Insight on Revelation

5/8/16

Hello Family!

Thank you for sending the pictures! Looks really good! You both look really good and young and all that. 

That is a strange coincidence that you wrote about the chairs that santa brought last year... I remembered them last night as I was praying. It is odd that you remembered them too and wrote about them. I will get to sit down on one of them again here in a few months. Are they holding up well still? 

I don't really know what to say today because we just spoke yesterday. And it was great to see you!! 

 I am doing well and enjoying the time I have to serve. It is great to feel the spirit in such great abundance every single day! I hope that I can always have the spirit with me every day for the rest of my life. It is hard even as a missionary sometimes. And it is even harder when not on a mission. I would challenge you always strive to have the spirit with you every single day.

This week my spiritual insight is about prophecy. From accounts dating back to the earlier days of the church, many people often recall members prophesying great things in meetings and gatherings. Sometimes I feel like the word prophecy scares us, like it is something reserved for only apostles and prophets. It is true that they all have the gift of revelation and prophecy, but as members of the restored church, we are also entitled to a certain amount of revelation and prophecy, within specific bounds. If you listen carefully in sacrament meetings and other gatherings, you will hear those that are spiritually mature deliver prophetic messages. By prophetic, I do not mean that they are prophets or entitled to become one, but prophecy and revelation are spiritual treasures that we can all receive. Listen carefully to those that are seasoned spiritually and you will hear it. You will feel that it is true. Because we always have a presiding authority (either a key holder or someone acting under the authority of such) at church meetings, we can rest assured that these spiritual promptings taught, will be correct and true, unless corrected by the presiding authority. We do need to be careful when delivering a message or testimony of this nature, but we do not need to be scared to do so. The spirit will always guide us and help us to know what is truth and what is not. 

I am very excited for the future of the church here in Palawan. I have served here for almost 10 months now and I have seen the church grow so much! I have seen groups start, a branch formed, a branch split, and the day is fast approaching for Puerto Princesa to become a stake. I have spoken to some of the very first members here on Palawan and helped baptize some of the newest. One individual that we baptized in my very first area is on a mission, and another individual that I interviewed for baptism left on her mission just last month. The church is growing fast here. I can see the day when there are branches and wards are scattered all throughout this island and penetrate the hundred of islands that have not yet even heard the gospel yet. It is great to be part of such a great and marvelous work!

I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Schroeder

Prayers...

May 1, 2016

This week has been another great week! Bad news though... Elder Hernandez has some sort of leprosy on his feet... So we have not been able to work. We actually don't know if it is leprosy. I was just saying that to scare you. He is taking antibiotics and is being taken care of well. His feet look a lot better than they did before so we should be able to start working this week. Your prayers for Elder Hernandez would be much appreciated so we can get out and start working. 

I have been able to work with the elders that are in our bordering area though which has been nice. I am really able to teach these Elders a lot. It is a great blessing to be able to help them to learn. The oldest missionary in our district excluding me has been out 9 months, and there is only one filipino. So they have a lot to learn still with the language and culture, but they are all great missionaries. We really enjoy being able to serve together. I may be conducting exchanges with the Rizal elders here in the next week or two. I am excited for that.

About the mothers day call. I will be calling on Sunday at about 1 or 2 our time. So you can expect a call around that time. We have permission to check out email on Friday if you need to change plans... and we can make the call any day on Saturday, Sunday or Monday here. So we are pretty flexible. We will check our email again on Friday to make sure everything is all good still, otherwise, just expect the call at that time. 

Interviews this week were really good. I got to teach the budgeting class to the narra zone and I think it will really help. I am also helping Elder Hernandez and the other Elders in our house to learn that better as well. It is going to help a lot. 

I am still praying for Joy's mom. It is really sad to hear that it may be that close. I hope she is taking it well. It is so great to have the gospel and to know the Plan of Salvation. I know that we will be able to see her again if we live faithful. 

For BYUI,  I cannot think of anything that you need to ask. Just be sure to mention that I am preparing to go into a bachelors degree program for Biochemistry. 

Sorry, this email was a lot longer.... but the computer lost internet connectivity and I lost about half the email. So I am all out of time. The draft that was saved did not return all the way. I had a cool spiritual insight on here but now it is gone and I have no time to rewrite it. 

For the school stuff. Just make sure that I get classes that will prepare me for biochem. Also bio 180 and chem 101 or 105 with a lab Is what I would like to take. Please do your best to make sure I get good professors. ratemyprofessor.com is what I use. Sid can help you out with this if you need help. Sorry this email is sort of lame... I wrote a lot more earlier but its gone now:/  have a great week!

Elder Schroeder

I love you! and thanks for the recipes!

New Area- Quezon, Palawan

4/24/2016

Hello Family!

So I am not really use to emailing here in the field. The computers are a lot slower so I don't get as much time actually typing. So I am running short on time and this email may be a little shorter than regular. 

My companion is Elder Hernandez. He is from Las Vegas and is Hispanic. He is super nice likes to joke around. We have already been able to have a lot of fun and are going to keep having lots of fun in the next few months. It is weird to think how close I am to going home. The thing is that I don't have any time to really think about it because I am busy training and working hard.  I'm going to help  Elder Hernandez's with learning Tagalog. I hope to be able to help him out a lot. 

He is great though and it is a lot of fun to be his companion. 
This week was great. Yes,  I stayed an extra day to help with training and orientating the new missionaries. I got to drive the departing missionaries around all day too, which was great. And then on Wednesday afternoon I went to Palawan and escorted two new missionaries there where they are also going to be trained. 

It is really great to be back in the field. The word must have gotten out because the whole branch knows that I was an assistant. It is super awkward but it will stop eventually. It is a big part of the culture in the church here. Filipinos often aspire to be assistant when they find out that you were an assistant.... It's a big deal for them anyway, just an interesting fact here. 

The area is about 3 to 4 hours away from puerto and you have to take these shuttle vans. They pack you in pretty tight and the air conditioning isn't quite strong enough but it is not too bad. It is about the same size as santa monica and there are a lot of people that live here. I am really looking forwad to the work here. 

One thing that is not so good here is that there is no running water during the day. This is because there is a drought right now and they do it to conserve water. So we have to stockpile water in buckets and bottles and stuff to be able to have enough water to shower at night. I really like it here though and we are going to get a lot done and have fun. 

Sorry, running out of time to email!

Love you! 

Elder Schroeder

I hope you had a great birthday!

I have been to taytay before too by the way! It's awesome theybordganized a new branch! 

I am sorry you didn't get that job :( I was praying for you. 

We are going into puerto for interviews this week. Staying in a hotel called GoHotel

Here is a picture of Me, Elder Crowder, Elder Erwin and Elder Hernandez (left to right). 

The next picture is us 4 assistants after our day of orientation (right before I left to palawan). 

New Assignment

4/17/2016

Hello Everyone!

I have an announcement! 

I am transferring... any guesses? Paranaque? Bonifacio? Manila? Pasay? nope! I am going back to Palawan! It should be my very last area. I am excited needless to say. I think I am the only missionary to ever be assigned on Palawan 3 times. I will be there for a whole year in total. I am really excited to go there. I am going to be serving on the more southern part of the island, where I have never been before. I have seen the whole northern half, now I will get to see the whole southern half. I will be a district leader in a branch called quezon. I will also be able to conduct exchanges with the furthest south part of the mission that is open for missionary work. It is called rizal. So that will be a lot of fun to be able to do. I will get to see the whole island basically. 

There have been two new assistants called to replace me. Elder Whittle will be in a threesome with the new assistants. Elder Leofo (Samoan) and Elder Garcia (Filipino). They are both really great Elders and are going to be able to do a lot of great work in their area.

Congratulations to Casey! Is he going to start looking for work somewhere or start a business? 

Happy birthday too to Cathy! It is weird that Kyle has been home for a year now already. He sent me a picture of Cathy grinding a metal propane tank. I guess they are making a BBQ or something like that... it should be interesting. 

Yes, you should really start getting in shape for trek. I guess I need to do the same thing... I am in shape and all just not as in shape as I could be. Anyways, I am excited to be able to go on the trek with you. It will be a lot of fun! 

For the voucher, I don't know where else I could go to... the problem is that I really wouldn't have anyone to go with. It doesn't really matter to me. I was possibly thinking that I could go up to college a little bit early to be able to look for a phlebotomy job before the semester starts. I don't know if you already had plans about how I was going to get up to Idaho or anything though. I would like to visit the east coast sometime and see all the historical stuff over there. Or go see the sacred grove. That would be fun  or I could fly over to Arizona and visit summer's family. Maybe I could arrange a ride along with Glen? Well, I think that is enough of ideas. Alaska would be the best though! 

How much was my scholorship/grant for?  just curious

I am glad dad has been doing well with sanding jobs. I miss getting my hands dirty.

I hope you can get the new job as a Behavior Technician. That would be really great! You would do really well. 

You may have noticed that I withdrew last week from my account. Just letting you know that it was me, not some crazy person that robbed me. 

This week was really good. Things always seem to kind of just stay busy here. Nothing really ever winds down here in the office. Interviews are coming up though so the new assistants will be super busy. They got me to teach a class though when we have interviews on Palawan. So I am not really quite out of it. President's expectations for the work in Quezon are really high. He is expecting the whole branch and district to catch on fire. I really hope that I can do well.

As for my spiritual insight this week... It comes from what I shared in our meeting earlier. I was chosen (since it is my last few days in the office) to give the spiritual insight for the beginning of our meeting. On preparation days, I have been reading the book you sent me Patience Loader Rozsa Archer and it has been great!

I shared this scripture and it brought immediately into my mind all the stories that I have read so far from her journals. It is in Alma 34 when Amulek is teaching the impoverished people among the Zoramites who have been casted out of the churches and synagogues and not allowed to worship like the more well off affluent zoramites. 

He says, 39. Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing. 40. And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41. But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

I remembered the story Patience wrote about a general that wrote everything into her name in his will... and she gave all of it up on the call to gather zion. Before that, she lost a job at a hotel and was persecuted by her own sister as well as other friends and acquaintances around her. After giving up what was accounted to be a large fortune, she made the trek with her family across the ocean in the which her cousin died and was buried at sea. Later (in the part I haven't read yet) she suffers hunger, fatigue and the loss of her father to be obedient to the call of God. During the whole time, she would always say she was so blessed to have found the true church and to have a loving Heavenly Father. You can just feel the spirit as you read her words of her heartfelt testimony. I am sure it was not easy at the time she actually experienced these things, but in her later years, she could not help but thank God for how much she was blessed throughout her whole life. Patience had a testimony in the words of Amulek that one day, if we bear with patience our afflictions, we will be able to rest from all. 

Thank you for the email! I love you!

Elder Schroeder

P-day Malacañan Palace

4/17/2016 

Here are some pictures from our trip to Malacañan Palace this week!

It was really cool to go there and learn some more about the History of the Philippines. The tour guide was impressed because I answered a few of his questions and things about the history of the presidents and things like that. 

It is pretty amazing! The palace was actually built by America (using Filipino laborers). It has become the symbol of executive power in the Philippines. America has really contributed a lot to the development of the country. 

 

Sending you another email in a bit. Have a mtg., then I send it. 

  

Unique experiences...

4/10/2016 

Hello Family! 

We just finished an office staff meeting and our meeting with president. We just started planning training for interviews that will start again next transfer. We also talked about some other things and it seems like I am going to be transferred. President of course said that he does know yet, but it really sounds to me like I am transferring. Enough talk about that though, it is not for sure yet. I could be staying here. Wherever I am needed, there I will go. 

This was a good week and I enjoyed being able to watch conference. Conference was super good! If I had to pick one thing from conference that I got in general it would be this: We need the power of more members entering the new and everlasting covenant to protect us from the increasing influence of the adversary. Everything we do as members should point to preparing those who have not yet become part of this covenant to become ready, and for those that have entered into the covenant, to continue to live worthy to receive the power available through the covenant. (you may think that means I want to get married, but its not). All the efforts that we do as members point to that moment where two individuals enter into the most powerful, sacred and binding covenant. This covenant is eternal and supernal, and all who area an appendage of it have the opportunity to receive the power to become like Captain Moroni, an enemy to the Son of the Morning, able to make Satan tremble at the very thought. Our eyes and minds need to be centered on the temple.

I feel like the brethren have really been focusing on this in preparation for the coming days and all the diverse forms of temptation that will cause many to be lost in strange paths. 

I don't think I would ever want to run for president. 

Thank you for taking care of all my school stuff!

Yes, I got some answers to some specific questions. It was pretty cool actually. I don't remember if I told you, about last conference. I had written down a question I wanted an answer to which was, What should my career be? And in the conference three doctors spoke back to back all sharing experiences from their careers. I thought, oh maybe that was just a strange coincidence... So I had the same question this time around, "What should my career be?" And the very first speaker that we got to listen to was Russel M. Nelson, who shared another experience about his profession as a surgeon. I have been praying about it, and I am getting more and more sure this is what I should do. So that has been a really good experience for me. It may be good also to note that I have not just been expecting some sort of sign or miraculous vision or anything of the sort, but I have been praying earnestly for a long time, and the spirit has told me in silent ways and confirmed it in my heart and mind. He has also used His servants to tell me in another small way, that I should pursue this course. That has been a unique experience to me seeing how God works through both His servants and His Holy Spirit. 

I love you all! Sorry my email is short.

Elder Schroeder

4/12/2016 

Proud mom moment!! 

A post on Facebook from Sister Ostler:

"The Hansens just sent pictures of our wonderful assistants' apartment!  Wow!  They are a great example!  Having three couples helping with housing checks has really improved the quality of cleanliness throughout the mission.  Apartments that pass inspections get free cleaning solution and even treats sometimes!  :)  You moms should be proud!" 

I recognized Elder Schroeder's belongings all neat and orderly:) Way to go Son!!! 

Busy in the office...

4/3/2016

Hello Family!

This week has been super busy. It seems like things just get more and more busy the longer that I stay in the office. We had departing activities for a few missionaries this last week. We took a missionary in from the India mission who will be finishing his mission in Boston. We had our very last zone conference which was great, and then we had another missionary who has been wiating here for his visa for 5 months finally be able to go back to India. We have several other visas that are being processed for other missionaries and they will be heading off to their missions soon as well. 

We are kind of the satellite mission for all the other countries around here because we have all of the main government agencies around and the airport is in our mission. So we handle most of the odd things like that when dealing with a lot of missionaries waiting for visas and things like that. It is an interesting experience.  

Anyways, I am enjoying the work here and learning a lot still. I am learning a ton about myself and the spirit and the Plan of our Heavenly Father. 

How are things looking with school? When does registering for classes start. I need to make sure that I get all the classes that I need in order to qualify for my AA before transferring. So if you could double check on the requirements and see what I am missing for an associate of sciences to make sure that I get all those required classes. Sidney and Kyle can help with that I am sure. 

The work is moving along, we had another 11 new investigators this week and are looking forward to all of their progress. We found one man last night who seems really promising and very intelligent. He seems like he is really open to learn and become a member eventually when he receives his answer. We have a few others that we are really excited for in this area. One man that is getting close to baptism. He has been to church 4 weeks now but we haven't been able to teach him much yet. Wealso  have another one who has been to church on and off for the last 6 or 7 months. MLC is this week so we are looking forward to being able to go forward and help the mission to make some big improvements. I really feel like this MLC is going to be a great one. 

Anyways, sorry I have been running back and forth from the computer with office staff meeting and meetings with President to plan training. So I am finally going to be able to get my email off right now, I think.

Here is my spiritual insight for the week. It comes from personal study this week and the words of Job. As we know Job, he was blessed tremendously by the Lord, and it was all taken away in an instant. All of his livelihood and those dearest to him destroyed in a single instant. After which, he developed various skin diseases and was abhorred by all those around him. Despite the revilement and jeering off his former friends and acquaintances, Job continued to praise the Lord and glorify His name. Directly following the ridicule of several rich and honored men and a response of Job, a man named Zophar offers this great teaching.  

5. That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 6. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 7. Yet he shall perish like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?" (Job Chapter 20). Despite the nature and false accusation of what Zophar said to Job, the teaching remains true. That those who are brought up in pride because of worldly success shall be brought down to be low, and in the day of judgement, shall be counted as naught. The bounds of the Atonement of our Savior are endless and ever-reaching, but continue only in the direction of righteousness. To say that the Atonement is infinite and eternal is only held true for that which judgement AND mercy can be applied. If pride prevents one to be humble, then we will find ourselves outside the bounds of an infinite atonement. We must seek to be like Job and ever rejoice in the redeeming power of our Savior so that we may find ourselves within the bounds that He has set. The spirit continues to teach me and help me to understand the scriptures in a new light.

Have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Schroeder

By the way the pictures from the going home activities were an odd off transfer day. The next transfer day is on April 20th. President said today that I will most likely be transferring "unless he changes his mind." So I will probably have a new area here in a few weeks. Wherever it is, I am excited to go and serve. 

Love you all!