It has been a wonderful week so far! Ive been really working hard and have had some wonderful experiences! A couple of days a go we taught some real families from a ward nearby the MTC! First my companions and I taught the Bishop and the wife of the bishop, and we basically talked about her brothers that went inactive in the church and how hard it is for their family to see this happening in there life right now! I asked her if she had been married in the temple and she said yes! And then I was like well you and your husband have made the best decision you can do! I said to her that she would be able to see her brothers in the life to come even though they don't have the gospel in their lives right now! After that we taught a family of 5, they were so awesome! Even though I don't remember all their names, I remember that there names were really refined and so pretty! As we were talking to the mother she also said that her brother went inactive and she didn´t know why! she started crying and breaking down, I also asked her if she had been married in the temple and she said yes! So I got really stoked and told her that she would be able to see her brother in the life to come! after we had taught her I asked her if we could pray about her brother Serio, and she said yes! Ive never prayed so hard in my life, I prayed that he would come back to church, and feel the prompting of the holy ghost to live the true and living gospel once again! Wow that prayer was so powerful! And she was so greatful that I offered to pray about her brother! There was a devotional given by Elder Holland the other night and he said to "Speak With Thunder" and I definitely did. My love for this gospel has grown so much already, its time to make our words effective! Holland said that we were in the middle of the latterdays and the Hastening of the work is powerful! I have a strong testimony about the atonement and the love that our savior has for us! I know that Joseph Smith was a true oracle of God, and President Thomas S. Monson leads the only true and living church on this earth today!

 I´m about my Father´s business,

Love Elder Swensen

Things are still going good at the MTC! its been a lot of hardwork and a lot of studying! The food here goes right through you hahaha you seriously get wrecked after every meal! We spend more time in the restroom than studying hahaha! Its getting so much easier to teach in spanish, I love it! the other day I was talking to President Pratt right before a devotional and he told me that I was doing awesome in my work and he said just to keep focused on the work, he grabbed my shoulder and he told me that anything can happen when you teach by the spirit! He is such an awesome and the most spiritual guy I ever met, when he touched my shoulder it felt like the savior was helping me it was awesome! All the native teachers here are so sick, they are so helpful and a lot of them are really funny! Hermano Garza showed us this video about this kid that had struggled with drinking, and when the kid said that he was from Mexico Hermano Garzas right arm and finger pointed straight up!! hahaha it was so funny, he has so much pride for Mexico! Im starting to have Mexico pride here too! I love it here! I have been really focused and obedient to the work and it has been really paying off! I have heard some wonderful testimonies from my district they are so awesome, and they keep making my testimony stronger.Daniel L. Johnson president over the 70 in 2006 gave us an awesome devotional about the atonement and how it applies to our lives in every sense, he was very direct with us and Ive never been so spiritually sound before! one of the quotes that he said was " it wasn't the nails that held him on the cross, it was his love for us that held him" Wow! that is so powerful! things are becoming more clear and my testimony is growing so much! I want to come to Mexico when I get back! it would be so sick to surf here! 

 District 10 C//10 si

Smith leaves Mar. 5th 2014 to Mexico MTC

Smith left for the Mexico MTC on the morning of March 5th 2014. For those that know our family we are very close so this was such a sacrifice for us to let him go. Even though it is difficult we believe that what he will be doing and what he will become are so much more important than having him here with us today. We know that he is going to be an amazing missionary who will offer the fullness of the gospel to those who are willing to listen to his saving message. We are excited to hear of his progress, updates, and experiences through email communication.
WE LOVE YOU SMITTY!

Love
Dad Mom Solomon Sophia and Swen