Happy 2nd Day of Fall!!

Dear Crazy family!

How are ya'll!!! I sure miss y'all like crazy! Today has been a good day. We got up and I did laundry!!!! Washed ALL my outfits, and in the middle of the wash, the washer broke! Ha! Surprise! hopefully maintenance will come soon. But Then we took 2 other sisters and I drove over to the zoo. (oh, did I tell you I got pulled over by a cop the other day? no worries, my lights were deceptively not on and it was no prob at all) And I got to drive into downtown ABQ again. It was fun. And the zoo was great! Happy 2nd day of fall! We got some of the storm that got y'all and things have been much cooler. The zoo it was funny. I got to see moms side and then went over to dads side. Man, I'm glad I turned out as the normal one.

So, Dad asked what skin walkers are and I can't remember exactly how much I told everyone about all of this. Their half human (top) and half animal.  They go around and kill people, livestock, or whatever and are very dangerous, and if it wasn't for the Elders I trust telling me about them, I wouldn't believe it either. On the Reservation, it is a general rule that if you see one, to kill it, no questions, no nothing. 2 of the Elders I know went with a member of their branch presidency to an area with Indian drawings and writings. There, he read/interpreted the rocks about how there were once people who were wicked and ended up leaving the tribe. Now that they have the Book of Mormon, they can truly see how these creatures are the result of the gadianton robbers with there secret combinations and other work. its really creepy work for sure. And a reason there are no sisters on the reservations.

We are sooo excited for this week! Mom! We get to watch the RS broadcast together! excited!!!!! That night we have a member of the 70 coming to talk to our stake missionaries, then next week fast Sunday, temple and conference! WOW happy day! And thank you for the quotes this week. They were wonderful!

We have been trying to help our ward find ways to keep us busy. We know that they really want to and they are trying to figure out ways to help us work in just our area, and not the Elders. I think we have tried every less active and potential investigator, and former investigator, and half our active members, and that is making things really interesting and even slightly entertaining. We really hope for more and more miracles. Its been amazing that Heavenly Father has blessed me in so many ways. I've been able to be bold with members and have already began to see trust growing quicker than I could have done on my own. I am so thankful for that and for some reason I love this area. I really do. The other day at ward correlation with the Ward mission leader, and elders, and a member, we didn't really have anyone we wanted to talk about so I boldly talked about 3 ways we want to help the ward do missionary work and ways that they can help us. I can really see that they are putting trust in me and I am quickly at home here. We also boldly invited members to do there own missionary work and that had a positive response too. I'm really praying and hoping for many more people to teach. I know I am here for a reason, for specific people to teach, baptize, and reactivate, now I need to find them and find out how to help them.

As a sidenote, its funny being a missionary and having no idea of what is happening in the world. But I'm really good at noticing when flags are at half past. All I know is that half the world is hating Obama, something went on with congress recently, and the new Prince's name is George... really. George. what good king is named George? anyway. all good still. Oh, also found out about the navy thing. That was really sad. but only the basic story still

Trent, I have a letter written for you I HOPE to send tomorrow that is if....

Love you all!!

Love yall!!!

Hey Family!

Hey Family, I'm not sure if you are getting my emails or not :( I know I don't have one from Dad Trent or Amberly sooo... does that mean I get snail mail in the next 3 days!!!!!! Yippeee for me!!!!!1 hint hint hint. oh, I just got Dad's letter :) :) :) but you can still send me snail mail too. Ha :)

Anyway, This week has been good. We were able to meet with many, many less actives although we are still trying to find more investigators. Hopefully through the members we will find more people to teach. As I have come to know the ward, I absolutely LOVE them. They are soooo great! We walk in to the chapel, and we are not walking into a room of dead people (nothing with age). Instead we go in and every one is greeting each other, asking how you are doing and just being friendly. I've never served in such an outgoing ward in church, where you just feel welcomed and anyone will talk to you. It is incredible!

Sister Rager is doing much better now. She is going to need physical therapy. It is def. different serving with her and trying to find a new balance after training for 6 months. Its so nice that she knows what to do, that it would be easy to say, eh, I've done this for long enough, she can do it now. But nope, that's not how missionary work goes. I really hope to get to train again someday as I love it! and having a normal comp is helping me realize that I am an okay missionary and this is just how the work. goes. It is a huge stress reliever.

One miracle of the week was getting to see the Knight family, a less active family in the ward who want to come to church, but felt judged and offended the last time. They are now "ward hopping" too bad our church doesn't work like that. But they want their 7 year old son to get baptized in a few months, and they'd have to come to our ward for that. They really are a great family though. We felt sooo welcomed and the kids love the missionaries and even want to come to church. I hope all things work out for them.

So, remember that email that you said there were 3 days in the same week no one had signed up to feed the missionaries. Well... what about 20+ days in month for our calendar and the same number of openings in the Elders calendar? But no worries. We have the BEST RS president who has been out of town for 3 weeks. So this Sunday, she stood up and "scolded" the RS on how we have GREAT missionaries in the ward and how they needed to feed us all! 30 min later, both calendars were almost filled up for the rest of September. :) it was fun.

Of course, before that, the bishop came into the RS and spoke for 15 min. about how great it is for us to have sisters and elders and what a great opportunity it is for the sisters to come out with us. And that we would be more than ready to help them in there visiting teaching and other duties. It was awesome.

Amberly- How was your birthday? And good luck with elections!!!!! loved the poster Let me know how that is!

Trent- Seminary is sooo important! As Jacob says "Oh be wise, what need I say more?" But seriously! I'm soooo glad that you get to go to seminary now, with practice later on. It is soooo important to make sure that we are filled spiritually before anything else. I have really noticed a difference in my day as I read and study the scriptures in the morning. They are soo important and I wish I had studied them more before, it really would have helped, especially with a teacher and other students involved. Don't let Satan beat you down!

mom and Dad- Happy Anniversary on Sept 21st. Hint hint hint to everyone else

Mom loved the pictures! I'm glad you had fun in Ark...  I love being with non members although now I'm also valuing a lot my time with members. Were you able to share your testimony at all? :)

Dad- good luck with anything! sorry you are so busy!

We are very thankful for the flash flood warnings that come on our phone, but we have been safe.

So, driving the jeep. OK. So I JUST started to love driving my small little cars! It was the best thing ever and then someone gave me a honking jeep in the middle of ABQ which I had to drive downtown to the hospital this week for my comps doc. apt. Oh, and She doesn't have a licence, but has to have a car. Soo no pressure to me right! right! right!!!!! Lets just say that I think Heavenly father has decided I needed to get more comfortable driving big cars in a big city. (yeah, ABQ is a big city, at least here. nothing on NYC) But I am still SOOOOO thankful to not be on a bike, it has just been an adventure getting use to this new car. I still love my jeep though! And I hit 1000 miles on her this week! (her name is Whitney) I'm still way thankful that Trent WONT have his license when I get home!

New Transfer!!!

Are you ready??? I got transferred!!!!! And due to my history, I am just going to plan on dying here as well. (Spending the rest of my mission) Which is good. and because of the change, the temple trip is now on the last Monday of Sept.

My address 7100 Louisiana Blvd ne unit # I208  (that is an I like in Ice Cream, not a one) Albq., NM 87109

I am way excited! I am in the Academy heights ward. And so, I have never ever ever liked working closely with many authority figures. Even avoid them at times. Well, our ward is split with Elders and Sisters. Those elders at the ZLs. Oh, and the APs are in my zone. OH and the MISSION PRESIDENT is in my WARD. yeah, so this will be interesting.... we will have to see what will happen now.

I really am just so excited! We have no dates and no great investigators. But I don't care. I'm just really excited to be here and excited to do more!

Yes, I am in a biking area. However! My comp, Sister Rager(who has been out 12 weeks) has a bad knee and back so we have a car:) in fact it is a jeep! and she does not have a license so I'm driving again! and I love that! I love my new comp, but we are worried that she might be sent home for medical reasons. Its going to be way different because we cant walk very much with her knee. but that is all good. I am happy to be with her. Sister McBride is Training in Picacho. I can already tell I have a lot of good work to do here.

More happy news is that I was able to leave the ward on a good note with the baptism of Alexandria Escamilla. It went great and the parents were both there for it too. We also met the dad a few times now. Last transfer I just knew that I had to get her to baptism before I left the area. I'm thankful I was able to help Heavenly Father in his work in this way.  And her Sister gets baptized this week :)  However, I did leave Sis. McBride in a few sticky situations to figure out at the end of the transfer. Sorry! I didn't know they'd come up last min. oops.

White sands was great last week! Perfect temp, some got a bit burned, but it was just great with a breeze and just laying in the sand and then sledding on it. sooo much fun.

Something that really surprised me happened on Monday. On Sunday, we had told the Adolpho family that I wanted to stop by on Monday. they said cool, so I go over and they had bought a cake for me!  I love that family. They also seriously told me that if I ever want to go to Hawaii, to call them and they can make it basically free besides flights. cool connections there!

Note to Trent. Please don't practice your teaching skills on Macy. Its not a pretty sight :) Thanks mom for the pictures hehehe

I LOVE YALL!

will email Tuesday

Happy Back to School!

Happy First day back at school/seminary Family! I was going to say that just for Trent and Amberly, but lets be honest, it effects everyone and Macy.

This week has been a hectic crazy one as we prepare for a baptism on Friday at 6:30pm. Satan knows what we are up to and has not been happy with us since. It all began with needing to get an oil change... so we did. Tuesday- we pulled into a parking lot and stopped behind a car. The car then decides to back up right into us as Sis. McBride tries to reverse and can't and with both of us honking the horn. Then this nice woman turns around like she is going to talk with us, drives into  a pizza place and goes in to get her food... then comes out with takeout. So I go over to her and tell her she hit our car and she starts yelling at saying  I " was trying to pull a fast one on her..." She didn't believe us and wouldn't give any info but her name, number and address. I'm glad I thought to check the license plate. So we were all shaken up, not at the accident, but at the mean old lady we are all trying very hard to love and forgive at this point. So a lot of paper work later. On Wednesday, we went to lunch at the DA sisters apt and went to get in our car and it wouldn't work... uh oh. The elders came and jumped it, we left it on for an hour for it to charge, go to finish the paperwork, and we come out and it won't start again. We waited at the institute building for the elders to come help us again and I just had the thought, go start the car again, and it wouldn't leave my mind. I said a quick prayer in my heart and tried the car again. The second time, it started and we were able to get permission to drive it over to pep boys. Thanks to the sisters and good members giving us rides, we were able to pick the car up 2 hours later. They said that they had to put in a brand new battery, but that needing one didn't look like it had anything to do with the accident.

Wow, it has been a stressful month for our area as we have known that we could each reach one baptism this week. The DA sisters had a bladder infection, The District leader +comp  had to find new housing after a gas leak, then their washer leaked, then one of them had food poisoning. But that is okay, because Satan is not getting us down. We have still seen just incredible miracles this week as well.

One of them is in a young lady named Kendra. We received a referral from the yw president who got it from someone else. Its a LA/PM family that they thought was ready to hear the gospel. So we set up an appointment and really prayed about who to take with us and the answer was unmistakably Sister Shumway. So we went over and the lesson was amazing because of how prepared they were for the message. The missionaries had taught her before, but now she is ready. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes. Another miracle in it is that there is another young women who comes to church that is not baptized that we know is so ready as well. Well, these 2 girls know each other from basketball and are already friends. what a miracle is that! We have prayed for her so much and know that things are slowly falling into place for both of these families.

Mon. is Labor day. Tuesday Transfers. idk when I will get to write you but I hope that it is soon! I love y'all sooo much and thanks again for the letters. My comp and I really do feel that each one is inspired for us to get, and especially on those particular days. love  you!!!

Love, Elizabeth McShane
Sister McShane

August 19th, 2013

Hello Family!

 

How are y'all this week? This Monday is crazy. Last week we used an Elders slack lining stuff and did that at the park, and now today we are having a Nerf gun war at the church with our spirit animal shirts. We are excited about that because we asked a 13 year old investigator to draw them for us and they are awesome!!!!! Mine is a Phoenix! So cool! His name is Vincent and he is awesome! He even came to church on Sunday and has been going to other activities. First we just have to get an oil change for our car and do a few more things. Busy Busy! I got my hair cut today, but only by .5 in and got layers. I still think my hair is the longest! And according to Trent, much longer than dad's hair. And according to Amberly's much browner than Moms or Dads. Wow, they tell me everything! Although you can't tell from the pictures.

 

Some of our best news is that Alexandria (11) is going to be baptized on Aug 30th. We have written permission and the primary is going to help out a lot and we are soooo excited for it. She will get baptized before her brother and sister and we hope that they will be ready in a few weeks. And then we hope to get the rest of the family active again. Its sad, but the children are meant to be a strength and will one day lead them back. Its crazy because at last transfer I had the thought, I am not leaving this area until these children get baptized. I hope to stay the perfect amount of time to see all of them baptized and the whole family back in the church.

 

From the pictures, it looks like y'all had an awesome time at Mississippi and traveling there. What is a water bike? Its funny seeing y'all in the water. Here we have tons of beach. We can even get in it and bury ourselves like Amberly did.... we just don't have the water half :) And I cant believe  y'all got stung by Jellyfish! We were talking about that in Elder's Quorum this week (EQ, that is a first time! We went in there to make an announcement about having members come out with us during the week and left as soon as possible :) just teasing).    

 

This week has been great. Sister Tompkins wrote me a letter telling me that she had a dream with Ruby in it in which Ruby came up to her and told her that her and Eli had been sealed in the temple. The next day, she got my surprise picture of Ruby in White Baptism clothing. It was a miracle.

 

I'm just trying to keep my hope and faith up and remember to be happy and enjoy the journey. And not think about transfers on Sept 3. I love y'all and have loved checking the mail everyday this week to find a new surprise! I love y'all!!!!

 

Love Elizabeth, Never enough time to write!

 

Love love love! Sister McShane

One Year Mark!

Well, this week has been interesting lets just say.

 

First off, I hit my 1YEAR mark on Thursday (as well as 3 other elders in my zone) so a few companionship's came over for lunch and we did it. I mean, I did. I burned a shirt! and it was the best thing ever! haha, it was so much fun! It was that purple shirt with flowers on it that I have had forever! It seemed to take forever to burn and more melted away than anything, but it was fun. One of the elders also burned his shirt and we got most of it all recorded. Why is fire just so much fun? After, we went to Calitches for Custard. It was just a fun time. But I talked to Elder Munoz (the other one who hit his year) about how it was just a really hard day for the both of us. For different reasons and such, but just really hard.

 

A few weeks ago (first Fri. of the month) our zone leaders promised our entire zone that if we worked our hardest and tried to get rid of the things holding us back, then each area would receive 1 convert baptism. The promise was so strong and the spirit was felt by everyone and we left determined to do our best. However, Satan has been hard at work against all of us. We have really felt a shift in the ways things are working. God is working harder at the same time that Satan is stronger and attacking us at every point he can. We just have to remember to turn to God and keep going forward.

 

I want y'all to know that Amberly and Moms many letters really helped me out this week. Everything seemed to point to exactly what I needed to hear. And always made me smile. I hope that you Mom got a letter from me from last week. Should have gotten there on Sat. I think. Also Dad, I'm sending you a memory card home asap, because my second one doesn't have much space on it either. Thank you! Please send it back quickly!

 

We had interviews with President Miller this week and found out 2 new rule changes for our mission. 1. We can write letters any day during personal time and 2 We can now listen to any inspirational music! So I hope I get a package soon! I know I left a few CDs at home that I hope to get soon.

 

A few huge miracles happened yesterday at church. With everything going on, I had decided to fast for strength comfort and guidance. Well, the ward has decided that each auxiliary would be responsible for coming out with the missionaries a different week of the month. This week is ward council and next week elders quorum. we already have many people signed up to come with us, more than we have appointments for just yet. Its a miracle. I love the elders quorum especially because they are so inspired and willing to work and work hard. They are so excited they help the ward go. Also, we texted a former investigator that we had worked with Joel about church today. He always missed appointments and never came to church. We got a reply asking what time it was at and he told us he was coming. He surprised everyone and the ward just jumped in. It was a huge miracle and a blessing. He really enjoyed it and wants to turn his life around.

 

I love y'all and I'm sorry this letter is not more inspiring. I love you and I am happy. I am so thankful for my companion. We really need each other more than I thought we would. She is the best.

 

I LOVE Y'ALL

 

Elizabeth

 

ps are you sure you don't want to go to white sands? :)

August 5th, 2013

Wow! I feel like I have received just the best emails this week ever! It has been a huge blessing!  And thank you soooo much for that family DVD again! This week, I got no snail mail, but I always knew it was okay, especially bc I go and watch  y'all on our DVD player. Huge blessing! Yesterday, I started something called a 40 day fast, but I will do it for about a month. Meaning, you start with a fast, and as you study or pray you think about things that God would want you to put on the altar or sacrifice. What does he want me to lay aside to be a better missionary. And list them out. Then, for the month, you pray about these things and account to the Lord every night on how they are going. And by the end of the month, you end with a fast and see that heavenly Father is here and helping us be his servants as we ask him how we can improve. Amazing.  I'm very excited about it, because I know that these are things that HF wants me to change in my life. And knowing that, will help me not become overwhelmed as I see other ways that I could change as well. Becoming a consecrated missionary is not just changing your behavior, it is changing your nature and that is what I hope to continue to do. So many miracles, so little time. The first one seems small, but it is still so incredible to me. There was one day this week that was incredibly HOT (OK, that's like everyday... anyway) and no one was answering the door. We had just driven up to a less active members home and sat in the car to say a prayer before dropping by. In the prayer, I prayed and just asked heavenly father to send some way for it to cool down and for rain so that we could just keep working forward. I cried out to Him asking for something to help us keep going forward. As soon as we said amen, we heard a roll of thunder! with a perfectly blue sky but we knew our prayer was answered, as we got out of the car, we looked up and saw one small ity bitty black cloud over us and felt the wind start to pick up. Walking to the door, we began to feel great raindrops. It was a miracle! No one answered at that door, so we drove over to another home and this small raincloud followed us over there. It truly was a miracle and a blessing. HF really does know what we need and how to get it to us! It was a miracle, I cant even explain how that cloud got there. amazing. Last night, my companion felt strongly that we needed to go back over to a park and try to see a recent investigator at that park. it didn't make sense, but I turned to my young companion and told her that if she felt like we needed to go back over there, then we would, and let her make the decision. We drove over, but she wasn't there so we decided to ask another family over at the park. We stopped by and asked for Kimberly and then asked if we could give them a card. They were way sweet and it turned out that she had met with missionaries and gone to church in a different city, but had then moved here and lost contact. It was exactly where we needed to be! I am so proud of my companion! I love her sooo much! I love you family!!! and Kenzie :P haha, be happy, be good be well!