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

The Book of Mormon and Fried Squirrel

I am officially a Tennessian! A member found out that none of us had ever had squirrel before and he was determined to change that! So he gave us two young squirrels that he had caught earlier this week and we fried ourselves up some squirrel!    

This week has been fantabulously successful! By sharing the Book of Mormon more, we have seen so many little miracles and have been able to recognize Heavenly Father's hand in the work much more clearly. 

On Thursday morning, Sister Starks, Sister Burch and I were all sitting at the table in our pjs eating breakfast when we got a text from Carolyn, one of the people we are teaching. She asked if we could meet in 1/2 an hour!! So we scrambled to finish getting ourselves ready and presentable for the day and started our day out in the best possible way. Carolyn is married to a recent convert, and though his testimony is strong and bright, she is determined to feel it for herself. She has been struggling a little bit with the apostasy and usually asks us for specific scriptures that will prove this or that. In the lesson we had on Thursday morning, we really emphasized the role that the Book of Mormon should play in her seeking truth. 

The Book of Mormon really is the keystone to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As we come to know of its truthfulness, everything else falls into place. Sometimes Joseph Smith is accused of being a false prophet. Well, Jesus Christ taught us that we shall know them by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20). Isn't the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith's fruit? So is it a good fruit or an evil fruit? I encourage each and every one of you, already baptized or not, just like we asked Carolyn, to really look at where you and the Book of Mormon stand. There are multiple promises within the Book of Mormon that challenge us as readers to sincerely and faithfully ask our Father in Heaven if the Book of Mormon is true. We are promised that if we have faith in our Savior and are sincere in our asking, the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of it unto us (Moroni 10:3-5; Introduction paragraphs 8-9).

One of my favorite things to share as a missionary is the Holy Ghost. I don’t want people to take my word for anything I am teaching, but I encourage them to listen and feel for the Holy Ghost. He is the only one who can truly witness truth to our hearts in a way we will feel and recognize. So listen for him! 

I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is true. It was written for us. I can't even begin to describe how much peace and comfort it brings me even/especially during difficult moments. I love my Savior, I know He lives. I love my mission and the people I get to serve. I love my family and I love the rest of yuns too!! 

-Sister Shumway

Fried Squirrel

Our Trio!

12 Book of Mormons and 16 Dogs

Yep. You read right. . . We went to someone's house this week, and they had 16 DOGS!!!! AAAHHHHH!!!! It was crazy. Quite the experience.

This week was fantastically successful and we passed out 12 Book of Mormons to people!!! Now we just have to work on going back to actually have them let us teach lessons. 

Not much to say. . . . . . Thanks for being so supportive fam/friends!

Three Musketeers 

Let it Snow!

It snowed YET AGAIN! This much snow is unheard of this early in the winter (is it even technically winter yet?) for Tennessee! But I love it. I don’t have very much time today, so I'll just say a few things and send some fun pictures. 

We had interviews on Friday and President helped me to really understand where my focus and energy need be at this time. 

My companions and I have been extra extra prayerful about the places we go to knock on doors this weekend and as a result, we found 4 new people who want to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, passed out 5 Book of Mormons, and almost got struck by lighting! (Ok that last one probably isn't so related to being prayerful).

I woke up on Friday with the happiest, most joyful feeling I think I've ever experienced. I LOVE being a missionary for my Savior. He has done everything for me and He has asked me to give Him just a little, so for these 18 months, I want to give Him my everything. I love the Lord, I love my mission, and I love all of you!!!!

-Sister Shumway 

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