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. 

  Week 17

Elder Geddes and Elder Castneda in front of the Mission Office

 This week has been a really good week, as always on the mission.  Today Me and Elder Heaton are companions because our companions get to go to the temple because they are leaving.  As for this last week, we were able to have some really good lessons and as well meet some really cool new investigators.  The weekend was the highlight for sure, as it normally seems to be.  On Friday we met 3 new investigators within an hour at an apartment complex.  So we are looking forward to our return appointments this upcoming week!  As for my Spanish it has really come along within the last week or so.  I'm now able to understand most of what they are saying as long as I stay focused.  It's really awesome, I've been blessed so much to be able to learn the language so quickly, even though I still have a lot to learn I know that It will come quickly as I learn more and more each day.   Our Soccer activity that we have weekly has been going really well, we have more than 20 people come every week and most of them are non members.  This upcoming week we are going to try harder to incorporate the gospel and get some appointments set up with some of the non members who come out in play.  We have talked to a few of them and they said their perspective on Mormons have already changed from what they had been told before.  There are tons of rumors out there, but when people come to our church they are really surprised to see that we are just normal people.  So that is a good stepping stone, that will lead to miracles in the future. 

   I'm grateful for this time of year to be reminded and to be able to reflect on how blessed we really are.  There are so many things that we have that we take for granted for sure.  That's why it is important to boast of our God for the strengths that we have and the things that we have.  Because without him we would have nothing, and we would be nothing.  I know the more grateful and humble we are the more blessings we will be able to receive.  I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving! For our thanksgiving we have a pretty full day, in the morning I believe we are playing in a turkey bowl and then after going to a members house to eat breakfast.  And then after that we have  either 2-3 Thanksgiving dinners planned throughout the day.  We are going to EXPLODE by the end of the day, but I'm really looking forward to it. 

   As for your questions transfers will be Next Wednesday.  So me and Heaton will be companion again for a couple of days before because our companions go into the mission home on Monday,  and then leave on Tuesday. I will stay in this Area, which I'm glad because it's a great area.  But I have no idea who will be my companion, because these next transfers are going to be super crazy.  30 or more missionaries are going home in December and almost every Spanish Elder Companionship will be seeing a change.  But most of the Spanish missionaries are pretty cool, so I'm looking forward to see who I will get.  As for President Wakolo we see him every couple weeks which is cool.  He is one of the most loving and kind guys that I have ever met.   

Well that is about all that I have for this week.  I hope all goes well for Thanksgiving!  I love you tons and thank you so much for the emails you send me every week. 

Our unreal dinner at the Branch Presidents house!

Love,

Elder Geddes

Week 16

Elder Geddes' new friend "baby Sadler"

  Thank you for the email, it's always nice to hear the fun stuff and experiences that you had throughout the week!  Wow that's awesome that Tyler Hunt got called to the Little Rock Mission!!  It's the best mission out there, he is going to love it for sure.  Tyler is a good kid, I can't wait to see him when he comes out in January.  Cool to hear that Joe put his mission papers in as well, can't wait to hear where he goes.  

 Well this week surely has been a pretty cold week here in Arkansas!   Nevertheless it has been a pretty good week, I'd say it's always a good week when you are serving a mission!.  Even if you don't see many successes that week, you are planting seeds to see miracles in the following week.  As for our baptism with E.M. she wasn't able to get the marriage license They planned to get it on Tuesday but it was Veterans day and it was closed, Therefore, we weren't able to have the baptism. And now they are not sure if they want to get married anymore.  We'll keep praying her, and hope that things will be able to work out soon.  She is basically like a member of the ward, It will be nice to see when she receives the blessing of being baptized.

 Enjoying doing service

 Exhausted after service!

  As for other things in the week, we got 4 pretty solid commitments for coming to Church next week.  We recently met N., H. and E.  They are really nice and we have taught a few lessons, they seem interested and should come to church next week.  And another solid investigator we have is L., He really likes the book of Mormon already.  He attends another church but he said that he will be able to come next week as well.  This last Saturday we were able to have 2 service opportunities in the morning we helped raked leaves for Sister Culwell who has been feeding missionaries weekly for the past 60 years!  That's pretty awesome! I ate there my first week here, but she lives in the North Elders area so we don't get to go very often.  Then after we did service with one of our Family members the A."s.  They are the family that was really inactive that I wrote about a month or so ago.  and I said that I felt inspired to directly ask them to come to church the week after conference and they ended up coming to sacrament.  Since then they have pretty much come to sacrament every week, and yesterday on Sunday they came to all 3 hours!  It's so awesome to see them become active again, and be a strength to the branch.  That's why it's always important to listen to the spirit, you never know what is going to happen.  But other than that just another great week here in Arkansas, Castaneda only has 2 more weeks before he finishes his mission.  Half of our district is finishing their missions on December 1, so next transfers are going to be pretty crazy.

Have a great week, and thanks for the email as always, I love you tons!!

Love,

Elder Braden Geddes

Week 15

Pic: Us and the Ward Missionary Jerry at an Air force plane.  He's awesome and a recent convert. 

  It has been a really good this last week here in Arkansas, once again the week has just flown by.  We met some really solid investigators this week N. and E. they seemed really interested so hopefully all goes well with them.  We have a lesson planned with them for tonight. 

 

On Friday we had a soccer activity and it actually turned out really well.  The majority of the people that came were non-members and they all had a really great time.  One of the guys who came is Aldo . the brother of Erika M. who we are baptizing this Saturday.  We are going to start teaching him this week, and hopefully some of his friends that came and played soccer.  When we got to the Gym on Friday there was a wedding set up in the gym.  But luckily it was only half of the gym so we were able to block off the wedding tables with other tables and Chairs.  It ended up working really well, and luckily nothing got broken or anything.  It's the first step to introducing all of the people to the Church. 

 

As for Erika  we had here baptismal interview on Sunday and all went well and she is ready for this Saturday.  All she needs is to get her marriage license which she will be getting this Tuesday.  I'm really excited for the baptism, it is going to be really good.  The North Elders Ramirez & Heaton should be baptizing Izrael, who they have been working with for a long time.  I know him really well, because his mom (Ana) who is a member feeds us twice a week.  She is so nice, and always makes amazing meals every time we go there. 

  

 

Elder Geddes and one of his investigators sisters.

  On Sunday night we went and saw the G. family, who are a part member family.  They came to church the week before, and the Dad came to church this week.  Only the 2 kids are the members in the family.  I remember visiting them my first or second week on the mission.  They didn't have too much of a desire to change at the time.  But in Church yesterday he said we could come visit them that night.  We went over and had a really good conversation and lesson with them.  He now has more of a desire to get married and then be baptized.  They have been together for about 25 years or so, just haven't felt the need to be married.  He reads the book of Mormon, and I believe he is reading it again for the 2nd time.  It's so awesome when people decide to change their lives, and come closer to the lord.  I'm praying that this desire will be able to stay with them, and they will be able to be married and baptized in the next couple of months. 

 

  To answer your question Elder Castaneda is from Quetzaltenango Guatemala, which I believe is in the east.  He  has been living in Houston since he was 16, so after his mission he is going to return to Texas and work.  

   I love you and hope that you have a great week!

 

Love Elder Geddes

Elder Geddes making his Dad's Swedish Pancakes (Crepes).

 

Week 14

 

   This week was a pretty good week.  It went by really fast, just like every other week on the mission.  Nothing too exciting happened this week, but we had some really good lessons and were able to find some really cool new investigators.  Our investigator Erica  is still looking really good for her marriage and baptismal date on Nov 15th.  She really is awesome and I know that she will be a strong member in the church because of her great testimony. 

 

   

   This last Saturday one of our members Hermano Ibarra was able to come out with us the whole day!  It was awesome because we were on bike week, so that day we didn't have to use our bikes.  He is about 23 years old and is a recent convert.  He is always helping out the missionaries and has a really strong testimony.  We had some really good lessons with him, it is always a huge help when members come out to teach. On Sunday we had 2 of our investigators comes to church and as well as some old investigators who haven't been for a couples months or so.  One of the investigators is Harrison.  He has been living with one of our members for the last couple weeks, because his house is just kind of crazy (tons of kids).  He is 15 and has already come to church twice.  So we are going to try to start more consistently teach him this coming week.  I'm really looking forward to it, because he is such a good kid and I know how much the gospel will help him and his family. 

   Well not a whole lot exciting happened here in Arkansas this week, just the normal missionary work.  But it's always a great feeling when you are spreading the gospel.  I've already learned so much, and I have so much more to learn.  I love reading the Book of Mormon in my personal study, because I learn a ton from it.  The Book of Mormon really is amazing and such a great guide for us in our lives. 

   Well sorry for the short email, but now we are sacrificing our p-day time so we can fulfill our November goal of 100 baptisms as a mission!  So I don't have a whole lot of time to write.  I love you tons, and thank you for the email!  It's always great hearing from you.  Have a great week!

 

Love, Elder Geddes