Dearest Family,
I am writing this in the afternoon due to interesting activities that occurred this morning, c'est-à-dire, a marriage New Caledonian style (in specific, from the culture of Lifou). Let's just say that it included a lot of colorful dresses, dancing, loads of rice and sugar (given to the couple or the tribe - or both - so they have something to eat for the next millennium), money being stuck into trees and shirts, and a lot of talking (in tongues unknown to these ears). All I know is that all I want for wedding gifts, one day in the far far future, are bags of long-grained rice. :)
Many distances were covered in this past week, both literally and spiritually. The effect of the literal was the umpteenth super-gluing of the soles of these poor Tevas (they will hold out for three more months), and the effect of the spiritually dealt with souls rather than soles: Our amie, Anysse, progresses consistently as she gains a clearer understanding of gospel principles by study and by the Spirit. We watched the movie Legacy with her and Fr. Kilama Thursday night, and they were both just enlightened by the sufferings that the early saints experienced and learned more of Joseph Smith's story. On Saturday as we were walking to an appointment with a less-active member (Anne-Marie) she stepped onto our path with her daughter Ashely as we were walking by. She said she was bored and had wanted to walk around, and she then asked if she could go along with us wherever we were going. At that instant, we remembered that the was a Primary activity taking place at the chapel so we went with her and invited Anne-Marie to go as well. Anne-Marie was sick though and couldn't even met with us, so it worked out well that we came across Anysse. Anyway, at the church, the Primary children from all the branches came together to do a little talent show that ended with a bit of an interesting program by the Magenta branch. Their Primary children did a little Haitian dance, depicting what Haiti was like before the earthquake. Then, all of a sudden, the lights went out and they began showing pictures of the ruins and the pictures of the Haitians putting their lives back together. It culminated with a real show stopper - "We are the World" song sung by all sorts of famous singers and the entire audience was invited to stand up and wave their arms around. I think I decided to sit that one out, but all in all it was a fun little night and Anysse and little Ashely enjoyed it thoroughly (and, that's all that mattered).
Yesterday afternoon we had a great lesson with Michiline Wenisso (the best member missionary) and her non-member brother, Didier. We invited Michiline, after watching the Restoration film together last week, to invite someone she felt would be receptive to watch the movie with us and take the missionary lessons. She asked her brother and, volià, we had a great soirée and he is coming to FHE tonight at the Nauta's (where we go every Monday night).
On that note, can I just tell you how much I love working with members? Despite that love though, it is sometimes difficult to find members that will work with us. It is a lot like finding people who are ready to accept the Gospel. Those that are ready to accept the Gospel and those that Heavenly Father has prepared for such are humble, motivated, and willing to make the efforts (reading, praying, going to church without continual coaxing by the missionaries) because they see that the message is not only important but important to them. Members who work with the missionaries, I have found, are the same; they are humble, motivated and willing to make the effort to work with the missionaries as well as finding people who are ready by their own efforts (without constant missionary cajolings) because they know the message is important in general and important to them. These are the members we are seeking to work with, though we would like to work with every member just like we would like to have every person we meet be baptized and confirmed into the Church.
Wednesday this week was France's Independence day - in New Caledonian terms, this means another day off of work and another day to give one's free agency and liberty over to intoxicating drinks. Well, at least that's how some enjoy spending it. Others, though, do spend it with their families and have barbecues in the good ol' American way (more or less). All the branches had a big sports day in Auteuil and played SOCCER. I played on the elders' team and ended up with a nice patch of skin missing from my knee, but we won and "all's well that ends well."
Before I forget, Fr. Kilama told us a very funny story this week that might put some perspective on what it is like to be a recent convert in the church. So, Pako isn't used to the fact that everyone in the Church gets callings and that after a while people are released from their callings to get a new one or to have someone else take their place. He went to a priesthood fireside on Saturday night and one of his friends, Fr. Turi, was released from his calling during the fireside. However, Fr. Turi wasn't there at the fireside so Pako had the impression that the leaders were taking away Fr. Turi's calling without telling him. Pako was a little upset (and he is sometimes a bit dramatic) - "If they are going to take callings away from my friends, that's it!" Anyway, the next day at church he saw Fr. Turi and asked him if he knew that they had stolen his calling and given it to someone else. He said he was ready to go up to the leaders with him and defend him. Oh là là. Fr. Turi explained the process to him and how people are giving certain callings at certain times and how they are, at one point later, released from them. Anyway, the way he was telling us this story was so funny because, as members of the church, it is just a natural process and something that we don't even think to question.
All is progressing here in New Caledonia. We are getting transfer calls sometime tonight since there are two sisters arriving on Wednesday with President. Since we will have an extra team of sisters they are opening a sector that has never had sisters in it before (well, it’s been a while): Ducos. If you know New Caledonia then you might know why this is an interesting sector to open to soeurs. It has been four months since our tripanionship has been together and we have seen all the colors on the spectrum. I am thankful for the experiences this transfer has given me - troubleshooting and peacemaking skills as well as the capacity to endure and love others more like Christ loves them.
I love you all! Let me know about Alex's call and all the news from home.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
