September filled with Family Travels and New Starts
The first half of September, like August, we spent all our mission time in Vienna (Wien). Institute was slow as many college students returned to their cities. Cumorah Academy did not start until mid-September. We loved supporting our young missionaries' German classes for scores of Ukrainians on Thursdays; and English classes and other activities on Fridays and Saturdays.
We continued our visits to find young single adults across Wien. We typically would map out a district and spend 2-3 hours on trams, buses and foot finding the one. Many moved out (of course, college students are on the move), and many add new addresses, and many welcomed us with smiles and Michele's homemade cookies.
Taylor, Kaitlyn and Rocky came to Europe for 2 weeks. Their first week (6-13 Sep) was with us in Wien, Bratislava, Budapest, Salzburg and Munich. They then visited Shelby's family in London and ended their trip in Paris--hardy end of summer travel warriors. Rocky was amazing--we love him and all our grandchildren so much. Kaitlyn was so strong to go go go every day. She is expecting their first girl in January--we're over the moon for them. We walked a lot.
We became grandparents to our first Teenage grandchild, Aubrey Loud-13. She is amazing and working so hard at school in London. 4 other birthdays for our family in September (Sebastian Anderson-6, Capri Anderson-9, Kristi Brown-young and her daughter Millie Schroedter-12). Garrett must be proud and watching over Millie's growth and beauty!
Michele spent the last 2 weeks of September looking after her parents back in Roosevelt, UT. Dad Ross had a serious episode in the ICU and needed lots of care and Mom Ross is struggling with her husband's health, and her own anxiety and memory. Our mission president was very supportive of Michele spending time with her parents. Michele came back to Austria October 1. We watched General Conference in Wien Saturday and with the youth at the Cumorah Academy Sunday evening, 2-Oct. We enjoyed 3 days at our senior missionary conference in Munich (6-8 October), and then back to the Cumorah Academy. Elder Bednar, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ visited Wien (we enjoyed a meeting with local members 12-Oct evening) and then with the YSAs on 13-October including a bus-full of Cumorah Academy students. I will post pictures for the first half of October separately.
We have enjoyed teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to many of the Cumorah Academy students via Institute and Self Reliance classes. Nearly 35-40 students attend Jesus Christ, the Everlasting Gospel course, another 20 attend "Answering Gospel Question" strengthening Faith in Christ class. We are also teaching the missionary lessons to 4 wonderful young adults, perhaps more in the coming weeks. It is such blessing to fill the Spirit and the Love of Jesus Christ as we meet together..... more news to come!
Michele returned to UT (14-Oct) to nurture her parents whose health is declining rapidly. We had talked about her returning a few days before a plea came from her father 12-Oct evening. It was an easy decision to book the next available flight home for Michele. She was greeted by family at the SLC airport (Marissa was in SLC for Halloween fun at her in-laws)
Our First Teenager Grandchild
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our beautiful teenage granddaughter Aubrey Loud-13, living the dream in London...you're smart, sassy, and fun! [8-September-2022]
YSA visits
a home I visited seeking a brother who served his mission to Poland and his girlfriend from Poland during a morning train trip and exercise walk 2-Sep. The next Sunday, Bishop Banban (a great saint among the many Philippine families living here in Wien) told me they had moved....one by one!
60-Year Celebration of the Wien 2nd ward (Leopoldstadt ward), 3-Sep-2022
Beautiful Sister Michele Ross Schroedter standing beside the artistically tiled baptismal font.
Jesus answered: "except one be born of the water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5)setting up with the young missionaries for fun and food -- celebrating 60 years as a ward
Taylor, Kaityln and Rockwell's visit (6-Sep thru 13-Sep)
a pretty cool digital arrival board; awaiting weary travelers from Boise via SLC, Amsterdam!
As in the day, Rocky was always on the move next to Papa while Mimi had the couch!
the Belvedere...first stop of many tourists sites the next week!
Next Stop? "no, not Sky High! ", but Am HeumarktKarl's Kirche - one of Josh Loud's favorite churches in Wien (he served his mission here)Karlsplatz to the Wien Oper (Vienna Opera House)...walking all morn, "too easy", says Rocky
no time for Mozart's Magic Flute Opera playing now in Vienna! Ok, walk to his statue instead
Volksgarten (People's Garden) and Parl(i)ament across the street
Lunch break at Wien'a famous Schnitzelwirt Neubaugasse 52 - delicious & historical site
Iconic photo opportunities at the Rathaus (City Hall) square and Park
happy boy-- all smiles, happy wife--happy life, did I say, we did a lot of walking. Slava Ukraini !
Stephanplatz (Saint Stephen's Cathedral) City Center
what God has joined together let no one separate [Mark 10:9]--love these two so much !yep, we 3 made the trek up and enjoyed the view... Kaitlyn is so beautiful inside and outside!
On to Saint Peter's Church -- many beautiful & historical places of worship in Wien (Vienna)
final Wien stop with some tram and train rides (Rocky loved these best)
8-September (Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary)...Rocky moved off the bed oft
GPS took us to an old castle where the rivers converge, then on to the main Bratislava castle
the main Bratislava Castle
The Blue Church of Bratislava, SlovakiaHungary Budapest by lunchtime 8-Sep-22
from the Pest side of the Danube Riverlooking toward the Buda side of the Danube
Exploring Santa Margarit isle on the way to the Pest side (Rocky's stroller tucked in the front)
we got a thunderstorm while on our pedal bike..but no fear I ran to the car (after the rain)on to the Buda side
beautiful church site on the Buda looking toward the Pest -- Beautiful Budapest
We grabbed some Doner (Kebab) and drove back to Wien 8-Sep-22 in the books
9-Sep-22 time for Crepes, Taylor went to Billa for some Nutella, Rocky looking for dad from our 4th floor--nice home cooked breakfast together in Wien
future Elder Schroedter as we go off to Schloss Schonbrunnr
Over to Danube River - Donauinsel area for a quick lunch
over to Maria-Theresien Platz to close out their time in Wien
Taylor and Kaitlyn had a date night listening to Mozart-Bach music here after their horse ride
10-September: Michele returned early morning to the USA to help her parents. Taylor, Kait, Rocky and I drove over to Salzburg after they packed up ! We arrived within 10 minutes of our "Sound of Music" bus tour start... back of the VonTrapp family home - lake.
Sound of Music church where Maria marries Captain
back to Salzburg: garden (castle in background), Mozart's birthplace, tram to the castle
Off to Munich 11-Sep-22,Sunday morning church, then off to Schloss Nymphenburg
front photo then the back photo of Schloss Nymphenburg--great looking family
Off to Marienplatz--Munich city center
A long day in Munich and walk back to our hotel across this bridge busy with young adults
12-Sep-22 Monday Morn: off to Munich Olympic Park
Off to the BMW Factory and Showcase Musuem..mom's old BMW and dad's Rolls Royce??
off to a new place found by Taylor -- Saint Peter Church in Munich...Beautiful inside stone work - Rocky folds his arms, then AMEN!
Final day, 13-Sep, with Taylor-Kaitlyn-Rocky at Dachau Concentration Camp (north of Munich)
Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Shall Make Your Free)
A lot of traveling together for a week--leaving them at the Munich Airport...they had 1 more week in London with Shelby and just them in Paris...love you Tay, Kait and Rocky!
Spent a few days back in Wien with the YSAs before going to the Cumorah Academy Fall 2022 semester and meeting the new students--what a great month we've had with them as of the date of this post.
14-Sep-22, Josh Spragg, Winter 2022 Cumorah student visits Wien YSA Institute Bldg
Circus in WIen at the Rathaus Plaza after the summer outdoor concerts
16-Sep-22 -- participated with my District in my first Ausstellung (exhibition), street contacting. Michele is a bit more reserved, so I took the opportunity being alone to go meet on the street. I love our young missionaries. With permission, this good man let me take his picture. We talked for 40+ minutes about his career as the Harpist for the Vienna Orchestra. I hope I can see one of their concerts and talk to him again after the performance. Not interested in my message about Finding Christ, but is happy with his walk and life at this time. Great day!
17-Sep,Austria 2 Zone Mission Conference at Neumarkt am Wallersee (3rd one for us)
meal time--Schnitzel of course... 18-Sep at the Dobling Bldg--International ward by myself
Cumorah Academy Fall 2022 Semester first week of classes 19-Sep-2022.
Familiar face from our days in Krakow, Poland. Nathanael Foster is here to learn with many YSAs from across Europe, Central America, Asia, Africa...always so much diversity among the students. Over the past month, we have come to love each student. Nina with Chad, a BYU intern teaching business classes. Nina was on site for 2 weeks and will return later this semester.
Most of the Romanian crew; beautiful autumn cooling campus
'My Foundation' self reliance class for Spanish speakers (10+); workhours splitting wood
Campus and maintenance projects
With Mentor, Paige Marriott and most of the students--Fall 2022
Back to Wien and made Fajitas, Spainish Rice on 24-Sep for our Saturday self reliance class and Ukrainian friends and family game activities
25-Sep...Sunday afternoon back to the Cumorah Academy for week 2 of teaching
Week 2 Mentor: Courtney Graf (model, country singer, marketing professional)
Klarence (Albania) prepping for a mission, Vitali (Ukrainian--friend), movie night prep
morning walks near Cumorah Academy are back on! 1 of 2 chicken coops !
Back to Wien 28-Sep thru 30-Sep. 29-Sep I was able to take Sestra Melania Milich and her cousin, Sanga from Serbia, to a few sites in Wien. Then I brought snacks for the Ukrainian German class that Thursday evening..and Friday was another game night at the Institute bldg
bright times
Volksgarten and the roses never disappoint
Elder Christopher and Sister Milich at the Institute building 29-Sep...both are home now
What a great September with family, friends and times back at the Cumorah Academy. Michele and I hit our 1-year mark as senior missionaries on 20-September. She was in UT and I was in the Czech Republic and Austria the last 18-20 days apart. She returned 1-October. I was going to expand this post for 1.5 months, but I will do Oct 1-15 in a day or two.
Comments
Post a Comment