I am a Disciple of Christ: Jesus said, "Come Follow Me"

Freedom sacrifice, Family visit, & fond Graduation

       We celebrate the 4th of July in the USA because 13 states (small colonies) decided to band together in pursuit of freedom from England's subjugation in 1776.  Many colonists died fighting for this innate human Freedom as they declared Independence.  Nearly 250 years later and after many world wars in the 20th century, Europe again is faced with a country, Russia this time, seeking to subjugate the sovereign state (country) and freedom of Ukraine.  

       People do not learn very well from history.  We visited Dachau near Munich the first part of July 2022.  This camp was set up in 1930s for Hitler's political foes--those who did not salute and raise their hands hailing Hitler.  Today we witness daily the destruction of eastern Ukrainian cities. 

      Ukraine cities have been systematically bombed the past 5 months.  Many eastern Ukraine cities are largely empty, many citizens have been killed, and those few who remain or oppose Russia's occupation are being sent to Russia for re-indoctrination or death.  Freedom is not free--the world should know these words are real, not a trite phrase.  The people of Ukraine are fighting and dying for their wives and children, and for their homes, cities, and farms!!  May Peace and the Right prevail.  

      For Russians and people who believe the propaganda of Putin--please raise your heads and read the history of your own people who fought Hitler's propaganda and "peaceful" occupations as he 'freed the Germans in Poland' first, then on to more territory to the east etc.

Our visit to Dachau concentration camp north of Munich, Germany with Grant-Kendall-Peyton during their EU adventure to see both grandparents serving in the Alpine German Mission (8-July).  "Arbeit Macht Frei" [work shall make you free]...Artist rendition of people stuck in barb wire 1933-1945, "Never Again" monument  ....yet Putin follows Hitler path 90 years later 😞

   

  

  

     Family Time with Grant, Kendall and Peyton Schroedter 2-July thru 9-Jul 2022.  We were blessed with a great week visiting Munich, Germany where Peyton's other grandparents, Scott and Jodi Naatjes serve as our Alpine Germany Mission President.  What a great blessing to meet Peyton Jodi Schroedter face to face, see Grant and Kendall, and get to know Scott and Jodi who become better friends with each meeting.

      The Cumorah Academy students were in Budapest, Hungary at a YSA conference this week.  Perfect timing for a visit in Münich, Germany with our son, Grant and his family!
  

Make no mistake about it -- Peyton is "the show".... 6 doting adults 24/7 this week.

   

    

Six years ago Grant completed his mission to Madagascar.  Grant has embarked on his eternal family mission as he fills the full measure of his life's purpose.  Caleb is now 20 and sending off his friend of 16 years, Ryan Fairwell, to mission labors in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Grant, Kendall, Peyton and her grandparents depart the mission home for a day into the city of Munich, 4-July-2022.

  

A walk down the street to the mission office; pick up President (Scott) and train into the city.

  

Marienplatz, Münich and its sites and sounds.

   

  

We love how Kendall can get Peyton to laugh and smile the best! Love this beautiful mother-daughter relationship and their early joys in life.

 

walked into "a"nother church, we passed along the way...these high ceilings reach to heaven!

   

a stop into Caleb's favorite futbol (club) store: Bayern Munich, then another beautiful church..

  

sometimes city places must grate us...it's going to be okay mom! [Oh no! (exiting the church)]

   

We fortuitously met Joy Jones (former Church Primary President), Jean Bingham (current Church Relief Society President), their husbands and tour group back at Marienstadt.  Michele and I Iistened to both of their 5 addresses from General Conferences during our morning walks the next week.  Such wonderful women and powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ.

 

fortuitous meeting in Marienplatz Munich Germany

The famous clock at Marienstadt square - 5pm, the characters circle about a few times

 

 

Peyton pre-naptime with papa Schroedter and pre-sleeptime with grandpa Naatjes

  

5-July, late afternoon visit to Munich Schloss Nymphenburg.  We did a puzzle a day (1000 to 1500 piece puzzles as we visited in the mission home), Peyton napped etc--but, we got out most everyday to visit a site and walk a bit together.

   

   

 

Munich Schloss Nymphenburg 

 

  

Scatter Sunshine... all along the Way...

6-July train into Marienplatz to find Caleb's Bayern-Munich things; then took the train and walked to the Olympiapark ('72 summer Olympic stadiums).  Another beautiful day in Munich.  We stopped by the mission office from our morning walk to capture the mirrored signage...

     

  

  

our very own "dash combo"  Grant and Peyton--both sides of the Olympic Rings, same pic

next stop, 'sky high' at the Munich Olympic Park Tower: it's already been 50 years since Munich hosted the summer Olympics--such an amazing and beautiful city.

  

East (pano 1) and South (pano 2) below from the Munich Tower

 

BMW factory in the foreground, and the Bayern-Munich futbol stadium in the distant (N-NW)

 

  

    

good bye to the Olympic Park-a beautiful day.  I recall these Olympics games in "color" from So Cal when I was 12. Mark Spitz: a swimming sensation, Olga Korbut: outstanding gymnast from Russia; the sadness of Israeli athletes killed by Palestine Liberation Organization..😔

Back to the mission home and time with Peyton.  As shown and noted above, we went to Dachau concentration camp on Th 7-Jul.  We took a few photos of our morning walk Friday, 8-July, south of the mission home: such a beautiful pond, river, and park.  Friday we just visited and relaxed at home (Grant is a puzzle wizard and we all joined puzzle past time oft).

    

puzzle time...evenings with Peyton, place and catching up

 

 

perfect moments with Peyton...see you in 2023, you'll be walking and talking more!

  

Auf Wiedersehen München Deutschland und unsere familie

Tram 71 only went part way to the Institute building Sat pm as we were going to clean the fridge and check out the outdoor concert by city hall (Rathaus).  We ran into a freedom protest against mask et al.  When you petition for a protest, you get traffic and police support in Wien.

      

  

Back to Cumorah Academy 10-Jul Sunday afternoon for Spring 2022 Graduation Week

Galatians 6 (churchofjesuschrist.org) is a perfect chapter in the New Testament for so many things at the Cumorah Academy, for its students and for us all. 1-restore in meekness to those overtaken in faults, 2-bear ye one another's burdens 3-be humble, think not more of ourselves 4-prove your own work, self reliance et al 5-teach all good things 6-that which ye sow so shall ye reap 7-be not weary in well doing 8-if we have the opportunity, do good to all--especially to those in the household of faith and continue to walk in Christ's path and teachings.

I might have shared that this young apple seedling was growing at 45 degrees a few months ago.  As we walked passed it, I would prop it toward 90 degrees bit by bit when the soil was soft from recent rains.  I kept moving the supporting stake and nurtured the tree to an upright position.  The apples it bears today are heavy enough for year one.  In time, the tree will grow tall and straight to support more sturdy branches and bear much good fruit on its branches.

The golden wheat field is heavy laden and ready for harvest 11-July am.  The canola plants which once blossomed with beautiful yellow flowers are now brown with pods full of seeds to be processed into healthy cooking oils here in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe.  That which the farmers sowed will be reaped in great abundance from the rich soil near Pravětice and Načeradec valleys of central Bohemia--site of the Cumorah Academy.

  

Correction and instruction in our youth can benefit us greatly later in life to yield much good fruit and return much to society-life.  When we sow good thoughts, good actions, good habits--we will certainly reap the good and positive of such in our lives.  You cannot shortcut this process anymore than a farmer can shortcut the process of turning the earth, planting seed, fertilizing, succoring for rain and time to yield some 10 fold, some 50 fold and some a 100 fold.
12-Jul am as we walked in amazement of this place; 12-Jul pm the wheat is harvested

  

 

the day is done, gone the sun....Tuesday 12-July-2022

 

16-May to 12-July the canola oil (rapeseed pods) will also be harvested soon!

 

Jason Plant and his wife Jennie were the mentors for graduation week.  As he did in the Fall of 2021, Jason provided great leadership principles and exercises to reinforce team work, communication skill and vision needs.

    

Communicate, collaborate, subdivide, recreate....

   

 

 

 

after their second presentation and "final" like exams are done, it's time 13-July pm for a Talent Show...only a few snippets--incredible young adults!

  

I was able to capture Nina's beautiful voice before the show started--Whitney Houston protege!  I sent the video to her husband of one year who is back in Ukraine--they were reunited near Kyiv this past weekend (Sunday morning in Kyiv--3 couples from the Fall Semester).  It's amazing how much we love these young adults who come through the Cumorah Academy!

 

my Japanese song to all three Cumorah Academy Graduation Classes

Spring 2022 Graduation--everyone was looking very spiffy and beautiful

   

  

Cumorah Academy can't run without the staff (kitchen, maintenance, admin, teachers)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations all....parting is such sweet sorrow! (no dancing for the young missionaries)

but we went for a bit, even though a thunderstorm knocked out power, let the generators run !

 

Friday am...departures start at 5am, 730am, 830am.....et al.  Yuri who we knew well in Krakow is back traveling many kilometers to take students to Lviv and Kyiv...wow!

 

  

 

all our bags are packed, ready to go...standing here right by the door, already.....

 

 

  

Gabi's 5am group makes it to the Vienna airport...weary travelers pause in route to Germany

 

Our Wien District activities 17-July evening, Japanese Curry, cooked for 16--plenty for 10:

 

 

brownies and ice cream to finish Sunday eventide

 

18-July Monday am, we had a tri? district (west Austria zone) meeting and testimony meeting then we walked together to lunch at  Ebi (エビ), all-you-can eat Japanese sushi, udon, tonkatsu, gyoza, what a delightful Monday.  The young missionaries are amazing everywhere!

 

we've been studying German for nearly 2 months, bit by bit....

  

 

after lunch, the Russian speaking (reassigned like us) elders accompanied me to the hospital to give a dear sister whose daughter asked for a priesthood blessing to the Munich office elders.  We had to get PCR tested Sunday to be able to go in the hospital Monday.  

Our prayers go with Sister Lamb for her safe return to Kanab, UT later this week!  Because of our duties at the Cumorah Academy Sunday pm thru Wednesday noon, we finally participated and enjoyed our first Monday district meeting in Wien.  We look forward to building friendships and working together with our Wien district and zone to fulfill Jesus Christ's commission to go into the whole earth teaching of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  

We are blessed beyond measure to serve the Lord, Jesus here in Austria and in Czechia the next 9 months--we are half way through our 1st senior mission.  First, Glory to God in the Highest; then, Glory to Ukraine and her fight for Freedom!