Prayers

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy y'all!!

This week was... interesting. We spent a good portion of the week at the police station or at the magistrate's office or just working on filling out forms for a restraining order because I have a #superfan aka. a STALKER! Jokes aside, this week has been a bit of a toughy dealing with a lot of emotions that I've never dealt with before. I've felt a lot of fear, stress, uncertainty and distrust. I've only had one or two nights of real rest. But, it's all caused me really have to pray to God and to trust Him. I've also come to REALLY love the within sight and sound rule we have in companionships. I never want to be alone ever again! :)

We also had transfers and I got transferred! I won't tell y'all where I am now just for safety reasons. But, I can say that I absolutely LOVE where I am now! It's one of my dream areas and I'm around some of my favorite people! I love my companion! She's so beautiful inside and out! I'm really going to miss Mt Barker though. It's downright one of the most beautiful places I've ever been! Parts of it looks like Oregon but Aussie Style! So beautiful! I also already miss Sister Bradbeer! She's one of my best friends and we got a lot done together! I love her!

Spiritual Stuff:

This week, I've been thinking a lot about the priesthood and about God's power on Earth. The conclusion I've come to about it is that I'm SO DANG grateful for it! Priesthood blessings, priesthood ordinances, priesthood authority. I need ALL of it!! I'm thankful for all the opportunities I've had lately where I've been able to exercise faith and trust in priesthood power. Trust in the manifestations of priesthood blessings. Trust in the priesthood authority of my setting apart. Trust in the stewardship of others. I'm just so grateful and my testimony has grown SO MUCH! What's important to you about the priesthood?

I love y'all! I would really appreciate your prayers at this time! Stay safe!

- Sister Cummings

I love Jesus!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

This week was a good one! We did HEAPS of service which always makes me feel SO dang good!

We also had another music devotional and I got to play my violin which made me so happy! But, the best thing about music devotionals is that I get to reconnect with the friends and members I made in other wards. It always absolutely warms my heart to see them!

Sister Bradbeer and I had some CREEPY experiences this week but we got our house blessed so all should be good! #prayforus

Going straight into the spiritual stuff:

I'm still reading in Mosiah and today I was reading chapter 10 where Zeniff explains WHY the Lamanites hate the Nephites and it all boiled down to the fact that they didn't understand the nature of God and how he spoke to and directed the Nephites. A little obscure, but this taught me the truth that probably everyone knows but the only reason there is contention is because there is a lack of understanding. Whether it's on your side, the other side, or both. It's always a lack of understanding. So every time you want to hate someone or a group of people or you're just frustrated, etc you need to check your understanding and see if there's information that you don't have or a perspective you have yet to see. And, if you don't know how to gain that understanding, ask God (#james1:5). It's just that simple and also just that difficult!

Please be open to understanding other people's point of views even when you think you have all the facts! Let's be peacemakers and go for that #worldpeace

Have a good one! I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

Repentance, who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy Y'all!!

I had a great week this week! It went by so dang quick!

We've been focusing on inviting as many people as possible to church lately and that's exactly what sister Bradbeer and I tried to do! We invited in rain and shine. In parking lots and on the street! It was so good! We talked to probably close to 250-300 people in two days and got one yes! Hallelujah! She didn't come to church but oh well!

I performed at church yesterday and it went alright! It reminded of playing at home for Castle Hills Ward. I love all you people! I miss y'all!

I went on exchanges with Sister Arledge on Saturday and she is just an AMAZING missionary. Like, I actually learned more from her this exchange than she learned from me! I hope #futurecomps !

Here's some spiritual stuff:

Lately, I've been studying a lot about what the scriptures advise bring happiness into our lives and I found one obvious thing and that is REPENTANCE! Repentance always brings joy and happiness to our lives and here's proof

Mosiah 4:20

"And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy."

I have a testimony of repentance and the joy that comes through Jesus Christ and I hope y'all do too!!

I love y'all!!

- Sister Cummings

4th of July!c

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey y'all!!

I am absolutely knackered today so this email is going to be bit a short. I'm just so tired!

We had interviews and zone conference this week and I straightened my hair just for a fun little shock and it was yeehaw! The joke was that I was a different Sister named Sister Goings. It was fun. It was also the 4th of July which really was YEEHAW!

We had a fantastic lesson this week with our friends Charlotte, Hannah, and Abbey! Please pray for them! If they decide to be baptized, they'll literally be such a miracle for Mt Barker! They already are!

Here's a really short spiritual stuff for ya today:

D&C 6:36

"Look unto me in every thought, doubt not fear not."

I think this scripture is so short but it's powerful! We all need this reminder over and over and over! Stop doubting and look to Jesus Christ for guidance and comfort and you will find it! I can promise you that!

I hope y'all had a great week!

- Sister Cummings

Awesome Sauce

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back again! This week was awesome! So awesome that I again can't remember much of what happened!

Random thing: I'm writing this email while staring out at the beach and ocean and I just gotta tell you that God. Is. Real. And We. Are. SO. Blessed. To live in such a beautiful beautiful world! #Alma30:44

Anyways, here's a few things from this week that i can remember:

- Sister Cutler gave me a haircut and it was the nicest thing ever! I've been NEEDING a haircut lately!

- I'm back to playing my violin and it's so yeehaw!

- Sister Bradbeer had me snort laughing everyday!

- We had FOUR services on Friday and it was amazing! We made two old ladies cry! I've never felt more fulfilled!

- I went on exchanges with the one and only Sister Tuiqali from Fiji and it was a miracle filled day! We made 3 new friends in like an hour and handed out a Book of Mormon! We also were biking and my bike's seat fell off so I had to pedal standing up. I was SO sore! So good though!

Spiritual stuff:

Right now, we're trying with literally ALL OUR MIGHT to make friends and find people who want to enter in to the fold and be baptized but this area is a toughy. I'm determined though. I have faith that miracles are here and coming! Anyways, we've started interviewing Australian converts here on their conversion processes and experiences with the missionaries just to see how we can alter our approach and better fulfill our purpose in this area. I've already grown so much hearing people's experiences.

So, this spiritual stuff isn't me sharing with y'all, it's me asking y'all to share your conversion stories with me. Even if you grew up in the church, I know you have one! I want to hear it! Please :)

Anyways, y'all have a good one! I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

Testimonies, who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!

Y'all this week FLEW by and it was SO good! So good that I honestly can't remember much about what happened! But here are some highlights:

Wednesday we had MLC and it was inspired of course. President has started to use that revelatory power and is changing our mission to be better! It's exciting and I know the work is going forth!

We also got to go to the temple on Wednesday after MLC and I had a little "come to Jesus" moment that has changed my life in all actuality. I'm giving Him my actual all rather than just having the desire to do so. My perspective on everything has changed and I'm even more so determined to FIND, TEACH, and BAPTIZE. It's going to be a good transfer!

We had exchanges on Friday and I got to go with the brand new Sister Smith ("Sister" not to be confused with "Joseph"). Y'all, she is amazing! I'm astounded by her zeal for the work! We saw heaps of miracles and we actually met someone who is looking for a church right now! Such a miracle for this area. Mt Barker is a toughy but it's also SO GOOD!

On Sunday, I took the sacrament which was pretty awesome. #renewedcovenants

Anyways, here's some spiritual stuff:

Yesterday, we taught a lesson to a family in our ward about the purpose of having our own testimonies and it really struck a cord in me.

During the lesson, we had a bowl of water and two oranges. One orange, representing a person who has cultivated a testimony, is put into the water; which represents the world, sin, trials, basically everything bad you can think of. And because they have a testimony and that protective barrier, they droop under the water but quickly comes to the surface and floats. The second orange represents someone who has not taken the time to cultivate that testimony so when they are put into that water and into the hardships of the world, they sink all the way to the bottom.

This was such a powerful image to me and it was something I can completely relate to! We NEED a testimony of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, the Restoration, EVERYTHING, to stay afloat in this world of fear! Life is so much harder without it!

Anyways, I'd love to hear a bit of y'all's testimonies ON having a testimony!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

Church, Church and CHURCH

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

This week was AWESOME! We did heaps of exchanges and had transfers and things got changed up yet again! But not too changed. I'm staying in Mt Barker for a 3rd transfer but Sister Briscoe left and Sister Bradbeer came in! I LOVE SISTER BRADBEER! She's one of my BEST friends!!

We went on heaps of exchanges this week and they were all amazing! Sister Hadfield and Sister Bastedo are amazing Sisters! It's weird how much we each grow and change in such a short period of time. When I was companions with Sister Bastedo in Modbury, we were such different missionaries!

But yeah, overall, I had a great week!

Here's some spiritual stuff,

Lately, we've been REALLY struggling to get people to church and it's been pretty dog gone frustrating but what it has made me come to realize and to develop a testimony of is just how important church. When we invite people to church we have to promise and testify of the blessings of the sacrament and of taking the time to learn about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice every week. As I've testified over and over, I've REALLY come to 100% know that church is integral to conversion. You HAVE to partake of the sacrament EACH WEEK so that you can stay spiritually afloat. I never want to skip a sacrament meeting ever in my life! So, PLEASE go to church this week!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

Christlike!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy Y'all!!

This week was awesome! I got sick and we had heaps of meetings so there's not much to talk about! Overall it was a fantastic week! I'd love to hear about y'all's!

Honestly, getting sick on the mission is really frustrating but also brings time for a lot of good reflection! I did a lot of reflecting and have discovered some things that I really want to enact and improve next transfer! So I'm hopeful and excited!

Here's some spiritual stuff:

Lately I've been thinking about Christlike attributes and something that was a lightbulb moment was I realized that these attributes of Christ are only "Christlike" because they are for the benefit of other people! Like knowledge is a Christlike attribute but it is only going to be "Christlike" if you share it with others and help them learn and grow! It applies to all of the attributes!

What Christlike attribute are you working on right now?

I love y'all! Sorry for the short email!

- Sister Cummings

Anxiety y'all, who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back again with another awesome week! There were HEAPS of miracles and I just LOVED it!

Here's a little run down from the week:

- We deep cleaned our flat and now everything sparkles! So yeehaw!

- We had exchanges with Sister T and Sister Hadfield and it was SO GOOD! We did service and I just LOVE service and I just LOVE those Sisters!

- Thursday was our temple P-day and I just LOVE the Adelaide temple! It's small but it's also so special. Being able to just be near it let alone in it always makes me so happy!

- We started teaching a FAMILY! The first family I have ever really taught on my mission! It's so special. Please pray that they can come to church this week!

- Saturday, one of my favorite people in the world went through the temple for the first time! Charlotte Clark I love you and I'm so proud of you! You make me so happy!

- Yesterday was our music devotional and it was spectacular! The missionaries who were performing did a fantastic job! Literally incredible! I felt the spirit so strong! I got to see pretty much all my favorite people there including missionaries AND members! So dang special!

Here's some spiritual stuff for y'all! (Sorry y'all, I got on my soap box a little here)

Lately, I was reading some of the Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon and I was kind of pondering on Jacob's use of the word "anxiety". Honestly, I had never really heard it used in scripture so I just assumed it was just an archaic use for the word fear rather than how we modernly define anxiety. However, as I continued to read, I came to understand that Jacob was using it in the same way that we use it today and here's how I know!

At first, Jacob talks a bit about how his anxiety is for the welfare and salvation of his people and how it actually works as a source for good because it makes him more diligent! He even speaks about how sometimes the spirit uses anxiety for good as well!

- "Mine anxiety is great for you. … I have exhorted you with all diligence" (2 Nephi 6:3).

- "Because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people" (Jacob 1:5).

In this, Jacob teaches a truth that modern psychology teaches us as well. Mild to moderate levels of anxiety actually increases our performance. If we weren't anxious about performing badly then we wouldn't feel the inclination to practice! It's true, i'm sure y'all have seen it in your life. But it totally applies to spiritual things as well! If you weren't anxious about becoming a better person through Jesus Christ, you wouldn't repent! If you weren't anxious to head the spirit, you wouldn't strive to do all you can to be intune with Him!

Later, Jacob shows that there is actually an anxiety threshold that when reached will actually limit our performance and lead more likely to failure. He says it here: "I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you" (Jacob 4:18)

Here Jacob talks about "over anxiety" anxiety that limits rather than aids us. I think we've all experienced this anxiety. When we were so scared about a test that, even though we prepared well, we couldn't think properly and maybe couldn't focus on the test at hand. So we performed poorly. When it comes to spiritual things, sometimes I often get over anxious about needing to be more Christlike and a better person that I'm actually so self involved that I end up being more selfish and less like Jesus Christ. So I performed poorly. Sometimes, as a missionary, I get over anxious about talking to people that I can't even make myself say a word! That's poor performance! Sometimes, like Jacob talked about, we get too over-anxious that we cannot hear or head the spirit and therefore we stumble. Again, poor performance.

However, it's all about finding the balance and keeping anxiety within the helpful range rather than the toxic range. How do we do that? Again, VIRTUE! Remember, this is what the prophet said: "Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts." By actively keeping a clean, uplifting mind and by not permitting harsh, mean, or critical thoughts to linger no matter their topic, you can keep your anxiety within the bounds the Lord has given to help you!

Sorry for the rant, but whenever scriptures or doctrine connects to psychology I get so excited!

I love y'all!!

- Sister Cummings

Virtue y'all! Who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey y'all!!

This week was our temple week so we didn't have p-day until today! It was definitely worth the wait!

Because we went to the temple, I don't have much time to write this but I'll give y'all a little update on my last week!

Highlights:

- MLC: We got to meet as meeting leadership and counsel about the needs of the mission! I always learn so much from the other missionaries in my mission. It's so good! We started a Facebook 2 week fast and I got to see my favorite Sister Templeman so all is well!

- Exchanges: Got to go on exchanges with the FANTASTIC Sister Arledge! For only being here for two transfers, she's KILLING it! She's so much fun!

- Sisters Conference: We had our first ever Sisters Conference where just the Sisters came and it was awesome! We learned about mental health, the priesthood, and divine worth. It. Was. Incredible. I learned so much more about the priesthood and Sister Standley gave such an awesome training!

- "Sister Lee is the best and I'm going to miss her so much!!! Best grandma ever!" - Sister Lee

- Went to my first ever Saturday session of Stake Conference and I'm committed to go for the rest of my life! It was so incredible! I felt the spirit so big! It was better than the Sunday session honestly!

Here's some spiritual stuff:

Sister Briscoe have been really focused on President Nelson's most recent talk about charity and virtue and I wanted to share this bit:

"Now, let us speak of virtue. The Lord tells us to garnish our thoughts unceasingly with virtue. Imagine the boost you will receive to any positive thought when you enhance it with virtue. Virtue makes everything better and happier! On the other hand, imagine what will happen when you add virtue to an impure thought, a cruel thought, or a depressing thought. Virtue will drive away those thoughts. Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts."

I LOVE THIS! I love that President Nelson literally gives us the cure to mental health and discouragement! It's virtue! It's keeping our minds clean from self-defacing thoughts and inappropriate thoughts and keeping our thoughts kind and centered on Jesus Christ! I've been trying it out lately and it works! It works like immediately! I invite y'all to try it out!

I love y'all so much!

- Sister Cummings

He is a God of Miracles

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy y'all!

I hope y'all had a great week! I'd love to hear about it! Here's my week:

Monday: Took the BEST nap ever! Had an AMAZING lesson with our friend Rick! We literally can't wait to invite him to be baptized soon. I have never met someone more prepared!

Tuesday: Great day! Had a BOMB lesson with our friend Savidry and had dinner with Sister Standley and the other STLs! I LOVE Sister Standley and I LOVE the other Sisters I serve with!

Wednesday: Did HEAPS of contacts and Sister Briscoe is so good at talking to people and we found a really cool girl who's pretty keen on the Gospel! Savidry broke up with us. Sad. But it wasn't us she was actually breaking up with, it was Jesus sooo

Thursday: Did an awesome service! Y'all I LOVE that we do so much service in this mission! It gives me life!

Friday: Went on companion trade-offs with Sister Lazar! She's so cool! She used to be a Catholic Nun for 8 YEARS in Pakistan! Her conversion is amazing! She says being a missionary is easy compared to being a nun. I was humbled.

Saturday: Had the cutest lesson with our 10 year old new friend!

Sunday: Beautiful! Took the Sacrament and renewed some covenants! It doesn't get better than that!

Spiritual Stuff:

This week, I have really really come to know that God absolutely cares about the little things that we care about and that He is truly aware of us. I love that He loves me! I saw this through so many miracles but I'll just share two.

MIRACLE #1: I had run out of floss Monday night so I went to bed with unflossed teeth (YUCK!) and come Tuesday night, I still had no floss and it literally felt like the end of the world having to go to bed with unflossed teeth x2. So, I did what any good girl would do and I said a prayer and told God how I was feeling about my unflossed teeth. After the prayer, I went rummaging in random drawers and random bags trying to see if I could find SOMETHING. I started going through a bag that I have that holds only my electronics and my nerf gun/nerf bullets (a necessity of course) and as I lifted up my nerf gun, I saw two perfect, untouched, flossers sitting on the bottom of the bag. There was no way those flossers were there before. It felt like I was living the 17 Miracles movie just the 2024 remix. Y'all, I literally started crying. I have never ever experienced a miracle like that in my life! God is good and my teeth are flossed!

MIRACLE #2: It's been hard for me to really feel like myself this transfer so Sunday morning during my personal prayer I prayed that God would just give me one moment or one person that I could be myself with. Y'all He answered my prayers. It was just a little interaction with one of the Young Women in the ward here but it meant the world to me. He is real and I know it!

Please take the time to write down the miracles you saw this week! I promise it will be a very personal and spiritual moment of reflection for you!

Question of the week: How did you see God's hand in your life this week? PLEASE ANSWER!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

I'm back!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back! And I PROMISE I'm back for good! Or, until the end of my mission.

Before I get into this week, I felt it would probably be right that I update y'all on what has happened since I last sent out an email!

Here's what's happened:

- I had an absolute BLAST with Sister Randall serving in Noarlunga by the beach! I ADORE Sister Randall y'all! She is one of the best people I have ever met. I could never and will never say anything bad about her! I hope y'all get the absolute BLESSING of getting to know her!

- My time was short lived with Sister Randall because after 6 weeks in Noarlunga I was moved to Mount Barker with Sister Forrey! I'm literally not even mad about it! Sister Forrey is amazing. She's downright the most creative and caring person I have ever met!

- Sister Forrey and I worked our little booties off for 5 weeks! Although Sister Forrey and I were working so hard, the numbers didn't quite show it! This transfer is where I learned that although the numbers are very significant and important, they are not everything. The Lord sees your effort, He factors in that degree of difficulty! #SisterRunia #generalconference #watchit

- However, I love Mount Barker! It's a beautiful area full of hills, cows, kangaroos, koala's, and really really rich people! It's a hoot!

- It was also my transfer with Sister Forrey where I got my first opportunity to serve and support my other sisters by being a Sister Training Leader (STL)! And I LOVE it! It literally gave my mission even more meaning which I didn't know was even possible!

- I sprained my ankle, and then I sprained it again, and then I sprained it again. #goodtimes

- Sadly, yet again, my time with Sister Forrey was short lived but I was able to welcome Sister Briscoe to Mount Barker where we're still striving to serve our other sisters and the people around us!

- Sister Briscoe is a power wagon! She's determined and a hard worker! She's incredible. We definitely have our differences but so does everyone! That being said, we have been working SO HARD. I have literally never seen more miracles in my life than in these last few weeks! And, what I've found coolest about these miracles is that they literally had nothing to do with the things that we were actively doing. I mean, there is no way that I could ever attribute those miracles to my own hard work or my own diligence or success. They are all directly from the Lord. My mission is in His hands completely!

- I've been praying for humbling experiences everyday and BOY does the Lord answer prayers! But, I for real feel like I'm going to need pray for those experiences until I'm 107 (almost as old as my Papa!) before I'll be sufficiently humble. Oops

- I hit one year on the mission and 1 year as a 20 year old. Yeehaw does time fly by!

Here's my week:

Monday: Awesome p-day! We went for a hike and I was humbled! I am so out of shape!

Tuesday: Drove 4.5 hours to Mildura to go on companion tradeoffs!

Wednesday: Spent the whole day doing service with Sister Bradbeer and Sister Chapman! I LOVE them! Like I genuinely ADORE those sisters!

Thursday: Drove back from Mildura, got a speeding ticket (made it a missionary moment, don't worry y'all), and had interviews with President. He's awesome! Definitely inspired and I sustain him completely!

Friday: Zone Conference!

Saturday: Met a lady who went to school with Colin Firth and agrees that he is the prettier of the two Mr. Darcys (if you know, you know)

Sunday: Mothers day! Partook of the Sacrament!

Anyways, here's some spiritual stuff for y'all!

A little bit ago, I was listening to a talk by Elder Bednar where he invited us to write a question you have at the front of a paperback Book of Mormon and then subsequently read that Book of Mormon looking for the answer to your question and then write a summary of what you learned at the back. Elder Bednar say that by the end of your life you should have HEAPS of these Book of Mormons and heaps of your questions answered. Anyways, I decided to take up this invitation and I really wanted to ask "How can I find balance?" Although, I haven't finished my Book of Mormon YET, I just wanted to share with y'all what I've learned so far. What I've learned is that there is no balance. Or there is, but not in the way I thought. The balance looks a lot more like the attached picture where if you do everything in your power to put God first and prioritize the things of eternal significance, then your life is in balance. If you don't, then everything is out of wack. It's so interesting but so true. God is ALWAYS first!

I love y'all! My question of the week (if y'all even make it this far) is what is one thing you love about my mom? If you don't know her, what is one thing you love about your mom?

Have a good one!

Sister Cummings

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy y'all!!

Sooo, it's definitely been a very long time since I last sent an email so that's completely my bad. But, I have a lot to share with y'all!

These past weeks have been amazing and so much has happened!

- Sister Bastedo and I found 10 friends in one week!

- Got bashed for an hour about Joseph Smith from a weirdly nice, but also not nice, ex-member

- Performed in another music devotional!

- Saw my first Huntsman spider that was as big as my hand!

- Saw at least 10 MASSIVE red-back spiders in the time-span of about 30 minutes

- Have started getting slightly good at volleyball (mega emphasis on slightly)

- Started a 90 day Book of Mormon challenge with the whole mission!

- I've done about 5 service projects every week! My tan lines are POPPIN!

- Learned that Australians think you're rude if you knock on their door in 100+ weather

- I'm still definitely lactose-intolerant (if you were wondering)

- Hit halfway on the mish!!

- Our friend Dylan got BAPTISED YAYYY COVENANTS

- Started my peanut butter addiction pt2

- My bestfriend finally asked out the dude she's been crushing on for FOREVER. Everyone pray that things go well 🙏

- We put our friend Forest on date for baptism for this month! This one is going to be miraculous so please please pray for her!!

- I've gotten to drive so much and I love it heaps!

- I got transferred to Noarlunga after only one transfer in Modbury! It was crazy but I love it!

- my new companion, Sister Randall, and I are literally best friend's and absolute goons together!

- We go on daily morning walks on the beach and it's beautiful!

- I've met some pretty sketch people here but it's been so fun!

- someone hit our car and didn't leave a note or anything! #satan

- I went on an exchange with Sister Woodbury (my trainer) and we had HEAPS of fun. It's so cool to see how much we've both changed in only like 6 months! I love her!!!

- we have a new member here named Jill and she is the SWEETEST person I've ever met and she's going to the temple for the first time this week. So be excited for her!!!

- We had yet ANOTHER music devotional and this one was based on the Restoration and SO MANY people came! I had a solo on my violin and that was scary but whatevs. I didn't faint or pee my pants (or skirt) or anything so we're good!

- We went to the temple last week and it was majestical of course!

- I LOVE MY MISSION

- Sister Randall and I are trying to do no sugar this week so pray for us!

Anyways, a lot has happened and I'll try to keep writing y'all more consistently but to bring y'all a bit of Jesus, I just thought I'd share this poem that I came across the other day by the poet C. C. Ummings. I don't know if I got that name right.

The reflection of the moon on the sea,

reveals a path bringing thee to Me.

A trail sought only by clasped hand and bent knee,

Bowed down in complete solemnity.

Look up and behold My beloved Son.

He is the Light, the Way, the One.

Amid the path doth He belong,

atop the sea He beckons thee on.

Follow the steps He makes on each wave,

with swirls and folds are His tracks repaved.

So, come earnest, with faith, the sea doth behave.

As distance is covered, the soul is saved.

So yeah, I thought that poem was cool. Tell me what you think.

I just can ABSOLUTELY testify that Jesus Christ is real and he heals and he provide relief ALWAYS. I can also testify that God loves you endlessly and that sharing the gospel brings joy so please reach out to your nearby missionaries and ask how you can help them share the gospel this week!

I love y'all!! I miss y'all. Please respond to this email with a bit of a life update! I want to know what's going on with you!

Have a good one!!

- Sister Cummings

If you want to see some pics and vids!

I love to see the temple ... and kangaroos!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back again with an update for y'all! This one is a big one because I finally saw a Kangaroo!!!! Wahoooo!! Now I actualy believe they're real!

Here are some other updates:

- I got transfered to Modbury which is 15 minutes away from my last area but I still feel like I left my heart in Marden. I love everyone there! Shoutout to Charlotte and Sister West. I miss y'al heaps. (I also miss the rest of y'all too of course)

- I finally have a car! I haven't been in a car area since Sister Woodbury crashed our car during training :) (I love you Sister Woodbury)

- I LOVE my new district and companion! We're already besties!

- I accidentally messed up what was going to be really good steak fried rice because I mistook cinnamon for black pepper. #itsoktomakemistakes #theatonementisreal #sorrysisterbastedo

- I'm still training and my trainee is really awesome! Her name is Sister Bastedo and everyone says that we look like sisters

- we put two friends on date in the same day!! Please pray for Dyan and Robbeka that all goes well!

- We found 9 friends this week!! It was literally so miraculous! I'm excited to see what people and miracles we come across this week!

Jesus Christ loves you!!

My spiritual thought this week is just an invitation:

Please make time to go to the temple soon if not this week. The prophet has asked us to go more often and he has promised that, "increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can." So, please go and tell me how it blesses you!!

Here's the talk that came from:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/58nelson?lang=eng

I love y'all!!

Sister Cummings

Merry Christmas Adam

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

Merry late Christmas!! These last two weeks have actually been the most bizarre weeks of my whole mission. Like no joke. But it's been SO GOOD!

Here are some highlights:

- I flew on A PLANE for about 4 hours with the rest of the missionary music group all the way up to Darwin (the most north part of our mission)! I actually thought the next time I would be on a plane would be when I finished my mission but I guess not!

- We got DOS zone conferences this transfer because we got to piggyback on the zone conference in Darwin. I feel super spiritually sauced up right now!

- I got to see and catch up with my mission mom! I love you Sister Woodbury!

- I met a bunch of elders I didn't know even existed because they've been serving up north the whole time I've been here. It was really strange. They're really strange... because they obviously haven't had much interaction with sisters since they left the MTC...

- We performed our Christmas music devotional TWICE and both times I felt the spirit so hard. Sister Walters and Sister Starr did such a great job! I love them! They're beautiful!

- We celebrated Christmas Adam! One of my favorite holidays in the world! If you didn't know, Christmas Adam is celebrated the day before Christmas Eve (because Adam came before Eve obvi) and you celebrate Christmas Adam by having a rib dinner to bring in Christmas Eve. It the best thing ever and our fav members hosted it and ahh I just love them! It made me feel like I was a bit more connected to my family because I knew they would be celebrating Christmas Adam too!

- We had the BEST Christmas day ever which started off with having a sleepover with my favorites (Sister Forrey and Sister Cundiff. Love them) and then we spent the WHOLE day with other missionaries. It was literally the dream! I love how all these people I serve around have because legitimately as close as family. It's amazing!

- I can't think of more but I know more happened

- I love my companion Sister West! She's so tall and special to me!

Here's my spiritual thought, it's reason behind why we celebrate Christmas Adam:

In our increasingly secular society, it is as uncommon as it is unfashionable to speak of Adam and Eve or the Garden of Eden or of a “fortunate fall” into mortality. Nevertheless, the simple truth is that we cannot fully comprehend the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ and we will not adequately appreciate the unique purpose of His birth or His death—in other words, there is no way to truly celebrate Christmas or Easter—without understanding that there was an actual Adam and Eve who fell from an actual Eden, with all the consequences that fall carried with it

- Elder Holland from his talk where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet.

Anyways, I hope this thought makes you want to celebrate Christmas Adam next year and eat some ribs!

I love y'all!

Sister Cummings

Still no roos!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

Here I am back with y'all's biweekly email! It's been a heck of a two weeks! As always, SO many miracles and, SO MANY funny silly moments!

Here are some highlights:

- Sister West and I went to the Zoo to finally see the Kangaroos and guess what, THE ROOS WERENT THERE. Oh well

- Had an interview with Presi (President Standley) and he told me that I'll know my future eternal comp based on how good and established his morning routine is... cool. We talked about other things too, it was good.

- We did service in 100+ degree weather and the spirit gave us strength to keep going!

- Sister West and I do not have the spiritual gift of remembering to drink water...or even to bring water

- We sang as a choir at a live nativity AT THE TEMPLE and they mic-ed us up so I didn't make a SINGLE sound because I was laughing too hard. It was yeehaw!

- This last Wednesday we went caroling at the city mall to help advertise our Christmas Eve music devotional. It was crazyy and SO MUCH FUN. I played my violin so that I didn't have to sing (hallelujah) and it was heaps of fun!

- On Thursday Sister West and I biked ALL DAY in 100 degree weather. It was sort of awesome! We also made 2 friends that day! Blessings and miracles!

- I love my mission!

Here's my spiritual thought:

14) And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

15) And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

16) And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.

Okay so for some context, this is when the Nephites of the people of Limhi finally remember their God after a long period of iniquity and denial. I think the way God handles their return can be related so easily to how he handles our returns in this day. Sometimes the Lord takes His time to hear our cries so that we truly decide and act in faith and continue in that faith as we pray and pray and pray. But, what matters is that He always always answers our prayers and helps us but, He rarely ever fixes our problems right away. Instead, He helps us grow and "prosper by degrees". Which I think is so beautiful and really prompts us to be patient to the will of God.

Anyways, I love y'all! I hope y'all have a yeehaw week!

Sister Cummings

Yeehaw! life is good!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy y'all!!!

Guess what? These past two weeks have been AMAZING! Sooo, let me tell you about them!

First off, transfers happened and sadly Sister Nybo and I are noar lunga companions. It's sad and I miss her but I also absolutely LOVE my new companion Sister West! This is her second transfer on the mission but her first transfer in Australia. She was visa waiting in the Texas, Austin Mission for a transfer so she knows all of my favorite things like Bucees! And Rudy's BBQ! AND HEB! So, we get along really well. Honestly, she seems like she's been a missionary for like a year already. She's just that goated!

Since the new transfer we have been giving SO MANY miracles from God! One of those miracles is more like 5 since we've made 5 new friends in these last two weeks! I know it doesn't sound very awesome but we've been averaging about 0.5 new friends a week but putting in the effort to get about 500 every week. So, the Lord does bless your efforts according to His timing!

Another Miracle is our friend Joseph! Joseph is a child of GOD (y'all are too by the way)! We met Joseph just over three weeks ago and started teaching him and then just last week he told us he wants to be baptized! Isn't that amazing??! His baptismal date is set for January 11 but during now and that date, he's going to be spending a month back in his home country where he doesn't have access to a church building or to missionaries. So please please please please pray for him!! We love him so much!!

Okay here's some funny things that happened this week:

- I got stung by a bee

- We heard multiple crazy conspiracy theories from people we thought were completely sane

- Sister West still can't do a pull up

- Sister Cummings can't do a backflip

- I got a nasty stomach bug at a dinner with a member and Joseph and still tried to teach in between trips to the bathroom #iykyk

- Sister West and I made a 5 minute stop at a cemetery to pray for the salvation of some souls and then just got back to biking. It was fun!

Anyways, I'm excited for this next week and I hope y'all are too! But, here's a real quick spiritual thought for y'all:

Lately, I've been trying to focus on following the spirit always! And not only does it take away a lot of the stress of missionary work, it makes it fun! It's so joyful! Because none of this work is in our hands, it's in the Lord's so as long as we follow His Holy Spirit everything will go according to as He would have it go. And, the same works in day to day life, not just missionary life. So, basically, y'all should do it too!!

I love y'all!!!

- Sister Cummings

Miracles YES

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!

So many cool things have been happening lately! Two weeks ago I hit 6 months on the mish! Isn't that awesome! I'm already 1/3 of the way through! It's been so dang quick and so dang amazing! I've already learned heaps of stuff and have grown a lot (although not physically, I'm still just a little bit short).

Another amazing thing is that I've been seeing so many miracles!

One big one happened on Saturday during exchanges in the city with Sister Manuel (love her tbh) and we were just doing some finding and we walked up to this dude sitting down in the grass and we ended up sitting down with him and teaching him about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and he ATE it up! It was yeehaw!! And he also shared a beautiful story of how Jesus Christ saved his life! I legitimately almost cried! And the cool things about this is the little itty bitty miracles like the fact that the dude had JUST come to Australia two weeks ago from Papua New Guinea and didn't even live in the city but had decided to visit that day. Coincidence? Nah. AND THE BIGGEST THING. The dude was lost and was confused by the big city and that's why he sat down and while he had been sitting there he was praying that "someone with Jesus in their heart" would come and help him and then we rocked up! Prayers work!!!

Okay, next miracle happened yesterday at church when another guy, who we'd only interacted with over text and the phone rocked up to CHURCH and LOVED IT and even STAYED for second hour AND the second hour for the ward after ours. So 1) we think he enjoyed the church and 2) he would have eaten up 3 hour church. He was so interested and we were able to set up a teaching appointment with him and another one of our members for later in the week. AHH I LOVE JESUS CHRIST!

Anyways!! My spiritual thought is that miracles are real! Seek and expect miracles because they happen. God makes them happen!

I love y'all so much! Have a good one!

- Sister Cummings

Its been a while...

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy Y'all!

Guess what, I'm alive!

Sorry for leaving y'all in the lurch these last two weeks! Sister Nybo and I have been working hard these last few weeks so when pday comes, we're EXHAUSTED. But, I've decided I really need to show y'all some love for real!

These last few weeks have been so great! We had mission conference and received so much guidance and direction from Elder Wakolo. I feel like I'm already becoming a better missionary from it!

Last week we got to go to the temple for p-day which was amazing! It gave us that extra little boost to get through the rest of the week!

A few more updates:

- we put a friend on date for baptism! But then she ghosted us :(

- we drove a lot!

- I love Sister Nybo!

- We're a part of the Mission Music Group and get to rehearse music for 2 hours every week! I love it! It takes me back to orchestra rehearsals in high school!

- I'm definitely lactose intolerant

- I'm obsessed with wearing bandanas

Here's a spiritual thought:

1 Corinthians 12:17

"If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?"

Here's Elder Ginn's interpretation of this verse:

Little babies are whole in Christ. Smelling is a gift of the wise. Each individual piece of the puzzle makes it beautiful. Everyone has a role to fill, a string to pluck, an itch to scratch. Praise God!... amen?

Now here's Sister Templeman's:

First of all the whole body isn’t an eye. Period. Done. End of story. But if it was that would be a big eye. Ps I love sister cummings. She is everything good in this world and she saved my life today:)

Here's gooby goober Elder Arnold:

When we become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we become members of the Body of Christ. We all have different talents and abilities. Keep doing you. God NEEDS YOU! ❤️

P.S. have JOY man. Its so good having joy! Jesus loves you

Lastly, Sister Manuel:

If the whole body was a nose WHERE IS THE SEEING!?

I think that this means that all that was made was made for making, and that making, WAS MADE BY GOD!! And under the direction of the father, Jesus created the earth and all upon it, therefore IT WAS MADE ✨️✨️

What's y'all's interpretation?

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

I got kissed

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!

Sorry my emails lately have been so short and non-eventful! I'm going to try to repent by giving y'all a good one today!

So, what happened this week?

The first thing of note that happened this week is that our district had it's "last hoorah" by having dinner with President Standley and his family on Tuesday night! It. was. a. party. We love the Standleys so much. They legitimately feel like family. We laughed BUNCHES. Shared crazy embarrassing stories and jammed to music. It was yeehaw, to say the least.

The next thing that happened this week was that we did bunches of service this last Thursday and it was pretty normal work except for the one lady that had all six of us missionaries rip up all the grass in her front lawn by HAND. She refused to let us use a lawnmower so we legit hand-picked a WHOLE yard. It was kind of insane.

The last event of importance was that transfers happened this last Thursday night and Sister Nybo and I somehow thought it was at 8:30 instead of 8:00 and by the time we realized our mistake and joined the zoom call, President was already way past calling out our assignments so we had NO IDEA if we had been transferred. It was crazy. But spoiler alert, we weren't transferred and Sister Nybo and I are STOKED. We absolutely LOVE being companions.

Actually just kidding, THIS is the last even of importance. Yesterday, I got to drive ALL DAY. I LOVE driving so much. It's actually my favorite thing in this world other than Jesus, and my family and music, and actually lots of other things but that doesn't matter. Moral of the story, I just love driving. So, shout out to Sister Walters for getting the vid so that we could use y'all's car. It was yeehaw.

If you want to hear about how I got kissed on the mish, click the link at the bottom of the email and watch the vlog I made. TRIGGER WARNING if you're afraid of old men without teeth, don't watch.

Okay, I hope that was enough details for y'all but now it's time for the spiritual thought:

" If you want to be like Jesus, remember He had a wilderness, a Gethsemane, and a Judas"

^ I read that the other day somewhere on Facebook and I have just kept thinking about it. Our lives are difficult and sometimes it may seem like we're the only ones struggling but that's false y'all! Christ has struggled too and understands your pain to a perfect extent. Turn to Him. He's legit so amazing!

I love y'all!

Sister Cummings