One Minute.

A minute is not a whole lot of time, and it's sometimes hard to take advantage of all the little minutes that we are alloted. This past Saturday we had a fun activity creating new games and borrowing some from 'Minute to Win It.' If any of you have ever seen the tv show.  The activity went well and we had a good turnout. Things are slowly happening in Timisoara. Hard with lots of people gone for Summer, but they will return and we just keep on working and giving it our all. Things are going well with branch and city. All is well. I love it here and it's going to be tough leaving. Still making lots of memories and making the most of every minute that I am alloted here in Romania. We volunteered a couple times at the Red Cross this past week and that was fun, painting, setting and cleaning a tent. Going into the middle of town and setting up shop. Moving furniture and doing small odd jobs, serving in any way possible. English started up this past week. Good turnouts for all the classes for Tuesday. Advanced, seems like people don't want to make the step from Medium to Advanced. We only had 4 students and about 12-15 in Beginners and Medium. I love teaching advanced, but I want to speak Romanian! We speak English the whole time, I don't really understand why we would speak English at an English class...but it is what it is. Some Things I will just never understand. haha 

Happy 4th of July, America. A few people here said that to me...3 exactly actually. (they might have been the other missionaries) We had a good grill. James and Green had a Romanian-steak and Hosking too. And Bulloch had chicken while me and Ealy, we had a Romanian dish, called "mici" basically combo of pork and beef in a little rolled up cyclinder. size of an eggroll. Sent pictures. I burned all of them. I couldn't get the grill down...eh oh well. Help me out Dad! It was fun trying to grill them. Apparantly James cooked the other meat and they turned out perfectly...I did use the grill first and got the flames going and broke it in for him. First time use for that grill too. It was windy too. Then we played some card games. Ate some more, chips, bread, juice and then cleaned it all up! Great day.

Embarassing story playing basketball by the college complex here. Usually every Thursday we'll go over and play basketball with who ever is there and try and win. Well this last Thursday. So many people were there, none of the soccer people were there, and everyone that was there were all taller than us! These people were so good and we played a couple games and we just got killed. Me, James, and Green. Elder Ealy isn't much for sports, but loves watching. James was confident, but me and Green were talking and could tell we didn't stand a chance. It's simply been so long since I have actually played competetively, I can't guard someone tight and play tight-d. We played a game to 11 by 1's and 2's. We lost both games we played 11-5 :( Shame on the Americans.)  Almost every other time I have played basketball I haven't had to even try and I would win, no joke. These guys and girls as well were good! Rematch this Thursday. We will lose hopefully by 3 instead of 6. Our goal this week. I'll let you know what happens. 

Life is good. I am happy and content. I love the mission. Can't believe yesterday I hit 22 months out on the mish. The minutes just keep going by. You have a minute to win it! Good luck.

I Am Very Tired Today.

It was a tremendous week this week. Had a good week of activities at the church and turnout could have been better, but we are trying. From a family night about the body of Christ (1 Corint 12) to filling time knocking on doors, walking through the parks, saying goodbye to Elder Cox who is e-transferred to Craiova. He will be missed, mainly by me. He was going to be a 1st Counselor...heard he told president and he made his dream come true and he left me. Just kidding. Elder James is here from Orhei! He just finished up being Branch President there for quite some time. He is with Elder Green, us three are all in the same MTC district. Green and James might be killing one another (ending their missions together) to some English students who live close to Timisoara but won't be back for a couple months or so. Playing soccer and basketball with a crowded court. Full court soccer (small court) and then half court bball on one of the baskets. Other basket across the way is off and busted. Played soccer most of the time and was goalie for almost all the time. Also we put up lots of posters around the city for our English classes. Got lots of phone calls and good turnouts from the people! The UEFA cup ended. Asked people about it every now and again to talk to them and some had no idea what it was, but most people were interested and knew that Portugal blew it against Spain and Germany would have been a better final against Spain rather than Italy Spain. 4-0. ce s-a intamplat?! (what happened) I love soccer and wish I could have watched some of the matches. Sometimes walking through center of town they were playing on tv screens and at big restaurants. My money is on Spain for world cup 2014. We are working with a family that Elder Martin worked with, with his previous comp. They are doing well. And a couple other friends and really nice people and super open and great. Another activity carving not pumpkins, but watermelons! haha a few members came and two other peeps. It went well and we got some good pictures during and the aftermath...it was quite a lot of watermelon and we didn't know what to do with it. So we gave it away to someone. Church went well yesterday. And also a couple invited us to their wedding and it took up a lot of yesterday. Really great people and I like them both a lot. Don't really know the bride. The groom is a great guy and I hope the best for them! Fasting is tough in the heat. But it's worth it.

Today. Lipova was great. Everyone else in the zone Here, Timi, Arad, Oradea, and formerly in our Zone, Deva, it was everyone's FIRST time...for me. Old timer over here. Number 4. I can tell you basically all about the city and the castle/fortress and major landscapes. If you ever need to get around there in Radna/Lipova, hit me up and I'll get you around.

My companion Elder Ealy is great. We get along well and both love the cool heat of the blizzardy summers here in Romania. Feel like it's worse this year, because I don't have the metro like I did last year in Bucuresti. We walk a lot...everywhere it seems like.

If any of these people read this,

Love you and miss you: 

Elder Mik

Bryce

David

Elder Durand

Elder Bruner

Elder Eaton

Blake

James

Myles

Kevin

Elder Hyatt

Elder Green, J.

Elder Martin

Elder Ealy

and everyone else. I don't have to say your name for you to know that I love you. I love everyone.

Love,

Elder Schroedter