March 25th, 2013

Hello Fam.

So this week's been good. We're working hard and our investigators are progressing well. I'm really hoping for a baptism this cycle, but it seems it's not going to happen! Satan! But hopefully They will trust in God enough to understand what's best...

Inregards to who gives the best emails... I'd have to say Rachel. Long emails are the best. haha! Plus, she tells me about all the fun things that happened that week, even if she thinks it'll be boring, she writes it anyway, because it was what she enjoyed. Dad, you give good emails, really good advice! but I'd love to hear more about what's going on with you and your life. Mom, your emails are a good balance and I love them, but Rachel still has you beat... maybe it's all her practice with blogging... haha! But honestly I loved all your letters this week! Mary's was good too! 

Let's see... I can't think of anything that really happened this week different... We watched seventeen miracles for family night with the branch, that was fun, even the translation is just one man talking with a monotone voice the entire time... somehow, you can still get into it. haha! Elder Bukanov and I have really just been having a lof fun in Penza and we're working with a lot of really good people. 

Mary, I totally know what you mean about branch council! I had the exact same situation! I took it for granted!! But now all the youth in Penza are on Missions, which is way sad, but there is suddenly tons of little kids now because of recent baptisms or re-activations. It's way fun, but pretty distracting sometimes. I love it though! Little Masha is so funny! She has recently discovered that missionaries will let her draw in their planners, as long as she asks, so she'll take my planner and draw these super funny pictures in them. She's four. I really just love it. 

This past week, I lost both of my name tags... with in three days of each other! That the first time on my mission that I've lost a nametag... and I lose both of them... ugh. So I've been running around like some normal citizen... haha! Pretty fun! Not really, I'm excited to get my new nametags... too bad I have to wait till the next cycle starts!

So... I'm out of time... haha! Loves! 

March 11th, 2013

So I don't have a lot of time this week...

First off... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!! and Bastion! He can't read this though so it's mainly for mom. I'm glad you had a good birthday and I'm so glad that you were able to spend it with family! This year, I don't get to, but I definitely am looking forward to next year when I can. I did not cherish you guys enough! Also, Thanks for sending Cergei that package!! That is the best present I could have asked for!!

I lost my nail clippers again this week... I always lose my nailclippers for some reason... and asked my comp if I could borrow his... And he grabs a pair of scissors and hands them to me. I've never   done that before... but it turned out fine, then I watched him do it and it was crazy how fast and smooth he did it... Who knew!

So Igor, who's getting baptised soon, was talking to us on sunday. We're just chatting and he tells us this story about how he was pronounced dead. He was riding his bike a few years back and he got hit by a car. He had hit his head and in the hospital they were having a hard time keeping him alive. His brain kept flickering on and off and finally, everything shut down. They pronounced him dead. He said when he woke up, he was naked as a baby laying down. He had a tag on his leg and they were getting him ready for the autopsy. A lady walked in and told him they should take him back to the hospital. I asked if she was surprized or anything and he said no. As if it happens all the time or something... They should really redifine "dead" here... it could probably fix a few morbid mix ups...

I don't have any more time this week. I wanted to thank Chris and Rachel for your letters! I really appreciated the council and I'll do my best not to relax till I'm done!

I love you all!!

Elder Swartz!

March 3rd, 2013

Hello Family!

This week has been a fun one. We've been having some good lessons and we're trying to help a few people decide to get baptized, but they are still fresh and don't feel ready! I really don't have a ton to write home about... I'm glad that this week has been a good one at home. Seem's like Tiff is adjusting well if she's going on that many dates. haha! Tell her she at least has to put off her wedding until I come home!  Cool that Lone peak is doing well in basketball right now! That's exciting! 

Hmmm....

So I was at a member's place the other day and he jumped on to my facebook page while I was there. I felt weird... but I wasn't the one on it! haha! He only got on for a second to add me as a friend and I saw a picture of Ashley, Jamie, Kendra, and Lizzie all holding flags and books of mormon and standing in front of the Provo temple! I didn't have enough time to see what flags they were before he got off the computer, but if I'm guessing correctly... Jamie and Kendra need to write me. I'm assuming they got ther calls... Weird. Lindsey, if you even still read this, then tell them they better write me!!

As of late, I've really been thinking about how I can gain more divine light and it's been a really good study topic to dive into. I thought about this a while ago, and I may have shared this already with you, but I was thinking about it even more today and I was able to go deeper. If a person walks into a dark room, he has to touch things to figure out what they are. Unfortunately, that's a dangerous way to discover if you've wandered into the wrong kind of room.  A room full of hot stoves and irons is a dangerous place for someone with no light. Just like that, if we have no spiritual light, then we are wandering around without any sort of warnings as to what is important, what is desirable and especially, what is dangerous. we have to touch, try, and experiment in order to discover. Thanks to spiritual light, we can know what is dangerous before we get burned, or hurt, or trapped. Not only that, we can know what is desirble and important instead of wasting our time touching and feeling things trying to figure out if it's worth our while. I love a scripture I found, I can't remember exactly where, it was a while ago, but it said that whatever is light, is discernable. Whatever is discernable is good. I think it was something like that.  It's either in Alma 32... or maybe in D&C 121... I don't remember. Essentially, it goes back to the idea that the more light we have, the more knowledge we gain and at an incredibly faster rate. The more knowledge we obtain, the more we can love those around us. Without knowledge We cannot truly love because we cannot truly understand.  We cannot help. That's why Christ can love us like He does, because He understands. That's why He can help. Man, I could go deeper and deeper, but I don't have time... 

Looks like I had something to write about after all...

Loves,

Elder Skvortz

Feb. 24th, 2013

Hey everyone!! 

This week has been a fun one! And I don't expect it to get any worse! yeah! 

First, I want to say that Rachel, your pictures probably made me the trunkiest missionary in the mission... not really, but I was SOOOOO jealous!!! All those pictures of the beach and the private islands and private cabinas!!! That is my dream vacation! Harry Potter world and FREE Universal studios! Swimming with sting rays and dolphins!! Holy cow! Just how rich are you guys!? And then to top it all off, your snarky little email about you eating an awesome fudge sunday relaxing and watching a movie. Certainly didn't help me concentrate... haha!  But, I just had this weird rotten tomato thing that actually isn't a tomato and it was way good. We've been having good succes lately with the members and with investigators, and there is a guy getting lined up to be baptized. So, as much fun as your great and spacious cruise ships may be, I'm happy eating my fruit over here. :)  PS: Happy birthday!

Dang... I have no time... Sooo it's been funny to read all your emails because it seems like your winter has been a lot worse than mine... haha! The snow is constantly melting... meaning it's above freezing where I'm at... at least in the day. The sun is pretty much always out and it is SOOO nice! I'm loving it! And the Russians are too. They haven't seen a mild winter like this in a LOOONG time! I haven't needed to where a hat barely at all, wearing a scarf is completely unneeded, and mittens burn me up. It's soo nice! I remember last year when it was... not like this. I'm glad I experienced it once... but just once.

This week, we went to "Snyezhnaya Koroleva" The snow queen. It was a fun culture activity, and it was interesting to see a fairytale I did not know. Also, I just had a SUPER amazing Shaurma (uzbekistanian version of a burrito) and it was probably the best thing I ever ate. Also, this week we're going over to a members house and I'm teaching them how to make mexican food! As long as we can finish in under an hour... haha! 

I'm just in a good mood lately! The Lord's really been blessing our district and we've been having a lot of fun working hard here in Penza! Haha! So my companion, he's wonderful! We went knocking yesterday and everyone we talked to was super nice. Then on the third door, they let us in and we had an awesome lesson. We went home and I suggested we knock in that area some more another day. My companion looks at me as if I'm crazy and says I'm a fanatic. (not in an offensive way, don't worry) He calls me a knocking Nazi and thinks that we do it way too much and says "it sucks". This is funny to me because we have been knocking for two and a half hours tops this cycle, (two or three times for maybe an hour) each time was awesome and we got let in. He has no idea what he's in for... haha!

Dang it! I don't have time! I was going to share a story about a cool investigator! Oh well, if they progress, then I'll tell you next week! Love you all!

Feb. 10th, 2013

Hello family and friends!

So this week has been a really fun one and interesting one. Being in Penza again is awesome! I love these people so much! The members here are such incredible people! Also, it's fun to see Stas and Lena as strong members now and not just investigators that you're worried about all the time. It's weird to be in the other area and not be able to visit the members that I could before because they aren't in my boundaries, but it's exciting to visit different ones that I could never visit before! The area was supposedly dead for a long time, and then suddenly right before I came it exploded, so instead of coming into an empty area with nothing to do, I've been trying to juggle al the people and teaching records, what makes it harder is that while the transfer was happening, the phone for this area got lost, so they gave me a new phone with... no numbers on it. So that really makes things difficult.  But I'm starting to get ahold of things, so it's going okay.

so I was right about getting the Native companion. He's not from Belarus though, he's from Moldova. It's part of the Romania/moldova mission. He speaks Romanian, Russian, and English fluently, so... yeah. He's a funny guy and really filled with energy. He's been teaching me Romanian phrases, hopefully I'll be able to pray and stuff in Romanian soon! haha! He's really kind and always filled with compliments, but it's going to be weird helping him to get used to missionary life, especially here in our mission. He's always talking about how in his mission missionaries were allowed to do "this", or he always did "that" with the missionaries. Hopefully he'll understand that we simply have a stricter standard for the work, and not that President Sartori is just "no fun" He seems to be okay with it so far, but even now, he gets pretty tired or  discouraged really easily after he's made like, 2 phone calls... haha! He'll get used to it though!

So apparently I'm missing out on a trip to California...? darn. Oh well, I think I'll be okay with my own neighborhood when I get back anyway. Mary! Congratulations on your family of like, 80 people wanting to get baptized! That's so cool! I wonder what it would be like, to be serving in Peru and having people just begging to be baptized...

Well, I have to go! I love you all! Thanks for your support, if I forgot to answer any questions, sorry, I'm kind of distracted today... haha! K, love you!

Feb. 4th, 2013

Hey Everyone!!

So... I got a transfer... I'm going back to Penza. I'm so excited, but... Oh boy... haha! Hearing that I was going back to Penza for the THIRD time was a VERY strange experience for me. haha! Literally fifteen minutes before learning about transfers, I had this way weird feeling that I hadn't done everything I was supposed to do in Penza. I had a strong feeling that I was going back. I tried to tell myself I was simply imagining it. After all, Sister Quinn had also had a strong feeling that she was going to serve in Oringburg but it never turned out to be where the Lord sent her, and so I assumed I was probably doing the same thing. But even then, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't even pay attention anymore to what I was studying. I told Elder Christensen about how I felt and he told me that I was probably just still sick and that I should stop taking crazy pills. (joking of course, but nonetheless, not taking my comment seriously) I was finally able to get my mind off it when the assistants called and informed me that I was to be serving in Penza for the third time.  I can't even tell you how weird it felt. It felt so... right. I'm nervous to go back though. I don't know why. I really don't want to let the Lord down. I feel like I've already done it two times now, so I'm a little anxious that I won't be able to fulfill what the Lord wants of me there. As much as I want to say "Well, I know that if I do my best, then the Lord will take care of everything else." But that's the problem! I DON'T always do my best! There ARE times where I could be doing better... a lot better! ... I guess I can't afford to do that this time. If I'm not ALWAYS doing my best, than I don't ALWAYS have the Lord's promise...  Well... Whether I do what the Lord wants me to or not there, He knows what's going to happen, He's planned for it. Man I worry too much! Haha!

Oh, and I'm training. That will be fun... And whitewashing. (meaning neither Elder will be familiar with the area, it's not the same area I served in last time, just the same branch.) What's weird is that I'm not really worried at all about that... haha! I just hope that I can be what the Lord needs me to be here this time. I haven't met my companion yet, but there's one coming in from Belarus, and I also had a feeling I would be training him, so now if that happens, I have it on record! haha! 

I called and talked to Elder (Br-ook-how-zen) (Still don't remember how to spell it in english... haha! If your reading this, I hope you understand!) before he left and it was strange. The conversation was completely normal by a listener's standard, but for me it was... very... strange. I don't know how to describe it. Okay... well, moving on. 

Dang I don't really have any time left... Essentially, I'll miss some members in Novo-K and I'll certainly miss Elder Christensen, One of my favorites so far! I guess I like all of them in one way or another, but still!

Well, the end.

Loves, Elder Swartz!

Jan. 28th, 2013

Hello family!

 

So this week, I was pretty sick until thursday, we finally were able to go outside to have a few meetings and we went to district meeting, but then, my companion started throwing up and he got the same thing! he's still sick, and I wouldn't be surprized if we didn't go out today. It's pretty bad. but it's been cool to have some extra study time! haha! However, I'm just itching to get out! Our area is dying and transfers are next week! We can't leave the area in this condition right before transfers! I think I could be leaving, but honestly, I don't really have a preference. I'd be fine with staying or leaving.

 

On friday, one of the only lessons we had, we went over to a member's place and she decided she wanted us to meet her daughter who lived in Provo, so she skyped her daughter right there and we met her! so crazy that we have that kind of technology these days! She was just a part of our lesson, half way across the world! What was even weirder was that in the middle of the call, someone knocked on the door of the daughter's apartment (in Provo) and it was Sister (Chelsea) Quinn! She served in Penza with me for several cycles in the same district and she went home in the summer. It turns out that they are neighbors and good friends. It was SUPER weird, but way cool to have her on the lesson with us as well! it felt like old times... kind of. haha! Oh speaking of which! Parents! I gave them your address and phone numbers and I said that since her mom was feeding me all the way over here in Russia, than my parents would be happy to have them over for dinner some time too! I figured it would be exciting for you guys because you always say it's too quiet or lonely with no one over. So don't be surprised if they call you!

 

That's crazy about the ice rain! That's only happened once here in Russia not too long ago and it was so weird. We were out contacting and we thought we were just wet, but we felt out jackets, and they were completely frozen. It was raining, but it was freesing on to us! And it was doing it onto the streets, but it ended pretty fast. It seems like it really must have been a disaster for you all! That's so sad to hear about everyone! It seems like there is so much misfortune lately! It was especially sad to hear about Brother Clark. He and sister Clark will definitely be in my prayers.

 

Rachel!!! You're pregnant again!?! Holy cow! That's so exciting! Yeah, hopefully it'll be brunnette! We don't need any more Mary's running around, not being able to get lids off of jars or check if they have cancer by hitting themselves in the face. (Just kidding Mary! I love you!) That will be fun to come home and suddenly have all these neices and nephews as well! That will be different... haha!

 

Man, so Sister Sartori called me to tell me that you talked with her about classes, Mom. She gave me permission to check my email tomorrow, but I shouldn't have to register, I'm on deferment. I did that specifically so that I WOULDN'T have to sign up for BYU again. I figured they wouldn't make the mistake of admitting me the second time around. haha!  However, if you need my Net ID and stuff, it should be on my laptop. If it's even mine anymore... my instincts are telling me that's already been snatched by David or Dad though...  About signing up for Scholarships, good thinking, but I have no idea how to even approach that... uhhh... and if I'll get permission. I'm pretty sure I'll get permission for it. President and Sister Sartori are all about helping us with that kind of stuff! Mom, if you could talk to some councilors at BYU or do something for me in that regards, man that would be sooo awesome! Plus, it would save me money obviously!

 

Okay, well, I think that's it. I love you all! I hope everyone is safe and doing well!

 

Loves, Elder Swartz!

Jan. 22nd, 2013

Hey family!

Sorry about writing late, I got the flu and have been in bed for seriously the past 40 hours. I'm doing better now, but still pretty drained. 

Rachel, man your life must be better than you ever thought it would be! haha! Going to all these awesome places, amazing family, good health! I can't even imagine that here in Russia... haha! It almost seems wrong that someone's life could be that great. The only people here that live like that got their money dishonestly. Hey! What's your address, I've been wanting to send a letter to you for a while now, but I haven't been able to... get that to me please!

Mary, your stitches looked awesome!! Battle scar! Your boots are destroyed! ha ha! It's probably from all the hikes/waterfalls/mountains/caves//floating islands of titicaca/ancient ruins of machu pichu you've been exploring. If you were to just calm it down a bit and do normal missionary work like me, maybe your clothes would last a bit longer. haha! Don't worry, I'm just jealous. My culture activity was probably way more exciting anyway... we went to an opera! nosebleed section, way off to the left so you couldn't see half the stage, and there was no hope in understanding it... not even the natives fully understood what was going on... pretty awesome... haha! we left half way through. haha!

Tiffany wrote me this week! She says hi to you Mary specifically and then hi to the rest of the fam! She says she got an extension till the 21st of Feb. Seems like she's doing well. This past week has been fun, and pretty crazy. We've just been working hard this week, but it seems like nothing is really moving too fast. Lorenzo Snow's mission in Italy was pretty similar, but it also says that later, there were tons of people that were baptized because of his influence there, who knows if he even knew about the amount of good he did there. I'm sure I'm having my effect, but it doesn't make it any easier! ha! 

Dad! I'm glad everything is difficult for you! haha! That's how it should be! In fact, it's a blessing to have to work so hard in such a new way right now! It will help you stretch and expand your abilities! Mom, sounds like your life is going well too! sounds like you're having a fun time in life right now. Life must be different without kids around all the time. It seems like you've all started hanging out with other friends now. I wonder how it will be when we get back. Speaking of which, I don't want any trunky comments coming from you as my return date gets closer. I've noticed that the main cause of trunkiness in a missionary are typically his parents. 

Well... that's about it for this week! I love you all!

Love, Elder Swartz!

PS: Congratulations Brittany Fishback!!!  You're married!!!! I hope this doesn't mean that we can't hang out when I get back!! haha! A girl in my mission said that she knows Cameron, she says that they were in the same math class at USU. Small world.

Jan. 14th, 2013

Hello Family! 

It was so great reading all your emails this week! I love it when I get long email that are filled with all the stuff that fills up your lives! I especially love hearing about Boston and Maddie! So keep it up! haha! I'm glad that you liked that cooking blog website (mom and Rachel) I felt it would be something you would be interested in... haha! I didn't know the girl was Mormon, that's cool!

Dad, I'm glad to hear that your feeling at least a bit better. I'm way excited to hear how your classes are going! Mom was telling me all the plans that you have to become a teacher and work in Wyoming and do all that stuff! Holy cow, that would be so cool for you guys! sounds like it's pretty cold where you guys are right now. It may be even the same temperature... at me it's about 17 degrees celcius... I don't know what that is in Farengeit (I can't remember how to say that in English... I just know it's super close. haha!) It's weird not being used to the measuring systems I used to use back in America. I just go by everything the way they do here now. 

That was way cool to hear that Lone Peak's basketball was ranked #1 in the nation... well, for a bit at least... haha! SO crazy that Kolten is back! Tell him I say hola! He must be feeling pretty weird about everything right now! Tell him to shoot me a dear elder or something, I would love to hear from him! Dang, I have like... no time. 

WAy to go about fulfilling your calling mom! The Lord will totally bless you as you do what you can to perfect His tasks He has given you! I wish we had members that would take their callings so seriously! Man, it's so hard to motivate people to want to serve in the branches here! We are so lucky in Utah to have such wiling help! Be those kinds of members!!

Also, I have a good friend from Penza, his name is Sergei Pakrovski, he's serving in the Salt lake city, south mission. If there was anything you could do to send him maybe some candy or some sort of a care package, that would be soo cool! It wouldn't have to be much, I just doubt his family was able to send him anything here from Russia. funds are tight here. I'm sure that would make his day.

Well, I've got to go! I love you all!!

Love, Elder Swartz!

PS: Happy Birthday Steph!!!

Jan. 7th, 2013

Hey everyone!

So this week was fun! The Lock down for two days was awesome because we made SO MUCH FOOD!!! We tested out cooking all the russian dishes we knew how to make, and we made some spankin good desserts, one of which is a new favorite. It's called cinnamon roll cake! Sister Sartori gave us the recipe and my companion and I have been dreaming about it at night. If you want the recipe, you can find it on the-girl-who-ate-everything.com haha. When we saw the address for the site my companion and I decided that it could only be a website with good food on it. (we didn't go online, the website name was just on the page, on which we got the recipe)

Father:I'm still with Elder Christensen, and we get along just great! There's finally snow, but it is not nearly as cold as before. It's been hovering around freezing lately, but it will get back cold again. Man, that's dumb about your neck problems. There's a proverb in Russian that you should know "Berezhonova Bog berezhot". It means God cares for the careful. Listen to mom and stay in bed. Maybe she'll make you cinnamon roll cake! Speaking of cinnamon rolls, Rachel, your story about Boston was so funny! I was cracking up so bad. And since when has Maddie been talking!? I swear it took Boston forever to say anything and it seems like Maddie picked it up way to fast. I was hoping I'd get to see that stage when I got back. oh well! 

Mary, That stinks that you sliced your hand, that same proverb goes for you! I'm proud to say that of all the times I've gone to a Russian hopsital, it has not been because I was the patient! haha! knock on wood.  Grandma, congratulations on laying a good whooping on those boys. I'm proud to call you grandma. I don't hesitate to tell anyone that my grandma is a champion athlete when she's holding a racquet.

Olga is coming along well, but she is having a really tough time getting rid of her coffee. She completely threw out smoking, but she can't seem to let go of her darn coffee beans! I think it will work out in the end though. 

So last night we had a lesson I was really worried about. We were going back to some potentials we had dropped by before. Typically when this happens, the second time around they aren't really interested because they've either looked us up on the internet, or they've talked to someone about us and had a bad opinion of us thrown at them, or they realize that we aren't just here to talk about America and they don't want us to come back. I was a bit apprehensive, and I just kept praying in my heart that the lesson would go well. I didn't get a definite answer that it would be alright, so the apprehension continued all night, and when we dropped by, it seemed to be what I had expected. They only wanted to talk to us about America. However, The Lord answered my prayers and He was able to use my companion and me as instruments in speaking with His children that night. We lightly and easily were able to shift the conversation over to a religious discussion, back to America, and then back to another religious themed conversation. It was so amazing at how natural it felt to talk with them about all the principles of the gospel that I cherish, and directly relate to the stuff that they wanted to talk about. The questions they asked were so easy to answer with a simply statement that led right into a gospel discussion. The people even said that previous missionaries who had knocked on their door or stopped them on the street just felt like salesmen, just trying to get their product sold, but they said that we were really cool and felt like friends that they could just talk with and tell us anything.  I really felt like last night, the Lord was guiding and directing a conversation that led a few more hearts here in Russia to be opened to the gospel. It was a cool experience. 

Dec. 31st, 2012

Hey family! 

So... I was happy to read the copious amounts of emails I got this week! So exciting... seriously... 

Mary! Congratulations on David's baptism! That's really cool that you got out of your rut! Question for you? How many new missionaries are you getting because of the influx? Chris sent me a letter and said he's getting 60 new missionaries! Crazy! 

So this week, we had a lady named Anya come to church. She's a mongolian woman with a korean husband and she is so great! Her mother just got baptized... somewhere far away, somewhere in Asia and her brother lives in Provo, he's been a member for a long while now. She's so prepared, hopefully her husband will be on board as well... we'll see. 

Also, Mom and dad, I wanted to apologize! I realized that I may have come across as ungrateful for your package over skype. That is not the case!  I am sooooo happy for the candy and macaroni and cheese and stuff! I've already eaten it all of course, so that's sad. I just wanted to say thanks so much for the package, I just feel like I came off the wrong way when I said that I would rather have you send money than packages. I wasn't even thinking about how it was obviously an expression of love, not just money from your wallets. So please don't think I was ungrateful for your wonderful christmas present! It was awesome!

Well... I don't really have anything else I want to say... hmmm... We're on Lock down right now, so as soon as we get our groceries, we're back to the apartment for 2 days. Too many drunks... 

I think this is the first time I've finished my email home early... like... a half an hour early... maybe next week if you don't send me SO many emails, I'll be able to write more. *cough*... Oh maybe I'll write a note in Russian! Dlya tex, kto ponimayut: Russiya - ochen horoshaya strana. esli vui seichas ponimaete to, shto napiseno, to pochemy ya eshyo ne poluchil picmo ot vas? Maya sestra vsegda gavarit na espanskom kagda ana pishet, tak shto ya tozhe hotel gavarit, no ne na espanskom konyeshna, a po Russki. No... Vcyo. Lyublyu.

Welp, C Novim Godom.

Elder Swartz

Dec. 16th, 2012

Hey family!!

So first!! I gave a member Chris's, Mom's, and Dad's Skype info. He said he already sent you the invitations, so you just have to respond! He wants to test it with one of you sometime so... just call him, or expect a call from him to see how it works. Also, he speaks English, really brokenly, but totally understandable! He's a champ! 

This week has seriously been full of the Lord's guidance! I really feel like He is not leaving me on my own at this point in my mission! There have been times I've really felt that way, as if He withdrew Himself from me for a time in order to see how I would react, or for me to learn something important, and I'm not saying that is not an important part (because it is) of what I have experienced on my mission, but it is also really awesome to feel as though He Himself is walking with me, talking with me, and all around working with me in order to accomplish more fully His holy purposes! Last night, we had a lesson with a guy we found the other day knocking, and at the beginning, he wanted us to just play cards with him, and he and his friend would laugh and really treat lightly what we were saying, but as we really prayed in our hearts about what we could do to help them, the spirit began to work within them. The laughing stopped. The interruptions stopped. The looking around stopped. Everything seemed to just... stop. And that's when everything started! They listened, asked questions, we responded with the spirit and discerned. in the end, the friend was way interested, and they both wanted copies of the conference ensign!  It was a waaay cool experience. It's an experience that you wish you could have everyday, but you understand that it's a gift to be treasured because it doesn't happen everyday. But what's cool is that we had the EXACT same thing happen the day after with an inactive and his friend! The Lord is really working with us!

I'm loving my mission! and I'm so happy I can work with Elder Christensen again! We found out that we're staying together again! I'm really hoping though that a third cycle with him doesn't make him realize that I'm completely uncool. I probably get on his nerves so much! He's such a champ! He's way patient with me, even when I myself know that I was wrong! He's turning out to be a fantastic missionary! Plus, he sticks to his goals. A really realistic elder. 

It looks like we're going to get the baptism, Olga, as long as she can quit smoking. She only smokes one cigarette a day, but to some, that still may be a challenge. 

Dad, your pictures are so great!! You always send the coolest photos! Your photography skills have gotten much better I would say! That's so cool! Also, the only intereseting thing here is that there is still no snow. This week the temperature dropped... a ton! On tuesday or wednesday or something, they said it got down to negative 26 celcius... I totally believe them. We were not expecting it... haha! But we were fine, don't worry! We dress warm enough! It warmed back up again abit, but it's still below freezing, which is good... still no snow yet... suuuper weird for Russia! All the Russian's are SOO confused. 

So, with this new visa schedule that we're on, missionaries only get to go to kiev once every six months, which is saving the church millions!!! However, so apparently there were some Дурак missionaries who were on their Visa trip, and they fly into Moscow... wait... They flew in to Kiev. Yeah. They flew in to Kiev and they were supposed to go to the temple, all the temple workers were expecting them and everything, and the missionaries, no, the heathens I should say, decide that they don't need the blessings of the temple, and neither do the people they would have done the work for vicariously, and instead decide that it would be way cooler to check out the city.

...

...

...

We have a word here in Russia for people like them... but I'm not going to say it, because I'm a missionary... unlike them.

So the Europe East Area presidency finds out and says. "So missionaries don't want to go to the temple anymore do they? Whatever, cheaper for us."  So now missionaries don't get to go to the temple anymore when we go to Ukraine. Yep. It's times like these that I remember why I'm all for Captial Punishment.

In other news, Knocking has been a complete miracle for us lately. We'll be knocking, and the LAST door of the LAST building at the last few minutes of knocking, we've found someone who was waiting for the gospel! It's been so cool!! Man, I don't have any more time! This letter was long this week... haha! 

K, well, Loves!! I hope you all send me letters!

Elder Swartz!

Dec. 10th, 2012

Hey everyone at home! 

Mom! Right now, before you forget, add Brett Witaker to the people you email this email to!

Okay so there's a lot I want to spit out in this letter... First:

YEAH! Congratulations on your calls Tacey and Ashley!! Ashley, You have to put yourself opening up your call on facebook so that when I get back, I can pretend I was there a part of the experience! If you didn't record it, then do it again and pretend it's the first time! I won't know the difference! 

Also, Mary I know how you feel! So the big shifting in the MTC changed my return date to. It bumped it back to May 27th... Ewww... BUT THEN!!! I found out that the Russian laws for Visa's JUST changed and we are all switching to 3 year Visa's! And starting with my group we get a cycle extension on our missions because of the way the visa's worked out, so I'm actually coming home now on July 8th! Yeah baby!! That gave me a month longer than expected! awesome! haha! Sorry Mary, but I need the extra time to catch up to you on baptisms... haha!

So here in Russia, it still is above zero... no snow anywhere... well, where I am at least... Supah dumb...  All the Russians are freaking out because they think it's because Dooms day is on the 21st. But don't worry, it'll turn out just like that one movie, White Christmas!

I was way happy to find out FINALLY who Heather Married. Now I can look for his name on teaching records and stuff! haha! I don't mean to ask any personal questions, but if he doesn't mind, I would love to know if he baptized anyone in Ulyanovsk or 116. I loved Ulyanovsk. 116 got closed and now all the members go to Novokuibishevck branch, which is where I'm serving right now. The only people who are active from that area are Donora and Margo, the armanian family. They are wonderful.  Vova Orlov moved to America, he's going to BYU Idaho right now, Now Solnechney get's no members with a member present... haha!  The Zaharians are awesome, the dad is the branch president right now, and Anait's prices have probably only gone up since you left. Hopefully I'll be able to get something from her, but we'll see if I have enough money.

So this week, we met this girl who is wonderful, but she has a terrible life. She is 36 six years old, stutters bad, and has physical health problems that qualify her to be on pension from the government. She doesn't work, and doesn't study and has almost no confidence in herself. five years ago her father died, a year and a half ago, her mother died, and a year ago her brother died. She is now completely alone other than her cat....

...

...

...

...

Job?

She's accepting EVERYTHING though!

So, the story:

One day Elder Christensen and I are walking. Contacting, I should say... and we try to talk to this lady. "Hey, we're missionaries! We want to share a message with you!!" With her eyes looking everywhere, other than at us, she mumbles something so quiet and stuttered, I barely could tell she spoke. "Take this card with our information on it! Come to church!!" I say. She just nods, takes it and walks off. My companion and I think nothing of this at all. 

THEN!!!

...

...

...

SHE CAME!!!!

We're sitting there, and this lady walks in. I don't recognize her, but E. Christensen remembers! (What a champ!) and immidiately goes and sits next to her.  We get to know her and she stays for ALL 3 HOURS!! then afterwards, she takes Everything! Liahonas, FHE guides, Book of Mormon! She has such a thirst for knowledge!!!

We've met with her thrice. Each time, she becomes more open and happy. 

...

...

...

Then we're like "Get baptized." and she's all "Tots." (for old people who don't understand that, that means "yes")

So on Dec 29th, she's getting baptized!!!

Well.... That's the end for today! I love you allllllll!!! You should all write me letters! especially if any of you are getting your calls!!

Loves, Elder Skvortz!

Dec. 3rd, 2012

Hey Family!

So this week has been a really fast one. I felt at the beginning like it would be way slow, but for some reason, it flew by! That seems to be the theme of my mission nowadays. My companion always tells me I'm some old missionary... its freaky when missionaries tell you that.

So dad, you asked about my companion, His name is Elder Christensen, he's from texas and we get along great. We have a really fun time in Novokuibishevsk, even though people here are WAY rude. We've gotten used to it, but we went to another city this week and EVERYONE was SO NICE!! It will be cake doing missionary work in other cities after this one. haha! Which is wierd, because I totally got a baptism here. The Lord prepares people everywhere. 

We have this one lady we're teaching right now, her name is MArya, she is so wonderful! She always makes us homemade treats or juice. She has read almost the entire BoM already and eats up any pamphlets we give her! She loves the gospel so much, but she refuses to get baptised! haha! She just isn't ready for that change in her life yet. I'm positive she'll come around soon though.

Last night we were on a lesson with an old lady named Nadezhda. She's been a member for a year now. So she says the closing prayer for the lesson and my comp and I bow our heads. Suddenly, we look at each other and try hard not to burst out laughing. She is reciting the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6.  We just let it happen though and we walked away from the lesson laughing. 

Is this one of those "Meanwhile in Russia" moments? I felt like it was.

Well, got to go!

Love you!

Elder Skvortz!

Nov. 26th, 2012

So this week's been wonderful!

Elena, our new convert, is doing awesome! She is going to be one of the best members in the Branch! So this friday, our district here got to go over to the Sartori's and have a huge thanksgiving dinner with them and some senior couples. My companion and I were in charge of potatoes and we threw in a peach cobler that was pretty much the best. haha! The garlic potatoes were also way good. The Sartori's made a turkey and a TON of rolls, which you never get here! They were soo good. I had about 20 rolls. The turkey was way good, I have no idea where they found it... haha! We were so lucky, because in a lot of cities in the mission, you don't get anything for thanksgiving. Last year that's what happened, other than an activity at the branch. But this year we ate all we wanted. It was such a wonderful feeling! haha! Eating all the tukey and potatoes you want! I haven't had that in TWO YEARS! how crazy! haha! Hey, next year, I don't want Rachel and Chris and David and Amber to go to the other parents! I want them to come to ours! It's a special occassion! Mary and I will both want that I'm sure. obviously that's just us being selfish, but still! With all the holidays going on, it's hard not to think about home. Obviously I'm not getting distracted, but it's harder this time than it was the first time. haha! 

Happy Birthday Chelsi and Chris! I haven't forgot about you just yet! And sorry to anyone else that I forget to shout out your birthdays, It doesn't mean I don't love you, it just means you need to write more! haha!

Hmmm... So things are going well in our area, Novokuibishevsk is a fun place, but there are a lot of people here who are... different. Many of the members are legitimately insane and have or are going to psych wards. So It's hard to get people to think our church is "cool" when they come to activities. haha! The members are such blessings though, but my companion and I (and all the normal members) are super happy that we baptised someone who isn't going to a psychiatrist. This last branch activity we had, it was us, 6 mentally insane members, and 2 mentally insane people who just showed up randomly. It was weird. That is how I spent my thanksgiving... in a room of crazy people trying to get them to play pictionary... I love this branch. Well, that's about it. I'm out of time! I love you all!

Love, Elder Swartz.

Nov. 19th, 2012

Elena Got Baptized!!!

It feels sooo good!! What feels even better? It's the first normal person to be baptised in YEARS here. Yep. All the people who have been baptized here in this city for the past while are all kind of... wierd... we love them of course, but the branch president was soooo happy because he finally has someone normal he can trust with calling. haha! The branch has really been struggling here, (mainly because it seems like a mental ward), so it's cool to think that we were able to do something to help actually further the ward. I'm not trying to say anything negative about these people, don't take it that way. If you were here, you'd understand what I mean.

Mary... I am officially and completely jealous that you got to go to Machu Pichu. That's always been the one place I've always wanted to go to if I could go one place in the World... Crazy! What's dumb is that they are shutting it down soon because all the tourists are corroding it. So I'll probably never get to go to it... sigh. oh well, you better have taken lots of pictures for me! Also, I got your letter! What's cool is that I also wrote a letter to Kevin that was super similar, and then suddenly, that week, I got your letter for Kev. It's cool how the spirit totally knows and will influense all these different people at all these different times because he knows how slow snail mail can be! haha! We need to have faith that the spirit will influence Kevin right as I send the letters to him to! Please pray for that!

That's pretty crazy that Twinkies are a thing of the past... Dad, what are you going to eat now? haha! ...But seriously...

So I got a package in the mail and It didn't say who it was from. It just said it was from home. I thought it was Rachel's package, but it was actually my Christmas package. hahah! You got it here quite early this time. I gues it's better than last years when I got it in like, March. haha! You just can't trust Russian Mail systems, can you. I opened it up and I saw the white shirts in there. haha! Thanks mom, I know you were trying to be thoughful, but I'm just about to give a whole bunch of my shirts away becasue I don't need them anymore. I'm glad that I have some more to give away though! It will make some members happy. I didn't open any of the others though, cuz I realized it was the Christmas package, so don't worry. I don't know what the rest of it is yet.

My comp's mom sent him a Christmas tree that you can pin on the wall, but he's new and all anti Christmas before thanksgiving (new missionaries don't realize that Christmas is a big deal here for the older missionaries because we all know that if you don't force Christmas to come here... it doesn't. That's Russia for you.) so I set it all up! Then I put lights all over it! It's so great! There was snow all over outside and we had Christmas music playing. Man I'm SOOO excited for Christmas!! haha! The snow only lasted a day, now there's just mud everywhere again. but the weathe should turn soon, and I won't see the sun for about 7 months! So exciting!

Well, that's about it. I love you all! I'm so happy to be here on my mission! I love this work soo much! It's so hard but it is so worth it!!

Love you all!

Elder Swartz!

November 11th, 2012

Hello all creatures of our God and King!

So everything is on track for Elena to get baptized! Pretty Exciting. Man I get so nervous about this last week because Satan really can throw like... anything at them. I know she is going to have so many random things that will happen this week that will tempt her... Oh boy! I really just have to trust her and the Lord adn hope that wehave done all we can to prepare her. She is way excited to be baptized though! We almost had to move her date back a week and when I suggested it, it seemed like she was ready to leap at me like some predator animal. She denied that option and we searched every possible option until we found one. So she's getting baptized this saturday! Please pray for her so that she'll be able overcome any challenges or concerns that may arise.

Mom, we deep cleaned our apartment this past p-day as well. It was horrifying. I'll end it at that. haha! Also, we had our first snow here too! But it was barely anything and it didn't even stick. The snow prolly won't stick here until a week or two. Then we'll fall into the yearly depression... haha! I'm nervous for it, but I know it won't be as bad. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be last year, so I'm sure it will be fine this year too. I'm just going to miss the sun for 7 months...

So this week, my companion and I were coming back from a long day and there was a hobo right next to our door. He was planning on sleeping in our stairwell to escape the cold. I asked him if he had a home, and he got defensive and said he did. He was probably worried we'd get mad and kick him out, like all the oher people do. When we asked him if he wanted anything to eat, he seemed confused. He said he'd take some tea, so we went inside and got him a cup of herbal fruit tea that we had. We sat and talked with him for a good half an hour. His name was Sasha. He was thirty years old and his father died a month before. He had lived with his father his entire life, and after his father died, he lost rights to the apartment and got kicked out. After living on the streets for a while, he had pneumonia and his kidneys had failed. He said he would die soon unless he could find out how to change his circumstances. He told us how grateful he was that we weren't mad at him for sleeping in our stairwell. He said most people get mad at him, and the nicest don't say anything. He said we were the first ones ever to offer anything. It was very interesting to speak with him. I sensed no mental handicap whatsoever, but it was obvious that the past month had been rough on him and started to slow his wit. What a terrible situation he was in, and there was nothing we could do to help him. All he had was a cup of tea, failing health, and a conversation with two foreigners he did not know. We gave him a bit more food and we tried to offer him a blanket, but he said he was fine and refused it. He said he was used to falling asleep sitting with his head in between his knees. I didn't sleep that night. He was coughing most of the night and I couldn't do anything to block it from my hearing. I used to think that these situations were so rare. That they were really just things that people talked about to tug on heart strings in movies or books. The fact that I'm surrounded in it everyday here. It's so... I can't describe it. 

Well... that's probably it I guess. Russia is still Russia. I can't change that. But I can at least make a difference for the people who meet me hopefully.  

"We can't save anyone, Jesus does that. All we are called to do is step into their lives and love them right where they are."

Love you all.

Elder Swartz.

November 5th, 2012

How's everyone doing!? I love hearing from you all and I love getting your letters! It's been so fun to hear about everyone's halloweens. Halloween doesn't exist here, so pretty much... I forgot about it. haha! It was fun to see all your costumes though! I loved your banana costume mom! haha! It was easily the best one!  

So this week, a lot has happened! It's been an incredible week! So first, we were contacting, and we ran into this guy who at first probably wantd to argue, but we were able to turn it around and he was very interested because we were easily able to stump him in his questions. haha! He invited us over to his house for tea and to talk. Obviously we refused the tea, but we were down for talking. We dropped by, and his house was HUGE! I've never been invited over by a rich person in Russia, so it was pretty shocking. We found out that he is the communist party leader here in Novokuibishevsk and he ran for governer this past electoral season, but lost. It was pretty weird to think that we were at the head communist's house talking... pretty weird. haha!

So Elena is doing great and is ready for baptism! It's awesome! Earlier this week, we asked if she had get her answer, and she said she hadn't. We asked her if she had prayed and she said. "Yeah, but It was interesting. I had drank black tea and coffee that day and I got the answer 'You think I'm going to give you an answer if you aren't doing what i told you to do to get an answer?'" She then said she immediately left and got some herbal tea and this like fake coffee stuff that the members here drink in place of coffee. She was super excited that she was able to just quit like that and she said she feels now like she's ready because she's keeping the commandments! Man! She is so great!

Earlier this week, we ran into the lady who was really pleasant in all aspects other than the words she was saying. She kept telling us all this stupid stuff about the Book of Mormon being a lie and all this stuff, but she wasn't being loud or anything, just doing it "out of love" if that makes sense. It still bugged me and I told her I knew it was true. She said "I prophesy that you will deny those words one day, just wait." Woah. Lady. Who gave you the priesthood? Not Jesus, that's for sure. so I said "I can prophesy too. I prophesy that you will one day realize your mistake in saying that." She got all mad and said I couldn't prophesy that. haha! "It does seem we have a problem. Who is the true prophet among us then?" She said she was and I was wrong. haha! I just said "Po plodam znayete ihk." "By their fruits ye shall know them." We walked away while she was still yelling at us. Man. Some people. 

I had another story I wanted to tell, my favorite one of them all, but I don't have anymore time! Sorry! I love you!

Elder Swartz!

Oct. 29, 2012

Hey everyone!

So this week has been a really good one! We have been building our area really slowly. When we got in, nothing was happening at all! But now we have a few progressing Inv. and we got a baptismal date with Elena. She should be getting baptized in 3 weeks, as long as she gets her answer! I'm sure it will happen IF she jsut does what we tell her to do! haha! All too often a person doesn't get their answer because they fail to do their abc's! 

I didn't really feel like anything happened this week that was like... super huge or anything... Oh! We had 6 dinner appointments THIS WEEK!!! That is more than I've probably had on my entire mission combined! haha! I don't even know how it happened, but I wasn't complaining! I've yet to eat anything that was absolutely terrible. The only thing I had a hard time with was these pickled tomatoes with pickles that I had to force down, but even then, I didn't have to eat very many. Supposedly there's only one Russian dish that missionaries have a tough time with called Holodyets, but I've yet to even see it. I would like to try it eventually... maybe... The other food here is way good though! But, you do start to miss the food from the motherland. 

My companion and I are preparing for the winter. The temperature is dropping... slowly, but steadily. I'm sure it's going to hit randomly and drop a ton, but I would guess that's not for a bit. Those pictures that dad took of the fall in Utah were so good! The fall is really pretty there! I have forgotten how beautiful of a place in which we lived! So many people all over the world would give anything to live where we do!! I won't go on another "the people here are so poor" tangent again, but that's what it makes me think of. 

So yesterday after church, we helped the branch presdient with some stuff and we were about to leave when we realized our phone was missing. We searched the entire branch building, but could find it anywhere. This. is. very. bad. We searched everywhere again, but again could not find it. The phone was on silent because we didn't want it going off in church, so calling it was useless. I kept having this feeling that it was in sister Connell's bag, a senior couple missionary who came to our meeting that day, but it didn't make any sense that she would have it, so I continued to look in pockets and drawers and cupboards, However, the thought wouldn't leave, and so I took it for a spiritual prompting. Unfortunately, I didn't have her number, so I couldn't get a hold of her anyway, but then I realized I had the Penza phone memorized because I had been there for so long, so I call it and was able to get all the numbers I needed, other than sister Connels! haha! So we called the Zone leaders and they called sister Connel. Sure enough, she had it and we had to go all the way to Samara to get it... haha! Oh boy, that killed our day yesterday, but it was a really cool experience with listening to the spirit that I won't forget! 

Something way sad this week was that Zhenya, the ward mission leader who's been a member for 12 years now, decided that he doesn't want anything to do with us anymore and said he wouldn't come to church anymore. We dropped by him, and he shut the door in our face without even saying anything. That was super sad, and SUPER frustrating! I wanted to pound on his door and yell at him for throwing away his salvation! I didn't... but we wrote him a note telling him that we were sad and confused at his decision... He must have got pretty offended at something, because it was really sudden. Hopefully everything will be able to be smoothed out soon! This branch is struggling so much. I love the members, and it makes me so sad to see the really good strong ones having such a hard time keeping it alive.

Ooh! I have to get off the computer!

Loves!

Elder Skvortz!

Oct. 22nd, 2012

Hey everyone!

So I got the earmuffs, thanks mom. I really enjoy them, although since they don't exist here, everyone thinks I just have really wierd headphones on and wants me to take them off when I talk to them so that I can hear them. haha! 

So this week was good. We have a few progressing investigators! Which is awesome! Oleg and his mom Sveta. And Elena! they are all great, but Oleg has been doing some "research" and found some stupid stuff about us being Masons and us being controlled and world domination and stuff... haha! We talked to him about it and it didn't like it really shook him up, so that's good. 

This week, when I was on my way from Moscow to Kiev, I talked to this guy in the airport that knew English and he was from Venesuela. After a minute of talking to him I asked him if he had ever heard about our church. I didn't have my tag on because we aren't allowed to wear them in certain airports. He told me that he was actually a member for ten years and that he could tell I was a missionary, even without my tag. haha! He has been living in Poland for the past few years and travels all over the place for work. It was way cool to run into a member from Venesuela way over here in Russia! haha! Also. On two of the plane rides, I sat next to Japanese people and was actually able to express myself slightly in Japanese. With the first one, all that I could remember was Russian, but as I kept trying and as they kept answering, words kept coming back into my head. With the second one, I was able to talk to him a bit about Jesus Christ and I got his number and stuff to send to the Tokyo Mission. That was pretty cool. haha! Also, we met this way cool guy from southern England and he sounded just like the lizard offf the geiko commercials!! So cool! He had actually seen general conference before and was interested in learning more. Then we met these kids from Jersey who were going to Ukraine for the pentacostal church to do a big worship concert. haha! They were so cool, and they reminded me soo much of kids from Utah! It was cool to meet just good kids who were doing what they could for God. This week was filled with a lot of cool experiences and was really just a great week overall! Plus, I get to talk to Stas today and congratulate him on getting baptised and confirmed! I'm SO stoked about that! I love that guy! His family is so done for! (meaning, they'll get baptised sooner or later)

Thanks for all your emails and your pictures and your letters!! It really recharges you each week when you read them all! Really makes you ready to hit another week and want to try harder! Ya lyublyu vas vsyekh! Thanks so much for all your prayers as well! Please pray for these people in Russia! Many of them really have terrible situations in pretty much all aspects of life that make it really hard for them to even want to listen to us! Pray that their situations will change and their hearts will be opened so they can find the happiness that God is just waiting to give them!

Loves, Probably miss you soon.

Elder Skvortz!