The Book of Mormon and Fried Squirrel

I am officially a Tennessian! A member found out that none of us had ever had squirrel before and he was determined to change that! So he gave us two young squirrels that he had caught earlier this week and we fried ourselves up some squirrel!    

This week has been fantabulously successful! By sharing the Book of Mormon more, we have seen so many little miracles and have been able to recognize Heavenly Father's hand in the work much more clearly. 

On Thursday morning, Sister Starks, Sister Burch and I were all sitting at the table in our pjs eating breakfast when we got a text from Carolyn, one of the people we are teaching. She asked if we could meet in 1/2 an hour!! So we scrambled to finish getting ourselves ready and presentable for the day and started our day out in the best possible way. Carolyn is married to a recent convert, and though his testimony is strong and bright, she is determined to feel it for herself. She has been struggling a little bit with the apostasy and usually asks us for specific scriptures that will prove this or that. In the lesson we had on Thursday morning, we really emphasized the role that the Book of Mormon should play in her seeking truth. 

The Book of Mormon really is the keystone to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As we come to know of its truthfulness, everything else falls into place. Sometimes Joseph Smith is accused of being a false prophet. Well, Jesus Christ taught us that we shall know them by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20). Isn't the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith's fruit? So is it a good fruit or an evil fruit? I encourage each and every one of you, already baptized or not, just like we asked Carolyn, to really look at where you and the Book of Mormon stand. There are multiple promises within the Book of Mormon that challenge us as readers to sincerely and faithfully ask our Father in Heaven if the Book of Mormon is true. We are promised that if we have faith in our Savior and are sincere in our asking, the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of it unto us (Moroni 10:3-5; Introduction paragraphs 8-9).

One of my favorite things to share as a missionary is the Holy Ghost. I don’t want people to take my word for anything I am teaching, but I encourage them to listen and feel for the Holy Ghost. He is the only one who can truly witness truth to our hearts in a way we will feel and recognize. So listen for him! 

I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is true. It was written for us. I can't even begin to describe how much peace and comfort it brings me even/especially during difficult moments. I love my Savior, I know He lives. I love my mission and the people I get to serve. I love my family and I love the rest of yuns too!! 

-Sister Shumway

Fried Squirrel

Our Trio!

12 Book of Mormons and 16 Dogs

Yep. You read right. . . We went to someone's house this week, and they had 16 DOGS!!!! AAAHHHHH!!!! It was crazy. Quite the experience.

This week was fantastically successful and we passed out 12 Book of Mormons to people!!! Now we just have to work on going back to actually have them let us teach lessons. 

Not much to say. . . . . . Thanks for being so supportive fam/friends!

Three Musketeers 

Let it Snow!

It snowed YET AGAIN! This much snow is unheard of this early in the winter (is it even technically winter yet?) for Tennessee! But I love it. I don’t have very much time today, so I'll just say a few things and send some fun pictures. 

We had interviews on Friday and President helped me to really understand where my focus and energy need be at this time. 

My companions and I have been extra extra prayerful about the places we go to knock on doors this weekend and as a result, we found 4 new people who want to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, passed out 5 Book of Mormons, and almost got struck by lighting! (Ok that last one probably isn't so related to being prayerful).

I woke up on Friday with the happiest, most joyful feeling I think I've ever experienced. I LOVE being a missionary for my Savior. He has done everything for me and He has asked me to give Him just a little, so for these 18 months, I want to give Him my everything. I love the Lord, I love my mission, and I love all of you!!!!

-Sister Shumway 

The Happiest Place on Earth

I am so sorry that I didn't write last week. . . Not only for all y'all sakes, but for mine too -- It has been a busy, crazy, wonderful two weeks and the only reason I didn't send one last week was because we were at the temple!!!!!! Yay!!! 

Last, last Tuesday it snowed!!! It was a crazy random cold front that gave a whopping 1-inch of snow (which I guess is a lot for Tennessee)! We went tracting in the snow and slipped down all the hills covered in ice. . . we only slipped down a few peoples' driveways, so it was all good haha. 

You can also bet that with the snow, our little tiny missionary Christmas tree came out as well!! I know it's not even thanksgiving yet, but we got a really good head start on the best time of the year! 

We went to visit a lady we had tracted into last week, and the member that was driving us, backed into the ditch and we got stuck there for another 40 minutes with the lady! It's funny how the Lord works!! 

Exciting news: Transfers were this week, and Sister Starks and I are both staying in Jamestown! BUT we got a third! We are now in a trio with Sister Burch. I was really nervous at first about how the trio dynamic would work, but so far so fantastic!! We spend a LOT of time laughing and it has been a wonderful week!! I can't wait to see what the rest of the transfer brings.

On Saturday we got to go to the temple. It was the most wonderful day I've had in a long time. We were able to do a little bit of everything there, and it was my first time participating in the sealing ordinances. They were so beautiful, and the love in that sacred room was overwhelming. I know that it is exactly what I want for my future family. I learned so much in the temple on Saturday and I will never forget the powerful Spirit is that resides in the House of the Lord. At Zone Conference a few weeks ago, we learned about how your home is second in holiness only to the temple. How powerful is that?! I want my future home to be worthy of the Spirit's presence because I know how much that influence will bless the lives and futures of my children. I am so grateful for the wonderful home I was raised in and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for the best family in this world!! 

I love you all and I promise to be more consistent with my letters.

-Sister Shumway

Temple trip with my trio

How Much Wood Could Two Sisters Chuck?

How much wood could two sisters chuck if the sisters could chuck wood?

I'll tell you. . . . we chucked wood for three straight hours. That's how much. We got to go to a Ward service project where we split and stacked three trees worth of wood for one of the families in the ward. I loved having the opportunity to work hard with so many other people and all for such a wonderful service opportunity! I may have gotten splinters and been completely sore for the next two days, but it was so fulfilling. 

We had a lesson on Monday night with the wife of one of the Ward's recent converts. Tracy was baptized in July after reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon, he came to the Bishop and asked to be baptized! His testimony is so strong and he recognizes the Spirit so well. He is a big, tall, mountain man through and through, like Steve Jenkins but with a long white beard to top it off! We expected our lesson on Monday night to be with just him, since his wife is usually at work, and we were going to spend the time answering his questions about temple and family history work and studying Doctrine and Covenants section 128 with him. When we got to the church, however, he told us that his wife was just getting off of work and was on her way to join us for the lesson!!! So Sister Starks and I quickly changed our lesson plan and decided to focus the time on Caroly, Tracy's wife. When she got to the lesson, she was very stand-offish and acted as if she would rather be anywhere else. As we began to answer her questions and did our best to teach clearly and calmly the difficult questions she had, she began to open up to us. As we concluded our lesson we helped her recognize the Spirit that was so strong for each of us as we bore our testimonies of the prophet Joseph Smith and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. 

Carolyn received it all wonderfully and although she isn't ready for baptism yet, she opened way up to us, came to church yesterday, and even invited us to spend Thanksgiving dinner with her and Tracy! 

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Because the Book of Mormon is true, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God. We may not be able to PROVE any of this, but it can't be DISPROVED either, and that's the way God meant it to be. We are not meant to walk by sight, we are asked to walk by faith. This morning I read the account of Jacob's encounter with Sherem. As Sherem demanded a sign from God to prove His existence, I learned how important it is for us, as God's children to trust in Him, to experiment upon His words, to take our steps forward in faith. "Signs flow from faith. Their chief purpose is to bless those already converted. Signs are sacred grants of divine favor reserved for the faithful and concerning which the recipients are commanded not to boast." -Bruce R. McConkie 

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to Earth in this dispensation. These are the fullness of times. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God. I know these things not because I have been given some glorious sign or vision, but because I have taken steps of faith to leave my family for 18 months and serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength. I am so blessed to have been called to serve my Lord and share what I know to be true. 

I love the Lord, I love what He has done with me, and I love all yuns too!!

The last District Council of the Transfer

Power-ups with the Sister Training Leaders

Dogs and Country Roads

Hello friends and family!! I am so sorry that there wasn’t a letter last week. I kind of dropped the ball and just didn't write one. Y'all probably appreciated a break from my long windedness. 

I am growing to love Jamestown! It is very different from Sevierville but I love it in a completely new way. Tracting in Jamestown is 85% walking on sketchy country roads with no sidewalk and 15% knocking on actual doors and talking to people. Yesterday we were walking down one of these roads and for about half of a mile we had five dogs and a cat following us around. It was so funny!! 

We were pretty sad about one of ladies we have been teaching this week. She was supposed to be baptized on Saturday but she is still struggling with a smoking addiction so the baptism didn't happen. But she got married instead! That was quite a surprise for us because she hadn't told us that she was dating or even engaged. But her husband is very supportive of her and will hopefully be a positive influence as she continues to rely on the Savior and tackle her roadblocks.

I know that all things really are possible through Christ who strengthens us! I have been able to change myself and grow in ways I didn't think I could and I know that I owe it all to my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I really can't imagine where I would be without Him. In district meeting we do role-plays to practice teaching gospel principles, and usually they tell us to be ourselves without the gospel when we play the person being taught. I haven't been able to do that though, because I am literally NO ONE without the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I love knowing that Christ is my center. He is my rock. 

Alma 26:36-37: 

"36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

I love the Lord, I love my mission, and I love all yuns!!!! 

-Sister Shumway 

Sister Shumway and Sister Starks

Sister Sharks

What a great week! Transfer week always feels like a month long because I have been in two areas with two different companions and Sevierville feels like forever ago, even though I was just there on Wednesday. But Jamestown is wonderful!!!! 

My new companion is Sister Starks! Together, we are Sister Sharks haha! We have been having so much fun and working so hard, I am excited for this transfer!

My zone is in a different time zone from the rest of the mission, so I gained an hour! It has been pretty great, not gonna lie, when your body thinks your sleeping in till 7:30 and it's actually 6:30. 

There was another Sister Shumway who served in this ward a few years ago, so every time I introduced myself on Sunday they asked me if she was my sister. One lady we have on date for baptism was found and taught by this Sister Shumway so I think it would be a tribute to Charles Shumway for a Shumway to have found her and a Shumway to get her to the waters of Baptism. The only thing holding her back is a smoking addiction. She has been smoking since she was 7 years old, and missionaries have been working with her for years to help her overcome this obstacle. But we know that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us! 

I love the Lord, I love Tennessee, I love the work, and I love all yuns!

Love, Sister Shumway 

Sister Rackley and I found some pretty funny signs on our last day in Sevierville. Tender mercy for what would have been a really sad day!

Sister Starks and I bobbing for apples at the Ward Fall Harvest Party 

Consistently and Resiliently Happy

What a week!! I don't even know where to start. I guess the beginning would probably be good.

We had powerups (switch companions for 24 hours) with the Sister training leaders on Tuesday! I love what an opportunity it is to learn even more by working with another missionary who might do things a little differently. Not to mention we have the best STLs. 

Transfer calls were on Saturday!!!! Sadly, I will be leaving Sevierville and heading up towards Kentucky to Jamestown, Tennessee! My new companion is going to be Sister Starks. I will miss this beautiful place and all of it's funny tourist attractions, but the Lord needs me elsewhere.

Something that I did not anticipate coming to the south, was the large population of Hispanic, non-English speakers who live in Tennessee. About half of our ward is from Honduras and the programs for church are all printed in both Spanish and English! Well, we received a referral from the South Carolina mission for a lady who doesn't speak English, and neither Sister Rackley nor me are Hermanas. Luckily, we have the best ward ever and one of the ladies in the ward was willing to come translate the lesson for us! It was by far the most wonderful experience this week. Even if I couldn't always understand what was being said, or the testimony that our Sister in the ward shared, I felt the Spirit testifying of truth to me. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all His children, and He is not going to let something as trivial as different languages get in the way of bringing us the joy and peace that come with having faith in the Savior. 

And how about General Conference?! What a way to finish off the week!! My favorite talk was by L. Todd Budge in the Saturday afternoon session. I couldn't help but relate to his missionary son who wrote home about being the most consistently and resiliently happy. I might not be sick in an African medical center, but this mission has not been a piece of cake so far either. I know that as I have learned to more fully rely on my Savior and the enabling power of His Atonement, I have found Him to be the source of the joy and love that I have never felt in this magnitude before. 

I love this gospel and I know that Russell M. Nelson is the living prophet on the earth today. He has been called by God to guide and counsel God's children on earth. I have one suggestion that I know I have fallen short of in the past. Don't let General Conference just have been this weekend. We were given so much guidance in the past two days, there is no way any of us could remember all of it after only hearing it once. Go back and keep listening! I promise that you will keep learning! It is especially important for us to follow the prophet with exactness in these letter days. Do what he asks you to. Even if it is as simple as prayerfully studying D&C 25.

I love the Lord and I love all y'all!!

Sister Shumway 

What to do When the Maintenance Guy Comes

When the super nice Russian maintenance guy comes to fix the toilet, we, as Sister Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are not allowed to be in the apartment with him. So . . . . .we get to stand outside the door awkwardly and he has to keep going back and forth between the front door and the bathroom to ask us questions! I'm pretty sure he thought we were complete weirdos… well, we kind of are. 

We got to teach the restoration to an 8-year-old boy in the ward whose parents want him to take the lessons before he is baptized. I absolutely love teaching children! They seem to be able to understand the Love our Savior and Heavenly Father have for us so much better than any adults. They come to realize so much quicker that Heavenly Father does what He does because He loves us. To them, it is simple. And I understand so much better why Christ taught that we should be as little children. 

This week is most likely going to be my last full week in Sevierville because transfer calls are on Saturday and President told me that I will most likely be leaving :( I have to come to love this ward and area so much over the past twelve weeks, but I know that the Lord has great things in store no matter where I go! 

I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in church yesterday, and I wanted to share it with all of you as well. I know that my Heavenly Father and my Savior love me more than I could ever comprehend in this life. I know that Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for every single person. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. He did it not only so that I could have the opportunity to return to live with my Father in Heaven, but also so that He could understand me. He knows how I feel, He knows what I need, and He knows how to help me. I rely on Him every day. I am far from perfect, all of us are, but I know that only through the Savior, Jesus Christ, will we be able to live our best lives. I can't describe the immense amount of joy and peace I have felt by drawing nearer to my God. I love Him and I know that He loves me.

I love you all!!! Have a great week and a blessed day ;) 

Sister Shumway

I love my companion!

Gramma Bear made us cartoons!

Southern pronunciation of "wash"

Because I'm HAPPY!

Lots of laughs this week! Lots of tears too, but more importantly: lots of laughs!!!

This wasn’t the most eventful of weeks, the work is going pretty slow. This is a difficult season for a tourist area because all of the locals who work with the tourists (which is just about everyone) are on vacation now that all the tourists are finally gone. 

We met two deaf people this week! I wished I'd had Chloe, Ethan, Olivia, or Aunt Stacy, anyone who could've signed for us!!!! But it was great experience trying to communicate with each other.  

We had interviews with President Pickett on Friday :D He told me that sometimes the work is going to be slow. It could be that Heavenly Father is trying to teach me how to fine-tune my ability to work by faith. There is a talk that all of the missionaries love called the Riccardi Letter that tells the story of the world's hardest working missionary, and the work was even slow for him sometimes too. I'll be honest with y'all, it has been frustrating and sad. But you gotta love agency. 

Our wonderful District leader, Elder Sowby gave the perfect training on Friday about finding joy in the work. I have no doubt that the reason I am happier now than I have ever been before is because I am serving the Lord. There is no other reason that being 2500 miles away from home and everybody I know would make me so happy.

It's also no coincidence that my Book of Mormon reading this week has been all of the "happiness chapters" in Alma :) If you ever want to know how to be happy, just read Alma 26-29. 

Miracles do happen!! We came home on Saturday night to the most wonderful package from the most wonderful Gramma Bear!!! There's nothing better to boost your spirits than Gluten free pretzels and the sweetest letter from Gramma Bear! 

I love the Lord, I love my mission, I love the scriptures, and I love all y'all!!

Sister Shumway

P.S.! The new Book of Mormon videos are out, and 10/10 would recommend watching!!!! And not just because Nephi is beautiful, they are super powerful and literally bring the scriptures to life!!! 

I found Jojo's street! (I miss her!)

The most beautiful clouds I've ever seen!

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn!

Guys, I LOVE My Mission!

This week started out pretty slow. It just seemed like no one we talked to was interested or cared about the message and testimonies we have to share. Luckily, Wednesday was Zone Conference! And there's nothing more motivating than a pep-talk from President Pickett!! 

His overall message to us was to keep our expectations high and distractions low. I think it was so important for me to realize that distractions don’t have to be evil to be effective. I also loved one of the trainings we had about pushing ourselves to be better. We might be doing good, but there's always room for us to be doing better. "If good enough isn't your best, then only your best should be good enough."

So with our spiritual boost, we pushed forward, and miracles happened! 

We got a text from the Zone leaders on Thursday asking about a lady that they used to teach and who had moved into our area a few months ago. We looked up her record, and the previous missionaries hadn't been able to find her because the address was written wrong in area book. Sister Rackley and I spent almost 20 minutes looking at any and every street in Pigeon Forge that could possibly be the intended address. We finally found a promising address, and when we got there, it was a street that we had felt prompted to tract about a week ago, but didn't because the area was a little sketchy and there wasn't anywhere to safely/legally park the car. When we got to the door, no one was home BUT in the window, she had a Book of Mormon pass along card facing out! We are so grateful for the Lord's guidance so far and we can’t wait to finally meet Robin! We know that Heavenly Father has great things in store for her and won't let the silly mistakes that us 19-year-old missionaries make get in the way. ;) 

Sister Rackley caught a pretty bad cold on Saturday, but she was determined to keep working, and I am amazed at how strong and willing to work for the Lord she is! It is amazing to see how the Lord blesses you for your efforts because we found another woman who was fascinated by the fact that God has called a prophet to lead His children today. We taught the whole restoration on her doorstep and she drank it in! We invited her to watch General Conference with us and she said she wouldn't miss it!

In church yesterday we learned a lot about personal conversion. It reminded me of a thought that Sister Hansen shared with our MTC district: "You can't invite others to come unto Christ unless you're already there." 

I used to worry about being able to love the Lord. I knew what He had done for me, and I knew that He loved me, but love is a strong emotion and it doesn't just happen because you know some facts about a someone you have never personally seen or heard or met. I knew that I should love my Savior, but I just didn't understand how. It scared me. But I have learned so much. I want the world to know that I love my Savior Jesus Christ with all my heart. 

1 Nephi 11:17, 22-23

Alma 26:16

Sorry this email was so long!! But let's end on a fun note:

Why did all the Lamanites have sore legs?

-Because of all the knee fights!!! 

Sorry. I love all y'all!!

Sister Shumway 

While we were tracting, a guy gave us each a baby aloe vera plant!

I love my companion!

Beautiful Tennessee sunset

BYU vs UT

Not the most eventful week. . . . But still good!

This past weekend, BYU came out to play against UT, and there were about 375 people in church! More than half of them were just visiting for the game! That's great, right? Sure! Except when you're the one playing organ this Sunday because Sister Carriere is out of town!!!  Needless to say, music was a little rough on Sunday, but we survived. 

We did a lot of tracting and met some wonderful people who are excited to learn more about the gospel. 

I have learned a big lesson from Sister Rackley this week. We were out tracting after P-day last Monday, and I wasn't feeling right. It's not like I was feeling sick or anything, just unsettled. I knew something was off. I kept pushing it off as my own unwillingness to be out there tracting after talking with my family and I was determined to push through. Sister Rackley stopped and had the courage to tell me she wasn’t feeling right about the street we were on either. I really admire how in tune and confident she is with the promptings she receives from the Spirit. We decided to pray about another location and found two new people who were interested in learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that as we receive promptings and warnings from the Spirit, we have to have the courage to both acknowledge them and act on them.

I have never been more aware of the joy, love, peace, comfort that the presence of the Holy Ghost brings to my life. I want everyone to know that I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that I am exactly where I need to be at this time, and I would not want to be anywhere else or trade the experiences I am having for anything else in the world. 

I love my Savior, I love the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I love Tennessee, I love my companion, and I love you all!

Sister Shumway

My wonderful companion!

Shrackumwayley!

Transfer week! It was kind of super crazy and has felt like it was a month long. But we made it!!!! I loved getting to see all the sisters I came out with, but to be honest, the best part was probably seeing all the new missionaries and realizing that I have one whole transfer under my belt! Ha! Only 12 more to go!  

I LOVE Sister Rackley! I mean, it's only been a grand total of four days, but they have been a good four days. She is so funny, great at drawing/painting/doodling, and has a beautiful singing voice! In fact, we sort of accidentally and impulsively volunteered ourselves as a musical number for Zone Conference next week, and have been regretting it since haha! We even came up with our own companionship name: Shrackumwayley!!!!!!! It is going to be a wonderful transfer, I can already tell.

In each of the lessons we have taught the Spirit has been so strong. I can’t wait for everything she has to teach me  

We got to teach the most wonderful couple this week. They have been prepared by the Lord to hear the gospel at this exact time in their lives. It has been a miracle and a blessing. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but sometimes His ways are pretty darn clear. The father of this young family actually grew up in Palmyra New York! In Joseph Smith's home town! Whaaaaaaaat? One of his high school buddies was a member of the church and set a wonderful example for him as he was growing up. Now they have been trying to find a good church for their family, and have been seeking guidance from Heavenly Father to go where He wants them to go. So he called his old high school buddy who told him to call us! We have been blown away at how much faith they have and how well they recognize what the Lord is telling them. We taught them about the restoration and left them with a copy of the Book of Mormon. The lesson was probably one the most powerful and Spirit led lessons I've ever experienced. I love the Holy Ghost and I cannot believe how empty my spirit had been before leaving home. The Spirit really does fill the holes your heart that you didn’t even realize were there. 

On a less happy note, one of the people we have been teaching left his Book of Mormon on the porch with a note saying he no longer wanted to meet with us. It broke my heart because I know how the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives because of how much it has blessed mine. I honestly have no idea where I would be without it. Sister Rackley says we just need put him back in the Lord's area book. 

I love my mission, I love the people here in Sevier county, I love my Savior and His gospel, I love the plan of salvation that He has for us, and I love the joy and peace from receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that even if life is hard, I am where I need to be, and doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do. 

I want to remind y'all that this is a life of progression and NOT of perfection!

I love yuns and I'll see y'all next week!

Sister Shumway :) 

"And What's Your Name, Mary?"

Happy two-month mark!!!!! Sheesh! Has it really been 2 months already?

This week started off with the BEST southern storm I have ever seen!! (granted I have only seen about three so far). The lighting is constant and the thunder is so deep and loud and lasting, and the rain just pours out of the sky - I LOVE IT!!!!  

While we were tracting this week, we met this super sweet lady and she told us her name was Mary. Towards the end of the conversation, as she was starting to shoo us off her porch, Sister Jacobson got a little carried away with the tracting dialogue and re-asked her what her name was, but remembered it as she asked so she ended up saying: "What's your name, Mary? Oh! It's Mary!" That lady laughed so hard, it was hilarious! She laughed for at least three minutes straight right there on her doorstep. At least we were able to make her day with laughter if not with the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

Anyways, I've been saving the best for last:  TRANSFER CALLS!!!!!!!!!!! 

It was so exciting. The anticipation was the best part, honestly. Sister Jacobson was super stressed about it and I have never seen someone pace so much before. She just walked in circles around the apartment the whole time. 

So. Here it is. The big news: I am . . . . . . 

Staying here!

WHEW! I didn't think we'd ever make it! Yup, six more weeks in Sevierville. :) But Sister Jacobson is leaving me and I am getting a new companion for my second half of training! Her name is Sister Rackley, and I don’t know anything about her, but I'm excited! :) AND I get to be designated driver! Woot woot! Got my TIWI card and everything, I'm official!

I love the work that I have the privilege of being a part of here in the Tennessee Knoxville mission. I can't wait to push myself further and farther than I've ever gone before. I have learned very personally this week that my Savior loves me. I've always believed it but now I know it. 

I love all y'all!!! Talk to you next week and yuns have a good one!

-Sister Shumway 

P.S. I love the letters from everyone! It helps to know how much love and support is cheering me on from home :)

Power-ups with the Sister Training Leaders

We found adorable baby ducks! But nobody answered the door so we couldn't hold them

Typical Southern weather?

"Sister Subway!"

This week started off with splits! (Not the gymnastics kind 'cause there's no way I could ever do those) we went up to Maryville (pronounced "mur-ih-vull") to help our Sister Training Leaders out with some finding in their area. Sister Farmer and I were tracting together and getting to know each other, and we realized that we already have a mutual friend at home! Shout out to Kate Hardman!!! I love how small this world is, especially in the church. I really love sister Farmer and I can't wait for Power-ups (24 hour exchanges in our area) which start tonight. :) 

Wednesday was the absolute most amazing miracle filled day EVER. We left the apartment to start the day off with some good ol' tracting. The very first door we knock on is a sweet couple with their baby who are both considerably interested in the message we have to share about Christ's church being restored, and they invited us back. Not just for a lesson, but they offered to feed us dinner!! We had only met them 2 minutes before! I know that the Spirit is powerful and real, and has been preparing these two hearts to recognize truth when it knocked on their door. None of the other doors even opened to us on the rest of that street.

Later, we were privileged to teach a wonderful woman we met last week about the plan of Salvation. As we began the lesson with our pre-earth life with Heavenly Father, she began to get excited and said "This all feels so familiar!" Now in preach my gospel, they talk about people like this. But I always thought that was like, best-case-scenario, and didn't ever really happen. That whole lesson, she just drank everything in and hung onto every last word we said. I just couldn't believe how ready for the gospel she was! The whole time I was thinking to myself: "I've read about people like you! And you're real!"

Later that night, we taught the restoration to another lady we met last week. After sharing Joseph Smith's first vision account, we gave her a moment to process all the information and she said "Well I have to believe it. Why wouldn't God do what He has been doing since the Old Testament times?" It makes my heart soar when people can recognize the simplicity and truth that carry the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To make Wednesday even better, we had dinner with the Strickland's. I don't even know how to begin describing how funny they are. Brother Strickland kept calling me "Sister Subway" because he couldn't remember Shumway. They both have the most authentic southern accents and we spent half of dinner learning "southern sayings" from them. 

To top Wednesday off, Julia called us on the way home and told us that her fiancé was finally ready to pick a date for the wedding! We are SO excited for them and Julia is over the moon excited for her baptism! 

Needless to say, Wednesday felt like it was a week long with everything that happened.

Unfortunately, not every day is Wednesday. In fact, Friday was the worst day I've had on the mission. Every single one of our appointments cancelled on us, did not respond to calls and texts, and weren't home when we knocked on their door. We spent five hours of what we were planning on being lessons, tracting instead. It is so frustrating when not only do you not get to teach any of the lessons you planned for these individuals, but all those hours of tracting led to zero new people to teach. 

But it's okay! There's bound to be some days that are better than others. And apparently Wednesdays that are WAY better than Fridays haha. At least the week ended well. Sister Jacobson and I got to teach Sunday School! For those of you who went to Sunday School this week and remember the topic, you can imagine how silly it seems to have the two youngest people in the room who probably know the least about it leading the discussion. I'll just say that I am very grateful for how well people participated and contributed to the lesson and overall, I think it went pretty well. :) I LOVE teaching though, and Sister Jacobson told me she didn't enjoy it at all haha - I guess it's not for everyone!

This past week has been filled to the brim with testimony building experiences and I can feel and see the changes that are starting to happen as I give myself and my will the Lord. I know there is so much for me to learn and I know that as I strive to be worthy of the Holy Ghost's presence, I will be able to not only teach the powerful truths of this gospel, but I will be learning just as much. I don’t think that made very much sense, and I'm not so good with words, but I know that it's true. 

I love you all!!! And yun's have a good week!

Sister Shumway 

To Cough or Not to Cough

Almost one month in the mission field! That's actually kind of crazy. It has gone by so fast.

Anyways, I promised an eventful week! Here it is:

New missionary follow up meeting! Sister Jacobson and I got to drive up to Farragut and on the way there, we drove through Knoxville! She was SO excited when she saw the sun sphere because she's been in the Tennessee Knoxville mission for 17 months and had never been to Knoxville! It was so fun to see all the missionaries I came out with, I didn't really realize how much I missed my MTC companions until I saw them both. On the way back, we listened to a devotional called "Conversion of a Catholic Priest" by Bill Carpenter. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend listening to it. I loved every second of it! It is such a powerful story.

We had a lot of our appointments cancel on us this week, but we did manage to commit Tim to come to church on Sunday, and he came!! Tim is 82 years old, is very hard of hearing, and loves to tease us in every way he can. I love it; he makes me laugh so much!! He is determined to read the entire Book of Mormon before he will commit to baptism, but he is realizing the effect it is having on his life and feeling the peace from his daily study of it. He is already half way through Alma! I was so happy to see him show up at church yesterday, we sat down with him and I explained the reverence of the Sacrament, and how it provided an opportunity for him to recommit himself to Heavenly Father and think about things he could be doing better. We made it through about half the Sacrament successfully and reverently, but then Tim learned over and dove into a not-so-quiet monologue about the first governor of Sevier county whose last name was originally French and spelled with an X but no one could figure out how to say it so he switched it to Sevier. (I had told him the origins of Shumway last week and apparently that's what he was thinking about during Sacrament haha!). Sister Jacobson and I were trying so hard not to laugh! I'm pretty sure the entire congregation learned about the French origins of the name Sevier. 

2nd hour of church was a whole other adventure. I've been fighting a little bit of a cold this weekend and I woke up yesterday morning with the stuffiest nose I think I've ever had and a throat as dry as Nevada. So as I'm sitting in relief society, I start to feel this cough coming on. I HATE coughing in public, especially when it sounds like a barking seal, and you know that all the ladies in there are going to worry about you being sick. I couldn't just step out for a moment to grab some water because we were sitting in the very center of our row. No escape! So I decided to try holding it in. You know what? Not a good idea. You see: holding in a cough is not only extremely difficult, but it sets off a viscous cycle that spirals out of control quite quickly. Having made the mistake of holding in my cough, my eyes began to water from the effort and border-line painfulness of it, which causes my already stuffy nose to become even stuffier as the water from my eyes has nowhere else to go. I then no longer had the use of my nose for air, but if I breathe through my mouth, the coughing urge becomes 10 times worse! I came to a crossroads. I could either: embarrass myself miserably by exploding with awful noises of sickness, OR I could sit there and suffocate until class was over or I passed out, whichever came first. I was already turning purple at this point so I resolved to just suffocate. Well, here I am writing all of this to you, so I clearly didn't die, but I honestly can't say how I survived except by a miracle from God. 

Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon! 

I have loved this month and a half of my mission with all of its ups and downs. I know that as time goes on, those ups and downs will get deeper and steeper, but as long as my faith is firm in my Savior (which it most definitely is, don't worry) I will be able to learn and grow from it all. 

Sister Shumway 

Water bottles that Mom sent this week