July 3, 2019

ok so just found out this week that it is Janice KAPP perry. Not Janice kNapp perry. thought there was a n in there and it was pronounce napp. So rip to me. 

Also someone was giving a devotional this week talking about heavenly father. and she said something kind of weird. don't think that she realized it, but the rest of us did. She said "He wants us to return to Him. He is our Heavenly Father. He is our Daddy." 

It was interesting to say the least. Also food got bad again this week. For sunday dinner we had: one crappy tortilla with a small spoonful of fake eggs and cheese. SO that is that. 

kak eta kak enachdaugh. (it be like that sometimes). 

zoom in on my smile from the pic where the salad line says "ice cream only" it is weird idk why tbh

June 26, 2019

June 19, 2019

Hello!

It's been a few weeks since I have entered the MTC! Today is 21 days since I left home! It has been busy, busy busy! My companion's name is CecTpa Perry from Provo Utah. She is going to Ukraine. Our missions are right next door to each other. She is awesome! We are constantly planning lessons together and learning new Russian vocab. 

The first few days in the MTC were a little bit overwhelming. I barely knew Russian, and couldn't understand most of the things the teachers were saying. But now that I am 3 weeks in, I feel a little bit more confident. We have taught several lessons solely in Russian and I can share my testimony, Joseph Smith's First Vision, and several scriptures all in Russian! 

I am the only one in the MTC going to my mission in Rostov Russia. There was one elder here going to my mission, but he left last week. Since there aren't very many missionaries in Russia, and more specifically my mission, I probably will be the only one here during my stay. With me being the only one going to my mission, that means I will get to fly from SLC to Rostov Russia all by myself in 6 weeks. 

The rest of the people in my zone are going to other places in Russia (Russian speaking), Ukraine (mostly Russian speaking, but 1 Ukrainian speaker), The Baltic Mission (Russian speaking, Estonian speaking, Lithuanian speaking, Latvian speaking, Georgian speaking, Armenian speaking)

I feel a little bit boxed in here at the MTC, but at least we get to go outside a lot! We can study outside and go play in the field for exercise times. Often my zone either plays volleyball or basketball in the gym. This past week we started going outside and playing spikeball. I always run around the field or run around on the track in the gym, then join in the sport that everyone is playing for the day. It gives me a good break from the two 3-hour classes we have every single day. 

During one of my lessons, my teacher told me that I have a very heavy American accent, and the people in Russia might have a rough time understanding me. So that is one thing that I do have to work on! During study time in the afternoons, there is usually a quick afternoon storm. It rains for like 10 minutes then goes away. Back to warm weather. It is probably because we are right by the lake and mountains. They come out of nowhere. But I love summer rain storms! The other day when we were studying, we had a little extra time. So after my studies I took a 10 minute nap in the limited sun time that we get. My companion took a picture of me that I'll attach. It's quite funny. I look dead. 

A few weeks ago, we had Elder and Sister Gong come and speak to the missionaries! It was super cool! Sister Gong spoke about how we need to be an example of Christ, even if we aren't baptizing or converting people. It is all about service and love. Elder Gong talked about how we should be learning something from each companion, so I have a lot to work on if I want my companion to learn a good trait from me! ;) But he also spoke about how important missionary work is in bringing forth prophecies of old and bringing the gospel to every heart, kindred, tongue, nation, language, etc. Great talk! We have also had a devotional from Elder Corbridge who spoke about having a narrow focus on Christ, and the rest will be taken care of. A few other speakers have come, sharing incredible messages and testimonies. The chairs for the devotionals are really uncomfortable, but the message the speakers share is worth it! I learn so much! I've really been able to figure out how the Spirit speaks to me, and how I can act on the promptings I receive. 

Alright. I'll send an email in another few weeks. Most of the MTC is repetition, with a few new funny experiences or laughs. I feel like my sense of humor has seriously declined in here, but what can you do. The other day, we were looking out the window and a boy was rolling across a flat field. Just living life. All by himself. 10/10 funny.

CecTpa Cummings

1-My district and teacher, CecTpa Baugh

2- me and my companion studying

3- the books I study from

4- the girls in my district

5- my district at the temple

6- we got commendable on our cleaning checks! (a hard feet)

7- me asleep (dead) on the grass

8- me and my companion on the map

9-my zone

Just a fun video about a kid rolling in the grass. Having the time of his life.

June 12, 2019

Russian went a lot better this week. I am still struggling, but I think the difference is I am praying a lot more fervently and frequently and sincerely. I memorized moroni 10:4-5 this week, Joseph Smith's first vision, and a ton of other stuff. Also we finally got exercise time this week so that has been great. My comp is pretty good. It's still rough literally being around someone 24/7, but it is all good. I like her. Ya I will be together the whole 9 weeks.

 Other people in my district (the class I am in) are going to Kiev Moldova, Dnipro Ukraine, Novosibirsk Russia, and Yekaterinburg Russia. (tbh probs didn't spell any of those right, but here we are). And then other people in my zone are going to Moscow Russia, Baltic Area. And those are all the ones who speak russia. We have a few Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians and Ukranian speakers in my zone as well. And today we get some Armenians and a Georgian speaker. No one going to St. Petersburg. And only one elder who has been here almost all 9 weeks now is going to my mission. ALSO tell conrad to get on top of applying to the mtc! We are getting 42 new russian speakers in july, and they are creating 2-4 more districts. (2-3 teachers per district) So have him apply asap!!!!! 

June 5, 2019

Lolol love how you sent me pictures of only Grady. Fav child ;) So my p-day is wednesday, but a few months ago, the MTC started to give all missionaries in the MTC ipads, and so I can read my email everyday, but only respond on Wednesdays. I do have gum, but turns out it is contraband and we are only allowed mints (because chewing gum is distracting I guess). But don't have any of those, so I just chew gum lolol. But so turns out things at the MTC are not as easy as it seems. It is hard to be with someone 24/7. I often want to go do my own thing, but then my comp is like "Wait Sister Cummings!" and the cafeteria is huge, and we both want different things so we have to go through both lines and get both things together. It is rough. Boy oh boy. And she is a morning talker, and I am not. Russian is coming, but a lot slower than I thought it would. Everyone in my class seems to be getting it, but I am having difficulty. I really do think I have ADHD. The more I researched it, if you exercise everyday, the effects of it are less. So in high school, I did have trouble concentrating, but I ran every single day. And then in college when I stopped exercising, I realized that I can't focus and have trouble understanding concepts and memorizing things. And then here in the MTC, I have seen the same thing of me having difficulty remembering stuff because we weren't able to exercise everyday until Monday. Anyways that's besides the point. We will see. I've been praying a lot for help. I met some guy who went to Conrad's mission, Brother Belnap. He sent Conrad a pic of me and him. And then I see Austin Ramsey almost everyday. Also with the blazers, only a few people here have them and I am the ONLY ONE from my Zone going to Rostov. Soooooo ya. There's only like 12 elders in my mission I found out. And like 30-40 people total. So honestly I probably won't meet anyone going to my mission. My companion is Sister Perry. She is going to Ukraine, the mission right next door to mine. She is speaking Russian too. She is from Provo, Utah. I found out what I want to do with the suitcase. I think I will send it home with all the stuff I don't need and then have you send my violin. I will let you know as it gets closer. 

As for the blazers, give me another week to think about what I am looking for. Also my alarm clock broke??? So I would love it if you sent me another one (one that holds AA batteries). And then if you haven't packed up my stuff yet, my scripture case is in the big box in a white bag with other church books and stuff. I totally forgot to pack that, and would love it if you sent that. And same with my black nikes. And a highlighter. And some vaseline. They don't have any in the mtc store, and my heels are cracking for some reason. Probs bcuz of the genes dad gave me. And then if you find any Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn (the one in the purple bag), send that my way. Or any other goldfish, pretzels, chex mix, candy, chocolate, etc or any snacks, send those my way. The snacks in the MTC store are sub-par. But also I had to buy laundry soap here, and it was expensive so Conrad lied to me. I knew I should've brought mine from home :/

Elder Gong and Sister Gong came and spoke to us yesterday! It was super cool! They talked about how we need to be an example of Christ at all times, even if we aren't converting or baptizing or teaching people. And I feel like that is especially true for Russia, because there won't be that many people joining the gospel. Rather I should be an example so maybe in the next life, they have an opportunity. They also said that we are part of the prophecy of Joseph Smith's days saying that the gospel will go to every nation, kindred, tongue, people, language, etc. So that's cool. Hahah also he said that you should learn something from each companion, but they should also be learning something from you. So looks like I have to come up with some good habits/traits/something for my companions to learn from me lol. 

But ya. I'm gonna keep going hard trying to learn Russian. We teach a lesson tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. We taught one earlier last week, and I basically didn't understand anything. But I think this one will go better. 

Love, 

Sister Cummings

Some MTC pics ft. my Russian books, my Sunday night face mask, my district+one of our teachers, the girls in my district, me and my companion 

The missionary purpose: