August 19, 2019

russian hospitals and walking

This week we visited a baboshka named Lutmila. She lives through these sketchy woods. There is trash everywhere, and someone could jump out at any moment and rob or kidnap you. It is cool though! 

Also after one of my lessons last week, a baboshka gave me a whole kit of acne cream treatment for my face. Right after the lesson she started talking to me about my face and looked concerned then proceeded to pull all this stuff out for my face lol. Rip to that. 

Every morning me and my companion go on a run for exercise. We live pretty close to a huge river, so often times we will run down to it, and run along side it for a while. 

I also got to visit some parks this week. Parks here are huge and have lots of trees in them. They are the only nature that you see in the city. Everyone loves to go walking here, so parks are very popular. 

Here in the streets, they also start digging random holes in the middle of the street, sidewalk, wherever. They kind of rope it off, but not really. So you have to be careful that you all of a sudden don't fall 10 feet into a huge hole that they dug. 

We also got to play volleyball here on the beach! It is a great way for us to bring our potential investigators to get to know them better. We have a lot of volunteers there. It is a way for us to have them hopefully ask more questions about the church. Since in Russia, you can only teach the gospel to people who are your friends, this is a way for us to become friends with people. 

My companion plays the violin as well it turns out. We played Be Still My Soul this week at church. We also take our violins to members homes and we play some songs for them. It is a great way for us to bring the spirit. We are seeing if we can play hymns on the streets, or if that's illegal too. Russia. What can ya do. 

When I talk to people in the streets I say "hey do you know where _____ (mcdonalds, the store, this street, this park, etc) is?" and ask for directions to get there. Then they usually respond then we just ask a few more questions. Just like clarifying, then ask them maybe what else is there to do in the city. Then usually we say we aren't from here and we're volunteers, then ask for their number so they can show us something in the city. Then a few days later we text them and say "hey! it's us can you show us something in the city?" then 99% of the time (if they respond) they say let's go gouleaud (walking). Everyone here LOVES to walk. They walk for fun everywhere. If they have free time, they'll just go walk. So then we just meet with them, walk with them, and become friends with them. Because of the laws here, you can't share the gospel with them until you are friends. So we become friends. We have several meetings like that (we call them potential meetings, because they have potential to be an investigator). Then after a few meetings if they still have potential, we ask them if we can share a lesson or two about our church. And then we can only teach them inside the church. Or at the senior couple's home here in Saratov.

Some things I love about Russia is that the driving here is insane. Last pday, a car accident happened right before our eyes. And everyone here kind of just drives how they feel like it. There are speed limits, but they aren't followed. People go like 50mph down residential roads no problem. They weave in and out of traffic, and squeeze through tight spots like nobody's business. It's actually kind of amazing. 

Also, fashion here is something else. Denim on denim is alive and thriving over here. Also all the baboshkas (grandmas) open their doors and who knows what they will be wearing, or if they will be wearing anything. A guessing game every time! Love Russia! Also, everyone has their background on their phone as themselves. often a little bit of a scandalous photo too. even the baboshkas (but their photos aren't too scandalous, mostly just a blurry photo of themselves lol).

They only really have vanilla ice cream here, and it is very difficult to get chocolate. However after 10 hours of service with helping a baboshka at a Russian hospital, the Lord blessed us with CHOCOLATE ice cream! It was an amazing day! ALSO THE RUSSIAN HOSPITAL was something else. Boy oh boy. It could fall down at any moment. Also people go there to get better? It looks like they go there to get more sick and die. The floors are crazy uneven. The walls are filled with peeling paint. There are random rooms everywhere. A weird smell. Old baboshkas. It's just interesting. 

We also had zone conference. We rented a 12 passenger bus (called a marshootka here) and drove 6 hours to Volgograd. Elder Boam and Elder Golden of the 70 (or area 70?) spoke to us. It was so fun! And I got to see my mission president and his wife again! It was awesome. President Ustyuzhaninov and his wife are the best! 

These past few weeks, I have been reading about Alma and the Sons of Mosiah and how they spread the gospel. They were strong, didn't give up, and wanted so bad for everyone to accept their message. However at the end of the day, everyone has their agency. It reminded me that here on the mission, I can want for people to accept my message and pray and hope for it, but they still have their agency. The work is hard, but is so awesome! 

1-view of the river/bridge

2- temple here in saratov (not lds, one day though:))

3- this was all of a sudden in the middle of our walking path. so we had to go around it.

4- the conservatory

5- the next president of russia 

6- CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM BLESS 

7- honey butter we found at an outdoor honey market thing 

8- where a baboshka lives and sleeps. 

August 5, 2019

I MADE IT TO RUSSIA

alright first thing is first! my missionary.org email does not work here in Russia! :) so either email emma.cummings.volunteer@gmail.com or emma.cummings@latter-daysaints.ru (this one works best, but also it will get sent to spam unless you add it to your inbox)

I am so excited to finally be here. My companion's name is Sister Richter. She is from Germany and is the sweetest person ever! 

My area is.... (take a guess from the picture I sent!) if you can guess it lmk and you'll be a winner

hint 1) A "C" in Russian, is a "S" in english. 

hint 2) A "P" in Russian, is a "R" in english.

hint 3) A "B" in Russian, is a "V" in english. 

hint 4) A "O" in Russian, is a "A" in english (sometimes lol)

hint 5) there is a movie made about where my area is

It has been a little scary here, but nothing out of the ordinary.

ok legit i am the worst flyer. ever. ever. i knew something bad would happen to me flying alone. and 100% everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. So I left monday morning at like 5 am. I traveled on the bus with other missionaries going to California. We got to the airport together than split up. Then I was on the flight from SLC to NYC with some missionaries going to Scotland/Ireland mission (speaking chinese!!) But I had to go through security by myself because they were a little bit ahead of me. Then in NYC i had a super tight layover. From here on out, I was by myself. So I legit didn't know how to get to the next terminal, was asking and trying to figure out how, finally found out how. Made it. Then I had to be escorted through security and stuff because I still had to check in, pay for my bags, and go through security again. So that was a little stressful. And I had to carry so many things in my hands because my suitcase was exactly 50 pounds lol. Then It was nice because on the plane ride over here, I had the window seat in a row of three seats. And then... my other two seatmates didn't show up!! So legit I got the row of 3 all to myself for my 10 hour flight! Best. Flight. Ever. Legit slept the entire time. So nice. Then in Moscow. Moscow, Moscow, Moscow... I had instructions to pick up my luggage in moscow, then put it on the next plane, but then that wasn't working, and I was so confused where to go because every sign was so confusing and passport control had taken me SO LONG to get through and my flight was a little bit delayed, so by the time I was arriving at the place to check in for my next flight, they told me I was going to miss it and would need to get a new flight. It was only like 1.5 hour layover and it just wasn't working. So I had to go get that sorted out and pay for a new flight.

Anyways, after that I had to now call the mission president and tell him I was going to be two hours later. And I was searching and searching for a phone to use. Also keep in mind I had so much stuff I was carrying. My violin case, a coat, a cardingan, a scarf, my packed-to-the-rim backpack, my passport/ticket, my water bottle, and my scriptures. So I looked so weird going everywhere with all my stuff. Finally I just sat down because there were no pay phones. So I sat down and just hoped for the best. Eventually someone came and sat by me and THANK GOODNESS she spoke english and was from america and she let me use her phone like 4 seperate times times to call so many different numbers (that for some reason weren't working love russia) but the VERY last time I tried to call, and the VERY last number I was calling finally worked. And so I told president I would be late. Finally got to Rostov. But suprise suprise, no luggage. Grrrr. That was a whole different fiasco. Everyone got involved. Thank goodness for the people at the mtc who hemmed my dress got it wrong the first time, and had to redo it, so I couldn't pack it in my suitcase and had to pack it in my violin case. So I did have one set of clean clothes. They we went to the Mission President's house. They fed me an awesome homecooked meal (sooo much better than the MTC). And that is my airport story. Oh, and then I didn't get my luggage until a few days later. I was flying from Rostov, to Moscow, to my new area. And I had a three hour layover in Moscow and was running through the airport trying to find my luggage and get it with me in time to get on the plane and check in. It was crazy. On the way to the Rostov airport, the APs were dropping me off and giving me step by step instructions from their "airport connection guy" lolololol. Airports are ROUGH. 

So because I lost my luggage in the Moscow airport, I lived off the same pair of clothes for like three days :)))))  Thank goodness for the help/instructions of the APs and the Mission President's wife before I left Rostov, otherwise I still may be wearing that same outfit ;)  

 

After a crazy first few days of contacting with the Rostov sisters, eating at a local Russian resturant, and watching Kung Fu Panda in Russian for a memeber activity, getting caught in a rainstorm that SOAKED me, I flew to meet my companion and get situated for my 12 weeks of training. 

I had to wait about an hour for my comp and other sisters to come pick me up at the airport. It is some rinky-dinky Russian airport in the middle of nowhere. It only had one plane (the one I arrived on). One baggage claim/pickup thing. It was so small. Loved it. 

So because the laws in Russia here are so strict, we cannot go proselyting or normal contacting. We have to ask questions to people, and just have conversations with them. We become their friends and invite them to different activities we have at the church with other volunteers (known as missionaries in other countries) and members. 

This week we met a member at church who is like 70. He is from Alaska. Met his wife online. Moved here. Got married to here. She doesn't speak English. He doesn't speak Russian. It is interesting... 

We are trying to move out of our apartment because the landlady comes whenever she wants. And she stays for like two hours watering her plants. In our apartment. Why she has SO MANY plants? I will never know. But somehow she is always there, and nothing in our apartment works. Hot water is sparse, working lights aren't really happening, and we might die everytime we use the elevator to get to the 10th floor. But all is good! 

Also some grandma kissed us and crossed us this week so that was fun I guess. Also the food here doesn't really have flavor so that's cool too I guess. 

BUT IT IS AWESOME here! I am so excited to serve here!

Some things I have noticed: 

- all the baboshkas (grandmas) here have mullets. love it. 

-the sidewalks haven't been repaved or taken care of since the 1600s (lol jk probs the 1700s)

-russians LOVE to mumble so you can't hear or understand what they are saying. 

-everyone here lives in an apartment. 

-walking. walking. walking. everyone here LOVES to walk. for fun. all the time. if you ask someone their interests, 9/10 times they will say they love to walk. 

CecTpa Cummings

August 5, 2019

momma!

Ayo momma! 

Honestly idk which email to use either. I will probs use this one because I can add photos to it. So ya. 

I LOVE my mission president and his wife! they are soosososoososo nice and awesome and helpful and knowledgeable. Amazing people! They have four daughters (13, 9,6,3). I don't think they are even 40 years old yet. I got to spend my first two days with just me and them so I got to know them pretty well. I think they like me a lot because they went around to all the zone conferences here before I came and hyped me up to all the missionaries serving here (since they met me in the mtc and I guess loved me lol). Everyone tells me about it. And evidently he made the joke "sister cummings is coming!" so when I got here, I said "sister cummings is no longer coming, she is now sister came" just some jokes here in the mission. lol 

ok legit i am the worst flyer. ever. ever. i knew something bad would happen to me flying alone. and 100% everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. let me give you the teaaaaa. so I left monday morning at like 5 am. I traveled on the bus with other missionaries going to California. We got to the airport together than split up. Then I was on the flight from SLC to NYC with some missionaries going to Scotland/Ireland mission (speaking madarin chinese!!) But I had to go through everything by myself because they were a little bit ahead of me. Then in NYC i had a super tight layover. So I legit didn't know how to get to the next terminal, was asking and trying to figure out how, finally found out how. Made it. Then I had to be escorted through security and stuff because I still had to check in, pay for my bags, and go through security again. So that was a little stressful. And I had to carry so many things in my hands because my suitcase was exactly 50 pounds lol. Then It was so nice because on the plane ride over here, I had the window seat in a row of three seats. And then... my other two seatmates didn't show up!! So legit I got the row of 3 all to myself for my 10 hour flight! Best. Flight. Ever. Legit slept the entire time. So nice. Then in Moscow. Moscow Moscow Moscow. I had instructions to pick up my luggage in moscow, then put it on the next plane, but then that wasn't working, and I was so confused where to go because every sign was so confusing and passport control had taken me SO LONG to get through and my flight was a little bit delayed, so by the time I was arriving at the place to check in for my next flight, they told me I was going to miss it and would need to get a new flight. It was only like 1.5 hour layover and it just wasn't working. So I had to go get that sorted out and pay for a new flight (which btw I used the card for that, but you will be reimbursed. Lmk if they reimburse you for the flight, or how much it was because then they will just put it on my missionary card and reimburse me. then I can reimburse you. I didn't have my other missionary card up and working so I couldn't use that. so just lmk and next monday I will check my email and see if I need to transfer the money to your account or if you were reimbursed). 

Anyways, after that I had to now call the mission president and tell him I was going to be two hours later. And I was searching and searching for a phone to use. Also keep in mind I had so much stuff I was carrying. My violin case, a coat, a cardingan, a scarf, my backpack, and my passport/ticket, my water bottle, and my scriptures. So I looked so weird going everywhere with all my stuff. Finally I just sat down because there were no pay phones. So I sat down and just hoped for the best. Eventually someone came and sat by me and THANK GOODNESS she spoke english and was from america and she let me use her phone like 4 seperate times times to call so many different numbers (that for some reason weren't working ughhhh russia) but the VERY last time I tried to call, and the VERY last number I was calling finally worked. And so I told president I would be late. Finally got to Rostov. But suprise suprise, no luggage. Grrrr. That was a whole different fiasco. Everyone got involved. Thank goodness for the people at the mtc who hemmed my dress got it wrong the first time, and had to redo it, so I couldn't pack it in my suitcase and had to pack it in my violin case. So I did have one set of clean clothes. They we went to the Mission President's house. They fed me an awesome homecooked meal (sooo much better than the MTC). And that is my airport story. Oh, and then I didn't get my luggage until a few days later. I was flying from Rostov, to Moscow, to my new area. And I had a three hour layover in Moscow and was running through the airport trying to find my luggage and get it with me in time to get on the plane and check in. It was crazy. On the way to the Rostov airport, the APs were dropping me off and giving me step by step instructions from their "airport connection guy" lolololol. Airports are ROUGH. 

 I love my companion. Legit she is awesome. She has been in country since January and knows everything. She is so good at Russian and the gospel. She is from Germany. She is the nicest person every. She has such a positive attitude. I am so excited to serve with her. fr fr. 

ok suddenly people here need to pronunciate their words and to speak loudly so I can hear. and slower so I can understand. but other than that I can pick out 1/100 words people say :)))) i basically only know gospel words, so when people are not speaking about the gospel (99% of the time) I don't really know what is going on lolol. 

Just pack it away. Be careful with the hydroflask that it doesn't get scratched or used. That is why I packed it in that towell. But the stuff like makeup or shout spray, you can either throw away or use. Perishable stuff, chuck it or use it. Clothes you can wear if you want. If you have any questions about stuff, just pack it away and I will sort through when I get home. I had to get rid of a lot of stuff in the mtc rip rip rip. 

That's good that Rex made the football team! Tell him good luck! And happy birthday! I probs won't be able to skype that much because I can either do it at 8am here (10pm your time sunday) or 4:00pm here (6am your time monday). But maybe I can call next week and tell him happy birthday or something. we will see if you guys are awake, or two if I can get it to connect/figure it out, and if it all works out. lmk 

lol dang the cabin. i had a dream about it last night that I wanted to go one last time before it got sold, and so I was trying to plan a vacation there and was about to leave, then suddenly my companion stopped me right before i was about to go and told me that i can't just take a vacation in the middle of a mission. and i was like shocked that it wasn't allowed. it was funny. 

lol i sent the letters because i think i am going to die here in russia. like fr. but idk we will see lol. 

anyways that's about it. crazy week. 

hope you have a good week! i got an email from dad! so that is way fun! 

also i am so excited for you to figure out where i am serving. hope you like it! 

cecTpa Cummings

July 30, 2019

Dear Brother And Sister Cummings,

Your daughter made it to Rostov safe!! President and I (and few of our kids) met her in the airport. We are so happy to have her here. She is amazing. We met her first time in the MTC when we came for the Mission Leadership seminar for newly called mission presidents and wives. We loved her from the beginning. We both feel she is going to be a great missionary. And she is going to touch peoples lives.

Love,

President and Sister U.

July 24, 2019

End of the MTC!

Yahoo!

My 9 weeks at the MTC are almost up! I got my flight plans last Friday to leave this upcoming Monday, July 29! I was named Travel Leader (big money out here in the MTC)... But it is because I will be flying to Russia by myself! I am very excited to get out into the field, but very nervous about flying all that way by myself. It will be fun though! I will be traveling for over 24 hours. Super exciting! 

I have really loved my time at the MTC. I got to be here when all the mission presidents were here being trained. It was amazing because the food went from about a 1 or 2 out of 10 to a 7/10. It was amazing. In addition, we got to hear Elder Holland speak to us when they were here. All 12 of the apostles and President Oaks came and presided over a devotional that Elder Holland spoke to us in (President Nelson and President Eyring were the only members of the 15 that were missing). It was amazing! The minute they all walked in, the spirit was so strong! They truly are men called of God! Elder Holland talked about Christ's Atonement and how through his Atonement, everything is possible. It was an amazing talk! During the mission president's week of training, we also got to see multiple apostles walking around and we had the opportunity to see or talk to a few of them. Such a great week! 

I also was able to meet my mission president! Him and his wife are amazing, and I am so excited to serve with them in a little under a week. They are both very strong in the church and are so smart! Their name's are President Ustyuzhaninov, and Sister Ustyuzhaninova (you add the a at the end for native women names). 

On the 4th of July, we got to watch the Stadium of Fireworks. Our devotional before ran 20 minutes late, so we didn't get to see all the fireworks. And we watched them inside, from a crowded second floor window. But at least we got to watch fireworks! 

We had several in person TRC's and skype TRC's which have helped me teach lessons in Russian to people. Some of them have been really spiritual experiences that get me excited to serve, and others I walk out and start crying because I forgot every Russian word I knew. So who knows what will happen in Russia... lol. 

There has also been construction going on here at the MTC while I have been here. They have been tearing down some of the old buildings and overhead pathway things, and are planning on putting a park/new building for a cafeteria (?) in. Those are the rumors. Watching the construction has been a blast. I used to be in the new buildings, but with the influx of missionaries during the summer we got moved to the old buildings. So we are right by the construction where they are tearing and knocking down buildings. It was rough moving from such nice buildings to the cramped, smelly, old ones, but it has been somewhat worth it watching the construction. 

In addition, often times people hide things in the vents and behind various plates in the residential halls. It has been a fun activity for us to go and find what past missionaries have left behind in the walls! 

Last week we also had the opportunity to clean the temple. Because it is closed in July for cleaning, we cannot attend but we did get the opportunity on our P-Day to clean it for multiple hours! Such a great experience! 

Because of the influx of missionaries in the summer, the lines go out the cafeteria doors, down the steps, and across mtc campus. It takes FOREVER to get through the line. One of the questions we have here at the mtc is: How are we not technically at capacity yet, but yet somehow we are way over capacity?

Time has flown, and I will really miss my teachers! Sister Baugh, Sister Slight, and Brother Ferrin. They have been really cool! I will also miss my zone and district so much. 9 weeks together in such a small space really can bring people together. My Russian is still really rough, but I am hoping that going to Russia will change that. 

Next time I email, it will be from RUSSIA! 

CecTpa Cummings

1- me and my companion's missions! 

2- my district and two of my teachers (sister slight and baugh)

3- my district and our other teacher, brother (bpat in russian) Ferrin

4- girls from my district

5- black and white day 

6- NO SALAD ICE CREAM ONLY 

7- 4th of july!

8- treasures in the rooms 

9- Elder Bednar! :)

10- Mission President, his wife, and me!