Monday, April 29, 2013

4.29.13 Surprise Transfer!

Hey everyone!! This week we got some big news from Sister Schieving. She received word that she will be transfereed this week and that she is being "promoted" to being a trainer! After only six weeks in Taos she will be moving to a new area and training a new sister. She's excited about her new leadership position and the new program she will be a part of. We don't know where she'll be after her transfer, so make sure to address letters to the mission home until we find out her new address. 

Here is the email she sent this morning! It has a great story in it and tells us a little bit more about what she's expecting in the next week. 


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Dear Family and Friends, 

What the heck, right? I'm LEAVING TAOS! I'M GOING TO TRAIN A NEW SISTER! I can't tell you how bummed I am... I love Taos so much. I WILL be coming back. Even if I don't get to serve here again on my mission. Roadtrip, anyone? This is my town! 

I'll tell you what though, it's been a great last few days in Taos since I got the news I'd be training. A real miracle happened. Story time: So Tuesday was turning out to be an unsuccessful day. We got in our service clothes, ready to... well serve. No one was home or wanted our service! Lame, right? So we go change into our pros clothes and then go to Baskin Robbins to visit an investigator who works there. Wouldn't you know it, she's not there! We get back into the truck and the elders pull up. So we ask them who we should visit on this list of part-member families. Elder Lagerstrom points to a name. We go visit! We knock on the door and the 12 year old daughter answers. We ask if her mom is home. She says no, she's IN THE HOSPITAL IN SANTA FE CAUSE SHE HAD A HEART ATTACK THAT DAY!!!!! She wasn't yelling at us, that's just me emphasizing the magnitude of the situation. So we're in shock, we ask how she's doing, she says she's fine. This girl was composed. I most definitely would not have been if my mom, or anyone for that matter, was in the hospital because of a heart attack. So let me step on my soap box for a minute before I resume the story so I can exhort you all to please please please take care of yourselves. Eat well. Get some exercise. Go get check ups. I want you all healthy and happy while I'm gone. You'll break my heart and tear me to pieces if anything happens to any of you. Got it? Thanks. :) I say that all with love. :) Ok back to the story. Composed 12 year old. We ask if she has any siblings there with her. She has a 10 year old brother. We ask if they have food, if they need anything, etc. She says politely they dont... but really if you would have been on the outside of their trailer looking in, you wouldn't have believed them. We didn't. So we give the 2 kids our number and tell them to call us if they need anything and then we leave.We call the missionaries in Santa Fe right away to go visit her and give her a blessing. They did almost immediately after we called them. So anyway, we went back to Baskin Robins and the elders are still there and so is the Relief Society president who owns Baskin Robins. She goes over to the house and has the kids go with her and stay with her for the week until their mom gets back. SO! Had we not stopped by, those kids probably would have struggled a lot with having their mom gone, feeding themselves, getting to school, etc. So we were at the right place at the right time. Our day didn't turn out like we planned for it, but had it gone as planned, just think of what could have happened. Elder Lagerstrom was inspired to point to that name. Wow, God is amazing. He's in charge.

So... lots of fun times the last few days I've had in Taos. I think Saturday was probably the best day I've had here. We started our day at a flea market in Seco. Fun stuff! We talked to a lot of people, handed out Mormon.org cards, and shared our testimonies. We went to a yard sale ($2 skirt... heheheh), talked to more people, found the most AMAZING consignment/thrift store EVER ($1 shirt... heheheheheh super ugly and awesome. Next week you'll see pictures of it.), visited one of our favorite older members who loves basketball like grandma does, and had dinner with the families on the hill. I just love the people of Taos!!!

Yesterday... I cried a lot. Surprise surprise. In the meeting we always have with the bishop before church, I announced to him that I was being transferred. So he invited me to bear my testimony before the speakers got up. As he announced I was leaving, the whole congregation gasped! All I could do was feel loved, that people were so shocked I was leaving. So I got up and was crying before I spoke. I bore my testimony... I saw other people crying right along with me, even my companion. :') sniff! After I got down, I was crying so hard... probably as hard as I cried as I left my own family! 2 of the girls on the hill came and sat by me, leaning their heads on my shoulders and holding my hands and telling me it would all be ok. That just made me cry harder! To have these 2 little 9 and 10 year-olds come console and comfort me like that... I'm crying just thinking about it! They are so sweet. Lots of hugs an goodbyes during the rest of church. So hard! What the heck, how can I get so attached to people, an entire ward, in just 6 weeks?! That's the magic of Taos I guess, and impoderable of the gospel as well. Boy oh boy. Last night I had dinner one last time with the families on the hill. I taught the girls how to make weaving bracelets. And one of the girls had been making a bracelet for me the whole day before. I'm so loved! One of the dad's is a police officer for the city of Taos and gave me a police patch! Legit! People are so generous, I also got a recipe book from a lady in the ward. So... I had to say goodbye to the families on the hill and that was hard. HARD. Cause I love them the most. The girl who made me a bracelet (she's 10) gave me a huge tight long hug... and she started to cry. What?! So I had to cry... hugs and tears. So bitter sweet. That's been my life the last few days, knowing this is the last time I'll see this family, or go down that road, etc....

Today is my last Pday here. We're going to the Ski Valley, the Gorge Bridge, and it will be a great adventure! I'm wearing jeans and the ugly shirt and these LEGIT boots a member gave to my companion. But we both tried them on and they fit us both, but I wanted her to have them because she could wear them when she gets home in June. But being the most amazing and humble and kind and selfless companion she is, she gave them to me and said that God would provide for her. And He did! Some members gave her money for this native jacket she'd been eying at a thrift store. Anyway, they're awesome. real leather, work boots and they're one of a kind. Anyway, I'm so sad it's my last day in Taos! 

After dinner tonight we'll be driving to Rio Rancho, right before ABQ to stay with the sisters down there for the night. Then at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning we'll find out where I'm going and who my new companion is! I'm so stoked! And scared! AH! But I had a little slice of personal revelation this week. I was pondering the atonement. I thought to myself as I was teaching it that..."Hey. If Christ could suffer for everyone, I can handle my trials.... what's so hard that I can't do if Christ already did the hard part for me?" I always knew that... but it clicked this time around. I'm so grateful for that knowledge, and I'm grateful that I've had so many great experiences here in Taos that I can remember for a lifetime, that I can reflect on when times get hard. I know God is there to help me through the hard parts and He'll rejoice with me in my triumphs. 

So that's about it... I know it's not as long as my other novels, but that's probably a good thing. Dad, the elders were very grateful for your letters and stamps! As was sister Harlan. :) Also, you probably don't need to be reminded but don't send things for me to them anymore. Send things to the mission home until I can get you my new address.

Well........ OLIVE YA'LL!!! I'm more and more grateful for my family every day. I miss you all, love you all... Thank you for your prayers and well wishes and good juju! My heard is so full!


Read Luke 6. It's a good one. :)
MUCH LOVE, 
Sister Hannah Schieving

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Hannah sent lots of photos with captions this week!



My district. I'll miss them!

Elder and Sister Adams. Show this to the Herricks!

Me and one of the girls on the hill, the one who made me a bracelet and cried when she hugged me goodbye... I'lll miss that girl!

Playing hand games. She picks things up fast for a 4 year old!

Me and the little girls on the hill. I taught the one with glasses how to wink, how to do a thumb war, staring contest, and a hand game ;)

Other favorite girl on the hill

They were all zombies, lol!

I decorated Sister H's last planner!

Baskin Robins!

I should open my own photo studio down here! It's full of awesome stuff.

A special goodbye ice cream cake!

I'm the salt, the rest are pepper! :)

That's the $2 skirt...



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