merry chirstmas!

Hello!!! Hello friends!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

So I will actually be emailing again on Saturday because next Mondays
pday will be moved to Saturday because Monday is exciting because it
is Boxing Day here!!

Boxing Day is as big as Christmas and Christmas Eve!!

Yahooooo!!

This week has been quite the day! It has been exciting and so much
fun! Manchester is incredible! Seriously. Incredible! I am not sure
how I should feel! This week Heavenly Father had a baptism!! Mary Rose
was baptised this week and so many amazing miracles have happened
since! This week has been one for the books! As we taught and met with
Mary Rose, her father Bernard came. Now Bernard had never sat in
before but as we just invited him and helped him to feel the spirit,
he came to the fact that he wanted to be baptised as well. He has been
loving the Book of Mormon. He was hesitant, now as he reads he finds
so many golden nuggets that touch his heart. He is making the Book of
Mormon the keystone of his faith. This family is forging strong faith
in the Lord and the power of his sacrifice because of the truths he
has learned from the Book of Mormon. I have only been here a week and
it is amazing.

This week we knocked on a door. The person, Sarah, opened, looked at
our name tags, and invited us in. We were both blown away because she
was praying at that time and then we knocked. We shared about the Book
of Mormon and she just loved it. After this we found a woman named
Saundra who was hesitant to let us in but as we came and sat down and
shared the light of Christ through His message she asked us if she
could be baptised. She asked if she could be baptised before we ever
even invited her. She could really feel the spirit so strong and
because of that she is thriving. Please keep them both in your
prayers.

This week I had MLC(Mission Leadership Council) and there was so many
great gems we learned. Right now I really feel a big urge and desire
to learn more humility. That is my goal this transfer! I want to be a
woman who serves our Father in Heaven faithfully and quietly. I want
to do things because I love God and I love hose around me. I desire to
be better!!

I am excited for Christmas!! I will be emailing this Christmas Eve
because it is our day off instead of next Monday. I am sorry for the
lack of presents, letters, and other things that would be nice to get
from me...like more in depth emails. I really have zero time. We only
have pday to do those this and those days are always so full. I am so
sorry. Please know that I love you. Please know you are important. You
each are children of God. While I am here I am learning how to be
better. How to help people, how to be loving , kind, and
compassionate. I am learning to be like Christ. I am trying to lose
myself in this work for him so please please please forgive me. I love
you all. Have a wonderful day!!

Signing off.

Sister Cummins

Xoxoxo

manchester

Alright, Alright. The title gives it away. I am emailing you live from Manchester as we speak! Is that great or what!?! I am so excited! I have spent 5 1/2 glorious months in Preston and will now spend who knows how long serving here in Manchester South(Wythenshawe area) and it is exciting!! There is a lot of good work going on here in Manchester.

As I reflect upon the things that I have learned whilst in Preston I really feel like I have learned who Heavenly Father is and how to rely upon him, how important prayer and scripture study is, and how a mixture of obedience and love can help us acheive anything. I love learning. I love growth.

The past 5 1/2 months in preston I saw that as I told Heavenly Father what I was planning on doing, asked for his direction, and then acted upon the guidance I received miracles happened. My life was transformed. I learned how to really love people. I learned how listening really is such an important part of life. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. That is the truth. As I have fed my spiritual self, I have really been given a strength of faith that has helped me to overcome challenges and see miracles occur. Heavenly Father wants us to have strength. He loves us. He wants us to know how important we are to him. We have divine worth and potential in his eyes. No matter what happens he has provided a way for us to overcome our weaknesses and be better. He loves us. More than we can know. Do you believe that? Do you really believe that? Take a minute, sit back, and think about who you are. Think about your strengths, weaknesses, family, skills, everything. Now think about how all of these things are blessings that God has given to you to help you to learn and grow. What a blessing that is! We have so many blessings all around us. Even our weaknesses are blessings. We are taught by a prophet or ancient times that, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them theirweakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." As we are obedient to Father's will for us we see miracles happen. He knows us better than we could ever know or understand ourself. He loves us. He has provided a plan for us which is centralised upon his son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the son of God. Jesus Christ really knows us because he has truly experiences our sorrows. 

I am so excited to be here in Manchester. I want to apologise if my past emails have been scattered, confused, or lame. I will repent!

I love each of you very much! You can do hard things!

My new companion here is named Sister Limb and is from Utah! How great is that!! My first Utah companion! Yipeeeeee!!!! 

Take care!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

catch up!

Alrighty everybody! The other day, I was pondering and realised my
emails have been lame. I haven't told you half of my funny stories
here in Preston and I apologise for that!

Please forgive me!!

So here is a little catch up starting from this past week:
We got the worlds largest missionary Christmas tree from the best mum
to ever exist: Denise Cummins!! (Pictures to come)
As we were getting the Christmas lights she sent us for the tree, the
mail man tried posting them through the door and Sister Bellersen was
on the other side trying to pull it through helping him...I think it
was funnier when it happened but we were in such a funny mood that we
both peed our pants. I have a very poor blotter because within the
past 4 weeks I have peed my pants like 3 times. Hat probably isn't the
most dignified story to share but Sister Bellersen and I just have too
much fun together. In fact the other week we were at the library
waiting for one of our friends to come and I really don't even
remember what happened but she just had to go say something funny and
I had to spend the rest of our night running around with...well....you
get the picture. It was exciting! We even went to visit the stake
president and his family later that night! That was fun.

I actually don't remember the order of these things but one man almost
whacked me over the head with a cane. It was late, they hadn't opened
the door, we left, they then opened, we ran back, and BOP! Almost
dead! Just kidding mum, I was fine! Don't worry! He was a really nice
man though!

Last week when we went to get grocery we found a bag that older people
in this country use to get grocery, with wheels, with us to Aldi.
Along the way home, both of our wheels broke. That may sound sad but
it was actually so so so funny! Everyone along the way was laughing
pretty hard at us as we hobbled on to each bus and ran down the hill
home!

All of the bus drivers in this area have become our best friends. They
stop for us along the side of the road if we are lost. They always
wave at us and are a smiling face along the way! It is the BEST!

Also, we have two German friends that we are teaching! I have never
met a person who speaks German before in my mission and now that we
have Sister Bellersen we are finding all of the German speakers!! It
is pretty wonderful!

I love this place. I love all the experiences we get to have as
missionaries. We put up with and handle some pretty crazy, gross, or
weird things but I love it! I love that we learn every day and that I
get to consecrate my time to my Saviour! I know he lives! I know he
loves us dearly and hears our prayers!!

PRAY! Do it!

Have a great week and fear no man! Be bold and go crazy!(in a good
way!) Do something you feel inspired to do!!

Love you all!!

XOXO
SISTER Cummins

happy thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving my American friends!

I forgot it was until I read my families emails wishing me one too! Unfortunately the British don't celebrate their thanks by shoving mass amounts of food down their bodies....I am pretty sad about it. I do love some mashed potatoes. It will be a Thanksgiving party for one(Sister Bellersen wants no part of it!) Ha! 

This week has been CRAZY! It feels like I was just emailing you yesterday! This week we had a big zone meeting(where missionaries all over areas surrounding Preston gather together to be edified and learn! I got to give a training(lesson) on dignity! HA! I think it was more for me than for them because that is a weakness of mine, as I am sure you all know.(: It was SO good and I could really feel the Heavenly Father using me to teach His children. I could feel so strongly how inspired it was for each of us in our zone to hear the different subjects that we talked about! We learned about repentance as well as putting our selfish desires aside and helping others. It was incredible. I really find that as I lose myself in God's work,He changes me. I LOVE IT! I feel so blessed to be a representative of Jesus Christ at this time here in the Preston Area! We have been called by Him to declare His teachings to everyone we can! What a sacred opportunity! Sometimes it can be disheartening but we don't have to let it! It is like life. Sometimes our lives can feel so disheartening and upsetting but really we do not have to fear or feel overwhelmed because we are children of GOD! That is SO powerful!! 

IN Luke 6: 21-23 Christ tells His disciples, "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

We should LEAP for JOY when others bring us down(as long as we are doing what is right) because God is so much stronger than any man! We have no need to fear!

This week I got to go to Lancaster to work with Sister Roeun and then to South Ribble to work with Sister Barlow(in fact I am with her RIGHT NOW!) We have found so many people who are interested in hearing more about the gospel. BECAUSE IT IS TRUE!!! These two have taught me that sacrifice is the only way to have true,lasting joy. Being able to go on exchanges and help the sisters in this zone is SUCH a privilege! It is teaching me to trust in the words that God brings to my mouth and to make love my first goal and focus. As we love, we can guide anyone. We can strengthen anyone. But we must love them! SO MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS: Love those whom surround you. Pray for it. Exercise it. Do it. 

I am sorry I haven't sent pictures lately. I have a hard time getting everything done in just two hours! Please forgive me and I will repent soon! Hopefully next week? There is not much to see anyways...its pretty rainy and WONDERFUL here but I just don't think I could truly capture it's beauty(;. Its green here for a reason!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

PS: Eat some potatoes for me!

just pray

Alright people! It is a rainy November day here in good old Preston England! I just walked into a Jewlers shop that has been existing since 1580. That is pretty impressive if you ask me! There is so much history in this country! It is so rich here! I love it so much! England is just WONDERFUL! A fun piece of history I found out is that during the times when the first missionaries came to England one of the very first places they came was Liverpool. This was one of the only places at that time that had an "open mind" to different perspectives because it was a working class area and this is where the church really started in England. It really shows me that Heavenly Father really prepares the hearts and minds of the people in order for them to learn about how to come back to him! It is amazing the miracles that we get to see! 

This week I learned that life really is all about our perspective! It is about being willing to learn from our trials instead of having them break us. There is always hope. No matter how down we may feel, there is always more. This hope comes because heavenly Father has a plan for us. Every day I am surrounded by people who don't believe that god is real and who lack hope. I realised that it doesn't matter if you believe God is or isn't there because he is. Just like someone couldn't get rid of me because of their lack of belief in me, God will always be there. He is a constant. He is probably one of our only constants in this life and He will not just disappear because some refuse to believe in him. He is real. He does live and He does have a plan for us! I know it. I feel it so strongly. I can feel it through my prayers. I have been praying in a new light and manner this week. I have been really striving to align my will with God's and by doing so we have seen miracles. For so long we have had the attitude that no one hear truly wants to change or learn more about the teachings of Christ. This week i changed my attitude and prayed to see those people who were ready and so many times this week we met people who had been "looking for a religion" or who were "searching for more truth". Some of them "wanted a change" and now I get to share with them the teachings that bring my heart so much joy! My joy comes from my Heavenly Father. I know He is there. Sometimes we just have to change our perspectives in order to see truth. Instead of letting life get dim we can be a light in others lives. I urge you to change your perspective and try learning and trying new things! It will make you SO happy! I swear! You will have increased understanding and knowledge and you will be able to stand firm in truth with a clear conscious and peace in your heart. I know it because I feel it. 

I am typing and typing and typing but I just have so many thoughts. Sister Bellersen pointed that out this week. She said, "Sister Cummins! You take me from one thought to another and another and then another and then i look away for two seconds and you are running away from me trying to catch a bus. You have too many thoughts!" Ha! She also showed me the most delectable treat ever.....stollen and kaesekuchen...my life is forever changed by German food. She is feeling pretty chuffed because germany is the top country to live in right now. if it is anything like their sweets, I wouldn't be surprised!

This week we met an incredible woman named Becky(right after praying to find someone ready!) We stopped her and talked with her for a little bit. Most people in England keep walking so you have to start walking with them but she stopped and talked to us in the rain, with her child. We were baffled! After a little bit she then said we could come meet her at her home and when we went we could feel such a beautiful spirit as we were surrounded by her 3 little girls. We are excited to share the gospel with her and her family! They are a miracle! Please keep them in your prayers!!!

I got to go but I love you all!!!

YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL!! 

I have literally 60 seconds so I have to go!!

LOVE YOU!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

pheasants and sheep and cows, oh my!

Alright! Alright! It is me here, Sister heather Shea Cummins reporting for duty to tell you all about the miraculous week we have had!

First and foremost, I am staying in PRESTON!!!!! I am SO SO SO happy! This place is becoming my home! I love it so much! Sister Bellersen and I have really decorated our flat and made it special to us which has made it so much more enjoyable to live in! I get to finish training Sister b which I am too thrilled about because in reality she is training me! She is always training me with her diligent, kind, and super hilarious example! I LOVE THIS GIRL! Oh boy! I don't even know what to say! This week on 5 November 2016 was Guy Fawkes Night. Basically it is the night when everyone blows things up and have lots of bonfires and fireworks! I have been seeing fireworks go off every night for the past week and it is incredible but it always sounds like someone is shooting a gun and it momentarily scares me...HA! I love this place! The people are crazy in the best way possible! So on Guy Fawkes Night we got to go to a recent convert's, Catherine's, house and meet her mum. The best part is....they live in the middle of no where!!! It took us 45 minutes on dirt road and cobblestones to get there and boy was it beautiful! We were surrounded by sheep and pheasants! We raced a jack wabbit with the car we were in(no we were not driving...otherwise we would've won(;) Boy did that thing MOVE! And I touched a COW! I touched a cow and then was so excited that I screamed, "I touched a cow!" and scared all the cows away. It was a pretty fulfilling night!

We got to have the Isle of Man(A little Isle off of England's west coast) come stay with us this week and boy oh boy it was so fun! They are so exuberant! Their names are Sister Keck(Switzerland) and Sister Libron(Phillipines)! We had so much fun together!!

Yesterday a lady almost ran me over with her car(Everyone drives on the sidewalks here and the roads are SO narrow) and then we got to teach her about the gospel and she was SO interested! We were in South Ribble helping the Sisters in that area find more friends to share the gospel with so I won't get to teach her but it was such a fun experience! We then met a very scientific man and we all learned that believing in science is no reason not to believe in religion. Science and religion in their pure forms works hand in hand to testify that God lives. I love the beauty all around me. I am so excited to be alive!! I love being a missionary and I hope each of you can feel my love for you!

We have a big read the Book of Mormon challenge before Christmas challenge out for all us missionaries and that is my challenge to YOU! Read the Book of Mormon as a present to your Saviour before the end of the year and watch your faith grow!

I know that Christ lived, died for us, and was everything he claimed to be. I know that as we follow His path w will find true happiness, ya know, the kind that endures trials. We all need Him, no matter what you say, we all do. I know this to be true and I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Have a great week everybody!! I love you!!!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

look forward!

This week has been one of change! This week I have really learned that repenatnce really is like lifting weights. When we exercise, our muscles are being stretched and torn and then they are filled in with more muscle, resulting in your ability to become stronger. In relation, when we sin, big or small, I believe it tears at our spirits, faith, and relationship with God but as we utilise the Atonement and repent, Jesus Christ literally fills in the tears with his grace, mercy, and love which makes us spiritually stronger. It teaches us how to rely on the Saviour and why we should rely on the Saviour. As Christ fills in those missing pieces our faith increases, our patience grows, and we become more Christ-like men and women. I have really felt that this week. This week has been full of ups and downs. And I am so grateful for it! I have gone from feeling very inadequate to knowing that I am and trusting that God will help me to become what He needs me to be. This week, my relationship with my Father in Heaven grew immensely. I know that He loves me. I loved a quote by President Ulrich this week, he said, "Look forward, the moment you do you will be happier". I love that because as I strive to repent of my past mistakes whilst looking forward to what I can become I feel excited! I know that I will get through the trial at hand and I don't feel hopeless. Instead I feel empowered. Before my mission, I would feel so hopeless sometimes that I would just want to move on to the next thing and not think anymore about my struggles.This is something I think I've needed to realise my whole life. Stop concentrating on the past. Repent(AKA Change) and move forward believing that God will make you exactly what you want to become. This week I realised that, "Saints can be happy in every circumstance", prayer is powerful and it works...SERIOUSLY, and I need to have a clear vision of what I want to help others accomplish, what I want to become, and of who I am right now. 

I have learned that Heavenly Father loves me right now as I am. He loved me for who I was. He will love me for who I will be but the amount of trust He bestows upon me is up to me. 

This week I got to go on exchanges with a new missionary from Australia, Sister Setu. SHE IS A POWER HOUSE! Talk about diligent and hilarious! That girl stopped every single person that she could on the street and shared simple truths with them about Jesus Christ. She has a smile that shines almost brighter than her testimony(but I don't think anything could) and she really opened my eyes! She really taught me to just be calm and love! I have been able to see sisters really open up and share with me some of their biggest fears and hardest times and I am so grateful for that! Being able to lose myself and focus my efforts on serving them has been such a great privilege! It is amazing to me the things that we can accomplish when we just put our minds to it.

This week was Sister Bellersen's first 5 Weeks meeting! We got to go to Manchester and she got her iPad(she is pretty excited)! I feel like I have known her my entire life! She is so fun! She is a diligent missionary with a really big heart! I am really so grateful I get to be her companion at this time! I am grateful for her knowledge, opinions, honesty, and kindness for those we meet! I can't wait for you all to meet her some day! She is the craziest german lady ever! She is always trying to get me to eat more apples and take more vitamin C(I gotta love her!) 

There is so much amazing history here in Preston about the Church of Jesus Christ! This is the place where the very first missionaries came! Gordon B. Hinckley a prophet of Jesus Christ served his mission here! We are standing on the shoulders of spiritual giants but with that in mind the work of the Lord is not easy here. Satan works extra hard to stop his children from progressing in this blessed land. I just really wanted to thank you all for your prayers. Thank you for your desire to become the best you that you can. I am grateful for each of you and truly consider you my brothers and sisters! I want you to know that you can do anything! Don't let your current circumstances envelop you. You can overcome anything as you put your trust in Heavenly Father! Try new things! Never fear! God truly is near! he lives! he loves us! he hears our prayers and he will make your righteous desires a reality! All you need to do is ask!

I don't really know what else to say, all I know is that I know God lives! I know that He has a plan for us. I know this because just like in the past, He has called a prophet to teach us and guide us. He has shown us the way. We just need to jump out of ourselves and try new things! I know that He loves you. I truly do. Have a wonderful week! Don't be afraid to let miracles happen in your life! 

I LOVE YOU!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

PS: Thank you each for reading my emails and writing me emails. It means everything to me! Adieu!

hi! hello!

Hi! Hi! Hello!

It is my! Your sister missionary from across the pond coming to you live at 15:31 pm!

I don't even know where to start! The weeks start to blur together and I feel like I've been on my mission for a cumulative for a few weeks....maybe...

Being a missionary is hard work, which makes it the best work. Being a missionary is all about striving to find balance. It is about putting your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ first, your companion second, the friends you make on the street and in their homes third, and yourself as well as all of your personal affairs last. I really feel that a mission is a life training. I am learning to be obedient. I am learning t manage my time, money, and skills but most importantly I am learning how to love my Saviour and to make Him the keystone of my life. I have so much gratitude to me Father in Heaven for sending me here and then giving me trials and challenges. While I have different things that pull at my different capacities, I am really learning that I need to put others first. I need to forget myself. As I forget myself Heavenly Father promises in the scriptures that we will find more of ourselves and I believe that is because there will be more of us to find. Sometimes I feel like I want to just sit down and cry. Sometimes I do.(; But in reality this is the greatest process of my life. 

I got to have a new missionary from Cambodia, Sister Rouen, and her companion(my old companion from the MTC), Sister Du exchange with Sister Bellersen and myself! We learned so much and received so much motivation! It was an incredible exchange and we got to see miracles happen! I love that they have not ceased! God still lives and blesses our lives! 

We also had a Multi-Zone conference where half the mission comes together and learns more! I learned that it is better to stay far away from the edge of a rule the to be close to it. The Lord trusts those who are pre-cautious and safe more than those who are dare-devils. Stay safe. I got to give a training on nightly planning which was way good and lots of fun! I got to work with another Sister Training Leader from Chorley, Sister O'Riordan, on it and it was heaps of fun!

This week we got to meet many people and have some seriously amazing people placed in our path. We met some people that are truly ready to hear more of the gospel and we just need to hold onto that "fruit" that the Saviour has placed in our path. We were on the bus and I was talking to this one man who was not in particularly interested in hearing any of our message but as he got off the bus this man named Earl had been listening and asked us if we would come visit his friend Sally and Lewis on Tuesday! Then the other day Sister Bellersen and I had gone to get lunch at a place called Yo' Burrito. As we were in the queue the woman making our food said, "Can I come and meet with you sometime? I really want to learn more about mormonism. I love learning about religion" and then as we waited for someone to open the chapel this week a boy named Jamie walked by us. As we initiated a conversation he invited us to come back to his home to share more with his family! People everywhere are being prepared. They are all around us! Heavenly Father wants His children to know about His restored gospel. I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of His work. I get to be the Lord's hands whilst here on the earth! That in itself is a privilege. So yeah, it may be hard but He provides a way to do the things which he asks us to do. 

I know that my Saviour lives. I know that He loves you and me. I know we can get through even the hardest of times with His help. I love the teachings of Jesus Christ. They bring so much peace to my heart. I hope you each have a wonderful week!! I hope you do things that make you happy and I hope you share the love within you with all those who surround you! 

 XOXO

Sister Cummins

russel m. nelson

Hiya!!

It is the one and only...I think....Sister Cummins back for another week of incredible experiences!!

First off, thank you all so much for the extra love, prayers, and presents I received on my birthday! You are all too nice to me! I don't deserve it but I'm not going to say no!(; HA!

You all are so great and I am so grateful for each one of you! Thank you for the big and small ways you impact my life! I wouldn't be who I am without your influence in my life. I believe we are here to accumulate experience, learn, grow, and to become our best selves and each of you truly has impacted me and guided me to become my best! Thank you! I love you!

Anywho!

This week has been so wonderful! This week I have been praying harder and harder that more prepared people will be placed in our path! We are striving to speak with everyone that we can and to just love those whom we come into contact with! As we have done so we have met SO many incredible people who really needed us at a specific moment of time. As we have shown the lord that He can trust us, he has sent us to meet Susan, Joe, Jeane, Jane, and Joseph, and so many other genuine, kind people! 

This week we went to go teach a lesson to the Finches. We teach Brother Finch and his wife every single week on Tuesday and Thursday nights without fail but this week they never answered. They had been having some problems and we had tried knocking about five times. After the fifth we decided to leave it until Thursday and started walking on our way. I saw this hooded person with a violin, so me being me I go up to them with all the excitement in the world because I love violin and haven't seen one of those bad boys in about 4 months! As we approach them we realise that it is a young boy from our church. He had been walking home for an hour because his bus never came and he had another 2ish hours to walk. He wouldn't have been able to get home until probably about 10. He had no phone and he was just walking down the street with his violin crying. He was so sad. It was so sad. But it helped me understand an important principle. To the Finches they were having a hard time on the other side of their door making it so that we couldn't come in for that night but because that happened we were able to find this 11 year old a ride home, ring his parents(who were in tears and had called the police) and really help him. We were where we were needed. Sometimes there are a lot of different factors for why some things happen to us. It does not mean God does not love us. We all have to pass through pain, trial, and suffering at some point but what this showed me is that God loves all of his children. He loves the Finches and He loves this young boy. He is there to help everyone. IF we just ask for it with real intent. The Finches are fine, they overcame their issues and this young boy was able to feel safe and get home. 

This week as I partook of the sacrament(the bread and water that symbolise Christ's sacrifice for each of us) I prepared myself before hand and truly felt the healing, cleansing power that the Atonement of Jesus Christ has brought into my life. This is healing and cleansing. it is peaceful and it is free to everyone. Heavenly Father sent His son to help us and He will. He already has. All we have to do is ask to be able to truly feel it. he will provide. There is a path clearly marked for us. We can accomplish any good task with the help of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. I truly have felt that this week.

This week Russel M. Nelson( A modern day apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ) came an spoke to us along with a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, Donald Hallstrom and a few other incredible men. As Russel M. Nelson walked in the room I had a very strong impression that he is an apostle of the lord. That Jesus Christ does guide us today through living prophets and apostles. He gives us the words of ancient prophets and apostles as well as modern day ones because he loves us. he wants to guide our paths. The words they spoke instilled in me a great understanding of God's love for me and each of you. This is our reality. The world tries to fool us but there is so much more to this life. We are truly spiritual beings that are just here for a short while so we can become more like our Father in Heaven. We are made to have JOY! So go do it! 

I love my Saviour. I love my father in heaven. Without them I truly would be a very different person and I am so glad that I am able to change!

I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all have a really wonderful week! Go do something crazy like bake your neighbour a cake! Tell someone random you love them! Don't put barriers in your way! Act on impressions! Just be-YOU-tiful...cheesy I know! I love you dearly!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins

"see you on wednesday"

Hiya, you alright?

it's been a while since I started an email like that...or even heard that phrase. They don't really say it up here in good old Preston, England! When I first got out in England I was SO perplexed about how people ask you how you're doing and don't even stop to listen and now it doesn't even fade me. It is weird how we get used to things or stop to notice little things as we become accustomed to them. That can be really good or it can be really bad. I have noticed that throughout my life I have become accustomed to hearing and saying sarcastic comments and being "jokingly" rude to those whom I love that surround me. President Ulrich recently invited us to fast with the purpose of being able to better notice what makes the companionship of the Holy Ghost go away(when we are baptised we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a companion and to guide us or comfort us throughout our lives as we are living worthy of His companionship). So as I fasted and prayed I felt that sarcasm was a big thing that drew me further from heavenly father and as I have been striving to not be sarcastic within the past few weeks I have seen a big difference in my relationships with others and my effectiveness as a missionary, especially in patience! My whole life I had become this sarcastic woman and as I've stripped myself of it I see life and others in a whole new way. I am less easily irritated and more long-suffering and people enjoy being around me even more! HOW GREAT IS THAT! 

So that is my invitation to you this week! Pray and fast for a day to know what you could work on in order to bring your life into closer harmony with Heavenly Father and then ACT! I promise that you will be happier as you do so and you will feel and improved sense of self-control and love for those who surround you!

This week we had an incredible mission Leadership Council where we learned all about who we are! We are all divine, special children of a Father in Heaven. We are sons and daughters of God!! He sacrificed His only Begotten Son so that we all can live and overcome our sins as well as death! We are special! We are unique! We are needed! As we are obedient and follow the counsel our loving Father has provided for us to get through this life we will see so much joy! That's a promise! He created us so of course He knows just what we need!

This week we have seen a lot of miracles! We went to go see a friend, Joseph, but he didn't end up answering. We felt sad at first but we knew there was a reason we had come all this way to get too this area. Right when we were about to go knock on some doors, this woman opened the door next to his and she had met missionaries before! She had just moved in the day before and she was interested in hearing more so we got to talk to her for a little while!

Then I was on the bus and this woman was sitting across from me. I told her I liked her shoes and then ten minutes later we were making an appointment to meet again to talk about Jesus Christ!

Yesterday we were supposed to bring our friend, Jane, to a mission fireside where many recent converts speak about their experiences with learning more about the teachings of Jesus Christ but she cancelled so instead we knocked on some doors and we were led to this blue door. The woman's name was Jeane and she has a very devout Mormon uncle in Florida who she really admires and she said we could come back on Wednesday. Later, as we were walking down the street she drove up in her car saying, "SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY!!" How amazing is that!?! Boy that was a great feeling!!

Heavenly Father promises His missionaries He will prepare the way before them but first He needs to see He can trust us! He makes some things not work out so that He can fulfill His purposes and help his children. I feel so privileged to be a part of this work! To be able to share with others the truths I have been lucky enough to know about my entire life! I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ! I love Him! He is my Saviour. I know that through Him we an overcome any weakness  or challenge we may face. I know God lives. I know He hears and answers our prayers. I know that the truths Christ shared thousands of years ago have been fully restored to the earth today! I relish in truth and knowledge! I love this life. I love my family and I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

XOXO

Sister Cummins