Elder Chan Staheli with President and Sister Layton

Elder Chan Staheli made it to the mission home in South Dakota Rapid City last night, April 9, 2012.

Here he poses, in typical Chan fashion, with his mission president, President Layton and Sister Layton.

Today he finds out who is trainer will be and his first area.

I'll update with an address once we know, possibly tonight.

Last Letter from the MTC

I thought you might enjoy reading some of what Chan had to say in his letter this week. We also got to talk with him for awhile today as he waited for his flight out of Salt Lake City on his way to the mission home in South Dakota Rapid City. We will know later tonight or tomorrow exactly where he has been sent for his first area. I will post his address on the blog at that time.

Selections from Chan’s letter 4/7/12

"I feel the days are long, but at the same time my time here at the MTC has been short. It’s the final countdown for my stay here. Besides not having a comforter for my bed I’ve been pretty comfortable, maybe too comfortable, enjoying the new friends I’ve made in the new district that moved in a week ago. I’ve really been able to be more of myself with these guys rather than the actual district I’m in. 

It will be hard to leave the MTC. The district that I’m good friends with is all going to Indiana! They will do great there, and Indiana is lucky to have them. Last week we had to make up a character for being an investigator for other missionaries to practice on. My alter ego was Clark Reeve. I wonder who inspired that. The only thing I was missing was fake glasses. It was way fun playing a different character. (If you haven’t guessed, it’s Clark Kent—Superman, and Christopher Reeve, who played him. Lu Ann)

I realize I’m here for a purpose greater than myself, so no matter how hard it is for me to put aside worldly things and family, I must join the ranks in God’s army and man it out for two years! Coming Monday, I leave a comfortable place where food and showers are provided, and the comfort of hundreds of missionaries there for the same cause, and I go into the unknown. I guess that’s missionary work. Once you get comfortable in one place it’s time to go. 

I am glad to have been here (the MTC) during conference and super excited to be here on Easter. I feel very blessed to be here on these very special occasions (Elder Boyd K. Packer called the MTC yesterday and said 'I’m coming down to talk with the missionaries'. Chan says he was funny and gave a great message to them. Lu Ann) I feel like everything is meant to be for me right now.

The force is with me, along with all of you. When I go out I take two names with me: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Staheli’s. With that in mind, I will do my best, and that’s okay.

Well, until next time, I send my love and my gratitude toward you Mom and to all who read this."

Love, Elder Chan Staheli

The First Letter

We got our first letter from Chan on Saturday. He hadn't been in the MTC 24 hours yet when he wrote, and already he realizes how much he is going to miss us.

The letter was filled with all sorts of sweet messages to each of us, and he said it had finally hit him that he was going to be gone from home for TWO years!

So that's why Zach and I have this chain. Each link represents a week that Chan will be serving the Lord. Every Monday we get to remove a link.

The good news? Tomorrow is MONDAY!

Elder Staheli Goes into the MTC

"I think I'd like to go on another adventure."

We dropped Chan off at the MTC at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21st. At least they no longer have the parents go inside for a final meeting, only to be torn away from their children afterwards in what was ironically known as the Mother Torture Chamber (MTC) farewell.

Of course tears were shed, but we know Chan is a fine young man, doing what the Lord needs him to do at this time, and that the people of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission will learn to love him, just as we all love him.

As we've told you many times before, our Master Jedi, "May the force be with you."

Entering the MTC March 21st

Chan goes in to the MTC tomorrow and will be sent to South Dakota likely on April 10th.  Here is his address while at the Missionary Training Center if anyone wants to write to him.

Elder Chan Michael Staheli
MTC Box #181
SD-RAPI  049
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

His mission home address is as follows. They can forward letters to him until we get the address for his first area.

Elder Chan Michael Staheli
South Dakota Rapid City Mission
2525 W. Main   Ste. 311
Rapid City, SD 57702