A Couple Surprises on Sunday

This is a message from mom - Carey Underwood. It was a fabulous Sunday. I woke up and when I turned on my phone - I had a message from Elder Hansen's family. They went to pick up their missionary and tour his mission. Today they were with Elder Underwood.

This afternoon, we got to go to Elder Berry's homecoming. What a joy it was to listen to this fine young man. He and Elder Underwood will be life long friends. He had on very nice French suit and shoes.

On y va!

This was one of the best weeks I have ever had in my life. But before I get to that, you should know that I am still in Perigueux and I got a new companion named Elder Little. He's from Charlie England and I love him a lot. Also, if you have the urge to call him Elder Weasley, that would be hilarious, but he's definitely heard it before.

On Tuesday, Elder Berry and I had to go to the hospital. We had been sick for a few weeks. The thing with the mission is that they have you go to the emergency room. So, Elder Berry and I with our coughs - went to the emergency room and the lady chewed us out for going there. Truthfully it was hilarious. They gave us a list of doctors in Perigueux and kicked us out. We ended up just not going to the doctor because we were just tired of it. I made some cookies when we got home for some families and Elder Berry could tell that I put extra vanilla in them. What the heck. This guy has a hidden talent. We taught an investigator and he told us that he wasn't too interested. But, we ended the day by teaching a part member family. The son wants to get baptized, the mom is less active, and the dad is not a member. We taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and it was incredible. Later that night, the mother texted us asking "do you really believe that someone can relive the way of God even though they lost it a really long time ago?" We of course said yes and then gave her some scriptures. It's amazing to see her son's desire to be baptized change her views.

Wednesday was very well one of the best days of my mission. We went to teach the Garcias. After we taught the parents, we waited for the kids to get home and then we taught their 2 older daughters. We taught them the restoration and they loved it. We gave the older one a Book of Mormon and she was so excited to read it! David took us back to Perigueux afterwards and his daughter brought her book with her in the car. She insisted on reading it in the car. She ended up not coming to Perigueux with us because she had to help her mom with something, but before she got out of the car, she asked, "When can we see each other again?" I told her that if she came to church, we would see each other there. To that she answered, "on y va!" (Let's go!) It melted my heart a little bit and I loved it so much. We taught a less active also that ended up coming to our English class that night. A member fed us. Then the zone leaders slept over at our apartment. What a day right?

We had a district meeting in Limoges the next day and then I went finding with Elder Rullaford. We hopped onto a bus to go out to a neighborhood and there were only teenagers on this bus. I was going to talk to some but I didn't. Then we got off the bus and knocked on a door and one of the teenagers that was in the bus opened the door. It was funny, but then we had an awesome conversation with her mom!

We all slept over in Limoges and then woke up for the calls. It was intense because everyone was there (because of the district meeting) and we got our calls one by one. Elder Berry left to be the zone leader in Ecully. What a goober. he was excited to go back to Lyon and I think pretty excited to leave Perigueux. My new companion is Elder Little. He is a really great guy and I am happy to have him. Technically now I am senior companion. Which is hilarious because I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING HAHA. We will see if Elder Little and I can avoid burning down Perigueux for 6 weeks.

On Saturday, we did a FHE because the members were sad that Elder Berry was leaving. He got a tie and a beret and a wooden African head from members. He's just a cool guy. He accidentally pressed a giant red button that cut all the electricity in the chapel so it got a little exciting.

Sunday: we at lunch with members and dinner with members. Didn't have much luck in finding people though.

Monday, I hung out in Bordeaux for 8 hours. Elder Berry and I said goodbye like we always did.... With a double high five.

Now I'm here with Elder Little. We will see what we can do!

Love lots,

Elder Marshall Underwood

P.S. Before Elder Berry left, I made my birthday cake because I wanted him to celebrate with me.

Aurora Borealis Leopard

Good morning world and all who inhabit it!

What a killer week I have had!

This week was the chante de l'heure which basically means "crepe day" in my head. No one that I asked was really sure what it was, but from what they knew, it was comparable to Ground Hog Day in America. The day where winter either continues or stops. I tried to explain this, but I didnt know how to say groundhog so now there are some French people that think Americans celebrate "guinea pig day". It sounds ridiculous, but so does Ground Hog's Day.

Side note: Elder Berry and I both received packages this week. Fam, thank you so much for the presents. I love them. Basically I'm trying to figure out a way to eat that cake without someone singing happy birthday to me. It will be easy if I get a new companion. Elder Berry's family also wrote me Valentines and that was very nice. In the picture, I am wearing the mask that Sister Berry sent me and the blanket that my mother sent me. The original name of the blanket is rainbow cheeta, but Elder Berry guessed the name and he said aurora Borealis Leopard which I like much better.

The Garcia family is doing incredibly. The mother and father will be baptized with their daughter! They also came to church and loved it! They are just amazing.

Family Donadier. They are really sweet. We ate with them on Sunday.

I'm sorry that this email is really short. Not much new is happening. Except for the fact that we had 7 investigators at church which is fantastic! Basically, Elder Berry and I have exhausted any story that we have ever had and so now we just walk in silence. It is okay though.

I went on an exchange with Elder Allen. He is from Alpine, Utah. He goes home next week and let's just say that he's really excited and ready.

Transfers are next week and I don't know what is going to happen!

Love you lots,
Elder Marshall Underwood

Ro Roller Coaster

This week started with a zone conference in Bayonne. That is the south west corner of our mission. It was insanely beautiful and I hope that it will be converted through the pictures. After our training, we went out to the lighthouse that looks over the ocean, from that point, you have an amazing view of the beach and of Spain. It was incredible. At that time we had departing testimonies of some missionaries and it was easy to feel the spirit because we were so close to God's beautiful creations.

On Wednesday, we taught the Garcia family again. When we started teaching, there were two of the husband's friends there that we invited to participate. They both declined, but then he turned to them and bore testimony that what we teach would help their lives. At the end, we gave a Book of Mormon to one of them and it was amazing. Even the wife who hasn't learned too much yet - told them to listen by telling them that she just feels good whenever we come over.

I did an exchange with Elder Brill on Thursday. he has served in Perigueux and so he remembered this house that he had stopped by once where a lady was interested, but then he never got to teach her. So, we stopped by and she agreed to have us come back! I couldn't believe that he remembered that house, but it was surely a miracle.

Elder Underwood and Elder Brill

On Thursday, we went and ate with a group of members. ONE OF THE MEMBERS THERE MADE THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD. ALL OTHER PALE IN COMPARISON. But really, we demanded the recipe because I cannot live the rest of my life without drinking that again.

Getting a ride with members

Saturday was a great day. All morning I just wanted to stay inside. Then, all of our meetings cancelled for that day. Once it was around lunch, I said to Elder Berry, "Can I be dramatic for a second? I have never been so scared to leave that door." Elder Berry said, "This is awesome. That means that something good is going to happen today or else Satan wouldn't be trying so hard." I prayed and felt better and we left and found a guy that set a meeting with us and talked to some other people. Not too many great things happened, but I really felt fulfilled and I knew that God was proud of me for overcoming my spirit of laziness.

Sunday was incredible. We had 5 investigators at church. Amazing! We were talking with one of them upstairs and then we started walking down. On the staircase, there is a picture of the second coming of Christ surrounded by angels. She couldn't stop staring at it. She told us afterwards, showing us the picture, "you see that robe that he is wearing? I had a dream last night in which I was wearing the same one. I have been reading the Book of Mormon and I know that God can communicate through dreams." Obviously he is trying to communicate something to her. She loves church. Also after church, this lady caught one of our members outside and asked when the meetings start and if we are a church that baptizes people. Needless to say, we talked for a while with her. She was great and she just wants God in her life and she said she has been looking for our church. She set two meetings with us and said she can't wait for church next week.

What an amazing week - am I right?

Here is a great scripture - Numbers 23:22

I love you all,

Elder Marshall Underwood

More incredible photos from Zone Conference in Bayonne

Baptisms in Pennsylvania

"Someone has been saying his prayers"

This week was a great week. Here are some things that I learned!

I will start on Wednesday night when we walked into the Garcia home. Something struck me about the home and I didn't know what it was. Elder Berry turned around to me and said "Does this house feel different to you?" I answered in the affirmative which led Elder Berry to say, "I think someone has been saying his prayers." Our lesson with Brother Garcia went amazingly and he told us that he had been saying his prayers every day and that he knows that God is helping him. We taught the plan of salvation and he was so amazed by it. He asked amazing questions and was so excited to know. He is an incredible human being that is really searching for the truth. This is what missionary work is all about.

Thursday was a series of late and delayed trains which led to me and Elder Berry being an hour and a half late to district meeting and then I finally got back into my ville at 8:10. I had a great conversation with this lady on the train. She asked questions such as "why is the Catholic church different than what is in the bible?" and "Why do people pay to be forgiven?" and "where do I go after this life? No one has ever told me." I tried to tell her that I just know all of those answers and I started to explain, but she didn't want to listen to me talk. So, I listened to her talk about her views on immigration.

Contacting this week was so hard. We have recently had a push to love people more when we contact them. Since I got to France, contacting has basically become a game. A game to contact as many people that I could without losing a conversation or getting denied. The best way to explain it is that these people have daggers that they throw at you when they deny you. When you close yourself off from the situation and you just talk to talk, the daggers don't hurt. But, when you open up yourself and really try to show them that you love them, their words cut you to your soul. This may sound a little dramatic but it's true. I tried so hard to love people this week and just got denied all week. Thus, this week turned into one of the hardest of my mission so far.

BUT, one day, I was really struggling and I was just trying not to complain to Elder Berry, Then, he started opening up to me and I realized that we both feel the same way! Knowing that someone else was feeling like I was really helped me and now Elder Berry and I are really ready to smack France with the Love of Christ.

This week, I had the opportunity to give a priesthood blessing. When I was asked to do it, my mind started racing to think about what I was going to say, but then I remembered that the spirit would give me all of the things I needed to. So, I just calmed myself and placed my hands on the head of the person I was blessing. I don't know how it works, but the words just come. I listen, they come. Then afterwards, I don't really remember what I said because those words weren't for me.

Well, I've learned a lot this week and I'm excited when I see my spiritual progression. I love the gospel and how it changes not only the lives, but the hearts of those that follow Christ.

Love a lot,

Elder Marshall Cluff Underwood

Missionaries in my district 

Au'ai-je fait?

This Monday was a great day for Elder Berry. He bought a nice new suit and let me tell you it is smokin. Right now, it is "soldes" which basically means that everything is on clearance. However, keep in mind that things are just stupid expensive in the first place so now they are just reasonably priced.

On Tuesday, I had the chance to do an exchange in Bordeaux. It was really fun and we taught a woman that is going to get baptized soon! She loves the gospel and thinks that everyone should learn about it. We also helped a guy build a kitchen. I love Bordeaux. However, the thing about Bordeaux is that you are always contacting people on buses or trams so it is a little bit different. BUT IT IS SO FUN. You can just talk to people about whatever you want and somehow, the gospel always comes up. One guy that I met complimented my French and then went on to explain that he is from England. He said it took him longer than a year to get to where I am. I told him it was because God helps me. He asked why I would want to give the credit to someone else and not to myself. I explained to him that I am here doing His work, so He is going to help me. And I know that is true.

Me and Elder Price in Bordeaux

The Bordeaux Zone

Wednesday I went back to Perigueux and I was just feeling so off. We taught the Garcias in the night time and I was just struggling so hard. However, the meeting with him was phenomenal. We were planning on asking him to be baptized, but Elder Berry didn't feel it so he turned to me at the first of the lsson and said not to invite him. Nevertheless, after talking about the plan of salvation, HE ASKED US "WHEN CAN I GET BAPTIZED?" It was just so amazing and I know that God leads this work. The happiness I see in Brother Garcia's eyes when he thinks about the gospel is undeniable.

Thursday was an exchange with Brive. I woke up feeling fine, but then I struggled so hard during the day. Elder MacArthur was with me and I felt really bad I hate giving up so I just kept on trucking, talking and teaching.

Friday we had zone training and that was really fun. We met a new missionary that came in. She took French for a long time in school, but then went to the MTC for 6 weeks. What a mistake - haha. Zone training was fun and we talked a lot about families and how to find families to teach!

Saturday, I ate breakfast and did not feel good. I called the nurse and explained how I had felt the past few days and she said to stay inside. That was the worst because we had 4 teaching appointments lined up for that day. Oh well. All I learned is that being sick is the worst, being sick as a missionary is ever more so. However, all is good now so that means that you don't get to worry! @mom

In church I gave my first talk. I was supposed to talk 10 minutes and I went about 20 or more. Oops.

A member's house he is building

Anyway. Beautiful week.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood