Hello everyone! I'm reporting live from the apple store in
Laval, Quebec. The Sun is shining and it is a wonderful and beautiful day! My
new companions, Sister Rawlings and Sister Meldrum, hailing from the state of
Idaho and the province of Alberta respectively, are amazing! They always seem
to have a smile on their faces, even when they are force fed all sorts of the
Latin or Haitian food that seems to be stuffed down our throats. Not that its a
bad thing but the members here LOVE to feed the missionaries. On an average we
have been getting at least two dinners a day, though we try to eat healthy ( I
even used yogurt in my egg salad sandwich instead of Mayo! Look at us go!) at
this rate I may just in fact be rolling home. Whats worse is all this food is
so darn delicious that even though force fed, you just HAVE to adore it!
So other than just having way to much delicious food this
area has a lot more going for it! The Spanish is going surprisingly well, I can
understand most anything that people say and I am able to read and also
understand, I haven't quite grasped speaking yet but with the French that I do
know the Spanish is coming pretty quickly. I am sure that God has a hand in
that.
This week I would like to share a story that was shared in
Relief Society this past Sunday and how I was able to apply it. It is called
the story of the Frogs.
There was once a race between four frogs. Everyone came to
see who would be the fastest and most daring of them all and after everyone had
lined up on the line the starting gun was triggered and the four frogs started
hopping the fastest that they could. Before too long they came to the first
obstacle, a road, the crowd gasped and yelled out "look out! You can't
cross that street you are just a frog!" One of the frogs stopped and said
"your right, I might get hit" and didn't continue farther.
Meanwhile the three others continue hopping along, hopping
along and sure enough they reach the second obstacle. A hole. The crowd reacted
much as before yelling out "Oh no! You can't jump that! You are just a
frog." Another of the frogs stopped and said "your right that hole
looks way to big for me" and stopped.
The last two continue and are neck and neck until they make
it to the third and final obstacle. A giant tree. The Crowd in awe says
"oh there is no way! You can't climb that! You are just a frog" And
one of the two frogs stops and says "This tree is way to tall, your right,
I can't climb that" However the last frog made it all the way to the top
in no time and after making his way back down the crowd surrounded him cheering
and asking "how did you do it??"
The Frog didn't answer.
He was deaf.
The meaning of this story is to show the importance of
persevering to the end, and though discouragement comes, whether from a human
being or another source, to not give it heed. I can testify of the importance
of this principle.
In moving to this new area there are not many people to
teach and invite to baptism. However after hearing this story my two companions
and I decided to not get discouraged and to not get pulled down by what
everyone was telling us. And the Lord has helped us. For not long after making
this resolution we contacted a potential investigator and met with her to teach
her the first lesson. During which she asked "How can I know if this is
true?" After answering her that she may find the answer by praying and
receiving the answer herself, she started crying. She mentioned that she had
been searching for a church for the past seven years; studying with five
different religions including Jehovah's Witness. She said that to each one of
them she had asked the same question and each one had tried to prove to her
using scriptures and scientific evidence why it was there church that was true.
However she had never had someone just tell her that she could go directly to
God and ask him. The spirit was so strong and we committed her to be baptized.
The moral of the story is don't give up hope. Don't give
into discouragement. We are each one of us exactly where we need to be at
exactly the time which we need to be there. I love each and every one of you
and I am grateful for each and everyone of you. Please pray for our new
investigator Vanessa as she prays to find out what is the truth. I pray for
you.
Love,
Sister Cummings
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