Transfers

Halloween was especially fun this year because we had all the grandkids there but a little sad because Jess was not. He always loved halloween and all the festivities associated with it. I am posting some pictures of our celebration to show how much fun we had and for Jess to see when his mission is over and I publish this post for him.

Hey everyone,

It seems like a few people forgot to write, namely Liz and Emily. Thats not good since I wonder all week whether or not I have some new nieces or not. I hope everything is okay, but don't forget to write me next week and fill me in on what's going on. Anyway, I'll take care of the business first. I bought a palto, I don't think that is a Russian word but it's just a really nice overcoat. It's got nice thick wool with a fur liner inside. It cost 4900 rubles but it's really nice and actually it's the cheapest one I found. I already have my had, I wear a kepka, one of those old man hats from the newsies. I think I pull it off quite nicely. If I find a computer I can send pictures from, I'll show you. I have gloves and maybe a scarf to buy is all. I have been using Elder Hiatt's extra scarf lately but I am going to probably buy one soon. My debit card wasn't there when I was in Moscow, hopefully I get it this weekend when the senior couple comes to Tula. If not, I will be in Moscow again next Thursday on my way to my new area in Veronezh! I am being transfered and I'm assuming Thursday will be the day I move so if I don't send a letter on Thursday, I probably will Friday so don't worry. My new companion will be Elder Trasdaahl. I don't know too much about him but Elder Hiatt says he is a hard worker so I'm not too worried. Neither one of us have served in Veronezh before so we will both be new to the area. I am a little nervous to get a new companion and a new area but I am excited for all the opportunities this will bring. Veronezh has one of the strongest branches in the mission. They actually have two right now but it is in the process of being combined into one big one. They have aaronic priesthood, young women, and even a choir! It will almost be like being in a real ward. We will have 3 hours of church every week instead of 2 and I most likely won't have any callings in the branch. I will just be a real regular missionary. I'm really excited.

So, it seems like everyone had a lot of fun this past week! I was glad to hear all the funny stories and see all the pictures. Everyone looked great in their costumes. Halloween for us wasn't too interesting. I did draw a picture of a ghost, a pumpkin, and a witch on the board for English club that night, but nobody really cared. I bet you just loved having everyone over for a while right mom? That would have been a lot of fun.

This week has gone by really fast, as usual. On Monday, we got to go to Kaluga to do splits with Elder Vernon and Player. I love working with Elder Player. We are already such good friends from the mtc, and we both still have our greenie fires burning. Both of us have old companions who can be less than enthusiastic from time to time. Elder Player actually really wanted to be transfered but he didn't get it. Anyway, it was really fun and we did a good job of talking with everyone. They couldn't find any lessons for us so we street contacted and knocked doors for about 6 hours. It was tiring but so much fun. It's awesome to be able to talk to people and actually have them understand us and have a conversation with us. We talked with one lady for probably over 20 minutes. We are progressing and learning every day. After we got back from Kaluga, we for some reason had a lot of our lessons cancel on us for the rest of the week. It wasn't too good, but there are still a few days left this week that we can get some good lessons in. Tanya, our baptismal candidate was one of the ones who canceled a few meetings. She once again didn't make it to church on Sunday. I honestly don't really know how I feel about her. Sometimes I get a sinking suspiscion she just likes meeting with two American guys. She tells us she hasn't smoked since last week when we tore up her cigarettes but I'm still just not sure how well she is progressing. I have one more week here to get a few more lessons with her and hopefully help her receive a testimony. Something strange, one night the phone started ringing at 3 in the morning. I jumped up to go grab it but they had hung up before I got there. I layed in bed for a few minutes worried that someone needed our help and we missed their call and then the phone rang again. I jumped up and ran to get it. I said hello and it was Tanya! She asked me what we were doing and I said uh... we were sleeping, why are you calling. I think she had the wrong number though because once she realized who it was, she said a bunch of stuff that I couldn't understand on a good day, let alone at 3 in the morning then hung up. It was really strange. Anyway, we'll keep working with her this week, and Elder Hiatt and his new companion will continue working with her and hopefully help her get to the water.

I have kind of a funny story from English club last night. There is this one Vietnamese guy named Thien who comes. He is a student here in Tula. Last night, he said (insert broken English with a vietnamese accent) "Elder Geddes, I read a book about how to make women laugh" I said, "Oh yeah? How was it?" He said, "Well, I took action, but the first women I met, I make them cry" I said, "How did that happen?" He said, "Well, my joke were so long and boring, they began to cry." I was laughing pretty hard, almost crying myself. Thien is a great guy, I'll miss him. I got my picture taken with some of the members of my club. Hopefully the rest come this Saturday so I can see them again.

I think that is all the exciting news from this week. Next week I will probably be writing you from Veronezh. Oh ya, if I don't even get my debit card next Thursday when I am in Moscow, I will be in Moscow again the next week because it's about time for my first visa trip to Kiev. What a crazy mission I am in! A lot goes on around here. Tell everyone hello for me, especially if you all get together for Thanksgiving. Let me know what happens with that. Also, Mom, you forgot to let me know if the emails I'm sending you to forward to other people are working. I really need to know. If they aren't working, have Rob or someone figure out why so I can communicate with other people as well as with you. I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for everything! I love you.

Elder Geddes