Week 43

Transfer day with Elder Ludwig

  Another great missionary week out here over in  Memphis, Tennessee!  Well to start off, on Wednesday we had transfer meeting.  As we are getting I-Pads this could be the last transfer where we have two transfers meeting, one on each side.  My new companion is.....ELDER DIAZ!!  I'm super excited to be with him, We both really wanted to serve together as well.  He is a short little Chapin from Guatemala!  He lived in Virginia for a couple years before his mission as well.  He actually knows a kid who I went to BYU-H with, that served in the mission where Elder Diaz lived.  But so far it has been super great serving with him. We talk in only Spanish all day which is the best.  It helps so much for learnign Spanish y helping with my accent and everything!

Elder Geddes with Hno Benetiz, and new companion Elder Diaz

  This last week serving with Elder Diaz went really well.  One day we went and visited this lady named Crystal that we had found the week before.  She was excited that we came by.  We were able to teach her the Restauracion y it went really well.  The spirit was strong throughout the lesson as she asked really good questions.  I've said this before, but it's always a great sign when the investigator is asking questions trying to get a better understanding.  We asked her if she believed the message was true y if Jose Smith was a true prophet.  She said she did, and we invited her to pray as well.  We should be seeing here this week, We're looking forward to that.  She had a lot of questions about death and was kind of scared of it, so when we teach her the plan of salvation it should go really well!  We are so blessed to have the Knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. What a perfect plan! 

 Then for some other things this week, we weren't able to see Alvaro to teach him all week, because he was busy with his friends Graduations and all that stuff.  But he came to church, and we have an appointment with him tonight.  He is still looking really good for his Baptismal date this Saturday!  It will be great!  Also we saw Enrique y Angelica a few times this week, They are still awesome and we were more direct with them the importance of coming to church.  It seems that they realize it more now, and we pray that they will be able to come this next Sunday!  So this upcoming week should be an awesome week, and even more awesome because the whole mission is meeting in North Little Rock on Wednesday!!  That rarely happens. We will be getting trained on the I-Pads, then most likely get them a few weeks later.  I'm more excited just to meet as a whole mission more than anything!  And that's about all from me this week!

 Anyways, I love you tons and hope that your week is great!!

Love,

Elder Geddes                                                  

My old companion Elder Justin Meyers returning to the mission for a visit

Week 42

Enjoying some Pina Coladas!

Wow it sounds like you are really having an awesome time over there in Philly!  As for me over here just a little ways East of Y'all I'm doing great!  This week was a pretty busy and crazy week, but it was a great week and we were able to get a lot done. 

  Well to start off the most surprising news was when on Sunday morning the Zone Leaders called for a transfer call.  But to my surprise Elder Ludwig is being transferred on Wednesday.  He is going to still be on the Memphis side so he will stay in the branch for his last transfer.  But I'm really looking forward to transfer meeting to see who I will get.  I will either get an Elder from Guatemala or from Idaho!  And of course Elder Heaton did not get transferred so we still get to serve right next to each other, it's been the greatest serving by him my whole mission.  

  This week was full of a lot of service about half of the morning we had to do some kind of service or help out with something in the Branch with the East Elders.  It's always a great opportunity serving and it keeps us busy all the time which is super nice.  The more service we give, the easier it is to have trust from the members which keeps the mission work most efficient.  We were able to teach Alvaro the Plan De Salvacion this last Thursday.  He really enjoyed it, and understood it really well.  He remembered the 3 kingdoms from church but had never been taught the rest.  At the end of the lesson we invited him to be baptized on 30 de Mayo and he accepted immediately without hesitating which was awesome!  So we are super thrilled to get him more prepared these next 2 weeks.  Also he came to church on Sunday and really enjoyed it, we should be teaching him again tonight!  

  For some other things in the week, we just did a lot of finding because we did a lot of walking.  So we have some pretty solid people for this upcoming week.  We also got a reference from a member in the ward, so hopefully we can go and see them.  It's so much easier to teach people when they already know members and are somewhat familiar with the church.  Also another story we were at a trailer park where a member lives at and the people we were going to see fell through.  So we decided we would try and go see them and just share a quick message and leave. It's called ITM (Inspire the Members).  But when we got there only she was there, and she was really sick.  So we were able to give her a blessing, and she was so happy because she said only God could have sent us there.  Sometimes we don't know why we do certain things, but following the spirit will always lead you to do the right thing!    Other than that, missionary work is great and I'm excited for this upcoming week!  

  Have an amazing week, and thank you so much for the email y update on your trip!  Love you so much!  Que tenga una buena semana, se cuidan! 

Love,

Elder Geddes 

Week 41

Our Zone

  It was so great talking with Y'all yesterday for Mothers Day!  I hope that you had an excellent dia de las madres!  It was also awesome being able to see the Christensen's on skype as well.  I just still can't believe it's been a year and a half since we were skyping Jesse for Christmas on his mission.

 Well I don't have too much to write this week after talking with y'all yesterday, but I'll write a few things from the week!  We were able to teach Alvaro (boyfriend of a member) at her house after we had dinner with them. We taught him the Restauracion y also were able to see how much he knew because he has been going to church for a while.  It was a super good lesson, and he really opened up to us and was a super cool guy.  He was asking really good questions throughout the lesson, which always makes it so much easier to teach and shows that they are able to understand.  So we are really exciting to keep teaching him and we are hoping to get una fecha de bautsimal with him for sometime this month or early on this month. 

                       

                       P-day at the Biggest Bass
                     Pro-Shop in the Country

           Juan Rodriguez with us,   
           and  the ties he gave us



 Other than that we recontacted a guy that we had a met  a week or so ago and were able to teach the whole family the Restauracion.  The wife was really understanding what we were teaching, and when we talked about the Apostasy she asked "so that means we are in an apostasy right now"  That was super cool that she asked that, because a lot of people don't understand that.  But we are so blessed to not be in an apostasia y have the restored gospel that is led by a living profeta today.  We are hoping to get back up there this week, and teach them some more!  Also East baptized a guy name Juan Rodriguez on Saturday, and that was super awesome. He is such a great guy and is going to be a super solid member.  He's basically been a member for the last 6 months.  It's always awesome when there are baptism in the branch to keep it a growing branch. But other than that, just another solid week out here in Memphis!!

Have an unreal week, y muchas gracias por el email!  Les quiero mucho! 

Con Amor,

Elder Geddes                                              

Week 40

Booth at the Spanish Fair

  Wow this week really was a pretty awesome week, and a lot of stuff happened!  Towards the beginning of the week  Elder Ludwig while on exchanges with Elder Heaton were able to set a baptismal date with Alejandrina!  I think I've mentioned her before, but she is way nice but just a little caught up in her work right now.  So we are really looking forward to keep teaching her, and get her progressing towards her baptism.  Her Grandkids as well live with here and they want to get baptized, If it all works out we will try and get them baptized together!  As well as one our families la Familia Hernandez told us that they knew that they needed to start going back to church, and return to all the good things that they had been doing.  They also said that we just needed to surprise them when we come, because they said almost every time we have an appointment the devil tempts them and something comes up y they never make it.  This shows us their desire to continue to change and now we are trying to get them back to where they are progressing before.  They are super good friends with a family in the ward which makes it really nice, I always say this but when their is fellowshipping the mission work is way easier.

  Then this week we went up to this huge trailer park in our area that we had never been to before.  The Sisters who used to be in this area used to have some investigators up there so we decided we would go and try it.  We met some way cool people on the first day we went up there, and the whole trailer park is mainly Hispanics.  But as we were trying to get into the gate, we saw two older ladies going for a walk on the other side of the gate.  It was nothing exciting just 2 ladies walking, but when we went back a couple days later we ended up knocking on this door and it was a really nice lady name Lola.  We shared a little with her, and then she gave us a reference for a friend of hers who lived just a few streets over.  Then we end up knocking on that lady's door, her name was Lupita.  She was super nice and loved that we came to visit her.  She told us she saw us a few days earlier talking to someone else and was hoping we would go talk to her.  It was me, Elder Ludwig, y Hernandez that day. 

 The quote of the week comes from Lupita as she was talking to us and Hernandez she tells him "los blancos son los mas bonitos de todos races"  Which means white people are the prettiest of all the races haha!  She was just loving that we were speaking Spanish as well.  We are looking forward to teach her more, and bring her this happiness that she really needs in her life right now.  But as we were talking she said she was walking the other day and I made the connection it was her and Lola that we saw walking through the gate just a few days earlier.  It was pretty crazy that we ended up knocking on their two doors out of the tons of trailers that our in that trailer park!   

                                    

      Us and the East missionaries                                                Mexican Corn on the cob,
   Ludwig, Geddes,Heaton,Henderson                                       mayo.cheese, and chili spice                                                                                                                                                      
     On Saturday as a district we were able to go to a Spanish fair hosted by Latino Memphis.  We were able to have a booth in the fair, and explain to people our message and try and get appointments with them.  It went really well and we were able to talk with a lot of cool people!  The whole district was able to go. It was a great opportunity getting our name out to the Hispanic community.  Then later on in the day we had a Branch Mission activity at the church that was really well attended.  As well as the East Elders (Heaton/ Henderson) had the Baptism of Jesus Lara who was baptized by his dad Juan Lara.  Entonces to translate that Jesus was baptized by John, it was a reanactment of when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, but this time in Spanish!  The baptism was really great though, y Jesus was really happy after his baptism.  It's always amazing seeing the happiness that the gospel brings to someones life. 

Our District

  Then on Sunday to just top off a really awesome week, we had a break the fast after church.  During that Brianda who is a member came up to us and was getting really emotional, so we weren't sure what was going to happen.  Her boyfriend is a non-member, and he comes to church almost every week. That day after church, he told her that he wanted to be baptized.  She said she has been waiting this day for about 3 years now!  What an amazing experience, and we are so grateful that we are going to be able to teach him and review all the lessons with him preparing him for his baptism.  Me and Elder Ludwig had both been fasting to improve our area, and to find someone that was ready to be baptized.  The power of fasting and prayer is so powerful.  What a perfect way to end a week that was already awesome! 

   Also there is another Elder Geddes that is coming out to the mission.  His first name is Kaneen or Robert or something.  He is from Ogden, but I'm pretty sure that we are not related to those Geddes' up there.  Other than that it sounds like you had a great week!  Thank you tons for the email, I hope you have another great week!  I love you tons!

Love,

Elder Geddes

Week 39

Matching shirts for Latino Memphis Group Service Day

  I hope that y'all had a great week over there in the Utah!  As for me over here in Memphis.It was just another pretty normal week of missionary work, but a week on the mission is always a great week!  It really feels like 2 days ago it was Monday, and then boom another Monday comes.  As for your question about the storms there wasn't really any storms that hit us, maybe at night but you know when I'm asleep nothing can wake me up!  It's just been cloudy the whole week, with a little bit of rain.  That has made the weather super nice though so it's been great for walking around!

  On Saturday we were able to go to a cool service project for the community with a group called Latino Memphis.  Some members of the branch had set it up so that we could go.  Us and the East Elders were able to go there with a really cool family.  Probably some of the nicest and most behaved kids I've met here!  But they took all four of us and we were able to talk with the kids and well as the dad Maricio on the way.  It's always super cool to see people get together from different faiths and help others out in a better cause.  Something I have been working on recently is trying to be more personal with the people that we meet, and show them we are normal people to.  I've always found it way easier to teach when we are more personal and connect with people right from the beginning.  So we were able to get Maricios number and it sounds like they would be interested in having us come over one day and sharing our message with them.  So either us or East are going to do that! 

Family who took us to the service project

  Then on Sunday night we had a lesson with the Perez family (Enrique y Angelica).  We weren't able to see them very much this week because he had been busy with work and everything.  But we were able to have a lesson with them on Sunday.  We went in there planning on teaching some of the commandants y la Palabra de Sabiduria (word of wisdom).  They were super cool as always but before started the lesson he told us how they had been talking and they feel like they needed to stay with the tradition of their family in the Catholic church.  That's why they weren't able to make it to church with us.  I asked if he had heard someone talk bad about the church or anything and he said no and that they always loves it when we come over.  As we were talking with them we really focused on prayer and how when we have a big decision in our lives we should ask God first with what we should do.  It was a super good lesson and it really made them realize that they needed to pray to see which camino they should take.  We also talked about specific prayer to receive specific answers.  They committed to praying specifically for what path will be best for their family.  We are praying that they will receive an answer and that they will be able to start coming to church and continue progressing!  We also got a pretty strong commitment for coming the the Noche de Hogar tonight at a members house that lives close by!  But it was a great lesson, and lesson for me of the importance of teaching to peoples needs.  If we would have just taught the commandments still we probably wouldn't have gone anywhere with them.

Look what we found!

 Also me and Hernandez were on exchanges this week and I kick this box between his legs while walking and made a "goal".  But the little box was heavy so I went back and picked it up and it was a brand new box of individually wrapped shortcake chocolate covered cookie things!  We always find the greatest stuff on the streets.  First the peaches and now this!                                                   

Other than that it was a pretty good week, and we are excited for this week coming up! Have an amazing week, and thank you tons for the email!  Love you lots!

Love,

Elder Geddes

You know you are a Spanish Missionary when you put chili on your fruit!

Week 38

 Me and Heaton with The Cahoon's. Senior couple going home.

 Hey y'all!  By the way "you" means one person and "y'all" means two or more.  Yes this old guy that we met the other day explained that to us because, we said we weren't from here! haha!

  My week here in Memphis was a really good week.  We got a lot of work done this week, and were able to find some super cool people.  We were able to see Angelica y Enrique a few times this week as well.  As it has always been the spirit was strong as we were teaching them, and they had really good questions.  It was really cool in the middle of one of the lessons he told us that when he sees us and hears us talking he sees us as one person!  It definitely means that the spirit is testifying to them of the truth as we teach.  They weren't able to make it to church this week, but it sounds like they will be able to come to a Family home evening that we are having at a members that lives really close to them tonight.  So we are looking forward to that, and this upcoming week to contact and continue teaching the people we were able to find this week. 

  Also this week we there was a Branch party for the Branch President's Birthday.  I was able to take part of my first Pinata hitting with a bunch of Hispanics.  It was pretty sweet, and they sang this fun little song for each turn that a person hits it.  The Hispanic culture is super cool, and I love all of their fun little traditions that they have.  And of they course they have the best type of food.  I'm very grateful that I was able to be called to serve as a Spanish Speaking missionary, and learn this awesome language.  But other than that just a pretty normal missionary week!

 That's a way sweet story from Taylor Seeley's mission.  It is crazy to see the people who become members, it is sometimes the people that you would have never imagined.  I still can't believe that he is home, I swear he only left a year or so ago.  The mission is truly an amazing experience. 

  Sorry for the short email, but I hope you have an amazing week and thank you tons for the update and all of your support!  I love you tons!

Love, 

Elder Geddes  

                        You know you are in the Redneck area when you see this going down the road!                            

Week 37

Me and Elder Ludwig in front of mural of old people.

  This week was a really good transfer week!  On Monday we were able to go up to the temple and see all the Elders and Sisters who were going home.  It was great to see Elder Meyers, Daley, and some others that have been great friends.  I just still can't believe that they are already home, the time really does just fly by out here.  Then on transfer day on Wednesday we took Elder Fortie to the temple early in the morning, because he was getting transferred over to the Arkansas side.  The transfer meeting was good, David Archuleta didn't show up this time though. Ha ha!  My new companion is Elder Ludwig!  He is from Orem, and has only two transfers left on the mission so about three months.  Most likely I will be his last companion, but you just never know!  The week has been really good, and I've enjoyed serving with him.  And of course Elder Heaton is still in my District!!  His companion also goes home the same time as mine does, so if they both end their mission with us, me and Elder Heaton will have served for the first year of our mission next to each other!

Elder Heaton, Elder Daley,& Elder Geddes

     

Elder Geddes, Elder Heaton, & Elder Meyer

                         

  As for this week, it was a really good week.  I am the Designated driver again and it's been fun and really good taking over the area.  As for our investigators we had a really good lesson with Angelica y Enrique who I talked about last week.  A couple lessons ago we had some members and Angelica was away from the lesson and didn't really seem interested that time.  But when we taught them this week she was really involved and really interested.  The spirit was always been pretty strong as we have taught them.  We we taught them the Plan of Salvation and invited them to be baptized.  We tried to set a date, but we were able to find out there main concern, or their main thing holding them back.  There are just some things they have to fix, but they really understand that you have to repent unto baptism and it's something that they really want to do.  They are super cool, and they have really enjoyed us coming over.  So we are going to keep teaching them, we are really looking forward to that!  Also we were able to teach Rosie again this week, it went well we just need to take it a little slower with her.  But she is super cool and always give us food when we go over there.  It's always great when we are eating Mexican food...the best food around!  Other than that it was a pretty good missionary week.  We are excited for this upcoming week, and hoping that we will get some more people progressing.  But all is well over here in the great city of Memphis! 

The Memphis Temple in the early morning.

  I loved the example from our Bishop.  It's so true, even when times get rough in life we will always be able to make it through it.  We have trials for a reason, without trials and weaknesses we would never be able to grow. The plan of God is perfect, and there is always a reason for everything.  It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures in Jacob 4:7.   The gospel will always bring us happiness no matter how dark times get, the gospel always provides light if we are living it the best we can.  Way cool that Joe Mac is going to Washington DC, tell him congrats from me!  Love you!