It Finally Decided to be January

Hey y'all! 

This week was AWESOME. We had zone conference, powerups, AND a baptism! Quite the week! Also, I guess January finally figured out that it's not supposed to be in the high 60’s so it dropped to the 30’s literally over night. Yikes. 

Zone conference was amazing and the Spirit was so strong. On my mission, I have discovered that 9 times out of 10, when I feel the Spirit, it is a humbling call to action. And zone conference was definitely that. I need to be setting the bar higher and pushing myself to be better all the time. One of the quotes shared at ZC was "How will you ever know your potential if you don't raise the bar?" Don't shoot for the minimum. I need to set my sights higher and I realize that it is time to take action. 

We had powerups (basically exchanges but we both stay in the same area) right after zone conference with the sister training leaders. We saw SO MANY miracles in just 24 hours! The night we got there, Sister Lambson and I went to teach a lady and by the time we left, she had told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and that she wants to baptized as soon as possible! Wow! It is amazing to watch the Gospel of Jesus Christ light up people's lives. Also, sister Lambson is amazing and I want to be just like her when I grow up!

We also had a Baptism on Saturday! Scott Crawford's family have all been baptized over the past year. . . . Except for him. He didn't have the testimony that he saw the rest of his family had, until just recently! He approached us and expressed his desire to be baptized so that he could be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity to his wife! It all happened so quickly and six days later he was in the water, making his first covenants with the Lord. The Spirit was, again, powerful and beautiful. 

I don’t have the words to express how much I love the work that I have been called to do. I know that my Savior is aware of and loves every single individual here in Tennessee (and everywhere else in the world) and I wish so deeply that I could accurately communicate that to the people we talk to every day. Unfortunately, I'm not so good at the communicating part, but that's why we have the Holy Ghost! I love this work, I love the Lord, and I love all y'all!!!!

-Sister Shumway

The Cow Named Arnold and a Tornado Warning

Hello family and friends!!!! We have had quite the week! I am growing to love Loudon more and more every day. . . .  even if it does smell like sausage all the time (there's a nasty sausage-skin factory in the middle of Loudon and it is NAST). 

While we were out tracting this week, we met a big, fat bull who we named Arnold. He was really sweet and such a good listener! We also went out tracting during a tornado watch/warning cause why not? Gotta reach that finding goal! LOL needless to say. . . . . we got SOAKED. 

We had so much success and so many beautiful lessons this week. I won't bore you with all the details, but I do want to testify that I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God just as much as the Holy Bible is. I love both dearly and I thank my Heavenly Father for the peace and joy that they bring to my life. I have cherished the witnesses I received from the Holy Ghost in each of our lessons about the truth that I am so blessed with. I love what Hermana Hall said the other day: "Heavenly Father is too good to us! We don't deserve Him!" He really is way too good to us. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. I make mistakes every. Single. Day. And I can't imagine how dark and sad life would be if we didn't have a Savior to rely on and seek forgiveness from. 

Thanks for all the support and love!! I love all y'all!   

-Sister Shumway 

Sister Shumway and Hermana Hall

Happy New Year Y'all! 2020!

Heyyo!! Since I didn't get to wish all y'all a happy new year on Wednesday, consider this your belated happy new year!!! Woop Woop!!! 2020!! It’s so exciting! 

Well, as of Jan. 1, 2020, I am officially serving in Loudon Tennessee :) It is quite the place! I am already in love with the people and the Branch (not even a Ward, but get this: we have TWO sets of missionaries for it!). There are so many wonderful people and they just absolutely love to talk. Let me tell you, I have never spent so many hours just smiling and nodding as they ramble on and on and on and onnnnnnnnn. But I love it because the stories and experiences they all share just make my heart grow for them even more! 

Funny story: on Friday, Hermana Hall and I got up and we both though it was Saturday. And we continued to think it was Saturday ALL DAY. Neither of us realized it was only Friday for the ENTIRE DAY. We were so worried because we didn't think we had enough time to reach our weekly goal for finding hours, so we worked like crazy alllllllllll day. . . . And then when we got home, I happened to glance at the calendar in passing and when we saw that it was only Friday, we both DIED. HAHAHAHAHHA LOL!!! So we basically had two Saturdays this week, AND we way exceeded our weekly finding goal! 

As it was fast Sunday this week, I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the branch and I wouldn’t want yuns to feel left out:

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints IS Christ's restored church on the earth today. We have the fullness of His gospel on the earth because He has brought forth the Book of Mormon, blessed us with living prophets, and given us the responsibility of the priesthood. I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of this church. His church. I know that He also knows each and every single one of us individually. With this knowledge, I know that He also guides and directs our lives through our church callings, daily challenges, the people in our lives, the feelings and emotions we experience, the places we go, all to help us grow, change, and most importantly become what He knows we can become. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I cherish the knowledge I have that He loves me. I can't even begin to imagine how empty my life would be without the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love my mission! I love my family! I love the Lord!

-Sister Shumway

What a Wonderful Transfer

Can you believe it's been 6 months?! I CAN'T.  This has been the fastest six weeks of my life! We had transfer calls on Saturday and I am sad to say that I will be leaving Jamestown and my dearest Sister Burch :( 

I am headed to Louden Tennessee! To be with Hermana Hall!!! She is actually from the same town that Sheralyn and Mitchell had been living in until this week, so we have such a fun connection already! I am so excited for the great transfer ahead! 

I am so sorry I didn't email last week (LOL no I'm not), we had a beautiful Christmas zone conference and on the way home we stopped by a lady's home who we met a week or so ago, and she let us teach her about the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Spirit was POWERFUL. I am so grateful to have him as my companion in addition to the marvelous Starks and Burch. 

The ward also had their Christmas party last week and we were so blessed to witness the amazing Bishop Cook attempt a cartwheel. . . . Somewhat successfully, believe it or not. We also had a family of hillbillies move a couch into our apartment the same night. Needless to say, it was quite the day! 

Christmas was amazing!!!! Thank you to everyone who helped it feel so magical! I love my Savior and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for sending Him to save me. (<-if that didn't sound Baptist, I don’t know what does).

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Sister Starks on Friday. She has completed her mission and headed home to Idaho to be with her family for New Years! 

This past transfer has been fantastic and the next transfer is set up to be fantabulous so life is GOOOOOD. 

I love everything! I am so grateful for my Savior, my companions, my family, my friends, the gospel, my trials, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ!!! 

-Sister Shumway