happy birthday, soeur paepaetaata
baptism
baptism
Dearest Family,
I am happy to be able to write you once again and do a little "rendre compte" of my week with you. This week the sisters of Paita (Chugg and Hurst) came down and spent the day with us in Ducos. A few weeks ago the missionary leaders received new training that comes directly from the prophet in order to make the work we do more efficient. The sisters came and did exchanges with us in order to teach us the new training and it is INCREDIBLE. There is nothing new, no new Preach My Gospel, but the Brethern were able to pin-point for the missionaries eight foundation principles that, if followed, will make us better missionaries and more effective tools in the Lord's hands. The principles we learned this week with the sisters begin with being clear at the get-go with our investigators why we are there. We also need to ask them why they think we are there so that we can find equal ground right at the beginning and work towards a mutual goal. Our lessons are then more focused on the commitment at the end and not the lesson plan. Because, it is by following commitments that our amis repent and change. So really, our lessons should be focused on the goal, the end-point. We also spoke about the importance of REALLY listening to our amis and asking inspired questions in order to discern needs and follow the Spirit. Sometimes we are so focused on trying to find the inspiration of the Spirit that we stop listening to our investigators, when in fact as we listen closely to our amis and between the lines the Spirit will inspire us.
At our first lesson together with our amie, Ruth, Soeur Hurst and I put into action these simple principles. We had a specific commitment in mind for her (to go to church and to pray morning and night), but as we listened to Ruth and discerned the problems she is facing we discovered that we needed to follow a different approach and teach another principle. As we did this, showing her how she could demonstrate her faith in Heavenly Father, we all felt the Holy Spirit testify. She was inspired. During the closing prayer she asked Heavenly Father to help her with her difficulties and to help her get to Church every Sunday (our first commitment in mind for her). It was a wonderful lesson and different from any other one we had had with her. I see that this new way to approach the work is the will of God. Though I be only a few short weeks away from coming home, I am learning more than ever. It goes to show that even an old dog can learn new tricks.
We had a miracle day on Wednesday. We had a wonderful lesson down in the squats of Numbo with Victoria. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she expressed her desire to repent everyday and become like Christ. She showed us this board that she began making where she posted all the notes she takes as she listens to us and as she studies the scriptures. She had been sick for a week with stomach problems and is losing weight because of them (and she is already SO thin), and she said that lately she has been feeling the presence of Satan pulling at her. We called the elders to come and give her a blessing. After the blessing Elder Rock asked her what she felt in her heart. She said, "Je ressens la présence du Sauveur," or "I feel the presence of the Savior." We all did.
I don't have much time left to tell you of all the experiences we have seen this week, but all is well. We are knocking doors and contacting all that we see and are becoming better missionaries. I am a better missionary this week than I was last week, and for me that is an accomplishment.
I love you all and am trying not to think about you too much, knowing that I will be seeing your faces soon. The very thought of that brings joy to my heart, but leaving here will be quite bittersweet.
Happy birthday to Kari tomorrow!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
I am happy to be able to write you once again and do a little "rendre compte" of my week with you. This week the sisters of Paita (Chugg and Hurst) came down and spent the day with us in Ducos. A few weeks ago the missionary leaders received new training that comes directly from the prophet in order to make the work we do more efficient. The sisters came and did exchanges with us in order to teach us the new training and it is INCREDIBLE. There is nothing new, no new Preach My Gospel, but the Brethern were able to pin-point for the missionaries eight foundation principles that, if followed, will make us better missionaries and more effective tools in the Lord's hands. The principles we learned this week with the sisters begin with being clear at the get-go with our investigators why we are there. We also need to ask them why they think we are there so that we can find equal ground right at the beginning and work towards a mutual goal. Our lessons are then more focused on the commitment at the end and not the lesson plan. Because, it is by following commitments that our amis repent and change. So really, our lessons should be focused on the goal, the end-point. We also spoke about the importance of REALLY listening to our amis and asking inspired questions in order to discern needs and follow the Spirit. Sometimes we are so focused on trying to find the inspiration of the Spirit that we stop listening to our investigators, when in fact as we listen closely to our amis and between the lines the Spirit will inspire us.
At our first lesson together with our amie, Ruth, Soeur Hurst and I put into action these simple principles. We had a specific commitment in mind for her (to go to church and to pray morning and night), but as we listened to Ruth and discerned the problems she is facing we discovered that we needed to follow a different approach and teach another principle. As we did this, showing her how she could demonstrate her faith in Heavenly Father, we all felt the Holy Spirit testify. She was inspired. During the closing prayer she asked Heavenly Father to help her with her difficulties and to help her get to Church every Sunday (our first commitment in mind for her). It was a wonderful lesson and different from any other one we had had with her. I see that this new way to approach the work is the will of God. Though I be only a few short weeks away from coming home, I am learning more than ever. It goes to show that even an old dog can learn new tricks.
We had a miracle day on Wednesday. We had a wonderful lesson down in the squats of Numbo with Victoria. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she expressed her desire to repent everyday and become like Christ. She showed us this board that she began making where she posted all the notes she takes as she listens to us and as she studies the scriptures. She had been sick for a week with stomach problems and is losing weight because of them (and she is already SO thin), and she said that lately she has been feeling the presence of Satan pulling at her. We called the elders to come and give her a blessing. After the blessing Elder Rock asked her what she felt in her heart. She said, "Je ressens la présence du Sauveur," or "I feel the presence of the Savior." We all did.
I don't have much time left to tell you of all the experiences we have seen this week, but all is well. We are knocking doors and contacting all that we see and are becoming better missionaries. I am a better missionary this week than I was last week, and for me that is an accomplishment.
I love you all and am trying not to think about you too much, knowing that I will be seeing your faces soon. The very thought of that brings joy to my heart, but leaving here will be quite bittersweet.
Happy birthday to Kari tomorrow!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
