Hello family!
... So... I'm sorry I'm emailing late... It's kind of a long story... I'll tell it in just a moment. First I wanted to say: please! Everyone! Send me a miracle, story, experience that effected you personally in your life so that I can share it with my investigators! Specifically include blessings you received from obeying a specific commandment! (Tithing for example) This will help me connect personally to the story and will provide variety to my lessons and powerful ways you can help spread seeds in Russia! Who knows, maybe it wasn't me that was to help someone, but in fact YOU and your experience! Also! Dad, my companion, as soon as we were done skyping said you reminded him of Harrison Ford. Ya Tak Smeyalsya! (I laughed much)
Soooo... Yesterday as we were headed to the library to write home, my companion turned to me and said his stomach didn't feel well. I suggested we walk to the McDonalds just down the street so he could use the free restroom. As we walked though the pain intensified and he said he didn't think he could make the walk to McDonalds. Deciding a few rubles was no sacrifice to use the restroom in this situation, we went immediately into the next building. I could tell he was in a lot of pain and it was getting worse, so I called te Mission president's wife and had him talk to her while I asked a lady cleaning the stairs where a bathroom might be. She said there was one in the building next door but not in this one, despite it being four stories and quite nice. (that's russia for you.) I asked my companion, who by this point had collapsed against the wall, if he could make it to the next building. He said no. He was still on the phone with sister sartori and was struggling to speak. I tore off his hat and gave him a blessing right there while he was on the phone. People were probably very confused, but none of that mattered. His condition worsened, despite my blessing that everything would be okay. He was pale and laying on the ground. He had hung up with sister sartori and said we neeed to call a taxi to go home and find some pain killers. The lady cleaning the stairs came out and saw my comanion and became very upset. She insisted on calling an ambulance (Socialized health care here. Cheap for Russians, Pricey for foreigners) But I told her a taxi would be enough. Other people were starting to gather and my language skills were proving to fail me. The Russians insisted he sit on a chair in the room, so despite the fact that laying would probably have been better, I helped him into the chair, him looking even worse. His breathing was deep and he said the pain was like someone was stabbing him. At this point, several of the Russians had caled Skora Pomosh (Soon help, ie: an ambulance) and I didn't know what to do. The russians kept talking to me, using words I had obviously never heard before, and my companion was moaning. It was all very overwhelming. I called Sis. Sartori again, but she didn't answer and I had to explain everything to the Assistant to the president. He told me to get into the ambulance and to cal my district leader, luckily a native, so that he could meet us at the hospital and help translate. My companion was paler now and his moaning was louder. He was rocking violently back and forth in the chair. I talked to him about anything and everything to take his mind off of the pain, but all he wanted to know was when the ambulance would come. Finally, the ambulance came and the paramedics came and helped him into the ambulance. I had to answer all their protocol questions, which I only understood because I took my first responder course and knew what kind of questions they were asking... thanks heavens. After getting into the ambulance, they were doing a quick diagnostic, but because my companion speaks no russian, I was forced to do the translating. Again, because I understood the kind of questions they needed to ask in this kind of situation, I was able to tell them the right answers quickly, and I think I had a burst of the gift of tongues... Sersiously. I didn't know any of the words they were saying, but I still knew what they meant... Medical terms and such... At this point, his breathing had slowed and the pain had lessened, thankfully. We went into te hospital and they put us in this room, very un-sterile, Russian like... They did some more diagnostics, with a real doctor this time, me translating everything. Gift of tongues... again. Everyone left the room. We were alone for a bit. A nurse came in and almost gave him a shot, but then realized he was the wrong patient... haha! Russia. Then after a few minutes, a man came in with a doctor and the doctor started doing some sort of examination on the man. The man laid down and pulled down his pants a bit... mooned us... haha. I thought the doctor was going to give him a shot in the bum... but he PULLED ON THE GLOVE!!! SO AWKWARD! I was sitting right next to the guy!! Russian health care has no privacy!!! Afterwards, they both just left the room... so random! Probably the funniest thing that has happened to me in all of Russia so far now that I think about it... haha! My companion was feeling... well... not deathly at this point. Finally my district leader came and he was able to take care of things a lot better than I could... The rest of the day was a lot of sitting in the hospital, running all around Penza, rearranging meetings... the works... My companion is still in the hospital right now, a specialist is coming soon... I'm on splits with elder glad right now and missionary work resumes.
Anyway... I have to go now though. I love you all! I hope you weren't worried when you woke up and didn't have my email! Pray for my companion! He may have to go home if they have to do a surgery. It isn't his apendix... they think... Could be an ulcer? anyway... Loves!
Elder Swartz!
Elder Swartz
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Letter #12 from Russia
HELLO!
I emailed Mary, let her know how Lucky she is! That really is soo cool that she gets all that in the MTC!
So! There's a rumor in St. Petersburg that Sarah Brunsdale is engaged!!! No way! I would like confirmation on that one please. Also, I got five baptisms this week!!! They were all dead though... haha! Yeah, I went to the KIEV TEMPLE! So awesome!! I can't even describe how great it feels to go to the temple again, not to mention the KIEV TEMPLE! So COOL! Also, so members from Penza happened to be at the temple that week too! I got baptized for the dead by Andrei Panin, one of my favorite members! He is great! We didn't get to do a session, but it was a blessing nonetheless! A really cool experience happened while we were there. An elder had a headache after we were done with everything, so we went to a building on the temple grounds to get something for him to feel better and this lady came up to us and asked us if we could give her a blessing. We all hesitated because we were all new missionaries, and we asked a man if he could help us, but the woman said she wanted us to do it because she prayed that some Elders would come and give her a blessing. There happened to be four of us Elders, (there needs to be at least three men to be in room with a woman) so we followed her to a room and sat her down. I didn't give the blessing, just helped put my hands on her head. It was a sweet blessing, choppy language, totally powerful. Afterwards, we met some sisters from Rostov and they told us that Elder Pehrson, an Elder I loved in the MTC went home after two weeks in the Field. Sad. But I also met a lady who said she remembered Christy from Rostov. She had a crazy eye. She saw Christy's picture and said she definitely remembered that smile.
So I really want to know the name of Heather Christiansen's (Perry's daughter) Husband! The one who served here in Samara! I want to know which cities he was in, when he served, mission president, everything! Also, fun fact: When you're at a stop light and the little green man lights up to signal it's okay to walk, he starts out walking. But instead of it turning into a red hand, the little man starts running to show that the time is almost up! So funny!
My companions their transfer call last night. Anderson is going to be a zone leader!! So cool! I'll miss him! Glad is with a native! And I'm with a second cycler... I have to go! I love you all so much!!
Loves, elder swartz!
I emailed Mary, let her know how Lucky she is! That really is soo cool that she gets all that in the MTC!
So! There's a rumor in St. Petersburg that Sarah Brunsdale is engaged!!! No way! I would like confirmation on that one please. Also, I got five baptisms this week!!! They were all dead though... haha! Yeah, I went to the KIEV TEMPLE! So awesome!! I can't even describe how great it feels to go to the temple again, not to mention the KIEV TEMPLE! So COOL! Also, so members from Penza happened to be at the temple that week too! I got baptized for the dead by Andrei Panin, one of my favorite members! He is great! We didn't get to do a session, but it was a blessing nonetheless! A really cool experience happened while we were there. An elder had a headache after we were done with everything, so we went to a building on the temple grounds to get something for him to feel better and this lady came up to us and asked us if we could give her a blessing. We all hesitated because we were all new missionaries, and we asked a man if he could help us, but the woman said she wanted us to do it because she prayed that some Elders would come and give her a blessing. There happened to be four of us Elders, (there needs to be at least three men to be in room with a woman) so we followed her to a room and sat her down. I didn't give the blessing, just helped put my hands on her head. It was a sweet blessing, choppy language, totally powerful. Afterwards, we met some sisters from Rostov and they told us that Elder Pehrson, an Elder I loved in the MTC went home after two weeks in the Field. Sad. But I also met a lady who said she remembered Christy from Rostov. She had a crazy eye. She saw Christy's picture and said she definitely remembered that smile.
So I really want to know the name of Heather Christiansen's (Perry's daughter) Husband! The one who served here in Samara! I want to know which cities he was in, when he served, mission president, everything! Also, fun fact: When you're at a stop light and the little green man lights up to signal it's okay to walk, he starts out walking. But instead of it turning into a red hand, the little man starts running to show that the time is almost up! So funny!
My companions their transfer call last night. Anderson is going to be a zone leader!! So cool! I'll miss him! Glad is with a native! And I'm with a second cycler... I have to go! I love you all so much!!
Loves, elder swartz!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Letter #11 From Russia
Hello Family!!
So there's this story here in Russia about a taxi driver and a priest. Both die. The taxi driver goes to Heaven and the priest goes to Hell. The priest, confused, complains to the devil and asks "Why am I down here while that Taxi driver is up there? He was the worst, most reckless driver in town!" The devil responds "Because the taxi driver got a lot more people praying in his car than you ever got to pray in your chapel."
I thought that was funny.
I hope Thanksgiving was wonderful! I'm sure it was! I ca't even tell you how much I was craving to have the food we usually have on thanksgiving! Don't worry, over here we had a little celebration too! We had a little bit of mashed potatoes and turkey! Not as good as our family's stuff, but it was delicious nonetheless! I really am loving the members here. They are becoming my family... I really hope that I don't get transferred. Of course I won't complain, but I will definitely be sad. What day is Mary going into the MTC again? I think about her everyday! I wrote you a letter, and I'm sending it today!!! you probably won't get it before the MTC, but I expect mother and father to forward it to you in the MTC.
So I was sitting next to Sergey Pakrovskey, one of my best friends here in Russia, speaks English fluently, and he was translating for our mission president because he came to our branch this past weekend. The speaker was talking about the woman taken in adultery and how the people wanted to stone her. But the way he translated it was "The Jesus said to these people 'if any of you are a good person, throw a rock at her.'" I had to work hard not to laugh. Not only that, but I suddely realized why I get laughed at all the time here in Russia. Learning another language is so hard, so humbling, so fun, so stressful, and so fulfilling!
So we had about 11 or 12 people who could be baptized, but one of them dissapeared of the face of the earth, actually, no. two of them did. two others called and said they want none of it anymore. two went crazy... Another one said he really wanted to be baptised, but there is nothing wrong with smoking, so no. Anya knows everything and considers us her second family, but every week there is another reason why she can't come to church. The others refuse to set a date that they can meet with us! SO DIFFICULT! You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it get baptized.
So I was going to buy you all Christmas presents, nothing much, but presents nonetheless... but I gave the money away. This guy Vitalee really needed some help... So too bad for you guys! haha!
I'm running out of time!!! I love you all! I heard Seth Wood is going Spanish Speaking, texas! That is so great!!! Good luck to him! I love you all!
Elder Swartz!
So there's this story here in Russia about a taxi driver and a priest. Both die. The taxi driver goes to Heaven and the priest goes to Hell. The priest, confused, complains to the devil and asks "Why am I down here while that Taxi driver is up there? He was the worst, most reckless driver in town!" The devil responds "Because the taxi driver got a lot more people praying in his car than you ever got to pray in your chapel."
I thought that was funny.
I hope Thanksgiving was wonderful! I'm sure it was! I ca't even tell you how much I was craving to have the food we usually have on thanksgiving! Don't worry, over here we had a little celebration too! We had a little bit of mashed potatoes and turkey! Not as good as our family's stuff, but it was delicious nonetheless! I really am loving the members here. They are becoming my family... I really hope that I don't get transferred. Of course I won't complain, but I will definitely be sad. What day is Mary going into the MTC again? I think about her everyday! I wrote you a letter, and I'm sending it today!!! you probably won't get it before the MTC, but I expect mother and father to forward it to you in the MTC.
So I was sitting next to Sergey Pakrovskey, one of my best friends here in Russia, speaks English fluently, and he was translating for our mission president because he came to our branch this past weekend. The speaker was talking about the woman taken in adultery and how the people wanted to stone her. But the way he translated it was "The Jesus said to these people 'if any of you are a good person, throw a rock at her.'" I had to work hard not to laugh. Not only that, but I suddely realized why I get laughed at all the time here in Russia. Learning another language is so hard, so humbling, so fun, so stressful, and so fulfilling!
So we had about 11 or 12 people who could be baptized, but one of them dissapeared of the face of the earth, actually, no. two of them did. two others called and said they want none of it anymore. two went crazy... Another one said he really wanted to be baptised, but there is nothing wrong with smoking, so no. Anya knows everything and considers us her second family, but every week there is another reason why she can't come to church. The others refuse to set a date that they can meet with us! SO DIFFICULT! You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it get baptized.
So I was going to buy you all Christmas presents, nothing much, but presents nonetheless... but I gave the money away. This guy Vitalee really needed some help... So too bad for you guys! haha!
I'm running out of time!!! I love you all! I heard Seth Wood is going Spanish Speaking, texas! That is so great!!! Good luck to him! I love you all!
Elder Swartz!
Letter #10 from Russia
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Hey, so a member of my branch said that he found Rachel on Facebook and gave her pictures. At least... I think that's what he said... anyway, just wanted to check on that and see if you guys got them. Also! I found out that dearelders are free for the Russia Samara Mission, or at least they should be... so if you want to save money, just send me a dearelder instead! It's not like I really care though, I'm here to be a missionary, not to get letters... but seriously... send letters. haha!
So this Stephanie lady! When she was a young wife with a good son, good husband, and a good life, her husband left the country for work and after a few months of not hearing from him, the government sent her back an earn (spellcheck?) saying it was her husbands ashes. Apparently the government didn't like something he did or knew so they got rid of him. She doesn't believe it was really his ashes, but Vsyo Ravno (nonetheless) her husband was gone. Then later, her son got beat to the point of being permanently brain damaged for the rest of his life and never recovered physically either. She doesn't receive any sort of money from the government because she's not Russian. Finally, she found this church and really liked it, but when she was walking home from a branch activity these guys broke her arm and her hip and told her never to go to our church again. She hasn't been able to come to church anymore because now her health is too poor! She has a crazy tough life... And a lot of people here have lives just like hers.
There's one lady, Larisa, I don't know much about her but apparently her mother killed her father, or maybe it was her brother who killed her mother... anyways, her family is all dead now and her life is really hard... People here are so scarred and battered. They have been chewed up and spit out time and time again. It reminds me of a talk I read in the MTC by Boyd K. Packer, Touch of the Master's Hand. You should read it. There was a poem at the end I really felt applied to the people of Russia more than it may to other people. If there was anything I could do for these people, it would be to help them remember who they really are. That they are worth more than the 30 rubles of material their bodies are made up of, but rather the infinite value of their own magnificence. If they could only see who they could be when touched by the master's hand, this people, the people of Russia could have exponentially better lives! They wouldn't even have to change much. Just their perspective! Everything else would follow naturally!
Russian fun fact: Graffiti is rampant! it's insane... All these little russian Gangs running around tagging their "English" Gang Names on stuff like "TickleMustaЯd" or the "Dragon Stabbers!" seriously... it's worse than the Cedar Hills Jads. haha! Actually there are a lot of really good taggings though. There is some true talent, too bad it's wasted.
I have to go bye!!
Love elder sdfjldasf
Hey, so a member of my branch said that he found Rachel on Facebook and gave her pictures. At least... I think that's what he said... anyway, just wanted to check on that and see if you guys got them. Also! I found out that dearelders are free for the Russia Samara Mission, or at least they should be... so if you want to save money, just send me a dearelder instead! It's not like I really care though, I'm here to be a missionary, not to get letters... but seriously... send letters. haha!
So this Stephanie lady! When she was a young wife with a good son, good husband, and a good life, her husband left the country for work and after a few months of not hearing from him, the government sent her back an earn (spellcheck?) saying it was her husbands ashes. Apparently the government didn't like something he did or knew so they got rid of him. She doesn't believe it was really his ashes, but Vsyo Ravno (nonetheless) her husband was gone. Then later, her son got beat to the point of being permanently brain damaged for the rest of his life and never recovered physically either. She doesn't receive any sort of money from the government because she's not Russian. Finally, she found this church and really liked it, but when she was walking home from a branch activity these guys broke her arm and her hip and told her never to go to our church again. She hasn't been able to come to church anymore because now her health is too poor! She has a crazy tough life... And a lot of people here have lives just like hers.
There's one lady, Larisa, I don't know much about her but apparently her mother killed her father, or maybe it was her brother who killed her mother... anyways, her family is all dead now and her life is really hard... People here are so scarred and battered. They have been chewed up and spit out time and time again. It reminds me of a talk I read in the MTC by Boyd K. Packer, Touch of the Master's Hand. You should read it. There was a poem at the end I really felt applied to the people of Russia more than it may to other people. If there was anything I could do for these people, it would be to help them remember who they really are. That they are worth more than the 30 rubles of material their bodies are made up of, but rather the infinite value of their own magnificence. If they could only see who they could be when touched by the master's hand, this people, the people of Russia could have exponentially better lives! They wouldn't even have to change much. Just their perspective! Everything else would follow naturally!
Russian fun fact: Graffiti is rampant! it's insane... All these little russian Gangs running around tagging their "English" Gang Names on stuff like "TickleMustaЯd" or the "Dragon Stabbers!" seriously... it's worse than the Cedar Hills Jads. haha! Actually there are a lot of really good taggings though. There is some true talent, too bad it's wasted.
I have to go bye!!
Love elder sdfjldasf
Letter #9 From Russia
Baiu Baiu Baiu Bai (beginning of a Russian lullaby.)
That's terrily tohear about Sister Montrose! I'm so glad that She's doing a bit better! I'll pray for her! I wonder if Tessa was there when it happened and had to use any of her First Responder training. It would certainly be a good thing she had taken that class if she was there. They have had so many trials as a family. And still they are always so strong and so happy! When I imagine any of them, they are always smiling!! It's so sad to hear about so many sad things happening to such an incredible family! I'll talk to Heavenly Father about that tonight to see if I can pull a few strings for them. We're kind of on good terms right now. Haha!
So This week has been my favorite so far on the mission. My companions are incredible! I really could go on forever about them! Both of them are SO obedient! I love it! They are incredible planners, very spiritual, very nice, and really fun! Elder Anderson is a great cook too! We all wake up at 6:00 in the morning everyday! I love it! I tried doing that with Elder Benham and all it did was get him mad at me for even mentioning it... haha! I'm seriously the worst missionary of the three of us. I have so much to learn from both of them! I love them both so much! I'm not going to blame my trainer for how I have turned out as a missionary so far... but... I feel like I'm going to make leaps and bounds now that I have some good examples of what I always knew a missionary could be... haha!
So Russia is doing well, she is getting colder lately, but not too bad. Only about 10 degrees or so. It still hasn't snowed yet... sad. I'm excited for it... ish... but that also means I'll have to whip out my winter boots. Hastle. oh well. Stylin. (Stalin?) haha! ... Sorry, my mind just kind of went on a strange tangent... I've been wearing my beautiful fur coat and I got my hands on a good scarf too! I'm loving it! This is what russia should feel like!
So on friday, my companions and I were going around knocking on doors and this babooshka invited us into her backyard. She took us into this shed and surprised us with a birthday party! haha! It was the funniest thing! She then told us that it was actually for her 1 year old grandson, but it certainly threw us off for a second... They were practically trying to shove the vodka down our throats. They just couldn't fathom us not drinking vodka at a party. Finally they forced us to drink this really good juice. They made us eat all this food and then shoved us out the door before we could really talk to them about our message. Before we left, the lady said "I'm going to tell everyone that God sent three American boys to this party!" It was probably the funniest thing since [something really funny]! For reals. It was good because just before that, we got dominated by this guy who used to be a way active member, even got his mom baptised, but is now wrapped up in so much anti mormon stuff it was disgusting. At first, everything seemed fine, but as we continued talking, it became apparent that the spirit was absent more and more. In fact, there was a very different spirit in his home as well. We couldn't do anything to prove him wrong. What was worse was that he is a lawyer and he knows more about the gospel than I do. It was definitely not my favorite thing... He knew fluent English, so it made it even harder in the fact that we just wanted to argue with him. We didn't of course, but the temptation was strong.
I'm so grateful for this gospel! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! I love you all so much! I pray for you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz.
PS: I finally found out how I can send letters home and stuff, so I'll try to do that soon!
That's terrily tohear about Sister Montrose! I'm so glad that She's doing a bit better! I'll pray for her! I wonder if Tessa was there when it happened and had to use any of her First Responder training. It would certainly be a good thing she had taken that class if she was there. They have had so many trials as a family. And still they are always so strong and so happy! When I imagine any of them, they are always smiling!! It's so sad to hear about so many sad things happening to such an incredible family! I'll talk to Heavenly Father about that tonight to see if I can pull a few strings for them. We're kind of on good terms right now. Haha!
So This week has been my favorite so far on the mission. My companions are incredible! I really could go on forever about them! Both of them are SO obedient! I love it! They are incredible planners, very spiritual, very nice, and really fun! Elder Anderson is a great cook too! We all wake up at 6:00 in the morning everyday! I love it! I tried doing that with Elder Benham and all it did was get him mad at me for even mentioning it... haha! I'm seriously the worst missionary of the three of us. I have so much to learn from both of them! I love them both so much! I'm not going to blame my trainer for how I have turned out as a missionary so far... but... I feel like I'm going to make leaps and bounds now that I have some good examples of what I always knew a missionary could be... haha!
So Russia is doing well, she is getting colder lately, but not too bad. Only about 10 degrees or so. It still hasn't snowed yet... sad. I'm excited for it... ish... but that also means I'll have to whip out my winter boots. Hastle. oh well. Stylin. (Stalin?) haha! ... Sorry, my mind just kind of went on a strange tangent... I've been wearing my beautiful fur coat and I got my hands on a good scarf too! I'm loving it! This is what russia should feel like!
So on friday, my companions and I were going around knocking on doors and this babooshka invited us into her backyard. She took us into this shed and surprised us with a birthday party! haha! It was the funniest thing! She then told us that it was actually for her 1 year old grandson, but it certainly threw us off for a second... They were practically trying to shove the vodka down our throats. They just couldn't fathom us not drinking vodka at a party. Finally they forced us to drink this really good juice. They made us eat all this food and then shoved us out the door before we could really talk to them about our message. Before we left, the lady said "I'm going to tell everyone that God sent three American boys to this party!" It was probably the funniest thing since [something really funny]! For reals. It was good because just before that, we got dominated by this guy who used to be a way active member, even got his mom baptised, but is now wrapped up in so much anti mormon stuff it was disgusting. At first, everything seemed fine, but as we continued talking, it became apparent that the spirit was absent more and more. In fact, there was a very different spirit in his home as well. We couldn't do anything to prove him wrong. What was worse was that he is a lawyer and he knows more about the gospel than I do. It was definitely not my favorite thing... He knew fluent English, so it made it even harder in the fact that we just wanted to argue with him. We didn't of course, but the temptation was strong.
I'm so grateful for this gospel! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! I love you all so much! I pray for you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz.
PS: I finally found out how I can send letters home and stuff, so I'll try to do that soon!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Letter #8 From Russia
Baiu Baiu Baiu Bai (beginning of a Russian lullaby.)
That's terrily tohear about Sister Montrose! I'm so glad that She's doing a bit better! I'll pray for her! I wonder if Tessa was there when it happened and had to use any of her First Responder training. It would certainly be a good thing she had taken that class if she was there. They have had so many trials as a family. And still they are always so strong and so happy! When I imagine any of them, they are always smiling!! It's so sad to hear about so many sad things happening to such an incredible family! I'll talk to Heavenly Father about that tonight to see if I can pull a few strings for them. We're kind of on good terms right now. Haha!
So This week has been my favorite so far on the mission. My companions are incredible! I really could go on forever about them! Both of them are SO obedient! I love it! They are incredible planners, very spiritual, very nice, and really fun! Elder Anderson is a great cook too! We all wake up at 6:00 in the morning everyday! I love it! I tried doing that with Elder Benham and all it did was get him mad at me for even mentioning it... haha! I'm seriously the worst missionary of the three of us. I have so much to learn from both of them! I love them both so much! I'm not going to blame my trainer for how I have turned out as a missionary so far... but... I feel like I'm going to make leaps and bounds now that I have some good examples of what I always knew a missionary could be... haha!
So Russia is doing well, she is getting colder lately, but not too bad. Only about 10 degrees or so. It still hasn't snowed yet... sad. I'm excited for it... ish... but that also means I'll have to whip out my winter boots. Hastle. oh well. Stylin. (Stalin?) haha! ... Sorry, my mind just kind of went on a strange tangent... I've been wearing my beautiful fur coat and I got my hands on a good scarf too! I'm loving it! This is what russia should feel like!
So on friday, my companions and I were going around knocking on doors and this babooshka invited us into her backyard. She took us into this shed and surprised us with a birthday party! haha! It was the funniest thing! She then told us that it was actually for her 1 year old grandson, but it certainly threw us off for a second... They were practically trying to shove the vodka down our throats. They just couldn't fathom us not drinking vodka at a party. Finally they forced us to drink this really good juice. They made us eat all this food and then shoved us out the door before we could really talk to them about our message. Before we left, the lady said "I'm going to tell everyone that God sent three American boys to this party!" It was probably the funniest thing since [something really funny]! For reals. It was good because just before that, we got dominated by this guy who used to be a way active member, even got his mom baptised, but is now wrapped up in so much anti mormon stuff it was disgusting. At first, everything seemed fine, but as we continued talking, it became apparent that the spirit was absent more and more. In fact, there was a very different spirit in his home as well. We couldn't do anything to prove him wrong. What was worse was that he is a lawyer and he knows more about the gospel than I do. It was definitely not my favorite thing... He knew fluent English, so it made it even harder in the fact that we just wanted to argue with him. We didn't of course, but the temptation was strong.
I'm so grateful for this gospel! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! I love you all so much! I pray for you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz.
PS: I finally found out how I can send letters home and stuff, so I'll try to do that soon!
That's terrily tohear about Sister Montrose! I'm so glad that She's doing a bit better! I'll pray for her! I wonder if Tessa was there when it happened and had to use any of her First Responder training. It would certainly be a good thing she had taken that class if she was there. They have had so many trials as a family. And still they are always so strong and so happy! When I imagine any of them, they are always smiling!! It's so sad to hear about so many sad things happening to such an incredible family! I'll talk to Heavenly Father about that tonight to see if I can pull a few strings for them. We're kind of on good terms right now. Haha!
So This week has been my favorite so far on the mission. My companions are incredible! I really could go on forever about them! Both of them are SO obedient! I love it! They are incredible planners, very spiritual, very nice, and really fun! Elder Anderson is a great cook too! We all wake up at 6:00 in the morning everyday! I love it! I tried doing that with Elder Benham and all it did was get him mad at me for even mentioning it... haha! I'm seriously the worst missionary of the three of us. I have so much to learn from both of them! I love them both so much! I'm not going to blame my trainer for how I have turned out as a missionary so far... but... I feel like I'm going to make leaps and bounds now that I have some good examples of what I always knew a missionary could be... haha!
So Russia is doing well, she is getting colder lately, but not too bad. Only about 10 degrees or so. It still hasn't snowed yet... sad. I'm excited for it... ish... but that also means I'll have to whip out my winter boots. Hastle. oh well. Stylin. (Stalin?) haha! ... Sorry, my mind just kind of went on a strange tangent... I've been wearing my beautiful fur coat and I got my hands on a good scarf too! I'm loving it! This is what russia should feel like!
So on friday, my companions and I were going around knocking on doors and this babooshka invited us into her backyard. She took us into this shed and surprised us with a birthday party! haha! It was the funniest thing! She then told us that it was actually for her 1 year old grandson, but it certainly threw us off for a second... They were practically trying to shove the vodka down our throats. They just couldn't fathom us not drinking vodka at a party. Finally they forced us to drink this really good juice. They made us eat all this food and then shoved us out the door before we could really talk to them about our message. Before we left, the lady said "I'm going to tell everyone that God sent three American boys to this party!" It was probably the funniest thing since [something really funny]! For reals. It was good because just before that, we got dominated by this guy who used to be a way active member, even got his mom baptised, but is now wrapped up in so much anti mormon stuff it was disgusting. At first, everything seemed fine, but as we continued talking, it became apparent that the spirit was absent more and more. In fact, there was a very different spirit in his home as well. We couldn't do anything to prove him wrong. What was worse was that he is a lawyer and he knows more about the gospel than I do. It was definitely not my favorite thing... He knew fluent English, so it made it even harder in the fact that we just wanted to argue with him. We didn't of course, but the temptation was strong.
I'm so grateful for this gospel! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! I love you all so much! I pray for you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz.
PS: I finally found out how I can send letters home and stuff, so I'll try to do that soon!
Letter from Russia #7
Hey hey hey!
Whoa boy... this week has been tough... but good. First: Muslims are tough to convert... their religion is so similar to ours that all of our little explanations about why we need the book of Mormon or prophets and stuff apply to the Koran! haha! Not only that, but they have no faith in Jesus Christ, so there's nothing to build off of there... it's tough. You really just have to bring everything down to the spirit testifying to them of the truth of your message. With my Russian abilities thus far, I can't do anything else to explain. But I know that I have the power of the Lord on my side.
God does not love eloquence, He loves His children.
Also: An elevator broke down while my companion and I were in it. He got all mad, but I stayed cheerful and somehow he cheered up as well. It actually became funny... Finally, after probably 20 minutes, this guy came and got us out. We talked to him as he was on top of the elevator prying the door open with his crow bar and by the end, he said he'd come to church! haha! We couldn't get his number or anything though, so we'll see how that turns out.
So I was reading Mosiah 21: 14 and I felt like it totally described my pleadings with the Lord about my companion. I was scared that verse 15 was going to apply to me as well, but the Lord answered my prayers. My companion got transferred. He's not even in my zone anymore... I feel bad for praying so hard for that very thing to happen, because he did so much work here and now he has to leave it all behind. As happy as I am, I certainly understand him being sad to leave. But honestly it is good that it is happening. It got to the point where I was giving in everytime he was disobedient for the sake of not starting an argument. I feel so bad for wasting that time, for it was not mine to waste, but I really didn't know what to do anymore. However, just the other day during my language study, I came across a quote from a Russian book "Doctor Zhivago" by Pasternak that says
"The root of all evil to come was the loss of confidence in the value of one's own opinion. People imagined that it was out of date to follow their own moral sense, that they must all sing in chorus, and live other people's notions."
I decided at that time that, new companion or not, this upcoming transfer, I would rather please the Lord than get along with my companion. I will obviously try to do both, but I will not give in the fight to be obedient when my companion will not be. It's a hard thing when you're the new one, you're companion is the District Leader, and you have to be the one to say no or that we should be doing something else, especially when you know he will get mad at you. It sounds so easy to do (It always did to me at least), but I know from experience that it can seem impossible when it is actually happening. Luckily, I'm starting fresh with new companions, and I won't feel so uncomfortable if I establish it at the beginning. It's definitely harder to get out of the groove when you are already in it instead of staying out of it in the first place.
I'm getting put with the new district leader for Penza and one other Elder as well. Yeah, I'm in a tripanionship. I've never met Elder Glad, I will later today though. But I'm already good friends with Elder Anderson because we were in the same district before. I'm so excited. I really don't know what to expect, but I'm praying that I wll have the right set of attributes to get along with both of them well. Both of them were in the military before the mission, so I'm excited about that... haha!
Hey, well I have to go! I love you all and I love getting your letters! I promise I'll write back! It just takes forever to respond!
Love, Elder Swartz!
Whoa boy... this week has been tough... but good. First: Muslims are tough to convert... their religion is so similar to ours that all of our little explanations about why we need the book of Mormon or prophets and stuff apply to the Koran! haha! Not only that, but they have no faith in Jesus Christ, so there's nothing to build off of there... it's tough. You really just have to bring everything down to the spirit testifying to them of the truth of your message. With my Russian abilities thus far, I can't do anything else to explain. But I know that I have the power of the Lord on my side.
God does not love eloquence, He loves His children.
Also: An elevator broke down while my companion and I were in it. He got all mad, but I stayed cheerful and somehow he cheered up as well. It actually became funny... Finally, after probably 20 minutes, this guy came and got us out. We talked to him as he was on top of the elevator prying the door open with his crow bar and by the end, he said he'd come to church! haha! We couldn't get his number or anything though, so we'll see how that turns out.
So I was reading Mosiah 21: 14 and I felt like it totally described my pleadings with the Lord about my companion. I was scared that verse 15 was going to apply to me as well, but the Lord answered my prayers. My companion got transferred. He's not even in my zone anymore... I feel bad for praying so hard for that very thing to happen, because he did so much work here and now he has to leave it all behind. As happy as I am, I certainly understand him being sad to leave. But honestly it is good that it is happening. It got to the point where I was giving in everytime he was disobedient for the sake of not starting an argument. I feel so bad for wasting that time, for it was not mine to waste, but I really didn't know what to do anymore. However, just the other day during my language study, I came across a quote from a Russian book "Doctor Zhivago" by Pasternak that says
"The root of all evil to come was the loss of confidence in the value of one's own opinion. People imagined that it was out of date to follow their own moral sense, that they must all sing in chorus, and live other people's notions."
I decided at that time that, new companion or not, this upcoming transfer, I would rather please the Lord than get along with my companion. I will obviously try to do both, but I will not give in the fight to be obedient when my companion will not be. It's a hard thing when you're the new one, you're companion is the District Leader, and you have to be the one to say no or that we should be doing something else, especially when you know he will get mad at you. It sounds so easy to do (It always did to me at least), but I know from experience that it can seem impossible when it is actually happening. Luckily, I'm starting fresh with new companions, and I won't feel so uncomfortable if I establish it at the beginning. It's definitely harder to get out of the groove when you are already in it instead of staying out of it in the first place.
I'm getting put with the new district leader for Penza and one other Elder as well. Yeah, I'm in a tripanionship. I've never met Elder Glad, I will later today though. But I'm already good friends with Elder Anderson because we were in the same district before. I'm so excited. I really don't know what to expect, but I'm praying that I wll have the right set of attributes to get along with both of them well. Both of them were in the military before the mission, so I'm excited about that... haha!
Hey, well I have to go! I love you all and I love getting your letters! I promise I'll write back! It just takes forever to respond!
Love, Elder Swartz!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Letter #6 from Russia
Hey Family!
I love writing you guys! It is such a release!! Mom, I almost laughed out loud at your story about your phone going off during Janice Perry's talk! haha! I definitely understand that! I didn't have an embarrassing moment, but it happens all the time where the spirit prompts me to do something, but because I'm the new companion, I'm too afraid to say it and then it turns out that we should have done it. It's happened like, three times already. I need to have less pride and worry more about what the Lord wants me to do rather than what I think other people want me to do.
I'm sorry about not sending the emails to Dad or Rachel! I mean to, but I'm always in a rush and totally forget!
So this week, I took a train to Samara on monday and stayed there until friday. My companion had to leave the country to get his Visa renewed. He got to go to Kiev and go to the temple. I probably won't be able to go until next year. Temple trips are usually only in the summer. But at least I get to go at all. Before the temple was built, I would have not been able to. While he was there, I was on splits with the Zone leaders or other Greenies. It was really fun! We had pancakes every meal... haha!
After my companion came back though, we got in another argument. But this time, I couldn't take it anymore. I blew up at him after trying my hardest not to. I think it's the only time I've actaully gotten into a big argument with someone that wasn't my sibling. But we were able to work a lot of things out. things have been better since then, but I'm still praying everyday to get transferred. I know the Lord is having me learn a lesson, but I really hope that I've learned it and I get a new one... I just really want a companion that I feel comfortable around. We are just soo incredibly different. Our thought processes simply do not match up and it is so difficult to understand each other.
Russia is great though. I love the people. I love the members! I love the mission president! I love seeing Sarah Palin looking out from her backyard! I love it all!
To answer your questions: I have all my winter stuff other than boots. Luckily, it hasn't snowed yet, and I'm hoping to get a good pair of boots today. I don't know if we can chew gum. I've never been a gum chewer, so it's not an issue for me. I'd imagine not though. Yes, everything is refrigerated! I was so grateful for that!! All of the dairy products are really good over here! I really have ZERO complaints about the food!
Russian fun fact of the week: Hmmm... well the wild dogs aren't so wild here. in fact, they're really sweet and calm. I love seeing the wild dogs running around in their little gangs! It's adorable! You can usually pet them, although I don't just to be safe. The cats are great here to. They are so adorable. They just have so many diseases navyerna that I try to avoid petting them to much.
Our investigators here are great, but it is so difficult for them to actually progress enough to get baptized! They like meeting with us, but when you set a baptismal date, it always falls through. I wish I could do more, but without any skills in the language it's sort of difficult. As effective as sitting there radiating with the spirit is, it hasn't gotten my investigators to baptism just quite yet. I think being able to speak with them would help...
I love you all! And I'm grateful for your prayers! I can feel them strengthening me and I know that God is helping me everyday. Satan is pushing at me more and more, but I know that I have more than him in the end and that as I am backed up to the wall of my faith, it will stand. I didn't spend my life building it up for it to fall down here on my mission.
I love you all!
Elder Swartz!
I love writing you guys! It is such a release!! Mom, I almost laughed out loud at your story about your phone going off during Janice Perry's talk! haha! I definitely understand that! I didn't have an embarrassing moment, but it happens all the time where the spirit prompts me to do something, but because I'm the new companion, I'm too afraid to say it and then it turns out that we should have done it. It's happened like, three times already. I need to have less pride and worry more about what the Lord wants me to do rather than what I think other people want me to do.
I'm sorry about not sending the emails to Dad or Rachel! I mean to, but I'm always in a rush and totally forget!
So this week, I took a train to Samara on monday and stayed there until friday. My companion had to leave the country to get his Visa renewed. He got to go to Kiev and go to the temple. I probably won't be able to go until next year. Temple trips are usually only in the summer. But at least I get to go at all. Before the temple was built, I would have not been able to. While he was there, I was on splits with the Zone leaders or other Greenies. It was really fun! We had pancakes every meal... haha!
After my companion came back though, we got in another argument. But this time, I couldn't take it anymore. I blew up at him after trying my hardest not to. I think it's the only time I've actaully gotten into a big argument with someone that wasn't my sibling. But we were able to work a lot of things out. things have been better since then, but I'm still praying everyday to get transferred. I know the Lord is having me learn a lesson, but I really hope that I've learned it and I get a new one... I just really want a companion that I feel comfortable around. We are just soo incredibly different. Our thought processes simply do not match up and it is so difficult to understand each other.
Russia is great though. I love the people. I love the members! I love the mission president! I love seeing Sarah Palin looking out from her backyard! I love it all!
To answer your questions: I have all my winter stuff other than boots. Luckily, it hasn't snowed yet, and I'm hoping to get a good pair of boots today. I don't know if we can chew gum. I've never been a gum chewer, so it's not an issue for me. I'd imagine not though. Yes, everything is refrigerated! I was so grateful for that!! All of the dairy products are really good over here! I really have ZERO complaints about the food!
Russian fun fact of the week: Hmmm... well the wild dogs aren't so wild here. in fact, they're really sweet and calm. I love seeing the wild dogs running around in their little gangs! It's adorable! You can usually pet them, although I don't just to be safe. The cats are great here to. They are so adorable. They just have so many diseases navyerna that I try to avoid petting them to much.
Our investigators here are great, but it is so difficult for them to actually progress enough to get baptized! They like meeting with us, but when you set a baptismal date, it always falls through. I wish I could do more, but without any skills in the language it's sort of difficult. As effective as sitting there radiating with the spirit is, it hasn't gotten my investigators to baptism just quite yet. I think being able to speak with them would help...
I love you all! And I'm grateful for your prayers! I can feel them strengthening me and I know that God is helping me everyday. Satan is pushing at me more and more, but I know that I have more than him in the end and that as I am backed up to the wall of my faith, it will stand. I didn't spend my life building it up for it to fall down here on my mission.
I love you all!
Elder Swartz!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Letter #5 from Russia
Heeeeyyy!!
So this week has been a good one. But before I get started I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! (A few days ago...) This is great! Even if I forget your birthday, I have a while to remember before I write you! haha! Just kidding! I remembered on the day of. I even wrote it down in my journal as proof and so that I would remember to mention it in the email home!
Please underline your questions every time! It helps! To answer your questions:
1) My companion is from St. George.
2) I'm not even using my own bedding, they already had stuff here... haha! In fact I'm not even using any blankets, it gets so hot in our apartment! You can't adjust the heating here, so you either have heat or you don't. They turned the heating on and boy is it hot! It is meant to keep things warm in like, -40 F, so right now, when it is 35 F, it's like an oven.
3) We watched Conference in the branch building on a computer.
4) I made two withdrawals because... I don't remember. There is a limit on how much you can take at one time. That's probably why.
Mary better go on a mish. Just kidding. She can get married. But seriously. Go on a mission. But you can get married if you want. After your mission. No, do what's right... mission.
Also, I should tell you, if a russian guy tries to add any of you as a friend on facebook, it's probably Valyery Belonoshkin. He's wonderful and he has pictures to give you. So family, check your facebooks!
So Russian fact of the week: Milk comes in bags. It makes perfect sense. Also, people here are so superstitious! We saw these two women freak out about a black cat crossing in front of them. We pet it and they were so confused why we would do that! haha!
So we have this investigator, Faina. She is so great. She randomly started singing opera for us in the middle of our lesson. She's really good. We're going to try to get her to help some members here because NO ONE CAN SING IN RUSSIA! it's terrible. I love it. Well, Faina can sing... but other than her... no one. She's so sweet to. She was saying that there were a lot of things that she did not like about our members, (she's very proper and a lot of our members are very poor and... well... not very proper.) and she wasn't sure what was so different about us and different churches. So we asked her why she kept coming and she started crying as she said she came because two young men cared about who she was and bothered to call her every night simply to see how she was doing. it was very sweet and at that moment I realized that we really can make a difference. Even if all I got on my mission was that one experience, the knowledge that just one old woman benefited from our kindness and felt loved, than my mission was a success.
But obviously I want baptisms.
I had a dream that I saw patrick at a restaurant. It was funny.
We ran into this guy who knew English very well and lived in America for a while (When that happens, it is the best day ever.) and we actually got to talk to him!! not just bulldoze him with the gospel because we didn't know what he was saying! It was really funny because as we were talking to him, he said he had a friend from Colorado and he randomly just started talking about these "mormons" (here, we call ourselves the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so he didn't know that we were in fact "Mormon") Apparently the mormon church was founded in the 1700's by some immigrant from Europe. We tried asking if it was Brigham young or Joseph Smith, but he kept saying it was someone else. He then said that The Mormons were very much like free masons and that they "hardly relate to Christians". It was really funny. We wanted to correct his knowledge, but he suddenly had to go. I wonder if he figured it out by reading the pamphlets we gave him that used the word mormon quite liberally...
Well, I have to go! Pray for me please! I pray for everyone back home everyday! I hope everything is going well! I love you all!
Elder,
Love Swartz. (haha! I thought it was funny.)
So this week has been a good one. But before I get started I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! (A few days ago...) This is great! Even if I forget your birthday, I have a while to remember before I write you! haha! Just kidding! I remembered on the day of. I even wrote it down in my journal as proof and so that I would remember to mention it in the email home!
Please underline your questions every time! It helps! To answer your questions:
1) My companion is from St. George.
2) I'm not even using my own bedding, they already had stuff here... haha! In fact I'm not even using any blankets, it gets so hot in our apartment! You can't adjust the heating here, so you either have heat or you don't. They turned the heating on and boy is it hot! It is meant to keep things warm in like, -40 F, so right now, when it is 35 F, it's like an oven.
3) We watched Conference in the branch building on a computer.
4) I made two withdrawals because... I don't remember. There is a limit on how much you can take at one time. That's probably why.
Mary better go on a mish. Just kidding. She can get married. But seriously. Go on a mission. But you can get married if you want. After your mission. No, do what's right... mission.
Also, I should tell you, if a russian guy tries to add any of you as a friend on facebook, it's probably Valyery Belonoshkin. He's wonderful and he has pictures to give you. So family, check your facebooks!
So Russian fact of the week: Milk comes in bags. It makes perfect sense. Also, people here are so superstitious! We saw these two women freak out about a black cat crossing in front of them. We pet it and they were so confused why we would do that! haha!
So we have this investigator, Faina. She is so great. She randomly started singing opera for us in the middle of our lesson. She's really good. We're going to try to get her to help some members here because NO ONE CAN SING IN RUSSIA! it's terrible. I love it. Well, Faina can sing... but other than her... no one. She's so sweet to. She was saying that there were a lot of things that she did not like about our members, (she's very proper and a lot of our members are very poor and... well... not very proper.) and she wasn't sure what was so different about us and different churches. So we asked her why she kept coming and she started crying as she said she came because two young men cared about who she was and bothered to call her every night simply to see how she was doing. it was very sweet and at that moment I realized that we really can make a difference. Even if all I got on my mission was that one experience, the knowledge that just one old woman benefited from our kindness and felt loved, than my mission was a success.
But obviously I want baptisms.
I had a dream that I saw patrick at a restaurant. It was funny.
We ran into this guy who knew English very well and lived in America for a while (When that happens, it is the best day ever.) and we actually got to talk to him!! not just bulldoze him with the gospel because we didn't know what he was saying! It was really funny because as we were talking to him, he said he had a friend from Colorado and he randomly just started talking about these "mormons" (here, we call ourselves the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so he didn't know that we were in fact "Mormon") Apparently the mormon church was founded in the 1700's by some immigrant from Europe. We tried asking if it was Brigham young or Joseph Smith, but he kept saying it was someone else. He then said that The Mormons were very much like free masons and that they "hardly relate to Christians". It was really funny. We wanted to correct his knowledge, but he suddenly had to go. I wonder if he figured it out by reading the pamphlets we gave him that used the word mormon quite liberally...
Well, I have to go! Pray for me please! I pray for everyone back home everyday! I hope everything is going well! I love you all!
Elder,
Love Swartz. (haha! I thought it was funny.)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Letter #4 (we'll post #3 later)
Hellooooo My family!
So I have good news for you guys and bad news for me! haha! I got homesick for a second this morning! I had a dream that I was with our family last night and when I woke up, I wasn't feeling well. I might have actually just not been feeling well, but I figure that's the closest thing I've felt to homesickness. haha!
Dad! I'm sorry I didn't email you with everyone else! I had about one second left when I sent the message last week and I forgot to add you and rachel! Make sure Rachel is getting these too! I also want to say that I was going to write some really good things about my companion, but I ran out of time! haha! I don't mean to be a complainer! He is a great trainer and an excellent person in general! He just needs to work on his patience! I need to work on so many things as well. We talked it all over last night and he said he didn't even realize he was doing those things. Hopefully it will get better! Other than that though, the work is great, the city is great, the member's are great! Oh, so there is a sister in my district from Alpine, Lisa Callister. She graduated two years before me.
Okay, to answer your questions: I'm on foot, or on bus, or on marshootka (Minivan thing that is faster than a bus, ask Matt or Kristi about it if you want to know more) and rarely taxi. There's only two elder's in my apartment. It's a really nice apartment, but the other elders in our district have probably the nicest apartment in the mission! it's sooo nice! It has not snowed yet, but it has gotten quite cold. I have a coat now, so that's good. I got gloves to, but I got scammed... haha! I thought I was getting a good deal, bargaining like a devil, but I lost about fifty bucks between the gloves and the coat because we didn't have a member with us to help us. I learned my lesson! We are having a member help with getting boots and everything else! I may need more money... haha! I'll try not to get scammed again...
Russian fact of the week: Women here love to die their hair purple! Especially older women! All over the place, they just have purple hair. it doesn't even seem strange to me anymore to see it. Also, everyone here calls me Forest Gump. All the members think I look just like Tom Hanks... haha! And Aleskei Gladkov, one of my favorite people in the world, told me that my ears stick out too much and that if he were my father, he would have paid for plastic surgery to get them pulled in! haha! He said he did that for his son and it was only 650 US dollars! what a deal! Maybe I'll do that when I get home! haha! I may have already told you that in an earlier email, but I can't remember, so you get it again!
Mother, did you remember to mail that stuff for my loan deferment or something? it was supposed to be sent oct 1st, so if you haven't done that, please do it soon and don't forget to do it next year either!
So conference was good! We watched it this last weekend in english! Thankfully! I don't know if other missionaries got to, so it was definitely a blessing! Randall K Bennett Spoke! you know, The guy who almost drowned but the life guard saved him? that was our old mission president a year ago! I heard he was a nazi, but turned the mission around and made it the highest baptizing mission in all of the eastern European missions. Also, I don't know if you had the opportunity to see the Women's session of general conference, but my favorite talk was in that one! It was from Uchtdorf and it was about the Forget Me Not flower. I loved it so much. I really got a lot from it. I was expecting a golden ticket (golden companion) when coming out here, but when I got an ordinary chocolate bar, I became frustrated. I need to do better at enjoying what I have.
So one last thing, so lately it has been really hard finding new investigators because of the weather. They don't want to talk to us in the cold or in the rain. But the other day, the Lord blessed us with 10 new investigators in one day. That's probably like, normal in Brazil or somethin, but for Russia, that's not a typical occurance. I was very grateful for the Lord for that! We'll se how they progress! I still haven't seen a baptism yet, but We are so close! Hopefully by the end of the month, Anya (Anastasia) will be baptized. I found her by the way. haha!
Okay, I have to go! I love you all so much! I really do miss everyone! Family, friends! But I love it here in Russia! I know I'm supposed to be here! I'm so excited for Mary to be a missionary in Peru! To quote elder Holland, I'm happy to say that "in this family, we serve missions."
With love, Elder Destin Swartz!
So I have good news for you guys and bad news for me! haha! I got homesick for a second this morning! I had a dream that I was with our family last night and when I woke up, I wasn't feeling well. I might have actually just not been feeling well, but I figure that's the closest thing I've felt to homesickness. haha!
Dad! I'm sorry I didn't email you with everyone else! I had about one second left when I sent the message last week and I forgot to add you and rachel! Make sure Rachel is getting these too! I also want to say that I was going to write some really good things about my companion, but I ran out of time! haha! I don't mean to be a complainer! He is a great trainer and an excellent person in general! He just needs to work on his patience! I need to work on so many things as well. We talked it all over last night and he said he didn't even realize he was doing those things. Hopefully it will get better! Other than that though, the work is great, the city is great, the member's are great! Oh, so there is a sister in my district from Alpine, Lisa Callister. She graduated two years before me.
Okay, to answer your questions: I'm on foot, or on bus, or on marshootka (Minivan thing that is faster than a bus, ask Matt or Kristi about it if you want to know more) and rarely taxi. There's only two elder's in my apartment. It's a really nice apartment, but the other elders in our district have probably the nicest apartment in the mission! it's sooo nice! It has not snowed yet, but it has gotten quite cold. I have a coat now, so that's good. I got gloves to, but I got scammed... haha! I thought I was getting a good deal, bargaining like a devil, but I lost about fifty bucks between the gloves and the coat because we didn't have a member with us to help us. I learned my lesson! We are having a member help with getting boots and everything else! I may need more money... haha! I'll try not to get scammed again...
Russian fact of the week: Women here love to die their hair purple! Especially older women! All over the place, they just have purple hair. it doesn't even seem strange to me anymore to see it. Also, everyone here calls me Forest Gump. All the members think I look just like Tom Hanks... haha! And Aleskei Gladkov, one of my favorite people in the world, told me that my ears stick out too much and that if he were my father, he would have paid for plastic surgery to get them pulled in! haha! He said he did that for his son and it was only 650 US dollars! what a deal! Maybe I'll do that when I get home! haha! I may have already told you that in an earlier email, but I can't remember, so you get it again!
Mother, did you remember to mail that stuff for my loan deferment or something? it was supposed to be sent oct 1st, so if you haven't done that, please do it soon and don't forget to do it next year either!
So conference was good! We watched it this last weekend in english! Thankfully! I don't know if other missionaries got to, so it was definitely a blessing! Randall K Bennett Spoke! you know, The guy who almost drowned but the life guard saved him? that was our old mission president a year ago! I heard he was a nazi, but turned the mission around and made it the highest baptizing mission in all of the eastern European missions. Also, I don't know if you had the opportunity to see the Women's session of general conference, but my favorite talk was in that one! It was from Uchtdorf and it was about the Forget Me Not flower. I loved it so much. I really got a lot from it. I was expecting a golden ticket (golden companion) when coming out here, but when I got an ordinary chocolate bar, I became frustrated. I need to do better at enjoying what I have.
So one last thing, so lately it has been really hard finding new investigators because of the weather. They don't want to talk to us in the cold or in the rain. But the other day, the Lord blessed us with 10 new investigators in one day. That's probably like, normal in Brazil or somethin, but for Russia, that's not a typical occurance. I was very grateful for the Lord for that! We'll se how they progress! I still haven't seen a baptism yet, but We are so close! Hopefully by the end of the month, Anya (Anastasia) will be baptized. I found her by the way. haha!
Okay, I have to go! I love you all so much! I really do miss everyone! Family, friends! But I love it here in Russia! I know I'm supposed to be here! I'm so excited for Mary to be a missionary in Peru! To quote elder Holland, I'm happy to say that "in this family, we serve missions."
With love, Elder Destin Swartz!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Letter #2 from Russia
Привет
So this week has been great! Our water worked the entire week! Zdorova! We are getting a lot of new investigators, but no one here ever comes to appointments. Like, for reals. Since I've been here, I can't even tell you how many appointments that we have set up with people, at least two or three per day, and there have been around 4 or 5 occasions where we aren't completely blown off. Sometimes they call us if it won't work out, but usually it's just nothing.People here are so busy all the time, or at least they say they are, but maybe if they took the time to plan out their day and keep to their appointments, They wouldn't be russian around trying to get everything done in the last minute... I'm dead serious and making a joke at the same time. I'm the coolest.
I'm not homesick yet. The closest I can say that I've come to being homesick yet is probably yesterday when we went to visit a friend of a member and while my companion and the member were discussing the gospel with the adults, I was occupying Little Daniel who's probably two and a half or so. haha! It was so funny! Russian children are some of the most adorable children ever. If the white handbook didn't say to be so Astaroshna (careful) around them, I'd probably have them all over my apartment right now... haha! But anyway, like I was saying. He was being hyper and stuff and got into my sumka, (bag) and pulled out my photo album and demanded that I show him who everyone was. I was grateful because it kept him quiet so that everyone else could have a spiritual discussion. After we went through everyone, he went through and tried to repeat everyone's names and after would say "Moi Dloog" (Moi Droog means My Friend) It didn't make me miss home, but it reminded me that I have pictures of home... haha! Yeah, I'm not that homesick. He also taught me a few words that I didn't know. I would point to something in the picture and ask "Shto Eta?" and he'd tell me what it was. It was pretty enjoyable.
A drunk guy was doing really weird things to me on the way to the bus here. I'm pretty sure he was already pedophile while not drunk, so you can only imagine what he was like inebriated... He kept putting his hands on my legs while talking to me and would get Waaaaay to close to my face to ask me a question or something. Like, you-don't-go-that-far-in-a-game-of-chicken kind of close. Panyatna? (Are you understanding me?) When I ended the conversation with what little Russian I could fumble out of my mouth and went to talk to someone else, he followed me and was like... hitting on me. Where ever I would go on the bus, he would follow and try talking to me or getting really close to me. It freaked me out. haha! oh man... I need to work on my gift of discernment to avoid those situations in the first place.
Peanut butter here costs about 20 dollars... Uzhastna... Thanks sister Braithwaite for sending me that peanut butter!! Too bad it's already all gone... Other things here are super cheap though! Like clothing! The ties here are sooooo beautiful and like, 4 bucks. Jackpot.
Oh, Tell Michael Dressman to write me! I want to know how life is for him!
Well, I have to go now. I love you all. Life is great here in Russia. I love Mcdonalds here. There are Babushkii everywhere, and they look just like you would stereotype them to look like!
So this week has been great! Our water worked the entire week! Zdorova! We are getting a lot of new investigators, but no one here ever comes to appointments. Like, for reals. Since I've been here, I can't even tell you how many appointments that we have set up with people, at least two or three per day, and there have been around 4 or 5 occasions where we aren't completely blown off. Sometimes they call us if it won't work out, but usually it's just nothing.People here are so busy all the time, or at least they say they are, but maybe if they took the time to plan out their day and keep to their appointments, They wouldn't be russian around trying to get everything done in the last minute... I'm dead serious and making a joke at the same time. I'm the coolest.
I'm not homesick yet. The closest I can say that I've come to being homesick yet is probably yesterday when we went to visit a friend of a member and while my companion and the member were discussing the gospel with the adults, I was occupying Little Daniel who's probably two and a half or so. haha! It was so funny! Russian children are some of the most adorable children ever. If the white handbook didn't say to be so Astaroshna (careful) around them, I'd probably have them all over my apartment right now... haha! But anyway, like I was saying. He was being hyper and stuff and got into my sumka, (bag) and pulled out my photo album and demanded that I show him who everyone was. I was grateful because it kept him quiet so that everyone else could have a spiritual discussion. After we went through everyone, he went through and tried to repeat everyone's names and after would say "Moi Dloog" (Moi Droog means My Friend) It didn't make me miss home, but it reminded me that I have pictures of home... haha! Yeah, I'm not that homesick. He also taught me a few words that I didn't know. I would point to something in the picture and ask "Shto Eta?" and he'd tell me what it was. It was pretty enjoyable.
A drunk guy was doing really weird things to me on the way to the bus here. I'm pretty sure he was already pedophile while not drunk, so you can only imagine what he was like inebriated... He kept putting his hands on my legs while talking to me and would get Waaaaay to close to my face to ask me a question or something. Like, you-don't-go-that-far-in-a-game-of-chicken kind of close. Panyatna? (Are you understanding me?) When I ended the conversation with what little Russian I could fumble out of my mouth and went to talk to someone else, he followed me and was like... hitting on me. Where ever I would go on the bus, he would follow and try talking to me or getting really close to me. It freaked me out. haha! oh man... I need to work on my gift of discernment to avoid those situations in the first place.
Peanut butter here costs about 20 dollars... Uzhastna... Thanks sister Braithwaite for sending me that peanut butter!! Too bad it's already all gone... Other things here are super cheap though! Like clothing! The ties here are sooooo beautiful and like, 4 bucks. Jackpot.
Oh, Tell Michael Dressman to write me! I want to know how life is for him!
Well, I have to go now. I love you all. Life is great here in Russia. I love Mcdonalds here. There are Babushkii everywhere, and they look just like you would stereotype them to look like!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
First Letter from RUSSIA!
Hey, okay, so I have like no time! haha! The computers are SUPER Slow
here, so when they say we have an hour, we have like twenty minutes
because forty of it is loading time! haha!
First off, I can take pictures of my emails and read them later, so
that could work. So if you have any thoughts or stuff, go ahead and
send them to me. Just don't send any info in it that I would want to
know before I email you back because I won't read it until later
obviously.
Sister Katie Nilson is the one going to Italy! Remember!? If you can,
will you somehow tell her family that I love them! haha! And that I'll
write Josie as soon as I can!
Okay, story time! So The plane rides were fun! I love the feeling! I
liked sitting next to russians more than Americans. I don't care what
other people say, the are nicer than Americans by far!! It's just when
you try get them to be mormon that they hate you. haha! People will be
so nice until you say you want to share a message with them. Then they
get really mad and storm off. I think they have just had so much
oppression that they don't like the idea of a religion or a prophet
telling them what to do.
The memebers here are SOOOOOOOOOOO The best!!! Really! We've been
blessed with the best members in the WORLD! Brother Aleksei Gladkov
was talking during the priesthood meeting and when nobody volunteered
to help the missionaries, he said he found talking to random people on
the street about the gospel frightening just like the rest of them,
but the Lord has called them to be our help and at this point he stood
up and pounded on his chest and said that he would shout words of
truth at whoever the Lord wanted him to! haha! I love him! I yawned
and he stuck his finger in my mouth and said that if you don't cover
your mouth that people will spit in it! haha! and if you whistle in
public, money will fly out of your pockets. The people here are so
superstitious! it's worse Russians than japanese people!
We got our time on the email extended, so I'm not running out of time
anymore... haha!
Mother, as long as you write letters before midnight on sunday, you
will be fine! I'm running ou of time! ahh! My comp is awesome! Elder
Blake Benham, went to BYU, from Saint George. Super obedient (District
leader actually) In fact, our mission has like ZERO trunky
missionaries! They are all Green and I love it so much! They all have
such a fire for missionary work and the are all super obedient! Thanks
President Bennet and also President Sartori! It's not that cold yet
here, probably like Logan weather. I'm in a city called Penza (пенза)
It's wonderful here! It smells like Cigarette smoke all the time! The
only time you are free of the smell is when a car drives by and your
nose has the sweet freedom of smelling car exhaust! The driving here
is fine, but in Moscow it was INSANE! Never will I drive in Europe!!!!
There are cats everywhere. MTC Russian sounds nothing Like Russian
Russian. Alcohol on the breath smells like Carrots. Babushkii (old
women) look mean, but they are really nice when you talk to them
(Until you try to give them a pamphlet! haha!) Everyone here has the
same like five names. Aleksei, Dima, Aleksandr, Sasha, and Vladimir
for Guys. Cvyetlana, Anya, Ana, Masha, Nina, Natalya, or Natasha for
women. haha! We didn't have water for two days (Going to the bathroom
was terrible.) When it was finally back on, it was FREEZING!!
Overall, I'm more tired than I've ever been in my life, not
physically, but mentally. Spiritually, it is draining and replenshing
all at the same time. Don't send me jeans, candy, scarves, etc. I
don't need it. I promise. (well, maybe letters or pictures!) The
Mission President and his wife are the sweetest people ever. I will
keep in touch with them forever. For Reals. K, я люблю вас!! (I love
you! [Plural])
Oh, Ochin Buistra! (really quick!) Двоюродная сестра кристий (Cousin
Kristy! Or is it Christy? Cristy?) whom I love so much! Many a months
ago you mentioned you had an old companion living in Самара! You HAVE
to tell me her information!! I WILL CONVERT HER! Horosho? Horosho!
Пока!
C Lyubovyu,
Старейшина Сворц
here, so when they say we have an hour, we have like twenty minutes
because forty of it is loading time! haha!
First off, I can take pictures of my emails and read them later, so
that could work. So if you have any thoughts or stuff, go ahead and
send them to me. Just don't send any info in it that I would want to
know before I email you back because I won't read it until later
obviously.
Sister Katie Nilson is the one going to Italy! Remember!? If you can,
will you somehow tell her family that I love them! haha! And that I'll
write Josie as soon as I can!
Okay, story time! So The plane rides were fun! I love the feeling! I
liked sitting next to russians more than Americans. I don't care what
other people say, the are nicer than Americans by far!! It's just when
you try get them to be mormon that they hate you. haha! People will be
so nice until you say you want to share a message with them. Then they
get really mad and storm off. I think they have just had so much
oppression that they don't like the idea of a religion or a prophet
telling them what to do.
The memebers here are SOOOOOOOOOOO The best!!! Really! We've been
blessed with the best members in the WORLD! Brother Aleksei Gladkov
was talking during the priesthood meeting and when nobody volunteered
to help the missionaries, he said he found talking to random people on
the street about the gospel frightening just like the rest of them,
but the Lord has called them to be our help and at this point he stood
up and pounded on his chest and said that he would shout words of
truth at whoever the Lord wanted him to! haha! I love him! I yawned
and he stuck his finger in my mouth and said that if you don't cover
your mouth that people will spit in it! haha! and if you whistle in
public, money will fly out of your pockets. The people here are so
superstitious! it's worse Russians than japanese people!
We got our time on the email extended, so I'm not running out of time
anymore... haha!
Mother, as long as you write letters before midnight on sunday, you
will be fine! I'm running ou of time! ahh! My comp is awesome! Elder
Blake Benham, went to BYU, from Saint George. Super obedient (District
leader actually) In fact, our mission has like ZERO trunky
missionaries! They are all Green and I love it so much! They all have
such a fire for missionary work and the are all super obedient! Thanks
President Bennet and also President Sartori! It's not that cold yet
here, probably like Logan weather. I'm in a city called Penza (пенза)
It's wonderful here! It smells like Cigarette smoke all the time! The
only time you are free of the smell is when a car drives by and your
nose has the sweet freedom of smelling car exhaust! The driving here
is fine, but in Moscow it was INSANE! Never will I drive in Europe!!!!
There are cats everywhere. MTC Russian sounds nothing Like Russian
Russian. Alcohol on the breath smells like Carrots. Babushkii (old
women) look mean, but they are really nice when you talk to them
(Until you try to give them a pamphlet! haha!) Everyone here has the
same like five names. Aleksei, Dima, Aleksandr, Sasha, and Vladimir
for Guys. Cvyetlana, Anya, Ana, Masha, Nina, Natalya, or Natasha for
women. haha! We didn't have water for two days (Going to the bathroom
was terrible.) When it was finally back on, it was FREEZING!!
Overall, I'm more tired than I've ever been in my life, not
physically, but mentally. Spiritually, it is draining and replenshing
all at the same time. Don't send me jeans, candy, scarves, etc. I
don't need it. I promise. (well, maybe letters or pictures!) The
Mission President and his wife are the sweetest people ever. I will
keep in touch with them forever. For Reals. K, я люблю вас!! (I love
you! [Plural])
Oh, Ochin Buistra! (really quick!) Двоюродная сестра кристий (Cousin
Kristy! Or is it Christy? Cristy?) whom I love so much! Many a months
ago you mentioned you had an old companion living in Самара! You HAVE
to tell me her information!! I WILL CONVERT HER! Horosho? Horosho!
Пока!
C Lyubovyu,
Старейшина Сворц
Friday, September 16, 2011
Destin's Arrived!!
Here's an email chain from Destin's Mission presidents to my parents. :)
I've also included some information that the Mission President sent regarding letters, emails and basic information about where Destin is Serving. I've bolded the headings of each section so if you want to skip something you can.
Dear Parents,
We are emailing you to inform you that Elder Swartz has arrived safely to our Russia Samara mission and we thank you for sending such a wonderful young man. We are so excited to serve with him.
Attached you will find 2 documents and one photo. Enjoy!!
My parents response
Sister Sartori, (The mission president's wife)
Thank you so much for the e-mail concerning our son, Elder Swartz. My wife and I are so grateful for his desire to serve the Lord in the Samara Mission. He, like your other missionaries, is an exceptional young man who has prepared himself well to serve, and I have every confidence that his heart and mind are focused on the task of "losing himself" in that service. You will certainly find him to be capable and willing to accept difficult assignments as he grows in experience. Our prayers and gratitude are with him, and all the Elders and Sisters serving in the Samara Mission.
I speak sincerely, when I say to you and President Sartori, that we are simply grateful to give you our son for this time of service.
With much love and respect,
Destin and Dana Swartz
(Sister Sartori's Reply)
Thank you for your prayers and kind words. We love your son already! We spent the whole day today with him and the other 8 missionaries who arrived. He is so ready and willing to serve. He was so excited to see Elder Broekhuijsen today! They renewed their friendship and are both super-great missionaries who are so willing to do whatever the Lord wishes.
We just love him, can't say more than that. Sister Sartori
The following are the mission rules on letters and emails between the Elders and family and friends. (I shortened it for you all to the stuff that pertains to you.)
P-day is the day missionaries are allowed to email home and it turns out that 30 min. is about
the same time. (Our missionaries are given 1 hour, but are asked to read the Mission President's
letter and report on their personal missionary work with any other comments they wish to share.
So you see, the time for writing family (we encourage family only for emails and only written letters
to friends) is about 30 min. DearElder.com and personally sent letters are still received from
families through the Post Office.
Now--------- some cities are 1 1/2 hour drive away, some are 3 hours drive, some are 5 & 6
hours drive and a couple are up to 7-8 hours drive in the winter months. I tell you this so you
can understand that as important as home letters are - it may take months to get them delivered.
Mailing letters and packages from Russia is MOST DIFFICULT. President and I served for
10 months in the Russia Vladivostok Mission before we were called as Mission President and
wife.... and we only mailed out about 3 times because of the difficulty (which I will not elaborate
on). Now we are here in Russia again and we only use email!!! We have family members who do
not have or know computer email, so we mail an attached letter to some family, have them print
it off and US mail it to our other family members. It is like contacting and conversing in pioneer
times!!
Some of our family and some missionary families will send US Post Office parcels - I will call
them 'one price boxes' and 'international padded envelopes'. The boxes are priced about $23 $45
$55 . I do not know price of padded envelopes. In the boxes I just gave you prices of, you can put
as much as you can inside for that amount. Sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks to arrive, sometimes
it takes 2-4 months to arrive. These boxes can be decorated with crayon/colored pencils on
the ends, labeled correctly (all come to the Mission Office, as none are delivered to individual
apartments) and taped completely shut!! (When our daughter sent us some cake mixes, cream of
tartar and cornstarch, I asked her to wrap EACH individual box with Saran Wrap so there was no
leakage of white powder in case of breakage of the mailed box. Please take any extra precautions
for safety of diplomatic relations.)
PLEASE SEND BOXES AND LETTERS.......THEY ARE MOST IMPORTANT
FOR AND TO OUR MISSIONARIES!! We would encourage and invite you to send spiritual
and uplifting letters, minimizing 'fun' family activites, mentioning spiritual activities and
experiences and ALWAYS POSITIVELY ENCOURAGING YOUR MISSIONARY through
any difficult situations. The Lord is in charge of the Russia Samara Mission and He is watching
over each of us. We know that the Russian Missions are very difficult and our missionaries need
positive uplifting and reminding that AS WE WORK OUR HARDEST TO FIND THOSE
WHOM THE LORD HAS PREPARED TO RECEIVE HIS GOSPEL -- HE WILL BLESS OUR
EFFORTS.
Missionaries are sacrificing two years of their lives to serve the Lord and we encourage them
to do just that..... SERVE THE LORD!! We encourage them to remember President Hinckley's
counsel "forget yourself and go to work" and the other counsel of the Brethren when they
say 'forsake all at home and go forth to serve'.
Two years go by so fast!! We must say at this point - THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND
TENDER SUPPORT OF YOUR/OUR MISSIONARY !!!
To help you understand better our options for communicating with your missionary while he/she
is in Russia. He/she has the opportunity to send and receive e-mail on Mondays (P-Days).
FAQ’s
1. How long does it take to get a letter or package from us (in Utah) to him? We've heard that
packages can take up to 3 months, and that letters might only get distributed on transfer days.
Packages 2-4 months. Letters/packages get distributed when mail goes with Mission President &
Wife, Assistants, our driver (Roman) making a Branch delivery, etc.
2. Should we send personal letters and packages to the mission home, or to his current address in
Tolyatti? ALL LETTERS AND PACKAGES MUST BE SENT TO MISSION OFFICE !! We
cannot guarantee they will get them otherwise - the 'pochta (post office)' in Russia is different !
At least if they get to the Mission Office, we can and will deliver them.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Elder/Sister __________________
Samara Mission
Vodnikov Street 95-1
oblast
443099
Russia
Phone # 8462-310-282
Samara
Russia
Samara
Phone # is not needed if sent through the mail.
Phone # is needed if sent through a private courier.
Letters are international and cost about $ .95
3. Should we address the packages in Cyrillic (so as to not catch the attention of curious postal
workers) and, if so, how do you get it through the US Postal Service with a Cyrillic address?
Packages come addressed in English.
4. How does the pouch system work? We have the ability to send through DearElder.com
electronic letters which get printed off and then put into a pouch that gets sent. How long does it
take for the pouch to get there, and (since it presumably goes to the mission home), how does it
(the letter or package) get from the pouch to our son? Please call the Missionary Department on
their instructions of the pouch. Mission President and Wife, Assistants, Zone Leaders, or Roman
deliver when we have assignments to their Branch, or Zone Conference or anything else. We
check with Office Couple and let them know who is going where and they gather up what mail
has come.
5. How much time does our Son have each week to use the computer for reading and sending e-
mail (on his P-Day)? One hour...with instructions to answer his Mission President first. .... so
about the same time as in the MTC, 30 min.
6. How do you recommend that our son should send us photographs he takes? Should he put the
memory card into an envelope (with hand-written letters to us), and how long would that take to
deliver? Perhaps he should just e-mail them to us. Email them. If the pixels are reduced, several
can be sent at one time.
I realize this is a big barrage of questions I'm sending you. if you don't have time to respond to
all of them, I certainly understand. However, this might be the kind of information that would be
valuable to all parents of missionaries in your mission, and which you could eventually include
in your Welcome e-mail. Thank you. As I answered your email before reading it all, my husband
and I chose to do just that!!...I will be making a copy and documenting this email. May I have
permission to use your questions if we choose?
Thank you for your service and for being so welcoming of our son. We feel very blessed
by not only his decision to serve and his hard work to be as prepared as he can be, but also
by knowing that he has a wonderful, efficient, effective, and loving mission president and
his "first councilor" (you!). You are most welcome!! We feel so blessed to have this humbling
responsibilty to work with these amazing young men and women and to constantly be led by His
Spirit daily. There are so many inspired things happening in our mission -- WE KNOW THAT
WE ARE PERFORMING THE LORD'S WORK. We stress OBEDIENCE to the mission rules
so that His Spirit will continue to direct us. Sometimes our young men and women do not know
the 'why' to be exactly obedient, but they go forward with faith and we are all blessed because of
this FAITH. MUCH FAITH IS NEEDED here in Russia.
What the Samara Mission is like today
We can tell you what the Russia Samara Mission is like today! Today our missionaries
number is 51 elders and sisters, of which 9 are sisters. We have four Senior Couples
(of which one goes home in Sept. and the other in October) now - one Office Couple
training our new Office Couple, one Leadership Couple (also native Russian), and one
CES/Leadership Couple. We are asking everyone... if they will come serve here with us.
Do you know of any couples who are retired and could come? Do you know of any
couples who are thinking about retirement and would like to serve the Lord?
Senior Couples are so valuable and they really help our young missionaries. Their
love, example, leadership, encouragement, support, friendliness, help, ...........and I
could go on and on and on!!........... cannot be measured! We have seen how they
have helped in so many ways- with missionaries, with the church growth, with their
loving examples..........and HOW THE RUSSIAN MEMBERS LOVE THEIR SENIOR
MISSIONARIES!! The Brethren have modified some policies which will help more Senior
Couples be able to serve missions, so we hope to see more peoples’ lives being blessed
by serving a Mission for the Lord.
We served in the Russia Vladivostok Mission in 2009 before we were called as Mission
President and Wife. We loved it!! Khabarovsk (our city we lived in) was supposed to be
very cold, but when you dress for it and walk all over, you just do not get too cold. In
Winter, our low in Samara could be -35 C. It is good our missionaries follow the white
Missionary Handbook and they are inside when it is early. We caution our missionaries
to watch for and protect from frostbite. Now to mention the blessing of this cold.... IT
IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL IN EACH ONE OF OUR CITIES WITH SNOW PILED HIGH
AND MANY DAYS OF SNOW KEEP COMING. IT REALLY IS A WINTER WONDERLAND OF
BEAUTY HERE. The Volga River (which many of our cities are on) is frozen and adds a
serenity of peace and calm. Spring and Fall are absolutely delightful. Russia also has
pollens and allergy season is very real here also. Summer can get hot so we are careful
and take safety precautions.
Samara has a population of 1.2 million people who mostly use transports -- bus,
trolleybus, tramvie and overnight trains between the cities. We have great Branches
and some even meet in our own building, but mostly, we rent buildings to hold church
in. Now the buildings are nothing like in the USA, but they do afford us a place of quiet
worship. The church is in an 'infant-like' stage and we are basically teaching leadership
items constantly and many times our missionaries are called on to be 'shadow
leadership' for the people so they can see and learn in 'action' what to do.
We have 21 Branches in our Mission. Samara Zone/District, (Bezimanski,
Novokuybishevsk and Avrora) Saratov Zone/District, (Engels, Volzhski, Solnechney,
Oktyabryski, Dachney, Zavodskoy, and Trafimoski) Tolyatti Zone/District,
(Komsolmolski, Old City and New City) and Mission District whick includes Branches:
Penza, Kazan, Marks, Orenburg, Balakovo, Ulyanovsk and Izshevsk. Our cities are
from ½ hours to 8 hours driving distance from Samara (depending on the weather for
travel).
This area of Russia was opened to missionary work in 1992 in the cities of Samara
and Saratov . During 1993, Ufa and Rostov were opened; and then over the next
three years, Volgograd, Tolyatti and Engels were added. Ufa and Rostov eventually
became parts of the Yekaterinburg and Rostov Missions, respectfully. In 1996, the
cities of Penza and Kazan were opened to missionary work. However, in January 1998,
misssionaries were withdrawn from Kazan. The next month Novokuybishevsk and
Marks received missionaries. The city of Orenburg was opened in September 1998, and
the city of Balakovo in February 1999. In the year 2000, missionaries were brought
back into the city of Kazan. In August of 2000, the city of Ulyanovsk was opened to
missionary work, and in the fall of 2003 Izhevsk was opened to the restored Gospel.
The church is in an 'infant-like' stage and we are basically teaching leadership items
constantly and many times our missionaries are called on to be 'shadow leadership'
for the people so they can see and learn in 'action' what to do. Great opportunities
to share the gospel and the ecclesiastical or leadership part of the church are in
abundance here. You will see and feel the love of the Russian Saints for you, the
Gospel, and our Savior. Our members total more than 3,600 in the Russia Samara
Mission. There are many who have been baptized and have gone inactive, so
our 'rescue efforts' are constant and loving. Missionaries in the Russian Missions are
so blessed with so many kinds of hard things to do, but so blessed because the Lord
knows His people and there are many here who He has prepared to hear His Restored
Gospel.
There are two constructed church buildings that we own in our mission: Solnechney
and Marks. Many branches meet in renovated rented buildings.
We are NOT the largest mission in Russia (Yekateringburg, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok
Missions are the largest geographically.) We do have two time zones (I believe it might
have been 3, years ago... but we only have one city that we have to adjust time to. We
are the same as Moscow and 1 hour different than Kiev, Ukraine.
In ending, we would like to share this most special information about the Russian
Missions. There are two Patriarchs who live in Utah..one in Bountiful and one in Orem.
They come to Russia every year and give Partiarchal Blessings. They have found that
EVERY TRIBE OF THE 12 TRIBES IS REPRESENTED HERE. Hence, the 'believing blood
of Israel' that Elder Bruce R. McConkie spoke of is here in many numbers. If you
will look at a world globe and notice how far north Russia is and many more of the
countries on this continent, your heart will swell with joy at the many children of our
Heavenly Father's who could be part of the 'lost 10 tribes'.
We are in the latter days and the missionaries are gleaning in many parts of the Lord's
vineyards. We are so blessed to be apart of this fantastic work! ............. Missionary
work is an important tool to find Heavenly Father's children.
We love these choice young men and women and will help them every day in whatever
we can do!! We are in the latter days and the missionaries are gleaning in many parts
of the Lord's vineyards. We are so blessed to be apart of this fantastic work! .............
Missionary work is an important tool to find Heavenly Father's children.
Thank you for your many prayers for your son/daughter serving now. We love these
choice young men and women and will help them every day in whatever we can do!!
Our love to you,
President Ralph J. and Sister Julie L. Sartori
Russia Samara Mission
I've also included some information that the Mission President sent regarding letters, emails and basic information about where Destin is Serving. I've bolded the headings of each section so if you want to skip something you can.
Dear Parents,
We are emailing you to inform you that Elder Swartz has arrived safely to our Russia Samara mission and we thank you for sending such a wonderful young man. We are so excited to serve with him.
Attached you will find 2 documents and one photo. Enjoy!!
My parents response
Sister Sartori, (The mission president's wife)
Thank you so much for the e-mail concerning our son, Elder Swartz. My wife and I are so grateful for his desire to serve the Lord in the Samara Mission. He, like your other missionaries, is an exceptional young man who has prepared himself well to serve, and I have every confidence that his heart and mind are focused on the task of "losing himself" in that service. You will certainly find him to be capable and willing to accept difficult assignments as he grows in experience. Our prayers and gratitude are with him, and all the Elders and Sisters serving in the Samara Mission.
I speak sincerely, when I say to you and President Sartori, that we are simply grateful to give you our son for this time of service.
With much love and respect,
Destin and Dana Swartz
(Sister Sartori's Reply)
Thank you for your prayers and kind words. We love your son already! We spent the whole day today with him and the other 8 missionaries who arrived. He is so ready and willing to serve. He was so excited to see Elder Broekhuijsen today! They renewed their friendship and are both super-great missionaries who are so willing to do whatever the Lord wishes.
We just love him, can't say more than that. Sister Sartori
The following are the mission rules on letters and emails between the Elders and family and friends. (I shortened it for you all to the stuff that pertains to you.)
P-day is the day missionaries are allowed to email home and it turns out that 30 min. is about
the same time. (Our missionaries are given 1 hour, but are asked to read the Mission President's
letter and report on their personal missionary work with any other comments they wish to share.
So you see, the time for writing family (we encourage family only for emails and only written letters
to friends) is about 30 min. DearElder.com and personally sent letters are still received from
families through the Post Office.
Now--------- some cities are 1 1/2 hour drive away, some are 3 hours drive, some are 5 & 6
hours drive and a couple are up to 7-8 hours drive in the winter months. I tell you this so you
can understand that as important as home letters are - it may take months to get them delivered.
Mailing letters and packages from Russia is MOST DIFFICULT. President and I served for
10 months in the Russia Vladivostok Mission before we were called as Mission President and
wife.... and we only mailed out about 3 times because of the difficulty (which I will not elaborate
on). Now we are here in Russia again and we only use email!!! We have family members who do
not have or know computer email, so we mail an attached letter to some family, have them print
it off and US mail it to our other family members. It is like contacting and conversing in pioneer
times!!
Some of our family and some missionary families will send US Post Office parcels - I will call
them 'one price boxes' and 'international padded envelopes'. The boxes are priced about $23 $45
$55 . I do not know price of padded envelopes. In the boxes I just gave you prices of, you can put
as much as you can inside for that amount. Sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks to arrive, sometimes
it takes 2-4 months to arrive. These boxes can be decorated with crayon/colored pencils on
the ends, labeled correctly (all come to the Mission Office, as none are delivered to individual
apartments) and taped completely shut!! (When our daughter sent us some cake mixes, cream of
tartar and cornstarch, I asked her to wrap EACH individual box with Saran Wrap so there was no
leakage of white powder in case of breakage of the mailed box. Please take any extra precautions
for safety of diplomatic relations.)
PLEASE SEND BOXES AND LETTERS.......THEY ARE MOST IMPORTANT
FOR AND TO OUR MISSIONARIES!! We would encourage and invite you to send spiritual
and uplifting letters, minimizing 'fun' family activites, mentioning spiritual activities and
experiences and ALWAYS POSITIVELY ENCOURAGING YOUR MISSIONARY through
any difficult situations. The Lord is in charge of the Russia Samara Mission and He is watching
over each of us. We know that the Russian Missions are very difficult and our missionaries need
positive uplifting and reminding that AS WE WORK OUR HARDEST TO FIND THOSE
WHOM THE LORD HAS PREPARED TO RECEIVE HIS GOSPEL -- HE WILL BLESS OUR
EFFORTS.
Missionaries are sacrificing two years of their lives to serve the Lord and we encourage them
to do just that..... SERVE THE LORD!! We encourage them to remember President Hinckley's
counsel "forget yourself and go to work" and the other counsel of the Brethren when they
say 'forsake all at home and go forth to serve'.
Two years go by so fast!! We must say at this point - THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND
TENDER SUPPORT OF YOUR/OUR MISSIONARY !!!
To help you understand better our options for communicating with your missionary while he/she
is in Russia. He/she has the opportunity to send and receive e-mail on Mondays (P-Days).
FAQ’s
1. How long does it take to get a letter or package from us (in Utah) to him? We've heard that
packages can take up to 3 months, and that letters might only get distributed on transfer days.
Packages 2-4 months. Letters/packages get distributed when mail goes with Mission President &
Wife, Assistants, our driver (Roman) making a Branch delivery, etc.
2. Should we send personal letters and packages to the mission home, or to his current address in
Tolyatti? ALL LETTERS AND PACKAGES MUST BE SENT TO MISSION OFFICE !! We
cannot guarantee they will get them otherwise - the 'pochta (post office)' in Russia is different !
At least if they get to the Mission Office, we can and will deliver them.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Elder/Sister __________________
Samara Mission
Vodnikov Street 95-1
oblast
443099
Russia
Phone # 8462-310-282
Samara
Russia
Samara
Phone # is not needed if sent through the mail.
Phone # is needed if sent through a private courier.
Letters are international and cost about $ .95
3. Should we address the packages in Cyrillic (so as to not catch the attention of curious postal
workers) and, if so, how do you get it through the US Postal Service with a Cyrillic address?
Packages come addressed in English.
4. How does the pouch system work? We have the ability to send through DearElder.com
electronic letters which get printed off and then put into a pouch that gets sent. How long does it
take for the pouch to get there, and (since it presumably goes to the mission home), how does it
(the letter or package) get from the pouch to our son? Please call the Missionary Department on
their instructions of the pouch. Mission President and Wife, Assistants, Zone Leaders, or Roman
deliver when we have assignments to their Branch, or Zone Conference or anything else. We
check with Office Couple and let them know who is going where and they gather up what mail
has come.
5. How much time does our Son have each week to use the computer for reading and sending e-
mail (on his P-Day)? One hour...with instructions to answer his Mission President first. .... so
about the same time as in the MTC, 30 min.
6. How do you recommend that our son should send us photographs he takes? Should he put the
memory card into an envelope (with hand-written letters to us), and how long would that take to
deliver? Perhaps he should just e-mail them to us. Email them. If the pixels are reduced, several
can be sent at one time.
I realize this is a big barrage of questions I'm sending you. if you don't have time to respond to
all of them, I certainly understand. However, this might be the kind of information that would be
valuable to all parents of missionaries in your mission, and which you could eventually include
in your Welcome e-mail. Thank you. As I answered your email before reading it all, my husband
and I chose to do just that!!...I will be making a copy and documenting this email. May I have
permission to use your questions if we choose?
Thank you for your service and for being so welcoming of our son. We feel very blessed
by not only his decision to serve and his hard work to be as prepared as he can be, but also
by knowing that he has a wonderful, efficient, effective, and loving mission president and
his "first councilor" (you!). You are most welcome!! We feel so blessed to have this humbling
responsibilty to work with these amazing young men and women and to constantly be led by His
Spirit daily. There are so many inspired things happening in our mission -- WE KNOW THAT
WE ARE PERFORMING THE LORD'S WORK. We stress OBEDIENCE to the mission rules
so that His Spirit will continue to direct us. Sometimes our young men and women do not know
the 'why' to be exactly obedient, but they go forward with faith and we are all blessed because of
this FAITH. MUCH FAITH IS NEEDED here in Russia.
What the Samara Mission is like today
We can tell you what the Russia Samara Mission is like today! Today our missionaries
number is 51 elders and sisters, of which 9 are sisters. We have four Senior Couples
(of which one goes home in Sept. and the other in October) now - one Office Couple
training our new Office Couple, one Leadership Couple (also native Russian), and one
CES/Leadership Couple. We are asking everyone... if they will come serve here with us.
Do you know of any couples who are retired and could come? Do you know of any
couples who are thinking about retirement and would like to serve the Lord?
Senior Couples are so valuable and they really help our young missionaries. Their
love, example, leadership, encouragement, support, friendliness, help, ...........and I
could go on and on and on!!........... cannot be measured! We have seen how they
have helped in so many ways- with missionaries, with the church growth, with their
loving examples..........and HOW THE RUSSIAN MEMBERS LOVE THEIR SENIOR
MISSIONARIES!! The Brethren have modified some policies which will help more Senior
Couples be able to serve missions, so we hope to see more peoples’ lives being blessed
by serving a Mission for the Lord.
We served in the Russia Vladivostok Mission in 2009 before we were called as Mission
President and Wife. We loved it!! Khabarovsk (our city we lived in) was supposed to be
very cold, but when you dress for it and walk all over, you just do not get too cold. In
Winter, our low in Samara could be -35 C. It is good our missionaries follow the white
Missionary Handbook and they are inside when it is early. We caution our missionaries
to watch for and protect from frostbite. Now to mention the blessing of this cold.... IT
IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL IN EACH ONE OF OUR CITIES WITH SNOW PILED HIGH
AND MANY DAYS OF SNOW KEEP COMING. IT REALLY IS A WINTER WONDERLAND OF
BEAUTY HERE. The Volga River (which many of our cities are on) is frozen and adds a
serenity of peace and calm. Spring and Fall are absolutely delightful. Russia also has
pollens and allergy season is very real here also. Summer can get hot so we are careful
and take safety precautions.
Samara has a population of 1.2 million people who mostly use transports -- bus,
trolleybus, tramvie and overnight trains between the cities. We have great Branches
and some even meet in our own building, but mostly, we rent buildings to hold church
in. Now the buildings are nothing like in the USA, but they do afford us a place of quiet
worship. The church is in an 'infant-like' stage and we are basically teaching leadership
items constantly and many times our missionaries are called on to be 'shadow
leadership' for the people so they can see and learn in 'action' what to do.
We have 21 Branches in our Mission. Samara Zone/District, (Bezimanski,
Novokuybishevsk and Avrora) Saratov Zone/District, (Engels, Volzhski, Solnechney,
Oktyabryski, Dachney, Zavodskoy, and Trafimoski) Tolyatti Zone/District,
(Komsolmolski, Old City and New City) and Mission District whick includes Branches:
Penza, Kazan, Marks, Orenburg, Balakovo, Ulyanovsk and Izshevsk. Our cities are
from ½ hours to 8 hours driving distance from Samara (depending on the weather for
travel).
This area of Russia was opened to missionary work in 1992 in the cities of Samara
and Saratov . During 1993, Ufa and Rostov were opened; and then over the next
three years, Volgograd, Tolyatti and Engels were added. Ufa and Rostov eventually
became parts of the Yekaterinburg and Rostov Missions, respectfully. In 1996, the
cities of Penza and Kazan were opened to missionary work. However, in January 1998,
misssionaries were withdrawn from Kazan. The next month Novokuybishevsk and
Marks received missionaries. The city of Orenburg was opened in September 1998, and
the city of Balakovo in February 1999. In the year 2000, missionaries were brought
back into the city of Kazan. In August of 2000, the city of Ulyanovsk was opened to
missionary work, and in the fall of 2003 Izhevsk was opened to the restored Gospel.
The church is in an 'infant-like' stage and we are basically teaching leadership items
constantly and many times our missionaries are called on to be 'shadow leadership'
for the people so they can see and learn in 'action' what to do. Great opportunities
to share the gospel and the ecclesiastical or leadership part of the church are in
abundance here. You will see and feel the love of the Russian Saints for you, the
Gospel, and our Savior. Our members total more than 3,600 in the Russia Samara
Mission. There are many who have been baptized and have gone inactive, so
our 'rescue efforts' are constant and loving. Missionaries in the Russian Missions are
so blessed with so many kinds of hard things to do, but so blessed because the Lord
knows His people and there are many here who He has prepared to hear His Restored
Gospel.
There are two constructed church buildings that we own in our mission: Solnechney
and Marks. Many branches meet in renovated rented buildings.
We are NOT the largest mission in Russia (Yekateringburg, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok
Missions are the largest geographically.) We do have two time zones (I believe it might
have been 3, years ago... but we only have one city that we have to adjust time to. We
are the same as Moscow and 1 hour different than Kiev, Ukraine.
In ending, we would like to share this most special information about the Russian
Missions. There are two Patriarchs who live in Utah..one in Bountiful and one in Orem.
They come to Russia every year and give Partiarchal Blessings. They have found that
EVERY TRIBE OF THE 12 TRIBES IS REPRESENTED HERE. Hence, the 'believing blood
of Israel' that Elder Bruce R. McConkie spoke of is here in many numbers. If you
will look at a world globe and notice how far north Russia is and many more of the
countries on this continent, your heart will swell with joy at the many children of our
Heavenly Father's who could be part of the 'lost 10 tribes'.
We are in the latter days and the missionaries are gleaning in many parts of the Lord's
vineyards. We are so blessed to be apart of this fantastic work! ............. Missionary
work is an important tool to find Heavenly Father's children.
We love these choice young men and women and will help them every day in whatever
we can do!! We are in the latter days and the missionaries are gleaning in many parts
of the Lord's vineyards. We are so blessed to be apart of this fantastic work! .............
Missionary work is an important tool to find Heavenly Father's children.
Thank you for your many prayers for your son/daughter serving now. We love these
choice young men and women and will help them every day in whatever we can do!!
Our love to you,
President Ralph J. and Sister Julie L. Sartori
Russia Samara Mission
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Last Letter from the MTC
Priviet Cemyee Y Druzya!
So, this past week has been... wow... I've loved it! It's crazy to be in your last week here!!! I have my flight plans and everything! Okay, here's the run down! So first, I leave Salt Lake City at 8:35 AM on monday morning! From there I fly to New York, JFK, arriving at 3:22 PM. Then I take off from New York at 5:00 PM and I arrive in Moscow at 10:55 AM! I don't know if that's their time or my time, anyway, in Moscow, I wait until 9:55 PM to Fly to Smarak Russia. I don't know where that is... but I'd imagine it's near Samara...? I'll be ariving at 11:35 PM. I'm sooooo Excited! We don't know if our visas are ready yet, we find out today if anything went wrong... so that'll be exciting! I signed my papers though, so I'm not to worried... but still, people get left behind all the time because of visas.
So I found out why Elder Holland was upset last week. Just previously, a sister missionary was killed in new york in a car accident. Her name is Sister Bentley. Please pray for her family and friends. Of course they are probably much happier knowing she died serving the Lord, but obviously it was still their daughter, sister, cousin, or friend. It is hard for them right now.
Erika, Thanks for telling me that! I appreciate it! Now I can send you your letters!
I see Elder Howard every once in a while, I snuck into his building the other night to talk with him! haha! I promise i wasn't breaking any rules... that I'm aware of. He's doing well and seems to be loving the MTC. Elder Braithwaite flew out Yesterday... That's going to be me in a week! yeah! It's exciting to be doing everything for the last time, like "This is the last time i'll be doing..." or "this is the devotional I'll see." Woot! Oh, shoot, I forgot to bring my Mission address with me... oh well, I'll send it home to you all! Make sure you put it on my blog so I might get letters sometimes...
"Hi there this is Elder Jones, dont worry be happy"
- Elder Jones
Oh, Tiffany is next to me right now, she wants to say hi!
HELLO SWARTZ FAMILY!!! HOW ARE YOU ALL!? I MISS YOU LOTS! BUT THE MTC IS THE GREATEST PLACE EVER! HOPE THAT ALL IS GOING WELL WITH ALL OF YOU! MAMA SWARTZ- TELL YOUR MOM I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET TO SEE HER HERE. I HOPE THE TEMPLE WAS GREAT FOR MARY! I HOPE THAT HER PREPARATIONS ARE GOING WELL! WELL, I'M GOING TO DO MY LAUNDRY NOW. LOVE YOU ALL!! :)
I must be off, I love you all! I'm excited to see all of you again after I have served a wonderful mission!
Dosveedania!
- Elder Swartz!
So, this past week has been... wow... I've loved it! It's crazy to be in your last week here!!! I have my flight plans and everything! Okay, here's the run down! So first, I leave Salt Lake City at 8:35 AM on monday morning! From there I fly to New York, JFK, arriving at 3:22 PM. Then I take off from New York at 5:00 PM and I arrive in Moscow at 10:55 AM! I don't know if that's their time or my time, anyway, in Moscow, I wait until 9:55 PM to Fly to Smarak Russia. I don't know where that is... but I'd imagine it's near Samara...? I'll be ariving at 11:35 PM. I'm sooooo Excited! We don't know if our visas are ready yet, we find out today if anything went wrong... so that'll be exciting! I signed my papers though, so I'm not to worried... but still, people get left behind all the time because of visas.
So I found out why Elder Holland was upset last week. Just previously, a sister missionary was killed in new york in a car accident. Her name is Sister Bentley. Please pray for her family and friends. Of course they are probably much happier knowing she died serving the Lord, but obviously it was still their daughter, sister, cousin, or friend. It is hard for them right now.
Erika, Thanks for telling me that! I appreciate it! Now I can send you your letters!
I see Elder Howard every once in a while, I snuck into his building the other night to talk with him! haha! I promise i wasn't breaking any rules... that I'm aware of. He's doing well and seems to be loving the MTC. Elder Braithwaite flew out Yesterday... That's going to be me in a week! yeah! It's exciting to be doing everything for the last time, like "This is the last time i'll be doing..." or "this is the devotional I'll see." Woot! Oh, shoot, I forgot to bring my Mission address with me... oh well, I'll send it home to you all! Make sure you put it on my blog so I might get letters sometimes...
"Hi there this is Elder Jones, dont worry be happy"
- Elder Jones
Oh, Tiffany is next to me right now, she wants to say hi!
HELLO SWARTZ FAMILY!!! HOW ARE YOU ALL!? I MISS YOU LOTS! BUT THE MTC IS THE GREATEST PLACE EVER! HOPE THAT ALL IS GOING WELL WITH ALL OF YOU! MAMA SWARTZ- TELL YOUR MOM I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET TO SEE HER HERE. I HOPE THE TEMPLE WAS GREAT FOR MARY! I HOPE THAT HER PREPARATIONS ARE GOING WELL! WELL, I'M GOING TO DO MY LAUNDRY NOW. LOVE YOU ALL!! :)
I must be off, I love you all! I'm excited to see all of you again after I have served a wonderful mission!
Dosveedania!
- Elder Swartz!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Letter #8
Ni Hao!
So we got our Russian name tags this week! It's really exciting! Except the other day, all the people going to Samara got called down to the travel office to sign their visas except me. The lady said it was fine that I wasn't called down, but I couldn't help but feel she was just saying that. man, I hope I don't get delayed... That would be quite saddening. Oh well, I'm on the Lord's time, he'll have me where he wants me.
Elder Holland came to talk to us last night! Finally! After 10 whole weeks in the MTC, I got an apostle, and one of my personal favorites, if not my favorite!! and it was totally worth it! It was a very interesting talk by him, it had a different air to it than his other talks. I don't know exactly what happened before but it put him in a mood that I had never before seen him. His talk was amazing because of it though, of course. He spoke of many things, and answered questions that missionaries wrote down for him. I really enjoyed a story that he shared with us about Ralph Waldo Emerson, the man that President Mckay said was the smartest man in america. I don't remember the details exactly so forgive me, there was a calf in his backyard that he was trying to move into it's living quarters but the calf would not move. For those who have never moved a calf before, supposedly it is nearly impossible once it has it's feet planted. Anyways, after many unproductive attempts at trying to move it, he finally asked his house maid for some help. She was a local girl and just helped him out around the house with things. When he brought her outside, she stuck her finger into her mouth, removed it, stuck it into the calve's mouth and gently led where Ralph had wanted it. Well, Emerson was dumbstruck by this and couldn't even say anything to her. He immediately went into his house and wrote these profound words: "I like people who can do things." What supposedly the smartest man in America could not do himself after however many attempts, a simple house maid could do on her first try. Why is that? It is because she was who she was and he was not.
There are people in Russia who are much like that calf. They have their feet planted in the ground and no matter how many times previous missionaries have tried, they have not budged. But simply because of who I am, because of everything I have experienced and everything that I am made of, I will be able to move that person forward and bring them to Christ. Yes, it will only because of the spirit that I will be able to do so, but there is a reason that they don't do the rainbow lessons anymore. They want it personalized. They want MY Gospel that only I can teach. Not, Elder White's, not Elder Black's. Not even Elder Holland's. They need mine. That is why I'm going to Russia.
I've loved hearing from everybody and I'm so grateful for all your help and support! Oh, haha! One more thing, I just hosted Elder Howard into the MTC a few minutes ago. That was fun! I loved seeing him! His mom gave me a hug... haha! It was okay though! It wasn't a problem! He was pretty nervous. It was obviously hard for him to leave everyone and everything, but he told me that that's the reason he was here, because of everything he was leaving behind. Anyways, I have to get off now! I love you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz!
So we got our Russian name tags this week! It's really exciting! Except the other day, all the people going to Samara got called down to the travel office to sign their visas except me. The lady said it was fine that I wasn't called down, but I couldn't help but feel she was just saying that. man, I hope I don't get delayed... That would be quite saddening. Oh well, I'm on the Lord's time, he'll have me where he wants me.
Elder Holland came to talk to us last night! Finally! After 10 whole weeks in the MTC, I got an apostle, and one of my personal favorites, if not my favorite!! and it was totally worth it! It was a very interesting talk by him, it had a different air to it than his other talks. I don't know exactly what happened before but it put him in a mood that I had never before seen him. His talk was amazing because of it though, of course. He spoke of many things, and answered questions that missionaries wrote down for him. I really enjoyed a story that he shared with us about Ralph Waldo Emerson, the man that President Mckay said was the smartest man in america. I don't remember the details exactly so forgive me, there was a calf in his backyard that he was trying to move into it's living quarters but the calf would not move. For those who have never moved a calf before, supposedly it is nearly impossible once it has it's feet planted. Anyways, after many unproductive attempts at trying to move it, he finally asked his house maid for some help. She was a local girl and just helped him out around the house with things. When he brought her outside, she stuck her finger into her mouth, removed it, stuck it into the calve's mouth and gently led where Ralph had wanted it. Well, Emerson was dumbstruck by this and couldn't even say anything to her. He immediately went into his house and wrote these profound words: "I like people who can do things." What supposedly the smartest man in America could not do himself after however many attempts, a simple house maid could do on her first try. Why is that? It is because she was who she was and he was not.
There are people in Russia who are much like that calf. They have their feet planted in the ground and no matter how many times previous missionaries have tried, they have not budged. But simply because of who I am, because of everything I have experienced and everything that I am made of, I will be able to move that person forward and bring them to Christ. Yes, it will only because of the spirit that I will be able to do so, but there is a reason that they don't do the rainbow lessons anymore. They want it personalized. They want MY Gospel that only I can teach. Not, Elder White's, not Elder Black's. Not even Elder Holland's. They need mine. That is why I'm going to Russia.
I've loved hearing from everybody and I'm so grateful for all your help and support! Oh, haha! One more thing, I just hosted Elder Howard into the MTC a few minutes ago. That was fun! I loved seeing him! His mom gave me a hug... haha! It was okay though! It wasn't a problem! He was pretty nervous. It was obviously hard for him to leave everyone and everything, but he told me that that's the reason he was here, because of everything he was leaving behind. Anyways, I have to get off now! I love you all!!
Love, Elder Swartz!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Letter #8
Zdravstvuitye Cemyu!
So It's hard to imagine that I've been here for nine weeks... Yeah, it feels like nine weeks... but it also feels like I shouldn't be leaving in three. Wooh! The MTC flies by when you have new elders in your language! It is honestly so much fun!! All of our new elders are so great!! haha! I love them! It's really funny because they look up to us as the "older districts" and consequently, they all feel as though we are older people, but in reality, some of them are older than I am.
Hmmm... I don't really know what to write about this week. I saw a kid shove ten bowls of lettuce down his pants at lunch. He didn't think anyone was looking... the MTC does weird things to people. My russian in coming along fine. I'm not really good at it or anything, but I'll survive in Russia. Oh man, I'm soo excited to get out of here! I should be getting my flight plans next week and my Russian name tags as well! Things are actually starting to wrap up. My teachers are incredible! I'm so totally getting in touch with them after I get back! Also, I'm so excited to talk to people in Russian when I get back!! I'm not getting trunky or anything, don't worry! It's just an exciting thought! *(Seriously Destin? You're still in the MTC, you've got a LONG way to go)*
Let me think... Oh, before I forget! This message is to Erika Handley! I need you to write me with an address that is where you will be living this next year at BYU, I'm not sure if you're still living at that one place or not anymore, so I don't want to send my letter there! So hurry and write me and tell me your address that you'll have for the next year so your letters don't get sent to some creepo freshman who thinks I'm in love with her or something! I chose to tell you this because you're the most responsible... well, maybe Kristi... as long as she's not too hyper or something. anyway, I just want to be able to write you guys without having to worry if my letters are getting to you!
So one of our last devotional talks that we had talked about this little boy who was walking along with his dad through a canyon or something like that. I can't remember exactly how it the story goes, but the little boy stumbles or is startled and yells out. After a moment, he hears someone else yell out. Surprised and curious, he yells again. Sure enough, he hears a shout come back at him. The little boy shouts "Who are you?" And receives "Who are you?" back in response. "I asked you first!" The little boy shouts back. "I asked you first!" He receives. Frustrated, the little boy shouts "Coward!" And the voice shouts back "Coward!" Finally he looks up at his father. "Dad, what is going on?" The father smiles at his son and shouts "You're wonderful." After a moment "You're wonderful." comes back. "Have a nice day!" "Have a nice day!" The father again looks at his son and gives these wise words. "People call it an 'echo' but really, it's just life. Everything you receive in this life depends on what you give." I loved this story. I had never heard it before, but it's so true! Our life is merely a reflection our our actions. What we say and do will determine many of the blessings we receive in this life and even more of the blessings in the life to come. Really, this story helped build my testimony of obedience. Those who think they can break the rules and still receive the blessings that others receive who are obedient simply do not understand what an echo is. If you are being unfair to God by taking shortcuts or doing things your way, do not expect life to treat you any differently. When you stay up past 10:30 every night, you might be irritating your neighbors, which may cause them to not be as nice to you in the coming days. Haha! I'm not bitter...
Anyways, I must take flight! Soon quite literally! I love you all!
CT. Swartz!
So It's hard to imagine that I've been here for nine weeks... Yeah, it feels like nine weeks... but it also feels like I shouldn't be leaving in three. Wooh! The MTC flies by when you have new elders in your language! It is honestly so much fun!! All of our new elders are so great!! haha! I love them! It's really funny because they look up to us as the "older districts" and consequently, they all feel as though we are older people, but in reality, some of them are older than I am.
Hmmm... I don't really know what to write about this week. I saw a kid shove ten bowls of lettuce down his pants at lunch. He didn't think anyone was looking... the MTC does weird things to people. My russian in coming along fine. I'm not really good at it or anything, but I'll survive in Russia. Oh man, I'm soo excited to get out of here! I should be getting my flight plans next week and my Russian name tags as well! Things are actually starting to wrap up. My teachers are incredible! I'm so totally getting in touch with them after I get back! Also, I'm so excited to talk to people in Russian when I get back!! I'm not getting trunky or anything, don't worry! It's just an exciting thought! *(Seriously Destin? You're still in the MTC, you've got a LONG way to go)*
Let me think... Oh, before I forget! This message is to Erika Handley! I need you to write me with an address that is where you will be living this next year at BYU, I'm not sure if you're still living at that one place or not anymore, so I don't want to send my letter there! So hurry and write me and tell me your address that you'll have for the next year so your letters don't get sent to some creepo freshman who thinks I'm in love with her or something! I chose to tell you this because you're the most responsible... well, maybe Kristi... as long as she's not too hyper or something. anyway, I just want to be able to write you guys without having to worry if my letters are getting to you!
So one of our last devotional talks that we had talked about this little boy who was walking along with his dad through a canyon or something like that. I can't remember exactly how it the story goes, but the little boy stumbles or is startled and yells out. After a moment, he hears someone else yell out. Surprised and curious, he yells again. Sure enough, he hears a shout come back at him. The little boy shouts "Who are you?" And receives "Who are you?" back in response. "I asked you first!" The little boy shouts back. "I asked you first!" He receives. Frustrated, the little boy shouts "Coward!" And the voice shouts back "Coward!" Finally he looks up at his father. "Dad, what is going on?" The father smiles at his son and shouts "You're wonderful." After a moment "You're wonderful." comes back. "Have a nice day!" "Have a nice day!" The father again looks at his son and gives these wise words. "People call it an 'echo' but really, it's just life. Everything you receive in this life depends on what you give." I loved this story. I had never heard it before, but it's so true! Our life is merely a reflection our our actions. What we say and do will determine many of the blessings we receive in this life and even more of the blessings in the life to come. Really, this story helped build my testimony of obedience. Those who think they can break the rules and still receive the blessings that others receive who are obedient simply do not understand what an echo is. If you are being unfair to God by taking shortcuts or doing things your way, do not expect life to treat you any differently. When you stay up past 10:30 every night, you might be irritating your neighbors, which may cause them to not be as nice to you in the coming days. Haha! I'm not bitter...
Anyways, I must take flight! Soon quite literally! I love you all!
CT. Swartz!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Letter #7
Hey Cemyu!
Tak Shto, this week NEW ELDERS CAME!!!!! YES!!! And, I got to HOST Elder Brandon Warner!! It was the best!!! I love that Elder! He was really nervous, but seemed to be doing just fine! I'll help him out! (Don't worry Chelsi, he's in good hands!) Mom, that sounds really exciting that you get to eat tiger or rattlesnake or whatever... I hope it tastes good...? haha! My laundry soap is working fine! Thanks so much for it! This past week has been great! I got to say goodbye to some of my favorite Russian elders and Japanese elders. Soon, I'll be the one receiving the goodbyes!! I'm starting my eighth week today!! Wow. Oh, and I see Kristen Nelson (Spellcheck?) Every wednesday! It makes my day!! I really love it! I'll try to get pictures with the people I have yet to obtain pictures with yet and send them home! I really don't know what to talk about this week... Oh! Matt Christensen sang at the devotional in front of the entire MTC and he was AMAZING!! The speaker was so touched by his song and I was too. Afterwards we just talked and we bore our testimonies to each other. I'll miss seeing him. Haha! That Elder is the best! Elder Payne and Elder Collinsworth left this week as well. That was sad. But I'm so happy that they are finally out of here! The MTC for 14 weeks is too much.
So this week, We were learning about teaching people not lessons and I thought that was a way cool idea. It should be so obvious, but all too often it is so easy to forget. My investigator that I am teaching, his name is Slava, he is having a really tough time with drugs and stuff and even though he's not a real investigator, we are still expected to be able to discern his needs. This is not an easy thing to do. so we asked our teacher and he explained to us the importance of teaching people not lessons. The first part of this is: 1) asking inspired questions. He said that while he was in the field, they had these exercises where one person would be the missionaries would have another person next to them who periodically would tell them "Stop. Ask an inspired question." The missionary would sit in complete silence until they felt an inspired question. Many times they would ask a question to break the silence, but it was obvious when that was the case, so the person acting as the spirit would say "No. Stop. Ask an inspired question." They would wait for minutes at a time, but when the question came, it would typically be simple, but it would throw the investigator for a loop. The next part is to 2) LISTEN!! So often we are worried at what we will say next or we think that we have an answer to what we assume is their questionand we fail to truly listen. But If we listen, they will ALWAYS reveal something about themselves and what they need. This is where 3) Discernment comes in. This can be one of the most difficult gifts to have as a missionary, but if we follow the first two steps of teaching people, not lessons, discernment is already set up for us. If you have asked an inspired question and have truly listened to what they have told you, it will be SO much easier to distinguish the needs that they have from what they say. The spirit will always help you with this. The last part is 4) teach doctrine. Take what you know about them and what they need and teach them a FUNDAMENTAL, SIMPLE doctrine from the gospel. This should be the easy part! Well, anyway. I'm out of time! I love you all! Say hi to my friends and tell them I love them!
Tak Shto, this week NEW ELDERS CAME!!!!! YES!!! And, I got to HOST Elder Brandon Warner!! It was the best!!! I love that Elder! He was really nervous, but seemed to be doing just fine! I'll help him out! (Don't worry Chelsi, he's in good hands!) Mom, that sounds really exciting that you get to eat tiger or rattlesnake or whatever... I hope it tastes good...? haha! My laundry soap is working fine! Thanks so much for it! This past week has been great! I got to say goodbye to some of my favorite Russian elders and Japanese elders. Soon, I'll be the one receiving the goodbyes!! I'm starting my eighth week today!! Wow. Oh, and I see Kristen Nelson (Spellcheck?) Every wednesday! It makes my day!! I really love it! I'll try to get pictures with the people I have yet to obtain pictures with yet and send them home! I really don't know what to talk about this week... Oh! Matt Christensen sang at the devotional in front of the entire MTC and he was AMAZING!! The speaker was so touched by his song and I was too. Afterwards we just talked and we bore our testimonies to each other. I'll miss seeing him. Haha! That Elder is the best! Elder Payne and Elder Collinsworth left this week as well. That was sad. But I'm so happy that they are finally out of here! The MTC for 14 weeks is too much.
So this week, We were learning about teaching people not lessons and I thought that was a way cool idea. It should be so obvious, but all too often it is so easy to forget. My investigator that I am teaching, his name is Slava, he is having a really tough time with drugs and stuff and even though he's not a real investigator, we are still expected to be able to discern his needs. This is not an easy thing to do. so we asked our teacher and he explained to us the importance of teaching people not lessons. The first part of this is: 1) asking inspired questions. He said that while he was in the field, they had these exercises where one person would be the missionaries would have another person next to them who periodically would tell them "Stop. Ask an inspired question." The missionary would sit in complete silence until they felt an inspired question. Many times they would ask a question to break the silence, but it was obvious when that was the case, so the person acting as the spirit would say "No. Stop. Ask an inspired question." They would wait for minutes at a time, but when the question came, it would typically be simple, but it would throw the investigator for a loop. The next part is to 2) LISTEN!! So often we are worried at what we will say next or we think that we have an answer to what we assume is their questionand we fail to truly listen. But If we listen, they will ALWAYS reveal something about themselves and what they need. This is where 3) Discernment comes in. This can be one of the most difficult gifts to have as a missionary, but if we follow the first two steps of teaching people, not lessons, discernment is already set up for us. If you have asked an inspired question and have truly listened to what they have told you, it will be SO much easier to distinguish the needs that they have from what they say. The spirit will always help you with this. The last part is 4) teach doctrine. Take what you know about them and what they need and teach them a FUNDAMENTAL, SIMPLE doctrine from the gospel. This should be the easy part! Well, anyway. I'm out of time! I love you all! Say hi to my friends and tell them I love them!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Letter #6
Hey Cemyu! (yeah, that's family)
Okay, Rachel, just email me because I keep forgetting to bring your email address with me to send this letter! haha! So if you just send me an email, it would be a lot easier.
So the other day, there was a speaker and he spoke a bit about the parable of the talents and how just because you come into the field as a 5 talent missionary, you don't have room to relax. The missionaries who come in with 1 and 2 talents and leave with 2 and 4 are more pleasing to God than a 5 talent missionary who leaves with 8. I'm not sure how much I agree with that if you get into the technicalities of it, but I love the idea of it. I decided to finish out my mission as a twenty talent missionary! To do the best I can to please the Lord and grow and better myself while I am on my mission! I was also thinking about Charity. We had a lesson on it on sunday and I had been inspired to already be pondering it for a while before the lesson. Charity is sooo vital! It is what turns a member into a saint. A person into an angel. With out charity, no good would ever be done! "Hope hopeth, Faith believeth, but Charity? Charity acts." Oh! That is so great! Charity is that force that proves you love God! It reminds me of something I heard in my New Testament class with Brother Moore. There was a poem, or something... anyway it went something like "I was naked and you told me you were sorry for me. I was hungry, and you thanked the Lord for your food. I was sick and you prayed for me." If any of you could find this (Lindsey, you might remember.) That would be so great! It is such a powerful reminder that without charity, we are not Christ-like. Have all the hope and faith you want, without Charity, you are nothing. For Charity never faileth! So those were the thoughts I was having this past week. But even with all of those thoughts, I'm still terrible at really being edified! The night I had really pondered about these things, I, for whatever reason, was getting really annoyed with my companion. It was soooo stupid! He was telling me a spiritual thought and all I could think about was how annoying his voice was!! How terrible is that!? I knew I was wrong, so afterwards, I prayed to Heavenly Father and told Him I knew I was wrong and asked Him to help me come out of the irritation that had overtaken my emotions The Lord very clearly told me to go to where I was reading in the Book of Mormon and pick up from there. He told me my answer was waiting for me there. It was so clear that was what I was supposed to do, but I didn't understand why. Nothing what I was reading about at the time had anything to do with what I was experiencing. But I read and no joke, After reading for like five minutes I came upon Ether 12:35 (and the verses preceding it) It's Moroni talking about how he was worried that the gentiles would mock him, not for his words and their meaning, but for simply they way he wrote and the awkwardness of his words. But the Lord reassures him and Moroni says what he says in verse 35!! I'll let you look it up, but it was totally the Lord speaking directly to me! I was totally being like the gentiles!! I was annoyed at my companion not for his words, simple the way he spoke! Just earlier that day I had a set a goal to be a twenty talent missionary and to be more charitable and by that night, the Lord is chastising me and warning me to be more charitable or else he'll take the talents that I have and give them to someone else more worthy! What a straight and narrow path! What a strong and piercingly specific answer! I have so much I need to work on! But that's good right? I can't quadruple my investment for the Lord if I've got everything going for me already, right? I need to be less prideful.
Mom, My sheets are fine, thanks for checking. I love you all! The MTC Is great! I'm so excited for the New Russians to come in! They got delayed a week, so they aren't coming until next week, so that's a bummer, but whatever! More time to become more intimidatingly mediocre at the language! Love you all!
Elder Swartz!
Okay, Rachel, just email me because I keep forgetting to bring your email address with me to send this letter! haha! So if you just send me an email, it would be a lot easier.
So the other day, there was a speaker and he spoke a bit about the parable of the talents and how just because you come into the field as a 5 talent missionary, you don't have room to relax. The missionaries who come in with 1 and 2 talents and leave with 2 and 4 are more pleasing to God than a 5 talent missionary who leaves with 8. I'm not sure how much I agree with that if you get into the technicalities of it, but I love the idea of it. I decided to finish out my mission as a twenty talent missionary! To do the best I can to please the Lord and grow and better myself while I am on my mission! I was also thinking about Charity. We had a lesson on it on sunday and I had been inspired to already be pondering it for a while before the lesson. Charity is sooo vital! It is what turns a member into a saint. A person into an angel. With out charity, no good would ever be done! "Hope hopeth, Faith believeth, but Charity? Charity acts." Oh! That is so great! Charity is that force that proves you love God! It reminds me of something I heard in my New Testament class with Brother Moore. There was a poem, or something... anyway it went something like "I was naked and you told me you were sorry for me. I was hungry, and you thanked the Lord for your food. I was sick and you prayed for me." If any of you could find this (Lindsey, you might remember.) That would be so great! It is such a powerful reminder that without charity, we are not Christ-like. Have all the hope and faith you want, without Charity, you are nothing. For Charity never faileth! So those were the thoughts I was having this past week. But even with all of those thoughts, I'm still terrible at really being edified! The night I had really pondered about these things, I, for whatever reason, was getting really annoyed with my companion. It was soooo stupid! He was telling me a spiritual thought and all I could think about was how annoying his voice was!! How terrible is that!? I knew I was wrong, so afterwards, I prayed to Heavenly Father and told Him I knew I was wrong and asked Him to help me come out of the irritation that had overtaken my emotions The Lord very clearly told me to go to where I was reading in the Book of Mormon and pick up from there. He told me my answer was waiting for me there. It was so clear that was what I was supposed to do, but I didn't understand why. Nothing what I was reading about at the time had anything to do with what I was experiencing. But I read and no joke, After reading for like five minutes I came upon Ether 12:35 (and the verses preceding it) It's Moroni talking about how he was worried that the gentiles would mock him, not for his words and their meaning, but for simply they way he wrote and the awkwardness of his words. But the Lord reassures him and Moroni says what he says in verse 35!! I'll let you look it up, but it was totally the Lord speaking directly to me! I was totally being like the gentiles!! I was annoyed at my companion not for his words, simple the way he spoke! Just earlier that day I had a set a goal to be a twenty talent missionary and to be more charitable and by that night, the Lord is chastising me and warning me to be more charitable or else he'll take the talents that I have and give them to someone else more worthy! What a straight and narrow path! What a strong and piercingly specific answer! I have so much I need to work on! But that's good right? I can't quadruple my investment for the Lord if I've got everything going for me already, right? I need to be less prideful.
Mom, My sheets are fine, thanks for checking. I love you all! The MTC Is great! I'm so excited for the New Russians to come in! They got delayed a week, so they aren't coming until next week, so that's a bummer, but whatever! More time to become more intimidatingly mediocre at the language! Love you all!
Elder Swartz!
Letter #5
Hey! Cemyu!
Okay, so I know I'm not going to be answering a lot of questions in this email because I logged on to my email and realized that I didn't have my notebook with me of things I was going to write! So, Sorry Rachel, I'll get you on this email next time! So... This week has been very different. I got released as district leader and my companion was called as the new one. haha! He sure buckled down on everyone! At first I was really worried that the elders were just going to be really irritated with him and not listen to anything he said, but the spirit of the Lord was truly behind his corrections and while they were all annoyed with him slightly, they knew in their hearts that what he had to say was true. He's an incredible District Leader! Much more than I was! It made me jealous a bit because He was able to learn about our district before hand and understands it's needs, where as I was thrown into it the second day, not knowing how anyone would think of me, and not knowing the district at all. But whatevs. I'm just happy that our district might actually change for the better!
So on Saturday, The former President of Ukraine came to the MTC. Not mission president. Just president. I can't remember his name, but anyway. He came and talked with the 4 Ukrainian speaking elders. Just him, his wife, a member of the seventy, and them! Isn't that so incredible! Not only that, it was a personal little discussion with him, not just some formal conference. They weren't allowed to give him a book of mormon or anything, but they said that when they were sharing their testimonies, everyone was crying. Including him! He also took a little phrase book from the Elders that essentially has the essentials from preach my gospel translated to Ukrainian. He said he wanted to use it to learn english. I hope he learns a lot more from it though. So that was cool.
So, I had an interesting thought about the atonement the other day. If any of you have already thought of this, congratulations. I hadn't. haha! So I was reading in 2 Nephi 9:7 and it talks about the atonement and how it's required to be infinite. And this entire... I don't know... Thing just hit me! So as a missionary, we wear upon our chests the name of Jesus Christ. We do that becuase we are, in a way, types or shadows of him, if you will. As a type or shadow of Christ, Our mission symbolizes his mission on this earth. We are to follow his example. This mission will, if we're doing it right, bring us higher and lower than we've ever felt before in our lives. It is when we are at the lowest of lows (rejected and despised by the people you're supposed to love, pleading with our heavenly father for one of his children that we have come to know and can see are struggling, etc) that we touch upon the atonement. That right there, to me, is incredible!! For man to have the privilege to touch upon the atonement! I hope this is makng sense. Think with me for a moment. If you take infinity and divide it into an infinite number of pieces, you end up with each piece being just as big, just as infinite as the sum of their parts! For a man, such a crude, carnal, and finite being, to be able to touch upon the infinite is such a blessing because the part we touch, that infinitely small portion we are able to comprehend of Christ's atonement is infinite in of itself! The atonement is when the finite is able to partake of the infinite. As a missionary, I am able to touch and undersland a sliver of infinity. I am able to become a part of Eternal. A part of Forever. A part of God. That to me is incredible!
Shoot, I have no time! I love you all so much! I'm sorry I wasn't able to really address anything that anyone wanted me to be able to this week! I'll try to answer your questions next time! Or maybe in a letter home. Oh! Tiffany Jonson says hi and that she loves you! I see her oft.
Love, CT. Swartz
PS: I have to get a shot that's 90$ Ugh! The Hep A&B Shot. Not pretty. It'll be near the end of my stay her, but I thought I would let you know!
Okay, so I know I'm not going to be answering a lot of questions in this email because I logged on to my email and realized that I didn't have my notebook with me of things I was going to write! So, Sorry Rachel, I'll get you on this email next time! So... This week has been very different. I got released as district leader and my companion was called as the new one. haha! He sure buckled down on everyone! At first I was really worried that the elders were just going to be really irritated with him and not listen to anything he said, but the spirit of the Lord was truly behind his corrections and while they were all annoyed with him slightly, they knew in their hearts that what he had to say was true. He's an incredible District Leader! Much more than I was! It made me jealous a bit because He was able to learn about our district before hand and understands it's needs, where as I was thrown into it the second day, not knowing how anyone would think of me, and not knowing the district at all. But whatevs. I'm just happy that our district might actually change for the better!
So on Saturday, The former President of Ukraine came to the MTC. Not mission president. Just president. I can't remember his name, but anyway. He came and talked with the 4 Ukrainian speaking elders. Just him, his wife, a member of the seventy, and them! Isn't that so incredible! Not only that, it was a personal little discussion with him, not just some formal conference. They weren't allowed to give him a book of mormon or anything, but they said that when they were sharing their testimonies, everyone was crying. Including him! He also took a little phrase book from the Elders that essentially has the essentials from preach my gospel translated to Ukrainian. He said he wanted to use it to learn english. I hope he learns a lot more from it though. So that was cool.
So, I had an interesting thought about the atonement the other day. If any of you have already thought of this, congratulations. I hadn't. haha! So I was reading in 2 Nephi 9:7 and it talks about the atonement and how it's required to be infinite. And this entire... I don't know... Thing just hit me! So as a missionary, we wear upon our chests the name of Jesus Christ. We do that becuase we are, in a way, types or shadows of him, if you will. As a type or shadow of Christ, Our mission symbolizes his mission on this earth. We are to follow his example. This mission will, if we're doing it right, bring us higher and lower than we've ever felt before in our lives. It is when we are at the lowest of lows (rejected and despised by the people you're supposed to love, pleading with our heavenly father for one of his children that we have come to know and can see are struggling, etc) that we touch upon the atonement. That right there, to me, is incredible!! For man to have the privilege to touch upon the atonement! I hope this is makng sense. Think with me for a moment. If you take infinity and divide it into an infinite number of pieces, you end up with each piece being just as big, just as infinite as the sum of their parts! For a man, such a crude, carnal, and finite being, to be able to touch upon the infinite is such a blessing because the part we touch, that infinitely small portion we are able to comprehend of Christ's atonement is infinite in of itself! The atonement is when the finite is able to partake of the infinite. As a missionary, I am able to touch and undersland a sliver of infinity. I am able to become a part of Eternal. A part of Forever. A part of God. That to me is incredible!
Shoot, I have no time! I love you all so much! I'm sorry I wasn't able to really address anything that anyone wanted me to be able to this week! I'll try to answer your questions next time! Or maybe in a letter home. Oh! Tiffany Jonson says hi and that she loves you! I see her oft.
Love, CT. Swartz
PS: I have to get a shot that's 90$ Ugh! The Hep A&B Shot. Not pretty. It'll be near the end of my stay her, but I thought I would let you know!
Letter #4
Hola Mi Cemyu!
I really appreciated your spiritual thought mom! That's great that Dad spoke in Sacrament Meeting! And I'm glad to hear that sister Johnson's Farewell went well! I've been looking for her today, I'll probably see her a lot, That's what I'm hoping at least. We're both here for so long, you know? Also, Matt came in today too!! Well, at least I think he did... haha! So, woohoo! I'll be looking for him every moment I breathe. I met a sister that could very easily in his district, so I told her to say hi if that's how it ends up! It sounds like everything is sooo great at home! I'm glad that Life is going well for Maddy and Boston! And I'm glad that you have been having so much fun with them! So I get released from being D.L. on sunday! Sad because I won't be able to serve the elders in my district in the way I have been for the past four weeks, but happy because I will have a load taken off my back!! It'll be nice!
So I've been becoming much better friends with the "older" Russian missionaries this week and it has been so great! I can't believe I didn't let my self bond with them like this before! I guess I was just intimidated by them. But I've been having so much fun with them lately, and they're all so willing to help! It's going to be weird in two weeks when WE'RE going to be the older ones!! Crazy how fast time flies by here! Oh, also! I think you'll be happy to hear this! So the Russian's and the Italians pretty much are clumped together for EVERYTHING! Which is soooo great because Sister Nilson's (Katie Nilson) classroom is pretty much right next door to mine. Also, we play volleyball everyday together! It's so much fun! I love seeing her around and having the exact same schedule as her!
I saw grandma this week! She's probably told you all about it, but I thought I would mention it. I'll probably try to see her next week if I can, but no promises or anything. In fact, if you could tell her to stay until 12:30 so I could come and see her, that would be great! Just in case I couldn't escape class. Also, could you give me Rachel's email address so that I can email these directly to her? Also, another question: So there's this pioneer story about these saints who were crossing the plains (obviously) and they had to get down this huge cliff or something, so they took TNT and blew out this crevis (spellcheck?) and had to trek down this makeshift path. It was super steep, super jagged, and super dangerous. All the families had to go one at a time with a whole bunch of guys holding on to a rope behind the wagon, along with the help of oxen and horses and stuff, because it was so steep. The last family however, had no one to help them, even though people said they would come back. So the mother of a 5 year old, a 3 year old and an infant says "I'll hold the rope from behind and take the entire thing down." She had her children sit on a blanket and told them not to move while she prepared the wagon. Then, planting her feet in the ground and thrusting her faith forward, she proceeded to take her wagon down the dangerous slope. After making it all the way down the mountain, with her legs gashed and her horse dead from the endeavor, she climbed back up the mountain, over five hours later, to find her children hadn't moved an inch. This is the story as I heard it, but I would sooo much rather have a copy of the story in detail. I know I got some parts wrong and I have no idea where her husband was during all of this, so if you could dear elder it to me I would be very much happier in everyway.
So after almost a month here in the MTC I was starting to feel a bit odd. I did not feel as though I had grown spiritually like everyone else seems to do when they enter the MTC. I felt as though I was completely the same (spiritually) as I was before entering. This frusterated me quite a bit because I felt as though I was doing something wrong or wasn't trying hard enough. But finally, after a month of being here, I suddenly had the most amazing week!!! I learned so much about myself and about what I am doing here! I learned that I was doing nothing wrong at all, but instead being tested by the Lord in such a beautiful way that I'm irritated that I could not comprehend it before! I wish I could explain more to you about it, but I have like, no time left!!! Ugh! Just know that I know that the Lord grants unto each and everyone of us tender mercies that have been designed just for us and that we better not take them for granted! I love you all! Send me fake dear johns! Bye!
CT. Swartz!
PS: Mom, As far as I can tell, you spelled Priviet Moy CT right. I really only know how to spell it in Cyrillic, so good job!
I really appreciated your spiritual thought mom! That's great that Dad spoke in Sacrament Meeting! And I'm glad to hear that sister Johnson's Farewell went well! I've been looking for her today, I'll probably see her a lot, That's what I'm hoping at least. We're both here for so long, you know? Also, Matt came in today too!! Well, at least I think he did... haha! So, woohoo! I'll be looking for him every moment I breathe. I met a sister that could very easily in his district, so I told her to say hi if that's how it ends up! It sounds like everything is sooo great at home! I'm glad that Life is going well for Maddy and Boston! And I'm glad that you have been having so much fun with them! So I get released from being D.L. on sunday! Sad because I won't be able to serve the elders in my district in the way I have been for the past four weeks, but happy because I will have a load taken off my back!! It'll be nice!
So I've been becoming much better friends with the "older" Russian missionaries this week and it has been so great! I can't believe I didn't let my self bond with them like this before! I guess I was just intimidated by them. But I've been having so much fun with them lately, and they're all so willing to help! It's going to be weird in two weeks when WE'RE going to be the older ones!! Crazy how fast time flies by here! Oh, also! I think you'll be happy to hear this! So the Russian's and the Italians pretty much are clumped together for EVERYTHING! Which is soooo great because Sister Nilson's (Katie Nilson) classroom is pretty much right next door to mine. Also, we play volleyball everyday together! It's so much fun! I love seeing her around and having the exact same schedule as her!
I saw grandma this week! She's probably told you all about it, but I thought I would mention it. I'll probably try to see her next week if I can, but no promises or anything. In fact, if you could tell her to stay until 12:30 so I could come and see her, that would be great! Just in case I couldn't escape class. Also, could you give me Rachel's email address so that I can email these directly to her? Also, another question: So there's this pioneer story about these saints who were crossing the plains (obviously) and they had to get down this huge cliff or something, so they took TNT and blew out this crevis (spellcheck?) and had to trek down this makeshift path. It was super steep, super jagged, and super dangerous. All the families had to go one at a time with a whole bunch of guys holding on to a rope behind the wagon, along with the help of oxen and horses and stuff, because it was so steep. The last family however, had no one to help them, even though people said they would come back. So the mother of a 5 year old, a 3 year old and an infant says "I'll hold the rope from behind and take the entire thing down." She had her children sit on a blanket and told them not to move while she prepared the wagon. Then, planting her feet in the ground and thrusting her faith forward, she proceeded to take her wagon down the dangerous slope. After making it all the way down the mountain, with her legs gashed and her horse dead from the endeavor, she climbed back up the mountain, over five hours later, to find her children hadn't moved an inch. This is the story as I heard it, but I would sooo much rather have a copy of the story in detail. I know I got some parts wrong and I have no idea where her husband was during all of this, so if you could dear elder it to me I would be very much happier in everyway.
So after almost a month here in the MTC I was starting to feel a bit odd. I did not feel as though I had grown spiritually like everyone else seems to do when they enter the MTC. I felt as though I was completely the same (spiritually) as I was before entering. This frusterated me quite a bit because I felt as though I was doing something wrong or wasn't trying hard enough. But finally, after a month of being here, I suddenly had the most amazing week!!! I learned so much about myself and about what I am doing here! I learned that I was doing nothing wrong at all, but instead being tested by the Lord in such a beautiful way that I'm irritated that I could not comprehend it before! I wish I could explain more to you about it, but I have like, no time left!!! Ugh! Just know that I know that the Lord grants unto each and everyone of us tender mercies that have been designed just for us and that we better not take them for granted! I love you all! Send me fake dear johns! Bye!
CT. Swartz!
PS: Mom, As far as I can tell, you spelled Priviet Moy CT right. I really only know how to spell it in Cyrillic, so good job!
Letter #3
Priviet Moy Cemyu!
It does not feel like it has been four weeks here. INSANE! haha! But, actually... it kind of does. The language is going well. I'm not worried about it at all. I'm not good at it or anything, I just know it will come eventually. So, I've been super sick this past week with a nasty sinus infection that somehow turned into pink eye as well... it's been pretty bad. The doctor gave me a bag of salt and some cups and said to gargle every night. Thanks doc... So because of that, I haven't really had as much progression as I would have liked in the language and everything, but it's going well. I'm becoming better friends with CT. Collinsworth, haha! He's a cool elder, but I like the other elder's just as much. He's really no different than the rest of them.
I tried finding Grandma, but I'm right in the middle of class at the time she said she was available. I get out at 12:30 and go straight to that room, but I never find her. You should tell her to wait until like, 12:40 next time, because I can't really leave class early. She sent me the tide bleach though! It was through a package! That was great! I'm very happy to be able to have super whites again! That's cool Chris is in Paris! Tell him to have fun I guess. And it's also great you found his wallet! haha! The Lord is always watching out for us.
So Elder Isabell Had to go home yesterday. He is (well, was) an elder in my district, but he had a weird problem with his back, I think it was a slipped disk that was pushing up against the base of his spine, so he had to go home for surgery. It was really sudden. None of us excpected him to have to leave, so when we woke up and he had his flight plans and everything, it was a pretty sobering experience. He left that afternoon at two. His companion is now in a tripanionship and they all get along, but it's apparent that Elder Sprouse misses Elder Isabell. All of us in our district love each other so much, so it was hard to see one of us leave.
So we have this really funny sister from Finland in the district next to mine and she makes me laugh everyday. All the other sisters are great too! Sister Hooker is fun and she gives me updates on Taylor! And The other two sisters are great too! Thanks goodness for good sister missionaries! Even though we understand that we can't have any romantic relationships for two years, it's still great to be able to have them around! They can boost the spiritual level by sooooo much!!!
So At the Devotional on sunday, there was this great talk about a kid who was Japanese and was completely set on going to Japan on his mission, but instead got called to Columbia Spanish Speaking. Needless to say, he was very upset and he demanded his call be reviewed. The Prophet reviewed it and said "No, this is right." So the kid went to the MTC and learned spanish and struggled emensely with the language. Finally, when he was about to leave to Columbia, he demanded the prophet review his call again. It was the same answer. So he goes to Columbia, struggles with the language the entire time and doesn't feel successful at all. Finally, at the end of his mission, he runs into a elderly japanese man who says that he and some of his friends wanted him to teach them a lesson. He was Exctatic! When the elders got to the home, there were 65 Japanese people wating to hear the message, and since they had all been being taught by this man who had somehow obtained a book of mormon and taught them about it already, they all commited to baptism on the first day! Isn't that crazy! The Lord truly knows where we can be the most efficient and he will help us do great things if we do what he wants us to do and we go where he wants us to go!
My time's up! I love you all!
Love Elder Swartz!
It does not feel like it has been four weeks here. INSANE! haha! But, actually... it kind of does. The language is going well. I'm not worried about it at all. I'm not good at it or anything, I just know it will come eventually. So, I've been super sick this past week with a nasty sinus infection that somehow turned into pink eye as well... it's been pretty bad. The doctor gave me a bag of salt and some cups and said to gargle every night. Thanks doc... So because of that, I haven't really had as much progression as I would have liked in the language and everything, but it's going well. I'm becoming better friends with CT. Collinsworth, haha! He's a cool elder, but I like the other elder's just as much. He's really no different than the rest of them.
I tried finding Grandma, but I'm right in the middle of class at the time she said she was available. I get out at 12:30 and go straight to that room, but I never find her. You should tell her to wait until like, 12:40 next time, because I can't really leave class early. She sent me the tide bleach though! It was through a package! That was great! I'm very happy to be able to have super whites again! That's cool Chris is in Paris! Tell him to have fun I guess. And it's also great you found his wallet! haha! The Lord is always watching out for us.
So Elder Isabell Had to go home yesterday. He is (well, was) an elder in my district, but he had a weird problem with his back, I think it was a slipped disk that was pushing up against the base of his spine, so he had to go home for surgery. It was really sudden. None of us excpected him to have to leave, so when we woke up and he had his flight plans and everything, it was a pretty sobering experience. He left that afternoon at two. His companion is now in a tripanionship and they all get along, but it's apparent that Elder Sprouse misses Elder Isabell. All of us in our district love each other so much, so it was hard to see one of us leave.
So we have this really funny sister from Finland in the district next to mine and she makes me laugh everyday. All the other sisters are great too! Sister Hooker is fun and she gives me updates on Taylor! And The other two sisters are great too! Thanks goodness for good sister missionaries! Even though we understand that we can't have any romantic relationships for two years, it's still great to be able to have them around! They can boost the spiritual level by sooooo much!!!
So At the Devotional on sunday, there was this great talk about a kid who was Japanese and was completely set on going to Japan on his mission, but instead got called to Columbia Spanish Speaking. Needless to say, he was very upset and he demanded his call be reviewed. The Prophet reviewed it and said "No, this is right." So the kid went to the MTC and learned spanish and struggled emensely with the language. Finally, when he was about to leave to Columbia, he demanded the prophet review his call again. It was the same answer. So he goes to Columbia, struggles with the language the entire time and doesn't feel successful at all. Finally, at the end of his mission, he runs into a elderly japanese man who says that he and some of his friends wanted him to teach them a lesson. He was Exctatic! When the elders got to the home, there were 65 Japanese people wating to hear the message, and since they had all been being taught by this man who had somehow obtained a book of mormon and taught them about it already, they all commited to baptism on the first day! Isn't that crazy! The Lord truly knows where we can be the most efficient and he will help us do great things if we do what he wants us to do and we go where he wants us to go!
My time's up! I love you all!
Love Elder Swartz!
Letter #2
Hey Cemyu!
So, could you not send soooo much information in emails from now on? by the time I was done reading everything, I only had ten minutes left, so I won't be able to get everything down that I want to. From now on, it would be a good idea to send me a copy of the emails that you send me before hand so that I can have more time to respond. You can still email it to me just in case, but I liked what you did the first time. That way I had already read your email before I wasted any time on the computer. In fact, you can just copy and paste it onto dear elder and send it to me for free! I get it that day! Also, make sure you have the EXACT ADDRESS!! You've done it wrong twice now and your letters are getting delayed! I didn't find out about madison until today!
So funny story: I was walking through the lunch (Elder Hoggard says hi! haha! He just walked by.) room and an elder stops me and asks "Is your name Destin?" I look at him with an odd expression and say "Excuse me?" He repeats. "Yeah, My name is Destin." "So you're Destin Swartz?" "Yes, I'm Destin Swartz..." I'm very confused at this point. Then the elder continues. "I have a hymn book with your name on it." "Why do you have a hymn book with my name on it?" "I don;t know, it's been passed down from zone leader to zone leader in the MTC for generations in the MTC. (A "generation" in the MTC is a transfer period, or six weeks.) We've been waiting for a Destin Swartz to enter the MTC so we could give it to him." So I followed the elder back to his room, and he handed me a hymn book with "Elder Destin Schwarz" on it. There was a note inside that said that said the MTC spelled my name wrong even though they had been told how to spell it correctly. It was signed CT. Andrew B. haha! Isn't that the best! And it's wonderful because it's in Russian!! Russian Hymn books are impossible to get your hands on!! I'm totally doing the same thing for Chris Neilson! (Ashley, Lindsey, Jane, or whoever else may know Chris and if his last name is Nilson, Nelson, or Nielson, please let me know!) Anyway, I thought I should share that story! It was probably the coolest thing in the world! I also run into Evan's mom alot and we talk. Haha! It's interesting that I'm better friends with her AFTER entering the MTC. I barely knew her before. I don't have like, anymore time to write my email, so I'll just say I love you all and I'm doing well! The MTC is great and I have such great elders in my district! Elder Michaelis is my fav!!!! orite. yeeeey. He wrote that. But It's true. haha! And Rounds, and well, everyone! haha! K loves. Bye.
So, could you not send soooo much information in emails from now on? by the time I was done reading everything, I only had ten minutes left, so I won't be able to get everything down that I want to. From now on, it would be a good idea to send me a copy of the emails that you send me before hand so that I can have more time to respond. You can still email it to me just in case, but I liked what you did the first time. That way I had already read your email before I wasted any time on the computer. In fact, you can just copy and paste it onto dear elder and send it to me for free! I get it that day! Also, make sure you have the EXACT ADDRESS!! You've done it wrong twice now and your letters are getting delayed! I didn't find out about madison until today!
So funny story: I was walking through the lunch (Elder Hoggard says hi! haha! He just walked by.) room and an elder stops me and asks "Is your name Destin?" I look at him with an odd expression and say "Excuse me?" He repeats. "Yeah, My name is Destin." "So you're Destin Swartz?" "Yes, I'm Destin Swartz..." I'm very confused at this point. Then the elder continues. "I have a hymn book with your name on it." "Why do you have a hymn book with my name on it?" "I don;t know, it's been passed down from zone leader to zone leader in the MTC for generations in the MTC. (A "generation" in the MTC is a transfer period, or six weeks.) We've been waiting for a Destin Swartz to enter the MTC so we could give it to him." So I followed the elder back to his room, and he handed me a hymn book with "Elder Destin Schwarz" on it. There was a note inside that said that said the MTC spelled my name wrong even though they had been told how to spell it correctly. It was signed CT. Andrew B. haha! Isn't that the best! And it's wonderful because it's in Russian!! Russian Hymn books are impossible to get your hands on!! I'm totally doing the same thing for Chris Neilson! (Ashley, Lindsey, Jane, or whoever else may know Chris and if his last name is Nilson, Nelson, or Nielson, please let me know!) Anyway, I thought I should share that story! It was probably the coolest thing in the world! I also run into Evan's mom alot and we talk. Haha! It's interesting that I'm better friends with her AFTER entering the MTC. I barely knew her before. I don't have like, anymore time to write my email, so I'll just say I love you all and I'm doing well! The MTC is great and I have such great elders in my district! Elder Michaelis is my fav!!!! orite. yeeeey. He wrote that. But It's true. haha! And Rounds, and well, everyone! haha! K loves. Bye.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Address
The little red cards we handed out had the wrong MTC information on them. If you want to send him a letter send it to:
Elder Destin Swartz
#272
Russia Samara Mission-0912
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
Elder Destin Swartz
#272
Russia Samara Mission-0912
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
Dropping Destin off at the MTC, and his first letter!!!
Nervous? You wouldn't know it by looking at him!
Now you can see his nervous smile.
Look, an answer to his prayers! It's his old room mate, Elder Hughes!
Thank heavens for a familiar face!
Last hug goodbye!
(for two years at least)
He's off! Hurrah For Israel!
Destin's 1st Letter: July 6th, 2011
Hey Cemya! My first few days at the MTC have been great!! Wow, I sure have a lot of questions to answer... thanks mom. haha! I´ve been doing well, not really homesick at all. I guess I´ll just start answering your questions. First off, my companion is great. Obedient, spiritual, really nice guy. His name is Elder Peterson and he´s from New Mexico. We are NOT trying to speak 100% Russian yet, but we do use a lot of Russian in our vocab. He´s going to Samara Russia as well, leaving at the same time. I see Elder Allred (The kid we saw at missionary mall) all the time. Some other faces I see all the time are Robbie Olsen (Massages all the time!!) Andrew Wadsworth, Ryan Welch, Daniel Riech, Takami Kowalski, and Mike Biggs. (Ashley... He's in my building! haha!) There's twelve kids in our district and they are all amazing!! I love my district! Our district leader is okay, but he could work on a few things. He's trying though. Our classes are taught in 100% Russian, Ochien Sloshna, but Harasho. It's insane. We've already taught four lessons to an investigator. The lessons are thirty minutes long and completely in Russian. Our investigator doesn't understand any English whatsoever, so it's really pushing us to get better. Agh! The gift of tongues is so real! I can feel your prayers everyday! Really, I would not be doing as well as I'm doing without divine help!
My P-day is on Wednesday. I can only check and write emails on P-days, but I can read and write letters anytime I have time...which isn't often. I can at least read them though. I've seen Clay once which was great! And I see Elder Hughes and Ba Jung Lai (Elder Braithwaite) pretty often. For those who don't know, Elder Hughes was actually my host/escort at the MTC my first day. It was SOOO awesome! We got to just talk and catch up and he taught me how to tie a way sweet tie!! Out of however many thousand elders there are at the MTC, it was an obvious blessing to have him as my host! I kept praying for the Lord to settle my nerves on the first day and to bring me comfort, and I even had a vain hope that Elder Hughes would be my host, but I didn't think that it would actually happen! The Lord truly blesses us and is looking out for us! I am so grateful to Him. I met President Brown and his wife. They knew me as soon as I walked up and they saw my name tag. They were really sweet and asked me how the family was. We haven't really had any general authorities come but Jenny Oaks Baker came!! I love her! She's the best! Her family came too! Her daughters played a wonderful little ensemble with the piano, violin, and cello. It was adorable. I swear, Jenny knows that I'm her biggest fan. She just happens to show up everywhere! As a special treat we got to watch fireworks on Saturday and stay up till like, midnight... sounds great, but on Monday we have to get up at 5:50 in the morning for service, so two nights of less sleep was not fun. Also, I got my suit, I'll be sure to check the pockets. I love DI. I have to go now. Loves.
Elder Swartz
PS: Make sure you use the EXACT mailing address when you send me mail, or else it gets delayed. I was kind of sad when I was delivering everyone their letters and I hadn't gotten any.
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