May 27th, 2013

Hey family!!!! 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I had a great birthday, i am now 23!! holy lanta. we had an awesome week too, wednesday we had interviews with president, then thursday the zone conference, friday the wedding, saturday the baptisms and yesterday my birthday. full total.... saturday, only norma was going to get baptized.... she is sooo incredible. Her husband too, miguel, but didnt want to be baptized yet. while we were there, and norma was all changed for the ordinance, my comp said to the elders "go give him the baptismal clothes and tell him to get changed to be baptized and lets see what he does!!!!" so the elders cornered miguel with the bishop, and gave him the clothes and talked to him... i dont know what they said, but he went and changed for his baptism!! then he had his interview, and got baptized with his wife! norma ran to him and threw her arms around him and kissed him and was jumping up and down like a little girl, it was a miracle. really a beautiful experience. I love seeing families change together, it makes everything better. 

Yesterday my pensionista made pancakes for breakfast!!!  so that rocked. we worked super hard all day in lessons and looking for new investigators because during the week we really didnt have any time, and we had some good lessons. Then in the night, some of the members and our converts threw me a surprise birthday party, it was awesome. I LOVE puno. i love it. I will be really sad to leave, these members are so special. well, actually everywhere i have been has been so special. Norma told us last night she feels like she knew us before this life and thats why she accepted the message so easily. she told us she was waiting for us to find her. I love being a missionary after weeks like this!!!! It was a great birthday. 

Very cool clay is home, man has it really been two years? weird. Tell him hi. and Raquel when you see her! 

Also, i am now allowed to write people back individually via email! so someone needs an answer, i can. the only thing is that there still isnt much time to respond. i still love letters and dear elder, para que sepan (Just so you know). :D

Welp. i love you all very very much! 

here are some pictures of the wedding and my birthday... for the food after the wedding ceremony, the family spread a blanket on the ground and put a bunch of potatoes and chuño and fish.... so that was interesting. you can also see how people dress, the traditional peruvian women. aka panai. 

May 19th, 2013

Hey family! Welp, this week we have interviews with president Calderon, and our investigators are getting married friday, and baptized saturday! very cool. i am tired. Weddings are no small event. 

 Destin, very cool to hear about what happened last week with your investigator!!!! I felt like i was reading a book with a twist at the end!!! looks like we are going to be getting home with in a week of eachother! cant wait to be wierd rms together. Definitely on board for the homecomings to be on the same day, that would be sick. i would LOVE THAT. wooot!!!!

Welp, it was definitely not part of my plans to stay any longer than what i had set for my date. a few months i had the option to pick my date to return. i prayed and said "lord, if you want me to stay, i will, but let me know. If president himself calls me, i will stay, but if not, i would like to go home to be with my family."

and a week and a half before my departure date, president called me haha. Sometimes i feel like there are several doors to choose from, which one i should enter. When i ask the Lord what i should do, he tells me i can pick, so i do. and then the door shuts in my face, and he says, "ooh, not that door... its okay, try again. you can do it!" so i do... and then its shuts again, in my face... and then the lord says "welp, let me just help you. you clearly need my help." and thats how i often recieve guidence from the Lord. hahaha. I guess the important part is that he wants me to learn to make decisions, but i know that if i choose the wrong one, he will always close the door before i can start down that path hahahah. 

Welp i have news youre all going to love, the system only lets me stay until the 5th of July, so now i will be home the 6th? i think? somthing like that. That just happened 30 seconds ago. Man i hope thats the last time my departure date changes. my emotions are so confused with how to feel with it changing every... i dont know, a lot. But i am excited to be able to do everything possible before i come home to do what Heavenly Father wants me to do. Love you all tons and tons!

MILAGROS!!!! como se intero que me quedo mas tiempo!!? Bueno la verdad, nadie sabe aun, todos piensan que me voy al final de este cambio, entonces todavia no diga a nadie! jaja. pero tengo algo para usted, pero estoy esperando para darle en persona si es que puedo. Sepa que le quiero mucho mucho mucho, y le extraño bastante. Porfavor , no diga a nadie aun que me quedo un rato mas aqui, es un secreto todavia, se van a interar en la reunion de cambios ;D Les quiero mucho!!!! 

Besos, Hna Swartz

May 13th, 2013

Hey family! Wow it was actually way better than i thought to talk over skype to you all! Dad, you broke the glass in the table? hahaha. awesome. the good news is i dont think it'll be that hard to replace. So cute the pictures of Boston and Maddie, and the new baby!!!! and David and Amber, your son is soooo cute! It was good to see Brent and Josh, and linda and John, and Mariela, and everyone!!! its crazy to see how much has changed, but yet the house looks exactly the same. but with bushes in front jjaja. mom, you are soo cool. i didnt know you could play destin's bass! thats sick.

Funny story time. So i was pretty stressed out and had a head ache for like, two days straight. and my pensionista did something i have never heard of, so she was rubbing my head, and i was loving it, but then, out of nowhere, she grabs my hair, and pulls it so hard, it makes a suction sound as the scalp separates from the bone... apparently its supposed to help with stress... i started crying because i was so surprised, have you guys heard of that before?.. they have some interesting remedies, they arent too big on medicine here lol. My pensionista is so cool. she is one of the pensionistas in the mission... actually, all my pensionistas have been awesome. 

Welp... still working hard. I was talking to a returned missionary not long ago and mentioned i had a few weeks left, and she said, "ah entonces le falta mucho." o sea, she said ah you still have a lot left. I thought about that. Really i think there is not much time, but there is a LOT to do. activities to plan, people to activate, and investigators to baptize. Basically invite people to christ. haha, two days ago we knocked a door and a lady came out, said she was catholic, and if we came back she would "punish" us. what? really? that was a first, we just laughed about it because she was clearly elderly. i have learned to laugh at things i probably wouldnt have laughed at a year and a half ago. All we can do is invite, and do our best to represent Christ so people can feel his love through us, but at the end of the day, they have to take the decision and act on that. no one can live the gospel for you.

ps. Here are my flight plans.

love you all tons. 

Hermana Swartz

***Basically, so you all know, her flight plans show that she leaves Peru May 28th in the evening, flies to Atlanta, and then arrives in Salt Lake August 29th around lunch time. :) SO EXCITED!!!

May 6th, 2013

Daddy, I am in puno with lake titikaka, there really isnt fall here, its just cold all year. but we are going into the dry, cold season. its nothing compared to russia i am sure, but man its still cold here! especially because there is no hot water and no indoor heating. youre just cold all the time. During the day, it still gets hot because we are at such a high altitude, the sun just burns you, but at night, holy lanta. its cold. and all the buildings are of cement, so its like sleeping in a giant refrigerator haha. 

Momma, i did get your package, thank you! also, there is a western union in my sector, thank you!!! I am soooo excited!!! right now there is a sick ferria and they are selling everything super cheap!!!! Holla. oh and mom and dad, ANNIVERSARY!!!! i dont know how many years you have together, but its a lot. i love you both, and i am grateful to have you for parents. 

Destin i love your pictures!!! its so cool to see you are still alive. i know you are, but after such a long time, it helps to see pictures to remind me. i cant wait to see all your pictures of your  mission, that will be awesome.  

Rachel, how cute are your kids? so adorable! man boston is huge! and maddie too, they look 100 percent like the adams family haha. David, your kid is cute too, just you never send me pictures!!!! 

Welp we have another baptism scheduled for this week, Miguel. He is sooooo awesome! he is 12, and he is Yennys little brother, yenny who got baptized last week. WE had a lesson with him last week, and he told us he had a dream jesus told him to be baptized on his birthday next year in march..... hmmm. that was hard to know how to react to that. so we prayed all week, and we had a lesson with him yesterday after church, and we were all prepared to teach him why he shouldnt wait, and when we started, i asked when he felt god wanted him to be baptized, and he responded "saturday." we sat for a sec in silence, and i said "...which saturday...?" and miguel responded "this saturday. i want to be baptized this saturday, and then recieve the preisthood." We sat in shock, and just sat in silence looking at this kid, thinking... "wait....what?" hahah he was soooooo set on getting baptized in a year!!! so we are getting everything ready for this saturday. Very cool. Things are going well in this sector, i really love puno! the people here rock. very set in their ways, but when they change, they change forever. 

Welp i love you guys tons and tons. hope everything is going well for you all, and that you all have a good week. Ill talk to you soon for mothers day!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AGAIN!!!  LOVE.

LOVE, Hermana Swartz.

April 29th, 2013

Hey familly!!!!

WE had 3 baptisms on saturday!!! so awesome. Carmen, her son rodrigo, and Yenny!!! all three were miracle baptisms. Man, it is such a good feeling watching the people you love be baptized, and see the difference in their lives. And today is my comps birthday, she is 20 years old today! there is a tradition to break eggs on their head, and shove their face in the cake... but my comp is a fire cracker, so she sought revenge on us all, the whole zone, and we all have cake in our ears and hair now. hahaha. 

If i am not mistaken, today is tiffs birthday, tell her happy birthday! 

Rach, I think maddie and i are going to be bffs. straight up. 

Momma, the money... uh, banco continental esta bien pues. maybe if you could send me in half dollars and half soles? or in dollars and i can change it here. Whatever works.  and bushes!!! wow how awesome!

Daddy, thanks for the letter. it sounds like you have a ton of work to do with cars, the good part is that i know you are able to fix them. 

Welp, i am sure we will make something work with the rooms. I am not too worried about it. 

My papers just got here, i should have my flight information soon, but i dont know when. 

Welp,  i think thats all for today. We had a super awesome week, i love this sector! Puno is awesome. kind of cold, but hey. what can you do.  I love you all tons, hope you guys have an awesome week1

Hna luz! Quiero decirle que le extaño mucho, gracias por siempre ser mi amiga! oro por usted y por freddi y orianna.

presidente Chiang!!! Wow no puedo creer que tanto tiempo ha pasado! Katia se va a Ecuador!!!! wow que BACAN!!!! porfi, digale que le quiero mucho, y mando felicitaciones!!!! Saludos a su hermosa esposa e hija alexita. les quiero muchooooo!

Romi!!! Queiro decirte gracias por todo lo que me enseñaste. realmente, me diste lo que necesitaba para tener una mision exitosa. Te quiero mucho mucho, te voy a encontrar en face en algunas semanas!!!!!!

April 14th, 2013

Hey family! Rachel! I love the video of Boston and Maddie, i cant wait to see them!!! I wonder if this little girl will look like chris again or if shell look like you a little haha.

 

Mom, if you are wanting souvenirs, there is some really cool stuff here, i am in a tourist place and there is tons! so let me know if someone wants something, and ill bring it. also, a member saw you on you tube!!! hha haha you should do a guitar lesson in spanish, there are a lot of people here that would watch i think

 

My mission president got called as a 70, i am not sure if you guys caught that. but how awesome is that!? I just saw a picture of president calderon from the conference in utah, with all the returned missionaries from this mission!!!! it was awesome, but super wierd haha.

 

Well we are working really hard, we have had some really awesome experiences! I love it, time is going by super quick. i want to say thanks for the people who still write to me, Uncle Wilber wins the prize though. he has written me every week for the past... i dont even know how long, but i love getting his letters!!!! <please tell him even though i cant write back, i miss him and love and appreciate him very much, as i do all the people who have sent letters. Thanks sooo much. they really help on a rough day. Tell stephanie rhodes congrats on getting married, Dani and tiffany happy birthday this month, Mariela that i love her, Jill thanks for the letter, Broderick, Marcos, sister Arnold, and so many more. Thank you all, I feel so blessed to have people like you in my life.

 

Ahora la parte en español para ustedes aca en <peru!! Hna Luz, y freddi, Romanette, presidente chiang y mila, les amo muchooooo! <puno es lo maximo aun que tenga frio, pero no importa. La verdad, se que Dios nos pone en los lugares donde el nos necesita. Se que El les puso en mi vida por una razon, porque pude aprender muchas cosas de ustedes. Sepan que siempre tendran un lugar en mi corazon, y siempre seran mis amigasos :D Les quiero muchismo!!!!!

 

 

con amor, Hermana Swartz!

April 7th, 2013

Hey family! Welp I have to say that reading rachels letter about boston and maddie had me laughing so hard, i was crying! Give boston a big hug for me on his accomplishment haha. I cant wait to see maddie, she sounds like a blast!!! Mom, and Dad, i am sorry about your plants. Actually last night i dreamed about home. i wasnt in the dream, but i just saw our house but in my dream there were soooooo many plants and everything was super green haha. 

Well this conference was incredible. Its sad because i know it is the last one i will get to hear as a missionary, and conference as a missionary is awesome to say the least. There were so many parts i loved, but I think i really what i have been focusing on is that we as members live the law of consecration. In this life, everything we have is from the <lord, and so many times we are unwilling to sacrifice what we love for what the lord has asked of us. Everthing, our time, money, talents, children, homes, how much of what we have do we dedicate to God? Sincerely? I think true conversion comes from being willing to make those sacrifices, and know that whatever we sacrifice we will be compensated times 100, but whatever we give to God, we should it willingly, and with gratitude, which requires a change of heart. A person who has not had a change of heart could make those sacrifices, but wouldnt be capable of understanding why they need to do it. Its all for <love. If we understand that, it doesnt matter what happens, we will have the perspective and comprehension to be able to face any situation, or make what ever sacrifice. 

Little brother, Still working hard :D We have so much to do, slacking off just isnt an option. sometimes i feel like i waste some of my time, but not intentionally. Its never intentional, but i do make so many mistakes, but I just hope that even with my imperfections that i can still help all the people the <lord needs me to help. 

Well, i love you all so much, and i love our family. I have so blessed to have a family that gives me so much support and love, even when i am not around. I hope you all know how much your love, letters, and prayers lift me daily and help me do what sometimes i feel is impossible. 

Love you all, 

Hermana Swartz

post data! <presidente chiang! soñe con usted y con mila y alexa anoche! les extraño mucho, y espero que esten bien y cuidando a los de la rama, ustedes son una familia muy especial. les quiero mucho

These are the pictures that were attached to last weeks email...I forgot to post them. 

April 1st, 2013

Hey family! This week was really interesting. I am thinking it might be better to do a semester at uvu and take care of the mess i left behind before i transfer. The only problem with giving you my address is that its possible it never gets here. 

Welp this week, we had permission from the area to get on facebook and give our testimony! so thats what i did! but i felt really wierd about it. Then also Elder Ryan and Hermana Martinez and I were on tv this week. Just for Puno, a local station. We sang Sigueme, and gave our testimonies and a lot of people saw us! So that was cool. other than that this week was super hard, This week should be the best week for us and its one of the hardest. SEMANA SANTA. full of apostacy. Everyone walks up the side of mountain at 3 am to represent the walk christ did when he carried the cross up Calvary's hill, and then they all get rip roaring drunk and come down at like 10 am. I sent a picture of one of the few lessons we had, really special. 

Presidente chiang y mila!!! que lindos esas fotos!!!! Estoy enviando fotos, espero que les gusten. Que Bacan que Jose Luis es presidente de Rama!!!!!! porfa que mande saludos! Que raro que ya estoy terminando la mision. paso demasiado rapido. Pero la cosa mas importante es que puedo usar el tiempo que me falta para hacer todo lo posible para ayudar a los demas. pero lo bueno es que cuando termino, voy a poder llamarles!!!! mejor jajaja. Les extrano mucho!!!! hasta siguiente semana!!!!

Hermana Swartz

March 25th, 2013

Hey family. its been a good week. we worked hard, have a baptismal date for this friday, because of conference and all. Her name is lourdes, she is like 70 ish, and she is such a fire a cracker! we get along to say the least. she came to church yesterday with her big sun glasses, all her bracelets, and her walker. she is a diva. i love her. 

Mom and Dad, i forgot to tell you, i would love to be able to access the money in my account, but i dont have a card. i dont know if you sent one, the one i have is expired. and as far as school goes, i still dont know if i should go to uvu for a semester or not, incase i need to make up those classes so they dont stay on my record. Whatever is best. let me know.

Welp, i am glad you all had a good week! I love it here in puno, it rocks. there are so many good people who really understand the gospel, and it helps so much. I love you all!!!!! xoxoxoxo

ps, my shoes rock. they are the TANKS of shoes if that makes sense., i dont think they could be destroyed if i tried. also, Rach i am super excited to find out if its a girl or a boy!!!!!

Hermana Swartz

March 18th, 2013

Hey family! I have some good news, the shoes showed up this week! I was dying, but finally they got here. Thank you so much for the shoes, they are like walking on pillows. Tell Broderick he is so awesome. I should be okay as far as shoes go until i finish... I hope he kept the reciept...

Bueno, this week I got here to Manco capac with my comp, hermana parraga. she is from lima, she is 19 and she is awesome, i love her. We have been lost a few times because we have no clue where we are, but we have had some cool experiences. we found a family of 5, the parents are married, and the dad is in the military. we are hoping to challenge them to baptism this week. The ward has really missed having missionaries, every organization gave us a list of references, and wants us to visit them! Rach, sorry about the slang. Snaking means apostacy basically. But i love it here! It is soooo nice to be a ward, where there is ward council and they actually come! I havent had that since i was in cusco over a year ago, just starting the mission, and i didnt appreciate it. i remember feeling like ward council was the longest meeting in the whole world and wanted to die. now its my favorite thing ever hahaah. funny how things change. 

oh and our new pencionista... she LOVES  to feed us. I told her i just wanted mate for dinner, and she begs us to eat her food. "un poquito poquitito" and  promises us just a little, but then puts a plate full of food. haha but she is a sweet heart. and a good cook. i finally dropped weight, but i have no clue how to keep it off with the new pencionista. 30 min of excersice cant fight deep fried rice and cheese.

Mom and dad, sorry my mission president hasnt contacted you at all, he has other talents. I dont think they have bought the tickets yet, but i will let you know when they do. Its weird how fast time has gone by.

 

ROMANETTE! Hola loca! MEZA, SANCHEZ, PRESIDENTE CHIANG, HERMANA LUZ!! que tal! Estoy aca en Manco capac, BELLAVISTA PUNO abriendo sector y capacitando! hace un friaso aca, pero es lo maximo. El barrio es muy bueno y tiene muchas referencias para nosotras. Gracias por escribirme, espero que ustedes esten bien es sus casas!!!! Meza, claro que no he olvidado de ustedes! jajaja. No se olvide de usar el conocimiento que ha logrado en la mision, como conseguir buenas referencias y saber si van a progresar. si no, DEJELAS! jaja. Bueno me falta 2 meses para terminar, pero hay tantas cosas para hacer aca en este sector que no pienso mucho en el tiempo. Ademas, mi compañera es nuevita entonces eso tambien me ayuda jaja. Espero que ustedes esten bien, les quiero mucho! presidente Chiang, porfavor si puede dar un abrazo a su hijita y a <mila, les extrañno un monton! Tambien Hermana Luz, le quiero muuccchooo! Espero que las hermanas se esten comportando bien alli en quillabamba.

 

Hermana Swartz