It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Āllo,

On preparation days, we usually run with a member. Last preparation day, while we were running, IT SNOWED!! It was so great and I couldn't stop smiling. However, it did not stick and I have not seen any precipitation yet. It's not the same over here when it comes to snow.

This week, we were supposed to go to Lyon in order to do a conference with all the new missionaries, but President Brown cancelled it because he did not feel good about it. Anyway, we expected to take a train to Lyon on Tuesday, but they told us that we would be taking the train on Wednesday. Tuesday went along normally, but we were far away from home and the sun was setting. So... we ran about 2 to 2-1/2 miles in our winter gear. Once inside, clothes came off and all of the windows opened immediately! Wednesday came around and we took our 9.5 hour journey to the mothership. Périgueux is not that far away from Lyon, but their isn't a rail that goes straight between them. We have to go down through Montpelier. It's a little grueling but trains through the south of France aren't too bad 😍

Train Party. Yes. Harry Potter trains are real.

Once in Lyon, on Thursday, there were about 6 people that had to go do legality. In legality, they do some medical tests and ask a lot of questions about your health history and stuff. Then they give you a sticker  that says you're legal. In my interview thing, the lady said that she was going to give me a card for a free blood test. I assumed HIV so I quickly told her that I was not sexually active. She said that the test was for anyone who wanted it. However, I still refused the paper and said I don't have HIV (VIH). She insisted and I finally just folded it and put it in my pocket because I didn't want to walk out and have the other elders see that I had an AIDS paper.

It takes too long to get home, so we were lucky enough to stay in Lyon for Thanksgiving dinner at the mission home!! It was great and Elder Berry and I did almost all of the dishes afterwards. The Browns are the best.

Party in Lyon

Elder Berry says, "Check out my suave companion - the vest and everything!"

We came home on Friday and had Thanksgiving with a member family. They made pecan pie. It's nothing compared to Grandma's pecan pie though! But, they made a pumpkin pie from scratch and that was incredible. You don't see pumpkin in a can here.

Saturday was a fun day because we did some service. She gave us persimmons and I had no clue what they were, but now I love them!

Sunday was stake conference and we got to listen to the Browns speak. Sœur Brown is just the cutest and she told a story about her granddaughter. President Brown explained that the missionaries had a curfew now and he challenged the members to invite us into their homes during the nighttime hours. After the meeting, a family came directly to us and invited us over. At their house, we ate well. Duck is breathtakingly good when done by a pro. But that's not the important part. We taught a little lesson with the new Christmas video and then I testified of Christ. When I was testifying, I saw the surprise on their faces. It is needful to know that I was in this same situation about a month ago and with the same people. When I finished, one of them said, "How long have you been in France?" And I said a month and a half. They then went on to congratulate me on my progress and I felt really good.

In every ville, there is always a little Christmas village thing. Picture below. It is a really cool place, but we don't really get to just go hang out in it.

Anyway, other than that, the work is going well and the members are really on our side. We have found a couple people and have come a really long way. We didn't get to meet with the Garcia family this last week. That was not good. We should be able to meet with them this week.

Agen Cathedral

Until next time,
Elder Marshall Underwood