The first week of being in the mission field was cool. We have five missionaries in our ward. Me and my comp in Elk City and a three-some in Clinton where the church building is. Ever since transfers, the seinor comps have said that they,ve seen the work in our district start to pick up a little. I think it's because there were two missionaries in the district who were a little lazy and didn't want to put any extra effort into the work. They were both fat and didn't want to ride bikes anywhere, which makes talking to people (OYM-ing(open your mouth)) harder because they were in a car all the time. But there were other things that made them not so good missionaries also.
My trainer is a very hard worker and obiedent to the rules too. We get along very well. We are alot like each other which makes everything we do together kinda fun. So companionship is a little easier than it was in the MTC. But Elder Jolley is in Ogden Utah and I hope he's doing OK.
The ward here is very small but not too small...like the ward I went to in Gold Beach during football camp. They had ten people in their ward. But everyone in this ward is spread out in little towns like Burnsflat, Sayer, Clinton, Elk City, Geary and Weatherford. So we don't get fed by members very much because most of them live at least 20-30 min away.
But I like Elk City. It's a good little town for me.
There are alot of oil towers and most people work in the oil fields. I don't know what they do in the fields but you can tell who works there because they all have huge trucks that are caked in red dirt and mud. It seems like that job would be kinda fun. There are also a ton of huge windmills, like thoes big white ones that make electricity. It's so flat that you can see them for miles and miles. It's cool... I'll have to get a picture of it. The sunsets around here are also awesome because it's so flat that you can see the sun sink into the ground and then the whole sky turns pink and purple.
If you look at Oklahoma from Google, you will see how many swampy rivers wander through the State of Oklahoma. They say that the shorelines of rivers in Oklahoma add up to be alot more than the coastline of California.
Anyway, I'm doing good and working hard.
Happy Birthday, Janelle!
-Elder Shumway
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
My New Area
The MTC was a blast. I met missionaries that will probably be close
friends with me for a long time. We learned how to have tons of fun
and focus on work and learning at the same time. Work hard, play
hard. I learned SO MUCH in the MTC. Information was pouring into my
head and coming out my ears. But coming into the mission field feels
like I don't know anything. There is so much more that I need to learn!
The food at the MTC was really good some days and horrible other days. But I'll guarantee anyone who is planning on going to the MTC that all
of the food will give you the worst bowel problems ever! And don't
drink the orange juice! But looking back, I now wish I could just have a
full meal handed to me every time I ate. I gained like 5 pounds at the
MTC but now I feel like I'm starving. When we don't have dinner
apointments, I just live off of chimichangas and I'm trying to get
used to not stuffing myself with two full plates at every meal like I did at
the MTC.
My teachers were awsome!! Brother Blunck is a guy who has been off his
mission for about three years. He is a great teacher. He reminded me
a lot of Sean Russel but a little less happy. haha. Another teacher we
had was Brother Anderson. He was hired to be a teacher at the MTC the
third day we were there. He served his mission in the Portland OR
mission. He loves Oregon. He was a very sincere, spiritual and focused
teacher. The third teacher was Sister Rosenvall. She
was loud, funny, cute and spiritual. I don't know how she brought the
spirit in the room when she was teaching, but she did. She would also
throw her shoes at you if you were falling asleep in class.
One night , at a fireside, Elder Jeffery R. Holland came to the MTC
and spoke to us. I was kinda bummed that I couldn't get a seat in the
gym where he was because of how packed it was. I sat in one of the
overflows and watched it on a big screen like general confrence in the
church. His talk was the best talk I have ever heard. I loved it so
much because it was specifically to us as missionaries. The biggest thing
in his talk that probably stuck out to everyone who listened, was when
he started yelling over the pulpit. He was saying that the one thing
that "pushes his buttons the most" is when missionaries go home after
their mission and forget everything. They stop living the way they''re
supposed to because they think they can get away with it off their
missions. I learned how important it is to stay focused and endure to
the end.
Being a District leader made me feel like the bishop of my district. I
had to interview all of the elders to make sure the companionships
were working well and effectively. There were two companionships
that had issues. One worked out their problems but then one of the
elders in that companionship had issues with a girlfriend at BYU (just
down the street) and he felt like he was in jail being at the MTC and
resented having a comp by his side all the time.
I loved being a leader though. I taught lessons to my district every sunday and it made me become more
comfortable with it.
But now I'm out in the field with my new comp Elder Naisbitt (Nez-bit).
He's a good trainer as far as I know. He is also the district leader of
our tiny district. I'm serving in a small, redneck place called Elk
City in the Western side of Oklahoma. Our area covers Burnsflat and Sayer.
Our area is dead. People
are so protective about their religion too. Our church building is in
a city called Clinton, a 20 min drive from our apartment. We are
trying to bring the area back to life but it is soooo hard to do that.
The other day a man saw us tracting and stopped his car in the middle
of the street to Bible bash with us. I love oklahoma! But tracting on
Friday nights or on Saturday or Sunday when a game is on during
football season, is usless. There are a lot of hard core football fans
around here.
Anyway, I'm havin fun.
-Elder Shumway
friends with me for a long time. We learned how to have tons of fun
and focus on work and learning at the same time. Work hard, play
hard. I learned SO MUCH in the MTC. Information was pouring into my
head and coming out my ears. But coming into the mission field feels
like I don't know anything. There is so much more that I need to learn!
The food at the MTC was really good some days and horrible other days. But I'll guarantee anyone who is planning on going to the MTC that all
of the food will give you the worst bowel problems ever! And don't
drink the orange juice! But looking back, I now wish I could just have a
full meal handed to me every time I ate. I gained like 5 pounds at the
MTC but now I feel like I'm starving. When we don't have dinner
apointments, I just live off of chimichangas and I'm trying to get
used to not stuffing myself with two full plates at every meal like I did at
the MTC.
My teachers were awsome!! Brother Blunck is a guy who has been off his
mission for about three years. He is a great teacher. He reminded me
a lot of Sean Russel but a little less happy. haha. Another teacher we
had was Brother Anderson. He was hired to be a teacher at the MTC the
third day we were there. He served his mission in the Portland OR
mission. He loves Oregon. He was a very sincere, spiritual and focused
teacher. The third teacher was Sister Rosenvall. She
was loud, funny, cute and spiritual. I don't know how she brought the
spirit in the room when she was teaching, but she did. She would also
throw her shoes at you if you were falling asleep in class.
One night , at a fireside, Elder Jeffery R. Holland came to the MTC
and spoke to us. I was kinda bummed that I couldn't get a seat in the
gym where he was because of how packed it was. I sat in one of the
overflows and watched it on a big screen like general confrence in the
church. His talk was the best talk I have ever heard. I loved it so
much because it was specifically to us as missionaries. The biggest thing
in his talk that probably stuck out to everyone who listened, was when
he started yelling over the pulpit. He was saying that the one thing
that "pushes his buttons the most" is when missionaries go home after
their mission and forget everything. They stop living the way they''re
supposed to because they think they can get away with it off their
missions. I learned how important it is to stay focused and endure to
the end.
Being a District leader made me feel like the bishop of my district. I
had to interview all of the elders to make sure the companionships
were working well and effectively. There were two companionships
that had issues. One worked out their problems but then one of the
elders in that companionship had issues with a girlfriend at BYU (just
down the street) and he felt like he was in jail being at the MTC and
resented having a comp by his side all the time.
I loved being a leader though. I taught lessons to my district every sunday and it made me become more
comfortable with it.
But now I'm out in the field with my new comp Elder Naisbitt (Nez-bit).
He's a good trainer as far as I know. He is also the district leader of
our tiny district. I'm serving in a small, redneck place called Elk
City in the Western side of Oklahoma. Our area covers Burnsflat and Sayer.
Our area is dead. People
are so protective about their religion too. Our church building is in
a city called Clinton, a 20 min drive from our apartment. We are
trying to bring the area back to life but it is soooo hard to do that.
The other day a man saw us tracting and stopped his car in the middle
of the street to Bible bash with us. I love oklahoma! But tracting on
Friday nights or on Saturday or Sunday when a game is on during
football season, is usless. There are a lot of hard core football fans
around here.
Anyway, I'm havin fun.
-Elder Shumway
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Best Birthday Present EVER!
This morning we received a phone call from Elder Shumway. The missionaries are given permission to call home from the airport. (Imagine this.....Bryce said he arrived at the SLC airport with an enormous # of missionaries. EVERY payphone booth had a missionary in it.)
Bryce sounded changed and grown.
He said being at the MTC was truly as others have described...like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. He said he had numerous spiritual experiences in the MTC and it feels like his testimony has doubled in size!
Being District Leader gave him confidence as a leader and as a missionary. He also felt like a mini bishop at times because he held interviews and needed to counsel with missionary companions that weren't getting along.
Although he learned a lot...he still feels unsure that he knows enough to be teaching other people. But he is excited to be leaving the MTC and entering the real mission field.
I wish this blog could relay the changes we heard in his voice this morning. It was the most wonderful birthday present EVER!
Bryce sounded changed and grown.
He said being at the MTC was truly as others have described...like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. He said he had numerous spiritual experiences in the MTC and it feels like his testimony has doubled in size!
Being District Leader gave him confidence as a leader and as a missionary. He also felt like a mini bishop at times because he held interviews and needed to counsel with missionary companions that weren't getting along.
Although he learned a lot...he still feels unsure that he knows enough to be teaching other people. But he is excited to be leaving the MTC and entering the real mission field.
I wish this blog could relay the changes we heard in his voice this morning. It was the most wonderful birthday present EVER!
2 really cool sisters going to Florida.
Monday, September 12, 2011
A note From Shannon
"We got a letter from Bryce on Friday and it was great hearing from him. My favorite part of the letter was him telling us how awesome it is to feel the spirit every single day in his life. I loved hearing that he is enjoying learning from the scriptures and getting excited to leave the MTC for OK. He is amazing and will help change so many lives out there."
Bryce leaves for Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept 13th at 5:00 AM.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I'm loving my mission!
Hey fam!!!!
The MTC IS AWESOME!!! I felt sooooo cool and a little weird when I put my nametag on. I still think it's wierd when I look in the mirror and see a missionary there. Being a missionary is very very hard work and almost frustrating sometimes. But at the same time it's a blast!!!
I was called to be the district leader over my district! That was a shocking experience. I didn't feel like I could do a leadership job this soon. The zone leaders I work with are the coolest guys here. We're like best friends already. Their names are Elder Hortt and Elder Garner. We love to joke and have fun when we're not working.
My comp's name is Elder Jolly. He is very forgetful and kinda slow. It is very frustrating working with him cuz he doesn't know very much at all. But I'm being patient with him and helping him. He has improved a little bit over the last few days though.
Anyway, my time is about to run out so I've gotta go. P-days are almost like any other day, very busy and filled with tons of stuff that needs to get done.
I'm safe and loving my mission so far! Don't worry about me.
-Elder Shumway
The MTC IS AWESOME!!! I felt sooooo cool and a little weird when I put my nametag on. I still think it's wierd when I look in the mirror and see a missionary there. Being a missionary is very very hard work and almost frustrating sometimes. But at the same time it's a blast!!!
I was called to be the district leader over my district! That was a shocking experience. I didn't feel like I could do a leadership job this soon. The zone leaders I work with are the coolest guys here. We're like best friends already. Their names are Elder Hortt and Elder Garner. We love to joke and have fun when we're not working.
My comp's name is Elder Jolly. He is very forgetful and kinda slow. It is very frustrating working with him cuz he doesn't know very much at all. But I'm being patient with him and helping him. He has improved a little bit over the last few days though.
Anyway, my time is about to run out so I've gotta go. P-days are almost like any other day, very busy and filled with tons of stuff that needs to get done.
I'm safe and loving my mission so far! Don't worry about me.
-Elder Shumway
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