S14 E5: Absolutely Crazy

 (Elder Cummings)

This week was insane. It involved a massive crawfish boil, a broken bike seat(again), probably about a total of 15 donuts in my stomach just in this week, free Smoothie King, a trip to New Orleans, Slade's baptism, and many more mighty miracles!

Slade was baptized just yesterday and it was such a beautiful service. He is such a legend. I love the San Miguel's. Evryn, his daughter is getting baptized in a couple weeks too and they're planning to go to the temple next year and be sealed together for eternity!

We knocked on this one lady's door this week that had been contacted over a year ago and we just ended up talking for a long while and were able to share with her the whole message of the Restoration. It was such a simple and powerful lesson. Then she comes to the ward crawfish boil two days later. We meet with her after and she had already read in the Book of Mormon to Mosiah 3. Legendary. She ends up opening up to us about things she feels she could never ever be forgiven for and she questions if things can ever be made right. We had a very special opportunity to testify of the breadth of the Savior's love and mercy as well as the infinite reach or His Atonement. That somehow, someway, and some day, all can be made right because of Him. We testified of baptism for the remission of sins and the power and authority that is in Christ's church. She asked to be baptized. She is amazing.

The Gospel is real. And Christ really can make all things right. I don't know how. I don't know the divine mechanisms that enable the Savior to restore us to everything that is good and restore everything to be good again. However I trust that He can because I have felt His love and I couldn't imagine anything less than Him doing everything He can for us.

Stay blessed

Elder Cummings

S14 E4: Spanish Speaking Chum

 (Elder Cummings)

So throughout my mission I've had the opportunity to live with Spanish Elders for the majority of the time. Because of that, I've picked up some spanish here and there. I've also had the pleasure of going on exchanges with Spanish Elders. I always felt so useless on these exchanges though because I could never support them cause I didn't know how to speak Spanish.

This time I was determined to make it different. I learned enough to get me by and talk with some people and then I would leave the rest to Elder Chandler, who is basically fluent. We were determined to see miracles.

So what ended up happening is we would run, literally run if we needed to, up to every Hispanic person we saw and would just start talking with them. We did not leave any of them alone lol. It was so so awesome. I loved it so much. We ended up talking to probably about 50+ Hispanic people that day. We met so many elect people.

I have a testimony that being normal and natural does not mean being comfortable. Maybe running up to them was not the most natural, but all the people we talked to didn't mind. I'm sure my Spanish was no good, but they somehow understood me and I somehow understood them.

I love the Lord and I love this Work. It IS His and no one else's. I'm just happy to be able to be a part of it.

Have a blessed one

Elder Cummings

Photos:

Elder Richards and I on our last exchange😥

S14 E3: Miracles in Metairie

 (Elder Cummings)

So we've been working with the San Miguel's for a while and it's been so so so cool. Bro San Miguel wants to be baptized to join his family and ultimately be sealed to them for eternity. We're preparing them for his baptism, but there are some hurdles that we've had to go through.

        This week we had to teach them about the Word of Wisdom, the standard of how members of the Church of Jesus Christ take care of their bodies, mainly through abstaining from things like alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, and coffee and tea.

         Sister San Miguel loves tea so so so so much. She straight straight told Brother San Miguel when they got married that if he forced her to quit drinking sweet tea she'd divorce him. Of course this is probably a bit of a hyperbole but she loves sweet tea and it's basically the only thing she drinks.

         So we're teaching the lesson and it's going smoothly and the Spirit is strong. We ask them to make the lifestyle changes necessary for baptism and to enter a holy temple and they excitedly said yes. Afterwards, they both were like "yall know how like some lessons are better and more enjoyable than others? Yeah, this one has been our favorite". So legendary. We were just telling them of things they need to change and stop doing and they loved it. Now instead of being willing to divorce Brother San Miguel rather than give up sweet tea, Sister San Miguel is giving up sweet tea so she can be with him forever. Gotta love it.

Please pray for the following friends this week: Ricky, Janet, the San Miguel's, and Helen.

Have a blessed one

Elder Cummings

The Last One

 (Sister Putnam)

Hey everyone!

Sorry for not writing last week!!

Anyway this week on Monday night we had a our group departing interview with President and Sister Auna and they taught us a lot.

We got to teach our friend Ivania about the plan of salvation with the Elders. We are super impressed with how quickly she is accepting everything!!!

Remember Kathie, who's son Ben was baptized in February? She got baptized on Saturday and I was able to attend! It was an incredible experience!!

We got news we are both transferring and so I will be spending my last week in a new area, so that's exciting!!

As I look back on my mission I'm so grateful for everything I've experienced and learned. The mission is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's the best decision I've ever made.

I love you all!! Thank you all for your support as I've been out. It really has meant a lot!

Hermana Alyssa Putnam

S14 E2: The Woodchum

 (Elder Cummings)

           Howdy yall! Sorry I missed last week, that's on me. We had to end pday early to make it to a New Orleans celebration of the life of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. April 4 was the anniversary of his assassination.

           It was such a cool experience. As missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we were asked to have a small choir to sing some hymns between speeches. It was a really neat experience. We got to meet the Mayor of New Orleans, the Lt Governor of Louisiana, as well as one of the Louisiana State Congressman.

           They spoke of the justice and peace that Dr King lived and died for as well as the impact he left behind. Then tied it into the life that Christ, the Prince of Peace, lived. I love what President Russel M Nelson, the prophet of the world said last weekend, "Brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ has never been needed more than it is today. Contention violates everything the Savior stood for and taught. I love the Lord Jesus Christ and testify that His gospel is the only enduring solution for peace. His gospel is a gospel of peace". Let us be disciples of Christ and His peacemakers!

Have a blessed one

Elder Cummings

Oh also, my companion's name is Elder Wood and my nickname has evolved from Elder Chummings to just Chum, so we have been called The Woodchum. Don't know why but we love it.

Photos:

Me and my main man Elder Richards

Last Zone Conference

 (Sister Putnam)

Hey, everyone!!!

This week we were able to visit with a family who's mom isn't a member. She had a few questions and we were able to answer them, questions about why we have so many trials, if trials always mean God is punishing us, etc. It was nice to be able to clarify for her!!

We also met with a family who had a friend over from Mexico who had questions about what we believe. She's really wonderful and it was amazing to answer her questions too!

On Thursday we had zone conference and talked about teaching with the intent to baptize, and bringing up baptism in lessons before we ask people to be baptized so it's on their minds and they're not surprised. Well immediately afterwards we had a lesson with the elders and our friend Ivania and we decided to bring up what baptism is and it went really well!!

We met with our new friend Jovita and taught her the Restoration and gave her a Bible! We are planning on getting her fellowship tonight so she hopefully feels comfortable coming to church with her kids.

Overall most of our lessons cancelled so that was sad. But on Saturday we attended a baptism and I got to see lots of members from my old ward!!

I love you all!!!

Hermana Alyssa Putnam

S13 E6: Prayers for Arabi

 (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