Coup de foudre

This week we did a couple exchanges: one with Geneva and one with Besançon.

When I was with Elder Hall, we were teaching Amandine. We talked about going to church and she surprised us by saying that she would be going to the temple the next day! That's incredible! Later in the week, we taught her again and she prayed for the first time. She's doing well. A lot of struggles but she's doing well.

Besançon was beautiful. It was love at first sight. It was fun to be back with elder Moss and we talked to a lot of people. We stopped by the basketball court and they were so excited to play with the Americans.

We saw a lot of members this week too! At the Kusselings! Elder Menzel challenged one of the sons to an eating contest. He lost. The Heras's always make delicious food, and I was happy to meet Alexandra, of whom I have heard so many great things. Sister Barachant is always an angel to us.

This week was the last sacrament meeting before the temple consecration. I am so thankful for the sacrament and he chance that I have to take it every week. I didn't really understand it before my mission, but now I understand that the promise of being forgiven and having the spirit to be with us is real.

I was grateful to talk to my family yesterday. I was so grateful to talk to you, mom. Thank you for teaching me that mother knows best. I didn't get it for a long time. But now I know.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood

Timbuktu

This week we did a lot of traveling. There is a sister that got hervisa and we had to go get her bags. So, we spent last Monday drive to bordeaux. The elders there greeted us with two roasted chickens. Very good hosts.

We then did an exchange with another companionship in that zone and it was a blast. Elder Sweet and I met a lot of cool people and set multiple appointments. The worst part was a couple of drunk girls that came up to us. One of them was in love with Elder Sweet and the other one was about to punch me in the face. But, it's all ok.
The next day we drove over to Nîmes to do an exchange. I would love to live there because it is an incredibly beautiful city! We met some people on the street that said, "a living prophet? If that's true, it's a miracle!" They came to the church and we taught them!

The rest of the week was pretty normal. We are still teaching Amandine and she read all the way to Mosiah 19 in the Book of Mormon. She is really searching and I hope that she receives a testimony of it soon!

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood

Bonne Nouvelle

Last week on exchange, we stopped a girl and started talking to her about the restoration. She said, "I have to go right now, but you should come by another day." She showed us her building and told us the floor.
This week, we went back and her sister opened up! She said that they would both be home the next day, so we set a time to come back. He lesson went incredibly, and the spirit was definitely there. At the end they expressed themselves like this: "The restoration? This is great news! We're so happy that you brought it to us!" They both accepted to be baptized and I have faith that I will see they both progress together.
We did a few exchanges this week. I was with Elder MacArthur, Hekking, and Oborn. It was a full week of work! For example, Saturday was packed with like 11 appointments, so it would have been impossible to do if we weren't on exchange!

I've never loved it more. I've never been happier to talk to and teach these people.

EXTRA MIRACLE

I was talking to someone on the bus and I saw someone get on and felt like I should talk to her instead. Someone the other conversation ended and I started talking to her. She told me her name was rodiese and I invited her to church. She said, "oui je veux venir. Appelle-moi demain matin et je viendrai." (translation: Yes, I want to come. Call me tomorrow morning and I'll come.")

She came and loved it.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood

Time to ball

Hello family,

It was a beautiful week this week in Lyon!

Here's one awesome thing that happened: we were walking down the street and we stopped a lady. She looked up and I said, "wait, I know you!" She said, "yeah we met a while ago and you gave me an invitation to the temple." We asked if she took any time to look it up and she had! She said that it looked like a quiet and peaceful place. Then, we explained to her the connection between families and temples. She reiterated to us that she didn't want to change religious beliefs. Despite that, we gave her a 'families and temples' brochure and told her to call if she had any questions.  

A couple hours later, we got a text that said, basically, "We just met near the bus stop. Thank you for this new meeting that came at a point where my path is difficult." We weren't planning on passing by where she was, and so we told her that and explained that God obviously knew her personally. She replied and told us that if we ever had any time, she would love to have us over. 

So, we're going over tonight. 

Love,

Elder Marshall Underwood 

 Picture from Sister Zinn in Lyon. I was messaging her and and she said, "Look who is here!"

 Primary Pianist

 So grateful for the Zinn family feeding the missionaries all the time, taking pictures in church and calling Elder Underwood and telling him he needs to email his mom :)

 Elder Wade Homecoming

Sit up

To start off this week, we took Elder Wade to the airport. It seemed like an easy goodbye, but then, when he turned his back, i realized that he was actually leaving. The time to change between one companionship and the other was the blink of an eye. I'm glad that he is home safe now and we are doing great here!

Our new companion is Elder Bouaka. He was born in Togo but has lived in northern France since he was ten. He is incredibly smart and an amazing missionary. I'm sure that we will do great work together.

The new group came in and I love them! It was so great for them to meet their trainers. Always a special moment.

I would just like to share one experience from this week. One night, I was praying and I asked God to help me with the exchange that I was going to do the next day. After my prayer, I was laying down, and I heard, "I need to tell you something." So I just thought, "ok, what is it." No answer came until I put aside my pride and got back down on my knees. Then I heard very clearly, "ask elder ______ about his family." The next day, there was a moment when he and I were alone. So, I asked him how his family was doing. He told me that they weren't doing good at all. We went on to have a good talk about it that he said he needed and appreciated.

If we seek to serve others, the spirit will give us more opportunities than we can handle.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood

Pâques

Week six is always a special week in this companionship. Being a part of the transfer process is really special. What I have learned from it will be a lesson to me for the rest of my life. Making a choice with the help of God is a simple process. Pray for guidance, do everything possible to make the best decision, present the decision, explain the reasoning, ask Him to confirm or deny the decision. It is always amazing to have the confirmation that each transfer is the exact will of God for His children.

We did a lot of things this week in preparation for the transfer, but the greatest part of the week was the end. For this transfer, we had mission goals of 36 baptisms and 2017 investigators, less actives, and recent converts at church. As of this last week, we were sitting at 16 baptisms and 1561 at church. With the faith and work of the missionaries, there were 14 baptisms more! This week. So, in the end, there were 30 baptisms and 2108 investigators, less actives, and recent converts at the ordinance of the sacrament. I'm so proud of everyone.

Elder Wade leaves tomorrow. I've loved being with him and I'll miss his presence, but he has  important things to do now!

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood

 New Companion Elder Bouaka

 

Frapped

This week I had the opportunity to go on an exchange in Perpignan. When we got there, we immediately went to the church to teach one of their investigators names Christophe. We were talking about the gift of the Holy Ghost and he took us by surprise. Out of the blue, he told us that when he was 14, he saw his dad die by gunshot.

Following a small silence, I asked, "do you have the hope that you will see your father again?" He started crying and answered through his tears, "that's a good question..."

The spirit flooded the room and we testified that he would see his father again. We then testified that the whole reason why we were teaching him so that he could LIVE with his father forever. I know that the gospel blesses families. I know that everyone can hope to see their loved ones again, but only those who live according to the commandments of God can hope to live with them again.

Love,
Elder Marshall Underwood