Week 4

Courtney will not be able to get any packages in Argentina so we sent her a Christmas present this week.  Grandma Thompson sent her a camera with wifi so it emails the pictures to us. This post has quite a few photo's because of that.

 

HOLA!!

I feel like half of my letters are exclamation points, so I would just like to apologize for that.  I'm just so happy!

 

I have 11 days left in the MTC!!! I can almost count down on my fingers.  I get my travel plans tomorrow, I'm SO excited.  I got to be a host missionary this week and welcome all the new people.  My district is the oldest in our zone, it's cool to have everyone look up to you.  And, even if you are really bad at Spanish- they think you are amazing because they are even worse!

 

This Monday, instead of doing FHE for members in Spanish in person for members, we skyped with Latinos from around the world!  The woman we talked to was a recent convert from Mexico, who spoke no English.  She was so excited that Hermana Hererra was blonde!  While we were waiting to go in and waiting in the stairwell, a bible came down and hit me on the head!  Not only is bible bashing bad, but it should never be taken in a literal sense ever- it really hurt!

Hermana Hererra is AMAZING at the piano, and her and another girl in my district performed a musical number in the huge Sunday devotional.  Just those two, The beautiful Hermana Hererra played the piano flawlessly, while Hermana Erikson sung like an angel.  Out of all the people who auditioned (and musical Mormon teens and competitive!)  they were the best.  It was such a neat experience to see them do that, and miss a few things as I got to be dragged around!  I'm so proud of them.

This week 2 districts in our zone left for the field.  I've know them, and they've been with me for that past month so it was really hard to see them go.  It's funny how people can become like family when you aren't even on a 1st name basis with them.  Before one of the Elders left, he asked the Hermanas in our district if we would mend a hole in his pants.  While another Hermana did that, I sewed the word "chiste"  i=on the inside of his waistband so he'd always remember us and our zone.  Everyone got a big laugh out of it, and the Elder said they are now his favorite pants.

 

We were learning about tithing this week, and someone asked how we can be expected to ask someone who doesn't have enough money to make ends meet to pay tithing.  Our teacher then asked us all to sit and ponder for a minute about our experience with tithing, and  how it has blessed our life.  And to pray and ask God to fortify our testimony of this commandment. The spirit in the room was so powerful.  There is not a doubt in anyones mind anymore how important tithing is. With that knowledge, I'm excited to challenge all to pay tithing.  When we sacrifice, the blessings God gives are ten fold- and I want everyone to have those blessings!

Funny story from an Elder this week: It was his first week, and he was teaching the 1st lesson to one of his investigators.  He said "Dios es almuerzo"  Which translates to "God is lunch".  Then his investigator asked his very skeptically, "Dios..... es almuerzo?"  And the Elder nodded his head very enthusiastically and said "Si. exactamente!"  It wasn't until after he realized the word he was looking for was amoroso, which means loving!

I love you all, and thanks for sending me all that great stuff this week!

 

Con MUCHO amor, 

Hermana Shumway

 

                                                        Courtney and her companion

                                                                  Host missionaries

                                                                       The Pants

Bet you didn't know Courtney was a twin.(a new feature on her camera that she is loving)

                                                       An investigator they are teaching

                                                       Taking the bus to the MTC

                                                                        The district

 

Photos from Hermana Murphy

 

I found a blog With Hermana Murphy's letters and pictures.  These photos are from her blog.  It has been fun seeing what she has to say about the MTC experience.  Courtney calls Sister Murphy a life long friend already.  She is the one that reminds her of Jill Downer (fun, loving and always ready for a good time)

 

                                 Hermana Herrera, Hermana Shumway and Hermana Murphy

                                                                      The District

                                                                           Hermanas

Photo's from the MTC

                                                                       The Zone

                                                Hermana Shumway & Hermana Herrera

                                                                      The Elders

                                                           Hermana's from her zone

Humbled week 3

 HOLA!!!!!!

I'm more than half way done with my stay at the MTC.  In one week, I will get my travel plans, and in 18 days I will be on my way to Argentina!  

So, our zone is really big into singing, so every week we are part of the choir that sings in the big Tuesday devotional.  We practice twice a week.  It's really hard.  I know nothing about singing.  I didn't even know the difference between soprano and alto until I got here!  I sing high soprano to stay with my companion and it's exhausting.  While it's such an amazing, spiritual experience- I'll be glad to go back to only singing normal, easy, everyday hymns.  Since we are from West Campus, we are always in the front row.  The camera guys always show where we are sitting multiple times during the performance- it's so embarrassing!!  Afterwards people always comment on how much screen time me and my companion get.

We have HUGE every missionary devotionals on Sunday and Tuesday.  They are always so amazing.  The last 3 were Jenny Oaks Baker (Elder Oaks daughter, who played the violin for half her talk), The general YW, and general primary presidents.  

My favorite part about P-day is doing laundry because I get to fold my clothes.  I LOVE folding clothes!!!

So the Elders in our district pulled a really big joke on us!  So Elder Butts and Elder Tracy were actually supposed to train in the Columbia MTC, but ended up here.  Two weeks ago, Elder Butts told me that his visa finally came in, and that he was going to be leaving this Monday, to do his last 3 weeks in the Colombian MTC.  I was heartbroken.  Our district is SO CLOSE- they are all literally like my brothers and sisters.  I felt especially bad for Elder Tracy, because he was loosing his companion- and they are so attached to each other.  I started praying for Elder Tracy everyday, that he would either get his visa too, or be comforted and adjust to life without Elder Butts.  I was bummed about Butts for a good week- when on Sunday I found out it was a big joke the entire time!!!  Those sneaky elders!  They got everyone in on it.  Our teachers, every other district in the zone, the BRANCH PRESIDENT!! During our weekly meeting, president brought it up and organized for Elder Tracy to become a 3-some with other elders in our district.  I can't believe how funny they think they are.  Last time I pray for the well being of those boys!  (joke- I love them).

While the unity in our district is so amazing, its super hard as well.  Sometimes it's impossible to get anything done because we just want to play all day.  We have wars with Pringle lids, and Gatorade caps (if you put these between your folded over pointer finger and thumb, then flick- they do some serious damage), we translate our favorite movie quotes and songs, and take unflattering candid photos of one another.  One of the Elders in the zone translated Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech into Spanish. He stood on the second floor balcony and recited it all to us in a dramatic voice.  Sometimes I wonder how he can't memorize scripture.  This is also the Elder who hollowed out a banana and drank root beer from it.  He's infamous to the cafeteria workers.  

Some of the Elders in the zone are really mad at me right now.  Because I don't like Tarzan, or Phil Collins.  It's pretty serious.  They shunned me for a good ten minutes. 

I made the mistake of sewing on a button for Elders Tracy the first week, and now all the elders come to me when they have wardrobe malfunctions.  We've super glued belts and shoes, and done a lot of sewing.  I wonder if they know the most of the other Hermanas can sew too.

At Jamba Juice today, the woman in front of us prepaid a large amount for our smoothies, and we got the rest of the balance on a gift card.  The tender mercies of the Lord are all them whom he hath chosen, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.  

I'm sad to admit but this week has been really hard. The worst days I've had here.  We've been in kind of a slump.  I've had hardly any motivation to study.  Last Saturday it was really bad, but as I was reading King Benjamin's address to the people- I got a little fire under my belly, but I could have been working harder.  Sunday was amazing- because it is impossible to have a bad Sunday.  Then Monday hit.  We taught 4 lessons, and they went okay- but the spirit just wasn't as strong as it could have been.  Tuesday was THE PITS. Both of our lessons went awful.  The spirit wasn't there, I knew it, my companion knew it, and out teacher knew it.  I felt like crying.  I knew I wasn't giving my all to  Lord. That day, our teacher did companion study with us.  He is so amazing, and I don't know what I would do without him.  We studied Christ like attributes, and made goals to help us achieve them and invite the spirit to help us teach.  We chose faith and diligence.  Our diligence goal was to not waste any time the next day.  Spend all of our study time wisely.   In the MTC are encouraged to do a program called Speak Your Language (SYL), where we try to only talk solely in our mission language.  If we absolutely cannot say it in Spanish ( after trying at least one time first)  we can say it in English if we look it up later.  No one does it, but our teacher encouraged me and my companion to use SYL all of Wednesday for our goal to show faith.  

I didn't think it was possible, but through the Lord- anything is.  My dictionary became my best friend.  I didn't talk as much as I normally do, or make as much sense- but yesterday was one of the best days I've ever had.  We need to rely on the Lord.  We are not good enough on our own, but we can be more than good with the Lords hand. If this is boasting, even so will I boast.  For he is my life, my light, and my salvation.  Many mighty miracles have we wrought in which we will praise his name forever, because He has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. I'm so glad that I was able to have this experience early in my mission.  Next time I have doubt, or don't feel like enough- faithful, exact obedience can help.  

With love for you all, 

Hermana Shumway

 

Oh, and I loved getting all your letters this week.  I got two letters yesterday, and I literally teared up I was so happy.  One of them ended up being from my companians Mother.  It was one of the sweetest things I've ever read.

 

Tell the boys to start studying hard in school.  It's so sad how many missionaries don't know how to study, and refuse to learn.  I used to think I was pretty good at studying, but a missionary schedule really is like a slap from a brick in the face.  Plus, no girl wants to marry a dummy!

 

Love you!!!! (week 2)

Querido familia, 

I've been playing this game with a few Elders in my district, where if we make eye contact during class, meals, study, or devotionals (pretty much anytime of the day really)  We attack each other with fake weapons.  Ninja stars, hand guns, blow darts, bows and arrows.  Haha, it's great. We get really bored.  

Remember that investigator I talked about in my last letter? Well, turns out he was playing us- because on Friday when we showed up to class- he was standing there in suit and tie- and he's now our teacher!!!!!  His name in Hermano Byers, and he's the most amazing teacher I've ever had in my life.  He has so much passion for the work, and you can tell he has so much love for everyone in our district.  There was a few trust issues for an hour or two, and I still want to call him  Felix- but he has been such a blessing in helping me become the missionary I want to be.  

Right now we are teaching 2 progressing investigators every day, and on Mondays we do TRC (which is like FHE of home teaching to members who speak Spanish) for two 20 minute sessions.  It's really cool.  On Monday we were teaching an RM who speaks Spanish, just talking about God, and how he blesses families and I felt impressed to share an experience and I started bawling.  It was the first time I've cried since I've been here, but the spirit was so strong- and it went great.  I couldn't really talk after that, so Hermana Hererra had to take over.  Haha, to bad for her!  Hermana Herrera and I were preparing for a lesson for one of our investigators, and wrote out an outline on a board in one of the smaller rooms in our classroom, and then ended up teaching the lesson in there. The whole time during our lesson- the investigator was staring above our heads, and we didn't realize that it was because our plan was literally written right behind us!  We didn't even end up following it because of promptings, so he probly thinks we are dopes!!!

The MTC is literally the most surreal experience in the entire world.  No matter how many times it's described, a perfect picture can't be painted.  It's such a weird place. It's full of a bunch of people wearing skirts and ties all day, teaching things they only know the surface of in a language they don't know, to a bunch of people they don't know (but love unexplainably) with a bunch of people they don't know, away from all the people they do know (and love explainably).  The days feel like weeks, and the weeks feel like days.  Everything kinda blends together, because most days are the same.  Study, pray, eat, pray, work out, pray, study, pray, study, pray, service, pray, pray, study.  It's kind of like spiritual Disneyland.  I'm SOOO happy, all the time.  The holy ghost is constantly with me- so much that when I don't feel it is when I notice a change.  When I doubt myself, or start singing something that isn't Mo-Tab (chiste) (chiste=joke).  It's amazing how not having the spirit with you for even 5 minutes makes you want to snap right back.  

It's crazy all the stuff I can now do. I can testify, pray, teach and preach and work like missionaries do.    I've been here for 2 weeks and I can teach a 30 minute lesson on the plan of salvation, or the restoration- entirely in spanish. I can recite the first vision, or invite people to baptism the really long way.  I can do essentially any lesson with a 5 minute warning, while it won't be the best, and my spanish needs a lot of work- the spirit is there, and it is the real teacher.  The biggest thing I've learned other humbling yourself before the Lord, is the power of prayer and the holy ghost.  We don't teach investigators, we simply help them invite the spirit into their lives, so they learn for themselves.  And no one can gain testimony without prayer, and revelation from the Holy Ghost. 

I feel like there were a lot of things I didn't know coming in here.  Like, how P-day is only a P-most-of-day because it ends at 6.  And then we have to go to class and study our brains out, or teach investigators.  On P-days, we get to go to the temple- WHICH IS AMAZING!!!  Last Thursday, Grandpa Thompson's step-sister (sister young?) gave me my proxy name.  She was really sweet.  We also get to leave campus and get half-off Jamba.  So, if anyone wants cheap smoothies, dress up like a missionary and hit up Brigham's Landing.  

Also, they make us wear our garments when we work out- it feels...... no bueno.  I guess more sweating is good though.  My companion did soccer all of high school, so we actually do stuff.  Weights and upside down sit ups and ellipticals.  On P-days we run.  I can actually see my muscles now.  It's cray.  I didn't know that I had any!  And I'm totally not getting fat, I've actually had to go down a belt loop!   

I see Elder Scott all the time.

Con amor,

Hermana Shumway

Week 1 MTC

The first couple of days at the MTC where the craziest days of my life.  When we first got here, they ushered us into a huge chapel where we sang Bringing the World His Truth.  They changed the lyric from "we will be the Lords missionaries" to "we are now the Lords missionaries" It was so cool!  My companion's name is Hermana Hererra, she's from Lindon.  She is my person.  Her dad is from Spain, and she took 5 years of Spanish but we still don't know a lot of Spanish.  She's so open about everything- it's hilarious.  Her basically fiancee's last name is Shumway.  We were meant to be companions.  She got 4 packages on the first day, and pretty much 1 each day since.  We have so much food, it's ridiculous. 

 

We live in West Campus, where everyone speaks Spanish, and is composed of Raintree (classes) and Y-view (residences).  I sleep on the top bunk, Nicole was right, it does suck.  Everyone is ridiculously friendly.  Everywhere you go it's "HOLA HERMANAS!!!  COMO ESTA!?"  Anyone you are walking past turns into a ten minute conversation.  People just walk up to you and bear testimony in Spanish.  Main campus is not the same.  Everytime we go up there, people pretend they don't know what hello means. 

 

Everyone in my district (12 of us, 6 sisters and 6 elders) are AMAZING.  It has only been a week but we are all SO close.  They are like family to me.  All the Elders are like my little brothers.  Or dog. The y actually really remind me of Loki, they are all so cute and little and excited, but they can get annoying at times!  They are so fun though.  We joke and pull pranks all the time.  We have all these mini clothes pins that we try to stick on each other when we aren't paying attention. Elder Cristiansen has gotten it on my name tag twice!  I guess I just really focus when I'm talking to people!  We have class (with our district) from 7:45 in the morning untill 9:15 at night  (there is a 3 hour break for gym and lunch, and 1 hour for dinner), so we spend a lot of time there.  Each classroom is an apartment in Raintree, so it's a full apartment.  There are a couple rooms in each class, so during companion study, Me and H. Herrera were in one.  We heard a knock at the door, and when when we went to answer it- they elders had barricaded us in with desks!

All of the Hermanas in the district are in the same apartment.  6 girls and 1 bathroom es no bueno.  Hermana Murphey is from Portland, Oregon.  She is my person.  She is literally Jill Downer.  She can quote anything.  Disney movies, classics, tween flicks, rom-coms yo u name it.  She knows all these random dances from things, and is always a good time.  She taught us this thing called 'sasquatching' where you walk behind people taking a photograph in the manner of sasquatch (from that classic photo) and then we they look at their picture later, there is just some random sasquatch looking thing in the back.   

On Friday (we had basically only been there a day)  we had to teach our first (paid actor) investigator, entirely in Spanish. It was so hard!  We didn't know any of the language!  We copied phrases from the mission book, and said those to him.  That was fine, but when he would ask questions we literally had no idea how to answer them!  We had top teach him each day after that as well, ending on Tuesday. The lessons slowly got better.  On Monday we decided to to not read prepared statements from a paper, and just speak with our hearts.  The spirit was so strong as I bore my testimony in broken spanish.  While I didn't make perfect sense, the spirit is the universal language, and it was clear that the investigator understood.  He accepted (fake of course) our invitation to be baptized.  We kinda messed up the rest of the district though, because me and H. Hererra were the first to ask, and everyone else felt pressured to do it too.  He said no to them. Haha. (eventually most of them got a yes)  On Wednesday we had our last lesson with the investigator.  While one of the hardest things of my life, it was such a cool, humbling expirience.  We really do need God's help in our lives.  I'm excited for him to critique our district tomorrow.  

Sunday was a bit stressful.  It was fast Sunday, we just do the service entirely in Spanish with the whole zone.  The meeting doesn't end until everyone bears testimony.  Being nearly 4 days  old in the field- mine was fairly simple.  "Yo se que Dios es nuestros Padre Celestial.  Nosotros somos sus hijos."  And then because I could think of the correct grammar for amor (to love)  I said "me gusta Dios mucho.  En el nombre do JesuCristo, Amen"  what I thought meant 'I like God a lot. Amen'  Everyone bust a gut laughing, including our branch president. The older elders in our zone told me later that the verb 'gustar' can't be used on people, unless it's in a romantic way!  I'll never make that mistake again!  

Time for a grandpa Dale - esce paragraph.   Being in a new place, and eating new food, the Hermanas in my district have had a problem.  Instead of our bowels being full of charity and mercy, they have been full of food from days before.  We've really bonded the struggle.  It's been great.  (And don't worry Mom- I've pooped now.)

This had been one of the hardest, happiest weeks of my life.  I was so tired the second day, I accidentally slept with my name tag on.  Ha.  I've learned so much,  I can pray and testify in spanish.  It's amazing how important prayer has become in my life.  I say so many prayers a day it's crazy.  It's SO cool to look around and see so many rightoues youth praying as well.  At every meal I love to look at missionaries sit down and bow their heads.  I then like to laugh when an Elder who had already sat down steals their food.

Estoy muy agredecida por mi familia, mucho amor,

Hermana Shumway