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