Alma 29:3

(Aldste Cummings)

Tjena tjena!

This week was really fun. We went to Malmö for zone conference and I got to see a ton of good buds. A lot of my former companions were there and it was so fun to see them all and catch up and say goodbye before I go. I also had the opportunity to bear my testimony at my last zone conference which was special. I didn't really think about what I was going to say at all until I actually went up and just said what was on my heart.

I have often imagined how it would feel to be so close to going back home and honestly nothing feels like I imagined it would. It's such a strange feeling.

This week was also Midsommar which is when Swedes celebrate the longest day of the year. Very pagan and very Swedish and very fun. Swedes are o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d with the weather and especially with good weather. As soon as the sun comes out, everyone sunbathes all day. Especially older people. I can't tell you how many half-naked old Swedish people with dark, leathery skin I've seen this summer alone.

To celebrate Midsommar one:

1. Sets up a big pole in the shape of a pagan fertility symbol.

2. Dances around said pole while singing goofy Swedish folk songs.

3. Eats potatoes and pickled herring.

4. (Optional) Parties all night and gets absolutely wasted.

Big fun.

The potatoes at Midsommar are unbelievably good, though. I have no idea why. You can buy them really really cheap the week of (like, 80-90% off of the original price) and they taste so much better. They're incredibly soft and creamy. People down here call them "nypotatis" which translates to "new potatoes" so maybe they're the first fruits of the harvest or something, I don't really know. But they're really really good.

Swedish people eat potatoes at nearly every single meal. It's probably the most defining characteristic of Swedish cuisine. I have asked multiple people what Swedes used to eat before potatoes were first discovered by the Europeans on the American continents and I have not ever gotten an answer. It seems to confuse them. As if they had never questioned that potatoes were not Swedish to begin with.

This week I was also able to have my "exit interview" with President Youngberg before going home. Something he said really struck me. He said "If the Savior came into this room right now He would hug you and thank you for the service you have given. He would likely then apologize for the suffering you experienced as His representative. He would never, not once, say anything about what you could have done better or differently. It's not in His character. He would not discuss the past, just the present and the future."

That calmed a lot of my apprehensions about going home and helped me feel at peace knowing that He is thankful for the service I have provided--despite my shortcomings. Also this week, I read some notes I took directly after I was set apart as a missionary and it was incredibly fulfilling and spiritual to see how each and every one of the blessings I was blessed with then came to fruition in my mission.

I still have one week left, but I now know that the Lord is happy with my mission and that I have accomplished what He sent me here to accomplish and I have become the person He sent me here to become. I'm far from perfect, but that's okay. I have my life ahead of me to grow even more. To use the words of Alma, I feel "content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me"(Alma 29:3).

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

(Sorry, no pictures this week 😢)

Introverts & Missionary Work

(Sister Slade)

For the first few months of my mission I thought I was a terrible missionary. Not because I was disobedient, didn't know the doctrine, or had low key indicator numbers, but because I was an introvert. I hated talking to people. People would comment about how I am "so quiet." And then later in my mission when I'd built up an extrovert facade, they would remark with pride how much I'd "come out of my shell." And that made me feel like I couldn't be who I really was because in their eyes an introvert doesn't make a good missionary.

But, one day I read a scripture that we’re all familiar with with the question "Are introverts good missionaries?" in mind:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

And what stood out to me was not that our weaknesses will magically become our strengths, but that our "weak things will become strong." In other words, our weaknesses become strengths. Now before I’m sent home for teaching false doctrine, here’s an example: as an introvert, I am not a good public speaker or teacher, and I am not good at approaching and talking to strangers. But because of these things that I consider my weaknesses in missionary work, I have strengths that come from them. I am not a good public speaker but I am great at one on one personal conversations; I am not good at talking to strangers, but I form deep relationships; I am not a good teacher, but I am a good listener; because of my weaknesses, I have strengths. Sometimes we think that we have to fit in this box to be a good missionary, but what if what the people in your area need is not a good speaker, but a good listener? What if they need your weaknesses?

There are many examples in the scriptures of introverts being powerful missionaries. Moses hated public speaking and being the center of attention. So he had his brother Aaron do the talking. Paul would much rather be in the background. Why do you think that most of the words we have from him are from letters he wrote and not sermons he gave? Sam was the silent saint beside his extrovert brother Nephi. And what about Lehi, Nephi’s brother in the book of 3rd Nephi. Esther and Ruth are more great examples of quiet resilience and strength. I don’t think either of them cared to be in the spotlight, but when it was required of them, they rose up and did amazing things. These scripture heroes did amazing things because of their nature, not in spite of it.

If you’re an extrovert with an introvert companion, be aware of them. If they have something to say, don’t keep talking and bulldoze them because it takes a lot of effort for them to speak up. Be patient. You get energy from talking to and being around people all day, but it exhausts your companion. Please don’t get angry at your companion for not talking enough or for seeming reserved. Instead use their gifts that come from the things you see as their weaknesses.

If you’re an introvert, be proud of who you are. It’s okay to be quiet and to not feel comfortable talking. Sometimes you will have to go out of your comfort zone like Esther did when she came before king Ahasuerus. Don’t make your extrovert companion do all of the teaching or socializing though. Being willing to to do as much as you can will improve your relationship with your companion and boost your confidence in yourself. And most importantly, know that you are a good missionary even when you aren’t the first to talk. We all have unique gifts and talents to offer because that’s how Heavenly Father made us. There is a power in introverts in a world that can’t stop talking.

*Insert creative title here*

(Sister Slade)

I feel like the longer I'm on a mission the crazier my weeks become. Or maybe it's just Harrison.

So remember last week how the old guy confessed his love for sister Elkins? Well this week we met his girlfriend who moved in with him the day after that happened. It was quite the interesting conversation. But we got a new person to teach out of it. We're just not sure how to teach her when he is a "do not contact" and they live together.

So a couple of weeks ago we did a church tour for one of the people we're teaching and I ended up playing the piano for him. He then told his neighbors about me. So when we went over this week, he had us go over to their house to play for them. They then had a lot of questions for us and we found two new people to feach out of it! This whole experience has increased my testimony that Heavenly Father is directing his work. We did nothing except be where we were supposed to be and do the things we were supposed to do.

We got transfer calls this week. Sister Elkins will be leaving to go to Stockton and I will be staying in Harrison and training. So I won't know who my companion is until the day of transfers.

I played a special musical number at church yesterday. I've only been here for 5 weeks but I've already said an opening prayer, gave a talk, and dis a special musical number. They should just give me a calling and make my membership official. :)

God is good!

Sister Slade

Pictures:

1. I wrote an article for the mission magazine and someone suggested that I share it

2. The book of Mormon

3. I've been really into puzzles lately

4. You're going to get pictures of my bug bites all summer

1 Corinthians 3:6

(Aldste Cummings)

Tjena tjena

This week was pretty great.

Lately we've been trying to reach out to some inactive members to invite them to come to our church open house in a couple weeks. So we swung by one of them only to find that they weren't home. But! We looked over to our right and saw that the apartment right next to them had the same name listed on it as another inactive member whose address we hadn't been able to find using Sweden's creepy websites that show all the names, ages, phone numbers, addresses, and social security numbers of everyone in Sweden. Intrigued, we decided that we might as well knock on the door and it turns out that it actually was that member family! We were able to talk to the son and his friend and get them hyped about learning more about the Book of Mormon. We're gonna go back this week. Crazy miracle, though. What are the odds of that?

The next day, I was basically out for the count because I got slammed with a sinus infection that night. The first time I've been sick on my whole mission. I also had never stained a shirt or tie my whole mission until about 2 months ago and now literally all but 2 of my shirts and a handfull ties are stained. I'm starting to feel that the Lord is taking away the protective blessings I had been receiving as a missionary to prepare me for regular life again.

But my sickly disposition did not keep us from playing minigolf that evening with the men from our ward. No sir! It was really fun and while we were there, we ran into the same couple that we ran into at the library about a month ago (remember? The one that I had met in Karlskrona over a year ago?). It turns out that they lost the contact information we had given them and we were able to get their info instead. I hope they recognize the miracle behind this too. If that's not God I don't know what is.

I saved one of the people we visited this week from committing a grievous sin. See the picture below. Just doing my duty. "Preach repentance and [turn around backwards toiletpaper rolls]."

Apropos the whole God-taking-away-protective-blessings thing, we were walking in town yesterday when a seagull decided that I was a tactically expedient target for their war on humans. So Anola Gay dropped Fat Man on my backpack and the resulting mushroom cloud left both Elder Childs and I with bird guano on our suits. Not fun. I guess that's what I get for making fun of Elder Seely for getting hit that one time.

Other than all that, I think the only other thing worth reporting this week is that I was surprised to figure out that someone I and Elder Burns contacted in Karlskrona over a year ago was baptized by my "son" Elder Seely in Norrköping on Saturday! Her name was Sawsan and she was the sweetest woman. She came to church once but we didn't see it going anywhere and a couple months after I left, the missionaries there felt like they should reach out to her. One thing led to another and now she is a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Incredible and a truly pleasant surprise. This is the Lord's work and He takes care of His children who are searching for him.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

Pictures (they may be out of order)

 1. High school graduation. It was wild.

2. Best picture of my life.

3. "though your sins be as [a backwards roll of toiletpaper], they shall be as [a forward facing roll of toiletpaper]"(Isaiah 1:18).

4. Sawsan's baptism (ft. Elder Seely).

Led in the wilderness of Harrison

(Sister Slade)

I'm going to say it over and over again. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!

This week we had a lot of little moments that showed me that everything we did was directed by Heavenly Father. We visited a less active sister who hasn't been to church in 40 years. Her husband had died recently, and she didn't remember much about eternal families, but she has been really interested in the temple ever since he died. We came at a perfect time for her and were able to answer some questions and give her peace. She cried and thanked us for coming. The cool thing was that we weren't planning on going to visit her. It just came up that we had extra time and were in her neighborhood.

We visited another sister who is trying to come back to church. It happened to be during the time that a lot of anniversaries of deaths of loved ones were coming up. We were able to offer her comfort and be there to cry with her.

We had some extra time and decided to go do some extra service at one of the thrift stores that we serve at. We showed up right after they had gotten a huge donation. The person that was in charge of sorting was very overwhelmed, especially because most of the clothes were absolutely disgusting. She needed to go to the store to get more trash bags, so we sorted while she was gone. When she got back we had finished most of it, and I could see a huge weight lift off of her.

Someone we are teaching named Alyssa invited us to play tennis with her, and then this weekend to go on a hike. During both we had the most amazing gospel discussions. On the hike, we talked a lot about the plan of salvation and the purpose of our life on earth. Later it turned out that something we said was exactly what she needed.

I love being able to look back on my life and connect the dots on how Heavenly Father has guided my life. Not only does he direct us for the benefit of others, but for ourselves as well. This week I was reading in 1 Nephi 16 and it says "And we did follow the directions [of the Lord] which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness." When we allow the Lord to direct us we are led in the places that give us what we need.

Once again, I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

God is Good!

Sister Slade

Pictures!

1. I fell asleep on the floor

2. A waterfall on the hike

3. Us with Alyssa

4-6 The top of the hike

7. A cool tree we saw

"Thats pretty neat!"

(Hermana Ellsworth)

"THAT's PRETTY NEAT"

First, I have the best companion ever. Second, I have the best companion ever. This week we have been learning and teaching each other new phrases in Spanish and English. My companion now knows how to say "That's Pretty neat", "Nature walk", and "This is an aspen, you can tell by the way it is"  I feel like I have really fulfilled my purpose as an amazing companion. I still burst out laughing every time we walk by a tree and she says, "This is an aspen. THAT's PRETTY NEAT" She is the best companion. HERMANA PAREDES IS SWEETEST! She also made some Peruvian food for me and two other hermanas this week. She is wonderful.

This week we had some amazing miracles. We have 4 people on date to be baptized and this weekend we should have a baptism for a man named Miguel  He is the one in the middle of the picture below. We taught him about temples this week and He LOVED IT! I am really excited to see him enter into the waters of Baptism this weekend. He has gone though a lot in his life and he has had some amazing faith by jumping all into the gospel with his whole heart, might, mind, and strength.

Some updates on our recent convert Miyito :) he wanted to be a missionary this week so we took him out contacting with us and these are some pictures of him walking towards us from forever away. When he finally got to us he was so tired and he said, "Being a missionary is a lot of work! WHEEW I am tired!" But he went out and walked with us for 3 hours and helped us talk with some of his family and cousins in the area.

We also taught Miyito how to tie some Ties :)  (The best that we could) These ties were donated to him by some amazing members and it has really made him feel like he is loved by the members in the ward. This is what it means to have no poor among you. We had a lot of fun taking pictures with are new tied ties and A quick shout out to all the friends in high school and cousins in my life that taught me how to tie a tie. I know it is not the best and I probably did it wrong but now Miyito has some pre-tied ties an he comes to church looking pretty snazzy

There are always so many things to talk about and so little time. But we have seen miracles and it is good enough to say that when you ask for something from God he will give it to you if it be through faith in Jesus Christ. He really is looking out for the people here in Puerto Rico but the people here in Puerto Rico are looking out for each

other and this is how we are seeing miracles. The ward members and recent converts are really stepping up to get ready for the temple in Puerto Rico. They will have a temple but now they must fill it with people.

When was the last time you reached out to the missionaries to see if you could help them with a member presence? or when was the last time you shared your beliefs with someone who has not heard of the Gospel or doesn't know how much Heavenly Father really does love them.

I really do love the people here. I would encourage people to go on a mission if it is an option for you. It is worth it. But it is also worth it to live the gospel. Please live the Gospel and LET Heavenly Father bless you and give you the peace that comes with living the Gospel.

The Church is still true. Heavenly Father still loves his children. GO FIGHT WIN

Alma 29:10

(Aldste Cummings)

Hej allihopa!

This week was really fun. It's crazy that I'm sitting here writing an email to you all yet again. If my calculations are correct, this is the 99th email I have sent out. That's a lot of emails. Most weeks, I've really enjoyed writing them. It's sad that after this I will only write 3 more.

This week was just filled with so many simple experiences with people I love that will be memories I will never forget.

On Tuesday we went out to fly model planes with one of our friends. It was so fun. He really appreciates our company because he's recently experienced a loss in his family and being with us and talking with us gives him comfort and makes him happy. I'm so glad we were able to meet him and minister to him as Christ would. I love him so much.

On Wednesday we had a lesson scheduled and had a man from the ward meet us at the church to help us teach but the person we were teaching was late and we just sat outside with this hilarious Finnish man talking about his life and hearing his testimony.

Also on Wednesday we got an SOS text from a friend of our in the ward wondering how one makes a tasty banana milkshake so we quickly threw some stuff together to try it out ourselves, drove to the church, and then video-chatted with her on Facebook and walked her through how to make a banana milkshake while we drank our milkshake on our side and we all talked deeply about the things of God. The ironic thing was that due to lack of adequate ingredients, the milkshake Elder Child's and I made was legitimately terrible but we were able to help her make an actually tasty one while also hearing her inspiring testimony.

On Thursday, we were blessed with the opportunity to live every missionary's dream of attending an outdoor band concert for Swedish kids with 1-2 years of music experience on Sweden's national holiday.

Afterwards, Bishop drove us out to visit a member family who hadn't been participating in church for a long time. The spirit was strong as we all--especially Bishop--testified of the peace that comes from a strong personal relationship with Christ. And later we were able to talk to their three kids and get them excited to join our ward choir (that's right, the choir is still alive and kicking) and they'll be joining their voices to ours on Sunday next week.

On Friday, we spent some time outside in a park getting to know a member from Iran better and learning more about how we can help him help his family and friends receive the joy of the Gospel. After that, we played innebandy and our favorite Sri Lankan friend/big brother, Dilpa just happened to be back in town after his move to Jönköping and we were able to see him and catch up with him again.

On Saturday, we visited the home of someone we're teaching with our Irani member to teach a man from Syria who had long had contact with members and the church about God's plan for us in this life and the next. The spirit was strong and God's love abounded. Afterwards, we walked out to their lot in the community garden with him and his 4  year-old son and he gave us a couple handfuls of fresh green onion right out of the ground.

On Sunday, our choir performed as ragtag and glorious as ever. Our Syrian friend couldn't make it to the meeting but stilled showed up for the last ten minutes to hear the messages shared and say hello to his church family before leaving to help his wife run errands. I was also able to sit down with a friend of ours who has been struggling for a while and have a deep heart to heart about prayer and his inspiring spiritual maturity.

Also on Sunday, I sat in a car between the Bishop's twin 8 year-old sons:

Twins: *whispering and gesturing behind my back and laughing*

Me: What are you two laughing about?

Twin 1: Nothing. *giggles*

Twin 2: *giggles*

Twin 1: You have small ears.

Twin 2: Baby ears.

Twins and Me: *Laughs hysterically*

Sunday evening, we were able to spend some time in the home of some members. At some point during the visit, the children were in the other room playing while the parents and we missionaries sat at the table listening to a minute or two of a Swedish audio book about a little girl who collects farts in jars.

Sorry that the email ended up being so long but it was actually very uplifting and therapeutic for me to reflect on all the beautiful memories that I gained this week in the work of the Lord. There is joy that comes by reflection and remembering how the Lord has touched you and others through you. This week was wonderful and I'm know the coming week will be just as fulfilling.

Have a great week!

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1. Found Bambi on the side of the road (don't worry, it scurried off of the road very shortly after this picture was taken).

2. Fly, fly, fly...

3. Music to my ears.
4. Onion party.