Sister Swindle in Jamaica

It was so incredible this week to watch Damion change his life for good and make covenants with our Father in Heaven. It reminds me of how sacred it is that we are able to be baptized and show our willingness to follow Him for the rest of our lives!! Damion is such a good kid as well, and will do so much good in the Hopeton Branch. We are so excited for him!!! It was also interesting to see this week how much the adversary works with all those taking part in something as sacred as baptism. He does NOT want it to happen and personally attacks everyone- but good will always conquer!! One thing that we have that will always help us against these personal trials is prayer. We counted this week and realized that on average, we as missionaries pray about 40 times a day. That's a lot of prayers, but each are so powerful and can do so much good. I'm grateful that we pray so often and get to build that relationship with our Father in Heaven. random fun fact about Jamaicans: they ...

Just kidding, I don't have zika or leprosy, I just needed a good title hahah. (I just got a "copy cat virus" of Zika that has all the same symptoms but just isn't zika. if that makes any sense haha. It does have a real nice rash that gave me great sympathy for the story of the lepers in the bible and kept me in for a nice solid couple of days though, so that was fun!!!) And yet still, the work goes on. For example, Damion should be getting baptized this week!!! We are so excited and can't wait for him, so keep him in your prayers because the week before baptism is always filled with lots and lots of opposition for investigators. Also pray that we will have water to fill up the font!! But really, this week was more comical than anything. We seriously just had the funniest and most random things happen that are too good not to share: - One random guy on the street was asking about the "white guy that you worship that lives in America," so we...

This is a common phrase in our companionship because, well, we're white. Which everyone likes to remind me quite often ("hey Sister Swindle...you're like really white. Like milky white") This week has been an adventure, like always. Mostly because we had a lizard in our apartment for three days and then got it out only after several long minutes of screaming, rearranging the apartment, and waving brooms hysterically. Can I just tell you the coolest story about how the gospel saves lives?? So we have this incredible investigator named Damion that is getting baptized on the 24th. Last week we taught him the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. He not only committed to live them, but to start staying away from places that might tempt him to become involved in these things. This week, he came in late to a lesson and told us that he had just been to visit the family of one of his friends that had just been murdered the night before. He said that his friend was ...

Hello!! I am short on time this week, but I wanted to share a story about the sunset picture you see below. We went to go see someone that lives on the top of our area and it has one of the best views on the island, so for our dinner break we went and watched the sun go down from a little side road. As we stood there and looked out at the lights turn on on the island, I felt so strongly god's love for each of us. The spirit was so strong and it testified of how much the Lord loves each of His children, so much that he gave them beautiful sunsets and good people and most importantly an infinite sacrifice. I know He loves each of us and wants more than anything for each of us to be able to live with him again! I hope you feel that love everyday, because it is always there. Have a wonderful week and always remember how much he wants for you to come home to Him(: ora et labora, Sister Swindle 1. first Jamaican ice cream! 2. The mtc crewww at zone conference (minus a few) 3. Sist...

Dear everyone, I hope you've had a glorious week! This has been one of my most exciting so far! Here's a couple of reasons why: 1. The power went out island-wide on Saturday at 5 pm. It was raining like crazy that day and then that happened, so guess how many people wanted to meet with us that night?? (Jamaicans are super scared of the rain and the dark. You better believe it was an adventure!) It ended up working out but also teaching me a lesson on how much the gospel really does bring light into people's lives. That's literally how the world is right now- complete darkness. And just like my handy dandy flashlight that literally saved our lives that night, the gospel is able to not only illuminate the way but completely cut through the darkness. It was the coolest (and a little bit scary, not gonna lie) object lesson for me! Life lesson from a road block! 2. Met people from a straight up cult this week (don't worry, they're not in good standing with them right...

Because ants. That's all I have to say. (they're everyyyyyywhere) HELLO everyone, hope you had a great week, I sure did! Mostly because I tried all this new delicious food like bun and cheese, bullah, passion fruit, and stringy mangos. JAMAICAN FOOD IS INCREDIBLE and that's coming from the pickiest eater ever so you better believe it hahah! I also got to go to Savannah La Mar this week for splits with the STLs and it is JUST GORGEOUS. It was my first time seeing the Carribbean and wowwww. Man. It's amazing. I love the more city atmosphere there too! This week we have been working hard, surprise! We found out that they are taking the other sisters out of Hopeton and we will be covering both areas, so we will be working harder this week too!!! We are excited though to get lots of new people, we have been straight finding and teaching first lessons while I've been here so I'm excited to see people start progressing! Funny stories from this week: 1. Read int...

Wow hi hello like where do I start. Hmm maybe with the fact that I live in Jamaica now??? Hahahaha don't worry, if you can't believe it, then join the club (not an actual club though haha) Basically what happened was that last Wednesday, President Smith called me and was like hey your visa is here! And by the way you are leaving in five days! Needless to say, I was just a little bit in shock haha. I was (and still am) incredibly sad to leave New York and I treasure with all my heart the time I spent there. I am so grateful for the people I taught, the fantastic missionaries I served with, and the place I was in. Who knew that I'd ever have a special place in my heart for the Bronx?! (not me!) Monday I said goodbye (mostly just like cried my eyes out for a couple hours) and then missed my flight haha and got to hang out in the JFK airport for about 7 hours (weirdest 7 hours of my lifeeee), then got into Jamaica sometime around 2 or 3 in the morning...I can't remember hah...

Wow hi hello like where do I start. Hmm maybe with the fact that I live in Jamaica now??? Hahahaha don't worry, if you can't believe it, then join the club (not an actual club though haha) Basically what happened was that last Wednesday, President Smith called me and was like hey your visa is here! And by the way you are leaving in five days! Needless to say, I was just a little bit in shock haha. I was (and still am) incredibly sad to leave New York and I treasure with all my heart the time I spent there. I am so grateful for the people I taught, the fantastic missionaries I served with, and the place I was in. Who knew that I'd ever have a special place in my heart for the Bronx?! (not me!) Monday I said goodbye (mostly just like cried my eyes out for a couple hours) and then missed my flight haha and got to hang out in the JFK airport for about 7 hours (weirdest 7 hours of my lifeeee), then got into Jamaica sometime around 2 or 3 in the morning...I can't remember hah...