Discombobulated

July 29, 2019

So. Much. Tracting. I think it is so interesting to learn about so many different people and their life stories in such a short amount of time. It has opened my eyes to each of the amazing and complicated lives of the people all around us, people we pass by every day, and never think about what they have done, what they are doing, and where they are going. And our Heavenly Father knows and loves every single one of us.

This week, I'll tell you about Julia (not her actual name). Julia is a self referral! She requested a copy of the book of Mormon, and met the missionaries when they delivered it to her down in Newport. The Elders in that area began teaching her lessons, and she drank in every word. She had to move up to Gatlinburg (which is in our area) and Sister Jacobson and I have had the privilege of continuing to work with her. She has now been taught all the lessons and has a baptismal date for August 14th, but there is one hold up: she is living with her boyfriend who doesn't want to get married. Let me set up the picture a little clearer: this is the funniest couple I have ever seen. Julia is a 100% Tennessian. She is in her mid-late 60's, has that wonderfully thick southern accent, loves Jesus, is missing half her teeth, and is the sweetest, happiest person you'll see all day. Her boyfriend is from Russia. He speaks pretty limited English, is super standoffish, not at all religious, and is probably 10 years younger than Julia. They make each other so happy and it is so funny to me! However, it does make me sad that we have this roadblock. Julia loves the gospel and knows it is true. She found the Saints book on the gospel library app and LOVES it. She drinks it in and never has any questions about it! She is so ready to be baptized, but can't move out of her boyfriend's house because she has nowhere else to go, and no one else to take care of her (she has some health issues that require daily assistance). Sister Jacobson and I are praying for a miracle. On Wednesday, I am going to share Nephi's experience in getting the plates from Laban, and how we can know that as long as we are determined to obey the Lord's commandments, He will provide a way. 

I GOT MY FIRST DOOR SLAMMED IN MY FACE!!! I'm officially a real missionary :D 

Yesterday, we went to visit the sweetest old lady. She is a 93 year old member of the ward who lives in an assisted living facility. I was expecting this little old lady to be hard of hearing, hard to understand, and bedridden. But when we got there, she was toddling around the hallway, has perfect hearing, perfect vision, and is SO FUNNY! Her favorite word is "discombobulated" and she used it in at least every other sentence  She told us that the facility is too boring for her, and she just has to laugh at herself to stay happy. She is a first generation American,  both her parents are from Japan, and when she was 12, she had to live in the Japanese internment camps in Idaho for 5 years! So sad. She found out about the church later in her life, and said that it has been the biggest blessing. She loves her little family and has pictures of her 1 grandson all over her room. She is the cutest little old lady I have ever met and I want to be just like her when I get there!

I love this gospel and I know that it is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God to help fully restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love it more and more every time I read it. I know that my Heavenly Father and my Savior both know me and love me and with their help, I can do anything! I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I love this gospel, and I love the work I get to do. 

I love you all!!!!! 

Sister Shumway

Why you build your foundation on the rock of our redeemer and not the hills of Tennessee.

The Gospel's True, the Book is Blue, and Moroni is on the Ball!

July 22, 2019

I am IN LOVE with Tennessee, and it's only been six days. I didn't know I could love so many complete strangers. Even the lady who threatened to call the Sheriff on us, or the one who yelled at us to "get the hell off" her porch  Most of the time the people are so kind to us. I am amazed at how many crazy life stories I've heard just this week! And I can't wait to hear 17 more months of them.

It is SO GREEN here! Everything just drips with plants. Literally. The plants have plants growing on them! There's this ivy stuff called "Kutzu" (idk how to spell it) but it grows up the trees and then starts to hang down the branches until it reaches the ground again. It is the COOLEST looking thing ever. I love it. 

I always thought that the super sticky feeling you get at the coast was from salt in the air or something. NOPE. It's humidity. So I get to feel hot and sticky all the time - but I kind of love it. It's so humid here that there is, no joke, sea weed growing out of the ground. That super slimy green stuff that grows in all the tidepools in the Oregon coast: all over the ground! Kind of nasty, I almost slipped and fell in it a few times, yikes! 

Best experience this week: 

Yesterday, sister Jacobson and I were trying to get our 20 hours of weekly tracting in, and we were right at the end, last house on the street. The lady who answered the door was acting very timid and stand offish. After we introduced ourselves she burst into tears and I asked her if she needed a hug. Sobbing into my shoulder, she told us that her husband had passed away in November, and she has been living by herself in his house, and I think she said something about people trying to take the house away from her and she's been doing her best to keep it (I couldn't understand everything she said through the tears). She has an amazing testimony that her Heavenly Father loves her and she told us that she knows that He sent us to her door to let her know that He hears her and loves her. We left her with a plan of salvation pamphlet, our number, the church address, and a prayer. We are going back to teach her a full lesson on Thursday. Her broken heart and contrite spirit are a beautiful testimony to me that God has been preparing her for this Gospel and I know that He did send us to her door yesterday. There is no such thing as coincidence. I love this work and this gospel of Jesus Christ. I an so blessed to have been raised surrounded by the testimonies of so many amazing people to guide me to where I am today. 

I love you all so much!!! 

-Sister Shumway

2 Weeks Down, 76 to Go!

July 9, 2019

One of my companions got proposed to! In the MTC! By one of the Elders in our zone!!! Sooo awkward. He hadn't ever talked to her before and came up to her on Wednesday, told her that the Spirit told him they needed to get married when they got home and that they should keep in touch through email while on their missions - it has been the most awkward experience because we see him all the time!!! 

Also this week: I was wearing my Johansen reunion t-shirt one morning during exercise time, and a Sister Johansen came running up all excited about finding a cousin! So now there are four Shumways and at least two Johansen cousins here! 

The Fourth of July was kind of a let down, especially compared to grandpa's patio of fire. But they let us stay up late to watch the stadium of fire fireworks, but the room that our whole zone was assigned to had only one window, where most other zones had whole walls of glass, so I didn't get to see much, but it was still fun to celebrate. 

My favorite quote from this week is "You can't invite people to come unto Christ unless you're already there." That just stuck with me and I thought I'd share it with all y'all.

Love, 

Sister Shumway 

First P-day!

July 2, 2019

Hello!!


It's only been one week but SO MUCH has happened! On Wednesday,  Steve drove me and Lyss (his granddaughter going to serve in Peru in August and basically my favorite human) down to provide where we met up with aunt Carol and lunch at Culver's before going to the MTC - yum! 

At 1:15 we drove I to the mtc and they guide your car down to a parking garage where there are a whole bunch of usher missionaries waiting to greet us. One sister ran out to meet the car as we were pulling my suitcases out of the car. She asked me what my name was and I tried to intrude myself as "Sister Shumway" but I just started crying!! Embarrassing. Totally embarrassing. Oh well. Life goes on. 

After saying goodbye to Steve and lyss, and getting all checked in and receiving my name tags, I got to meet my district, and was supposed to meet my companion but apparently she had some last minute health concerns so I was companionless for the first few hours! Luckily I have the best district and another companionship adopted me. Sister Albright is from Vegas and Sister Kraus is from Denver CO, and all three of us were at BYU this year! We are all going to Tennessee and I am so excited to be serving with them!! 

Since then, our district has gotten really close and we are always having so much fun! I have two MTC teachers. They are VERY different people. Brother Draper looks and acts just like Tanner with the energy of Julia and the passion for the gospel of Dad. Not exaggerating.  He is SO funny to watch! He tells the most hilarious stories too.  Brother Gee is MUCH more mellow and grounded. I feel the spirit much more with him but I learn WAY more doctrine with brother Draper. 

Also, I have seen so many familiar faces here! At least TEN kids from my BYU YSA ward are here, and I saw Elder Able and Elder Grant. And Katie Schwarz is coming either this Wednesday or next. 

Yesterday was the first day that I had a kind of hard time. It was going great and we had an "appointment" with an investor. The lesson didn't go at all like we had planned but that's what happens when they have have needs that you didn't know about and the Spirit steers you in a different direction. It went great until the end I was trying to bear my testimony about eternal families and God's love for us and I lost it. It was so embarrassing and I know how awful of a crier I am. I can't talk and cry at the same time and once I start crying I CANT STOP for the life of me. I hate it so much and it makes me so sad that this is causing me to be hesitant and fearful about sharing my testimony. I was in a bad mood for the rest of the day, on the verge of tears throughout the last class and just embarrassed. I can already tell that this is a struggle I am going to have to learn to overcome and grow from. I know that the Lord can help me make my weakness into a strength, but right now I feel like it is a huge hindrance to me and I wish I could just wish it away. 

anyways, I'll get off my soap box. 

I love you all so much! Cant wait to let you know how this next week goes.

-Sister Shumway

Made it to the MTC!

June 26, 2019

I made it to the mtc!! Currently companionless due to some error, idk. But my district has missionaries going to Tennessee, Everet Washington, and Boston. It's a good group and I'm excited to be working with them :) 

Love you! And I'll keep you posted 

Sister Shumway