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