New Companion

Dear Family,

I picked up my new companion at transfers on Thursday! She is great! Sister Combs is from St. George Utah. She is a dancer and a laugher and a cold cereal lover! She is awesome!!! We have had fun working hard this week!

Great things are happening in Charleston!  T_______ came to church for the first time, J_________ is preparing to be baptized in a couple weeks. The Lord is placing in our path marvelous people who have questions that are answered only through the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ! We love this life!

It is a rich honor and blessing to be in the service of the Lord. He could do this work without us if He wanted to, but He doesn't. He wants us to be part of it and He wants us to feel the joy and the eternal conversion that comes from being in His service. 

This is His work, therefore, we must let Him be part of it. If we attempt to do this work on our own we will find ourselves teaching to people's minds, not to their spirits. Only the Holy Ghost can communicate to the spirits (or to the hearts) of God's children.

 If we attempt to this His work on our own we may accomplish a few meager intellectual conversions, which are not eternal conversions. As we do His work under His direction, by way of the Holy Ghost, we have the sacred opportunity to help God's children receive true, eternal conversion because the Holy Ghost is the true teacher and testifier of truth. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). We come to know God and Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost. This is the Lord's work! We want to do it His way because only His will can result in eternal joy and conversion.

 I love the Lord and I love His work!

love,

Sister Shumway 

Fall in West Virginia

Squirrel...It tastes like chicken!

The Quintrells fed us squirrel last week! Don't worry, it didn't come from the side of the road.... it was... yummy...  ..... but not really... 

However, the experience was great! A lot of the bones are too tiny to pick out so you just have to eat them... it's like eating really tough dark chicken meat.... with some crunch to it.

 Haha, it's all part of this cultural experience! 

Road Kill

 In most U.S. states it is frowned upon to take roadkill from the side of the road eat it.

 However, in West Virginia there is a law which specifically allows anyone to pick up roadkill, take it home, cook it for dinner, and feed it to the missionaries.

 

True story. 

 

A Message

Keep Those Letters Coming!

I love the Lord and I know that this is His work! If it wasn't His work we would have messed it up a long time ago!

love,

Sister Shumway 

Conference

General Conference is...

MISSIONARY SUPERBOWL!

Missionary Scouts

The Fairmont Ward Scout Troop is a driving force of missionary work. There are practically as many nonmembers as there are members who participate in the scouting program with the Fairmont Ward. The Assistant Scout Master is a 19 year old boy named K______. He has been devoted to a life of scouting since he was a wee little child. When his scout troop collapsed last year he joined the LDS scout troop. Because of his parent's concerns about the church K_____ never took interest in learning about the actual doctrines. He intended to remain Assistant Scout Master until the beginning of the summer when he planned to go to Oklahoma to join the National Guard. 

Then God stepped in.

Weeks before K_____ was to leave for Oklahoma he was in a severe car accident that literally broke his back. His injury was so severe that he was deemed permanently disqualified for the National Guard. His disappointment and frustration was great but his long recovery enabled him to remain active in troop 13.

As Summer began, talk of Youth Conference fringed the LDS scout troop's announcements and K_____'s interest was sparked. All of his friends were going to this weekend "Youth Conference" so he became set on going as well. After all, he had nothing to do other than sit around in his back brace. After persuading his parents to let him go to Youth Conference, K_____ signed up for specific workshops. He chose to attend "Mission Prep" with one of his scouting friends, "Eternal Families" with another troop friend, and "Power of the Priesthood" with another friend. 

Needless to say it was a powerful weekend.

Three days later when Zack stepped out of the carpool van at the conclusion of Youth Conference, he turned to the Scout Master and quickly exclaimed,"Brother ___________! I am going to get baptized, go on a mission, and get married in the temple!" 

And his conversion began.

We have been teaching K______ the lessons for three weeks now and he is progressing incredibly and preparing to be baptized in September. He has expressed that if he hadn't been in that car accident he would be in Oklahoma right now instead of preparing for baptism. K______ LOVES the gospel and he is excited about all that he is learning!

It is a thrill to witness the Lord's hands in the lives of those we are blessed to teach. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change. It is a gospel of becoming and it is a gospel of eternity. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is our training for eternity that teaches how to obtain a fullness of joy. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of joy. I love the Lord and I love His work!!

love,

Sister Shumway