Watching New Missionaries Arrive!

This week flew by! It was the first week of the transfer and so it was sorta crazy for the office and we saw all the missionaries passing through Lyon and there is a new group of Blues so I am no longer the youngest group in the mission! haha but we didn't have any changes in our house. We only had one person leave and he is going to Swiss because he is European and we got Elder Sorenson who went to Alta and he is pretty cool! I am glad to hear my Utah Utes are putting the hurt on Stanford and seem to be doing really good! I have been on two transfers with the Zone Leaders and with the office elders this week so I haven't been with Elder Olsen a lot which is sad but the other elders are super good missionaries so it is all ok! 

Elder Erickson got run over by me during Samedi Sportif this week and I felt super bad the soccer ball just was moving so fast and he came out of nowhere! haha He says he was fine but idk.. We also did body shots where is where we box but you cant hit them in the face and of course I got hit right in the jaw by Elder Berry (he isn't very coordinated) haha but its ok cause I was whooping him. haha 

Here in France you meet SOOOO many Muslims from Algeria that is seriously the majority of people that we meet here and they are usually really nice until we start talking about prophets and then they usually start talking really fast and tell us we can't know that and that Mohammed was the last prophet and a bunch of stuff like that! haha  I just started telling people I am from Allemane because everyone just assume I am from America when I start to talk so I get a laugh out of that! haha I only know three words of German so yeah, I have to make sure they also don't speak German! 

This week we had a lot of tombez vous which means they don't show up and we only had about 8 lessons but its ok! and Bishop Lepore got me my package! I am gonna send you my SD card soon! so I am gonna save pictures for a week or two so you have some surprises! 

I am very thankful for you and everything you do! Love you all!! 

Elder Schettler's current address:

2, rue de Longchamp

69100 Villeurbanne, France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Mission Home address:

France Lyon Mission

Business Center

59 rue de l'Abondance

69003 Lyon, France

Week of Excellence!

This week was super super fast but it was super long at the same time! It was our Week of Excellence which means we were trying to achieve all the standards of excellence which means that we had to teach 20 lessons. If you know how many people we usually teach or have taught in the past few weeks than you know how big of a challenge that is, especially when we are a white washed brand new formed equipe in downtown France so we were just gonna try to over double our highest numbers of lessons taught in the past few weeks. By Wednesday morning we had taught 3 lessons which was pretty good and then by the end of Sunday night we had taught 21 lessons!!! 

It was so crazy cause it literally just snuck up on us! Not only did we teach that many lessons but we had 4 new people with baptismal dates and we even had to drop one guy who had set a baptismal date that wasn't progressing these past few weeks! So all said and done it was crazy! We had like 5 lessons with recent converts or less actives and we had like 45 conversations with people on the road or metro or anywhere we could! We found 5 new amis who we are teaching this week and it literally has just started to blow up this past week! 

I am staying in Lyon for the next 4 weeks because it is a short transfer so after that I might be onto another city for Christmas or something like that, but either way I am excited that I get to learn the city a little bit better and learn the ward here better because they are actually super cool here! Bishop Lepore is a good dude and I hope that you got to meet him! We did attend a Catholic Mass last night! There were probably about 350 college students there, haha, and we got there early and still barely got seats! We got invited and President said we could go if we were respectful and stuff! It was really interesting to see how other churches do things and it made me realize how people who come to our church feel! 

The thing I learned this week is in Alma 32 where he talks about how if we had seen God our punishments for sin would be way worse and I liked that because here I always hear people say they don't believe because they haven't seen God or haven't seen anything like that. I think God does that because He loves us and it is a time to walk in faith rather than by sight. 

 Elder Schettler's current address:

2, rue de Longchamp

69100 Villeurbanne, France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Mission Home address:

France Lyon Mission

Business Center

59 rue de l'Abondance

69003 Lyon, France

Halloween and Family History Night

 It seems like everything is working out very well at home! We are just working hard here. I shaved my legs so that was about the biggest thing that changed with my non-mission life! haha but my mission life is busy. We had a family history night where we contacted people for 3 hours outside on the street in downtown about Family History and stuff, haha. The French people are so quiet and its hilarious cause they just know I am American. 

Family History Night

We went to our bishops house on Halloween they are American so we had a good time there with them and their family! He is going to be in SLC for 10 days so it would be awesome if you could go find him! He works for Family Search and is going to be at the Joseph Smith building. His last name is Lepore and his name is Ronald or something! He is super awesome though! 

HALLOWEEN in LYON with Bishop Lepore's family!

We are doing emails late today cause we went to the President's today. We played basketball and stuff. President Roney even laced up his shoes and balled with us in church clothes and Adidas, but Elder Haws proved he deserves his scholarship... he is super good and tall!!!

Frank is in Bezier this week so we teach him over the phone. We got dropped by a girl who we taught once and we have to pass our new contacts to other elders cause they don't live in our sector but they are sorta boring I think. The new people we met are super cool they are from Kosovo and it is a father and his 13 year old son.

The Master Taco Cinqo... 

 it was tough but I did it!! I wasn't smiling so much after. 

This is elder Erickson's Companion with me 

Moms' commentary:

Elder Erickson is an office assistant to President Roney and his mom is a good friend of mine from Logan, UT. I get extra information about Ben through Zac's letters and we love to share back and forth. I wanted to share this email from Elder Erickson about Ben and his missionary friends. It gives me a deeper understanding of how my son really is doing:) He also gives some great advice for current and returning missionaries that came in a zone conference this week with Elder and Sister Kearon of the Seventy. 

Elder Erickson: 

Elder Schettler was with me today:) I really like Elder Schettler, he's super funny and is really enjoyable to be around. He's in one of the coolest apartments in the mission, with three of my favorite missionaries: Elder Olsen (his trainer), Elder Haws (yes, THE Elder Haws whose brother is dominating the NCAA and who will be doing the same thing in two years), and Elder Berry (a fellow Aggie, who's super funny and is comps with Elder Haws). He's doing great. :) My favorite Elder Schettler line (said to Elder Haws during a round of basketball in morning exercises): "Hey, do you know who is really good at basketball? Tyler Haws!" ;)

Elder Kearon:

How can we be happy and work hard and have energy ? 

It's really simple: choose to be happy, attack the day, and do your morning exercises. Excepting the cases of clinical depression and other psychological and mental problems, the Lord has given us the power to choose to be happy, and to make our lives better. He told us something that really stuck with all of us, especially to all of us that don't have much time left on our missions: the reason that returned missionaries miss their missions so much is because they stop doing the things on their missions that gave them energy and joy and happiness. They stay up late with their friends, sleep in, don't do deep daily personal study of the scriptures, don't serve others, focus on themselves, and even slip into old negative things that drag them down spiritually. Then they wonder why they miss their missions so much. But, even now, as missionaries, we don't always do the things that give us the power to be energetic and happy. So, we need to get on the ball with things like that. :) President gave us an action plan today on how we can do that: Project Morning M.A.N.G.O.'S. 

Still the Same Old Goof!

Yeah well I don't even realize a lot of the cool stuff around me anymore just because I think I am becoming used to living here in France, like the apple juice cartons are normal and they only have like half and half milk here which is weird! haha 

We listened to General Conference in English but I was tired so it sorta sounded like a different language sometimes I guess!! We really just contact people all day trying to find more amis and stuff! We are teaching about 4 lessons a week. We have a new engage named Franck who is super awesome and he has a date of baptism but he can't be baptized because he is really addicted to smoking, so we have been trying to help him stop that and everything. Cassandra didn't come to church last week but we think she will come this next week! We had Stake Conference and it was super long. I only understood Soeur Roney because like me, she doesn't speak really fast or anything! haha. We have a conference with Elder Kearon of the Seventy this Thursday and then transfers are next week so I will find out next Friday!

I haven't met that many weirdos here in France yet though which is surprising I guess! There are a lot of Muslim people and so we have a lot of interesting discussions with them about Jesus and stuff but they are all super nice for most the time! When I talk to people they usually talk to me unless they see my plaque then they get all weird and sometimes just move to another spot on the metro! haha and half the people here think I am German, until I speak to them. My favorite place so far is the Stade de Gerland and the Fourvriere, they are super cool and we will need to come visit them sometime! I haven't done a lot of sight seeing here though but I do know how to get around very well on the metro and bus systems now so I could get us anywhere probably. 

My friends are all over the world and everyone is having different experiences but the thing we have in common is that we all see miracles everyday even though we are so far apart and they are all thanks to the gospel and the blessings we have from our families and this church. It is really cool to see how the same thing can effect so many people for the better! 

Elder Haws keeps my life interesting though we have become really tight and just love to rap battle at night and Elder Olsen films us so I hope you know I am not a total different person haha still the same old goof that left 2 months ago! Elder Berry is Haw's companion and everyone is like 6'2" or bigger, so yeah, I'm the little guy!  But yeah just same old France stuff! I am going shopping today cause I everyone looks at me funny in my American clothes! haha 

Villeurbanne, France

Elder Schettler's current address is:

 2, Rue de Longchamp  

69100 Villeurbanne, France
benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Mission Home address:

France Lyon Mission

Business Centre

59 rue de l'Abondance

69003 Lyon

France

Beautiful Villeurbanne, France

I can't believe Nate is able to do my trick already! You guys are doing so many fun things without me, but that's ok because I am here in France eating baguettes and cheese! haha. 

We taught 4 lessons this past week and got one ami to church which is pretty good from starting from nothing to begin with! We work so hard here and Elder Haws kicks our butt in basketball and workouts in the morning but it's still all fun! We literally have the most beautiful mission in the world and I am so thankful that I am in a place where the people are all so nice and the food is good! The work hastens but, only after you give it your all and do everything you can, that is when you start to see miracles in your work. I have met really cool people who most the time aren't interested and thats fine but I also meet those really cool people who are willing to listen and that makes it all worth it! 

Me and Elder Olsen, the Canadian guy, have a great relationship and I am stoked that he isn't all apostate like some other Olympus kid's companions! All we really do it tract all day, so yeah, I just walk up to people and half the time they will just talk to me in English because they can tell I barely speak French, haha. 

We are teaching this guy Franck who after our first day wants to get baptized and he has been going to church and reading the LDM for the past few months so we just have to get him to stop smoking but he is the nicest most sincere guy I have ever met. I hope he can have the desire to stop smoking and get baptized. He has tickets to ALL the Olympique Lyonnai games but they all start at 20h so we can't go to any!!!! but there are a few that start at 17h but they are all on Sunday. I almost cried when we had to tell him we couldn't go. 

I love you all and miss you a ton! did you do anything fun besides this trip or what are you going to do fun in the future? 

Love you all!!! à le prochaine

Villeurbanne, France

I took these two pictures today.

Here is the picture of my name tag you asked for. 

Elder Schettler's current address is:

 2, Rue de Longchamp  

69100 Villeurbanne, France
benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Living My Mission Right Now!

I live with Elder Haws and he is like famous especially here where everyone is going to BYU after their missions. I am back on the computer now and you are all probably sleeping but that is ok. I just want to send my thanks to you guys for all your prayers and for everything you have had to sacrifice while I have been out here. I have almost been gone for 2 full months and it feels like I just barely left but it also feels like I have been here for sooo long its weird to think I am actually living my mission right now! I have taught two lessons I think which is tough because the goal for a week is 20 but we are literally starting from ground 0 here starting a new equipe and we are white washing the area as well so we are both brand new here. Elder Olsen is an awesome cook and a super good teacher so I got really lucky to be put with him and I got really lucky to stay here in the biggest ville in our entire mission. 

I had to give a talk in church yesterday and that sure was interesting! haha I did pretty well but I messed up and said some English words by accident, but guess what else I had to do.... they made us sing in church and they decided that we should try and do it acapella so we tried and I was so embarrassed for our whole group of 5 people. You all know how bad I am at singing so yeah! 

We had a lot of lessons fall through this week but we had many miracles! One day we realized we were already out of milk and stuff so we decided to go explore and find some stores because we are new we just wandered and we only met one person named Cassandra and Elder Olsen just walks up to her and is just like ' we are missionaries want to know more about God? ' and she said sure and gave us her number, which never happens here in France! She was like so excited and we fixed a lesson for latter so I will let you know how that goes. But I have seen a lot of cool stuff here already and am excited to see even bigger miracles to come! 

I love you all so much! Be safe and send letters and stuff! 

PS the Olympique Lyonnais Stadium is in my sector so I can go to it anytime I want! and I will need some euros to get a cool jersey or something!... haha 

Elder Schettler's current address is:

 2, Rue de Longchamp  

69100 Villeurbanne, France
benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Mission Motto- DILIGENCE

France has been so crazy that is all I can really say haha§ We spent 12 hours in the London Airport cause we missed our flight due to previous delays. 

I am with Elder Olsen in Confluence which is in Lyon in sectors 3,7,8 of the city and we take the metro and everything. We also are opening a new equipe with my companion so that is fun! Elder Olson is pretty cool and I live with Elder TJ Haws so that is also cool. Maybe we will have to go to some BYU basketball games in a few years. Yeah, they mixed me and Elder Huntsman's name up on everything so I'm starting to wonder if maybe he should have stayed here and I should have gone to Annecy, haha JK. I love the city though we have the nicest apartment in the mission.

I got to go to 2 Ward Councils and an exchange in two days. We don't have any amis or anything cause we are both new here§  People here speak super fast but I am getting the hang of it! The weather is awesome but it is getting cold now and everyone smokes so if I come home smelling like cigarettes that is why! 

My first Sunday was just General Conference so it was easy but I will have to attend my ward this next week! Scary stuff! Pres. Roney is awesome! He is super nice and the motto of this mission is DILIGENCE which couldn't have fit me any better! It is hard to type on French keyboards so yeah, gtg. 

Elder Schettler's current address is:

 2, Rue de Longchamp  

69100 Villeurbanne, France

Elder Schettler looks pretty good after 35 hours of traveling from Provo, UT. Happy to finally arrive in Lyon, France and meet President and Sister Roney.

Group of 25 who all arrived together safe and sound after 12 hour layover in London.

Elder Schettler's first companion, Elder Olsen.

A picture after we ran to catch the bus. 

Here is my new house, JK, I wish. 

Just a cool house I saw by a bus stop.