4th of July week miracles!

 (Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person could hope for!

Another miracle filled week! This week we had a goal of putting someone on date for baptism. Sunday came around and we still didn't have anybody. Then things worked out perfectly! We stopped by this kid we are teaching named Trey, and caught him just as he was leaving! We asked it we could have a lesson, and he said yes! We had one in the backyard with his grandma and taught about how the gospel can bless families and about baptism. We asked the grandma if we could work with Trey towards baptism, and she said yes! So he is on date!

Another miracle is that we started teaching Shae and Christian! We visited one person, who referred us to their neighbors across the street who just moved. We visited them and they referred us to their next door neighbors, Shae and Christian. They were super nice, let us inside and we shared a message with them. Sweet miracle as we followed the referral train!

Lastly it was Sunday evening, and we had time to visit one more person. A person popped in my head randomly, and we decided to visit them. They ended up not being home, but I knew we were there for a reason, and so we talked to a woman next door sitting outside. We learned she was going through a lot of things, and really needed comfort. We asked to say a prayer with her and as we started the prayer, her dog (who had been barking the entire time) quieted, and the spirit was very strong. God knew we needed to talk to her that day, and he was able to make us His instruments to help her.

God is a God of miracle and direction. He can guide us if we let Him, and we can see miracles from him. I know He loves us and cares about us!

Pictures:

1. Saying goodbye to Elder Haskett

2. Saying goodbye to Elder Snow

3. We were in a trio for a day with Elder Glunt who's new in the mission. We judged a children's bike parade for one of our wards.

4-5. We made a ping pong table in our apartment today. It's pretty fun!

S7 E4: Bible booths, Brisket, and one more boil...

 (Elder Cummings)

Morning y'all!

We had a good ol' southern week this time around. We had a big ol crawfish boil with a family in the ward, probably the last one I'll get for a while cause crawfish season is over...big sad. But shoot man I can eat crawfish for days. Easily my favorite thing to have down here.

For 4th of July the Williams' had us over for some home smoked brisket. Mmmmmmhm whatchu say? Have mercy it was good.

In the words of one of my favorite men on earth: "Good food. Good company. Good time"

This weekend we also went to the mall and had our Jesus Booth set up again. It went really well this time. We learned from our past mistakes...We brought tablecloths and signs 2nd time round. We also tried a lot harder to get people's numbers and set stuff up so between us and the sisters we were able to find 13 people who would either like to study the Book of Mormon of the Bible with us! Good times indeed.

Now for the best part: Miracle time. The part that almost convinced me to title the email "Families ARE Forever: Part 2" but "Bible Booths, Brisket, and One Last Boil" was too good to pass up. About 2 months ago we helped Josh and Samantha move in. A blessing, some more service, and a dinner appointment later, we are sitting in their living room testifying of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal families. Two days later we are watching the Rome Italy Temple tour with them and the Spirit is so strong you could cut it with a knife.(Two more days later we're eating brisket with them). We ask what is most important to them and they look at each other and say their kids. We extend the invitation to baptized in preparation to the temple and they accept for July 31st! You could see the amazement in Samantha's eyes as her own husband said he'd be willing to give up smoking, dipping and drinking for a temple marriage with his wife and a sealing with his kids. Only God. Only God.

Elder Cummings

Photos:

1. Jesus Booth!

2-3. Some super nice apartment complex we had to take a picture in front of

4. Us and Bishop Sanders rocking our 4th of July ties. Such a stud he gave us them

5. Meet Dyson Marron, one of my homies in the ward

Pioneer Missionary!

 (Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person could hope for!

What another great week! We had MLC this week, and they did a special pioneer meeting. They had us get some pioneer clothing, and then we met up and pulled handcrafts to our destination in the woods. It was pretty cool! We learned that while things can be hard now, we have the examples of many people that went before us to help us.

We also were able to go to the temple with one of our recent converts on Thursday. It was great to be in there and feel the spirit of the lord testify to me.

Also, our friend Treydan got baptized! A lot of his family was there to support him, and he said he felt really good afterwards. Elder Snow and I did a special musical number singing Love is Spoken Here during it.

Lastly, this week is transfers. Elder Snow sadly has finished his two years and is going home. :( I have learned so much from him and am so grateful to have been his companion. We'll continue to be friends after the mission. Also, Elder Haskett is leaving for St. Anthony and I'll be getting Elder Thomas as a companion.

Love you all!

Pictures:

1-3. Picture from the pioneer MLC

4. Treydan's Baptism

5. David, a lot that recently got baptized as we took him to the temple

S7 E3: Families ARE Forever

 (Elder Cummings)

I'm gonna spend my entire email talking about one day, but it was by far the best day:

So Saturday morning Elder Richards and I are doubling up and doing exchanges with the Elders in Natchitoches(Nack-uh-dish). Elder Richards is with Elder Jeppesen(Son of Jep) and I'm with Elder Hutchings(Ol' Hutch). The reason we both came up to be with them in the same area is because that afternoon they were having 3 of their friends being baptized. All 3 of which Elder Richards and I had met and taught a little on previous exchanges. So anyway, I'm kind of rambling, but we knew these people that were being baptized on Saturday. We get it all set up and we learn that there is an Area Seventy coming and he will join the service...wow. That got the bishop real real nervous lol.

So there were so many different things that made the service so amazing. First of which were the 3 people being baptized. Brother and Sister Covher are a young couple with 2 kids. They were introduced to the gospel by a friend in the ward. I had the pleasure of interviewing Brother Covher and turns out that he has had dreams of this day and has no doubt of the choice he has now made. Also turns out he grew up in Mohamet, IL where I lived for a couple years. Kind of in the middle of nowhere. Anyway. Brother and Sister Covher, now baptized are actively preparing to enter the temple and be sealed as an eternal family with their two(and possibly more!) kids next year.

Casey was the other legend that got baptized. He was a marine, and is just this massive man, but so soft spoken. I didn't get to know him as well but his whole family were members except for him. His son was able to baptize him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They two are now actively preparing to be sealed as a family for all time and eternity.

There was not a dry eye in the room. So many people came we had to do it in the chapel too. In the words of Brother Westergard, "the Spirit was so strong you could cut it with a knife". At the end of the service we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" and we all cried tears of joy. It was 100%, without a doubt, the best and most powerful baptismal service I've ever got to attend. And don't just take my word for it. Take the word of Area Seventy Elder Millington who said the same exact thing ;)

I now know and trust that families are eternal. There is no joyful answer to life than to know that we can live with our loved ones, as our loved ones, after we die. God desires our happiness, and families are how He gets it done.

Elder Cummings

Pics:

1. The Elderen selfie

2. I sweat like 5 seperate times through my shirt the other day and it like just degraded my belt and it stained my white shirt. Very nice.

3. Selfie with Elder King on another exchange. We got to support someone we are teaching as he performed in Aristocats Kids! It was no joke insanely impressive

Training

 (Sister Putnam)

Hello, everyone!!!

So, it's been a crazy week!

We finally managed to get a lesson with Ruby.  We have gotten to know her and her family better, so hopefully we'll be able to help her progress!

We received the news that Sister Israelsen is being transferred, and that I'll be training a new missionary who comes in tomorrow. That's a little nerve wracking, but it will all be okay.

Also, we are moving apartments. The elders in Everson are moving into our apartment, meaning we get yeeted to actually live in Lynden, instead of having to drive 12 miles every day just to arrive in our area.  Meaning we'll actually not have to be so stingy with how often we drive!

So, yeah this week will consist of packing up and moving out and preparing for changes!

Also, the pictures! There's a sunset, and a message I've left for the elders to find when they move in lol.

Sister Alyssa Putnam

One of the craziest experiences of my mission

 (Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person could hope for!

This week was amazing! We found two new people to teach. One of them named Will, has a lot of potential. He is amazing at drawing, and we were able to go to a swap meet where he was selling some of his drawings, and taught him the plan of salvation. A swap meet is a weird place to have a lesson and feel the spirit, but it was pretty amazing as we taught him and as we answered his questions. We're super excited for him!

A miracle as well happened for our safety this week!! Sunday evening, we were a little late to an appointment as our dinner arrived late. We quickly drove to our appointment after shoveling the food in our mouths, and 100 ft to our destination, a police car zooms past and parks in front of the house we were going to. We pulled over, and 10 other police cars zoomed past, and a fire truck and ambulance blocked the street behind us. We watched in amazement as the police men pulled out their guns, surrounded, and then barged inside of the house, arresting two of the people we were going to visit. It was one of the craziest experiences of my mission!! It's crazy to think that if our dinner wasn't late or if we hadn't taken the time to pray before the leaving the apartment, we'd have been stuck in the middle of that situation. It's a miracle and tender mercy that we were able to stay out of it and safe!

That evening I prayed in gratitude that God kept us safe. He loves us and I am grateful for the many prayers from all of you for my safety and happiness. I know God is answering them.

Love you all! Shout out to my amazing sister Eliza who gave birth this morning to a beautiful little boy named Easton! I'm so excited for her!

Pictures:

1-3. Elder Bowen and I on exchanges. We helped clean out one women's garage.

4. Elder Snow with one of Will's pictures we bought from him at the swap meet. It's a picture of Cthulu

5. All the police cars lined up

S7 E2: Miracle Time at Logan's Roadhouse

 (Elder Cummings)

Hey y'all! This one's gonna be short so I'll go into story time with Elder Cummings:

*disclaimer* this is one of my favorite moments of my mission:

So. Brother Joe Udy. Legend. Super Stud. Simply the Best. He takes Elder Richards and I to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. We have a grand old time, the rolls are like butter covered balloons, the steak...was like really really good steak.

So we start our little message with him and just chat for a sec about our spiritual habits like regular prayer, scripture study, coming to church etc. And he opens up and talks about how he doesn't really pray. He has a prayer in his heart and prays for his family throughout the day and things like that but he doesn’t have personal prayers. He felt that God has given him so much and he's so happy he doesn't feel like he could ask God for more. We completely scratch our initial message plan and Elder Richards pulls out his favorite scripture D&C 64:33, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Elder Richards then says something about praying is a simple thing that brings great things or something like that. I don't know exactly what, but I remember being reminded of the Bible Dictionary definition of prayer that says at one point, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them". I immediately pull it up and have Brother Udy read it. He reads literally the first four words and starts choking up and crying. He sits there tearing up and trying to collect himself for no joke 5 minutes. He couldn't even read the rest of the definition outloud. I still don't know what he was thinking or feeling exactly but the Spirit was strong and he was experiencing it. In a split second, God reached out to a grown man, with us, and through the Spirit. I have never seen the Spirit work so abruptly and boldly in a person's soul. I wish I can explain what happened better. All I know is that a Loving Father spoke to one of His children and I was able to witness it.

Love y'all, sorry if I never got a chance to respond to your emails today, today was insane. This week was insane. My life is insane. Insanely awesome. Have a blessed week!

Elder Cummings

1. Service at the Food Bank with Aaron and Specialist Hill!

2. Carrillos. Amazing family

3.Sleeping arrangements in Baton Rouge for a meeting next morning

4. Joe Udy himself

5. Sleeping arrangements in Monroe for another meeting