GROUP EMAIL 8/6/2018- Wednesday travesty

Hello everyone! 

This week has been super hard actually, but it's okay. Chinese is hard and me and my companion are having a tough time teaching because he hasn't had any background, it will start to come though I am sure for both of us. One cool thing is that a kid I knew from middle school named Dax Lowe is coming into my zone this week, I don't know who is actually reading these emails so I don't know who knows him but it is really cool. 

Anyways, here is my story from this week. So I think it was Wednesday, but we were coming back from exercise time and I was trying to race this one elder back to the dorms (I wanted to get on with my day and serve the lord obviously). Anyways I try to jump over a bench and this cement thing, a jump I could easily make, however, the grass was wet. When I went to make the jump, my foot slipped in the grass and slid about a foot and a half at least (you could see the mark in the grass) and went straight into the curb. I sort of rolled over the bench and it was very painful for my toe. Anyways, I go in, take my shower, get ready for the day and my toe hurts throughout the whole day. I take off my socks that night and my toe is purple and swollen. So we go to the doctor the next day and he says to go get an xray. We go, turns out it's not broken, but I have to wear a boot. So I've been wearing a boot for a couple days, great stuff. Anyways, later that day I hurt my toe and we were at dinner and I was just trying to be a nice missionary and bring everyone ice cream. So I've got 4 ice creams in my hands and arms and walking back, I make it almost all the way back then drop the ice cream on sister coombs. Really sucky and I felt super bad. Also that day we were in the elevator and I leaned against the wall and somehow hit both the 6 floor button and the emergency button in one lean on accident. It was quite the day but I'm all good now, I obviously have been hurting, but I can't not play volleyball because my district is just too dang good. Hahaha

Anyways, the spiritual thought this week is the temple. I love the temple but haven't been able to go because provo temple has been temporarily closed. I finally got to go today and it was so amazing, I love the temple and everything inside it. The spirit felt is awesome and it is just an amazing place. Go to the temple people! Especially those of us who live in Utah, they are all over the place and you don't understand what a blessing that is until you can't go anymore. 

My scripture this week is from a devotional given by Elder Uchtdorf after president Monson died. So I mean not scripture but still prophet words. It was, "If God is on your side, who can possibly stand against you" or something like that. It is really awesome. Just know that no matter what you are going through, God is on your side and loves you. 

Anyways, miss you all! And keep writing! I love hearing from you all. 

Love,

Elder Vander Linden