying Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and found this really cool quote about friendship.  O pehe "There are many souls whom I have loved stronger than death. To them I have proved Faithful-- to them I am determined to prove faithful, until God calls me to resign up my breath." I just want to thank all my family and friends who have been faithful to this Gospel and to myself. The examples you have all set in my life have blessed me more than I can even comprehend. I also have come to realize the importance of friendship! I am striving to be friends with EVERYONE. I know through friendship we are able to share the gospel. God is able to share his love through us and that is my goal! Sorry this isn't too long but This week we will do some work and continue to progress in our knowledge of this beautiful gospel! I love you all so much! I also apologize for how big of a mess this letter is... All over the place... Also my awful spelling! 

Ofa atu,

Elder Swan

So this was another boat adventure I took. We got to go pick up all the Elders from Motu for our Mission Conference. Motu is just all the other islands with no Internet and what not.

I don't know how I keep hurting myself but I do...
While jumping off the boat onto the Wharf I slipped and smacked my leg on the cement corner. I actually fell in the ocean waist deep. I caught myself but it was a really lame awkward experience and I looked super
 un-athletic. Haha It's all good though!

New Area, New Companion ~ I love It! 1/19/2014

On my way to Vava'u

Family, Friends, Lovers, Psych!! 

So this was my first week in Vava'u. I have been serving in an area called Pou'ono. It is right in the middle of town and by the wharf. It is a super beautiful place and every missionary says it's the best area here. So on Wednesday I left on a boat called otuangaofa. It was a 24 hour boat ride.. It was good but really long and some kids got sick... We stopped in Ha'apai to drop some supplies off because they got hit really bad with the Cyclone. It was so sad to see all the damage! They got hit super hard.  We also had to pick up my companion! His name is Elder Haleki from Utah. He is half Palangi (white) and half Mexican. He is 21 and went to school in Ogden. He's also a marine! Which is cool! He is super smart and teaches me things everyday! We got to our area and he didn't have clothes that were clean and hadn't showered for a week because of the storm. So our first two days were spent cleaning our house because the other Elders left it a mess and washing his clothes. A little bit about this area. It hasn't had a set of good missionaries for a very long time. Which makes me happy. That means they will trust us when they see us working and also that there is a lot of work to do here because the old missionaries haven't been doing it! So Elder Haleki and I are soo excited to get working. On Sunday we met with the 2nd wards Bishop and ward missionary leader to talk a little bit and also get referrals! We got two referrals and taught one Sunday night. His name was Tevita and his wife is a member but he isn't. He said he believed the Tohi a Molomona and also that Siosefa Samita was a true prophet! But we think he just said so to get us to leave so he could go to sleep! haha so we will work with him! We also got a Family referral and we are teaching them tonight! I'm super excited. Their son is the only member of the family and he is 12. So hopefully we can teach the rest of them. Other than that there hasn't been a lot that has happened. It's a new area for both of us so we are just trying to get rolling! Oh yeah and My comp is learning Chinese so maybe I'll learn some of that.. Haha Yeah right! I love you all so much and lets just say My last 12 weeks in Tofoa were just the pre game. I finally have a companion with the desire to work like I do and he is also able to teach me. Things are gonna be good! 

Ofa lahi atu kimoutolu,

Elder Swan

Hey dad. My area is Pou'ono. It's the town in Vava'u. I love my comp. He is
from Utah. He is a Marine..... He's a Lance Corporal! But he is a super
nice kid and helps me so much. He has been praying for an opportunity to
help a palangi with the language! We talk about military stuff a lot
because one of our ZL's wants to join too.
His name is Elder Riddle. I told him you were a
Green Beret and he almost died. He wants to e mail you sometime.

I've learned more these past 4 days than the past 12 weeks! I love it!
Love you dad! Be safe!
Elder Swan

Elder Harmon, Elder Swan and Elder Cruser

Beautiful Tongan Islands

So happy to be on a boat!!!

Cyclone Ian hit the Tongan Islands

Here are some pictures of the the Cyclone that hit Tonga the weekend of Jan. 11th. I was able to take these pictures when I got off the boat in Ha'apai. This Island was hit really hard, it was so sad to see all the damage.  

My new companion Elder Haleki

1st Transfer and Cyclone all in one week 1/12/2014

Well, first off I don't know if you have heard about the Cyclone. We were listening to the radio and it said it was a category 4 which I think is pretty bad. Luckily where I am we didn't get hit hard at all but it was still pretty scary. Ha'apai got hit really hard and this week people on Tongatapu have been getting things together to send over there to help them out! Also some of Vava'u got hit but not too hard. However, for me, I have never seen anything or heard anything like that in my life. It was SUPER windy and rainy and I got very little sleep because of the noise. 

And now for other big news I'm finally getting transferred! I had an interview with the President last week and he told me I was being transferred this week, so I waited to find out where... And guess what....... I'm actually moving this time haha! The Zone Leaders told me last night I'm going to Vava'u! I'm so excited to get outta this area with a new start!  Unfortunately they don't know what part of Vava'u or who my companion is! So I'll find out soon I guess! I think I leave on an 18 hour boat ride tomorrow! We go from here to Ha'apai and then to Vava'u! That will be fun... Haha 

About our investigators! We weren't able to do much work this week because our Villages' team was in the Finals of a Rugby Tournament! So If you know Tonga... God, Family, Rugby! There was nobody home! Also Sione had work all week. We teach him tonight! So I'm hoping to share something with him to help him find the truthfulness of this Gospel and help begin the rest of his search for eternal life! Masii, Ko Ngaue i heni ko  Faka'ofo'ofa aupito! I love this work. It's the work of God! Sorry this is short, I'm kinda in a hurry to go and get packed up! 

I love you all soo much and miss ya like crazy but Hey, you only serve a mission once, and only a select few get to serve in Misiona Tonga! So with that I thank my Heavenly Father! And all of you for preparing me the best you could!

Ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu!

Elder Suani!

Celebrating a Birthday Party!

 Lot's of good food

So we went to visit Miss Tonga... Sadly she wasn't home but I tried
on her Sash...  :)