Sponge Bob

Hello!

This week was amazing. Let me fill you in on a little info of this branch. It is very small but also the best. For example, our Sunday school president is 15 and a rockstar. There is a senior couple and the husband acts as branch president. Elder Pesnell is the second counselor and there is another counselor down in Ajaccio.

This week was amazing. There is a lot to do and sometimes it is hard to find time to go tracting. But, I have found that in the time that we have, we are amazingly effective. I feel like we have taught like 3 lessons a day down here.

On Wednesday, I had the privilege to go on exchange with Ajaccio. It was great down there with Elders Ottesen and Oborn. Oborn came in with me. I also took the drive from Bastia to Ajaccio which is incredible. On exchange, it seemed like we ran into every evangelist on the island. They were all really nice and we talked with them a lot. I was really thankful that day to have been born into this church because I didn't have to go find it. I have so many blessings thanks to that.

Thursday was a zone training. It was weird because we just skyped into the meeting. We are so far away from everyone here but I don't mind.

Friday was the best day. We went to see some less actives and then found people. But, the best part came in the night. We have an ami named Patrick and he had a baptismal date for May 21.But, we just got a goal next week to baptize 91 people by the end of this transfer. So, we decided that we should try to change it but we weren't really sure where he stood. We had dinner with him at the Vendassi (senior couple) household. He got there and we just went straight into the restoration. I was amazed to see, as e lesson went on, his understanding of the apostasy, the priesthood and the Book of Mormon. In fact, he straight up told us that the Book of Mormon is true. The re-baptismal invitation was coming up and it was looking like it would land on me. We whipped out Mosiah 18:8-10. As he read aloud, I saw something in his head just click as he got to verse 10 (go and read the scripture for the full effect). I invited him and he replied that he has been preparing since the first time that we asked and he would love to. At this point, everything went quiet and all eyes were on Vendassi. He struggle to hold back tears as he testified that Patrick was being brought into the gospel for all of his ancestors that never had a chance. Vendassi offered him a blessing and he started to choose who he wanted to do it. I truthfully shied away a little but then Patrick asked me. As I started the blessing, I felt the spirit so incredibly strong. After the blessing, I went into the bathroom and dropped to my knees praising God for the miracle I just saw worked in the life of another.

Basically, all a mission is is working hard and watching as God works miracles before your eyes.

I later watched Pesnell shove a copious amount of food in his pockets because he was full.

Sunday came around and this branch is insane. Patrick came and he got up to bear his testimony. What a guy. What a guy.

Today, we helped someone move and we found this sweet beach over by Saint Florent.

Well. That's all :)

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood