This is how it would look if I tried to type normally:
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Thank you so much for your emails. Just so you all know, the mission president has asked that we only send emails to our family on P-days, so I may have to answer questions to others through you. Mom, will you send Sister Fenn my mailing address- she asked for it. I am glad that seminary is finished now, although it sounds like life is still extremely busy at the Cummins household. I tried to open pictures and the video clips on this computer, but I have so far been unsuccessful. . . I will give it another try after I send this email and next week.
I cannot believe that it has only been a week here! I feel like I have been here for a very long time! My body is getting used to everything though; I need to take a picture of my legs, as they are covered in very large mosquito bites - no worries about the dengue though, Mom. The bites are very itchy and I will now be more conscientious about the bug spray.
My driving on the island has improved greatly this week - there are not as many jerks and killing the engines and the like. Yes Dad, I am sure you are glad I am learning on the church cars, but just remember that that is your tithing dollars at work there too.
The French is continuing to get better and when we did a little porte-a-porting (door to door contacting) I was able to start the conversations, and I am feeling more confident, although the accent here is highly Tahitian and Wallisian. The majority of people here (at least in my sector - since we are pretty far from the metropolitan) are from those islands and I haven’t met many French people from France.
The ward is nice, although yesterday in Relief Society all the Tahitian women were disputing about Po'e (a traditional Tahitian dessert) for about 15 minutes. It was a conversation I never imagined would occur in RS.
This week, as far as the work goes, was not as productive as it could have been. Our area book, which tells us about all the people and the work that the other missionaries have done in the area, has not been very well kept, which is a real hinderance to the work and trying to contact people that are progressing. We taught a few lessons to some inactive families and to some part member families. We come in contact with so many friendly people though, and I am grateful for the open attitude that abounds here.
It's been very warm here so far; although sometimes the nights are slightly more "fresh" than the daytime. I just wonder how hot it will get in the summer... Although, despite the heat, the landscape and the sunsets are glorious! Every evening is another eye dazzle. And, for a bit on the topography, the landscape is hillsy and mountainy - when I drive to our branch building we go up a hill and the roads are windy and they have an uncanny resemblance to Lake Arrowhead. It's like I am home.
Oh, I heard something very interesting this week that someone might want to look into. The senior couple called this week and asked if I was feeling okay, which I was and am. They told me that there was an outbreak of the swine flu at the MTC and that no missionaries were leaving for the time and they wanted to make sure that everyone who had left before were okay. Is that true?
Oh, Dad, that movie that you saw on the blog was at our branch's Mother's Day party - they celebrate the holiday a little later than us, and with much more gusto too. It was a wonderful event! There was dancing and the father's cooked and we ate a huge 7-8 course meal! They had this one salad composed of raw fish, vegtables, and a sauce on top that was absolutely delicious - it didn't make me sick afterwards, so that's a good sign. They also served a bunch of different salads and rices and for dessert we had that Po'e thing I metioned earlier. I can't really explain it - weird gelatinous substance with coconut cream.
And Dad, I now know the mission song here and it is not in the hymnbook. I will have to sing it to you when I get home.
Let's see: This week I had a funny, embarrassing experience. We met this one guy named Romèo from Noumea visiting his “aunt” in Paita. He was at the door wearing nothing but a wrap-around manu. He was interested in what we were talking about so we got his address for the elders in Noumea so they could visit him. I am not sure if he was more interested in the gospel or in us, but I happened to mention that I thought that his manu was very beautiful with all its colors. I honestly did think it was nice. Anyway, afterwards my companion said that she was surprised that he didn't just whip it off and give it to me. Maybe in the future I shouldn't compliment someone on the only thing they are wearing. . .
Anyway, we have another week of work and lessons. The Lord is in the work here. We are being guiding by Him and I can feel in a very real way His hand in my life. I am so glad to be here and to be learning. I am coming to love the people here more and more.
I hope that all is well at home. Thanks for keeping me updating even though I know that I am quite detached from you all here on this little island. Keep writing me! I know that I cannot respond to all that you send and write me, for my time is so very limited; but know that I want to because I love hearing from you.
I love you all so much. I am sorry if I left out anything - I wish I could share with you all my experiences here and help you know about everything that I am doing, but I know that that is impossible - I'll just continue to write in my journal and take pictures and you can read and see those when I send them home.
I love each and every one of you! You are a great motivation to me in this work and I think of you often.
Have a wonderful, full week. I'll pray that you all remain safe and well! Have a good day at church!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
dryers? what are those? we know not what you mean.
eating well here. not me; the moustiques
view from the porch
