New Area

What's up Fam! So yeah, I'm with Huebschy right now. He's super cool! Actually it turns out he is also from Phoenix, AZ. But I hadn't seen him at all before. Unusual coincidence, eh? But yeah, he's tight. and he is pretty funny too. Question time! ... or not really a question but more of a request...Request time! I bet you would probably rather it be question time than Request time. Questions are a lot easier to answer... okay, okay, I'll try and make it into a question...
Question time! So my companion and I live in an apartment overlooking a bay? And it so happens that I was looking outside and there was a slight breeze? I started humming the song from the christopher columbus animated stories, "the wind's blowin' my way"? anyway, I was wondering if you ever saw a cd with any of those animated stories songs, could you please send it? Also, (and more prioritaly(if that's a word), is the new EFY CD)!...? I really want that baby? Anyway, if you could do that, that would be awesome? I dont know if anyone decided to go to EFY this year, but nevertheless, I really want that CD? Thanks?
Statement time! Or the reat of the letter...young-Do is a neat area. I like it. There are soo many people and so many that are ready for the gospel. It will be sweet! We are working pretty hard. You know how I told you we would teach English to investigators? Well, for a while, I have really not liked it. It takes a lot of time and some of the investigators you get are not at all interested in the gospel. The progress really slow and you can tell that they only "play along" just for the Free English. We would teach English for half an hour and then gospel for the last half. And depending on who you're with, sometimes it feels like the Gospel is taking the back seat. Anyway, I've always been a little critical of the English/ Gospel program for a while now. Yeah it can bring some good investigators, but you have to spend time with some of the not interested ones as well. But there's good news. Our new mission president just this past week told us to cancel the program mission-wide. We can have a weekly English class, but no one-on-one English Gospel appointments! So I am pretty excited about that. And my companion is too. A lot of missionaries dont like it because that's all they have done, but We're pretty excited! I trhink this is the first time a mission in Korea didn't prosylyte through English. More news to follow...Anyway, it's good. We have lots of time to procylyte and we are in a good area with lots of potential.
Love you all,
Elder Shumway

So I almost forgot. I found out my suitcase isnt as durable as I wouldve hoped. Haha. We traveled a lot and I had to drag this sucker all the way. Haha. It was ok though. I will see if it is fixable. and the other pictures are of the veiw from our apartment.

First Transfer

Hi family!
Today is transfer Day! And guess what?! I am being transfered! Everyone thought that I would stay and lead Gumi but nope! I am leaving. I am writing to you from Young-Do. it is actually and island off of the coast of Busan. technically it is an island, but it isnt very far away. ANyway, I am really excited about it. I have my first American companion in the feild. They are pretty common but It is a little exciting none the less. His name is Elder Hebsch. (Yeah, a little weird spelling). But he's cool! I'll send some pictures later.
Right now I am sending you a few pictures from last P-Day. It was pretty sweet. This is in Kimchon. Actually FYI, this transfer was really weird. There were a lot of new changes that have never happened before. There were quite a few areas that were "white-washed" and there were wierd things that happened all over the place. But now I am on an island. When I got my transfer call, the AP told me, "you're going to a beautiful island". I automatically thought of Che-Ju-Do, the island that everyone considers "paradise". then he said,"...but not Che-Ju-Do". It was kinda funny. But this next transfer looks cool. I am pretty stoked!! :-)
Thanks for all your prayers! I haven't gotten the package yet, But It should probably come by next week. It was good to get your letters. These pictures are of "the beach of Kimchon". Its just a big river bottom. but we took some sweet pictures there. it was fun. In the video, I am trying to skip a rock.

So anyway, things are really crackin' over here in Korea. I like it! The language is still way tough and I can't wait till I can speak it like some of these other missionaries! Some of them are way good! It's exciting! I do my best to do my part and hope that the Lord will make up the rest!

It was pretty cool, because while I was packing and stuff, I was listening to my BYU choir CD! (Awesome cd, and I haden't pulled it out in forever!) But I was listening and just thinking and It started playing track 4 ( I think) "this is the christ". And while I was listening, things just started flooding over me. This is the Christ. This is His work. I really listened to the words and I thought of those in the Book of Mormon, who really saw him. And What they must have thought when they felt the marks upon him, and the wounds that were borne in behalf of them. thinking back to myself, I realize that before his name was engraven upon my Nametag, I was engraven upon His hands.

I'm in good hands.

Love you all! Peace out, Homies! Elder Shumway

Ba Bamp!

Today we were able to have an email conversation with LeGrand once again! We happened to be emailing each other at the same time. Here are some highlights.

Alright, I am on the computer for a while and I am not really planning to go anywhere..

Today I am actually coming to you from a nearby city called Kimchon. We have two companionships in our district and we do splits quite often.Anyway, to make a long story storter, One of the Elders in Kimchon found out that his sister died just last week. He was given the advice to just take it easy for the next week or two until he heals from this tragedy and can start working with full force again. Our house in Gumi has AC but the one in Kimchon does not. We have been doing splits for almost a week now, but anyway, this was President's advice to us.



It gets a bit "lainy" around here. And yes, I still love it. They tell me the weather is taking a break for a while and then hopefully we'll see some good flooding. Tell Sister Turville hi for me, and tell here I've learned to use chopsticks pretty well. :-)Wow! That's great. Kendric is working already! Does Jordan work? Probably not. Haha. I remember when I applied at Johnny Rockets and they pretty much just threw my application away. Haha yeah I dont do well when it comes to those "typical jobs" All of my jobs have come from people I knew. Those scout camp pictures were really cool! I enjoyed them. Looks like you went to a pretty cool spot this year. haha. I wish I could've seen Dallen catch a fish!...well looks like you can type a hecka lot faster that I can! hunt and peck, Hunt and peck...

Tell Ethan to send me a letter. (I hope you read this Ethan)



Thanks for the recipe! Most of the houses have stoves AND ovens, but our house in Gumi is a bit Ghetto and only has a stove. But it has AC!Yes, I am living in Kimchon right now. But I didn't move here. Just brought enough clothes to last a few days.earlier, you asked about a dictionary. Right now I have a small book dictionary that I really like. They give them to all Korean speaking missionaries when they enter the MTC. So for a While I will hold on to that one. But later, I want to get an electronic one. They are a bit pricy (like around $200). So just make sure there is some money in my account when I decide to go after one. It will probably not be for a couple more months.

We are teaching Kim-gyung-ho. He is this really cool guy in Kimchon that came to church, is really progressing, loves English, and really wants to go to BYU ID in 2009. But pray that he will gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon....

Our bikes got stolen but I dont think we'll ever find them. I plan on buying a couple new bikes. I can save up on some MSF and the mission will refund me 50%. And when I leave Gumi, the bikes will stay there. But in the longrun, it will save on cab-fare, be good excercise, and help out the next missionaries. ;-) But I was looking around, and we will probably not get some with shocks. If we do, we need to find a place that will sell 'em cheap. No Thrift stores in Korea . :-(....So how's that band coming? (Caleb, Jordan, Kendric, and Kevin Pooley have started a band! Mainly just for fun. They plan on making their debut after institute on August 5th. So look out!)I'm not sure what to expect. If it's good, go for it. It'll be fun. But I am also thinking, "where in Davey Jones did this Idea come from?!" But keep me posted. It sounds exciting!

Don't worry about money for the bikes. it's covered. I have been depriving myself of some of the more luxury items (aloe vera juice, melon bars, etc). If I was buying it for myself, I would need money but since it isn't for me, I am just saving.

haha. well now that I've heard from all of you, I think I will stop writing. It's been fun! My companion is still typing away, (he's a popular guy) and I will be sitting by the computer for a while but probably not typing. This new mission President is really awesome. We had interviews this last week and I can really feel his spirit. At the end, we all gathered around to give a blessing to the Elder whose Sister just passed away. I dont remember excacly what was said, but I remember that the spirit was there. And as our mission President was pronouncing the blessing, I can truly say that he was called of God and had the Spirit with him. These next two years will be really good! Our mission is in good hands.



I've been reading a lot from the Book of Mormon. The closer you read and the more focused you are makes all the difference. I read a scripture that I really liked this morning. I don't have my english scriptures with me but I memorized the verse since I really love it! 2 NEPHI 33:6 "I glory in plainness; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." It's so true! Truth is simple. The way it is, is the way it is. Satan is the one who works in darkness. And Jesus Christ paved the way for all of us. He has saved every soul from Hell. I know that this gospel is true and it leads to true Happiness!

Thanks so much! Thanks for all the pictures, emails, and support! Love you all!

Elder LeGrand Shumway

Happy Independence Day!

Today we emailed LeGrand at the same time he emailed us. So we have a few here to share with you.

Alright family!

It has been a great two weeks since the last time I wrote to you! Last P-Day, We went to Busan because our mission president was leaving. There were a lot of missionaries that decided to gather at the train station and say one last goodbye to President. So we had to take the two hour trip down to Busan. It was really cool. We surprised him as he turned the corner to go to the platform and broke out with a hymn "Each life that touches ours for good". It was really cool. But as you can tell, we didn't e mail.
Today, we have a lot of shopping to do in another city so we are getting a head start on the day.I ate Dog! it was pretty good. not SUPER good, but good. I have some pictures. There was one part that wan't so good though. It was like a big fat block that looked like the ear but might have been skin or something! Yuck! But I downed it so i could say I finished the whole soup. But the rest was good!
The new mission president is really cool. Him and his wife are really funny and are excited for the work. I think it will be good to have them.

(Next email)
Hey I just got your letter!
Alright, so this last week i feel like I have been truly blessed. I finally decided that instead of relying on some really hard praying and a lot of waiting for the Gift of Tongues, I decided that I would instead just work at it and see what happens. it seems like that is what i should have done the whole time. Don't get me wrong, I am always working hard for the language, but I finally decided to work at it with full vigor. 110%. Every spare minute is study time. Memorize vocab and such. And since i really stretched out and really showed that i wanted it, the blessings have come. And I have seen them. These last couple weeks, my learning has accelerated and my mind has truly been quickened. I can understand people so much more now. And they can understand me better as well. But it still isn't anywhere close to where it should be... Got to pick up any extra slack and work even harder. I really think blessings and work/ desire are proportional to each other.Anything you want, you have to work for.
Yes I got Sarah's letter. it got here just fine. I will reply shortly.
Wow. that's a lot of news! I will respond next week.
Tell Bryndan I am mailing a letter today. And to not expect it for another week or so. Things have been pretty hectic on P days here you see...I will make a video but send it next time. I will respond to everything next week.

Love you,
LeGrand

(Next Message)
Gold leader, signing off---(wow that's dorky)Haha

Father's Day!!

Wow!
Looks like you have a lot of stuf going on at home! If you keep it up, I'll always have really exciting P-Days! ...But, on the other hand, if things keep changing this fast, Caleb will be married, You will live in Utah, The Cats will gow two heads, and Dallen will have become a mountain man (hunting Gorillas, Raccoons, and stuff). Actually all of those sound really cool except the first one! :-) (PS- if one of the cats does grow two heads, keep it until I get back)... Such tales bring an all-to-familair song to mind....

SO HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! You're the BEST dad! Sorry, but I didn't send any package or anything your way. (insufficient funds) But I will make sure to hit you extra hard when Dec 8 rolls around (Gosh, I hope that's right). But the date doesn't really matter. I cant time these things very well anyway... But Know that I really love you and the example you have set for me. Not everyone has been as lucky as I have.

I bet Girls' Camp was a lot of fun! I didn't have to read very far to know that Mom was not the author. But thanks Bro for sending that to me! Love ya man! (PS- you're dating too hard) As for my password.... I'll never tell! Wah haha! Just kidding, It's in a letter I mailed on Wednesday. you should get it soon.

Spencer just got my letter! Finally! I figured he just forgot about me. HaHa, just kidding.

That's awesome that Ashlee accepted the missionaries! I hope everything goes well! I'll send a letter to her soon!

As for Korea, Yoon sang mee (however i spelled it) Is going to China for a couple months. Her sister lives there and she will come back after the Olympics. So things will have to wait util she gets back. I am with the same companion. We think this next transfer he will go and I will stay (we dont REALLY know. but that seems to be the typical pattern in the mission. we'll see...) Whoever stays might be able to see her when she gets back. She comes back about 3-5 days before a transfer date. We extended baptism a bunch of times but she says she needs more time. Im Jee hoon (i dont know how I spelled it) has gotten more busy as time goes on, we have met a few more times but his progress is slow. Keep praying for him and pray that we will find more people that are really ready to hear the gospel. (I think there are many that are mainly interestest in just learning English).
But other that that, things are going really good! I started a "40-day fast" which is a fast from anything that gets in you way as a missionary. Some of it is more physical (such as "being tired") but most is your mental focus. It has proven to be very difficult so far. But The end result is theoretically, a more purified-from-the-world missionary and a deeper commitment to the work. So we'll see how it turns out. :-)

Well, that's all for today. We have some shopping to do and a few errends to run. Tonight we (my companion and I) are organizing a ward home Evening. So I have to prepare for my 5-minute talk. (if it was English, i dont think i'd give hardly any thought until I was up on the stand. but its not. And I am no master at Korean)

Thank you. I love you so much!
Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Elder S

Transfers!

Hi Family.Sorry I didn't Email last week. We went to the mission headquarters to "drop off some books". HaHa. Me and my companion went to a nearby printing shop and had about 80 PMGs (Preach My Gospel: A guide to missionary service) made. But we made them super small. like a fourth of a normal PMG. Talk about black market quality! Now these babies are portable. The only problem is they are not in color except the cover. But they are pretty sweet nonetheless!
Anyway, I say "drop off some books" because that was kind of the excuse to make the trip down to the mission office on transfer day. Transfer Day!!! What!? What!? Did you say, "Transfer Day"? Already! But you just started your mission young lad ( and fat lad, (and ugly lad))... Yes, I jolly well know, but the 6 weeks are up and it is time for your first transfer in the field.

The good news is, i am staying with my companion ( my "papa", if you will) That is kinda that nickname for trainer over here. Any way, no transfers for us, actually none for our whole district... But there were a couple of Elders "dying" that he wanted to see. (more mission lingo: "dying" means going home).
And i also found out that when I die, I will either die 3 weeks before or after the start of my mission (Late Jan, 2010 or Early April, 2010) Since I was in the MTC for 12 weeks instead of nine like Caleb, I have 3 weeks that can fly either way. We'll see when we get there.
Maybe you understand that last paragraph, maybe not. Either way, I am moving on. We can talk about that later.

also, I realized I will have my "Golden Birthday" 2 times. Since I am technically 21 right now in Korea, my next birthday will be "golden" and when I come home, I will be 21 again and the next birthday after that will also be "golden".

Anyway, I am super excited to Email today! We had that trip last week. The train ride was 2 hours each way and we spent some time with the Elders at the mission home. (HaHa i realized that I used 3 words to describe the mission home (home, office, headquarters)) I say some friends from the MTC. That was really cool! Because of transfers, the mission held all packages and letters. So I picked up the package (thank you!) at the mission home, but I got your letter just today. (looks like stamps went up 3 cents). Since we ran out of time, I've been anticipating Email ever since then. I spoke during church and while i was speaking, I realized I would be Emailing in 24 hours. it was exciting....
Any way... HaHa. Happy birthday Kendric! Looks like you were caught unprepared and underdressed! [Sidenote: We had Kendric's surprise 16th birthday party early in the morning on Monday the 9th. All his friends were hiding in the basement and he got tricked into walking down there. He had just woken up and he usually sleeps in his undies, so he was quite surprised!)
The Cats sound Awesome. And I really enjoyed the letters and all the info on the latest stuff that's happened with the family. Thank you!
Love you lots!
Elder Shumway

Woops!

Alright. Something really interesting happened this week... No, no
baptisms (but our new convert got the priestood)...
...Anyway, so I was at a member's store (where I made new namecards) and I wanted to make a CD with my camera card (i didn't want to lose them, you see)... So I was going through my camera and found where it said how much space I had taken up. I wanted to find out how many CDs It would need (I am now equipted with a 2 GB card). It turns out that I had used up about 1.7 GB! So I was like "wow! That's a lot of pictures! Those are lotes of memories that I would not want to lose! That's my last part in te MTC and my first 5 weeks in the feild." Those pictures are of a lot of firsts. First time on a plane, first baptism, first time landing in Korea, etc. Yeah... so it turns out that my camera can also format cards... and... yeah. Bad news. On the screen where
I can see how much memory is used, I can easily format the card. One little slip of the finger destroys everything. No warning or anything! And Thats what happened....


But wait, the member says, "Dont worry, I have a program that can restore formated things! Horray!" So he worked his magic... However, My camera is all-powerful. The "omipotent
camera". When it does something, it does it right! It gets the job done! So when I said, format!", It did it well. And my card was formatted well. In other words, the program couldn't fix it...


Long story short, I dont have any pictures. Sorry. I'm sad too. So I want you to cherish those pictures I did send. You have the only reminants of my 1.7GB of pictures. Especially cherish "Russia". HaHa. of all the pictures, I sent you one of Russia. HaHa.
Any way, that will be alright. I am working on filling up the memory card again and soon I will have another 1.7 GB that i can format! HaHa just kidding. (Here is the Photo of Russia LeGrand is talking about. Taken from the airplane window.)



Today we hiked a mountain! Well, it wasn't really hiking. More of "walking up a bunch of stairs" but it was fun! We had 3 investigators come with us so it turned out well! I will send those
pictures next week.


Anyway, I'm glad you liked the package. How much do you think it costed me to send that thing? .... nope... guess again.... right. 22 bucks! i dont know why it was so expensive! moral of the story, If you send things from Korea to the USA, Send it via envelope. That was a sad
day, those types of things, you have to use personal money for.


Thank you for sending the package so promtly! I have not recieved it yet, but i anticipate it soon!
Thank you for your prayers!
Love you all!
Elder Shumway