Week 34

Semana De Pie (Pie=foot, not food)

  Well as the title of the email says, that about sums it up we did a ton of walking this week.  This week was basically dedicated to finding.  We work in an area called the "triangle" it is three big streets that intersect with a bunch of Hispanics and other people packed inside, it's a pretty big area!  So we ended up doing a lot of door knocking this week, and found some really cool people.  This week we should be able to go back to a lot of those houses and see some of the people.  We have some appointments set up, so we are looking forward to those!  Even though there wasn't a ton of immediate success this week, we know it's all part of the process and we're grateful for the great people that we did find!

  One funny story from this week was we were walking down the street and decided to knock on a house that was Hispanic looking.  We walk up to the front door and there were a bunch of chairs blocking the door so we walked down to the driveway to knock the side door.  There was a window from the kitchen to the driveway and a Hispanic lady was looking out it.  We say hi to her in Spanish and she respond "No Hablo espanol"(I don't speak Spanish) in perfect Spanish and she was clearly Hispanic.  So we were like "de veras?" (really?) and she said "si." ha!ha! it's always funny to see what people will do to avoid talking with missionaries!

   Oh and another story from the week.  This is a great example of how the Lord will always provide, Even if it's not the way you are expecting! On Saturday Me and Elder Fortie had been walking for about 4 hours or so, and we were getting really hungry. We didn't really have anywhere to eat.  We were hoping we could get in with the East Elders on their dinner at that time but it didn't work out.  We were just walking and went to sit on a bench for a quick rest, and then I saw a can of peaches under the bench and jokingly said "hey we could eat those for dinner".  Not knowing they were sealed or anything.  But the can was perfectly sealed so we decided to try and open them on the fence post.  After a few minutes of Elder Fortie prying it open on the fence post, then we enjoyed some nice canned peaches! 

  As for the work we have been working with a less active family the Hudspeth's.  Most the time we just talk to the husband, and he is super cool and had been having a strong desire to come back to church.  A few weeks ago he came to church for the first time, I think it had been a while since he had come.  And then this week he came again and brought his 2 kids as well!  So that was super cool, and always great to see a less active come back and start receiving the blessings of attending church again.  The wife has told us she will come, but she hasn't made it yet.  So hopefully we can get her to come soon, and then the whole family will come together!  Also we saw a less active Jose  a few weeks back who used to be super active before I came.  We talked to him, and he just needed a ride and wanted to come back to church again.  So we found him a ride who is actually an investigator of the East Elders, who is super awesome.  He is basically a member, but just needs to get married.  But we hadn't plan to see Jose Gonzales that night, but it just worked out that way and he has been active every since!  But other than that all is well over here in Memphis!

Thank you so much for the email and for all of your updates!   I love you lots and I hope you have a great week!  

Love, 

Elder Geddes

Week 33

You  know you're in the South when you see this!

  This week was a pretty good week. It was a little slower week as far as the missionary week, but that happens sometimes and this week should be great week!  It has been raining the last couple of weeks every day, but the last 2 days have been perfect one of the days it got into the 80's.  So it's a perfect start to our bike week!

   This week I went on exchanges in the Memphis South area.  It was a really good exchange, and we taught some really good people.  We talked to this guy in a tire shop and he sounded exactly like and talked just like my friend Lucas from BYUH. It  was pretty funny.  Apparently Elder Jenkins y Doty had blessed his car shop or something, because the guy said weird things had been happening.  But apparently after that all the weird stuff stopped, and the business has started doing really well!   So that was pretty cool!  Then we had specialized training on Thursday which was a really sweet meeting, It's always great when we can hear from President Wakolo.  That's super cool that he sent you that foto from our quarterly interview, He's such an amazing guy, and his love for everyone is just incredible.  I'm very grateful that he is my mission President.     

  We did find a really cool lady this last week, She answered the door and started talking in English. She knows both.  But then she asked about if our Church was in Spanish because her husband as well, and doesn't speak good English!  We told her we were actually Spanish missionaries, so she was really interested and we were able to set a return appointment for this week!  It was a slower day of work that day, because of the rain and stuff, but it's awesome to see the people the Lord will place in your path!  We're looking forward to that, and if anything else I'm sure more opportunities will come up around there as well! Oh and as well I gave my first  talk in Spanish in Sacrament this week!  I had to talk on la obra misional (mission work) for 15 minutes.  It went pretty well, and I was able to talk pretty decent Spanish. It was nice to have that opportunity, and to be able to get more confident speaking in front of a lot of people in Spanish! So that was good, and this week we should be able to find some new investigators and start teaching some new people.  As for Lupe we still haven't been able to teach her, she is just way busy all the time.  We are working with the Familia Hernandez.They are in the moving process, but have been super solid in the past.  So once the moving is all done, they should get back on track.   That's about all for this week! 

Me and Elder Fortie in front of the Memphis Temple

  For your questions about Zones in the Missions, there are 5 zones in total.  There are 2 Spanish Districts in the mission (here and in Little Rock) both have either 3 or 4 companionship's.  And then there are a few other Spanish areas, and they are part of English districts. Elder Udall and Brown are my Zone Leaders, so that's cool to be serving by Udall again!  And for Our Apartment it's just me and Elder Fortie, but we have a huge apartment it's one of the nicest on the mission. Definitely an upgrade from the Little Rock apartment!  So that's a nice perk.  And then Elder Heaton and Henderson live like a little ways away from us, but we share the exact same working area. Oh and for your temple question I live super close to the temple, but probably won't go until July.  Elder Heaton got to go today, because he had a birthday in February.  There is only one temple trip every transfer normally, and only about 40 missionaries can go each time.  The temple is super tiny, but it's super cool to see when we go there though!   But all is good here in Memphis! 

  I'm glad to hear that all is going well back at home It sounds like you had a great Stake Conference. That's crazy that Oli is already 1, The time really does fly by! Thank you so much for the update and email!  I love you lots and hope your week is great! 

 Love,

Elder Geddes 

Week 32

   This week was a pretty good week, a little slower of a week as far as the week goes because we got a pretty big snow storm on Wednesday night.  And when there is any snow or ice everyone kind of freaks out and nobody knows how to really drive in the snow.  So on Thursday we had to stay in our apartments for the day.  The snow was actually kind of like Utah snow, and we got a solid 3 inches or so! 

  But as for other events this week, nothing too exciting happened.  We did meet a super cool family one night and taught the restoration.  It was a pretty good lesson, and the husband said if he were to gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the things we talked he would be baptized.  The wife is way cool as well, but she said the classic "we're Catholic".  They said they would still like us to come over, and so we are really looking forward to continue teaching them and have them be touched by the spirit. 

    For our investigator Lupe we were not able to see her this week, because her baby was sick and had to go to the hospital for a couple days.  He is now  is better and Lupe ended up coming to church, which was sweet!  We are going to go over this week, and continue preparing her for her baptismal date.  Other than that it was just a pretty normal week here in Memphis. 

 

Me and Elder Fortie are doing pretty good.  His first name is Alex.  It's the same set up for the bike that I had in Little Rock-  three weeks car and one week of bike.  Fortie is the designated driver! 

 

Well sorry the email was short this week, hopefully it will be long next week!  Thank you so much for the email and updates!. Have a great week, love you!

 

Love,

 

Elder Geddes

Buenos dias de Memphis!

Week 31 

Leaving Little Rock

Ana who fed us 2x's a week
I'll miss her so much!

Saying goodbye to Elder Meyers!

  

Well as you saw from the pictures I made it safely here in Memphis, Tennessee!  Earlier in the week I said goodbye to the members in Little Rock and got all my stuff packed up.  It was sad having to say goodbye, I met some really awesome and great people there.  But I know that I need to be here in Memphis, and that the Lord has many things prepared for me here.  Yader had me and Meyers over for dinner our last night there.  We had really good sushi, yes I said really good and yes I did eat Sushi!!  Now I can go to the beloved Sushi Buffet with Dad, Dustin, y Andrew in Vegas! 

Elder Heaton and Elder Geddes

Wednesday day we had our transfer meeting.  We first went up to North Little Rock, where we had the first transfer meeting.  I met Hermana Ashley Lewis, the Lewis' cousin!  She was really cool, and she will be training up in Russellville, Arkansas.  Then after the meeting we drove over in a van over to Memphis for the next transfer meeting.  It was snowing the whole time, but luckily it didn't affect anything.  Then we got to the church building and we are just driving down the road, and then we get past a little wall and there is the Memphis Temple!  It's really small but it is super cool looking.  

Hermana Lewis and Elder Geddes

    Then we start transfer meeting and I am serving with Elder Fortie!  He is also from Kaysville, UT.  He has been out for about 17 months, i'm looking forward to serving with him. It should be really good.  Elder Heaton will be serving with Elder Henderson and we basically share the same area with them.  It looks like the Heaton Y Geddes dream team just can't be seperated!  There are 4 sets of missionaries in the Spanish branch.  Three Elders and one set of Hermanas.  The branch is bigger than the Little Rock Branch, so i'm looking forward to getting to know the members.   Then after President Wakolo announced all the transfers the Temple President came in and told something to Wakolo.  Then he goes out and walks back in and says that we have a special guest.  Then 2 youngs guys walk in and it's David Archuleta!!!   He had just finished a session at the Memphis temple and the Temple President had hime come over and say hi to us!  It was way sweet, he talked to us for a second and then we had him sing "I know that My Redeemer Lives" his voice really is incredible.  So that was pretty crazy and awesome.   Then we went to the apartment and i'm actually in a really nice apartment this time, so that's a nice upgrade!   

David Archuletta

   As for the missionary work, we have a few solid people that we are teaching.  I still don't know a whole lot about our investigators, because I've only been here a few days.  The ones we have taught so far have been really cool.  We have an investigator and her name is Lupe.  We taught her on Saturday night, and we able to set a solid baptismal date with her!  She came to Church the next day, and really liked it.   We are really excited to keep working with her, and preparing her for the Baptismal Covenant.  I always love seeing people make changes for the better in their lives. You can tell they want to do it, and then when they do make the change you can just see how much happier they look.  The gospel will make anyone happy as long as they are living it.  It is a perfect gospel, and we are so blessed to have the knowledge.  Just more of a reason to share it with everyone that we know, it's what God expects from us. 

   On Saturday morning we went to a Women's conference to translate for some of the Ladies in the Spanish Branch.  I was in the food line after and one of the servers asked "are you from Cedar Hills."  and it was Devin Jakson!  The world is so small, that's crazy he happened to be there.  And as well I got to meet Abigail Blackham's (Curtis's niece) mom at the women conference.  She was super nice, so that was cool to meet her! 

 Everything is going well here in Memphis,  It's just going to get better as I get to know the area better and find people who are ready to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ!  It should be a great transfer!  Thank you so much for the email, and I hope that you have a great week!  I love you lots!
Love, Elder Geddes

Former AP's Daley, Udall & Smith

The Rivera's

The Fosters   

                

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                 

Week 30

Many of the Spanish Missionaries at Zone Conference

  This morning I received the transfer call, so it was officially my last week here in Arkansas.  It was a pretty awesome week, and a great way to end it here after 6 months.  I really have loved serving here in this area.  The branch members have been really awesome, and I'm grateful to have been able to serve with them.  I will definitely miss it here and serving with Elder Meyers, I've learned so much, and will miss all the amazing people in the area.  The good news is that I will most likely be going to Memphis!!!  There are a ton of Hispanics there as well, so I'm really excited for some new memories and for the amazing people that the lord will put into my path. Elder Heaton is being transferred as well, and there is a really good chance that we are both going to Memphis!!  So that will be super sweet!

   Well the best part of this week is that we were able to have the Baptism for Yubiritzi!!  And as well as the North Spanish Sisters investigator Orlando.  Before the baptism we went to Monica's house to help bring food, because she wanted to feed us before the baptism.  Yubiritzi had made a cake, and super good cupcakes with chocolate dipped strawberry's on top.  She was really excited for the baptism!  We had the baptism at 8 that night.  Once again a ton of the Branch members showed up to the baptism, which was great!  It has been so nice to have such great support from the Branch, and you can already see the difference.  The baptismal service went really well, and Cassandra (Yubiritzi's sister) even gave the talk on Baptism which was super cool!  It's so amazing to see them altogether in the gospel as a family.  I will miss them so much, but I know they will continue to be faithful and do many amazing works.  Yesterday we were able to confirm Yubiritzi in Sacrament meeting.  It's been amazing seeing the light in the Ramos family as they have taken these great steps in their lives.

                                                    Enjoying marshmallows Yubirizti made!

  Other than that we were able to follow up on some really cool investigators that we had met in the last couple weeks.  We have a lot of potential coming up, so I'm looking forward to here the continued success that Meyers and his new companion will have.  I can't really focus on writing right now, so sorry if this email has been kind of scattered.

Elder Tyler Hunt and Elder Braden Geddes

 I have seen Tyler Hunt a few times, and the other day got a picture with him at our meeting so I will send that.  

It was a great week overall, and I can't believe how fast the time is still flying.  It was a little crazy this week, because of the snow and ice, so we weren't able to work as much on some days. Overall it was a great week to end on here in Little Rock.  I hope that you have an awesome week.  Love you lots!

Love, Elder Geddes

        Bro. Wells who came to the Spanish Sacrament Meeting Every Week.

He speaks fluent Spanish and French!                 

     

Missionaries and Javier (former Elder Ramirez) coming back to his mission for a visit.

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

Week 28

Family Home Evening at President Wakolo's Home

  This week was a super awesome and a really busy week!  We were over at Monica's almost every night this week, helping them prepare for the baptism and teaching a few of the lessons that the daughters had missed. It's always great going over to their house, because they are super friendly and just easy to talk to.  They all ask really good questions when they don't understand something.  On Saturday we had el servicio bautismal at night around 8.  Monica, Cassandra (18) and Yubiritzy (Jubitsy 12) arrived early.  When they arrived Monica told us that Yubiritzy didn't want to be baptized.  Monica's brother had said some anti stuff, so it scared her and she didn't feel she was ready.  It was a little sad but we aren't to worried, and she probably will be baptized in a few weeks.  Yubiritzy even came the next day to church as well.  Monica and Cassandra are super strong already, and they knew that the stuff the brother had said wasn't true.  Monica even told one of the members that the it didn't matter to her what her brother said to her or anyone else, because she has already received an answer for herself and knows that the church is true.  She is so awesome!!  The baptismal service for Monica and Cassandra went really well.  There was a bunch of people there, A lot of the branch came which is super rare.  We got permission to do a baptismal side confirmation as well.  The spirit was super strong during the service, and Cassandra y Monica were really happy.

 

Baptism of Monica and Cassandra

  It was pretty cool, some of our investigators showed up and they are super cool (Aracelys y Gustavo)  I think I told you about them a little while back.  They were kind of late, but because of the whole thing with Yubiritzy they were able to make it before the meeting started, so a blessing in disguise!  They really liked the baptismal service, so we are really looking forward to teaching them more.  

 

  At the end of the baptismal all the members went and congratulated Cassandra y Monica.  They have really been accepted into the Branch super well, and already know a ton of members.  I can't stress enough how much easier it is to teach when we have the help of the members.  So that was great, and it was an amazing feeling being able to see the success of our labors and bring them unto baptism., The first step of an amazing journey ahead.  I can't wait to see all the amazing works they are going to do in the church

 

  Other than that it was just a great week, and we have  lot of work to do this week.  Our area is really picking up, and we have quite a few really solid investigators right now.  We even had Elmer who always plays soccer with us every week come to church for the first time, that was super sweet! He's such a cool guy!  It will be a little sad leaving this area if I get transferred in a couple weeks. It's been such an amazing place with so many great people, but "a ver" (we'll see). 

 

It sounds like you had a pretty great week as well.   I hope you have a great Valentines day!   Have an amazing week!

 

Love,

 

Elder Geddes