Returning to Maringa: March 17, 2014

Dear Everyone,

The big news of the day is I am being transferred back to Maringá, to the Moranguera zone, which is different from the zone I was in when I was in Maringá before. My area is Alvorada A and my new companion is Elder B. (a new Elder B. who Elder C. has not served with before—Marie) I was totally shocked by the transfer! I thought that I was going to stay, but so here we go!!! Elder B. (housemate) will take my spot as zone leader here in Apucarana and Elder S. my former comp will finish the other Elder B.’s training (confused yet?). Those were the only moves in the whole zone, a lot different from last transfer when I was the only one who was not transferred!!!

1. How many transfers are left after this one? If you count the transfer that started today, I have 3 transfers, this one and 2 more. Unfortunately, it is coming down to the end. At the end of this transfer, if you want to you can send me a list of some Brazilian souvenirs that you want me to get and I can start picking that stuff up.
2. Did you ever get your Valentine package? Some of the moms on the Missionary Moms email list were talking about postal strikes in other parts of Brazil, so I did not know if you had a strike going on in your area or not. I might get my package this week or the next one with the transfers and maybe if we have zone conference??? So I’ll let you know when I get it.

I sent my drivers’ license extension to you this week. There is no postal strike here in Apuca, at least not yet.

In my last week in Apucarana, we ALMOST baptized this week. We found this 67 year old man who was an ELECT!!! But, his daughter showed up on Saturday and took him away to live with her in Sarandi (a different city) so it was a bummer to not baptize with Elder P., but I am leaving the area way better than I found it and I did manage to help the zone become one of the best baptizing zones in the mission so that was good!!! Elder P. is a good friend. I’ll be sure to keep in touch with him!!

So here are a bunch of photos!! First off are the two Elder B.’s after sprinting home one night because an appointment ran long. Also we found some puppies abandoned in the street and we took them over to a member who will take care of them so that was cool, also here are some other random photos from the week!!

I don’t know if you already translated the message that you forwarded from P.S., but the last part was for you, Mom:

eu e minha familia somos gratos por seu filho ter nos ensinado sobre a igreja, porque agora eu realmente sei que a igreja é verdadeira. Obrigada novamente

My family and I are grateful for your son teaching us about the Church because now I really know that the church is true. Thank you again!

So that’s pretty much it, I don’t have much news from this week other than I’m going to baptize até o pó in Maringá de novo (until the powder in Maringá again???) so, next week’s letter should be full of events from opening the area!!!!

Love you guys a lot!!!

Elder Cummings