The Anticipation is Killing Me!

 This week I saw very clearly the miracle of conversation happening with some of the people we are teaching. I know with my whole being that I am not the one who convinces or converts people to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost does! It was when our friends were studying on their own when they had some of their most Spiritual experiences. When they took action on what we shared with them and decided to try it for themselves. I cannot describe how happy it makes me feel when they are so excited to tell us about the experiences they had studying the Book of Mormon or how much their testimony grew when they found themselves defending their faith to other people. Bearing a testimony they didn't realize they had! It was such a happy week!!!! I love these people with my entire heart and soul! 

 

We got to soak up the last little bit of warm weather this week before the chill really sets in. I am so grateful for this beautiful planet that God has blessed us so generously with. As much as I want to go to Space, there is breathtaking beauty all around us, sometimes I just have to open my eyes a little bit more to see it. 

 

Okay. This week wasn't super eventful, but NEXT week will be the BEST WEEK OF MAH LIFE  so far. I'm sure there are even better weeks in the future, but ya know, time will tell. Next week will consist of exchanges with the sister training leaders, interviews with President Graham, A MAGNIFICENT TRIP TO THE TEMPLE when we get to spend two nights in the mission home, and a baptism. I LITERALLY CANNOT CONTAIN MYSELF. 

 

So. Stay tuned. 

 

I love the Lord so very much!!!! I hope y'all know that I mean it! 

 

-Sister Shumway 

Life's a filet of fish... uh... yes it is!

 I've had that song stuck in my head all week, probably because life IS a happy song and I do have everything I need right in front of me. 

 

So sorry about not sending an email last week! Our mission has officially entered phase 2 which means we can go into members homes for brief, socially distanced and masked visits, as well as teach in people's home AND gather as districts on P-days again!!! So last Monday was way too much fun to write an email. But now I have 2 whole weeks to catch y'all up on! 

 

I don't normally share a lot about the people we are teaching, (I think it takes waaaaay too much explaining to understand all of their backgrounds and progress, so I usually just skip it) but our friend Chris needs prayers! He was introduced to us by a less active member of the branch because he was not feeling the Spirit at his church and felt that he needed direction in his life. Since then he has gained a beautiful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and has sacrificed so much to prepare himself for baptism. We are so proud of him and his progress! He is trying to overcome a smoking addiction right now and we would really appreciate it if you kept him in your prayers this week. He has made a lot of progress this past week and just needs one more push to completely quit! 

 

HOW AMAZING WAS CONFERENCE?! Wow. I am so grateful for the living Prophet and Apostles. My favorite quote from conference was from Rebecca M. Craven's talk. She said, "I hope I have changed since yesterday." How amazing is it that change is possible? And even more miraculous: change for the better! Change that brings you CLOSER to God! Change that lasts! We have an indescribable gift from God called the Atonement of Jesus Christ which is the reason change is possible. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to change! Mosiah 3:19 describes just some of the qualities that we should strive to obtain by changing our natural man into a saint through the Atonement of Christ. With a list like that, it's gonna take a while! But God knows that and because He teaches us line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, it will take some time. We must be diligent in changing a little bit every day. I have seen change in myself, it's pretty gradual but it's definitely there. I am eternally thankful for the Atoning sacrifice of my Savior Jesus Christ that has made that change possible. And because I want to continue growing closer to Him, I hope I have changed since yesterday.  

 

On Thursday we went to go visit one of our friends who hasn't been answering our phone calls, and it was actually the first time I've met him in person (lol it's the last week of the transfer! #gratefulfortechnology). He is absolutely hilarious!! He introduced himself to me as "The Reverend Leroy Brown of the church of what's happenin' Brothuh!!" It is so interesting to me that he knows the church is true. He believes it all (he called Porter Rockwell one of his heroes! Never thought I'd be talking about modern-day Samson with an investigator). The only thing that he is letting stop him from uniting with Christ's church is his beer and tobacco. It makes me so sad! But how often do we do that in slightly less obvious ways? We let just that one show or just this one kind of music get in the way of allowing the Spirit to fill our lives more abundantly. The Lord usually asks us to sacrifice the thing we least want to let go. For Abraham it was Isaac. What is the Lord asking you to give up for Him? 

 

We had transfer calls on Saturday! Nothing happened to me and Sister Foster, we both get to stay here in Brevard! 

 

I love this work so very much. I know that it is His work and moves forward no matter what happens to the world. I found a quote that I really love this week: "When God gave you a calling He already factored in your stupidity." He knows us! And STILL trusts us! I love this work, I love you all, and I love the Lord!

 

-Sister Shumway 

The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning

 I didn't think it was possible, but this week was even faster than last!! It's starting to get scary how fast time is flying! We had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders and Zone Conference this week. Both of which are ALWAYS good. 

 

I have been feeling so very blessed this week, but I don't really have any particular stories as to why. We have been finding new people to teach and it seems like we are greeted with another miracle every day. 

 

There was a member family who invited us to have dinner with them at a little lookout they have and I didn't realize how much I missed Summer until I was roasting a hot dog over a fire! The view was breathtaking and I am so extremely grateful for the beautiful earth God has created for us. 

 

Another reason I have felt so especially blessed this week is the knowledge of this gospel that we are SO blessed with. For the perfect Plan of Salvation, for the Restoration of Christ's church with its organization and order that make so much possible, for the scriptures that have helped me come to know my Savior more than anything else could have. Most importantly, for the knowledge I have of who Jesus Christ is and what He did for me. I know He lives!! 

 

I love this life so much! I love you all, and I love the Lord.

 

-Sister Shumway 

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

 We had quite the rainstorm this week! On Thursday morning we woke up to the pouring rain. Which isn't totally abnormal for NC, but it didn't let up for hours. It was probably 6:00PM by the time it finally stopped!! Luckily the flooding wasn't too bad for our little Brevard and everyone has found ways to get around the roads that were underwater.

 

We had another surprise on Thursday too! Interviews with President Graham!! We didn't find that out until Wednesday night! Communication in the mission is sub-par, but we get things figured out! As always, President Graham answered a lot of my questions, but this time was especially significant to me. Just the night before I had offered up the desires and questions of my heart, but didn't feel or hear an answer right then. Well, in interviews the very next day, without knowing about this prayer or the questions I'd asked my Heavenly Father, President Graham very directly and specifically answered them. I know my Heavenly Father is aware of me. I know that He answers prayers. I know that He loves me. He is just as aware and has just as much love for each and every on of you as well! If you haven't talked to Him lately, please do! He wants to hear from you!

 

We are seeing miracles around us every day here in Brevard, and the biggest blessing is how busy we've been! We have put in an extra effort to find people to teach and the Lord has blessed us with opportunities! I've met so many new people this week, and I love them all!!!!!!!!! 

 

I absolutely love being a full-time missionary for the Lord. There is nothing like it! I love the work, I love North Carolina, I love these people, and I love all y'all! And I love the Lord! 

 

-Sister Shumway 

Seniors and White Squirrels!

 Hello from North Carolina! As of Wednesday I am now in the absolutely gorgeous state of NC. It is BEAUTIFUL. It reminds me of the Oregon coast with all the fog and evergreens, but it's way more hilly and, believe it or not, the roads are waaay windier. Brevard is amazing and I love Sister Foster. We have been working hard and having fun! The little branch we are in is mostly older people because this is a retirement community, but they are all so funny and so sweet to us. But it also means church is back to zoom. Thank you for technology!

 

The last day in Lebanon was so sad but so busy and we saw a TON of miracles. I know that the Lord is blessing us all the time. I was feeling especially grateful for technology on Tuesday because we taught so many lessons, and if it weren't for Facebook or zoom, none of them would have been able to happen, even without this whole social distancing thing! 

 

One of our friends here in Brevard that we are teaching is Chris. He is so wonderful and working towards baptism! The only setback is his smoking addiction. On Sunday Chris joined us at a member's home for zoom church and the sacrament, and afterwards received a priesthood blessing to help him with his determination to quit. The Spirit was so strong as we heard such a unique a beautiful promise to Chris from His Heavenly Father. I know that the Priesthood is real!! It has blessed my life in more ways than I could ever imagine. I am GRATEFUL!! 

 

My heart goes out to my little valley back in Oregon. I want you all to know that my heart has been poured out in prayers for each and every one of those families and individuals who lost their homes. The fire has devastated so much and from the video I saw, those streets that I know so well looked so strange and foreign to me. But my sadness has been overwhelmed by the gratitude I feel for this gospel and for the church's organization that will help us all get back on our feet and for the miracles that saved so many people from physical harm. I know that Heavenly Father was with you all for every single moment. I know that He loves you!! We had the opportunity to listen to a face to face with Elder Rasband yesterday and he asked a question that has really stuck with me. I would like to ask all of you the same question, especially in this moment that seems so devastating. Why do you choose to stay?

 

Take this question however you need to right now. But I've been able to apply it to a few different areas of my life. I choose to stay out here on the mission because I have found joy in the gospel and I want to share it! I choose to stay close to the Lord because I have found the peace and love that the world cannot offer through Him. I choose to stay a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I know that it is the Lord's church. We are led by the Lord himself through a living Prophet on the earth today. I wouldn't trade the world for that. 

 

I love you all and I will continue to pray for the Rogue valley!! I love Tennessee, I love North Carolina, I love this gospel and I love the Lord. 

 

-Sister Shumway 

SO Much Just Happened!

 We have had so many good lessons this week I don't even know where to start! For the sake of time I will just tell you about a referral we received from the Nashville missionaries: the Elders who are serving over there had been "phone tracting" (calling local numbers from the phone book to find new people to teach) and they called this lady named Gina. Gina normally never answers numbers she doesn't recognize, but she answered when the Elders called and as soon as they introduced themselves she knew that God had sent them to her! She lives in our area so the Elders gave us her number and address and we went over to see her! As we talked she shared some concerns and sadness she has been experiencing with the loss of one of her children. Her son had not been making good choices in his life and he was walking down a dark and sinful path when he passed away. As any missionaries would, Sister Pelky and I began teaching her about the Spirit World and how much opportunity our loving Heavenly Father gives us to repent and return to Him! Through her tears she told us that she had never believed in a God who would condemn so many of His children to a fiery hell to burn for eternity. I felt the Spirit testifying to me that the Plan of Salvation that I have been learning since I was a baby is REAL. God loves us! He wants His children back!! And He has given us the scriptures, temples, our families, and a living prophet on the earth today to help us get back!!! There is so much hope in this life and it is ALL because of the Savior Jesus Christ! 

 

In other news, we had transfer calls on Saturday!!! This Tuesday the TKM will be welcoming 41 new missionaries, and only 4 of them are sisters. With all the Sisters going home, there aren't enough of us to keep all the sister areas open!! Soo Both sister Pelky and I are leaving this beloved Lebanon and being replaced with not one, but TWO sets of Elders, because clearly, they are going to have a hard time keeping up with us! 

 

IM GOING TO NORTH CAROLINA!!!! I will be in the country's largest retirement community: Brevard! Brevard is also famous for their white squirrels. 

 

I really love you all, and I really really love the Lord. 

 

-Sister Shumway

Frank the Turtle

 Hello my wonderful family and friends! This week was a good one! I cannot believe how fast it FLEW by...... I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it's Monday already. 

 

We had a sad moment this week when one of the part member families we have been working with told us they were all going to be stepping away from the church. Talk about heartbreak! It is SO important that we all continue to participate in church, especially during this Covid season. We cannot afford to miss the Sacrament, we cannot afford to get careless or lazy with our scripture study, or with our personal prayers, or with our ministering opportunities! We cannot afford to lose the Spirit in our homes. One of my favorite talks has a quote that says "if you are complacent with your covenants, you must be complicit with the consequences." 

 

On the brighter side of the week, the other family we have been working with has been making such amazing progress! The last member of the family to be baptized is going to make that covenant with Heavenly Father this week and we are all so happy for them!

 

We also found a turtle named Frank this week. He's pretty funny! 

 

I love you all so much!!!! I love this work, I love Tennessee, and I love the Lord!

 

-Sister Shumway