Week 29

 1st snow/ice storm

   Well today I have officially experience my first ice/snow storm here in the South!  It is a lot different then a snow storm in Utah.  Basically everything is closed down, and everyone is staying inside their houses.  It happened last night but all the roads are still pretty frozen, even the freeway was completely iced over.  We have been super lucky this winter though. This is the first time we have gotten any snow or ice.  The other day it was 60 degrees, it's been pretty unreal!  

  This week was another great week, and it went by extremely fast. I can't believe that this transfer is almost over.  These last 2 transfers with Meyers have flown by, I've really enjoyed serving with him, and the work we have been doing together has been great.  Most likely I will be transferred on the 25th, and Meyers will finish his mission in this area next transfer.  But you never know, I'll let you know next Monday!

  Well first off earlier in the week we went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders (English Elders) for a day.  I stayed in this area, and it went really well.  I've been so blessed to be able to understand and speak Spanish pretty decently. That night we had a dinner and lesson with Monica and the family.  Earlier we had asked a member to come with us. He said he would be able to.  So we go to Monica's and have a great dinner.  The English elder said he hadn't eaten that much food in months ha!ha!  We always get fed a ton as Spanish missionaries, and when you ask for just a little bit more they give you a giant plate full of food!  Hispanic people are the greatest!  Even random investigators, or people we just barely met will feed us!   After eating we watched the Finding Faith in Christ movie with the family, It really invited the spirit strongly.  Then after we talked about it and focused on enduring to the end, and never forgetting our baptismal covenants that we made.  The member Hno. Olivares who came with us really helped as well, and shared some great experiences.  It was one of the best lessons we have had there, and the spirit was extremely strong.  Yubiritzy was there and we were able to set a Baptismal date with her for the 21st (this Saturday).  Then after we left Hno. Olivares told me that when we texted him that morning his first text he responded "that he wouldn't be able to come, because he had some things to get done",  but our phones are messed up sometimes and we received his message blank.  We told him that then he responded again saying that he wouldn't be able to come, but again we received it blank.  He took that as a sign that the God needed him to be there that night.  The third time he responded that he could come, and we received that text.  It is so amazing how the Lord works in many ways, I know for sure that he was meant to be there that night.  He's such a great example, and I thought that was an awesome example of obedience and listening to the spirit.

  Other than that, this week we were able to visit one of our investigators Elmer and teach him the Restoration.  Every week we play soccer in the church, and he has been there about every time. He's always super nice, and he wasn't busy one night so we were able to go an teach him.  The lesson went really well.,  He really seems to understand what we are teaching, and has a desire to learn more and become a better person.  He came to Church on Sunday for the second week in a row, and hopefully  we will be able to go over and teach him more a few times this week.  It's so cool seeing the soccer activity turning into more of a success.  We have over 15 non- members every week. If it was meant for one person to accept the gospel, it's all worth it!  But it's been great, and a good way to get people familiarized with the church.  

   As for our other investigators we are still looking pretty solid with a lot of potential.  Gustavo and Arecelys are still awesome, and we can't wait to teach them more.   We have met a ton of new people in that trailer park where they live.  We have a few solid investigators there. It's amazing how one referral to someone that lived in that trailer park has led us to meeting so many great people, even though the original referral the person didn't even live there.  This week we should be having that baptism on Saturday, and we are really looking forward to that!

Elder Geddes with the Barrientos family (Banch President's family)   

It sounds like you had a good week, I hope that you had a great Valentines day as well!   Have an awesome week, and thank you so much for the email!

Love you!

Elder Geddes