Miracle Week

Dear family,

So here is the Haley miracle. A few days before our other investigator Hayley was baptized, Sister Smith and I decided to go tract some orange apartments in Mill Creek. Sister Bartsch and I had felt that we should tract these for a while, and for whatever reason we were never able to quite get around to it. Well, we went to tract these apartments and I'm not sure why but we just kept walking towards the back of the complex then both stopped at building G. The very first door we knocked on, Haley answered. Haley has been going to Latter-Day Saint activities in Arlington with her friend for the past 2 years, and she says she always knew there was something different about the Mormons. The first lesson we had with Haley we put her on date to be baptized September 6th. What is crazy is that Haley has really severe anxiety, and she told us in that first lesson that when we knocked on her door she was in the middle of having a panic attack. When she saw that it was missionaries, she felt instantly calmed and it stopped. Not only that, but we found out that Haley moved here about 2 weeks ago, and turned 18 only 5 days ago. I don't think I've ever taught an investigator as prepared as Haley is! She is pure faith and obedience and has an amazing ability to feel the spirit. We feel so blessed to have found her!

We also had a cool miracle when contacting at the college this week. We stopped a guy named Max, who works as a physical trainer and EMT. He is a super cool guy, with a lot of faith in Christ, but said he doesn't really have time to talk right now. I was about to give him a mormon.org card but then had the thought ha he had enough interest that I should give him a restoration pamphlet. So I gave it to him, and he just stared at it in silence with his mouth open for a few seconds. We asked if he had seen the pamphlet before, and he told us that he had been searching for where the pamphlet came from for years. A few yeas ago he got jumped outside a McDonalds in Everett (kinda funny to picture because this was a BIG guy!) He was in and out of consciousness, just enough to remember that someone picked him up and took him to the hospital but he had no idea who it was. When he woke up in the hospital 3 days later, the only thing that the guy left with him was a restoration pamphlet with a name and phone number. In the craziness of what had happened, the pamphlet was lost, but since then Max remembers very clearly the picture of Christ holding a lamb on the front of the restoration pamphlet, and he's wondered what the source was. We got Max's phone number, and he walked away flipping through the pamphlet, completely in shock.

This week I have been studying the principle of asking for specific blessings or asking specific questions. Over and over in the scriptures we read about how if we ask we will receive, but how often do we actually take advantage of this promise, and take that leap of faith, fully expecting Heavenly Father to give as He has promised to? Of course we know hat God gives in His own timing, in His own way, and according to His will, but how often to we ask to know His will, so that we might know exactly what it is we should be asking for? Do we pray to know what we should be praying for? As missionaries we always invite our investigators to ask a specific question in their prayers to know if what we have been teaching them is true, the reason being that if we ask specific questions, the Lord gives specific answers. I was thinking to myself this week, why is it that I don' show more faith in my heavenly Father, and ask those specific questions, or make those specific requests, just as investigators are invited to do? My challenge for you this week is the same challenge hat I have given to myself: pray to know what to pray for, then stretch your faith by making that specific request to Heavenly Father. Then show your faith by praying with "all the energy of heart" and with persistence. Then act as if you already know that you will receive, because you will!

Love you all!

Love, Sister Slade

There is a mission cottage meeting held at the mission home every month where we invite our investigators to come listen to the testimonies of recent converts. We went with some members in our ward, Krissy and Alayna, and also our investigator Heather. The seatbelt on Krissy's car was stuck, so since we wanted to protect my life we decided that we better double buckle me with Alayna and Sister Smith's seatbelts. This picture doesn't quite show what happened, but what followed was absolute chaos in the back seat. There were shouts of "pull harder!" and "Are you sucking in!?" while I just got squished. We were all laughing so hard we were all crying by the time we got to the mission home. I think mostly we were all just way too tired :)

 Are you in need of salvation or a little restoration? Ask a specialist. Or one of His representatives, that works too.

 Hayley's baptism

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

Plan of Salvation

Dear Friends and Family:

This week was terrific for us here in Miami Shores Creole! We had six baptisms. In fact, we baptized in both the ward and the branch!

First, in the Ward, are Marie Deshommes and her daughter, Shirdie. They have been investigators for several months now, but Marie put off being baptized so that she could do it when Shirdie returned from vacation, to show a good example for her. So this Thursday, Marie was baptized; then on Sunday, she was confirmed, and then Shirdie was baptized.

Then we quickly left to get to the branch on time, and at the end of church our other four investigators who have been preparing to be baptized (China, and her children Daphney, Walkie, and Gregory) were baptized. It was a really great experience for all of them to be baptized together. We're going to keep working on China's husband, our goal is to completely baptize the family by the end of the month.

This week, I was reflecting on how much Haitians seem to hate the Plan of Salvation. Before my mission, I had assumed that we would be teaching it first most of the time. It has always seemed like the most important part of the restored gospel to me. But Haitians seem to think that when we go to the temple for baptisms for the dead, we are worshiping the dead, or something like that. I realized while I was thinking about that that the only reason anybody wouldn't like any part of the doctrine is if they don't fully understand it. We all have testimonies of the prophets, and we all believe that they receive revelation directly from God. Why would we have a problem with any of God's revealed word?

On another note, we've got plans to improve and do even better by the end of the month. One thing that we are planning on doing in order to make our missionary work more effective is to call both the ward mission leader and the branch mission leader every day, and report on each of our investigators. We'll just talk it through with them, and that way we'll be able to get the ward more involved in the missionary work. Our finding efforts right now are going to be focused on finding a family of 3 (or more) in the Ward boundaries, with a father who will lead the whole household to be baptized, take up callings, and then to be sealed.

I am still hoping that President Richardson will split our area, because both the ward are constantly feeling jipped because we don't do as much work in each of them as we could have if we only worked in the one ward.

Also, apparently, there are three more Haitian Creole missionaries coming in this next transfer, and at least two the transfer after that. This is really good, because these next three transfers will kill off about 40% of the Haitian Creole missionaries in the mission, and we need other missionaries to replace them! But it is scary to realize that so many of the missionaries that I came out with or who were here when I started are going home soon, or else they are already gone. I have been out on a mission for 10.5 months already. I wouldn't believe how fast the time has gone by.

Anyway, have a great week!

Thanks,

Elder Slade

New Haircut

Dear friends and family,

This week has been a crazy week, full of many experiences that I wasn't expecting to have, but they have all been for the best. My new companion is Sister Smith, from Ogden Utah. She happens to be a hairstylist, so the very first night we were together she informed me that she was going to cut my hair. I didn't realize she meant she was going to cut m hair right then until she started to pull a chair into the kitchen :)

I got special permission to go back to Oak Harbor this morning to attend a funeral for Tiffany Dobelman, one of the investigators that I found and taught in the first six months of my mission. Tiffany died in her sleep his last week, with no apparent reason why. When we first started teaching Tiffany she was Wiccan, and although she was never baptized while I was in the area, she would come to church and I have some amazing memories of teaching Tiffany and her husband Michael as well whenever he agreed to join us. A few months ago I heard from some other sisters that Tiffany had finally decided that she was ready to be baptized! One of Tiffany's main questions that really bothered her when we first started teaching her was "What happens after death?" It was something that really scared her, but something that she overcame as she learned about the Plan of Salvation, so I was a good experience for me to be at her funeral. Her husband Michael said that he has been overwhelmed by the love that he has felt from everyone in the Oak Harbor 1st ward and how much everyone has helped him in the last week. He is still going to take the two little girls to church, because he knows that it's something that made Tiffany happy and he knows it's what she would have wanted. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of me and who has a perfect plan for me, both in this life and in the next!

It was great to see many other people from the Oak Harbor 1st ward at the funeral too. I got giant hugs from Verna and Sandra, and I even snuck a quick hug from Bennett too :) Bennett and Verna got their patriarchal Blessings recently, and are still excited to go to the temple when the time comes. This was the first time I've seen Sandra since she was baptized, and when I hugged her I whispered to her how I always knew that she was going to be baptized, and she just started to cry. The people truly are what make the mission so great.

Hayley's baptism and confirmation was this past weekend! She was so happy. The coolest part for me was in her confirmation, when she was told that she will be a light for her friends and family, and they will notice her example, as not all of Hayley's family has been supportive and understanding of her decision up to this point. Hayley is so strong! Some of her extended family that aren't members came to her baptism, and 3 of our investigators were able to attend as well, so that was really cool!

I'm out of time, but next week I will write about the miracle story of the new investigator Haley that we found this week!

Love you all!

Sister Slade

Sister Slade

Dear family,

We just got transfer information, and just like we predicted, I am staying here in Silverlake and Sister Bartsch will be getting transferred. We find out our new companions tomorrow afternoon.

We have had the hardest time meeting with investigators and finding members who are available to fellowship our investigators this week. We did have a few highlights though. We taught the twins, Carl and Casey again. They both have so many questions about the priesthood and the need for a restoration, but they keep commitments and Carl especially loves to learn truth. he reminds me of Bennett. I wish I could somehow have Bennett be at all of their lessons!

We found a new investigator named Zahra, who is actually a former. Zahra is from Gambia, and she is also muslim. When Zahra was last taking the discussions she was very close to baptism and she got permission and everything (because she is muslim she has to get special permission). She asked her mom if it was ok for her to become Christian and her mom said that was alright, but other family members weren't as happy about it and in the end Zahra became scared and backed out. This time when we went to go meet Zahra, her aunt who converted to Christianity happened to be there braiding her hair, and it was absolutely perfect! The aunt shared her experience of finding faith in Christ and pursuing that faith even with all of the persecution, and it was so good for Zahra to hear. She agreed to begin meeting with missionaries again so we're seeing her on wednesday!

Hayley finished the Book of Mormon this week, just in time for her baptism this weekend! And she invited all of her friends at work to her baptism even though they have been giving her a hard time for it. And she bore her testimony to her friend who is less-active, which helped her friend to have the courage to go talk to the Bishop, something she has been struggling with doing for a long time. Hayley is amazing. I feel so blessed to meet so many amazing prepared people!

More next week,

Sister Slade

Elder Slade

Dear Friends and Family:

We've improved on many key indicators this week. We are very excited because of that, but we still have a long way to go. We had three investigators come to church as well - China, and two of her sons, Gregory and Walkie. They are all three preparing to be baptized this Sunday. This is amazing, not only because we are baptizing China (the person, not the country. Her name is pronounced sheen-uh, not tchay-nuh) but also because we finally are baptizing in the Miami Beach 2nd Branch, which is really amazing. Yesterday we think we met or exceeded our previous record of people coming to the branch. We had about 95 to 100 people there.

Another exciting development: Marie's daughter, Sherdie, came home yesterday! That means that Marie can finally be baptized! We're going to shoot for this Thursday, and then for Sherdie we'll shoot for this Sunday. It will be awesome. They are in the ward, so this week we have five potential baptisms. Two in the ward, and three in the branch.

Speaking of our two church services... we split our efforts between the north and south parts of our area. It is very difficult at times to balance the two, and it's harder to avoid wasting miles. Elder Felkins and I both believe that our area would be better if it was split, so we had Miami Shores (Creole) and Miami Beach (Creole). Then both the branch and the ward would finally get the attention they deserve.

Just yesterday, we found two really cool people, Keith and Keionea Thornhill. We went in and prayed with them, and they accepted baptism immediately, despite the fact that they had already been baptized. We were really excited for them, because most for most Haitians that is a sticking point. Unfortunately, we had to pass them to the YSA elders, because they were just barely YSA age. Oh well. I was glad we could participate in finding them, anyway.

Also, we received confirmation: this mission is getting iPads by the end of the year! There's a rumor that our mission in particular will get them at the end of September, but we know for sure that all North-American missions will be getting them by January.

My shoes and pants and everything else are holding up fine for now. Everything is showing signs of wear, but not tear.

Thanks,

Elder Slade

P.S. There's a new member in the branch, who moved there from the Philippines. We had lunch with him. He made Chinese food. (Go figure.) He thought it was funny that I knew Mabaho ang kili-kili mo. (I have no idea if I spelled that right.) He taught me how to say Mahal kita. (Again, with the spelling.)

P.P.S. No, we never found out why the camera crew was there. We also never started making a Krispy Kreme wall again. It's probably a good thing, because we have less motivation to go and buy fatty doughnuts.

P.P.P.S. I've gained about 7-10 pounds on my mission so far. It's not so much that I'm eating a ton, but it's that as missionaries, we make it our job to binge-eat. I'm still decently skinny anyway.

Haitian Creole Song

Bonjour tout le monde!

Golly this has been a wonderful week! I don't even know why exactly it is! Although certain things have helped. I have received numerous letters and I'll try to write back to you as soon as possible! Something I have just found out is that mail from the US to Canada is really rather ridiculous. It can take up to two months to receive mail, however the mail from Canada to the US is really rather quick. So by next week send me emails and I will probably respond via letters.

I received the wonderful care package last week!! Thank you Putnam family! The box was filled with every kind of diabetes that I love! Even some that I didn't know I loved!! I'll be sure to share with my lovely companions! Sorry I don't have many pictures of them, the MTC computers are not a friend to my camera. Good thing this is my last time using them!!!

I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS!!!! Phew glad I got that out. I've been holding in that excitement for two whole paragraphs! I'll be waking up in time to run to the MTC travel office at 3:30, be on my way to the Salt Lake City Airport by 4 hopefully. Then catching a DELTA flight that takes off at 7:45 flying to Detroit, So if anyone wants to let me borrow their phone so that I could call my family at 5:30 in the morning Utah time that would be pretty fantastic. If not I'll just get a call card from the MTC Bookstore here. Anyways I fly Salt Lake to Detroit then am met with a 30 minute "lay over" which will be more accurately described as "quick sprint to the finish." Then from Detroit to MONTREAL!!!!!!! By next Wednesday I will be assigned an area and a trainer where I will either be speaking French or English, depending on the area. It looks like it is going to be a long flight, but the more I think of it I'm pretty sure it is the last time I get to nap all day for an entire seventeen more months. In other words I'm pretty excited...if you can't tell.

Something we were just informed is... 1. Our mission is only a vehicle mission and holds the most revenue in vehicles out of any other mission. This is because not only is it absolutely freezing and snowy for ten to eleven months out of a year but it is also one of the largest missions. My mission literally has the north pole in its boundaries. Granted I'll be mainly in the South as only Elders serve with the Eskimos. Which is a bummer because I was really banking on converting a polar bear. But hey I'll still get up to eight feet of snow at times, no matter where I go. 2. My mission will be one of the many missions switching to digital. In other words I'M GETTING AN IPAD! That I will get to keep after my 18 months of service! Go Canada!!

I have gotten to see SOOO MANYY people here at the MTC this week! I run into one of my best friends from the Hill Camorah Pageant, Elder Steiner, every meal time! I get to see Sister Tori Boucher pretty much daily! And Elder Justin Iund is going to Vanuatu, French Speaking! It was quite a suprise to go and grab a drink of water on the floor all French speakers are on and see a familiar face! We are not in the same zone, but hey! A friend from home is always fun to see!

I'm going to keep this email short this week but not because I don't not love you guys. I thank you so much for the support I have had these past six weeks. It may be a while till I email again because my P-day (day I get to write emails and letters) will switch to Mondays once I am in the field. I love you all! A la Prochain!

Soeur Cummings