adios michel ange
Dearest Family of mine,Can I tell you what a simply blessed week it has been in Paita! However, we received the transfer call Saturday night, and yes, I will be serving, as of Tuesday, in the sector of Magenta. It is right next to the big city and the apartment is right next to Magenta beach (so beautiful) and near the branch building. It is a pretty big sector, and I am pretty sure that if I am not vigilant about the sunscreen that I am going to put some years on my skin. Hello summer sun! I am to be work companions with Soeur Swapp. I am excited to work with her, even though I feel a little bit of stress with the change and the fact that I will not be with a native speaker. The Lord does love throwing us into uncomfortable, new situations, testing and expanding our capacities. I have just LOVED being with dear Souer Seiko. She is an incredible sister and friend - so diligent, kind and thoughtful. We have gone through some painful times and many joyful times together in Paita with our amis. The Lord has united our companionship.
This week was one of our very best weeks in Paita. We had many lessons with our members, and they are getting a sense for the work we do, and we try hard to make their missionary work experience a spiritual one. We worked with Lindsay Ahuroa all of Saturday and we had a companion study together before we went out. Although we knocked on a lot of doors together and had one or two lessons she said she had a greater appreciation for what we do. We visited Ismaella and she is well. She even made a cross-reference during our lesson on obedience to a scripture she read in 3 Nephi. Souer Li-Khau was there, and the next day she and the RS President went by Ismaella's house to invite her to church and the branch activity on Saturday. We didn't even have to ask them to do that. I was so pleased with them. It just made me so glad to see that our members care about our amis and that they are becoming their friends. That is the key!
On Sunday we were shocked to see Michel at church! Or, better, we were pleasantly surprised at his attendance. I was in the middle of leading the intermediate hymn and there he was in the back. He said he has solved his problems and is ready to come back to church. I feel that baptism is in his near future. In the last six or so months we have planted and seen our amies grow in the Lord's field, and soon there shall be a harvest. Paita is ready for reaping.
After church we took pictures with some of the ward members and then had to run around Paita saying goodbye to some of our amis since our sector will be closed until the new sisters come; two sisters are leaving on Tuesday and it will be two or three weeks until the new ones come. I am a bit unhappy to leave Paita with no missionaries especially when we seeing more success. Soeur Seiko is staying in Rivière Salée with Soeur Leavitt. Our neighboor, Mdm. DeGrelon who is a widow whose family NEVER visits her, started to cry when we said we would be gone for a few weeks. It is dispicable the way her family neglects her. She is alone and miserable. She told us how much she loves us and is grateful for us. I cried when I saw her crying. It was heartbreaking in a way I have never felt before.
On Sunday night we had an AMAZING Christmas fireside put on by the missionaries and the members of the district choir. The sacrament hall was PACKED with investigators that we had all invited as well as members. The fireside included lots of songs, narration and a slideshow following the narration with a lot of images of Christ. We began by singing "Oh Quel Bonheur" (Joy to the World) and, literally, it was the most charging effect when we started. We had NEVER sang that well in any of our rehearsals. There were angels singing with us. The Spirit was incredibly strong during the entire program and there were tears in nearly every eye. I have never quite felt joy similar to that which I felt last night. Two of our investigators came from Paita! They were touched and one of them cried and said that that was exactly what she needed and that she knew she was going to have a good week because of that. Her name is Estelle and her boyfriend is Steve (they live together). Steve is the a pious person; all he wants to do is talk about Christ, and, of course, we are willing. We met them when we were knocking on doors one day.
The work of the Lord goes forth. I have never felt such joy in my entire life. My mission is everything to me. I love these people and I love this land. The scriptures are precious to me. I am giddy with the Gospel and I just can't hide it. I love the Savior and our Heavenly Father. All I want to do, like King Benjamin's people, is be good for always and always be obedient. Christ can change the life of anyone and bring peace to the greatest storms in life. He is the only answer. He is the only way.
I will be talking to you all soon at Christmas. Wish me a good first week in Magenta.
Oh, and the missionary talent show is tonight and we are dancing a Tahitian dance. That should be amusing.
Live the Gospel!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
our last p-day adventure
the latest and most delicious oro flavor
