Elder Marshall Underwood: Alienated

On Monday, we ate with the Vendassi family (probably the best chicken that I have ever had) just before we took a boat to the continent. This night was the beginning of our strange journey that kept me away from Bastia almost all week.
On Tuesday we showed up in Toulon and did an exchange there. Elders Steadman and Loveland are great guys and we did some fun work. Not much to report because it wasn't my sector but a lady gave me a book of poems.

We woke up the next morning to drive to aix en Provence. We had a great time there and I got to see a lot of elders that I have missed. However, at the end of the conference, I was looking out at the elders and they all seemed depressed. I know that Satan is really working on us and it's hard right now for a lot of missionaries. I hope we can all find strength beyond our own. That night we drove to Nice for a zone leader exchange.

On Thursday we were in Nice all day and I got to see the promenade des Anglais. It was really humbling to stand where so many people died. I hope that those of ice can be strengthened by the message of the gospel. The exchange there was really good and I got to contact people on the bus. That's a little different but you get into really good conversations. I contacted an English girl that lives in Monaco. I asked her if that would interest her to know what the heck a Mormon is and so she gave me her number. However, I think she might be a little disappointed when I don't show up haha. We also taught a lady in Portuguese so I was really helpful. We drove that night back to Toulon.

The next day, Friday, we were on a boat all day. It was okay because elder Steadman gave me a ukulele. That night too, we went to Claudias and sang I love to see the temple and she cried and it was a really great spiritual experience.

Saturday and Sunday I got wrecked because we had to fit our week of meetings into two days. BUT on Sunday we got to watch the 24th of July broadcast and I loved it so much.

This week I really realized the significance of the sacrifice of the Savior. It never really clicked for me why he suffered. Justice requires an immediate punishment for any sin. So, when he suffered for us, he took the punishment, thus allowing us a time to change and saved us from wrath. It is now our time to work to become pure in his eyes. Tough, but doable.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood