Elder Swallow is #Fiji Bound

Oct. 26, 2018 (First email to the big family and friends group) Dear Friends and family,  Sorry I haven't sent an email out to you guys yet. I just knew you want pictures of Fiji not Provo! The MTC has been a great experience! I have grown a lot! Spiritually... I'm still itty bitty. However I do know more Fijian then I did about a month ago so that's good news! I can't wait to be culturally slapped in the face when I get off the plane!  I fly out to Fiji Monday night and I'll get there Wednesday morning, super long flight!  The MTC was a great stepping stone for my life! It was something that I will keep with me through out my whole mission! I was blessed with a great companion and an even better district! I know hard times will come but for right now my mission has been great! I can't wait to be pushed and tried. Because I know the Lord doesn't give us challenges that we can't over come! I love all of you guys so much! Thank you for all the ...

I am stuck in church jail...haha- jokes. I'm having a great time! We've had a couple TRCs since we last had a chat. They went well, Omae gets nervous but speaks fluent! We tell the new guys on our floor he only speaks Tongan so I learned things to yell when he's in front of the new guys, they get freaked out! Its so funny! My favorite word in Tongan in fakahela. yes it sounds like that! haha it sounds like a swear! haha I'm dying just writing it!!!  we have had a good week besides Sundays I love it here! Sundays are like straight but jail! But it's ok who wants to love the day of rest! Anyway on Tuesday we got to class and Elder Madsen goes "cool I got my visa"... and we all ran to the computer lab!  I'm happy to report that I've been accepted! In ten days I will be going to the place that hasn't left my mind in 18 years-haha jokes, it's been like 4 months, but I'm soooo freaking ready, I'm literally freezing! It is so cold ...

Last Friday we had our first TRC and it was so good! But before we couldn't go into the building because someone pulled the fire alarm. Hence the picture with the fire truck! (no fire truck picture was included:) maybe next week)  For conference they kept us in our devotional room all of the sessions. It was like jail... Saturday night they put on a special priesthood session just for us. And Sunday we were in there all day! Don't  get me wrong it was great and uplifting and wow 12 temples. However we could have watched them in our classroom!  The elders on our floor left this week for the Marshal Islands. It was so sad! I had only known these guys for like 3 weeks and I was still so sad when they left. There is  a tradition here, we have huge pants and they get handed down to the shortest elder in the district, so thanks Pat,  now I have giant pants!  The night after they left I had a bit of an accident I was running to the bathroom... not t...

 It legit feels like i just emailed. Fast Sunday was way better then I thought it would be. It was good because I had stuff to fast for.  Our district leader on the other hand tested our patience. He's been on a power trip and kept us locked in the room for 4 hours. But me and elder Omae had good discussion, and then I took a two hour nap with my scriptures open. So all in all a really good day.  This week we've been translating more sentences and trying to speak Fijian. We have our first TRC tonight. I'm nervous for it only because its our first. It's been  really good.  I started the Book of Mormon again just so I can say I did and it's crazy how much I'm getting out of it! Its like I'm a missionary or something! We have been playing a lot of volley ball with the other branches and I'm happy to report that Fiji is still number one. But following that game however bad stuff. So our Fijian class is split into two districts and Elder Tautu is th...