Proselyting in São Paulo: September 26, 2012

Dear Everyone,

When we travel to Londrina, we will be flying since it would be an almost 10-hour bus ride.  And, yes we are having the pizza party today. Another member of our district got one, too, so we are going to feast! Thank you again!!! Elder S. and I are going to save some cookies and cinnamon rolls for our departure day because when you leave (and on every temple trip) we get some stale bread and cheese and some cough syrup juice with a tiny apple and a piece of chocolate. So, instead we will feast on our stash of goodies next Tuesday when we leave!!!

Cookies for the pizza party!

American-style food!   Yum!

Perfect idea on getting the audio book version of the Book of Mormon in Portuguese in order to hear the pronunciation!! And, I'm glad you’re playing ping pong with the neighbors, Dad. That will be some good exercise and hopefully a good missionary opportunity!!

This is the third strike postal strike this year, so they are pretty often but they still deliver mail??? (which is weird.)  But I'm not complaining!!

A few tidbits in response to your letter:

• To answer your question, the version of I Need Thee Every Hour that we sang at the devotional was with a piano accompaniment.
• Tell Sister M. congratulations on her marriage from me!!!!! That is so awesome!!
• I am excited for a letter from M.G.!! That is going to be awesome!!! J
• And, Jason, keep rocking those grades!! It is a lot easier to keep your grades at A's and B's than it is to try and raise them back up to A’s and B's!!
• Yes, I enjoy the news from my BYU friends.  Keep it coming.

Now on to new events from this past week. So my taste buds have already matured quite a bit while out here on the mish.  Now I love pineapple, onions, and avocados, which were not my favorite foods not too long ago.

Things are getting a little hectic here in preparation for the field, so I will write back to Grandma and the rest of the fam who have written me once I get into the field and have some cool stories to share.

We heard that the US ambassador to Libya was killed in a suicide bombing??? If you could send some info (just a little bit) and some other brief, brief current event news would be good! Thank you! :)

It has actually been getting pretty cold here this week.  I wore my BYU hoodie to bed all this week and have worn a sweater vest 3 times during the day including today. We won't have any cold problems once we get to Londrina that is for sure. We also got our first real rain last night which is nice, because the smog and pollution were getting pretty bad!

I know that I am going to do so well out in the field, I just know it! I make friends here so fast. This past week I made some really good Chilean and Paraguayan friends! I love making friends!! Also we went out proselyting around São Paulo on Monday! This was amazing!!! Elder S. and I handed out 5 Books of Mormon in around 2ish hours. Way different than what happens in the States, that's for sure!! We had this really powerful experience with this man at a bus stop. He was just sitting down on the ground, and there were 3 or 4 other people waiting around him for the same bus, but we decided to go and talk to this man. We introduced ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ and got to know him a little bit, and as soon as Elder S. started to talk about how God has called a prophet again in this day, the man's eyes lit up like someone had just turned on the light in a dark room! By the end of our 3- or 4-minute talk with him he practically snatched the Book of Mormon out of my hands and when we were no more than 10 feet away after saying our goodbyes we (quite stealthily) turned back to see what he was doing, and he was completely buried in the book already. The spirit was so strong with him and we did a concealed fist bump to celebrate! It was such an amazing experience. I know that this man was ready and prepared to hear about the gospel. I just wish we had more time that we could follow up with him and teach him. Luckily we will be able to do just that out in the field. Speaking of the field, we got a letter from the mish pres. and the mission goal for the month of October is 200 baptisms!!! Yowza! That will be really cool!!

A scripture really hit me this week (I don't have time to type it out but if you could put it up on the blog that would be great). The scripture is 2nd Nephi chapter 4 verses 16-25.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

This is such a great scripture and got me thinking a lot and doing a lot of self-reflection. It is one of my new favorites!!

So, Christmas ideas.  I tried to ask for inexpensive things that are light and hard to find/unavailable/way over-priced in Brasil. (make sure to put lots of Virgin Mary stickers on the package).  These are just suggestions of course:

• 6 pairs of black socks (gold toe)
• 2 pairs of white socks
• 4 sticks of Old Spice deodorant
• q-tips
• conference Ensign in English and another Ensign or 2
• shoe odor eater balls (2 pairs)
• 6 packs of trident gum
• my vial of consecrated oil that I left in the fridge
• photos
• special Christmas letters
• small amount of hand sanitizer
• 1 pair of foam ear plugs (just in case)
• 2-5 pens
• post it notes
• clear post it note tabs
• small amount of plasti-tac
• small amount of clear scotch tape

That’s all I can think of at the moment that I really can't get here for a reasonable price. Thanks!!  (I did not edit this out of the letter before posting because I thought it was interesting what he would ask for as Christmas presents!--Marie)

Almost out of time (story of my email life here at the CTM).  Just wanted to say that I love you guys and since p-day in the field is on Monday you may not get an email from me next week. Just a heads up. I love being a missionary and I can't wait for the field!! I just hope I get a great trainer! I will be fasting for that this coming Sunday!!!

Lots of love,

Elder Cummings!