We had a cool experience this week. When I was with my trainer, Elder Gutierrez de Chile, we contacted a family that we felt were "chosen". However after a lot of time of teaching them and visiting them, they still wouldn't come to church. First because the mom was pregnant and then they had the baby, and there was just one excuse after another. We have spent a ton of time teaching them.
One day with my new companion I decided that we were not going to visit them so they could notice the difference and recognize the absence of the Spirit. For 3 weeks we didn't visit them. until one day I received a message from them and they wanted us to go visit them.
On the way to the visit I explained to my comp, Elder Avila de Veracruz, that we needed to discern if they missed us as missionaries or if they missed the Spirit in their house. He asked me how we could tell the difference and so I explained it to him in a very basic way. I told him that we would be able to tell.
As we were teaching the lesson, the wife said that her husband had commented to her in the week that he always felt peace and calm when we were there, and that he missed the peace that we bring. This was the first clue that they missed the Spirit. Then the wife told us that in the 3 weeks we didn't stop by they started having problems in the family and one night they fought so badly that the husband had to sleep in his car.
We read the story of Enos and his conversion, then set a baptismal date with the husband. It is amazing how the promises of preach my gospel and the influence of the Spirit can affect our lives.
Thank you for everything Mom and all is well here. I love you and pray for you much.
Elder Shumway
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Working Hard
Today (Febrarary 2nd) is the day of the Catholics' baby God, as well as Grandpa Clark's Birthday.
Last Monday when we left the internet cafe where we were writing emails, they were setting up a boxing rink in the middle of one of the busy streets. Later that night there was a real fighter like in Nacho Libre! I was cracking up! We passed by during the event, but I didn't take any photos.
My companion tried cooking eggs this week but he has never done it before in his life! I taught him how to crack an egg and chop onions. (I was laughing inside the whole time).
We are working hard and the Spanish is getting better. I hope all is well at home. What are the little girls up to? Tell them to write me and have Madi tell me about school. Thanks mom. I love you. Elder Shumway
Last Monday when we left the internet cafe where we were writing emails, they were setting up a boxing rink in the middle of one of the busy streets. Later that night there was a real fighter like in Nacho Libre! I was cracking up! We passed by during the event, but I didn't take any photos.
My companion tried cooking eggs this week but he has never done it before in his life! I taught him how to crack an egg and chop onions. (I was laughing inside the whole time).
We are working hard and the Spanish is getting better. I hope all is well at home. What are the little girls up to? Tell them to write me and have Madi tell me about school. Thanks mom. I love you. Elder Shumway
Attempted Robbery
This morning when I woke, my comp said that I had been talking in my sleep. I never remember my dreams because I am so tired that I just die in my bed every night. He said that I taught one of the lessons in my sleep... in perfect Spanish! That's pretty funny. I hardly ever think in English now, and when I try to talk in English, it isn't correct because I use the common phrases from Mexico. When I try to translate them it doesn't make sense.
We got robbed this week! Actually it was just some drunk, crazy guy and I only gave him 1 peso, which is about 8 or 9 cents. We were walking down the street and there is this one guy who is always in the street and he always wants 10 pesos to buy a beer or cigars. He ran up to us asked us for the ten pesos. I showed him that I only had one. He got mad, but it was funny because he was so drunk that the wind could have knocked him over. I emptied my pockets to show him that I only had one peso.... but then he wanted my mission cell phone. I just laughed at him and said no.
Then he said, "Do you want me to rob you?" But don't worry, he couldn't do anything. He grabbed my backpack and wanted it but I told him I just had scriptures. If he wanted one he could have it and a pamphlet too! My comp was so scared that he didn't move or say anything..... but I thought the whole situation was actually pretty funny.
I gently pushed him away and looked him in the eyes and said, "Hey, you better be careful about what you do!" Then we just walked away quickly. I suspect he doesn't even remember anything now. pretty funny and i only lost a peso.
We meet for church at 8:00 AM. There aren't many members in our branch, so I have been leading the music in sacrament meeting. This week they called me up to lead the music out of the audience (no one was playing the piano). Then they called me up to give a talk after the two assigned speakers who finished early. I can speak Spanish but to give an impromptu talk for 15 minutes about church doctrine in another language was a little bit intimidating. However, it turned out well. The other two talks where super boring (literally half of the congregation was sleeping). So I decided to tell a story and to have a little energy in my talk. I shared the story of Samuel the Lamanite and how we can also share the gospel. I added a few other scriptures, and it was probably the best talk of my life! After Sacrament meeting, they asked me to teach one of the Sunday School classes also.
Could you send me a recipe for chocolate chip cookies? Cookies don't exist here because the people use their oven as a dish holder or a cupboard, but I want to bake cookies with a family here but I don't have the recipe.
Also did you guys receive the letters from Christmas that I wrote?
(Tanner mailed the letters Dec 6th, and they arrived Jan 24th)
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We got robbed this week! Actually it was just some drunk, crazy guy and I only gave him 1 peso, which is about 8 or 9 cents. We were walking down the street and there is this one guy who is always in the street and he always wants 10 pesos to buy a beer or cigars. He ran up to us asked us for the ten pesos. I showed him that I only had one. He got mad, but it was funny because he was so drunk that the wind could have knocked him over. I emptied my pockets to show him that I only had one peso.... but then he wanted my mission cell phone. I just laughed at him and said no.
Then he said, "Do you want me to rob you?" But don't worry, he couldn't do anything. He grabbed my backpack and wanted it but I told him I just had scriptures. If he wanted one he could have it and a pamphlet too! My comp was so scared that he didn't move or say anything..... but I thought the whole situation was actually pretty funny.
I gently pushed him away and looked him in the eyes and said, "Hey, you better be careful about what you do!" Then we just walked away quickly. I suspect he doesn't even remember anything now. pretty funny and i only lost a peso.
We meet for church at 8:00 AM. There aren't many members in our branch, so I have been leading the music in sacrament meeting. This week they called me up to lead the music out of the audience (no one was playing the piano). Then they called me up to give a talk after the two assigned speakers who finished early. I can speak Spanish but to give an impromptu talk for 15 minutes about church doctrine in another language was a little bit intimidating. However, it turned out well. The other two talks where super boring (literally half of the congregation was sleeping). So I decided to tell a story and to have a little energy in my talk. I shared the story of Samuel the Lamanite and how we can also share the gospel. I added a few other scriptures, and it was probably the best talk of my life! After Sacrament meeting, they asked me to teach one of the Sunday School classes also.
Could you send me a recipe for chocolate chip cookies? Cookies don't exist here because the people use their oven as a dish holder or a cupboard, but I want to bake cookies with a family here but I don't have the recipe.
Also did you guys receive the letters from Christmas that I wrote?
(Tanner mailed the letters Dec 6th, and they arrived Jan 24th)
Con una familia por un fiesta De Los Reyes Magos
The week of Jan 5th was pretty fun because it was the dia de los reyes magos. or in English the Day of the King Magicians. In Mexico, Santa Claus doesn't exist. Instead, on the 7th of January the 3 reyes (wise men) come with gifts for the kids. Children write letters to the kings and send them off tied to a balloon. The next day their shoes are full of the gifts. I also wrote a letter to the Reyes Magos and they gave me a trompo. It is a cool Mexican toy kind like a yoyo (but better). I am learning how to use it. All of the little Mexican kids and adults already know how to play with it, and they are amused that I have never seen one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZiOuBq1Go
There is also this cool tradition here with the day of the Reyes Magos. They buy a special bread to eat. It is like an oval cake that is hollow in the middle. Everyone cuts a piece and if there is a little angle doll hiding in your piece (called a muñeke), then you have to buy tamales for your family on the 2nd of Febrero.
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