Virtue y'all! Who knew?

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey y'all!!

This week was our temple week so we didn't have p-day until today! It was definitely worth the wait!

Because we went to the temple, I don't have much time to write this but I'll give y'all a little update on my last week!

Highlights:

- MLC: We got to meet as meeting leadership and counsel about the needs of the mission! I always learn so much from the other missionaries in my mission. It's so good! We started a Facebook 2 week fast and I got to see my favorite Sister Templeman so all is well!

- Exchanges: Got to go on exchanges with the FANTASTIC Sister Arledge! For only being here for two transfers, she's KILLING it! She's so much fun!

- Sisters Conference: We had our first ever Sisters Conference where just the Sisters came and it was awesome! We learned about mental health, the priesthood, and divine worth. It. Was. Incredible. I learned so much more about the priesthood and Sister Standley gave such an awesome training!

- "Sister Lee is the best and I'm going to miss her so much!!! Best grandma ever!" - Sister Lee

- Went to my first ever Saturday session of Stake Conference and I'm committed to go for the rest of my life! It was so incredible! I felt the spirit so big! It was better than the Sunday session honestly!

Here's some spiritual stuff:

Sister Briscoe have been really focused on President Nelson's most recent talk about charity and virtue and I wanted to share this bit:

"Now, let us speak of virtue. The Lord tells us to garnish our thoughts unceasingly with virtue. Imagine the boost you will receive to any positive thought when you enhance it with virtue. Virtue makes everything better and happier! On the other hand, imagine what will happen when you add virtue to an impure thought, a cruel thought, or a depressing thought. Virtue will drive away those thoughts. Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts."

I LOVE THIS! I love that President Nelson literally gives us the cure to mental health and discouragement! It's virtue! It's keeping our minds clean from self-defacing thoughts and inappropriate thoughts and keeping our thoughts kind and centered on Jesus Christ! I've been trying it out lately and it works! It works like immediately! I invite y'all to try it out!

I love y'all so much!

- Sister Cummings

The wedding was charming, if a little gauche

 (Elder Mackrory)

Boa noite meus caros amigos e parentes,

É muito bom escrever mais uma vez relatando os acontecimentos da semana. No decorrer da semana, vi 9 fuscas. O total então é 1335,5.

On Pday last, we worked in the afternoon because that was the only time some people were available. It worked really well, but a lesson went overtime and we missed the beginning of the mission meeting. I also used the missionary underground shipping system, which is sketchier than it sounds, to get same day shipping on the cheapest terere herb there is. Turns out it’s my favorite one yet.

On Tuesday we had district council at home and the zone leaders pulled up. They gave a bomb training on member lessons and it was super fun to apply what they taught. We met a super charitable person who is super interested, but she unknowingly had blocked us before knowing what we were about and so we have to go visit her again to ask her to unblock us. An old lady talked our ears off but the stories were good.

On Wednesday we met up with the bishops son who is preparing for a mission and we met two super cool dudes. One of them we felt prompted to talk two in the part as we drank a cold coke. He was really needing our conversation and it was a tender mercy as much for him as it was for me. That night we taught Vitoria, who is probably the most interested person we are teaching, and this week we plan to mark a baptism date, so stay tuned.

On Thursday we went to go do visits with another young man in our ward who is preparing for a mission, and he called a non-member friend of his to show us around the kinda sketchy (super sketchy and full of guns) neighborhood that we were not familiar with. This friend is now super interested because he felt lots of peace as he went preaching the gospel with us.

On Friday we had lunch with a member family who is super cool. After lunch, by surprise, they gave each of us a super cool model bike. I got a nice Aprilia. That night we had a ward karaoke night, that awkwardly turned into a second reception for the newlywed couple in the ward. Its ok, they’re cool members.

On Saturday we had a super awkward lunch. We arrived and the apartment complex and were about to knock on the door when the sister and her boyfriend were arguing, so before knocking, we waited a few minutes outside and then knocked when the argument subsided. Then throughout the lunch there were lots of passive aggressive comments and made my preplanned message about living with others in peace both inspired and a little awkward. That night we had soccer and the people literally spent a full 45 minutes arguing about who had the most goals. Not super fun, but at least my companion and I got to third wheel a PDA-prone couple.

On Sunday we had Jeiel’s baptism! It was kinda stressful because we had tons of our friends show up. That’s a very good thing, but with logistics of baptism and all, it was difficult to give attention to all of them. Afterwards we got super caught up with online work and visited our super interested friend from the sketchy neighborhood. We didn’t meet him but met his mom, who is interested in being taught again after two years. Good end to the week.

Tender mercy: I made beans for the first time in my life, and they turned out to be really good! I was super worried about getting it wrong and going without lunch, but I was able to make some pretty nice beans.

Spiritual Thought: I had a really deep study this week about how the Holy Ghost works conversion in us. I based my study in a study suggestion in chapter 4 of Preach my Gospel. As I read the stories in 2 Nephi 4 and in Enos, the spirit testified to me that He works conversion in the same way, and still accounts for the different needs of the person. I invite you all do this same study and search for how you can deepen your conversion by seeking the Holy Ghost.

Are you gonna marry, kills or kill me?

 (Elder Mackrory)

Opa pessoal, tranquilidade?

Essa semana eu também tenho pouco tempo para escrever, então tentarei sei breve. Vi 10,5 fuscas essa semana, totalizando 1336,5. Temo que terminarei a missão com a contagem entre dois números, mas tenho fé que verei um outro meio fusca.

Ok, lets get into things. Last pday we took it slow and went to the store. Just that the store we went to doesn’t accept card. And someone (I won’t mention my comp’s name) forgot to tell me. So there I am with a cart full of delicious fruits and milk and condensed milk and all the other essentials, without a way to pay. Thankfully the other Elders were leaving the house to make their purchases as well and so they just brought me some of my cash. I got my hair cut, deep cleaned the bathroom, and made Milk Tart. My roommates ask me when I'll make it again. That night we did a lot of online contacting, but not with too many fruits.

On Tuesday we had district council and interviews with the president. We took the wrong bus and almost ended up going to the airport (I promise I’m not trunky). We arrived on time still and had a great time practicing stuff and being interviewed by president. He’s awesome. We again geeked out about spreadsheets (just a little). We then went to lunch. After lunch we saw half a fusca, and had a total of one in-person contact with someone who signed up on the site. This contact lasted two hours, was exhausting, and I will never go back to that house again. Tiktok brain rot does some crazy things to 75 year olds.

On Wednesday I had a division with my district leader Elder Roca, who also happens to be part of my departure group in July. He’s super dedicated and hard working, albeit a little trunky. He recorded no less than 4 videos of airplanes passing overheard while asking me “How many days, Elder?”. We spoke some Spanish and I learned a lot about grammar differences between Spanish and Portuguese. I hope to speak a lot of Spanish with people at college. It’ll be super fun. We were also blocked on WhatsApp.

On Thursday we went to lunch in a rather sketchy part of town. Upon entering the area, we were stopped by like 5 guys with some super sweet assault rifles. Like, super nice. Drum magazines, 10x (at least) scopes, laser guides, and flash reducers. On top of that there was a table bigger than a car with assorted “candies” and money. They asked us where we were going, thought it was the coolest thing that I was American and then recognized us as the people who always show up on Instagram ads. Then they offered to take us up to meet the boss so that we could get our favela IDs so that we can enter and leave without any trouble. We politely declined and went on to lunch. After lunch it was just normal work, more fruitful. Unfortunately we were blocked on WhatsApp again.

 

On Friday we had lunch with a member who bore strong testimony of the truth of the Church. He said that there are about 75 thousand clueless and crazy 19 year olds as the main source of growth in the church, and the Church hasn’t gone under. So the Church must be true. We laughed and all but there’s actually some truth in that. It goes to show that despite the imperfect efforts of missionaries, God still directs and hastens his work.

On Saturday we went to a wedding for lunch, and found some new people to teach, who are family members of the couple. Super awesome experience. Then we went to go finding in a rather strange part of town. More assault rifles and stuff, but this time no one stopped us since we are pretty well known in that neighborhood. However, there was a crazy lady passed out on the ground (somehow still smoking) who woke up very suddenly when we passed by, and gave us both a big hug and tried to kiss us but we were quicker than that. She then laid back down. I played some soccer with some friends and we were able to get to know Ruby, who has been coming to seminary for the last few months and is interested in being taught by the missionaries.

Sunday we got blocked on WhatsApp again, and had two people come to church! We were able to remark Jeiel’s baptism for next Sunday (hope it works out). We also had a super cool lesson with Jeiel in which my testimony of the mercy and justice of God was really strengthened. We finished the week super strong. This week was probably one of the most successful weeks in terms of finding. We found 13 new people, and a good number of them are member referrals.

Tender mercy: This week I started a deep study on the process of spiritual conversion, guided by the Holy Ghost. As I wrote my impressions, it was so clear. It was as if the Lord Himself told me. At least that’s how I felt at the time. Later this week, as I continued the study, I had trouble focusing and feeling the spirit. Then, as I prayed fervently to regain the presence of His Spirit, I came to know exactly what it was that I lacked. Although the experience itself I consider too personally sacred to be put in the email, I came to see how humility, repentance, and forgiveness brings the presence of the Spirit in such a real way that made my previous impressions, clear as they seemed at the time they were received, were like foggy class in comparison to the clarity of living the principles of the Gospel.

Spiritual thought: Faith and humility are inseparable friends. Without humility, it is impossible to have faith. Without faith, it is impossible to have humility. As I read Enos, and focused on his conversion process, I saw how it was his faith and humility that brought his forgiveness. When the Spirit works in us to convert us totally to Jesus Cristo, we desire the well being of others, that is, we desire that which Jesus Christ desires. This is part of the sanctification process. We are brought to not even want to sin and we desire that all humanity be blessed as well. Search in fervent prayer that which lacks in you, and you will find a love incomparable for God, yourself, and others.

He is a God of Miracles

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey Howdy y'all!

I hope y'all had a great week! I'd love to hear about it! Here's my week:

Monday: Took the BEST nap ever! Had an AMAZING lesson with our friend Rick! We literally can't wait to invite him to be baptized soon. I have never met someone more prepared!

Tuesday: Great day! Had a BOMB lesson with our friend Savidry and had dinner with Sister Standley and the other STLs! I LOVE Sister Standley and I LOVE the other Sisters I serve with!

Wednesday: Did HEAPS of contacts and Sister Briscoe is so good at talking to people and we found a really cool girl who's pretty keen on the Gospel! Savidry broke up with us. Sad. But it wasn't us she was actually breaking up with, it was Jesus sooo

Thursday: Did an awesome service! Y'all I LOVE that we do so much service in this mission! It gives me life!

Friday: Went on companion trade-offs with Sister Lazar! She's so cool! She used to be a Catholic Nun for 8 YEARS in Pakistan! Her conversion is amazing! She says being a missionary is easy compared to being a nun. I was humbled.

Saturday: Had the cutest lesson with our 10 year old new friend!

Sunday: Beautiful! Took the Sacrament and renewed some covenants! It doesn't get better than that!

Spiritual Stuff:

This week, I have really really come to know that God absolutely cares about the little things that we care about and that He is truly aware of us. I love that He loves me! I saw this through so many miracles but I'll just share two.

MIRACLE #1: I had run out of floss Monday night so I went to bed with unflossed teeth (YUCK!) and come Tuesday night, I still had no floss and it literally felt like the end of the world having to go to bed with unflossed teeth x2. So, I did what any good girl would do and I said a prayer and told God how I was feeling about my unflossed teeth. After the prayer, I went rummaging in random drawers and random bags trying to see if I could find SOMETHING. I started going through a bag that I have that holds only my electronics and my nerf gun/nerf bullets (a necessity of course) and as I lifted up my nerf gun, I saw two perfect, untouched, flossers sitting on the bottom of the bag. There was no way those flossers were there before. It felt like I was living the 17 Miracles movie just the 2024 remix. Y'all, I literally started crying. I have never ever experienced a miracle like that in my life! God is good and my teeth are flossed!

MIRACLE #2: It's been hard for me to really feel like myself this transfer so Sunday morning during my personal prayer I prayed that God would just give me one moment or one person that I could be myself with. Y'all He answered my prayers. It was just a little interaction with one of the Young Women in the ward here but it meant the world to me. He is real and I know it!

Please take the time to write down the miracles you saw this week! I promise it will be a very personal and spiritual moment of reflection for you!

Question of the week: How did you see God's hand in your life this week? PLEASE ANSWER!

I love y'all!

- Sister Cummings

I'm back!

 (Sister Cummings)

Hey howdy y'all!!

I'm back! And I PROMISE I'm back for good! Or, until the end of my mission.

Before I get into this week, I felt it would probably be right that I update y'all on what has happened since I last sent out an email!

Here's what's happened:

- I had an absolute BLAST with Sister Randall serving in Noarlunga by the beach! I ADORE Sister Randall y'all! She is one of the best people I have ever met. I could never and will never say anything bad about her! I hope y'all get the absolute BLESSING of getting to know her!

- My time was short lived with Sister Randall because after 6 weeks in Noarlunga I was moved to Mount Barker with Sister Forrey! I'm literally not even mad about it! Sister Forrey is amazing. She's downright the most creative and caring person I have ever met!

- Sister Forrey and I worked our little booties off for 5 weeks! Although Sister Forrey and I were working so hard, the numbers didn't quite show it! This transfer is where I learned that although the numbers are very significant and important, they are not everything. The Lord sees your effort, He factors in that degree of difficulty! #SisterRunia #generalconference #watchit

- However, I love Mount Barker! It's a beautiful area full of hills, cows, kangaroos, koala's, and really really rich people! It's a hoot!

- It was also my transfer with Sister Forrey where I got my first opportunity to serve and support my other sisters by being a Sister Training Leader (STL)! And I LOVE it! It literally gave my mission even more meaning which I didn't know was even possible!

- I sprained my ankle, and then I sprained it again, and then I sprained it again. #goodtimes

- Sadly, yet again, my time with Sister Forrey was short lived but I was able to welcome Sister Briscoe to Mount Barker where we're still striving to serve our other sisters and the people around us!

- Sister Briscoe is a power wagon! She's determined and a hard worker! She's incredible. We definitely have our differences but so does everyone! That being said, we have been working SO HARD. I have literally never seen more miracles in my life than in these last few weeks! And, what I've found coolest about these miracles is that they literally had nothing to do with the things that we were actively doing. I mean, there is no way that I could ever attribute those miracles to my own hard work or my own diligence or success. They are all directly from the Lord. My mission is in His hands completely!

- I've been praying for humbling experiences everyday and BOY does the Lord answer prayers! But, I for real feel like I'm going to need pray for those experiences until I'm 107 (almost as old as my Papa!) before I'll be sufficiently humble. Oops

- I hit one year on the mission and 1 year as a 20 year old. Yeehaw does time fly by!

Here's my week:

Monday: Awesome p-day! We went for a hike and I was humbled! I am so out of shape!

Tuesday: Drove 4.5 hours to Mildura to go on companion tradeoffs!

Wednesday: Spent the whole day doing service with Sister Bradbeer and Sister Chapman! I LOVE them! Like I genuinely ADORE those sisters!

Thursday: Drove back from Mildura, got a speeding ticket (made it a missionary moment, don't worry y'all), and had interviews with President. He's awesome! Definitely inspired and I sustain him completely!

Friday: Zone Conference!

Saturday: Met a lady who went to school with Colin Firth and agrees that he is the prettier of the two Mr. Darcys (if you know, you know)

Sunday: Mothers day! Partook of the Sacrament!

Anyways, here's some spiritual stuff for y'all!

A little bit ago, I was listening to a talk by Elder Bednar where he invited us to write a question you have at the front of a paperback Book of Mormon and then subsequently read that Book of Mormon looking for the answer to your question and then write a summary of what you learned at the back. Elder Bednar say that by the end of your life you should have HEAPS of these Book of Mormons and heaps of your questions answered. Anyways, I decided to take up this invitation and I really wanted to ask "How can I find balance?" Although, I haven't finished my Book of Mormon YET, I just wanted to share with y'all what I've learned so far. What I've learned is that there is no balance. Or there is, but not in the way I thought. The balance looks a lot more like the attached picture where if you do everything in your power to put God first and prioritize the things of eternal significance, then your life is in balance. If you don't, then everything is out of wack. It's so interesting but so true. God is ALWAYS first!

I love y'all! My question of the week (if y'all even make it this far) is what is one thing you love about my mom? If you don't know her, what is one thing you love about your mom?

Have a good one!

Sister Cummings

And here's to my mama, had to listen to all this drama

 (Elder Mackrory)

Boa noite pessoal!

Essa semana vi um pouco menos, mas ainda foi mais do que o normal de Botafogo. Vi 8, totalizando 1326.

Last pday we got to know the rest of the district with a churrasco. It came out a little more expensive than we imagined, but that’s ok, the meat was really good. We played some soccer, had a meeting with a member of the area presidency, and then were kicked out of the chapel for a funeral viewing that was gonna be an overnight open house. Apparently it’s Brazilian custom to do something overnight, but we can’t ignore the general handbook 20.5.5.

On Tuesday we had district council at home since the church had the viewing still going on. We ate the leftover steak and garlic bread and it was really good. We then went to lunch in the mall with some members of the ward, and got to know them. Everyone here comments on how much Elder Smith eats. Parabens Elder. We visited some members around the area who haven’t been to church in a while, and then headed to do some visits of interested people in the area. Then we went home, studied, and contacted more referrals.

On Wednesday we had a pretty similar day, except my companion got sick and so we stayed home and I did more referral contacting.

On Thursday we had the mission tour, and we had our in person meeting with Elder Schmeil, from the area presidency. Due to public transportation being cheaper than uber, our reimbursement wouldn’t be given if we went by uber. So we went by bus. And there was some unexpected traffic and we arrived an hour later than google maps estimated, which luckily means it’s not our fault. My comp still wasn’t feeling too hot, and the long travel made him more tired, so I did some more referral contacting, and set a new personal record of 82 referrals in one day. But now, finally we are able to contact all of our referrals every day.

On Friday we had lunch with the member from South Africa. She’s super cool and we gave a super cool message that she said she was really needing. Her accent made me miss my grandparents, and talking about our favorite South African dishes, I also missed Milk tart. Later that night we had a lesson at the mall about family history. Super cool. Coming home we got some super good Açaí.

On Saturday we went to the chapel to give tours, but no one showed up. We played some soccer with some investigators and members, like we always do.

On Sunday we had all of our invited friends cancel on us, but the members we visited on Tuesday came, so that’s a win. Our lunch took a little bit longer than it was supposed to, and so I wasn’t super psyched about that because it was raining when we left, meaning our planned visits wouldn’t happen. We will go back though.

Tender mercy: I’ve been praying a lot recently for charity and virtue, and I have seen that the Lord gives to those who ask. I feel so much joy in meeting new people, and find no difficulty in getting to know them, because I find myself so interested in the people I meet. It is something that is not my own. It is something that I know comes only from God.

Spiritual thought: I am impressed with the example of Jesus. That goes without saying, but as I studied John 19 and story of the crucifixion. The last thing that Christ did, the last commandment He gave during His mortal ministry, was to take care of His mother. In the moment of His greatest suffering, He decided to make sure that His mother was taken care of. Our mothers do exactly that. Her last thought is the well-being of her children, independent of what is happening in her life. So let us all honor our mothers by doing what they say, praying for them, thanking them, and being the people they imagined we would be when they first looked into our eyes. Happy mother’s day.

Thought of calling ya, but you wont pick up

 (Elder Mackrory)

Boa noite meus cria! De boa?

Essa semana eu vi 11 fuscas! Foi uma semana muito boa e estou muito esperançoso em relação ao futuro.

This week was full of things and finally I had pday. Last Saturday we went to a YSA activity and invited one of our investigators to participate, and she really liked it, so I’m really happy for her, especially since she got to know us from the English class I teach. In the afternoon we went to the temple and it was marvelous. Then, as we were finishing the session, the other elders (who had finished already and were waiting outside) got a call from a member of the bishopric asking for urgent help. So when we came up we called and uber super quick and rushed over their house. They had had a birthday party that afternoon and there was a lot of food leftover that didn’t fit in the fridge. So we helped out quite a bit.

On Sunday I translated for an Austrian (calm down, we spoke English) and two Canadians. It was funny translating the elders quorum, because it went off topic a few times and I was just kinda like “uhhhhhh”. Anyway, we had lunch with Rafael, who was baptized the week before, and he made the best pudding that I have ever eaten and the most aesthetic one I’ve ever seen.

On Monday we had transfer news, and… I’m being transferred to a new area! But I didn’t have time to think about that, because we had tons of things to do to prepare for the transfer. I called my replacement-to-be, and we arranged with him to arrive on Tuesday morning so that I could have some time to train him on a few things. It was super cool to do that and honestly a little relieving because when I arrived in the office it was trial by fire, except I didn’t know there was gonna be fire (thanks a lot Elder Kjar). Just kidding, kinda.

On Tuesday we trained our new friend, who is likely giving the ward a headache with his even harder name than mine. Good luck in Botafogo Elder Krummenacher. That night we had our last member meal in Botafogo with my favorite members. They make the best food. We had the best rice that I have ever had. I got thirds of just rice. It was incredible.

On Wednesday we had the actual transfers. It was kinda chaos, and I helped Elder Krummenacher get used to it. I got an uber with all my bags and headed to my area around rush hour. I had the genius idea to sleep the entire way there, woke up an hour later, and we were still on our way even though I thought it was close. There was just some really bad traffic. We got to the area, I undid my bags and we headed to the supermarket to get some necessities, and I forgot to buy laundry detergent. So ja era.

On Thursday we tried to plan, but the system took like an hour to let us in, and so we studied instead. When it finally let us in, we had 150 freaking referrals without any attempt of contact. So I took a deep breath and got to work. We have been working our butts off to get the number down.

On Friday we did some visits to some interested people and more phone calls. Saturday as well. Except on both days we helped with the move of an investigator that the other companionship in the ward is teaching. She’s super cool. On Saturday we didn’t go in missionary clothes since we would be doing some heavy lifting. As we entered the neighborhood, a dude with a walkie talkie asked us if we lived there. No, said we. But we told him we were helping with the move that was happening up the road, pointing to the big truck. He said oh ok and let us in. As we arrived at the truck two guys (one by one) passed by on dirtbikes slowly checking out the situation. They each had some nicely sized guns on their backs. Fun times here in Iraja!.

On Sunday we had a marvelous time. It was testimony meeting and since Elder Roca and I were new in the ward, they invited us to go first, which was good since there were lots of people lined up to go. One of our friends showed up and afterwards we were talking to him and said that he came to church with many questions about his life and how God works and that they were all answered through the testimonies of the members. Miracles guys, miracles. Afterwards, I played checkers with the ward crazy, who is super lit. That evening my comp had a knee hurting and wasn’t able to walk very well, so we just called referrals all day. We were able to get down to 56 uncontacted referrals. Stay tuned next week for cool news of our friend and our 56 friends to be.

In other news, we are having trouble going to bed on time because my companion is a Portuguese teacher and so we have really good conversations. I can finally use the grammar vocab I used. We find it funny to correct each other when we make mistakes. It’s also funny because he has the most hillbilly Brazilian accent. Just imagine a Texan with the thickest accent speaking without any grammatical errors. It is quite the combo.

Tender Mercy: Lots actually. The Lord is good and I’m seeing more of His hand in my life and I look for It. He has strengthened my testimony in ways that I didn’t think were possible. I have been praying for charity these days, and it’s incredible to see that God responds to our prayers. I feel a great love the members that I have barely gotten to know in my new area. They’re incredible.

Spiritual thought: Prayer has a huge impact on our how we view the world and how we view ourselves. When we speak with our Father in Heaven, we connect ourselves more and more with the Divine. We allow for ourselves many blessings that God desires us to have, but that are conditional on our asking for them. Please pray. Ask God for charity, virtue, faith, humility, diligence, obedience, integrity, knowledge, and patience, and watch your life take flight. Seek to do that which is required of you and your prayers will not have been in vain.