Mary's 16th letter from Peru

Hey mom! you know me so well. i keep forgetting to bring my license with me, but i will try to remember to bring it. What time should i call for mothers day? Life is good here in the jungle. most of my rashes and insect bites are clearing up as i have been wearing more insect repellent so that is good. I have become accustomed to eating and drinking ants... normal. protein. One elder just showed me pictures of him eating worms. there is a white, fat worm here people love. sick. Nobody tried to shoot me and i havent met anybody from the mafia, like some people on missions.... haha but it was a good week. we had 2 baptisms on saturday, oscar and jhoan. they are the cousins of Jorge who got baptized about 2 weeks ago, and all three of them received the priesthood yesterday!!! I am overjoyed with all three of them. yesterday in Gospel principles, jorge introduced himself and said he was grateful to have found the true church. He always bears his testimony and always wants to pray. This week, his mom told us that she walked into the cuarto (almost nobody has an actual house, just cuartos, or a room with a bathroom.) and she found him reading the book of mormom just crying. he is 16 years old. I love the gospel sooooo much! I have never seen people change so much, so fast than i am seeing right now on the mission. anyway, thats all for this week. I love you guys, like destin said hearing about the family dinner makes me excited to eat mashed potatoes and roast with everybody! I love you all! Hermana Swartz

Mary's 15th Letter from Peru

Hey family! wow Destin had a crazy week haha. people trying to shoot him and cut him and what not. Here, we had an interesting experience too- we were talking to a man on the street and he was offended that we couldnt hug him and give him a kiss. he then wraps his arms around me and is yelling JESUS LOVES YOU! TEAR DOWN YOUR WALLS AND FEEL THE LOVE OF JESUS!!! yeah, so that was interesting. my poor companion was hiding behind me until he got to her too hahaha. wow. yeah. I love teaching people about the gospel of jesus christ and watching the difference it makes in their lives. I am beyond prideful and i could just humble myself, it would be that much easier to teach people with the spirit!!! to answer questions from last week, no i have not recieved any packages. I did recieve the letter from elles momma, i love her so much! the water here swirls counter clockwise in the toilets, and my return date is 26 of june 2013. Love you all! peru rocks on ice! no time - love you all! Hermana swartz

Mary's 14th letter

Hey family! apparently the int connection is terrible out here because it took over an hour to get into my email!! Is Destin training too??? Mom, dont worry. There are no dinosaurs, and i am not going to die from bug bites, although sometimes i feel like i might lol. Its pretty safe where i am at, and i dont know all of the reasons for why they pulled the whole district out, but one sister had a bite from her last area that got infected, and everything swells out here, so they pulled her. and the other sister had been here 6 months, and president never keeps people missionaries in an area more than 6 months. We do not have a shack, we have a room with an awesome view overlooking pueblo viejo, and the jungle. this morning i woke up at about 5:30 because i couldnt sleep it was too hot, and watched the sunrise over the jungle- it was soooo awesome. We had a baptism this week, Jorge was baptized!!!! woot. and we have about 5 lined up for april, but we´ll see how it goes. Conference rocked, as always. I love love love Elder Holland, he always burns people in his talks and I love it sooo much!!! haha. super powerful. all the talks were fantastic really. I love my companion, and i am slowly adjusting to puerto maldonado. it is supposed to get up to 50 celcius here in the next month or so... i am not sure what that is in degrees F, but let me tell you it is soooo hot with a thousand percent humidity. Life is good, the gospel is true, I love it sooo much. I love the scriptures and the more time i spend being a missionary the more I feel like i know christ a little more. love you all!!!! Hermana Swartz

Hey Family! I am in Puerto Maldonado, aka Satans kitchen, and I am baking!!!! Its straight up jungle here, people eat monkey for dinner. Its a ten hour bus ride from Cusco to puerto, and on the bus looking out the window I kept thinking holy cow, they filmed Jurassic park here, that or RIO _;) My companion´s name is Hermana Caicedo from Ecuador. the best way to describe her is that if they made Whoopee Goldberg into a disney character, she would be my companion. I am training, it turns out it was not a joke after all, and we are opening the area together. SOOO much responsibility for someone who doesn't understand whats going on that well (me). They pulled the whole district out of Puerto and put in me and my comp, and my district leader, who is also training. the four of us make up a brand new district. It's a lot of responsibility and I had to repent because just a week ago, I remember thinking, oh my gosh can we please finish the area book and go to bed? and now here i am, being the responsible one that makes us finish all the things we have to do before we can go to bed. I miss Cusco, but puerto has its charms as well. I have always had a hard time with change, but hopefully that is something i can learn - how to adapt. I love hearing about Maddie and Boston!!! Rach, remember how I was always wanted a dog? yeah, the mission has changed my mind. I no longer feel any desire to have a dog, its funny how only 3 months can change something i have always wanted haha. Family, mom, dad, rachel chris, david, amber, destin, grandparents, cousins aunts uncles, everybody. I love you all so much, and I have never felt more blessed to have the family I do. I hope you all are doing well! love you, miss you all! love, Hermana Swartz

Mary's 12th letter from Peru

Hey Family!
So I have some interesting news... This week we have
transfers. Rumor was that my comp was going to go and I was going to
stay here because all the new missionaries stay in the area to teach
the ones that come in. Wrong. Soooo wrong. I really think the Lord
LOVES to shock me. I am being transfered, but here is the kicker. I
have been called to be a trainer. I am still waiting for someone to
tell me its a joke, because first off practically nobody trains after
3 months, let alone an american, nobody has ever heard of this
happening in this mission. So next week there is a chance that I´ll
tell you this is all a big joke on Hermana Swartz hahaha. But if its
not a joke, I have to say there seems to be a pattern. Everytime
something happens, I tell them I am inadequate, and nobody
listens!!! If the Lord wants me to train, I will do it to the best of
my ability even though I still feel like i have no clue what to do!
I dont know who my comp is yet or where i am going, but ill fill you
in next week.

This week we met with the the 12 year old, jose, his older sister
Ernestina 17 yrs old. Their situacion is rough to say the least and
she was in tears with in minutes of talking to us. Her dream is to go
to church but she is not allowed to. Jose suggested that he could go,
and then he would teach her everything he learned after church every
week, it was a sweet suggestion but she wants to attend to feel the
spirit in her life. She literally would give anything to just to know
the gospel, and it makes me think of how much I take for granted.

Family i love you all so much, mom and destin, i am glad your
birthdays were good. Love you all!!!!

Hermana Swartz

Mary's 11th letter from Peru

Hey Family! Wow, my sobrino is adorable, i love him already! Bastian
eh? Interesting choice. Very similar to Boston, we will have to be
careful about that. Happy birthday Destin this week and I hope your
birthday was great momma! I cant believe i forgot to wish you happy
birthday last monday! I love you both soooo much!

Rachel- I would LOVE peanut butter and chocolate chips if possible,
and that concealer that you use if possible. But whatever you send I
will love if you cant send those things. oh... also, if you are able
to find a flee collar or powder... my companion and are having a
little bit of a problem with flees, and I heard if you have a flee
collar and put it above your bed, they'll go away. soo... that's
happening. Awesome, right? Gotta love South America.

Okay, so this week, Jose Alvarez was baptized!!!! So my comp and I
were standing in the hall, and everyone was waiting for him to get
changed into his baptismal clothing, and he comes out and he is
wearing this itty bitty swim suit to be baptized... he is 85 years
old. Luckily the Elders were there to help him with the baptismal
clothing, I had to turn away because I was laughing so hard, it was
so funny... there are not words to describe how awesome that moment
was. But then it was a beautiful baptism and he bore his testimony of
the gospel and Jesus Christ. Seeing someone accept the gospel and make
covenants with our Father in heaven makes it all worth it - the flees,
the ceviche, the dogs that chase us, none of that matters when you see
an investigator dressed in white, beaming with a joy that can only
come from the gospel of Jesus Christ, or when a less active family
comes back to church is welcomed with open arms by the ward. I love
it soo much. Any way I am out of time, but life is great, the
mission is great, and the gospel is true. Also, the book of mormon is
bomb.com. the more I read it, the more I realize the truth and power
that it brings. I cant imagen someone reading it, praying about it,
studying it and being able to deny it. I love you all! Give my niece
and nephews hugs and kisses from their aunt who misses them.

Hermana Swartz

Mary's 10th letter from Peru

Hey family! Momma, There is not enough succion in the toilets here to
create a swirl, so I dont actually know haha. Oh man there is so
much to say and not enough time! I got so many letters today from so
many people, I havent read them yet but thank you sooo much! my zone
likes to joke about how my friends and family are funding the peruvian
postal service haha.
David and Amber, I am dying to know the name!!! please choose one so
that i can rest in peace! He is so beautiful, I love him already, its
a bummer I cant see him for another year and however many months.
Rachel - boston and maddie are so adorable, I love and miss them so
much! its crazy. Destin, sorry to hear about Kevin attending his
other church... We are having the same issue with one of our recent
converts, only he just doesn't come, he is already classified as
inactive!!! sad day. but the good news is that Hermana Rocio and
Patti and Miguel are attending every week, and Rocio and Patti now
have callings, and bought skirts for sunday!!! We still need to talk
to patti about her piercings. Its so awesome to see the changes that
take place in the lives of the people who live the gospel. I love it
so much!
Quiero decir que amo mucho a esta iglesia y se que este evangelio es
el evangelio de Jesucristo, y se que puede traer mucho gozo y
felicidad a la vida. Ahora es muy dificil hablar en ingles, me siento
muy rara hablar ingles, en serio. Pero todavia me falta la habilidad
hablar en español muy claramente! Ojala que pueda aprender
rapidamente, mama porfavor no me juzgues por mi español! Familia, y
amigos, les amo muchismo, y les agradecido por su apollo!!! La mision
es lo MAXIMO!!!


(Translation: I want to say that I LOVE this church and I know this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know it can bring so much joy and happiness to this life. Now, it is very difficult to speak in English, I feel really weird speaking English, I'm serious. But, I still lack the ability to speak very clearly in Spanish. I hope I can learn quickly. Mom, please don't judge me for my Spanish! Family and Friends, I love you all SO MUCH and I am grateful for your support! The mission is the BEST!!!)


Hermana Swartz

Mary's 9th letter from Peru

Miguel was baptized this week! Woot. Also Jose Alvarez we thought we
were going to have to drop because he was not progressing, but this
week he showed up and told us he wants to be baptized the tenth of
march! We also went knocking doors, and we found a woman who attends
church everyone once in a while, but has not been baptized. she has
everything lined up perfectly, I know she has the potential to be
baptized if she keeps the commitments she has made.

I love you all, no time. happy birthday Rach!

Mary's 8th Letter from Peru

Hey Family!

Thanks for your emails! I love love love reading them. I
have some stories for you this week. I dreamed last night in spanish!
Very cool, but I only remember that that I was challenging people to
be baptized haha.

This week, we had some interesting lessons. We had a lesson with a
couple that are having some serious issues with their marriage. After
a discussion about being humble, repentance and starting over, we
asked the brother to offer the prayer. He said a beautiful prayer, and
after he finished we sat in silence for about 5 seconds when his wife
then begins to pray. I'm thinking, okay, awesome. very cool. after she
finishes, my companion begins to pray aloud... and I start
thinking... huh? Did I miss something? Am I supposed to go next,
or...? After she finishes, we are waiting in silence for about 3
seconds and the brother begins to pray again! I think to myself, okay
this is getting our of control. and I need to repent, I couldn't help
but start laughing! The problem was that I didn't want them to realize
that I was laughing, so to cover it up I was coughing, but it just
ended up sounding like I was a crazy person feeling the spirit very,
very strongly. After that lesson, my companion and I laughed all the
way to our next appointment.

We have another investigator, his name is Jose. At first, we weren't
sure if he would progress. He looked at the floor, wouldn't answer our
questions, no response. Para nada. But in the last week, he has
really opened up. He is taking notes in church, praying aloud in the
lessons, and participating, smiling, it's insane the difference the
gospel can make in a person!

One more story. There is a 12 year old boy also named Jose and he has
a madrina, which means his parents gave him to another family to live
with and work for. He is an employee for this family and works about
10 hours a day, since he was 7 years old. Sometimes, he doesn't have
food, its a tough life. We have been teaching when we can. When we
asked him what he would like us to pray for, and he just asked that we
give thanks for all his many blessings. What humility, I learned
something from him that I will never forget.

Well family, my time is almost up, but thanks for the video of boston
and the pictures! I love them!!! My zone was looking at the pictures
too, he is soo adorable. i would also like to say if you ever feel
like sending a jar of peanut butter my way, that would be cool. I
love helping people find the gospel, and watching the changes that always follow!

Love you all!!!

Hermana Swartz

Mary's 7th letter from Peru

Hey family!

I am still with Hermana San Francisco for this next change. Things
are great with her. We work hard to be obedient everyday and in
everything we do. We are definitely not perfect, but we try to work
hard and have faith that the lord will make up the rest.

This week we are going to have a general authority come to speak to
our mission, I have to give the opening prayer and I have been asked
to participate in a special musical number - con migo quedate Senor -
abide with me tis even tide. I have no clue who else is involved, or
how many others will be singing with me, but its really exciting!

I love reading the scriptures, I love this work. Its the hardest
thing i have ever done, and i have never been more tired, but I love
it.

Momma and daddy - I recieved a letter from you guys last week and this
week too! Thank you thank you, I love getting your letters. Yeah I
bet that is weird having the house so quiet when for so many years it
was always full. No worries, Destin and I will be home in no time. I
definitely miss your rolls mom, and your roast and mashed potatoes
dad. Since I have been here, I have had ceviche, leche de tigre (so
strange) liver, cow foot, chicken foot soup, cow lung, mate de coca -
(cocaine) and more. I have not had guinee pig yet, but I am sure its
coming. people rave about it here! I feel super weird about eating it
though haha.

To be completely honest, I have been exposed to things in the last
month and a half that have broken my heart. Its hard to see the trials
that people are facing. people open up to us so easily and break down
into tears and then tell us they dont know why they are telling us
those things. The gospel has something to offer everyone, especially
those with difficult trials, but sometimes people straight up reject
it. I want to just shake them and tell them that this is what they
are looking for, this is what they need to make their life better. but
we cant make anyone believe. one has to choose and decide for
themselves.

Rachel, hope i get your letter soon! _Chris, youre the best brother in
law ever, hope everything is going well for you. Amber, please  send
pictures of the baby when you have him! is there a name decided yet?
David love you tons and tons, hope school is going well, and destin if
you read this, I love you tons, keep working hard and serving the
people in russia. Mom and daddy, thanks for being awesome parents and
not participating in child labor. I love you both soooo much.