Because I'm HAPPY!

Lots of laughs this week! Lots of tears too, but more importantly: lots of laughs!!!

This wasn’t the most eventful of weeks, the work is going pretty slow. This is a difficult season for a tourist area because all of the locals who work with the tourists (which is just about everyone) are on vacation now that all the tourists are finally gone. 

We met two deaf people this week! I wished I'd had Chloe, Ethan, Olivia, or Aunt Stacy, anyone who could've signed for us!!!! But it was great experience trying to communicate with each other.  

We had interviews with President Pickett on Friday :D He told me that sometimes the work is going to be slow. It could be that Heavenly Father is trying to teach me how to fine-tune my ability to work by faith. There is a talk that all of the missionaries love called the Riccardi Letter that tells the story of the world's hardest working missionary, and the work was even slow for him sometimes too. I'll be honest with y'all, it has been frustrating and sad. But you gotta love agency. 

Our wonderful District leader, Elder Sowby gave the perfect training on Friday about finding joy in the work. I have no doubt that the reason I am happier now than I have ever been before is because I am serving the Lord. There is no other reason that being 2500 miles away from home and everybody I know would make me so happy.

It's also no coincidence that my Book of Mormon reading this week has been all of the "happiness chapters" in Alma :) If you ever want to know how to be happy, just read Alma 26-29. 

Miracles do happen!! We came home on Saturday night to the most wonderful package from the most wonderful Gramma Bear!!! There's nothing better to boost your spirits than Gluten free pretzels and the sweetest letter from Gramma Bear! 

I love the Lord, I love my mission, I love the scriptures, and I love all y'all!!

Sister Shumway

P.S.! The new Book of Mormon videos are out, and 10/10 would recommend watching!!!! And not just because Nephi is beautiful, they are super powerful and literally bring the scriptures to life!!! 

I found Jojo's street! (I miss her!)

The most beautiful clouds I've ever seen!

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn!

Guys, I LOVE My Mission!

This week started out pretty slow. It just seemed like no one we talked to was interested or cared about the message and testimonies we have to share. Luckily, Wednesday was Zone Conference! And there's nothing more motivating than a pep-talk from President Pickett!! 

His overall message to us was to keep our expectations high and distractions low. I think it was so important for me to realize that distractions don’t have to be evil to be effective. I also loved one of the trainings we had about pushing ourselves to be better. We might be doing good, but there's always room for us to be doing better. "If good enough isn't your best, then only your best should be good enough."

So with our spiritual boost, we pushed forward, and miracles happened! 

We got a text from the Zone leaders on Thursday asking about a lady that they used to teach and who had moved into our area a few months ago. We looked up her record, and the previous missionaries hadn't been able to find her because the address was written wrong in area book. Sister Rackley and I spent almost 20 minutes looking at any and every street in Pigeon Forge that could possibly be the intended address. We finally found a promising address, and when we got there, it was a street that we had felt prompted to tract about a week ago, but didn't because the area was a little sketchy and there wasn't anywhere to safely/legally park the car. When we got to the door, no one was home BUT in the window, she had a Book of Mormon pass along card facing out! We are so grateful for the Lord's guidance so far and we can’t wait to finally meet Robin! We know that Heavenly Father has great things in store for her and won't let the silly mistakes that us 19-year-old missionaries make get in the way. ;) 

Sister Rackley caught a pretty bad cold on Saturday, but she was determined to keep working, and I am amazed at how strong and willing to work for the Lord she is! It is amazing to see how the Lord blesses you for your efforts because we found another woman who was fascinated by the fact that God has called a prophet to lead His children today. We taught the whole restoration on her doorstep and she drank it in! We invited her to watch General Conference with us and she said she wouldn't miss it!

In church yesterday we learned a lot about personal conversion. It reminded me of a thought that Sister Hansen shared with our MTC district: "You can't invite others to come unto Christ unless you're already there." 

I used to worry about being able to love the Lord. I knew what He had done for me, and I knew that He loved me, but love is a strong emotion and it doesn't just happen because you know some facts about a someone you have never personally seen or heard or met. I knew that I should love my Savior, but I just didn't understand how. It scared me. But I have learned so much. I want the world to know that I love my Savior Jesus Christ with all my heart. 

1 Nephi 11:17, 22-23

Alma 26:16

Sorry this email was so long!! But let's end on a fun note:

Why did all the Lamanites have sore legs?

-Because of all the knee fights!!! 

Sorry. I love all y'all!!

Sister Shumway 

While we were tracting, a guy gave us each a baby aloe vera plant!

I love my companion!

Beautiful Tennessee sunset

BYU vs UT

Not the most eventful week. . . . But still good!

This past weekend, BYU came out to play against UT, and there were about 375 people in church! More than half of them were just visiting for the game! That's great, right? Sure! Except when you're the one playing organ this Sunday because Sister Carriere is out of town!!!  Needless to say, music was a little rough on Sunday, but we survived. 

We did a lot of tracting and met some wonderful people who are excited to learn more about the gospel. 

I have learned a big lesson from Sister Rackley this week. We were out tracting after P-day last Monday, and I wasn't feeling right. It's not like I was feeling sick or anything, just unsettled. I knew something was off. I kept pushing it off as my own unwillingness to be out there tracting after talking with my family and I was determined to push through. Sister Rackley stopped and had the courage to tell me she wasn’t feeling right about the street we were on either. I really admire how in tune and confident she is with the promptings she receives from the Spirit. We decided to pray about another location and found two new people who were interested in learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that as we receive promptings and warnings from the Spirit, we have to have the courage to both acknowledge them and act on them.

I have never been more aware of the joy, love, peace, comfort that the presence of the Holy Ghost brings to my life. I want everyone to know that I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that I am exactly where I need to be at this time, and I would not want to be anywhere else or trade the experiences I am having for anything else in the world. 

I love my Savior, I love the Bible and the Book of Mormon, I love Tennessee, I love my companion, and I love you all!

Sister Shumway

My wonderful companion!

Shrackumwayley!

Transfer week! It was kind of super crazy and has felt like it was a month long. But we made it!!!! I loved getting to see all the sisters I came out with, but to be honest, the best part was probably seeing all the new missionaries and realizing that I have one whole transfer under my belt! Ha! Only 12 more to go!  

I LOVE Sister Rackley! I mean, it's only been a grand total of four days, but they have been a good four days. She is so funny, great at drawing/painting/doodling, and has a beautiful singing voice! In fact, we sort of accidentally and impulsively volunteered ourselves as a musical number for Zone Conference next week, and have been regretting it since haha! We even came up with our own companionship name: Shrackumwayley!!!!!!! It is going to be a wonderful transfer, I can already tell.

In each of the lessons we have taught the Spirit has been so strong. I can’t wait for everything she has to teach me  

We got to teach the most wonderful couple this week. They have been prepared by the Lord to hear the gospel at this exact time in their lives. It has been a miracle and a blessing. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but sometimes His ways are pretty darn clear. The father of this young family actually grew up in Palmyra New York! In Joseph Smith's home town! Whaaaaaaaat? One of his high school buddies was a member of the church and set a wonderful example for him as he was growing up. Now they have been trying to find a good church for their family, and have been seeking guidance from Heavenly Father to go where He wants them to go. So he called his old high school buddy who told him to call us! We have been blown away at how much faith they have and how well they recognize what the Lord is telling them. We taught them about the restoration and left them with a copy of the Book of Mormon. The lesson was probably one the most powerful and Spirit led lessons I've ever experienced. I love the Holy Ghost and I cannot believe how empty my spirit had been before leaving home. The Spirit really does fill the holes your heart that you didn’t even realize were there. 

On a less happy note, one of the people we have been teaching left his Book of Mormon on the porch with a note saying he no longer wanted to meet with us. It broke my heart because I know how the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives because of how much it has blessed mine. I honestly have no idea where I would be without it. Sister Rackley says we just need put him back in the Lord's area book. 

I love my mission, I love the people here in Sevier county, I love my Savior and His gospel, I love the plan of salvation that He has for us, and I love the joy and peace from receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that even if life is hard, I am where I need to be, and doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do. 

I want to remind y'all that this is a life of progression and NOT of perfection!

I love yuns and I'll see y'all next week!

Sister Shumway :) 

"And What's Your Name, Mary?"

Happy two-month mark!!!!! Sheesh! Has it really been 2 months already?

This week started off with the BEST southern storm I have ever seen!! (granted I have only seen about three so far). The lighting is constant and the thunder is so deep and loud and lasting, and the rain just pours out of the sky - I LOVE IT!!!!  

While we were tracting this week, we met this super sweet lady and she told us her name was Mary. Towards the end of the conversation, as she was starting to shoo us off her porch, Sister Jacobson got a little carried away with the tracting dialogue and re-asked her what her name was, but remembered it as she asked so she ended up saying: "What's your name, Mary? Oh! It's Mary!" That lady laughed so hard, it was hilarious! She laughed for at least three minutes straight right there on her doorstep. At least we were able to make her day with laughter if not with the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

Anyways, I've been saving the best for last:  TRANSFER CALLS!!!!!!!!!!! 

It was so exciting. The anticipation was the best part, honestly. Sister Jacobson was super stressed about it and I have never seen someone pace so much before. She just walked in circles around the apartment the whole time. 

So. Here it is. The big news: I am . . . . . . 

Staying here!

WHEW! I didn't think we'd ever make it! Yup, six more weeks in Sevierville. :) But Sister Jacobson is leaving me and I am getting a new companion for my second half of training! Her name is Sister Rackley, and I don’t know anything about her, but I'm excited! :) AND I get to be designated driver! Woot woot! Got my TIWI card and everything, I'm official!

I love the work that I have the privilege of being a part of here in the Tennessee Knoxville mission. I can't wait to push myself further and farther than I've ever gone before. I have learned very personally this week that my Savior loves me. I've always believed it but now I know it. 

I love all y'all!!! Talk to you next week and yuns have a good one!

-Sister Shumway 

P.S. I love the letters from everyone! It helps to know how much love and support is cheering me on from home :)

Power-ups with the Sister Training Leaders

We found adorable baby ducks! But nobody answered the door so we couldn't hold them

Typical Southern weather?

"Sister Subway!"

This week started off with splits! (Not the gymnastics kind 'cause there's no way I could ever do those) we went up to Maryville (pronounced "mur-ih-vull") to help our Sister Training Leaders out with some finding in their area. Sister Farmer and I were tracting together and getting to know each other, and we realized that we already have a mutual friend at home! Shout out to Kate Hardman!!! I love how small this world is, especially in the church. I really love sister Farmer and I can't wait for Power-ups (24 hour exchanges in our area) which start tonight. :) 

Wednesday was the absolute most amazing miracle filled day EVER. We left the apartment to start the day off with some good ol' tracting. The very first door we knock on is a sweet couple with their baby who are both considerably interested in the message we have to share about Christ's church being restored, and they invited us back. Not just for a lesson, but they offered to feed us dinner!! We had only met them 2 minutes before! I know that the Spirit is powerful and real, and has been preparing these two hearts to recognize truth when it knocked on their door. None of the other doors even opened to us on the rest of that street.

Later, we were privileged to teach a wonderful woman we met last week about the plan of Salvation. As we began the lesson with our pre-earth life with Heavenly Father, she began to get excited and said "This all feels so familiar!" Now in preach my gospel, they talk about people like this. But I always thought that was like, best-case-scenario, and didn't ever really happen. That whole lesson, she just drank everything in and hung onto every last word we said. I just couldn't believe how ready for the gospel she was! The whole time I was thinking to myself: "I've read about people like you! And you're real!"

Later that night, we taught the restoration to another lady we met last week. After sharing Joseph Smith's first vision account, we gave her a moment to process all the information and she said "Well I have to believe it. Why wouldn't God do what He has been doing since the Old Testament times?" It makes my heart soar when people can recognize the simplicity and truth that carry the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To make Wednesday even better, we had dinner with the Strickland's. I don't even know how to begin describing how funny they are. Brother Strickland kept calling me "Sister Subway" because he couldn't remember Shumway. They both have the most authentic southern accents and we spent half of dinner learning "southern sayings" from them. 

To top Wednesday off, Julia called us on the way home and told us that her fiancé was finally ready to pick a date for the wedding! We are SO excited for them and Julia is over the moon excited for her baptism! 

Needless to say, Wednesday felt like it was a week long with everything that happened.

Unfortunately, not every day is Wednesday. In fact, Friday was the worst day I've had on the mission. Every single one of our appointments cancelled on us, did not respond to calls and texts, and weren't home when we knocked on their door. We spent five hours of what we were planning on being lessons, tracting instead. It is so frustrating when not only do you not get to teach any of the lessons you planned for these individuals, but all those hours of tracting led to zero new people to teach. 

But it's okay! There's bound to be some days that are better than others. And apparently Wednesdays that are WAY better than Fridays haha. At least the week ended well. Sister Jacobson and I got to teach Sunday School! For those of you who went to Sunday School this week and remember the topic, you can imagine how silly it seems to have the two youngest people in the room who probably know the least about it leading the discussion. I'll just say that I am very grateful for how well people participated and contributed to the lesson and overall, I think it went pretty well. :) I LOVE teaching though, and Sister Jacobson told me she didn't enjoy it at all haha - I guess it's not for everyone!

This past week has been filled to the brim with testimony building experiences and I can feel and see the changes that are starting to happen as I give myself and my will the Lord. I know there is so much for me to learn and I know that as I strive to be worthy of the Holy Ghost's presence, I will be able to not only teach the powerful truths of this gospel, but I will be learning just as much. I don’t think that made very much sense, and I'm not so good with words, but I know that it's true. 

I love you all!!! And yun's have a good week!

Sister Shumway 

To Cough or Not to Cough

Almost one month in the mission field! That's actually kind of crazy. It has gone by so fast.

Anyways, I promised an eventful week! Here it is:

New missionary follow up meeting! Sister Jacobson and I got to drive up to Farragut and on the way there, we drove through Knoxville! She was SO excited when she saw the sun sphere because she's been in the Tennessee Knoxville mission for 17 months and had never been to Knoxville! It was so fun to see all the missionaries I came out with, I didn't really realize how much I missed my MTC companions until I saw them both. On the way back, we listened to a devotional called "Conversion of a Catholic Priest" by Bill Carpenter. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend listening to it. I loved every second of it! It is such a powerful story.

We had a lot of our appointments cancel on us this week, but we did manage to commit Tim to come to church on Sunday, and he came!! Tim is 82 years old, is very hard of hearing, and loves to tease us in every way he can. I love it; he makes me laugh so much!! He is determined to read the entire Book of Mormon before he will commit to baptism, but he is realizing the effect it is having on his life and feeling the peace from his daily study of it. He is already half way through Alma! I was so happy to see him show up at church yesterday, we sat down with him and I explained the reverence of the Sacrament, and how it provided an opportunity for him to recommit himself to Heavenly Father and think about things he could be doing better. We made it through about half the Sacrament successfully and reverently, but then Tim learned over and dove into a not-so-quiet monologue about the first governor of Sevier county whose last name was originally French and spelled with an X but no one could figure out how to say it so he switched it to Sevier. (I had told him the origins of Shumway last week and apparently that's what he was thinking about during Sacrament haha!). Sister Jacobson and I were trying so hard not to laugh! I'm pretty sure the entire congregation learned about the French origins of the name Sevier. 

2nd hour of church was a whole other adventure. I've been fighting a little bit of a cold this weekend and I woke up yesterday morning with the stuffiest nose I think I've ever had and a throat as dry as Nevada. So as I'm sitting in relief society, I start to feel this cough coming on. I HATE coughing in public, especially when it sounds like a barking seal, and you know that all the ladies in there are going to worry about you being sick. I couldn't just step out for a moment to grab some water because we were sitting in the very center of our row. No escape! So I decided to try holding it in. You know what? Not a good idea. You see: holding in a cough is not only extremely difficult, but it sets off a viscous cycle that spirals out of control quite quickly. Having made the mistake of holding in my cough, my eyes began to water from the effort and border-line painfulness of it, which causes my already stuffy nose to become even stuffier as the water from my eyes has nowhere else to go. I then no longer had the use of my nose for air, but if I breathe through my mouth, the coughing urge becomes 10 times worse! I came to a crossroads. I could either: embarrass myself miserably by exploding with awful noises of sickness, OR I could sit there and suffocate until class was over or I passed out, whichever came first. I was already turning purple at this point so I resolved to just suffocate. Well, here I am writing all of this to you, so I clearly didn't die, but I honestly can't say how I survived except by a miracle from God. 

Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon! 

I have loved this month and a half of my mission with all of its ups and downs. I know that as time goes on, those ups and downs will get deeper and steeper, but as long as my faith is firm in my Savior (which it most definitely is, don't worry) I will be able to learn and grow from it all. 

Sister Shumway 

Water bottles that Mom sent this week