Week 5 at the MTC- Ready to get out of here!

September 23, 2014

I am super ready to get out of here! But I am super not ready to leave my district, teachers and everything else that comes along with the MTC. I have had way more fun, spiritual experiences and heart break here than I ever thought I would have. That talk you sent me, "The Fourth Missionary", was our lesson that we had on Sunday so it was nice to have it written down and not just have to recall it from my memory. We went to the Ogden Temple dedication and it was cool cause there were about 3,000 missionaries there and we sang "Spirit of God" and it was the loudest and coolest hymn I have ever heard in my life. It was super spiritual and I know that music can really invite the spirit like nothing else (besides bearing a testimony).

The French has been coming along I don't remember words in English sometimes so I just use the French word with an English accent and then other times I don't know the word in French so I say what it is in English but with a French accent and it seems to be working out for me so far. 

We got our travel plans and we leave the MTC monday morning at 6:00 am at we have two layovers, one in Chicago and one in London and then I am in France!! It is crazy to think that I am leaving the MTC all ready and probably never coming back. I have seen my friends come and go and finally it is my turn! But I need a few things I need my Nike camo shoes, some of my black jeans, my Quicksilver hat or any other hat, that 501 verb book, either a track phone, or a calling card so I can call you and other people from the airport, a new t-shirt (the black one with the pocket that is Nike) and any notes from people that want to send me some before I have to wait two weeks to get them! But I have enjoyed my time here and I will write you again on Saturday because I get like a mini P-day while I pack and get ready to partir this place. 

Love, 

Elder Schettler

My District is full of models

This is me and Elder Li he speaks 5 languages and he went to Canada speaking French, English and Mandarin. He is awesome!!!

I got a great picture with Elder Cannon (Davis). I had to say goodbye to some of my favorite Elders here at the MTC Elder Cannon, Elder Smith, Elder Li, and Elder Hattaway. It was sad to see them go because they were such good supports but they will do great out in the field. 

This morning we were at the temple and newly wed couple came in to do Sealings (we have to be the children) and she passed out and fell off the alter and it was scary, but I had to try so hard not to laugh. 

We speak French all day so that is cool! Everyday, all day, that is my life.

Week 4 at the MTC- read Alma 36

Sept. 16, 2014

The weeks go by so slow but  at the same time it also feels like I just wrote you guys! If you passed the field between the hours of 8:15-9:15 the chances are that I was out playing soccer under the lights, but Studio C sounded super fun! This week we taught at the TRC which is where we teach members and the guy we taught was from Toronto and went on his mission in the Congo and that was fun to hear about that a little bit (what i could understand at least).

This morning we were at the temple and newly wed couple came in to do Sealings (we have to be the children) and she passed out and fell off the alter and it was scary, but I had to try so hard not to laugh. Last night I had to say goodbye to some of my favorite elders here at the MTC: Elder Cannon, Elder Smith, Elder Li, and Elder Hattaway. It was sad to see them go because they were such good supports but they will do great out in the field. 

We teach lessons in French everyday and have to speak French for at least 4 hours a day so it is getting a little bit better for me but it is still so hard. There are two kids that are from France and Belgium in our building and they come in to talk to us sometimes and it is so hard to understand them. 

I am not putting on weight either I am 157 right now so that isn't an issue because I have stayed away from the food in the cafeteria. I have your credit card in my wallet and I forgot to give it back so what should I do with that? Tonight there should be an apostle giving the devotional so I am super excited to hear what he has to say! and if you guys will read Alma 36 this week with the family and explain what it means to the littler ones, because that chapter has been huge in my own personal conversion while I have been here and I am much more grateful for everything I have here now. I hope you are doing great in Lake Powell! Love you all!!

Au Prochain 

Elder Schettler

Week 3- We speak French all day

6:30- wake up

7:00- breakfast

7:30- class w/ teacher

11:30- Lunch

12:15- Class w/ teacher

4:30- 5:15 Dinner

5:15-8:15 Study time without teachers aka mess around time

8:15-9:15- PE

9:15-10:30 get ready and go to bed

 This week got super crazy like last wednesday we had a lesson with Francois and as we were preparing this dude comes in and is like "oh you have to teach at the TRC" which we had no idea about!!! So he told us what it was and it is like where you go into a room and meet with members and get filmed so your teacher can see how fluent you are. And so we had 7 minutes to prepare two twenty minute lessons and stuff so we did that and me and Elder Huntsman did a lot better than what I had expected! 

But on Sunday we just have devotionals and do church stuff and this past Sunday was super nice and I got a great picture with Elder Cannon (Davis) that I am gonna send you later when I get on a better computer! But how is school? like Humanities and everything? We are getting iPads once we get to France I think!! I am so excited for France! But the MTC is pretty fun actually, we just chill and make fun of each other and speak French all day so that is cool! Everyday, all day, that is my life. 

I receive travel plans in two weeks I think, and they do the San Fran trip for us now so we do not get to go. but yeah I just remembered that you went to Studio C this past weekend! How was that? It sounded super fun and I heard that you got pictures and some free shirts. That would have been so fun to be there with you guys! Being here and talking about you guys to my district has made me miss you guys more than I thought I would! but I also don't want to come home at all... haha sorry. The mission field has been hard but it is a new experience and it is getting better everyday! 

I saw Tagg on his first day and I saw Laura Boud on Friday morning while we were in line for breakfast! Yeah thats about it this week, my French is getting ok, but i need to just keep speaking it to get better. Je suis reconnaisant pour vous! 

Love,

Elder Schettler

Week Two in the MTC

September 2, 2014

The weeks are starting to go by pretty quick now! It is so weird not being able to be in the "real world". Even seeing cars drive by the temple on Sundays and when we play soccer is like the favorite part of my day! We all get along still so that is sorta different than some of the other districts around here. 

Cafe Rio sounds so good!

We love any kind of food! We are 18-19 year old boys so we aren't too picky. The MTC life is a weird life, but a good one at the same time. I have made some good friends from all over the country and world! I have friends from Taiwan, Guatemala, and Canada. We have a lot of time to study/goof off so that is keeping me a little normal and not going crazy. It's really not that bad once you settle in here and Caleb left yesterday! I was so sad to see a familiar face leave but he will do great out there! 

But Cafe Rio for me and Elder Huntsman would be divine right now, or this week sometime.

There are huge spiritual experiences (like too many to even type). We pray at least 12 times a day, and one experience I want to share with you is that we were talking about Adam-ondi-Ahman because one of the missionaries in my district is a scripture wiz, and I just couldn't help but feel the spirit of Grandpa Doxey soo strong and as I told them about my experiences there. I was so grateful to have his example of service and no doubt in my mind he was there in that room with me bearing testimony that this is where I am supposed to be.

I know how it is to be busy! we have 16 hour days and it is FILLED with stuff i am tired all the time but I am used to it now. Yeah, I like getting letters from Dear Elders! and I just remembered today is Lacy's Birthday!!! Tell Katie to sing happy birthday to her for me. 

My MTC District

Left to right : Elder Beach, Elder Libby, Elder Wells, Elder Thompson, Elder Huntsman, Elder Schettler