LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories

Embracing Life: Devin Cummins' Inspiring Tales from Jerusalem - Latter-Day Lights

• Scott Brandley and Alisha Coakley

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In this special episode, Devin Cummins shares some of the unforeseen obstacles, challenges, and trials, along with several blessings and "God Winks" he's experienced during his travels across Cambodia, Vietnam, Dubai, and even Jerusalem - which is where we caught up with him.

Devin's travels definitely give you a different view of the world we live in, and how life is in the Holy Land in light of current events.

*** Please SHARE Devin's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/PJIatBmZTiM

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To VISIT Devin's website, visit: https://carbonunicorn.com/

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To WATCH his original episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/0rdQRcOIpcY

To LISTEN to his original episode, visit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1894616/15094422

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Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

Scott Brandley:

Hey everyone, I'm Scott Brandley.

Alisha Coakley:

And I'm Alisha Coakley. Every member of the church has a story to share, one that can instill faith, invite growth and inspire others.

Scott Brandley:

On today's episode, we're going to hear how one man's journey to Jerusalem is leading him through the darkness in his pursuit of light, love and joy. Welcome to Latter-day Lights. Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Latter-day Lights. This one's kind of special because our guest is actually filming in Jerusalem right now. So we'd like to welcome back to the show, devin Cummins. Devin, how are you doing?

Devin Cummins:

Thank you, thanks for having me. I am doing all sorts of emotions. It's been great, it's been scary, it's been everything. It's been a whole gamut of things.

Alisha Coakley:

Yeah, I have been following you on your. Instagram and I'm just like, oh, like the things you're going through right now. It's it's not something I would want to go through, but you are getting some really cool stories out of it. So, and some of those stories you're going to share with us today, is that right?

Devin Cummins:

That's right, that's right. I always have so many stories I try to. Even when I'm in the middle of a situation a soup sandwich or whatever it is I'm like I wonder how I could talk about this, Like literally, like in the midst of things going awry. I'm like could this like be a story? And it's like, yeah, probably.

Alisha Coakley:

So here we go, there you go, yeah, yeah, yeah we go, yeah, and I I'm really excited that you're back for a part two because, um, on our, on your last episode with us, there was still so much left of your story. So I am going to encourage our listeners If you haven't listened to part one, go ahead. You know, pause for a second, go back, listen to Devin's first episode that he shared with us and and just kind of, I guess, get a little caught up. I mean, even what you're sharing right now. Obviously you don't have to listen to the first part, but I think it just. It just adds a little something knowing about your background and the things that you've gone through, and so, if you want to maybe just give us a short little recap of, like, who you are, what your background is, just for those who maybe?

Alisha Coakley:

haven't had a chance to hear that first part, or who don't remember, I think that would be. That would be great.

Devin Cummins:

Yeah, sure, um, I always feel a little uh, I don't know like when, when I love talking about my experiences, but sometimes, if I get caught into talking about myself, it feels a little uh, um, I don't want to come off like in any other way than I'm sharing who I am and not trying to be like boastful or anything like that. Um, but uh, yeah, yeah, I did the uh. So I joined the military when I was a teen, actually signed up when I was 17, um, and then went to boot camp at 18. So I did the uh, went to the marine corps and I got a chance to go into different countries with training operations, including Israel, and trained with the Israeli Defense Force out here, just for a little three-week stint, and we were getting attacked at that time too, during training. So you know just while we were there here, while we were here. So you know just while we were there here, while we were here, and so, yeah, because we'll go into like how I ended up currently in Jerusalem, as I am right now. So essentially, I did a deployment to Iraq, got out of the military, went into the federal government in a federal law enforcement capacity for almost a decade, so about nine years and had experiences and opportunities with that, even got involved with some nonprofit organizations that combat human trafficking, and so I was able to go to different countries for that and got to see a lot of different sides of the world. Uh for sure, and um, I, you know, just talked about my journeys. Last time I did uh, eight countries through, uh, south, uh, east Asia and uh, yeah, eight, eight countries in three months. It was a pretty uh unique experience, a lot of different spiritual experiences. So I recapped on that and kind of ended on a point of where things kind of took a dark turn.

Devin Cummins:

But, yeah, I came home from my tour in Asia and ended up, I was actually planning. I was planning on coming to Vietnam. I had a one-way ticket and not to live, but just I was going to plan it as I went and I was going to meet someone, and it fell through and I couldn't really get a refund on my ticket, and so I was like you know what I'm going to plan? I want to go around the world and with this thing. And so on February 22nd I dipped out of here, I dipped out of the US and I went to Northern Vietnam and then I flew to Southern Vietnam, vietnam. And then I flew to Southern Vietnam and, uh, I uh went into, uh, I went into Cambodia for a couple of days and it wasn't a part of the original trip, so I had to still fly back out of it and what I experienced in Cambodia was super dark.

Devin Cummins:

Uh, what was interesting is, you know, going through this whole thing like I ended up getting robbed actually the night before this is wild my first night I end up deciding to take a leap of faith and was like you know what? There's these cool little ships on the river right next to the Mekong River. I wonder, are there cruises that people are taking? I was like like you know what devon? Just like just go, just go on it and like see what goes, turns out, people just like the boats dock, people get food, and then they, they all just kind of apparently, then we undock and leave and and and so we did, and so like I'm like getting some snacks and then I I feel the boat moving and I look out on the bow and yeah, they're like on hook in the boat and I'm like this is cool, like let's do this, and uh, and so we go and like, literally, there's monks on this boat, there's, like you know, there's locals, there's everybody.

Devin Cummins:

And I caught this really cool video and there was like news like this, this cambodian music playing in the background from the boat and I like, I like recorded like this monk, like with, like his, you know, like his, his robe is all draped, you know, going in the wind, and we're coming up on this bridge with the cambodian flag and leds on the like. It was like surreal, you know. I was like this is wild. Yeah, now I'm like on the the front and I'm by myself and it's dark and it's night and I'm going through the water and just it was the spiritual experience of like taking these leaps of faith and doing this. But I then shot myself in the foot Because I should have stayed on that vibe and instead, you know, I got it.

Devin Cummins:

So we come back, we come back, we dock, I get off the boat and as I'm wandering, I end up at their palace and what's interesting is, as I'm sitting there, I sometimes have these experiences with Heavenly Father where he said let's just chill for a minute. What do you see? Look around, what do you see? And I'm like and I list. I always list off the things that I see. I see this, I see that, I see this. And I had list. I always list off the things that I see. I see this, I see that I see this. And then I look forward and there's no joke, these two balloons and that both balloons say love on them. And then I looked next to it and there's two more balloons and I say love on them and there's people that are trying to sell stuff on the street and it was like this personal experience of what love you know, like his love for me and like a reminder that he loves me. You know, like his love for me and like a reminder that he loves me and uh, yeah, it was really, it was, uh, it was, it was, it was really special, yeah, and and so as I'm walking, I'm trying to find my way back to my hotel and I come down this like this other, uh, not so much an alley, but like a darker street.

Devin Cummins:

There's a lot of markets through a lot of countries and in some of these countries there's a lot of markets through a lot of countries and in some of these countries there's a lot of women, markets that are trying to reel in the foreign guys to. You know, there's like these drink bars where you buy them drinks and hang with them for an hour. There's also massage places. You're constantly getting yelled at to come to these places and I was walking through the streets and I'm like, yeah, thanks, thanks, thanks, you know.

Devin Cummins:

And I stand out like a sore thumb, you know, and and these, these other workers are like hey, come, you know, come on, in, come, come do the massage. And I'm like you know, and they're like no, no, no, you come on, come on. So I like walk up to them, they grab my hand, they're like let's go. And I had like the feeling over me and this is what I feel bad about is I had the spirit being like this is not a good idea, this is like shouldn't be here. And I already had like thoughts, like you know, in my head, of like how are these girls going to be, what's going to be, what's going to happen, like and. And so I'm laying face down and about five, seven minutes later they're like okay, we're done. I got a phone call, I got to go and I'm like what okay?

Devin Cummins:

right, right, right, right, and you know you put your stuff in like a locker too, and and so I had uh, because they're known to steal people's things and uh, and so I end up, uh, getting my stuff. I go, and I had this tuk-tuk driver you know those tuk-tuks with the little, you know they have like their motorcycle with a little cart in the back. And so, yeah, my tuk-tuk driver's like, hey, do we? Uh, I'll get around for 20 bucks tomorrow, like all your location. Wow, that's cool, all right. Um, he's like, do we need to exchange any money? I was like, uh, yeah, so we go to the place to exchange money. And I realized, like I hand them the money to exchange and they're like this isn't real. I'm like what do you? Oh, my gosh. And like everything just like sucks in. I'm like why do I have fake 100 bills in my? Like what? So? So they took my some of my Vietnamese currency, my Cambodian currency, and replaced they took 700 us from me. And yeah, and, and so, like you know, my stomach's dropped, like I'm like what is happening? So I tell my truck driver we go. I show him the location that I was at. He calls the police. The police. I take him. You know we take him over there. The police, okay.

Devin Cummins:

So this is where it gets a little shady, shadier. Uh, the the police know who the owner is at the shop and was like will you set her for 400? The police is like can we get you $400 back? It was $7. No, there's $7. $450? $450? Really no, $7. How about we'll do $5?. And I'm just like but if we do this, then you got to end it here. Like don't pursue any more money, like after this, like pretty much don't go there. And he's like and how much are you going to give me to help you? And and then, uh, and then the tuk-tuk driver's like, yeah, I mean, like, I'm helping you too. You couldn't have that, couldn't do this without me. And I, you know, if you would have listened to me I could have taken you to the.

Devin Cummins:

So I got a bit frustrated. I, when I get, oh my gosh, I'm like listen, man, I I'm not. You know, at one point I'm going to be walking the streets Like I'm not going to take a tuck tuck everywhere, like that's what you do when you travel. You walk around like and, and so, uh, yeah, they ended up giving me 500 and I'm like I go to give the cop like 50 and he's like no, no, no, it's okay, cause I had mentioned, I'm like you know what I and helping people is the job, okay, and so I don't know how much he understood, but he ended up not taking on the money. And then my tuk-tuk driver got quite the paycheck for the day. It went from 20 to like 70 or 80 for the day and so I gave him like a 50. That was kind of like worn, but I just you know it set me off in the wrong way, but I just you know it set me off in the wrong way.

Devin Cummins:

And then I go to this genocide museum in Cambodia and saw how much the adversary has power over the hearts of children, of men, and it's so evil like evil. And the tuk-tuk driver's like let me take you to the killing fields, which is essentially where they were doing the genocide for the Cambodians. They were taking them there and killing them in the masses and just I mean, they killed I don't know how many mil, I don't know they killed so many people and I didn't. I didn't want to keep focusing on all the different facts and all the thing, I was just like, ok, there's evil, move on. Yeah, I'm no stranger to that, but it's helped me realize more of what I'm, you know. It's made me more aware of, like, my own weaknesses, my own temptations and things like that.

Devin Cummins:

So, when I first got there, this little girl and her mom comes up to me. Well, this little girl does, does, and the mom's kind of standing back and she wants to sell me, you know some things, right? So I end up, uh, so I end up getting this and, uh, what's interesting is that, uh, I was, I was struggling after this, this, this, this Cambodia thing, like, uh, you know, going to these places, I was, I was struggling, uh, I felt like I was carrying around a lot of darkness. And what's interesting is, I feel I was praying and I felt the spirit, uh, say, let's go for a walk, and I, uh, as I'm walking, you know, I went and ate something, uh, and it was like let's go for a walk, so, as I'm walking, um, I wasn't going to share this part, but I think it's kind of funny.

Devin Cummins:

I like getting ice cream from time to time and and I felt like the, the feeling of, hey, like I'd like to get ice cream and I waited for the feeling to be like, is that a good idea or not Right? Like I'm kind of. And it was like Devin, if that's what you decide, you just decide. But I was going to stay in there and eat and I felt the spirit say no, no, let's go for the walk. So I'm, I'm now with my ice cream and I'm going for the walk and and, and I end up at this corner. And what's interesting is I'm at this corner and I feel him say OK, let's just pause here for a second. What do you see? And as I'm sitting there, this hostess walks up and starts kind of chatting with me.

Devin Cummins:

Hi, whatever. And the little girl that gave me this ends up walking up to me, that gave me this ends up walking up to me that this is that I saw the first night. Now this is the second night and this little girl, the same kid, is wandered up to me and I was like, hey, it's you, what's up, hey, you know, and uh, and it was like my omen of where you're at right now is where you're supposed to be. You know, it was, it was, it was this God wink, and it was just of all the people, all the hundreds and thousands, all the thousands of people in that community, in the area, and I wasn't in the same spot that I was when I met this, this kid and her mom. And now I'm here and she ends up because I'm, I'm kind of everybody tells me I'm a sucker, because I kind of am and I end up getting like this little elephant and uh, yeah, yeah, so anyway, I've been collecting all sorts of all sorts of things and and so, um, as I'm, as I'm still walking back though, you know, and I get a little picture with her and stuff, and I ended up putting that on on Instagram.

Devin Cummins:

But, uh, when I was then heading back by my hotel. I'm almost back and she pops up and there's all these, all these girls calling out to me hey, come here, very pretty women. And I'm like, don't focus. Like you know, and and it and it and literally felt the thing, if you guys have seen the chosen, and he's like don't look at him, look at seen the Chosen, and he's like, don't look at him, look at me. And I had that feeling of don't look at them, look at me. And I looked away and this little munchkin is now with her friend. And they come up. They're like hey, can you buy us powdered milk? And I'm like sure. So I went in and got both of them, them, which is pricey over there for them. And so this isn't like I don't, I don't. I don't list out all the things that I help with people, but like it was interesting that it was like no, this is the way. Nope, this is the way. Nope, this is the way. Keep, I'm gonna walk you home. So I end up, you know, um, so I end up back in.

Devin Cummins:

You know, the next morning I'm still in Cambodia, I'm waiting for my flight, I'm at this mall and I had this really weird darkness come with me and my head's spinning. I had at one point I was really uncomfortable to even feel the spirit, which is kind of strange. I feel like that's very of the adversary not wanting the spirit anything around, but I feel like I took some things from the cambodian killing. All that crap I feel like I've taken with me and some of these spirits may have been still with me and I was in my head like it was so weird. It was like my thoughts were echoing, like I felt like I dark, I'd spirits and Heavenly Father, that in the name of Jesus Christ, we could have these spirits leave. And it had. My thought process had changed a bit after that prayer.

Devin Cummins:

And then I continued back to Vietnam. And what's interesting is, when I was trying to then leave Vietnam to go to my next destination, which was Dubai, I ran into a snafu and apparently I needed a visa to go into Kochi, india, and then to Dubai, and I didn't have a visa, even though it was a transfer. And so I'm now, oh my gosh. So that morning too, that morning, I dropped my phone. I'm now, oh my gosh. So that that morning too, that morning, I dropped my phone.

Devin Cummins:

I'm talking to you on a broken phone right now because my internet's not working on the laptop. Thank goodness for, uh, you know, my, my T-Mobile, my provider to grant the internet not an advertisement, but but T-Mobile was clutch Like they have people. I couldn't get wifi or the service connection here when I connected to the service with other SIM cards too, and T-Mobile was clutch Like they have people. I couldn't get Wi-Fi or the service connection here when I connected to the service with other SIM cards too, and T-Mobile was pretty clutch with that. But I cracked my phone and a third cracked. So the top third is visible but has no touch. The two thirds down had no visibility. Down had no visibility and no, yeah, so if I push my thumb directly on the place of impact, it would then start generating an image and so then going to an airport and trying to go to another country with all this. So right now I'm not touching my phone.

Devin Cummins:

There is a crack right after you guys that I can see and like this whole, like this whole thing is like split, like all the messaging stuff's on the side and it's split on that side of the crack and then there's me with on this side, and so I've been in places that maybe like these most iconic places in the world, and you need a phone, you need a camera, you need to capture this stuff. And I get to the airport and they're like you're not going today if you don't have your visa. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like my phone doesn't work, how am I supposed to get a new flight? I can't even get the Internet. Like, am I going to be stuck in Vietnam? Like, and am I going to be stuck in Vietnam? And I knelt. They couldn't help me with my laptop, with internet. And I knelt down and prayed in the airport and was just, I'm like in this what would be a queue? But there was nobody else behind me. So I'm like you know what? I? Just I don't care who sees, I, need help behind me. So I'm like you know what I? Just I don't care who sees, I, I need help. And I went to another kiosk and she was like yep, use this. One puts in the internet password out of the dozens of things, like I didn't know which one to go to and and I don't, you know, I don't speak Vietnamese and um, so she puts that in and so now I have service right, at least on the laptop phones, jacked of what I could see on my phone before I said my prayer.

Devin Cummins:

The next flight that night was thirty five hundred US about thirty five hundred, oh, no, no. And so for a visa, it's like three, eighty, no. And so for a visa, it's like 380. And so I'm like not seeing my option out of here. I'm like I don't know what to do and, uh, I end up starting to apply for an india visa. And then I'm like what am I doing? I have the spirit come over me, like you know, like let's pause. It's not taking your information, it's not taking the right picture, meaning like whenever I keep running into snafus. I'm like maybe that's not the way, it's another way. So I canceled the visa and find a flight through china and the china doesn't need me to, um, get a visa. It's like a visa on arrival. It's still a process when you get there, but it's possible.

Devin Cummins:

And so got a flight and I flew into, got out of the airport, stayed in this rough hotel, barely able to make it there. I don't have their currency. They end up being gracious enough to give me a room back because I spent the anyway. It was just like the whole system, and then ended up in Dubai and some of the most most beautiful views, you know. Coming into now, leaving dubai and getting into, uh, israel.

Devin Cummins:

I came into tel aviv and and the the culture here is already, you know, I see a guy walking around with an m4 and it's just a citizen, you know, checking into the hotel. Really, yeah, it's like it's like slung on his back and I was like, hey, what's up? You know, and uh, I don't ever feel like threatened with that stuff. I'm like, yeah, this is their life. You know, they're surrounded by so many hostile countries, you know, and uh, I, you know, through this whole thing, I've been like looking for pieces of light. I've seen lots of darkness in this and I'm like praying, like where can I see the light? Like, where can I see light? Like, where can I like why? You know, I want to see light, I want to see love, I want to see joy, I want to see these things and I've had, like these little elements of love come through and and I'm like I want to see light.

Devin Cummins:

And, um, in Tel Aviv, I didn't know how I was going to make it to Jerusalem. I wanted to see Jerusalem, but I didn't know how I was going to make it to Jerusalem. It's not cheap to get a taxi all the way here. It's not wise to. Yeah, I pray all the time, but I don't know specifically if I said the prayer. I don't know how to make it to Jerusalem. But it wouldn't surprise me if I had mentioned that as well, because I was like like I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but we'll find a way. And I reached out to the, the state of the branch president, and he's like no one's headed up there. Like, good luck, if you want to come up here, there's a branch in Tel Aviv you can go to. And I was like, but I want to do, I want to church in Jerusalem and I'm about to call it a night.

Devin Cummins:

And this guy that's in the same hostel as me, mind you, I I barely fit on the. I'm in this top bunk. There's nowhere to put your stuff. Like I'm a bit stressed, you know, and like I mean, when I've done bunk beds in the military, I was usually on the bottom bunk for the most part, like in bootcamp, I was on the top and then, like, as I got older, like I was always on. Also, I'm not like nine, and so you know, personally, but you know, um, I ended up talking to this guy and he and he goes.

Devin Cummins:

He's like really friendly, and he goes hey, uh, I'm heading to Jerusalem tomorrow. You want to come with me? I'm like, uh, okay. He's like, yeah, I want to see the sunrise, uh, but I'll probably leave in at like five. And I'm like, uh, yeah, he's like, but, hey, let's get out of here, like, let's go. Uh, you know, they got these places with belly dancers, and I'm like I'm like in the war in my life, right, and I'm like, uh, you know, yeah, know, yeah, like, okay, like, maybe we, yeah, like, okay, you know, sure.

Devin Cummins:

So, as we're walking, I'm like, what am I doing? Like, why, what? Like? I keep falling into the same snare, right, and it's it's like, have you seen the video of like the farmer, where he like gets his sheep out of the, the crevice, and the sheep like runs out and then jumps back? I'm like, that's me, that's actual footage of me.

Devin Cummins:

So, uh, and so, as we're going, though, like he goes, uh, well, hey, let's get some like breezers, like, let's get some, like like some, some, some drinks in the lobby, like you know that are just in the fridge. Um, I'm like you know what? Yeah, I'll walk with you. Man. I was like I'm tired, oh, you're tired, you don't want to go. You're a marine, though, because he was asking if I was military and that he was. And, um, I'm like I, okay. If I mean even marines get tired, give me. I'm like I'm not a you know, I'm not a droid, I'm a freaking human, uh.

Devin Cummins:

And so we go downstairs and we get these breezers and I should have read it, but like we crack them and I told him I was like I'm not drinking, I don't want to drink. Like I don't, I'm not drinking, I haven't drank in a little bit and and so I'm drinking it. I'm like wait a minute, I know that flavor. Like bro, I told you I didn't want to drink any alcohol. And I got a little mad at him. I was like hey, I told you. And he's like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like, hey, you know, I'm like no, forget it, this is yours, you can have it, I'm done, I don't want to drink.

Devin Cummins:

Like I was like really irritated because, not to mention, I've been traveling for a while. I'm tired. Now. I got you me like this other drink and we, we walk for a little bit and I kind of changed my mind. I'm like I don't know if I want to see this stuff, and he, he then wants to get one of those hookahs and I was like no, I don't, I don't smoke.

Devin Cummins:

And so we, we end up getting this conversation about religion for sure, and I tell him about, like, the temples and I show him pictures and I show him and he, you know, he, he was raised jewish and he doesn't believe that someone came down and died for our sins here. And you know, I was, you know I was sharing my testimony and I was sharing my things, and it kind of turned into, instead of going to like a belly dancer place, it turns into, you know, I'm trying to obey the word of wisdom while we're talking about the gospel, essentially, and so we're walking through the streets of Tel Aviv while I'm sharing all this, then we end up heading back, don't get much sleep at all last, you know, two nights ago and end up getting up at about 4 30. He wakes me up at 11 45 and I was like it's time to go. It's 4 30. He was a very sweet guy, big heart. He's. I think he was like, uh, maybe 51, um, but not fully processing properly. I don't think, um, I'm like no man, it's, it's not, it's like 11, it's like four. Go back to bed, like you know, we're going to mess up. So. So, you know, we we end up getting up and uh, um, you know, I pack all my stuff up and we, we head to Jerusalem and, um, what's interesting is, uh, we, we kind of missed the sunrise. The sunrise is like it's at 615. It was like at 550. So we kind of missed it a little bit.

Devin Cummins:

But I got a cool shot and we went to the Wailing Wall and it filled the spirit a whole lot. I felt the spirit coming into Jerusalem. It's a special. Essentially, of course, it's a special place, the Holy Land, and it's where Christ was, all throughout that area. And but when I went to a lot of these specific sites, I didn't feel the spirit.

Devin Cummins:

I went and saw there's different places that you do a transition into this Muslim community as well, and there's lots of armed Israelis you know, border patrol that are there and trying to maintain, make sure they keep the peace, and you know, you got to put your little, check your bags and things like that. And you know, there's so many devout Orthodox Jews and there's so many of these devout denominations and the Muslims don't celebrate what's called Shabbat. So I was there for yesterday for Shabbat I mean, right there smack damagers. I'm going to go there today as well, which is really special and cool because of where I'm going to go, uh. But while I was there yesterday during shabbat very busy, you know very interesting on where to take pictures and where not to, because it is their their holy day um, but, uh.

Devin Cummins:

But we got back to the car and we realized the battery was actually almost dead in the car and he's like I need to make it there by 10.30. Can we go to the charging station? I don't know how we're going to do the charging station thing. We didn't really accommodate for time. Well, he's like well, can you go by 11? I was like no, this is like a 1030. If I need to catch a cab, I will. If I need to catch that cab and it was in front of us then I will. Oh, okay, I was like oh, shoot, I may need to. So I get out and I try to talk to the cab driver and he doesn't speak much English, so he gets out and talks to him. He's like, yeah, he'll be rest of the way to BYU Jerusalem Center and I make it on time.

Devin Cummins:

I'm getting my little pictures before church starts and end up getting asked to give the closing prayer, which is special because I don't remember ever I don't think I've ever given a prayer in a congregation before, like in like elders quorum, sure, but like in church, like in sacrament, no, and so I said the closing prayer and it was very heartfelt and it was very special. You know our view. So you have the pulpit and behind the pulpit all windows and it's overlooking Jerusalem and so you see, like you know, like the rock dome and you know there's like the wall, like you know, it's really, really special. So we're like right there and it was interesting because I was speaking with the I think it was a, they have a branch president and then there was a district president there and and we were talking I was talking about my journey of finding love, light and joy and how I told him.

Devin Cummins:

And this is what's weird is, all these images started flashing into my head of all the interactions I'd even just had that day with the Israeli Defense Force, border Patrol, and like all the marks I leave on people and all the smiles that leave and all the inspiration that people wanted to work out. It's like once we get done with an interaction, there's always like the element of happiness or fun, or you know what I mean. Like and um, and I'd seen this quote a while back saying like if you're, if you can't see, it's almost like if everything seems dark with you, maybe it's because you're the light, and and uh, and so, as I was talking with this district president, I'm like wow, maybe the blessing of seeing the light is because my interactions that I have with all these different people and what I leave with them is that light that I'm able to see, and it's being worked through me, as if God is. God is working through me to these people to like share this light, and he's like yeah, well, maybe you need to see that you have a light about you. I was like that's exactly what I'm saying, though, is that he's been utilizing me to have this light shared with others.

Devin Cummins:

And, seeing the light, I don't need to look around, I just need to be with people and see that there's a connection, that is, a light that I'm having with these people, Because when we leave, like there's smiles and there's there's, and sure Do I have negative interactions, for sure I'm a human being, definitely I'm going to have those forever too.

Devin Cummins:

But, but, but this element of, of seeking light and then realizing it's like a mark that's left on these people by just sharing, and I guess you could say in terms of, of, of loving as people you know, connecting with others and having the hugs and the selfies and the conversations and the smiles and the and and all those things, all these imagery had flashed through, of, of, like that's the light, it's what you're able to pass through you and share with others.

Devin Cummins:

And if you can recognize that, that I don't want to just say positive thing, but if you can recognize that, that Mark that you've left with them, that's like God's Mark, that's his light, that you, that you can share and leave with others. And and I was getting a little emotional sharing that with the district president, cause I was like it was kind of coming all together, but this is what's wild too. I didn't know how I was going to get back to tel aviv, because that's what I'm saying, that's what I'm flying out of, and uh, one of the members just happens to be and he's like hey, if you want I'll do a tour, guide them all for you. I just I'll hook up the members. It's like a five-hour tour we'll go to, we'll go to gethsemane, we'll go to. I think we're going to go to a lot of these very, very historically important sites with Jesus Christ. And he's like I'm going to take you on that tour and I'm going to do it.

Devin Cummins:

Yeah, yeah, I'm actually going to head. I need to head over in about an hour and a half. I got a hotel close to where he's staying, so I'm actually going to get all my stuff together and go over to where he lives, and he's an American but he's stationed here, and I'm going to leave all my stuff and then we're going to. We're going to, you know, leave my big stuff and then we're going to go go see all the hotspots in Jerusalem, and and then I'm going to just play it by ear on how I'm going to get back to Tel Aviv, because I'm moving forward in a one-way valve and it's working out, you know.

Scott Brandley:

Wow, that takes some courage.

Devin Cummins:

Yeah, this whole trip takes If you don't have a testimony like this would be so much. This would be hell. This whole trip would be hell, yeah, but it's like I'm walking one step at a time in this dark and it keeps getting illuminated as I walk. I love that image.

Alisha Coakley:

I love that. Yeah, let us know what next little miracles you run into and what other things you buy from little kids in the streets.

Devin Cummins:

I know I'm such a sucker for that stuff.

Alisha Coakley:

This was actually from one of the Grab an ice cream.

Devin Cummins:

I know, do you see this thing right here? Yeah, this is the israeli police border patrol patch that is so cool.

Devin Cummins:

And they, uh, since I have the carbon unicorn patches, they uh, we were talking about military stuff. They wanted a patch for me. I was like, I don't have any marine corps patches, I just have my business patches. And they wanted them so bad, and so I, I gave, I gave. So they ended up, uh, I gave him that. And then one of them gave me like this little key chain thing. But uh, this, I mean I don't know, like it's kind of wild, because in Vietnam last year this was up in Sapa, uh, the one that said I looked like Peter with uh getting pulled out of the water, she gave, she gave me this little guy.

Alisha Coakley:

That is so neat. So let me ask you I mean, like doing all these travels, I always think to myself like, oh, it would be so cool to go, do all that kind of stuff. Is there a little part of you that is kind of like missing home, like missing being stateside and and just like the things that we have here, even though it's not perfect, even though we're kind of you know, we've got our own craft going on and and whatever else?

Devin Cummins:

like, how are you feeling about, about home, I guess what got me out in the first place is that I I have, without my, the gym community and my church community. I have like it's. People are like I like to spend time alone and things like that. Well, I have spent a lot of time alone, a lot, and it's been very overwhelming at times and so, even though I like the time that I spent by myself, it's very hard and I don't have a tremendous amount of time with my kids. And that gets really hard when you know you have this great weekends and you have these great little experiences, and then it's just you and the house is quiet and it's just kind of gloomy, and then you would start getting reminded of all those feelings that you had five, you know, five months prior, five and a half months, with all my weird experiences that I had, and it makes me feel very isolated, alone, kind of ostracized from the world, and I thought maybe leaving would help me to get out of that, to connect with the world, and I have connected with so many cultures and people.

Devin Cummins:

I think it's one of my necks, it's one of my gifts is I'm able to connect with mankind. I think and, um, you know, muslim, jewish doesn't matter like any shade on your skin, I don't care, like it doesn't matter, Uh, what what matters is my ability to do so and I've tried to learn a greeting and thank you in a lot of languages. I can say it in so many languages. You know, like you know Russian, spanish and Portuguese and Japanese and Chinese, and you know German and you know, and I feel like they're always good conversation starters to bring it together. So do I miss being home? Like on the family aspect, yeah, I make sure that I'm still synced with connecting and sending pictures and things like that. And, matter of fact, I was on the top of the Burj Khalifa and called my dad. I thought it would be special for him to like get that phone call on the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, right?

Scott Brandley:

Yeah.

Devin Cummins:

You know, to check in with him and you know I sent my son some pictures from the top while I was there and just I'm trying to keep people in mind while I'm. But I have such a heavy, tremendous amount of sadness that I'm trying to push through in my life and kind of get past that. Um, I know the way through. You know past stuff is through it and I have been working through so many of these negative feelings and so I feel like, in order for me to maybe enjoy while I'm home, I'm kind of pushing through the war while I'm out here, if that makes sense.

Scott Brandley:

Yeah, I feel like you're. This is the last the two episodes we've done with you. It feels like you are like a work in progress I guess would be the best way to explain it from my perspective. But I love that. You're trying to find, like we said at the beginning, the pursuit. You're trying to find the pursuit of light, love and joy in your life and you're doing it through a way that most of us never actually have the chance to because we get tied down and that we're not brave enough to try, right, I think a lot of us are just too scared to even do it, so it's amazing to see yeah, well, and you and you've pushed some boundaries that most people, especially members of the church, wouldn't, and so it.

Scott Brandley:

You know it's you. You take a different approach to life, to the gospel, and I think that's from your life experience and the things you've gone through. But I love that you can see God, you can see the gospel in your life in the craziest places, and to me that's faith promoting. Yeah absolutely.

Alisha Coakley:

It means a lot. I appreciate promoting yeah. Oh, it means a lot.

Devin Cummins:

I appreciate that.

Alisha Coakley:

Yeah, it reminds me a little bit of we had Daniel Adams on and he talked about kind of going to the fringe, you know, like in his pursuit, Like he had served a mission and done all these things, and then he had this whole experience where he didn't really know where he was at or what he believed. He didn't really know where he was at or what he believed, and so he tried a lot of really, you know, very like going to the fringe is what he calls it Things that are outside of what you would hear in the gospel, that members you know would kind of be like. Oh, but he learned a lot in being that person that went there. Not that he was advocating that everybody needs to go there, Because some people they don't know when to stop and then they fall off the edge and then they're lost and then it's this whole thing. But he was able to use it to bring him back, you know, to help him get re-centered and to find truth and to solidify his testimony.

Alisha Coakley:

And it sounds like there are things that you're learning too, which I think we're all doing that you know, like in our own ways we're all pushing boundaries sometimes and we're being the sheep that keep jumping into the crevices over and over again, Like we all do that in our own ways, and so it's just neat that you're here and that you're like sharing that with us, you know, but I Devin, I love and I'm going to, I'm going to take this with me. I love when you said that. You said that sometimes Heavenly Father just says okay, stop and tell me what you see. Stop and tell me what you see and how. You mentioned that you're always thinking about how is this story, how is right now, going to fit into a story? I love that perspective because I think it kind of can take you out of the funk and be like, okay, this is just that part that makes it exciting, right?

Alisha Coakley:

This is the part that makes the readers want to turn the next page because we got to find out what happens next and I just I love that. I'm going to take that, I'm going to teach it to my kids too. It's just like stop and tell me what you see. You see you know.

Devin Cummins:

I appreciate that. When I was in the airport and I ended up kneeling down and praying after I got, like my my next flight booked, I got my hotel in the same place I was staying at. I got another night with them booked like everything flowed through and people would be like, why God, why do I go through this? And I'm like, thank you God. Thank you Cause I got myself into this mess.

Devin Cummins:

Thanks for helping me get out of it, like you know yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, he's like all right, let me help you out, and I just want to put, like I'm. You know, scott, you'd mentioned some things regarding like you know, I, I'm doing a very unique thing right now. I don't I was the only foreigner. I feel like I was the only foreigner. I feel like I was the only foreigner in Jerusalem yesterday, both what I saw I definitely the only American, but I mean I I didn't see anybody that looked like they were tourists, and so there's oh yeah.

Alisha Coakley:

It doesn't make people want to go.

Devin Cummins:

I got pretty interrogated to come here as well. Like I had my stuff, I I had all sorts of questions. They went through my passport, asked me about countries. I went in the past, um, what I did? Like they asked about my contacts. They asked they took all my stuff, like well, behind, like where I couldn't see, and swapped all the areas for, like, uh, gunpowder, explosive material, all that stuff, like I. And then, and then I got taken to the ticket counter.

Devin Cummins:

I mean like it was pretty invasive because of all that are constantly, but there's this one piece, sorry, that just came into my mind. You know people keep talking about like, oh, everybody's always fighting each other and everything. Well, there's like 130, 160 people still missing, israelis missing from Hamas, those Palestinians right, the extreme organization of the Palestinians, hamas. And you know what I observed was people singing and laughing and dancing and in Tel Aviv and families and music and people riding bikes and scooters and people were living life. And you know, next to my hotel there's also a bomb shelter. So I mean, you know there's, you know this war that we're in, but like they're experiencing joy in their life and it's pretty awesome. You know it's pretty amazing and you know, while in Jerusalem you know I was around, you know there was like all these little kids on the Muslim side going to to a christian church, there's um, muslims and jews alike, like another um, like in between, like the damascus damascus gate and the whaling wall and this whole section in between. There's all these cultures, you know, and everybody is living amongst each other and it's fine. Now do we have armed border patrol in areas making sure that peace is maintained? Yes, but you know the media doesn't show you that people are also getting along and that people are laughing and people are doing good exchanges and people are doing business with one another, and you know.

Devin Cummins:

But there is definitely a lot of people that are still missing and it breaks my heart because, uh, but so sorry and that was kind of a tangent. But, scott, to your mark, with a lot of people won't be able a lot. Anybody can travel. Let me just put it out there if you can get a passport, you can go um.

Devin Cummins:

A lot of people limiting beliefs, let them not travel, including my own parents. They're like I don't, I would never be able to do that. Okay, you're right, I wouldn't be able to do that. Like my dad is very successful and he has a lot of cool things. Because, like I don't think I'd ever be able to, it's like, based on what you've done in your life, you can get a plane ticket.

Devin Cummins:

You know what I mean, and so, and then my mom, you know, same thing, like, oh, I'll never be able to, and it's like not with that attitude, like you know, you know, like like you don't need to travel the world to figure this out. I'm in a unique place because of what I've gone through in my life, that I'm going to extreme measures, because I'm kind of an extreme human being with a lot of my internal conflict and things like that, with some things. But I want people to know that you don't need to travel the world to figure this out. The thing is is there's two elements and it's doing things you don't want to, but that you know they're good. So that's, that's a huge piece and and having faith with that, and you know there's already done.

Alisha Coakley:

Right, If we're here, we're part of the two thirds that already did that.

Devin Cummins:

Oh, for real, yeah, yeah, we all took the ultimate leap of faith, right, and if you're already like, you're like that doesn't feel like good temporally, but I know it's good for me spiritually, okay. Or you know what Working out doesn't feel good, okay. Is it good for you though? Yeah, well, you know, and so maybe find something that seems not.

Alisha Coakley:

I'll go to the dang gym, geez Right. After I have some cotton candy tonight now.

Devin Cummins:

Cotton, candy, of all things, that really is my vice.

Alisha Coakley:

I say I could be drinking, okay, but cotton candy is my.

Devin Cummins:

Your vice.

Alisha Coakley:

I don't know why you really got a bar with a big cone, with a big fluffed cone.

Devin Cummins:

That's funny. No, you know, all these things that I've been doing have been in leaps of faith, of like not knowing what the next step is. Tomorrow I leave to Egypt. Doing have been in leaps of faith, of like not knowing what the next step is. Uh, tomorrow I leave to egypt and nice. And so, guys, that's I. I have to go through immigration with that. I have a visa, I got for that. Before I went back to the airport to then fly finally to dubai, when I was having all the vietnamese issue, you know, with the at the, at the, with the visa and all that, for I had so much anxiety the morning of going to the airport. I'm like I don't want to feel like when I was having all the Vietnamese issue, you know, with the visa and all that, for I had so much anxiety the morning of going to the airport. I'm like I don't want to feel like this again, you know what.

Devin Cummins:

But if I don't go to the airport, I don't have to feel like this, I don't have to worry about getting denied or paying for another ticket or being stressed to stay here. I'm like, yeah, you don't have to possibly experience those again or stay here. And then you're trapped, like how about you just roll the dice, take the chance of maybe experiencing that again and just go through it? And it was actually streamlined. I went right through. Everything was like super, but I had all this stress beforehand because of what I went through, that I didn't want it. I didn't. You know, I was stressed to move forward, but I'm like no Devin, the only way is forward. So just move anyway.

Devin Cummins:

And and here I am now passed away, now in Jerusalem, heading back to Tel Aviv tonight and pushing out to Egypt tomorrow. You know what I mean? I'm like you got to keep moving forward and and and so. But okay, so the rest of the itinerary, we can close this out. But uh, after egypt, I'm heading up to greece and uh, and then I'll be pushing over to, uh, rome and taking a train to venice back to rome and then the train back to rome flying up to madrid. Uh, mind you, I got that flight for 15 bucks.

Devin Cummins:

Just to let you know, there's things that are possible. It was 40 and I had a $25 credit, so what, what it's possible to do with like I can do a whole little thing on my points and finding deals and all this stuff. But there is ways to travel that if you want to do it, get a passport, do it. It's just it's, I'm leaving proof, it's possible. So so from Madrid, I'm taking a train to Barcelona and then from Barcelona I'm flying to Paris. So out of Paris I'm going to take a train to Munich, germany, and then from Munich, germany, I'm heading back home. So it's five weeks constantly moving. Wow.

Alisha Coakley:

Well, I cannot wait to see more of your footage and to just hear more of your stories and stuff like that. I think it's going to be really, really awesome and it's it's definitely inspiring. I mean, here it is. It's it's midnight my time and I'm kind of like oh, like I wonder, I wonder where I could go, like I'm kind of the wheels are starting to turn Like but I got dang kids, so how do I? Maybe I just got to leave them behind?

Devin Cummins:

I'll send them to.

Alisha Coakley:

Scott's house. That's what I'll do. I'll send them to Scott's house.

Devin Cummins:

I'll go travel for a while, do a five day you can do seven day you can do, you can do.

Alisha Coakley:

You know four days, you know.

Devin Cummins:

Yeah.

Alisha Coakley:

Yeah Well, I'm really excited for you and I'm going to challenge you. If you feel so inclined to take this challenge, when you go to guest seminary today, leave the stuff that is eating you up there, just drop it. Leave it there. Try to do that, you know, and just see what happens, because maybe the rest of your trip doesn't have to have any more darkness and doesn't have to have any more struggle, and it can just be light and you know, just be completely yoked with the Savior, and so that's my challenge to you Wow, challenge accepted.

Alisha Coakley:

Okay, yeah, cool, yoked with the savior, and so that's my challenge to you wow challenge accepted so okay, yeah, cool any last thoughts devon before you go.

Scott Brandley:

Before you go to gethsemane today, uh felt the spirit on that.

Devin Cummins:

So thanks, uh no, I feel like this is the the right route. We made this work. You guys are awesome for for making this possible. It dawned on me yesterday. I was like I should probably reach out to Alisha and see if this is possible. You crossed my mind a few, Both. You know. You guys in my mind were doing this for a bit on the street.

Devin Cummins:

And I didn't know when would be the time to do it, because we talked about maybe doing it while out here. It didn't dawn on me that this jerusalem would be the place to do this. Yeah, so so I I appreciate you guys. No, I I appreciate that you guys are part of this journey too. You know, I love it, clearly, clearly here we are.

Alisha Coakley:

I love it. Oh so cool. Well, devon, I hope that you have a fantastic trip and that everything you know just comes together and continues to help you know, do what is that you're doing, which is obviously bringing some light to the world? So I think that's, I think it's going to be a good thing for you.

Devin Cummins:

I appreciate that, alisha. Thanks Scott.

Alisha Coakley:

Well, thank you for coming on again. We appreciate you coming on here and sharing all of your stories and your insights and stuff with us and just kind of teaching us a way to live a little more courageously and to do the hard a little bit better. We really appreciate you To our listeners too, of course. We love you guys, we love that you guys tune in and we just hope that you know today, as you guys listen to Devin's story, that you guys got something out of it as well. Um, you know, maybe, maybe you're feeling an inkling to be a little more courageous and to to bring some light to the people who are just right there in your own home or your own community or your own town, wherever you're at or maybe it's time for you to, you know, dust off your passport or get one for the first time ever.

Alisha Coakley:

I don't have one yet, and so maybe it's maybe it's time, yeah, yeah, definitely to be safe. So thank you guys all for tuning in and make sure that you guys do your five second missionary work. Hit that share button and let's get to Devin's episode out there for everybody else.

Scott Brandley:

Yep, awesome. Thanks again, devin, and thanks everybody, and we will talk to you next week. Take care have a good one.

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Scott Brandley

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Alisha Coakley

Co-host