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