Jess' July 28th e-mail

Hey everyone!

How's everything going? First of all, I did go to the doctor. He said that when this happens, it strips your intestines of the enzyme that breaks down lactose. As I kept drinking milk (at least 6 glasses a day, not counting the occasional chocolate milk) the lactose would ferment, giving me more problems. I never really knew it but it has just appearantly been a vicious cycle. He told me to stop drinking milk and fruit juice and also gave me some probiotics. He also told me to stay away from greasy food but then I think he rememberered where we are and said "actually greasy food shouldn't bother you too bad." I thought that was pretty funny. The probiotics don't seem to be working as good as the last ones did but he gave me a whole months supply of them. I charged the doctor visit and the prescription on my credit card, I hope thats okay. Honestly, If this is the worst thing I have to put up with for the next few years... bring it on! It's really not so bad so don't worry about me.

I can't believe Caleb is back, how long is he supposedly back for? Do you think he was just homesick or what? That's really pretty sad. From what I've seen in the MTC, I can't see how anybody can just go home early unless it is because of worthiness. That's too bad. I hope he goes back out and finishes it out.

Well I have a list of things I want to write about so I'll just go straight down the list. First of all, we got our Russian name tags a few days ago! They are really cool, they changed mine up a little bit from what I thought it was going to be but it is still really cool. At first I felt like it looks exactly like my last name in english but I think I must just be getting used to the alphabet. We can't wear them until we get to Russia though so they are sitting on my desk begging to be opened.

Next, I can't remember if I told you but Elder Johanson, an elder in my district and also one of my roommates, had to have surgery on his ankle last week. Appearantly he had broken a small piece of bone some time ago and it has just been rattling around in there causing damage. We all figured it would be a pretty basic surgery and that not much harm would be done but as of now, he will be staying an extra 4 weeks longer than the rest of us. I feel really bad for him. One of the worst parts was that he had to stay in bed for three days after the surgery. As a district we took shifts babysitting him during class. I only had to miss about an hour and a half of class so it wasn't so bad. Also, he wasn't able to shower for those few days so, needless to say, our room was smelling pretty ripe by the end of that week. He's up and moving now, on cruches which is good becuase he was missing a lot of class.

The other day, I was at breakfast and I saw a familiar face. I took a better look and it turns out it was Sister Mazza! I went and said hello and talked to her for a while. I didn't know she was going on a mission. I bet the majority of Dan's senior couples are from Soda Springs aren't they! It was nice to see a familiar face and to talk to someone from Soda.

Oh ya, I somehow lost a pair of garment bottoms last week during laundry. I am going to check and see but I'm not sure there's a place I can get garments here. I have had to wear those spandex ones once a week and that is just not fun. If there's any way you could send me a pair that would be awesome. Also, I keep forgetting to ask about that book my mission president wanted me to get, 555 Russian verbs. We can't get it from the bookstore here and I hate to have you mail it all the way to Russia so maybe you could find that somehow and get it to me? If not, I think one of my teachers said I should be able to get it there so don't worry too much about it.

I also forgot to thank you for the seat cushion! It's awesome! I felt a little bad though, the day it came in the mail, Brother Sagers surprised us each with a pillow his mom had made for us. Oh well, now I have a back cushion too. I have to take a day off of the cushion every once in a while so I can appreciate it. Otherwise it's like Adam and Eve in the garden of eden, never knowing happiness because they knew no sorrow!

How's your ankle dad? Is everything okay with that? 

Hopefully you are healing okay Rob. How are you going to be playing frisbee golf in a cast? 

Em, are you still going to send me some pictures of yourself? I'm excited to see what twins can do to a girl who has to prop her elbow on her hip to support the apple in her hand!

I can't wait to get the pictures that go along with the letter you sent me Meg, it sounds like you guys are doing really well. I always love the letters Anthony sends me, It's so true what he said, if you're not having fun, just make yourself! He's a pretty awesome kid.

Well that's about all I had on my list, a new record, I have 6 minutes and 30 seconds to go! I can't believe time is going by so fast. I love the MTC but I just can't wait to go to Russia. I know that is where I will really begin to learn the language. It just seems like you can only learn so much of a different language while you are here, surrounded by people speaking english. It's going to be so hard but I can't wait. There are quite a few native Russians here right now. I try to talk to them as much as possible. Yesterday 3 sisters came to our class and talked to us for a few minutes. They couldn't believe we had been here 8 weeks, appearantly they weren't too impressed with our Russian skills. The problem was that females usually tend to speak really fast no matter what language! No wonder we couldn't understand them! I really love talking with the natives though, it's a lot of fun.

Well I'm glad everyone is doing well, thanks for your letters and emails. I will try to write real letters from time to time. I wrote you one today Liz. I hope you all have a great week. I love you all!

-Elder Jess W Geddes