I didn't leave a lot of time to write this email so I will try to keep it short(er)! This past week was incredible, I am just so amazed all the time at all of the amazing blessings Heavenly Father has given us! He is blessing us with more than I could ever imagine! We got 7 new investigators last week but I think I'm just going to write about a couple! 

So Maria! She's the referral that we received from the Elders, she is absolutely incredible!! Her baptismal date was originally set for July 1st. The first lesson we had she told us she had been baptized in 3 other churches but those mean nothing to her now because she knew it wasn't by the proper authority. The next time we went over there, she had invited one of her friends to join in on the lesson (Irma) and Irma is one of our new investigators now and she has a baptismal date too. The third time we went over there somebody had called her and asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm preparing for the second coming with the sister missionaries. Did you know He's coming again? What are you doing to prepare?" It is so fun to see how enthusiastic she already is in sharing the gospel with others. On Sunday we taught her the Word of Wisdom and she told us she already lives it and that she has always stayed away from those things because she knew they weren't good for her body. And we moved her baptismal date up to June 11th. It has been so amazing to see how prepared she is. Yesterday after her lesson she said, "I'm bored. How about I walk with you and show you all my friends that need the gospel?" It was awesome! Unfortunately we had other appointments but tomorrow we have it scheduled in that we're going to go on a walk with her and teach all of her friends! It's amazing to see how Heavenly Father has been preparing Maria. I am so grateful. 

The next one is Andres! He makes me so happy, I know I already said it but he reminds me soo much of Mario from Paris! We were able to have some lessons with him this week. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and the Word of Wisdom and they went great. He told us he wants to go to the sun and he wants to live with his wife who passed away about 5 years ago. Also, he has been living the Word of Wisdom for almost a week now! He is still on track for his baptism and I am so excited for him!

Both Andres and Maria came to church this Sunday and we had a fireside Sunday night and they both came to that as well! I am so excited for both of them and I know their Heavenly Father is even more excited. I'm so grateful to be a part of this work! 

Kristy had the biggest fall this week and she dropped us. We haven't seen her, Aniyah, or Bonnie in more than a week and we probably won't teach them anymore. It makes me so sad for her, I know how much happiness she could have. 

Yesterday as we were driving home we saw one of the less actives we have worked with a little bit. He was riding his bike home but he was very borracho (drunk). I think I saw him fall off his bike like 5 times. We pulled over and got out, I took his bike from him and Hermana Wilkinson stood next to him to catch him in case he fell. As we walked him home I felt this overwhelming feeling of love for him. I knew Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ didn't love him any less. In fact, that was the most love I have ever felt for him and I thought of the conference talk that was given the past April "Our Good Shepherd" by Elder Renlund. I know that the Good Shepherd didn't recoil at His sheep. I knew He had immense compassion and I could feel it. Once we got our friend back home safely and left him with a spiritual message I couldn't help but smile and think, "Oh what a sheep!" 

I know that Heavenly Father is our loving Father and that He cares for us more than we could ever comprehend. I am so grateful to be a part of His work and to be His servant. I love this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. 

I hope you all have such a wonderful week and I hope you know how much I love you! Have the best week and be happy, because life is too short to be anything else!

Con amor, 

Hermana Swapp

PS: "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more given." -Mark 4:24

 

 Exchanges this week with Hermana Laub and Hermana Corona! I got to go to Frankfort with Hermana Corona and we had so much fun!

 Another picture from transfers. Hermana Spencer, Hermana Heil, and Hermana Castillo.

 

 Andres had never seen a picture or video of himself before!

¡Hola Todo! 

This last week was great! We started the new transfer, had interviews with President, and I got my new companion! Hermana Wilkinson is just amazing and it has been so much fun to work with her. Her Spanish is incredible, if she had darker hair and skin you would think she is Latina. I'm excited to be companions with her this transfer, I think a lot of good will happen! 

We had a really good week, miracles just fell from the sky each day. Heavenly Father was looking out for us this week. But we'll start with Kristy, Aniyah, and Bonnie. They're doing good and they are so happy. It makes my day to see them so happy, it's like a completely different person. I love how happy the gospel can make us! They had some set backs with the word of wisdom so Aniyah and Kristy are now planning for baptism on June 10th. Bonnie's date is still July 1st but she's having a really hard time with some of the commandments. But they'll get there, I'm excited for it. I think the thing that made the biggest difference for this family is the new Mormon Message "Do you hear the music?" Dad, you would love it! I can't get the link but I posted it on Facebook so go check it out! 

One of our blessings this week was Maria and Fidelmar. The Elders found them and sent their information our way, so we visited them. Maria is the cutest lady there ever was and she was so sweet and listened so intently as we taught her the Restoration. Her husband Fidelmar joined us right as we were talking about the great apostasy. And the spirit was so strong throughout the lesson. Maria accepted a baptismal date but Fidelmar had a hard time. He loves the Catholic Church and you could see how sad he looked as he considered our message and that it might be true. He promised he'd read the Book of Mormon and pray about it and he said he would be willing to change if he knew it was true. 

One night our appointments fell through, so we prayed and started driving. The road we went down was having some construction so we had to take a detour and as we did we passed a former investigator's house and we felt like we should stop and knock on their door. The former's sister came out and we had a lesson with her. Her name is Jasmin and she explained to us that her uncle passed away the day before and that she was struggling. So we told her the good news that families can be together forever and she got the biggest smile I had ever seen. She couldn't believe that she could actually see her uncle again. That was the highlight of my day, seeing her face light up as she heard of the hope this gospel brings. 

We were out tracting one night and a lady named Wendy was sitting outside, the missionaries here have talked to Wendy several times but she's never shown too much interest or at least wasn't really willing to set up an appointment. But we saw her outside and next thing I know we were in the middle of a lesson and she was so amazed by the Book of Mormon. It was incredible to see such a change in her. She was excited to read it and we have another lesson with her set up. 

And last one, Magdalena. We had an appointment set up with her husband but when we knocked on her door he wasn't home but she told us we could come in. She has 5 kids and they are the cutest things in the world! We were able to teach her the Restoration and she already had a copy of the Book of Mormon and loves it! It was such a good lesson and I'm excited to continue teaching her. 

Raul is good, we gave him to the elders to see if they can have any more success than us. So I'm crossing my fingers they do! 

Nobody showed up to soccer this week. :( It was raining though, so hopefully we can have some good weather this week and we can have a better show of people. 

Andres came to church! We found him about three weeks ago and taught him but he's been so busy with work that we haven't been able to have another lesson with him! Well it was raining Sunday morning so we figured he probably wouldn't have work so we called him and sure enough he was home! So he was able to come to church and it was a lot of fun to see him there. Also, we got the translating equipment here fixed so it was back to translating for us this week! 

I'm still studying in the New Testament and I read all about the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and his crucifixion this week. My heart has been so full of gratitude as I have learned and understood more of what my Savior went through for me and for the rest of my brothers and sisters. In the institute manual there's this quote from President Howard W. Hunter that says, "There is, of course, running through all of these temptations, Satan’s insidious suggestion that Jesus was not the Son of God, the doubt implied in the tempter’s repeated use of the word if. ‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’ (Matt. 4:3.) ‘If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down.’ (Matt. 4:6.) These, of course, were foreshadows of that final, desperate temptation which would come three years later: ‘If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ (Matt. 27:40.) But Jesus patiently withstood that ploy also, knowing in due time every knee would bow and every tongue confess. It was not necessary then, or ever, for Jesus to satisfy the curiosity of men, least of all unholy men. … It is important to remember that Jesus was capable of sinning, that he could have succumbed, that the plan of life and salvation could have been foiled, but that he remained true. … He was perfect and sinless, not because he had to be, but rather because he clearly and determinedly wanted to be." I love my Savior and I am so grateful that He loved us enough to patiently withstand the temptations of Satan. I cannot wait for that day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. I cannot wait for the day that I can tell Him thank you. 

Im sorry for another novel! I love you all so very much and I hope you have such a good week. I'm glad y'all got all moved into the house okay and you're enjoying it! I'm excited to see it! Be happy this week, because it'll be too short to be anything else! 

Con amor,

Hermana Swapp

PS: "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him." -Matthew 27:28-31

 Service at the DeGooyer's!

 The Shelbyville Fab Four. Elder Hoskins and Elder Phillips. 

 Saying goodbye to Hermana Heil.

 District meeting with President and Sister Brough.

 Danna and Hermana Wilkinson!

 The weekly face masks!

¡Hola hola!

This week was such a good week and the highlight was definitely being able to skype you all yesterday, it made me so happy to see you all and to be able to talk. I hope you had a very Happy Mother's Day mom and I hope you know how much I love you. This email is going to be super short, we have a million things to get done today for transfers. Tomorrow is transfers and the dream team is getting split up and I am so sad. Hermana Heil is going to Lexington and Hermana Wilkinson is coming here to Shelbyville with me. But I am super excited for Hermana Wilkinson to come here, she is amazing and I think we'll have a lot of fun! Plus we have some mutual friends from our college days so that should be fun. 

Our investigators are hot and cold. I swear they're all on the same track too, one week they're doing great and making great progress and then the next they all fall together. We found 6 new investigators last week but none of our investigators are super solid, but were teaching lessons and declaring repentance. 

Last week was pretty busy, we had two exchanges but they were both a lot of fun! 

We went to the temple with Maribel this past week! It was her first time doing baptisms for the dead and we got to go with her! It was so much fun and such a neat experience, I was so grateful for it! Her kids came too and Maribel loved it. She kept on saying how pretty it was and how much she loved it! 

We had our weekly soccer game this week and that was a blast. Raul was M.I.A. all week but he showed up to soccer and he didn't twist any ankles, thank goodness! We had a ton of fun, we were at the end of the game and we decided last goal wins and I got the ball and next thing I know I was being tackled by my companion hahaha! Elder Hoskins thought we died and yelled, "Wrong fútbol hermana!" It was a lot of fun! 

That's about it for my week though, like I said the best part was being able to see y'all yesterday it made me so happy!(: I had so so much fun talking with you all and seeing you. It was good to be with the family for a minute. I hope you know how grateful I am for all that you do and for being the best family I could ask for. I love you so much. Good luck moving into the new home this week and be happy. Because life is too short to be anything else. 

Con amor,

Hermana Swapp

PS: "Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth. Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself." -Mosiah 23:10-11

 Homemade bread and jam that we made last Pday at the Hurt's. Sister Hurt is the best!!

 Maribel's temple trip!

Our last district meeting!

Soccer night! ⚽️

 Mother's Day at the Clary's.

 Some of our memes we have made haha Sister Moore did the BWW's challenge, I love her.

 And one more.

¡Hola Familia!

This last week was great! It was so busy and we got a lot done! We finally found some new investigators too, I was so grateful! We got 7 new investigators this week and we have 6 people preparing for baptism, so we're pretty excited about that! 

We had MLC this week and it was amazing! I can't explain the spirit that is there at those meetings, but it's pretty special and I'm so grateful to be a part of them. We no longer have zone meetings, only zone conferences and the STLs get to train at those now so we got trained for our trainings at MLC. We went back to the basics with finding, teaching, and baptizing as the three trainings and they got me pumped haha! Somebody at MLC said, "We need to work as if it all depends on us and pray as if it all depends on Him." And that has been on replay in my mind all week. I've never prayed so much in my life before! Zone Conference was amazing too, Hermana Heil and I got to train on baptizing, and I think it went okay. I always get so nervous to do trainings, but Heavenly Father always helps us out. It was a very spiritually uplifting week! 

Raul is okay. He's still better than he was when we found him but he's so hard. He feels the spirit at his lessons and he's so motivated to change or do what we commit him to do and then the second he leaves us it's like he forgets it all and it's so hard to set up another appointment with him. We had an amazing lesson about humility, we read about the pride cycle in the Book of Mormon and talked about the importance of humility and he loved it. But we haven't really been able to have good contact with him since. Opposition... 

Kristy and Aniyah are doing much better this week. We were able to help pick Kristy back up and move forward again. They're still planning on baptism for May 27, I'm hoping we can get Kristy ready in time but I'm pretty positive Aniyah will make it. 

So a cool little story, Kristy's mom Bonnie lives with them and she never joins in on the lessons. Well we got to their house one day this week and Kristy didn't want us over but we weren't taking no for an answer so we stepped into the house anyway. It was pretty chaotic over there and kids were running around everywhere and they were eating, but Kristy softened her heart. Hermana Heil sat down with Kristy and the kids and started talking to them about what they need to do to prepare for baptism. I got the impression to go to the kitchen, so I did and Bonnie was sitting at the table eating. I told her hello and she yelled at me, "I'm eating, leave me alone." So I pulled out the chair and sat next to her. 

I honestly do not remember what I said to her but the next thing I know she moved her plate of food over and we had a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. The spirit was so strong and Bonnie was a completely different person. Her eyes lit up as I explained the spirit world and temple work. Most of her loved ones have passed away and she thought it was the most amazing thing that she could be baptized for her family members and eventually live as an eternal family one day. She accepted a baptismal date for July 1st and she is excited. 

The next day at church Kristy and her whole family came to church and Bonnie sat next to me she had brought her Book of Mormon and Plan of Salvation Pamphlet that we left with her and during Sacrament she leaned over to me and said, "Sister Swapp, I read the whole pamphlet. And I even read Alma 40 and 41 and I'm going to read 42 today. The whole thing is amazing, it's true." And I looked at her pamphlet and on the back of it she had written my baptism: July 1st. 

We had another cool miracle, we had thirty minutes before coordination on Wednesday night and our appointment fell through. We prayed and asked Heavenly Father who he wanted us to go see and after a minute we decided to go to Bland St. As we were driving there, there was a cute little Hispanic walking down the street. Hermana Heil slammed on the breaks and we rolled down the window and we yelled at him and asked if he had 20 minutes for a lesson and he did! We found ourselves a parking spot and we got out of the car and had a lesson on the curb with our new friend Andres. He actually was a potential investigator in our area book. We taught him the restoration and he accepted a baptismal date in June. He was so sweet and he reminds me a ton of Mario from Paris! I was so grateful for that little experience. 

Okay another cool one, I'm sorry this email is a novel but there were so many cool experiences! We went looking for another potential investigator named Adela. She came out and the first thing she said was, "I'm a Jehovah's Witness." (In Spanish of course). She starts to Bible bash and so we just said, "We love that you love our Savior, we do too. Your purpose is to bring others closer to Christ and that's our purpose too so let's work together. Who do you know that needs a message of Jesus Christ?" She kinda just looked at us for a second and then said, "Well my son won't listen to me, you can see if he'll listen to you." And so we had a lesson with Adela and her son Chavo and it was amazing. He was super receptive and Adela had a change of heart too. We've been able to stay in contact with Chavo over Facebook this week and we have another lesson with him this weekend. 

We found Faustino again this week (we taught him a couple weeks ago). We saw him on his driveway and we asked him how he was doing. He told us he had been reading out of the Book of Mormon and he said, "Hermanas it's true. I know it is and I know everything you told me about Joseph Smith was true too." It was incredible! 

We had so many other amazing experiences this week too but this email is already too long! But the blessings that have poured in have been amazing and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father. I can't begin to explain the gratitude I have to be able to serve a mission and to work so closely with the Savior. It is the neatest thing to watch somebody change their lives with the help of Jesus Christ. I know that He truly can change men. Now it's our job to change the world right? "Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world." -Ezra Taft Benson

I love you all so very much and I hope you have the best week. Happy Mother's Day this week to my amazing mom and to all of the other incredible mothers out there. I can't wait for our skype call. Have a great week and be happy, because life is too short to be anything else. 

Con amor,

Hermana Swapp

PS: "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." -Romans 5:3-5

MLC with Sister Endemann!

Hermana Heil, Sister Endemann, Sister Thomas, Sister Bogardus, and Sister Honey

 This is Emalene. Her mom told me that she picked out a flower dress and said, "Look mom, I look like Sister Swapp!" I was sad I didn't wear my flower dress to church on Sunday!

¡Hola Familia!

Who knew your heart could break so many times on a mission? Man... agency. This week was incredible with so many spiritual experiences and it was also full of many frustrations and heart breaks. It was good to be back in Shelbyville though! 

Raul... we had the most powerful lesson with him. The struggle with him has been his pride, he hasn't wanted to admit that he needs help from his Heavenly Father and he doesn't like the idea of having to depend on his Savior. We brought Sister Powers with us to his lesson (probably in the top 10 best decisions we made that day) and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. The spirit that was there was incredible, and Sister Powers was so in tune with the spirit. I honestly don't feel like any of us talked in that entire lesson, I think the spirit had total control and he spoke the entire time. It was so powerful. 

We were able to really incorporate the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, partaking of the sacrament, and baptism into the lesson. We made it very clear what he needs to do in this life in order to prepare for the next. We ended the lesson with the Mormon Message "Waiting on our Road to Damascus" (I'll put the link at the end of this email). And I wish y'all could've been there to feel the spirit that was there. He finally opened up and talked about some concerns he had and admitted to be prideful. He said the closing prayer and said, "Father, please help me to overcome my pride." 

Kristy and Aniyah... they were super busy at the beginning of the week but we were finally able to have a lesson with them on Thursday. They came to the Hurt's home (shout out to the Hurt's for being the best fellow shippers there ever was) and we taught a 15 step program to quit smoking. Again, the spirit was so strong. We started talking about prayer and Kristy broke down crying as she told us of the trials she was going through, we all cried together as we listened to her hardships she was facing. And I know that the Savior was in the room crying with her as well. I was grateful for the spirit that filled the room. We taught the program and she was motivated and excited to start the program the next day.

Friday... this is where the heart breaks come in. We went over to Raul's house on Friday (oh just a side note... Hermana Heil and Parra visited Raul while we were on exchanges and Raul's dad came out and started Bible bashing and yelling... so I guess their hearts weren't softened after all) but we stopped by his house and he was too busy for a lesson. So we asked if we could have a lesson with him on Saturday and he told us he couldn't because he was going to be with his girlfriend the entire day. But he promised us he would go to church. 

Then we texted Kristy to check up on her and to see how she was doing on the 15 step program... she gave up. The grapefruit juice was too gross and she didn't have money for cigarettes anyway so she didn't need the program. Ah, it made me so sad. A few hours later we got a text from her cancelling her appointment for that night. We had even made her and Aniyah a baptismal calendar and everything. 

Saturday, we got a text from Kristy telling us she was mad (and I can't really tell why) but because of someone in the ward. She told us she felt like Christ wouldn't treat her that way and she couldn't believe someone would've treated her the way they did (If you knew the whole story you would know that she was actually treated really well). We tried helping her out the best we could, but she wasn't going to hear it. 

Sunday, we knocked on Raul's door and his not so happy mom came out. We asked for Raul and after what seemed like forever he finally came out. He explained to us that he couldn't come to church because his mom and dad were making him go to their church (also his parents have been flooding him with anti). Ah I was so sad. We got to church and Kristy and Aniyah weren't there either and they wouldn't answer any of our phone calls or text messages. I was so sad. At the beginning of the week if you would've asked me if they were all going to make their baptismal dates of May 27 I would've said there's no way they won't make it. But now I think there's no way they will make it. Opposition, it's a real thing! 

It makes me so sad to watch though because I know how happy they would be if they would just grab onto the gospel and really apply it into their lives. This gospel has brought me so much happiness and I want them to have that same happiness in their lives. I wish so badly this world could learn from the stories of the past in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and realize it never works out without God. Humility will get you so much further than pride ever will. But I did realize this week how frustrated my Heavenly Father must get with me when I don't use my agency for the best, even when I have learned the same lesson over and over. It's probably why he sent me on a mission, to make me realize what it feels like haha! 

But even though there were some really sad moments of the week, there were some really fun and happy ones. Sister Dickerson is doing great and so is Mauricio and Pedro. We had our weekly soccer game and our team won! Hermana Heil and I both scored a goal #thehermanasrule. We did service at the swap and shop this week. The church does it every year it's where everyone brings in things they don't want and then people come in and grab as many things as their arms can carry. It's a big deal. I got to sit at a booth in the very front and welcome people in. My line was, "I'm the Swapp and there's the shop!" 😏 (As I pointed to where they can find their free treasures). I thought I was pretty cool. 

We had lots of other service opportunities like: walking dogs in the animal shelter, working at the food bank, mowing lawns, and much more. Also, Hermana Heil is just a party and it's impossible not to have a fun week when she's your companion. So it really was still a great week here in the GKLM. 

I want you all to know I love my Savior so very much, He is real and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to witness Him change so many lives. I am amazed every day at the love He has for everyone and at all that He does every single day still to help His lost sheep. This is His work, He's at the head of it, and I am so grateful to be His servant. He is the Christ. 

I love you all so very much. I hope you have a great week and remember to be happy. Because life is too short to be anything else. 

Con amor,

Hermana Swapp

PS: "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." -D&C 112:10

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-003-waiting-on-our-road-to-damascus?lang=eng

The Soccer Squad!

Hermana Heil and I found a shopping cart and we had way too much fun.

We got stuck in the worst rain storm. It hit us like a wall, we went from dry to drenched in 0.1 seconds.