MTC Week Three: Happy New Year

HALLO!

First off,  thank you for all the Merry Christmas emails and packages. It always makes my day better. And second, I am almost 3 weeks in and the weeks are FLYING BY. I LOVE IT. This week was good but obviously hard, but that's kinda a given so I'm not gonna talk about that. Christmas we had David Archuleta come sing and Elder Oaks talk, it was pretty cool. I talked to David for a sec after and he is the most awkward but loving dude. He has an amazing voice live.

We are almost ready to ask our investigator to get baptized (even though he's fake that's pretty good 'cause it's the 3rd lesson and all the other companionships are still on like block one but Smartt and I move fast). I only have 4 weeks which is nice and I am so stoked to be actually in Germany. But gotta live it up at the MTC obviously. One of my teachers, Brother Wahl, reminds me of Mr.Bean, but I love him. He is starting to come out of his closed off shell and it is the funniest thing. He is great. Everyone in the zone is starting to get along pretty well, even though there are little problems here and there with that one Elder. We have deep talks for a while at night and I sit listening and some stories are just awesome it's hilarious. Elder Ringheiser is like a 45-year-old billionaire 'cause he talks in third person about his stories. For example: "As little Ringheiser ran through his mother's door, this boy tripped, and a nail went through this confused, yet happy little boy's neck, missing his artery by half an inch. Little Elder Ringheiser was grateful for this, and he is alive today." Like it is so funny oh my goodness. You'd have to hear it to believe it I was silently dying while writing in my journal alone. All the elders give me hugs every day and it's so funny 'cause they don't hug anyone else before they leave the residence so I am just confused but yanno it's life. 

Elder Arnold of the Seventy came on Tuesday and gave one of the best talks I have ever heard. He is the type of person you can tell does not put up with anything negative. He talked about one time when he had a gun to his head and he told the guy to pull the trigger, one time where he died and his neighbor gave him a blessing, and another time where he had a small heart attack but was doing interviews and stayed to finish all 40, then proceeded to go to the hospital. He talked about having no regrets about anything, but especially on a mission. He was almost yelling into the microphone it was crazy. But he talked about how he hasn't missed a single day in thirteen years of being in the Seventy, even when he was sick. So it kinda stuck out and was pretty cool. 

A little experience this week that was kinda cool I wanna share it: THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS SO REAL WHATDFIHIDGFBSA. I am progressing faster than a lot of the elders here because I don't know why maybe it's 'cause I do more with language? I really don't know. But I was having a conversation with one of the investigators and was prompted to ask him a question. And when I did it opened up a whole new conversation about other religions and everything. Then out of nowhere, a testimony perfectly said with words I have never said before came out and it was five minutes long. Yes. Five minutes of words and sentences I have no idea where they came from. It was so cool and I felt the Spirit so strongly. The investigator told me that there was like one mistake in the whole testimony and if you know German and how whack the sentence structures are, then that is pretty crazy. 

I am excited that it's a new year coming up, and that means I am ever closer to being in Germany. I leave in 30 daysssssss yassssssss. I love you all and hope you have a very safe and fun new years. The Savior lives, and He loves you. It is crazy how many people pop into my head during the week. I pray for all of you and hope all is well.


German word of the week (this is not a joke) 

Agency: Entscheidungsfreiheit


German is dope


Elder Rhondeau

Surprise text from a mystery sender (!): Schöne Grüße von der MTC — they did a great job today.

MTC Week Two: Ayeeeeee

Meine Familie und Freunde,

This week was hard, but it’s going faster and faster and the language is getting better! German is such a pretty language if you speak it correctly. Being the Zone Leader is fun, but at times hard. We have an elder who is sooooo hard to get along with and it came to a point where I had to take him into another room for 2 hours and talk to him about how to interact and have positive relationships. He seems to be getting better but here are my favorite quotes from our conversation:

"I’m like a chameleon, Elder Rhondeau. One minute you see me, one minute you don’t. But I am always there."

"I am like Spock. I don’t feel love or have never said I love you to anyone. I only respect or not.”

"I’ve always gotten what I want and this won’t be any different."

I was praying so hard the whole time about what to say, because this kid is just so difficult. His final quote after I had impression after impression of what to say was, "You are right Elder Rhondeau. I need to be humble and grow up." I was stunned — it was like talking to a brick wall for 2 hours straight, then all of the sudden BAM he is alive. He is still difficult but getting better.

My zone is so funny; everyone is way different which cracks me up. Elder Stacy is from Texas and could be speaking German and still say "y'all" to the investigator. It’s the funniest thing. Cam still snores and yes I am in the process of making little rubber balls to throw at him. Elder Smartt is fun and chill — we get along really well. We are learning the language and it has been fun to learn. The food is still whack, but the wraps never ever fail especially when Elder Burch comes in clutch with the chik-fil-a sauce. I get about 4 hours of sleep or 5 a night cause of snoring, but it's okay.

Elder Zwick of the Seventy came and spoke to us on Tuesday and it was awesome. He talked about the Light of Christ and he is such a good speaker. He also talked about a runner who, in the 2004 Olympics, was in first place and got almost tackled and ended up getting 3rd place. He could’ve been sad or discouraged. Instead he looked as happy as could be and did not seem as if anything bothered him. He talked about roadblocks that will come but that we have to get over them and keep on going; that Jesus Christ had those all throughout His life yet His light never failed Him. If something comes your way, don't let that hold you back. Take it like a fire and keep going. Is it hard? Oh my goodness you do not even understand. But with the Lord’s guidance we can make it through anything. I got a letter recently and someone gave me advice to "leap into the arms of our Savior and He will give you strength and hope to carry on". That’s my weekly advice to everyone. Also, the Piano Guys came and the cellist gave the most amazing talk about faith and when Christ was walking on the water to Peter. Peter started sinking as he walked to the Savior because his faith failed him. Christ lifted Peter out of the water and [the speaker] related this to missionary work, but also life. The Savior will always be there to give us a hand if we need it. Our faith should never fail us, even if it seems impossible.

I love you all and hope the best and "wish y'all a merry day" as Elder Stacy says. Til next week ;)


Elder Rhondeau

MTC Week One: Man oh man

Family and friends,

When they say the MTC is hard at first, LISTEN TO THAT AND PREPARE. It's very hard and a very difficult adjustment. It is getting a little better but it's still very hard. My district is pretty fun, but we spend literally every second together besides sleep so when the lights go out it's just a deep breath knowing nothing is gonna get on your nerves for at least a second......... until Elder Cameron starts snoring. Very. Very. Loudly. He's so funny though so I keep a little towel and use that to throw it at his face and that gets him to stop. My German is coming along very well and my teacher says I have the best accent (thanks mom) and it's a fun language to learn. We taught our first lesson yesterday all in German and did okay with the language but the lesson itself was just awful. But, you live and learn.

I'm the zone leader and in charge of 20 missionaries and am trying my best. When people are down and out I usually rap or freestyle about the MTC and it gets everyone up pretty fast cause I diss on Smartt and he loves it. My comp and I get along way well and we just kinda do our thang and do it well together. He's from Spanish Fork and graduated early but is way mature for his age. I'm the senior comp which is fun but it doesn't really mean anything cause I remember what Rob said to not talk down and not act bigger. We all have nicknames that the district gives each other. They gave me king or boss but I said no cause everyone else is like Tigger CAUSE ELDER STACY DOESN'T STOP TALKING OR MOVING, or Bush cause Burche said bush when forgetting his name on the first day. So I thought king or boss was too overpowering and kind of extreme even though that's what the district gave me. So now I'm dad...? Apparently? Whatever works, I guess. Elder Burche, Elder Cam, and Elder Smartt and I get along super super well and work a lot on language and I usually give the lessons during some class time in German. I've lost 4 pounds and feel good cause everyone else gets like 3 pieces of pizza, 2 rolls, 1 piece of fruit and like 2 donuts and coke. You'd be surprised it's kinda hilarious while I'm sitting there with my wrap that's actually way good.

Last night was super hard, I was sad and just kinda nicht so gut. So I walked down the hall and just sat and cleared my head and just thought. I was super discouraged and was just kinda done with the whole day. Then, three sisters walked out of the bathroom and one was in tears. I asked of she was okay and she didn't really respond because she couldn't speak English. Then her companion spoke in broken English and said "She just misses her family." We started talking and come to find out the three of them are here for 10 weeks, all three of them speak different languages (one is Thai, one is Korean, the other Spanish), and they all flew in yesterday. I talked to them for a good 15 minutes and tried to cheer them up and tell them how awesome the Temple Square mission is and how great they'll do. After awhile I had Google translate out and was having a full on convo with all three and yes learned how to hold a pretty good convo in all three languages via Google translate. I thought about that and imagined how out of their element and alone they must feel. All thousands of miles from home yet here trying their hardest. Just made me know it could be worse and if the can do it, anyone can.

I'm having a cookies and cream chocolate milk right now and it feels surreal this is my life for the next 5 weeks. But, I got this. Run silent, run deep. Love you all. 

Das Buch Mormon ist eine Beweis für die Liebe Gott für seine Kinder. Ich liebe Gott und Himmlischer Vater und beten Ist mächtig. Ich liebe dich♡

Mit Liebe,

Elder Rhondeau

MTC Day One

Hello!

This last 24 hours has been the longest 24 hours of my life but I keep hearing it gets faster and I saw my friend Eian who said get through the first 3-5 days and you are good. My comp is great. His name is Elder Smartt. We get along really well, which is a real blessing. My district and zone are all nice kids but our saying is "boy am I glad we are companions" cause I know for a fact that 99% of the missionaries in my district the Lord put in my life to teach patience. I miss you, I am alive, I miss Truly but the German is fun. My PDAY is Saturday. Oh PS I am the senior companion and Zone leader after 2 days so I am getting thrown right into it.


I love you.
I have to go.
Talk to you Saturday
Mosiah 4:9


Mit Liebe,
Elder Rhondeau