Chère Famille,
This week was a "doozy" (I should avoid Babylonian references to "Groundhog's Day," but I can't resist); it rained a lot at the end of the week and put a bit of a "damp"er on our work.
On Friday we attempted to leave the apartment after our weekly planning session to walk to the church to see if the little church store was open(they give out old Liahona's - the foreign langugae edition of the Ensign - for free and we wanted to browse the Church video selection). As we walked there it started to downpour and our umbrellas were doing a pathetic job, but we did manage to keep our scriptures safe and dry, which was more important than anything else. At the church building we noticed that the store was closed and our trip was in vain. We expressed to each other that we hoped nobody, especially not the elders, would come by and see how silly we were to try and brave the rains. But, no luck; as we were leaving the parking lot the zone leaders pulled in. They had a good laugh. They had needed something from the office, and they gave us a ride home after. I am sure they thought we were a little nuts.
Despite the rain and the million percent humidity, the work of the Lord moves forward boldly in New Caledonia and specifically in Magenta. We visited an amie named Malia Asensioné Falevale (all of her sisters are named Malia and so the Asensioné is there too specify her in particular - why would you give the same name to 5 girls, even if it did have religious signification?), and Soeur Swapp had been a little depressed concerning her because we hadn't been able to see her for a while and the last time that the souers were over there Malia said that she felt like she was being pushed too much. Well, when we went by Malia told us that she had quit smoking and drinking like she had promised Srs. Carter and Swapp some time ago. We were so excited for her. That is one step closer. The best part is that she noticed the difference that it made in her personal and family life; she could see that she had been blessed.
We also worked with Malia Sio more this week. We made sure to take members with us to visit here so she can have more relationships with the members. The Relief Society president came with us (Soeur Trutrune) and Malia kept referring to her as "la présidente" during the whole rendez-vous and asked her to say the opening and closing prayer. She seemed to take an attachment to her. However, there was a bit of a tense moment as we were teaching the Plan of Salvation (we are taking it principle by principle with her) and Malia told us that she didn't believe there would be a resurrection. We told her that she had to pray sincerely to find out if it was true. We prayed that she would and that she would receive an affirmative answer. We called two days later and ask if she prayed. She said she had and she said that she knew it was true. At church on Sunday she answered a question on faith by saying something about the how there would be a resurrection and a final judgement. Soeur Swapp and I were beaming with joy, even though I doubt it was the pertinent answer that the teacher was searching for. We are so glad that she is slowly but surely grasping and embracing these concepts.
We had a funny experience with Malia Sio at church yesterday actually. We were sitting in the middle of the pews on the right side and there was an older woman in the pew two ahead of us. As the final speaker started his talk (an elder actually) the old woman started to fall asleep, and her head started to do that funny bob that happens when you are falling asleep but when your head has nothing to lean itself against. Malia pointed it out to me and then as the woman's head started to bob again Malia had to throw her hymnbook over her mouth and face to suppress her laughter. Well, then she started to shake with laughter which began to shake the entire pew (Malia is a pretty hefty woman) and then I started to shake with laughter and it was really not very reverent. And, you know that the more you suppress laughter, the funnier the situation seems to become, and there was nothing to be done about it. So, there I was, servant of the Lord with one of our investigator shaking with laughter at the end of sacrament meeting.
After sacrament meeting the elders said, "Sisters, you are going to be teaching the lesson in Gospel Principles.” This was two mintues before Gospel Principles started and no warning beforehand of our lesson giving."And, oh" Elder Hu'uti added, "it will be on Adam and Eve and the Fall as well as the Atonement of Christ." I ended up teaching most of it and it actually ended up being an edifying lesson and the Lord's hand was there helping us to know what we should say and how we should say it. I think of Doctrine and Covenants 11:30 where the Lord says that if you are doing what is right and studying and praying for His help than He will give you the words that you should say at the moment that you should say them.
There was a death last Sunday in our branch and the viewing was on Wednesday night. We went to it and witnessed the cultural differences in how people act when someone here passes away. One thing that I thought was a little interesting (and that we discussed afterwards with the Mautz's) is that everyone who came up to the casket touched the sister’s hands and her face and/or kissed her face, even people who weren't in her immediate family. I thought it was an interesting cultural note. Such situations lend to forming a more culturally educated, holistic me, even though I did not touch her.
On Friday morning I was feeling a little bit down (I think it was the gloomy weather - how I thank my stars that Heavenly Father sent me to a place where there’s sunshine almost every day, and not, well, Russia) and I prayed intently for the strength to keep going that day. Every day is a different story - some days are really good, and some days are just me relying on the Lord's strength.
After our studies we left the apartment to go see a contact that we had received from the elders of Robinson. She wasn't at her apartment building and neither was our another ami that we put as our backup plan. As we decided our next course of action, I remembered that I had written down the name of someone who lived in that area from Soeur Swapp's planner. We decided to give her a try. Her name is Monique, and when we arrived at her apartment she said that she had been praying that "the two sister missionaries she sees walking on the road" would come by again and see her. She was in a difficult situation and she told us that she was in need to talk to someone. We let her talk and we shared a thought and a prayer with her. We are going back this week to do a follow-up, and I was just reflecting on how Heavenly Father is an incredible micro-manager. He knew we needed to see Monique, so He inspired us to put people down in our schedule that wouldn't be there so we could be inspired to go see her. I call it divine. Also, I can see that Satan, knowing the good that we will do, does his very best to discourage us.
I have to run because my hour is up. Every day is full of wonder, experience and adventure here. The Gospel is so true. There is no denying the power that lies in the Spirit of God and in His holy scriptures. How I love the scriptures.
Tomorrow is zone conference!
Oh, and by the way, a landmark thing happened this week: I ordered my first pizza, over the phone, in French! (I know I added too many commas in that sentence, but it was meant for dramtic pause). And when it arrived, it was the same pizza I had ordered. I have no more fear of the phone.
Love you all!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
This week was a "doozy" (I should avoid Babylonian references to "Groundhog's Day," but I can't resist); it rained a lot at the end of the week and put a bit of a "damp"er on our work.
On Friday we attempted to leave the apartment after our weekly planning session to walk to the church to see if the little church store was open(they give out old Liahona's - the foreign langugae edition of the Ensign - for free and we wanted to browse the Church video selection). As we walked there it started to downpour and our umbrellas were doing a pathetic job, but we did manage to keep our scriptures safe and dry, which was more important than anything else. At the church building we noticed that the store was closed and our trip was in vain. We expressed to each other that we hoped nobody, especially not the elders, would come by and see how silly we were to try and brave the rains. But, no luck; as we were leaving the parking lot the zone leaders pulled in. They had a good laugh. They had needed something from the office, and they gave us a ride home after. I am sure they thought we were a little nuts.
Despite the rain and the million percent humidity, the work of the Lord moves forward boldly in New Caledonia and specifically in Magenta. We visited an amie named Malia Asensioné Falevale (all of her sisters are named Malia and so the Asensioné is there too specify her in particular - why would you give the same name to 5 girls, even if it did have religious signification?), and Soeur Swapp had been a little depressed concerning her because we hadn't been able to see her for a while and the last time that the souers were over there Malia said that she felt like she was being pushed too much. Well, when we went by Malia told us that she had quit smoking and drinking like she had promised Srs. Carter and Swapp some time ago. We were so excited for her. That is one step closer. The best part is that she noticed the difference that it made in her personal and family life; she could see that she had been blessed.
We also worked with Malia Sio more this week. We made sure to take members with us to visit here so she can have more relationships with the members. The Relief Society president came with us (Soeur Trutrune) and Malia kept referring to her as "la présidente" during the whole rendez-vous and asked her to say the opening and closing prayer. She seemed to take an attachment to her. However, there was a bit of a tense moment as we were teaching the Plan of Salvation (we are taking it principle by principle with her) and Malia told us that she didn't believe there would be a resurrection. We told her that she had to pray sincerely to find out if it was true. We prayed that she would and that she would receive an affirmative answer. We called two days later and ask if she prayed. She said she had and she said that she knew it was true. At church on Sunday she answered a question on faith by saying something about the how there would be a resurrection and a final judgement. Soeur Swapp and I were beaming with joy, even though I doubt it was the pertinent answer that the teacher was searching for. We are so glad that she is slowly but surely grasping and embracing these concepts.
We had a funny experience with Malia Sio at church yesterday actually. We were sitting in the middle of the pews on the right side and there was an older woman in the pew two ahead of us. As the final speaker started his talk (an elder actually) the old woman started to fall asleep, and her head started to do that funny bob that happens when you are falling asleep but when your head has nothing to lean itself against. Malia pointed it out to me and then as the woman's head started to bob again Malia had to throw her hymnbook over her mouth and face to suppress her laughter. Well, then she started to shake with laughter which began to shake the entire pew (Malia is a pretty hefty woman) and then I started to shake with laughter and it was really not very reverent. And, you know that the more you suppress laughter, the funnier the situation seems to become, and there was nothing to be done about it. So, there I was, servant of the Lord with one of our investigator shaking with laughter at the end of sacrament meeting.
After sacrament meeting the elders said, "Sisters, you are going to be teaching the lesson in Gospel Principles.” This was two mintues before Gospel Principles started and no warning beforehand of our lesson giving."And, oh" Elder Hu'uti added, "it will be on Adam and Eve and the Fall as well as the Atonement of Christ." I ended up teaching most of it and it actually ended up being an edifying lesson and the Lord's hand was there helping us to know what we should say and how we should say it. I think of Doctrine and Covenants 11:30 where the Lord says that if you are doing what is right and studying and praying for His help than He will give you the words that you should say at the moment that you should say them.
There was a death last Sunday in our branch and the viewing was on Wednesday night. We went to it and witnessed the cultural differences in how people act when someone here passes away. One thing that I thought was a little interesting (and that we discussed afterwards with the Mautz's) is that everyone who came up to the casket touched the sister’s hands and her face and/or kissed her face, even people who weren't in her immediate family. I thought it was an interesting cultural note. Such situations lend to forming a more culturally educated, holistic me, even though I did not touch her.
On Friday morning I was feeling a little bit down (I think it was the gloomy weather - how I thank my stars that Heavenly Father sent me to a place where there’s sunshine almost every day, and not, well, Russia) and I prayed intently for the strength to keep going that day. Every day is a different story - some days are really good, and some days are just me relying on the Lord's strength.
After our studies we left the apartment to go see a contact that we had received from the elders of Robinson. She wasn't at her apartment building and neither was our another ami that we put as our backup plan. As we decided our next course of action, I remembered that I had written down the name of someone who lived in that area from Soeur Swapp's planner. We decided to give her a try. Her name is Monique, and when we arrived at her apartment she said that she had been praying that "the two sister missionaries she sees walking on the road" would come by again and see her. She was in a difficult situation and she told us that she was in need to talk to someone. We let her talk and we shared a thought and a prayer with her. We are going back this week to do a follow-up, and I was just reflecting on how Heavenly Father is an incredible micro-manager. He knew we needed to see Monique, so He inspired us to put people down in our schedule that wouldn't be there so we could be inspired to go see her. I call it divine. Also, I can see that Satan, knowing the good that we will do, does his very best to discourage us.
I have to run because my hour is up. Every day is full of wonder, experience and adventure here. The Gospel is so true. There is no denying the power that lies in the Spirit of God and in His holy scriptures. How I love the scriptures.
Tomorrow is zone conference!
Oh, and by the way, a landmark thing happened this week: I ordered my first pizza, over the phone, in French! (I know I added too many commas in that sentence, but it was meant for dramtic pause). And when it arrived, it was the same pizza I had ordered. I have no more fear of the phone.
Love you all!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
