"Long weeks and very tired"

Just got our email from Elder Rob yesterday....quote "Longest week of my life/mission!" He said he is very tired and exhausted...that "their mission is picking up quite a bit and he and his companion are buckling down"...One of the missionaries in their area went home for 6 months and so they have Elder Webb with them and are doing 2 areas....no wonder they are tired!!! That being said, Gary and I were at our mission at the Genealogy Library last night, when I was done, I noticed I had a voicemail. It was from a sister Peggy Atkins...Here is her message.."Sister Schroeder, your son is ministering to us, we just became new Mormon's but he has a problem with his shoes and wants to know if you can put money in his card or if he should send them home to be fixed" I returned her call and she was the most adorable sweet lady EVER! She and her husband are retired, they are in Elder Rob's ward and LOVE to take care of the missionaries! He was on his way to her home when I called her..apparently she does their laundry, and feeds them ice cream and huckleberry pie!!!....hmmmmmm.....lucky elders!!! Anyway, it was so cute...apparently his shoes are totally worn out! The heels are gone and he wanted to know what he should do. I told her that I would put money on his card and he could get new shoes...then she told me she would take him in the morning to buy the shoes...she is ADORABLE! Just as I was writing this blog I happened to look down at my phone that was on silent, I answered it and it was Peggy Atkins! She has Elder Rob at the store and they wanted to know if he could get two pairs of shoes since one was regular price and the other half off...she is more than ADORABLE and I am so grateful to those who take good care of our missionaries! I told her to tell him he has plenty of money and to get both pairs....if they are covering 2 areas they will need the shoes to walk the distance! What a great Mission Elder Rob is in...it brings tears to my eyes to know that he has such good people to take care of his needs....it is amazing to me to see how our Heavenly Father takes care of our guys....he knows that us mom's are worrying all the time about them, and this is just one of many examples of the love, peace and comfort he has shown me while Elder Rob is serving....I will always be so grateful to these wonderful people who are selflessly serving our young men making it easier for them to serve those in the Kennewick Mission. Tears are falling and my heart is full right now....my son is working hard and wearing his shoes out....this is a good day!

Grandma Schroeder R.I.P 8/26/1925 - 7/15/2011

When Sis Greer told me i didn't know what to think....

Last night we taught a lesson to a gentleman named Rodney. He has been meeting with missionaries for a while now, his dad has been in poor health for a long time and on the 4th passed away. He's torn up. No prep no knowledge of anything. He forgets about almost everything. We taught him the plan of salvation last night we had no idea what he had already been through. It reminds me of how lucky the Saints are, to know! We have this WONDERFUL plan! It reminds me of what Nephi says "my soul delights in plainness" (2n 31:3)

Our father has laid it all out for us in plain English! That before we were born he knew us. He tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew thee before I formed thee" it boggles my mind how many sons and daughters do not know of this plan. We know why we're here. Alma teaches us "today is the day for men to preform there labors" 34:32-33 as well as to gain a body. We know where grandma is just as we know where grandpa is. Alma 40:11-12 then after a time if we've lived the best we can we will have eternal life with our families I love what Paul told Titus 1:21 it is a PROMISE we shall see our families again. Joseph Smith taught the saints before the Kirkland temple was built "all our Losses WILL be made up"

I Love this Gospel! I love my eternal family! I love my grand-parents no matter what side of the veil they're on. I love our GOD! That's why I'm Here. I love the scriptures! In closing, I'm gonna leave 5 more with you too look up in the order shown...

D&C 6:36, 2N 2:28, Moses6:62, 1:39 and Alma 34:17

I leave this testament of the plan of salvation in the name of the Holy one of Israel Even Jesus Christ. Amen.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!
Elder Robert D. Schroeder

Words from our Teacher/Missionary....love you Elder Rob

Elder Schroeder's 4th of July update......

Elder Rob had to change his P-day to Monday this week due to the 4th of July....he didn't know what he would be doing on the 4th, and so we didn't know either and since they use the computers at the library we didn't get an email from him...but, while sitting in the Magna park waiting their fabulous fireworks I did get an email on my phone from Elder Rob and Elder Stewart's Bishop...YES! They were able to eat dinner at the Bishop's house and he was kind enough to send us a little email about it plus...BONUS pictures! Here is the email.....

Sis. Schroeder --

My wife and I had the pleasure of having your son and his companion, Elder Stewart, over for dinner tonight. We had a great visit with them and thought we'd share with you.

Elder Schroeder is doing a great job in our ward and we are happy to have him assigned here. He has been working hard and doing all that he is supposed to be doing. As bishop in the ward, I have the opportunity to work closely with him and his companion and am happy to report that he is honoring his priesthood, his call and his family. And on top of that he is alive and well and appears to be happy in the work!

Thanks for sharing your son with us. He is a great missionary!

Doug & Linda Taylor
















Hahahahaha....guess this is supposed to represent their dramatic picture...LOL




They both look really good, a little burned from the earlier days activities, but looking good. Guess the next thing I need to send is a bottle of sunscreen hahahaha.
Anyway, we then were pleased to hear from Elder Rob yesterday! Wow! This was a great week...he sounded so good....here is a little of what he said in his email...


I asked if Elder Rob remembered the plate lady...she sent us some pictures of the Elders at dinner..she always has them hold a plate from their area...his response was..
Yes, sister Huggins, she was very nice and she has a cute daughter too (not that i was looking)...... hahahaha

We spent most the 4th of July at Lake Sacajawea (the Indian lady who helped Lewis and Clark) they had all manner of things there, a parade, a lumberjack, array of sports, little shops and at 10pm an amazing fire works show... (from what I heard, we had to be in at 8)! But we opened our back door and watched the less than legal fire works from our apartment... it was awesome! Most of them come to find out aren't illegal.

We ate at our bishops house! We had ribs ice cream and brownies... it was AWESOME! We eat dinner's at members homes and we have had alot of barbeque's, its been WAY WAY GOOD!!!

Our new apartment is way cool! There is only one set of Elders here..me and my companion ... it only has one bedroom and one bathroom so it is just us. It's the nicest that I've lived in so far! It's way nice!! I really enjoy living there. No heat and no A/C..people here are ignorant when it comes to stuff like that.. their like what?? they make those for normal people??? WHA? hahahaha. The mission office does every thing with paying the rent, it all goes through them. We rarely cook, actually we don't have much time for that. We get an hour so and it has to be quick. Hmmmm, let's see....mac'n'cheese and top raman...specialties right? That's why I like eating with members cause then they sit and talk to us, maybe a little too long but hey its nice.
Normally we might eat cereal for breakfast.. tomorrow I might feel like making something but then I also don't wanna clean up that much. A bowl of cereal is like two things.....my comp likes things clean....I like things clean too but it doesn't happen more than once a week :) but hey that's all the time we have. It's not to bad to keep things clean, easier than just one room like I have had in the past to be honest because your not trying to cramp every thing in one space with another dude who has the same amount as you....We have had a good week so far, its kind of hard to get back in the swing of things after a holiday but we're managing...we might have a new investigator maybe today!!! I hope I hope!! That's the hard part, members are so not inclined to help us out..no new baptisms so far, maybe next transfer. This new area is HUGE!!! Definitely NOT a walking area or biking area!! ITS LIKE HALF OF LONG VIEW, it goes from our church to the Wakiakum county line.. it's way hard to get around.....but we manage.

love you all!!
Elder Robert D. Schroeder

He sounds so good and enjoying his mission...I think he is kind of getting used to these transfers too...this last transfer he left several baptisms behind and that made him kind of sad...he wasn't able to follow through with the work he had already done...but he has a good attitude about it..as long as the work is done it's all good. Love that young Elder!!! These are our Missionaries...work hard and love the Lord!