An Aussie Spring

Dearest family and friends,

It was a really good week. The spring is coming.  It does rain a lot.  I don't think I have ever seen as many rainbow as I have in Melbourne.  I have probably seen 7 or so in the last 6 weeks.  My allergies are holding out, so I am grateful for that.  I did get to see the ocean for the first time this past week.  It is very beautiful.  We went to a beach town to teach a member.  It reminded me of Palo Alto and San Diego.  I did only the beach from the distance, but it was still really cool.  Haha.

Some tests of faith and courage, but very rewarding  It was a week that has helped me trust God even more and know that He really is aware of His work. We had a really good start for the week in talking for people, but then for several days in row, it seemed like no one wanted to talk to us. Person after person. I started to wonder if I was doing something wrong, or if there was something I could do better. I read a little bit in Preach My Gospel and is talked about following promptings of the Spirit with courage. Both Elder LyNguyen and I tried to really apply this principle this yesterday and we led to some people that were very receptive to our message. Most will be referred away, but it was lesson to me that I need to follow the Spirit with obedience. That is when I will be the most effective. Sometimes, I feel prompted to talk to people who blow smoke right in my face, but I know He knows much more about those people than I do. I just need to follow the Spirit, which I know to be true gift from God. We are going to really try to some finding this week, hopefully, finding more Vietnamese this week to teach. I know if it is God's will and we act on the Spirit, we will be able to find those people who are prepared. 

We were challenged by President and Sister Maxwell to read the entire Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  It will be approximately the same amount of time that the Prophet Joseph translated the record. . I have already learned and seen things that I previously hadn't seen or thought about it before. My testimony has also been strengthened of the Book of Mormon already. There truly are so many different levels of the Book of Mormon. I was looking for instance at 1 Nephi 11 and found a pattern for recieving personal revelation--desire, believing scriptures, praying, asking questions, pondering and reflection over the answers that we do recieve, to understand more fully what God is trying to communicate to us.  As I read, I will do see more clearly and remember the great many "mercies" of towards His children on this earth.  I feel His love and desire for all to come and learn about Him.  The Book of Mormon and Bible are just so relevant for our day. I have started to read each time with a question and mind and I have seen myself learn more and be  more focused.

President and Sister Maxwell are both incredible. They both have such humility and a sincere love for everyone.  They both love music.  The hymns we sing we them are always very carefully chosen.  They are often integrated into their teaching.  We went over Isaiah 53, using Handel's "Messiah" in zone conference.  

Elder LyNguyen was born in Vietnam, but moved to Houston when he is 11.  He is one year older than me.  I am really enjoying working with him.  He is a master teacher of the gospel and is always very willing to help me with Vietnamese.  He is also a really good cook, so I appreciate that.  Haha.  I do eat a lot of Vietnamese food here.  It is strange not the have Elder Marker at my side anymore.  We served together for almost 4 months.  I am really grateful I served with him.  He is very goal-oriented and has taught me to find joy in obedience.  I have indeed seen blessings as we strive to be exactly obedient.

We are taught new people this week.  One is Tin.  He has already read part of the Book of Mormon.  He kept staring at my tag as I wrote to you all a couple weeks ago.  We talked a little bit afterwards I finished writing, and we invited him to learn more about the Book of Mormon and to gain a personal testimony and knowledge of God.  We had a really good first lesson with him.  He is so kind and compassionate.  He helps kids get off the streets.  He prayed for the first time and he said that it felt good.  There are not many things better I can think of, then hearing someone offer the first prayer.  It is a step of faith and sincerity based on a desire to know about God.  It is through prayer that we know the truth of all things.  That is why, we also invite people to pray over the message that we share, and not simply believe our words.  It is so important that people develop their own personal faith.  

We had another lesson with Chu Hung.  He is an amazing man.  He is nguoi nam (a southerner) who fought in the Vietnamese war for over 7 years. He escaped on a boat with 35 people, being the boat's captain. They were on the seas for 5 days and 6 nights.  He was in a refugee camp for 5 years in Malaysia.  It is an inspiring story.  He has a lot of health problems and the liver has the possibility of giving out, any moment, so he really lives constantly on the edge of faith.  We focused on the Atonement and the healing power of the Atonement.  The feelings of guilt and shame that we have when we make mistakes truly can be removed as have faith in Jesus Christ and repent, turning away from former behaviors, and making a new life for ourselves.  I know God wants us to be happy and to feel at peace with ourselves.  That is why I know the Atonement is so important.  

I am so excited for general conference.  It is will be awesome.  We hear it one week after, but that is alright.  I am so excited to hear from the words of President Monson.  I don't think I have ever been so excited for general conference.  It can be streamed from lds.org.  

I will continue to pray for Uncle Wes.  I will fast for him this next Sunday.  I love you, Sines, and Uncle Wes.  I have had so many good memories with you and love you so much.

Dad, thanks for the picture from Galena.  So beautiful.  Mom, thanks for talk.  I am going to read it today.  I am excited to read it.  Sarah, hope teaching and school is going well.  Anna, good luck with the GMAT.  I will pray for you.  Hyrum, thanks for the scripture.  I am excited to read it.  Peter, hope homecoming went well.   Glad that you're enjoying tennis.  Elias, have fun at 6th grade camp.  I know it will be fun.  

Love,

Joanthan (Anh Ca Bao)

Dear family and friends, 

It was amazing last week. The rains poured, but also the spirit poured in many people who was interested to hear about the gospel. It was a really fun past week. I felt a new confidence surge in myself as I talked to other people. I know this confidence comes from God, not myself, so I take no credit for it, but I do know that God is aware of His work and is helping me so much. The Spirit does indeed lead us to the people that we need to meet. I saw this time and time again. With one Vietnamese, I felt a strong impression that I needed to talk with her. I bore my testimony about how our message can help her know her purpose and the love of God for her. Through the gifts of the Spirit, I was able to understand her words in Vietnamese, or at least be able to discern and understand her questions and needs. I don't always understand a lot of Vietnamese, but because, it was critical in this situation that I understand her, I was given the ability to understand her words.

I see miracles every day.  It is incredible.  For instance, I was street contacting with Elder Marker with two Vietnamese.  We were sharing a little bit about ourselves and about Jesus Christ, when a member came out of nowhere and helped us set up an appointment to talk to them more.  She bore her testimony and definitely added so much to our conversation with Vietnamese. The members are so good here.  

Those Iranians I spoke of in my second week that Elder Marker and I spoke to in our first couple days continue to do awesome.  I am proud of each of them.  They have such faith and desire to learn more about Jesus Christ and the gospel.  One of them has already read the Persian Book of Mormon twice.  I know some countries haven't opened yet, but many people from those countries are being taught here.  It is incredible.  I don't joke around when I say there could be a Persian congregation soon.  They all so prepared and ready and desperately want to learn more about Jesus Christ and our purpose here on Earth.  

We gave a lesson yesterday about facing trials in our lives.  We shared the first part of Alma 34 with them.  We drew a picture of how Jesus Christ through the Atonement made a bridge, so we can overcome physical death, but then we made a ladder for spiritual death.  I know rocks will be thrown at us as we try to climb, but Christ will carry us on our shoulders in our times of greatest sorrow and pain.

Uncle Wes and the Sines, I have kept you in my prayers each day.  I love you all so much.  I know God hears our prayers.   I will continue to pray for you and your family.  Uncle Wes, you have always been a great example, but how your are dealing with your surgeries and pain, with so much patience, makes me respect and love you even more.  May God bless you and your family.

 love,

Elder Shumway

P.S. had an awesome experience at the temple.  I did one of the temple names from Grandma and Grandpa.  His name was Petur.  I love the gospel.  Elder Marker is being transferred, but I am staying the area.  Love you.

Dear family,

It was a good week.  Not a easy one, but a good one.  I am always how many dropped appointments we can have in a week.  That is alright.  That is alright.  People will tell us the night before that they are coming, but then they don't show up.  I feel though because we teach mostly at the church in the city, so it is easy to just go outside and get back to into the work.  We are very common sight in downtown area.  We have 2.5 zones of missionaries in one building, so there are a lot of of fun, but it is really fun.  We give strength to each other, and I have learned a lot from other missionaries in how they explain the gospel such as on a short church tour.  That is something we do very often here.

I lost my wallet this past week, so that made things a little crazy.  I kept telling myself that it would all be fine in the end and it indeed has.  I am sure exactly how it was lost, yet, the last time I remember I had my wallet was talking with a Chinese student about prayer and bringing out a picture of the family.  I guess it is difficult to find lost things in a city.  Haha.  I guess someone who needed it more as found it.  One interesting thing about the situation was, that same night, the first person I spoke to on the train, was actually in the exact same situation as mine.  I kept thinking  that maybe this situation partially happend, so I could give empathy.  We discussed the power of prayer and I promised her that her prayers would answered--perhaps through simply, feelings of peace, or a thought that would help her find her wallet.  I know prayers are always answered.  I know they are aren't always answered in the way we want them to be, yet, they are are answered.  I have definitely seen this, in my life.  Meeting this woman on the train reminded me again of how God is truly aware of us and even the "little details" of our lives.  He wants us to succeed and willing to help us through great gifts such as prayer and scriptures.  The scriptures to me are basically a travel book as I live her for a short time on this earth.  They really are to help navigate us through the mountains, the valleys, and the streams, so we can live again with God and be in a state of everlasting happiness.  I know this be to be true.  As Alma 32 explains, this fruit of eternal life is very possible and contingent on us.  

I love this work.  It is not easy.  I am learning to just not take these too seriously when people try to disparage me on the street.  I am just amazed by what people say on the street.  Yet, it also makes street-contacting so much.  I honestly meet every walk of life.  I know most of the homeless people in Footscray by name and often talk to them.  It is so much fun.  We had a wonderful opportunity to meet with a Seventy this past week.  It was fabulous.  One thing that really stuck out to me was that for our mission, I have been called more to serve with the President and Sister Maxwell than to serve in Melbourne.  It is an interesting thing to think about.  He challenged us figure out what that meant for ourselves. 

Thanks for all the packages.  I will send pictures next week.  

love,

Elder SHumway

Dearest family and friends,

Life continues to be awesome in Australia as missionary.  It is indeed a great blessing to be missionary.  It is so cool.  It is amazing to see the gospel change their lives and come to know for themselves that God and Jesus Christ indeed really do love them and that the Book of Mormon are the word of God.  With our investigator, Jennifer, I was such an exciting past week.  The commandments have just really clicked with her and has recognized that the commandments are really blessings that God has given us to guide her in our lives.  She had highlighted Mosiah 4:30 and begun telling us why from her experience, having clean and upright thoughts is so important as face decisions and temptations.  So much of what do, does indeed start with a simple thought--for good or for bad.  

With the our recent convert, Khoa, who was just baptized a couple weeks, has already begun fellowshipping.  I know this branch will continue to go stronger as people grow in gospel.  The gospel is a gospel of learning of becoming.  I learn new things each day. The branch is still small, but the congregation loves and cares for each other so much. The members really rely on each other, but most are single members in their family, living away from home. Sacrament is always so wonderful to hear people's testimonies, knowing they were only baptized a couple months ago.

I read 1 Corinthian 15:58 this past week.  I have reflected on it often.  Life isn't always easy, or we may feel that we are doing everything right, but the verse contains a great promise.  As we labor for the Lord, it is never in vain. 

I had a couple experience of being an answer to someone's prayers.  A person had been waiting for the bus for about an hour and didn't know what to do.  He told us after we had talked for about 15 minutes, that he looked after his prayer, and we were right there.  I had seen him about minute before and had a strong impression I needed to talk to him.  The Holy Ghost truly will guide us always.  I am grateful that I heeded this impression, that I didn't know would come of it.  We are meeting with him on Sunday before church. He is Vietnamese, so we were able to speak to each other.  I shared a short message about prophets and how we believe we have a prophet on the earth today, as there were prophets of old.  We might not always see the fruit of our labors.  In fact, as a missionary, most of the time, I don't see them, but God does.  I know He has a plan for us.  It is honor to be involved in this work.  I am humbled each day, but God lifts me higher (James 4:11).  

I met a person with a cardinals hat the other day.  His name was Jonathan and he was from Bogota.  I told him about Uncle Wes.  It was funny to have all those connections with him.  Love you all.  I pray for all each day.

Elder Shumway

birthday week!

Dearest family and friends,

It was great past week.  I had a wonderful birthday.  I played in sacrament for the first time and some of the missionaries gave me some fruit.  The second counselor in the branch is a butcher and gave us steak about a week ago.  We ate it last night to break our fast.  It was wonderful.  We ate it with some potatoes and corn--in my opinion, a very perfect combination. Haha. I guess there are some things that never change--my great affinity for food. 

I was reminded of couple things this week.  As it discusses in D&C4, we have to go with all our heart, might, mind and strength.  After a long day a couple days ago, of not much success, it was 10 minutes before we ended our day with talking with someone that was interested in hearing more.  I know God will bless us in this work, but I was reminded of how I truly need to give all to recieve the trust from God to talk and testify to people.  We do talk to a lot of people though.  I honestly really talked to people from every continent, I guess except Antartica, every day.  It is amazing.  Melbourne in many ways is what I think NYC was at the turn of the 20th century.  

It was great week.  Elder Marker, Elder LiNguyen and I were able to have a lot of good conversations with a lot of people.  Some many times I really felt the Spirit as we testifed to different people, but most did not accept.  Yet, I know that the Lord's "hand is stretched out still" (2 Nephi 19).  Elder LiNguyen told Sister Maxwell a analogy of simply sometimes we are preparing people to hear the message later.  This analogy gives me a lot of peace, so I strive to leave everyone I meet with a short testimony so they can feel the Spirit and leave an impression in which they would be comfortable talking to missionaries again.  So often, I run into people who have talked to missionaries before, but are still willling to talk with me, so I am very grateful for work that past missionaries have done.  

Two things, I really excited about this week, was that I was able to hand out my first Book of Mormon and share the First Vision with someone.  I can only invite, but in both of these experiences, I reminded of the power and significance of having the Gospel today.  I also gained a testimony this week of inspired questions.  Yesterday, with one of our investigators, I really wanted our investigator to open up a little more and share what our message means with her.  The words were given to me and she spoke with great conviction of why the law of chasity is important to families.  Questions are so critical.  I want to listen to the Spirit more, so I can ask questions that are more personal to the investigator.  

I don't quite feel like the "deer is in the headlights" anymore, but I think, for me, the deer is going over the roof a little bit.  Haha.  I think that it is good though because keeps me relying more on God.  A lot of time, I just need to open my mouth.  Words are always given of what I need to say.  I just need to have the faith.  I know God is helping me and helping me become so much more than myself.  

love you all,

Elder Shumway