Aug. 22- All the Alpuyeca love :)

Dear Family,

It was another awesome week here in Alpuyeca:) I am loving this area and this branch more and more! The more you serve someone you more you love them- so everyday I serve here I love it even more! It was a little bit of a slow picture week, but we have been working so hard and seeing so many miracles!

We started the week running with divisiones, this is me and Hermana Mejia, I have talked about her before, she is from El Salvador and is a really good worker:) We had to trek through this huge field of mud when we were together, I felt like I was in the outback;)

Us and their companionship:) 

One of my old companions finished her mission this week and came to say goodbye with a few of the others who were headed home- I love you Hermana Veylupek! If you see her walking around the streets all alone and trying to talk to people in spanish, just go help her:) 

Herman Guzma is another sister who headed home last week, she is from the Dominican Republic and has always been really nice  to me:) 

Hermana Barrientos as well headed back to her home in Veracruz, Mexico. She is awesome and a huge example for me, always positive and thinking of others. It was nice of them to come and visit us before heading home.

I don't know why I took this picture of me, it is just me eating a guayaba:) I love all the fruit we have here in Mexico, we have a guayaba tree in front of our house:)

This is me and my companion studying this morning:) We study at a members house while they let us use their washing machine:) It is a huge blessing because we definitely don't have time to wash by hand, haha.

We have been seeing some awesome blessings and miracles in our area, we found a bunch of new people and new families to teach this week and they are progressing well:) I love this beautiful work and I love being a missionary! 

I love you all!

Love, Hermana Swallow

Aug. 15- I love being Sualita :)

Hey Errybody,

I am doing so great down here in Alpuyeca :) I am so happy here- we are seeing miracles and the members are helping us so much! I love being a missionary and I love serving God and His children:) This week was so good!

This is me and Michell, she is a 13 year old less-active member we are visiting her and her parents:) She is hilllllaaaarious and I love talking with her:) She justs says things super frankly and doesnt notice that they are kind-of rude. That is why I love her so much. 

We went on divisions with some pretty awesome missionaries, this is me and Hermana Guadalupe :) She has the best last name ever;) She just started her mission and is in her training and it was fun learning with her! We had a little bit of a hard run-in with some Cristianos who tried to be rude- but Hermana Guadalupe bore a powerful testimony that could not be moved:) Then we bought some mini-gorditas to eat because I love them.

Hermana Guadalupe's trainer is my old companion, Hermana Muñoz:) Hermana Guadalupe is the missionary who came and took my place in my amazing ward in Insurgentes, Iguala, and they are doing amazing! 

I took advantage of having Hermana Muñoz with me for a day and had her do my hair;) she is an amazing missionary. She is from Aguascalientes, where my girl Breanna Edwards is serving!:) (my roommate from USU)

One of the missionaries that served in our mission and as well served in this Branch came for a visit- Sister Michelle Skonnard! She is so awesome! She came with her parents all the way from Utah to visit her converts and families here in Mexico:) She helped me a lot while she was serving in our mission, it was good to see her. I love you, Hermana Skonnard!

There is this part of the missionary manual (the white bible) That says that you should be careful to never look like a tourist where you are serving:) But we have this one pueblo in our area, Xochitepec (so-chee-ta-pec) that is really touristic-y and the other day we found these free maps they give to tourists! Well, we needed a map so we took some. Then we realized that being two white girls, with those big floppy hats, and the tourist maps made us look extremely like tourists. It was hilarious. Our ward mission leader was accompanying us and took pics;) Hahaha. 

Hermana Dent and I are having a wonderful time down here in our Branch of Alpuyeca. She is an amazing missionary and she is helping me learn a lot:) We have a large area, but we are learning so much together. 

It was about time for a commemorative jumping foto;) We didn't do so well, though.

I found this cat yesterday that looks just like my cat at home, Dora. We had a moment looking into each others eyes. Anyone who sees my cat, just hug her for me. I miss her. 

We also met and got to know one of the coolest couples in our Branch, Hermano Nestor and his wife Ana. While they were telling us their story I could see so much how God plays an important role in our lives. They actually met in a hospital- Hermano Nestor got in a car accident and Ana had broken her foot. While recovering they had hospital beds right next to each other and that is how they met. Nestor was a member already and introduced Ana to the church- now they are married and working on entering the temple:) Sometimes bad things happen for good reasons- and God knows and is preparing everything. 

Well, I love you all so incredibly much. Espero que se encuentren bien:) I am doing well and loving being Hermana Sualita here in the vineyard of the Lord. Hurrah for Israel!

Love, Hermana Sualita

Aug. 8- Just Go with the FLOW

Dear Family,

I love you all so much! This last weekend was one of the most stressful ever, but due to the slowness of computer uploading my pics I dont have a lot of time to talk about it all, haha. I have a new companion and I am here in Alpuyeca still :) 

On Monday we had a fun activity where we went and played sports- this is me and a few other Sister Training Leaders, I don't understand why everyone else can tan but me, but I am okay;) 

My new companion is Hermana Dent, she is from Utah and she started her mission the same time as me:) She is really cool and we have had some fun times together! It is pretty funny being with another guera, especially one with super blonde and curly hair- we get a lot of attention. But it is so fun:) And we have seen some awesome progress in our area!

I ran into an older investigator the other day, Luis Vasquez:) He was baptized by other missionaries that completed his teaching, and he says he is planning on serving a mission now:) He is awesome and it was way cool getting to see him again!​

One of the rivers overflowed in our area this week and it was scary-awesome crossing it;) I was not about to walk the extra mile to the other bridge;) 

We got to go to the most amazing baptismal service this Saturday for one of the converts of Hermana Dent. It is the hermana driving in the picture:) She has honestly been through so many trials and problems, but Hermana Guadalupe trusted God and moved forward through every obstacle:) I hope I can be like her one day. 

​I hope that everyone has an amazing week, I am thinking of you and praying for you all. Keep being safe and looking for opportunities to serve and love God's children:) 

Love, Hermana Swallow

Aug. 2- Happy August!

My wonderful Family!

I am sorry that I wasnt able to write yesterday, every first monday of the month we have a meeting with all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders of the mission, so I probably wont have much time any of the first mondays of the month:) But I learned so much and now I have a little time to write!

It was a good week! We had some fun times doing divisions right off the bat. This companionship is so funny, they are a trainer and her trainee and they are both named Hermana Gonzalez:) They are awesome missionaries and it was so fun to work with them. 

Me and Hermana Gonzalez the trainee :) She is hilarious and we had a good time together. 

We got a referral to visit a lady named 'Marta' this week and we found out she is part of the family that makes the famous icecream of Alpuyeca! They mix the icecream all together and put it in a metal tub and then put the metal tub in another tub that is lined with chunks of salt and ice:) 

She told us that she couldnt listen to a message about Jesus christ until she was done preparing the icecream, so we offered to help get the work done faster:) It was a lot of fun. I was singing that first song of Frozen the whole time I was breaking up the ice, haha. 

You cant really tell from the pic but this is taken from one of the highest points of our area:) Good thing the comvie took us all the way up and then we walked all the way down;) Our new investigator lives literally right at the top!

Look at this random tree we found.. the fruit and the flowers come straight from the trunk of the tree. That is so weird, right? 

I love mangos:) This is me and Sister Demetrio, one of the hermanas in our ward:) There are about a thousand ways to eat a mango, this way is called the 'paleta' when they mount it on a stick and if you want they cover it in a lime juice and salt and chile:) Delicious. 

My companion got super stressed out this week and it was pretty funny being with her. I put this post-it note on her head that said ''I am Calm'' and it seemed to help a little;) 

Most of the time if we are depressed or down we just go get some cold water and it lifts our spirits right back up!

This is the last pic I have of us:) Because we got called on Saturday night and told we have special changes. I am going to stay in Alpuyeca but will be receiving a new companion:) I will have new pics and info about her in the next week:) 

This is the adorable note one of the kids in primary wrote to me:) I love how they write my name 'Sualo' :D The note says ''Hello Sister Sualo, you are like a sister to me.'' and it has the best drawing of me I have ever seen, haha:)

While at the offices last night I ran into my old branch buddies! We four were in the same branch my last change and it was so fun seeing them all again! (shout out to my old comp Hna Veylupek who ALWAYS blinks;) and Dad- the white missionary next to me is Elder Stanger who is the relative of Brother misrasi:) We found out a long time ago about the connection when he told me he was part of the misrasi family:) 

Anyways, I hope that everyone had a wonderful week and is ready for another great week! Thanks for all your prayers and support. I really feel it. I pray that you all are well and that you are trying everyday to come unto Christ. It can be as simple as reading a chapter in your scriptures and praying to find someone to serve. You are missionaries, too:) I love you all so much!

Love, Hermana Swallow

July 25- Hey Guys........ :)

Dear Family,

It was another great week! We were able to see some awesome blessings and miracles as we acted with faith and diligence!:) I am loving seeing the area pick up and learn more about my new assignment and my new companion:) 

We went on divisions right off the bat to start the week, there was a companionship having a few difficulties. So, this is me and Hermana Mejia:) She is a REALLY hardworking missionary. She is from El Salvador:) 

This is her companion, Hermana Saldaña. Hermana Saldaña is really special to me because she is always asking me how I am and supporting me. She is 32 and from the Dominican Republic! She had a lot of challenges while getting ready to go on her mission- she had been filling out her papers for 5 years! One time on the way to an interview or something she got ran over by a truck. But she knew the Lord wanted her to serve and that Satan was trying to stop her:) She is a huge example for me. 

This is a huge horse that the Familia Bocanegra Cosme have in their yard, haha. One day while leaving the lesson this week I was waving to him and he came up to me really fast and scared me so I stepped back and fell into that huge hole behind me in the picture, haha. #mylife

These are two of the cuties that live next to us here in Alpuyeca. There family take good care of us, and they also like to practice carrying me around like a princess, haha. Their names are Camoy and Alison:) 

This is me and my real companion, Hermana Lopez:) She is so fun to be with, I am learning so much from her. Sometimes life is hard and the sun is hot, but we try to stay happy;) She just completed a year in the mission, so it was fun celebrating that with her!

The pants made another showing this week as the bug bites started piling up, haha. We felt a lot less awkward this time, its actually pretty fun getting to run around in them.. but it is a lot hotter without a skirt to let air flow come through, haha. Pobre Elderes;) 

This is me with my sombrero and one of the pretty places in our area- I Loooove all the naturaleza:) 

This is Benjamin, he is part of the Familia Bocanegra Cosme that I mentioned above:) He is ten years old and special needs, he is really special to me:) He loves Dinosaurs, Crocodiles, and Iguanas. Haha, he wanted to take a picture with us, but only if the dinosaur, crocodile, and iguana could be in it, too:) 

Me and my beautiful companion:) We are seeing some great things happen in our area and it has sure been awesome to pass through it together:) she is really funny and laughs and my silliness, haha, she says that I act like the guys on ''White Chicks''. I was like.. ''so you're saying that I act like a black guy who is acting like a white girl?'' and she was like ''Yes.'' ... ''Well, thank you.'' Hahaha

I love you all so much, and I hope you have a good week! Keep looking up and seeking Heaven's blessings!:) Remember that sometimes God wants to bless us but He is waiting for us to ASK and for us to LIVE WORTHY to receive those blessings:) Love you!

Hermana Swallow

July 18- Alpuyeca Love :)

Hey Family! 

It has been another great week in Alpuyeca! We are seeing some really great progress in our area and I am getting more-used to my new routine:) I love being a missionary!

This is me and Hermana Saldaña, she is from the Domincan Republic and is probably the sweetest person I have ever met. She has been having some really tough struggles with her companion and my companion and I have been trying to help as much as we can. She wrote me a letter this week thanking me and I felt truly grateful for the Tender Mercies the Lord sends- she is a tender mercy in my life:) 

This is another one of the tender mercies in my life- her name is America and she is a youth in our Branch:) She is the cutest and Loooooves frozen:) She loves me and she calls me 'Elsa' and is always more than willing to hug me and lift my spirits always:) 

This is a horrible pic but it was the coolest-scariest bug I have ever seen. It was about the size of a quarter with these huge antennas and when it went to take off and fly instead of having normal wings its wings swirled around its body like a helicopter! So it looked like a mini martian zooming around on his space craft, haha. 

Our area is reeeeeally big. Like, really big. Before there were three sets of missionaries that worked three separate areas- now there is just us. So we have to take a lot of transport getting from pueblo to pueblo and took this pic waiting for a bus:) 

Another tender mercy is that my area is so beautiful! It is literally full of plants and natural beauty, it is probably the most rural area I have ever served in. There is not any big 'city' to shop in or go to, just a bunch of smaller pueblos. 

Also, there is a bunch of cool wildlife.. I mean iguana-life :) 

We went on divisions again and it was fun:) This is me and Hermana Dent with this really european-looking hill in the background;) 

We have a bunch of cat-nemesis that live on our roof and dig in our trash, haha. How many can you find in this pic?;) 

Because of the rainy-season and the huge amount of mosquitos in our mission they have approved missionary sisters of wearing pants during proselyting and long skirts. We went out in our new pants for the first time this week and it was the weirdest ever, haha. So many people gave us weird looks, one person called ''Hey, Elders!''... but I also felt free;) One of the members said ''Now all you need is the Priesthood.'' Hahahaha

This is me and Christian, he is 4 years old and another one of my best friend tender mercies:) He always has a hug for me and we have a cool handshake together:) His family are one of the strongest in our Branch:) 

The first counsellor in our branch presidency is a bread-maker and it was the coolest to go and see his bread shop:) Bread is really traditional here in Mexico they have like a thousand types:) 

This is me and Christian's Mom:) Hermana Lupita accompanied me this week to do some visits and she is one of the happiest members I have ever met!:) We had a good time. 

They also recently approved that missionaries in our mission can use sombreros and sunglasses to help protect us more from the sun so I found this hat this week on the street:) It really does make a difference, haha. It is just a little rough because there are other missionaries from other faiths.. mainly the Jehovah's witnesses.. that always walk around in sombreros so I really dont want anyone to get us confused, haha. I will just keep that name badge on my chest and that smile on my face and that light of Christ in my eyes:) 

I hope everyone is doing well and that you can keep looking for the tender mercies in your lives. God does know us and He is aware of us. Give Him opportunities to bless you by praying to Him and telling Him exactly what you need.. then live worthy to receive it:) I love you!

Hermana Swallow