7.15.13 Plenty of Feathers... (Abbi please laugh)

Dearest Family and Friends who I love SOOOO MUCH,

CRAZINESS. But all I have time for this week is a short story. It all starts with a quote I received from one of my favorite aunties. The quote talked about recognizing tender mercies from Elder Bedar, I think.

"The tender mercies of the Lord are real and they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindness, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ."

So Sister Rosa and I were out one night walking around, looking for people to talk to. There was an old lady outside watering her plants. We decided to go talk to her and we had a great conversation. She made it clear that she wasn't interested, but that she was a BELIEVER. I love it when people use the term "believer." It makes me happy. :) anyway, she told us this story about how a couple years ago, she was having hard time. Her husband passed away, she'd had a bunch of surguries. But for some reason, she would always see feathers at the most random times. She said she didn't know where they were coming from, or why all of a sudden she started to notice them. She said after some pondering, she came to the conclusion they were from her guardian angel, letting her know that they (the guardian angel) were looking out for her. That story gave me chills. Not 30 seconds after walking away, I happened to look down and see a feather.

Tender mercy? I think so! And the same has happened for me. I've been noticing feathers here and there and can't help but wonder if I've got a guardian angel. Whether or not I do, I'm grateful for that small experience that helped me reflect on the many blessings I have as I struggle and seem to focus on the negative sometimes, everything that's NOT happening in our area. Aka our 2 progressing investigators that are no longer progressing, talking to EVERYONE with no return appointments, the elders seem to have investigators dropped in their laps. Whatever the case may be, I've just felt like there's obviously something that we're not doing right... or something... but I know that this is a period of growth. God has declared the work is to move forward, and it IS. We just keep working and we will see it too.

I gained a greater appreciation for my Savior this week as I watched "Finding Faith in Christ." What stuck out to me was that Christ was a man "aquainted with grief." I thought to myself how could he be perfect unless he experienced everything imperfect? I applied that to myself and know that I must experience imperfect things on my quest to perfection.

Also, I read the account of Esther because I was called on in Sunday School yesterday to tell that story and I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE STORY OF ESTHER IS EVEN ABOUT. TALK ABOUT EMBARRASSING!!!! So... I read it. Only like 10 pages! Super interesting! I recommend it. Learning a lot.

Well people, I hope that all is well! And I hope you took me seriously on the no junk food challenge. Seriously. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless you! DO IT!

Much love and everything else warm and fuzzy,
Sister Hannah Schieving

ps enjoy some photos! I hope they work this time!

Sisters Rosa and Schieving

Utah sisters!

Inspired by Lisa, drawn for Sister Graves

Tie Dye Twins

7.8.13 The Spirit of God (and the heat of New Mexico) Like a Fire is Burning!

So where do I even begin?

 

Whirlwind. Crazy. Rollercoaster. Hot. Windy. RAIN! Thunder. New mission president. Fasting. Not enough adjectives or any other words to describe the week!

 

So as you all know my last transfer was indeed a struggle. This transfer is also indeed a struggle. But I'm seeing more growth, maybe because I'm looking for it it's more appartent. But at the same time, I couldn't hide it for much longer. I don't know what to tell yall... long story short, Sister Rosa is an incredible strength to me. She helps me grow and encourages in such a kind and loving way that I don't mind putting myself out there. She can see that I have a lot of doubts and insecurities in myself as a missionary. I start my mission and apparently don't get trained right or completely, suddenly I'm in charge of training a new missionary and have no idea what's going on so we learn things from the ground up, and then I'm training again in a new place that hasn't really seen any missionary work and still don't understand what to do, hoping and praying that I can at least survive so my companion can survive too... thinking how lame it is that suddenly I'm super shy and have this insane fear of talking to people now... yadda yadda lots of doubts. But in her quiet wisdom, she encouraged me to go ask Heavenly Father what my strengths are. I was having a hard day, trying not to show it. But she's smarter than that. I begged Heavenly Father to show me my strengths, help me develop more, and to hold my hand cause I'm not having a fun time being a missionary. Sure there are fun times and good lessons once in a blue moon (our teaching pool is extremely small) but I'm waiting for the morning where I wake up and am excited to be a missionary. I've kind of been reflecting on why I'm out here. Yes, the Gospel blesses families so much and that's what I want for the world! But I'm also here cause I know Heavenly Father wants me to be and I'm here out of fear. 

As I was praying, I thanked Heavenly Father for my companion because she truly is an angel. She reminds me of Grandma Newbold who the worst thing that ever came out of her mouth was that someone was a little "o-d-d." Nothing unkind ever escapes Sister Rosa's lips. She will turn anything into something positive. She doesn't get mad. Or irritated. Or discouraged. Outwardly, anyway. She has incredible faith and is wise and spiritual beyond her years. So after I prayed it was the part of companion inventory where we share what we think each other's strengths are. So timely, right? It was so touching and genuine, and I was grateful for that. I felt kind of selfish and lame that I couldn't see those strengths myself. I shared what I thought her strengths were, that she reminded me of Grandma Newbold and that I could literally feel light and the spirit radiating from her. Like I said, she's an angel. The definition of love and charity. Anyway, through all that many tears were shed, but also very necessary. Not good to hide emotions and keep things inside all the time... weird.... After all that we washed our faces (mascara everywhere, make up rubbed off) and got ready again to go enjoy some 4th of July Fesivities. There was a BBQ (feast) at the branch president's house (mansion) where eventually 200 people showed up. All from different YSA branches in the valley. It was fun to walk around and talk to people and ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS CAME!!!!!!!!!! Blessing. And we were fed well and enjoyed the weather and company. Of course we couldn't stay for fireworks cause we have to be back at our appartment by 9. However, there was an incredible display of lightning for us to enjoy for the ride home!

 

 

The next day was zone training and INTERVIEWS WITH THE NEW MISSION PRESIDENT!!! We interviewed with the mission president and his wife (separately) before the zone training began. New Sister Miller is the sweetest. What can I say. She could tell I am an artist "because of the way I dress." lol. And she's in love with this leather bag I got in Taos at a thrift store for like $7. She went to Taos once and said she'll always remember me because I was in Taos. haha. Taos Taos Taos. Anyway, my turn to visit with New President Miller. First question he asked me was "do you love being a missionary?" Of course I couldn't lie to him and say yes... So I said "sometimes yes, and sometimes no." I'm apparently very transparent or he's inspired or something like that... lol... cause he knew that I was struggling. And he knew what with without me having to say. Self-doubt. So I explain my struggles while trying not to cry.. but of course I cry... and he understands. He told me that as he's been traveling and meeting all the missionaries, the most apparent road block for everyone is self doubt. It's an epidemic in the mission and he really wants and needs us to get rid of it. He counseled me on learning more about the Savior and the Atonement. He said many more wise words of which I greatly appreciated. He said that Satan is attacking harder on those who have the greatest potential.... he said that to ME? I was shocked and flattered... And to end he offered to give me a blessing. WHAT?! Blessing from the mission president?! I only thought that happened if you were deathly ill. Or something. But I accepted and it really helped. He blessed me with a lot of things, but the thing that sticks out the most goes along with what he said about Satan attacking harder on those who have the most potential. In the blessing he said that I am one of Heavenly Father's choicest and elect daughters, he blessed me with the ability to look into my investigators eyes and testify of the truthfulness of the message we share, and an increased capacity to learn. Whoa, right? He blessed me with other things like peace and comfort and energy, but those stuck out the most. So grateful for an inspired blessing from an inspired man. 

 

I'm seeing now more than ever all the growth that I need to achieve. Heavenly Father is allowing me to struggle so I can prove to myself how strong I am. It's so ridiculously hard, but it's doable. I learned in that zone training that Heavenly Father isn't going to do what I can do for myself. But He's also not going to do make us do anything we can't do without His help. President called for a missionwide fast for yesterday to fast for the mission to overcome self doubt and for the members to catch the vision the Bretheren have of the Work of Salvation. The time is now!!! AH! Crazy thought. Anyway, Sister Rosa and I felt that we should fast for 24 hours, or at least close to it. And we did. And I survived. And I was stregthened all day, not feeling too tired or whimpy. I'm slowing gaining a testimony of fasting and am grateful that my body is healthy enough to do that. I'm praying with faith that Heavenly Father will allow us to see miracles in this mission. Miracles soon to come.

 

As I reflect on the week we had of not doing a whole lot of teaching or having luck with finding new investigators, that's really disappointing. But what I feel like was more important for last week was to learn everything I did and to grow closer to my companion and to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love that when we center our lives on Christ and becoming like Him, nothing else matters. It's a lifestyle! God is so apparent in our lives. I love being a religious nut. It's so fun. My new dream for the future is to be a religion professor or something like that cause I LOVE the scriptures. Let's see how long that dream will last! lol. Anyway, I've rambled too much. But I hope that I've included some small amount of wisdom and you can still see the growth amongst the stresses... Sorry I'm a downer! But I feel good! For realsies!

 

PS I picked up the package today at UPS. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! I can't wait to smell pretty! lol. My family is just too generous and kind... if that's possible. lol. Yummy taffy too. :) And I'm excited to make some food!

 

Also, I wish you issue you all a challenge. I want you all to give up ALL junk food for one week and see how you feel and report to me. Ok? Cause I have a testimony of the Word of Wisdom and staying away from things that aren't good for our bodies. My whole last transfer was pretty much void of sugar and junk food and I can't tell you how great I felt physically. Then in this area there were more opportunities to eat it and when I did, especially in large quantities, I didn't like how I felt. It was night and day. So family, will you try this with me and be healthy? I know Heavenly Father will bless you with the strength to overcome tempation. You will feel so alive and well. I know it. It's happened for me, and it WILL happen for you too IF you DO it. Challenge accepted? I hope so! :) MISSIONARY PROMISE = LEGIT!

 

Ok. I just love you all so much and I feel so much happiness knowing that my family is all strong in the gospel and active and generally darn good people! I love your letters and support and testimonies you share with me weekly. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to think about me and encourage me. I can't thank you enough!

 

Have a blessed week. :) 

 

MUCH LOVE and OOOOLLLLIIIIIVVVVEEEE   YYYYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

LOVE,

Sister Hannah Michelle Marie Banana Francis Schieving 

7.1.13 (Read with Chigago accent) Deah Maaah, the weathah's gettin toasty in Nnnnob Hillll

FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT I LOVE SOOOOO MUCH,

 

First of all, I know what Hell is like. It's like riding my bike in 107 degree weather, hot wind stinging my eyes, heat radiating off the black pavement as cars rush by emitting even more heat. Soaked with sweat. No one's home. Ok so I'm exaggerating and I can think of a thousand worse circumstances. But for me in my limited experience, that's probably the most physically taxing thing I've ever experienced. And it was rather spiritually taxing this last week as well. We taught... like 5 lessons this week. The numbers are sad, but we were working hard! Just no luck with finding people to teach. No one's home. Too many hippies! Never thought I'd ever say that... lol. But for some reason, the area was split for us to come get down and dirty and do some work! I'm trusting that Heavenly Father needs us to start difficult in order for us to be more grateful for the very few investigators we do have and for when we will have full schedules. Opposition in all things. I'm excited for when the work does pick up in our area, whether or not I'm there to watch it. I just want people to have the Gospel! People, it's all true! BE MORMON! lol. but really. Everyone needs this.

 

So since we had a slow week there's not much to report in that area. However, we had this giant missionary meeting with 2 members of the 70 on Saturday. Elder Echohawk and Elder Villareal came to speak to us. It was... THE BEST THING EVER! So many things made it so great. First of all, I got to be reunited with my quadpanionship! I could have had a panic attack in anticipation of seeing them. When we got to the parking lot, my companion and I started talking to some more missionaries that just got there. As we're talking, I hear "SISTER SCHIEVING!!!!" I turn around and Sister Graves is running at lighting speed with arms wide open to give me a hug. I run to hear and it was a joyous reunion! I was humbled because as you may or may not know, I struggled that transfer.  I loved her like a sister and best friend, it was just so hard to share missionary responsibility with her. I just realized then, even more, that I should have loved her more and been more patient with her. Anyway, best hug. She just started sobbing. She was so happy to see me, I was so happy to see her, and then she started telling me how hard of a time she was having and just wished I could be there with her. I was heart broken and flattered all at the same time! I felt sooo bad that she's struggling so much. She's got very high expectations for herself and I know she's probably been stressing and working too hard. Cause there is such a thing as working too heard, especially when your body doesn't function properly like hers. I just... I cried with her. It was so joyous and so sad. But a wonderful way to start my day, reunited with her! We worked our way into the chapel to sit down. I just lit up when I saw Elder Satterlee and Elder Armstrong! It was so hard to be reverent! So all the missionaries gathered, it seemed like 200 of us. We had a short 'choir practice" and then we all went into the gym to take a huge group picture with the members of the 70 and President and Sister Miller. By some miracle Elder Satterlee and Elder Armstrong were placed right behind me and I got to catch up with them a little as things were getting organized. I've never been so happy to see people in my whole life! Of course when I come home it will be like that times a million, but you get the idea. And I had warm fuzzies cause I know they missed me too. :)

 

So then the actual meeting started. We started by standing in silence and went row by row up to the front to shake all of their hands. It brought the spirit so strongly, and it was President and Sister Miller's last missionary event like that. It was hard to keep it together as I watched them struggle to keep it together! Such a tender moment. The meeting started and here's some quick thoughts from the speakers. (from notes I took in the gorgeous leather journal my mommy sent me!)

Elder Villareal:

-Nobody is a waste of time. Disobedience is a waste of time.

-He had us come up with adjectives that describe President and Sister Miller. We came up with: selfless, obedient, inspired, diligent, loving, humble, long suffering, consecrated, master teachers, patient, kind, dependable, forgiving, prayerful, funny, happy, boble, christlike, genuine, empwering, thoughtful, charitable, honorable. He wanted us to know why we see those characteristics in them. Because those are all things they want for us, and to be even better. I thought that was powerful.

-Fruits of our labors: we're not just changing lives and people, we're changing their eternities.

-Christ already suffered for us. He doesn't suffer anymore. But the Holy Ghost does when he wants to be our constant companion and we're not worthy of him. And there are billions of people on the eart that don't have that privledge of the gift of the Holy Ghost. That's why we need missionaries! One of many reasons.

-When Christ said "come follow me," he didn't mean walk behind me and let me do everything. He meant walk beside me and learn from my example and emulate it.

Elder Echohawk:

-The adversary is the only one that wants us to feel inadequate. The Lord qualifies who He calls. We are literally set apart to do the work. We are His voice and His hands.

-Usually when we get callings we get some sort of manual. We did as missionaries too, but we have even more resources. We have the Lord. We are never alone in this work, it is HIS work.

-He told a longwinded story that I wrote in my journal that I'll share when I get home. Not enough time to type it all out!

 

Of course I could go on, but those are the most powerful and meaningful to me. The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! I just need to remember that on days when I'M burning. lol. Anyway, we sang "Faith in Every Footstep" (that's the song we practiced earlier that morning) and boy oh boy. I could not keep it together. I'm not sure I even sang! I was just watching President and Sister Miller standing in front of all these missionaries they've come to know and love. They were crying, couldn't sing, made me cry and I couldn't sing, it was a powerful moment and I was filled with so much love for them. Even though I had had limited contact with them over the last 4 (almost!) months. What amazing people.

 

After the meeting, I got to talk to my quadpanionship a little more. I was so happy to be able to talk to them and see how things were going over there in good old Cibola ward. Sister Graves and her new companion have a baptism for this Saturday! I was so happy for them! And the elders made an oath to be more consecrated. They are struggling but are seeing the blessings of obedience. I can't wait for after the mission when Sister Graves and Elder Armstrong will both be going to BYU and Elder Satterlee and I live pretty much next door to each other (he lives in Kearns) and our quadpanionship will be reunited once again! I just love them. I'll stop now. Lol....

 

So here's the part where I tell you my struggles. For some reason I am suddenly like... super shy! Maybe it's because I'm around peers. Maybe it's because I'm just comparing myself to a companion who is not shy in the least so in contrast I'm shy. But it's hard, I feel kinda lame sometimes. I'm not struggling as much as my last area, but still struggling. I'm sure I'll always be struggling as a missionary. But I am continuing to learn many things also. I loooove my companion. She's the greatest thing since sliced bread! And she LOVES bread. hahaha.

 

Well I just want you all to know how much I love you and how grateful I am for all your support! Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for being alive and in my life. I wish I could adequately express my love for all of you but I can't... the computer would explode!

 

Keep on keepin on!

and...

 

OLIVE YA!!!!!!!!

 

MUCH LOVE,

Sister Hannah Schieving

 

ps I forgot my camera cord today, so I'll send some pictures next week! :)

 

Read Mosiah 5. BE CONVERTED!!!

6.24.13 Hey there Delilah, what's it like in Albu-crazy...

Dearest most wonderful family and friends,

 

Life as a missionary is crazy, odd, unpredictable, fun, stressful, hot, awesome, the list of adjectives to describe missionary life goes on! I don't have tons of time to email, we've been ridiculously busy today. SO yah. This will probably be shortish. Also, sorry for the mixup with some of you getting my emails and pictures and some of you not. Not sure what the deal was there. And Mom, I don't have that picture yet. Not sure how I will be getting it, but I asked Sister Graves to ask the guy that took it... so maybe next week? Maybe?

 

Ok. SO. A day in the life of the Nob Hill South Sisters. We wake up and do our thang, get ready and study! WE LOVE TO STUDY! SO fun. It really is. Maybe when I come home I'll be a better student.... Anyway, we learn a lot, revelation concerning investigators comes, we immerse ourselves in the scriptures and PMG and it rocks. Then we have lunch! We actually make stuff! Kind of. We just throw a bunch of random stuff together. And today we got even more food to play around with so we have some variety to spice up our lives! After lunch we get started. Most of our time is spent FINDING. My least favorite thing cause I don't like to just talk to random people but I'm definitely improving! And even Sister Rosa said I was improving just in the almost 2 weeks we've been together. :) She's the sweetest, btw. So easy to get along with. Always so happy and uplifting and I'm learning a lot from her. She's so kind and genuine to everyone, and gorgeous on the inside and out! Anyway, to find we walk around the UNM campus or ride our bikes (it's sooooo hot but we survive somehow!) and talk to random people and the like. This week we have plans to draw the plan of salvation all over the sidewalks of UNM and around Nob Hill. TONS of foot traffic. We may or may not have an actual lesson with an actual investigator at some point in the day. Then sometimes we'll go to a member's (poor college student) house (appartment) for dinner. Like 3 or 4 days out of the week. You know how young adults are! lol. Then we'll do some more finding or trying to visit a less active the president of the branch wants us to check up on or have a lesson with an investigator. The days vary, they're a little unpredictable, but things are moving right along! We'll get home sometime around 9, plan for the next day, and get ready for bed! PLanning usually consists of us being ravenous wolves and eating something (anything) while we plan and we end with the world's longest prayers for all the people we meet and teach and hope to help out in some small way. After planning we get ready for bed and sleep! I always say to Sister Rosa "I hope you dream of ____ and ____!" Last night was swimming pools full of pudding and candy falling form airplanes. She always returns it with something ridiculous for me to dream of. :)

 

We have a miracle investigator. She's barely 20. Cutest, littlest thing ever. We met her on the street. Had a short lesson. We invited her to say a prayer and she said "God, I hope that I can pick up where I left off with you and that these 2 girls can help me get there." WHAT! And so we've taught her like 4 times the last week that we've met her. We invited her to be baptized the first lesson. She said yes without a second thought. We invited her to read the BOM and pray to know if it's true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. We asked her yesterday. She said "yah, it's true." Like she's always known it's true. We'll ask her to read a scripture and the way she interprets it is like 10x deeper than what even we would expect. We had her read Alma 34:32. We asked her what she thought that meant and she said, "it's just like a test or work. You have to prepare for it. Same with life. Preparing to meet God is just another daily task." WHAT! Then yesterday we were supposed to teach her but she had to cancel cause someone stole her wallet at work. SATAN! But we decided to stop by later anyway and we asked what she was up to. "I was just reading my BOM cause I was having a really rough day." WHAT! We know it's legit cause Satan is trying to get her. She's just... prepared. Thanks Heavenly Father for letting me experience teaching a PROGRESSING investigator! I have never had one of those yet. Pretty cool.

 

So here's a jumble of interesting experiences over the last week. Sister Rosa and I witnessed a legit gang fight. It was the most horrifying thing I've ever seen in all my life! 20 Mexican's just beating on this guy in a parking lot. I'll spare you the details. But it was awful. We were in the car stopped at a light, so we were safe. but so sad. Another crazy man started yelling at us to get away from his house after we knocked and we were backing up to leave, but he keeps talking at us and tells us all these appartments NOT to knock on... he was mad. Interesting. We meet a lot of high and drunk people... Lots of hippies and humanists... (dont know what that really is...) There's a church we drive past sometimes that says "The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints" and that's a little intriguing.... There's a car that has like little army soldier and animal toys glued all over it at the apartment complex next to ours... And that's all I can come up with off the top of my head.

 

Today for pday we met with the zone and had NWIII. Nerf War 3. They were gettin into it! I had this tiny little pistol. One shot. I wish I had brothers growing up so I coulda got into it too but I faked it. Lol. But it was still fun. Enjoy the picture. lol.

 

Yesterday's missionary broadcast was AMAZING! So yes Dad, I did get to watch it. I highly recommend the rest of you watch it too. :) Made me rethink myself as a missionary a little bit. There's TONS of work to be done apparently... haha. But really. As much as I struggle, I do have a lot of gratitude that I get to be a missionary at this time in my life and in history. I think the thing that stuck out to me the most is to have faith that there actually IS all this work to do and that the best way to have success is to LOVE people. So I'm workin on that. Go watch it!

 

Well family, I just olive ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As always I wish I had more time, but I do not. Life is just too crazy! Remember how much I love ya! I miss ya all so much too, but I'm not homesick. I just have many fond memories. :)

 

Thank ya for alllll your prayers! I know I wouldn't make it without them. :) Keep on Keepin on!!

 

MUCH LOVE,

Sister Hannah Marie Schieving

6.17.13 Transfer

Dearest family and friends,

I'm so sorry I didn't get to email you on Tuesday! I thought for sure I'd be able to. So I sent you a letter and I think you got it. Yay!

SO WEIRD you knew who my companion was before I told you.... And weird we knew of each other before we were put together...

Anyway, Sister Rosa is from Chicago. She's an angel. She reminds me of Kate Middleton. Very proper and classy and beautiful in every way. She's so kind and genuine and not shy at all and willing to help people and the list just goes on! She went to BYU for a year before she came out. SHE KNOWS WHO MIDDLE BROTHER IS!!!!! Cool, right? We have the same taste in music. But of course all we listen to is church-y stuff... I was able to introduce her to the Lower Lights and she loves them. :) She and I get along very well and I'm having a better time communicating and being honest. I'm defnintely more confident in my training, but I am still seeing that there's room for improvement, and a few things I don't know still. But we're having a great time together. I'm working on finding my voice and talking to people. That's the hardest thing so far. I'm glad Heavenly Father has given me all these super outgoing companions to help me out. :)

Our area is called Nob Hill South. University of New Mexico YSA branch. The area was split for us to come and our area book is EMPTY. Well not anymore, but the work "south of Central..." well there wasn't any work done. So that's why we're here! This is what President Miller said in his email to me this week:

"I could not be happier to see what you and Sister Rosa will do together. I felt such a strong impressions that you should be in Nob Hill and that Sister Rosa should be your companion. I know the branch is excited to have you there.
Have a great transfer.
Love, President Miller"

Cool, right?! Everyone is really excited to have us here. All my areas have welcomed us so much cause they haven't had sisters in such a long time or ever. It's fun to be a novelty!

Let me tell you of the cool experiences I've had this week. We were riding our BIKES and we were on our way to campus. The institute was close by and we didn't have plans to stop but I felt like we should. So we did... and it was locked... and no one was there.... and then I got a phone call... but as I was talking  on the phone, a guy walks past us and Sister Rosa stops him and has a great conversation with him. Long story short, his eyes lit up when we told him we knew that Heavenly Father knows him and loves him and we invited him to pray about that and to read the BOM. We also told him how we were prompted to stop by the institute and how we know it lead us to him. We have an appointment to teach him tomorrow. :)

Next cool thing... Sister Rosa and I went to a park to go contacting. We came across this large group of teenager/young adults all sitting together on a huge tarp and blanket. A few of them had guitars and banjos so we said "hey, play us a song!" As they were looking for a song to play, we asked why there was such a large group of young people all gathered together. They said "we're Christian missionaries!" We said "No way! Us too!" So we sat with them for a while and talked about what we believe, what they believe, and we gave them a BOM and challenged them to read Alma 32 all together. Not sure if they did, but it was so wonderful to find a group of young people with that light in their eyes, they were united in the same great cause (kind of...) that we are and it was such a wonderful, edifying experience. As we left, we all prayed together and they found a song to sing us. It was called "Purify my Heart" and they all sang and played together, and the spirit was there so strong. They had a few awesome singers in the group, it sounded sooooo good! It was a very powerful experience I will never forget! I'm glad that Heavenly Father lead us to that park that day and that we could meet so many young people with such great hope, doing good things in their lives.

Saturday there was a baptism for an investigator the elders had been teaching. And guess what... we sang "I am a Child of God"... again.... JUST KIDDING! DODGED THAT BULLET! HAHAHA. But it was way cool. Their investigator was the sweetest. In her interview with the district leader the day before she got baptized, she said that the spirit feels like "angels tickling me." WHAT?! How adorable is that. It was a great experience, I love going to baptisms even though none of them have been for my own investigators. YET!

We've been doing A LOT of contacting and finding... cause we basically have no other option. We need to find more people to teach and to get our area going! I'm glad we finally made it to church yesterday, the first week of a transfer is always the longest. Well, in my limited experience it has been. But it was probably the oddest experience I've ever had in church before. I wish I had time to tell you all the weird things they do but I don't... lol. Leave it to young people to make church interesting like that! Plus it started 20 minutes late. haha. BUT food was involved. And the Relief Society had been collecting ties from Goodwill, the D.I. and whatever for a few weeks and gave them out to the men for "Priesthood Appreciation" day since none of them were fathers. Such a great collection of interesting ties. So funny. Dad, I got one for ya. ;) Promise me to wear it to church when you get it and send me a picture!

Well... family... friends... I love all of you soooooo much! Thanks for all your prayers and love and support. I wouldn't be anywhere without you! You have helped me so much as I've struggle the last little while. I'm doing a lot better and my hope is renewed daily as I reflect on how blessed I am and the knowledge that I'm here for a reason.

Keep calm and carry on!

Much love,

Sister Hannah Schieving

later email:

I forgot to include a small thing in my last email. I have been having awful nightmares about.... HOT AIR BALLOONS!!!!!!!! It's driving me nuts! They always end in destruction too. Like they'll catch on fire or crash into the ocean... so lame. Almost every night. 

Thanks. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE   YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Love, Sister Schieving

6.10.13 Last Week in Cibola

Hey everyone! With memorial day and a tough week, there hasn't been much to post lately. BUT! It's a new week, and we have an email! Sister Schieving is being transferred again and we'll let you know where she is as soon as possible! Please continue to pray for your missionaries, wherever they may be and feel free to share this post!

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Hiiiiiiii family!!!

Dad, that was a WONDERFUL mission story, and a WONDERFUL analogy about temperature. I feel like that Katy Perry song, "you're hot then you're cold, you're yes and you're no, you're in then you're out, up and you're down...." LOL not that Dad or Grandma have ever heard that song before, but you get the idea. I just go from insanely frustrated to really happy and excited in an instant. It's annoying. But this next transfer... I'll be able to handle myself. Hopefully. Anyway....

This week has been really really really really busy. Really busy. Too busy. Stressfully busy, especially with the knowledge that my companion and I will be training this next transfer. I haven't been all that stressed, I'm just grateful to be able to start over 100% and I am determined to do better. In an email from my mission president a couple weeks ago, I had expressed earlier that I was overwhelmed with some things. He told me that I should learn from the current experiences  and find my voice. Crazy right? How'd he know? Inspired. Pray for courage for me to use my words, as pretty much all of you have encouraged me to do. :) You all are also inspired. 

Well not a whole lot to report. Just that I'm training again. 2 six-week bullets. I guess that's what they call them here. LOL.... So I'll probably be going somewhere they haven't had sisters in a while. Kind of fun. I hope it goes well and that there will be elders to help us out like the elders here did. I seriously have never made friends so fast in my life. I am soooooooooooo grateful for them. We have established ourselves as a "quadpanionship" and I will miss it soooooooooooo much! Even more than Taos, if you can believe that. The highlight of the week was last night. We had just finished a really chastis-ey feeling missionary correlation meeting with the WML, and then the elders came over. (Outside the door, we're not breaking rules... lol) Heaven sent. Sister Graves asked for a blessing cause she's been so stressed, she's made herself sick. So Elder Satterlee gave her an amazing blessing. Then I asked the elders for a blessing from Elder Armstrong. Most amazing blessing I've ever received, besides my patriarchal blessing. And maybe my setting apart, but I can't remember that one. Anyway, it was so amazing. Spirit up the wazoo. Some highlights from that blessing: my family is especially blessed right now. (I hope you are!!) I'll be a ministering angel to many in these upcoming months. Help from the other side of the veil. The specific purpose for me in this area was mostly accomplished with my companion, learning from her. (remember what my mission president just said?! Crazy, right?!) I've been prepared for future areas, what I've learned is sorely needed........ I don't have my journal with me so I can't remember everything else, but wow. Just wow. I was crying, Elder Armstrong started tearing up as he was giving me the blessing, Elder Satterlee was crying, I bear hugged my companion and we were both sobbing, it was the most ridiculous cry fest of my life!! And then we all kept crying cause I'm leaving and it's so sad to leave my best friends... Sigh. Such a special moment. I really can't tell you how grateful I am for those elders. It's going to be a rough night tonight and morning tomorrow when I have to say goodbye. My heart hurts just thinking about it. Man. 

Well today's Pday, it's been great so far. We had district breakfast in our apartment this morning (it was ok cause we were outnumbered with like 4 elders). That's always fun. Our elders brought me a pineapple with candles stuck in it to celebrate my half birthday/me leaving and they sang half of happy birthday. It was probably one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me! hahaha not really but close. It did mean a lot. I feel loved. We've just kind of run around getting a few things done like shopping (I just tag along cause I have no choice, not actually shopping since I'm outta here!) and after this we'll probably play volley ball or something. We did that last week and it was the most hilarious thing ever. Seriously so sad to leave. But so excited to start over again. 

I wish I had like a spiritual thought to share... my brain's just so scattered today. But I want yall to know that OOOOLLLLIIIIIVVVVVEEEEE YYYYAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! SOOOOO MUCH! Thanks for all you do. But just remember the words of Joseph Smith after he saw the visions. "I knew it, I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it." I know you all have a testimony. Remember the feelings you've had. They're straight from God, you feel them through the Holy Ghost. When things get hard, when your faith waivers, when you begin to doubt, remember those feelings. They are from God, telling you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. 

MUCH LOVE! 

Sister Hannah Schieving

The "Quadpanionship"

Half-Birthday Pineapple!

5.20.2013: Al-bike-querque

Hahahahahahahah I just came up with that subject, super clever, huh? 

Anyway.... I've never experienced so much anger and frustration and happiness and spirit all at the same time.... I love it and hate it all at the same time. I feel like some moments I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. An inch away from giving up. BUT I feel like I have a little bit more hope as of 20 minutes ago when I had an interview with the mission president. He said there's no comfort in a growth zone and no growth in a comfort zone. So basically I'll be uncomfortable my whole mission or else I won't be growing. I have sooooo much to learn and improve on. He said a lot of other things and I wish I could have taken notes.... but it was good. I feel a little better. 

So I've decided to work on my charity and humility. We had an amazing lesson yesterday in Gospel Principles about charity and spiritual gifts. I have a particularly crazy spiritual gift I don't know how or when to use and maybe I haven't been able to yet cause I struggle with charity. I have been the recipient of so much charity in my life and I am seeing how selfish I've been at times. There's so much I don't want to give up, passions to bridle, thoughts to let go. But I read a talk from October conference by Elder Gay about what we need to give up to exemplify Christ. I feel like if I can do that and have more charity, I'll be able to help people the way the Lord wants and needs me to. Including my family. I just... olive you guys! 

So a highlight of the week was probably the fact that we taught 23 lessons. The standard of excellence is 20 and I've never reached it the whole 2 months I've been a missionary in the field. So that was cool that we exceeded our goals. 

I really don't know what to say this week. I am struggling to recall specific events, I've just been so overwhelmed with so many things. Things go up and down with my companion. We could be BFF's outside the mission but sharing missionary responsibilities is reallllly hard. Some moments are contentious. The next moment we're having the best time. The next moment we're so tired and want to give up. The next moment we find common ground. I'm so confused! Being a missionary comes with this really weird subculture. Inside jokes, unspoken rules, loopholes with obedience, district secrets.... not to say that all missionaries are bad. It's just odd. But fun. But weird. 

I feel like this email has been all over the place... Someone (all of you) tell me how life is over yonder in Tville? Abbi, how was your birthday? Naomi, are you excited for school to end? Sorry I didn't email you last week. Sarah, I'm super jealous you went to the Manti temple! How was it?! Mommy, congrats on finishing those camps! When I read your caterpillar comment, I laughed super hard. Dad, how's work? Getting some good long boarding in? Don't hurt yourself! Lisa, Laura, Grandma, how's spring cleaning going? I love cleaning... that's like all I contribute to my companionship and when we do things with other elders in our district. I just do the dishes, clean whatever, everyone else is proficient at cooking and food knowledge... They just jump right in. That's ok though, I have like 4 recipe books I've collected over the last 2 months... I'll put them to good use soon. 

So I failed at taking a picture of my and Sister Graves with our bikes... the new goal is to have one by the end of the transfer. Life is just too crazy! I'll tell you what, I don't know how I've had energy to get from place to place. On Friday, we were halfway into Corrales, left at4:45 to make it to dinner by 5 over by the church which is pretty far away from where we were. We were 15 minutes late, but it should have taken us almost an hour to get there. We were even riding against the wind in 90 degree weather. I wanted to throw up the whole time I was pedaling and pedaling, I was so tired ready to just give up and walk the rest of the way. But somehow, we made it. Goodness gracious. IT'S SOOOO HARD!!!! But I'M SOOOOO GREATFUL!! I know that in hindsight I'll look back and say "hey, that was an awesome experience." But right now it sucks. I'll be honest. 

Anyway, I love you all sooooooooo much! Thanks for everything you do. I hope that I'll be able to be more positive in the future, but I have no one to complain to besides the Lord. So sorry you guys get the short end of the stick. ;)

I've been reading John. I love all of it. John 14:26. AWesome. 

OLIVE YA!

Sister Schieving

**Editors note: I often edit Sister Schieving's emails for content at her request, leaving personal bits out or whatever. This week, because there were no specific directives to leave anything out, I opted to leave in the evidence of rough moments.  A mission is a struggle sometimes, and not always peachy keen and perfect. So, pray for your missionaries, where ever they may be. Pray for them to have success, growth, and strength trough the tough patches. Our missionaries are a  special part of the Lord's army and need all the support they can get! **