4 Weeks

Can you all believe it has been 4 weeks that I have been in the MTC!
It is crazy how fast time goes by. So this last week was a great week.

Last Wednesday the French ambassador came to BYU to give a speech and
then he came to the MTC and to our classroom. We got to meet him and
when we introduce ourselves we had to do it all in french. Kind of
intimidating but it was also pretty dang awesome. He told us that the
French people actually love americans but that they will only open up
to you if you embrace there culture and respect the fact that you are
in their country. It makes me excited to get to meet some french
people and to get started on the work.

Last Thursday, I got to take a day trip to San Franciso. We flew out
at 8:00 in the morning and when we got there we got picked up by
Edgar. I thought that a senior couple were going to pick us up cause
that is what happened to the last group but we actually just had a
driver that the church hired so we just told him where to go and off
we went. We were given all of our visa applications and what not and
we had to go drop them off at the french consulate and get
fingerprinted and our pictures taken. Pretty interesting part of the
day that was for sure. The french guys liked to joke with us because
they knew we are learning french.

After the consolate we got to go to pier 39! I was so stoked to be
back in San Fran. I got to eat my Clam Chowder and some Sourdough
bread. Unfortunately though as soon as I sat down to eat it I got
crapped on by a bird on my suit jacket that I had just barely had dry
cleaned. I was not happy but was at least able to contain my anger
because I had a bowl of delicous clam chowder in front of me.

I really enjoyed conference. It is amazing how when you actually watch
all the sessions you get more out of it, who would have figured.

My favorite talks go as follows. In order of preference
L tom perry sunday afternoon
Jeffrey R holland saturday afternoon
Thomas s monson sund morning
dieter f uchtdorf sunday morning
M russell ballard sund afternoon
dallin h oaks sat monring
David a Bednar priesthood
Niel L anderson sund afternoon
Quinten l cook sat aft.
Ulisses Soares sat aft
D todd christofferson sund morn
Larry Y wilson sund afternoon

The reason L tom perrys and Jeffrey R hollands talks were my favorite
is because in my personal study I had read the stories out of the new
testament and the BOM the day before their talks and I feel like these
talks were the ones I needed. It was so crazy when they started their
talks and I realized the day before I had read the stories they were
going to use.

Needless to say I really enjoyed conference I feel like there were so
many wonderful talks that apply to all of us Especially Pres. Uctdorfs
talk where he said STOP IT I find that i often need to say that to
myself.

Mine and Elder Burninghams lessons are going better and better. We
were told no more notes so we have been going in to our lessons really
nervous but when you prepare and are obedient  you qualify for the
spirit. I feel like the last two lessons we have taught have gone so
well because the spirit has been there and I have been able to speak
so much better french. It is amazing how much you actually know and
that you just need the spirit to lead you in what to say.

I also have memorized the first vision in french and am memorizing the
baptismal covenant.

My favorite thing to say here is "Toujour Chaque Jour" (toojor shack
jor) which means All day each day so we constantly say that in our
district when we do something awesome

Well thats it for this week. I hope all of you are doing well

Love, Elder Lerdahl