Ten months down April 24th, 2017

Ten Months Going Once? Twice? Sold to Sister Schoemig.

HOLA, mi compadres.

I wish I could just describe my week in pictures sometimes, because words escape me today. 

We had a LOT of potential for this week, but it fell a bit flat... BUT MIRACLES STILL HAPPENED. God knows how hard me and Sister Rogers are working and he has rewarded us. We found three new investigators this week, Theresa Bell came to church, and the Meikles came to church.

We taught Theresa this week, we met her Wednesday night at the church with a member; Sister Fowler, the Word of Wisdom. Geez, this lesson was insane. Knowing Theresa, she had a lot of questions and concerns. We got a little sidetracked with the details of the Word of Wisdom, when really her concern was with the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I felt impressed to bring her back to what we were asking her to do all along. Read and Pray. I can't even describe how much I love this wonderful lady. I know there was certain people I was supposed to meet. Sister Theresa Bell was one of them. She is happier, she is kinder, she is opening up more to people (shes naturally very shy), shes becoming more bold. The changes in her life are something I KNOW COMES FROM READING THE BOOK OF MORMON. She is having a hard time with the Word of Wisdom because she doesn't understand the why of it but she is trying to live it and I am so proud of her. Pray for her, y'all. :)

We went on exchanges with the Salem sistas! I was with Sister Draper. She came out with me ten months ago. It was really fun to get to compare our missions and see where the Lord has taken us. She's had a crazy mission full of being chased by dogs, rude people, and guns. I sure am a blessed human being to have served where I have served. :) I love Virginia. Can't get any better than here. Virginia is for lovers. <3

Me and Sister Rogers want to plan a Fiesta. The Elders aren't so sure they want to do it but I'll keep y'all updated, haha! 

Saturday was my ten months! Every month I just seem to freak out even more because I can't believe how fast my mission is actually going. I've wanted to serve since I was fifteen and now that it's actually here and going this fast is throwing my brain for a loop! Guess I better live the last eight months to the fullest! ;) 

We had church on Sunday and man, this ward has grown so much since I've been here! They actually want to do missionary work and they have been standing up for missionary work! They want to make this ward better and more loving and the changes that are happening are so awesome to watch! 

I got an ear infection this week. Sister Rogers has been taking care of me. I went to a doctor in the ward on saturdayand he prescribed me some medicine, so hopefully it'll go away soon! :) 

I LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK! Have an awesome week! Remember faith without works is dead! :)

LOVE, Sister Schoemig​

More fun pictures!!! April 17, 2017

Oh, You Can't See What's Going On In My Head?

The changes are real. The work is HASTENING.

But first things first, to explain my title. I was telling Sister Rogers a story about....something...i can't remember...but I was explaining where these groups of people were and in my head I could see where the groups of people were and I SERIOUSLY thought she could see in my head so I just started singing little noises (like I do) and using my hands to show where the people were and she stopped me and was like Wait, what? I totally didn't even realize that she couldn't see inside my head or she couldn't tell what I was trying to do with my hands. The moments of Sister Schoemig everyone. The mission has made me change in A LOT of different ways. haha!

Monday, we had a family home evening with a less active family, The Huffmans. They are a super awesome couple that adopted three african american girls and one of them is disabled. It was a pretty fun night. :)

Tuesday, MLC! I am such a privileged human being. I drove up to Charleston, West Virginia to listen to dear President Salisbury. And man, I was not disappointed! The spirit is an amazing teacher. I learned how to be a better leader, and the spirit asked me to repent and become better. I'm so grateful for the spirit helping me to see the places in my life that I could change and do even better. I'm learning, on my mission, that most people know where they need to improve, they know what areas they are slacking in but sometimes we get stubborn and don't want to do it. It's the human in us. We doubt our faith before we doubt our doubts. But in this council we talked about how we need the faith. We need this gospel. I strongly testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for you. It's for me. We need to be "bought in" to the gospel. There is no other way to eternal happiness than living the Gospel and knowing we have the promise of eternal life from God. But anyways, we rode with the Christiansburg sisters, Sister Reid and Sister Gardner. They are so cute and I loved getting to know them more and to have these amazing spiritual experiences with them. 

Wednesday, we picked up two new investigators! Norma and Tomas. They aren't related in any way shape or form but they are equally as awesome! Norma is a "disciple" and Tomas is looking to go to church somewhere. They are super sweet and I can't wait to keep working with them.

Thursday, Weekly planning. Ha, it started raining so me and Sister Rogers went out and danced in it while everyone else was running back inside to get away from the rain. AND Sister Theresa Bell, one of our investigators, came to a RS activity and she LOVED it. She is progressing so well. I love her. We also picked up a family; Brian, Missy and Taylor. :)

Friday, exchanges with Roanoke YSA. I had the most spiritual companion study EVER. Sister Lee, in the Roanoke YSA was my companion, and she is at the end of her mission. She goes home on May 4th. She wanted to focus on enjoying the journey. And well, who else knows the journey better than Jesus Christ? So I talked about Jesus Christ with her. Nothing brings the spirit better than talking about Him who loves us. She told me a few of the most spiritual moments on her mission. The spirit was tangible. One of the most spiritual moments of my mission for sure. It made me look forward to the end of my mission and think if I had to share a few of my most spiritual moments what would I say? I have the resolve to work even harder and BE the missionary God needs me to be. I loved this exchange. Hands down. 

Also, this past week we found out we aren't doing zone meetings anymore. It's big news. 

Sunday, Theresa came to church! And in RS our teacher didnt show so we had a testimony meeting about Christ and I realized why my mom always cries on Easter Sunday. (sorry to embarrass you mom) The resurrection. My parents will be perfect. I understand my childhood now. I'm grateful for my family and all I have. 

I love you all to the moon and back,

Sister Schoemig

 

mormon.org 

Museum and birthday April 10, 2017

Sis. Schoemig's birthday dress from home.

"My Favorite Scripture is the one About the Flying Roll"

​We went to the transportation museum here in Roanoke. It was actually a lot of fun! We felt tiny next to all the giant trains and the cars were super sweet! I saw some bus signs there that were from Blacksburg and I was like MY HOME. haha

We have been making LEAPS and BOUNDS with Theresa! After General Conference, she recieved some Anti but she defended us! She did what she thought was right, which ultimately grew her faith so much! She's not questioning everything near as much and her faith and countenance are changing and I love it! We are meeting with her tonight and I am so excited to see her!!

At missionary coordination, me and Sister Rogers had to run out to the car real fast to grab some papers and a good friend from the Salem ward was outside talking to some other good recent convert friends from Salem as well, I gave them all hugs and then Sister Guy gave me and Sister Rogers roses! It was so sweet of her! :) We walked back into coordination with them and all the missionaries were like, how did you get flowers in that quick trip? We told them we were magic. 

This week we've been eating lunch and dinner outside because its been THAT NICE. The weather in Virginia has been ABSOLUTELY perfect and its awesome!

Im sending some pics of my district. We are....a bit dysfunctional. But they are pretty fun! I love being around missionaries. We are a strictly obedient missionary handbook, preach my gospel mission (which I am SO happy about, so many obstacles are avoided because of it) and so when we are together we try to have a little bit of fun!

I went on exchanges with the Cotton Hill sisters. Sister Zaugg and Sister Ivory. THEY ARE AWESOME. They have been struggling a bit with the work. So this was a good "intermediate hymn" for them. (hahahahaha) we saw miracles. and Sister Zaugg has improved in her teaching and talking skills since the last time I was on exchanges with her. The mission changes you and it has been so cool to watch the AMAZING change in her. I love them both so much!!!

Last but certainly NOT least. The biggest miracle of all. Brother Meikle and Sister Meikle. I KNOW I am here for them. They are a super awkward couple here in the ward that has gone less active. Brother Meikle has not been the most friendly with the missionaries, but since I got here, he's been more involved and we have seen miracles with him! Sister Rogers and I have been focusing on teaching repentance and being bold with declaring God's word, I cannot say enough that miracles are real because THEY SO ARE. We had the most amazing lessons with them in the past couple days and Brother Meikle knows he needs to change. They BOTH came to church yesterday, even though he is super afraid of crowds. We had a lesson with them too and the spirit was so strong with them, they are so willing to change and they have committed themselves to be better. We asked them if they would study their scriptures daily and they said yes. Now, I told you these humans are awkward so Sister Meikle said "My favorite scripture is the one about the flying roll" and us and Brother Meikle busted up laughing so hard. We told her to show us where in the Bible it talks bout a flying roll. PEOPLE. It actually says flying roll in the Bible. Zechariah 5:1&2. Look it up. She proved us wrong. It was so good. 

Anyways, I'm now 20 years old and not surprisingly, I still feel like a kid. I wore my brand new dress to church and I felt sorta(?) like an old person. It was a good day. Everyone was wishing me a happy bday and I felt so loved. I am so loved. AND I LOVE YOU! Im glad I could spend my 20th birthday in THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD. 

I love you all to the moon and back! 

Sister Schoemig​

More fun pictures April 3, 2017

Here Comes Elder Schoemig

I've gotta start of with the most exciting news of THE CENTURY. 

Ahem. My brother, Chandler Alma Schoemig, has been called as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the WASHINGTON SEATTLE MISSION. He reports on June 14th, 2017 and he has been called to preach the Lord's gospel in American Sign Language. 

There are no words to describe the complete joy I feel in this moment. The many amazing, scary, overwhelming, intense experiences that are ahead of him are something that I AM SO EXCITED to hear. Chandler, you are an amazing son of God. I always have looked up to you, now that we are big its more literally than figuratively (haha). ;) I so wish I could be there for this amazing new journey you are about to embark on. Joyfully, the Lord has called and qualified me too. I am HONORED to serve with such a noble son of God, and more humbled that he is in my own family. The seven months that we will serve together on opposite ends of the country are going to be months that will pull us more together, than any other time of our lives. If I could offer some few words of advice it would be this. Focus. Serve. Love. Focus, because the years that are ahead of you are ones that YOU CANNOT REPLACE, I don't say this to put fear in you but to inspire you. This is YOUR TIME TO SERVE, do it with the most focus that you can give and I promise the Lord will bless you for it. Don't get distracted by what the other Elders and Sisters are doing around you and focus on what you want to become and what you want your mission to be. It's all dependant on your focus on serving the Lord. Serve, because WE SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEART, MIGHT, MIND, and STRENGTH. We are the Lord's army. Love, because you are called to love, not to judge. These are the Lord's children and they are going to need your love almost more than anything else. 

I am so proud of you and your decision to serve the Lord for two years. I love you and I can't wait to serve with you.

Now for my week... Zone Conference was on Wednesday. I had a lot of thoughts running through my head concerning my little bro. But so much comfort was given to me. Me and my mother, were talking, last monday, about me skyping home for my brothers mission call, it was going to be a suprise to him and my family. The thoughts of excitement and nervousness kept running through my head throughout the week, but when I saw President Salisbury, the thoughts all cleared up and I knew what I had to do. At the first break we had for the day, I basically ran up to President and asked him if he got my mom's email. He said he hadn't and looked for it for a little while. Eventually I just decided to tell him what me and my mom wanted to do and when I told him I could see the many thoughts running through his head. But I had already made up my mind, this was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I couldn't call home. I need to be totally consecrated to the Lord. When I left on a mission, I decided to leave all that at home. I was reminded of that and I knew that was the Lord's will for me. When I told President, he immediately told me he wished he could give me the biggest hug. (He really really wanted to give me a hug, he's the BEST) Basically, y'all know me and should expect this. I quickly excused myself and my companion to go to the bathroom because I was crying hard core. Such a hard decision to make, but I am so glad I made it. The rest of Zone Conference was really good. Wish I could explain all I learned, sadly time is of the essence!

We went on exchanges with the Martinsville sisters. I was with Sister Callister here in Roanoke.  It was a really good exchange! Sister Callister is an amazing missionary!. At the end of the exchange, we all said something we learned and I could tell it was a good exchange because we all learned something that was deeply connected to something we could work on or something we needed to learn. I am so happy to be a sister training leader to some AMAZING SISTERS.

This work is the most joyous work. There are so many moments throughout the day that help me to feel so much joy! We have been working so hard to keep finding and teaching. Last night, we were out trying to find someone to teach around 8:30. We didn't quite know quite where the Lord needed us so we decided to pray for some guidance. We said a prayer and looked around, and Sister Rogers said Well, no one magically appeared..We continued to look around to see which way we needed to go when in a split second someone magically appeared. We decided that was our answer. We went up to talk to him, and he wasn't interested at first but I felt prompted to tell him how we ended up coming to talk to him. I told him that God loved him and he just provided a way for us to feel all of his love. The joy that came into him when we told him that was so real. You could see his eyes light up! It was amazing. The light that just seems to grow in investigators and less actives is something that I know only comes from the gospel. This is truly a joyous work. 

This is probably the longest email you've ever seen but whatevs. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHANDLER! (I forgot to mention that it was his 18TH birthday as well!)

So I love Sister Rogers. We get along SO well. We compliment each other in the work. It's really cool to see the miracles flow as we work together to serve the Lord. I am LOVING it. :)

General Conference was the best! If you didn't watch, go watch it right now because that is what the Lord needs you to hear. It's pretty important stuff! Even if you did watch, go watch it again cause it's just THE BEST! We had 3 investigators watch conference and they each loved it so much! I am so glad I have the knowledge of Christ's true gospel and I get to go share it with his children. 

Well, I better skedaddle. The people are waiting for the joyous message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ;)

I LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK. 

Sister Schoemig

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