Family History

Did you know it gets cold in Canada? "What?" you say "what do you mean?" No seriously though. The struggle is real. It does not actually look like it is cold through the window and then you open the door and bone chilling air fills the room. This may or may not have to do with the fact that I may or may not be stubbornly avoiding my warm coats and tights, because people should not have to wear ear muffs in October. That is just a fact of life, that someone is not understanding. *cough* Canada *cough* *cough* The lowest temperatures are always at night, yet it is unbelievable how amazingly comfortable it is to sleep in zebra footy pajamas complete with a hood. And yes friends and family I do own them, and I am having no regrets whatsoever.

As I mentioned in last weeks letter I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a beautiful hike for Canadian Thanksgiving and as promised here are the wonderful pictures of just a small part of the beauty of Canada.

I don't have very much time this week but I want to share with you a miracle. For some time now we have been going over to an elderly woman's house to help her with finding her family history. This week we were finally able to find records of who her father was. It seems very insignificant to some I am sure, but we had been searching and searching everywhere for his records. When suddenly I clicked on the wrong name only to find that it was in fact her father. With this new found information we were able to put him into her family tree to find that someone was already doing her work. Her geneology went back to the thirteen hundreds at least! I couldn't imagine what that itty bitty mistake of clicking the wrong name could have lead to.

Before my mission, I will be honest, I did not see the merit in family history. Sure its fun to see where you come from but that only goes so far. However that opinion is in the past. I now have a testimony that continues to grow daily. I know how much Family History blesses people. I have been able to learn from the very few stories I have received about my family history so much. Brothers and Sisters, Family and Friends, you have the time now to research your family. You have the time now to bring others unto Christ and be a missionary by doing your genealogy. So why not do it?

I love you all! Happy Hunting =D

Sister Cummings

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yup I'm serious. Canada celebrates their thanksgiving on the thirteenth of October this year. And how are we as missionaries celebrating? By hiking a million kilometres in the hills and vales of Quebec's countryside. I would send you pictures but I just realized I left my camera in the apartment. Just trust me that it was beautiful with amazing waterfalls and brilliantly colored leaves.

This week we traveled to Montreal twice and guess who drove in Montreal? Twice? THIS GIRL! Whoops I mean Sister... I think I might be able to take on New York City after my mission but right now that's still a big step. Anyways we had a wonderful time both days receiving training. Its strange to think that in only two weeks I will no longer be a greenie... and in only a week and a half that I would have completed 2/9ths of my mission. Yikes!! I don't want it to end! I want to forever be a missionary! Even with all the awkward moments it brings.

Speaking of awkward moments. Have you ever gone to a dance and been told you can't dance and have to speak another language? Not to mention that it is in fact a wedding... Here's the story, the bride is from this area and actually served her mission in Montreal. Its strange but that happens a lot here, probably having to do with how different a culture this is here than other places in the world. I mean it pretty much has its own language, anyways she was getting married and needed help decorating. Naturally us service-hungry missionaries stepped up to the plate and graciously helped decorate. We were then invited to the wedding where we awkwardly stood in the door for two seconds then ran to the kitchen to help put plates together for the dinner. We finish that and are pretty much herded into the hall. After about an hour of talking and fighting the urge to dance I get a tap on my shoulder. It is the father of the bride asking me if I could sing something for everyone. We had to leave in five minutes so I said no. And then magically our loving Mission President and his family walk into the hall, aka awkward moment got more awkward. Just as we were about to leave I get another tap on my shoulder, but this time its my mission president. He says "I understand you won't sing because you will be late. Well I give you permission to be late." Well shoot, that really translates to "you're singing." Luckily Sister Munive and I had been preparing to potentially sing in sacrament meeting so they rolled in the piano and I sang "C'est L'amour" which I forget how it translates to English but it is in the children's songbook just next to the song with a picture of the wheelchair. Our performance was yet again another spiritual moment. I love being a missionary in other ways than one. My voice was how I originally found my testimony and by sharing it with others it strengthens me so much in the realization of how much of a blessing God has given me to be able to sing and have others hear. I look forward to every opportunity I am given to sing.

A testimony isn't just a talk given at a pulpit every first Sunday of the month. A testimony can be shared in so many more ways than that. For me I have found it easiest through song, but I have seen others testimonies through poetry, through painting, and even just living their lives. Don't ever hold back a testimony. You may not know who but someone is always there to receive it.

I love you all with the wholeness of my heart,

Soeur Cummings

The Way the World Works

What is the way the world works? Very little people know that I am/was not only studying Civil Engineering before my mission but also a minor in Philosophy. I love thinking about how things work whether it be forces working on an object or the forces working around us. As I mentioned in my past letter General Conference was this weekend and I had advised to you to approach it with a question. Well I did the same, and I saw the benefit of that. I believe I now know how the world works. It is simply belief and the unending, undimmed Love of God.

This was the first time I ever took true notes during General Conference. Before I would sort of pay attention and maybe design a house, or shell a million and two eggs for a giant egg salad. In short I was not being the student God needed me to be so that he could touch my heart with certain knowledge. However this conference I was there. I was fully awake with my pen in hand, writing the things that I felt rather than summaries of what was being said. Attached is a lovely picture of my study journal and of course the amazing pen my ever amazing District Leader gave me. (Look! Its a feather!! May or may not have felt like I was in Hogwarts...) In essence I truly enjoyed the words of encouragement and even the hidden words of chastisement that help us to continue farther.

Now let me explain my point. We are all here on this beautiful Earth. Ever changing with the seasons and ever full of life. How did this get here? In fact how did We get here? By understanding that point we are able to understand everything about how the world works. As a Latter Day Saint, otherwise known as Mormons, We know the answers to these questions, in fact I don't know why it took the Prophet of the Lord to say something that made me realize that I knew the answer to what is the way the world works. All these answers can be found in what is called the Plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness. Before this life we lived with our father in heaven. I say Father because we are literally his spirit children, and as any father He wants us to be happy. But just as any children we wanted to be just like our father. Heavenly father has a body like we have now here on Earth but at the time We were without bodies, living only as spirits or intelligences. Knowing the desires of our hearts God and his first born son Jesus Christ created the world, the world we live in now. We were then sent here at this time to gain our bodies and in turn learn the things that only a body can teach us. Like pain, heartache and need, but also warmth, happiness and longing. This Earth and this body are living evidence of the Love of our Heavenly Father. The Genius behind it all is breathtaking. One needs just to look at a joint of a finger to know such a fact. Who would even think to put a bit of extra flabby skin on the joint so we could be able to bend it. Who would think of that? Only a Heavenly Father who loves us.

It is my testimony that I know our Father in Heaven loves us and I see his hand in every moment of my life here in Canada as a missionary and also in the lives of others. I have the privilege to bring others to the knowledge that someone out there does love them. And the someone out there cares for them. No matter the hardship, no matter the heartache, and no matter our feelings of inadequacy. He will Always love us. And I not only testify of this but I testify that I have a love for him. I love him because he blesses those I love, he gives me those things I need, and he gives me the courage to stand up as an example of the believers with His son's name blazing on the plaque I wear as a missionary. I know that my father lives and I know that He loves us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With all my heart,

Sister Cummings

Tuna fish & inspiration

That probably sounds like a strange title but hey that's been my week this week. To begin with, we had an opportunity to have a potluck with both the wards that meet in this building as we were getting ready to watch the Woman's Conference broadcast. (Definition moment. Potluck- meeting where everyone brings food and there are heaps and heaps of deliciousness. Woman's Conference- A meeting held by the LDS church where the presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Woman's and Primary speak to us as well as the First Presidency, or in other words the Prophet Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors.) The meeting was WONDERFUL! But I'll get more on that later for right now I want to talk about food. At this amazing potluck there was a giant pile of the most delicious nouritture on this side of the veil in my thoughts that is. Seriously though. These were the BEST Tuna Fish sandwiches I have ever had, (might have been because I was hungry...) Anyways that's why it says Tuna Fish in the title.

As for this inspiration part. An area authority came to visit the Canada Montreal Mission this week. His name is Elder Bruce A. Carlson and he is a member of the second quorum of the Seventy, and as missionaries we got to have pretty much an entire nine hours of instruction and eating. (whoops I'm talking about food again...I haven't had lunch yet, can you tell?) Most people would think that sitting and hearing someone teach about the gospel would be perhaps a little bit boring. On the contrary. Every word that came out of his mouth was AMAZING! My note book is full of little bits of his inspired message in every bit that I could find to write it.

Before I get into what he said I have a little story.  So President Patrick, our mission president, asked everyone of the missionaries to write a five minute talk and he was to pick two out of the crowd to give their talks in the meeting. Well I had prepared my talk and had written about three fourths of it. I didn't really think I would be called on because I was in fact giving a musical number. Well I woke up the morning of the Zone Conference and had a feeling that I needed to finish my talk. So as any good missionary I did. We headed to the conference, the meeting started and President Patrick goes up and says "today we will be hearing from Sister Cummings and Elder Ritz." (Or something like that...my mind kind of went on alarm mode when I heard my name.) So I gave a talk in my first zone conference. I was so thankful that I had had the prompting that morning to finish my talk. After supper I then had the opportunity to sing "If the Savior Stood beside me," accompanied by my amazing companion. She did amazingly! And my voice didn't crack so I think it was a good performance.

Well I don't have much time to telling you about all the inspiration I have gotten to hear this week but I can tell you one thing that Elder Carlson told us. For those of you who don't know General Conference is this weekend. This is a meeting where everyone has the opportunity to hear and watch as the prophet and other auxiliaries of the church speak and give divine guidance. I highly, highly recommend that you watch this. Whether you are Mormon or not you should really experience this. Its on Saturday and Sunday (if my loving Aunt could put all the information up that would be wonderful) I am so excited to see this conference, I have a feeling that every word that is spoken will fill my heart with knowledge and warmth. Any who attend here's a message, Elder Carlson wisely said "Approach Conference with a problem and a question." He then promised us what I am going to promise you now. I Know that the Savior loves us and he speaks to us through this Prophet, and I promise you that when you watch conference, the question or problem will be answered and addressed. I give this promise in the name of Jesus Christ our Loving Savior, Amen.

 I love you all and I love hearing from you!

Sister Cummings

Staying in Mascouche

This is a forewarning. Often when I am writing an email I write the most serious moment of my letter first and then start from the beginning. And here is the warning, the ending of this letter is a little intense. But to begin I'll explain this lovely picture that I have attached, feast your eyes on this photographic beauty I title "Terrebonne Sisters cleaning the car." This literally just happened minutes ago and am still laughing =D Transfers were this week and as I believe I mentioned, I'm staying in Mascouche. However the ever so lovely Sister Leano became a Mama! Any non-missionary probably wouldn't get that reference, when a missionary trains a greenie its there child. So my mother is Sister Munive, My grandmother is Sister Godfrey, and my great grandmother and great great grandmother have died (which is to say that they went home.) So Sister Leano became the proud Mama of Sister Willis who is from Hawaii and never ceases to make us crack up. I am LOVING living in an apartment with another companionship. I've learned to make tortillas this week and also how to make a Book of Mormon into a steering wheel using paper and cardboard (sadly I just realized I never got a picture of it...) eh C'est la Vie, it made some wonderful girl really happy.

This week Sister Munive and I learned about the importance of planning. Every morning as a missionary we have a companionship study time, well almost every morning, sometimes we have someone scheduled at that time. Either way for some reason we had not had our full time to plan for the lessons of our dear dear investigator Luna but we showed up with a rough idea that we wanted to teach repentance. We parked the car and go and knocked on her door, no answer, then called her phone, with no avail... knowingly we turned to each other. Sister Munive said the exact words that I was thinking "We need to plan." So we head back to the car said a prayer and then started searching for the scriptures that would be best to share in order for Luna to understand the principle of repentance. Sister Munive had just found the perfect scripture and was halfway through reading it when Lona called. Hmm coincidence, I think not! We went in ready to teach the amazing lesson we had just planned only to realize that we needed to teach a different lesson, one of prayers and answers. Afterwards we came out of the lesson feeling happy how the lesson went and also in a way a little chastised. Sister Munive put it perfectly "Sister we have been praying that Luna may be protected as she continues towards baptism. God was protecting her from our unpreparedness." The moment we had the lesson planned then he opened the door for us to see her. At the same time we learned that no matter the circumstances we need to plan and if we plan for one lesson he may guide us into teaching a lesson that the investigator needs. So this week I have learned my lesson and I'm sure Sister Munive has as well.

Thank you all that have prayed for Luna. She is progressing very very well! We have had the opportunity to see her five times this past week! Which is crazy to even have the time to focus on just her as a missionary, or more accurately its a miracle we have been able to see her so often. She has even given us a referral to her friend living in New York City, who gladly thanked us via phone in one of our first visits "thank you for teaching my future wife about Jesus Christ." So Sister Munive and I may or may not be "shipping" them, and may or may not be making plans to get them married in the temple, but thats a minor detail. Luna is feeling the Love of Christ and is continuing onward to her baptismal date.

And this is where things get a little more intense.

As always miracles have happened this week. As a missionary it seems to be a lot easier to see these miracles, no matter how small. Everything from finding a new investigator or finding a lost sock seems to happen at least every week, if not daily. I am truly loving it here. I am truly loving being a missionary. Until this moment I didn't really seem to know why I am serving a mission. I just knew that I needed to and had no other reason beside that. Now I know. I was reading my notes from a beautiful talk given at the MTC on the 4th of July, I've began to just write what my thoughts are in my notes and when reading them something stood out that I had written. And when I read it I had no recollection of writing it, but this is what it said,

"One day I will be someone's hero, I will help lift them up out of the dark mist of sorrows and through the grace of the Almighty God, bring them to the Everlasting Gospel."

When I read that everything clicked. I am realizing how much of a blessing it is to work, no matter how oxymoronic that phrase may be, everyday I have the authority to spread the gospel abroad and to brighten peoples days. I have the power to share the gospel and to promise as a representative of Christ numerous blessings. This is my Testimony. My true and honest testimony. That no matter the trial, no matter the sin, and no matter the action, there is always a Father in heaven willing and waiting to help, all you must do is pray. Pray with a sincere heart, and I promise that God will respond. This I do in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sincerely,

Sister Cummings

Tips and Tricks

This week is going to be a little short, I'm trying to switch off to writing more personal emails.

So here are a couple tips and tricks that I'm starting to understand.

1. How to keep a dry towel from molding.

     - You don't. Anybody have a better answer than that? If you do be sure to email me

2. How to tell someone about the weather

     - In the United States we generally talk about weather in reference to clothing "oh its shorts weather" or "oh its sweatshirt weather." Here I'm realizing is more accurate with food. "oh if you left food in your car be prepared for fried eggs", "You can leave that in there it’s like a refrigerator out there." Or "Beware of Popsicle." There isn't really any middle ground here...It's hot or its cold...And right now its cold, getting down to FOUR DEGREES! (don't worry that's just Celsius, I have no clue what it is in Fahrenheit but its pretty cold) I'm including a picture of Sister Munive and I.

3. How to know what language someone speaks

     - Begin with (Allo!) which is pretty universal. For English speakers it just sounds like someone speaking English with an accent. For French speakers it sounds like English speakers trying to speak French, and for Spanish...honestly I have no clue...

4. Tim Hortons

    - Still haven't eaten there, but it is a huge part of Canada. You see them more often then Mickey D's here

5. Bike rides

    - You really get to appreciate them here. We live right next to a river so we got some pretty epic pictures, such as this lovely one.

A little spiritual summary of the week

LUNA IS GETTING BAPTISED! We committed her to a baptismal date! Whoo sorry had to get that out there, my greeniness is tingling inside (greenie: a new missionary, which I am.) She will be baptized in the upcoming weeks and I will probably be singing at her baptism. The members of the ward have discovered that I'm fairly good at singing. On many occasions my vocal training has blessed me immensely. Even more so, God has blessed me immensely. Just yesterday we were sitting in the chapel waiting for Sacrament meeting to start when the Mission Ward Leader comes up and asks me to sing "I like to look for Rainbows" in three hours at his grandchild’s baptism... I found myself smiling and nodding. Surprisingly I was not nervous until about three seconds after he left I realized that I wouldn't be singing "I like to look for Rainbows" I would be singing "Le Jour de mon Bapteme" because it is in French...As a solo... I quickly memorized as much as I could before the baptism and then performed it. I'm not sure how good it was technique-wise but I feel like I was able to touch people’s hearts, which is all that counts as a missionary.

Well that’s all the time for today! Je t'aime beaucoup!

Soeur Cummings

Fasting

Funny things have happened this week. When I say funny I don't mean laughing out loud funny, I mean slightly out of ordinary funny that ends up going very well. I believe I have gained a complete testimony of Fasting.

But first some stories. I bet you didn't know that there are a few words in English that when said with a French accent are really Really REALLY bad curse words in Quebec, Canada. Note to self the word for sacrament is in fact "saint-cene" and not "sacrement"...

Another thing about Canada is that they have these amazing signs in all the neighborhoods. I'm not sure what the literal translation is but I attached a photo of it. The gist of it is "be wary of children for they could be yours" with a lovely drawing of a dead child. Golly I'm loving Canada!

This has also been a week of giving gifts. It was my companion's year mark as well as Sister Leano who is another sister we live with. She kept "subtly" hinting that she wanted a balloon for her year mark. So as a suprise we gave her one. She squealed and continued to bounce around for about two hours and then slept with it on her wrist. I have a video but it is too large to send. You are just going to have to trust me that it was hilarious. I did attach a picture of her the morning afterwards still very very content with her balloon named "Lo Lo Bo Bo." We also may or may not have filled their car with a bunch of balloons with inspirational messages written on them...

Remember that wonderful amazing sister we are teaching to ride a bike? Well she is taking the lessons! And not only that she came to church! Oh my goodness what a story! Okay. Story time with Sister Cummings. Its time to get serious.

<lights dim>

*note read the following in Thomas S. Monson's Voice

It was fast Sunday, and I had decided to fast for our investigators that they might find answers to their prayers and know the truthfulness of this gospel. My companion and I arrived at church three hours before the meeting started, and we waited for our investigator to arrive. But she did not come. In our saddened state we shuffled to the chapel and the meeting began. We were still quite sad when the Sacrament had been passed and nobody showed up. And then suddenly the door opened. And I swear I could hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Handle's Hallelujah Chorus, for there stood our wonderful and loved Luna. Much happier now Sister Munive and I became fully engaged in what was happening around us. It was a Fast Sunday so as per tradition we had a testimony meeting. And oh how beautiful were those testimonies. I have no idea what was being said but the feelings that were whispered by the spirit were so beautiful. As we came to the close of the meeting and the congretation was waiting for just one more speaker to finish it off nicely, our own Luna stood up. Sister Munive turned to each other in confusion, believing that she was leaving the chapel for some reason unknown to us. However we soon realized what was happening as Luna walked to the microphone. The smiles on our faces were so large my cheeks felt sore for hours afterwards. She talked about her family and how she had been searching for the good word and searching but she could not find it. She had said a prayer that she might find the right church. This was when she met the missionaries. She then stood at the pulpit on her very first moment of being in church and after only know of the gospel for a week and proudly declared "Je sais que ce c'est le bon parole." Which translates to "I know that this is the good word." She closes her testimony and I look around. Many members are crying including myself and Sister Munive. I know that this was an answer to my fast and what a beautiful answer it is.

We are receiving transfer calls this weekend, although it is very very unlikely that I will be transferred because I have not had the opportunity to finish my training. It still is a possibility that I may leave Mascouche. I'll keep you posted!

Je vous aime!!

Soeur Cummings

As Easy As Learning to Ride a Bike

Psych. It is not all that easy to learn how to ride a bike. I don't speak about myself, don't worry Dad I have not forgotten how to ride a bike in the past two months, I do still speak from experience. Something that I absolutely love about Sister Munive is that she is so creative in ways that we can teach people the gospel. As a missionary you see that many people are not so excited to stop and talk about the gospel, but they love talking about their families or things like that. Sister Munive has this talent that she is able to see a way that we can help people while still managing to share the gospel. Among these beautiful roundabouts are teaching piano lessons (in French), Learning how to draw (in French), and other services. I myself have had the opportunity to teach how to direct music in church, and I have been able to continue my study of voice through teaching beginner voice lessons. I am so grateful that my family and my lovely voice teacher Rebecca have been able to prepare me for these moments that I may share the love of God through my works and services. (Speaking of Family...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY CLAYTON!!!!!!!!!!!) But one of the main services we are right now doing, which is the influence of the title, you guessed it. We are teaching a wonderful twenty-four year old investigator named Luna, how to ride a bike! I applaud you Dad and/or Mom who helped me learn how to ride my bike (my memory is a bit fuzzy on who actually taught me...might have been from the frequent falls) because by golly is it hard!! You don't want to let go of the bike but you know you have to if you want them to learn. I have come to realize more of Gods love by teaching someone how to use a bike. God wants us to be like him because that is what we want. It is just as painful for him to watch us fail or struggle as for a father watching his little girl falling and failing on a bicycle. He doesn't want to let go of our bikes as we learn how to live but if we are to progress and learn fully He has to let go. And so he does. But he is always there to catch us when we fall. He may not be holding the bike anymore but he never leaves us alone.

Wow..that got deep quick...I guess that just means that I am becoming even more a missionary. Another way we as missionaries have taught is through the teachings of English classes or French. Me personally its only English, sorry everyone I'm not that good at the language yet but I'm working on it. Anyways we are teaching a less active sister who is from Brazil and only speaks Portuguese, how to speak English. She has a wonderful dream to live in Utah where the church is so strong, which is amazing! But here's the difficult part...neither of us speak Portuguese. However Sister Munive has been able to explain things through Spanish and I am able to teach grammar and pronunciation principles by insane hand gestures that I like to think is an interpretive dance. Seriously though, the gift of tongues, or the power given through God to speak other languages, is so true. As part of a previous lesson I had given this sister the English Book of Mormon that I had brought from home. Inside of it was a written testimony who I am assuming was written by either Jesse or Clayton my brothers. I had completely forgotten about that when I gave her the book and then the next time we came over to teach her she said "I want to read this in my language, will you help me translate it." She was so touched by the spirit she felt when she read the testimony that she started crying. The next Sunday she was at church! Thank you to whoever wrote that testimony, it has been translated into French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Not to mention it has helped bring someone back to church.

This week as a district we fasted, or in other words refrained from food and drink for twenty-four hours. This is a way that we can feel closer to our God by our sacrifice and in return he gives us even greater blessings, whether it be through answers to specific questions or help and comfort when we need it. We had begun to feel a little discouraged. Our appointments kept getting cancelled and no one we talked to seemed to be interested in our church. We decided to fast together for the missionary work of our area to become what God wants it to be. We definitely felt the effects this week. Sister Munive and I received two new investigators, and others in the district received similar blessings. I am going to take the time  to tell you about one of our investigators. Her name is Sarina. And this is the story of how we met her. Sister Munive and I were feeling down after both of our meal appointments canceled, the sisters serving in Terrebonne invited us to their wards corn boil (and yes that is a thing here, imagine sacks and sacks of corn. Why did this never happen in Illinois??) We were talking to the members when one member comes up and talks to us. He said he was walking by the road cleaning up the church grounds when a woman walks by. She stopped and looked at the church sign and so he went up and talked to her. He invited her to the corn boil that was happening in the parking lot. This brother introduced us to Sarina, we gave her a tour of the church building and when she saw the chapel she called up her friend to come and see it. She said that it was the most beautiful chapel she has seen. In my eyes I have always thought the church buildings of our church to be more functional than beautiful, so out of curiosity I asked her why she felt that way? She replied with how beautiful the feeling of the building was. I honestly don't think I'll look at our chapels in any other way than beautiful just from hearing that simple little phrase.

I am loving the work here. And I am loving the opportunity to have these amazing things happen. In my mind I see miracles everyday and it isn't until I look back at those moments through writing these emails/blog posts that I realize just how miraculous the things I have seen are. I love Mascouche and I love the people. And I am loving being a missionary for my church, and spreading the happiness and love that I have found through these gospels.

Je vous aime

Soeur Cummings  

Bonjour Tout le Monde!

Golly the time keeps going faster and faster! My beautiful cousin Brittany *cough* I mean Sister Slade was completely right! I heard this phrase often in the mission but I'm not sure if its a quote from something but its "The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days." I don't think you could get more accurate.

This past week the ward here hosted a blood drive. I have been struggling with allergies and so when I was asked if I am feeling healthy I had to say no. Therefore failing the first question and not being able to give blood. But it is my promise that once I return from my mission I will give blood. (Hear that Mom and Dad? I'm getting over my fear of needles! Your little girl is growing up!) It was especially amazing to see my wonderful companion, Sister Munive, give blood. She having an even greater fear of needles than I. Through a lot of guilt-tripping she started to think "what if I gave blood?" this escalated to the point of her getting her finger pricked. She was so nervous and in my heart I said a prayer that she receive the courage to donate the blood. When the time came she didn't even cry. I am so proud of my missionary Mama! She is such an example to me through everything she does.

Here's a little funny moment. We were cleaning the car and found a Classical music CD that had been left by sisters who had used the car before us. Sister Munive and I, both realizing that we loved classical music, popped it into the player and listened to it. We were on the road heading to one of our appointments when the track switched and started playing the Wedding march by Felix Mendelssohn. We stopped our conversation mid sentence, looked at each other, and realizing we had the same image of a white dress, bursted into laughter. It wasn't until we had driven two blocks that we stopped laughing.

As missionaries we teach many many lessons about the gospel and about Jesus Christ. Each missionary has a different way of teaching, which makes being in a companionship the best thing that can happen. We have an investigator Maria-Claude who is Baptist and attends her church every week, each week taking notes so that she may fully understand what her pastor is talking about. Sister Munive and I realized that she didn't really understand the importance of the book of Mormon. I had no idea how to really get through to her, but thankfully my companion did. She drew out two circles, labeling them as the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She then drew a picture of God on one side of the paper. She explained that churches who believe only the bible have trouble following all the true principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, She named off a few major branches of churches in today's world, each time she drew a line threw the circle labeled "Bible". Each time the line would miss God, it would grow close to God but it would miss it. There was only one line that was able to be drawn to God and that was through the Book of Mormon. When you only have one nail in a piece of wood, that wood would be able to move everywhere, it would not be able to stay in one spot. However when you add a second nail the piece of wood cannot move. This is the same with the Book of Mormon and Bible. Without one, the wood or the line moves making it difficult to find Christ. But together they provide a straight and narrow path to God that cannot be changed. When Sister Munive taught this the spirit was so strong. We asked her what she was studying right now in her church. She replied with Nehemiah 1 (warning my spelling may be off.) The next day for Companionship study we discussed how we could relate this story to the Book of Mormon. After saying a prayer we immeadiatly realized how similar Nehemiah was to Enos in the Book of Mormon. We returned with a lesson to Maria-Claude relaying our findings from our study. And yet again the spirit was so strong. To those unfamiliar with Nehemiah 1 it is the story of a prophet grieving for his people through prayer and asking questions. Enos went through a similar situation, in fact he poses many of the same questions and demands as Nehemiah, however unlike Nehemiah, Enos wrote down the responses of the Lord for us to read in this day. This experienced increased my testimony in the truthfulness of these wonderful scriptures who through divine power teach together all of God's word. I am so glad I was able to experience that.

I love hearing from you! I don't get much time but know that I read every email.

Je vous aime

Soeur Cummings

Salut!!!

So much has happened this week! I had my first splits! I learned a bit of Spanish! And I ate Poutine!...again... I'm planning on having an entire month without eating poutine, and then perhaps I can be healthy...er

This week I'm going to talk about some of the cultural differences. *clears throat* First off, Quebecois love their poutine. Mmm poutine. Words cannot even descirbe it...*looks off into distance* I'll try though. You start with a plate of double fried potatoes, they can be any shape or size they just have to be double fried. Ain't nobody want squishy taters. You then cover this mountain of greasiness with a delicate brown gravy. (Let it be noted that this brown gravy is not just like any other gravy. This gravy involves the essence of the longest hair off the chin of a Quebecois Mountain-man, followed by the essence of the moose, followed by a touch of Queen Elizabeth II because she is everywhere here. Anyways the gravy is delicious and special to Quebec.) After a healthy amount of delicious gravy is added you top it off with any type or amount of cheese (personally I think I prefer mozzarella) and whichever kind or kinds of meat your heart desires.(the Philly steak meat is pretty good.) The best thing about this amazing dish is that it is literally sold everywhere. Let me name a few places. The local Pizzaria, the local Cosco, the local Mcdonalds, the local Wendy's, the local burger joint etc. etc. It is with no exaggeration at every restaurant in town. Its like trying to find pizza in New Jersey. Everywhere.

Another difference is they don't have milk like in the United States. The milk here comes in bags. Every self honoring Quebecois household has a special pitcher for their bagged milk, and trying to get them into said pitchers requires training by the best of the best. Oh and a lot of shaking. One last cultural difference that I was not really ready for is they do that side kissing thing that the French do that I have tried to spell a million times but can not for the life of me put it to a word... either way they do that. And it will take some getting used to. But hey you get to really get to know peoples perfumes!

I'm attaching pictures to this email, because I have finally been able to attach pictures! The first one is of my companion, Sister Munive, and I with our mission president and his wife. Followed by our lovely roommates the Terrebonne sisters, Sister Tribes and Sister Leano, in a poise they like to call (warning say the following in a Russian accent) "in my country." And then a picture of one of my Sister Training Leaders and I in Montreal after our splits.

On Wednesday we had splits with the Sister Training leaders. Meaning I went to Montreal with one sister and Sister Munive stayed with one here in Mascouche. Montreal is AMAZING! It has all the hustle and bustle of New York but all the shorter buildings of Bloomington. It almost feels like you have elbow room! The Sister Training leaders are assigned to the Montreal YSA branch, so they do a lot more texting than everyone else on the mission. I also got to use Facebook! Granted it was just updating the YSA page but still! It was strangely invigorating.

The Mascouche area is very French, or more likely Quebecois. What isn't French is Spanish. Which makes it a blessing to have a native Spanish speaker as a companion. And yes everyone. She does speak English Fluently. Being in this area has made me realize how I need to learn Spanish. So Sister Munive and I have worked out a study plan. Which mainly just involves my lovely companion teaching me Spanish through French so than we can both work and French and I can learn a language.

I Love you all! Je vous aime!

Soeur Cummings

Mascouche

Its official. I'm a Canadian immigrant. AHH!! That was pretty much all I could do for the first two days of being here. You should ask my companion. Oh right! No body knows where I am right now! My first area is... drum roll please... Mascouche, Quebec! I'm speaking French people! Oh and Spanish but more on that later. Sister Munive, my trainer, has been out here for almost a year. She is from Mexico and has an absolute addiction to any type of cookie. She really doesn't discriminate between her cookies.

Getting to Canada went a lot smoother than I thought I would. On our first flight I had a dream that they had to go through my bag at customs and found my corn-nuts and then taken to jail for smuggling food into Canada... This resulted in my chowing down of corn-nuts on the subsequent flight...just to be safe. But we made it to Canada, made it through customs in record time for a group as big as ours. Then proceeded to wait about half an hour waiting for our mission president to pick us up. You know that typical preschooler look? The kid just standing in a random spot in the room that has no idea what is going on around them but just stands there with drool coming out of their mouth and their finger in there nose? That's what we looked like. No joke.  Because guess what people. Not only do they speak French in Canada. They speak A LOT of French. And none of the French that we know... I felt like that Elder from The Best Two Years "Thats not the language they taught us in the MTC!" It was pretty ridonculous.

Finally our Mission President picked us up, we partook of the first real food in a month and by Gordon! It was delicious! I'm starting to realize that here, the salads are really really REALLY good. We then stayed the night at the mission home, and got to take our first real showers in a month, strange how amazing it is to have perfect water pressure and water that you can actually change the temperature to. The rest of the day was a little sight seeing and then we got to find out where we are going. We met our companions. I ate poutine for the first time. (Don't even get me started on that. It was so good yet so unhealthy that you really shouldn't dwell on how amazing it is. It feels like even if you think of its amazingness you gain weight.) Which is another thing...Mother I don't know how I'm going to tell you this...but I feel like I will be coming back a lot larger than I arrived. The Canadian people love their desserts, and you can't say no. Sister Munive and I were "graced" with the "oppurtunity" to eat four ice cream bars in one day. Please never again.

I don't have much more time but something that I have seen out here is God answers our prayers. He really really does, here's a story to prove it.  Within minutes of meeting my companion she turns to me and says "by the way you are driving." What?? I'm not the biggest fan of driving in the United States but in Canada?? The driving laws are a little bit/ a lot a bit different depending on where you are. Plus in Quebec all the signs are in French, in case you were wondering. So I'm stuck behind the wheel at least for these next twelve weeks because my companion is from Mexico and cannot obtain a licences here is Quebec. So we get into the car, buckle up, then Sister Munive realizes that we don't have the GPS... So we are stuck in Montreal...which is roughly the size of Chicago (I say roughly)... with no direction and a driver who hasn't driven in months. We decided to say a prayer so that I would be calm behind the wheel and that we would be able to get home safely. Sister Munive had a rough idea where she needed to go and so we started. And then somehow we got to Mascouche. Neither of us can tell you how, it felt like I was waking from a dream when we got out of the car to go to Walmart. Except we can tell you how. We know that it was by the prayer we had given that we were able to make it home, safely, soundly and without event. I believe I have seen a miracle, and I can't wait until I will be able to see more.

I love you all! It was wonderful to talk to/see my family this week. It was also pretty cool to hear my family's Russian Foreign exchange student speak French to me =D

Je vous aime

Soeur Cummings