1 Peter 1:3

(Aldste Cummings)

Hej hej hej hej hej

Usually people say "hej" or "hej hej" but every once in the while you meet that "gammal tant" (old lady) who hits you with the "hej hej hej hej hej."

Anyway, this week was tons of fun.

We received transfer calls! I will be being shipped off to Gothenburg to serve in the Västra Frölunda ward. It's a big city and a big ward which is not anything I have experienced yet having only served in Skövde and Karlskrona thus far.

Leaving Karlskrona will be tough. I've been here for about 6 months now and I've experienced so much. I've grown a ton and have seen so much happen in the lives of the people I have met and taught. I'm so thankful for my time and the people here in this beautiful city.

This week we began teaching a 25 year-old Swedish single mom. We met her when we stopped her in town on literally the exact same spot where we stopped Kristoffer all those months ago (Kristoffer by the way is doing really well. He's been blessing the sacrament every Sunday and gave an incredible talk last week). It was actually the second time I had talked to her on the street (I've been here a while, you start seeing the same people), but this time she was willing to meet and talk more about our message.

We ended up meeting her twice this week and she loved everything we had to say. She wasn't religious at all and she didn't know anything about Jesus except that he was crucified and resurrected and we were able to teach her about him by reading passages out of the Bible and Book of Mormon describing him and his life. It was maybe my favorite lesson of all time and felt so fulfilling as well. It was purely centered on teaching this woman who Christ was, what He did, and helping her develop a love for and a desire to follow Him.

That knowledge and closeness to our savior gives us what Peter described as a "lively hope." When you fill with love for Him, His love fills you and enables you to do, believe, and love more. Life receives meaning and joy beyond what you could have found yourself.

This morning we just happened to run into her on the street and talked to her a little bit. When we told her I was leaving, she shook my hand, looked me in the eyes and said the most genuine thank you I've ever received. I love being a missionary.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1. We learned how to knit this morning.

2. If anyone can tell me what kind of flower this is, that'd be great.

3. That's right, I live here. (pt. 10)

4. The Blacker the Berry (ft Elder Youngberg)

Either 12:27

(Aldste Cummings)

Hallå!

This week was a blast. We were doing so much that I almost have a hard time believing that we actually did all this stuff in one week!

Last Monday we spend a couple hours with Ylva--an older woman in the branch here--and learned how to take in the seams on suit pants. Very fun, very useful, and very fun. Next week we might be going back to learn how to knit! Shout out to my dad who learned how to knit on his mission to Norway. The lingonberry doesn't fall far from the bush.

On Tuesday, we took the train into Malmö for zone conference. We stayed the night with the zone leaders there which was a ton of fun. It's always good to see Elder Harris again. Unfortunately, this might have been the last time which is sad. He's a great guy.

Zone conference was on Wednesday which was so fun and so spiritual. We talked a lot about how we can better plan our days to best help people rather than just filling time with activities that don't take any thought to plan. We also talked a lot about how the Lord uses small and simple means to bring about large change in the long run. Very inspirational.

On Thursday, I accidentally breathed in while brushing my teeth and a glob of toothpaste shot back into my throat. I've never seen tonsils swell up so quickly. 0 to 60 in 0.5 seconds flat, I swear. I developed a tiny fever and my immune system was weakened just long enough that my allergies could get a foot in the door and now I'm fighting a little bit of sinus congestion. Classic. But it's not stopping me from hitting the streets and preaching repentance. Also, every Swede that I told this to commented that they used to eat toothpaste as a kid to get sick and not have to go to school. I never knew that was a thing but apparently 8 year-old Swedes are all about it.

Thursday also marked a year of my missionary service! It's incredible to think that it's already been that long and that I already have less time left than I've already served. I've grown to love the people I have served so much and I am so thankful for the time I've had here to learn and grow.

I have grown so much as a missionary. I am more convinced of the divinity and reality of Jesus Christ than ever before. I am more committed to serving Him with the rest of my life. I have seen His hand in the lives of those I serve and not the least in my own life.

I testify that by turning to the Lord and applying the Atonement of Christ and His Gospel of Repentance, we can receive peace and happiness in our lives regardless of the situations we're in. When life beats us down, we must turn to Him in humility. Through Him, our weaknesses can become strengths.

I have seen Christ power work miracles in my life as I have developed and grown over this last year. My weaknesses have been strengthened and yet have more strengthening to go. I am thankful for the time I have left to serve and be served as His representative to the people of Sweden.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1. Saying goodbye to Elder Malone. I'll miss this guy.

3. Knocking doors.

Matthew 13:3

(Aldste Cummings)

Sorry everyone but I don't have a lot of time so just take this scripture and substitute "parables" with "pictures."

Here's my week in pictures:

Mormon 9:19

(Aldste Cummings)

Hello everybody!

This week was tons of fun.

It started out with our traveling to Malmö to go on splits with the zone leaders there. I had the opportunity to spend the day hitting the streets of Malmö with my former companion Elder Harris. I'm so thankful for the time I was able to spend here in Karlskrona with him and look up to him very greatly. It was so fun to have a little throw-back as we proselyted together again in Malmö on Tuesday.

On Wednesday we had our own little Fourth of July party which the Swedes LOVED. They thought it was so cultural and fun. It was little poorly planned so we (barely) managed to get a grill and coals but didn't have any lighter fluid so Elder Youngberg and I were able to use our many years of experience as boy scouts to start a fire in the grill with twigs and dried reeds. The Swedes thought that was pretty cool too.

On Saturday we were given permission from our mission president to watch the Sweden v. Englad Quarter Finals match in the World Cup. It was super fun although Sweden got wrecked tyvärr. We went all out (see below).

Siv is the greatest. I love her.

About a month and a half ago we met her at her door when we knocked. She was already very Christian and declined an offer to learn more about the church. We managed to give her a Book of Mormon before saying goodbye. About a week later we ran into her on the street. She had read in the book and was very excited to meet us.

Fast forward to Thursday when she visited her parents. She hadn't told them she was investigating the church because she was afraid of how they would react--her father is a strong atheist and has never approved of her faith. When she said that she had been meeting us, her father's face lit up and he told her about a very loving and friendly Mormon family he had known many years ago. He told her to join the church and stay in the church.

Later that day, she visited some friends who are members in the church she most recently attended. When she told them she was investigating the church, they told her it was a cult and that we don't read the Bible. She then testified to them of our belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible as well as the reality of living prophets and an open canon of scripture.

She took all this--coupled with a dream she had that night--as evidence that God approves her path and it is His will that she continue in faith into His church through baptism despite potential setbacks or challenges.

We're so thankful that God revealed His will to Siv and that she was willing to listen. Miracles happen!

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

Pictures:

1. They asked me to cut the pie into 7 equal pieces. Not too shabby.

2. I love Siv.

3. Getting hype for the game.

4. If anyone can tell me what kind of flower this is, that'd be great.

5. That's right. I live here (pt 9).

       p.s. That picture was taken at 9:00PM. I love the Swedish Summer

D & C 8:2

(Aldste Cummings)

Tjena!

This week was great.

Looking back on it, I can't quite put my finger on too much that we did that was noticeably different than what we usually do, but it was still a great week. I guess just being a missionary and doing missionary work is great.

We had the opportunity of going on companion exchanges with our dear sweet elders in Växjö. I was able to spend the day with Elder Carter, a good friend of mine that I learned to know and love in my Skövde days. What a great man.

Elder Youngberg and I have been having tons of fun and success as we work hard together to find people who have been prepared by the Lord to accept our message. We have been blessed with so many small miracles that all add up to make a big difference. Never discount God's tender mercies!

The scripture I chose this week comes from a couple experiences we've had with an investigator Siv. She has and always has had a strong faith in Christ and is perhaps the most open Swede I've ever met! She just loves to love. Because of her honest desire to follow Christ, she has been very receptive to truths that we teach her. She readily recognizes truth that comes from God and how God speaks to her.

When we taught her that she had to stop her life-long habit of smoking in order as a commandment of God, she accepted the truth but was unsure of her capability of doing so. We comforted her and gave her a priesthood blessing to help and sustain her. Immediately after the blessing she wrote out a plan to stop after having received as she called it inspiration from God while our hands were on her head.

Next, when we taught her that in order to become a member of the Lord's church she would have to donate 10% of her income, she accepted the truth of it but was understandably nervous concerning her finances. We said a prayer, and after the prayer she said that the Holy Ghost had spoken to her mind and said to her and she realized that if she stopped smoking, then she would be able to afford to pay the tithing donations which brought great peace to her soul.

I wish I could be more like Siv in my ability to listen and heed the subtle promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord really does speak to us in our minds and in our hearts. If we are willing and obedient, we can hear and feel the thoughts and the feelings that don't come from us.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. That's right. I live here. (pt 7)

2. Just a couple of grabbar celebrating Midsommar.

3. Jo, men, tjabba.

4. If anyone can tell me what kind of flower this is, that'd be great.

5. Oh, sorry, didn't see you there.

6. That's right. I live here. (pt 8)

1 Nephi 3:7

(Aldste Cummings)

Tjena!

This week was a party.

It started off with having to say goodbye to Elder Burns which was sad. We've become good friends and it was hard to see him go.

Then in came Elder Youngberg! He was companions with my dear friend Elder Wayment up in Stockholm and came down here to serve with me in Karlskrona. Unfortunately for Elder Youngberg, I don't think I can fill Elder Wayment's shoes, but I'll try my best.

On Friday was midsommarafton which is a HUGE holiday in Sweden to celebrate the summer solstice. It's roots come from pagan fertility rituals and no one really knows why but everyone is all about it. We got to drive out to an island in Karlskrona's beautiful archipelago to celebrate with about half the branch for basically the whole day. We ate great food, played some fun games and sports, and danced around the midsommarstång. So fun.

The next day, midsommardagen was the annual Håkansson v. Andersson soccer match. The two big families that make up most of the branch here all get together to play soccer and boy is it serious. They don't mess around. We played two 30 minute halves and we were completely spent. We were on team Håkansson and we won 3-1! What a great weekend.

This week we had the opportunity to teach a couple investigators and commit them to repenting and making change in their lives. It's a difficult process but I admire their determination and their faith. They remind me of Nephi when he, despite the difficulty of the task to which he was called, declared "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded." Both he and them are inspiring examples to me!

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1. Getting birch branches for the party. Old school.

2. That's right. I live here. (pt 6)

3. Ice cream.

4. We made this whole thing and then danced around it.

D & C 88:119

(Aldste Cummings)

Hejsan allihoppa!

I hope you all had a great week because we certainly did. This week was full of just fun. I don't even know what we did that was so fun. It was just so fun. Elder Burns and I have been working hard and enjoying ourselves at the same time and that's a great combination.

On Saturday we got to go out to a member's house out on an island and it was so beautiful and we had a great party with the branch here and a lot of non-member friends they brought. It was incredible.

Transfers are this week! Elder Burns will be moving way up north to Skellefteå and I'll be sticking around here. It will be sad to see him go. We've become good friends and he's from the East coast too which is very hard to come by among missionaries here. I'll miss him.

This week I was thinking about the temple and reflecting on my experiences there. I haven't been inside a temple in almost 10 months which is the longest I've ever not visited the temple since I turned 12. The more I reflected on it, the more I realized that I genuinely miss it. There truly is a peace and joy that comes from being in the temple and attending the temple often that you can't feel anyplace else. I never really appreciated that until I no longer had the opportunity to attend regularly. It truly is a house of God and I am so thankful that we have the blessings of temples on the earth today.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1.  Loving life.

2. Kristoffer walking on the beach. Majestic

3. That's right. I live here. (pt 6)

4. There was a major sale on potatoes today. We bought 10 kg (~22 lbs) for fifty cents. No joke.

5. The potatoes.