Dec. 7- I'm Getting Transferred!!

I GOT MY PACKAGE!!!!!! Mom, I was literally screaming I was so happy as I unpacked it!! Haha, thank you so much! YOU SENT ME LEGACY!!!!!! I have already watched it three times this week. Not kidding. I am so happy:) I am so grateful! I actually got the package the day we found out Hermana Johnson was going to train, so even though I was a little bummed that 1) I was getting transferred and 2) I didnt get chosen to train, I had an amazing and love filled package from home:) You are amazing!

I am glad you had fun with Beth up in Idaho:) It is so weird for me to think about it being Christmas sometimes because it is so hot here. So very hot. I dont know if here in Cocoyoc it will be cooler.. but we'll see I guess:) Some fun Christmas things we are doing.. We are getting together with a couple other zones to do a white elephant present exchange:) I hate white elephant, but hopefully I can keep it together this time I play, haha. Other than that, not much:) President says we need to start arranging with our families when you want to talk:) We can do it December 24th or December 25th for 45 minutes:) So, you pick a time and day and let me know!:) I just have to be in the house before 6:30 my time:)

Nov. 30- Ha Nacido Un Salvador

My Dear Family,

How are you doing?:) HOW WAS THANKSGIVING?:) It is definitely not even a thing here in Mexico, but luckily I had my American companion so we could suffer together;) It was still a good day, though! 

This week was harder than some others, we are struggling to find new investigators and have appointments where people actually remember and are there, haha. But we press forward- seguir adelante:) It really is something special to know that whatever we do we are on the errand of the Lord. If someone isnt at their house when they said they would be, then maybe the Lord needs us to find someone on the street:) Thats how we found Walle. It was really special to see him sustained for the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday, I hope I am here to see him bless the Sacrament for the first time:) It is amazing that there is always MORE. We are not done growing and progressing after baptism, or a mission, or marriage... there is always more to learn more to achieve and more people to help along the way. It is amazing. That is part of the beauty of the Gospel we are living:) 

I am sorry I dont have any good stories this week... A dog tried to kill me and Hermana Johnson, it was pretty funny. It looked like sid the sloth and scared the heck fire out of us, haha. We had divisions with the Sister Training Leaders again and that was nice:) I always learn so much. A guy in the street tried to kiss my cheek and I STILL havent figured out how to not-awkwardly get out of that so I just reflex-punched him in the shoulder as he leaned in. Surprise-surprise he didnt come to church this week,haha... One of our investigators told us he would give us thanksgiving dinner, and we we so excited! Then it was just tacos and beet juice- and just so everyone knows, beet juice is gross. Also Hermana J and I tried our best to dress up as an indian and a pilgrim for Thanksgiving, haha. We also bought a baby Christmas tree to decorate after Thanksgiving:) And that is my week in a minute!

So, its basically December now! How are you going to celebrate CHRISTmas?:) The church has an amazing Christmas initiative called A Savior is Born, Discover Why. I invite all of you to visit the site (christmas.mormon.org) , watch the movie, and share it with as many others as you can:) You dont have to be on a mission to be a missionary- share the gift you have been given of the gospel with those who are in darkness. A Savior was born for us. Share why! 

I love you all so much! Have an amazing week! 

Hermana Swallow

We also went back to the Pyramids in Xochicalco again today and it was awesome:) We bought jerseys that say our Mission Zone on it (Zona Galeana) to be cool kids, and it was a lot of fun:) The name on my shirt is Swallita :)

Here is our cute Christmas tree, and also a candid picture of HJ and I trying to plan our Thanksgiving picture. I think it sums up our relationship pretty well;) 

 

Nov. 23- MILAGROS

Mi Querida Familia,

Walle Hernandez Aguas is the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:) He was baptized on Saturday evening and confirmed yesterday at church. It has been an amazing blessing working with him and really seeing the light of Christ illuminate his life and change his entire outlook. Who once was a frightened and quiet awkward boy has now realized he is an important Son of God and that God has a plan for him specifically. I am so grateful I had the chance to be here and watch this transformation, and it was not an easy one for sure. 

I first met Walle 3 months ago in August. We met his Dad in a tienda (little store) and when I gave him a pass along card he told me he already had a Book of Mormon and invited us to come to his house to meet his family. We met Walle the first lesson we had and he learned about the Restoration and accepted a Book of Mormon. We were excited to be working with a whole family and helping them together, but over time everyone but Walle drifted off. The Dad started drinking more and would even be drunk when we'd come by for the lessons- no bueno. The Mom started listening to the Jehovah's Witnesses as they fed her lies and slander about the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. The other two children didn't want to listen. 

But Walle kept listening and every time we'd come back he would have another chapter read in the Book of Mormon:) He told us that he had started saying prayers and was really feeling like God was listening to him. He started coming to church and made friends with some of the other Young Men and started going to Mutual. He even told us that he used to have nightmares, but since he started reading the book of mormon and listening to us, the nightmares had stopped. It was an AMAZING change as we watched him progress. Eventually it was time for him to get baptized this last week, and since he was only 17 we needed the permission from his parents. 

When we came by three days before the baptism with the baptismal record to be signed by his parents his mother very rudely told me that she preferred him to wait until he turned 18 and was an adult (this March) and that she wasn't going to give her permission for something she didnt approve. I testified to her that Walle was ready for baptism and that this is what the Lord wanted for him. She said that she accepted that, but that he could wait 4 more months until he was baptized. She left and we all just started at each other heart broken. Walle kept asking us 'am I dreaming? Is this a dream?' We had talked to his parents before and they had said that they would support him in baptism. This sudden change from his mom was unexpected. We assured him that he WOULD be baptized, but that it was all in the time of the Lord. 

Suddenly his Mom came back into the room and said she had talked with his father and had changed her mind! She promised that she would support him since it was a good thing he was choosing to do. She even came to the baptism:) 

Walle even shared his baptismal service with another young man, Luis, that Hermana Garcia and I had started teaching:) He was the one that had problems with the law of chastity and same gender attraction but had sincere desires to change his life. We worked so much with him and then 2 weeks ago he moved houses and now lived in the area of the Elders so we had to stop teaching him. They finished the lessons and the baptism 'counts' for their numbers, but I am so grateful that I was able to be at his baptism and support him since the Lord blessed me to be a part of his conversion as well:) 

SO MANY MILAGROS!!

I love you all so much:) Thank you for your emails, support, prayers, and love:) I feel it. Have an amazing week and look for the Miracles:) 

Also, we accidentally walked into a parade the other day for one of the other Mexican revolution fiesta days and it was cool watching them in the cultural clothes and dancing horses:) 

Be prepared for a pic overload...

We found this super large and sketch door the other day, that kinda looks like the entrance to the maze runner, so we took this cool kids pic in front of it. We have this theory about drug lords hiding in the mansions up in the boonies here in Mexico.. its a pretty solid theory;)

And we saw a bunch of adorable puppies this week and I had to take pics with them;)

Nov. 14- What, a Saturday email?!

Mi Querido Familia,

First things first: My second chinche blood test results came back clean!! Wahoo! And I havent gotten anymore since (knock on wood) So we can just leave this blood-drawing heart-disease scaring time behind us;) Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. 

We had another good week!! It was a little rough for the working because we had a Zone Conference and then we had a Multi-Zone Conference two days later. Which is awesome because you learn alot and are edified and its fun seeing other missionaries, but I also miss teaching and meeting with our investigators. On the up side though the ride to Cuernavaca is like an hour and a half which means the person sitting next to me cant run for all that time and I can usually get in a whole lesson and a book of mormon;) 

To be honest I am drawing a blank on any stories or interesting things that have happened.. I fell out of another comvie, that was pretty embarassing again. And we didnt get a contact out of it, the comvie driver just shouted at me to be more careful. Uh, rude. 

This coming week should be really interesting:) On Monday we have this religious freedom fair in Cuernavaca, so we will be contacting and working a booth about the church (thats why I am emailing today:)) and as well this next Saturday should bring my FIRST BAPTISM!! We have been working really hard with this young man, Walle, and he has progressed amazingly and is ready to be baptized into the fold of God:)  He is only 17 so we had to talk to his parents this morning to give permission.. the spirit was so strong. He will be an amazing example for them:)

Well, I love you all extremely much:) I hope you have an amazing week! 

Hermana Swallow

PS- the pic is of me being happy at the hospital after myblood test:) 

P.S.  I love having a camera again. It is the bomb.com!

This is of us eating elote (the corn with the unrefrigerated mayonnaise;) and cheese and chile)

Nov. 9- Tender Mercies- Gotta Catch Them All!

Querido Familia y Amigos,

I have not time that I would like to express myself, but just know first off that I love you:) If I dont have time to respond individually to the emails today, know that I am so grateful and sorry that I dont have a lot of time!

It was a week of tender mercies and good times!

First Tender Mercy:

We have an investigator that loves plants:) I love talking to him, he is really cool and he loves that I was studying botany before the mish, so he loves showing me plants:) And we also talk about the Gospel, dont worry;) Anyways, one of the first charlas we had with him he noticed how bit up my legs are (literally covered with bug bites. Covered.) and he told me about the citronella plant that repels mosquitos:) The plant they use for  the citronella candles people buy in the states:) And this week he finally found one and GAVE IT TO ME!!!!! I am so happy. I am not sure if we're allowed to have plants, but it is now coming with me to every area for the next 14 months;) I named her citronelly, nelly for short;)

Second Tender Mercy:

I got an amazing and beautiful package from an angel, with a new charger for my camera!!!!!! So now I can start taking pics of my own again and stop mooching off my companions:) It also included American halloween candy and the members in my ward couldnt handle the delicious candy corn, jaja:) 

Third Tender Mercy:

WE HAD 7 INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH!!!! That is a new record:) A new family we started teaching this week came first and I was sitting talking with them as I just kept watching investigators come in and in and in! We couldnt even sit by them all, we had to leave them with other members, I was on CLOUD 9! I am so grateful. I pray that they all felt the spirit and will keep progressing:) 

Fourth Tender Mercy:

I gave my first talk in Spanish!:) I mean, I gave a couple in the CCM, but those dont really count. That wasnt real Spanish, jaja. I was so scared to stand up in front of everybody and teach about the Plan of Salvation, but the Spirit is the real teacher:) And teach it did. I am so grateful. I made mistakes and I didnt feel I did real well, but many members came up to me to thank me for little things they learned. One of them even shared something they learned as their testimony in the Gospèl Principles class:) I am so grateful. 

Fifth Tender Mercy:

Hermana Johnson:) My companion is so amazing. She is helping me grow and find myself here on the mission. She is humble and kind and so compassionate. She is so willing to serve and is so free with her love and compliments:) She probably wont see this ever, but I wanted you to know how amazing she is:) 

The Lord really is in all the details. I am so grateful to just sit back and watch all the amazing things He is orchestrating:) The other day I was getting off a comvie when I placed my foot wrong and literally ate pavement. Hard. But there was a lady on the road that was really concerned about my well-being and we were able to talk to her and get her address to visit:) I am willing to be whatever tool the Lord needs me to be! Look for the little blessings and the opportunities to see His hand in your life:) I LOVE YOU!!! 

Hermana Swallow

PS- The pics: Me and Nelly (the plant:)), Me looking at pics of my family and lying on the floor because I miss them jaja, 

Nov. 2- Dia de los Muertos

Mi Querida Familia,

I had an amazing week! Life with a new companion has been pretty interesting, and I havent laughed this much in... 4 months;) Hermana Johnson is just flat HILARIOUS and I am so grateful to have her. She is very spiritually mature and her spanish is awesome, but she is awkward just like me and it has been a fun week:) One day we were walking in the street and there was a man making a tope.. which is a speed bump.. anyways, so he was almost done with forming the wet concrete into a pretty little speed bump when we crossed and I stepped over it, but Hermana Johnson wasnt paying attention and she STEPPED RIGHT THROUGH IT!!  It was hilarious. She destroyed it. She apologized and needless to say we did not contact that man, we dont want him to know we have connection to the church;) 

I also have never had problem with dogs until this week, maybe they are against white people? We have been chased and barked and scared more than a few times this week and I am losing affection for those furry friends. 

I don't know if it has just been the aftermath of hurricane patricia, but we had rain a few days this week and it has been AWESOME!! I love the coolness and the difference it makes in the days. That is something that I think would be hard about living in a place like Mexico for always- the weather is ALWAYS THE SAME. In Utah, and every other place I've lived, there are distinct seasons that reflect the time of year and the holidays and events. But here its like Winter- Hot, Spring- Hottest Hot, Summer- Still really hot, and Fall- Hot. There ya have it;) 

This weekend was always Dia de los Muertos! Remember when I told you about September 15-16 and how they usually have more than one day for their holidays because they party hard here? Well, its the same for Halloween. The 31st was the day they actually call Halloween and then November 1 & 2 are the days of the dead. They believe that those days are when the dead can leave the grave and visit their families, so everyone is in the graveyards, and they make shrines in their houses for their dead loved ones, and they make food offerings. Also, the kids dress up and ask for candy all the nights, jaja. I feel like that is the only reason I'd be good with it lasting three days. 

Well, I love you so much and my prayers are with you:) We have a couple of investigators who are really progressing well and it has been amazing to see them recognize the blessings that have come into their life thanks to this message. One of the things they almost ALWAYS notice that they find is peace. That is the message we bring:) That it really is possible to have peace in this life and joy in the next. What peace does the gospel bring to your life?:) 

-Hermana Swallow  

Oct. 24- Staying in Galeana!

Mi Querido Familia,

First of all, I love you all so much. 

Second of all, The hurricane that hit wasn't as bad as they were scared it was going to be! And nothing at all happened in my area, only some clouds these last couple days:) I am safe.

Third of all, The results from my chinche bite came back negative! Yay!!

Fourth of all, I have another chinche bite. Yes, it is true.

Jaja, so this week was so good! As you know we started it with going to the Pyramids, and that was nice! But that day I noticed something new on my leg. Yes, another chinche bite. So, I didnt flip out, but I was ready for some stuff to get done so this would stop happening. The next day we washed all the mattresses with straight bleach, we went to the centro de salud for advice, we scheduled a fumigation for the house and hopefully this is the last of the bites!:) Since you have to wait 21 days after the day you get the bite, we went Thursday to Cuernavaca to get my blood checked for the first bite and today we got the results, that I am clean!:) But, I will have to get checked again in 2 weeks for the other one, so keep the prayers coming:) 

We also found out on Saturday that my trainer, Hna Garcia, would be changing areas! I was excited for a new adventure, but extremely frightened at the same time, jaja. We frantically packed all of her bags because that night was the fumigation and we had to stay with other missionaries for two nights before the house would be livable. It was a crazy busy night, but the Lord kept us safe and we got to the other missionaries house with all of her bags alright:) 

My new companion is Hermana Johnson! She is from Pleasant Grove Utah and is white just like me!:) She is super smart, when they called her to give her the Spanish phone test she got into the advanced group, so she was only in the CCM for like 2 weeks before hitting the field. So, she has 2 weeks more than me in the mission, but a transfer more than me in the field. 

Today has been crazy busy and stressful, but we are back in our area now and I know everything will be great:) The Lord is with us and will help us and is qualifying us for His work :) Hopefully with the help of the Spirit I will remember how to get us to all of our appointments and stuff;) I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your prayers and support! I really feel you love.

Hermana Swallow

PS- the foto is of me and Hna Garcia and Abi, a girl in our ward who just submitted her mission papers:)