Dearest Family,
I can just imagine Dad cooking General Conference breakfast for you all (yum! where am I?), and you have no idea how jealous I am that you all got to watch conference this past weekend. We are to see the transmission of it next weekend all together down at the Rivière Salée building, and it will be translated into French (well, clearly). I have never been quite as thrilled at the idea of General Conference as I find that I am now at this moment in my life. How VERY blessed we are to know that there is a prophet who leads us, loves us and has been chosen by the very God of all mankind. I am also glad to hear that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang my favorite song (yes, that one is my favorite song, Mommers). I am sure that my Monday email will be bursting with expression of Gospel joy. I do not feel like I can even contain or express all the love and joy that fills my spirit when it comes to the Gospel. I just want to dance and smile and never let the feeling go – imagine what joy will be like in the celestial realms, when even here on earth we have times of joy beyond our capacity to comprehend. I feel like it is at those moments that the veil becomes thin and our spirits anticipate that which awaits us in the life to come.
This week on Tuesday we had a big zone conference for the north zone up at the Tontouta branch building. My companion and I gave a formation (a talk) on how to maintain the fruits of our labors, or better said, how to help our investigators who are progressing to continue progressing. It went well and the whole day was enlightening. I adore this work we do. I am so content in reading and studying the scriptures, and every month when we receive the Liahona (the translated version of the Ensign, New Era and the Friend combined) it is like Christmas. I think I would love to work for the Church magazines someday. That would be a dream.
Soeur Carter, a sister who I actually knew before the mission when she and I were in the CS Lewis Society together (imagine that!), did a split with me here in Paita on Wednesday. We had a very good time together. She is a humble, unassuming sister who does thorough work and has a heart full of pure diligence and love for Christ.
Thursday was my 6 month mark on the mission. I only have a year left. I ask myself, “what have I done so far?” Have I done any good in the world? Am I any different? Where have I progressed? Who have I helped? I hope that these last 6 months have seen a markable change in me. I feel as though my very heart has changed and that my desires as a missionary and in life have become purer and clearer. How wonderfully the Gospel can illuminate our life. I still have a lifetime of work in self-purification, but I feel that I am progressing, which is the very purpose of our lives and, in fact, of eternity.
Yesterday one of our amis, Petelo, came to church with his cousin. We had a lesson with him later that afternoon and he told us that he was a disappointed with the meetings. Sacrament was not as reverent as it should have been, and many testimonies were not of true testimony quality. One of the members chastised the congregation, in fact. Gotta love the Tontouta branch. We explained to Petelo that perhaps there were members that just didn’t fully understand the true importance of that meeting, but that we were glad that he understood and were thankful for his example of reverence. I am not sure, but I think it should maybe be the members that set the example for outsiders???? Maybe that’s just me. But, with all sarcasm aside, Petelo did say that he wanted to bear his testimony and that he would come back so he could do so. That was good. He is progressing. I just wish and pray that our branch will as well – people get too comfortable with the fact that they have the Gospel and that they don’t need to do anything. They have the knowledge, but they simply forget or don’t care to act on it.
Yesterday we also met with another amie, Malia Feleu (who if you remember me talking about her, did not actually move but will after Christmas), who exclaimed that she LOVES Joseph Smith and his story.
For the most part, it has been another good week. There are always some pitfalls – like Michel who just doesn’t progress despite his testimony of the truth, or the Wallisians who still persist in talking about the details of the death of Michael Jackson with us. But, pray and fast are good remedies for such. I am trying to improve my prayers, and I seek for more ways to be obedient – like, following the speed limit with exactness. You have no idea how hard it is to resist accelerating when you are going 20 mph and you have a queue of 7 cars behind you. I now avoid looking in the rearview mirror when such occurrences happen. Just face the tree of life and don’t look around at the people in the large and spacious building – or the large and spacious Peugeot behind you. That’s a good scripture application.
Speaking of running, I must go! My hour is nearly up and “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.” Thank you, Robert Frost.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
