Arrived Safely in Sweden

(Aldste Cummings)

Raw Eggs, Animals and Brazilians

(Sister Ellsworth)

Hey yall!!

This week was pretty fun... Telo smashed a raw egg on my head. C'mon guys I need ideas for missionary appropriate revenge.... LOL!

We had divisions this week with Sister Salas and Sister Pastrana. Sister Salas and I stayed here in Povoa while our greenies wandered around in another area... lost and scared without their moms. Haha! Sister Salas and I had a party here were we hit the ground running.... Literally. We were late for like everything but we taught a bunch of lessons and contacted a bunch of really cool people.

We were walking in the road and we basically found a picture of Portugal.

This is an underground trashcan that is so full of beer bottles that it's over flowing. We left a Word of Wisdom pamphlet :)

We found a new best friend!! It's a little teeny tiny lizard that hung out with us and rode around on my shirt for a while. He was so cute!!!

Also there's a petting zoo really close to our house and one day the peacocks got out and we helped chase them back into their pens!

Okay I swear I'm doing missionary work and not just playing with animals XD

We also found this Brazilian family this week. The mom had talked to the Elders a while ago and invited us back and we heard their whole life story in an hour. We laughed and cried and groaned and now we're best friends. The best part was hearing that they believed that God sent us to teach them about God.

Love you guys! Have a great day!

Sister Ellsworth

2 Nephi 25:16

(Aldste Cummings)

Hej hej,

This week has been so crazy. We got our flight plans. We're heading out of here at 3:30AM on Monday and will land in Stockholm at 7:00AM on Tuesday with a short (literally 1 hour) layover at JFK. We are so excited. I can't wait to get over there and be completely blown away by how little Swedish I actually know/can understand. I can tell you all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Swedish, but I have none of the vocabulary needed to order a meal or anything of the like. I guess that's just something you pick up in the field.

I had a fun experience this week with my companion, Elder Bird. His permanent retainer broke so we got to take an exciting off-campus trip to the orthodontist. It was the chillest orthodontist office ever. they let us sign our names on the wall like they do with their other patients and they gave us free slushies afterwards. It was so fun.

Anyway, this week I've been thinking a lot about how important the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. A quote from our missionary teaching guide entitled "Preach My Gospel" states it very to-the-point:

"Regardless of needs or problems, all people are best helped as they accept and live the gospel."

At first this may seem rather unqualified and and a blatant generalization, but the more you think about it, the more you realize that it's true.

Given that Jesus is the Christ and the reality of His Atonement and Resurrection, is it not true that it is through Him that we can receive all the help we need in this life and more? Through His Atonement, He took upon Himself the pains and sins and afflictions of the world so that He may know how to help us in those very same pains and sins and afflictions. He is the perfect sympathizer and thus is the perfect panacea for all mankind. He is the Light of the World, the Living Water, and the Bread of Life. Dependence on Him for succor and salvation is perhaps the only thing that every single human that has ever and will ever live share with each other. It doesn't matter where you come from or what has happened in your life, Christ Jesus is the answer. He unifies humankind.

Knowing this, its no surprise that we have a responsibility to "talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ" and so forth. He is the way the light and the life (John 14:6).

I know He lives, I know He loves us, and I know that through Him we can find everything we ever need in this life or the life to come.

Äldste Cummings

Greenie Happenings, Resurrection of Investigators and Cake

(Sister Ellsworth)

Hey Yall!

Well this week was quite interesting... Training is really fun, exhausting, and lots of work. My comp is still learning the language so it makes teaching and talking in general hard for her but she's a trooper.

This week one of our investigators was resurrected. Like his family told us that he died. And then he tapped me on the shoulder in the park. You could have picked my jaw up off the ground and restarted my heart. He was one of my first investigators here in Povoa and after he went to church on that Sunday he had a stroke. we didn't know so we passed by for an appointment during the week but his wife was wailing that he had died.... But then we found him again this week happy and smiling. It was super weird and I'm still half convinced that he died. But you know you can't shake a dead man's hand...

We had a couple of really hot days this week and at 3 pm there was no shade so we visited some recent converts and they gave us cake. Cake is awesome.

As we were leaving their house this lady in a night gown hollered at us from across the road (it was like 4 in the afternoon). She was waving her arms around and hollering "Jesus girls, Jesus girls!!" So I smiled and went over to talk to her. This 40 ish yeah old woman was completely drunk. She was drenched head to toe in very strong perfume. She began yelling/slurring that she need us to pray for her friend who wouldn't open the door. I asked if her friend was sick and this lady turned around to this brick wall, knocks on it like it was a door, and hollers to her "friend" to come out. Trying not to laugh I suggested that we pray with her and then she can come back in a few hours to see if her friend came home. She agrees and then raises her hands above her head and starts hollering the Lord's Prayer at the heavens. But instead of saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" she starts repeating "In the name of the Pope, the Son, and the other one." As she was praying her eyes were rolled back and she stumbles backwards and bumps into the brick wall and says to the wall, "Oh sorry, sir. Have a good day." I almost lost it. My companion wasn't understanding this crazy drunk lady but I had to stuff my hand in my mouth to keep from laughing. Then the lady thanks us and walks away for a couple of feet and stops, turns, comes back, and the whole situation repeats itself three times. It was probably the funniest thing that has ever happened here.

Then we taught English class which was a whole other adventure. We had a race in between the missionaries and the students to see who could list the most words in the other language. Some of the words that the Portuguese students wrote were so funny... including these new "recently discovered" animals: Beax (bear) Birde (bird) Snack (snake) Kankopoo (kangaroo) Rabbic (rabbit) Camil (camel) Chark (shark) Pavo (peacock) and other beauties. It was a really fun class. :)

Sunday afternoon in Povoa... 98 degrees and not a living soul on the road. Knock all the doors!!!

Love you!

Sister Ellsworth

Transfers! Flooded Church and God Loves You

(Sister Ellsworth)

Olá!!! This week was great! Sister Selman and I worked until we died. There were a few times this week that we had so many lessons planned that we had to teach two at the same time. Sister Selman would teach one at one end of a bench and I would teach one at the other end. It was fantastic!

So I'll be staying in Póvoa for another transfer but not with Sister Selman :( But I'm going to be a mom!! :D I'm going to finish training a sister named Sister Warren. I think she's from the USA but I'm not sure... It will be fun!

This week a prank war started in between one of our recent converts and the Sisters. It started when Telo (the recent convert)  put ketchup in my shoes while we were teaching his wife. I was wearing sandals and was so focused on Catia that I didn't even notice that he squirt this big ol wad of ketchup in my shoes. Then when I stood up the ketchup was cold and squished all over my toes! I about fell over because it was slippery! Then I tried to chase Telo down but he ran laughing like a 12 year old boy who is annoying his older sister. So I went to the bathroom while his whole family laughed and laughed. But Telo had turned off the water!!  Then I decided to get my revenge and I hid his backpack in the church a few days later.  he didn't find it for about 2 hours. Then, knowing that I had hidden it, he took a big bucket of water and tried to dump it over my head while we were teaching English Class in the church!

Then I managed to get a hold of his phone, wallet, and keys while he was hiding in the secretary's office and Sister Selman and I tried to run home so he would be stuck at the church alone. But he caught up to us and stole my name tag. We had a stubborn stand off where I wouldn't give him his phone and he wouldn't give me my nametag.

Let's just say its war now... Any of you that know me had better warn Telo! Haha

Also on Saturday we were using the buses quite a bit and every time we got on the bus it was the same bus driver. After the third time in a row he shouted "You guys are following me!! Well I just gotta give you a hug because we're family now!" And then he reached over and grabbed Sister Selman in the most awkward hug ever but she tried to protest and pull away which pulled the bus driver out of his chair and he fell on to the floor of the bus, still clinging to Sister Selman. I about died laughing and the nearly full bus laughed too. We helped him up and gave him a pass along card. He was cool! Making friends wherever we go! Haha

We found this sign this week... It is a road called "Turn from the Shower". It's funny. hehe.

We also found this gem knocking doors.... "Propoganda religiosa aqui não" means "Here there is no religious proselytizing." It reminded me of those southern signs you'd find in the USA.

We also found another door sign that says "Jesus te ama" Which means Jesus loves you!! How sweet ^_^

​Also the church flooded. Oops. We helped mop up water for 2 or 3 hours. It basically turned into a disney song sing off. :) *insert Tangled song*

John 14:15

(Aldste Cummings)

Hello,

This week has been so much fun. We've been doing so much practice teaching. We've even been skype-calling members of the church in Sweden to practice our teaching with them. It's so fun.

I leave for Sweden a week from Monday. I can't be more excited. Tomorrow we get our flight plans that will tell us exactly when we leave and which flights will be taking to where. I cannot wait.

We had two more apostles speak to us this week: Elders Ballard and Anderson. Both of them gave inspiring talks on how to focus ourselves and become more committed missionaries and more effective instruments in the Lord's hand.

That leads me to my little message today. Elder Ballard specifically taught about obedience and what it means to be wholly committed to the Lord on the mission. The scripture I chose this week is pretty well known and oft-quoted:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Jesus teaches pretty clearly here that if we are truly His disciples, we will follow His commandments. But I think there is a little bit more to it. Note that he does not say: "If you keep my commandments, you love me." He teaches in Isaiah 29:13 that we can be outwardly loyal to the Him without truly loving Him or being worthy of His saving grace. In other words, though the love of the Lord will always inspire obedience, obedience is not a sure sign of true commitment.

As I have been here on my mission even just these short four weeks, I have learned this lesson.

Reluctant obedience is disobedience.

Jesus the Christ, as always, is the perfect example. He willingly endured the pain and sin of the world and he willingly was raised on the cross to suffer and die because he loved us and he loved His Father. His pure love inspired Him and can inspire us as well.

Love,

Äldste Cummings

1 Corinthians 13:1

(Aldste Cummings)

Hej hej,

This week has been incredible. I feel like I say that every time but I sincerely mean it.

Some fun things from the week:

While we were playing soccer out on the exercise field, an old couple working at the MTC accidentally locked their keys in their car and a couple missionaries from the other Swedish district got a wire hanger and actually managed to reach in and unlock the car with the hanger. It was so cool. Maybe not a good image--a couple of LDS missionaries breaking into a car--but it was a service opportunity, I guess.

Also, this week after our Sunday devotional, the MTC presidency asked all the missionaries to watch Elder Bednar's "The Character of Christ" talk he gave in an MTC devotional a few years ago. For those of you who may not know, Elder Bednar is a important leader in our church and a member of our Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we esteem him as we would any of Christ's original apostles. I would highly recommend you all look on lds.org for this particular talk, it was amazing. Anyway, after the video, we were surprised when Elder Bednar himself stepped into the auditorium and proceeded to do a massive question and answer session with everyone for the next hour. It was so uplifting and I got so much out of it.

I've also begun reading James E. Talmage's "Jesus the Christ." It has brought me so much closer to Him as I learn more about His life and His divine mission. I would also highly recommend that you read that book. There is a digital version on lds.org for free.

This week I studied a lot about Christ and specifically, His charity which is described in Moroni 7:47 as His "pure love." As Elder Bednar pointed out in his "The Character of Christ" address, this attribute of Christ with which he continually turned outward in love toward other's regardless of His own pain and affliction--which was very great--is perhaps His most defining characteristic.

This brings me to the scripture of the week. When I am in the service of God, none of my personal characteristics matter if I don't have charity. I've been trying to develop this attribute so I can better serve Him in love and kindness towards all and let me tell you, it's tough. But by trying, we can grow closer to Him and better appreciate Him and all that He is.

I think this is what is meant in Moroni 7:48 when Moroni teaches that those who have charity will "see [Christ] as he is" when He comes again. Clearly, everyone will literally see Christ, but not everyone will truly be able to understand or appreciate His love and His sacrifice. As a missionary in my district pointed out, the people who can best appreciate how difficult it is to run the world record mile time, are those who are trying to beat it. We could never "beat" Christ in His perfect expression of love and sacrifice, but as we try to come closer to His perfect example, we are more able to appreciate His true character.

We always speak of Christ as the great sympathizer (See Alma 7:11-13), but as we try to develop charity and become as He is, we are more able to sympathize with Him.

Sorry for the length, I just felt especially moved as I learned of Him this week.

I know that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. I know He lives and I know He loves us and I know that through Him and only Him can we receive comfort, peace, and eternal salvation.

Love,

Äldste Cummings