Cara's Mission

Take Two

2012-01-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

So last week I was completely in the blogging zone and wrote an amazing blog about my job, interestingly enough. I do love my job as a dental assistant but at times the drama is just a little unbearable. I do, however, love tooth anatomy and teeth things so I bear it nonetheless :)

My friend and co-worker, Jenny Olson, is just now learning why I would love to be a Latina. You see, I took her and our two friends, Colson and Brad to The Loft in Provo on Friday night for some Latin dancing. They were all apprehensive, except for maybe Brad. At the end of the night they were hooked. Mission accomplished :) I asked Jenny if she now understood my obsession and my wanna-be-Mexican attitude. She herself had a very attractive one ask for her number and said we should all hang out sometime. Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week! We were entertained by Colson. He's not exactly stiff as a board, but he is tall...more than anything he moves too much haha it was hilarious. They all had fun though so it was definitely worth the 3 bucks!

I'm very tired today. I'm not feeling very creative. I had an extremely long day filled with meetings and the like yesterday. The only relaxation was in dinner with John and Carly (my sister and brother-in-law) and reading The Brothers by Chris Stewart. Super interesting book and it's a very different concept than anything I've ever read. I've heard there are about 7 books in the series and I'm almost done with the first one so I'm anxious to read the other ones. The only problem is I am also in the middle of reading the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series'. I'm so addicted to reading. I can't help it. I blame my mother's parents completely for that :)

Anyway, I'm off to the gym. I promise future blogs will be much MUCH more interesting than this!

Cara

I'm Back Y'all

2012-01-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I want to start blogging. I'm not particularly disciplined when it comes to journal keeping so maybe this will be better :) I also recently finished reading a fantastic book and the main character blogged and she's hilarious so she's my inspiration for this idea!

I'm new at this. The one that existed before these future posts was put together by by beautiful mother with all of my mission e-mails, so hopefully as I go they will get better!

Now don't be afraid, I won't get near as intimate in my blog as I would in my journal...maybe that's why it's important to keep one...hmm. Well, on step at a time I guess :)

I'm signing off for now. My brain is not completely focused and I must clear my head to make this good. Chau for now :)

Cara

March 22 Letter- The Last ONE!!!

2010-03-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Heeeeey! This week was crazy! We didn't really find...we taught one woman, Valeria, who really really needs this gospel in her life, but I'm not sure she's going to progress. We have another appointment tomorrow with her and we're going to teach the Plan of Salvation. I really think it will get her attention.
We found an inactive and her husband who's not a member this last week. They said that they have been needing a lot of help lately because they recognize that they need to be closer to our Heavenly Father. They were more than willing to attend us. I have high hopes for this couple! They are way nice and the woman, Monica, really really needs this back in her life. They both do.
Lucas got the priesthood yesterday! We were so excited! His mom came with him and was very content. We're going to see what we can do with her. She's a lot more open with us now than she was before and smiles a lot more when we're around. Lucas seemed like he was walking on cloud nine and had the smile on his face that he had right after being baptized. It was good to finally see him again. He was out of town taking care of his daughter's mom because she was super sick and started work this last week so he's been way busy.
Juana is doing awesome. Every time we go see her, though, she reminds me how much she's going to miss me when I leave. Oy por favor! She gave me one of those little license plates (the plastic ones that they sell, you know?) with her name on it to not forget her because I gave her one of my placks. Haha she makes me laugh. Anyway, she's been going to the geneology class on Sunday and absolutely LOVES it. She's very excited to do the work for her family members. SHE'S ON FIRE! I love that woman!
Anyway, sometimes I feel like our weeks are really busy because we're constantly running back and forth to appointmens but when I write to you, I can't think of anything to say! We did talk to a lot of people again this week. We almost reached 200 contacts. We got up to 197. This next week we're going to make that 200 if it's the last thing I do (no pun intended). C:
I learned something really interesting this week about faith. I was so selfish before to think that God only really answered the prayers of the members of the church. But everywhere we read in the scriptures, it says that God works according to the faith of His children. There are TONS of people who have so much faith when they pray that God can't deny them what they ask and I have contacted and met people every day who have amazing experiences with prayer. In and out of the church. I hope that we can learn to pray with all the faith that we know God is there and that He grants us what we ask according to our faith.
I hope you all have an amazing week everyone! I'm excited to hear all of your stories! Hasta que nos volvamos a ver, mantenganse firmes e inmutables en la fe de Cristo. Les amo con todo mi corazón.

Hermana Shumway

Update

2010-03-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

Cara flies in March 31 at 9:48am. We are slightly excited!! She will speak in sacrament on April 18 9:00 am

March 15 Letter

2010-03-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, I had to write from hotmail this week because where we're doing e-mail is RETARDED!

HOLA MIS QUERIDOS!
Please don't ask why I put in the subject what I put...where we are doing e-mail there is a song playing that reminded me of it. Hahaha oh dear!
A couple time-outs:
TIMEOUT #1: Carly has a bo? Since when? Why has she told me absolutely nothing about him? I may be half a world away but dadgum, she's still a part of my life! :,( C:
TIMEOUT #2: Aaron, happy birthday on Friday. You're flippin 29! Sorry I didn't tell you last week. Slipped my mind.
TIMEOUT #3: Happy Birthday to my best friend Race on Wednesday! Espero que todo te salga de 100! C: No hagas nada tonto ¿eh?
Enough with the timeouts. This week went a little better for us. A little better meaning we found a lot of people, but only two of them are promising progressors. haha. We're excited about those two people though, they were really excited about reading the Book of Mormon.
I think the experience we had last week with all the crazy things going on helped us wake up and ponernos las pilas (I'm sorry but I don't know how to say that in English). Help me out Brent or Aaron. We talked to a TON of people this week. Between my comp and I, we talked to 189 people. It was awesome! Those are street contacts, not like lessons in a house or anything so if you count those, we basically did talk to 200 people, but this week we are going to try to do 200 street or door contacts for sure.
We had interviews with our mission president on Friday and HOLY JUNK it rained soooooooo much and got soooooo cold then the next day it was muggy and hot. Of course, that's how it works in this country. You can have one day of needing to wear a sweater and possibly a scarf and the next day in a t-shirt and shorts. Que barbaro.
Anyway, interviews. They were awesome. It was my last interview, but not really because I have another one the day before I fly out. Mom, you should be getting my flight plans soon if you haven't already. Sorry, umm...my mission president is so wise. Every interview I have with him I wish that I could hold a tape recorder in front of his face and say, "President, tell me everything you know." I'll give you more details some other time cuz I don't have time to write the counsel he gave me, but wow, I was soooooo excited to work after that! WOOHOO!
Anyway, I hope y'all have an amazing week! Remember you are sure to have a good week if your spiritual things are in check! Don't ever EVER forget that! LOVE YOU ALL!
Hermana Shumway

February 22 Letter

2010-02-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

LUCAS GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!! We were so excited! Lucas's daughter, the mother of his daughter and his mom were all able to come. His daughter and her mom have been members for almost two years and the mom is the relief society president in their ward. Lucas's mom is not a member, but she came Saturday for the baptism and Sunday for the confirmation. It was awesome.
We got a new ward mission leader again yesterday. This will be the third that I have been with in this area. There aren't many people who want the calling, I guess. It's sad because that's probably the most important ward calling next to the bishop. Wow. Are we really that hard to work with? ;) We're excited about the new one, Hermano Barrionuevo, because he's a big goof ball and has an amazing testimony of the church. He gave an awesome talk on the Holy Ghost at Lucas's baptism. We're also super close to his family. We're excited! We'll see what we can do together this transfer.
Karen is wanting to get baptized more and more every day. She sometimes drives me crazy just because well...she's 11. But she knows the church is true and she wants so much to get baptized in the same way Christ was baptized. In water by someone who has the authority to do it. Why do we have the authority? Well, because Joseph Smith was given the authority by original apostles of Christ who received the authority directly from Christ therefore having permission to give it to one who was WORTHY to receive that authority and PERMISSION to begin the organization of Christ's church. Isn't that a comforting thought? All the other church's leaders are chosen by vote and education. Ours are chosen by God. What an amazing blessing we've been given. I love our Heavenly Father. He's so cool. C:
I had a lot more to write, but for some reason I can't think of any of it so I'm going to close this. I love you all, I hope you have an amazing week! Chau for now!

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

February 15 Letter

2010-02-22T17:29:00.001-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Just an update...Lucas did not get baptized on Saturday. It was raining SO HARD! His family couldn't come because of it. He had his interview and everything set up, too. Do you wanna know what happened? 6:30 Saturday evening rolls around and these two sister missionaries can't get a hold of their investigator. They think, okay, well...maybe he's in the shower or...something. 7:00 rolls around, still no answer. Not his cell phone, not his house phone. When they get to the church, they find the bishop and his first counselor filling up the baptismal font. They think, "gee that's really nice bcause we forgot to ask someone to do that." When the bishop asks the senior companion, "Hermana, where is your investigator?" To which he receives a completely blank stare and the stupidest answer in the whole world before a baptism: "I have no idea."
Thank goodness our bishop decides to act and not react, eh? He and his counselor went to his house to look for him. He was not there. We wait for an hour, we call, we wait some more, we call...NOTHING. No baptism.
That night we receive a text message from the lost sheep that says, "sorry I didn't make it, my family couldn't come because of the rain." SHADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to call him and drop him a fat cane and say, "Lucas, you can call us when you can't make your own baptism, it's cool." Oh well, what're you gonna do? We called him and told him that we are definitely going to pass by for him Sunday morning to make sure that he at least comes to church. However, when we get to the church, we tell the bishop our plan and he shakes his head and says, "Hermanas, do NOT pass by for him, he's not a baby, he's a 30 year-old man (yeah a 30 year-old man who's pampered like a toddler by his mother) and he can come to church by himself." That's what we did and when we called his mom said he was still sleeping but that she would tell him that we were waiting for him at church. Oh por favor what I wouldn't give to give that man a reality check. Anyway, he had another interview with the bishop yesterday during church and he will be baptized si o si this Saturday because his daughter is now staying with him for the week. Thank heaven. Please pray, all of you, that it will happen.
Please do not think that I have any negative feelings about what happened this weekend. It's done, it's over, Lucas has a testimony, he's getting baptized, he just wants the support of his family. He's just a little absent minded and spoiled.
We are teaching Karen again. The 11 year-old, do you remember her? She went on vacation with her dad and told us before vacation that her dad told her she couldn't get baptized until she was really ready to do it. Well, she called us Tuesday night, asked us to pass by Wednesday (the first time we've seen her in 3 weeks), and she informed us that her dad told her during their vacation that she could get baptized! ¡Qué bendición! We are so happy and we're working with her so that she can get baptized in two weeks if at all possible. Our bishop has to talk to her and her dad. Her dad's not a member so...we'll see how that goes and how our bishop feels.
We taught a lady this week that has a lot of interest in family history and we have another appointment with her on Tuesday which we're really excited about. Her name is Ana, so pray that she will accept our message and want the blessings of the gospel for her whole family.
We found out transfers on Saturday night and guess what? I'm staying in Rosedal for yet another transfer! HOLY JUNK! I've been here for soooooo long, but I'm so excited! By the end of the transfer I will have 7 and a half months in this area. Haha, when we told our bishop when transfers were he asked me how much time I had in the area. When I told him, he said, "Hermana, if they keep you here one more transfer, I'm going to give you a calling!" Haha...it's true, my name should pretty much just go in the ward roster. Anyway, I'm completely content to be have the blessing to "die" in this area. I love the members here and they love us. They are sooooo willing to help us with whatever we need. When they find out that a lunch appointment fell through and we ate in our pension they get really mad and ask why we didn't call one of them and blah blah blah. Haha, they're great.
ANyway, I hope you all have a good week. I know we will! Hermana González is still my companion. We will have six months together at the end of everything. I love my companion!!!!!!!!! She's so great! We get along so well! My district leader is still my district leader and Hermana Brown (one of my best friends of a companion that I had in the mission) is going to be in my zone!!!!! What more could I want? I'm sooooo happy! The Lord has blessed me so much and I'm so excited to serve Him for six more weeks. He loves me so much and I hope to please him not only these last six weeks, but the rest of my life. Have an awesome week!

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

February 8 Letter

2010-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

What can I say about this week? It kinda kicked our trash actually so we’re really excited to start this new week and get staff done!

Lucas was supposed to have his baptismal interview on Saturday, but he never showed up and we’re not really sure what happened there, we still haven’t been able to talk to him. What’re you gonna do?
Church was really good yesterday. Juana bore her testimony and it was awesome. That woman has such a strong testimony. She loves this gospel so much. The rest of the classes were way awesome as well. Diego gave the gospel principles class and did awesome. It was about prayer. Prayer has a whole different meaning to me now. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. However, the hard part is accepting that God answers in His own time. Even when it’s something that we think we really really need and it’s a righteous desire…still, He answers when it’s best for us.
Relief Society was good. The stake primary president gave the class about reverence. She said that in everything we need to be more reverent. She went into depth about how it’s us that need to change if our children are being irreverent during sacrament meeting. We must help them. They need to see that when we pray in the home, it’s a special moment. They need to see that when we’re in the church, it’s a special moment. We need to not bring their toys to church or at least pull them out during sacrament meeting. They can do quiet activities like color and read a book or whatever, however, they need to understand that it’s quiet time. Also, of course they aren’t going to pay the attention we do to the people who are talking, but yes, we can help them kind of know what’s going on up at the pulpit by saying to them, “look who’s talking! He/She is talking about this or that.” They need to know that we expect them to be reverent. We had awesome meetings yesterday and I LOVE FAST AND TESIMONY SUNDAY! It’s my favorite ever!

That’s so exciting that Grandma Holden is getting baptized! I’ll be able to tell crazy people on the street that say they are too old to change that my great grandma that’s older than 80 (how old is she exactly?) is going to get baptized so take THAT! That’s exciting! I gasped out loud like Mom does sometimes. The gasps that make you almost have a hard attack. It was pretty funny! I’ll be praying really hard so that she gets to her baptism date! Also for Dad cuz he hurt his knee!!!!! WHAT?!? Daddy what were you thinking trying to stop the intertube with your leg??? I guess you could turn that right back around to me and ask, “Well, Cara, what were you thinking when you busted your knee cap dancing to Michael Jackson?” Everyone knows that there are things we just can’t explain. That will also be a mystery to me for the rest of my life. Anyway, I hope you are doing okay, although I’m very sad it happened when you were just about to start the new house. I hope Steve is taking good care of you!
Well, my last transfer starts in one week. Let’s see how I do. Try not to talk about me coming home too much k? I love you all, have an amazing week!

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

January 26 Letter

2010-01-26T13:33:00.001-08:00

Dear All,

I don't have a lot of time. Yesterday when we were doing our internet, the power cut out. It does that a lot this time of year...not really sure why. We're finishing up today and this is the only computer we have so let's see what I can tell you in 5 minutes...
The past week was good, however, we're not really sure what's going on with Lucas. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity Thursday night and set up an appointment for Friday, but we could not get a hold of him. Last we heard he was in Jesús María with his daughter. We'll see what happens there.
We were able to go to the baptism of an Evangelic man on Saturday. Our mission president found him and and was able to baptize him as well! How fun! I guess he was in charge of all of the Evangelic churches in some place and he's engaged and NOT living with the woman amazingly. That's the first case I've heard of in this country. Anyway, it was an awesome experience and when the man (Alejandro) gave his testimony, he said, "What God opens, NO ONE can shut." So profound.
I've had a lot of people this last week ask me if I'm from Mexico. I just laugh and say, "The only thing close to Mexican that my DAD has is his skin tone." I guess my accent with hermana González is always amazing! ;) I love speaking spanish!
Anyway, I hope everyone's doing great! I love you all so much! Have an amazing week!

Hermana Shumway

Jan 12 letter

2010-01-17T14:46:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone!!!!

This week was AWESOME! Mostly because I love having a companion that's a missionary!!!!!!!! Hermana González and I are going to be a MACHINE this transfer...and next transfer if we're lucky. I hope we're together for two transfers again, that would be so awesome!
We received a reference from a member in our district leader's area of a guy who passed by the church one day when this member was randomly standing outside. He asked her when the meetings were. She told him and wrote down his information. We called him Saturday night to set up an appointment for Sunday night at 8. We also invited him to church, he said he would come. Sunday comes and we are crazy trying to pass by for everyone and get everything settled for the meetings. Karen's dad was sick and he made her stay home to take care of him (what a freaking vago). I almost wanted to tell him, "if you let her come to church with us, you'll get better faster." I was kind of upset at him though so I didn't say anything. Lucas (the reference from the member) didn't come though. =(
At the end of everything, none of our investigators we're teaching came to church, but there was a man there who is not a member and his wife and daughter are so we were happy about that. We're probably going to start teaching him this week.
At the beginning of every transfer, we receive blessings from our bishop. Blessings of comfort and to be able to handle the area and be able to work well with the members and things like that. The second counselor gave me my blessing and the bishop gave Hermana González her blessing. Hermano Spitale (the second counselor), blessed me that I would be able to wake up spiritually and find new strengths to work in the area. We were both blessed with the capacity to know who will progress and who will not. It was so awesome and it is what I needed. I fell so ready for these next two transfers and I'm so excited for what I'm going to learn.
Okay, the appointment with Lucas. Prepare yourselves because it is amazing! We got to his house and he immediately walks outside and invites us in. He tells us that he is separated from his wife, she is a member, and his daughter as well. They don't live with him, they live in Jesús María, a different pueblo kinda far...really far from Rosedal. His daughter had given him a Book of Mormon to read and he knows more about the Book of Mormon than the Bible! WOOHOO! Anyway, he doesn't know much about the gospel or anything religious really, but he believes in God and he has an amazing desire to learn. Every principle we taught, he had like 2 or 3 questions to be able to understand everything. He knows it's good because he said his daughter and his wife have had such an amazing change in them that he knows it's a good good thing.
He told us that he went to church, almost went inside and then got nervous and went back home. AGH! ¿POR QUÉ? It's okay, he's going to come this next week and he will feel the spirit soooooo strong! He was loving what we taught him last night. My companion did awesome. Unfortunately, the spirit was not giving me anything to say. I still taught, but my companion touched him a lot more this time around. Kinda sad, but I've been in the mission long enough to know that you shouldn't try to speak if the words aren't leaving your mouth right. Hermana González was so excited after the lesson and said, "Hermana, the thoughts and the words were just flowing so easily! It was amazing!" I told her that's why I let her do most of the teaching cuz that's not how it was workin our for me! Next time! C: We have an appointment with him tonight so pray please please please that he will be able to understand and be able to be baptized this month!
I'm so glad Dad has a house to build! I'm excited to help with all the stuff I helped with before--washing windows, painting, etc. That's so great, Dad! Have fun, you'll do awesome! How's Grandma Lyon feeling? I've been praying for her all week so I hope she's better!
Well, I must be going, I hope you all have an amazing amazing week and that you are just feeling so blessed! We have an amazing family and we should always be trying to recognize all the blessings in our lives instead of focusing on everything that's going wrong. The Lord will bless us. He loves us. That's reason enough to exhert yourself and trust in Him to get through trials right? I think so!

Chau amores!
Hermana Shumway

December 28 Letter

2009-12-31T14:02:00.001-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

I would like to start this e-mail with a story. Grandpa Shumway would know better the statistics of missionary work in Western Europe, but this story is awesome!

A long time ago there were two missionaries in West Europe. I don't know if you know, but it's hard to baptize in Europe, it's hard to get into doors in Europe, or so I have heard. One day, two missionaries that had a little extra time after doing all of their 'TO DO's' decided to pray and ask the Lord where they should serve.
They did something interesting. One went into one room to pray and the other went into another room. When they had finished, the first missionary had in mind one street and his companion another street. To their surprise, these two streets crossed. They dedided to go to the intersection of the two streets. Upon arriving there, they saw a door that caught their attention. They knocked, they entered and began to teach.
They hadn't taught much of the first lesson when the father of the family stopped them and said, "Two nights ago I had a dream. I was separated from my family by a gully. They were calling to me to join them, but I decided to stay with my friends on the opposite side. At this point in the dream, an angel appeared to me and said, 'in two days I will send you two messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ' and I saw your faces."
We can never say the Lord doesn't know us.
Elder Ringwood of the first chorum seventy came to our mission and spoke to us today. It was an amazing experience. I have never been so aware of the Lord's love for me and His awareness of what's going on in my life. I learned soooo much today and I'm so excited for these next 3 transfers so that I can continue edifying my mansion upon the foundation of my Savior and Redeemer. I'm so excited to learn and grow with the people I teach here in Argentina. They deserve the best. They are our Heavenly Father's children.
I loved when he quoted Elder Holland and said that everything we want our investigators to experience, we must experience first. He also said that our chances of helping our investigators follow Christ is greater when WE are following Christ. They can see and feel when we aren't. He said that our converts want for us what we want for them: to endure to the end.
There was a man who had served his mission in Japan (his missionary name is Elder Evans) and had decided years after to go back to vacation there with his family. He had asked that one of his converts meet them at the airport. In the car, it ended up being the man that had served there, his convert and his convert's dad. There was a strange feeling in the car, a weird mood. It was as if his convert had something on his mind.
Right as they were to arrive at their destination, the convert turned to him and asked, "Elder Evans, are you still active?" Brother Evans was able to confidently reply that yes he was still active and was the bishop of his ward. He said that the mood after he replied completely changed. The mood was heavy, the convert didn't want to ask the question because he was afraid of the answer. How uplifted he must have felt to know that his missionary was still living and practicing the things that he had taught him to do. Wow.
I feel soooooooo tired spiritually from all of the things that I have heard and felt today. I'm ready to go to bed...or study the scriptures...C: I finished the Book of Mormon on Thursday and oh my stinking word I love it! I think in January I'm going to start again. In English and in Spanish. Isn't it so wonderful to know? To have two witnesses that Jesus is the Christ? I know that I always give my testimony of the Book of Mormon, but there is so much in that Book that it is impossible to learn everything in one lifetime from it. I hope to some day be able to quote scriptures from it like Grandpa Shumway. He's amazing! Maybe that's what I'll work on this next time around!
Juana's baptism went smoothly and she was sooooooo happy she cried. She's so great and I'm excited to see what she brings to the ward. So many have fallen in love with her spirit already. It was cool because our zone had put the goal to baptize 12 in December and we baptized 16! WOOHOO! We're becoming better missionaries! C: I love you all so much! Have an amazing week, everyone!

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

Pictures

2009-12-11T06:25:00.000-08:00

Click on "Older posts" at the bottom of the page to see pictures of our sweet missionary. ---Valarie

December 7 letter

2009-12-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS UUUUUUUP?!?!?

This week can be summed up in one word: CHALLENGING! It started off fine, p-day was good, particularly uneventful, but what're you gonna do? We ate a really yummy lunch (which I will explain later) and just kinda kicked it back and enjoyed it. The elders were a little disappointed that we didn't play soccer with them, but I'm over it. The craziest thing that happened on Monday was that when we were walking to the Familia Basualdo's house, we saw 5 abandoned kittens playing on the other side of the road. As we walked and talked we looked at them and said, "ah, cute" you know, but all of a sudden, they saw us and started crossing the road toward us...uh oh...we had to cross the street towards them to make them stop crossing the street because this particular street isn't busy, but it's busier than it should be for the location...and there was a car coming.
Being the IDIOT that I am, and curse my feelings for baby animals straight to heck, we put them in the bucket that was there as well and took them to the Basualdo's. We bought them food and they chose the kitten they wanted, but regrettably, it was attacked by the neighbor's dog. I got to see a dog attack a little kitten and once again, curse my feelings for baby animals being attacked, I tried to pick up the kitten when the dog wasn't attacking it and it bit my finger. Hard. I think it's whole tooth went into my skin. I was more worried about my finger than I was about the kitten at this time, however, the dog was still in attack mode and even though it was being beaten unmercifully by Mabel, it would not stop. It was the most horrible thing I have witnessed I think since I have been here...I think. I might have to refer to my journal. Being bit by the dog wasn't that bad...getting pooped on wasn't that bad, my bad getting peed on wasn't that bad...watching dogs do naughty things to other dogs...that actually might be the same...anyway, it was very sad. The family took another one though and put it in a safer spot, however that one died this last week too because the same dog bit it's stomach and I'm sure it slowly and painfully died...
Tuesday in one word: TERRIBLE! I woke up at like 6 in the morning and ran to the bathroom because I had to vomit. I will never EVER eat a lomo again as long as I live. It's basically a long sandwhich with hamburger, egg, mayonaise, tomato and lettuce. It was coming out both ends and I wanted to die. I was sure I was going to die. I made the mistake, too, of wanting to take the kittens to the vet beacuse MISSIONARIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ANIMALS! I'm soooooo grateful for that rule. We didn't get rid of them until Friday, but when we did, I was so grateful. My companion didn't understand, she can't, she doesn't understand the obedience produces blesssings concept. Anyway, we went to four vets and none of them had room and if they did, they only took animals during the day. What is THAT about? I wasn't sure that I was going to make it home, we had to walk a lot. Let's just say that when we got home, I hit the pillow and rarely moved the rest of the day. It was SOOOOOOO awful. I had a fever of 101. I hate being sick. I have a pattern of getting sick once a transfer so at least it happened at the beginning right? I'm so grateful...I'll only be sick 3 more times...
The other two days, Wednesday and Thursday, were kind of a blur because I was trying to recover and we were getting things put together for Betiana's baptism. Friday was better, but I was still kind of stressting about the baptism, the class we were going to teach Sunday and just EVERYTHING. I was also more forgetful than normal this week, although I have no idea how that is possible. At this point, Satan wasn't attacking my weak points, he was attacking my strong points...my confidence and my attitude. Elder Guthrie, who was my district leader my first 3 transfers and who is now one of the assistants to the president called me Friday night and said:
"Hermana Shumway, how are you?"
"Good........" My acting skills definitely did not help me on this one.
"I was praying and I felt like I should give you a call, is everything okay?"
"Elder...you are soooooooo good." Holy junk I was so grateful. He asked me what was up and I basically told him everything. I told him how I'm doing the best I can with what I've been given, but it's really really hard. I told him I was concerned because our numbers were SUPER low this week and blah blah blah and just everything.
I said: "I know that all of these things aren't an excuse and I don't want to complain, just sometimes I just don't know what to do."
"Something that the president told me because I was stressed before and very forgetful and he told me that what I need to do is be organized. How we are organized is we make lists of the most important things that we need to do first and just work with that." Mom, as you know, I am SUPER forgetful and more superly unorganized, so I was so grateful for his council.
He said: "Hermana Shumway, don't get down on yourself. Numbers represent people, not hard work. We know your situation and do you know what? Before we even thought about who was going to train we thought, 'who can handle a mini? Who can do this work alone?' You were the person who came into our minds. You can do it. Just make lists of the most important things and do your best, the Lord understands."
"Thanks so much Elder Guthrie, I feel a lot better right now."
"I'm just an answer to someone's prayer. Someone was praying for you and I was the answer, I think you've got a mom that really loves you."
Whoever it was that was praying for me on Friday, YOU ARE THE BEST! Thank you so much.
Saturday was the baptism and it was so great! The only thing is, Betiana's dad got called to Santa Fe for something and couldn't come. He couldn't come, either, to her confirmation on Sunday. Freaking Satan. Oh well. I'm over it. I'm going to do what I can and if the rest of the people in this family are ready, they'll get baptized, if not, I have to move on. I don't want to, but hey, that's missionary life.
Another one of our investigators, Juana, came to the baptism and it was so great because she was talking to Diego and asking him if we do health blessings in our church. She has a bummed knee like me and she has a hard time getting around. He told her that yes, we did and asked if she wanted one. After Betiana's baptism, which she loved, she got a health blessing. The bishop, Diego and Fernando (another recent convert like Diego of less than a year), gave her a blessing and she said she felt a fire in her and basically promised to get baptized as well. She didn't come to church yesterday and we passed by her house and called her a MILLION times, but we didn't find her. I hope I hope I hope she will be able to progress, she's so ready. Pray for her PLEASE!
Anyway, I must be going now. I love you all, thank you for your prayers, I feel them and I am sooooo grateful. You are all the best! Have an awesome week!

hermana shumway

Nov 16 Letter

2009-11-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

Mis Queridos,

What can I say about this week? Well, it started out with a really crazy experience with a taxi driver on the way to choir practice and Hermana Shumway forgetting her shoes in the car. She walked around for an hour in the chapel behind the mission home in a dress and tennishoes. That was fun. We could have taken that as a prediction for the week, but the week we had, without more explanation…let’s just say, apart from getting eaten alive by bugs, we were ON FIRE!
Monday night was a little crazy with all the people we had to see, but it was a good night and we learned a lot. Tuesday morning at 10:45, we left the apartment for our 12 o’clock appointment. Not really, because walking, we would get there in like half an hour, but we like talking to EVERYONE on the way. We did just that and because of it, we were running a little behind the hour to get to the appointment. We were passing a woman outside her house sweeping, and I almost didn’t talk to her. Just wait until you hear the whole story and you will be so ridiculously relieved that I did! She was more than happy to let us right in and teach her and her family. Her name is Mabel Basualdo and she’s married and has 5 kids all over the age of 8…the youngest is 8. The kids are Fabricio (19), Bettiana (18), Shirley (15), Favian (14), and Fernando (8). The first time we taught them, we taught Mabel, Bettiana, Shirley and Favian about the Book of Mormon. Bettiana was very excited to begin her reading in it and always has a big bright smile when we go by. The second time we taught them, the dad (Sergio) was there and we taught the Restoration. We invited them to be baptized, but Sergio said he needs more time to learn more about what we teach. The third time, we taught Fabricio and everyone else except Sergio. We read 3 Nephi 11 with them and oh my heck it was so awesome. We extended the baptismal commitment and Fabricio, Bettiana, and Fernando all accepted. Bettiana for SURE will be getting baptized on December 5 and if we play our cards right, so will Favian. They’re the only two that stayed for all of the meetings yesterday. After sacrament meeting, Bettiana told my companion that she thought about things and she’s going to be baptized in the church. We were WAY more than excited about that. After Relief Society yesterday, she made sure to tell all of the hermanas goodbye. She’s so awesome! Anyway, we taught them pretty much every day this week and Sergio likes what we teach and that we come by all the time, he works a lot and like Brenton, can only have one Sunday a month off from work. However, his birthday is this week and he said he may be able to come to church this coming Sunday, so we’re hoping and praying for that.
We’ve been working a lot with one of our recent converts, Diego Alvarez. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned him in my letters, but he is AMAZING! The other day, Sergio had questions about the word of wisdom. Diego simply told him HIS story, HIS experiences with it and bore his testimony about it. Then he said, “God’s given us our bodies as a gift and His spirit is meant to dwell there, and if we do those kinds of things, it’s defiling the Spirit of God. What would you do?” Diego started smoking when he was 10. He’s 18 now and he’s on fire! He’s a counsellor in the young men’s presidency and is always willing to help us when we need a member for an appointment. He’s helped a TON with the familia Basualdo. He’s so great!
We had a really good experience with another of our investigators, Yamila, who doesn’t have family support with her decision to investigate the church. We began to give a summary of the Plan of Salvation and somehow got on the subject of her not being very permitted to listen to us. I told her, “Yamila, sometimes, we can make righteous deals with God. You can tell him, ‘Heavenly Father, I love what I am being taught, I believe the Book of Mormon is true and I want to be baptized. I’m willing to do what it takes so that I can get baptized, so please soften my family’s heart so that I can get baptized.’ You can do that. The Lord WANTS you to get baptized!” My companion then asked her how she felt about the Book of Mormon, or if she had a testimony about it. Yamila said she has prayed a lot about it, but has never really received an answer. We knelt down right then and there with her and prayed about the Book of Mormon. Guess what? Now she knows it’s true! WOOHOO!
It’s interesting the concept of prayer, isn’t it? I have learned from the mission that with prayer, when we want something, we should never EVER say, “Heavenly Father, I will do this if you do this” or “Heavenly Father, I’m willing to do this when this happens in my life.” Rather we should say, “Father, I’m willing to do all I can so that I will be worthy of the blessings you have for me.” Or be worthy of the specific blessing you want. That’s why, when we want something, we should always work our hardest for it and be obedient and diligent, and if it doesn’t happen, well, at least we know we’re worthy of it when it does come, right?
My companion told me something the other day that meant a lot to me. She said, “Hermana, it’s really really weird to me that I don’t expect perfection from myself anymore. All my life I felt like it was wrong to laugh if I made a mistake, or that I was doing something horribly wrong if things weren’t happening. But with you, I’ve learned that if I give my best, it’s good enough. If I’m sincerely trying to do all I can to do what the Lord wants and nothing happens, it doesn’t matter because I gave my best and I should be happy with that. It’s okay to laugh at the mistakes we make.” Don’t worry, we know it’s not okay ALL of the time to do that, but generally speaking…That meant a lot to me. She would beat herself up really bad when we were first together. She thought she was the worst missionary for the longest time and finally I just had to put my foot down and say, “WOULDJA JUST STOP THAT?” She’s come a long way and she’s a lot happier now with herself, so I feel really good about that.
I have somewhat to say now to my two youngest sisters:
Linsey: DON’T BE STRESSED ABOUT COLLEGE! What you need to do is pick 3 or 4 of YOUR top choice of school and pray about which of those 3 or 4 is the best choice. You could even pick less if you want. But it will be easier for you to receive an answer if you pick your top choice and take those to the Lord. Pray about each one individually and in a place you know you will not be interrupted. Pay close attention to your feelings okay? Don’t worry, Heavenly Father wants you to make the right decision, but He also wants you to be happy. Pick where you want to go and then pray okay? If you don’t feel good about any of the schools you have chosen, start the process over again. However, there are cases where we feel good about all of the things we are praying about, they are all good choices and Heavenly Father is telling us we can choose for ourselves. In that case, take the one you pick and pray about it. Don’t worry, you will get an answer and it will be right for you. Good luck! I love you! Let me know if I can help you k?
Audrey: I read a really really good article today about patriarchal blessings. I don’t know if you are thinking about getting yours or if you already have, but you should read the article because it will help you a TON! It’s in the Ensign or Liahona, can’t remember which one, of August 2009. Mom told me about the conversation you were having with your friend at school. Don’t tell her that what she’s being taught is wrong, but help her think. Ask questions like, “If all we had to do was accept Jesus Christ in our lives and that’s it, do you think it would have been necessary that he suffered for our sins?” It’s true that God loves us no matter what we do, but He has eternal blessings waiting for us and if we don’t follow His commandments, we will never receive them, thus we will never be eternally happy.
I must go now, I love you all and I hope you have all had an amazing week! Weird how we’re already halfway through November. We feel like we’re in July here. We’re getting used to sweating 24 hours of the day. I LOVE ARGENTINA! Talk to you soon! LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES FOR EVERYONE!!!!!

Hermana Shumway

Nov 9 Letter

2009-11-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

Hola familia y mis queridos amigos!

I'm very very sorry you did not get the letter I sent last week. That really makes me soooooo angry! I told two or three really funny things that happened to us this transfer. Dadgummit. Oh well, you will hear about it when I get home I suppose...I guess I can't tell you everything over e-mail.
This week we worked soooo hard and it was a bit cooler. Hermana Miller and I got sick again. I don't understand it, my immune system just like doesn't work or something. I've been sick every transfer and this is my 9th transfer. What is the DEAL?!? Anyway, we worked as hard as we could anyway, as hard as our bodies would permit and I'm still a little weak from it all, but I think I'm getting better...
I'm sad Linsey's not playing basketball this year. Not that it would really matter cuz I can't watch her play anyway, but, it's fun to brag to the elders about my cute sisters that are so beautiful and talented. I always tell them when they ask if they can date them that they aren't good enough. =) That's just how it goes sometimes! I haven't heard from Linsey in a really long time so I'm hoping within the next week I'll be getting something from her.
We got a new bishopric yesterday. The bishop that we have now is Ignacio (Nacho) Izquierdo. He was one of the counselors in the bishopric so he just moved up. He's 28 and his wife just had a baby. They're little two year-old, Emiliano, is sooooooo adorable! I was dancing with him when we went to their house the other day, I miss my nephews!!!! One of the counselors stayed the same, Alejandro Menendez and the other counselor we have just recently returned home from serving as mission president in Brasil so we're expecting the efforts for the missionary work in the ward to boost a LOT.
The x-bishop bore his testimony and thanked my companion and I over the pulpit for all the support we've given him and for always having smiles on our faces. He said, "the hermanas have the love that it takes to do this work." I have learned so much about love. People matter. Their wants, concerns, their feelings, all matter. This gospel can help them, but you have to listen to them and to the spirit to know how to help them. A lot of times, people don't need things physically to be shown they are loved. They just want to be listened to. They just want our time, they want help. That's what the savior did isn't it?
For the third hour yesterday, we got all the young men and women, all the priesthood and all the relief society together and did a little lesson on missionary work. Oh my stinking word the spirit was so strong. Our goal was to motivate them to do missionary work, give them copies of the Book of Mormon right then and there, give them time to write a name, an address, and their testimonies in it and collect them right then and there to pass during the week by their friends' houses and give them the copies of the Book of Mormon. Hermana Miller and I sang Joseph Smith's first prayer to the tune of come thou fount and then bore our tesimonies of the restoration. We touched every single person in that room, Wickenburg weeper or not, everyone felt the spirit. It was so amazing. We got a lot of references too and oh my heck we have such amazing youth in our ward. Two of the boys, Santiago (13) and Ivan (15) asked if they could go with us to drop off the Books. They're so great. I'm so excited for this week. Pray that we will be able to find a lot of people through this activity PLEASE! Well, I think that will be all for now, but I hope you have a wonderful week and that everything is going well for everyone! It sounds like you're all just wonderful! Talk to you next week! Love you all sooooooooo much! ¡Un besito!

Hermana Shumway

2009-11-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

2009-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

2009-11-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

2009-11-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

2009-11-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

October 26 Letter

2009-11-04T21:10:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a great week and it's definitely summer time. Im getting my crazy foot tan from last summer. Do you remember the picture I sent? GROSS! I'm getting, right along with it, my farmer tan back. It makes me so sad, but I don't think I have my red tint like I used to have with my tan. It's funny because everyone always tells my companion that she is red and then look at me and say my skin tone is darker so I don't look so bad...thanks haha. I'm getting a pretty wicked watch tan too! C:
The Book of Mormon is the best book ever! Last night, when we got back to our pension, my companion and I started to study a little in the Book of Mormon to get our "fix" for the day and I cannot even tell you how relieved I felt. Yesterday was a good day, but without my usual Book of Mormon study, I felt SO not spiritually prepared for it. It was so sad, but I had a wonderful ten minutes of reading it before I went to bed last night. Alma and Amulek are amazing. In Alma 14 when they're encarcerated, they really showed exactly how Christlike they were with everything the guards were doing to them. Three times it says they were asked questions or someone made a comment and Alma and Amulek kept their mouths shut. Just like it says about Christ when he was suffering: "And he opened not his mouth..." I love the principle of enduring to the end. You love the principle of hope which has todo que ver con el perseverar hasta el fin. Will we endure? Sure, we'll endure. Will we keep our mouths shut and not complain and put on a smile and be Christlike?..................................we hope so right? We should because even when God withdrew His spirit from Christ, He still endured to the end.
This week was insane because we had zone conference and our mission president upped the requirements to get new investigators and other lessons....the key indicators. In order to count an 'other' lesson, we have to be in a house and say a prayer. They don't have to turn into an investigator, but we have to be teaching them in their house and we have to say a prayer with them. Then new investigators, we HAVE to, si o si, set up another appointment with them. We always did that anyway, so that wasn't something new for us. OH! This week I'm so excited because we have like 3 noches de hogar set up to have with the members. Our members are so helpful! They're always willing to help us if we have an appointment, but they're a little timid when it comes to talking to their friends. SOME OF THEM. Others love it and always are talking. My companion and I have a family home evening and our coordination meeting at the same time on Wednesday so we get to go on splits with the members to be everywhere we need to be and I'm so pumped for it! C:
Planning yesterday was so awesome because my companion told me something really special. She told me that since being my companion, it's changed her life. She told me that I always have a good attitude about everything no matter what and that I ALWAYS see the good in everything and that that is a gift. That meant a lot to me. It's not hard for me to have a good attitude, but sometimes I wonder why things don't happen. I guess I don't wonder why, but I'm so subconscious all the time of whether I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing to bind the Lord so He has to bless us. It's hard keeping a good attitude about things, but it's better that being negative about it, right? C:
Well family, I must say that the other day I told my companion that worldly possessions don't matter because spiritual blessings are so much better and I stopped and thought and said, "my parents would laugh if they ever heard me say that because I used to HATE it when they said that to me." Hermana Miller started to laugh. But it's ture. Yesterday, we had a less active in church that was inactive for a LONG FLIPPIN TIME. He worked the whole night, got home, shaved, changed and came to sacrament meeting. There is no excuse to not come to church. EVER! I hope I never forget that. Anyway, I must go! Love you all! Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday to Brendon on Sunday! Havea wonderful week!

Hermana Shumway

October 13 letter

2009-11-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

Dear family and wonderful friends,

This week was crazy! It started off with helping an Evangelic man wash his car and to tell us thank you, he blessed us in the name of Jesus Christ and ended with 15 or more people getting up with ten minutes left in sacrament meeting to share their testimonies. We ended our meeting when the other ward was supposed to START theirs. Oops. Needless to say the Evangelic man in every sense did NOT have the power to bless us in the name of Christ and my companion and I both had really really weird feelings afterward. Not good ones. That’s not okay to do. If you don’t have the permission, o sea, the priesthood, that’s NOT okay. We testified of the restoration of the gospel and that he didn’t have the power to do things in the name of Christ, he said he did and we quickly said thank you for letting us help him with his car and almost ran away from him. Poor guy. He doesn’t know anything.
My companiong and I have had a lot of really good companion studies this week. We've been wondering why we're not getting the results promised from our diligence. Then yesterday my companion told me that she was thinking about Abinadi vs. Shadrak, Mishak and Abednego. Abinadi said he would do the Lord's will and if the Lord saw fit to spare his life, so be it, but if not, he would preach His word anyway. What happened with him? He got burned to death and saw no fruits of his labor. For all he knew, the priest (Alma) who stood up for him in front of the king was caught and killed. He was faithful and dilligent. Shadrak, Mishak and Abednego said the same thing and were just as faithful and dilligent and baptized a ton of people and when they were thrown into the fire, they weren't burned. We thought it was interesting because we thought, "the situation in the mission is the same. We have just as much faith as the other people in the mission, but we may not see the fruits of our labors like they have seen. But as long as we are obedient and dilligent, if the Lord sees fit to bless us, great, if not, we're going to work just as hard and act like we already have the baptisms or the "fruits of our labors". That comforted me because I sometimes get a little frustrated, but as long as I'm worthy to have the blessings of the Lord, if He blesses me, great, if not, it's okay, I'm going to stay worthy of His blessings.
My companion has read and I am reading right now about a man who wrote a letter to a mission president about what he learned in his mission about faith and covenant making. About making deals with the Lord, which is completely okay to do in the mission because we KNOW the Lord wants us to find people. We KNOW He wants us to have success. So, instead of saying, “Heavenly Father, we’re willing to do this IF you’ll give us this…” we say, “Heavenly Father, we’re willing to do this SO THAT you’ll give us this.” What a difference, no? Basically saying, Father, this is what we are going to do to have a baptism, so we’re going to work like we know you will give us one. If not, it was a really good growing experience and some changes are required to get the next one.
I love being a missionary. I love what I have learned up until this point. I learn something new every week. The Lord has blessed me so much and I’m so thankful to be His full-time servant at this point of my life. I look at things so differently now and my life will be lived in a different way when I get back home.
We had a really amazing experience with an inactive family on Sunday. We watched To This End Was I Born (thank you Race so much for giving me those movies, they are an amazing tool), and when I bore my testimony of the Savior afterwards, I started to cry a little bit. It was the first time in a long time I’ve felt the spirit so strong while testifying of Jesus Christ. I know He knows me and knows everything I feel. He is living my mission with me and knows everything. I’m so eternally grateful for His love for me. He had the power to stop everything that happened to Him, but He loves me so much that He knew He couldn’t. I was more important, you all are more important. He suffers with you, He laughs with you, He knows it all. I love Him, I know He lives and He’s every day trying so hard to influence us to choose the right so we can live with Him again. Please don’t ever forget that. Don’t forget who you are, because He never will.
I hope you all have an amazing week! I love you all sooooooooo much! Chao!

Hermana Shumway

Reply Forward

October 5 Letter

2009-10-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

Hello to all! How are you all doing? How was conference for everyone? Here it was great! However, our mission president made a rule that we couldn’t watch conference in English because we needed to sit with our investigators. My companion and I had one investigator that went to the priesthood session, but that was it. Luckily, our zone leaders got permission for us to watch the last session of conference in English. I was so grateful because Elder Holland’s talk about the Book of Mormon was so dadgum powerful. It’s true. Everything he said. As hard as people try to break down the Book of Mormon, they will never ever succeed. Why? Because it was inspired of God. Revelations and testimonies given by His prophets. Nobody who reads the Book of Mormon with a sincere desire to know of it’s divinity and know their Savior more deeply will be denied the testimony. I can’t believe how many people I have met here who have said, “Oh yeah, I’ve read the Book of Mormon and I don’t agree with what it says.” Every time I ask them if they prayed about it, they say, “I always pray.”—“Do you pray SPECIFICALLY and with sincerity to know if it’s true?” They can never say yes. One man told us that he didn’t agree with when God cursed the Lamanites and gave them dark skin to separate them from the Nephites. I just wanted to be like...“dude, revelation from God comes true and God is just...what more do you want?” People read it just to know what’s in it and to study it and compare it with other books that have been written and with the Bible. You can’t do that. You can’t ever know if it’s true if that’s the only reason you read it. However, those who do read it with a sincere heart will gain everything Elder Holland testified of. Peace, comfort, and a new love for their Savior and a sincere and deep desire to follow Him. Is that not enough of a promise?
Crazy thing happened. I met a guy who just got back from his mission in Costa Rica like 4 months ago and guess who he met, knew and was companions with? Aaron Brooks!!! Crazy! Dadgum, this mormon world is soooooo small. Also, Elder Ramos, an Elder in my district from Peru, was looking at my pictures and he saw Caleb asked who he was. I told him, “that’s my cousin that served in Peru Lima East.” He looked at me with a very surprised look and said, “I know him, he served in my stake back home. He always got really emotional when he talked about God.” It runs in the family, what are you gonna do? It was crazy!
This week my companion and I got sick from walking around so much unguarded in the cold weather last week. It’s kinda funny because since we got sick, Hermana Miller sometimes has to wake me up at night and tell me to roll over so I don’t snore. She finds me sleeping on my back and I can’t breathe through my nose so I guess it gets pretty bad. Last night she had to do it twice. Hahaha, oh poor girl. I’m glad that doesn’t happen when I’m not sick. Today we are in downtown Córdoba and we went into a store that sells mostly only sweet things. Chocolate, alfajors, bon o bons (Mom, you may have to explain to some what those are. What did you think of the ones I sent by the way?), everything one could possibly want as far as sweets go (minus ice cream). Since my comp and I have been sick, we bought cough drops from this store to satisfy the dryness of our throats. We go into a huge candy store and what do we come out with? Cough drops. Oh well...we’re desperate okay?
As far as investigators go. We found a man and a woman who are married! Darío and Alicia! Finally! However, when we passed by their house before conference yesterday, Darío told us that Alicia had left him. Crap. We tried everything to get him to come to conference, he said he kinda wanted to go, but wanted to stay home as well. We literally tried every angle, every promise and blessing in the book, but, he wouldn’t budge. We’ll see what this week brings with him. Anyway, I must be on my way, I think we might go to the zoo or something, so it’s been great, I hope I get those letters I told everyone to write about conference soon. I’m glad Brent at least gets one Sunday off a month. I’ll be praying really hard that he can have every Sunday off. You just can’t miss out on the blessings you know? Anyway, I’m glad everyone’s doin great! The church is true, the Book is blue and God is Mormon. C: Talk to you all next week!

Hermana Shumway

September 28 letter

2009-10-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

Mis Queridos,
How was everyone’s week??? Ours was GRRREAT! Lots and lots of amazing experiences and tender mercies of the Lord. Shall we begin?

Wonderful experience #1:
On Tuesday, my companion and I had an appointment at one of the far points of our area with a woman who’s an atheist. Because of how far it was and with contacting everyone we saw in the street, we got there a little late. She was there and we tried about 5 times to get her to let us in and only sing a song to her, but we had no luck. =( Hello…if you’re not interested, tell us in the street so we don’t walk an hour to your house and find out you don’t give a darn! On our way back to the middle of our area for our lunch appointment, my companion sees a house and says, “Hermana, there’s a family in that house and we’re gonna go in and teach them.” I was more than willing to oblige to accommodate the sudden change of plans. We asked the woman (Cristina) if we could come in and sing her a song. We did and it was beautiful and the spirit was there and we gave them an amazing lesson one. The man (Carlos) told us about his back problems and how he’s going to need to be operated on. We offered to return with priesthood holders to give him a blessing which he agreed to and we left. They’re an amazing couple! When we went back the second time, Carlos wasn’t there, but we talked a whole bunch to Cristina about the Book of Mormon and we prayed with her about it and after she had her turn to pray, with tears in her eyes she said, “Yes, I believe this is a book that can help me.” It was beautiful!

Wonderful experience #2:

Our interviews with the president on Wednesday were amazing and of course soooo uplifting! I love when that time of the transfer rolls around! In mine we talked about the experience my companion and I had on Sunday with patience and everything and he said, “You just have to remember that many people will accept this message, but only the Lord’s elect will accept the commitments and follow through with them.” That’s why in our mission we put a lot of emphasis on extending the baptismal commitment in the first appointment with people so we know who will progress and who won’t. The president also told me that when we get to the point of the day when everything falls through, our plans, our appointments, everything, is when we need to pray and say, “Where do you want us to go?” Also, Hermana Olsen told me that we should be very specific when we pray for that and say, “Heavenly Father, we are ready to find a family, where do you want us to go to find it?”
We did a practice of entering a house with our district leader, one of our zone leaders and one of the assistants with the opening phrase of, “Hello! Do you like music?” We “knocked” their door and just started to sing and went into their house without permission. We finished the first verse of How Great Thou Art and the elders were completely quiet. We talked, did the shpeel and after they said, “Hermanas, that was perfect. We had a whole plan of how we were going to stop you from coming in, but once you started singing, you brought the spirit right when you came in the house and the spirit was there so we couldn’t say anything. DO THIS IN YOUR DOOR CONTACTS!” Well, that night, we did it and we got into a house! The woman was really really hard hearted at first, but Heavenly Father softened her heart and we set up another appointment with her! =)

Wonderful experience #3:

After planning on Thursday, we were way late to the appointment that we had with Estela. I saw a woman working outside her house and she lives about 2 houses from Estela. At first I thought, “oh, she’s busy, she’ll use that as an excuse. Then I thought, “yeah, we can’t talk to her, she’s only 2 houses from Estela and we’re already late.” As we were about to pass her, much to my companion’s surprise because she almost ran into me, I thought, “what the heck, I’ll talk to her. The worst she can say is no.” We stopped and said, “Good evening! We have a song that we’d love to sing to you. Do you like music?” She responded that she did and my companion asked, “can we come in for a little bit and sing the song to you?” She said, “sure! If you want.” We walked in, sang the song and asked her how she felt. She said she felt a lot better than what she was feeling. She said that she’s usually really hard hearted to things like what we do, not very open, but she said for some reason, she walked outside to clean, she didn’t need to, but she did. She saw us and she told us that before we even talked to her she could feel something and that’s why she let us in.
We taught her an overview of lesson one because we didn’t have much time and introduced the Book of Mormon. She told us that she felt something very very different with us. That she’s been going to church for years and years and has never felt like she felt with us. We asked if she wants to have these feelings with her all the time. She said yes and my companion right then and there extended the baptismal commitment: “When you feel and know that this is true, will you be baptized in this church?” She accepted! We even prayed with her and after her prayer, she told us she felt a fire in her heart. I LOVE THE SPIRIT!!!

Wonderful experience #4
Everything on Friday fell through, I’m not kidding either…EVERYTHING! By the evening we were sooooo tired and just burnt out. However, because we are so optimistic C: we took the president’s advice, said a prayer, and as we walked said to ourselves: “Hablar con todos, hablar con todos (Talk with everyone)!” We were knocking doors in a darker street and all of a sudden, I felt like I did not want to be in that street anymore. My companion asks, “Hermana, where do you think we should go?” I said, “I don’t know but I really don’t want to be in this street anymore.” We talked to about 5-10 people. My companion stopped the ninth person, a mother that looked like she just came from Hollywood, her daughter and their dog. They just kept walking and didn’t acknowledge her at all. However, behind them was a mother, her dad and her two kids. I said in my little head, “oh look! A family!” I talked to them and we followed them to their house even though they told us they had no time, we said, “It’s okay, we’re only going to take 5 minutes!” We went in, began singing a hymn and halfway through the first verse the thought came into my head, “Hermana Shumway, why are you singing this song? This woman has young children. DUH! Sing I am a Child of God!” When the first verse ended, I said, “Uh…we’re changing the song.” We sang the simple but very powerful child’s hymn and answered a few of their questions along the lines of lesson one and things like that and asked if we could come back. They agreed and the mom asked if we would call beforehand because she really wanted her husband to be there when we came back. We thought, “uh…yeah sure.” That’s music to every missionary’s ears.

As you can see folks, the Lord, after much tribulation pours out his blessings. It’s hard to leave it up to the Lord after all we can do because sometimes it takes a while for the blessings to come. It was surely an amazing week!
To answer your question Dad: This crazy country does not have a fixed weather. It’s suppose to be spring time, but a HUGE storm rolled in on Saturday at about 6 and it got real cold real fast. My comp and I were completely unprepared and freezing by the time we got back to our apartment that night. It was so hot on Saturday, but it turned out to be an absolutely freezing night and day all through Sunday. That kills us as missionaries, but some have compassion enough to let us in their houses.
WOOHOO! Conference is coming! Be prepared! My zone leader, Elder Ringwood, has a dad in the 70 and his grandpa is Elder Nelson of the quorum of the 12!!! They are both speaking this conference so be ready! C: I would really appreciate if all of my siblings including my in-laws and my best friend wrote me about what they learned from conference. Actually, it’s a requirement. Would it kill you, siblings, to write me ONE long e-mail? Share with me your thoughts and the spirit you felt! Speaking of the spirit, it’s totally not where we’re e-mailing right now because the guy who’s running it is listening to music that is less than agreeable. I feel very contentious right now…sad day…I am a child of God…
Anyway, I must be going! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Please prepare yourselves to receive all the personal revelation possible in the conference! It’s going to be soooo awesome! I love you all! I’m grateful for everything. I’m grateful for the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is preparing us for eternal life with him every time we find ourselves in a rut in the road to eternal life. It’s a wonderful thing to know and to know that you know isn’t it?

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

September 21 Letter

2009-09-22T09:35:00.001-07:00

Dear Family!
How is everything??? I’m so glad to hear everything is okay with everyone! This week was sooooo awesome! We had a rough start, but it ended with an amazing companion study after lunch yesterday and finding an amazing family the first house we knocked after leaving the pension. It was so great! Here’s a little bit about how the missionary schedule works. After church, we either eat with a family in the area or in the pension and after lunch, we study for two hours before going out to work. I had an amazing personal study. I studied 2 Nephi 32 and 33 (continuing with the study of the Book of Mormon we’re doing as a mission) and I can’t believe the spiritual epiphanies the Lord was giving me. After reading those chapters, I read in chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. First about faith, then that led me to read about hope which led me to read about patience. It was incredible. Hermana Miller and I have been racking our brains trying to figure out what we can do to have and show more faith. We’ve been asking, as did the Lord of the vineyard, “what more could I have done for my vineyard?” Trying to figure out what to do different so we could find more people to teach...so we could find PEOPLE to teach period.
In my reading, I found out that Hermana Miller and I, yes we need more faith, but that wasn’t our problem…our problem was having the hope the Lord is going to bless us and then having PATIENCE enough to wait for them. Patience that the Lord will bless us in His way and His time. In the section about hope it talks about bearing with afflictions with confidence, happiness and something else, I can’t remember. So…we made a quote, because we are so spiritually deep C: that says: Patience with the attitude of hope and the actions of faith. Also, something I thought was interesting is that in the paragraphs about patience, it says the words “ability” and “able”. I had never considered patience an action word. Interesting.
So what did we do when we went out to work yesterday? Everyone that rejected us until that first house we knocked, we said, “That was a really good contact Hermana, maybe next time we could say this or say that. Don’t worry, the next person will listen.” When we knocked the house, a woman called Edith answered the door and let us in. We taught her, her husband, Fernando, and their daughter, Melisa who’s 24. We taught the restoration and Fernando kept interrupting us with things that had nothing to do with what we were talking about. It was interesting , though, because instead of getting frustrated, my companion and I were patient and kept control of the lesson and little by little, he said less and less. They had never heard of the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith, which was such good news to us! However, one of the members that lives next to them gave them The Testaments. Edith told us she really liked it. We committed them to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. We left them 3 Nephi 11 and the introduction which I am so excited about because now they will understand 100 times better the movie The Testaments. We were so excited that we immediately gave a prayer of thanks. My companion told me that’s the first family found in two months. We’re so excited and so grateful for PATIENCE!!!!
Funny story for the week. Last night I was talking in English in my Mexican accent and my companion was dying laughing. It wasn’t a very good idea though because when we were in the area where there are more people, when I went to contact someone instead of saying, “Hola” I wanted to say, “HYELLO!” Hermana Miller told me that she loves that I can do that, but thinks it’s so creepy that I can do it so well. Haha I had fun C:
Anyway, we're going to go play soccer with our zone so I've gotta get going! Have a wonderful week everyone! Lots of LOVE from Argentina!

Hermana Shumway C:

September 14 letter

2009-09-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Hello!!!!!!!!

Really quick update. This week was insane! We talked to a TON of people! We only ended up with 3 new investigators =( but we are trying really hard and we have a meeting with the ward council tomorrow so I'm excited to go to that and get some bapitsms going!
The zone conference we had was awesome! Hermana Miller and I sang very well and it really brought the spirit for what President Olsen talked about afterward. Speaking of the spirit, it is not with me right now because the guy running the internet place we're in is listening to scream-o and it's driving me crazy. If my thoughts are scattered PLEASE forgive me.
Dad, the weather here is great, but my body temperature is WAY out of wack! It gets really hot and we'll put our winter stuff back in our suitcases, and more then likely, the next day is rainy and cold so we have to dig stuff eback oeut again. That drieves mee crazy. Do you remember how I used to love cold weather so much more than hot weather? I think it might be turned around now. Weird huh?
We visited one of the families in the ward this week who got baptized 4 years ago by an Elder Skidmore. I thought, "NO FLIPPIN WAY!" It's not the same family as the guy that Alicia dated way back when because this guy's from California. Maybe relatives though!
A couple funny stories regarding how untouchy I've become since being in Argentina (it's kind of silly because I've always been a touchy person and being here is making me less and less like that. Everyone is always saying how in the U.S. we're not touchy. It's because people in this country OVERTOUCH!): We contacted a woman in the street and when I opened my mouth to talk she made a comment that says, "oh silly little girl preaching to me something I already know." As she was saying that, she caressed my face and without really meaning to and wondering why in the freaking world she was touching me, I jerked my head away from her hand. Then she told me that I reminded her of a girl she knew from Australia and I wanted to say, "that's great, just don't touch me." After the contact, my companion said, "I really thought that old lady was going to lose her hand."
Story number 2: We contacted an older couple in the street and the old man said that same phrase that says, silly girl, why is she preaching to me about something I already know. As this old man was rejecting the message I was trying to share, took my elbow. At first his touch was soft and it wasn't a big deal, but little by little he kept squeezing harder and it hurt. I jerked my arm away and ended the contact. Oh I was so mad. My companion sweetly said, "Hermana, you need to learn to love the touch." I looked at her and said, "hermana, he was sqeezing the crap out of my arm and it hurt!" She laughed and said, "Maybe he was about to fall over."
Anyway, I have no time left. Places to go, things to eat, you know. I'm glad to hear everything's well at home. Pray for my companion, Hermana Miller, because she just found out her dad is being sent to Afghanistan. Pray that her dad will be safe and that she will be comforted. We've been using general conference and the Book of Mormon a lot in our contacts and I'm loving it, because I can definitely talk easily about the answers received in both! I'll talk about a specific answer I received from a talk Elder Eyring gave a few years ago that helped me soooo much and has effected me to this day. Have an awesome week everyone!

Hasta la pasta!
Hermana Shumway

erw

2009-09-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

2009-08-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

August 10 letter Part 2

2009-08-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Hugo's daughter's birthday. She turned 16! Of course, 16 here isn't a big deal, 15 is. Only because unilke in the US, they have to wait until 18 to drive. That STINKS! Oh well, what are you gonna do? We did a surprise for her as well!! I love surprises! Mom and Dad, I hadn't used the birthday stuff you sent me because I got the package after my birthday, but I used it for this birthday and I'm so happy I had it!. Yessica was so happy! She and I have a really special relationship. We just get along really really well and she's soooo sweet. Mom, yes, send me pictures of teh temple, andy templem multiple temples and pictures of Christ for this family. the Pucheta Family, I looooove them! Huge, Daina, Yesica and Kevin, They're amazing and I love visiting them. When Yesica huggd me to tell me thanks, she started crying too, I really really love this girl She's so special to me. I help her with her english. She's so smart!

As I said last week, we taught our President's daughter this week to prepare her for her baptism yesterday. I love these kids!!! They are so well behaved...unless I'm playing withthem. Then they are crazy. Ha haha on Tuesday , at Yohana's birthday party, I played with them outside and it was sooo fun! We were running around all over the place! They had these blocks of styrophome( I have no idea how to spell that word) and hit me with them and I layed down in the dead grass and pretended like I was dead. Then I would wake up and start chasing them all over the church yard. Hahahaha they loved it! I miss my nephews! I played soccer with these same kids onSaturday because they were having a part of Micaela's birthday which was on Friday and I scored 3 goals. They of course didn't really count because all of these kids are 11 and under. One of the goals I scored, my choe came of and hi the president's son, Elias, who's 9 in the face. Hahahahaah it wa so funny and hew was a good sprot about it and laughed it off. I was smart and stopped playing after that.

August 10 Letter Cont.

2009-08-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Aug 10 letter

2009-08-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Family & Friends,
This week was a fun one! We had a lot of birthdays and as you all know I LOVE birthdays! I had to do surprise birthday parties otherwise it just doesn't work out. Yohana's birthday was on tuesday. She's 33. She was so excited and happy she started crying. It's the best when the person has no idea about the party, but it's even better when they've never had anything close to that thier whole lives and are so happy that they start crying. I'm pretty convinced Yohana's never had a fun day in her whole life and that was probably the nicest thing anybody has ever done for her. I love this woman so much. She loves the church and has such a strong testimony of it. Haha the other day when we were at her house, the Jehova's Witnesses came by and Cintia, her daughter, went to go talk to them. Yohana yelled from inside the house,"Cintia! Tell them we're not interested and that we're mormons!" haha she makes me laugh so hard. When Cintia came back in, she told us that she told them they were mormons and the guys talked to her anyway. She said they asked her why there are so many churches and how she knows she's in the right one and she said,"Well, one knows it's true by the peace they feel inside." Then they asked if they could leave a pamphlet and she said, "yeah you can, but we won't read it." Hahahaha I love them. Yohana told us on sunday that we should talk to Cintia about baptism. I'm really excited about that because Cintia and Yohana are really close and tell each other everything, so they had to have talked about it. Yohana has said from the beginning that she wants this for Cintia, but she doesn't want to push her and that if she gets baptized it has to be because she wants it. I'm so excited to talk to them tomorrow! WOO HOO!

2009-08-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I am having trouble posting cara's e-mails. I am working on it. - Valarie

2009-08-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

I am having trouble getting Cara's e-mails to post so sorry to all those who waiting for one to read. I am trying to fix it. Valarie

She looks Great!!

2009-07-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

Rio Cuarto-Centro

2009-07-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Finally! Pics from Cara

2009-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

July 6 Letter

2009-07-12T16:33:00.001-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,
I thought I would dedicate the subject of this e-mail to the recently lost king of pop, Michael Jackson. Poor guy...he looked more like a girl than most girls. No offense ladies, I'm just stating the facts. I love the guy, he's probably the best dancer ever, heck, I dislocated my knee cap dancing to his music, but he was a weirdy! Nothing really special happened this week. We ran into a lot of people who are athiest. I don't think I've ever met so many of those people in my whole mission than I have in this area. I feel bad for them. There is no reason to hope for anything, no reason for happiness when you don't believe there is a supreme being who cares about every person on this earth. I have a couple funny stories: First, a few days ago we knocked the door of a jehova's witness who came right up to us and said, "oh, hello! I'm a jehova's witness!" She greeted us with the usual kiss on the cheek and began telling us about this and that. After a while she stopped and asked, "so how long have you been jehova's witnesses?"...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................say what?!? I kind of couldn't believe my ears. Don't worry, I immediately corrected her and said, "We're NOT jehova's witnesses, we're Mormons! Jehova's witnesses don't walk around with our plaques (I totally forgot how to spell a lot of words so if that word is spelled wrong, I'm terribly sorry!)." How silly. People ask us that all the time and I'm just like...for the love! Open your eyes! Look at the name we're wearing! Por favor.... Also, I figured out, I've been completely cured of my touchiness. I do not like to be touched. My companion is a very touchy person and for some reason, I can't handle being touched anymore. What're you gonna do? Haha, we contacted an older couple in the street yesterday and the woman asked, "who are you? Evangelists?" We said, "no, we're Mormon missionaries." She replied, "Oh, evnagelist mormons." Her husband aksed, "What did they say? I don't hear." Then the woman said, "These are evangelist mormons." Then I firmly said, "No, we're not evangelists, we're MORMONS! Nada que ver (nothing do to) with Evangelists." Oh...the misconceptions of the very small minded...oh my gosh, I repent. I didn't say that. They don't know any better...right? The highlight of my week has been with Yohana. I'm so excited for her. She's so strong already and is ALWAYS studying the Book of Mormon. We gave her a bible because she didn't have one and she studies it when there are scriptures to look up from the pamphlets we've given her, but she's told us that she likes the Book of Mormon better and reads in it every day. She's a very slow reader. She has the reading level of a 9 year-old...what's that like 4th grade? Qué sé yo? She's already in 2 Nephi. She's amazing and she bore her testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting as did Hugo. Yohana got up and said, "I'd like to share my testimony with you. This is my first time getting up here and talking to you, but I want to say that I know that this church is true and that Joseph Smith is true. I want to thank you all for helping me learn about all of this..." she said some other things and then said, "I want to leave these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." It was perfect and holy junk the spirit was so strong. She sat down and told us, "I said that because I really felt it." We told her that it was perfect and that she did a good job. She really is a very sincere and honest person so if she says something it's because that's really what she's feeling or thinking. I love her so much and I have learned a million and 5 things from her. Hugo's testimony was very simple and sweet as well. He said that thanks to this church, his life has changed for the better and that he wouldn't know where he would be if he hadn't heard the oportune words at the oportune time. He said he knows that Christ lives. It was beautiful. Many people were very impressed and moved by the spirit that was there. It was awesome. I don't really have much else to say except I'm pretty excited because I'm dying my hair back to my natural color. I will never EVER color my hair again. It's fun....for .5 seconds, but when hair is as dark as mine, it just looks awful when it starts to grow out. Anyway, Grandma Lyon, I'm sorry I missed your birthday on June 10th, but happy birthday! Grandma Sharrie, happy birthday on Wednesday and Grandma Shumway happy birthday on Friday! You look great, all of you! =) I want you all to know that every week in the mission I have learned something. I don't always realize it, but my spirit is growing. I will never leave this faith. I will never leave this church. There aren't many things I'm absolutely sure of in my life, but the most important is the church is always the same. We will ALWAYS be able to count on this church. Maybe not some of the people in the church, but the church itself, Christ as its head will ALWAYS be the anchor in our lives. I haven't seen it more in my life than right now. The people I teach need something to hang on to, something that remains firm in this world that is constantly wavering. That thing is this gospel. It's the truest of true and it's everlasting. Our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ live and they are guiding this church through President Monson. This gospel changes lives. I love it with all my heart. I'm so happy for this time in my life to serve my master. I'm not sure what's coming after this short time, but He will always be there for me if I do what I'm supposed to do. I hope you are all doing fantastic and I hope Dad, Mom, and the girls had a wonderful time at camp! Love you all!
Hermana Shumway

June 29 Letter

2009-06-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

What is uuuuup???
HUGO GOT CONFIRMED THIS WEEK!!! I was so happy when we saw him on Sunday. We had been trying to visit him all week, but it was just NOT working out, we could NEVER find him in his house! Saturday night we called him and asked him if he would be in church on Sunday and he said YES! He was there and he got confirmed. Yohana was there too! She's so awesome! We set a baptismal date with her this week. She will be baptized the 18th of July. She told us she thought baptism was when she knew everything and we were like....uh....NO! It's almost the opposite. People get baptized when they don't know anything, but they trust in the Lord and His promises to the people who follow the feelings and confirmations they receive from the spirit! Anyway, she also helped us clean the church on Friday. It was funny because we signed up to go at 3. Hermana Gonzalez and I got there earlier to open the church and get things started. Yohana arrived at 3:06 and said, I'm so sorry I'm late! I need to learn to be more punctual. I had to laugh. Maybe she'll break the evil Mormon Standard Time curse...who knows? =) I swear my time here gets shorter every week. It's FLYING by. The next transfer cycle, July 22, I'll be half way done...dang that stinks. I swear when I first got to Argentina, I thought, "there is NO way I can do this for 16 more months." Now I think, oh my GOSH!?! I only have 10 months left...NOOOO! Anyway, life is good, we taught a wonderful family this week and the kids are SOOOO smart. They were really excited to have the Book of Mormon. We taught the two women (I don't know if their husbands are present or not), Yanina and Mercedes and three kids baptism age, Caren, 11, Julieta,9, and Claudio, 8. We'll see how it goes with them! We also taught another woman, Gladys, who seemed really interested in what we had to say and understood the need for the Book of Mormon. She was awesome! Please pray that they will progress! Anyway, I know this is short, but I want some time to write to my other siblings! I hope everyone is doing wonderfully! Remember that many MANY times we can't see past the things that are required of us, but through the door of our obedience, there are a MILLION blessings! I love being a missionary and I love my Heavenly Father. I learn something new about Him and about myself every day. I'm so thankful for my savior. He knows everything about me and He loves me so much He sacrificed Himself so that He can hug me when my life is over and tell me how pleased He is with me. BUT! ONLY if I do what I know I should. We should ALWAYS be thinking about that time. It may be farther away for some that it is for others, but we need to start preparing NOW for our lives in the eternity. I love you all so much, thank you for your prayers and support. Have an amazing week!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

June 22 Letter

2009-06-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,
This week flew by sooooo fast! I almost couldn't believe it! I knew it would because I knew we wouldn't have enough time to plan Hugo's baptism. It was so stressful because being senior comp for 1 is not the easiest thing I've ever had to do. It's not like a calling though. It's transfers and it's like, here we're sending someone who has less time than you in the mission, you're in charge, good luck. AGH! It's so stressful, I don't like it. I've learned A TON already but I don't like it. I was stressed the whole week with the zone conference we had, trying to work out the apartment situation so we can actually live in our area, planning the baptism and working out the budget for traveling this transfer. I know what you're thinking, "that's it?" Put all of that on top of the regular responsabilities of being a missionary and then imagine yourself being the one responsible if something goes wrong in the chain. Yeah...fun. This week, all things considered went really well. We had an amazing zone conference in Córdoba capital and I felt very inspired and pumped afterward. This is when slimy Satan steps in and messes with your plans. We had a meeting planned with our ward mission leader to plan the baptism. However, because we got home later than planned from Córdoba, we couldn't meet with him. We also had an appoitment with Hugo. We got on the collectivo and took the wrong one...again! Then we had to wait for 20 minutes in the middle of some place that I'm pretty sure wasn't safe because it had all the signs that told me so except for the one that said DANGER ZONE! In the process of waiting and not having signal on the cell phone, we managed to get a hold of Hugo to tell him we would be late. It didn't matter because he had something else he was doing and couldn't meet with us anyway. Needless to say, the stress and the process of the growth of the grey hairs kicked in at this point and I did NOT know what to do. I'm not usually one who loses their cool, if you know what I mean, but I was getting pretty darn close. When our district leader called that night, he could definitely tell that something was up. I told him everything and he made me do these ridiculous breathing exercises that managed to make me laugh and forget for .5 seconds about the stress I was feeling. The next morning he calls and tells me he received revelation for me. It was very profound, he said, "HAKUNA MATATA!!!!!!" What a wonderful wonderful phrase. Saturday morning when I woke up I wasn't feelin the good day. I knew it would be because of Hugo's baptism, but I have been so tired lately it's kind of taken over my body! Welcome to missionary life right? Took me 8 months of being a missionary to figure that out. That's right, today is 8 months for Hermana Shumway. Anyway, I learned a lot Saturday. It's kind of a long story so hang on! Hermana Brown (my previous companion) and I had both decided we wanted to go home before our 18 month mark instead of after. For some reason the whole week I had been feeling like I shouldn't go home early. I don't know why, it's not like it would be a big deal, but something inside me told me, "Don't go home early, you will feel guilty if you do." I don't know why I would feel guilty and I just kept thinking, no, I don't want to stay an extra transfer. I was also thinking, I can't go home later because Hermana Brown and I both would have to go home alone! No fun whatsoever! I didn't want to tell Hermana Brown that she'd be going home alone so I just made the decision that no, I wasn't going home a transfer late. Then Hermana Brown calls me on Saturday morning and says, "Hermana Shumway, don't be mad, but I don't want to go home early! I want to stay longer!" I had to laugh. I said, "Relax Hermana, I have been feeling like I shouldn't go hom early either. I don't know why, but I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to get mad!" We had to laugh that both of us were feeling the same thing but didn't want to say anything. I can't believe we're still on the same wave length and we're not even companions anymore. Haha anyway, the first contact we made after getting off the collectivo that morning was amazing. The lady didn't listen and we didn't set up an appointment, but I almost started crying because I was so happy I made the decision to stay! It was so weird! When we were knocking doors, one of those people who only believes in science answered the door. He kept saying that God is an invention of man and that He exists, but only in us. When I told him it wasn't like that, he told me that yes it was, then I told him again that no it wasn't. In a profound way of course. =) In the middle of this tumult of opinions, I had a crazy spiritual epiphony: "It doesn't matter if he listens to me. The spirit can't touch his heart because it's too hard, but it doesn't matter because it's touching my heart, bearing strong witness that what I'm testifying of is truth." This is the first time in the mission this has happened and it was amazing. Really, that's the whole point isn't it? To strengthen our testimonies while trying to invite people to come unto Christ. Interesting... Anyway, Hugo was baptized Saturday night. It was a beautiful baptism. Not very many people were there, but just enough. Our ward mission leader gave a talk on baptism and I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. I feel like I did rather well with it =) It was a good end to the day. Very happy! Sunday....what can I say about Sunday? Hugo didn't come to church to get confirmed. He's been having problems with the mother of his kids lately and has been really sad. We picked up Yohana for church and Hugo passed us in his car with his daughter when we were walking there. I thought, "oh this is going to be a wonderful day!" When we got to church, Hugo's daughter gets out of the car, but Hugo does not and drives away. "That's weird," I thought. "Maybe he's just going to get Kevin (his son)." Kevin was there later, but Hugo was not. I talked to Hermano Miranda, the man who baptized Hugo, and he told me Hugo wasn't planning on coming. Here we go again with the stress. On top of that, Hermana Gonzalez and I had to give talks in sacrament meeting. My talk would have made sense had I not been worried about Hugo the whole time. We visited him after church and he asked us to excuse him, but he wasn't feeling good at all (emotionally). He said he didn't want us to see him fallen and that he doesn't like to pretend he's happy when he's not, but that he would be at church the following Sunday. I can't tell you how much I have learned and felt this week. I won't go back on what I felt on Saturday. I was totally on a spiritual high. The things that happened Sunday...I don't know why they happened, but I just have to keep my chin up and try to figure out what Heavenly Father wants me to learn from all of this. That's what missions are for right? Gaining a better eternal perspective so that we can apply that in our lives afterward. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and that there is reason behind everything that happens to us. That's what Hugo always says. That and "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." So I will choose to be stronger. Thank you for your love and support! Have a great week!
Con cariño,

June 15 Letter

2009-06-17T10:48:00.001-07:00

Hello mis queridos =)
This week was basically Hermana Shumway and Hermana Gonzalez practicing Murphey's Law. First, we had transfers last week. We were all expecting the calls on Monday night as usual when SUPRISE we get a call from our distric leader at 10 telling us that transfers would be Tuesday...WHAT?! Hermana Brown got transferred to a little place called Arroyito and I'm now with Hermana Gonzalez from Paraguay. I lived with her my last transfer in Rio Cuarto when she was being trained by Hermana Santos, who I'd been living with since I arrived in Argentina. Guess where Hermana Santos is? In Carlos Paz! She lives with me again so now all three of us are living together in the same pension once again! How lovely! This was lovely, but the surprise transfer calls were not. Second, Hugo was supposed to get baptized on Saturday, but we found out it was stake conference this week so if he got baptized on Saturday, he'd have to wait until the following week to receive the Holy Ghost...uh...not gonna happen. That gives Satan WAY too much time to do his sneaky dirty work. Third, we were supposed to meet with a man that has a pension for us in Villa Independencia at 12 on Thursday. We have our planning meeting on Thursday mornings. No big deal right? All you do is leave the pension a little earlier from the planning meeting and there you go! NOT! We were waiting for a collectivo for a long time and when one finally came it said "Juncal" I thought, oh perfect, we'll take this collectivo to Juncal (a street in Villa) and walk the rest of the way, no problem. Where did this collectivo take us? All over the mountain on the other side of the river in the center of Carlos Paz. We were on that thing for 40-45 minutes and brought us right back to where we started. I was so frustrated and I felt like a big fat idiot. Apparently Juncal is also a little pueblito on the mountain. So lame. We missed the appointment with the guy and our lunch appointment. Fourth, the collectivo drivers had a strike this week on Friday and Saturday, so what did Hermana Shumway and Hermana Gonzalez do? They put on their best game faces and walked 30 minutes to their area. It was fun all things considered =)...Fun?? Now, Hermana Shumway, I wouldn't jump right in on using the 'fun' word, don't you remember what happend Friday night? Oh yes, I remember. Hermana Gonzlez had to go to the bathroom so we walked to the church to take care of business. The lock on the door to the main building of the church is a little bit harder to unlock than your average lock. It wouldn't unlock. I thought, oh, no biggie, I'll open the door to the relief society room and I can disarm the alarm from in there. We got the door open but to our very disappointing suprise, there was no number pad to disarm the alarm that we had just set off. The only number pad is in the building I was trying to open before and that door wouldn't unlock. Don't worry, after a wile the alarm stopped. All is well right?...not right. The police came. They asked us what we were doing there and blah blah blah then asked a really really irrelevant question, they looked at me and said, "What's your name?" I told them and then they asked, "Where are you from" I couldn't see any reason why that was necessary, but I told them and they said, "Whatever you need, let us know." I said okay, but really I was thinking, yeah right, my three year-old nephew would be a better police officer than you pal. Does the list stop here? Nope. Fifth, Saturday we had our zone meeting. We were supposed to get to our Zone Leaders' area in Cruz Del Eje by 2:30 meaning Hermana Gonzalez and I would have to leave here by 12. We were finishing up our planning meeting and our district leader calls and says, "Hermana, get down to the terminal right now and find out if there are any busses going there right now because in our area, there aren't any." Let me explain, no, there is too much, let me sum up (hahaha name that movie), the collectivo drivers ended their strike at 12 noon on Saturday which means a lot of the main busses from Córdoba wouldn't arrive in Carlos Paz until 1 or later. There were no busses in our terminal headed for Cruz Del Eje either. After much deliberation, and an hour later, our zone leaders and my district leader decided to have the meeting in La Falda, my district leader's area. We bought our tickets and waited for our bus for about 25 minutes. The bus arrived and come to find out, the man in the window had sold too many tickets for the bus we were supposed to get on. Did we get on it? No. We got our money back for the tickets we just bought and bought tickets for another one that left 40 minutes later. After the meeting, we tried to get the very very next bus back to Carlos Paz for our appointment with Hugo. Did we make it? Nope. Sixth, we passed by for Joana to go to Stake conference with us yesterday, but when we got to her house, she opened the door and told us she was a little bit sick and had some things she had to take care of with her family that day. When we were walking to the church to meet the bus, we saw a dead dog that looked like it had been tortued and had a gray plastic bag around it. I hate dogs...but I would never torture one. I almost lost my breakfast. When we got to the church, our branch president says, "oh, hermanas, I wasn't expecting you to be here, usually all four of you travel to stake conference together." SINCE WHEN?!?!?!?!? Because we went, one of the hermanas from the ward couldn't go. She was very willing to give up her seat, but I felt sooooo bad. Our lunch appointment fell through and we intruded on one of the counselors of the branch presidency and his family for lunch. I felt bad at first, but then they made me eat cow tongue that actually looked like cow tongue. It was DISGUSTING. It was a rough week, but I don't care. Satan didn't get his slimy hands on Hugo to make him doubt. He's still getting baptized this Saturday and he's very ready. I had the whole amazing story about it last week, but considering I lost my e-mail, you don't know about it! I hope everyone has a really amazing week! Linsey and Audrey, have fun on the trek. We're lucky we got our dad's strong genes to help us look those rocky hills in the face and laugh! I loved the trek! Have fun sleeping in the dirt! =) I love you all!
Hermana Shumway

June 9 letter

2009-06-15T09:09:00.001-07:00

(I miss when we don't get a letter from Cara)

Sorry, I wrote a HUGE e-mail about the week, but I got signed off my site and the computer didn't send the e-mail. Hope everyone's doing good, we had 6 investigators in church this week, all is well. Have an awesome week.
Hermana Shumway

June 9 letter

2009-06-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

(I miss when we don't get a letter from Cara)

Sorry, I wrote a HUGE e-mail about the week, but I got signed off my site and the computer didn't send the e-mail. Hope everyone's doing good, we had 6 investigators in church this week, all is well. Have an awesome week.
Hermana Shumway

June 1 letter

2009-06-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

Hello EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! Happy June 1st!
Oh dear...this week. What can I say about this week? Let's start off with a hilariously funny story shall we? (ahem): So, Hermana Brown and I were knocking doors and these people all have fences around there houses right! Well at least the majority. They don’t always have a bell that you can ring so you have to clap. My companion was trying to clap and the dog behind the fence stuck his head through the fence into her face. He was a friendly dog, and he just wanted to play, but she couldn’t clap. When he did that, I said, “Hermana, distract him and I’ll clap over here.” I started clapping and the dog came over to my side and stuck his head through the fence. I didn’t see him until he stuck his head through the fence and it surprised me. I leaned backwards to avoid his head and little did I know, there was another flipping dog standing right behind me! Can you guess what comes next in the story? Yep, you guessed it, I fell over the flipping dog! My companion started laughing histerically and at that point, the man who lived in the house had come out to find my companion dying of laughter and me trying to get up off of the ground while laughing hysterically as well. We couldn’t even finish the contact dadgummit because we were both laughing so hard. I got myself together enough to present ourselves and tell him we wanted to share our message with him. He didn’t let us in, but let’s be honest, I wouldn’t have let us in either if we were laughing like drunk people. It was sooooo funny, but so ridiculous because we couldn’t finish the contact with composure. =( What are you gonna do? This week started off with a talent show with the branch. It was an awesome turn out and we were really surprised at how many people were there. Hermana Brown, our ward mission leader, his girlfriend and I all did the “In the jungle the mighty jungle” song. We laid on our backs on a table and drew faces on our chins and sang. Some of you may know how this works. It was ridiculous, but of course I had fun! =)Thank you Linsey for the letter and pictures! You looked absolutely gorgeous that night! You must have been the talk of the dance! One of the hermanas I live with said, “Tell your little sister her boyfriend is hot and to ask him if he has an older brother.” She goes back home to California next week. Anyway, I just wanted to say that Carly and I have the same haircut and Audrey looked soooo beautiful in the picture of the three of you. I was very much surprised when I flipped to the picture of the girls and saw that Carly’s haircut was my haircut and I kinda went...huh...lookin good honey, lookin good. =) Happy anniversary Brenton and Sarah on Saturday the 6th! WOOHOO! One year! That’s awesome! I love you guys! =D Tuesday was quite possibly the worst/best day of the week. Hermana Brown and I both had the feeling that we needed to go visit one of the inactive members, Blanca Lopez. I believe I have mentioned her before. Anyway, we asked her how she was doing with the word of wisdom. She told us that she smokes to keep from eating. I just looked at her and thought...is that some crazy Argentine diet?! It was so dumb. We again got on the subject of going to church. Hello, we’re missionaries, that’s what we talk about 24/7. Anyway, she started talking about and giving us absolutely every excuse in the book and it was getting really heated because she wasn’t listening to us. She told us that nobody knows how she feels, nobody knows what it’s like to feel alone and we said, “yes, Blanca, there is one person who knows how you feel. Jesus Christ.” Then she said the most atrocious thing that I have ever heard come out of any mouth. She said, “Jesus Christ wasn’t alone. He still had His family and His disciples.”...Oh no she DIDN’T! I could not believe my ears. I said, “Blanca, that’s enough! I can’t listen to anymore. God withdrew his spirit from Jesus Christ, do you know why?”—“Why?”—“For you! So that you would never have to feel alone!” Aparently she didn’t know this, but that didn’t stop her. She kept arguing so we had to leave. I have never felt the spirit leave so quickly as it did in that moment. I hate that. So many times we can feel the spirit so strong and then something like that happens and it’s really REALLY hard to get it back.We decided we needed to sit down, sing a song and pray before we tried to do contacting again. When I was praying personally I thought, Heavenly Father, please help us bounce back from this experience. Bless us with thy spirit so that we can have a good day anyway. To our astonishment, the appointment we had set up for 3 o’clock did not fall through and we got into a house and taught a really amazing family of 3. Adrian (the father), Joana (the mother), and Cintia (the daughter, 18) The mom said she was kind of tired of churches and didn’t ever want to go to one. When we taught about the restoration and the proper authority from God, we asked her if she would be baptized when she knew it was true. She said yes! WOOHOO!!! They all committed to reading and praying! It was awesome! That night, we taught the man who came to church a week ago, Hugo, remember? Anyway, the appointment was awesome and he’s such a cool guy! We taught about the restoration and about how he can bless his family when he has the priesthood, which turned out to be perfect because we talked about the priesthood in the gospel priniciples class yesterday. Anyway, we asked him as well if he would be baptized when he knew that this was true. He also said yes! Woohoo! You don’t even know. This guy is so capo. He really wants to change his life and he’s so so SO humble.We did some more contacting after that. Hermana Brown and I have had the goal this week to get 17 contacts for each of us. 34 people every day. It was so hard. This area is not like centro. You do not have a million people walking through the streets every day so door knocking and talking to everyone and their dog is absolutely necessary. And they definitely do NOT always answer their doors.When the night was winding down, we were walking to wait for a collectivo and we hear 3 gunshots. Don’t worry, we were a block away from where they were. When we rounded the corner, we saw 5 or 6 teenage boys running across the street looking very much like they had been the cause of the gunshots. Everyone was outside the kioskos and businesses looking to see what had happened. We were very excited to get home this night. Tuesday was in every way very very stressful and we were so tired.We taught Joana again on Friday alone and we committed her to coming to church. She told us she hadn’t prayed about the message because she didn’t know how. We invited her to pray right then and ask. When she began to pray, she started to cry. She apologized to Heavenly Father for not praying more, but she didn’t know how. We asked her how she felt when we taught her and she said she could feel something in her chest. We told her that that was Heavenly Father telling her that we have something that he wants her to have. We set up another appointment and said we would come by Sunday morning at 9:15 to get her for church. When we went by her house, however to get her and walk together, she was working. She had misunderstood us when we said we would pass by at 9:15. She said sorry so many times because she should have known it was for the morning and not the evening because the evening is 21:00. Anyway, we taught her on Sunday afternoon again with her daughter and it went so well. They’re really progressing and Hermana Brown and I love teaching them!We taught Hugo again last night and he is just awesome. He is such a deep thinker and he is a really nice man. He has a really good heart and he seemed so much happier at church yesterday. When we taught him we committed him to be baptized on June 13!!! Woohoo!!! He was concerned that he wouldn’t be ready on time, but I told him that it was a goal and we would keep teaching him and that he needed to continue reading the Book of Mormon and praying and if by the time his baptism comes, he’s not ready, we’ll change the date. He agreed and we set up another appointment. Ah...the life of a missionary. =)We got into a house every day this week except Monday, Friday and Sunday. That brought us to 8 new investigators for the week and a lot of people to visit and teach. We’re way pumped to see what we can do this next week. We’re a little bit worried because there are no sister missionaries coming in until October so there will be a lot of areas closing and we’re thinking they might close ours. Heaven forbid. We’re really praying they don’t. Anyway, that’s all for now from Argentina. Well, not really, there’s always more, but I’ve got places to go, people to see. You know the drill! Have an amazing week everyone! LOOOOVE you!
Hermana Shumway

May 25 Letter

2009-05-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!
Well this week had its ups and downs, but Hermana Brown and I definitely came out on top! Tuesday we had our district meeting and it went soooooo well! Our district read an amazing story about an LDS man boarding a plane. He tells the story of seeing a missionary flying to Utah with his parents to report to the MTC and described the image he saw in this young man. Then he sits down and sees that he’s sitting next to a missionary that was obviously going home. The resemblance between the two missionaries was only one thing: their hair cut. He goes on in a lot of detail about how tired this missionary looked (seeing as how they hadn’t even taken off yet and he was fast asleep), of how you could tell in everything about his body that he had definitely given his all to the Lord for two years. It was such a good story and a super good motivation for me. My district leader is going to give me a copy of it and I’ll make a copy of it and send it to you. After the meeting we head out to work again. It’s amazing how Satan works…amazing and so stinking ridiculous. We were so pumped to go out and work after our meeting but every single person we talked to was a bum. A lady even told me that prophets don’t exist. You can imagine the fighting words that were going through my head at this point. With people like her, however, all you can do is invite them to pray with a smile and move on to look for the ones that really are waiting for you. When we were just about to give in to discouragement, we met one of the women we contacted in the street two weeks ago. Her name is Eugenia. She’s 18, has a 3 year-old son and looks like she’s in her 30’s. Pobrecita. We were so excited to see her because she was so cool the first time we met her. We asked her if she had a little time right then to talk to her. She said yes and we sat down and began to teach her a few things. She told us that the morning she met us on the street, she had been praying to Heavenly Father to give her some comfort and help her because she was so depressed and didn’t want to go on with life anymore. After she met us, she felt so happy that she went home and thanked Heavenly Father for sending us to her. It was so awesome. She loved the message we shared and she basically set up the next appointment. It was soooo awesome! We also agreed to meet at that same spot in the street to go to church together on Sunday! Woohoo!!! Many times you must go through the desert to get to the Promised Land. Wednesday after we ate lunch my companion got SUPER sick. Poor girl. She was so pale and she said she felt like she was going to throw up pretty much the whole day. We went home a little early. The next day she wasn’t feeling any better, but we had an appointment with an old investigator so we went out and worked the whole morning until the appointment. We arrived at Ana Maria’s house (the old investigator) and she kindly let us in after getting rid of the blood thirsty dogs that were barking at us from her windows. When we sat down, I asked her if she knew that God’s church was on the earth, would she join it? She said yes, but how can we know which is the right one? We taught her lesson one and extended the baptismal commitment. She didn’t really give us a yes or a no. She said, “I’ve already been baptized.” Then I did a VERY short review of the apostasy and we told her if she really wants to know what church is true, she needs to read the Book of Mormon and pray SPECIFICALLY to know if it’s true. Many people when we extend the invitation to pray say, “I always pray.” Yes, that’s true, but you don’t pray to ask if your church is true or if our church is true, so you’re basically walking in the middle of the dark. They can never answer us if we ask them directly if they have prayed to ask if their church is true, neither can they answer if they’re people who have talked to the missionaries before and we ask them if they prayed to know if it’s really God’s church. Ridiculous. After our lunch appointment on Thursday, Hermana Brown thought she was going to die. She looked like it too. I thought she would throw up right then and there after we walked out of the house. She tried to walk it off, but she said, “I’m so sorry, Hermana, I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can’t walk, I’m so dizzy.” We went back home and she rested and I studied my scriptures. Friday we planned in the morning, Hermana Brown was feeling a little better at this point, still not 100%, but she didn’t really know what to do with herself so after our planning session we ate and left to work. On our way to our appointment with Eugenia, we met with two crazy people who came up to us and started asking questions. One of them, a man from Peru, told us that he, too, knows the word of God. He started telling us the story of Joseph that was sold into Egypt by his brothers and was like, “see? I, too, know the word of God and look how God has blessed me…” He takes out this huge wad of cash from his pocket and I’m just sitting there thinking, “you better pray real hard that God blesses you again so you don’t get robbed from being that stupid pulling out all your money in this neighborhood pal.” Friday wasn’t the best day, but it was our 7 months mark so we decided to eat ice cream. Yum yum yum. =) We had an appointment with Eugenia Friday, but she never came to the spot where we agreed to meet. She didn’t come to church on Sunday either. However, we had an old investigator come to church that was taught by the missionaries 3 years ago. Funny because one of them that taught him now lives here in Independencia. She introduced us to him and said he’s basically a dry member. We have an appointment with him tomorrow and we’re going to put a baptismal date with him! WOOHOO!!! It’s interesting that the theme ever since I’ve been in this area every sacrament meeting has been missionary work. You’d think the ward needed to change or something…this ward is really really difficult. My companion told me that before I got here, they were with one of the families asking for references and the parents said the Lord told them he didn’t want investigators in this ward. The said family still has this opinion and I just want to say, HELLO! If that were true, my companion and I wouldn’t be here! It’s been tough, but we have a meeting later this afternoon with the leaders in the branch and we’re going to get something organized because something has GOT to change. Thanks family for all your love and support and the wonderful friends I have. I can’t tell you how comforting it is to think about when we have hard days. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have and the things I have felt while being in the mission field. These experiences cannot be had anywhere else. Anybody can serve a mission if they have the desire to do it. If you keep the habits you develop, you will have the best life ever. I know I’m not home yet, but I’m pretty sure I’m telling the truth. =) I hope all is well! Have a great week!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

May 18 Letter

2009-05-23T09:52:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!
Wow this week just flew right by me! It started out kinda rough, but we had a pretty cool experience on Saturday. This day started out really crazy. We had to take a remis (taxi) to visit one of our investigadors, Silvina, because she lives WAAAAY out there and it takes too long in a collectivo. We only have between 10 and 11 in the morning to see her because then her kids get all crazy and she doesn’t have time for us. The last time we went to her house, we left the questions of the soul from Preach My Gospel for her because she wasn’t there. She told us when we got to her house that she had been reading them and is TOTALLY lovin up on them! That was good to hear. She didn’t have time to let us in, but we talked a little bit more about the questions and invited her to church. She told us they would go if they had time…please…everyone has time in this country. They just need to be more efficient with it. Anyway, after we left her house we got a text from the family we were supposed to eat lunch with saying they couldn’t feed us. At his point we were in a little bit of a pickle…we only had enough money to get us back to Carlos Paz (where we live), our lunch appointment just fell through and we definitely did not enough pesos to get buy lunch. We decided it would be smart to go back to Carlos Paz, grap some money and grub and get back to our area. We went by the church to use the bathroom and found some members raking leaves. We decided to clean the inside of the church (something it DESPERATELY needed), sweep and mop and things like this. It was fun and we got a lot done and we felt good afterwards. Nobody lets us help them here. One of our recent converts, Sofia was supposed to go out with us at 2, but we got a text from her boyfriend (our ward mission leader, David, who’s 18) letting us know she wouldn’t be able to help us. We read the text in front of David’s house with David when he asked us if we had received the text he sent. We were supposed to meet Sofia there. Oh well…what are you gonna do? We did some contacting and we were NOT having any luck. We had an appointment with a less active that day and found only her daughter when we knocked on the door. We met her daughter my first night in Independencia. We didn’t know it was her daughter because we were at the neighbor’s house and she was there. We thought she was the daughter of the neighbor but…obviously not. That did explain to us, however, the reason why Amelia (the less active) is having problems. Her daughter’s not exactly anti-mormon but she wonders why we always talk about our prophet instead of God. We’re jus kinda thinking, well…if you listened, you would realized that’s not at all what we’re doing! For the love! After that I was just a little bit on the discouraged side and I suggested we sit down for a minute, talk and figure something out. We went to one of the beautiful spots here that looks out over the amazing area to think. We talked for a little bit about what we could do, how we could change what we were doing, sang a song, said a prayer and started off again. We had plans to go by a reference from the Hermanas that work in Carlos Paz, Cecelia. We found Cecelia’s mother-in-law outside doing laundry. She said she was too busy to listen to us, but that Cecelia would be back around 7. I asked her if she would mind if we sang her a song while she was working. She agreed hesitantly, I’m sure she was skeptical and we sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives, the one by President Hinckley. Hermana Brown has a wonderful voice so I ADORE singing with her WOOHOO for harmonizing! Anyway, when we were done, we talked about the restoration with her and said we would be back to teach her and Cecelia at 7. We talked to a really awesome lady outside her house that seemed really pleased that the prophet is a normal person with a job and doesn’t get paid for being the prophet. She doesn’t agree with the fact that the pope lives in the Vatican, a gorgeous humongous gold building with all these luxuries. Which was kind of funny because she lives in a HUGE house that her mother gave her. Yes, you read that correctly, her mother gave her the house that she and her husband and two boys live in. Anyway, we knocked some more doors after that and went back for our appointment with Cecelia and Alejandra. When we arrived at the house they said they were too busy, but I asked, “Can we come in for just a second and sing a song to you really quick?” They agreed and we sang Love at Home. I really really love singing. I think I’ve gotten better being here in the mission too. We talked a little bit more about what we talked about earlier and asked if we could come by again and said a prayer. We left simply elated. We did more contacting after that and once again had no luck. We were super tired at this point and had been walking forever! Hermana Brown asked me if I wanted to visit one of the older women we talked to my first night in Independencia. Her name is Blanca and she and her husband live by themselves. I agreed. When Blanca came out she told us she waited for us on Tuesday but we never came. We had been at the other point of our area and just couldn’t make it to her. We apologized and she asked when we would come back and teach her. I said we were there to teach her right then! She told us she was just about to go to bed and I asked if it would be okay if we just went in and sang a song to her. She agreed, we went in and sang I Stand All Amazed. She and her husband both really liked the song. We started talking about mission stuff and soon entered into the first discussion which turned into a longer discussion about the Book of Mormon. We explained the reason we had in so well that I re-convinced myself of the truthfulness of it. It was amazing and we left them with a lesson 1 pamphlet and a Book of Mormon. It seemed like what we told them really made sense to them and they had no rebuttles! WOOHOO! I love being a missionary! As for your questions Mom…Hermana Brown started her mission in this area. She was in Carlos Paz before then she had Carlos Paz and Villa Independencia then only had Independencia and now she has it again! Long time to be in the same spot, but we get along great and we’re workin hard! I do not talk about the elders in my mission because there is nothing to say. Believe it or not, I did not come on a mission to find my husband, which you already know, but there really isn’t much to say. When I first got to this area I thought my district leader was a stuck up know it all, but when I found out that his favorite music is pretty much the same as mine, Relient K, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Jack’s Mannequin, etc, I was convinced he was cool. He’s really jealous that I went to a Relient K concert. Thank you Race, for that experience, it was…AWESOME! There’s another elder here, Elder Kearsley, who’s not in my zone or district, but I met him at one of the zone conferences. He could totally be the stunt double for Kirby Heyborn, it’s ridiculous. He’s way funny and he called me on my birthday to play happy birthday on his trumpet for me. Hahaha he’s way cool. As for laundry…we mostly just do it ourselves unless we get desperate, then we drop it off at a Laundromat. No, we do not have a dryer so it takes FOREVER and a stinking day. Washing garments is KILLER! But, it is very therapeutic, so I enjoy it. =) We have to hang dry all our clothes which is harder now because it’s cold and windy outside. I don’t know if they’ve started on the temple here yet…nope they haven’t because they haven’t even bought the area. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to miss the dedication of it. It’s going to be beautiful and I know I’m going to miss Argentina. I’ll be dying for an excuse to get back here by the time it’s finished. I got my hair cut this morning and I went for the French bangs look. You know the ones that are like straight across? Yep, I’m going crazy in this country, I dyed my hair red and I gave it a crazy and fun cut! It looks soooo different, but I love it! I’ll take pictures when I have makeup on and send them to you! I don’t know what happened to me. I figure, I might as well try crazy things here where nobody knows me so I don’t have to be embarrassed about it when I get home. =) I sent the package this week and a letter for Carly so that should get there in a couple weeks. Oh! I’m so excited that you did Uncle Doug’s temple work for him! YAY! We’re going to be together forever! I’m sooooo happy!!!! I hope everyone is doing fantabulously! Race, I hope you’re adjusting to life at home okay. I still need your address wherever in the heck you are. I have no idea what address to write on the envelope sitting in my apartment…what ever will I do? Alicia, I hope you’re going okay in Wickenburg with the boys. I hope Steve finds someone to be his tech soon. I would love to do that! I had fun those couple days that I did it! I love you all soooo much and I’m so grateful for the support you give me. I don’t know how I was able to be so blessed with such amazing people in my life. My Heavenly Father and My savior Jesus Christ love me so much. They definitely bless their missionaries. I’m so lucky to have this gift in my life and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share it with others. It’s either true or it isn’t, and it’s absolutely true. I hope everyone’s healthy and well! Have a good week!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

May 12 Letter

2009-05-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

(Talking to Cara on Mother's Day was awesome!! She sounded soooo good and happy. I could have talked to her for hours but had to share. It was great to hear her voice and to know that she is doing so well. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, support and for writing her.)

Anj---you can totally e-mail me! I can't write you back, but I always have time to read e-mails because I print them out, so fill my inbox baby! Thanks for your e-mail! I love you! =)

HOLA QUERIDOS!
Okay so this e-mail will consist of all the things I wanted to tell you on the phone yesterday and I COMPLETELY forgot! Not really my fault since there was kind of a circus at the house yesterday...what are you gonna do? =) I'll answer the questions Dad asked first...yes, I'm all settled in my new area, I love my companion, I love the mountains in my area and I love the sunsets here in this area. They definitely blow Arizona ones out of the water. I thought those were the best, but you do NOT know sunsets until you've been to Carlos Paz, Argentina. The apartment I'm in now is considerably smaller than the one in Rio Cuarto and is on the third floor of a building with no elevators. Pero, ni importa, I love it and I'm happy here! As far as the work goes in this area...I'm not really sure. We've been trying to talk to as many people as we can and this week, every evening is filled up with people we need to visit from contacting so we'll see how many of those turn into investigators. Hermana Brown and I are going to do as much as we can, but both of us only have almost 5 months in Argentina. Neither of us is senor comp so we're really trying to be as obedient as week can and speak as much spanish as we can so that we both can grow a lot and have the spirit with us so the Lord can bless us regardless of our inexperience. It'll be tough, but, this is where we are and we can't not try! =) It gets pretty cool here at nights, but the afternoons are still pretty warm. It doesn't get as hot as my first area, so that's a relief, but we still do a lot of sweating! Hermana Widmer, the cockroach Hermana, has lost 22 pounds since being here. It's her second transfer. She's short and kind of bigger and her body's not used to all the walking so she's dropping it fast. Jealous... The mission pays for our transportation to and from our area. We give them the receipts for everything at the end of the transfer and then they put the money in our account at the beginning of the next month...I think. I'm not sure how that works...I've never been senior comp, but Hermana Brown and I have to switch off with paying for stuff now, so...we'll see how that goes!Moving on to the other things. First item of business: May 1st is Dia del trabajador. Translation: day of the hard worker. Do you want to know what they do here on that day? NOTHING! Every business and every store are closed and everyone and their dog takes the day off...well, the dogs not so much because they are CONSTANTLY molesting people. Every Argentine, with the exception of a few eat a thing called locro. I don't know what's inside this soupy dish, but Hermana Capener told me that it does NOT taste good. Hermana Brown and I were praying REALLY hard that we wouldn't have to eat it. Nobody made it for us and we had 2 or 3 appointments with members that day! We were so happy! Next thing...going back to dogs: I hate them. I do NOT want a dog EVER. They bark and bite for no reason, they pee on EVERYTHING, they follow you around unless you scream at them (which I've done a few times) to name a few. I could really go on and on about how much I hate dogs. Being here in Argentina has completely cured me of wanting a dog any time in my near future. If you would like to try to convince me otherwise, be my guest, but good luck. Other animal stories: My comp and I were walking to an appointment and there was a cat laying on the ground. This is not uncommon, but we dedided to stop and stare at it to see if it was alive. I recognized it was not after a few seconds because its stomach wasn't moving. I looked dead. I said, "Hermana, I'm pretty sure this cat is dead." However, her hand was moving towards it when I said this and she scratched it. Realizing that it really was dead she immediately withdrew her hand and began to freak out! I said, "I TOLD you it was dead ya wack!" Hahahaha it was soooo funny. So now every time we see an animal lying on the ground we have to stop and stare to make sure it's living. With dogs it's easy because once they hear us they immediately start barking and want to attack us. I told Dad about two of the things I wanted to say yesterday. We found a woman street contacting and when we went to her house for the appointment we made, we sang "I Am a Child of God" and we almost made her start crying. It was awesome. Also, we ran into some crazy man knocking doors who informed us that God is just enery, but contradicted hismelf when he said that we are all children of God. I said, "Yes, we are all children of God, so He can't be just energy." Then he started using really big words and things that didn't make any sense at all. When he woulnd't shut up about his way of thinking, I said, "well, Roberto, it was nice meeting you, but we have a meeting we have to get to so we'll see ya." (I wasn't lying about the meeting, but we weren't going to be late for it for another 10 minutes or so. Oh well...I'll repent for that one later.) He then responded, "oh, you don't want to hear the word of God?" I said, "No, we preach the word of God, but we've gotta go, have a nice night." Then he said, "Chau, un gusto, que Dios las bendigas." What a weirdy!!!!! Yesterday in the Principles of the Gospel class, the teacher was talking about when Christ was teaching in the temple when he was like 12 or 14 or something. My mind zapped back to the seminary lesson when Mom was my teacher. The day she talked about this story made me laugh so hard because she said, "I don't know what I would have been like if I were them, they were probably thinking, oh my HECk we lost the son of God!" Hahaha thanks Mom! I don't know if you remember that, but it's ALWAYS been in my head and it ALWAYS makes me laugh! You're the best! My companion has been feeling kind of bummed lately because she feels like no matter what she tries to do, the members are always telling her what she needs to do better. Not in a loving way either. We've been doing tons of tracting lately and talking to EVERY person we see in the street. By chance we've found a few less active members so we've been visiting with them, too. Our zone leader was less than thrilled about that when she talked to him. He said that our purpose here is finding new investigators and working with the members to get them, not focusing on less actives. When she told me that, I got...let's just say I got a little more passionate than necessary, whipped out Preach My Gospel and showed her the quote by President Hinckley that says our purpose is what my zone leader said, but also, to help those people get back to church. I was like, BAM! Take that! It helped my comp feel better, too. Then in our mission conference on Thursday, Elder Zivick said many times that a big part of our work is helping less actives get back to church. HAHAHA! I love it when I'm right, and it feels so good to be right when you're backed by Preach My Gospel and a member of the Quorum of the 70. I love being a missionary! Well, my dearest ones, I hope everything is just wonderful for everyone. It sounds like the house is staying busy and that everyone's having a lot of fun! It was awesome to talk to you all, I love hearing your stories! Thank you for your prayers and support! Have an awesome week! Give Kaden and Brendon kisses for me!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

May 4th Letter

2009-05-05T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hello Family!
You will NEVER guess where that quote is from! Anyone who can give me the right answer when I call on Sunday at 12:30 your time--did you get that? 12:30 YOUR TIME which means you have to get home from church REALLY fast!--will get a prize. Let's be honest though, it won't be something very exciting because I am in Argentina. I will be calling from either our cell phone or the phone from a member’s house at first and then I’ll give you the number to one of them so you can call it back. Sound good? So my new area...it's amazing. Really, it's amazingly goreous here because there are huge trees and mountains EVERYWHERE! AND I don't live next a main road so I sleep absolutely perfect at night! That is...when I don't have to go to the bathroom and that's a pain because we have 4 hermanas in our apartment and it's a lot smaller than the one in Rio Cuarto so in our room we have bunk beds. I have the top bunk. This morning at like 4 I had to go potty really bad. I got down from my bunk and walked towards the door. When I say walked towards the door, I mean my intentions were to exit through the door. When one has intentions to exit through a door, the door through which one wishes to exit needs to be open. This particular door through which I had desires to exit and relieve myself was closed and I ran right into it. I had to laugh a little at myself, but keep in mind it was early and I didn't remember until my comp and I were waiting in line for the ATM and I remembered and kind of started convulsing because I was laughing so hard. Moving on…the only down side to this new area is there are a TON of hills and we have to travel 20 minutes in a collectivo (bus) to our area and back every day. I’m going to love living in my area when it finally happens! The downside to collectivos is the driver will ALWAYS stop no matter how full the dadgum thing is. Last night there were about 50 or 60 people on it! It was insane. Thank you for your incredibly long e-mail mom! Really, I love when they’re so long! Anyone can feel free to write me long e-mails because I print them out and read them! Also, thank you Bishop Roberts for your e-mail and for all of your help with getting me on the mission. I’m so grateful for that. =) On our way to church yesterday, Hermana Brown and I talked to the driver of the bus all the way to church. He had a lot of questions about our religion. We explained the marriage thing...why we want to marry inside our religion and the apostasy and other things like that. It was way fun. I think Hermana Brown and I did really well. Looking for people is a pain in the butt. When we finally find someone, however, I LOVE to teach. I always gain more knowledge of the principle I’m teaching when I’m teaching it because the spirit gives me the words to say and the right questions to ask. That’s why the looking part is hard. It’s hard to feel the spirit when you get rejection after rejection in the noisy streets, pero vale la pena! =) Oh, Hermana Brown. She’s awesome. I love working with her. I know that both of us are going to grow a LOT this transfer because we came to Argentina together so we both only have 6 months in the mission. It will be tough. She can understand a lot more than I can, I can understand pretty much everything, but she understands more. The only thing is, we’re both gringas and so sometimes we have a hard time explaining certain things. All in time though. The president put us together for a reason. Hermana Brown is really easy to work with and she’s way fun to be around. Mom, don’t worry, I’ll be sending the little something I’m putting together for you guys soon. I just need to finish the letter that’s coming with it and it’s DONE! I’m pretty excited about it. There’s something in it for the girls and plenty of pictures. I’m excited to send it! Would you send me the recipe to one of your quiche’s? I was telling the hermanas I live with about them and I want to make one for them cuz they’re sooo tasty! Also, I’m still waiting on the baked pineapple recipe! I need to take this moment and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Janae-April 30th, the big 19! WOOHOO! Emma-May 1st, the big 21! Last but not least Ashley-May 5th the big 21 too!!! WOOHOO!!! I hope you girls had the best birthdays ever! Please write me and tell me what’s going on in your lives! Thank you Linsey and Audrey for your letters! They were so fun to read! I will be writing letters to the both of you today (and Carly) and hopefully getting them sent off today as well. From Mom’s letter I read Linsey’s experience from prom and her rockin prom date. Caleb definitely won some brownie points with them! They were like, “does this boy have older brothers?” He sounds like a winner! Speaking of the hermanas I live with…one of them, Hermana Widmer, is freaking crazy! Saturday night she saw a cockroach, smashed it, picked it up, brought it in our apartment, taped it and is now in her suitcase. We almost died when she was messing with it trying to tape it. Oh my stars in heaven. Mom, I was thinking of you the whole time and kept thinking, my mom would never let you in our house. Sunday she got fed up with her bangs and tried to cut them herself. When I looked at them I said, “hermana, where are those scissors? Get over here and let me fix them.” I was able to make them presentable, but she cut them so unevenly it was hard to work with. She’s a funny girl…a funny funny girl. Anyway family, I’m doing very well and I have been learning a lot about myself these past couple weeks. I have a lot of proof every day that my heavenly father loves me and His children. We meet so many people that are so horribly lost in this world. It’s so sad to see, and they don’t accept these beautiful principles to make their lives better. If not today, some day. I love it here in Villa Independencia and I love being a missionary. Have an awesome week and I’ll talk to you soon!
All my love,Hermana Cara
P.S. I’ll be able to talk to Kaden right? I was dying laughing at the story about when Carly was trying to teach him how to say his name! I want to talk to him so bad!

April 29 Letter (almost)

2009-05-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

(What a bummer !! I guess this is not uncommon. We really missed Cara's letter)

I want you all to know that I just wrote a HUGE letter to you and the stupid computer kicked me off the sight before I could send it. When I tried to send it, it said I had to re-enter my info to finish sending it. When I did that, it deleted the e-mail completely. Just know I love you, I got transferred this week. I'm in a place called Carlos Paz in the area Villa Independencia. It's beautiful, I love it. My comp's name is Hermana Brown, I traveled from the MTC with her. Have an awesome week, I'll write more on Monday.
All my love
Hermana Shumway

April 20 Letter

2009-04-22T07:38:00.002-07:00

Dear Family,

First I just wanna say oh my stinkin heck THANK YOU for the letters and pictures! My companion is absolutely IN LOVE with Kaden and his orange hair as am I! She has fun listening to the stories I tell about him. I always tell her that I probably miss him more than anyone else! Sorry anyone else. =) I can't believe how adorable and big Brendon is! I'm so excited to meet that little boy! Only one year away! Audrey, thank you for your letter, your stories are hilarious. Linsey thank you for your amazing postcard. I'm thinkin I totally have to go to Spain now!
This week was a little bit slow. Hermana Yañez and I have been working really hard passing for every inactive member and old investigator we can find in our area book. It was going pretty slow until about Thursday. We went to visit one. She's fifteen and got baptized almost a year ago with her older sister. We told her we talked to our ward mission leader and he said he's totally down for picking her up on Sunday for church. She said she would be ready. She didn't go, but he told us she said she wants to go to Seminary. Hermano Cugiani's (ward mission leader) going to be passing for her in the mornings with his daughter and he's going to let us go how that goes.
We had an interesting experience on Friday. Hermana Yañez and I were at a less active's, Maria Elena, house. She got baptized about 8 years ago and has been going to the Catholic church. She's living with her daughter, but her daughter's not a memeber. My comp and I both thought it would be wise to teach lesson 1, the restoration, over again. Hermana Yañez began by talkin about the love Heavenly Father has for us and because He loves us he's given us His gospel and our families so we can grow in a loving, righteous environment. When she turned the subject to prophets, I began to explain that we know the gospel because God has always called a prophet and prophets are important because without them we don't know God's will for how we should overcome our trials. At this point of the lesson, the daughter said, "I'm sorry, excuse me girls, but I have to excuse myself, I don't feel comfortable." She left the room very quickly. I can't tell you how jumbled and NOT together my thoughts were when she had left the room. I tried to continue, but my words were jumbled and I couldn't find the right words to say to save my life. Then the words of one of my teachers from the MTC came back to me, "If you're ever teaching a lesson and you need a second to gather your thoughts and the words you want to say, it's okay. Don't take forever, but if you need that time, take it." I took a deap breath and plunged back into the water. After that and a prayer to Heavenly Father for his divine assistance, I was able to continue and we were able to finish the lesson. After we left the house, Hermana Yañez asked, "Hermana, what were you feeling in there?"
I said, "...I don't know..."
"I had a really horrible feeling when she got up and left."
"Me too."
"I could feel Satan's presence. When she did that I got really confused about what we were teaching. I started to pray to get that feeling out of there and when you started talking I knew that you were having a hard time getting your thoughts together too, so then I started praying for you and I saw you calm down and start over and finish teaching. That was so capo Hermana." (capo means cool or awesome for those of you who are unfamiliar with latin terminology)
"I knew you were praying for me so I knew I had to keep trying to get the right words." I added. That was a really coold experience. Hermana Yañez and I really have strong testimonies of the power a companionship can have if you're praying to Heavenly Father for your companion while they're teaching. The words you need to say when it's your turn come easier and the lesson flows a lot better. Our zone leader, Elder Jacob, said that we should always be praying for our companions, even during the practices we do every Wednesday at our district meetings. We've definitely seen the positive effects of this.
I am so blessed right now to be living with who I live with. Hermana Gonzalez, 23, from Paraguay, is a newbie. This is her first transfer in Argentina and se got baptized when she was 17. She's so cute and nice and is always so willing to help with things. I'm her english tutor so we have fun with that! Hermana Santos, 24, from Uruguay, has been out almost a year. She got baptized when she was 15. Her mom died four months before she left on the mission and her dad died like 3 or 4 months ago too. She's the youngest, but she always has a smile on her face and I've NEVER heard her complain. I've been living with Hermana Santos since I got here and I've never heard anything negative come out of her mouth about anyone or any situation. Even when she had like 6 different companions last transfer. She's an amazing example to me. Hermana Yañez, my crazy chilean comp, just turned 25 and she got baptized with her family when she was 14. She's so good at making lessons simple and easy for those we're teaching to understand. In comp study one day, she said,
"Hermana, do you know why I love the gospel so much? Because I can explain why things happen. Sometimes in the moment, we don't know why something is happening, but we always know later." Then yesterday she said, "When these people aren't sure about the sacrifices they will need to make for the gospel, we can give them our testimonies as missionaries. We can say, 'Why do we do this? Because we know the price at the end of the way is huge and it's worthy of the sacrifice.' " Their stories are all so amazing. They are all so strong and have such conviction when they teach and I feel the spirit so strong when I hear them testify about the gospel. We have so much fun together. I'm going to be sad with this next transfer because I KNOW I'm going to be the one transfered.
Anyway, I've got to go now, but I hope you all know how much I love you and that I always pray for your safety. I love being a missionary because I know this is where the Lord wants me, and for that I will accomplish what He needs me to accomplish. I don't know how we doubt what we should do when we have God's promises behind our obedience. He says in D&C that He's bound to our obedience. Let's all make it easier for Him and help Him keep His promises shall we? Have an amazing week!

All my love,
Hermana Shumway

2009-04-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

April 13 Letter

2009-04-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Queridos amores mios,
The quote is from Li'l Abner! The musical we did when I was a sophomore in high school remember? I was singing the "past my prime" song in the shower the other night! I couldn't believe how much I could remember from that song! It was so fun!
How is everything? Thanks so much for the e-mail, Dad! I love hearing all about the family! I'm glad you all had a good Easter! Dad, what you said they do in the Philipines is just creepy! People are soooo crazy! Here in Argentina Friday is the day they do their Easter stuff. I'm not really sure what they do, but this woman got mad at me for talking to her on the "dia santo" and told me to leave her in peace. My companion was to say the least...a little peaved. All the stores are closed on this day. Which was too bad for us in the morning because we all had to go to the bathroom really bad and we had run out of toilet paper! Thankfully, a little convenient store two blocks from our apartment was open and we could buy some. Wich reminds me, did you ever find our apartment on google earth? Linsey, thank you for being my best letter writer ever! I love your letters, really, they definitely brighten my week! Keep it up okay? This week we didn't have much success. We talked to a lot of people and set a lot of appointments, but we still haven't found one of the families here in Centro that is ready! We know they're here! We've really been trying hard to plan well at night so that we can harvest the planted seeds. It's a lot easier said than done. We had to drop Marly. She wouldn't have progressed. We had an appointment with her on Thursday in the park and when I asked if she would have time this last Sunday to go to church with us, she told us she wasn't going to go to a different church that she just wants to stay with her church. However, she told us that she's always asking God to give her peace and comfort and Hermana Yañez was really bold with her and said, "we're the answer! We have the peace that you are looking for!" However, it was still a no go. A fool is someone who keeps doing the same thing, but expects different results. Ruth's friend, Sandra Silvia or Silvia Sandra or whatever is...well, we're not really sure. We saw her twice this week. The first time I asked her if she was willing to do what it takes to find the truth in her life and she said yes. I said that was good because some people aren't. Some people don't want to change, but as President Uchtdorf said in conference, "it is not enough to know the seed is good." I had to drop the cane on Ruth too and tell her that the blessings she needs right now in her life will not and cannot come if she is not attending church every Sunday and taking the sacrament. I thought I got through to her, but once again, neither she nor Sandra nor her kids were at church. I really really do not know what to do. She got baptized on December 20th and has only been to church twice since then. We wanted Sandra to come with us to the baptism our zone leaders had in their area this weekend, but she said she'd been up since 7:30, she was too tired from work and didn't want to go. I just wanted to say, try waking up at 6:30, walking in the sun for 8 hours, and returning home with dirt all over you, then tell me how your fatigue right now compares. Oh well. It's a good thing I know what I know, otherwise I wouldn't even be doing this. Last night we had an interesting experience. We had an appointment with a woman, Alicia. We started the lesson with singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". The one that President Hinckley wrote the lyrics to. We began teaching. When I began testifying of the savior's earthly ministry, I asked her what she knew about it. She began to recount what she knew and said that she's not part of any religion and doesn't really want to be. While I was listening I felt strongly impressed to ask her what she expected from religion. She said she didn't really expect anything. I felt impressed to asked her what she would do if she knew Christ's church was on the earth today. She said that she wasn't looking for a church. I then testified that I know that Jesus Christ's church, the same one that He organized while living on the earth, is on the earth today. With a prophet and 12 apostles. We finished the lesson by simply testifying of everything. We left a Book of Mormon with her and left. There's more to the story, but I don't have time to tell the rest. We were taught in the MTC and from Preach My Gospel to pray for our companions while they are testifying. After this appointment, Hermana Yañez and I were walking to a memeber's house for a Family Home Evening. We were discussing the lesson we had just taught and she asked, "were you praying for me?" I said yes and she said, "I was praying for you too." I know that's the reason those impressions came into my head when they did. They definitely did not come from me! I'm so grateful to be a special witness of my Redeemer. I know the Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ died for everyone on this earth. He died so that I could lean on Him when my burdens in this life get too heavy to carry by myself. He knows me personally and he loves me so much that he walked the way of suffering alone so that I could live with him in eternal happiness if I do everything I can on this earth to follow Him. Joseph Smith was His prophet and organized, through the power of God, this perfect church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have my witness. "I know what I know and my witness is true." I think President Uchtdorf said that...I can't remember. I hope everyone will have an amazing week. Remember we are children of our loving Heavenly Father. I love you all! Talk to you soon!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

April 6 Letter

2009-04-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,
Now I realize the subject of this e-mail may cause some confusion. Some of you may be asking yourselves, "why would a missionary of the LDS church put that as a subject for an e-mail? Allow me to calm your spirits... Yesterday, my companion and I were walking down the street to an appointment. There was a man walking in front of us about 15 feet. He turned to walk up the sidewalk of a house, knocked on the door, turned to face us and said, "Madonna and Britney Spears!" My companion and I, needless to say, were very confused and trying really really hard to control our laughter. Haha oh my word this country's so weird! I love it! WOOHOO CURTIS AND KATIE ARE MARRIED! That's wonderful! Mom, thanks for telling them congrats for me! I was way confused when they were going to get married because Dad told me they were going to in March, but never told me the date. Tell him congrats for me one more time and that I've been thinking about him all day. Caleb, Hallie and I are the only ones left out of our little group...wait...Aaron and Casey still have to get married too, right? Umm...moving on... I realized I forgot to wish Trevor a happy birthday! Happy Birthday Trevor on the 2nd of April! I know you don't like birthdays but as the Argentines say, Tomatela! or deal with it! I hope you had an awesome day! =) So conference was pretty much amazing! I didn't want it to be over! I took much comfort in knowing that you all were watching conference at the exact same time I was! I thought, oh my gosh, everyone I love, all my friends and family (or most), for once are listening to the same things I'm listening to at the same time! WOOHOO!! I was thinking when that one apostle (I can't remember which one, I think it was Elder Andersen) said that Pres. Monson's love is like the sun at midday and I was just thinking...oh my gosh have you ever been to Argentina? If it's like this sun, I don't want the love! No, just kidding, but holy cow it really is so stinkin bright and sooooo hot! Hey, why didn't I see Jim??? I was looking for him all over the place in the choir and couldn't find him! What happened? I hope he's okay! Our chapel in Centro is the stake center. Conference was satelite broadcast there and they had it in both English and Spanish. My companion and I watched all four sessions in English. We didn't have a need to sit in on the spanish sessions because nobody brought anyone to conference from our ward and all the people we invited who are investigators and said they would come didn't come. Needless to say, I was a little bit discouraged. I really tried not to be. Discouragement doesn't allow the spirit and we went out to work after the second session last night. We're now only four hours ahead of Arizona, just so you know. This last week was really great! We had our p-day Monday, of course, then we had a zone conference in Cordoba on Tuesday. Monday, durng p-day, we all made different things from our countries. Hermana Yañez made calzones rotos (SOOOO GOOD), Hermana Santos made torta de manzana, and Hermana Gonzalez made sopa paraguaya which isn't a sopa at all, it's like corn bread with onions. It was all so good and I made cheesecake with a lemon bars crust. It was pretty late though, when we ate it before going to bed and then at the mission conference the next day, we ate lesagna, bananas, and alfajors. Needless to say...all this was a little bit much for my American stomach. Especially eating so much so late at night. Throughout the whole rest of the conference, my head felt like it was going to explode. It was pounding and my face was burning hot. I tried to ignore it. After the conference, Hermana Olsen, my mission president's wife came up to me and said, "you don't feel good." I said, "no, my head feels like it's going to explode, it hurts so bad." She gave me two tylenol which I took, but neither worked. My companion told me that eating ice cream would make me feel better. Our zone leaders, my companion and I, went to an ice cream parlor in Cordoba and got ice cream. Now I can't tell you how much my stomach hurt after this. My head was pounding, I was so hot, and my stomach felt like at any minute, everything would just come right up. When we got on the bus to head back to Rio Cuarto, I just thought, oh my heck there's no way I can make it. My district leader gave me a little juice cup just in case I threw up...(?) It's the thought that counts right? After a while I fell asleep and from the testimony of my companion, she said they were talking an laughing so loud and would look at me every once in a while to see if they had done anything to disturb. To their amazement, I was zonked out dead in my seat. I was so grateful. After, my headache had subsided, but my stomach sill hurt. It carried on to the next day. I stayed in bed for a little while and rested. I didn't eat anything. I was so scared. My companion and I walked to the store and bought sprite and crackers and tea. Yes, I drank tea. Don't worry, this kind is not against the word of wisdom and oh my gosh it's soooo good! Anyway, I was feeling a little bit better at about 3, but I felt so lazy so I got myself ready and my companion and I worked for the rest of the day. This experience was the worst ever. I don't wanna be sick in the mission ever again. We've continued teaching Marly. She's an awesome lady. However, the last time we met with her, she told us that she loves talking about these things with us, but she knows her family's not going to change and then after she said she knows she's not going to change. We know she knows these things make sense. Our lessons with her have been so good. We have another appointment with her again tonight so we'll see if she's escogida! Ruth (the recent convert who got baptized the day I got to Rio Cuarto), despite her living situation (three small rooms, the tiny kitchen, the tiny bathroom, and the tiny bedroom in which they all sleep), took her homeless friend in and has been talking to her about the gospel. She told us she was interested and invited us over to meet with her. Her name is Silvia. She's a very nice woman. She told us that she really needs Christ in her life and wants to feel the spiritual things in her life. We talked to her about conference and she said she would go with Ruth. As I said before, nobody came with a nonmember. Not even Ruth with her friend who so desperately and obviously needed it. I don't know what happened. We're going to continue working with her. It will be easy since we always see Ruth and her family. I'm praying Silvia will accept more of this gospel and that Marly's heart will be softened. I so desperately want to find the people here in Centro who are ready to receive this gospel. The question isn't whether or not there are people who are ready, it's WHERE ARE THEY?! We'll find them, I know it. I've got to have more faith and treat every person I talk to as a potential investigator. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I love love LOVE this work. I'm so grateful to have a living prophet on the earth who acts as God's mouthpiece. Any nonmember in whatever part of the world would know President Monson is a prophet if they watched conference. It's so evident in his countenance. I hope you all have this same conviction in your hearts and that we can all find our "way back to the straight and narrow and stay there" as President Monson said. I love you all, have an awesome week!
Hermana Shumway

March 30 Letter

2009-04-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Mis queridos,
¿Que puedo decir de esta semana? Estoy un poco desanimada porque le pidimos a una mujer de la sociedad de socorro a buscar a Olga para caminar con ella a la iglesia, pero ella no estaba en casa. Estamos pensando que necesitamos dejarla porque habiamos fijado como 3 citas para esta semana pero no la vimos. I hope someone can explain that first paragraph to you! I hope my spanish isn't too outrageous that someone more advanced than I am (Race) would say...she's been speaking spanish for 3 months now and still can't get it right?! Anyway, we have three new investigators this week. Dad, nothing became of any of the 5 investigators that we found a few weeks ago. We haven't seen any of them since that first or second time because they "are too busy" or their schedules "are compicated". Even Miriam. I tried calling her but she didn't answer her phone. We've seen her parents a couple times around Centro and they're nice and everything, but her dad's a little outta wack. He always says, "I congratulate you for your work, hallelujah, amen." Weird things like that. I'm going to try again this week to call her. They told me that some weeks she works during the night and some weeks she works in the moring and I called in the night time so she was probably working. I'm going to try again this week. I refuse to give up on her. She's ripe, I know it. Anyway, about the other 3. Viviana, Marly, and...holy crap I can't remember the name of the other one....Oh well, I'm over it. Ah! Isabel! We were contacting a less active and knocked on Isabel's door. We asked for the less active and she gave us the address for them and then we presented ourselves and talked about the plan of salvation. She said we could come back and talk about it some more. When we did, her best friend, Viviana was there. We gave the plan of salvation in full. Viviana is a single mother with three kids and Isabel...I really have no idea cuz she talks so dadgum fast I don't even know what she's saying. Plus she's got these crazy big eyes that look like they're gonna pop right out of their sockets. It's kind of distracting. I could tell that Viviana was kind of a little more into it than Marly. When we asked if we could come back she said, "yeah, that would be wonderful." Anyway, we've got another appointment with them tonight so pray that it all goes well! Well, by the time you read this it will probably be over, but igual, pray for us anyway! Marly-we taught her in the park on Saturday night. This park we were in was FILLED with women and children. As my crazy Chilean companion would say, "This place is filled up with mommies." We taught her a mix of lesson 1 and two. We focused on lesson 1, but we also talked a lot about the plan of happiness that Heavenly Father has for His children. We asked her what she looks for in her life and she said she wants peace. People ALWAYS say this! We then testify and say that "we know we can't convince them, that's why we invite you to read_____(fill in the blank) and pray and ask Heavenly Father if this is really how you can find peace. We know that"...sometimes people want the peace, but they aren't willing to try something new to find it. Probably afraid of being let down again. Why is it that everyone tries every other church BEFORE they try this one? They would be satisfied so much faster. Dadgum. Anyway, last week Federico, the husband of a woman in our ward died from cancer. Did I ever say anything about him? He's the one that looked like a holocaust survivor because he was so skinny, and had cancer, but yet he was smoking? Anyway, I don't know if I mentioned that on Sunday, the 15, he came to church for the first time in a long time and talked to the bishop about being baptized. He had told the missionaries this before, right before I arrived, but had never really shown any signs of being serious about it. This was the first time, however that he had spoken to the bishop about it. The catch is, he couldn't enter water because of the surgery he had just had. The one where they were going to take out his cancer, but when they opened him up it was everywhere. The doctors told his wife what they saw, but she didn't tell Federico anything. He thought he was healing. Anyway, so the bishop asked us if there was any way he could get baptized in this condition. We knew there wasn't but we said we would ask. That following Friday, we ate lunch with the bishop and his family and talked more about what could be done. He told us to just teach him and see if he keeps the commitments. The commitment to quit smoking, for example. I then said, "yes, we'll do that. If Federico is sincere about getting bapized, the Lord will provide a way for it to happen." The next day, Saturday, he was in the hospital. Monday morning he passed away. We didn't find out until Tuesday. I was so sad for this family. Hermana Yañez gave me some comfort when she said, "Hermana, it's like you said, if he was serious about being baptized, the Lord would provide a way. Federico couldn't get baptized in this life, with his condition, but now he can." It's so true. How grateful I am for the knowledge I have of the amazing plan of happiness that Heavenly Father has for us and those we lose. Upon the needed visit with this family, I learned from the oldest daughter that she and the second oldest are from a different father who had also died when the oldest had only one year. This woman has lost two husbands and she has 4 daughters to take care of by herself. Her job pays almost nothing and she tries to make life so good for her girls. I tried to comfort her by telling her this: "I don't know what it's like to lose a dad or a husband, but I do know what it's like to lose someone close to me." I the told her about how uncle Doug committed suicide a year and a half ago and that our family was really really sad. I told her about how I needed to talk to someone about how I was feeling because the hurt was just too much. How I wasn't happy and for the first time in my life I didn't even want to fake happiness. I went to my institute director who told me that as members of the church, when these things happen we need to stick to what we know. We know about the plan of salvation. We know there is life after death and that we will see our loved ones again. The woman, Marcela, also told me of how her girls have been through so much and she doesn't want anymore trials. She's tired, she wants a good life for her daughters and she doesn't want any more hardships. The night Hermana Capener and I watched Legacy with them entered my head at that moment. I asked, "Hermana, do you remember the night we watched legacy with you and your family and what you told your girls?" She said no. I said, "You told them that these women in this movie and at that time had to be very strong. Many times they traveled with nothing or almost nothing and their children and husbands died, but they stayed strong and they put their trust and faith in Heavenly Father and He blessed them. I know that He will do the same for you, this is a hard time, yes, but you can get through it." I don't know if that helped, but I really really hope it did. I can't express the weight that tugged at my heart when I saw the 2nd youngest girl who's only 9 crying. I wanted nothing more than to just hold her in my arms and tell her everything would be okay. They really have been through so much. I wish I could do more for them... Anyway, I've gotta sign off for now. This e-mail is super long! My hands kind of hurt! I love you all so much. Heavenly Father has His divine plan for His children. If you know nothing else, hold on to the knowledge that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have a personal love for each of us. They know what we have going on in our lives. If you can't talk to anyone else, talk to them. I love them so much. The strength I receive to walk in this unbearable heat definitely does not come from me. Every day I have to lean on them. They are my strength, their perfect plan is my hope and this work is my life. Have an amazing week everyone! Alicia, thank you for keeping me updated on the blog. I love it! The boys are so big! Tell Kaden I love him and I can't wait to talk to him on Mother's Day! I love that story you told me about what he said. He's so cute and so big! Help him to know that his aunt is wanting so much to play with him and thinks about him every day. Give Brendon a huge kiss for me and help him know me so he won't be scared when I get home. I love you all! God bless.
Hermana Shumway

March 23 Letter

2009-03-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Let's get down to business shall we? First things first...I LOVE MY COMPANION! She's the coolest person EVER! She's the latin half of me! She told me that she thought she would never have a companion as capa as her old companion Hermana Demorest ever again, but SUPRISE!!!! We are best friends! Well, my best friend companion, because I have many super amazing friends that are best friends of course, you all know who you are and I think of you often and I'm so grateful for your friendship and love! Thank you thank you thank you!!! Anyway, moving on...Hermana Yañez, my companion, loves music, movies, dancing, food and cars. She likes to watch sports, I like to watch them and play them. We're similar enough to love every second with each other, but different enough to where it doesn't get boring. Plus she's an only child, so it keeps it interesting. She also likes to have things in order and clean. I like that as well, but as roommies can say and family, I can't always KEEP them that way! Anyway, she's great and I feel like we'll be doing a lot of awesome things this transfer. We have an awesome zone, too!
Mom, I got your package today (along with Audrey's hilarious letter! Audrey, my advice is just be you. You know who you want to be and if they don't like it so what? You are who you are. You are my sister and a daughter of your Heavenly Father, and that's what makes you special. Nothing else matters okay?) at our zone meeting! Thank you so much! I love the skirt and I love the shirts! I haven't tried them on yet, but I'm SOOOOO excited! I got the card...very well hidden. How much money do I have in my account? I'll probably need to take some out this week k? Thanks for the Mo-tab CD, I'm SOOOO excited about it, I don't like conversation hearts though...I don't know why, but my zone was grateful for that! The watch is amazing! I love it! The socks, thank you, I don't know where all my socks have gone...but could you maybe send me the ones that don't cover the whole foot? Like the ones that cover everything but the top of the foot? The ones that cover the sides, the heel and just over the toes? Do you know what ones I'm talking about? Also, I would really love more peanut butter and peanut butter m&m's or reces pieces. If not, it's all good, but I just can't get that here! THANK YOU!
Thank you for the update on the fam. OH my gosh poor Chelsea! I'm glad I could contribute to her comfort, though. What's with everyone hurting their knees now? Me, Chelsea, Brent. What gives? Knee injuries are the sucks. I hate them. But mine's definitely getting better and I know I am blessed! I love my Heavenly Father! He loves His children. If we don't know anything else, but we know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, that's all that matters.
This week we taught Olga again and recommitted her to baptism. She accepted the commitment to be baptized on April 11 on the condition that she assist church every Sunday until then. Well, guess what? She didn't come yesterday! So now we have to put it back again! AGH!!!!!!!!!!!! ¿POR QUE? Anyway, it's because her niece was sick. Every person we've talked to since Thursday morning we've set an appointment with them so this week is going to be busy. Hermana Yañez and I have been talking A LOT about how we're going to involve the ward and it's going to be so awesome! I'm so excited for this transfer!
Anyway, I have to go! AGH! The time goes too quickly! Have an awesome week everyone! Keep e-mailing me!!! LOVE YOU!
Hermana Cara Lynn

March 18 Letter

2009-03-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
So sorry that once again I forgot to tell you that it was transfers! My bad! Anyway, my trainer (my "mom") is now in Alta Cordoba and I stayed in Rio Cuarto! My new companion, Hermana Yañes (pronounced shawn yes), is from Chile and she's pretty capa. At least she seems cool...we'll find out after this week right? She speaks english pretty well, but I know I'll be speaking A TON more spanish this transfer. Especially if Hermana Santos trains a latino instead of an American. Oh...Hermana Santos works in Bimaco. I don't know if I've mentioned her before, but she lives with us. Alicia, I went to the link for your blog! It's soooo adorable! I love my little nephews! They're both going to be so big when I get home! I can't believe Brendon is almost 6 months old! May 1st! Wow! Crazy! I hope Aaron had a good 28th birthday! Speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday Rex on the 10th, Happy 2nd anniversary to Jenny and Brigham on the 10th also! Hapy birthday to Race YESTERDAY the 17th, St. Patrick's day! My companion and I sand happy birthday in castellano and english to you and her mom because her mom's birthday was yesterday, too. We sang out loud in the street while we walked! So...last week (as in a week ago today) we were contacting in the street and contacted this woman named Miriam. I'm not sure all what my comp talked about in the contact because I was contacting someone else at the same time, but she was giving her address and asked us if we would go visit her mom. Uh...yeah we'll go visit your mom! She said she has cancer and would probably like us to visit her. She walked with us to where they are staying. They don't actually live here in Rio Cuarto, they live in some crazy town that I can't remember the name. Her mom, Elida, does her therapy here during the week and they return to their town at the end of it. Miriam and her dad take turns staying with the mom over the week. Thank goodness this was Miriam's week. Anyway, Miriam had to go somewhere else so we taught her mom a brief lesson 2-the plan of salvation and said the Lord has a reason for everything and sometimes we have hard times in this life, but they're to strengthen us. She said she was content and wasn't angry with God for her cancer. How wonderful. Miriam walked in when we were giving the reading assignment to her mom. We briefly went over the brief lesson we had just given her mom and she said she would read and pray with her. We weren't sure what to do because they don't live here. The next day we had another appointment with them. Miriam was completely focused intently on us the entire time. We expounded on the plan of salvation and Miriam asked how our church was formed. We then testified of the restoration and the experience of Joseph Smith. We knew she could feel something because her mom kept getting up and sitting down, poor woman, she looked so uncomfortable, but she didn't even look at her mom. Her focus was entirely on us. We gave them the pamphlet for lesson 1 and they said they'd read and pray. We set up an appointment for the next day. We returned, but the woman at the desk (I forgot to mention they stay in a hotel) said Miriam had left and Elida was asleep. We were a little sad, but continued on our way... ...On our way we saw Miriam! It was a miracle! We stopped and talked to her and pulled out the Book of Mormon we had planned to give them to read and explained it. She said she's heard about the Book of Mormon and has been wondering where she could get one. We're like...uh, really? She then told us that she has these moments/experiences where she sees something that looks familiar or knows how a certain place is but she knows she's never been there before. She said when she saw us she knew that she knew us, but knew that she'd never seen us before. We're like, woah amazing! Then we gave her the reading assignment in the Book of Mormon and she said she would definitely read it! She said, "I take this commitment and it's between me and God, not you. Because of what Joseph Smith did I now have this in my life." We're just standing there awestruck by this woman. We told her we would call her the next day to see how it went. When we did, she said she's read and that she felt really good. Also, that her 11 year-old son saw it on the table and asked, "what's this mom?"-"It's a book like the bible." He picked it up and started reading it! Are you kidding me?! Why can't they just live here!!!!! We'll see what happens with them. Miriam said she's definitely coming to conference and that she really really wants to. This week other than that has been slow. It doesn't matter though. With Miriam, how excited she is and how I can see how happy she already seems with this, it makes me so much more eager to find the people who are just like her. There are more people like her. We just have to keep looking. I was thinking that the "looking" part, the "searching for these people" part can be taken quite literally. When we lose something that we really need we pray and ask Heavenly Father to help us right? We know it's somewere! Well, Heavenly Father has lost a few children here and he needs us to help him find them. I love being a missionary and like Miriam, I too am grateful for what Joseph Smith did so I could have this in my life. I love you all and I hope life is beautiful there! Love you!
Hermana Cara

March 9 Letter

2009-03-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
How is everyone doing? Thank you so much for the e-mails and everything! I love love LOVE them! First things first, the cross roads to our apartment, Mom, are Quenon and Maipu, we live in the apartment right above the pizzeria in Quenon, the pizzeria is yellow. I do not have my pillow with me in Argentina. Who has my pillow from home? I hope they're sleeping well with it...I miss it, but Heavenly Father is blessing me because I sleep SOOOO well at night! I can't send pictures through the computer because I don't have the cord that can hook up to it. Sorry =( maybe my comp has a cord she can use and we can send some from her camera. We'll see, but either one of us may be transferred next week so...who knows! Can you believe transfers are already next week? That means this is Race's last transfer! He'll be home at the end of April! That's insane! I hit 6 months at the end of this next transfer...WHAT?! Mom, I'll probably get the package at interviews tomorrow. I hope I get it. We'll see! I'm way excited for the tape! I know that's the next package to come, but I'm still excited! Anyway, so this week. Not so successful. Olga didn't come to church, well...nobody came to church again. We were a little discouraged but we're trying to keep our spirits up even with the "one a day" baptismal date we have now. This meaning the goal for our mission is to find a new investigator or a famliy to teach every day and invite them to be baptized. Upon learning this in our district meeting, I'm not gonna lie, my heart sank a little bit. It's hard enough getting one a WEEK let alone every day. I feel like I'm working so hard already, but it's okay, I just have to work harder! Heavenly Father is trying our faith, my faith. If this is what he expects (and it is because this is what our mission president has given us), he will provide a way. He always provides a way. Like with Nephi and getting the plates, the food for his family and building the boat. He will provide the way. We will not be baptizing in March because Olga didn't come to church this week. She said she was having really bad back pain and needed to stay in bed. This woman needs Dr. Steve! Brother Sorensen hurry get down here! These people need you! Hahaha, ahem...in all seriousness, we now have to push her baptism to April. We haven't seen Valeria in a while. She hasn't been answering her phone and she wasn't home when we went by on Saturday. We didn't have an appointment on Saturday, we just dropped by to see how she was doing. We'll see what's gonna happen with that. Javier and his family...we just don't know. He said he would call when we could come by, but we need to call them. We're planning to do that this week. I played the piano on Wednesday for our district meeting. The opening song we sang was "Choose the Right". It definitely was choose something...more like, Hermana Shumway needs to choose the right NOTES to play. Hahahaha it was so fun and good practice. =) I told the elders that I didn't know how to play the piano, but considering my new obsession with the instrument and them walking in to our district meetings seeing me playing it, they didn't buy it. What a surprise they got! Haha oh dear... As far as the weather goes...my hands are really cold right now trying to type and the nights have been a lot cooler so I think we're heading into fall. ¡POR FIN! Wow. Anyway, scriptures that have helped me this week have been 2 Nephi 1:27, a quote from Douglas L. Callister of the 70 "I know what I know and my witness is true." I'm learning a lot about what having faith actually means and learning tons about my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. "I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine." He loves me and He loves all of you. Stay willingly faithful and he will provide a way.
All my love,Hermana Cara

March 2 Letter

2009-03-05T16:06:00.001-08:00

Dear family and friends,
I am NOT overexagerating (I think I just butchered that word. Dad would you help me out with that?) with the subject of this e-mail. I have seen some pretty crazy things on those scooters. The other day we saw two gordas on a scooter and the gorda on the back was feeding her baby (without a blanket) on the scooter. I thought to myself...I am DEFINITELY not in the states (or anywhere near it) anymore. I can't believe I forgot to tell you all about mission conference!!!!! AGH! What was I thinking? I'm so sorry! It was amazing! I was asked to conduct the music and it was fun because I saw all the missionaries that I traveled with to Argentina. They are all healthy and well. A little sunburned, but what are you gonna do? It was so fun to see them! Anyway, Elder Jensen of the 70 was there and Elder Zivick with him. Elder Zivick is an area 70 I think. It was so good! They wanted to personally shake hands with every missionary in the room! We all went in a line, they wanted our name and where we were from. Elder Jensen was first, Elder Zivick, Hermana Olsen, Pres. Olsen, and a Stake President of one of the areas in Cordoba capital. When I shook Elder Jensen's hand I said, "Hermana Shumway from Arizona." He smiled and said, "The famous Shumways from Arizona." It was so cool! It was awesome to have them both there. Elder Jensen can't speak spanish so well. I wonder where he learned...? Anyway, unfortunately, I can't tell you everything he said because I don't have my study journal with me, however, I can say that since then I definitely have a different viewpoint on the responsibility I have as a missionary. I just wonder somtimes...how many people would get baptized if they knew that every moment of ours is trying to figure out how to make their lives and the life of their family better? This is the most selfless thing I have ever done. No wonder missionaries don't want to go home at the end of their missions, every second they spend here is thinking about someone else. Why would you want a different life after this? Speaking of not wanting to go home, our zone leaders called us last night and told us of another miraculous blessing from fasting and praying and enduring to the end. My zone leaders are so capo, seriously, I think I'm in the coolest district/zone of my mission. Anyway, they said they had rejection after rejection (again like the last time) and people were being so mean. Elder Hill said he was starting to get frustrated and a little bit sarcastic with the people he was talking to. Elder Jacob said he kept his good spirits (haha). They were walking in a street and they had enough time to do one last contact. The had knocked all but one house, at the end of the street. They saw a woman carrying groceries and decided, "why not?" Elder Jacob said he didn't feel like even doing the contact at this point. However, they introduced themselves and asked if they could go with her to her house and share their message with her. She said they could and the followed her to the house that they hadn't knocked. Her husband was standing in the doorway and when he saw them, he shut the door. Not a good sign. They asked if they could share it with her and her family. She was unsure what her husband would think, but walked in and talked to him and they said when they met him he was way nice. Very talkative and they taught their whole family, a family of 5, an awesome lesson 1. They called my comp and I, no lie, immediately after this because they were so excited. When we find families and we tell them, they scream "YAY" or "WOOHOO" at the top of their lungs so we did that for them this time! The power of prayer, fasting and enduring to the end. I regret to inform you that we didn't have anyone in sacrament meeting this week. Meaning Olga now has to attend every sacrament meeting until her baptism and Valeria's baptism will not be in March. Sad day...however, Thursday we found a family! Javier, Fernanda and their son Bruno. We didn't have a lot of time to teach them, but we gave them a short overview of lesson 1 and gave them a lesson 2 pamphlet. We were supposed to have another appointment with them Saturday, but Javier had to travel for work. He sent us a text message saying he had to go out of town and would call US to let us know when a good time would be to come by. DANG IT! NOOOOOO!!! ¿Por que?!!!!!! So...we'll see how that goes. We're going to find a family this week!!!! We're so excited! =D the experience our zone leaders are having have really made me think twice about how I can improve personally as a missionary. Am I a missionary or am I somone dressed up as a missionary doing missionary things? Hopefully not the latter. We were a little disconcerted Saturday morning during study time when our zone leaders called to tell us that Elder Jensen was looking at the numbers for our mission right now and had told our assistants and the president that we aren't baptizing in this mission like they used to and that some changes needed to be made. We all did a fast and kept in mind these three questions: What does the Lord expect of us in our area? How many baptisms will the Lord permit us to have in March and April? What do we need to do to accomplish the will of the Lord? We had a LONG discussion during companion study yesterday about these things. We'll see how this goes. Keep praying for us. Thank you for your support. I must be going now. I really will try my best to get pictures sent to you but the closest area to print pictures is a 30 minute walk to centro. Not fun. I will try though I PROMISE!!! I've been wanting to, but I'm sorry...missionary life just doesn't always permit that. =) Love you all! Happy Birthday to Aaron on the 12th and Race on the 17th! I'll be sending you cards...hopefully. I think I might have to make them. Anyway, have a good week! LOOOOVE you!
Hermana Shumway

February 25 Letter

2009-02-26T13:15:00.001-08:00

Hey hey!
Of one thing I am absolutely certain: A strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon will give more satisfaction to the heart and spirit of a man than all the outside knowledge that can be gained in this world. Just thought I'd start out my letter by giving that thought I had in my head the other day. It wouldn't leave, so I wrote it down! Anyway, sorry I'm a day late e-mailing! We had a mission conference yesterday in Cordoba so our p-day is today! This week has been AWESOME! Let me start off the details by saying THANK YOOUUUUU Linsey, family, and Karessa for your letters! Karessa, does Flat Stanley really need to be back to you by March 15? Let me know by Monday so I can print off pictures and get that back to you!! I love having him! It's great! We have fun! Anyway, I got more letters today from Linsey and Elder Soane! Thanks so much! Letters definitely brighten my day! =) At our District meeting last week, our Zone Leaders told us a story about how they did a fast from Sunday to Monday to find a family that was ready to receive the message of the restoration. They said that when they went out on Monday afternoon after p-day was over, they got rejection after rejection and they were thinkin, wow, what is going on? Then they saw a family at their house, the dad was outside and the house was kinda far away but they thought, we need to go talk to this family. They walked up to the man, introduced themselves and gave him a short overview of the message and said they'd love to share the message with him and his family. He said, "if you'll wait just a second, let me go talk with my wife." He walked inside the house to talk to his wife. Missionaries know that this is rarely a good sign. They usually return and say something like, oh no, sorry, she's washing the dishes/clothes/taking care of the kids, etc. But to their utter amazement he came back outside with 2 chairs. His wife was behind him and said, "Have a seat, we've been looking for the true church for a long time." I know, amazing right? This experience made an impression on my companion and I. We decided to do this as well. We fasted from Thursday to Friday. Our luck was different. It rained Friday. When it rains, Argentines sleep instead of going outside or answering their doors (it would be no fun to doorbell ditch in this country, nobody would answer their doors =( ...). We tried to talk to the people who were outside however, but we had no luck. However, we had an appointment with Olga at two thirty on Friday in which we had planned to extend the baptismal commitment. This would be the first time meeting with her after a LONG time. We weren't sure what was going to happen, but we knew what we wanted to say and we knew how to calm the doubts she might have. The lesson went great and she accepted the baptismal commitment. We had to explain, however, that babies don't need to be baptized because they have no sin and that we aren't responsible for the original sin because Christ overcame that when he died. She will be getting baptized on March 28. Saturday we had another appointment with Olga and an appointment with Valeria. Ruth, the recent convert, accompanied us to the appointment with Olga. It was awesome. We taught lesson 2-the plan of salvation. When we explained the resurrection, Olga asked, "well, what about the people who are cremated?" We explained that even these people will have their bodies as well. She explained that she has a fear of boxes and wants to be cremated instead of being put in one. I kind of wanted to laugh. That's so silly, she won't have the fear of boxes when she dies. Hahaha oh dear... A member of our ward was supposed to come with us to our appointment with Valeria. When we called her to see where she was on our way to Valeria's house, she said, "it's raining, I can't go out in the rain, are you going?" Uh...duh. Hahahaha it was hilarious. These Argentines crack me up! Honey, we have to work no matter what's going on with the weather. If there are puddles a foot deep, no importa, we work. Let me tell you, my feet were wet the entire day on Friday and Saturday and there wasn't a single thing I could do about it, but keep walking and not think about it. Anyway, we went to the appointment with Valeria without Paola (the member) and explained more about the apostasy and the importance of the restoration of the priesthood. The priesthood that Christ gave to His apostles which was lost with the death of Him and His apostles and restored when Joseph Smith was called to be the prophet and restore Christ's church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The only church over the face of the earth that has this authority. If you can recall the last time we met with her, her mom walked in on the baptismal commitment. Her mom wasn't there, but we explained this again to her and watched the restoration movie. She really liked it and accepted the baptismal commitment as well. She didn't come to church on Sunday because she had to help her boyfriend with his grandma, but if she goes every Sunday until March 28, she can get baptized. If not, we'll have to change it. Investigators that don't attend church with a spouse have to attend 4 times before they can get baptized. We're praying real hard. That's what's been happening this week! We didn't find any new investigators, or a family to teach, but we have two of our investigators with a baptismal date! WOOHOO!!!! Now I have some questions for you family:Dad-how are you doing??? I miss you so much! We sang the "I'm so glad when daddy comes home" song while we were walking in the street the other day and it made me miss you! I hope you're having fun with the garden! I can't wait to help with that stuff when I get back!Mom-are you stake camp director again this year? I couldn't remember. How is it being with Audrey in YW? How was your birthday? Did you get the card I sent? I made you a cheesecake on your birthday! It was so yummy! I'll send you the pictures k? Would you send me the recipe for baked pineapple and if you have one for homemade croissants, I would like that too. Send it over e-mail!Alicia and Aaron- Alicia, your e-mail about when you were dancing with Brendon and singing I like to move it move it, 1. made me have that song stuck in my head all day and 2. it made me laugh so hard and I just love that little boy! Smother him with kisses for me! Aaron, I hope you haven't been too tired with all the traveling you do! I hope you are feeling better from your accident!Brenton and Sarah-why have I not heard from you? What is going on? Are you pregnant yet? How are the dogs? How's work going? Brent, do you like working for Dish Network?Carly-how's the college life? Have you gone on any dates with cute BYU boys? I need a letter from you PRONTO do you understand me? =) Hey, have you heard anything from Ti? I wrote him a letter, but I don't know if he still has the same address because he was in Serbia for a while. Would you ask him and get back to me? Thanks girl!Linsey-you are so busy my love! How do you do it? Thank you for your letters! I have received more letters from you here than anyone else! You're awesome! Thank you!Audrey-I just have no idea what's going on in your life right now and I'd really appreciate it if you would let me know. I take back what I said, you and Linsey can e-mail me. I know how busy your lives are, so e-mailing is definitely easier! Oh, for swim team...start doing exercises that will build up your leg muscles so you can beat everyone this year! Your arms too! Love you!
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can't tell you how much I can feel them every day. I love you all so much and I hope everything is going AWESOME! Chau for now!
Hermana Shumway

February 11 Letter

2009-02-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Oh my wonderful family,
Thank you so much for the e-mail! I was laughing so hard at the thought of Kaden having an imaginary friend who actually exists in real life! That’s so adorable! I probably sounded really ridiculous in the cyber we’re in, laughing like that, but I think it’s hilarious! I’m a little bit sad I’m missing this funny time, but I’m absolutely okay with being in Argentina! I love it more and more every day! Alicia, I’m sorry that you have 5 mouths to feed instead of the usual 4. I’ll pray for you. =) Speaking of laughing really hard-yesterday was a SUPER hot day with not one gust of wind. It was insane! My companion and I, as always, were walking SO much and I asked her if she wanted to hear a funny joke. I told her the joke about the two Mexicans playing basketball “what do you call two Mexicans playing basketball?” –I don’t know—“Juan on Juan!” I’ve told this joke many a time, but this time I started laughing hysterically for some reason. Not kidding, like uncontrollable laughter. I felt like a flipping idiot but I couldn’t stop! My companion was just looking at me and kind of laughing because she couldn’t figure out why in the world I was laughing so hard. She made me sit down in the shade and rest. We had a pretty good week. We taught a lot of “other lessons” and we found two investigators. Edith and Valeria. Edith is pregnant and is due really soon, like next week. She lives with her boyfriend, they’ve been together for a really long time. They have the plans to get married after the baby is born, though, so that’s good! Valeria also lives with her boyfriend and was really receptive to the message. She didn’t have a lot of time, so we focused on the Book of Mormon in our lesson. She’s not that familiar with the Bible so she was completely okay with having a Book of Mormon and seemed like she was excited to read it. We’re going to call her today to ask how 3 Nephi 11 went! We’re still working with Olga. We was supposed to come to church on Sunday, but it was raining and she just got over pneumonia. What is it with Argentines?! Do they not care about their success at all? Nobody feels like waking up when it rains, everyone takes a 5 hour nap every day (even the dogs), and the judges for marriages and stuff get a 2 month vacation. This country is whack. However, I’m loving the snot out of it and the people here. They’re so awesome! I’m beginning to understand people more. There are still a few that we come in contact with frequently that I don’t understand because they talk SO stinkin fast! Can’t understand a word! For the most part, however, I’m pretty much understanding the conversations. I’m able to answer better when people ask me a direct question. Heavenly Father is definitely blessing me! I constantly thank him for that. Not a day goes by that I don’t receive a blessing in one form or another. Oh, speaking of blessings, I got my bank card back! Is there any way to reactivate it? Please let me know, I’d really like to be able to use it! If not, I will patiently wait for the other one. Our zone leaders had a baptism yesterday and invited the whole district to go. A mom with 11 kids who all got baptized before she did was baptized. It was so awesome! One of our zone leaders, Elder Barlow, is going home. His parents were at the baptism and his mom is adorable! All of us American missionaries had to keep an eye on both of Elder Barlow’s parents at the baptism because they don’t speak spanish and all the Argentines wanted to talk to them and tell them how amazing Elder Barlow is. It was so funny! Mom, you don’t have to worry about me answering questions about the best way to get things to Argentina or any other questions you might have because you will be getting a call from Elder Barlow’s mother on Sunday after 2! I hope you’re home! If not, she’ll write you on the missionary mom sight because she did that too with Elder Barlow. She’s so nice! You should ask her about the card thing. She’d know! Regarding how I am as a missionary, you could just talk to Elder Barlow himself and find out! I better get going! I love hearing the stories from home! Thank you so much for your support and prayers! I’m going to need a few extra prayers this weekend. I’m speaking in church on Sunday on Preach My Gospel and how families can use it. I’m SO nervous, but it will be fun! I’m excited! Have an awesome week! I love you all and I pray for you all the time! Chau!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

February 16 Letter

2009-02-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

Dear family and friends,
Oh my word the Lord just decided to bless us like crazy this week! It started out very slow and I can’t tell you how long the days felt. Hermana Capener even had kind of a goofy emotional breakdown involving her calling a senora a senor and saying, “Hola, soy Hermana Copener…” That was just an interesting day. We met a man named Adolfo. When he introduced himself he said his name was Adolfo, like Hitler. Then we met an old old man who told me his name and said, “but to me, you are Aphrodite.” Oh dear…after that we met a man who learned his English from reading magazines and made fun of us for when we freak out when the men go in to kiss our cheeks and we immediately almost “stab“ them with our hands because we DO NOT want them kissing us. He said “it’s like a sword! It’s so funny!” These stories do not include the many whistles and “Hola Hermosa” ‘s we got this week. When they ask me what I’ll miss most and not miss at all at the end of this mission I will say, “I will not miss in any way the Argentine men or the noise.” Anyway, moving on to the blessings. We tracted so hard this week. We knocked so many doors and asked for references from everyone we talk to in the street and members and we hadn’t been getting anywhere. Still, the only references we’ve received have been through the other missionaries in our zone. However, we taught a woman, Veronica, on Thursday who is married and has two daughters both baptism age. She was a street contact that must have been from FOREVER ago because I could not remember her for the life of me and we had an appointment set up which we set a long time ago because when we were looking in our agendas we could not remember who this person was. Anyway, we called her the night before the appointment and she said we could come by. Usually when we do that the people give us some crazy excuse as to why we can’t, so when she said yes, my head jerked up and I though, whaaaat? We were so excited! Anyway, we taught her lesson 1 and it was awesome and we left the plan of salvation pamphlet with her. She said she would read the marked page before Saturday, our next appointment. This time we taught both of her daughters, Sofia, 13, and Camila, 10, with her. It was so awesome, they all seemed so interested! Her daughters said they would read and pray with their mom and we told them they should read and pray with their dad. That’s gonna be a tough one. Veronica didn’t act like he’d be too interested. We’re praying real hard for that! 3 new investigators…WHAT?! We taught a woman, Marita, who is a friend of Ruth, a recent convert. Ruth has been talking to her friends A LOT about the church. We’ve received two references from her since she was baptized in December, Marita and some other lady who has a weird name and I can’t remember it. Her boyfriend, Estevan, is not a member, and wants to marry Ruth. She told him that unless he gets baptized that’s just not going to happen. He lives with his parents in a different neighborhood. He used to live with them before she got baptized, but she told him he needed to move out so she could get baptized. All of her kids got baptized before she did. We’ll probably start teaching him soon. This family is just amazing! Anyway, Marita, she’s crazy! We’ve taught her twice, but the first time did really count because of…I don’t know how to explain it, she was just in the house when we were teaching Ruth and her kids. This time counted because Ruth set up the appointment on purpose, but she didn’t tell us about it until the day of, which was okay with us because we had no appointments at the time. Anyway, we watched Together Forever, but not really because we didn’t have the remote for the DVD and we needed it in castellano. We answered her questions and Ruth explained to her the higher level of thinking we have in the church because Marita asked about how some people have a lot of marital problems and things like that. Ruth said in the church we know we’ll be together forever, we always have that mind-set, so the families (for the most part) in the church are a lot more loving (at least they should be right?). Anyway, it was a really good lesson. Marita put on a cumbia CD and the lyrics were talking about God and Jesus Christ and all I could think of was…holy cow I feel so irreverent right now. Afterward one song was over, we turned it off and we sang Nearer My God to Thee and I Know That My Redeemer Lives. We then explained that because of the sacrifice Christ made for us we are ALWAYS reverent when we talk about Him and sing. I think she could feel the difference. We now move on to Valeria. She was also a street contact. The first time we met with her, she didn’t have a lot of time so we did a brief lesson 1 and gave her a Book of Mormon. We assigned her 3 Nephi 11 and asked her to read and pray. That was a long time ago and we were a little worried that we would lose her because the time period in between meetings was huge! Anyway, we taught her again last night and verified what she read and answered questions she had. We then went over 3 Nephi 11 explaining why we need to be baptized with someone who has the RIGHT authority, and how when someone knows the Book of Mormon is true, they know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored the church of Jesus Christ, and that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth today. We then asked her if she believed this was true, she said YES! Then we gave her the baptismal commitment. She then said, “yes, but I already have my baptism” (baptized as a baby). We then re-explained the above mentioned things and told her that we have a baptismal service planned for the 21st of March and this is a goal. She said yes and was nodding her head. We explained that during this time she gets to know the church better and reads more and if she’s not ready we can change it. Right at this moment her mom walked in. AGH! THE STRESS!!! Anyway, she sat down and Hermana Capener taught a quick, very brief lesson 1 to her and we explained questions she had as well and she committed to reading and praying as well. So if my calculations are correct, we have 5 new investigators for this week (which was our goal and this week was the first time we’ve ever met a goal for new investigators) and an investigator almost with a baptismal date. We’ve gotta verify that. Valeria doesn’t count as a new investigator because we met with her a couple weeks ago for the first time. I’m seeing the Lord’s hand in our work every single day. We strive every day for excellence and continue to rely on our Heavenly Father for everything. Thank you all so much for the stories and the prayers and support.—Mom, we have not been affected by the flood, but you might want to ask Shelly if Brandon was affected by the storm they had in Salta, I guess it was pretty bad! I love you all! Until next week!Hermana Shumway

February 4 letter

2009-02-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

January 26 letter

2009-01-28T20:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Family,
Hello everyone! Thank you so much for the e-mails and the love! I have the best family ever! So there isn’t much to tell this week to be completely honest with you. I’m working on a letter for the family right now so I’ll finish that up today and get it sent off tomorrow. We aren’t having much success right now. We had to drop Gloria because she kept telling us lies and could never receive us when we would show up for our appointments with her. Olga is old and I don’t think she understands the importance of the message we share. She’s excited about it, at least that’s how it seems, but yesterday we called her before we left the house to go get her for church (keep in mind it’s a half an hour walk), and she said she wasn’t going. I don’t know, we’ll see. We’re constantly knocking on doors and street contacting, but we don’t have any new investigators and haven’t gotten into any houses to teach. We’re still trying to get the ward to work with us, but it’s easier said than done. What do you do in this situation? Well, when life gives you lemons…um…does anyone have an answer for this one?I’m not sure how much money I need. It’s really dangerous to send money here. You make the choice okay? Put it in a really inconspicuous spot so it won’t get stolen. That happened to one of my zone leaders. His mom sent him a new card and put it behind a picture in a picture album and when he got his package it wasn’t behind the picture! Also, it’s WAY cheaper to send me packages in the bubble wrap envelope thingies. Remember, Mary or Jesus stickers. It won’t be touched! =) Mom, whatever you do, when you send me a new card, DO NOT activate it or have the bank send it to me okay? I’ll activate it. Also, would you ask Steve if popping my neck is bad for me? I do it a lot because of the bag I carry. Oh, I don’t know if I ever asked you for a bag to send to me so I could carry my stuff, but don’t worry, I got one from the mission so no worries! It’s going to get hotter…that’s probably the worst news ever! A member told us that the other day and I felt my heart just DROP! We could buy a fan, but it would be in vain because we can’t keep it on at night. It’s a hazard of some kind. Anyway, the sun is super bright here. I think I’ll come home looking like I’m 35 instead of 23. Sad day…we are squinting the entire day because we aren’t allowed to wear sunglasses or hats. I’m going to get skin cancer. It’s inevitable. First lifeguarding and now this…it’s pretty much guaranteed.Next week is transfers so I won’t be e-mailing until Wednesday. Just so you know so you won’t think I got abducted or something. I don’t think I’ll get transferred. I think most people in this mission stay in their first area for a couple transfers and then move on with their lives, but we’ll see! I really like this area though so I hope I don’t get transferred!My companion and I have been working hard. I feel like we need to work harder because really we aren’t getting anyone to teach, but we talk to so many people every day. We give solid street contact lessons and when we’re outside houses. We give so much effort. At least that’s how I feel. I feel we work so hard, but I’m feeling like it isn’t enough. It’s frustrating sometimes. I’m trying to work every day to work harder than I did the day before. We need prayers. I try to remember the scripture in D&C 68:6 and in Mosiah 24:15. Mom thank you so much for those scriptures in D&C 58. I love you so much!Dad thank you for the update about everyone! I’m happy you’re busy at Uncle Mike’s, however I’m sad you have to drive so far every day. What are gas prices like there? Tell Uncle Mike and Aunt Cheryl I said hi! What are things like with Obama? I can ask, but you really can’t tell me. People here ask us about him all the time. My companion doesn’t know him and I can’t say anything. It’s pretty funny! I really miss juicing lemons. I never thought I would say that! I miss those Saturdays working outside raking leaves with the girls in winter time. We actually cleaned up a huge yard with huge weeds and the grass was SOOO tall as a relief society on Saturday. Seriously, it was ONLY relief society women and we did a pretty dang good job! It looks amazing! These Argentine women really know how to weed whack it! It was awesome! The family we did it for is super poor and got robbed, which is why they’re in this new house. The dad has cancer and always complains and looks like a holocaust survivor. There are four girls and the mom works so hard to make life better for them. I love you all and I’m so excited for all the new things going on in everyone’s lives! Keep writing me! I love hearing the stories! Alicia, thank you for the pictures! Kaden’s hair is awesome! Not really though, I’m excited for it to grow back out! Brendon is adorable! I love him! I remind myself every day that the Lord is with me. It’s what gets me through every day. Being a missionary is hard, but it’s so fun at the same time. I haven’t even experienced the hard part of it. I know Heavenly Father has put me in this part of Argentina for my benefit and there are people here who need me right now. Thank you for your examples and prayers!
All my love,Hermana Cara

January 19 Letter

2009-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and everyone else who receives this e-mail,
How is everyone? Thank you so much for the details of everyone's lives, Mom and Dad! I really really do enjoy knowing what's going on! I'm glad to hear Kaden's hair is growing and Brendon is getting fat! WOOHOO fatties! =) Good luck with everything this week! It has been a super tiring week but holy cow I've learned so much! I can't believe I've been here a month already! I'm starting my fourth month. WHAT?! Where did my life go? Anyway, I guess I should start by saying I gave my very first haircut EVER! An hermana that I live with needed a hair cut last week on P-day. I need a haircut from her and then she asked me if I knew how to cut hair. I told her I wanted to try because I've never cut hair before. She willingly agreed to let me experiment. She is soooo brave! It was so fun but holy cow I was so scared the whole time! It was so much fun though and she said she really likes her hair! Not that that was hard, I cut it straight and cut like 2 or 3 inches off! It was so fun! I'm sorry to hear about Aaron's accident. Hurting your buns is definitely NOT the way to go. I had a similar experience on Tuesday. I didn't get in an accident, but my companion and I were walking through a road looking for the house of a woman we contacted on the street. There were about 3 or 4 dogs lying around (where aren't there 3 or 4 dogs or more lying around?), one or two came up to us and were just sniffing and of course we see that every day so we didn't think anything of it. Then the bigger one decided to go up behind me and got a nice big bite out of my butt! It hurt so bad! I was ticked! Dadgum that stupid dog! Of course we hurried to a spot off the road and far away from the devil's advocate to see the damage. I love garments. I can pretty much garauntee that I would have had blood if I wasn't one of the more fortunate wearers of the temple garment. He bit me hard because it hurt the rest of the night and the next day and I had a huge bruise and a little bit of a bump on my rump. I hate dogs. Really, being here in Argentina makes me second guess my love for them. We found a new invesitgator this week. Her name is Olga, she's 75-ish and she's so awesome! It's like I have 4 grandmas now! She and this other woman we talked to, Alejandra, had the question, "Why are there so many churches? There is only one God, wouldn't he have one church?" Yes, my dear friends, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We're sitting there thinking, HALLELUJAH we have the answer!!! We even had the boyfriend of a girl we taught, Milagros, teach US about the apostasy! He knows there was one and that Catholics are crazy. That's what he said. I didn't say it. I didn't realize that so many people thought that way. We need to find them! It's been hard. People don't want to listen. Milagros told us, "if people don't listen to you it's because they're tired of the Jehova's Witnesses. When you tell them no, they keep pushing and come back the next week." Poor people. I am so grateful for those who will listen to us. Even if they don't want what we have after we're done testifying of it, at least we gave them the choice. If they say no, we invite them to the church and chau! It drives me nuts when people tell us there's not that big of a difference between the churches and that they are all good. We're thinkin, yes, all the churches have good things but don't you think ONE of them is going to have ALL of the good things and ALL of what God wants? I can't really say much because I don't understand EVERYTHING. I'm understanding more, but still I don't understand everything. I'm constantly praying for that. Dad, I have a question: Where did Alma, the priest of King Noah get his authority to baptize? Was it because he was a priest? I'm reading in Mosiah right now and when Alma was teaching he baptized and it doesn't say where he got his authority. I'm studying up on it, but I haven't found the answer yet. I'm sorry I have a few other e-mails to write to family members so I have to go, but I love you so so so so much and I'm so excited for when I get to talk to you on Mother's Day because this year it falls on my birthday! You get to tell me happy birthday and I get to tell you, Mom, Happy Mother's Day! WOOHOO! I'm so excited! I'm going to be 22...weird.
All my love,
Hermana Shumway

January 12 letter

2009-01-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

Querida familia,
¡Buenos dias! ¿Como estan todos? Things here in Argentina are hot, cold, rainy...the weather is the weirdest thing I've ever seen. It's roasting hot one day and the sun is seering into you and you've got sweat all over and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it, then there are days (the day following the hot day) when it rains and it's cold and windy and I have to wear my black marshmello jacket and carry around an umbrella for the whole day. Then the nights when it's hot...oh dear what can I say about them? We're on our beds waiting for the sleepiness to take over the unbearable heat and sweat so that we can fall asleep. We're so tired all the time, but it's so hard to fall asleep at night. No matter how comfortable my bed is, the heat is insane. I'll never complain about the heat ever again, at least I can get out of it because we have air conditioning. The houses we go into do not have this luxury. It's really okay though cuz I'm getting a sweet tan speaking spanish all the time! I'm understanding more every day! I'm so so excited! Even though my companion has a greenga accent, at least I don't. Thank heavens. This last week was so good but so so so tiring! I don't know what week in the life of a missionary would not be tiring! Dad, please relate more of your stories from the Philippines to me. I really would love to hear them. From all my uncles and experiences from their missions too, if you don't mind spreading the word. =) They'll have to either write them by hand or type them up, print them out, and send them because I won't have enough time to read all of them on the computer. I can print them out, but of course that costs pesos so however I can get them it would be great! We set a baptismal date with one of our investigators, Gloria, last Tuesday for January 31st! I was so excited! It was the first lesson 1 I've taught and it went soooo well! It was aweswome and we were so excited that she said yes when we committed her to baptism. On Friday morning, we had another cita with her, but when we called her on our way to her house, she said she couldn't receive us because she got a new job at a pizzeria and was there when we called. She also said that she couldn't go to church with us because of it. My comp hung up the phone and said, "I'm pretty sure Gloria just lied to us. I could hear her kids in the background." We walked by her house anyway and guess who was standing in the doorway with her back to us? Yep, you guessed it. I didn't see her, but Hermana Capener saw her, turned to say hi to these two old men sitting outside on the opposite side of the road, turned back around and the door to Gloria's house was shut. We're like, ah! Lame! I was so upset. We set another cita with her for tonight so we'll see what happens. She won't, however, be getting baptized on that date though. As for your questions, you have so many! We walk everywhere. It is very rare we take a taxi anywhere. We live 9 blocks from the border of our actual area so that's a little bit rediculous, but whatev. My typical diet is whatever anyone feeds me. We always eat lunch, either at our pension or at someone's house. I eat everything when I'm at the houses where we're being fed, and I haven't seen anything disgusting, but I am just waiting for and dreading that day. I'm gonna need some zip lock bags. Mom, would you mind hookin me up with that? Last night the Bimaco hermanas brought home a delicasy. It's the foot of a pig ground up and put with onions. Yum. It looked disgusting. I took a picture of it and did not take one bite. A pig foot? Come on Argentines! Also, I need mas sunscreen please!!! An emergency shipment of benedryl allergy (non-drousy) would be good too. My allergies are just a little bit out of control when we go out to the campo...which is every day. That would be awesome if I could get some of that quick. It actually got so bad one day that we had to buy paper towels from a kiosco during the SIESTA when nobody wants to be bothered and ALL the kioscos are closed. I felt so bad, but I was desperate. I did get the package you sent at our zone conference on Wednesday as well as a letter from Adrienne that I loved!!!! Thank you Adrienne! Are you engaged yet? =) How the package deal works is if I'm not serving in Cordoba capital, I get my packages ever transfer at our zone conferences. That's why it took forever Mom! Thank you so much though! I was sad that Audrey was the only one who wrote me a note! Congrats to Curt! That's so awesome! When's the big day? I'm going to need a wedding announcement! Mom, don't worry about sending me recipes. We only eat in our pension about two or three times a week and you can't get a lot of ingredients here that you can get in the states. I'd love some, but I don't think I'd have the time or the resources to use them! Thank you though! A tape recorder would be awesome but once again, I have NO TIME ever! That's my life. The life of a missionary and I love every second of it! Thank you all so much for everything! I'm doing fine, Argentina's great, it's beautiful, and the people are wonderful. There's definitely a reason I was sent here. I love you all so so SO much and I pray for you every day! I hope to hear from the girls soon! Chau!
All my love,Hermana Shumway

January 5 Letter

2009-01-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Feliz Año Nuevo everyone!!!
So how´s it goin? I´m actually not even in Rio Cuarto right now, I´m in Alma Fuerte (meaning ´strong mind´when translated into english). We´re here because we´re going to play here today!!!! Our district rode on a really really nice tourista and we´ll play until p-day is over and afterwards we´ll all be given a map of the area and do a splash! We better get some dang good referrals! There´s gonna be like ten sets of missionaries in this area tracting! We spent the new year in our apartment. It´s a little more dangerous than Christmas Eve! My companion was awoken by the fireworks, but she let me use her earplugs and I slept right through them! These people are so loud it´s rediculous. I seriously might come home a little bit abnoxious and not courteous of the fact that anyone anywhere is sleeping. Haha I really hope not. What are everyone´s goals or changes they want to make for the new year? I have one to read the whole Book of Mormon and write in my journal every single day. I´m getting better! Did you know the book of Omni was written by five different people?! Crazy! I can´t believe how quickly this week went by. That saying ´the days go by like weeks but the weeks go by like days´has never been so true in my whole life. Some days are sooooo rediculously long. Especially when there are no clouds in the sky and the sun is searing into your (my) albino white skin. However, I am getting my tan back which I am SUPER excited about! It´s true, those of you who have never seen me tan, just wait. It´s awesome, we´re working so hard. We really haven´t had that much success and it´s super discouraging, but I´m doing everything I know how. Out here you have to be constantly relying on Heavenly Father and trusting and having faith in him that he´ll put those precious words that the person walking towards you needs to hear. More often than not they say, ¨no thank you¨ or yeah, come by my house, but they´re rarely ever there. It´s tough. Our zone just did a fast yesterday for the investigators with baptismal dates, the investigators we want to have baptismal dates and for those we want to find. Missionary work takes A LOT of work. Huh...weird. Speaking of fasting, when I was saying my prayer to start my fast on Saturday afternoon, I fell asleep! I totally drueled on the blanket! My companion said she knew I had fallen asleep because I made a really funny squeak noise or something! We were laughing pretty hard! Mom, you would love it here because the flowers are GORGEOUS!!! They have these amazing trees that have beautiful flowers on them and oooooohhh they´re sooooo pretty! I love it here, it´s gorgeous! I´ll make sure to take pictures. Haha okay, everyone and they´re mom, and sometimes grandma, rides motorbikes of some kind. From a scooter to a motorcycle. It´s so funny. Actually most of the old people here ride bikes! Everyone once in a while you´ll find one on a motor type thing. Also, all the old men in the afternoons sit outside they´re houses with their shirts open because of the heat. It´s soooo funny! I´ve never had to be more conscious of where my eyes are looking than here! It´s hilarious! Yesterday was so awesome! Testimony meeting at the church was great. We have an awesome ward. A baby from a less active family was blessed and one from that less active family hadn´t born her testimony for three years and got up and bore a beautiful testimony. It was so awesome. The thing that amazes me was that her husband usually comes by himself and this week he wasn´t there and everyone else from his family that usually doesn´t come was there and his wife (the one who bore her testimony) was deathly ill Friday night. I really really hope this family continues to come to church. They´re so awesome. Also, one from that family who was there, her husband just left her without warning a little over a week ago. They haven´t been married that long. I was so impressed. The people here are amazing. We helped one of the not so fortunate families put up a pool in their backyard yesterday! It was so fun! It reminded me of when we put up our swing set and our trampoline! Now, don´t pass judgement on us because we did it on the sabbath, we were so excited to FINALLY do service for someone. These people don´t ever let us help with ANYTHING! We were so so so so ecstatic to finally have something to help with and someone who asked us! It was great and so fun and now I know how to set up a pool! It was awesome! Mom, I need a new watch. I do not care what color it is, but I need one that is good silver that doesn´t look too expensive. You should see my white one. It´s not so white anymore and the silver is a pinkish orangeish color now. It turned my arm green. If you could send me not a white one and nicer of a silver, that would be awesome! I don´t want one witht he link band though. I like the leatherish kind better. Argentina grows on me more every day. I count my blessings constantly because I´ve never had to endure some of the things these people have endured all their lives. I will never complain about anything ever again. You can hold me to that. I´m so grateful for my nice teeth, carpet, a home not infested with flies, my health, air conditioning, my appendages, my good health. I´m glad I´m not one who cares about getting my hands dirty. Thanks Daddy. =) Anyway, let me know how everything is going okay? I´d really love to see a picture of Kaden´s cancer patient head =) I´m so glad your new year was so much fun! I´m so sad that I missed it, but I have my own things to enjoy here! One question, if you had that many people, who´s quads did you use? Hermano Adams, how are things going with your advanced missionaries? Are they as cool as we are? =) Hermano Hernandez, how is the training coming? Do you see much of Hermana Jesperson´s dad? Hermano Gruber...what are you even doing now? Do you teacht he advanced students with Hermano Adams? Tell me everything! I love you family! I pray for your health and safety every day! Give the little boys lots of hugs and kisses for me! ¡Chao amores!
Hermana Shumway

December 29 Letter

2008-12-29T18:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,
Hello!!!! Oh it's been a really crazy week! There's so much for me to get used to! For example, family, I am so sorry I forgot to tell you some things about the culture when I talked to you on Thursday! When we knock doors, we ring the bell, knock on the door, or if there is no bell and it's a gated house, we clap! The clap must be loud so as to carry the sound all the way to the house! It is soooooo strange! When we knock on the doors, we stand far away from the door. Maybe 7-10 feet, depending on the design of the front porch, if there is a front porch. I am not really a big fan of street contacting or knocking on doors because the streets here are SOOOOO loud all the time (unless we're in the campo-for those of you who don't know what that is, it's the grassy farm looking areas outside the city). It's so distracting. I love talking to the people, getting to know them a little and seeing what I can catch from what they say. I think I am getting a little better at understanding. Anyway, the people that live in Buenos Aires have a VERY strong Italian way of speaking Spanish. It's so funny to listen to! I love this area, Rio Cuarto is awesome, but it is SO big! I love the members and the people that we're working with as far as baptism goes. There is SOOO much work to do still. We are starting to work with the members right now so they can help us because knocking doors and street contacts are not very effective. Or so I have been told. A lot of the time I wish I had my teachers from the MTC with me so they could tell me what to do in certain situations. Like yesterday, we ran into a whole bunch of crazy Catholics (and I saw a truck like mine!!!! I was so excited!!!). OH that was so funny! One of them was talking about the numbers in the Bible, how they're always significant to the trinity. God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. He went off FOREVER! My companion finally said, well, we'd love to stay and chat but we have appointments we have to get to. Which was a big fat lie, but this guy was KUH-RAY-UH-ZAY! We are also asked A LOT if we're Jehova's Witnesses. To which, we obviously reply no, and to which response they look relieved, but they still don't want to listen. Anyway, I am learning more of how to listen to the spirit, slowly, but it's coming. It's really hard sometimes. I'm getting more comfortable with speaking to people I see. I'm not as nervous anymore. With the help of the Holy Ghost, Preach My Gospel and my companion, I think, what are you so afraid of? If they don't accept, they're not the ones that are ready yet to hear this message. That gives me more confidence. I still try to think of really good ways I could get their attention so they will want to listen. I try to think of the things they need to know that separate us from the rest of the churches out there. It really is NOT that easy, but I'm learning. Family, remember when I told you my hair is SUPER curly here? Remember when I had really short hair on the hairline, left side of my forehead because of my ATV accident? Those hairs are growing out and remember how Superman has that perfect curl that always stays perfect even under water?? Well, when my hair gets super curly I have that Superman curl! It is amazing! It makes me laugh so hard! Sorry, that was a crazy tangent. An hermano in Bimaco (Bee-maw-koh), another area next to ours, says hello and sends his salud to the family. Which reminds me, when we ate with their family yesterday, I ate the neck of a chicken. Yep, the neck of a chicken. It was so weird. It wasn't bad, but still, it would have been better if my companion hadn't answered me when I asked her what I was eating. Some of the words they use here are SOOO weird! Let me give you an example: '¿De donde sos vos?' That means where are you from instead of '¿De donde eres tu?' or '¿De donde es usted?' I have never spoken to anyone in vos and it's so weird sometimes. I really really like it though! It's so cool and I'm getting way better at the accent. There is an elder in my zone from Bountiful and he has a super cool Argentine accent! I always think 'I want that accent!' When I hear him talk! Speaking of elders, my district leader, Elder Guthrie is auditioning for So You Think You Can dance in 2010!!!!!! That makes him the coolest person alive. I don't care what anyone says! He took dance classes from Benji's dad!!! He's way cool and SUPER funny. Of course, I don't know if he's a good dancer because we're on a mission, and that's not allowed, but still, that makes him the coolest person alive! I think I better wrap this up, it's probably the longest e-mail EVER! Family and friends, thank you so much for everything. I am becoming more and more grateful for the things I've been taught my whole life and within the past couple months. Mom and Dad, thank you for not making me a girly girl and not able to handle the dirtiness here and being the examples of hard work and relying on the Lord that you have always been. To my teachers, hermano Adams, ¿Como sos vos? =) To all of you, thank you for putting up with me and helping me learn to rely on the Lord and on the spirit. Helping me to learn that my love for the gospel and the influence of the Holy Ghost are the ONLY things that influence people to love it as well. I'm SO SO grateful. Thinking about the missionary that my parents expect me to be, the missionary my teachers told me they think I would be and most importantly, the missionary I know Heavenly Father can make out of me is what helps me every day. I love you all thank you so much! Have a wonderful week!
Love,Hermana Shumway

2008-12-24T15:14:00.000-08:00

¡Hola! =) =) =) =) ¡ FELIZ NAVIDAD!
¡Buenos dias! I am doing absolutely wonderfully!! I am so happy to be here in Argentina! It is a wonderful place and the people are soooo friendly! As far as what we have been doing (I am very sorry, I will not be doing conjunctions anymore because I do not know where to find how to do the apostrophe =S), Saturday we had a baptism of 11 people. It was a stake baptism. My companion and I, the hermanas we live with, our zone and district leaders and another pair of elders in our zone all had people being baptized. It was so awesome! The people seemed so happy afterward!! We had a stake activity after that with all the new converts. It was so fun but we got home so stinking late and I was so tired! I do not think I am quite caught up on my sleep yet, but it is all right! =) They warned us at the mission home when we got to Argentina that the beds here are really dangerous because they call to you. They did not explain, however, how true that statement was. My bed is sooooo comfy. Well, compared to the MTC beds, anywhere else you sleep is amazing. I definitely sleep better here than I did there. Its awesome. Sunday was so rough because I was so tired, but I loved being in the classes and listening to the spanish I could not understand. Let me explain something…Argentina people do not always finish their words. The will drop their s and like I told you, Mom, and the girls, the SH is KILLING me! I am not used to hearing it and when I speak to people and forget to speak with the castellano accent, sometimes they have NO idea what I am saying. It is kind of ridiculous, but I told my companion to correct me when I forget to use it. I blame Hermano Adams. It is his fault that I cannot understand ANYONE! ;) After church we ate with a family that lives in the area of the other Hermanas. They have 3 boys, Enrique, Gorge, and Franko. ¡Ay que rica fue la comida! They invited one of the new convert families over to eat with us. That family has 2 girls and a boy. Camila, Josguey…I probably butchered that kids name, and (I can never remember the name of their daughter), sorry!!The boys kept telling me to tell them jokes and I only know two jokes in spanish. Other than the ones this elder in the office was telling us the day we got there. They were mailisimos I guess. Meaning we should not ever tell them. I told the boys they need to help me with my spanish. Their mom kept saying, ¨do not worry, you will get accustomed to it.¨ I sure hope so because I feel so dadgum stupid sometimes! Yesterday we did A LOT of street contacting. When I say that I mean we tried. You have to be able to speak so fast when you do that and I get so tongue tied. After a while I started talking to people that were already stopped looking at something so they could not run away from me. It is really tough, but it can be fun. You just have to keep the right attitude and keep trying. If I am doing all I can and they still reject me, they are not really rejecting me, they are rejecting the message and Jesus Christ. Anyway, I need to write my mission president now! Thank you all for your prayers, I love it here. I know this is where I am supposed to be. I know what I am doing is the best thing ever! I am so excited to talk to you on Thursday! Merry Christmas to everyone! Chau!
Hermana Shumway
I will be calling at 11:30-12-ish on Christmas day. I may call before then, but I do not know so BE READY!!

I Love Argentina !!!

2008-12-20T17:42:00.000-08:00

iBuenos Dias mi familia!
I´m in Argentina! It took a while, but alas, I am here. For those of you who didn´t know, we flew from Salt lake to Dallas-Dallas to Tampa-Tampa to Miami-Miami to Buenos Aires-a bus from that airport to a smaller airport-flew from that airport to Cordoba-our mission President, his wife, our APs, and the office secretary met us, we drove to the mission home where we had our interviews, ate and got our trainers! My trainer, Hermana Capener and I took a taxi to the bus station, then we took the 3 hour bus ride from there to Rio Cuarto, our area. We got to our apartment around 1:20 this morning (so really I almost traveled for 48 hours), and I fell asleep around 2:30. We are far from the mission home, but it is super pretty here. Our apartment is above a pizzeria and is right next to the street so if you want a good night of sleep, sleeping with the windows shut is almost a must, however, it is hot, so you either take the heat and less noise or you deal with the noise and sleep a little cooler. Not by much though! My P-days are usually on Mondays, but this coming week they will be on Tuesday because of the transfer schedule. So I will e-mail again then with more details about things!!! I hope everyone is doing just wonderfully! I am doing fine, I am loving Argentina already! I have not experienced much, but it feels good to be here. My trainer is awesome and she shows me the ropes. We live with two other Hermanas, I actually knew one of them in the MTC. Her classroom was on the same floor as mine so we saw each other a lot! Anyway, I have to go, but I will talk to you all soon!
All my love,
Hermana Cara

Arriving in Cordoba

2008-12-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

12/18 Phone Call From Cara !!!!

2008-12-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

We were able to talk to Cara today for about an hour while she was in the Miami, FL airport!! Woo HOO. It was so great. She sounded very good. I was nervous but after talking to Cara all is well. She had been up since 1:30 am to leave the MTC at 3:00 am and head to the SLC airport. She changed planes in Dallas and Tampa. Her flight from Miami will be 9 hours to Buenos Aires, Argentina. She will then take an 11 hour bus ride to Cordoba. She said she is sleeping well on the planes - thank goodness. She is traveling with 6 other missionaries going to Cordoba. I am glad she is not alone. Her Spanish is the best among them but she needs to learn the "Sh" sound better. She spoke of many experiences she had in the MTC - mostly about other missionaries, her teachers and asked about all of us. She is looking forward to getting to Argentina. It is supposed to be 100 degrees when they arrive. She was not excited about that. She loved the Utah weather and wished they had received a lot more snow. We are very blessed that we will get to talk to her next week on Christmas. Yeah. Merry Christmas Everyone. Thanks to everyone for your support of Cara. She has loved your e-mails and letters. Valarie

December 16 letter

2008-12-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
Holy cow do I really leave on Thursday?! No way! I'm so sorry this e-mail's going to be so short cuz I have mucho things to write. I have to write to Uncle Van and Aunt Vanessa, to Uncle Tim and Aunt Stephanie for the adorable Christmas card and letters I got from them. I have to e-mail Carly and write a thank you letter to Alicia and Aaron for the amazing package I got in the dearelder stuff last night. Ooooh the cinamon rolls were so good! I will be able to call from the airports. I don't know if I will call from more than one, I'll try, but I don't know. I'll call after 3 on Thursday because Mom said she'll be home from work by then. I don't know from where I will call, but don't you worry! We'll get there! Please keep praying for me. I'll need them now more than ever! I have been praying for you! I've been told that missionary prayers are like children prayers. They go straight to heaven. As long as they are said as sincerely as a child prayer of course! So what have I learned? I have learned everything in this religion, The Church of Jesus Christ, depends on if the Book of Mormon is true. If you know the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and restored Christ's church on the earth. There was a time when I thought, "how in the world am I supposed to help someone believe Joseph Smith was a prophet? That's pretty far fetched!" Then I thought about it and prayed to Heavenly Father and He simply put the thought in my head, "if you know the Book of Mormon is the truth, which you do, then Joseph Smith was my prophet and this is my church." Good enough for me. No questions asked. I love you all I'll talk to you Thursday and then a week from Thursday! Have a wonderful week!
Hermana Shumway

December 9 letter

2008-12-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

Dear family,
I write this letter with a heavy heart. Sunday I was informed by a member of my branch presidency that the Suns aren't doin' so hot. Let's just say my branch president loves me and when they ask if there's anything they can do for me, I have to tell them the truth and they're always willing to comply. Haha I have an awesome branch presidency. They're so cool. Brother Morris (the one who told me the sad sad news), is a spurs fan so...we keep our distance. :) just kidding he's way cool. I saw Trevor on Thursday when my companions and I were on our way to lunch. It was so fun! He talked to us for about 10 minutes and then he had to go. It was so fun! I'm so glad I saw him! He says he sees Carly a lot so that's way fun. Hmm...it'd be nice if I could have her address... I received, in the mail of Friday, my flight plans. I leave on the 18th! Not the 22nd! What?! That's what I thought when I got them. So I leave a week from Thursday. I'm a little weirded out. I almost don't know what to do with myself because of this. I wasn't expecting it, I had no warning! I hope the rest of my district that was supposed to fly out with me gets their flight plans for the same day. I don't wanna go by myself! Agh!...well, what are yu gonna do? So I get to talk to you 4 days sooner! WOOT! This e-mail is a little scatter brained, I'm sorry. I have a feeling this e-mail will be filled with absolutely nothing but the random thoughts that pop into my head. I have some not so random thoughts, however, that I would love to share with you right now. "True wisdom is knowing the difference between knowing what you can change and knowing what you can't change-learning to love those things that you can't change." Family, I will come home a different person. I've learned so much already that I know will help me when I get home. I hope you all are a lot better when I get home than when I left you. I mean, it's hard to do cuz you're all so amazing, but there's always room for improvement and I hope you are all striving for that and I hope you are better people when I get home. I've been working on not being sarcastic and it's WORKING!!! I don't burp anymore...it's kinda weird. Mom and Dad: I have something I want you to work on. We gave our teacher, Hermano Gruber, a challenge. Well, a way to make his marriage better and a commitment along with it. We told him the significance of having a "companionship inventory" every week with his wife. Talking about things they're doing, about things they can improve on and since they don't have any kids, I would like you to do the first part, what I just said, and this next part. When you have this companionsip inventory, talk about your kids. What they need and things they may need help with. I promise it will bring you two closer and you will have more love in your relationship. Will you do this every week? The Lord will bless you if you do this. I'm being for real here, I'm not just practicing for when I'm out giving commitments in the field. Your brains are going to go crazy when you read this next part. I don't believe in wasting time anymore. Now that my days are all planned out, I'm literally doing something every minute of the day. I don't think I can come home even now and just sit and vedge. Nope, can't do it. I can barely do it here. Like today, when I was waiting for a computer, I was sitting there and felt bad because I had nothing to do whilst waiting for a computer! It's true, when I get home, I'm planning out my days. Yep! Yes, I still get letters and e-mails from Race. I just got a tape and a 3 page letter from him. Yes please send him a Christmas card. I'll give that address to you when I send Brent's birthday card tomorrow. Would you please forward it to him? I don't have his address. Well, my half an hour is up. I love you all so so SO much and I'll talk to you next week! Who will be home? I leave at 3:00 from the MTC for my flight at...you know what I don't know! I leave from Salt Lake at 6:10. Holy cow I'm pushin it close! I love you! I'll talk to you next week! Adios!
Hermana Cara

December 2 letter

2008-12-09T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hello family!!!!!
I bet you're wondering what the heck my subject is all about. Just wait, you will see! I want to start off this e-mail by saying I hope Carly had a wonderful birthday and that she will be receiving a card in the mail hopefully soon. I can't make any promises, however, since she refuses to write me a handwritten letter and Mom refuses to give me her mailing address, no matter how many times I ask. So for now, I have to rely on Uncle Van and Aunt Vanessa. I hope Thanksgiving was AMAZING!!!! I'm so sorry about my stupid tape. Something's wrong with my tape recorder. Maybe I need a new one or I need to switch the batteries. Who knows. This this last week has been really great! You know, lots of spiritual missionary stuff! It would be better if people would write me I think...no...I'm pretty sure it would be better if people would write me. Mail is like Christmas every time you get a letter. I appreciate those who are true to their word and wrote me like they said they would. Thank you, you are angels, and Heavenly Father will bless you for giving me hope for mail every day. Without that hope, I'm a dead fish and good for nothing. Speaking of nothing, that last paragraph was really random and means absolutely nothing to me. Oh my gosh I have a hilarious story to tell you! We were sitting, waiting for the devotional to start on Thursday morning, and I was telling my companions and another girl in the branch on the other side of our building about the time I met President Eyring. When he read my nametag and said, "Shumway...I know a lot of Shumways," and like an idiot I said, "ME TOO!" Right after I said this, an elder sitting in front of us turns around and says, "Shumway...you look exactly like a girl I knew named Cara Shumway from Wickenburg Arizona." When he said Cara Shumway I was thinking, no flippin way! You know someone that has my exact name? WEIRD!!!! Then when he said Wickenburg my mind when HOLD UP and my mouth went, "That's me!!!" Then the recognition settled in. MORTY?! Okay, I went to EFY with this kid 6 years ago in Flagstaff. Not only that, he was in my group, but even more crazy is we were EFY crushes!!! Mom, do you remember the guy I came home with a crush on when I was 15? That's him. His name's Morty, so you can go to one of my scrapbooks and look at some EFY pics. He's in some of them. Really awkward first meeting after 6 years of not seeing or talking. So, how's Rachel doing? Is she staying strong? Have you gotten her in contact with Sorren yet? I hope she's doing well. Would you please tell her I said hello and I miss seeing her smiling face at church? Thanks you're great! =) So our new teacher, Hermano Gruber is super cool! The other day someone said something that reminded me of Hairspray and we both started singing "Good Morning Baltimore". It was so funny cuz the whole class was like, "AGH! Stop!!!" Then I apologized for being so worldly. That always happens to me, someone says something that reminds me of a song and then I'll start singing it. But it's never a missionary appropriate song! Why can't I ever do that with a righteous song? AGH! Then we have this game called Trashketball where we hang our little trash bucket on the thingies that hold pictures on the chalkboard and we have tape balls that we play with for vocab games. Our religious subject last night was Repentance and he was giving us the choice between doing Repentance or Trashketball and he said, "so, we can Trashketball now and Repentance later." It made us laugh pretty hard. He's a really funny guy! He's trying out for the BYU football team next season. So let me share you something spiritual after all this worldly stuff. Something that I think would help anyone keep commandments. Okay, we sometimes feel as though if a commandment is small or doesn't seem like that big of a deal, we think it's not that big of a deal. However, every commandment leads to the same thing. The Celestial Kingdom. That's what having an eternal perspective means in my opinion. Obedience with exactness. They're always telling that to us missionaries. I would like to end this e-mail, as a tribute to Marjorie Pay Hinckley and Joseph B. Wirthlin."I want to live my life so that when I wake up Satan says, "Oh no! She's up!"--Marjorie Hinckley"Come what may and love it."--Joseph B. Wirthlin I love you all I hope everyone's happy and healthy. Have a good week! Adios!
hermana shumway

More First Pics

2008-11-30T13:25:00.001-08:00

Cara's First Pics

2008-11-30T13:11:00.000-08:00

November 25 Letter

2008-11-25T18:55:00.000-08:00

Family!!!
I have a number of things to discuss in this e-mail. Matters of great importance, if you will. Okay, first of all. I'm desperate for some piano music!!!! You may ask yourself, "Why is Cara asking for piano music when she barely has time to breathe?" Well, this question is reasonable enough, but nonetheless, I do try to steal some time whenever I can to practice playing. So I will request Pachelbell Canyon, My Son My King, and I Know That My Redeemer Lives (the one that Sister Bennet and Sister Boyle sang that one time in Sacrament Meeting that Whitney and I sang first). I asked my friend Andy to call you and ask you so you could already have it on it's way to me, but I don't know if he has yet so I thought I would ask in the e-mail! Next item of business. Mom have you called EA about my degree again? Also, is that tithing check still hanging out on the office desk? It's kind of a big deal that that gets to the Bishop ASAP. So if you could help me out, that'd be awesome. Mom, thank you so much for the shoes!!!! They're adorable!!!! I love love LOVE them! They fit wonderfully! Could you maybe send me some shade shirts? The sleeve ones with the finished edge? Colored ones. I feel like I have NO color in my wardrobe. If you can find like a cute tan skirt or a like a cute tan dress that has a more firm fabric, that would be awesome! How's my truck? Is Dobby functioning okay? Have you sold the green car yet? Did everyone split up my clothing evenly? Who's wearing my shoes? If at all possible could you please PLEASE not wear my white ones and the ones that are like lighter, but have the brown bow on the tip? Those were my favorite ones besides my black ones too...oh wow. Dadgum I'm so worldly...Anyway, so how are things? I'm pretty upset that I don't get more mail, however I was thrilled I got a letter from the RS!!! That was so fun! I felt so special! How are Desirae and Kevin doing? Des said she would write me...I think and she hasn't yet, so would you let her know that I would love for her to write me! Also, I wanted to share a quote from Marjorie Hinckley, but, guess what happened again? I forgot my notebook that has the quote in it! Dang it! I really hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and that you don't miss me too much :D because I'm having a blast! I love the MTC and I'm real excited for you to get my package! However, I must tell you, I'm not sending pictures because I'm sending the memory card. The kiosks here aren't too good at taking the red eye out of pictures so I'm gonna let you do that k? Keep the pictures and start a scrap book for me or something C: yeah...like you have time for that haha anyway, I don't have anything else to say to you! There is TONS on my tape so you will learn mucho and be uplifted and feel the spirit and all that jazz! I love you so much! Have a wonderful week! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hermana Shumway

November 18 Letter #2

2008-11-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

Hello again! I've got about ten minutes so I'll hurry...or I'll try. I'm in the process of trying to write some letters! Family, I want you to be better at that. I love mail time at the end of the day! It's the best and my favorite EVER! So I wish to tell Linsey that it was really mean of her to tell me that she got her first kiss and then to say she was just kidding. Not cool Lins, not cool. How baby Brendon doing? Is he still healthy and strong? I can't believe he's going to be 3 weeks old on Saturday! That's so weird! Did you know I'm half-way done with my time at the MTC? Crazeeee! You'll be hearing some things twice because I've told you some things on my tape, but I am in a trio now because my companion left for the Dominican Republic MTC on Thursday because she's going to Puerto Rico. So now I'm with Hermana Hayes and Hermana Jesperson. Hermana Hayes is definitely one with whom I have to practice a lot of patience, I'll explain that more in my tape. Well, I think I already said some of it in a letter. Mom, I need more mascara so if you would be so kind as to send that to me. Oh, what I meant about the pillow thing was I'll take Uncle Van's pillow for the remainder of my time here and then I would love to have my pillow for Argentina. I only have 2 minutes left. You'll know more in depth MTC stuff when I send the tape with pictures!!!! I can't send it til after Friday because I can't pick up my pictures until Friday morning. They are so fun! They're of my first couple days here so I'll send more of the last few weeks soon. Oh! A girl that was my friend at EA is here! She leaves in a week for Milwakee though :( I love you all so much! Have an amazing week!
Hermana Shumway

Nov 18 Letter

2008-11-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

Hey hey friends and fam!
How is everyone? I'm doing soooo well! I'm so sorry I will write a little now and more later because we have to be at the temple at 10:10. Yes, I did find a brown skirt, and my plain black one I left in the laundry room and wasn't there when I went back to get it so I had to get a new black skirt too. So I would love those brown shoes you were talking about! Hahahaha I can't believe Unlce Van sent me a pillow! That's the funniest thing I've ever heard! I would love mine, but I'll just have you send that to me when I get to Argentina okay? I'm almost done with your tape! You're going to love it! I told you muchas cosas que he aprendido! Wow, I just typed that without thinking, sorry Mom! You will have to call Aaron or Brent to get what that means! I told a lot of stories and things so you will not be without! Thanks so so SOOOOO much for the pictures of little Brendon, oh! He's sooooo cute! I've been showing everyone! Haha there's an elder in my branch that wanted to see the pictures because he really hopes he'll be an uncle by the time he gets home. He wanted some advice on how to be a good uncle. Since I'm pretty mucha pro and I'm Kaden's favorite, I thought I might give the asked for advice. C: I'm learning so much every day! The other night our teacher asked us if someone asked us what we learned in the MTC, what would we say? All of us just kind of looked at each other and said, "We wouldn't be able to tell them because you're so jam packed with information about everything every day and you learn so much and feel the spirit so much that it's next to impossible to even attempt to describe what you learn here." I'll write more later! It's temple time! Les amo muchisimo! Espero que todos esten teniendo una buena semana!
Hermana Shumway

November 11 Letter

2008-11-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Oh my word there is just not enough time in the day! I would have more, but I had to e-mail Carly really quick!
I got a package from Uncle Van and Aunt Vanessa yesterday! Thank you so so SO much! That Flan was the best I've ever tasted and the apple cake...oh I just can't handle it! Mom, if you could let them know I got it and tell them thank you that would be so rad!
So...where's this amazing package I keep hearing about that will have pictures of my adorable new nephew and my new camera card? I was thinking I'll just send my old camera card to you when I get the new one and you can do what you will with the pictures. Yes...that's better than the hassle you go through when trying to print them off here. It takes a couple days!
Anyway, I can't even begin to tell you the things that I have learned within the past 3 weeks (holy cow I've been here for that long??). The spirit is DEFINITELY guiding me and as Dr. Jackson said on Thursday, "The Lord's blessing you girl!" I can feel those blessings. I try to be obedient and not fall asleep in class and study all I can. I'm kidding, I don't fall asleep in class. Though it's EXTREMELY hard not to because even though they give you 8 hours of sleep, they don't take into account that their beds are rock hard and their pillows aren't very soft so it might take you a little while to fall asleep. Mom, Hermana Jesperson and this other sister have their pillows from home. I really want you to send me mine. I don't know if you have sent the package yet, but if not, find a bigger box cuz I really really want it! If it's inconvenient don't worry about it. I'm getting along okay...I just wake up with bags under my eyes and sleepy face. :)
So how is the baby? Carly tried to send me a picture on here, but for security purposes they don't let us download the pictures. I'm almost done with the tape I'm making for you so I'll send that before thanksgiving. I'm gonna go now, but I have five minutes so I'll check my e-mail again before the end of the day! Thank you for your prayers! I love you so much! Have a good week!
Hermana Shumway

Cara's Family

2008-11-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

Nov 4 letter

2008-11-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

Hey!!!
Thanks so much for your e-mails everyone! I'm so sorry, I only have 20 minutes so I really can't write that much. Thank you so much for your stories about Brendon! He's so adorable! I love him so much! When I was doing my personal study this morning I almost started crying because I wanted to hold him so bad. I just kept thinking about his little body in my arms and wanting so bad for it to be real. I'm glad he's doing well, I put his and Alicia's names along with Grandma Shumway's name on the prayer roll this morning when we went to the temple so I hope everyone is doing well! Anyway, back to Brendon. Will you please please PLEASE send me pictures of him? My comp has pictures of her new little niece and I want pictures of Kaden and Brendon to go in my photo album! I love my little nephews! I hope Brent and Sarah are workin on that ;) We went to the temple today (oh p.s. I forgot to mention last week that I saw one of my friends from EA at the temple! He was in my session! He goes to BYU now, it was so awesome!) and it looked like it was going to rain and I thought to myself, perhaps I should wear my new snazzy boots! Then I decided against it. When our session was over we walked outside and it was SNOWING!!!!! AGH!!! It was so cool! It wasn't sticking though so we still don't have snow, but the mountains look gorgeous and I love it! I wore my coat from Target for the first time today and it was so warm! I'm in love with this coat! I don't think I'll need it in Argentina, 1-it doesn't get this cold EVER and 2-it rains a lot so a rain coat would be more beneficial to me! I love it here, I love being in Utah and I love being at the MTC. Those of you who have never served a mission seriously can't imagine the perseverance it takes to do this. It's almost rediculous. I'm not even out in the field yet and I am already asking myself...how in the world am I going to do this....there's only one answer of course. Do all you can with a positive attitude and the Lord will do all he can =) I love being a missionary! Mom and Dad my SD card only holds 14 pictures...I know, LAME! I'm going to try to print off some pictures and send them with the tape that I'm making for you okay? It's going to be really good, I'll have my teachers talk on it and some others from my branch and I'll tell you everything I've learned here because once again I forgot my notebook and I don't have time! Weird how that works eh? Mom, I really need brown shoes and a brown or tan skirt of some kind because seriously...the other day, yesterday in fact, I wore brown stockings with my black buckle shoes...not a fun thing for me to do. I was in fashion anxiety the whole day! Help me! Actually you don't really have to worry about it because I guess they have a store somewhere in one of the buildings around here that sells dresses and skirts and blouses and stuff so, I'll look in there and let you know if I need anything k? But seriously, the shoes would be awesome. I have to go cuz I have to e-mail carly about some things but I love love LOVE you all so much I hope the Lord is watching over you. I know he is because our mission president said so in our fireside on Sunday :) I have an appointment with Dr. Jackson on Thursday so I may be able to call after and let you know how it goes. I think I need permission from my Mish Pres. so we'll see okay? Adios!
Hermana Shumway C:

Cara's first e-mail !!!

2008-10-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Hello family!!!!
So how's it goin everyone? This is crazy, I feel like I have no time at all to write! Where do I even begin? I don't think I've ever had so little time to think about everything in my whole life! You seriously don't have any time to think about anything but the gospel! It's insane! I think I like it though :) I get up every morning BEFORE 6:30 because remember how it takes me forever and a flipping day to get ready? That hasn't changed, but I have decided showering at night is the thing for me! I've learned so much here already. I have really awesome teachers and awesome companions. Well, I actually have only one now because we got a new hermana in our district and a new elder so now we have 8 in our district instead of 6. We miss our six though. Our new hermana really nice, she only came yesterday so we're still getting used to her. The elder is fine though, he's really nice and funny. My branch president's name is Elder Romney. He's so cool and he's so so nice. I think I forgot to tell you where my companions were going. Hermana Erekson is going to Puerto Rico, Hermana Jesperson is going to Oakland California and Hermana Hayes, our new Hermana is going to Paraguay. All of our elders are going to Argentina so I might see them when I'm there. We all leave at the same time so that will be good for me because I haven't met ANYONE yet who's going to my mission. I've heard there are two other sisters and one elder, but I have no idea who they are. Sometimes I get frustrated at myself because I feel like I should be better at this. Better at the language and better at teaching the gospel. I realized yesterday that I know spanish, like Mexican spanish, but Argentina spanish is NOT the same. So I basically don't know anything! AGH! It's okay though because I have good teachers who are trying to make us the best missionaries ever. Hermano Hernandez, one of my teachers said, "being fluent doesn't mean knowing every word, it means knowing how to communicate correctly." That made me feel a little better. I wish I had my notebook with me right now so that I could tell you all the cool stuff I have learned, but I will write a letter and tell you all of that stuff. I can only e-mail family so tell everyone they can use dearelder.com. I'll have to write Carly and give her my facebook information because like a flipping idiot I gave everyone the wrong address and they don't have the full one that was on that white card. I put 200N instead of 2005N on my facebook so tell her to write me so I can have her address so I can give her that info k? Thank you! I have like 5 minutes. I just wanted you all to know that I know I should be here. My companions and my branch and everyone I have met have made me realize this is where I am supposed to be right now. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much that I would be so ungrateful to not serve him with everything I have. We had an awesome discussion with our district the other night about families and oh my goodness the spirit was so strong. Our district is so close and we have a lot of strength. I love you so much and I couldn't ask for anymore blessings than I have right now. I have everything! Have a good week! Mom tell Steve my knee's doing awesome and I'll talk to you soon! Paz fuera!
Hermana Shumway

Cara's Address

2008-10-25T09:16:00.001-07:00

Cara's email address sistashums@myldsmail.net Her P-Day (Preparation Day) is Tuesday. This is the day she will be able to read e-mails. She can only respond to immediate family by e-mail but can write to anyone. I know she would love to hear from you.

Cara's mailing Adress in the MTC.
Sister Cara Lynn Shumway
MTC Mailbox # 137
ARG-COR 1222
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Mission Pouch Address (letters are a single sheet, folded into three panels, taped at the top only, no envelopes) advantage to this would be to save postage on mailing directly to Argentina.
Sister Cara Lynn Shumway
Argentina Cordoba Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150
USA

Mission adress for packages
Sister Cara Lynn Shumway
Argentina Cordoba Mission
Gay Lussac 5270, Villa Belgrano
Apartado Postal No 49-X5009 ZAA
C.C. 17 Suc 9, Cordoba
ARGENTINA

Cara really wanted to be in Argentina for Christmas so she could call home.
Her estimated departure date from the MTC is Dec 22. Yeah for Cara!

MTC DAY !!!!

2008-10-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Putting on Cara's tag

Cara entered the MTC on October 22. She is truly amazing. She was calm, confident and very happy. We had a few errands to run that morning and as people would say "Have a nice day" Cara would respond "Oh, I am going to have the best day ever!!" Her incredibly positive attitude and a great outlook on life and its challenges will take her far in her mission.

As you enter the MTC the missionaries go thru one door and the families go thru another- within about 30 seconds of entering the MTC doors Cara was high -fiveing another new missionary. We thought - what the heck.......She had just met Elder Shumway! He is from the Charles Shumway/MaryAnn Hooker line and going to Switzerland - a new friend already!

A few tears were shed with the last hugs. Saying goodby to Daddy was hard. She was excited and anxious to meet her companion and become "fluent" in Spanish. She is very ready to be a missionary. We know she will be a great one.

Farewell Cara

2008-10-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Cara spoke in church on October 19. Many family and friends were there to wish her well and say goodbye for now. She is so blessed to be loved by so many.

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of her life thus far. I know she treasures each of you.

Cordoba, Argentina

2008-10-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

Cordoba is located north of Buenos Aires. The mission is getting a temple and we've been told it's the most beautiful mission in Argentina!

A setback ???

2008-10-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

While babysitting cousins in Utah Cara dislocated her kneecap doing a crazy dance move and had to have arthroscopic surgery in Utah on Oct 1. The surgeon removed quite a bit of cartilage and bone. We were a little concerned that she would have to postpone her entrance date, but her faith never waivered and she is on schedule. We are extremely grateful for family and friends that have helped us along the way. The Lord is really watching over her. She goes to therapy 2 hours every day and is healing very fast.

Mission Call

2008-10-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

Cara received her mission call on August 9th to the Argentina Cordoba Mission. Lots of friends and family gave predictions where she would go. Her brother, Brenton, was the only one who guessed Argentina. She is very excited to be speaking Spanish! She reports on October 22nd!