WHAT A NICE SURPRISE!!!!!

Can I tell you how happy I am tonight!!!!! We got a surprise phone call from Elder Rob!!!! He had technical difficulties at the airport so we didn't get much time to talk....he got permission to call us and talk for 15 min!!! It was so good to hear from him, and actually, I am glad it was after he got to his mission...he was able to tell us a little about what he has been doing. He is in Hermiston Oregon...he said it is about 1/2hr from Kennewick. It is a retirement community..pretty spread out so they have a car right now. They are living in a members home. He said they have mostly been visiting with members since he got there...his companion is from Layton Utah. Elder Rob is his first trainee...he sounds so good, did I mention that? Anyway, he really sounds good! Gosh! I can't remember everything we talked about, but he sounded so good...that's all that matters! At the end of the call he thanked Dad and I for sending him on this Mission....ya know, it is totally our pleasure to have him serving the Lord...so hard because we miss him a ton, but we know he is doing what he is supposed to do right now..serving those in the Kennewick mission...our missing him is a small price to pay for 2 years if he is doing the Lord's work....I'm so happy, did I mention that???

He CALLED!!!!!

Ya know how good intentions sometimes just don't work out.....well, poor Elder Rob...it was apparently a total mess at the airport today! He wanted so bad to call us ... the line at the phones were HUGE, then the phones wouldn't take his debit card so he had to run and get a pre paid phone card...his flight left at 11:30 and it was around 10:55 when we finally got our call!!! He was STESSED!! to say the least...but after talking for a few minutes, he settled down and sounded good...ya know, sometimes ya just need to talk to mom for a minute and all's well...LOL

Calm...Step Back...Breath...It'll all be OK!


He talked about the missionaries and how there are a lot that are spanish speaking...he said "Mom, I might just come home speaking spanish"....that would be a good thing for him anyway....He was then able to call and talk to dad....I think he will be just fine....time to get on with the Work.....what a great missionary!!!

He's leaving........

Elder Rob leaves tomorrow to go to Kennewick!!! Hurray!!! He get's to call us from the airport while he waits....I am so excited. He leaves the MTC at 8am and heads to the airport....he will fly out around 11:30...so hopefully we will have a little while to talk to him. He sent a quick email yesterday to remind us to stay close to our phones for the phone call...and included in the email 2Nephi 3.....I am so interested to find out what he did for Christmas. The MTC administration sent us an email letting us know that the missionaries were going to be kept busy with plenty of things to do the week of Christmas...they also hoped our missionary would write us a letter letting us know their emotions and feelings about that week....well, anyway, excited to hear from him tomorrow...stand by...I will post how he is as soon as I can.

The Lord's Work moves forward.......

We got a letter and email from Elder Rob this week...he is really doing good. He Loves the MTC....hahaha....he said if he could spend his entire mission at the MTC he would be happy...lol...he is excited to get to Kennewick though. He said they got their flight information and he leaves on the 28th at around 11am....I guess they leave the MTC at around 8am and they can call us from the airport...he is so excited to do that, and I am so excited to hear from him. I have debated whether we should show up at the airport like some families do....as much as I want to and would love to give that big bear hug again, I think it would be harder for him and I don't want to do anything that would make him sad....he is really excited to call us and that will have to be ok this time. He is really into being obedient on his mission. I am glad because like I told him...that is probably one of the most important things he will ever do on his mission and it will help him have a successful mission. He said the new group of young men that came last week are struggling with following the rules...it concerns him, and I'm glad it does.... it means he knows the importance of that principle on his mission. He is really growing and learning all ready..I am so proud of him and know he will be successful and have a great 2 years in Kennewick....I love that boy, he's my son.

He's doing better......

Just a short note....we got another letter from Elder Rob and he is doing a lot better! He love's dearelder.com and lots of letters...the donuts from Staci and Trevor helped too!!!! He is enjoying the companionship of his zone and his companion....they are growing together was his comment....yay!!!

Day 4....He's homesick :(

Oh dear....we got a letter from Elder Rob today...I was so excited to read it, but he was a little down and that made me sad. The letter was day #1 and #2...he said the first day was scary and fun. He said nights are horrible...he does a lot of thinking of the family and getting a bit homesick then. Boy, if you so feel inclined, he could use some pick-me-ups...maybe an extra word of encouragement in your prayers for him, or even drop him a letter now and then. His P-day is Wed for now. He found out he can't call home on Christmas in the MTC, but he will be able to call from the airport on the 28th which is his departure date. That will be good. He does know this is a good thing for him, and that he wants to make it work...he is just a little homesick and that happens. His companion was made district leader on Thursday...that is something. He has had 2 other days and we haven't heard how he feels with more days under his belt...I think he will be ok..just a little concerned about him...that is what a mom does.....

dearelder.com I Love You!!! What a great site!!! I was able to send Rob a letter and a box of cookies today on Dear Elder.....I also sent off a hand written letter this morning....wow! I bet you don't think we miss him or anything....I will tone it down to 1 a week as soon as he gets to Kennewick..I can't keep this pace up myself...it is crazy but fun............I wonder how he's doing?????? Can't wait to hear from him!
'

and the gifts have started.....

Hahahaha...Staci and Trevor sent Rob a package of Krispy Kream donuts.....whos the best missionary around now???? Hmmmmm???? He was supposed to get they by 2pm today.....what a yummy gift!!! Oh, and I just found out that Rob met up with Carol Prestwich yesterday .....I told him to watch for her...I bet she watched for him too! That made my day, I just can't wait to hear from him....

Today....the MTC.....

Oh WOW! What an emotional day for the Schroeder clan. We got up early because we wanted to all go to breakfast with Rob before we took him to the MTC at 1:30pm. He choose Village Inn...(today being free pie day LOL) We had a good breakfast together, then got on our way to Provo. That was a long quiet drive. I'm sure we were all wrestling with our own emotions and feelings about sending Rob out to serve the Lord, but selfishly knowing we were going to miss him terribly for those 2 years. Traffic was ok, the day was actually beautiful in spite of the haze around. We picked Kati up at SLCC since she had to go to school this morning, and she was hungry so we stopped at a Wendy's in Orem so she could get something and the rest of us could do the potty break thing. It was pretty obvious that Rob was a new missionary...there he stood in his suit, the rest of us dressed down...in Provo/Orem area...on a Wednesday...looking somewhat terrified....we got lots of smiles from those around us....Yes, we were there to drop off our Missionary. As we drove towards the MTC, lots of memories sprang up since I lived in the area for several years. We drove through BYU campus...passed the Mariott Center....up towards the Provo Temple... and there we saw it...the MTC with lots of young men standing on the curb dressed in their best suits as older men wearing reflective green vests were directing cars/families towards those young men "Hosts". We were a little early and we wanted to take some pictures and say goodbyes...looking around at the parking lots across the street and up by the temple, there were a lot of families doing the very same thing...pictures, hugs, tears and scared looks on handsomely dressed young men...wow! The Lord is watching all these families dropping off their young sons for Him to watch over for 2 years....I am sure He was shedding a few tears himself knowing these folks and their life stories....everyone has something....feelings...fears...trials and He knows them all....He especially knows the sacrifice it will and is taking for families to let their boys/men go for 2 years as well as these Young Men...they are 19yrs old...they are changing their lives drastically for something they believe in and want to share with the world. Well, we parked...took our pictures....hugs...tears...I loves you's....goodbyes...then Dad and I took our son to the MTC. We turned into the MTC and we were immediately greeted by a gentleman with a reflective green vest...he was so nice, joking a little trying to put us all at ease then directed us to our curb..the curb we were to let our son off and to not see him for the next 2 years. I will never forget that curb or where it was....it will always be in my heart...a curb for heavens sake, but that is where I said goodbye, hugged, Kissed and told my son I loved him before another young missionary took him under his wing to get him to the right place and make this experience as pleasant as can be. Rob was so worried...the unknown...but yes, so was his mom and dad. When that "HOST" missionary came right up to the car, gave a few quick instructions, took some of his bags, let us say our final goodbyes then wisked him off to the world of a missionary I knew Rob was in the right place and he would be taken care of....still scared, but ready to learn and teach. Yes, I cried and have since...I miss him already, but I'm his mom..that's what we do :)

One more day.......

Well, I decided to start a mission blog for Rob while he is out on his mission and for anyone to follow that wants too. I hope I am diligent in updating this blog better than I do my own, but I thought this would be a good way to keep my own diary of his experiences while he is out serving the Lord. I will add pictures as well when I get them.

This has been a challenging time preparing for his departure to the MTC. He had a wonderful Farewell on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Sam Harper, a neighbor who has been in our neighborhood as long as Rob has spoke first, then we had the newly formed Missionary Choir which included pre, present, and past missionaries. We all sang Called to Serve. What an awesome experience to be a part of such a neat choir. Grandma Bahr even came up to sing with us....great experience. The next week consisted of Rob spending time with friends and preparations for his mission. Lots to do for sure. He was packing Sunday night and had a little "melt down"...fears, the unknown, and leaving his family and friends for 2 years really hit him hard. We talked, Gary gave him a blessing and yesterday he felt a lot better. I am still worried and concerned...I am really going to miss him a lot, but I know he is going to be taken care of and doing the most important thing he can do at this time of his life. Today, the day before he leaves, we are just chilling...watching TV...talking about what needs to be packed still, planning for tonight when he is officially set apart as a missionary, and just being together for one more day. This is really a hard thing for a parent to do...I always looked forward to this day when he would be able to fulfill a mission and serve the Lord...it's just a little harder than I expected and I know tomorrow it will be extremely hard to say goodby for 2 years and walk away.....AHHHHH....I just pray the Lord will be with us all, that we might feel of his spirit and be comforted during these days...I am for sure sending Rob a letter immediately so that he will be reminded of my love for him...I am so proud of him and I am sending he out to go forth and serve the good people of Kennewick Washington...I hope they love and care for him just as I have....he will be a good missionary I know. Well, just a start, tomorrow I will let you know my REAL feelings after dropping him off....tears of a proud mom.