April 29

Hello everyone!

This week was so crazy!! SO I'm just going to start at the beginning...

Tuesday: We were on our bikes Tuesday and... My bike and the sidewalk had a disagreement and I ended up getting in the middle of it. Quite literally in fact. I was riding along and trying to get off the road so I decided it would be best to get onto the sidewalk via a driveway dip. Well, the one I picked still had about an inch high curb... Not a good idea to try and get up one of those at an angle with street tires... Needless to say, my bike fell over and long story short, my wrist got sprained and I have to wear a brace for 2-3 weeks and my knee got pretty scratched up and bruised. And there's kind of a little bit of a numb spot right on the top the size of a dime... And I have a bunch of random bruises all over my body that I'm not sure how I got, but I know they came from the accident. But don't worry! I'm still alive and kicking! Mom and dad, if you read this, I really am okay. And please don't sue the church... I already told President I wasn't going to. Lol

Wednesday: We had interviews with President and he basically told my companion that he's not going to put me back in my last area this next transfer. Which, I'm a little sad about, but with the 2 and a half months that I've been here, I've learned that the things President tells you won't happen. And if they do, it will be several transfers later. 

Friday: I had advanced orientation down at the mission office. It was so great! I got to see my MTC companion, Sister Goodman! Man, I miss her. It reminded me of old times being with her. We learned so much that day... I felt like I was back at the MTC again; being in seminars, being with all the people that I came into the field with, including my MTC distrct. It was fun! 

Saturday: We had a GIANT service project that the church sponsored that helped clean up all of the schools here in Livermore. It was so much fun. We spent the day spreading mulch around various schools. It was great! I love service! And a lady that we've been trying to teach showed up! She is one of the caregivers for a guy we go and visit up at the Veteran's Hospital every Thursday and she always plans it so that she is there when we are there so she can sit in on our conversations and songs we sing to him. But the thing is, she's not allowed to talk about religion because of her job, so we've invited her to a few things in the past so that we could talk about religion with here (cause you know, that's what we do) and she could never make it due to conflicting plans. But Saturday she came to the lunch that we had at the church after all the projects were done and we sat with her and she asked for our help on the computer (She's older and has no idea how to use one of "these strange contraptions") So we helped her and as we were leaving we asked if she'd be interested in learning more about our church and she asked when our service was on Sunday. We didn't even have to invite her to come to church! She's awesome! Sadly, she didn't make it to church, but it's not like we don't see her every Thursday! Haha We're pretty sure that Glen (the guy at the Veteran's Hospital) 
is in on the whole converting her thing. He always asks us to read specific things and sing specific songs while really just wanting her to hear what he have to say. Haha What a great missionary he is! 

Today: So today, we went to the beach!! It was so much fun!! I got to see all the people that I've missed from Washington Square and more!! I got a little sunburnt, but it's okay. It's just one step closer to a tan. Which reminds me of something funny. So when the new missionaries came in this last transfer, we were the fortunate ones to be able to teach them how to street contact. We were sitting in the back and the sisters in front of us turn around and start talking to them and she asks where we are from (there was 3 of us).So we said that two of us were from Utah and one was from Oregon and made them guess who was the one from Oregon... She looked at all of us and pointed at me and said "You're from Oregon because you are the whitest and the sun barely shines in Oregon." What the heck... Is it that obvious?? Hahahaha But, soon I will be tan and fit right in here in California! The weather is so awesome!!! It's getting really hot too... Today it was in the mid 90s. 

Well, my wrist is throbbing, so I guess that's a sign that I need to stop typing... I love all of you and I hope you have a fantastic week this week!!! 

Love,

Sister Swapp

April 22

It's been a great week! (Isn't it always though as a missionary?) The work here is awesome! We have 2 baptismal dates coming up this month. Isn't it crazy that it's already almost May!?! I feel like I just got here, but I passed my 2 month mark this week. Time has just been flying!! 

For those asking, I am in a car and on bikes. We have both. We rode our bikes the other day and were so exhausted that night. But it was a good exhausted. Haha The reason behind having both (or why we think we have both) is because we are covering 2 wards right now and there have been rumors of splitting the wards so that they each have their own set of missionaries. Maybe it will happen next transfer. Who knows? But it's going to be awesome when they do because right now, it seems like we can only focus on one ward per week. It' so busy. So when they get another set of missionaries (most likely sisters), they're going to share the car with us. So we'll rotate who has the car and who has the bikes by day or need. 

My new companion is awesome! We get along really well. And she's sarcastic too, so we get each other. Haha I think I already mentioned that she is from the same town that our mission president is from, but I can't remember. Well, she is. And apparently, President Watkins (my mission president) bought her family's house. He was looking around with his real estate agent and saw her house and said "I want to live there." So they knocked on the door and said "I want to buy your house." and now he lives there... Weird, right? 

I can't think of anything else fun, exciting, hilarious, or super spiritual (cause that's like everyday) that happened this week, so I'm going to go now. I love you all! Have a great week this week and don't get into too much trouble. 

Love

Alisha Swapp

April 8th

This week was transfers and we became a trio cause one of the sisters that was here left! It's been so fun! We taught so much this week. The standard of excellence for number of lessons a week is 20. We taught 33 this week! It's been so fun being so busy! Especially after 2 weeks of teaching only 7 lessons a week because of being sick... And I love being in a trio!!

BUT.... My mission president called me today and... I'm getting transferred... A sister went home Saturday and I'm filling her spot. Perks of being in a trio I guess... I'm so sad though! I'm not even done with my training! I'm excited too. Oh so my address will be changed. It's going to be:

1736 Paseo Laguna Seco #124

Livermore, CA 94551

April 1

Happy April fool's day! The library and post office decided to play an April fool's joke on the entire city and close so that desperate missionaries waiting to email home couldn't! How rude, right? haha just kidding, it was a holiday here celebrating some famous guy... I forgot what he did... I think is name was Ceasar Chaveraz?? So, hence my email being a day late. BUT!! Today was transfers!! Nothing much has changed from our area. We just lost one sister and turned into a tri-panionship. It's going to be lots of work now, cause the are was split between the two companionships, but now we have to cover the whole branch, which is a huge area... But it's going to be fun! I'm so excited!! 

It was Easter this weekend too!! Happy Easter!! I wish I would've appreciated more fully before my mission what Easter is all about. I mean I knew, but I never really understood I guess. It's definitely become my most favorite holiday. My Easter was fantastic! We went to one of our member's wards and had a blast! Although, the dress I was wearing in the morning ended up being a different color by the end of the night... We dyed eggs and I accidently spilt the blue egg dye all over my lap. I have no idea how it happened, but it turned the dress and my legs blue. My new nickname is Sister Smurf. But, I soaked it in resolve as soon as I got home and washed it and it came out! It was a miracle!! Who would've known that resolve gets blue dye out of white dresses. 

Today was transfers! The sister that left is training too! She only got here ONE transfer before I did! She literally just finished her training and now she gets to go through it all with her own trainee. That could be me! It could've been me this transfer. Some of the sisters that came in with me are training. The aren't even done with their own. but isn't it awesome!! That just goes to show how much this work is hastening!! And actually, that might be me next transfer. My trainer has this curse; whoever she trains always ends up training right after she's done training them... It's cause she's so awesome! So! I'm gaining a niece!

Let's see, what else happened this week.... Umm We FINALLY got over our sickness after two weeks. Actually, we're still a little sick, but it sure isn't as bad as it used to be! Oh and Elder Holland! I promised notes. I don't have my notes with me, but it was soooo awesome!!! He talked to us about how he would arm wrestle anyone who tried to tell him that their mission changed them more than his changed him. I just love Elder Holland. He gave a similar talk that I saw while I was in the MTC, but it is so much better in person. He told us that we need to be our first investigator. And everything that we want for OUR investigators, Heavenly Father wants for US. We want them to read their scriptures, he wants US to read our scriptures. We want them to go to church and pray everyday, he wants US to go to church and pray everyday. Reading just my notes does not give the experience the justice that it deserves. I wish you could've just been there! It made me even more excited for Conference!! Yayyy! Oh and the spirit that was in the entire building! Oh man. I can't even describe it. We were walking out to leave and there was a guy that was just in casual clothes, maybe an investigator, I don't know. but he was standing there and my companion said hi and she was like "Can you feel it?! Can you feel that Spirit?" And he was like "yeah!" And she was like "That's the Spirit of an Apostle of the Lord! Isn't it cool?!" And he was like "Yeah!" it was so cool! 

I have a challenge that I'm extending to all my family and friends... This week, I'm challenging you guys to look for all the good things in your days. Yeah, bad things might happen, but is there really anything you can do about it? There usually isn't, you sometimes just have to let it happen and figure something out. But why have a bad attitude at the same time? If you have a good attitude about the things that go bad, they won't seem as bad as they really are. I've been sick these past two weeks stuck in the apartment with a couple other sisters and yeah it's been terrible, but it's not like I could do anything about it. I just kept telling myself "Hey, at least I'm not stuck here alone!" It gave me a chance to get to know the other sister that just got transferred too and we've become such great friends because of those two weeks that we were stuck inside together. So, just remember that when you go throughout your day. You can't rewind and prevent that thing from happening, so you might as well just deal with it and do it with a good attitude! :) Look for the silver lining in every situation! I love you all! I hope you have a good week!

Love,

Sister Swapp

March 27

Hello!

No, my spanish is still at the same level it was when I came out here. Haha My week was rather boring. It was filled with lots of naps and soup. No, I'm not being disobedient... I'm sick. I've been sick all week. The only time that we've left our apartment really was to go see Elder Holland. It was totally worth it though. The amazing thing is that we were all feeling really good that day... Up to the moment we left from hearing him speak. The Lord blessed us with enough strength and health to get through seeing him and then, we were back to feeling yucky, so we went home and back to bed. It's the weirdest sickness too. It's some sort of flu virus. Some mornings, we'll wake up and be like, "Oh I feel fine today!" Then we'll get out of bed and start doing things and be like, "Nope, I'm going back to bed..." 

One of the sisters in our branch told us that her mom had the same exact thing over Christmas. It lasted for 2 weeks... I am really hoping our's doesn't last for another week... 

Anyways, we just left the house to let our family and friends know that we are still alive. I love you all! Have a great week this week!

Love,

Sister Swapp

March 18

Dear family and friends!

This week was great! Not really number-wise, but that's not what matters, right? I can't remember specifics but I just remember that it was great! Haha How's that for a start to this letter... 

I'm serving in a YSA branch in downtown San Jose and it's awesome! The people here are so great! We've started working on Personal Progress with the relief society. I'm excited! I get to do it all over again. Now that I realize the importance of Personal Progress. As a youth, I never really put my all into it, which also meant that I barely got anything out of it... Which is sad. But I'm grateful for second chances! Aren't they fabulous! That's why the atonement is soo amazing!!! I love teaching about the atonement and all the things that it can be useful for. My favorite is that it can make up for our short comings. I've come to appreciate the phrase "Do your best and the Lord will do the rest." It definitely has A LOT more meaning as a missionary mainly because that's all we can do as teachers; our best. Then, the Lord will provide a way to help the people we teach understand. 

Guess what?!!??!?!?!?! Guess who is coming to our mission to speak to us this Saturday?!?!?!?!? I'm so excited!!! Okay, I'll just tell you... It's.......................... Elder Holland!!!!! I'm so excited!!! We get to shake his hand and everything. I can't wait!!!

Oh and more exciting news... They changed the emailing policy this past week. Oh I remember what happened this week now too, we had zone conference. But anyways, we can now email friends too. And previously, we were only allowed to send one email every week but now that rule is out the window. So now, anyone can email me and I can reply on email! It doesn't have to be snail mail! (Although, snail mail is still wonderful to get. Especially during the week when I can't check my email...)

And guess what else? I get to experience another religion tonight. We teach these two guys that are friends - 1 of them is Muslim, the other is Hindi - but they invited us to go to their temple tonight. So we are going to the Sikh temple. I'm kinda excited to experience another religion's temple. We also have another investigator that is Hindi and he was giving us advice. He said that we need to wear our missionary tags (but that's a given) and if anyone tells us to hide them, don't. The people will accept us anyways. And he made sure we knew to bring scarves to cover our hair. So last night, we were trying out the scarf thing and ended up with turbans... Haha don't worry, I have pictures. I'll send some home sometime. But do you have any idea how comfortable those things are?! 

Man, I feel like I've been out here for a year already! But I've only been here for less than 4 weeks. This Wednesday, I'll have been on my mission for an entire transfer (counting MTC time). 

Well, I can't think of anything else exciting and new. I love you guys so much!! 

Love,

Sister Swapp 

P.S. My address out here is:

315 E. San Fernando St.

San Jose, CA 95112

You can still send it to the mission office, but it will get to me faster with this address.

MTC letter

Sarah is out of the MTC but I wanted to update the blog and let everyone read how the MTC was for her. I should be receiving more emails from her here shortly and I will be sure to update as often as she sends letters. If you would like to leave comments, I will be sure to get those comments back to her.

Dear family,

 

Sorry I haven't been able to email you yet. I know I said that I would email you on Thursday (yesterday), but our schedule got switched around on us because there are soooo many people leaving this coming week and they had to split up our In-Field Orientation into two days. So our P-day got changed to today. =)

 

There are sooooo many missionaries here! They told us that they are at full capacity right now. Our group last Wednesday was a record breaking group at 870 missionaries entering on the same day. Previously, they only had an average of 300-400 each week. How crazy is that!?!? This week was just as many as last week. It is so awesome to be a part of all of it!! The ratio between elders and sisters is starting to even out big time. It wouldn't surprise me if the sisters passed up the elders here soon.

 

My companion is awesome!! Her name is Sister Goodman. She's from Utah. We get along so well together! And we laugh all the time. Which is a good stress reliever. Haha We've gotten several comments about our laughing (all good though). I feel like we've been friends forever, but it's only been 10 days. Haha It feels like it's been waaay longer... She's also going to California. Half our distric is going to California and half is going to Wisconsin. The ones going to Wisconsin are getting used to the cold, whereas, the ones going to California will appreciate the warmth so much more. Haha

 

I have to tell you about our progressing investigator! She is sooo awesome!! Usual the people that work as the "fake investigators" are members pretending to be investigators, but our's is an actual no-member! Her name is Ailani. She moved here from Hawaii and is living with her aunt who is mormon and got her a job here at the MTC. We've only gotten to work with her twice, but she is amazing. I just love her so much. And we probably won't be able to meet with her anymore. =( Sister Goodman and I were so sad. We got her address though so we can write her. But she just has the best personality. We were so nervous the first time we went in because it was only like our 3 day here and we barely knew anything, but we said a prayer before we went in and it went so great! We gained her trust and got to know her so well. She's going to be an awesome member one day. I just know it! She's been attending the single's ward where her uncle is in the bishopric and says there's a guy that has been kind of showing interest in her. But she's doesn't want to get too invoolved because she doesn't want to get baptized for just a guy, which is awesome! She's in her late 20s maybe, by the way. But we have just loved working with her and will miss her greatly. But it gives me hope for the field. I feel like when we're teaching our teacher "investigator", it's lots harder because he knows what were supposed to be teaching, but with a real investigator, it's easier to get to know them and teach them what they need. That's what we're supposed to be doing anywasy, right?  

 

This morning, my companion and I got to go into the real world! Haha We had to go to the urgent care center on BYU campus. Sister Goodman hit her eye on her bunkbed pretty hard and the clinic said she might need stitches. But we went there and they just glued it up!

 

Everybody here is so awesome! The elders treat the sisters so well here. The other day, I was out talking to my companion in the hallway (it hadn't been the best day, and I'm a girl, so emotions were running wild) and we were in a spot were we could see into another district's classroom and I saw an elder look at us and point us out to his companion, which was kinda embarassing, but then he stood up and started walking towards us and I got even more embarassed. Well he walked up to us and handed me a flower made out of stiky notes and said, "Smie sister" and walked back to his class. It was the sweetest thing ever! It made my day. =) We see those elders every where now. Haha they are so friendly. One of them is from London.

 

Well, my computer keeps freezing up... So I guess that's all for this week. The next time you hear from me, I will be in SUNNY CALIFORNIA!!!! I love you! And I hope I got the right emails for you.

 

 

I love you all and miss you like crazy!!

Gotta go!!

 

Love,

Sister Swapp