Reassurance From Russia

We just recieved an e-mail from President Wooley telling us that Jess made it and a little about his first couple days. Can I just tell you how much that means to a missionary mom, hearing that their son made it all the way across the ocean safe and sound. He also sent a picture from the airport which was so fun to see. As you can see, Jess is all smiles, even after more than twenty hours of travel time. Now the mission begins!

Dear Brother and Sister Geddes,

We want you to know that your son arrived safely here in Moscow. His first day he had some orientation, a meal at our home, and an interview with me. His second day he had a chance to visit Red Square and then met his new companion Elder Hiatt. He and Elder Hiatt then traveled to Tula, where they will be teaching and serving the Russian people. We are most thrilled to have your son with us. He is with an excellent Missionary who will help your son become a confident and effective missionary.

Yours Sincerely,


President Kenneth M. Woolley
Russia Moscow West Mission

Seven new strippling warriors just entered Russia

Jess and six other missionaries reached Russia yesterday for the Moscow Russia West Mission. We received a call around 1:15 yesterday and it was music to my ears. Jess called from the Atlanta Georgia airport and we had a short but very sweet talk. We were able to conference in Rob, Liz and Megan so he could talk to all at the same time. We felt bad that Emily couldn't talk, she had to see some clients and he ended up calling an hour earlier than planned so it didn't work out. It was so fun to hear the excitement in his voice along with some nervousness. He spoke Russian to us just before he hung up and it was so fun to see his growth over the past 2 1/2 months. I thought we were going to get two hours but ended up with less than one. I won't complain though, it was so fun just to hear his voice. This morning I got a wonderful surprise when he called my cell phone from Russia to tell me that he made it and everything was great. I can't tell you how wonderful that made me feel. I had been a little stressed last night and I was so thrilled to hear his voice again. He was so excited that I couldn't even be sad. He went with the AP while they were waiting for the rest of the missionaries to get their second passport and did some street tracting. He said the second person he talked to wasn't going to stop until he saw their badges. Turnes out that he had been contacted by the missionaries a while ago and then lost contact. He wanted to have them come see him again. They got his name and number to give to the missionaries there so they could go see him. Jess was so excited he couldn't even stand it. He said "this is going to be the best mission ever, I already know I will love my President, he is an awsome man." I can't even tell you how much I appreciate President Wooley allowing them to call home to say they were there safe and sound. I think I can now allow them to take care of Jess and I feel so much better. It still is a long time to let them go but things like this make it a little easier. I can't wait to hear from him.
I am going to post his pouch address since that is the best way for anyone to send a letter to him. It has to be one page folded in thirds and taped, leaving the ends open. No envelope, just address the back of the page and put a piece of tape to keep it folded.

Elder Jess W Geddes
Russia Moscow West Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0150
USA

The only thing that can be sent there are letters folded and taped as I explained. He would love to have letters so feel free to send one if you get the chance.

Time Flies (at least thats what they say)

At times it feels like Jess has been gone forever and other times it feels like it will be forever til I see him again. I guess it's all in the perspective you take. I know one thing for sure, I miss him, but when you read this e-mail you will see why moms have to let their sons and daughters leave for two years to serve the Lord. There is absolutely no other way to grow and mature this quickly in the real world. These two years will give Jess the biggest head start on life, its invaluable experience. Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when He set it up this way. I am so proud of both my boys for serving missions and I know from experience that I will live through this. I spoke to Jess's mission president and his wife the other day. They called to learn more about Jess and I was so glad to hear that they are excited to be there and that they already love these boys. I will never complain about giving my boys up for two years but thats not to say I won't talk about how much I miss him from time to time. I hope you all will humor me once in a while, I kind of have a one track mind when it comes to my kids. Anyway, here's the last e-mail from the MTC:

Congratulations Em and Jason, thats awesome! I can't wait for those little girls to get here. That will be a lot of fun for you.

Okay, so I got my flight plans! We leave here at 5 in the morning on tuesday and catch an 8:30 flight from slc to Atlanta. We only have a 2 hour lay over in atlanta but we do have permission to call you guys. Our schedule says we will get there at 4:15... I'm guessing that is Georgia time so sometime around 2:15ish I will be calling. I can't wait to talk to you! I am a little nervous though because I don't feel like I speak super well, so don't be disappointed to hear some so-so Russian. Anyway, from atlanta we fly straight to Moscow. It says we get there at 11:00 am on the 19th. That must be Russia time as well. That means it will be about 1 in the morning for my body but I will still have a full day of stuff to do. We are all super excited... except Elder Johanson who will be here an extra 4-6 weeks because of his ankle. I feel really bad for him but If anyone had to have it happen to them, Elder Johanson is probably one that could handle it the best. It could be worse, one of the native Russians here just found out he has cancer in his leg and might be in the states for about a year!

It's crazy that things are actually winding down now. Today we went to the temple for the last time, we all ate breakfast in the cafeteria, it was awesome! I will really miss the temple. I was sitting in the celestial room today thinking about things I've learned from the temple. I came to the conclusion the biggest thing I learned was how much our Heavenly Father loves us. There are few places in the world you can feel as loved as you do in the temple. I decided that in the next two years when I run into tough times, I have a strong testimony of how much we are loved and how mindful Heavenly Father is of us. Also, last night was our last real class with Brother Sagers. He is honestly one of my heroes. He has taught me so many things that will not only help me out on my mission but for my whole life. Little things like how he has never been late, he comes to class with a plan down to the minute of what he wants us to do and each week he interviewed us about class and how we are doing, but he also would always ask if there was anything he could do to help. That is when the real teaching began for me. He told me about goals he set for himself, study techniques he uses and a ton of other things. He asked if maybe I would want to have a copy of his study notes from just a topic (charity) so I could see how he studied then I can have a good starting place. Usually when people tell you stuff like that they forget or you just have to keep reminding them but Brother Sagers showed up with a packet of papers he had copied for me. I love him and am so grateful that he was my teacher. He is an awesome example of serving the Lord with all your heart might mind and strength. That is so cool that you got to talk to President Woolley! I can't wait to meet him, he sounds awesome. Well I guess for my last email from the MTC I want to just end it with a little bit about how my testimony has grown since I have been here. As I came in, things were tough. I wasn't sure about my companion, I wasn't sure about my district, I wasn't sure how I was going to learn this language and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to ever stop being homesick. As I learned more from devotionals, firesides, my teachers, priesthood meetings... I think I have a little more of an understanding of what it means to be a missionary. I know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God, that he did see God and Jesus Christ, that he did translate a sacred book, the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon does contain the fulness of the Gospel. The spirit does speak to each and every one of us if we just listen. I have learned that the basic lessons we teach as missionaries will never cease to keep teaching me things. I learned that I have taken this gospel for granted, that I haven't understood what power there is in the priesthood. As I am beginning to understand the importance of all this, my love of this gospel and of the principles taught in it have grown more than I can believe. I can honestly lay in bed at night and think not about how much I want to be home, or how much I miss espn or my family and my dog, but I lay in bed and wonder how on earth am I going to help people in Russia get through such big problems when I have never even known what it means to sacrifice or suffer. I have never wanted for anything. I am in the best family on earth, I have always had enough. The people in Russia haven't. I'm a 19 year old kid with a message. A message that can help these people. I might not know what it's like to have to go without and I might not know what addiction feels like, but our Savior Jesus Christ knows. Alma 7:11-12 says he suffered all the pains and sicknesses, the trials and saddness of his people so that he would know how to succor them. I don't know how to help these people, but Heavenly Father does, and he can through me and all the other warriors out there fighting in this battle for truth. I love this gospel and I WILL NOT WASTE ONE MINUTE of my time in Russia, how can I? There are millions of people that need this message and only one of me. I say those things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank you for everything. I can't wait to talk to you next week, and I can't wait to get to Russia and get to work. Mom, have an awesome birthday this week. I love you all.
Elder Jess W Geddes

The MTC will soon be a memory

Thirteen more days left in the MTC and it's off to Russia ready or not.  He's ready, I'm not.  I am getting more nervous for him everyday and it will only get worse as the time arrives.  I guess it's the unknown that scares me.  Maybe once Bob and I  go there in October for meetings I will be more at ease but more likely I'll be more nervous.  I need to remember it's the Lord that is in charge and that he will be protected.  That being said, It's still going to be a long two years for me.

Well, this is the second to last email I will be sending from the mtc. I really can't believe it has gone this fast! Things are going really well which only makes time seem faster. Part of me wants it to be over right away but I'm sure once I get to Russia, I will wish I were back here, safe and sound at the mtc. 

I got the book today and the other package a few days ago. Last week, after I sent my email, Elder Guynn and I decided to look around to see if we could buy garments here. I found out where and it turns out there were two boxes of garments that said free. There was a box that said mens tops and one that said mens bottoms. They were just a bunch of garments wrapped in saran wrap. I asked why they were free and the lady said they are the garments people have left in washers and dryers. I looked through the bottoms and found one my size and the kind of material I wanted and decided to take a chance on it. Turns out, they were clean as a whistle! For all I know, they are brand new. I just decided to put them in my laundry and today, after I do laundry, I won't even be able to tell which one is the hand me down. I was glad to get some extras from you though, with my situation, I never know when I will need an extra pair of garment bottoms!

So, I'm guessing Emily knows what she's having by now? Or is it this coming monday. Thats exciting!

Liz, you better enjoy the problems you are having with your little boy now, because once you get a little brother for him... well I think they made a movie about it called "Here Comes Trouble 2" haha, that will be so much fun!

Meg, it sounds like you guys are doing really well! I'm sad I will miss Anthony's baptism, that will be a fun thing. Are you going to have him baptised in the spring like us or in the font like you? 

Rob, what are your plans for your birthday? Anything cool? How's your arm doing? What have you and Britney been doing lately? How are your brothers doing on their missions Britney?

I can't believe how fast the weeks go here. In two weeks, at about this time I will probably be on an airplane. We are all hoping we get our travel itinerary tomorrow or thursday. We haven't heard anything about our visas, but the lady said if you don't here anything by a week before you leave, that means there are no problems, so I hope we don't hear anything. I'm sure we all get to fly out together, other than Elder Johanson who will have to stay a few more weeks because of his ankle. I'm not sure about the two elders headed to Ukraine. I guess we'll see once we get our flight plans.

Yesterday, we had our official meeting with the head of the Russian elders. He had us commit to him that we will only speak Russian from here on out. We have been doing really well with it anyway, but this will help too. I feel like I don't know the language at all though! I can speak fairly well, but there are so many things I feel like I need to learn before I leave! Hopefully my trainer is ready for me. We found out this week that both of our teachers are leaving about a week early on trips. That means we'll have substitutes for the last few days we are here. I was really bummed out about that.

Let's see, not a whole lot else happened this week... pretty average week. I'm really happy and loving the work and Russian, as hard as it is. I memorized all 13 articles of faith in Russian and am working on D&C 4. We already have memorized the first vision and our purpose. It's really fun. I have also made a goal to try to memorize a verse in english every day of my mission. Brother Sagers did it and he now knows over 500 scriptures. I have about 6 so far. The key is to plan out which ones you want to learn way in advance. I have a few weeks planned out in my planner and every time I come across a good verse I just write it in my planner on the next available day. Then at night I make an index card with the verse on the back and I look at it whenever I have a spare moment. It's really cool.

How was the fair and everything? Do you ever see Kayla or any of her family around town? How did Caleb get an infection in his intestine from a tooth problem? I wonder what his symptoms were. I am trying to decide if I need to go see the doctor once more before I leave. I am almost a hundred percent sure I would be able to handle this problem in Russia if it doesn't go away so I'm hesitant to go to the doctor again. We'll see what happens. When do you guys go to Russia? I can't remember.

Hmm, this is weird, I have almost 6 minutes left and not a whole lot more to say. I'll definately have my flight plans by next tuesday so I'll be able to let you know all about that next week. Thanks for all the emails and letters, and thanks for the garments and book, the book is exactly the one I needed. Good luck with everything at home. I love you all!

Elder Geddes