Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth.


Elder Ballard. One of my favorites. Our Search for Happiness. And his most recent talk from April 2011 Conference. He gave a great talk. It was one of many that stood out to me, while listening to it at church in Romanian. Thanks to Elder, or Fratele Jepsen for translating. I know I have already talked about it. But it really is the small and simple things that make up a lifetime. Alma 37:6-7. One of my favorite scriptures. Elder Ballard talked of a gold miner in 1949 that went to California to make his fortune. He looked for the big nuggets when an old prospector showed him the ropes by taking two rocks and hitting them together to reveal several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight. Through the small flecks of gold they made their fortune. Sometimes we seek the same thing not wanting to put in the work, just wanting the outcome of richness, fame, and glory. Not wanting to do the work. Life is a game of steps. Have to take one at a time. For some people, it's more steps than others and for others it includes bigger, rather than smaller steps. But each step is simple. Each step through time makes up a lifetime. I was also thinking about my members. Some very solid and firm in the gospel and others struggling. It is the continuation of small steps that build or break our testimonies. It's never to late to repent. You just have to do the simple steps.

It was a good week this past week. Had a chance to go on an exchange with one of my favorite missionaries - Elder Finch!!!! From Spanish Fork. It was a good week. Still working with all of our people. Ina, Ana, and Caruntu. Hope to set them up a baptismal date and see them get baptized!!!! One day if it's simply their time. Keep on doing the small and simple things. Met some cool people.

And biggest thing of the week. I interviewed Adam Iosif to be baptized! He is a great guy. Older but solid and loves the gospel. The baptism was really great and sadly we had more investigators than members there. Played the piano and said a prayer. Ana was there. With Paul - soccer coach. Alexandra - young mom and awesome. Lavinia - college student. Ilie and Sica - friends and two older guys met two days before. The baptism all went well. Elder Hyatt baptized him and just yesterday, the branch president, Pres. Valcaneantu gave him the Holy Ghost. It was a good week.

Sorry the e-mail is so short. Hope you all are doing well. It was tough at church to not see investigators come and to see less members than usual. I love this gospel and just like Grant said. You know what you are doing is right when the whole world seems to be a against you. We are doing a great work and cannot come down. We can't stop. This work will continue to go on. Every continent, ear, country, clime. I love my job.

Love,

Elder Schroedter

Monday, May 23, 2011

CARRY ON!!!

It was a good Zone Conference and training up in Arad. Could have been a better weekend but that's ok. Grant. I thought of you a lot. Something I love and will always think of you. "Hope for the best, Plan for the worst." I was really hoping for the best last Saturday, but unfortunately Ana was not yet baptized. And also Caruntu did not come to church so he cannot yet be baptized, but that's okay. I was hoping so much. And it's funny how often we use the word "hope" and don't really mean it. "oh ok, yeah, I hope I can." "I hope so" "hopefully" You hope for something thinking it will happen, other wise you wouldn't hope for it. Or is it something you think is impossible and you simply hope things'll work out. It's both I would say. You can hope for the impossible. The feeling that events will turn out for the best. I love the intertwinity of hope, charity, and faith. It's hard to have one without the other. And hope is the first step. If you even have a "glitter" of hope in something. It counts, no matter how small. Hope is the anchor of the soul. And when plans don't always work out, hope is what keeps us going. Although, things don't always work out the way we plan. We have to continue to hope for the best, never giving in or giving up. Simply- Carry On. The worst will sometimes happen, but life is not easy. It wasn't meant to be easy. Things have to not work out so we can appreciate things when they do work out. Hope is the power that creates faith. Increasing in faith will increase your charity and hope.

I hope Ana will be baptized. I hope Caruntu will receive permission. I hope people will listen. I hope for the best.

Last Monday, it was fun playing frisbee in the rain with the District. Then went home and was beat tired. That night had a really good lesson with Ana about prayer reading from True to the Faith. And receiving answers. Gave her time to prayer by herself and she didn't feel scared at all. It was one of the best lessons I have had. Simple and powerful. We also gave her a gift with our testimonies written inside of Preach My Gospel. She fasted Tuesday and prayed Wednesday and tried to find the answer. Thursday had a lesson where she just said she was not ready. She needs time simply and she was kinda of forced to set that baptismal date but I know the Holy Ghost never lets me down and he'll come in my time of need. He is the senior companion. And we have yet to meet again.

Caruntu. Knows all the lessons backwards, diagnolly, sideways, and forwards! And while upside-down looking in a mirrior. He is so so ready. Didn't come to church so we have to wait. Plus, he has to have a way to be able to come to church every week in the future. His guardians are against it. He knows it's 100% true and knows he needs to be baptized. Wish he was 18. Had really good lesson with him about missionary work and about him serving a mission. I'd definitely help him in 4 years time. That's you Grant!

Tuesday and Wednesday. Up in ARAD! I love President Lundberg. My Assistants Elders Frandsen and Bennett. Zone Leaders Bateman and Finch. And everyone in my zone. 7 cities were there. 2 zones. My city was there! - Brasov. Along with Sibiu, Cluj, Arad, Oradea, Deva, and Timisoara. I love my cities. I love my people. Reminded of important things to include in my teaching contacting and daily life while I am serving and living as a missionary. I can do a lot better and need to do a lot better. Met some cool people contacting up in Arad. Had 28 missionaries in that city contacting for 2 hours! Training was Tuesday and Zone Conference was Wednesday then got a ride from the Assistants and President back to Timisoara.

Later on in the week met some awesome people and HOPEFULLY they will keep their word and meet up with us later that we talked to on the street. Working with lots of people and it's sad to see people stop meeting up with us and simply reject it. We invite.

Supposedly, The end of the world was just this last Saturday? Anyone hear anything about that. Had some interesting people get...mad at us for being. People biking by. Walking by. There were some posters that were up that said. Prepare for 21 May. Vino sfarsitul lumii. I don't think it happened...but it maybe did and I simply didn't find out about it. To me it was the end of the world though. Two people that had baptismal dates were not baptized. :( But that's okay. They have a plan. Everyone has a plan and we have to hope when we don't know.

HOPE you have a great week and you are all happy. I am so happy despite the hard times we all go through. "You can't let the small things get you down." --Elder Eaton. I love that Elder so much. I need to show it more. Hope he doesn't hate me too much.

I love you all so much. Have a great week. You don't have a choice. Make it what you want. Be hopeful.

Love,

Elder Schroe

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

We Are Who We Strive To Become.

Everyday is a gift from God. I hope we all strive to make the most of this life. To be better today than yesterday and tomorrow to be better then today. Who do you want to become? I want to become the best missionary I can be. Not the best in the mission, but the best for God. To have others (non-members) see me and wonder why I am here? To listen and feel the power of the Holy Ghost. I want to do everything I can to help every single person I talk to. I strive everyday to take a step forward. Maybe a couple backward, but always a couple more forward. Always forward. TO BE BETTER. To strive. To excell. To learn. To enjoy. To Become.

It was a good week this past week. Getting some work done here with Elder Eaton. I love my people here. Timisoara will probably be my favorite city ever. Met some really great people and had some sweet lessons with the other elders: Cooper and Hyatt. Played some frisbee last Monday and got to get to know them a little better. Then that night had a really good lesson with Ana. Talked about Jsh 1:15-20 she needs that solid testimony that Joseph Smith did all that he did. Later...Thursday met up again and had a good lesson where we watched Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration and she really enjoyed it. She is so ready and one of my favorites hands down.

Caruntu. He is so ready. Met with him three times this week. Talking about the baptism and how it will go. Who he wants to do it? And a problem with his legal guardians he needs that written consent and I am working on being able to call them hopefully today and talk to them about Caruntu. He wants to be baptized so bad. He came to church yesterday and it was awesome to see him there. Really enjoyed it and met all the members. I love caruntu too. Met again and talked about the Priesthood. He is excited to be able to receive it.

Met with Ina one time and since then haven't been able to contact her! ugh. Talked about Joseph again and read from history and bore simple testimony about him. She believes the internet rather than our words.

Weds. Met the coolest guy. Calin. I know he would definitely be baptized here in Timi if he were staying. He is moving this week to Paris. Young guy and was really interested and super prepared for the gospel.

An old investigator. He is learning Japanese. I was surprised to see his paper and tell right away, hey that's Japanese. His name is Iosif and really cool. Older but he gave us his address and hope to meet with him again soon.

Couple lessons got cancelled. People are uncommited sometimes and that's okay. Their decision. I still love and keep trying to invite. Bold but not overbearing.

Met up with Valeria. Been an investigator for a while (if 5 years is a while). She wants to be baptized, but lives with her husband/but really a boy friend. Doesn't even love him but she won't kick him out. We meet with her and she comes to church pretty regularly.

Alexandra. Awesome young mom. Has a three year old kid and it was a really great lessons. Listened to the talk by Pres. Monson (Apr. 2009 Sun Morning Last talk) about the future is as bright as your faith. Talked a lot about trials and why they happen. The purpose of life. Talked a little again about the plan of salvation and how we are that we might have joy.

Mircea. Like him a lot. He came to church last week but couldn't find it. He called us and I didn't hear it in my pocket. Felt so bad. He said he'd come yesterday but never did. Have had good two lessons with him. Met him in the park and I feel really good about him. Older but really sincere and accepting.

Along with some other people here and there, it was a good week. Visiting members, recent converts, and less actives. We stay busy and I really like it. Try to talk to all who are put in our path. You never know who will accept out glad message for the world. Be an example of the believers. Where ever and when ever. I enjoy working with Elder Eaton. I dont think he hates me too bad. ;) He is a great missionary and I love him.

I am looking forward to zone conference and special training to look at how I do things. Regroup and do better everyday. It's the small days every single day that make a lifetime- in the course of eternity...our life on earth is 3 minutes and 27 seconds. Will we choose the right? I am really trying. Not just because I am missionary, but as a missionary, I see things in a different perspective. Hope you have a great week everyone. I love all of you.

Dad, mom, Shelby, Garrett, Marissa, Grant and Caleb. You all mean so much to me. I love you.
And you all know as well, Josh, Aubrey, Kristi, Brodie, Elsie, Millie, Chase and Taryn.

love,

Elder Schroe


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Happy Mother's Day, MOM! I love you so much. ZIUA MAMEI. - The Day of the Moms.

It was a good week here in Timisoara. I love it so much and the weeks go by so fast. It was kinda chilly. About 55 to 60 degrees. I would say today has been the coldest for a while. It is so beautiful here and I love walking the streets and being outside and talking to people and getting to know their story. Everyone has a story and sometimes they just need someone to share it with. I have made some great friends here in Timisoara. Especially my companions.

Yesterday, I got to talk to my family! And I would just like to send out a shout out to a couple people...that I didn't talk to. Grant and Shelby! I miss you so much and love you so much. Hope to be able to talk to you at Christmas and also Josh and Aubrey. Everyone else in the world, hope you can wait a year and a couple months. I love my family so much. I really want to teach a family and bring them this Gospel. I have had a couple lessons with families but they just didn't go anywhere. Someone is out there waiting for me and I will find them. Don't worry.

Also, a shout out to Ana. Thank you for trying to help us with Skype. Don't feel TOO bad that it didn't work, it wasn't your fault. Not like we were disappointed and could only just talk to them on the phone. Seriously though, it's not a big deal. I don't want to make you feel bad. ;)

Some really awesome people here in Timisoara and I love having lessons with them. With baptismal dates: Caruntu and Ana. Solid and I really like them a lot. Then working with Ciprian, Marian, Alex, Vasile, Ina, Olga, Valeria, Paul, Andra, Claudia, Marian, Alexandra, Cledus, Mircea. I wish I could tell you all about each of them but another time will do. I love every single one of them. It is by the small and simple things that the big things happen. For example, as we read and pray we will know for ourselves the truth.

I really enjoyed finishing up in Luke this morning. And still continuing in D&C. Sometimes I shouldn't be but as people walk past you, rejecting, it's hard to keep putting yourself out there, talking to people and just getting rejected and rejected time and time again. But then this morning and last week Elder Eaton read a really good verse I need to remember.

2But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their amouths, but they hide the btalent which I have given unto them, because of the cfearof man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is ekindled against them.

3And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be ataken away, even that which they have.


I have so many talents to share. I have been so blessed with the easiness of the Romanian language and I can't hide that. If you don't use it, you don't always lose....you just might have it taken it away from you. I don't want my talents taken away from me. Not only for me to speak to everyone and talk to them. Don't hide your talents. Everyone brings something to the table. Sometimes in life, we don't think we do at all but I know we do. And as we share our talents, talk, play, sing, etc we will be blessed. Others need your example and talents.


Hope you have a great week. I love all of you. Sorry if I couldn't give out enough shout outs... ;)


Trying to do this:

59And he said unto another, aFollow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61And another also said, Lord, I will afollow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the aplough, and blooking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


I love you Marissa.

And one and all,


Love,


Elder Schroedter


Monday, May 2, 2011

What Am I To Do? ENDURE!

It is the hardest step of the five and the longest. Enduring to the end. Lives. Missions. Tasks. Projects. Books. Days. Weeks. Hours. Transfers. EVERYDAY. It's about enduring to the end. Oh man. Yesterday was a crazy day. Church, I was all over the place. Got there early. Set up piano. Put out hymn books. Helped with Sacrament set up. Said hello to members. Played prelude music. First picked hymns...actually chorister chose them and I confirmed. Practiced. Senior Couple came. One investigator. 2 investigators for the other Elders. I played piano. Said opening prayer. Praying for members to bear GOOD testimonies....some trouble last month. I bore my testimony. Conducted next hour for Sunday School. Then helped the Senior Couple (from Arad) They wouldn't always understand and I would just give a recap for them in English. Then closed and talked more with members. Then Priesthood. Usually have the lesson, but they asked me to play the piano to practice some with the Relief Society did that for about 10 minutes. So Elder Cooper, I AM REALLY SORRY. I handed the lesson over to him. Thank you so much Man!!!!! Really am sorry. Then I came in. Tried to participate and help out. Then closed. Said prayer. Then played again for RS to close. Whew. Then church ended. Cleaned up books. Piano. Then passed out on the ground. Just kidding. Then went home and had lunch. Then actually I tried calling all the members - all the less actives. We have a lot of them and I wish they would just come back and be active. It is a very tough situation.
We have great investigators. They love meeting with us. We have to get the members involved though. Because we come and go. Members are so important - that's how people are truly baptized and stay active. For example. The last two baptisms here is Timisoara. I haven't seen either one at church for a month or so. Dec '10 and Feb '11 (that I was here for). And we try to visit and encourage them. We need the members. We need the help of the members to make our investigators into Saints and members. I am working on it....

But uh, last week I totally forgot to tell about the other Elders. Eaton and Frandsen. They have 2 baptismal dates for the 21st of May. And last week we met with Caruntu twice and he has a date now on the 28th of May. So now I have 3 dates! I sure hope they work out. I feel the best for Caruntu because I know him the best. The other dates: Ana and Ina seem pretty solid. Ina has read the Book of Mormon in less than a month nearly! She is nearly to Mormon and has about 100 pages as of last night when we met with her. She said she'd try to finish last night. Need to call her. She needs to understand the gravity of this situation, the importance of the Priesthood! That one church today actually has the Priesthood of God. It was a good lesson last night but we still have to meet with her often. She wants to be 100% sure and we want her to be sure. No forcing. Only Inviting others to Christ.

Then Ana. Met missionaries last year. Caught up on deep doctrine. Has read all of D&C and POGP...tonight we have a lesson about last chapters in Abraham...what was he thinking about writing that deep doctrine that we can't, don't, and don't need to understand in this life. KEEP IT SIMPLE ABE!!!!! It's alright though. Because there is only one question with our message. Is the Book of Mormon true? And she knows it is true as well as Ina and Caruntu. They need to realize they need to take this step on to baptism. THEY NEED NEED NEED TO. We all do if we haven't taken it yet. And renew that covenant we make at baptism every Sunday. No excuses. Straight up. Keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Follow the Commandments, the truth shall set you free. You don't even know how happy you will be.

Yesterday I bore my testimony on the last 4 words of Nephi, the son of Lehi in the 2 book of Nephi. Easy scripture for you all to memorize. Ready? 4 words in English but 6 in Romanian. "I MUST OBEY. AMEN." I want to memorize it. the scripture is probably more easier than the reference- and in romanian (Eu trebuie sa ma supun. Amin) ATAT!!!!! We gotta do it. Have to obey. That is the key to endurance! everyday will be hard. Bineinteles! I didn't say it would be easy. I just said it would be worth it.

Caruntu. I love that kid so much. He didn't come to church but it's understandable. He doesn't even live here! He IS moving here to Timi and is going to be a sweet member in this church. Elder Bruner left him with a white church shirt and we bought a tie together for him and for Razvan his other friend who is progressing, but not quite as fast. I am so excited for Caruntu. He wore his shirt and tie when we met on Thursday. It was sad to see Elder Bruner leave Tuesday. I met with caruntu with Elder Eaton, the new companion! And it was a great lesson. I love saying the invitation. At the perfect moment and he accepted. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority?

Many other investigators and we are trying to get them all progressing. It's all about understanding. Feeling the Holy Ghost. And knowing the Book of Mormon is true. All other things fall in place. It's going to be a great week.

I love the scriptures. Reading now in the New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants. One of my favorite themes in the scrips:
aWith men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are bpossible. Mark 10:27

And in Doctrine and Covenants I find so much to relate to me on the mission and love it so much.
But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine aeyes are upon you. I am in your bmidst and ye cannot csee me; D&C 38:7

God is always with us. Never forget that. Choose the Right. Have a great week. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's, Grandma's, Great-Grandma's and future Moms. I am so grateful for all the motherly figures in my life. Especially in my family. Marissa and Shelby. I love you so much. And Mom. I don't know where I would be without you. I love you so much and I never want you to forget that. You are the best. I am so grateful and thankful for you in my life. I know families ARE together forever. So grateful for the Temple. I love you Mom.

And to all the rest. I love you FAMILY! And Friends. And my DISTRICT and their families. Elder Cooper. Elder Hyatt. And Elder Eaton.

-Elder Schroedter