Monday, June 27, 2011

Farewell to the Lundbergs, Welcome to the Hills

It's going to be really weird this coming week. Tomorrow the new Mission President and wife will arrive. President and Sora Hill. And Wednesday morning, President and Sora Lundberg will be leaving. Then on Thursday will be my first presentation with Elder Veenendaal as Zone Leader in Zone Conference with the new mission president for the Buc East and West Zones this Thursday (Cities: Ploiesti, Buc, Constanta, Alexandria, Craiova, and Pitesti). Then on Friday Mission Council with all the Zone Leaders in the Mission. Then Saturday....nothing special. And Sunday. The usual. Things are changing. People coming and others going. I have really come to love the Lundbergs so much. I feel like I barely got here and they are already leaving me! I'll miss them a lot. They did so much for this mission and for this people. I love President, Sora, and Josh! va iubesc din tot sufletul meu.

Last night was a really great fireside where all three of them spoke and another member from the other side of Buc (Panduri) wrote an awesome poem that included all of their names and even rhymed in Romanian, of course. Josh gave a nice talk and had a lot nice stories. Sora Lundberg talked about the purpose of missionaries and gratitude for all of us - Elders, Sisters and Elderly Couples. It's all about the Gospel. Five steps to happiness and true joy. Faith. Repentance. Baptism. Gift of the Holy Ghost. And Enduring to the End. And President Lundberg gave an awesome talk about the miracles he has seen here in his three years. I love them all so much. He told the sweet story about Toma Samoila....awesome story!!!!! And now...he happens to be serving in the mission. I sure hope I get to be his companion some time.

Saturday after an awesome English class where 3 students showed up. We were going home and coming up out of the metro station and it is raining with A BUCKET! or in other words...raining cats and dogs. It was probably the worst storm I have been through here in Romania so far. Couple bad snow storms in Brasov and Timi. A rain storm in Timi and now many more to come here in Buc. We were pinned down for a good 30 minutes. Probably the closest to lightning I have ever been in my life. I couldn't blink from the time i saw the light of the lightning, hearing the crack of thunder a split second after and jumping off the ground a couple feet. It was crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seems to rain everyday and occasionally, maybe weekly, we'll get a big storm. It was a good week though. Had a good exchange with my fav, Elder Lee the new District Leader.

So after English, Elder Lee and I are in their area and Elder Martin is with Veenendaal at our apartment. We had a lesson with a really cool member, young and eager to be a missionary. Adrian "champion" he goes by. Then after that went to a really nice park. "Tineretului" had a nice lesson with a man, gave him a BOM but not too eager meet up again. Then the next day a good lesson with someone Veenen and I found, Silvia. Then to a member's house Firaru's and then Manescu. We did work. I'll just say that much. Elder Lee is so awesome. I love him a lot and grateful to be serving with him. Really non-Christlike move someone pulled on us happened after our lesson in Tineretuliu. It's not to far from the church. We walk out of the park and get on a bus. First. On a typical bus. 3 entrances. 1 single door in the front. and 2 double doors in the middle and back. Lots of people were pushing to the middle so I decide to get on the back. And Elder Lee follows. It's only one stop. We are just standing there. Not really talking or anything. But I notice two guys to Elder Lee's back. So so many times already here in Buc, I hear people talking about us and they even say I wonder if they understand...anyways back to the story. These two guys are talking about the church, first, because we just drove by it...getting close to our stop. 15 seconds. He says just stupid things. Who would put Christ's name on a wall? These two boys standing in front of me and not even understanding me...then a couple other things I probably didn't quite understand and not worth repeating. We ACTUALLY were supposed to get off in two stops. But something told me and just told me to get off. So I did and Elder Lee followed. Still talking about us. I simply said, "o seara buna" - have a good night... and midway through saying it, the guy talking gets up and slaps Elder Lee on the back of the head. We get off. Elder Martin and Veenendaal are there. Then he opens his window. Flips us off and then spits on us....we were all pretty upset. All I say is I am glad we got off the bus. I didn't even see Martin and Veen. They were going to get on the bus. But anyways. It's hard to love people after that and seeing the bad that exists in the world. But I do it anyways.

I love it here in Bucuresti and am really excited to be having the investigators that we have and working with them. Silvia wants to be baptized and serve a mission. We still need to meet with her and teach her everything. She is going on vacation really soon. Other wise we would have a baptism here in a couple weeks.

In church yesterday, I was the last speaker for Sacrament. A missionary talks every Sacrament meeting....shouldn't but we do. But all I had was like 3 minutes....i think I did about 5 minutes. Talked about probably the best story ever from the New Test. Luke 22:50-51. After the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas betraying him. Into the hands of the enemy. He still loves them. It was hard last Tuesday with that less-than-nice man on the bus. But I love him and pray for him that he'll realize what he really is doing. It's all about Christ and his Atonement. I shared that scripture and bore my testimony about the Atonement. Conveniently, the previous talk was about the Atonement and didn't steal my thunder, but added to the greatness. I love this Gospel so much. So much. It has changed my life and that is why I am here. To change lives. To give people love. The perfect, eternal. ever-lasting love of Jesus Christ and help them feel that for them.

I love all of you. Especially President, Sora and Josh Lundberg Family. :)

Love,

Elder Schroedter


Saturday, June 25, 2011

So Grown Up!

From 9 months and 6 days from never touching the wheel of a car, I did so last Tuesday driving to Constanta with Elder Veenendaal from Bucuresti. Well, Elder Veenendaal loves driving and likes to drive in Buc so I let him go right ahead and do that. I changed a little bit outside of Buc and drove the majority of the way there. We drove there in the evening time Tuesday. Then stayed Tuesday night with Boehme and Nemrow. Then Wednesday morning...a companionship was to drive back to Bucuresti to do the exchange there. And that was me and Elder Nemrow. So I drive Wednesday morning back to Bucuresti and did the exchange and back to Constanta Thursday evening. Then Elder Veenendaal drove back to Bucuresti Friday morning. It's aways out there and about a 3 hour drive. But it was fun and got to listen to some music. I felt very old though, that's the point. And grown up. I got a little lost driving back into Bucuresti. Ah this city is so big and I only know a couple of tramvai lines and got the metrou down way too easy. But by car, whew, it was tough, but fun and learned a lot simply by doing it. You can have someone guide you the whole way, but sometimes to have to fail to learn. Other wise you would never even learn. Don't worry, no accidents or dents, scratches. Nothing. Still got my clean record. And will forever....
That's a good analogy I just thought of in the time of writing this. Life is so simple and yet so hard. We have lots to learn, but we want to be shown the way every now and again and we don't always get what we want. We have to fall to be lifted up. You have to make mistakes in order to learn. It's the way it works. I love reading the scriptures and being able to learn from them. The one thing I will probably love the most from these two years. Time to study. I wish I studied more growing up and set apart the time. But, I learn from this mistake. Get over it and continue on with my life trying to be better. Life is a process. We have to constantly be learning. You can never know too much about anything. There is always something else. Learn. Study. Read. and Pray. I love learning so much.

It was a great week for me and Elder Veenendaal. I love that guy so much. He has lots of crazy stories from back in Sandy and Draper and we have had a lot of fun so far. Already it is flying by again. The Constanta exchange really made it all fly by so fast. We met some cool people on the metro and had a good lesson with them. Met with Haitham from Jordan. Lady named Corina who enjoys reading the BOM and came to church every now and again. Harry who met with missionaries in Sibiu and Ploiesti. Not to sure his real intentions right now. Said he enjoyed church yesterday. Mario, former investigator who really like the sister missionaries. Not too sure about him. Lady names Manuela, really nice and sincere.

Something that was really fun was that, 6 missionaries in our District. Me, Elder Veenendaal, Lee, Martin, and Sisters Ausen and Hansen. We all met up in Parcul Herastrau and did Plan of Salvation contacting. We tried to do it last week but it was raining. We bought chalk and drew big Plan of Salvation diagram and it was a pretty busy place where people would walk me. We gave away a lot of stuff and couple of Book of Mormons. The park is really nice and one of my favorites here. There are so many here in Buc. We plan on doing it again. We had some success and follow up dates as well and phone numbers.

I love you all and hope you are all doing awesome. Things are going great for me. I love my job.

Love,

Elder Schroedter


Thursday, June 16, 2011


Sector Two





Hello! How are all of you? First week said and done here in Bucuresti. I like it a lot. It's different from Timisoara and I miss Timi but I will learn to love it here. No sweat lah!

Still in Timisoara, made about 40 to 50 phone calls to members, investigators, and past investigators that I wanted to say goodbye to. Not able to meet with them one last time, but that's ok. I'll get over it eventually. I am grateful for Elder Eaton so much. I liked him a lot and he has a great mission ahead of him if he keeps it up. The language will come, just study hard and rely on the Lord. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, because that's the only way you every will learn. Elder Pettit is a lucky man to have him and to especially be serving in Timisoara. I'll be back though. Thanks Ana for the delicious cake you made for us. It was excellent. We 4 Elders and her met at the church and just ate, talked, and took some pictures. I was basically all packed before Monday because I knew I was already leaving!
Then Tuesday night we took a sleeper train on to Bucuresti. The District 5. I love em all. Elders Eaton, Cooper, and Hyatt...and me.
Then Wednesday at the gara a lot of the day, helping people to their trains. Saying hello, contacting everyone. I went over to the office to see the driving video, I saw most of it last week but I missed a couple segments, then the next day filled out some sheets, talked to Pres Lundberg and now I can DRIVE. After the office went to the gara then to the apartment. Got all unpacked and Wednesday was done.
Thursday, studies, some contacting then did some driving! Went down to CONSTANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on the coast of the Black Sea. We went there for a baptismal interview. His name is Eros, young cool guy. Elder Veenendaal did the interview. Then we went and ate and went home to sleep at Elders Beohme and Nemrow's apartment. Then next day back to Bucuresti (about a 3 hour ride) Arrived. Then lunch, did English contacting and had a sweet lesson with guy named Haitham, he seems really cool and has awesome potential. Friday was done. Saturday, more normal. Rained- was no fun. Had to do some shopping. Contacting and English cards. Then weekly planning and contacting. It rained everyday this past week!
Then Sunday. Church was really good. Branch here is so solid and great programs. Runs well. Some great solid members that live here and tried to introduce myself to as many people as I could. Tough to remember names after hearing about 20 of them. But I did alright. haha not. Still have no idea of anyone's names. I'll get there though. Also I almost forgot, we went to the famous Sora Gorzo for dinner on transfers with the other elders - Lee and Martin. Elders always visit her on transfers and she loves the missionaries. Just too much and always expects it. Just takes a lot of time to get there and if we don't have an investigator with us, we aren't supposed to do it. But I love her though, she is really nice and a sweet old lady. Struggles from time to time but she is doing well.
After church, went home and ate. Then went to the Elder and Sora's Wolseys apartment to wish her a happy birthday. They are the humanitarian couple here in Bucuresti. She was happy to have us in and we had cake that the Sister missionaries made. Ausen and Hansen. Then we went home because it was raining and called a ton of people- past investigators to try and set up our next week.

Today was a good day. Had fun playing frisbee with my district (6 missionaries total) and (4 of the 6 in the other district - panduri branch) My district: Me, Veenendaal, Martin, Lee, Hansen, and Ausen. Other buc district: Betteridge, Farr, Mudge, and Bennett, and Johnsen and Horgmo didn't show. I miss frisbee and playing sports. It was hot but lots of fun. Then came to internet right now.

It was a hectic week last week but I am so excited for this transfer here in Bucuresti. We are going to get some work done and do some good damage here, (that's for you Spence) I am excited for it. Zone Leader is nothing special. I need to be better and be a good example for all the missionaries in my zone. I love this work so much and am excited for the next day. Especially for today. This morning we had a good district study with the Wolsey's, they fed us breakfast and talked about a parable that applies to us on our missions. I chose the one Luke 13:6-9

I shall dig about the land of Romania. And I can't grow the fruit. This plan is all about agency and I respect others' as they respect mine. I can plant the seeds and gather in the fruit and that's what I am trying to do. I know people need me, they need us, they need our Saviour, Jesus Christ. People just simply forget what they knew before this life. I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Schroedter

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Too many things happened to have a good title for this one....

Zone Leader. Unplanned trip to Bucuresti. Saying goodbye. Ana getting her visa. Transfers this week.

Oh. My. Goodness. About my week, it started off so nice. Had an awesome trip to Lipova. Good lesson with Ana. Good District Meeting with my District....and then Elder Bennett calls me. The rest is history.

Elder Bennett is short and sweet. He says this Thursday you will get on a train at 10 17 arriving to bucuresti 7 54. then going to the mission home to have ZONE COUNCIL! Then back to Timisoara that night at 7 45 arriving to Timisoara at 4 54 in the morning. He tells me I'll be coming to Bucuresti but never says why? So I put the question...uh can I ask why? And he says, oh, your going zone leader. It was a big shock. I wasn't really thinking of going Zone Leader at all but maybe training in a new city or getting another young companion in another city. Probably for 3 to 4 months. I will be serving in Bucuresti East Zone. Bucuresti has two branches. East and West (Mihai bravu - mine and panduri) As a part of my Zone includes cities Constanta and Ploiesti. My companion will be Elder Veenandaal. One of the best friends of Elder Frandsen (a past district leader of mine, now assistent) And I blame Elder Frandsen. He is spreading positive rumors about me to President. That Elder! I am really looking forward to it though. It's going to be awesome. I will visit Ploiesti once and Constanta probably twice. Buc East District. zone leaders, district leader, and sisters. Ploiesti. sisters and elders (DL) and Constanta elders (DL) and other elders. I have 14 missionaries. My zone. AH!

I was just getting comfortable to being District Leader. But my District will be awesome. Companion Elder Veenandaal. District Leader Elder LEE!!!!!!! His companion Elder Martin and Sisters Hansen and Ausen. I know my whole district but Sora Hansen.

Oh and a shout out very quickly. After Mission Council we had time to wait in Bucuresti before we returned to Timisoara so we went over to the Office, not too far away and I saw pictures of all the incoming missionaries until September this year. Only recognized one name. Elder Sam Benson, friend of Ashley Fairwell at BYU. He'll get here next transfer. So that was cool. YAY! And Mum. Got the package but didn't bring it back to Timisoara because I knew I would be coming back. And 2 letters from Taryn. 1 from Marissa. 3 from Mom and Dad. And 1 from Elder Chase Anderson.

Something cool was Elder Finch (current zone leader in Arad) his grandparents are serving in the Czech Republic. And Elder Patrick Stockdale just arrived and was talking to them and I got a hello from him just a few hundred kilometers from him. I bet they know Elder Andersen Jeffrey as well! Small world.

Ana was actually on our trains to bucuresti last week. We got sleepers going down and slept but coming back up to Timi we sat in an 8-seater compartment. I was so tired I think I slept about 5 hours or so. Just talking to Elder Eaton an Italian guy and Ana. And while we were having mission council she was getting her visa successfully. DANG IT! I will leave first Timisoara but she will closely follow behind next week to South Dakota to work for 4 months and finish her masters degree. And visiting past missionaries in Utah and California. Hope to see her again. We have a lesson later today and going to eat district lunch with her later today. I thought leaving Brasov was hard. I have so many friends and people I have met here in Timisoara. I will miss it so much but I hope to soon serve as Zone Leader in Arad to come and do an exchange here in TIMISOARA! The branch is struggling but there are awesome people here and people that are ready for the gospel. No baptisms for me in Timi but I know I helped people and I made some awesome friends that are indifferent if they join in this life. We are still friends.

Ana from Resita and moving to America.
Andra and Claudia 2 freshmen here in Timisoara from area of Craiova.
Alexandra awesome young Mom and thinking about baptism.
Caruntu- most golden investigator ever, but simply doesn't yet live in Timi and legal guardians won't let him be baptized.
Razvan-referrel and friend of Caruntu, awesome younger guy.
Titus-long lost investigator, has so much faith and likes us missionaries.
Marius, college student and read a lot of the Book of Mormon.
Marian, college student and simply really cool guy.
Mircea, younger english student and other
Mircea, older and accepting.
Paul, in need of faith, wants to be a soccer coach and might go into politics.
Cledus, balck man from Cameroon and sweet guy.
Valeria, been coming to church forever and likes missionaries. only thing holding her back is kicking out boy friend
Irina, daughter member and she is older but likes to come to church and likes us missionaries
Ina, read the BOM in a month and hope missionaries keep visiting her.
Olga, really nice Mom and came to church to say bye to me yesterday
Nicoleta and Simira, two young girls that are interested in the church, but from the countryside (like Caruntu)
Ciprian, coolest investigator ever, baptist and lots of doubts, just like Ana. COOLEST EVER. Has 4 month old. Newly married and doing well.
Nicolas, awesome find on the street and cool investigator
Petre and Catalin and Dani, three brothers from all the way across the country (botosani) and working tough jobs but interested in learning more

So many people. I know there are lots more and can't wait to get home to keep in contact with them all. As well as all those from BRASOV! I love my mission so much.

It's been another great transfer. Elder Eaton and I didn't quite have the unity of past companions, but I love him. He is a great missionary and can't wait to see how much he has grown at next transfer. Take care of my city Elder! I'll miss Elder Hyatt headed off to Deva (where he started his mission, I think he is going to be Branch President!!!!! training for it this transfer and next to be it!) and Elder Cooper will stay here getting my MTC companion, Elder Mikolyski. Elder Eaton will get Elder Pettit as District Leader (From my MTC group) I was ready to leave Timisoara but at the same time I am not. I always feel Like I can do more, could have worked harder, talked to one more person for the day. But I would say I worked probably the hardest yet with Elder Eaton and I am very happy to say that. I have no regrets, but just remorse. For 4 investigators, all awesome. Ana, Ina, Caruntu, and a first lesson Gyula. To set up baptismal dates but to not follow through with them. I hope to see them get baptized here in the near future.

I love this work so much. It's been tough. Setting those dates and not seeing them go through. Seeing members lose their testimonies and want to reject the church. To see people know it's true but can't get baptized. To see Satan work on my investigators.

Something I tried to develop espcially this transfer is Charity. no matter what always look to the Savior. "Trust in the Lord always and He will be there." -President Lundberg. Charity for others. For all men. Working on charity takes a lifetime. No one is perfect but we can become close. Hope you all are doing well and have a great week. Next week I'll be e-mailing you from BUCURESTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow night I am on my way there. I love you all. Family espesh.

Ciao....probably won't here that so much in Buc. I will miss the west, but I will be back.

Love,

Zone Leader Schroedter