Russia is still FREEZING

Hey everyone,


Well, I am officially in Russia. I say that because the thermometer has dropped all the way down to -27C. I'm not really sure what that is in F, but I do know this: 22C is a comfortable room temperature... -27 means that is 49 degrees colder than comfortable... THATS COLD!!! I honestly thought I knew what it was like to be out in the cold, but what I failed to remember is that when I was out in the "cold" I was usually just walking from the house to my nice warm car, then from the car to the nice warm school, or store or something. Now yesterday on the other hand, I was walking around for a good 40 minutes in -16, looking for an apartment. My face was just burning and my feet were FREEZING! I haven't gotten my winter shoes yet, which I will be doing shortly after writing this letter, and so needless to say, my feet were cold. We got to the meeting which was with a couple named the Minakov's. They are the nicest people in the world. She has been a member for a long time, he isn't a member because he can't stop smoking. Hopefully we can help him get through that. Anyway, she was downright upset that I was walking around in the shoes that I was. She brought them in and showed her husband, lectured me about how I need winter shoes and then left. She came back with a pair of old ratty "bob-socks" the socks that the old grammas wear. These socks look like they are made from the old grammas back hair or something! Sister Minakova actually put the socks on my feet for me, over my other socks. She then went and got her husbands brand new winter shoes and told me to wear them until I bought some new ones. I told her I would be buying some today so she made me promise to get some with fur in them. Then they fed us. As she was dishing up some delicious mashed potatoes, she told us she made fish soup but heard that it wasn't allowed for us to eat fish. I'm not sure if it is or not but we went along with it. Apparantly she only really thought it was not allowed to eat fish soup because she brought out a tray with big chunks of fish, skin, bones, and all, and dished us both up one. I ate it heartily! It wasn't as bad as it could have been but the thought of it wasn't too fun as I was chewing fish skin and bones. I survived though. Something interesting that happened this past week, we were walking around one night at around 8 o'clock and a couple guys stopped us and asked for help. There was a drunk guy passed out on the ground and they couldn't wake him up. They didn't know him so they couldn't call anyone or anything to come get him. They needed to find somewhere for him to be so he didn't freeze to death. That is a problem here, people get so drunk they pass out on the street and freeze to death in the night. Anyway, we called an ambulance which took over 40 minutes to get there! When it got there, one little girl got out! There was no crew or anything, just a small nurse. I was really interested to see how this situation would be handled so we stayed to watch. She broke out some smelling salts and tried to get the guy to wake up. They didn't work so she grabbed his ear and twisted it really hard, when that didn't work she started slapping him in the face! Ha, I guess their goal is to wake the guy up so they can just drive away. If the guy is able to stand up, they are out of there because they really don't have anywhere to take the guys. This guy wasn't waking up at all, he sorta tried to put up a hand to stop her from slapping him (remember, it's probably around -15C and the guy had already been out there for a while, the nurse was wearing a rubber glove... OUCH!) Finally, they loaded him in the ambulance and took him away. Crazy.


I think that is about all the good stuff that has happened to us this week. We are getting a lot of lessons with the members still so that is good. We still don't have any real progressing investigators but I'm hoping we can find some people. I really want to help the 23 families in our branch who are part member spouses. The hard part is that they have gotten used to living that way and don't really see a reason to change.


Don't worry mom, you aren't the only one who thinks it doesn't really feel like Christmas. For me, it is good and bad. I miss the feeling of Christmas, everyone happy and excited for the holidays. The good thing is that I haven't gotten homesick. I am trying to enjoy this Christmas in a way that I never have and maybe never will be able to again, aside from next Christmas that is. There is no commercialism here, people do celebrate Christmas but not like we do. I have been able to really reflect on what Christmas is. It's really nice to remember that this is the time of year we celebrate the birth or our Savior. A babe that was born to be a king. I have been able to think alot about why we would even celebrate someone's birth that occured over 2000 years ago. His birth was the beginning of a perfect life, filled with love and service. In his life on earth, he accomplished the most loving act of service imaginable when he voluntarily suffered for all of us so that we also could have the chance to be born to be kings and queens. I know Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. I know there is no other way to return home than through Jesus Christ. While we shouldn't focus on gifts on Christmas, there is one gift that we have been given that we can focus on. My prayer is that this Christmas and all throughout the next year, we remember the birth and life of the savior, the greatest gift of all.


I will probably take a suitcase with me to get the gifts home in, I think that's what other missionaries do. I hope the others got there or else I won't be getting them for quite a while. Thanks everyone for sending stuff and the money, I really appreciate it. I think I might buy myself my own big furry hat or something, we'll see. Thanks again.


I will plan on getting a call from you at 8:00 Russia time Christmas night, okay? I will check my email next week incase something changes but I don't know that we will take the time to write since we will be talking on the phone. Our number is 8-10-4732-53-50-17 I can't wait to talk to you, I hope you all have a good week. Write me an email if there is anything I need to do, that way I will have time to get a calling card or change my plans before friday. I love you guys.


Love, Elder Geddes