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
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
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