Week 7

Another week has gone by.  Two weeks until I arrive in Australia.  Yippee!!  I going to "The Land Down Under."  It was a great week.  Thanks for all the emails and Dear Elders.  I love to hear about life in the outside world.  Haha.  Mom, I did receive your package.  I am proudly wearing the shirt right now.  I have got a lot of comments about it.  Haha.  I do have a lot of cousins.  Tis' true.  Family is awesome. 
The story of my concussion was that I was playing basketball.  I was going for a ball that was going out-of-bounds, when another player accidentally rammed into me.  My head fell back on the wooden door frame.  It is starting to feel better. Yet, there is still a little residual pressure in my forehead that began about 10 hours or so after my hit.  I went to the doctor on Friday about it and he was very helpful.  I felt a little down about it, but I then saw Joshua 1:9 on the wall.  It was the perfect scripture that I needed to here.  I know God is with us.  We do not need to be afraid.  I firmly believe that God can answer our prayers through scripture reading.  It happened several times throughout the week.
It has been a very busy week.  Now being a zone leader, I have hardly any time before I go to bed.  I've switched my schedule, so I can write in my journal in the mornings.  We've been asked to visit each room every night.  My companion and I have split it up, but it still takes awhile.  We try to each person.  I have learned that it is really a calling to be to minister, meaning to uplift, encourage, and most of all to love.  I try to cheer people up, or give them a smile.  A lot of people have told how they much I appreciate it.  There are times when I feel like it is not even me.  This increase in charity is truly a gift of God.  I told an Elder that was struggling a little bit this week about Grandpa Myres and how he was called as stake president after having been in bed for a full year.  I was trying to communicate that life isn't always easy, but often our trials, and challenges, are preparing us for something that we need to in the future.  The MTC has been a great learning experience for me.  I feel often tired or a little overwhelmed, but I know I can do it through the help of God.
I was reading 2 Nephi 4:25 and how it talks about the "wings of the Spirit."  I was reminded of "The Hobbit" when Bilbo and the other dwarfs are hanging on the burning tree for their lives, having no idea or thought how they could possible escape the depths of looming drop under them because they are on the cliff, or from the orcs.  Yet, they hang on with all their might, placing trust and faith that somehow they have a fighting chance to live.  That is when the eagles come, some of the eagles even letting some of the dwarfs fall before they catch them in the safety of their wings.  I think Christ is a lot like those eagles.  He is ever there for as and we do our part to hang on.  We just need to believe and follow His example of love and charity towards all people.  He will carry us to higher heights, heights, that we can't achieve by ourselves.  I think in some ways, it is a like a mountain.  We can climb so high, but eventually, if you want to summit Everest, you have to rely on an oxygen tank to get to the top, even our Savior, Jesus Christ.  That is the enabling power of the Atonement.  Christ has borne our griefs and sorrows and was wounded for our transgressions (Mosiah 14:3-5).
I watched a talk from Elder Holland and he people have often asked why missions are so hard.  His conclusion is that, "Why should it easy for us, when it wasn't easy for Him. . . The Road of Salvation goes through Gethsemane, carrying the cross to Calvary. . . We can't be disciples of Christ if we don't something intimately about the matter . . . it is not easy. . . salvation is not easy because Salvation is not easy. . . We will get a taste of it, a touch of it."  His talk inspired this week.  The mission has been admittedly more difficult than I imagined.  I feel often tired, or sometimes wish the Vietnamese would come easier.  Yet, every day, I somehow manage to have the energy to get through, or are able to learn the 15 words or so I need for a lesson.  He is always there with us.  I know that sometimes the night can seem dark, but I promise that light will come in the morning (Psalms 30:5).  I know God answers our prayers and that we find great happiness as we strive to serve others.  (Mosiah 3:19, Mosiah 2:17).  I love you all so much.  You're all amazing!!
Yours in the gospel of love.  Please pray for me as I pray for you.  For we all need it. 

Elder Shumway