Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Week 45: Dynamite Guymonite

I cracked up when Elder Shurtleff, a senior missionary, said that this week! haha I thought it was so clever and creative so I had to share it with you!

Thank you to Rizek for the letter this week! I appreciate it so much!
And thank you to everyone else for all of your prayers and your love :)

This week, was a little tough, with some obstacles and trials coming up, but Sister Rosell and I are keeping the faith up and our discouragement low :) We know Heavenly Father is just preparing us for a miracle - it's coming, and it's coming big! We just gotta keep working diligently, being exactly obedient, and inviting all to come unto Christ :) We had a great week, nonetheless with many less actives coming to church who hadn't been for a lonnng time and lots of spiritual experiences!

I will share a couple of those spiritual experiences with you!

So earlier this week, I think it was Wednesday, we visited a member of the branch named John who has muscular dystrophy. His story is so cool. Missionaries were teaching him, he wanted to be baptized, but because of his health he was not able to be baptized himself. So I'm not sure exactly what or how it happened, but someone else got baptized for him! Like as proxy! Very cool story. Anyway, we went to go visit him, and he can't really respond back to us so we and the Elders were just chatting with him. Sister Rosell shared her favorite scripture about how although we are weak, we can be made strong in the strength of the Lord. After she shared that scripture, I testified of the Savior and the Atonement to this man about how Jesus Christ can transform us and uplift us. After I finished, we sat in silence and I just looked at John, this man who is bedridden for life, yet knows his Savior and the power of the resurrection...and I just started to cry. The Spirit was so strong in John's little room in the nursing home. It was one of those moments when you know Jesus Christ lives and He is real. I am so blessed to be able to testify of Him every single day :)

Next really awesome experience was one of those times when you know the Lord put you in the right place at exactly the right time. We were walking down the street and there was a young man walking down the same street with us! So of course we called out to him and started talking to him and getting to know him- his name is Michael. Turns out...he had gotten out of jail THAT DAY and wanted to turn his life around. We testified of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ and read a couple verses with him in the Book of Mormon. He loved all of it, so we set up a time for all of us to meet with the Elders the next day. When we went the next day, he was leaving town - we had met him on the ONE DAY he was in Guymon. The Elders gave him a Priesthood blessing of comfort and counsel. Although we only knew Michael for one day, it was awesome to see the Gospel bring light to his life and bring him closer to Jesus Christ :)

Next AWESOME thing that happened was the Elders had a baptism!! The Elders in Liberal, KS were teaching this old fellow named Pete for quite some time and he had the desire to be baptized, then he moved to Guymon! The Elders visited him on Tuesday and he was ready to be baptized that same weekend! Just this past Saturday! (Kiki and Starry anyone? haha! Miracle baptisms!!) Anyway, so Pete is an older gentleman, so it wasn't possible for him to be baptized in the regular baptismal font. The baptism was held...wait for it....in the YMCA pool!! It was so awesome. I loved smelling that chlorine, brought me back to swim team and lifeguarding days... :) Anyway, Pete was seated in one of those hydraulic seats on the poolside that lower people into the pool and the Elders and Pete's son were in the pool. His son said the baptismal prayer, then they all put their hands under him, carried him off the seat, then lowered him into the water, then back up into the seat. The Spirit was SO strong. I am so grateful for the power of the Priesthood :) Young or old, we all need baptism by the power of God on the Earth.

I am so grateful to be here and to be a part of all of these miraculous experiences :)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restored church of Jesus Christ with the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives. I am grateful to be a part of His work :)

Have an awesome week!!

Con todo mi corazon y mi amor,

Hermana Shumway


P.S. Elder Holland is coming May 2nd!!! :D


                                                                     Biking!! :D

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