Week 22

Merry Christmas!

Missionary Stockings

Christmas Joy!

   It was so great talking with all of you on Skype on Christmas!  So nice seeing everyone's faces again, way cool that we are able to do that now!  I hope that the trip to Boise was a great time.  The rest of our Christmas was really good as well. 

Christmas Eve dinner with the Lopez and Barrientos family

Christmas at the Riveras

         

1st Christmas Eve dinner with Amore!

   Then the weekend was really awesome.  On Saturday we had one of our members (Alfredo) teach with us the entire day, he is such a great and humble guy.  We had some really good lessons with him.  We tried to see Luis who has a baptismal date on Saturday but he wasn't home.  And earlier in the week he told us he wanted to go to church, and that we could come and guide him to church.  We didn't really hear from him so we were a little worried.  Then on Sunday morning me and Meyers called him, and it just went straight to voicemail.  Then while me and Meyers were studying we get a call from a random number.  It was Luis!!  He said he still wanted to come to church with us, and that we could come by his house at about 11:30.  So we went to his house to guide him to church and he was ready to go and also his wife and two little girls came as well which was a great surprise!  We had only really taught him, and his wife has always been in the back room so we were super excited that she was coming as well.  We get to church and the first 2 meetings are really good (we have sacrament last).  Then after Church we were asking him how they liked it and they both Loved it and saying how we were such nice people!  Elder Meyers asked the wife why we hadn't taught her at all and she said she just thought it would be better if we taught him and she watched the kids.  But now she wants to join us in the lessons, she was super nice and well.   So we are still looking good for the baptism, and now hopefully we can bring them both into the waters of baptism!  I just loving seeing these miracles, and the blessings that God has in store for us and the people we are teaching.  It is going to be awesome preparing them to be baptized.  Luis already has so much faith, so I know he will be a great member in this Church and receive so many blessings.  

 

Eating with Alfredo!

  Sunday night was really awesome as well.  One of our members Gerardo (Jerry) came teaching with us after we had dinners at Ana.  Probably the 4th dinner with her this week, she really is the best!  But we went teaching with Jerry and we met 5 new investigators in just a couple hours of teaching with him.  They were all really cool people to, and we set up some really solid return appointments.  I always love teaching with members because their testimonies really relate to the people we are teaching.  Members are key in bringing more people unto Christ.  In reality every member is a missionary, it may be hard sharing the gospel but after you do it the blessing you will receive are better than anything else.

Our District

   That's all about all I have this week, but these upcoming weeks should bring many miracles.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me and Elder Meyers this week.  Thank you so much for the email and have an awesome week!  Love you so much! 

The Capitol

Week 21

 

Zone Conference Gift

   Well Christmas is just right around the corner, and the year is almost coming to an end.  These last 5 months have been some of the quickest and best months of my life!   I love the area that I'm in right now, and Elder Meyers really is an awesome companion!  

 

   This last week was a super quick week, and also a really good week.  We were able to set a baptismal with one of the Referrals that we had  gotten from the Spanish sisters.  There used to be us and Spanish sisters in our Area but they closed their area this transfer, so we have been kept busy.  It's been great!  The baptismal date was with Efren, he is super cool and really interested.  He is going to Mexico for a week, but we can't wait to help him prepare for his baptism.  We just need to get him to church, which is one of the hardest things here!  As for our other Baptismal date, Luis is still looking really good.  He has super strong faith, and we were able to teach him the plan of Salvation to him last night.  He loved it, and understood it pretty well.  We'll keep working with him and he promised he will join is at church next week.  We are even going to guide him, so I'm really excited for that.  I know that he will love the church, especially because he has been reading in El Libro De Mormon consistently and loving it. 

 

  Other than that, we finally we able to teach a lesson with a lady named Monica last night.  She is super nice, and has been interested but just has been really busy.  She was super easy to teach, and asking plenty of questions.  It's so much easier to teach when people are asking questions and showing real interest.  We also met a really awesome lady last week, and we have a return appointment with her tonight.  Oh and she had some of the sweetest Nike shoes! Hahaha!   But our area has a lot of potential, so I'm hoping we could get it up and running pretty soon here.  All is well here in the great state of Arkansas, I love it here, and it kind of feels like home already.  There are so many great people here.  we are working with a family(Riveira) who was less active for many years in Miami because of a weird situation, but they have been active since they have moved here.  They are way awesome, and have the cutest 2 little girls.  I think we are going to be over there for a little bit on Christmas.  They are going to be a huge help to the branch! 

 

 I'm really glad to hear that Chad's niece Ashley will be coming out earlier than expected.  Because if she didn't there would have been no sister Spanish missionaries to train her. She would of been trained by someone who had been out for only 6 weeks.  Which happened to the Spanish sisters about a year and a half ago.  But now it will be perfect and she will be trained by some really good Spanish missionaries!   

 

 I can't wait to to Skype with ya'll on Christmas!!  Thank you for the email, have an awesome Christmas week!  Love you tons!

 

Love,

Elder Geddes

Sweet swing Me and Elder Meyers found on P-Day!

Week 20

 Elder Geddes with Santa

   Tu Dijiste que quieres ver mas espanol en mis correos electronicos.  Entonces voy a escribir toda la carta en espanol! Solo Bromeo! Podria hacerlo, pero no pueden entenderlo haha. Well there is some espanol for you, maybe google translate will be able to translate it somewhat correct for you!  

   This week was another great week out in the mission field here in Little Rock Arkansas.  Me and Elder Meyers have been working really well together, and have been really working on talking to everyone.  As we have been doing that, we have found a lot of great potential investigators and have some solid return appointments as well.  I'm excited to be able to get to know them better, and start teaching them the lessons.  

Missionaries serving in the branch and Ramirez who just finished his mission and came to visit!

  We had the Branch Christmas party this last Friday, and there was an awesome turnout there!  Every set of missionaries in the branch (now 3) had investigators that came.  We even had a couple guys who come to soccer every week, come to the party as well.  I really love when there are activities, because it is a great way to get investigators to come see the church and see what we are all about.  We had one investigator (Maria, 16) who came to the Christmas party as well as her little brother.  Elder Meyers had taught her over a year and a half ago when he was in this area.  He actually started his mission in this area.  He said she was almost baptized, but then he was transferred and not really sure what happened over that.  But we are going to teach her again, and hopefully bring her into the waters of baptism!  She's came to church this last Sunday as well.  I believe she has already read the book of Mormon as well.  We're looking forward to start working with her again, and as well as her brother.  They will benefit so much from having the gospel in their lives (as all will), and will help strengthen the branch.  

Enjoying the Branch Christmas Party!

   This last Sunday we were able to teach Luis who we have been kind of on and off teaching for a while but he isn't home a lot.  The North Spanish Sisters actually received a media referral from him, wanting the finding faith in Christ movie.  We took it to him, and had planned to watch it with him.  He ended up watching it himself, because he was too excited to see it I think ha ha!  We read about faith with him in el Libro De Mormon on Sunday and invited him to be baptized on Jan. 10!  He accepted!  He is so faithful, and always tells us how grateful he is when we come over to teach him.  

   For a crazier story this week, which seems to be a normal things every week since I've been with Elder Meyers.  We were driving down a street on Saturday and we are coming up to a school.  There are tons of cars parked, blocking the school on the road, We were a little confused, because it's a Saturday and no one should be at school.  So we drive closer and we see like 40 teenagers yelling at each other and stuff.  We could tell that something was going to happen, then they start just going crazy and hitting each other.  A big brawl breaks out between them and some girls had bats and stuff that they were hitting each other with.  Then after a couple minutes, they all run for their lives at the same time and sure enough the Police come strolling up the road          ha ha!.  The things that happen here in the South are the greatest!  

Thank you so much for the email!  !Tenga una buena semana!  Te queiro mucho.  Y estoy emocionado por hablar con ustedes en la navidad!

Love,

Elder Geddes

Week 19

 Well as the subject says my new companion is Elder Meyers!!  We predicted right.  He is from Kaysville, Utah and has around 4 months left on his mission.  He's super cool, and we already get along really well in our first week.  He is super nice and caring and a hard worker.  Serving with him is going to be really awesome, I'm really excited for it.  I'll be able to learn so much with him as well. 

 This week was a pretty busy week with Transfers and everything.  The transfer meeting was really good, and President Wakolo had all the missionaries come to the meeting to talk about our success as a mission in November and a few other things.  For the final numbers of the month it was 92 baptisms and 90 confirmations!! 

 At the mission home saying goodbye to 1st companion Elder Castaneda

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Saying goodbye to Elder Ramirez

  After transfers we had another Elder (Doty)  come with us for a few days.  He is a new missionary straight from the CCM in Mexico.  He had an appointment here in Little Rock so we were in a trio for a day and a half.  He was super excited to work, and had an awesome attitude.  It was funny, the first day he was like yeah I can understand most of what they are saying.  Then by the next day he was like "wow I can't understand a single word they are saying".  I remember saying the exact same thing when I came out, super funny to see that!  Feels like yesterday, and now it's basically Christmas already.

Finding my picture on the missionary tree at the Mission Home!

  We found a ton of new investigators this week as we knocked a lot of doors.  It was really awesome, some are pretty interested as well.  We met a really nice lady named Veronica.  We knocked on the door, and the first things she said was 'pasenle" (come on in).  We were like shocked cause that rarely happens that they say come in before even saying anything.  So we went in and we got to know here a little bit.  She had actually lived in Salt Lake City so she was kind of familiar with the church.  We set a return appointment for a few days after.  We taught her a really great lesson and the spirit was really strong.  I'm really excited to continue teaching her, she seems really interested.  We've been busy with a lot of appointments so it's been really good. 

  For a funny story this week, me and Elder Meyers were walking down a street.  We had knocked a bunch of doors, and tried some of our appointments and just weren't having to much luck.  As we were walking down the street, a car started coming at us, so we kind of got on the grass/sidewalk.  Then the car stopped and a guy jumped out.  Then he started walking right towards me and I was like uh oh what's this guy going to do.  Then he said to me and Elder Meyers "pray with me"  Then he grabbed our hands and told Elder Meyers to lead, so he offered a really good prayer with him while the music from his car is still playing behind us.  He then says thank you and was on his way haha!  Only in the south!!  It made our day though, it was pretty funny and just super random. 

  Well it sounds like that you had a pretty busy week.  That's really awesome that you were able to have a special fast for Grandpa.  I actually got a letter on Saturday from Grandma updating me on the situation.  So I was able to fast for Grandpa as well.  I know that the fast will make a huge difference, and that all will work out.  I always keep him in  my prayers and pray that the surgery will all go well today.  Grandpa is such an amazing example to everyone, I love him so much. 

  That is a really awesome experience that Sam Smith shared.  It's so true as long as you trust in the lord with faith, he will help you in times of need.  I've no doubt I've  been helped so many times as I have been speaking Spanish, and especially as I was able to confirm a couple weeks ago.  I'm so sorry to hear about Roberta's brother passing away.  That is so crazy, just a random heart attack.  Please give them a hug from me!  But it is amazing that we have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.  We know that death is not the end, and that those who have passed are in a much better place. 

  I loved the quote from President Monson.  We really do need to reflect more on the Spirit of Christ because that is the real importance of Christmas. A great thing to think about as we are in the season.

Well that's about all that I have for this week, thank you so much for the email!  I love you tons and have a wonderful week as we head full speed into the Christmas season. 

Love,

Elder Geddes

        Me and Heaton found the 
    "Weiner Mobile" the other day. 

Week 18, Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving Dinner!

  Well this week was a pretty awesome week, being Elder Castaneda's last week, as well as Thanksgiving week.  It was a great time to be able to reflect on all of the things that I have in my life, and how blessed I have really been.  Just the fact that I was grown up in an active LDS family is one of the biggest blessings I could have, the gospel of Jesus Christ truly is real happiness on the earth today. 

 On Thanksgiving in the morning we got to play in a Turkey Bowl with the English wards, a lot of people came, so we had a really great time.  It was nice playing football again, just because we normally only play Futbol.  After the turkey bowl we went to our first thanksgiving dinner with the Bowen's a family in our branch and we also ate with some other families from another ward.  We had a ton of really good food, and were able to have a really good time.  Then after we had our Second thanksgiving dinner with the Lopez's who are another family in our branch.  They had a lighter thanksgiving dinner, which was good or else we might have exploded, but it was really good, all the food was cooked well.  It was great eating good food, this week we were actually fed almost every day and sometimes twice a day which was rare but awesome.  A lot of people were sad to see Castaneda go, he has been in the Branch for 9 months!  

Baptism day for Eddie, Victor, and Brittany 

   As great as Thanksgiving was, the real highlight of the week was the miracle that we had of having 3 baptisms on Saturday!  It's kind of a long story, but Elder Castaneda had taught the mom (who is the soon to be wife of the Elders Quorum president) 6 months or so ago.  Her and her kids have been living in Nashville, but continued to have the missionaries over.  They moved back here just a few weeks ago, and we had kind of talked about baptizing the kids but we weren't sure when because the Mom (Sandra) wanted to be baptized with the kids.  She is waiting for a divorce paper, and it could come any day or in a few months.  So we received a call this week from Sandra saying that the kids (Eddie, Victor,  Brittany) want to be baptized this weekend.  We had the baptism and everything went super well!  I was able to baptize Eddie and Victor and then on Sunday I got to confirm Brittany as well (all in Espanol)!  I said all the important stuff right, so I didn't have to repeat it which was nice.  For our goal as a mission we got 89 baptism which is 16 baptisms more than the highest month before!  Way awesome to see the hard work pay off, it shows that sacrifice will bring blessings for sure.

Baptism of Israel by the North Misionaries

Well as of an hour ago we said goodbye to our companions for the last time.  Me and Elder Heaton will serve together until this Wednesday at transfers.  I have an idea of who I will be serving with but we don't officially find out until Wednesday.  I'm really excited to continue to work hard and find more people to bring unto Christ!  Oh and I will be staying in my area for sure, same apartment and everything. 

It sounds like that you had a great Thanksgiving week with everyone in town.  Well I don't have too much time, but have an awesome week. I love you so much and thank you for the email.