2 March 2009

Dear family and friends,

How is everybody? I hope that you're all doing just lovely. I'm doing pretty good here in Bordeaux. We had another pretty good week, which finished with Fast Sunday, meaning there are only two more on my mission - CRAZY! I remember leaving the MTC only having had two.
We were able to teach Elisabeth (our investigator) again, and this time with her husband and her father-in-law. It was so wonderful. They're a beautiful little family with lots of love for each other, it's refreshing to see. They seem to be accepting the restoration and we have high hopes for them.
A few more miracles we've witnessed this week, mostly on Saturday. After the rendezvous with Elisabeth and her family, we went to another rendezvous, he wasn't there so we went to our back-up plan, to pass a guy we met and then do some "porting". We arrived at the beginning of the street and we noticed a young lady in her car. We approached her to see if we could help with some of the groceries, she declined but continued to speak with us. She had remembered Elder Monson from December when he and his last companion spoke with her. When we asked if we could explain our message another day she replied, "Tell me some right now" Veranique listened intently and seemed touched. She is 19 or 20 and doesn't drink or smoke! That is almost unbelievable! We asked who else she knew that might be interested, she wasn't sure but said she would make photo copies of our card and hand them out, we just gave her more cards!! She was born in France but her
parents are Portuguese. Tell Matt Torgersen that he should love the people in Portugal - I do. Half the branch in Periguex is Portuguese, Elisabeth and her family, and Veranique are also Portuguese. There is a member here from a Portuguese family and served her mission in Portugal. She said the work is kind of like France, except - the Portuguese believe in God and don't hate religion like the French.
Friday and Saturday we helped somebody move, the work wasn't bad except for the place was disgusting. Upon returning home on Saturday, we saw a man and young lady standing next to a van full of furniture, we offered a hand and to our astonishment we were able to help them. There were eight people in all and about five of us emptying the van. We got the whole thing done in an hour. It was quite tiring, going up and down the flight of stairs, but it felt good.
Love, Elder Marsala

P.S from his Mom: Miles birthday is March 23rd - I'm sure he would love a card or letter.

Elder Miles Marsala
France Toulouse Mission
4, Rue Alaric II
Compans, Caffarelli
F-31000 Toulouse FRANCE