Pres. Roney established a community of Love!

June 1:

So this week not as much stuff really happened. We got Dorian all ready for baptism and Philippe our other ami who has some social anxiety issues and we're all ready to get them going but then Dorian has decided to wait until his wife is ready as well which is a good idea but we aren't really sure how long it will take to get her ready for baptism and make sure she understands everything seeing as she only speaks a little French and no English. So we had to move his and Philippe doesn't want to do it alone being the only one so we are waiting for both of them. So I might not end up seeing either. 

Josh is one of my favorite cousins out of the 120 that I have haha. So today we met a guy and he just told us that we don't know what happiness is and that we should just do whatever we want. We have those conversations a lot actually. We saw one of our less actives at a bar right by our house smoking and with a beer and then he called us over to talk so I guess that was a little weird cause I was on an exchange with our district leader and our less active was just like talking about n'importe quoi. But aside from that we usually talk to some cool people but they usually are busy or are just nice people and don't want to learn more. But yeah that's why members are so important here cause then people know we are normal people too but they always just think we are Jehovah witnesses and won't talk to us because of that reason alone. So as for miracles we had one with Berths so she is a very active Catholic member but also comes to our church. But she believes in the Trinity and all that so we talked about that and it almost turned more into an argument than a discussion or lesson but we

testified at the end and gave her some scriptures to read out of D&C and she came to church on Sunday and told us that she prayed about it and knew that what we said is true and that she received a

spiritual confirmation of the things which we had discussed that day. So it was actually really cool to see that intellectual stuff is important but spiritual knowledge is even that much more important. We

can't know everything but God does and he has given us what we need to know and gives a way to find out answers to things that we don't know yet.

Yeah I still talk to my close friends from Olympus but for the most part everyone is off in their own missions doing their own things so I try not to bother them too much. Haha and btw we got iPads here in our mission! Oh and this week is the last week of the transfer so I will know on Friday if I stay or if I go. 😁 love you all!

June 8:

So I am actually staying and Elder Spencer is moving to higher ground in Chambery in the Alps so I get to experience the nice HOT weather here in Marseille. But I am receiving a Tahitian companion

named Elder Tihopu who I haven't met yet but I will keep you updated. And as for the baptisms it should all be happening the 4th of July so that week will be pretty crazy probably. President Brown, my birthday and the fourth with baptisms. But yeah they are all progressing well so I don't see any issues in the near future.

June 15: 

The best place I have been here in Marseille isn't even in Marseille haha it is in an outer ville called Gémanos it is where Frere Faudin lives and it is really calm and tranquille, it is about 30 minutes

from Marseille, but aside from that there are cool views everywhere! And my favorite place I have been is on a boat Haha. I love boats so much I think it is in my blood now, I have discovered this love only after it has been so suddenly and abruptly taken from my rights... Being a Schettler makes it hard to stay away from boats. 

So Dorian and Maria have set that as their date and we actually have a new ami that has been doing his own research already and showed up and said he thinks we are the true church already and stuff he is really smart his name is Pierre so him as well and also Philippe and we are gonna try

to get Berthe to accept a date of baptism soon, so we will see with her. But the rest are going well they are progressing. We have the right to Skype teach now so we will be doing that this week! 

We ate at a members house this week and they are from Madagascar and so we ate fish stuff and it was really interesting but it was good, I'm not a huge fish fan but it is always good when people make the food so I don't. But being with Elder Tihopu is hard cause he eats a lot haha

but aside from that he is the coolest guy I have met, he speaks French as a first language so that helps me A TON just cause he actually knows the rules and it just the English translations which sometimes don't make sense haha and he is such a loving guy, we are gonna have a really fun transfer even though it is really really hot. He has been out for about. A year and a half so he is going home in about 5 months so I'm still cruisin under the radar haha. But no he has been zone leader for a while and president said he had a hard time with his last companion and he needed someone to bring him back and make him happy so I guess that is my job here in Marseille as well as to profit a little bit fro. The sun and the baptisms we should be having. But yeah tell Ashley I say hi! And if she doesn't remember me then oh well, but she is the one one from that group besides Josh that I know so yeah. I

hope everyone there is doing good and doesn't die on the blob this year... Oh and could you send me the videos of the blob or maybe some of the go pro videos we took in years past or just lake Powell pictures. I need to show people how cool my family is.

I took my gas money for lake Powell and bought myself an early

birthday gift. If you 4 transfers in Marseille you have to buy some OM

stuff. It's like required.

June 22: 

So today we went to the Callanques with a youth in the ward named Alexandre he is 15 and really cool, but it was a little bit tough to completely enjoy seeing as I have randomly fallen sick, which never happens to me but I guess it decided to hit me just when it gets really hot so I am double hot haha but it's ok I actually threw up out of our 5th floor window and it was kinda cool frankly. I couldn't get to anywhere else so I just did it there. 

How many Amis in the past month?... There are a couple that we have found most of them we haven't

continued to teach they are like one lessons and then they tell us they will call back if they want to meet again but we have had other miracles like the one with Pierre I think I told you. And personal

study I still and ready the Book of Mormon and really getting more familiar with the stories rather than just with cool scriptures, but actually looking at the people who are writing and circumstances and all of that type of stuff. So I can really share bigger experiences like that cause teaching through stories is the best way to teach.

Pierre was the one who someone gave him the card then the same day he just showed up and everything and now we are gonna baptize him in a couple weeks, but philippe is the one who was an ancient ami and we called him one day and he was super happy to hear from us.

June 29th: 

Birthday week...Yeah it seems like this day wouldn't ever be here it may be the only one I have on my mission too depending on how the transfers and everything happens next year! So I will need to make it remember able! But I think I won't have any baptisms this week which is took about,

but the next week we will be having one for sure! But we will be meeting our new mission president next week! I am sad to hear about Arch Frantz but glad to hear he has passed on to the next step

of his eternal progression. Death isn't anything to look at as a bad or a sad thing in entirety, it is sad and sometimes hurtful but it's a step, just like being born but it opens the door to so much more in

the life to come. It is a beautiful thing if we look at it as a whole. I had always noticed his efforts to ask me how I was and actually interested in my day to day life, even though I was just that annoying

kid up the street who drives fast. Haha but pass my regards to everyone in his family. 

Our schedule this week should be busy cause we are always busy! Haha being the only ones in the biggest city in our mission means we are usually pretty busy but Thursday (July 2, 19th Birthday) we may take a little more time to eat at a fancy restaurant that costs more than 5 euros haha cause I haven't even done that once on my mission besides Hard Rock Cafe but yeah. We aren't traveling any this week, just the metro and buses like normal it has become part of my life now.  I have been in the cities my whole mission so it's second nature sorta.

President Roney has established a community of love in our mission, everything is about love everything comes from love and that is one thing I am always gonna remember about him. Ask anyone and that is exactly what they will tell you about him, so I am gonna try and carry that even with Pres Brown, and I am gonna try and love him even though he is new and will take some getting used too. Me and elder TIHOPU are getting along great he is super nice and loving! I love Tahitians haha they are super super nice, we can go visit him too... In Tahiti so that's a huge plus! Thanks for the birthdays wishes! Love you all!

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

We got iPads!!

So this week not as much stuff really happened we got Dorian all ready for baptism and Philippe our other ami who has some social anxiety issues and we're all ready to get them going but then Dorian has decided to wait until his wife is ready as well which is a good idea, but we aren't really sure how long it will take to get her ready forbaptism and make sure she understands everything seeing as she only speaks a little French and no English. So we had to move his and Philippe doesn't want to do it alone being the only one so we are waiting for both of them. So I might not end up seeing either. 

So today we met a guy and he just told us that we don't know what happiness is and that we should just do whatever we want. We have those conversations a lot actually. We saw one of our less actives at a bar right by our house smoking and with a beer and then he called us over to talk so I guess that was a little weird cause I was on an exchange with our district leader and our less active was just like talking about n'importe quoi. But aside from that we usually talk to some cool people but they usually are busy or are just nice people and don't want to learn more. But yeah that's why member are so important here cause then people know we are normal people too but they always just think we are Jehovah witnesses and won't talk to us because of that reason alone. 

So as for miracles we had one with Berths so she is a very active catholic member but also comes to our church. But she believes in the trinity and all that so we talked about that and it almost turned more into an argument than a discussion or lesson but we testified at the end and gave her some scriptures to read out of D&C and she came to church on Sunday and told us that she prayed about

it and knew that what we said is true and that she received a spiritual confirmation of the things which we had discussed that day. So it was actually really cool to see that intellectual stuff is

important but spiritual knowledge is even that much more important. We can't know everything but God does and he has given us what we need to know and gives a way to find out answers to things that we don't know yet.

So the things I have learned here in Marseille.... I am not sure I guess my French has gotten better and I have actually some scripture references memorized so I can tell people where to find answers and also being able to tie things back to the gospel principles that we believe in our church. I am not positive it is hard to evaluate your own progression sometimes. Yeah I was positive that this day wouldn't ever come when my birthday was close. It feels like I just turned 18 but now I will be a year older and hopefully wiser. But ha never know.

So what happened with the lacrosse national championship? Josh is one of my favorite cousins out of the 120 that I have haha.  I still talk to my close friends from Olympus but for the most part everyone is off in their own missions doing their own things so I try not to bother them too much. Haha and btw we got iPads here in our mission! Oh and this week is the last week of the transfer so I will know on Friday if I stay or if I go. 😁 love you all!

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Miracles of May

May 4- Priesthood Blessing

So for iPads we haven't gotten them yet and we haven't really heard much more about them besides that they aren't here. haha But anyway, I did get your package and the salsa packet exploded all over everything so I had to clean the other affaires inside off. But it was very well receives and I thank you for that. When I get back our whole family are gonna be in St George haha you guys have to wait until I get home before you have permission to move though so don't even think about it. But skype I will be at Frère Faudins house so I might end up using his account or something but if not I will use that one and I will find you guys somehow like I did on Christmas. I will maybe let you guys talk to him he speaks pretty good English and is really funny haha so yeah. 

But this week we had a little miracle with one of our investigators named Maria we went and saw her and we weren't really sure where to go with our lesson cause she wasn't willing to commit to baptism yet and so we didn't wanna keep moving if she wasn't willing to progress further, so we show up and we talked about baptism for maybe 20 seconds before she just is like, "Yeah I think am gonna do it. I thought I was gonna talk to my god parents and stuff but they will just say no and I think I need to so I am gonna gonna do it". And then her daughter I guess has been reading her LDM and wanted one in French and wants to come to church and all these things so we got her a baptism date and are gonna try and start teaching her daughter as well!  We got another brother in the ward who is from Cape Verde where Maria is from to come and pick her up and bring her to church. Unfortunately her daughter didn't come but everything was ok cause we will get her to come next week too haha. 

Berthe had her birthday yesterday and she came to church all fancied up haha it was really funny. She was just su^per happy all day and then she asked me to give her a blessing after church so I did and right before she just turns around and tells me to do it in English, which was odd, but I did it and idk it was a really cool experience to just feel you give up your will and listen to the spirit talk through you to the person and have them know what Heavenly Father wants them to know or feel. After the blessing she was almost in tears and even Elder Spencer turns to me and was like.... WOW.. ahha couldn't tell you what I said but it was really cool experience, she still hasn't taken a date for baptism but thats cool. It was a productive week. hopefully we get iPads soon. 

This is a little note and picture mom received from a senior missionary couple in France. 

"Service for the Senior Missionary Couple:  weeding our little patio

"by hand".  Thank you for supporting this young man on his mission.

We have enjoyed working with him very much.- Elder Stewart & Soeur Rivers"

May 11, 2015- Day after Mother's Day call

I totally forgot that Berthe said to tell all of you guys and also that she says that "je les aime" haha so yeah, and I will get a picture with all of them this week when I go and see them. Sorry it was sorta short and stuff, but I loved talking to you guys. I will get you those pictures on dropbox as soon and I figure it out. I also thank you for inviting Ella that was very very nice of you. I love you all and will continue to work hard. I hope you like Frère Faudin haha he is really like my French Grandpa. 

May 17, 2015- Fun is an attitude

So I will address the issue of the car first off because it is the most temporal subject to address. haha But I would suggest a 2012 Mercedes GLK or if you are looking for something with a little more umph, maybe your GMC will do you good, but you will have to get good rims on it. But if you wanna get really classy instead you could look at an Audi S class haha but that's a little more cher. 

But yeah like mom always would tell me fun isn't an activity it is an attitude, so if you think you are having fun it probably means you are, and if you think you aren't you probably aren't. It is all up to us to decide our attitudes and how we look at things. It is our own perspective that makes these things appear to us as they appear. Our amis are actually progressing well, we have right now 5 baptisms previewed for the 6th of June. We are on a tight schedule with them but we should be able to make it work. The Romanian family we are seeing a lot and helping them. He drinks coffee but he said something to the effect of, "If it is written by God then I have to do it" haha. He is so cool and willing to change. Sometimes it is sorta hard just because French isn't either one of our maternal languages so yeah, but for the most part he understands everything. 

Maria de Graca Gomes is another ami that we have and she is really cool too. She was taught way in the past but then she got sick and lost contact with the missionaries. but we are gonna get her baptized the same day. She also has to stop drinking coffee but she has the desire to stop so it should be good. A lot of stuff is happening but those are just our two top canididates at this time, the transfer would have no better ending that getting to baptize at least Dorian. He has changed so much and he is one of my closest friends now. haha I told him if he comes to the USA he can stay at our house. 

Miracles this week, I am not sure if i told you this one last week but we have this ancient ami Philipe who hasn't been seen for awhile, but his paper came up last week and so we gave him a call and it turns out that the night before he was looking at a picture of Jesus getting baptized and he had never really looked at it until that night and then when he woke up the next morning we called him to set up a RDV. Just a little miracle that happened. It was a spiritually growing experience. Haley is already going? It seems like she just barely got her call... The sisters are coming from my age group that is really weird. When I started I thought I had tons of time till they showed up but now they are starting to come. My birthday is next transfer which is really even weirder. But yeah Metro and bus and trams are just life for me now! It is all I have know the past 6 transfers. I have no idea what I would do with out super crowded public transportation. 

May 25, 2015- 

Sunday last week we taught Dorian and his family the Word of Wisdom and of course the only thing he had a problem with was coffee, haha, like the whole world here, but thankfully not smoking or anything else! But this past week he has really been putting forth his best effort and he told us yesterday that he hasn't had any for almost the whole week and he is getting through it very well. He is so cool. He couldn't come to church cause his car is broken but we got Frere Faudin's wife to come and give him a ride to church along with his whole family. Its really cool to see his progress towards baptism. You can really see his desire to become a better and more Christ like person. He has a hard life but he doesn't let that get him down, he always doucement.. doucement... haha which means like slowly... or slowly but surely, but he is getting there very well. He is still on for his date and we hope that we can see him all the way through it. 

We talk to crazy people everyday basically but for the most part people are really nice if they are willing to talk to us. We did have an atheist lady yell at us which is odd cause she called her self happy but from the looks from the smile on my face and the veins popping out of her forehead that one of us was obviously happier than the other, at least in that time. People are people and they can do what they want, but we are there to make people happy. That's what Christ came to us for to make us happy and to help us have that happiness eternally. But yeah we are getting iPads tomorrow so that will be really cool. I can see my emails everyday and I can do all my studies and everything on them, I think, but we will see what else we will be able to do once we actually get them. 

Dorian and Berthe's family from Romania. Elder Schettler and Elder Cueva met them in March and Elder Schettler  has continued to work with them with Elder Spencer. He loves them like family. 

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Faith is the base of everything!

April 7, 2015

Yeah P day is usually pretty fun, but this past P day we were at our DMPs house and we were digging a trench all the way across his yard. It took us from about 10 in the morning until 6 at night so as you can imagine I had plenty of time to develop a blister and also pop, all whilst working. But it was a good experience I really learned that France soil is full of rocks, and boulders. We had to get out probably 8 stones that weighed around 70 pounds each which was good ole fun. 

I hope they haven't forgotten me yet at Olympus, I spent the best 3 years of my lax career there, haha. But I am glad they beat Lone Peak and I am starting to miss lacrosse a little bit to be honest. There are only a couple more weeks in the transfer so there is a chance that I leave or maybe they will bring another equipe of missionaries here and split us up. The other elders I haven't seen except for at the Zone Conference, they spend most of their time in Lyon so that didn't really turn out how we had thought, but its ok. 

Yeah I got to watch conference in English but not the whole thing, I only saw one in English and one session in French. But to be honest, looking back going to Priesthood with the family was always a highlight of the year and it was always super fun to go out and spend time together afterwards. Yeah I even had Nate's birthday written in my planner, I didn't forget at all so no worries. I also already have Katie's written in there because it is the last day of this transfer. Yeah as for grandma I hope that she continues well and hope things are going well for you guys too, I know it is sorta silly but really hard to have that going on right before your eyes. Have faith and continue on, this week all I really noticed is how much I testified of faith. Faith is the base of everything! It is what pushes us to do things, and gives us the hope to accomplish things that are impossible. For some, maybe the commandments are impossible (our ami Rubi as she says) but with faith all you have to do is let your desire to be like Christ grow inside you and let that be your force. I love you guys and am greatful for all the sacrifices you make on my behalf.

April 13, 2015

Yeah, it is weird how times just seems to fly by when you don't think about it. It has already been a year and there won't be much time on my mission in another year, it will be the ending months. Mothers Day skype is coming up! President has asked us to start making arrangements for that so yeah, we can start getting that figured out soon. 

But Berthe is doing good she is still coming to church and we see her once a week but she hasn't decided that baptism is what she wants yet so she is just waiting a little bit longer. The family came to church this past week and they seemed to really like it. Our DMP really likes them and has helped them out with his work a lot which is really good. We also got a new ami who is a 2 year old student her and her family are amis in Gap right now, so we will be seeing her this week I think. 

Most awkward situation this week? well I was with Elder Arts and they have special permission from President to go this members house even though they are just 3 girls. It is a mom and her two daughters and so we were there for dinner and that was the most awkward thing this week. It was just weird being around just girls, haha. But yeah they also complimented my shoes haha. 

The highlight this week was that we had 9 amis at church this week. It was crazy how many just ended up coming. We called a bunch and they all said they would come and they all did, haha! That never usually happens but maybe because it is starting to get warm and people are happier and more willing to leave their houses 

The ward sounds like it is all growing up, school is almost out and then I will be maybe seeing some kids from my school coming to my mission. I hope I get to train someone from my school, haha, just a side note. Us Olympus kids are rare and not very well represented here in the Lyon mission. I am the only one.... there are like 20 from Davis High School. 

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

I'm excited for General Conference in French!

This week we have a goal to teach 20 leçons and we are trying to get a baptism so we will see if we can make that happen this week, if not it will probably be the next week. But yeah I am super excited for General Conference cause now I get to watch and attempt to understand it in French cause I am no longer in Lyon where there are enough English speakers that they do both, it will only be in French so I might need to read them later haha.

The Romanian family is good, they are progressing but they haven't come to church again. Today is actually his birthday.  Marc, our Nigerian member said HAPPY BIRTHDAY and that he loves you as a sister in the gospel and that you have a brother in Marseille. He told me to tell you those exact words haha. He is African so his English is very African so pardon that. He is the most genuine and loving guy ever though so it was a pleasure for me to pass that message. haha My clothes are doing well. My shoes almost don't have a sole anymore so I went and got some new ones but they are French so I will have to break them in for a few days before I can fully wear them anywhere. We haven't cooked for them yet because they are STILL on vacation, but I did get the package.

Wow, so I will be coming back and having that Bishops interview with my old Deacons Quorum guy, that will be a funny experience. But I am glad someone can beat Brighton, haha even if they are still young. Brighton needs a pride check sometimes haha they get too used to winning so I like to hear that Nate's team won. Yeah my comp is a runner at BYU and he likes to wrestle and stuff. Elder Huntsman, I don't see ever. They are only here on Sunday and occasionally Mondays and he is always with the APs cause he is the driver but I did see him yesterday which was awesome. I love seeing him, he is a good guy and good missionary. Not really many funny experiences this week, more serious and trying to find people and stuff like that. I did get a caricature photo drawn of me so I will be showing you guys a picture of that next week cause I haven't taken a picture of it yet, but it is super funny!

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

I am still in Marseille!

Real quick I am still here in Marseille for another one. I am with Elder Spencer who is from Oregon and only 2 transfers older than me and Elder Cueva got transferred to Bayonnne which is 45 minutes from his house by train, so basically he got transferred to Provo from Salt Lake haha. 

But the Romanian family came to church with us this past week and they did really well there. They seemed to love it and participated a little bit in class and stuff, so that was huge! Berte accepted a baptism date from Elder Cueva at church and I guess it is for the 24th of April which is in a few weeks, but it is good to have a date that we are able to work towards. The Romanian family wants us to come over like everynight but we will see how that works out cause of our curfew and stuff, but they are super nice. 

Our ward in Marseille is a lot of less actives but the people that do come which is about 70. They are from all over there are people from Africa and islands and Scottland and America (me) and from all over Europe. But yes, I still have to translate for the Nigerian couple and one of our amis who doesn't speak much French so I translate into English for them which is helping a bit with my understanding and everything which is super good cause its more fun when you can speak the language and understand what people are saying to you. 

There are a lot of pretty things in marseille but I think the view from the cathedral or just the architecture is really cool here in France no matter where you go. the gare is actually really pretty cool too it is all outside and really French looking. You can just tell Elder Erickson that I miss him and that I haven't gotten stabbed yet, haha, and he will always be an office elder to me. He already emailed me so I have his email but thanks anyway. 

Elders Schettler, Palmer, Spencer, Montgomery and Huntsman at Vieux Port.

Some Cathedral

This one is for Dad:)

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net

Loving and Serving the People

This is the last week of the transfer and I think I am gonna stay and probably Elder Cueva too but if one of us leaves it will probably be him I would think. One Christ-like characteristic of my companion is loving people. No matter who we see on the street he will say he loves them which is a good thing I guess. haha!

Things are going ok but we have only been to a few members houses. The famille DeAngeli are really nice and have had us come over a few times, and there is a Nigerian couple that are really nice and they have the cutest little black baby, they are called Marc and Rose and Joseph. But the biggest blessing is that we found a family to teach from Romania who are really cool! We saw them moving and offered to move their oven to the third floor for them so they accepted and we did and then they said we could come back. We visited them and they are really humble and open to talk about the gospel with us we share a lot of the same ideas and we are gonna go over there to teach them again this week with our DMP but I don't think he really likes them... he is really rich and he doesn't like the poor people too much, but those are the only people who are humble enough to listen to the gospel and except it. So that was who we talked to about Jesus and the blessing of the gospel in the families to this week. They have two little girls that are just the cutest things ever, so hopefully we can get them progressing and stuff.

I am surprised that Lacy knows my name even though I am not there. It has been about 20 degrees celsius here the past week and it is only supposed to keep going up. Maybe I will be able to start wearing some of my short sleeve shirts. But Nate is getting old, pretty soon he is gonna be getting that mission call haha. But yeah that will be good that Riley is getting his school stuff done, then its straight to making money... haha or trying to make money.

Here is Elder Schettler's address in Marseille, use as written below! 

Les Missionnaires

Benjamin Schettler

30 Avenue de Toulon

13008

Marseille

France

Email: benjamin.schettler@myldsmail.net