Last week was so good and I knew I should have written a weekly for it, but I never got around to it. So brace yourselves for this 2-in-one weekly email!!!
We had interviews with President Graham last last Thursday. They were a little bit different because President Graham had SO much going on this transfer and 240 missionaries to interview that he just didn't have the time to travel all around the mission, so interviews were on zoom! That's better than not having them at all - technology is such a blessing!! At first I thought it wasn't going to be as good, but I was quickly corrected. I am so grateful for my mission President. He knows me much better than I had been giving him credit for. I kind of assumed I'd be lost in the crowd (240 missionaries is a LOT). But he knew exactly what to say to me and I feel loved, understood, and valued by him. He is an amazing mission President!! I know that every missionary probably says this, but in my case it's actually true: I HAVE THE BEST MISSION PRESIDENT IN THE WORLD!
How amazing is our prophet??? I think he is pretty fantastic. His message to the world was literally a life changing experience to me. I learned so much! From his actual message to the experiences of applying myself 100% to his challenge. It was the first time in my life that I got to hear a prophet of God pray. I learned something critical (to me at least). Do you realize that the prophet prays the SAME way you and I do? He communicates with God in just as simple of a way as we do. God loves all of us, from the prophet to the homeless guy outside of Walmart, we all get to communicate with Him through prayer. I have found so much joy this week as I've focused on gratitude and been flooded by all the other grateful people on social media. I LOVE IT!!!!
This video posted by President Nelson also led to a huge miracle!! Sister Foster and I had just sent a friend request to a guy on Facebook, we will call him Joe. Sister Foster had shared President Nelson's message to her page and Joe watched it and took the challenge and even shared the video to his own page! (And this was all before we had really started a conversation with him!). And then he messaged US asking US if we could teach him about the church!!!!! Ummm YES! We met him the very next day and taught him the message of the restoration and I can honestly say that I have never met someone SO prepared to receive and embrace the restored gospel! He came to church on Sunday and after the service we taught him God's plan of Happiness and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was so excited about it all and so eager to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost that he wanted to be baptized that afternoon! Unfortunately, he actually doesn't live full-time in Brevard, he just "happened" to be in town on some business the week we reached out. God is in the details!!! So we connected him with the missionaries down in Georgia where he does live, and they have continued to teach him and now he is going to be baptized on December 5th! My heart is so happy at how much joy he has found in the past two weeks. He has a LOT on his plate right now, but he told us that he is happiest he's ever been because he now knows the purpose of his life. We love Joe!!!!!!
Sister Foster and I also had a plethora of service opportunities this week! (I am grateful for the person who came up with the word plethora. It means a lot). On Thanksgiving we got to volunteer at the local soup kitchen and help feed all the families in need of a hot meal. It was by far my happiest and most exhausting Thanksgiving!! There were about 5 other service projects that popped up throughout this weekend last and we have been SO happy helping meet people's needs. We even got members involved in helping and Sister Foster and make it on the front page of the newspaper!! Hahaha. I absolutely love serving people. It makes me happier than I know how to describe.
We also had transfer calls this week!! With 4 weeks left on my mission, I figured they would leave me here in Brevard, but no!!! I'm going back to Tennessee! Go Vols!!!! I will be serving in the Poplar Creek ward and I am SO excited because there are two sets of sisters living in that apartment and I have been in great need of more socializing. IT'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN!!!
I love this mission SO much you guys!!! It is the most wonderful thing that's happened to me. I love North Carolina, I love Tennessee, I love my mission President, I love you all, but most importantly, I LOVE THE LORD!!!!
-Sister Shumway
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