Dear Mom and Dad,
That was funny that we were online at the same time last week. That’s a nice coincidence. So, Grandpa isn’t doing well? I will definitely keep him in my prayers. I know that everything will work out the way it is supposed to – I grow more and more thankful for the Plan of Salvation every day, and that our lives here are but only a tiny moment in eternity. Every day truly is a gift though, and we should live each to the best that we can.
I received your package this week, Dadders. Thanks for the memory card, although I have found that with the larger memory cards that, many times, I lose pictures. I wonder though if it is the card or the camera. It’s only happened twice that I lost a few photos I had taken, but it was still annoying. I hope it won’t happen with this new one. Oh, and thanks SO much for the pictures of the family! Heather is just beautiful and when I opened my letter (at the mission office in Nouméa on Thursday), some of the elders the pictures of the family they asked if she was 15 or 16, and I had to tell them that she was only 12. And, one of the elders saw that picture of you and Mom in Utah near some pioneer statues and he said that he could just tell that you were Californian because you looked nice and healthy. And, I love that one of Grandpa looking at that picture of our family at my MTC farewell. Very tender - I got two pictures in one. Thanks for that.
Where to start with this past week! First of all, I love my new companion Soeur Seiko. She is so sweet and funny, and although she has a quiet nature she is such a support to me, and she makes me want to be a more consecrated, more diligent, more bold. I was telling her this at our companionship inventory on Friday after our grande planification for the week and she said that she felt the same about me. I think it is a great thing when we want to be better because of the example someone sets only to find out that they feel the same about your example; it’s a continual upwards progression.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we did a LOT of contacting in the lotissements of Julisa, Bernard, and our own of Ondémia. We had a few lessons and found a new investigator, Michael Tuigana. We also talked with this one woman from Vanautu who could barely understand our French or our limited Bislama. She spoke jibberish back to us. We tried to read the Book of Mormon in Bislama (Buk Blong Mormon) the next time we visited and teach her a little but the understanding on both sides was VERY limited and I was having some trouble because her house did not smell pleasant. Oh, the odors I have smelled here are another tale in and of itself… On Wednesday night we ate at Michael and Helene’s (the same family that took us to Nouméa a few weeks ago) and taught English lessons to their two sweet daughters. I told Michael how you might come to pick me up after my mission and he insisted that they give you the grand tour of Nouméa if you do decide to come. They treat us so well, Mom and Dad. You have no idea. I am floored by the generosity of the people here and how kind they are to us. Clearly there are people who are not so kind and who perhaps are angry at us for simply knocking on their door, but the former are experiences that overshadow any meanness.
On Thursday we had our car wash, since the first Thursday of every month is our combined service activity. It was fun seeing the other missionaries and cleaning cars. I laugh way too much when I am with Soeur Leavitt and the other elders and sisters. I love the comradery between the missionaries.
Soeur Seiko became ill with the flu (la grippe!) on Thursday evening; I think the rainy, cold weather on Thursday at the car wash did a number on her immune system, and we stayed inside Friday morning so she could rest. On Saturday we had a few lessons before lunchtime and we attended a Catholic mass here in Paita village since one of our friends that we teach English to invited us to come and hear her sing during the mass. We made sure it was okay with our zone leaders, and then we went. It was some in French and mostly in Wallsian, so as you can suspect, I am not sure how much I got out of the spoken word. The music was old mixed with new: ancient latin text put to acoustic guitar. And the stained glass windows were something to amuse my eyes. It was the first time I had been to a mass. Later that afternoon, after a lesson, Soeur Seiko and I were walking back the car when suddenly Soeur Seiko said she wasn’t feeling well and nearly passed out. She was sicker than she had let on, so I drove us immediately back to the apartment, cancelled our lessons for the afternoon and called our zone leaders. The elders came by a little later and gave her a blessing and gave me a blessing as well. I was comforted by the blessing. I am very thankful for the Priesthood. Soeur Seiko slept from 4 that afternoon until the next morning before church! It was so good for her, although Saturday was a little lonely in our apartment as I did planning and study by myself. It is an inspired thing that we do missionary work two by two because it wouldn’t be very effective any other way.
One more experience from the week: We went to our investigator house, Katalina, for a lesson and she wasn’t there, but as we were walking back to the car this woman who is working for the census here in Caledonia came up to us and asked who we were. When we told her that we were LDS missionaries she immediately asked us to come to her house and talk with her and her husband. She then proceeded to give us all her contact information. We went to her house last night to teach her and her husband. The husband was skeptical and kept asking us questions to trap us and continued to insist how it was really a shame that we didn’t pray to Mary. Really, I wonder that some Catholics love Mary more than God, the Father. We weren’t able to teach much of a formal lesson with them, but the wife, Christine, walked us to our car afterwards and said that she felt something good about us. She wants to continue to meet with us and learn. She is a kind, humble woman and perhaps if we teach her she will be able to teach and help her husband.
I have to run, but know that I love you and think of you often. Not too often though – just at kneeling moments. When I see your faces in the pictures you send me I forget for a moment where I am and I feel that I am with you. Know that I am well, happy and that I continue to smile. The work here in Calédonie moves onward ever onward. Can you believe I am out here?
Love,
Soeur Cummins
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The work continues in Paita (3 août 2009)
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Wow ! It has been 4 months ! Time is flying, and yet it seems to go by at sloth’s pace! I am grateful for each day that I have here, and it still amazes to think of where I am and what I am doing!
This morning my trainer, ma formatice, left this island and left me in the lone and dreary world. We had transfers on Friday so I have been without her for a few days. I am not sure how much I like being “weaned” but it shows me that I have made progression as a missionary. My new companion is Soeur Seiko. She comes from the loyalty island of Lifou, although she grew up in Ducos, which is in Noumea. Yes, my life is now immersed in French, so let me apologize right now for my lack of English from here on out. Everytime I lose a word in English, I gain one in French. This is my comfort. Soeur Seiko says that my French is pretty good, but I am pretty sure she is just being nice. She is much quieter than Soeur Spencer and I think that will be good for me to learn how to listen better and also be able to teach more effectively. We have already had some success together. On Saturday we were doing follow-ups in the house lot (lotissement) of Julisa, and we went to this one house where we thought a Matthieu lived. We couldn’t find him but we ran into some Jehovah’s Witnesses there and spoke with them for a minute – once again, another awkward “good luck” was shared with them at parting. Then went to find another person named Katalina. As we walked up the driveway where we thought she might live, this woman came out (it was Katalina, as we found out later) and had this look on her face like she already knew who we were. She invited us to sit down and she said that she had spoken to the soeurs who had been there a few months before and she had thought of us that morning. She had prayed that we would come by and see her. Isn’t that great! When we just do the things that we are supposed to we can be lead to people who are ready to accept the message.
Another good experience: One of our investigators, Ismaella, began reading the Book of Mormon with her husband and holding family prayer. Her husband suddenly lowered his daily cigarette count and her daughter started receiving better grades in school. It’s just like what King Benjamin said, when we keep the commandments and are obedient, we are immediately blessed. I love the Gospel and how it can change our lives for the better, giving us true and lasting happiness.
On Tuesday we had zone conference. I love zone conferences and being around the other missionaries and being edified together. It is fortifying and buoys our spirit. President Ostler’s wife talked to us about patience and used Elder Maxwell’s amazing talk from 1986, and our zone leaders, Elder Hu’uti and Livingston, gave an incredible formation on how to recognize the Spirit and on the parable of the Good Shepard found in John 10:1-14. You should read that parable as a family and study it. I am glad that you looked at the Mautz’s blog and liked the songs that we sang. Thanks for noticing that I stole that pink and orange shirt from you, Mom. After conference we took a lot of pictures since it was Soeur Spencer’s final zone conference. I love this mission and the missionaries here; I feel so blessed to be here.
The rest of the week has been good. Soeur Spencer packed up all her things on Thursday, and we had our transfers on Friday. I know that I am going to learn a lot with Soeur Seiko as my companion. Although, I was feeling a little stressed yesterday at church since I couldn’t just lean over and asked what was going on like I usually did with Soeur Spencer. I think this transfer is going to make me quieter since I will have a bit of a block on complete expression. Better to be thoughtful with words though than to toss them about in native vernacular carelessness.
I am glad to hear that you received a “With Distinction” on your paper Mom! I can only imagine how snooty, scholarly and English a “With Distinction” must be. It sounds like life is busy for you, Mom, studying this and that, writing papers on antenal this and that. Wow! I am glad that Alex and Heathy Shea are doing well as well as Keeks and Glen and Kari and the kiddies. I hope you are all having a great summer. Don’t forget sunscreen in all you hubbub.
By the way, letters from America starting coming in again. Hopefully you are all receiving my letters.
I love you all.
Malo ti ma’oli!
Love you,
Soeur Cummins
Wow ! It has been 4 months ! Time is flying, and yet it seems to go by at sloth’s pace! I am grateful for each day that I have here, and it still amazes to think of where I am and what I am doing!
This morning my trainer, ma formatice, left this island and left me in the lone and dreary world. We had transfers on Friday so I have been without her for a few days. I am not sure how much I like being “weaned” but it shows me that I have made progression as a missionary. My new companion is Soeur Seiko. She comes from the loyalty island of Lifou, although she grew up in Ducos, which is in Noumea. Yes, my life is now immersed in French, so let me apologize right now for my lack of English from here on out. Everytime I lose a word in English, I gain one in French. This is my comfort. Soeur Seiko says that my French is pretty good, but I am pretty sure she is just being nice. She is much quieter than Soeur Spencer and I think that will be good for me to learn how to listen better and also be able to teach more effectively. We have already had some success together. On Saturday we were doing follow-ups in the house lot (lotissement) of Julisa, and we went to this one house where we thought a Matthieu lived. We couldn’t find him but we ran into some Jehovah’s Witnesses there and spoke with them for a minute – once again, another awkward “good luck” was shared with them at parting. Then went to find another person named Katalina. As we walked up the driveway where we thought she might live, this woman came out (it was Katalina, as we found out later) and had this look on her face like she already knew who we were. She invited us to sit down and she said that she had spoken to the soeurs who had been there a few months before and she had thought of us that morning. She had prayed that we would come by and see her. Isn’t that great! When we just do the things that we are supposed to we can be lead to people who are ready to accept the message.
Another good experience: One of our investigators, Ismaella, began reading the Book of Mormon with her husband and holding family prayer. Her husband suddenly lowered his daily cigarette count and her daughter started receiving better grades in school. It’s just like what King Benjamin said, when we keep the commandments and are obedient, we are immediately blessed. I love the Gospel and how it can change our lives for the better, giving us true and lasting happiness.
On Tuesday we had zone conference. I love zone conferences and being around the other missionaries and being edified together. It is fortifying and buoys our spirit. President Ostler’s wife talked to us about patience and used Elder Maxwell’s amazing talk from 1986, and our zone leaders, Elder Hu’uti and Livingston, gave an incredible formation on how to recognize the Spirit and on the parable of the Good Shepard found in John 10:1-14. You should read that parable as a family and study it. I am glad that you looked at the Mautz’s blog and liked the songs that we sang. Thanks for noticing that I stole that pink and orange shirt from you, Mom. After conference we took a lot of pictures since it was Soeur Spencer’s final zone conference. I love this mission and the missionaries here; I feel so blessed to be here.
The rest of the week has been good. Soeur Spencer packed up all her things on Thursday, and we had our transfers on Friday. I know that I am going to learn a lot with Soeur Seiko as my companion. Although, I was feeling a little stressed yesterday at church since I couldn’t just lean over and asked what was going on like I usually did with Soeur Spencer. I think this transfer is going to make me quieter since I will have a bit of a block on complete expression. Better to be thoughtful with words though than to toss them about in native vernacular carelessness.
I am glad to hear that you received a “With Distinction” on your paper Mom! I can only imagine how snooty, scholarly and English a “With Distinction” must be. It sounds like life is busy for you, Mom, studying this and that, writing papers on antenal this and that. Wow! I am glad that Alex and Heathy Shea are doing well as well as Keeks and Glen and Kari and the kiddies. I hope you are all having a great summer. Don’t forget sunscreen in all you hubbub.
By the way, letters from America starting coming in again. Hopefully you are all receiving my letters.
I love you all.
Malo ti ma’oli!
Love you,
Soeur Cummins
Malo e lelei (27 juillet 2009)
Dear Mom and Dad,
I am sending these emails to myself now (my gmail account) so I can delete them from this account, save room here, and set aside these emails. Just so you know. I am sorry that I only have about 40 minutes to type this before I am kicked off; I was attempting to do a little maintenance on my account. Anyway, I guess there is some sort of hold up on American mail as of the last two weeks because none of the American missionaries have received mail, so I hope your package gets here in a decent amount of time? And, Dad, yes I have put most of my pictures on that 8GB external hard drive, and I will put all of them on there before I send it home.
I am sorry to hear that it is so hot there! It is really pretty mild here and the mornings are a tad chilly, but I hear the summers here are just dreadfully warm so I hope you'll think of me in the middle of February when it is snowing there and I am melting here. Oh, and I hope things are going well with all your household projects - I expect the house to be in tip-top form once I return. No, it sounds like you are doing great things and working hard. Mom, be careful about not working too hard. Once again, I can see how very much like you I am. This week in fact I had a little bout with myself. I am far too impatient with myself and my growing capabilities, and it's hard not to see the other successes of the other missionaries and wonder what I personally am not doing to see such success. I had a difficult morning on Friday but I have a nice companion, and I spent a good personal study deciding how to be better in some aspects of my life. It's hard for me to see if I have made progression, and when I cannot see any progression it is frustrating. As a remedy, I am going to hold personal evaluations with myself at the end of every week and marked the things that I have progressed and done well in, and then mark the things I can work on during the following week. That way I will be able to see how I have become better and how I can become even better. Life is simply about progression and choices, and I desire to have mine be such that I move upwards and forward.
The work was slow this week, and we were occupied with some events happening in our district so that we couldn't spend every day working - this to my dismay. Thursday was spent down in Nouméa practicing for the fireside we gave last night. Friday is our grand planning day, and on Saturday we were given permission to go down into Nouméa with a Wallisian couple, the Teugaisiale family. We teach English to their two girls and they wanted to treat us to a day in ville (we switched our P-day with permission), especially since it is the end for Sr. Spencer. They have done it with other missionaries before, and the funny thing is that they are not even really investigators, although a member we saw at an outdoor market on Saturday greeted the wife, Helene, and asked if she was a member and she responded "not yet". Anyway, the couple (Mikael and Helene) are INCREDIBLY kind and gracious! They took us down into town to all the tourist sites - an American monument and canons in honor of the presence of America here in WWII, an amazing museum that had displays and artifacts from Melanesian and other island cultures. It was an remarkable place full of the tikis, fléches faitières, cases (the big huts the indigenous peoples lived in), etc. It was great to learn more in depth about the cultures of the peoples here. Greater knowledge and awareness = greater appreciation. Before my mission I didn't even have an INKLING of a desire to study or know about Pacific island culture . Now, I am blown away by the richness of it all and how their lives are family based and embedded with unique customs. Really, I can't describe the way it made me feel to finally understand.
After the museum we went to the aquarium (so cool!), then to the zoo where there were lots of birds, then to this cultural center called "Centre Tjiboau." It was neat there; art galleries full of island art, wooden structures and cases and people wearing authentic outfits from their native islands. I am excited because I think I am going to start teaching myself Wallisian soon - once I get better at French. The only problem is that there is little to no resources to learn the language. I could read the Book of Mormon in Tongan since that language is similar, but I can't even think of where I could find a Wallisian dictionary - if one even exists. Could someone look around for me? Or maybe a Tongan Book of Mormon?? Yes, yes, stopped rubbing your eyes out of unbelief for what you are reading - I really did just requested a Tongan Book of Mormon. Pigs are flying.
Sunday was a fine day. We had the missionary fireside last night where we sang songs about the Restoration, read a narration and there was a slide show of pictures and movie clips from the Joseph Smith story up going the entire time. It was a well-done production and the Spirit was strong. Sr. Spencer and I are staying down here in Nouméa until Tuesday evening because we have Zone Conference tomorrow and interviews with President Ostler today. We are staying with the PK7 (that's the sector) sisters - Sister Carter and Sister Leavitt. It's a sleepover, missioanry style. Or, as E. Johnston put it: “Pajama party.”
Other news from the week is that we teach English to this lovely Wallisienne woman who works for the airline here, AirCalin (you'll fly with them when /if you come out here in a year). We continue to teach Yori and Michael, although they weren't at church yesterday…
Tell Heather that I am thrilled that she is going t Girls Camp. I remember packing for girls camp a week before I even went every year - even when I was a YCL. I know she'll have a great time! And, wow, Alex. Way to go and rock those ACTs. But, still, go outside and enjoy summer. Television is a idol that gives nothing in return for your worship of it.
I have to run! I wish I could tell you everything that happened this week in DETAIL but I will just make sure to keep a decent journal and then I can tell you everything in 14 months.
Love you all.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
I am sending these emails to myself now (my gmail account) so I can delete them from this account, save room here, and set aside these emails. Just so you know. I am sorry that I only have about 40 minutes to type this before I am kicked off; I was attempting to do a little maintenance on my account. Anyway, I guess there is some sort of hold up on American mail as of the last two weeks because none of the American missionaries have received mail, so I hope your package gets here in a decent amount of time? And, Dad, yes I have put most of my pictures on that 8GB external hard drive, and I will put all of them on there before I send it home.
I am sorry to hear that it is so hot there! It is really pretty mild here and the mornings are a tad chilly, but I hear the summers here are just dreadfully warm so I hope you'll think of me in the middle of February when it is snowing there and I am melting here. Oh, and I hope things are going well with all your household projects - I expect the house to be in tip-top form once I return. No, it sounds like you are doing great things and working hard. Mom, be careful about not working too hard. Once again, I can see how very much like you I am. This week in fact I had a little bout with myself. I am far too impatient with myself and my growing capabilities, and it's hard not to see the other successes of the other missionaries and wonder what I personally am not doing to see such success. I had a difficult morning on Friday but I have a nice companion, and I spent a good personal study deciding how to be better in some aspects of my life. It's hard for me to see if I have made progression, and when I cannot see any progression it is frustrating. As a remedy, I am going to hold personal evaluations with myself at the end of every week and marked the things that I have progressed and done well in, and then mark the things I can work on during the following week. That way I will be able to see how I have become better and how I can become even better. Life is simply about progression and choices, and I desire to have mine be such that I move upwards and forward.
The work was slow this week, and we were occupied with some events happening in our district so that we couldn't spend every day working - this to my dismay. Thursday was spent down in Nouméa practicing for the fireside we gave last night. Friday is our grand planning day, and on Saturday we were given permission to go down into Nouméa with a Wallisian couple, the Teugaisiale family. We teach English to their two girls and they wanted to treat us to a day in ville (we switched our P-day with permission), especially since it is the end for Sr. Spencer. They have done it with other missionaries before, and the funny thing is that they are not even really investigators, although a member we saw at an outdoor market on Saturday greeted the wife, Helene, and asked if she was a member and she responded "not yet". Anyway, the couple (Mikael and Helene) are INCREDIBLY kind and gracious! They took us down into town to all the tourist sites - an American monument and canons in honor of the presence of America here in WWII, an amazing museum that had displays and artifacts from Melanesian and other island cultures. It was an remarkable place full of the tikis, fléches faitières, cases (the big huts the indigenous peoples lived in), etc. It was great to learn more in depth about the cultures of the peoples here. Greater knowledge and awareness = greater appreciation. Before my mission I didn't even have an INKLING of a desire to study or know about Pacific island culture . Now, I am blown away by the richness of it all and how their lives are family based and embedded with unique customs. Really, I can't describe the way it made me feel to finally understand.
After the museum we went to the aquarium (so cool!), then to the zoo where there were lots of birds, then to this cultural center called "Centre Tjiboau." It was neat there; art galleries full of island art, wooden structures and cases and people wearing authentic outfits from their native islands. I am excited because I think I am going to start teaching myself Wallisian soon - once I get better at French. The only problem is that there is little to no resources to learn the language. I could read the Book of Mormon in Tongan since that language is similar, but I can't even think of where I could find a Wallisian dictionary - if one even exists. Could someone look around for me? Or maybe a Tongan Book of Mormon?? Yes, yes, stopped rubbing your eyes out of unbelief for what you are reading - I really did just requested a Tongan Book of Mormon. Pigs are flying.
Sunday was a fine day. We had the missionary fireside last night where we sang songs about the Restoration, read a narration and there was a slide show of pictures and movie clips from the Joseph Smith story up going the entire time. It was a well-done production and the Spirit was strong. Sr. Spencer and I are staying down here in Nouméa until Tuesday evening because we have Zone Conference tomorrow and interviews with President Ostler today. We are staying with the PK7 (that's the sector) sisters - Sister Carter and Sister Leavitt. It's a sleepover, missioanry style. Or, as E. Johnston put it: “Pajama party.”
Other news from the week is that we teach English to this lovely Wallisienne woman who works for the airline here, AirCalin (you'll fly with them when /if you come out here in a year). We continue to teach Yori and Michael, although they weren't at church yesterday…
Tell Heather that I am thrilled that she is going t Girls Camp. I remember packing for girls camp a week before I even went every year - even when I was a YCL. I know she'll have a great time! And, wow, Alex. Way to go and rock those ACTs. But, still, go outside and enjoy summer. Television is a idol that gives nothing in return for your worship of it.
I have to run! I wish I could tell you everything that happened this week in DETAIL but I will just make sure to keep a decent journal and then I can tell you everything in 14 months.
Love you all.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rain, singing, branch troubles, oh my! (20 juillet 2009)
I am glad that my package arrived home safely (and quickly!), and I hope you enjoyed all the trinkets and bon-bons included in there. Mom, I am SO glad to hear that you were accepted into that Master’s program! That is wonderful, and it is clear that they would not be able to resist having someone like you in their program – you are going to do great! I am glad to hear that you are preparing for the storm that is to come in the fall though with seminary and work and family and your studies. You will have to be tip-top on your game to balance all of that! And, Dad, congrats on the new calling. You always do so well with the youth and I know that all those “Jeune Gens” (that’s “Young Men” in French) will love having you with them! I am jealous that they get to be taught by you each week – we could use more great teachers like you out here in Calédonie.
Also glad to hear that Keeks continues to be a superstar and that Alex and Heath are enjoying the summer months. Isn’t it weird to think that the summer break here is from December to February?? That’s smack in the middle of our winter. Tell everyone that I love them and think about them often. Mom, I will ask some of the members that we have dinner with each week about their experiences with the Livre de Mormon and then I will write you a letter – I have always wondered about Hagoth as well and thought that islanders were descendants of the Nephites. I feel more and more that that is true. Someday we will know all the mysteries of God and then we can be sure.
So, this week: I told you that our P-day was changed to Tuesday, and on Tuesday we actually did another exchange with the sisters of Riviere Salée. Soeur Seiko came up to Paita with me and we spent the whole of Wednesday together. I was feeling a little stressed because we had a few lessons to teach and she is a native from one of the loyalty islands near here, Lifou, so I knew that it would be all day en français. It was a very good experience though. I think that I rely a lot on my trainer and it was good for me to be with another sister who is pretty new as well. Heavenly Father blessed me so that I was able to teach effectively and well in the language – soon my training wheels will be taken completely off since Soeur Spencer leaves in two weeks! Ah! I gave her the home phone number because she wants to call you all when she gets home and talk with you – so get all your questions and the like ready because she will answer them for you. She has been a great companion, and I am going to be slightly shell-shocked the day that she actually leaves.
On Thursday, Sr. Spencer and I went down into Nouméa to practice with all of the missionaries for the missionary fireside (coin de feu) that we are holding next Sunday at the Rivere Salée branch building. We are singing a variety of songs about the Restoration, and there is a little narration that goes on. I am doing the part of Emma Smith; it’s only a few lines and I am going to memorize them during my language study this week. The songs for the fireside are cheesy (they were written by the Janice Knapp Perry family – I guess that is a hint to what they sound like), but one of the elders (E. Johnston from Tahiti) bore his testimony about the Restoration and told us that if we sang with our hearts and with the Spirit that the coin de feu would touch the hearts of those who come. I suppose you had to be there, but it was a really nice testimony and helped me get over the initial gag of the songs. After the practice, Sr. Spencer and I went with the zone leaders and the Mautzs to McDonalds (again) for lunch, and then they all came up to Paita to do an apartment check.
It was such a dreary day on Thursday and Friday! It rained bears and oxen all day long both days, and we didn’t leave the house unless we had a set appointment because of the torrents of rain coming down. And, we have been having a mouse problem lately but that ended this morning. I tried at first to make a trap with a Pringles can and string, but it didn’t work. Surprise, surprise. Elder Manning gave us a mousetrap on Thursday and so we set it up, but two nights in a row that little mouse evaded our efforts! He kept eating the peanut butter off the trigger, and he got away without setting off the trap! Finally, yesterday I TIED the bait to the trap and the trap snapped on me in my efforts and now I have a pretty little bruise underneath my thumbnail, but this morning as I was doing my exercises I looked over where I had set the trap. SUCCESS! It was gross getting rid of little Carl (we named him), but I felt triumphant in my victory over the 2 ounce rodent.
In other news, we have a CRAZY branch. Our white handbook says I am not supposed to write home negative things about our branches/wards/stakes/whatever but, the branch’s “specialness” calls for commentary. At present, there is an overall dislike for the elders in this branch. The sisters are in the clear though and we are, for the most part, respected. The elders have a differing story to tell. They have had a series of mess-around elders in this branch in the past, and so the members have been tainted and have lost confidence in the work they do. I am glad that Sr. Spencer and I are apparently well-liked, and I hope it continues to be such (they better like me, since I DO play the piano every week for them). I have found out that it is vitally important that we watch everything we do or say because if you step on one pair of toes here, you step on them all! It’s like an instant grapevine. Yesterday was an especially interesting Sunday. One of the elders attempted to correct the President of the branch in a matter concerning an upcoming baptism and he was pulled into the President’s office without his companion (an absolute no-no) and was yelled at. I know there are two sides of the situation here and I know that there was pride involved, but that was not a good situation at all and now the whole branch is aware of what happened. Thank goodness our mission president is coming next weekend for our zone conference – I think he will be attending sacrament at our branch and will hopefully be able to mend things. All in all, the branch lacks in unity and love. If we had that then we could move forward, but at the present time it is not the most well-functioning branch. Bon, but what do I know – this is only my short-minded perspective. We are doing our best, and Sr. Spencer and I continue to work hard in our sector and with the kind member families that are here. Only time will tell.
Anyway, that is the news from the week. Our lessons with our investigators continue to go well and we are waiting on two baptisms that should occur in the near future. We have a great recent convert, Soane (which means John in Wallisian), who is so solid and constant. It’s as if he has always been a member. He eats with us at the Toyon’s and the Li-Khau’s every week and goes to some of our lessons. The other night at the Toyon’s, Soeur Toyon asked me to come over to look at the thing she just took out the oven – a fully roasted pig’s head! They all laughed at my reaction, and I took a picture of it while Soane held it up. I had a taste of it. I am glad that I can eat anything – that has been a really helpful quality to have here. Thanks for helping me build up my culinary immunities, Dad, with all those questionable goulashes you’ve concocted and made us eat over the years.
Anyway, I love you all. Good luck with the heat of the summer. It is pretty chilly here in the mornings, and I usually do my studies with my comforters wrapped around me. That is, both the Spirit and a blanket.
I hope you all have a lovely week and that you are blessed with all the things you stand in need of.
And, I make an end.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
P.S. I will send pictures home when someone sends me back that other memory card. And, can someone send me a recent picture of the family? Maybe one from my farewell at the MTC? I lack family photos and I miss your faces.
P.S. Are my emails being forwarded to the family and to my friends? I hope so - thanks for doing that Mom.
Also glad to hear that Keeks continues to be a superstar and that Alex and Heath are enjoying the summer months. Isn’t it weird to think that the summer break here is from December to February?? That’s smack in the middle of our winter. Tell everyone that I love them and think about them often. Mom, I will ask some of the members that we have dinner with each week about their experiences with the Livre de Mormon and then I will write you a letter – I have always wondered about Hagoth as well and thought that islanders were descendants of the Nephites. I feel more and more that that is true. Someday we will know all the mysteries of God and then we can be sure.
So, this week: I told you that our P-day was changed to Tuesday, and on Tuesday we actually did another exchange with the sisters of Riviere Salée. Soeur Seiko came up to Paita with me and we spent the whole of Wednesday together. I was feeling a little stressed because we had a few lessons to teach and she is a native from one of the loyalty islands near here, Lifou, so I knew that it would be all day en français. It was a very good experience though. I think that I rely a lot on my trainer and it was good for me to be with another sister who is pretty new as well. Heavenly Father blessed me so that I was able to teach effectively and well in the language – soon my training wheels will be taken completely off since Soeur Spencer leaves in two weeks! Ah! I gave her the home phone number because she wants to call you all when she gets home and talk with you – so get all your questions and the like ready because she will answer them for you. She has been a great companion, and I am going to be slightly shell-shocked the day that she actually leaves.
On Thursday, Sr. Spencer and I went down into Nouméa to practice with all of the missionaries for the missionary fireside (coin de feu) that we are holding next Sunday at the Rivere Salée branch building. We are singing a variety of songs about the Restoration, and there is a little narration that goes on. I am doing the part of Emma Smith; it’s only a few lines and I am going to memorize them during my language study this week. The songs for the fireside are cheesy (they were written by the Janice Knapp Perry family – I guess that is a hint to what they sound like), but one of the elders (E. Johnston from Tahiti) bore his testimony about the Restoration and told us that if we sang with our hearts and with the Spirit that the coin de feu would touch the hearts of those who come. I suppose you had to be there, but it was a really nice testimony and helped me get over the initial gag of the songs. After the practice, Sr. Spencer and I went with the zone leaders and the Mautzs to McDonalds (again) for lunch, and then they all came up to Paita to do an apartment check.
It was such a dreary day on Thursday and Friday! It rained bears and oxen all day long both days, and we didn’t leave the house unless we had a set appointment because of the torrents of rain coming down. And, we have been having a mouse problem lately but that ended this morning. I tried at first to make a trap with a Pringles can and string, but it didn’t work. Surprise, surprise. Elder Manning gave us a mousetrap on Thursday and so we set it up, but two nights in a row that little mouse evaded our efforts! He kept eating the peanut butter off the trigger, and he got away without setting off the trap! Finally, yesterday I TIED the bait to the trap and the trap snapped on me in my efforts and now I have a pretty little bruise underneath my thumbnail, but this morning as I was doing my exercises I looked over where I had set the trap. SUCCESS! It was gross getting rid of little Carl (we named him), but I felt triumphant in my victory over the 2 ounce rodent.
In other news, we have a CRAZY branch. Our white handbook says I am not supposed to write home negative things about our branches/wards/stakes/whatever but, the branch’s “specialness” calls for commentary. At present, there is an overall dislike for the elders in this branch. The sisters are in the clear though and we are, for the most part, respected. The elders have a differing story to tell. They have had a series of mess-around elders in this branch in the past, and so the members have been tainted and have lost confidence in the work they do. I am glad that Sr. Spencer and I are apparently well-liked, and I hope it continues to be such (they better like me, since I DO play the piano every week for them). I have found out that it is vitally important that we watch everything we do or say because if you step on one pair of toes here, you step on them all! It’s like an instant grapevine. Yesterday was an especially interesting Sunday. One of the elders attempted to correct the President of the branch in a matter concerning an upcoming baptism and he was pulled into the President’s office without his companion (an absolute no-no) and was yelled at. I know there are two sides of the situation here and I know that there was pride involved, but that was not a good situation at all and now the whole branch is aware of what happened. Thank goodness our mission president is coming next weekend for our zone conference – I think he will be attending sacrament at our branch and will hopefully be able to mend things. All in all, the branch lacks in unity and love. If we had that then we could move forward, but at the present time it is not the most well-functioning branch. Bon, but what do I know – this is only my short-minded perspective. We are doing our best, and Sr. Spencer and I continue to work hard in our sector and with the kind member families that are here. Only time will tell.
Anyway, that is the news from the week. Our lessons with our investigators continue to go well and we are waiting on two baptisms that should occur in the near future. We have a great recent convert, Soane (which means John in Wallisian), who is so solid and constant. It’s as if he has always been a member. He eats with us at the Toyon’s and the Li-Khau’s every week and goes to some of our lessons. The other night at the Toyon’s, Soeur Toyon asked me to come over to look at the thing she just took out the oven – a fully roasted pig’s head! They all laughed at my reaction, and I took a picture of it while Soane held it up. I had a taste of it. I am glad that I can eat anything – that has been a really helpful quality to have here. Thanks for helping me build up my culinary immunities, Dad, with all those questionable goulashes you’ve concocted and made us eat over the years.
Anyway, I love you all. Good luck with the heat of the summer. It is pretty chilly here in the mornings, and I usually do my studies with my comforters wrapped around me. That is, both the Spirit and a blanket.
I hope you all have a lovely week and that you are blessed with all the things you stand in need of.
And, I make an end.
Love,
Soeur Cummins
P.S. I will send pictures home when someone sends me back that other memory card. And, can someone send me a recent picture of the family? Maybe one from my farewell at the MTC? I lack family photos and I miss your faces.
P.S. Are my emails being forwarded to the family and to my friends? I hope so - thanks for doing that Mom.
soane and our friend, cochon
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Another week in French paradise (13 juillet 2009)
I am glad to hear the good news from home! It makes me happy to know that you are all prospering and doing well. Continue doing the good things you are, and yes, continue to have family home evening, prayer and all that good Gospel stuff because it truly is through our daily efforts that we are strengthened. I have come to see that personally and in the lives of others. If you ever need ideas for Family Home Evening, may I suggest looking at the first lesson in Chp. 3 of Preach My Gospel and teaching each section together as a family? You could each take one heading and go in around and share the first lesson with each other. The first lesson has strengthen my testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.
Sorry about not writing yesterday; our P-day was changed to Tuesday because today is Bastille Day (France’s independence day – independence from what though, I ask? Themselves and their own revolution?? Oh, the mystery of the French mindset) and there is a big activity for the entire district of New Caledonia (all the branches on the island) that all the missionaries are going to.
Oh, funny story: so last week I told you how we were going to hike a mountain (Mt. Koghi) with our zone for a P-day activity. Well, it was a beautiful hike and I have never seen such exquisite foliage and flora in all my life. There were all sorts of trees that have their roots growing all over the ground, and there is moss covering everything! We all hiked to a big waterfall which took about an hour, and then we hiked back. When everyone arrived back at the cars we noticed that two elders hadn’t arrived yet so we thought; hmm, they are probably taking pictures, right? More time passed and we soon realized that those two elders were lost. The zone leaders went to go see if they could find them and nothing… The senior couple, the Mautz’s were with us and they were not pleased. But, after about three hours some of us went to the bottom on the road we had travelled up to see if the elders had somehow wandered down there, and we saw them hop out of a man’s truck. They were all scratched up and wet. They said that they lost the trail (which was not marked very well in the first place) and so they just continued to hike down (not a good idea - these are eagle scouts, by the way) and they finally, after sometwists and turns and cliffs and rivers, found someone’s house and a ride down to the bottom. We were all tired, slightly annoyed, ready to go home at that point, VERY glad that we didn’t have to call the gendarmes (the police) and thankful that the elders were okay.
In other news, my companion got food poisoning this week from our district meeting barbeque where we ate hamburgers that perhaps (at least for her) had not be cooked completely. We spent some time that afternoon inside while she was sick. I was able to read quite a bit of “Jesus the Christ” that afternoon.
On Saturday a little boy named Terri Aru was baptized, and I gave a talk on baptism. He had a very sweet look on his face when he entered into the font; it was a tender moment to see this little boy making sacred covenants with his loving Heavenly Father.
We continue to work with Yori and his father Michael. They are more consistent in keeping their engagements and they should soon be baptized as well. Yori has a little friend that comes to each of our appointments with him, named Roldoph, and we all enjoy reading through the Book of Mormon Stories book with all those illustrations and simplified accounts. I love that book, and I remember when Mom used to read the Doctrine and Covenants one to us when we were little.
Oh, I found a really good quote that you might like Mom that I read after receiving your email last week. It’s from the last General Conference in a talk given to the young men in priesthood session by Pres. Packard: “do not run with friends that worry your parents.” You may use that as you like.
As for the work, we came in contact with a Wallisienne woman whom we received the cordonnées (I am not sure how to translate that one – it means her information on where she lives, who she is, etc) of from two different sets of missionaries that she came in contact with last week. When we arrived at her house she immediately came out and was pleased to see us and talk with us and start having the lessons given to her again (she had studied with the missionaries two years ago). She is on a search for the truth and has come to us. We had a really wonderful lesson with her yesterday. She is excited to read the Book of Mormon, and she felt the Spirit at our meeting. At the end of our lesson she gave us a beautiful necklace that her grandmother had made and this wooden mask. I was touched by her quick generosity toward us. Soeur Spencer kept the necklace and I the very cool mask. We may not have very many people here who are progressing, but the ones that do and who want what we have to give bring us SO much joy.
It must be nice to have the house all to yourself, Momma, but I am jealous of the huge family gathering occurring in San Simeon! I hope they have a wonderful time together and I do hope that Grandma is doing well. She is always sending me sweet, little letters and I do appreciate her words of wisdom. Will you make sure to send her the emails I send home so she knows what I am up to? I can’t always write her, but I want her to know that I am okay and that I think about her and love her and Grandpa a LOT.
Tonight we have another exchange with another group of sisters and I will be with Soeur Seiko for the day tomorrow – that means that it will be all French for 24 hours. Wooh! I am still having trouble with the language and struggling to see if I have really made any progress. My trainer goes home in three weeks and I am not excited about that at all. It will be up to me to keep this sector going afterwards, and I hope the Lord will qualify me for what’s up ahead.
I am eating well and life is good. We had this really good chocolate mousse at the family Toyon’s house the other night! And, the other night at Mikael and Helene’s (they are not members, but we teach their two girls English every Wednesday) Helene told us all about her food adventures in France since she just went there to visit some family. Oh, I simply must go to France after my mission. Who wants to come with me?
Anyway, life is good and this week looks like it should be another good one. I am growing more accustomed to mission life, and I am getting into a nice rhythm here in Paita.
I love you all and I hope you are passing the summer days nicely. Mom, for some reason I just thought of that one time that you and I bought Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and sandwiches and came home and watched a movie together – I think everyone else went camping and it was just the two of us at the house. That’s a nice memory. :)
I love and miss you all! I send massive amounts of love waves each of your ways!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
P.S. I received Dadder’s package on Sunday when the Mautz’s came up to visit our branch! Dad, thank you so much for sending that to me! I love the little dictionary and it is in my backpack where it will stay and be very used for the rest of my days here! I love even more that you still go to the thrift shop and that you saw that book, thought of me, and spent the time to send it to me. I love that part the best – I was very touched. I love you, Dadders.
P.S.S. Mom, good luck with your interview! I will pray, pray, pray for you! I am so glad to have an ambitious mother who strives for great things! You are an inspiration to me. Oh, and I keep a journal, don’t worry –and I think you are I are very alike – I am hard on myself too sometimes… I need to have more patience with myself. We’ll work on that together.
P.S.S.S. I am getting much better at this French keyboard given that this is a long letter!
JE VOUS AIME!!!
Sorry about not writing yesterday; our P-day was changed to Tuesday because today is Bastille Day (France’s independence day – independence from what though, I ask? Themselves and their own revolution?? Oh, the mystery of the French mindset) and there is a big activity for the entire district of New Caledonia (all the branches on the island) that all the missionaries are going to.
Oh, funny story: so last week I told you how we were going to hike a mountain (Mt. Koghi) with our zone for a P-day activity. Well, it was a beautiful hike and I have never seen such exquisite foliage and flora in all my life. There were all sorts of trees that have their roots growing all over the ground, and there is moss covering everything! We all hiked to a big waterfall which took about an hour, and then we hiked back. When everyone arrived back at the cars we noticed that two elders hadn’t arrived yet so we thought; hmm, they are probably taking pictures, right? More time passed and we soon realized that those two elders were lost. The zone leaders went to go see if they could find them and nothing… The senior couple, the Mautz’s were with us and they were not pleased. But, after about three hours some of us went to the bottom on the road we had travelled up to see if the elders had somehow wandered down there, and we saw them hop out of a man’s truck. They were all scratched up and wet. They said that they lost the trail (which was not marked very well in the first place) and so they just continued to hike down (not a good idea - these are eagle scouts, by the way) and they finally, after sometwists and turns and cliffs and rivers, found someone’s house and a ride down to the bottom. We were all tired, slightly annoyed, ready to go home at that point, VERY glad that we didn’t have to call the gendarmes (the police) and thankful that the elders were okay.
In other news, my companion got food poisoning this week from our district meeting barbeque where we ate hamburgers that perhaps (at least for her) had not be cooked completely. We spent some time that afternoon inside while she was sick. I was able to read quite a bit of “Jesus the Christ” that afternoon.
On Saturday a little boy named Terri Aru was baptized, and I gave a talk on baptism. He had a very sweet look on his face when he entered into the font; it was a tender moment to see this little boy making sacred covenants with his loving Heavenly Father.
We continue to work with Yori and his father Michael. They are more consistent in keeping their engagements and they should soon be baptized as well. Yori has a little friend that comes to each of our appointments with him, named Roldoph, and we all enjoy reading through the Book of Mormon Stories book with all those illustrations and simplified accounts. I love that book, and I remember when Mom used to read the Doctrine and Covenants one to us when we were little.
Oh, I found a really good quote that you might like Mom that I read after receiving your email last week. It’s from the last General Conference in a talk given to the young men in priesthood session by Pres. Packard: “do not run with friends that worry your parents.” You may use that as you like.
As for the work, we came in contact with a Wallisienne woman whom we received the cordonnées (I am not sure how to translate that one – it means her information on where she lives, who she is, etc) of from two different sets of missionaries that she came in contact with last week. When we arrived at her house she immediately came out and was pleased to see us and talk with us and start having the lessons given to her again (she had studied with the missionaries two years ago). She is on a search for the truth and has come to us. We had a really wonderful lesson with her yesterday. She is excited to read the Book of Mormon, and she felt the Spirit at our meeting. At the end of our lesson she gave us a beautiful necklace that her grandmother had made and this wooden mask. I was touched by her quick generosity toward us. Soeur Spencer kept the necklace and I the very cool mask. We may not have very many people here who are progressing, but the ones that do and who want what we have to give bring us SO much joy.
It must be nice to have the house all to yourself, Momma, but I am jealous of the huge family gathering occurring in San Simeon! I hope they have a wonderful time together and I do hope that Grandma is doing well. She is always sending me sweet, little letters and I do appreciate her words of wisdom. Will you make sure to send her the emails I send home so she knows what I am up to? I can’t always write her, but I want her to know that I am okay and that I think about her and love her and Grandpa a LOT.
Tonight we have another exchange with another group of sisters and I will be with Soeur Seiko for the day tomorrow – that means that it will be all French for 24 hours. Wooh! I am still having trouble with the language and struggling to see if I have really made any progress. My trainer goes home in three weeks and I am not excited about that at all. It will be up to me to keep this sector going afterwards, and I hope the Lord will qualify me for what’s up ahead.
I am eating well and life is good. We had this really good chocolate mousse at the family Toyon’s house the other night! And, the other night at Mikael and Helene’s (they are not members, but we teach their two girls English every Wednesday) Helene told us all about her food adventures in France since she just went there to visit some family. Oh, I simply must go to France after my mission. Who wants to come with me?
Anyway, life is good and this week looks like it should be another good one. I am growing more accustomed to mission life, and I am getting into a nice rhythm here in Paita.
I love you all and I hope you are passing the summer days nicely. Mom, for some reason I just thought of that one time that you and I bought Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and sandwiches and came home and watched a movie together – I think everyone else went camping and it was just the two of us at the house. That’s a nice memory. :)
I love and miss you all! I send massive amounts of love waves each of your ways!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
P.S. I received Dadder’s package on Sunday when the Mautz’s came up to visit our branch! Dad, thank you so much for sending that to me! I love the little dictionary and it is in my backpack where it will stay and be very used for the rest of my days here! I love even more that you still go to the thrift shop and that you saw that book, thought of me, and spent the time to send it to me. I love that part the best – I was very touched. I love you, Dadders.
P.S.S. Mom, good luck with your interview! I will pray, pray, pray for you! I am so glad to have an ambitious mother who strives for great things! You are an inspiration to me. Oh, and I keep a journal, don’t worry –and I think you are I are very alike – I am hard on myself too sometimes… I need to have more patience with myself. We’ll work on that together.
P.S.S.S. I am getting much better at this French keyboard given that this is a long letter!
JE VOUS AIME!!!
Ça va où quoi? (5 juillet 2009)
I love receiving your letters each week – thanks for always writing and keeping me updated. I am so glad that you had a wonderful time in Utah, and you evidently were able to hit all the bases: shopping, temple, and eating. I am jealous of all the glorious eateries you visited – thanks for making my mouth water, Dadders. I am also glad that you had another fabulous 4th of July in Lake Arrowhead. The 4th of July’s there are the stuff dreams are made of. I was thinking about those fireworks and the barbeque we have and the company and the memories of 4th of July past all that day – needless to say, I missed you all. My companion and I had as good of a Fouth as you can expect when you are 8000 miles away from the country actually celebrating its independence. I wore a blue skirt, a red shirt and a white shirt over the red one in honor of America. The French flag has the same colors, so in a way I was able to appeal to both nations’ pride in my garment choices for the day. We tried to have an American dinner and we ate French fries, chicken nuggets with our barbeque sauce find, corn (not on the cob, but from the can…), pink lemonade (thanks to the worldwide influence of the Kool-Aid man), and for dessert we made s’mores over our burner. They have something sensational here that I think they need to adopt in America; there are these cookies called “petit écoliers” which are graham cracker like cookies with an open face of chocolate on one side – the chocolate is already attached to the cookie and melts easily. They made the best s’mores I have ever had. Who would have thought that, eh? The French can’t be all that bad when they improve upon an American classic. We took pictures and you will see them sometime in the future…
Tell Heather how excited I am not only that she had another wonderful year at Arrowbear, but that she won’t have to worry about paying for it next year (well, you won’t have to, Mom and Dad) and that she gets to stay there for a long time too! Tell her that I love her so much, and I still think about the great times that we had before my mission. I am thankful to be that little miss’s sister.
So, this week was one of ups and downs. On Monday after writing to you, my companion and I had an interesting P-day. We had gone down into ville with the elders from our district, Elder Flanagan and Elder Wilcox. They are new companions because there was a transfer and they wanted to get bikes from Nouméa for their sector. So, we spent almost our entire P-day down there while they looked for bikes, ate at McDonalds for lunch (it was exciting) and did our shopping down there. Elder Wilcox was the driver that day and I don’t think I have felt like I was going to die as much as I did in that little French car with E. Wilcox at the wheel attempting to put the stick shift into 5th on the autoroute but, without fail, pushing it back into 3rd , jolting us all. My companion and I held hands in fright in the backseat and decided that if we died at least we would die as missionaries and that must give us some sort of direct ticket to the Celestial kingdom. But, we are alive and the next time we go anywhere with the elders I will be the designated driver.
Wednesday was a tough day in our sector. We had two pretty great lessons in the mid-morning, but the afternoon was full of follow-ups on people that either weren’t home, hid from us (it’s amazing how many people do that AND how obvious it is when they do it) or just weren’t home from work. I was feeling extra tired that day as well and I was glad when it was over. The Zone Leaders came over that night (E. Hu’uti and E. Livingston) to get our kilometer sheet for our car and we talked for a few minutes. It is amazing at how a little thing like seeing another companionship of missionaries can brighten your day. Speaking of a day brightener, we have a sister in our ward who LOVES America, perhaps more than most Americans, and she loves singing American songs to our faces at church and on the Fourth we tried to call her and sing the national anthem to her, but she wasn’t there, but this morning she called and stated the Flag Salute to us in perfectly pronounced English and told us that we need to make a list of anything we need and give it to her because she wants to “live the Gospel” and help the missionaries. Needless to say, we are very fond of dear Soeur Pene.
On Thursday, all the missionaries in New Caledonia had a big car wash down in Nouméa. The car wash was at the church building in Magenta and it was for free. There were missionaries waving signs on the street and flagging down cars and when the people would come there would be some missionaries who would wash cars and others would talk to the people whose cars we were washing. Yes, there were ulterior motives to giving free service, but I can’t think of any better ulterior motives than those of preaching and teaching the Gospel. We got quite a few contacts from that project and it was fun.
Our investigators, Michael and Yori finally came to church yesterday! We are teaching more lessons, and we have had really good lessons with some of the less-actives in the area. We are hoping to get a few new investigators this week.
Sister Li-Khau made a very kind comment to me the other night at our weekly dinner at their house. She said that she had read the Friend for this last month and that there was a story on how we each have a talent that God has given us, a gift, if you will. It talked about a girl who was handicapped and couldn’t talk or speak, and one little girl wondered what that girl’s talent was. Her mother told her that the other little girl could smile and bring joy to others with her smile and that that was what her talent was. Soeur Li-Khau said that she thought of me when she read that story and said that the first few weeks here that although I couldn’t talk very much, that I would always smile and laugh. She said that that was one of my talents. I thought that was a very nice comment of hers toward me, and I had been feeling very badly earlier that day about my lack of communication skills in the language. It goes to show that you don’t always need perfection in language to communicate who you are, athough I AM still striving for perfect French. Speaking of that, I haven't yet received your package, Dad. I think it takes about a month for transit. I'll let you know! :)
Anyway, today all the missionaries in the north zone are going to hike Mt. Kogi. You should go look it up on GoogleEarth and you can experience it with me! Things are progressing here, though the work is hard. Missionary work is difficult not always so much physically (although fatigue is just becoming something of a norm), but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The people here have good intentions but there is a need for more unity in our branch and as an island.
I love you all so much! I am sorry to hear that America is still suffering economically and I hope it gets better in the future. I can’t do much here to stimulate the economy (although I would give anything to buy a real American dishwasher), but I will keep that in my prayers.
How thankful I am for you all, especially you Mom and Dad. I am so glad to be here and I am so glad to have the truth. I think of Jacob 4 when Jacob talks about how the sins of children who have had wicked parents will be placed upon the parents heads, and I just think oppositely of how many blessings that righteous parents will receive through the righteousness of the children they raised. Thank you for being my righteous parents – I know you are blessed for your efforts and will continue to be so. I love you all. Have a good week!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
Tell Heather how excited I am not only that she had another wonderful year at Arrowbear, but that she won’t have to worry about paying for it next year (well, you won’t have to, Mom and Dad) and that she gets to stay there for a long time too! Tell her that I love her so much, and I still think about the great times that we had before my mission. I am thankful to be that little miss’s sister.
So, this week was one of ups and downs. On Monday after writing to you, my companion and I had an interesting P-day. We had gone down into ville with the elders from our district, Elder Flanagan and Elder Wilcox. They are new companions because there was a transfer and they wanted to get bikes from Nouméa for their sector. So, we spent almost our entire P-day down there while they looked for bikes, ate at McDonalds for lunch (it was exciting) and did our shopping down there. Elder Wilcox was the driver that day and I don’t think I have felt like I was going to die as much as I did in that little French car with E. Wilcox at the wheel attempting to put the stick shift into 5th on the autoroute but, without fail, pushing it back into 3rd , jolting us all. My companion and I held hands in fright in the backseat and decided that if we died at least we would die as missionaries and that must give us some sort of direct ticket to the Celestial kingdom. But, we are alive and the next time we go anywhere with the elders I will be the designated driver.
Wednesday was a tough day in our sector. We had two pretty great lessons in the mid-morning, but the afternoon was full of follow-ups on people that either weren’t home, hid from us (it’s amazing how many people do that AND how obvious it is when they do it) or just weren’t home from work. I was feeling extra tired that day as well and I was glad when it was over. The Zone Leaders came over that night (E. Hu’uti and E. Livingston) to get our kilometer sheet for our car and we talked for a few minutes. It is amazing at how a little thing like seeing another companionship of missionaries can brighten your day. Speaking of a day brightener, we have a sister in our ward who LOVES America, perhaps more than most Americans, and she loves singing American songs to our faces at church and on the Fourth we tried to call her and sing the national anthem to her, but she wasn’t there, but this morning she called and stated the Flag Salute to us in perfectly pronounced English and told us that we need to make a list of anything we need and give it to her because she wants to “live the Gospel” and help the missionaries. Needless to say, we are very fond of dear Soeur Pene.
On Thursday, all the missionaries in New Caledonia had a big car wash down in Nouméa. The car wash was at the church building in Magenta and it was for free. There were missionaries waving signs on the street and flagging down cars and when the people would come there would be some missionaries who would wash cars and others would talk to the people whose cars we were washing. Yes, there were ulterior motives to giving free service, but I can’t think of any better ulterior motives than those of preaching and teaching the Gospel. We got quite a few contacts from that project and it was fun.
Our investigators, Michael and Yori finally came to church yesterday! We are teaching more lessons, and we have had really good lessons with some of the less-actives in the area. We are hoping to get a few new investigators this week.
Sister Li-Khau made a very kind comment to me the other night at our weekly dinner at their house. She said that she had read the Friend for this last month and that there was a story on how we each have a talent that God has given us, a gift, if you will. It talked about a girl who was handicapped and couldn’t talk or speak, and one little girl wondered what that girl’s talent was. Her mother told her that the other little girl could smile and bring joy to others with her smile and that that was what her talent was. Soeur Li-Khau said that she thought of me when she read that story and said that the first few weeks here that although I couldn’t talk very much, that I would always smile and laugh. She said that that was one of my talents. I thought that was a very nice comment of hers toward me, and I had been feeling very badly earlier that day about my lack of communication skills in the language. It goes to show that you don’t always need perfection in language to communicate who you are, athough I AM still striving for perfect French. Speaking of that, I haven't yet received your package, Dad. I think it takes about a month for transit. I'll let you know! :)
Anyway, today all the missionaries in the north zone are going to hike Mt. Kogi. You should go look it up on GoogleEarth and you can experience it with me! Things are progressing here, though the work is hard. Missionary work is difficult not always so much physically (although fatigue is just becoming something of a norm), but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The people here have good intentions but there is a need for more unity in our branch and as an island.
I love you all so much! I am sorry to hear that America is still suffering economically and I hope it gets better in the future. I can’t do much here to stimulate the economy (although I would give anything to buy a real American dishwasher), but I will keep that in my prayers.
How thankful I am for you all, especially you Mom and Dad. I am so glad to be here and I am so glad to have the truth. I think of Jacob 4 when Jacob talks about how the sins of children who have had wicked parents will be placed upon the parents heads, and I just think oppositely of how many blessings that righteous parents will receive through the righteousness of the children they raised. Thank you for being my righteous parents – I know you are blessed for your efforts and will continue to be so. I love you all. Have a good week!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
happy fourth
Your petite, not staying so petite, soeur (29 juin 2009)
Well, it has been another wonderful, teaching, learning, experiencing week here in the little Pacific sliver of Nouvelle-Calédonie! It's funny because I feel like I am learning far more here about myself, about life, about others, and about the Gospel than I think I am teaching. Missions are amazing in the fact that they not only bring others unto Christ but they can also bring the missionaries more unto Christ and to a greater understanding of who He was and a greater taste perhaps of what He experienced.
Before I devle into telling you about my week, I wanted to say how happy I am that you are all doing so well and prospering in that glorious land of America. Being here in a French country has only heightened my appreciation for America and the values that we are built on. Perhaps those values are crumbling a bit, but the USA is doing much better than many others places in this world. Always be thankful for America.
Mom and Dad, I am glad that you are in your favorite place in the whole world and that the shopping there and the food there (dairy keen eh? sounds so good! I miss real milkshakes! The other day we were invited by our Ward Mission leader to go get "milkshakes" and my companion explained to me that here for milkshakes they take milk, add flavoring, and shake it. That's it. No ice cream or anything; See! So triste! See my above thought on America's gloriousness. Mom, I am glad that Liz and Ann were cordial to you once again, and I laughed out loud when you said you wanted to go down the Provo river with Kristina! Be carerful of the creepy men there, like last time! I can't believe that Dad doesn't want to go though. C'mon Dadders! And, please eat a nice, fried scone for me at Chuck-a-Rama because I know you are going there again at the end of your trip. Speaking of gluttony, America has NOTHING on Pacific Islanders. I am not kidding! I am amazed that the US has such a bad rap in comparison to the people here - well, not the real French people here, but the islanders. The other night, Friday night, we had a dinner appointment with the family Toyon (like we always do) and we ate fresh fish cakes (like crab cakes, but with just caught fish), salad, and then we had spaghetti and a meat sauce with lots of cheese, and bread (of course), and then dessert, and Soeur Toyon is constantly saying "mangez mes soeurs, MANGEZ!” So we eat more and we usually go home a little sick. It is the goal of that family to get me "grosse." I hope I am transferred to a walking sector in the near future...
As for the week, it was bien passée! The weather has been a bit dreary here with a whole lot of rain. You want to know why it is so lush and green on islands? Tons of rain. On Sunday we woke up to the torrential rain banging on our roof. As we drove to church we would literally see walls of rain ahead of us and then hit them - the windshield wipers were flinging wildly back and forth and it reminded me of that time we were in Palmdale, Mom, minus all the lightening. Speaking of lightening, I electrocuted myself yesterday. It was cool (after the fact). I had taken something out of the socket but my adapter piece was still in the socket with a metal part sticking out and, clearly, not thinking I pulled at that piece and felt a weird sensation and then I was thought, hmm, I think I am being electrocuted. Donc, I let go and yelled. My companion thinks I am a little crazy.
On Thursday this week the sisters had a little one day exchange and Soeur Manoi, a Tahitian sister who scares me, came and stayed with me in Paita in order to show me around a little. She was in the area before and she had put a lot of names in our Area Book with vague addresses (such as: “Soane – near the end of such-and-such street – il est gentil”), so she came up and we spent the day driving around finding all of the people they had contacted so that we can do follow-ups in the coming week. Soeur Manoi doesn't speak really any English so it was a full day in French, and it was an educational thing for me - slightly stressful especially since I was trying to figure out and memorize where all these people, these children of God who need to Gospel, live and what kind of contact they have had with the other missionaries so I could forward that to my companion so that we can be effective in teaching in upcoming weeks. We also painted a sister's house that day who lives in an area called Mt. Mou.
The other days in this week have consisted of my companion and I doing follow-ups in the area, visiting our investigators and mostly just teaching whenever and whoever we can. The work in Paita has been getting consistently better and better each week and as the time passes we are teaching more lessons. My teaching skills are progressing, although I have still have trouble in all aspects. The language is coming on slowly and I understand almost everything that people say, but I am slow when I respond and still a bit hesitant - but I am getting better and I have a very patient, kind companion who is a support to me and talented in her teaching and language skills. This mission is teaching me patience not only with others, but very much so with myself. I think I expect myself to just get things right away and be capable of dealing with all sorts of situations, but I can see that many of those capabilities I thought I had have been taken away; New Caledonia is laying a humbling hand upon my head, but I am finding that I can truly rely on the Lord and that it is His will that I lean on Him so heavily. He is very patient with me. It is not easy to be a missionary - people laugh at you and lie to you and are not always so pleasant - but it is the hard things that we do in life that add to strength of character and depth of experience. I am grateful to be here, and I can't help but be joyful every day (even when I am exhausted) to be here and to be a small hand in this great work!
So, Fourth of July is soon! The other day my comp and I found BBQ sauce at the little store in town. Sr. Spencer said it was the first time she has seen BBQ sauce here, and she is going home in a month so it was quite a discovery! We are planning to buy that, chicken, watermelon, corn, and ice cream for our Fourth of July celebration at lunch on Saturday. There won't be any fireworks and I will sorely miss the beautiful firework show over the lake! Oh, what a agreeable image and memory that thought brings.
I am sending a package home soon so keep on the lookout! I still haven't received the package from you Dadders, but I hope and wait anxiously. Oh, and tell Heather how glad I am she is at Arrowbear! I can't imagine the tears she will shed when she has to come home. Get the floodgates fortified and ready. I love that little girl, and I hope she has a good time.
Hoping you all have a fantastic week and that you have a very patriotic 4th of July. Can you believe that I am three months in?
I love you all so much!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
Before I devle into telling you about my week, I wanted to say how happy I am that you are all doing so well and prospering in that glorious land of America. Being here in a French country has only heightened my appreciation for America and the values that we are built on. Perhaps those values are crumbling a bit, but the USA is doing much better than many others places in this world. Always be thankful for America.
Mom and Dad, I am glad that you are in your favorite place in the whole world and that the shopping there and the food there (dairy keen eh? sounds so good! I miss real milkshakes! The other day we were invited by our Ward Mission leader to go get "milkshakes" and my companion explained to me that here for milkshakes they take milk, add flavoring, and shake it. That's it. No ice cream or anything; See! So triste! See my above thought on America's gloriousness. Mom, I am glad that Liz and Ann were cordial to you once again, and I laughed out loud when you said you wanted to go down the Provo river with Kristina! Be carerful of the creepy men there, like last time! I can't believe that Dad doesn't want to go though. C'mon Dadders! And, please eat a nice, fried scone for me at Chuck-a-Rama because I know you are going there again at the end of your trip. Speaking of gluttony, America has NOTHING on Pacific Islanders. I am not kidding! I am amazed that the US has such a bad rap in comparison to the people here - well, not the real French people here, but the islanders. The other night, Friday night, we had a dinner appointment with the family Toyon (like we always do) and we ate fresh fish cakes (like crab cakes, but with just caught fish), salad, and then we had spaghetti and a meat sauce with lots of cheese, and bread (of course), and then dessert, and Soeur Toyon is constantly saying "mangez mes soeurs, MANGEZ!” So we eat more and we usually go home a little sick. It is the goal of that family to get me "grosse." I hope I am transferred to a walking sector in the near future...
As for the week, it was bien passée! The weather has been a bit dreary here with a whole lot of rain. You want to know why it is so lush and green on islands? Tons of rain. On Sunday we woke up to the torrential rain banging on our roof. As we drove to church we would literally see walls of rain ahead of us and then hit them - the windshield wipers were flinging wildly back and forth and it reminded me of that time we were in Palmdale, Mom, minus all the lightening. Speaking of lightening, I electrocuted myself yesterday. It was cool (after the fact). I had taken something out of the socket but my adapter piece was still in the socket with a metal part sticking out and, clearly, not thinking I pulled at that piece and felt a weird sensation and then I was thought, hmm, I think I am being electrocuted. Donc, I let go and yelled. My companion thinks I am a little crazy.
On Thursday this week the sisters had a little one day exchange and Soeur Manoi, a Tahitian sister who scares me, came and stayed with me in Paita in order to show me around a little. She was in the area before and she had put a lot of names in our Area Book with vague addresses (such as: “Soane – near the end of such-and-such street – il est gentil”), so she came up and we spent the day driving around finding all of the people they had contacted so that we can do follow-ups in the coming week. Soeur Manoi doesn't speak really any English so it was a full day in French, and it was an educational thing for me - slightly stressful especially since I was trying to figure out and memorize where all these people, these children of God who need to Gospel, live and what kind of contact they have had with the other missionaries so I could forward that to my companion so that we can be effective in teaching in upcoming weeks. We also painted a sister's house that day who lives in an area called Mt. Mou.
The other days in this week have consisted of my companion and I doing follow-ups in the area, visiting our investigators and mostly just teaching whenever and whoever we can. The work in Paita has been getting consistently better and better each week and as the time passes we are teaching more lessons. My teaching skills are progressing, although I have still have trouble in all aspects. The language is coming on slowly and I understand almost everything that people say, but I am slow when I respond and still a bit hesitant - but I am getting better and I have a very patient, kind companion who is a support to me and talented in her teaching and language skills. This mission is teaching me patience not only with others, but very much so with myself. I think I expect myself to just get things right away and be capable of dealing with all sorts of situations, but I can see that many of those capabilities I thought I had have been taken away; New Caledonia is laying a humbling hand upon my head, but I am finding that I can truly rely on the Lord and that it is His will that I lean on Him so heavily. He is very patient with me. It is not easy to be a missionary - people laugh at you and lie to you and are not always so pleasant - but it is the hard things that we do in life that add to strength of character and depth of experience. I am grateful to be here, and I can't help but be joyful every day (even when I am exhausted) to be here and to be a small hand in this great work!
So, Fourth of July is soon! The other day my comp and I found BBQ sauce at the little store in town. Sr. Spencer said it was the first time she has seen BBQ sauce here, and she is going home in a month so it was quite a discovery! We are planning to buy that, chicken, watermelon, corn, and ice cream for our Fourth of July celebration at lunch on Saturday. There won't be any fireworks and I will sorely miss the beautiful firework show over the lake! Oh, what a agreeable image and memory that thought brings.
I am sending a package home soon so keep on the lookout! I still haven't received the package from you Dadders, but I hope and wait anxiously. Oh, and tell Heather how glad I am she is at Arrowbear! I can't imagine the tears she will shed when she has to come home. Get the floodgates fortified and ready. I love that little girl, and I hope she has a good time.
Hoping you all have a fantastic week and that you have a very patriotic 4th of July. Can you believe that I am three months in?
I love you all so much!
Love,
Soeur Cummins
Ben, voilà quoi (22 juin 2009)
Thanks so much for the emails and the love. I hope you had a very good Father’s Day. The French take their holidays, even Father’s Day, seriously and enjoy taking full advantage of any and every opportunity to have family come over and have a good time. The people here, for the most part, are very family orientated and religious (at least outwardly), and that makes talking about family and God easy.
Ahh! I am almost at my one month mark out here in the field, but it feels like I have been out here for much, much longer…
I can’t believe that we are becoming one of those families with a herd of cats – that makes me laugh. Mom, I wish you the best of luck with that Masters Programme you are pursuing. Do make sure that you are not going to overwhelm yourself to a point where other important things start to lack – like health? I remember that one of the things that my patriarchal blessing says is that I do not have to do everything in my life, but that I should do the things that I do do to the best of my abilities. That is probably good advice for any over-achiever. Oh, and tell Keeks that I am SO happy that life at BYU is good and that she is so involved with BYUSA. It’s nice to hear that she is doing well, that she is active and is about doing good! And Brian is home? How wonderful! I am glad to hear that his mission was good to him and for him. Being out here in New Caledonia has already taught me so many things about myself and about human nature. I am glad to be speaking a different language because it obliges me to sit and truly listen to people. Many of the people we have met and spoken with have had many interesting and sad things that have happened to them; every life has a story, but every life needs and can be changed by the message of the Gospel.
The work here in Paita is experiencing some growing pains, if you will. I don’t think the people here were well taken care of before, and we are seeing the symptoms of it: investigators that do not desire to progress or do anything that promotes progression (like reading, praying, and the like) and people who generally don’t seem to care about our message. This is a missionary’s life though, I suppose, and we are working hard every day so we can see some change. This week we had Zone Conference down in the city with all the missionaries here in New Caledonia and with our President and his wife. It was great to see everyone and meet everyone in the mission here and also to hear the speakers and be spiritually edified together. On Wednesday we had a lesson with a woman named Virginie, who was first contacted by the elders. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. She was very open and very accepting of the message. She said that that was exactly how she imagined God’s plan to be and that she felt strongly that it was true. The Spirit’s presence was incredible during that time that we spent with her, and we hope that she will read and pray about what we shared with her.
That was a great experience that highlighted our week as well as another meeting that we had with this very sweet Wallisian man named Antonio. Antonio is blind and he lives with his brother and his family. He is very humble and we had a good conversation with him and later on with his brother who came home from work. They are Catholic, like all traditional Wallisians, and we had a good talk on prayer, God, the Bible and a myriad of other Gospel goodness. We are going to go by and teach Antonio next week. Something about his mannerisms was touching to me – I think that many times having an apparent defect makes us humble and reliant on Heavenly Father, and thus makes us receptive to others and to truth.
Despite our success with some people this week, our past few days have been a bit marred by the fact that our one progressing investigator, Aimée, who we have been continuing to teach and who we engaged to be baptized, decided to end contact with us. We called her on Saturday night in order to make sure that she would be coming to church so we could find her a ride and she said that she wouldn’t be able to come. She then called us ten minutes later and said that she didn’t want to be baptized and that she didn’t want us to come by again. At first I was worried if we had said anything to put her off, but in the end, everyone has their own free agency and they ultimately choose whether or whether not they will listen and accept the Gospel and all that goes with that. It was sad for us to have her drop us, and guess what I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting the next day on: libre arbitre, or, free agency. Another one of our investigators and his son are also not progressing the way we would like them too. This is where the acquisition of Christ-like patience comes in handy,
Let’s see, my talk in Sacrament meeting went well yesterday, although I think my pronunciation goes out the window when I am under stress, so that is something I will have to work on. The language is coming along nicely though. I understand more and talk more, which takes some of the pressure off my companion although she has an ease as a master teacher of the Gospel. I am always amazed at how simply yet effectively she puts things and how well she is able to relate to others. I am thankful for her example and her friendship.
This week has been another full one in New Caledonia! We continue to work hard. I am glad to hear that the family is doing well and that summer has kicked off with a bang! Have fun at all your summer camps, on your Utah trips and the like. Things are changing so much there it seems, and I am sorry to miss it all, but then again, I am not sorry to be where I am and doing what I am doing. I can see daily how Heavenly Father is leading us, and I hope that I can always remain a useful tool in His hands.
Anyway, I hope this was a good email, and that you have some sense of the things I have been up to. The hour I have passes by so quickly, and there is never enough time to tell you all that is happening.
Je vous aime.
Love,
Sœur Cummins
Ahh! I am almost at my one month mark out here in the field, but it feels like I have been out here for much, much longer…
I can’t believe that we are becoming one of those families with a herd of cats – that makes me laugh. Mom, I wish you the best of luck with that Masters Programme you are pursuing. Do make sure that you are not going to overwhelm yourself to a point where other important things start to lack – like health? I remember that one of the things that my patriarchal blessing says is that I do not have to do everything in my life, but that I should do the things that I do do to the best of my abilities. That is probably good advice for any over-achiever. Oh, and tell Keeks that I am SO happy that life at BYU is good and that she is so involved with BYUSA. It’s nice to hear that she is doing well, that she is active and is about doing good! And Brian is home? How wonderful! I am glad to hear that his mission was good to him and for him. Being out here in New Caledonia has already taught me so many things about myself and about human nature. I am glad to be speaking a different language because it obliges me to sit and truly listen to people. Many of the people we have met and spoken with have had many interesting and sad things that have happened to them; every life has a story, but every life needs and can be changed by the message of the Gospel.
The work here in Paita is experiencing some growing pains, if you will. I don’t think the people here were well taken care of before, and we are seeing the symptoms of it: investigators that do not desire to progress or do anything that promotes progression (like reading, praying, and the like) and people who generally don’t seem to care about our message. This is a missionary’s life though, I suppose, and we are working hard every day so we can see some change. This week we had Zone Conference down in the city with all the missionaries here in New Caledonia and with our President and his wife. It was great to see everyone and meet everyone in the mission here and also to hear the speakers and be spiritually edified together. On Wednesday we had a lesson with a woman named Virginie, who was first contacted by the elders. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. She was very open and very accepting of the message. She said that that was exactly how she imagined God’s plan to be and that she felt strongly that it was true. The Spirit’s presence was incredible during that time that we spent with her, and we hope that she will read and pray about what we shared with her.
That was a great experience that highlighted our week as well as another meeting that we had with this very sweet Wallisian man named Antonio. Antonio is blind and he lives with his brother and his family. He is very humble and we had a good conversation with him and later on with his brother who came home from work. They are Catholic, like all traditional Wallisians, and we had a good talk on prayer, God, the Bible and a myriad of other Gospel goodness. We are going to go by and teach Antonio next week. Something about his mannerisms was touching to me – I think that many times having an apparent defect makes us humble and reliant on Heavenly Father, and thus makes us receptive to others and to truth.
Despite our success with some people this week, our past few days have been a bit marred by the fact that our one progressing investigator, Aimée, who we have been continuing to teach and who we engaged to be baptized, decided to end contact with us. We called her on Saturday night in order to make sure that she would be coming to church so we could find her a ride and she said that she wouldn’t be able to come. She then called us ten minutes later and said that she didn’t want to be baptized and that she didn’t want us to come by again. At first I was worried if we had said anything to put her off, but in the end, everyone has their own free agency and they ultimately choose whether or whether not they will listen and accept the Gospel and all that goes with that. It was sad for us to have her drop us, and guess what I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting the next day on: libre arbitre, or, free agency. Another one of our investigators and his son are also not progressing the way we would like them too. This is where the acquisition of Christ-like patience comes in handy,
Let’s see, my talk in Sacrament meeting went well yesterday, although I think my pronunciation goes out the window when I am under stress, so that is something I will have to work on. The language is coming along nicely though. I understand more and talk more, which takes some of the pressure off my companion although she has an ease as a master teacher of the Gospel. I am always amazed at how simply yet effectively she puts things and how well she is able to relate to others. I am thankful for her example and her friendship.
This week has been another full one in New Caledonia! We continue to work hard. I am glad to hear that the family is doing well and that summer has kicked off with a bang! Have fun at all your summer camps, on your Utah trips and the like. Things are changing so much there it seems, and I am sorry to miss it all, but then again, I am not sorry to be where I am and doing what I am doing. I can see daily how Heavenly Father is leading us, and I hope that I can always remain a useful tool in His hands.
Anyway, I hope this was a good email, and that you have some sense of the things I have been up to. The hour I have passes by so quickly, and there is never enough time to tell you all that is happening.
Je vous aime.
Love,
Sœur Cummins
we found this little fella when we came home from conference.
Une autre semaine, 15 juin 2009
Soeur Laurel Cummins, BP 15154, Cedex, 98804 Nouméa Cedex, NEW CALEDONIA
(If you want to send a package it is very important that you don't put my name on the first line, but instead as an ATTN: Laurel Cummins on the bottom line)
As for that insurance statement, I already told Mom about two months ago that I had typed up a statement concerning that before I left for the MTC that rests in the "Documents" on my laptop there at home - it should be under the folder "Important documents\information" If it is not there then I will type one up again, but the thing is that I am only allowed an hour to write home each week, and I know that I wrote a document that contained a statement. I am sorry about the trouble this is causing you all. I hope that it can be resolved soon. Let me know if I need to type that thing up again.
How is your Father’s Day going? Did you open my card yet? I hope you like it, and just so you know, I LOVE YOU DAD! Very much!
Oh, and I did eat some of that deer - it was chewy. I ate so much that night. I have a feeling that this is going to be a theme for my mission. We always seem to have a dinner appointment, which means that we shouldn’t eat very much at lunch because the members LOVE feeding us – they are very hospitable, gracious people. We eat so many good things here - the grapefruits are literally the size of my head, and they have all these different kinds of bananas and a root called manioc and these cookies called Tim Tams (I am sending you all some at Christmas!). The people here love to feed you and they want to fatten you up and they are always saying "mange, mange," which means “eat, eat!” Plus my companion likes to cooks coconut rice and such goodness, so we are always having good things – like this week she made a pineapple, berry upside down cake that didn’t look very good (so we didn’t take it to the Relief Society function we had planned to take it too), so we ate it ALL instead. Thank goodness we have exercise time in the morning.
As for this week, many things happened. It seems as if every day were some sort of hip-happening adventure in itself. It’s funny that you asked, Mom, if it feels any different here because honestly it doesn’t. When we are out walking about or driving I don’t think of myself as living on this little island in the middle of nowhere on the other side of the world.Certain conveniences are different and the way of living (like, there are no dryers here and the French cars are tempermental and there are lots of dogs), but humanity is the same everywhere you go; people have the same needs and concerns and questions everywhere you go, and that’s what we deal with as missionaries: God’s children. So, it doesn’t feel any different in that way. The language is different for SURE and sometimes the type of people you encounter are new to you. The other day we were teaching the third lesson to this older Wallisian man (by the way I am learning a little Wallisian: good morning = malo te ma’oli) who we found out is a big chief here on the island for his family (family being a very loose term here – like 100s of people who are cousins and uncles three times removed). We are also teaching this Tahitian woman with a member (Soeur Penn – she is a great member and she loves anything and anyone American) who is very into gardening and likes to tells us about her wacko dreams where she sees possessed spirits – she brought out that little story in when we were trying to explain the Holy Spirit. Also, we are teaching this older woman named Aimée who loves writing in a special notebook all the things she is learning from the Book of Mormon. We invited her to church yesterday but she didn’t come so we are going to have to call and inquire about that.
Maybe one thing that feels different are people’s view on government and bureaucracy. There have been SO many grèves (that is to say: strikes) here this past week. People get fed up with anything and they decide to shut down everything and have a strike. It’s frustrating when they have gasoline grèves or grèves at the supermarket because they just don’t walk around with signs and get all excited, but they shut everything down too.
Today and tomorrow are zone conference here for the missionaries of New Caledonia. Ah, the little things that missionaries cling onto and cherish!! My companion and I are excited – today there is a picnic for all the missionaries and tomorrow is our conference day. We are going down into the city and staying there until tomorrow – wooh!
Can I tell you about a glorious moment I had the other night? Good, I will. We had just arrived home for the night and we got out of the car and turned off the lights and, wow, you should have seen the night sky! There are no cities around us at all and no lights that could block out the stars. My goodness it was a glorious view of the galaxies. It made me think of Abraham when God told him that his posterity would out number the stars in the sky and the sand in the sea. It made me feel very small, but at the same moment I felt, even though I was this little nothing in this huge universe, that Heavenly Father still loved me and that He loves each of His children. I feel like I am living a miracle being here on a mission. I am being prepared for the rest of my life, and I am preparing others for the rest of their lives and hopefully, the rest of eternity – if you can even call it “the rest”. I feel blessed to be here and to be doing what I am doing. Every night I am tired tired tired, but when I look back, even now only two weeks in, it was worth it to be tired. Yesterday I taught Gospel Essentials for the first time all in French (well, clearly it had to be in French) and it was a very good experience for me - it was on baptism. I do not recollect anything I said, but my companion assured me that I did very well. She is a supportive, encouraging companion. It is a pleasureto be her grennie and to be learning all that I am from her – she is patient and kind with me, and we laugh a lot together. Laughter provides sanity.
This letter is long and lacking in direction, but I hope I am giving you a taste of all the things I have been up to. I wish I could write more, but know at least that I love you all and am continually grateful for your influence of good in my life. Enjoy summer break! Wish me well in the freezing cold winter I am enduring! :) Hey, I did see my breath this morning when I was outside the house exercising! It was probably in the low 50s. Brrr.
Love you all à tout jamais,
Soeur Cummins
Onward, ever onward, 8 juin 2009
I am still having trouble with these silly French keypads, so excuse any mistakes that may arise.
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
This is how it would look if I tried to type normally:
hello everyone; hereùs q tongue tzister for you qll° hoz ,uch zood could q zood chuck chuck if q zood chuck could chuck zood§
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
Bonjour de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1 juin 2009
Salut Mom and Dad,
My companion and I are at the approved place where we can send e-mails: a Chinese laundermat Internet cafe. Isn't that neat? I am having a difficult time typing right now because French keyboards are a little different - they moved around some of the letters and the punctuations... Gotta love the French. I now have a whopping one hour to write you all at home, but I think much of it will be spent trying to make sure I spell things correctly. Haha.
So much has happened the last few days! On Saturday my collégue, another soeur from New Cal going to New Cal and I flew to New Cal (how many times can I put that in a sentence)! All the flight attendants were French so Soeur Leavitt and I put our best French to use with them. I said something to the effect of, “I’d like an apple juice, please.”
When we arrived at the airport the senior couple, the Mautzs, picked us up and drove us into the city of Nouméa, where they are living. We meet them at the MTC a month ago, so it was nice to see some familiar faces when we arrived. The drive into la ville (Nouméa) was beautiful! Everything is green and the beaches and views in Nouméa are breathtaking! Oh, by the way, the Mautz's have a blog that they update with pictures and stories from that week in the mission - that way you can see what is going on, even when I can't send pictures. The address is: carlandshirleymautz@blogspot.com
Anyway, when we all arrived in Nouméa all the sisters meet us at the Mautz's (there are 8 of us all together) and we had lunch. Elder Mautz had us new sisters fill out some papers in order to get cartes de séjour (resident cards) and similar things. Then I found out something. Elder Mautz told me that my companion's (Soeur Spencer) driver license was no longer valid and because she didn't have an international driver's license that I would be the companion that drove in our area (I am assigned to the Paita area, near the airport in Tontouta, north of the city). Oh, and then he said that our car was a stick shift and that I would be driving home in two hours. Now, because I don't, well, didn't drive a stick shift at that time and remembering my experience with Mom trying to drive through Cedar Ridge in Dad's Sentra, I became nervous. But, the Lord qualifies who He calls, right? Elder Mautz, my companion and I got into the little French car that I'll be driving and decided that I would learn stick shift on the streets of Nouméa. I was actually not that bad, and in fact Elder Mautz said that I did better than any of his children had when they had learned. He was very encouraging, as was my companion. However, there was this one hill and I completely stalled out and could not budge. Cars honked and went around me and then I built up more courage and tried going again. We literally SQUEALED out of there! We laughed (with uneasiness, on my part), and when we came back around again, there were some major rubber marks. You could say that I left my mark in Nouméa.
After our driving adventure, we went back to the Mautz’s residence (which is located in the Baie de Citrons - look it up; it is the epitome of South Pacific beauty!) and all the soeurs got with their companions, and we went to our different areas. Soeur Leavitt and I said tender farewells. I am very thankful for her, and my new companion is kind and wonderful as well. We drove back to Paita together and arrived at our nice little flat. It is a little house with lots of space. I set up my mosquito net over my bed (thank you Brother Hunter) and we got all settled in. My first missionary meal in New Caledonia (not counting lunch at the Mautz's) was bread, ham, and brie sandwiches. The brie came in a can but it was better than any I had had before. Merci les français! Then we had these cookies called "tim tams." I hopefully will not gain any weight. . . but I hear that the members feed us like crazy, so the odds are against me.
Sunday (yesterday for me) was a wonderful. We drove up to the branch in Tontouta where we met the elders in our district - elders Manarani and Flanagan. They are nice. Then we met the members. The ladies gave us bisous (cheek to cheek kisses - I love it!) and we chatted a little. They found out that I play a little piano and they assigned me to play for sacrament meeting. The songs chosen were not ones I was familiar with so I just right-handed them – very badly too! I ended up just laughing during the songs and so did others (goodheartedly), and the branch president thanked me afterward and said it was good that I got through all the way through the songs. I think next week I will make a list of the songs I can play. Their usual pianist is studying in France but should be home for vacation soon. Hopefully I will hold out okay.
The branch here is very friendly and they like to talk a lot. There are a lot of Tahitians and Wallisians/Futunians in our ward so it will be interesting to see what my accent becomes. They said that my French is good, but I have a lot to learn and hopefully enough time to do it all. After church we came back to the apartment and had some quality studies together and personally. We visited a less-active woman named Marguerite last night and had a nice time talking to her about faith, family and prayer. We read Ether 12:4 together. Then, since it was becoming late we just drove around Paita so I could familiarize myself, and Soeur Spencer gave me another driving lesson. Pray for me – we are driving into Nouméa again today…
Oh, sad news. The iPod is not functioning once again. I tried my charger and my companion’s and there was no reviving that occurred. I will send it home if I can and if it isn’t terribly expensive. It’s a shame that I have no luck with it and I am sorry your hard work didn’t get it to work.
I have to run now – my hour is up. I love you all. Thank you for your e-mails and your love. I am glad that all is well with the family. Mom, don’t kill yourself with all those classes! That’s a lot of work!
You are all wonderful and I wish you a very good week. Keep me in your prayers. You are ever in mine.
Avec amour de la Nouvelle-Calédonie,
Soeur Cummins
email from Fiji:
I’m here in Fiji!
28 mai 2009
I was just given permission by Sister Ostler (the mission president's wife) to write and tell you that we have arrived in Fiji safely!
The flight to Fiji was very good and it went by pretty fast. The airplane we flew in was the biggest aircraft I had EVER seen! It was ten seats wide by a million seats in length and it has two levels. It was very interesting because I actually sat next to this one man and he said hello in a foreign accent and I asked if he was Italian (just a guess). He said he was French so I began speaking French to him and then he told me that he was from New Caledonia. I was so thrilled by that! I tried to talk to him for longer, but he soon went to bed - plus, his French was extremely difficult to understand so conversation was mostly me laughing and shaking my head and saying "oui" even if that wasn't how I should have been responding. This is no longer MTC French.
We arrived in Fiji this morning at 5am local time. There were some missionaries who greeted us there and waited with us while we waited for the bus that would take us to Suva, the capital, where the temple and mission office are. The bus drive was 4 hours long! And, we have to take the same bus ride back tomorrow night (Friday - just remember, we are a day ahead of you) before we fly to New Cal on Saturday morning. Uck. No it wasn't that bad.
The landscape here is amazing! Everything is green green green! And then there is more green growing over that. The ocean sights are, clearly, spectacular, and I found it so funny that every now and again we would drive by a McDonalds. They really are everywhere.Anyway, we finally arrived in Suva and more missionaries picked us up from the bus and we are now at the mission office which is on the other side of the parking lot of the temple. It is a small temple, like Redlands, but it is beautiful. The elders and sisters here just ate lunch and we meet a girl from New Caledonia who is going to be serving in New Caledonia with us. Wooh.
I will write on Monday, which I believe are our P-day, and I think I was only supposed to write you that I am safe. Well, I am safe. It's a bit overwhelming to think where I am in comparison to you and what is up ahead of me, but I am excited.
It was so nice to talk to you last night! I love you all so much!
Love your far away daughter,
Soeur Cummins
My companion and I are at the approved place where we can send e-mails: a Chinese laundermat Internet cafe. Isn't that neat? I am having a difficult time typing right now because French keyboards are a little different - they moved around some of the letters and the punctuations... Gotta love the French. I now have a whopping one hour to write you all at home, but I think much of it will be spent trying to make sure I spell things correctly. Haha.
So much has happened the last few days! On Saturday my collégue, another soeur from New Cal going to New Cal and I flew to New Cal (how many times can I put that in a sentence)! All the flight attendants were French so Soeur Leavitt and I put our best French to use with them. I said something to the effect of, “I’d like an apple juice, please.”
When we arrived at the airport the senior couple, the Mautzs, picked us up and drove us into the city of Nouméa, where they are living. We meet them at the MTC a month ago, so it was nice to see some familiar faces when we arrived. The drive into la ville (Nouméa) was beautiful! Everything is green and the beaches and views in Nouméa are breathtaking! Oh, by the way, the Mautz's have a blog that they update with pictures and stories from that week in the mission - that way you can see what is going on, even when I can't send pictures. The address is: carlandshirleymautz@blogspot.com
Anyway, when we all arrived in Nouméa all the sisters meet us at the Mautz's (there are 8 of us all together) and we had lunch. Elder Mautz had us new sisters fill out some papers in order to get cartes de séjour (resident cards) and similar things. Then I found out something. Elder Mautz told me that my companion's (Soeur Spencer) driver license was no longer valid and because she didn't have an international driver's license that I would be the companion that drove in our area (I am assigned to the Paita area, near the airport in Tontouta, north of the city). Oh, and then he said that our car was a stick shift and that I would be driving home in two hours. Now, because I don't, well, didn't drive a stick shift at that time and remembering my experience with Mom trying to drive through Cedar Ridge in Dad's Sentra, I became nervous. But, the Lord qualifies who He calls, right? Elder Mautz, my companion and I got into the little French car that I'll be driving and decided that I would learn stick shift on the streets of Nouméa. I was actually not that bad, and in fact Elder Mautz said that I did better than any of his children had when they had learned. He was very encouraging, as was my companion. However, there was this one hill and I completely stalled out and could not budge. Cars honked and went around me and then I built up more courage and tried going again. We literally SQUEALED out of there! We laughed (with uneasiness, on my part), and when we came back around again, there were some major rubber marks. You could say that I left my mark in Nouméa.
After our driving adventure, we went back to the Mautz’s residence (which is located in the Baie de Citrons - look it up; it is the epitome of South Pacific beauty!) and all the soeurs got with their companions, and we went to our different areas. Soeur Leavitt and I said tender farewells. I am very thankful for her, and my new companion is kind and wonderful as well. We drove back to Paita together and arrived at our nice little flat. It is a little house with lots of space. I set up my mosquito net over my bed (thank you Brother Hunter) and we got all settled in. My first missionary meal in New Caledonia (not counting lunch at the Mautz's) was bread, ham, and brie sandwiches. The brie came in a can but it was better than any I had had before. Merci les français! Then we had these cookies called "tim tams." I hopefully will not gain any weight. . . but I hear that the members feed us like crazy, so the odds are against me.
Sunday (yesterday for me) was a wonderful. We drove up to the branch in Tontouta where we met the elders in our district - elders Manarani and Flanagan. They are nice. Then we met the members. The ladies gave us bisous (cheek to cheek kisses - I love it!) and we chatted a little. They found out that I play a little piano and they assigned me to play for sacrament meeting. The songs chosen were not ones I was familiar with so I just right-handed them – very badly too! I ended up just laughing during the songs and so did others (goodheartedly), and the branch president thanked me afterward and said it was good that I got through all the way through the songs. I think next week I will make a list of the songs I can play. Their usual pianist is studying in France but should be home for vacation soon. Hopefully I will hold out okay.
The branch here is very friendly and they like to talk a lot. There are a lot of Tahitians and Wallisians/Futunians in our ward so it will be interesting to see what my accent becomes. They said that my French is good, but I have a lot to learn and hopefully enough time to do it all. After church we came back to the apartment and had some quality studies together and personally. We visited a less-active woman named Marguerite last night and had a nice time talking to her about faith, family and prayer. We read Ether 12:4 together. Then, since it was becoming late we just drove around Paita so I could familiarize myself, and Soeur Spencer gave me another driving lesson. Pray for me – we are driving into Nouméa again today…
Oh, sad news. The iPod is not functioning once again. I tried my charger and my companion’s and there was no reviving that occurred. I will send it home if I can and if it isn’t terribly expensive. It’s a shame that I have no luck with it and I am sorry your hard work didn’t get it to work.
I have to run now – my hour is up. I love you all. Thank you for your e-mails and your love. I am glad that all is well with the family. Mom, don’t kill yourself with all those classes! That’s a lot of work!
You are all wonderful and I wish you a very good week. Keep me in your prayers. You are ever in mine.
Avec amour de la Nouvelle-Calédonie,
Soeur Cummins
email from Fiji:
I’m here in Fiji!
28 mai 2009
I was just given permission by Sister Ostler (the mission president's wife) to write and tell you that we have arrived in Fiji safely!
The flight to Fiji was very good and it went by pretty fast. The airplane we flew in was the biggest aircraft I had EVER seen! It was ten seats wide by a million seats in length and it has two levels. It was very interesting because I actually sat next to this one man and he said hello in a foreign accent and I asked if he was Italian (just a guess). He said he was French so I began speaking French to him and then he told me that he was from New Caledonia. I was so thrilled by that! I tried to talk to him for longer, but he soon went to bed - plus, his French was extremely difficult to understand so conversation was mostly me laughing and shaking my head and saying "oui" even if that wasn't how I should have been responding. This is no longer MTC French.
We arrived in Fiji this morning at 5am local time. There were some missionaries who greeted us there and waited with us while we waited for the bus that would take us to Suva, the capital, where the temple and mission office are. The bus drive was 4 hours long! And, we have to take the same bus ride back tomorrow night (Friday - just remember, we are a day ahead of you) before we fly to New Cal on Saturday morning. Uck. No it wasn't that bad.
The landscape here is amazing! Everything is green green green! And then there is more green growing over that. The ocean sights are, clearly, spectacular, and I found it so funny that every now and again we would drive by a McDonalds. They really are everywhere.Anyway, we finally arrived in Suva and more missionaries picked us up from the bus and we are now at the mission office which is on the other side of the parking lot of the temple. It is a small temple, like Redlands, but it is beautiful. The elders and sisters here just ate lunch and we meet a girl from New Caledonia who is going to be serving in New Caledonia with us. Wooh.
I will write on Monday, which I believe are our P-day, and I think I was only supposed to write you that I am safe. Well, I am safe. It's a bit overwhelming to think where I am in comparison to you and what is up ahead of me, but I am excited.
It was so nice to talk to you last night! I love you all so much!
Love your far away daughter,
Soeur Cummins
see? we are safely arrived in Fiji.
in our final transit : fiji to new caledonia
with my trainer, two other sisters and the Paita car. notice that the keys are in my hand. this should not be too ominous.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A Gospel of Joy
It's the end of another glorious BYU semester and the end of a chapter in my life. By this time next year I will be out in the mission field preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel whose message embodies all truth and is all love. How thankful I am that I have been able to strengthen my testimony of the Savior this semester in New Testament. I do not believe I have known Jesus Christ as well as I do now after this class where His life and the enviroment and circumstances of His life were put into context. He was indeed a man, but Jesus Christ is also our Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, the Prince of Peace, and is all good, all love, and embodies perfection.
How grateful I am for this Gospel that brings so much joy, peace, and happiness into my life.
:]
How grateful I am for this Gospel that brings so much joy, peace, and happiness into my life.
:]
In Humilty, Our Savior
At this Christmas time I reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, and marvel at His coming. Our Savior, our Redeemer, with His never-ending kingdoms of glory and His majesty came to earth, not in that majesty, but in quite the opposite fashion. The creator of this earth came to earth in the most humble of ways. Born in a manager where sheep and cows lived, our Savior made His entrance. He began His mortal ministry not in majesty but in meekness and as a helpless baby. He had the glory of being the Son of God, yet He came to earth as a pauper (not a prince), an obscure child from the little-known town of Nazareth.
This testifies to me the true power of our Savior and our Heavenly Father - that even the most humble of people from the most modest of circumstances have the ability to rise to the greatest of heights, the pinnacle of nobilty.
Christ is our exemplar, our example. He was once a helpless child, and now he is the Redeemer of each of us, without whom, we would all remain helpless children.
This testifies to me the true power of our Savior and our Heavenly Father - that even the most humble of people from the most modest of circumstances have the ability to rise to the greatest of heights, the pinnacle of nobilty.
Christ is our exemplar, our example. He was once a helpless child, and now he is the Redeemer of each of us, without whom, we would all remain helpless children.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Atonement and Forgiveness
I am preparing to serve a mission, and as I am filling out the required papers and having the required interviews with my bishop and stake president my mind is constantly on the Atonement of Christ and His forgiveness. In my short life so far there have been many choices that I have made that have not been the right ones. None of them have been large enough to keep me from being able to serve a mission, but of course, I still have a wide variety of them. Sometimes I wonder how Jesus Christ could have stayed so clean, so pure, so good, without faltering once. I mean, it seems like it is everyday, even hourly that I falter. How is it that I could ever be worthy of His presence, of His goodness?
But then I think of His purpose -- to heal us, to cleanse our souls through His perfection. He came here to die for us so that we too, through Him, could receive forgiveness and become perfect. But do we sometimes forget Him and show a lack of forgiveness even to myself? Do I?
From now on out I will try to be more like Christ in that way: in forgiving myself. Of course it will be important to pray and repent, but I must be accepting of Christ's Atonement and forgiveness and show myself the same mercy.
We are not perfect. But He is. And through His perfection we can become perfect ourselves. Christ sees that potential in us. Do we?
But then I think of His purpose -- to heal us, to cleanse our souls through His perfection. He came here to die for us so that we too, through Him, could receive forgiveness and become perfect. But do we sometimes forget Him and show a lack of forgiveness even to myself? Do I?
From now on out I will try to be more like Christ in that way: in forgiving myself. Of course it will be important to pray and repent, but I must be accepting of Christ's Atonement and forgiveness and show myself the same mercy.
We are not perfect. But He is. And through His perfection we can become perfect ourselves. Christ sees that potential in us. Do we?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
family
I have family on my mind right now. Perhaps this is so because this is a special time of year dedicated to the bringing together of family, or perhaps it is because this Thanksgiving break is nearing its close and I am reminiscing on the time spent with my family. Whatever the reason may be, I am thinking about my family and how the idea of "family" in all its definitions has ties to my studies of the New Testament.
I think it is important in this discussion to note that Christ lived and died for his family; not just his earthly family, but for each of each heavenly brothers and sisters - which is every single one of us. I believe that at this time of the year it is essential that we spend time loving and serving not only our beloved families, but for our "family" in the larger sense; our human family, our heavenly family. Christ cared for each one of us; he cared for "the one," each member of his family, and I believe that as we enter this Christmas season we need to remember, marvel, and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the life of our dear older Brother.
I think it is important in this discussion to note that Christ lived and died for his family; not just his earthly family, but for each of each heavenly brothers and sisters - which is every single one of us. I believe that at this time of the year it is essential that we spend time loving and serving not only our beloved families, but for our "family" in the larger sense; our human family, our heavenly family. Christ cared for each one of us; he cared for "the one," each member of his family, and I believe that as we enter this Christmas season we need to remember, marvel, and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the life of our dear older Brother.
Friday, October 31, 2008
thankful
*
*
Autumn’s Paintbrush
It’s that golden moment
When the day nears quiet dusk,
And the mountains glow with an autumn sheen
In their vermilions and rust.
At this inlaid moment
Oh, fleeting is the sun.
The crags turn yellow then rose then brown
And twilight has nearly won.
I gaze outside the window pane
And at Midas’ touch I wonder
Cannot yet this moment wax
And stay a while longer?
When the day nears quiet dusk,
And the mountains glow with an autumn sheen
In their vermilions and rust.
At this inlaid moment
Oh, fleeting is the sun.
The crags turn yellow then rose then brown
And twilight has nearly won.
I gaze outside the window pane
And at Midas’ touch I wonder
Cannot yet this moment wax
And stay a while longer?
*
*
How thankful I am for the eyes that I have to behold the beauty of God's hand. We have been told to "lay hold upon everything good thing" and that "all things denote there is a God." Perhaps I am reiterating that which I have already spoke of in a earlier post, but somehow I feel that I cannot quite give justice to the loveliness that surrounds and penetrates this life I live!
I am thankful for the Gospel! It brings me a joy and a tranquility that this world is utterly incapable of offering me. I know that Christ live perfectly, that He suffered for us all, and that He desires that we but believe in Him and follow in His paths.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
another look at Matthew 5
Today I went visiting teaching with my roommate Lydia to another girl in our ward (I know, I know, I put it off to the end of the month but it all worked out really well this way). Anyway, the lesson this month was about gender and how essential our gender is to our eternal personalities and divine nature. At one point there was a quote from Sister Nadauld in which she spoke about women:
*
"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. . . We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith."
*
As I read that quote, I thought of Christ's Sermon on the Mount and His discourse on the Beattitudes. He did not say, "Blessed are the unyeilding...Blessed are they that are rough...Blessed are the prominent..." No, He said:
*
"Blessed are the meek. . . Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness... Blessed are the merciful... Blessed are the pure in heart... Blessed are the peacemakers..."
*
Let us try out Christ's wisdom. It is indeed contrary to what the world has come to think that men and women should be like, but it is truth and it will make us more like Him. Above all, that's our goal, right?
Monday, October 27, 2008
for the beauty of the earth
I know that this may not have any direct relation to a specific scene or verse in the New Testament, but lately I have been so enchanted with the beauty of the world around me daily that I feel like I need to dedicate this post to the wonderful earth that Heavenly Father has created. Yes, there is a lot of ugly in the world, but heavens, there is so much pretty, much more than i can even begin to explain. this blog is meant to be dedicated to my beliefs and the things most dear to me - well, I believe in a loving Heavenly Father and not only do I hold Him dear, but His creations as well.
<><><><><>
Whenever I hear, the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by a lilac treeI'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me.
<><><><>
i feel closer to the divine...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)