(Elder Cummings)
Sorry I don't got a lot of time today. Some of yall may
know, the surrounding areas near New Orleans took a tornado this week. This
weekend we went as a zone to do clean up. Arabi is a part of town that
particularly got hit. Please look at these pictures pray for these people🙏
Stay blessed
Elder Cummings
(Sister Putnam)
Hey, everyone!
This week we visited a family whose mom isn't a member. Her
name is Ana. She is interested in church but barely, so we are being very
careful trying not to "blow out" the interest and read come, follow
me with her.
We taught several English classes and also met with a woman
who is a Spanish teacher in high school! We went to a combined Relief Society
activity with two other wards in the stake and taught more English classes
afterwards!!
We met with a woman who wants to attend church but was
worried about her children being disruptive by crying, and we assured her that
it would be okay, that everyone's kids come & make a little noise at our
church. She also wanted a Bible so we are bringing her one soon! She didn't
come to church but we will keep inviting her.
We had multiple spontaneous phone calls with people who
wanted to learn about the church and about baptism, so I'll keep you updated on
where those are going!
I love you all!!!
Hermana Alyssa Putnam
(Elder Cummings)
**I know I am so bad at responding to emails but thank yall
so much for those who have messaged me. Always great to hear from y'all**
We got another Exchange miracle for yall today:
So we bike into this neighborhood, untouched for the last
several months. We're not seeing many people out and about but we start walking
our bikes around. After a while we realize we hadn't said a prayer yet. We stop
and pray for miracles, that we would meet those willing to let God prevail and
need to see us today, then resume our walking. After just a minute this lifted
GMC Yukon with tinted windows stops in the middle of the road and starts
rolling down their window. But behind the window this sweet lady is like
"HEY! Can I have a Book of Mormon!?!".
She pulls off to the side of the road and we run over to her
and give her a copy. Turns out 8 years ago her father died. Shortly after, the
missionaries knocked on their door. She remembered the Book of Mormon and just
the peace that she feels as she reads and studies from it. She had lost her
copy a couple years back. What's awesome is she doesn't even live in that area
of town but was just driving through at that moment we walking.
So cool. I love being at the right place at the right time.
Have a blessed week!!
Elder Cummings
Photos:
1. I went on exchanges back in my first area, the Westbank.
The Relief Society was having a party and we stopped in to say hi to all these
amazing women that have been so good to me. I love them so much
2. Biking with the bois
3. Biking with the bois on the levee
4. Biking with the bois at Five Guys
5. Pic with President Palmer from Westbank. Love that man
(Sister Putnam)
Hey, everyone!!
So this week we had transfers!! My new companion is Hermana
Barrus and she is incredible!!
I am now back in Lynnwood for my last transfer! I will have
spent 9 months in Lynnwood!! Kathie, Ben's mom has a Baptismal date, and the
sisters in that ward are working to have her move it sooner, and if they do,
I'll be able to attend!!
This week we spent meeting with members and setting up
lessons, many of which cancelled, so that was tough.
I can't wait to finish out strong in Lynnwood.
I love you all!!
Hermana Alyssa Putnam
So we have this lesson set up with a lady named Tisha. She
is so awesome and we're so pumped and she calls us and cancels the lesson. I
was on exchanges, so Elder Leis was like "you know what, we should head
over there anyway and talk to people". It was the only lesson in the area
we had that day, it was 11am on a Tuesday, and it was at the edge of our area a
good bit away. Logically, it wouldn't make sense to head over there anyway. It
would've made sense for us to finish our studies and planning the rest of the
lessons we had that day. But if there is one thing I've been taught, when it
comes to the Lord's Work, "it ain't a logic thing".
So we head on
over and park the car in the Tisha's neighborhood. We start walking and the
first house we walk by there's this sweet lady named Nanja who was so excited
to talk with us. She was like "I've been watching y'all. Each time yall
come by yous always walking the opposite way. I been waiting for yall to come
this way, to me". We were able to have such a sweet moment with her and
explained who we were and Who we talk about and she was eating it up like it
was her mother's cooking.
Anyway. We
keep walking down the street and run into Lester. Lester works in Lake
Charles(like 3 hours away) and is never home but for short periods of time and
we somehow caught him. He as well had seen missionaries around in the past but
never had a chance to talk to them. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and
said he's coming to church this Sunday!
Lastly,
we're continuing down the street and we hear some K-Love(Christian Gospel Music
Radio #letmetellyouaboutmyjesus #toogoodtonotbelieve
#thereisjoyinthehouseofthelord #walkingfree) playing in the distance...we knew
exactly where to go. We meet Rochelle washing her car. She is a legend. She
doesn't have a phone number but has seen us biking around in the past but never
had the courage to just stop us while we biked. Because she doesn't have a
number, it is so hard to get a hold of her. Please keep her in your prayers.
What is so
legendary is that this all happened in like 45 minutes or so. We were there at
the right time. Why did we decide to go? I don't know, it didn't make sense.
Why does the Lord use a bunch of college aged kids who have little to no life
experience represent Him and do His work on the earth? Expecting to teach
people of all walks of life about this Man who has and can solve all their
problems and bring relief to all their pains? I don't know, it doesn't make
sense. But it sure is awesome.
Stay blessed 🙏
Elder Cummings
1. Helping a member buy 8 tubs of salad dressing and
LITERALLY 252 lbs of black beans
2. Exchange picture with my boy Elder Richards. I love that
man so much.
3. The legend Jason Fowler
4. Demonstration of the graininess of my camera quality.
Elder Leis said "it's like those old movies". I said "at least
we have color"
(Sister Putnam)
Hey, everyone!!
So this week was super busy covering 2 wards, but that made
it fun!!!
Tuesday we got a scam likely call and I answered it. The
girl was eager to help me save a few hundred dollars on my cars extended
warranty! I told her God is so good and shared Mosiah 2:17 with her and at that
point she said I was breaking up and that she would call me back. She never
did. Odd. Hermana Shupe & Sister Stevenson were enjoying it though lol.
I wasnt feeling well on Wednesday so honestly I don't
remember much of what happened.
Thursday we had an in person social media training that was
actually a lot of fun!
Friday we had a lesson with some Russians who were really
cool and it was interesting to see their perspectives. Borris is curious about
the book of Mormon and likes a lot of the doctrines of the church. He's a
thinker and very intelligent. We also met with a family who lives in a tiny
house, like extreme minimalism, it's actually really cool!
Saturday we had a knocking blitz again and we knocked on one
guy's door & it was a family who was interested in talking. They'd met with
missionaries before, and the son, Andrew, decided to step out at talk to us,
and the dad, Hans, handed him a triple combination that was already marked up,
and I was like "shoot is he gonna bash?" But he really had genuine
questions and it was really cool to see what he had to say. And then he went in
and Hans stepped out and expressed his appreciation for us and said that even
though we aren't the same denomination as us he respects our bravery in sharing
this message, and that what we do is good and he loves to see the common ground
we have with his beliefs and understand what we believe. A very intelligent and
humble family, definitely a highlight of my week.
That night we got transfer news and I will be leaving! I am
so sad but interested to where the next transfer takes me!
I love you all!!
Hermana Alyssa Putnam
(Elder Cummings)
So Elder Smith and I have hit a low when it comes to the
progression of our friends. We have several AMAZING people we're working with
but there just seems to be roadblocks and obstacles stopping them. It has been
very frustrating because we want so much for them but there is so much to be
done.
So we're fasting this last Sunday, going without food and
water. And we're fasting specifically that obstacles will be removed and our
friends will have strength to progress. As well as that we will find those that
are willing to let God prevail and accept His Gospel.
We're biking around town cause we live 30 minutes outside
our area still(but now we're living in Central New Orleans so that's that's
crazy) in 80 degree heat, the wind blowing against us completely dehydrated and
hungry.
We had a brief conversation with a friend of ours named
Eldridge Saturday night and invited him to church. Never met him before. He
shows up Sunday morning. After sacrament meeting he looks at us and is like
"So what do I need to do to be baptized? I'll do it" Absolutely
floored and overjoyed. The first time we talked to him was the night before.
Then that night we have a dinner with a family in the ward
as well as a part member family that we have been trying to work with, they are
just so busy. By the end of the night we didn't even share a message because
the Pentons testified and taught our message for us without even knowing. They
testified to the San Miguel's of eternal families and the overwhelming joy of
the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was strong and we just sat
there watching the Lord do His work without us. It was so humbling and amazing.
Now, Brother San Miguel, who is not a member, wants wants be baptized and
sealed to his family.
The Lord answered our prayers and honored the efforts of our
fast. He lead us to Eldridge, who is willing to let God prevail and allowed the
Pentons to help the San Miguel's in a way we could never do and now they desire
to have an eternal family. I know this is the Lord's work. And each time I tend
to forget that, the Lord just loves reminding me. And I love it.
Have a blessed week y'all!
Elder Cummings
Sorry no pics this week :(
