Tuesday, August 30, 2011


Back to the West

I can't wait. Have an awesome future ahead of me. Going to the beautiful city of Arad. Been there on multiple occasions for Zone Conference, District Conference while serving in Timisoara. And I have the great blessing and opportunity to be visiting not only Deva and Oradea, but also Timisoara. A dream come true to return to that city. I have heard great things about Arad and am really looking forward to it. I will be with Elder Schank, he has been a branch president in Bacau and he is in the same group as Elder Veenendaal. I can't believe my group, we are all growing up so fast! This transfer was Me, Elder Green and Fonnesbeck as zone leaders. Now Elder Mikolyski and Nilsson are joining us. I love my cities here so much Constanta and Ploiesti. They are both so awesome and have sweet members and investigators. I'll miss them both and especially here in Mihai Bravu. They are the best ever and I love all of the members so much. Great people and I can't wait to come back to visit. I know I'll be back. Have plenty of time to do that. Another big group of missionaries are coming in. 8 elders and 3 soras. So lots of trainers again. And another senior couple that will be joining me in Arad. Little chapped off because the senior couple now in Arad (the Howells) will be moving to work in Ploiesti! Sure! Right when I get there, they leave me! I always loved talking with them when they came down to Timisoara or when I went up to Arad. They are awesome people. In my district right now us 6 missionaries I am the only one leaving! Elder Newton will be with Elder Nilsson. Elder Lee remains with Jones and Sora Hansen will be with Sora Holman. I'll miss them. Can't believe it's Sora Hansen's last transfer already! Sheesh!
It was a good week this past week. Talking to lots of people and meeting all of the sorts and all cool ones and some a little not so receiving and nice, but that's alright. I focus on the positive as always. Finally made contact again with Florin, after three weeks...and as I leave! Hopefully he'll be baptized here soon. Silvia finally answered her phone and she is doing well. Hope she meets up with us again....And many others. Mircea is so awesome and golden. Iulian. Harry. Carmen. Corina. There are so many people we meet with every day and consistently. They are so close!
I wish I could sometimes make people read the Book of Mormon. My job is to invite them, and simply by bearing testimony, they will want to realize it. And those elect will realize it. Nothing can ever make you believe. We all need to read the Book of Mormon. It'll change your life only if you let it. Never forget that. Read it as a history book, sure. But the next time read it as you would the Bible, study it and meditate (chibzuiti) upon the message of it. You can know that what it contains is true. If you believe in Christ, you WILL believe in these words. You can study all the history of the people related to the book, the prophets during that time and relatives, but they were simply working and doing what God told them to do. You have an amazing opportunity. To hold the proof of their work. And if it's true, the rest is history. Just read it.
English class ended last Saturday. It went well, no investigators from it but hopefully next time, I hear the classes are doing well up in Arad. Excited to see! I still can't believe I am going there! When Elder Betteridge became zone leader he started here in Mihai Bravu for two, the Arad for two, then back to Panduri (Bucuresti West....) We shall see what happens in the near future. Like Father, Like Son. And I plan on living up to that phrase. All three of my Fathers.
Next time, I'll just be two steps in Arad. I love you Mihai Bravu and Bucuresteni!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great week because I will too. You get out of it what you want to.




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Luckily, I Will Be Staying Another Year!!

Haha well, it was a crazy week! From my group from the MTC (12 of us) 11 remain in the country and 2 of us are in Bucuresti. Me and Elder Lee. And the office elders when we came into the country, actually my past companion Elder Veenendaal and Elder Boehme. They messed up on our visas and instead of two years they only had the visas last one year. So this past week on a two day exchange with Elder Lee we went with the Office Elders to get our visas renewed. (elders miner and herman) We went and did what we did the first week in the country. To the hospital to get our physical and then the next day to go to the visa place and do all that stuff. So we got very lucky and things all went through and I will be able to finish my mission for another year. Other wise I would have had to go home in November and finsih off my mission in the States, if that. But I am glad I will be staying another year.

I apologize, last week, huge holiday, don't know how I could forget. The mother of the Lord! Mother Mary! But it was a pretty big thing here and everyone got off work and caused us to change some of our plans for P-day, not able to do all that we wanted. Oh well. But it was a good holiday, did nothing special. Hope you all enjoyed yours.

Like I said we had a good exchange with Elder Lee and not only did visa work but able to do lots of contacting and visited a member family, part member. The Firaru's. I like them a lot. Awesome family. Had a couple good lessons in Parcul Cismigiu and contacting others all on the way. Then me and Elder Newton are working on visiting all the members in Mihai Bravu....all the members in our Sector. Sector 2. Which is a ton of people and lots of work that we have cut out for us. I hope I stay another with Newton to get it started for future missionaries. I am excited to see what happens. Lots of less actives we have to work with here especially in Bucuresti.

English classes are small but we have some faithful and really cool students. no investigators from it, but they stay for spiritual thoughts and we try and make it fun, teaching the advance class this time around.

Church, about to hurt somebody! I translated again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only for the Wolsey's but also for President and Sora Hill! Fratele Stanciu knows I can do it so he just makes me do it. But I like it and makes me really listen and just getting me ready for general conference in a couple years when i'll be translating there....maybe. Last night again we went Plan of Salvation contacting this time in Parcul Tineretului, lots of cool people we met and got some phone numbers and a few appointments. Lots of people came up to us and I love drawing it and talking to people.

It was an awesome week. Elder Newton and I are working hard and I am loving it. Just trying to work hard and do what's right. Love my study time. Now in Numbers in the Old testament. Alma in the Book of Mormon. And Chapter 3 in Preach My Gospel. I love it and love learning. Hope you all have a great week this week! I love all of you. Thursday'll be such a good day! Make it a good one! I will too.

Thanks Mom so much for all you do.


Monday, August 15, 2011

Every Thing Happens For a Reason

Well, it was an interesting two days. Last monday we were planning to head down to Constanta to try and help them out and be present in their district meeting, missing ours here in Buc but helping them there in Constanta. They don't really have a lot and they just need some encouragement and more fire and desire I think. Turns out they moved district meeting back to Wednesday, so after English we left a little early giving our class combining it with the sisters and went to the office to pick up the car, but we get out a little outside of Bucuresti and had some problems, ended up getting towed back to Bucuresti and never made it to Constanta. I was just thinking about how everything happens for a reason, there's a little more to that story, but basically everything happens for a reason. I learned the importance of having the Spirit. After we are baptized, we don't earn the Holy Ghost, are blessed with it, or obtain it, but "we receive it" As receiving it, we have to be worthy. Some people think we'll always have it to be with us, but we have to do all we can, to do our part to have it with us, we received it, but we can just so easily lose it. And with the Spirit, having that in a part of your PLANNING. Writing down on the paper what you want to do and then go and do it. Telling the Lord where you will be, doing what, talking to who, and then finding the elect. We had a cool experience of this in Parcul Circului (Circus Park) We planned to have 3 lessons with people. We wrote it down and simply talked to everyone in our path and leaving the park on to our next appointment we were able to have 3 solid lessons getting their numbers and a follow up lesson. Hopefully they were as interested on the phone and be willing to meet up as they were so willing to talk in person. We have had some good park lessons, really cool people we are meeting and finding a lot of solid people. Just getting people to set up again is the tough part. It was tough only meeting with one of our investigators - Adrian this week. He wants to be baptized and we are hoping for the end of this month. Along with a few others. but we weren't able to even talk to them on the phone, Florin, Harry, and Silvia. Really awesome people and all four of them are so so close to baptism. I know that we need to meet with them, but because we weren't able to meet with them, we need to find the elect, for they know His voice. It was really awesome, had a short lesson with a man named Virgil last night, after singing as a city at Piata Romana, we were just going to go home about 8:50 but we went through a little strip of benches we often go through and met a really awesome man. It said, "It's like you are sent from someone." "It was a great pleasure to talk to you tonight." Really liked him a lot and got his number and hope to be able to meet again with him soon! Married and has a older kid I think. Has potential and desire to know if it's true, gave him the book and the invitation. Hope he ends up going somewhere.

It was a good week nonetheless. Lots of good quality missionary work. I love Elder Newton a lot. He is a great guy and we get along great. We have some great things going for us! And hope to reap the benefits of all our hard work that we have done and tried to get done. Miracles happen everyday and I see them every single day. They are always there, we just need to open our eyes.

Happy Anniversary to Josh and Shelby Loud. I love you two so much and Aubs! She is growing up so big! Can't believe she is almost two already!

I am really enjoying this short amount of time I have been given. Serving the Lord. Studying the scriptures and building up others and bringing them closer to Christ. I know I have done that with many people, even if they weren't baptized. I love the branch here in Mihai Bravu. Everything happens for reason. we just need to have the right perspective. missionary work is tough, but it's worth it. I love you all and hope you all have a great week! I will.




Love you FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

MIGHT

Something Sora Hill said with me this past week in an interview with her and President Hill. "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ" as quoted in the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. We know the end from the beginning, so why do we do what we do? Talking and inviting people to Christ, when eventually no matter what they will all bow one day? The answer is easily complicated. But simply put, because people need to realize it in this life and not the one to come. We preach the gospel because we know people are searching for the truth. We are told to by Christ. God loves all His children and wants to give everyone the opportunity. We have something that makes us happy and want others to also be happy. And at the same time it builds our own testimony in the bearing of it, we learn so much in such a short amount of time. I am here because I want to be here. I know God needs me and has a plan for me. He wants me to be happy. And also I need to meet someone here in Romania. To change them or for them to change me. We are all connected in the eternal plan of our Heavenly Father. I would be so selfish if I wasn't here, keeping something so precious to myself and not sharing and preaching the gospel. Not a lot of people seem to keen to listen, but I know their hearts are being softened each and every day, opening up for the true gospel. I want to have not a single regret, and I am so blessed to serve here in the heart of the mission. The power house of Bucuresti. It is where it was started and where we have the most strength. I know I need to be here.

A word I was thinking a lot about today. "Might" it is an interesting and deep word that is hard to explain. Sometimes meaning strength, power, vigor, force, or energy. What does it mean to serve with all one's might? The power or ability to accomplish and do. I am trying to serve with the might in all its power and in what the words describes. D&C 4 is repeated many times and it means so much to me. I love those verses so much. They mean a lot. Thrusting in my sickle with all my might! Working the plow and sowing with all my might. Awesome word.

It was a good week for me and Elder Newton. Silvia was out of town. Florin, only met once. Hopefully baptized this or next week. Harry, still meeting and doing well. He came to church. Iulian, haven't met for a while, just once last week. Had a really good lesson with Elder Awerkamp in Ploiesti. Such a solid missionary and still perfecting his language skills. He does really well though. Knows it like a champ. We had a really good lesson with 3 people. Aurel, Madalina, and Lori. I think a couple and a friend. Awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation. I hope to be able to visit them when I get a chance to go back to Ploiesti. I love my 3 cities of Buc, Constanta, and Ploiesti. We have some awesome missionaries and so so much potential to grow.

Last week was also Mission Council with all the Zone Leaders. I love all of them so much! Elder Bateman. Assistants Finch and Frandsen. From my group Elders Fonnesbeck and Green. And lots of other great Elders with Pres. Hill and Sora Hill. talked about the logistics of a stake and we are actually really close. Just have to have a good 5 wards. Still room to grow and working on it. Bucuresti is where it needs to happen for sure. Had another meeting this morning with Buc Zone Leaders (east and west zone) with District President, such a great guy, and President Hill. Talked a lot about visiting less active members and such an important key they will be to having this stake and building up the church. Lots and lots of members here in Bucuresti but only a handful come.

It was a hot week here. Little rain. But me and Elder Newton are working hard as ever and loving it. Talking to lots of people and sharing the good news. Everyone needs it. They just don't know it. Working on working up my might and making it greater and greater everyday. Thanks so much Mom and Family for the package of candy and journal. Love you so much and thanks for some letters from Elder Stockdale in Czech, Laurel, Ana in America, and my Family. I love you all so much. Feel better T! Hope you have a great week like I will! Welcome home Elder Andersen and Wilder! Love you and praying for you. 3 NEPHI 5:13

Love,

Elder Schroedter



Thanks so much Mom for the package! Love you so much.


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

I Can Only Do So Much

Something I have learned about life/mission life. We Have to do our part and God will make up the rest. I was thinking about the course of a mission. Two years can seem like a long time. A lot can be done in that time. But I have learned that what makes the two years is the importance of every single day. How do you build a house? How do you hike a mountain? How do you finish a race? One step at a time. About the perspective and your personal desire to every single day will make or break your mission. I have really learned that the awesome weeks that I have had is because I have had really good days. Small and simple things make the great things come to pass. We sometimes feel that we are inadequate, because we set so many goals but always fall short. Where did the in between part come in? Of actually accomplishing the goal? Why didn't we do it? Did we mess up setting the goal? What could have gone different? Basically I have been thinking about success and what we can do. I know that people are out there ready to accept the gospel. I have thought a lot about the commandments and mission rules. And in Proverbs, about trusting in God with all OUR HEART. Leaning not unto our own understanding and he shall direct our paths. What makes you trust someone you don't even know? You would never do it! The only reason you would trust someone is because you love them and know they will keep their promises and be true to their words. We have to know God, and then we will more readily trust Him. I have loved the most of my mission building my own testimony enough where no one can break it down. My study time in the morning is the best. I know God and trust him 100% All that is left is for me is to work my hardest, talk to the person walking towards me that I normally wouldn't because I know I will miss the bus that just went by. "Just do your best. It IS enough." He does not ask us to ever do more than we can handle. He knows me better than I know myself and loves me and will test me and try me, but will always provide me a way to do what he needs me to do. We have to do our best. That's all he asks for.

It was an awesome week this week. Elder Newton is such a good missionary. I like him a lot and we have met some really awesome people. We have had some really good lessons with Iulian. Used to live in Constanta, but is now living here in Bucharest. He has started reading from the Book of Mormon and is enjoying it a lot. We have met up with him a few times and I like him a lot.

Florin, is a really cool guy that has been in contact with the church off and on for 10 years. And he wants to be baptized this month. I like him a lot and feel really good about him. He came to church yesterday and is so ready to join. He just turned 18 and is so so ready.

Silvia was not baptized last week because she was gone on vacation. But she came to church this past Sunday and hoping to meet up with her soon! I hadn't been able to talk to her for 2 weeks and it was awesome to see her come into church yesterday.

I translated again for the Wolsey couple yesterday. Dang it. The member that usually translates, just sits there and gives me the mic. I am just like, no man. But dang it. He would just laugh and give it to me. UGH! But I am learning a lot and it's tough when people just read their talks at a 100 miles an hour. I love when missionaries talk the most. A lot easier and nicer. Elder Newton gave a good talk yesterday. And also the usual Sunday School teacher was gone in Oradea for a YSA conference. So, Elder Newton and I taught the class about tithing. And also I played the piano for the fifth Sunday lesson. AH! Branches need to function without missionaries! But I know it is the beginning stages here in Romania and it truly does humble me. I know it will be a huge powerhouse(Bucuresti espech) when I come back and visit in a few years down the road. We are doing what we do in the present to prepare for the future and the future is bright here in Romania. Might be some patches of thunderstorm, but the sun always comes.

Had some really good contacts on the streets, in the vilas and in the parcs. I enjoy missionary work a lot. Even with the rejection, I can handle and love it even more. Had a good discussion with Elder Newton about the temptings and kingdom of Satan. How his job is basically to stop the kingdom of God. And about Joseph Smith, why would Satan care if this church wasn't true? Why would he try and stop Joseph from praying? Why all the persecution? Why did Joseph never deny it? Because it was true. We simply just need to read the Book of Mormon and we will know that it is true. I know that it is true and that I am Christ's representative here in Bucuresti. I love to represent Him.

Read the Book of Mormon and you will have a good week.

Love,

Elder Schroedter