Changes

Sean got a new companion about a week ago and he is getting along well with him. His name is Elder Mendez and he is from Mexico. He only has about 2 months left in the mission and Sean says he is learning a lot from him. They have had lots of baptisms this past week and are hoping to have more. Here are a few more pictures...

Earthquake in Chile

Most of you have heard by now that there was an 8.8 Earthquake in Santiago Chile. Right where Sean is serving his mission. Cory and I were awake when we saw the breaking news flash across the screen around 1130pm. We immediately panicked. I text my older brother and then we called my mom and then my dad. We had no news until the next day. I had called the Church office building and they said all the missionaries in the Santiago North mission were accounted for. That gave me some reassurance, but I just wanted to hear that Sean was okay! Later that day a cute young lady from Sean's Chile ward called my mom. Sean new we would all be freaking out so he had her call us to tell us he was fine. It was so nice to know that the Lord had protected so many in Chile..especially our missionaries. I got an email from Sean explaining that night so I will post it for you to read..


What a crazy experience we just had.... So i will start from the night it happened.. Me and elder Gunnell went to bed normal at 1130 at night and we were way tired.. I then woke up at 340 am because i realized that it was shaking a little bit but it wasn't anything we weren't used to because there are always little ones here.. So i woke my comp up because i was still a little scared and it started getting stronger and stronger.. we jumped out of bed immediately and tried to go down stairs or grab something.. We didn't have time.... as we jumped out of bed it was already full out shaking and we were doing all we could to grab something.. i couldn't get to the table so i was basically just dancing with the wall... it was so so loud and i will never forget the sound of the earthquake. we live on a second floor house and i was just preparing because i thought for sure we were gonna collapse or tip over into the street.. Luckily everything passed and we were still standing.. immediately we heard screaming and crying so we looked for our flashlights and luckily i always have mine close and we got it and went down to see if the couple below us was okay... they are and older couple all of their things had fallen all over but they were just fine.. we went out side and saw that some houses had collapsed and we were trying to help but everyone was just fine... at about 515 we went back in to try to sleep a little because we were so tired but we were too scared because it continued shaking and they were pretty strong.. We are so grateful that the lord has blessed us and we are just fine.. we are without power but have water and are cooking with are little gas stove.. we have practically six missionaries with us because one companionship doesn't have water and the other their block is not safe..... bridges have collapsed... a family of our converts their whole house fell down and basically every house on their street.. and the night before there cars were stolen... what a horrible couple of days for them.... we have been with them for most of the time they are great examples and have been happily helping in the midst of all that they lost!! we are blessed here in Santiago even though some things are pretty bad its not as bad as i thought!!! i love you all and couldn't stop thinking of all of you.. i knew right when it happened that Jessica and Cory already new because it was earlier there and i was doing all i could to get the message to you all!! I love you all!!!

Elder Swenson

Please continue to keep them all in your prayers!

Zone Leader

Sean got changed to a new area, same zone just a different sector. He is now a ZONE LEADER with one of his good buddies from the mish. He seems thrilled about it! Here are some new pictures of his new companion. He is from Colorado but was studying at BYU.

New Pictures