Elder Drew D. Swainston: We Were Able to Watch All of Conference 10/11/10

Dear family,

Well let me just start off by saying the iron curtain has been lifted in the Russia Samara Mission so to speak ha ha, but that’s what it feels like. We have moved to the white handbook schedule and rules and oh my gosh I can’t even describe to you what it’s like. I am writing you a hand written letter to try and just tell you.

Elder Zuber is a great missionary and we are having a great time together ha ha it’s fun definitely. We get along well, but it won’t last for much longer. He is just here for the moment, as we both wait for our new companions. We get along very well and we are working hard together, but I will be getting a new comp so we'll see ha ha.

We don’t know officially yet, but being that I know the area and if I were to be transferred no one else would know the area or investigators so I’m sure I’m here. I don’t know, but I’ve heard Elder Bolt will be transferred.

Ha ha as far as the Rice Krispies and marshmellows, have yet to see both of those in Russia . . . they don’t exist here! So that would be a great gift! :)

Anyway yesterday and Saturday we were able to watch alllllll of conference which is a change. I’m planning on sending you a copy of our list of rules that we had which should be great. It was needed at the time definitely and I have nothing against it. I know that the Lord has prepared us for this time through those rules and now he has placed more trust in us.

So Saturday night we had our first sports night with the members, which was fun! We played American football and Russian football, also known as soccer I guess, but it was way fun. Before that we went to McDonalds and I got a big nasty ha ha, it was amazing (first time he ate at a restaurant on his mission). We have dinner now which really is strange, but it will help. Another change is that we also go in at 9 pm so we have more time before bed. Now I can write in my journal ha ha and yeah we don’t go out at 7 am anymore, we are in till 10 am and then go out.

We just are going by the WHS now so you can read that and that’s pretty much everything. We can listen to LOTR now which will be nice ha ha, all this is coming, but I know that we cannot lose our focus. We can now do service for people and go to museums on P-days if we want. There are just so many, so you will be able to get more pictures now too, I’ve taken a ton this past week.

I’m glad to hear that things are going great for you all! That is a really sad story about the young girl and I will most definitely be praying for them both. I am still praying for Auntie Julie’s dad so I hope things keep going well with him. It is getting colder so hopefully the package is in Samara waiting for me right ha ha jk, but seriously.......it’s cold!

I’m glad to hear that everyone’s health is coming back. Anyway, things are still changing and it will be another big week with getting a new companion. Well I know this is short, but I must end this soon. President had us write longer today and we got new info about stuff so that’s why I’m short on time. I hope things keep going well and enjoy this email. Like I said I’m writing you a handwritten one with more detail.

I love you bigger than the universe and I hope you know that you’re always in my prayers. Have a great week and I can’t wait to hear from you next week! Thanks for the sports info dad, I love you very much! Glad to hear the Cougs pulled one out! LOVES!

Love your son, always yours

Elder Swainston xoxo

PS. Thanks for looking up the watch and stuff. Keep an eye out for it, I know it’s there! Ha ha Thank you, loves to you all!

"WHO ARE YOU BOY? (Poem to a Missionary from a Russian Convert)

Who are you boy? You journeyed to this land of ours.
This land where I have endured my days
And felt oppression kill my soul
And forced me into some tight mold
And teach me that I should not hope
Unless I care to smell the smoke
Of dreams that the Red Army tamed.

Who are you boy? From this land of plenty.
Teaching of God if there is any.
You have all, we have none.
Do you know what that feels like son?
And yet, you ask me to believe
In something that I cannot see,
Some force you say will bring me joy.
Do you know what that feels like boy?

Where you are from, faith is free.
But it has a price for me.
When I have pain, I have my bottle.
Hurt dies quick when you drown it in vodka.
That's enough to warm my soul.
I work, I sleep, the days go by -
I am waiting for the day I die.
You don't understand this place.
You say believe, obey, have faith.
Live life well, serve and give.
Here in Russia we just live.

Who are you boy? Why did you come
To save a soul who once was numb?
To teach a wretched, hateful man
Who cursed your help, refused your hand.
I thought that we were worlds apart.
So how is it you knew my heart?
A fraction my age, you calmed my rage.
Mercy paid my generous wage.

I should have been left behind
It is hard to love my kind.
Hope in your heart, power in your hands
Why did you come to this distant land
I know now, it was for me
The Red Curtain fell, but I was not free
Until a boy from nations away,
Brought me my Lord. I bless the day
He led me to weep at my Master's feet,"

He's Been There Before

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feet
I grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet.
A groan fills the room. It's already time to arise?"
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.

The morning activities follow: study, prayer and such
When its time to leave the apartment, you feel haven't accomplished much
"We have a super day planned," my Companion says with a grin.
I lowly utter a faithless breath, Yea, if anyone lets us in.

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street.
Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.
My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought we'd do.

We ride up to the mail box hoping to receive a lot.
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "AIRBOX"
We go up to our apartment; the day is now complete
the only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 Pm, my companion is fast asleep.
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray;
I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.

"Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands worn, hurt and beat
If our area was any smaller,we'd have knocked on every street."

Why on missions are the days so much alike?
the only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.
Will you send some cooler weather? the heat is killing me!
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes. Its very hard to see.

Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack;
I want to give them Book Of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back."

And what about my Family? They don't have much to say.
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day.
Oh Father,why am I here, Am I just wasting my time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind.

My Companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?
The way he rides his bicycle I don't know if he can even see!
Now you have it, I can't go on. I DON'T KNOW what to do!
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I leave you."

My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed.
I need my feet for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead
Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away.
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day.

I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice.
A man walks towards me and says, My name is Jesus Christ."
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet.
"Arise he states, follow me to the shade you and I need to speak."

My attention towards my Saviour, total and complete
He says, "Your Mission is similar of what happened to me.
I understand how you feel, I know what your going through;
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you.

"Even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt now quite sure what else that I could do.
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle for a car would be sweet.
Just remember the donkey I rode I was not equipped with 21 speed.

I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something to hate.
I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, " Oh, the agony was great.
I see you don't like your companion you would rather have someone else.
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth.

It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you.
I remember when they put thorns in my head and called me King of the Jews.
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back."

Your hands hurt from tracking and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ache in a similar way.
It's hard not to hear from home when your family was not there to see.
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why has though forsaken me?"

We have a lot in common, but there is a difference between us you see.
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me."
He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love.
With tears in my eyes, I watched as he went back to the Father above.

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head.
I listened and heard the alarm, when I realized I was in my bed.
My companion let's out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said. Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

Not matter what we go through when we feel we can't take more,
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before.

by Troy Whittle

Elder Drew D. Swainston

We Were Able to Watch All of Conference 10/11/10

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