A Foot or Two: Pressing Forward

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Pressing Forward

(Elder Cummings)

So much has happened this week. It has been a blast. Elder Knapton and I have just walked into so many great opportunities and had so many chances to become more immersed in the Hmong culture. We were invited to watch a traditional "soul calling" (ua neeb) and kept running into shamans as we were talking with people throughout the week. It is so cool to learn about. One of the shamans we met let us take pictures with the spirit-sword that they use to protect themselves as they ride through the spirit world to find the dab, the evil-spirit who stole one of the many spirits that they believe we all have. They typically sacrifice a chicken and either a pig or a cow when they are doing the ritual. The chicken spirit guides the shaman through the spirit world and the pig/cow spirit is brought along as ransom to exchange for the human's spirit. Way cool.

This Sunday we had the amazing opportunity to listen to an apostle speak in a multi-stake broadcast. It was neat. Elder Renlund gave a great talk about respecting other's beliefs and still bearing testimony in the process. Elder Knapton translated for him, an experience most missionaries never have! I translated for one of the seventy who spoke. I guess technically it is interpretation and not translation since it is on the spot, so I interpreted for one of the seventy who spoke, and Elder Knapton interpreted for Elder Renlund.

We were also offered a job and six-figure salary this week to invest in a company and start working for them rather than finish our missionary service. That was...interesting...but didn't phase us. We remembered the teachings of that Savior. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33). We had been having a slow week up to that point, and once we declined the offer and went away we quickly were blessed to find four new investigators and all in all this week we met two new families who want to learn the gospel!

Sadly, through all of this, Vicky sent us a text last night and told us she can't meet with us. Her family situation is a little more complicated than we originally realized. We know she is well prepared for the gospel. I am glad that we have done our part to help her receive that. Some day in the future she will have the chance again, and this time nothing will hold her back.

The bishop baptized his father this Saturday! That was an amazing, spiritual experience. He was SO happy when he came out of the water. He is more than excited to start a christian life. The gospel is for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, or cultural background. There is no more fulfilling work than building up the kingdom of God.

I know that Jesus Christ lives and is my Savior. I am exhilarated by this opportunity that I have to represent Him to the Hmong people in Fresno, California!

With love,

Elder Cummings

There isn't a lot of meat on these little guys, so to keep as much as they can they burn off it all and cook them whole. This is right after the burning phase.