Pictures at last

Jess finally sent a few pictures from Russia.  This is the first babushka he met and he says she is his favorite.  The other one is a member of the branch in Tula.  Doesn't he look handsome in his new winter coat. His first transfer was this week and it was a little harder than he thought to leave, especially the members.  Here is his latest letter from today.

Hey guys,

 

Once again, I am writing from Moscow.  I got here around noon today.  Elder Hiatt and his new companion saw me to the train and said goodbye.  That means I had to ride a train from Tula to Moscow by myself!  I'm not gonna lie, it was kind of scary for me for some reason.  I didn't like being alone in Russia without a phone or anything.  Anyway, I made it to Moscow and there were two Elders waiting for me.  I take a train that leaves at 8:55 tonight and I will arrive in Veronezh at 7:55 tomorrow morning.  I am in the furthest southern city we have in Russia, Kazakstan is still further south but I'm now in the dirty south of Russia!  I'm pretty excited to be going there. 

 

It sounds like everyone is doing really well.  I'm going to try to write you all a quick note, I'm not sure I have a whole lot of time and I still need to eat something but anyway, a little about my week.  First of all, Tanya, our baptismal candidate, is a little confused.  This is a testimony builder of the power of prayer.  When Tanya started meeting with us, both Elder Hiatt and I felt like she didn't really know why she liked meeting with us, but she just felt good about it.  Well we continued to teach her more and more but she for some reason refused to pray.  That could only keep up for so long before she forgot the initial reason she was meeting with us in the first place.  I'm pretty sure Elder Hiatt will still keep meeting with her but she isn't as excited as she used to be.  Unless we pray to find out the truth, the light of Christ will only take us so far.  Remember the scripture, for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray but teacheth him that he should not pray?  It's true.  The reason he teaches men not to pray is because prayer is real and there is a real power that comes when we pray.  That was kind of disappointing but hopefully things work out.  Anyway, the rest of the week was kind of filled with member lessons and saying goodbye and stuff.  I spoke in church for the 3rd or 4th time and that went well.  I was really surprised to find out how attatched I had become to the area and to some of the members.  It was harder than I thought it would be to leave Tula, and Elder Hiatt for that matter.  Rob and Dad know exactly what I'm going through right now, I was a little surprised to read their letters about being transfered.  I had already realized that this was a chance to clean my slate, drop some bad habits, pick up some new good habits and continue to strengthen my good habits.  Elder Hiatt taught me a lot, but some of the things he taught me were things not to do.  I'm sure it will be the same with all my companions.  I am really excited to see what Elder Traasdahl has to teach me.  It will be really fun to serve with him.

 

I did get my debit card and that probably wasn't a mischarge.  We can only take off so much money at a time then it spits out our card and we do it again.  I probably took out a thousand rubles, got my card then took out a thousand more.  My winter coat is awesome, I will be sending some pictures so you can see it.  The lady in the picture is one of the first Bobushkas I met and definitely my favorite so far.  She is awesome.  Her name is Sister Zina-Ida (like ee-da) 

 

Anyway, that's about all the news I have.  I'm glad everyone is doing so well.  I bet you just can't wait for these babies right mom?  Although I bet you are happy to wait if that gives them more time to be healthy.  Well take care everyone, I love you and I will write you next week from Veronezh.

 

Love, Elder Geddes