Holy Cow!!!! I have no excuse for not keeping up this blog for Elder Rob except I HAVE BEEN BUSY!!! I will repent and try to catch everything up....where do I start...Elder Rob is in Yakima Washington right now and has been for the last two or three transfers so he probably will see a new area in his next transfer. His first companion in this area was Elder Parsons....he really had to work hard with this Elder, just a few conflicts I guess he had only been out 4 1/2 months and as Elder Rob put it "he's soooo green" .. let's just say he was excited to have a new Elder from Lehi Elder Robert Greaves....he says right now he is kind of quiet and "a little bit country" hahaha...they get along really well though. The area Elder Rob is in is a little rough...rough enough that when they ride down the streets police will pull them over and ask them if they know where they are...their comment is "um yes" and they go onto teaching. The people are extremely humble and great...dogs on the other hand are out of control!!! Lots of rotweilers and pit bulls....andddd the dreaded chiwawa's....the ankle biters! Elder Rob describes them as "PACKS" OF VICIOUS LITTLE CHIWAWA DOGS who chase them when they are on their bikes and try to bite their ankles LOL....he says he wants to drop kick them...hahahaha...Elder Rob has been able to attend the temple about every 3 months...that is amazing in the mission field...two temples in his mission help with this. He says the Portland Temple is so beautiful...quote "We visited the Temple I feel so much better than I did last week. It's hard doing missionary work when you only visit the Temple once every 3 months, I do not know how the other missionaries who do not have a temple in their mission do that! It would be so flipping difficult (flipping is my new word ... we had some "Mormon swears" banned from our mission recently) Some of the people Elder Rob is teaching in this area are Alexcia who is 11 and super smart..she reads and comprehends the most amazing things. Isabella (Bella) Davis...she was getting Baptized. The Sharps are a nutty family that remind Elder Rob of our family...Mom Melissa is raising the kids since the dad is in jail right now...Destiny 14, Bailey 13, and Gage 10.."they are the coolest people, they love us and want to learn"....then there is Alexis and Fidel...Elder Rob's quote "I've taught them since I've been here, they seem to now be understanding why reading and praying is so important...I dono why they all of a sudden got it, but hey, they did". "We have TWO BAPTISMS coming up...Alexia 10yrs and Christina 19yrs...exciting. "I'm doing pretty good, Happy just tired" Seems to be the theme of a missionary...they work hard and study long. Love hearing from Elder Rob and knowing some of the experience he is going through...even more excited for his future in the Kennewich Washington mission...oh, he only has 6 months left.....until he "Returns with Honor" A bunch of good looking missionaries on P-day Elder Rob's companion from Lehi Ut Bella and her little sister...Bella got Baptised

YIKEES!!!! He crashed on his Bike!!!

Geezzz!!!! Just got word that Elder Schroeder crashed on his bike!!! He said he is fine and it only hurts when he takes the bandage off his knee....what! This was his comment to me "that was the first crash that involved blood, and only the third one in 13 months :)" I like his positive attitude lol. He was having an exceptionally great day with his bike...he said he crashed twice in 5 minutes...the first time in a bush..which he climbed out of, then the bloody knee crash...hmmmm...maybe he needs to focus more while riding his bike, or even BE CAREFUL!!! Oh, and I think it also involved his new pair of pants that we sent him for Christmas...yes, hole in the knee! I told him to send them home and I will see what I can do...it might be he will need another new pair of pants...oh well, this is the price you pay as a parent of a missionary hahahahaha. The life of a missionary...

This week is transfer week and Elder Schroeder and Elder Nielsen are staying in Walla Walla...they are excited to have time to really teach people in that area. His home address, which is a room and bathroom in the basement of the 2nd counselor's home is 32 Francis Dr Walla Walla, WA 99362.

They are currently teaching a man and a couple right now... he said they are working on teaching others. He ended his email with his experience at dinner "we had a really fun time at dinner last night. We shared a thought and I felt the spirit way strong. I love being a servant of Heavenly Father!" That is a missionary...crashes on his bike, hole in the his pants but all that matters is his love for being a servant of Heavenly Father...it's fun to hear his love for his mission...

What a wonderful world of technology......

This was one of the best Christmas's EVER!!! Less gifts and more time to spend together!!! We went to the Young Single Adult ward with Kristi and Kati...Kristi directed her ward choir and they did an AWSOME job....amazing! Then we got home and got the turkey going, grandma came, Staci Trevor and Max came and we opened more gifts for them....we read letters sent by our Elder Rob, we got our skype ready for our phone call from our elder...and then it was 3 o'clock..our long anticipated call from our elder!!! WOW!!! We got to see him, on Kati's Ipad...we passed it around and each got to talk to Elder Rob....he looks sooooo good and sounds even better!!! He LOVES his mission, his area, serving the Lord...it shows in his countinence .... he really is so happy and we were able to talk for an hour! I just love technology, what a blessing it is to be able to have our son in the same room as our family for one hour of his mission on Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ who sacrificed so much for us.....His love for us and the Love of our Father is why we are able to be together and have these moments with each other. Elder Rob was spending this day with some great member families, he said they are teaching a couple people right now and that one lady is pretty "solid" as the missionaries put it, you can feel his spirit and the love he has for teaching the gospel to others,,,we asked him where they live and he said they live in the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric's basement...one small bedroom and a bathroom then they share the kitchen with the family upstairs ... can you imaging how nice it would be to have the missionaries live in your home, what a blessing that would be....We asked him about his Christmas and he said he loved having the 12 days of Christmas this year....loved the gifts and being able to open one up every day....he is just HAPPY!!!! Did I mention he looks GOOD!!! He has really grown up...we are so proud of him and the Love he has for our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ....he wants to share this message to everyone and have them feel the things he is feeling with his testimony....he is such a great example to us....it was hard to close our hour and say goodby, but we are excited to do it again on Mother's Day...what a blessing it is to have our missionary son serve...what a great young man and example to all...

Missing our son for the Holidays.....

Our Gift this Year
(adapted from a poem by Anonymous)

Our son’s presence won’t be felt Around our home this year.
He won’t be watching for Santa Or listening for reindeer.
Because our boy is now an elder, Out teaching with his clan
But he’s doing something different, Turning from a boy to a man.
His presents this year will be white shirts and pants
Some socks a tie or two...no fun.
Yes, this year it will be quite different
Cause we’ve given Christ our son.

We’ve spent more time in prayer for him, Felt strength coming from His words.
We’ve read the scriptures more frequently And our testimonies have stirred.
As parents our prayers are for his protection, Our tears are quick to run,
Our thoughts are with him everyday
This year we’ve given Christ our son.

We wonder how those Lamanite moms Gave their sons to fight the war.
Or how the pioneers chose Zion, As their sacrifices were much more.
He tells us how his mission is, All the work and all the fun,
For two years we will pray for him
We’ve given Christ our son.

Our Christmas's seem so long ago How he loved traditions and family
So creative are we, we send him a tree And hope that he might have snow.
The stories and lessons we always read, His choices and ours are one.
We put our trust in God's hand this year.
We’ve given Him our son.

The gifts we give aren't as important now We learn these truths every day
Christ's birth should be our celebration We should worship more then play
We know Christ lives and reigns on earth He's our Savior, the Holy One...
Our gift has taken 19 years to make.
We’ve given Christ our son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.

This year...I'm giving Christ my

I found this poem and really liked it....I have been thinking about the Holidays this year...Thanksgiving passed, we had a great meal with family and friends...but my thoughts were with Elder Rob and what he was doing at that time. He said he was having dinner with a great family and looking forward to spending time with them...I guess we will find out in his email on tuesday, something I am looking forward to reading. Tonight we are putting together his twelve days of Christmas gift...tomorrow we send it off. I hope and pray he knows how much we miss and love him...seems so empty without him this season but he is Serving the Lord and like the poem...We've given Christ our son this year. Merry Christmas Elder Rob...Keep working hard and loving the Lord...

Oh his aching feet....OUCH!!!!

Wow! Elder Rob has not only gone through 2 pair of shoes in 10 months, but he has been hard on his feet too!! He has inherrited his dad's toes which are prone to hangnails....well, he got a pretty bad hangnail and last month the doctor decided to remove it!!! He said it was the most painful thing he has ever endured, and he only took off one day to recover...back to walking and riding bikes to those investigators..."the work must go on" and he didn't want to lay around...so last week, a month later, he had to return to the doctor since his toe is continuing to bleed. We, of course haven't heard from him yet, but hopefully the doctor was able to correct the problem....feet are so ugly but very important to get us around and especially a missionary! LOL...he better take good care of these feet.

Elder Rob is doing really good as a trainer and he and his companion continue to have great experiences together. Last week Elder Day had the great experience of using his Priesthood and gave his first Blessing. He felt those feelings that come from the Lord while speaking His words...it was amazing for him. Elder Rob has also had those same feelings and talked with Elder Day about them...he said he will never understand why a Priesthood holder who has had those experiences and felt the spirit while using his Priesthood would fall away from the Church....it is unimagionable to him. Amazing to think our 'boys' are now 'men' and using those keys that have been given them to teach and bless others...This Gospel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is so True and such a fulfilling Faith. If we let ourselves grow and be strengthened by His spirit we feel such a power of Love and Accomplishment in His plan. Daily growth is such a rewarding feeling. It is such a blessing to have our son on his mission...to hear his successes, his preceived failures and the strength and growth he goes through every day. Almost a year now....amazing to see his growth and Love for the Lord.

This is a message that came from his Mission President....

Elder Schroeder, Thank you for your letter. I had to chuckle when I read about getting mad at times when speaking with non-members who misstate the scriptures or are disagreeable. It reminds me of myself when I was on my younger mission. One time my junior companion (after a difficult tracting experience) simply quoted the verses from 3 Nephi---"the spirit of contention is not of me." The quoted verse completed changed my approach. I simply refused to be contentious. Maybe it will help you. Anyway, we sure love you. Keep up the good work. President.


Such a sweet good reminder to a young Elder who is lost in his mission and wanting all to hear and understand. I had to chuckle myself when I read this from Elder Rob's mission President...such a good reminder to all of us...patience is key in everything we do....It is good to see our son keeping up the good work spreading the word of God to all who will hear....hopefully he will continue to wear out his shoes and not his feet LOL.....the life of our Missionary....

Called to serve as a Trainer.....

I thought I would add to Elder Rob's blog his letter from his mission President in regards to his new calling as a Trainer....

13 September 2011


Elder Robert Schroeder
3858 Pennsylvania St. #259
Longview, WA 98632

Dear Elder Schroeder,

Congratulations on your call as a Trainer of a new missionary. This assignment of responsibility and trust is among the greatest that a missionary can receive in the mission field. The privilege to train is a sacred trust and responsibility.

Many are counting on you. First, your new companion has high hopes and expectations that his first companion would be one that would help him learn what the Lord would have him do to be effective and successful in the mission field. Second, the parents of your new companion have been praying that their son's first companion would be one that would help him have a trememdous start to his mission. Third, your companion's bishop and stake president at home are equally concerned that this new missionary get a first companion that will be hard working and obedient so that their missionary can be happy and successful in the field.

In their instruction to Mission President's, the leaders of the church have taught "one of the highest compliments you can pay to a missionary is to assign him or her as a trainer of a new missionary. A missionary's first companion will have a profound, lasting influence on the development of the missionary's attitude and habits....Choose only outstanding missionaries to serve as trainers." (Mission President's Handbook, 2005).

As a trainer, you have certain responsibilities that are outlined in the "in field Training for New Missionaries." Always remember that as you faithfully fulfill this trust that the Lord has placed in you, your new companion will remember you all the days of their life for the contribution that you made in helping them get a good start on their mission.

May the Lord bless you for your faithful service and for conducting yourself in such a way that you would be worthy and prepared to serve as a Trainer of a new missionary.

Faithfully Yours,
President Leonard D. Greer
Washington Kennewick Mission





Elder Schroeder and his new companion Elder Day......
Service is a good thing....good luck on this new endevor on your mission Elder Rob.

LDS Missionaries Coming Home Mix