Dear Family,
Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Hope you all know how much I LOOOOOOVE you! They don't celebrate such superfluous holidays here quite the way that we do in the States.
Can I just tell you what happened this morning? The soeurs of Paita (Swapp and Ititiaty) stayed with us last night after a missionary fireside we had at the Magenta building (more details soon), so Soeur Chugg slept in our living room/study area/dining room (all-in-one) and I couldn't sleep. I woke up at 2:30 and wrote in my journal for two hours and then went back to sleep for thirty mintues, and then Soeur Chugg woke up. We decided to walk the 150 yards or so to the beach front and watch the sunrise. Wow! What a glorious moment we had. The water was liquid silver and then the sun began to rise over the mountains of Mont Dore across the bay. It was unbelievable, and thankfully I was able to snap a few photos before my camera batteries died. Everyday Soeur Chugg and I walk outside and look at our view and exclaim with joy, "Où sommes-nous?" - "Where are we???" Is this just paradise? Am I really here?
This past week has been a roller coaster. On Tuesday Soeur Chugg and I had to climb up a mountain in order to flee from some teenage boys trying to sling shot us with rocks, and on Saturday we had one of those days that Heavenly Father so wisely allows in order that we more fully appreciate the good days. There was an author once who said that as we are hollowed out by sorrow we are left with more room for joy. Saturday was not only perhaps the hottest day I have ever experienced but all of our appointments fell through, nobody wished to speak with us (that is, the few people we saw because we were, seemingly, the only ones silly enough to be walking on the roads in that heat), and we forgot water bottles. No stores were open and we nearly passed out before arriving at the apartment. Soeur Chugg had to lie down because of a headache so I made phone calls. Later that evening was better when we had a fireside rehearsal with all the missionaries. Sometimes I wonder if I just love being with the other missionaries too much... They brighten any day with their positive attitudes, funny stories, and desire to laugh. I think it is a unique situation we have here in this mission because all the missionaries know each other and we are all good friends.
For the ups of this roller coaster week, we had two more lessons with Aurélie. Marie came with us for each one, and I believe that Marie being our member integrator is helping not only Aurélie but Marie's own activity in the Church. She has been at Church consistently the past few weeks. At the end of our last lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ we asked Aurélie to pray out loud for us, and she did. She said it was the first time in her life to pray not only out loud but in front of others. She did wonderfully! I was touched by the things she said and the Spirit’s presence was strong in our lesson. I had prepared a cake (peach cobbler) for a part of the lesson, and I had all the people around the table look at it and smell it. Then I told them that I was keeping it all to myself and that I didn't want to share it. They looked at me confusedly. Then I explained that of course I was going to share the cake with them but that me keeping the cake all to myself is like someone who has the Gospel in their lives who doesn't share it. We have to share it.
I don't have much time but there was another lesson that we had with our amie Céline that was simply wonderful. She is so humble and ready for our teachings. She told us, "Les Soeurs, if you say the Book of Mormon and all these things are true, then I will believe you and do as you say because I can see that you yourselves are testimonies and that you have so much love for me."
There was a fireside last night on the Restoration and I was the music director (thanks to the last minute appointment to this task by Elder Hu'uti). Thankfully, the fireside went well. I prayed so fervently that Heavenly Father would bless all those there to feel the Spirit, and He was there.
There is so much more, but I have no more time! This mission is the best thing to have ever happened to me. I am thankful for every moment, even the ones where I get sunburned. Well, for the latter, in retrospect I am.
I love you. Please read the Book of Mormon, pray and go to the temple. Those are the things that matter most.
Love,
Soeur Cummins, perdue dans l'oeuvre du Seigneur!
Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Hope you all know how much I LOOOOOOVE you! They don't celebrate such superfluous holidays here quite the way that we do in the States.
Can I just tell you what happened this morning? The soeurs of Paita (Swapp and Ititiaty) stayed with us last night after a missionary fireside we had at the Magenta building (more details soon), so Soeur Chugg slept in our living room/study area/dining room (all-in-one) and I couldn't sleep. I woke up at 2:30 and wrote in my journal for two hours and then went back to sleep for thirty mintues, and then Soeur Chugg woke up. We decided to walk the 150 yards or so to the beach front and watch the sunrise. Wow! What a glorious moment we had. The water was liquid silver and then the sun began to rise over the mountains of Mont Dore across the bay. It was unbelievable, and thankfully I was able to snap a few photos before my camera batteries died. Everyday Soeur Chugg and I walk outside and look at our view and exclaim with joy, "Où sommes-nous?" - "Where are we???" Is this just paradise? Am I really here?
This past week has been a roller coaster. On Tuesday Soeur Chugg and I had to climb up a mountain in order to flee from some teenage boys trying to sling shot us with rocks, and on Saturday we had one of those days that Heavenly Father so wisely allows in order that we more fully appreciate the good days. There was an author once who said that as we are hollowed out by sorrow we are left with more room for joy. Saturday was not only perhaps the hottest day I have ever experienced but all of our appointments fell through, nobody wished to speak with us (that is, the few people we saw because we were, seemingly, the only ones silly enough to be walking on the roads in that heat), and we forgot water bottles. No stores were open and we nearly passed out before arriving at the apartment. Soeur Chugg had to lie down because of a headache so I made phone calls. Later that evening was better when we had a fireside rehearsal with all the missionaries. Sometimes I wonder if I just love being with the other missionaries too much... They brighten any day with their positive attitudes, funny stories, and desire to laugh. I think it is a unique situation we have here in this mission because all the missionaries know each other and we are all good friends.
For the ups of this roller coaster week, we had two more lessons with Aurélie. Marie came with us for each one, and I believe that Marie being our member integrator is helping not only Aurélie but Marie's own activity in the Church. She has been at Church consistently the past few weeks. At the end of our last lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ we asked Aurélie to pray out loud for us, and she did. She said it was the first time in her life to pray not only out loud but in front of others. She did wonderfully! I was touched by the things she said and the Spirit’s presence was strong in our lesson. I had prepared a cake (peach cobbler) for a part of the lesson, and I had all the people around the table look at it and smell it. Then I told them that I was keeping it all to myself and that I didn't want to share it. They looked at me confusedly. Then I explained that of course I was going to share the cake with them but that me keeping the cake all to myself is like someone who has the Gospel in their lives who doesn't share it. We have to share it.
I don't have much time but there was another lesson that we had with our amie Céline that was simply wonderful. She is so humble and ready for our teachings. She told us, "Les Soeurs, if you say the Book of Mormon and all these things are true, then I will believe you and do as you say because I can see that you yourselves are testimonies and that you have so much love for me."
There was a fireside last night on the Restoration and I was the music director (thanks to the last minute appointment to this task by Elder Hu'uti). Thankfully, the fireside went well. I prayed so fervently that Heavenly Father would bless all those there to feel the Spirit, and He was there.
There is so much more, but I have no more time! This mission is the best thing to have ever happened to me. I am thankful for every moment, even the ones where I get sunburned. Well, for the latter, in retrospect I am.
I love you. Please read the Book of Mormon, pray and go to the temple. Those are the things that matter most.
Love,
Soeur Cummins, perdue dans l'oeuvre du Seigneur!
our ami corinne and her daughter, emmanuelle.
a member gave us a bag of "missionary clothes," so we tried them on, then put them back into the bag.
