Final Words

(Sister Cummings)

Dearest Family and Friends,

The time has come. The moment I have both looked forward to and avoided is now at the door. This is my last email as a missionary. This Wednesday I will be relieved of my proselyting duties, Thursday my family will come pick me up and on Saturday I will be released as a missionary. It all seems to be happening so fast. It’s like when you have been waiting in line for  a waterslide and you get all excited when it finally comes but then it is just as the slide starts tipping downward you wish you had never gotten on it and want to climb back up. I am finding more and more that I do not want my mission to end, but yet I am excited for the future. Just like the waterslide. First you want to crawl back but then you realize how fun and exhilarating it is. I am grateful for my mission and excited for the future.

For the past 18 months I have been "anxiously engaged in a good cause" (D&C 58:27) I have served with all my "Heart, mind, might and strength" (D&C 4) as a representative of Jesus Christ, here in Quebec. Much like the province slogan, "Je me souviens," I will always remember my time here.

It certainly was not easy. With one of the strictest schedules of my lie, the initiative to talk to everyone in a language not my own, having to stay 24/7 with a companion of a different culture or traditions. Not to mention how many times a door has been slammed in my face, that I have been yelled at, and cursed at, and once spat at. I cannot imagine a happier moment than I have witnessed here. I have seen so many miracles. I have witnessed as the spirit touched the lives of many people in bringing them to the joy of the fullness of the gospel, as they become converted to the Lord. The most breathtakingly beautiful thing however is that as I have been helping my fellow brothers and sisters here I myself have changed.

A scripture found in Alma 29:10 often comes to mind as I have gone about serving the Lord. "And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me." I cannot say it as well as Alma, but as I have seen the Lord's precious children become enfolded in his arms of mercy through their efforts to come closer to him, I myself have come to realize all that God has done for me.

If I was ever able to tell you the most important thing I have learned from serving a mission it would be that I have finally come to an understanding of the grandeur of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Why he went forth "suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind" and took upon him "the pains and the sicknesses of his people" (Alma 7:11) It is because he loves us. A truth that I knew of but did not know the extent of this love. he has gone before my face. He has been on my right hand and on my left with his angels round about me to bear me up (D&C 84:88) When I have stumbled he has lifted me. When I was weak he has made me strong. Wherever I have been he is always there with his arms of mercy extended towards me. (Alma 5:33-34)

During this Christmas season I have reflected on the words of a well loved song. "Oh Holy Night" depicts through poetry and music the evening of the saviours birth. I had the opportunity of performing it in place of my final testimony as a missionary I asked to sing.

"Oh holy night

The stars are brightly shining

it is the night of the dear Saviour's birth."

It then talks about why the saviour was needed.

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth"

Without the Saviour the world would forever be in sin and sadness. We would have no chance of fulfilling the goal we so longingly desired for. This being living with our Father in Heaven once more. For "there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God." (1 Nephi 15:34) A spiritual darkness surrounded the earth until the Saviour was born.

"A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn"

And I find that the words translated from the French version are far more descriptive than the English

"People to your knees

hear your deliverance

Noel, Noel

Here is your redeemer

Noel, Noel

Here is your redeemer"

How beautiful it would have been to be there at his birth. Where a hope was given once more to us to return to our father in heaven. He is our Redeemer and the Saviour of our souls. Salvation is a lot better than anything Santa Claus can give.

In closing these final thoughts I wished to share something that have learned recently. In the bible there comes a moment when the children of Israel are corned by the fast approaching wave of the Philistine Army. The Israelites plead unto Samuel, the prophet at the time, saying "Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us. That he will save us out of the hand of the philistines" (1 Samuel 7:8) Samuel prays on their behalf and the Lord sends a thunder that confuses the Philistines are the Israelites are able to win. After the battle Samuel took a stone and made a memorial, which he named Ebenezer meaning "stone of help." Saying "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." In reading this story another song came to mind. That of "Come thou fount of every blessing" In one of the verses it states

"Here I raise my Ebenezer

Hither by thy help I come

And I hope by thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home"

Here, Quebec I raise my Ebenezer. I have come to be who I am through my service here. And I hope that through Gods grace that I may continue to progress so that I may be able to arrive home to my Father in Heaven.

I know that He lives. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be saved from all heartache, sorrow or malediction. I know that this Church and its gospels and doctrine are true. I know all these things and I testify that we have a God who loves us and he wants us to be happy and through His plan he makes this so. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Day is Soon Cummings

(Sister Cummings)

Well everyone I have hit a rather remarkable and pretty bittersweet moment yesterday when I realized that I could count the amount of days that I have left on my mission using only my two hands.... Yikes.... I literally have spent 540 days of the roughly 550 days it takes to serve a mission. Boy. Crazy.

Anyways.... No daudling back to business...

Where was I? Oh that's right missionary work. This week has been pretty good. Although we, both Sister Blanc and I, had nice bought with a stomach virus we managed still to go out and see people. We actually got more lessons than the last two weeks combined. So quite a progress if I do say so myself. Honestly not sure how it happened, but I think part of it was God and the other part was people felt so sad for us that they just had to let us in. Either way it ended in our benefit, and we hope that this week may also be as effective or more.

I have had quite a few experiences this week. One happened just a few days ago. As a missionary soon to be returning to the real world...gulp... the First Presidency has started a training program to better help the transition. This training usually would take six weeks. But they literally just introduced it this week so I have to complete it in two weeks. A lot. But it is actually helping. The program focuses a lot on preparing, planning and setting goals for after the mission. So in fixing these goals I have had quite a bit of time to think about how my life will be. With a shockingly high less active rate of return missionaries you could say I was a little discouraged. I often find myself wondering if I will be able to surpass those bad habits before my mission when I return. What is going to happen. I had been saying a lot of prayers on the matter and I wasn't sure what to do.

With us both being sick we had a bit more time to study. A bit...more like a lot more time to study. One day I was reading ensigns and flipping through when I felt impressed to go pick up a Book of Mormon in English and read that. This Book of Mormon was very special. I had received it from my Sister, Camilla, around the time of Mother's Day this past year. She had decorated it and written her testimony in it. I thought it nice that if there were any English speakers that I taught I could share with them her testimony and favorite scripture. Sadly no one we have taught since then has been comfortable in English enough for me to give it to them. So I have held onto it. And it wasn't until about two weeks ago when I was going through and dejunking my desk that I found it again. Well this day I decided to read it. I open up to find that a page had one of the corners folded. Well that was interesting. Last time I checked there hadn't been any pages folded, so I decide to read it. It was 2 Nephi 4:18-19

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily abeset me.

 19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I haveatrusted.

It may sound dark but I found actually that it said exactly what I was feeling. I was sad with the actions I had done before my mission, things like watching Netflix for hours instead of doing other more important things. ANd pretty soon I will be in a world less sheltered than missionary life where our only access to technology is a flip phone and emails once a week. Will I be able to keep the standards of diligence that I have learned from being sheltered while I am out encompassed about by temptation?

The Answer?

Yes because I know in whom I have trusted. Since this moment of opening up to a page that had a corner folded down that just happened to have the answer to my question (coincidence? I think Not!) the words of God speaking to the adversary in Moses 4:21 often come to mind."he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Power has only the power to bruise our heel. While inconvénient and annoying it is not debilitating expecially when we know that we, through Christ, shall bruise his head. In fact the Hebrew word used for bruise actually can also mean crush. So we have the power to Crush his head. We are never alone. We have a Father in Heaven who is so powerful that the whole of righteous humanity he calls his "little fold." He is always on our side and no matter the future we may continue in hope knowing with a surity that what ever the outcome may be for our benefit.

I love you all and I wish you one of the best christmas's ever. Have a wonderful week =)

Out of the Mouth of Babes

(Sister Cummings)

Well everyone we have kind of been hopping from computer to computer trying to get our emails done. So this week will be a littler short. Anyways this week a lot happened. For one I was able to attend the temple and to do a session of endowments. One of our members was getting her endowments out and we were able to attend with her. So I was the first Canada Montréal missionary to attend an endowment session, with my companion of course. =D

Well I just wanted to share with you all a little thought. This week we were previleged with the performance of the primary program in sacrament meeting. It was so cute! One little kid was able to shoot off the thirteenth article of faith in record time. And of course there was the usual nose picking that seems to be universal in the Church.

The theme of the event was Je sais qu'il vit. Or I know that he lives. It was not only cute but touching to see as these children gave thier testimonies. The words came to mind of a scripture that I do not remember the exact wording nor have time to find the reference. But it states something like, Out of the mouth of babes are truths shared. I beleive that I learned even more this sacrament meeting as as these children taught the basic truths of the doctrine in the most simple way possible.

I know it isn't much but I need to let my companion do her emails too. I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week =D

A Temple Dedicated

(Sister Cummings)
Well Hello everyone! This week has been just amazing! We have seen many miracles as always, but I am going to skip right to the good part. THE TEMPLE HAS BEEN DEDICATED!

Thats right the beautiful event started on Saturday with the presentation of the youth cultural celebration. The presentation itself  was in a theatre in Montreal, however there was not enough room for even the families of the youth to attend. So it was broadcasted to church buildings all over Quebec and Ontario, and potentially all of Canada but I am not sure... Anyways the theme was "Je me Souviens" or "I Remember" Which is what is written on every quebecois license plate. The presentation featured a short ballet performance to portray the creation, a First Nations dance (to us Americans this means Native American in Canadian lingo) which was really cool with a lot of stomping around, a French Canadian Waltz, then an English Canadian jig, With a short little interlude of The French and the English having a dance battle. It was so cute! All these little canadians running around in blues and reds seeing who could dance better.

To show the immigrant cultures that have become quite prevalent in the past fifty years they did a Latina dance which was so intense my legs hurt from watching it. And finally a Hatian dance. Which was really awesome. All in all a beautiful performance and presentation as youth of Quebec and Ontario remembered where they came from and why there were here.

A huge part of why we have a temple centres around genealogy in helping those who have not had the opportunity in their life on Earth to partake in ordinances such as baptism. In the temple we can be baptized on the part of our ancestors so that they may also feel the joy of the gospel if they so choose to. The spirit was so strong as the youth shared what they had learned from their ancestors.

The kicker though was Yesterday. The big day. The dedication. Present was Elder Henry B. Eyring of the quorum of the twelve apostles, Bishop Causse, and Members of the Seventy Elders Perkins and Richards. It was beautiful. The sprint was yet again so strong but even stronger than that of the night before. As we were sitting there a feeling of peace just came over me. I myself wasn't able to attend the temple for the service but by way of satellite we were able to be evermore a part of the ceremony. It was beautiful and a feeling of peace just came over me and has not left since.

I know that my redeemer lives and I know that he loves me. And that though this love he has given us the opportunity and the invitation to enter into his temples. The Temples really are the place where we can really feel his spirit the strongest. I am so grateful to be able to be here sharing the wonderful song of redeeming love to those around me here in Quebec.

I love you all and I hope that you have an even better week than I just had.

Love

Sister Cummings

A Week of Miracles

(Sister Cummings)
First off I am just going to say that we still have not gotten lost thanks to many prayers. All in all there were about 8,000 people who visited the temple this week and I go to be there for about 4,000 of them. We worked everyday this week taking the hour and a half drive to get there, sometimes needing to wake up at 5:00 am in order to make it on time. I actually started getting cramps in my legs from driving our aged car from our end of the island to the other. But it was worth the sacrifice.

We were able to see so many miracles in being there. For example there was a moment when I and my companion were working in the reception tent and I was helping people at the information counter when a woman came up who only spoke spanish. Now the area I am serving in used to be full of spanish speaking people, however with certain changes in the area boundaries we actually do not teach in spanish all that often. So I have not really had the time to learn Spanish as I am trying to perfect my French. Well with that being said I really do not speak Spanish. Anyways so I started helping this woman, she pointed to one of the pamphlets that we had about genealogy asking if she could take it. I said she could but we only had those ones in French however we did have these other pamphlets that were in spanish, they were the same thing but just smaller. I then invited her to fill out one of the comment cards. Which is a pretty normal conversation except it was a little different this time because I WAS SPEAKING FLUENT SPANISH. One of the sisters serving from Mexico commented on how good my accent was and asked if I had spoken spanish at home... Well lets just say the gift of tongues is real and that that woman probably really needed that pamphlet because God performed a miracle to give it to her.

Another miracle happened a little later in the original form of an adversity. This entire week our car has been just having problems. Hmmm Funny how it just happens to be on this week of all weeks where the House of the Lord would be open to the public. Anyways one of the main problems has been that randomly our trunk opens. As in, getting of the highway and suddenly it just pops right open and we can't close it. We had talked to one of leaders and he had showed us what to do when it happened. SO one morning we were running a little late to the temple, we had hit some unexpected traffic and had turned onto an empty road. There was literally no one there when suddenly our trunk opens. We obviously pull over to the side of the road and try doing what our leader had shown us. It didn't work. We tried again. Nope. Nothing. Before reverting to insensible slamming of the trunk multiple times we called our leader and he wasn't available. Finally I said a prayer. I had just finished when a man comes out of literally nowhere. The road was completely empty and then this guy is just there. He comes up and in perfect English (which was quite rare for the area that we were in at that time which is known as the most french area) shows us how to close our trunk. And it works. I don't think I have ever been so grateful in my life for someone who could show me how to push buttons. After saying thanking him we got back into the car and...the guy had vanished. We are pretty sure it was one of the three Nephites or an angel. Because that was actually the day that we could not be late to. The most people came through the temple and the most miracles happened.

Now I don't really have too much time to continue but I did want to share one last miracle. We were working the video rooms which consisted of inviting people into the room giving a short speech very similar to a flight attendant speech and then starting the video. It was early in the week so not as many people were coming. Our tour group ended up being only two non-member men. We had some time to get to know them and we asked if they had ever been in a temple before. One had never been in a temple but he had lived two blocks away from the Oakland California temple for about ten years and had always wanted to visit a temple. The other his grandmother had been a member but his mother had never been baptized or was interested in the gospel. But he had started looking into the church when he had stumbled upon the temple open house. Now this was maybe our fiftieth time doing the introductory speech and watching the video but this time was different for some reason. he spirit was very strong and after the video we saw that both men were crying. AND THAT WAS ONLY THE VIDEO. We did not get to see them after their tour but I am confident that they had felt the spirit even stronger.

I am so grateful I was able to be a part of the temple open house here in Montreal. This was a moment I realized I was quite prepared to be a part of. The chances of people able to be a part of it at the exact last transfer of my mission where my French is at its best and I have become aware of how to follow the spirit was amazing. I am so glad that I could be a part of this wonderful experience. I love every single one of you and I hope you have a wonderful week.

Love

Sister Cummings

Yes! Candians do celebrate Halloween!

(Sister Cummings)
Well to be honest I don't really have time today to write much plus not too much has happened this week. It felt kind of like the quiet before the storm, with Hurricane temple being forecasted in the near future with the opening of the doors to the public this Wednesday. Our Preparation day is even cut short in order to have training. But none the less this is what happened this week. First off before I forget, we received our transfer calls early and it seems that Sister Rawlings will be leaving me to go English speaking. However I will be receiving Sister Blanc! She was my third companion in the field and I am sooooo excited to have her (and her food) with me again! =D Anyways let us continue...

Yup thats right elders with swords. Scary experience. Sister Rawlings and I gave a training in our district on the amour of god and how obedience is our protection in our work relating each piece to a certain council that we are given such as studies, planning and of course the sword of the spirit. As we had about three weeks to plan the training we decided to make it intense. Each Elder got a sword and Sister Rawlings and I made bets on who would break it first. We were right.

This week was the ward Halloween party where we found our buddy the Canadian Mounty. Hmm sometimes I forget I am in a different country, mind you everyone here speaks French but still somehow it is more of a culture shock to see a little kid running around in a red uniform on Halloween than ordering food in French. Either way Sister Rawlings and I took the initiative to make our mission to Canada complete by taking a picture with a Mounty. Check!

​The day of Halloween was pretty hard. We literally had no one to see planned. But we called up a few people and it turned out to the one of the best Halloweens ever! We started off with raking leaves, a perfect fall activity. Then we decorated someone’s house for a Halloween party and finally we passed by a family just as they were getting ready to carve pumpkins! So we helped them out =D Things got pretty intense once the power tools were brought out =D

Well I hope to have even better pictures next week! I love you all!

One More Added To The Fold

(Sister Cummings)
Hello everyone!!!!! I just have to get this out there but Vanessa was baptized this week!! It was quite a stressful week in preparation for her baptism. Although I have had previous investigators baptized in the past this is very much the first one that I had the opportunity to plan. And boy. Did we plan. Everything was planned down to the hair thanks to the amazing organization skills of my amazing companion Sister Rawlings. There was one day in the week that after our appointment, back-up, and emergency back-up cancelled we went to the church building to check out the font and to sweep it out. Good thing we did because there were maybe five or six families of various insects profiting in the quiet and peaceful environment of the baptismal font. They were promptly evicted as were the sparse yet still present colonies of mold. Lets just say we don't baptize all that often in Canada =D

Besides a quick stumble to find a piano player after the one planned for cancelled last minute everything went quite smoothly. The font was finished on time with water that was neither too cold nor too hot. Vanessa only needed to be plunged once as the ordinance was performed perfectly on the very first time. There were enough towels. The television properly showed the restoration while Vanessa was changing from her wet clothing. And there was just the perfect amount of food afterwards for a short reception. Needless to say it went...perfectly. Which was exactly NOT what we were expecting. But it happened and we are so grateful that it did.

Not much time but I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your prayers given for Vanessa. They were answered and one more lamb was added into the fold.

I love you and hope you have an amazing week!

this is us updating the area book with Vanessa's Baptism

This is me having fun with my camera while Sister Rawlings was doing her emails

Yup thats them. They are cute together =)

Martin came and visited Laval ironically the day that Vanessa received the Holy Ghost. This is him and his return missionary of a girlfriend that should be getting married around april though the question has not been popped yet =)

It Rained, It Snowed, Somebody needs to check on the Old Man

(Sister Cummings)
It happened. It snowed. Sister Rawlings and I were getting ready to leave to an appointment and were wondering what temperature it was, it was then that we looked out the window... DUH duh DuUuUuhH!!!! There they were little white floaty things dropping from the sky. Resigned to our fate we bundled up. Only to find one hour later as we came out of our lesson to not a cloud in the sky and the sun shining. Which two hours later became a hale storm, Then one hour later a rain storm. Then two hours later bright and sunny and then finally just deciding to be snow one hour afterwards.

It was really quite disorienting. It felt by the end of the day as if we had just kind of witnessed three different days at interspersed moments during the twenty-four hours.

So besides the quite bipolar weather we are experiencing Canada is pretty fantastic. As always we have seen a lot of miracles this week. I would like to take the time to share some absolutely amazing once in a lifetime news.

I AM GOING TO BE A TEMPLE MISSIONARY!

Well you know not actually working in the temple but with the Montreal Temple opening its doors for the open house in two weeks I and all the other sisters in my mission have the opportunity to help with the temple! I will be introducing an introductory video before visitors are led to the temple doors as well as welcoming them afterwards to share their experiences.

I am so excited for this! But mostly I am excited for the miracles and blessings it will bring. For those who may not know an LDS Temple is a beautiful building that we build, wherein we may learn more of the truths of this world as well as receive personal revelation to help us through life. Quite literally it is the House of God where we may receive further ordinances that will eventually allow us to live with our Heavenly Father once more.

However unlike our church buildings not everyone is permitted to attend the temple. Just as in times of old only those who have specifically kept the commandments of God and have been baptized by someone holding the proper authority may enter in. Many members even are not found worthy to enter. However all of this is only after the Temple is to be dedicated.

About 18 months ago the Montreal temple was closed for renovations. Apparently the roof had not been designed to hold the weight of snow here in Canada for too long. Starting November 2nd the doors are going to be opened to the public and for the first time in many peoples lives they will have the opportunity to walk through its holy walls. It will then be dedicated the 22nd of November.

I am so excited for this moment. Never would I have ever thought I would have the chance to be a sister missionary here at this time. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so excited for the blessings that will come!

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

This was a training I did on Charity. I was pretty proud about that one =)

This is Sister Rawlings and I throwing out Vanessa's coffee =)

This was us heart attacking like bosses. Due to the chest pains we had had a lot of time on our hands and made about 200 little origami hearts.

...It was October and we found this lady outside our apartment...You would be surprised how often this actually happens

Flowers in the Window

(Sister Cummings)

First off a scripture.

"And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trustin that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit." D&C 11:12

I wanted to take the time to talk about the Holy Ghost. He is the third member of the godhead, whom unlike Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ does not have a body of flesh and bones. He testifies of the Father and the Son and through him we may receive all personal revelation. Though we may sometimes feel the influence of the spirit leading us to do good, it is only after baptism where we receive the ordinance of the gift of the holy ghost. This is a promise that we make with God that his spirit will always be with us as we are obedient to his laws. The Holy Ghost inspires us, just as this scripture says, to choose the right and do good.

As a missionary I rely very heavily on this spirit. It guides me and other missionaries to those who are ready for our message or just need help.

I would like to share two different stories that happened this week. The first starts in the last half hour of our day, after we had passed the entire afternoon passing by every single, less active, Former, and even member in the area yet NO ONE WAS HOME. Needless to say we were frustrated. So channeling this frustration we starting posing uplifting text messages for the sisters that we visit teach. In doing so Sister Rawlings, my companion, spotted a woman walking on the empty sidewalks. She turned to me and asked if she should get out and talk to the lady. Kind of distracted I told her to go ahead and do it. She started to unbuckle her seat but seeing that the lady was almost past, chickened out and buckled back in. It was then that we both realized that it was in fact a prompting of the spirit that we had not followed. But our disappointment didn't last long for just afterwards there is a tap on Sister Rawling's window and the woman is holding one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. The woman's name was Nazli and she had just happened to have this flower in her pocket. We had a wonderful discussion with her and will be seeing her this week to teach her more of the restored gospel.

The second has to do with our investigator Vanessa, who sadly was not baptized this past Saturday but will most definitely be baptized the 24th. We had invited a member to teach her with us. We hadn't exactly thought of this but it turned out that this member who had three months ago lost her husband in an accident, was helping us teach about eternal marriage. There came a moment where the spirit told me to ask her a question. I immediately dismissed it thinking the question would be too difficult or too hurtful. Then yet again the prompting came. Realizing that this was from the holy ghost I turned to the member and asked what it meant for her to be able to be sealed with the one she loved for eternity. What then followed was the strongest most spirit filled testimony of my entire mission.

I know that this church is true. There is no doubt in my mind that we hold the authority to baptize and thus receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have seen it in action. I have seen the reactions. Every fiber in my body bids me to testify that I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the beloved gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth. I know that through him we also received the fullness of God's priesthood. I know this and I wish every person on this Earth the chance to know this. That is why I am here on my mission. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Miracle of Sacrifice

(Sister Cummings)

This week has been full of miracles! First off our investigator is still on track to be baptized on the 10th of October which is this Saturday. Though I have been a part of baptisms this is kind of the first one that I am actually taking a part in organizing. But our ward is very loving and supportive therefore we have been able to delegate and focus on the important part. That being preparing Vanessa.

As part of this week we decided to teach the word of wisdom to her. It was a little scary honestly for us, even though it shouldn't have been. Because we had seen the signs of alcohol everywhere. But we pressed forward with the prompting that we needed to and did it. Turns out she had no problem with the stuff. All the bottles that we saw around the apartment were alcohol free ever since it was stated in passing about a month before that we don't drink alcohol. So there is miracle number one, miracle number two I find is way better. It turned out that she did have a problem with coffee. In fact she kind of was a little frustrated to realize that in order to be baptized she had to try not to drink it. However after teaching the doctrine of sacrifice there was a complete change of heart and our investigator threw open every single cupboard and gave us all of her coffee that she owned to throw away. The faith this woman showed was amazing!

As a part of a goal I find myself reading the bible and particularly the story of Abraham. As we know Abraham was a righteous man whom in order to show his faith, God asked him to sacrifice his only son. Which is after God has promised that his posterity shall be numbered as the sand on the sea. That would take quite the faith to even think about doing such a thing and yet Abraham continues in faith up until he is given commandment otherwise with the sacrificial knife suspended above the head of his son.

Sacrifice is a fact of life. In order to live happily we must sacrifice those things that only make us happy in the moment. For example the sacrifice of food for a fast. The sacrifice I and many others are currently making in choosing to leave home and family to serve a mission. All sacrifice is a strife of faith but which sacrifice will bring even farther blessings.

I love you all and I pray for you!

love

Sister Cummings

Pictures!

Drum Roll Please

(Sister Cummings)
And just like that the transfer is over... We received our transfer calls just before the general woman's conference. Imagine this, three sisters calmly eating their cold cut sandwiches suddenly turn into Black Friday-esk Mad women as the phone begins to ring. Well the result of this mad dash turned out to be that Sister Rowlings and I will be losing our little Sister Meldrum as she will be busing down to Ottawa come Wednesday. It will be really sad, after all our little band of the three nephites was quite fun and effective and now we must rediscover what it means to be in a duo again. However it may be nice in some cases because now our itty bitty apartment may be in some cases relieved and I will no longer be sleeping with my feet in the dreaming face of Sister Rowlings.

As Always miracles have happened this week. We are still meeting with Vanessa and she continues to astound us at every opportunity. Keep her in your prayers as usual.

I wished to share a little of what I have learned of Divine Nature and Potential. As we know we are all children of God. The people we walk with on the streets no matter their outlook chose to follow their older brother Jesus Christ in the pre-existence. Just like a Sheppard knows his sheep the Lord God knows all his children. In one of my first district meetings there was a discussion on charity and an Elder stated the following "How would He introduce them." Often when we are looking outward at those around us are we not prone to judge? Do we not compare ourselves to others?

When we look on our brethren do we see them as they actually are. As Children of God and our brothers and sisters, future Kings and Queens of a heavenly stewardship. Next time a judging thought comes into your mind think upon the words that this Elder shared. How would God introduce this person whom I have been so quick to judge.

I leave you with the words of Paul I love you and I pray for all of you.

"Let brotherly love continue" Heb 13:1

Out of Time

(Sister Cummings)

So due to our plans being quite full today and us using public computers with a time limit this email is not going to be as effective as I wish it could be. But I wanted to send something. Mosiah 4:9 is one of my most favorite scriptures. It is when the King Benjamin just before his death calls for all the people of the land to come together in prayer and Learning. A situation very similar to that of General Conference where we gather together, perhaps virtually, to learn and praise our God. In the climatic moment of his discourse, King Benjamin states the following.

 "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

I know and I can testify these things are true. This weekend is the start of general Conference. The Lord can help us understand the things that we need to understand through our leaders and our inspired prophet. I know these things are true in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen

White Castles #Nottheburgerplace

(Sister Cummings)

Hello everyone!! Yet again we are doing our emails on a Tuesday due to our having a zone conference yesterday. As the conference was in Montreal we had chosen to take the metro into the city to save up on kilometres. It was quite a moment when I realized about exactly a year ago this was the only mode of transport that I had had. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have a car now but sometimes in our cars we forget how big the world is. Particularly Montreal. We felt the spirit so strongly as we talked about the Sabbath.

It was an important moment in the training where we discussed the importance of a vision, and how having a vision helps us to fix goals. Such as when we understand the importance of the sacrament we come to realize the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

I would love to explain more of I learned but I sadly do not have time to give all the details, but I would love to share the application of this concept.

This week one of our investigators attended church for the first time. Vanessa is what most missionaries call golden, but what we in Laval like to call Soifers. Soif in French means thirsty and when studying how there are those thirsting after righteousness and truth this frangle phone word was formed. She has been studying religions for seven years with all branches of religion. Branching from Muslim even to Jehovahs Witness. Our lessons with her have been really edifying and miraculous and when she was finally able to attend church we were so excited. As was she.

After an amazing sacrament meeting and gospel principles class we took a few minutes before the third hour of church to prepare her for the combined meeting discussing the soon to be rededicated Montreal Temple. We gave her a crash course on temples and showed a picture of a couple. When she saw them she immediately described everyone of them as a white castle where princes and princesses lived. When we told her that marriages were taken place there her eyes lit up. The meeting gave an even better lesson on what a temple was and focused on many aspects of the open house.

After church we met with Vanessa. And one of her first things she asked was when could she be baptized because she wanted to be able to enter the temple and receive the blessings from there. Once she realized that the vision we were helping her have was focused on receiving the covenants of the temple she immediately wanted to be baptized. We set a baptismal date and on the way back to our car did a happy dance. This NEVER happens. Well it never happens by our own works, only by God was this moment able to take place.

I am so happy to be a missionary here and to be able to teach people of the gospel. Which teaching helps me to learn more of how much God loves us. My testimony has grown so much and I cannot imagine a life without my mission. Particularly the principles I am learning from partaking in this labor of love.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I ask that you may keep Vanessa in your prayers that she may be able to be baptized October 10th.

I love you!

Sister Cummings

Miracles as Usual

(Sister Cummings)

So due to Canada actually using their Holidays as a day off for everyone, thus stores were closed yesterday for Labor day. (What is up with that? It is legitimately something that still surprises me every time. You mean people actually DO want to rest and not make as much money as is possible? This really is not the United States) Our mission president changed our P-Day to today. Which was great because yesterday we were able to see so many people! However we did run out of food and had to make do with Macaroni and Cheese, or as they call it here KD (Kraft Dinner.) Apparently Mac and Cheese refers to something else =)

This week has been great and full of miracles! However it started off on a rough note. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a pain in my stomach so bad that it hurt to even walk to the bathroom. It ended up last for three days. The last of which we attempted to see a doctor but were unable to be able to get in that day. Either way it was not fun and Thursday night we were trying to find members who would be able to do member splits with us as we are thankfully in a trio. But no one was answering, and those who did were not able to join us due to prescheduled events. We were looking at another day stuck in the apartment or another one spent at the doctors office. Not fun. We decided to say a pray, in which it was asked that God show us what must be done. Right after the prayer two members called back both saying that they were not able to join us but that they were going to pray very hard for me. We hung up still worried of what to do, and then it clicked. I decided that I was going to be healed. After all there were people praying for me, and in my own prayer that night I told God that I knew I was going to be healed by morning and that he help me to have the energy. It may sound a little brash demanding God for health but the spirit had already revealed to me that it was already a part of the Lords plan.

So then I went to sleep. In the early morning I woke up. The pain was still there but there was something different. It was as if someone was pulling off a heavy weight from my stomach and then suddenly all the pain was gone. I fell back asleep quickly and in the morning woke up completely healed and bouncing with energy. In fact I was the first one out of bed at 6:30.

I know that the Lord responded to my prayers. Just as we read in the scriptures I asked and I received. I knocked and it was opened unto me. I know and I testify of the power that the Lord has and his willingness to listen to our prayers. I know that he blesses me everyday with the opportunity to see his hand in all things just as he blesses everyone. God loves us and with that love miracles are made.

I love you all and I wish you one of the best weeks every. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love

Sister Cummings

A Wonderful Scripture

(Sister Cummings)

So my time for emails is running really quite short but I wished to share something that I learned from my studies this morning.

So as a part of this plan which we are a part of, there is a moment of judgment. A judgement based on this what we are able to accomplish and act on in this world which we currently live in. One of the most imposing images that I can think of revolves around this one moment where we stand in front of God our Heavenly Father and suddenly become aware of absolutely every bad thing that we had ever done or even thought of. The crippling fear that would accompany that moment seems unbearable. Could you imagine looking God in the eyes and telling him that you couldn't come and live with him because you were so imperfect? Frightening.

Except for one fact.

At this moment we will not be alone.

Jesus Christ sometimes refers to himself as "the advocate" or in French "avocat" which means Lawyer. A wonderful moment is described in Doctrine and Covenants 45:3-5

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

 4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

 5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

In a moment of fear Jesus our savior will step in and testify of our willingness to do the will of the Lord. And through our acts on the earth we had chosen to follow Christ. Therefore being worthy to use his sufferings or atonement to become pure once more.

This scripture drives so much of my work ethic as a missionary. This is one of the reasons why I am here, so that those around me, my brothers and sisters, may know that if they have Faith, repent, are baptized by someone holding the authority of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then continue to live in righteousness, in the last days they will have peace. They will be found worthy of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and then worthy to live with our Father in Heaven.

I know that these things are true, it is testified to me day in and day out that we have a heavenly father who loves us dearly and wishes that we may come and live with him once more. It is for this fact that he sent his only begotten son to the earth to suffer for our sins.

I love you and I pray for you everyday. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Parable des grenouilles

(Sister Cummings)

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

Drum Roll Please

So as it turned out everyone who emailed me guessed it... I have in fact been transferred... Which is pretty stinking hard. I have spent nearly an entire half of my mission in the amazing area of Lemoyne. I am so grateful for all the amazing people here but as it turns out I will be headed back North of the island and serving in Laval. Laval is still a French area but unlike other French areas there is no Spanish ward covering the area. So my mission call has changed a little bit and I am going to be teaching in Spanish. The Lord sure works in funny ways because by golly, I have never even taken a spanish class... But hey, apparently God needs me to be there.

Not going to lie my heart is kind of hurting in leaving Lemoyne. I have been in this area longer than I have ever been in New Jersey. So when I was asked to give my testimony instead I asked if I would be able to sing. It has always been easier for me to sing my testimony and I prayed for a good long while that I would be able to do it. So I ended up singing "Where can I turn for peace." The spirit was so strong and I was so grateful to have been able to at least leave one last thing for this ward that I have grown to love.

Don't get me wrong. I am going to love Laval. I will be in a trio for the second time on my mission, so I will be leaving my beloved Sister Ladd. *sigh* I am so grateful for everything that she has done for me. For the example that she has shown me.

There is a scripture that has really touched me so much. It is in Alma 29:10

"And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

I am so grateful for the wonderful examples these people have shown me as I watch them grow closer to God. They have shown me through their testimonies the way to grow mine. I am so glad that I have been granted a stay so long here and to learn so much. I love you all and I thank you for the prayers you send my way.