Cold and ice in Russia

Hi everyone,

Well, another week flew by, I have now been in Russia for over 5 months, crazy. I haven't gotten the honeycandy yet but I will get it this weekend when the President and A.P.'s come down for zone conference. I'm excited to eat it, I hope it still tastes good. I did get the email from Elder Hiatt, he actually sent it straight to my email as well so I got it last week. He was a great companion. That is so scary and sad about Bob Ward, that's too bad. I wonder how his family is doing. Is there anything at all where caribou mountain pizza was? That's wierd that the doctor called from that long ago. Somehow, the last couple weeks have been completely normal. Maybe I'm finally over whatever was bugging me for almost a year, I don't want to jinx myself though. I sure am greatful for a healthy body. Yesterday I was with the greenie and he has been having some digestive issues the past few days. It was awesome to be on the other end of that situation, he nervously asked me as we were walking to the bus stop on the way to an appointment, "Elder, you don't happen to know of any bathrooms between here and Nadyezhda's house, do you?" Haha, and I had to tell him the same exact thing my companions have always told me, "Elder, there are none" Ha, he made it though so there were no big problems but I was sure glad to be able to be healthy and normal for once.

It was pretty fun to be with the other elders for a few days, but nobody likes being in a threesome so it wasn't all that great. There never seems to be enough food, the sleeping conditions are never that good and you always seem to be late to studies in the morning. I got to sleep on a mattress that seemed to be a few springs simply wrapped in fabric. The good thing was they had an extra pillow so I got to sleep with a pillow. The bad news was, they gave me a sheet... only a sheet. I slept on a bare mattress with a sheet for a blanket for 4 nights! It wasn't all that bad, I got a little cold a couple times but all in all I slept okay. I think I could probably sleep anywhere most nights. I'm excited to sleep in my own bed tonight though. My fall count is up to 6 already, unbelievable. Some wierd stuff happened this morning which resulted in me taking two buses alone across town. The first one was on the way to the train station to pick up Elder Traasdahl. The other two elders went to the front door of a really crowed bus and I saw a chance to shove myself into the back door so I got in. I guess the other elders didn't make it, I noticed about halfway through the ride that they weren't there but it was too late by then so I just went to the train station, met Elder Traasdahl and waited for the other elders. On the way back, the same thing happened, only this time it was Elder Traasdahl that fit into the bus and I didn't. It's not cool when stuff like that happens but I'm glad I know enough Russian that I'm not scared. I can ask how to get to any stop I need to and we already had our plan in case we ever get separated so I wasn't nervous or anything. I'm actually pretty glad to have Elder Traasdahl back. He seems pretty happy and was able to go to the temple in Finland so hopefully he has a boost to get him through the rest of his mission, or at least until we get transfered which could be in two weeks or it could be in another transfer. We will probably find out transfers next week. I think I could handle anything, whether it be another transfer with Traasdahl or if I or he gets transfered, everything will be fine.

We have been working with a 21 year old kid named Kostya. He comes to sports night every week and we have had two meetings with him. He actually understands and accepts the things we tell him really well. I just don't know that he is reading the Book of Mormon very well. I have high hopes for him and I know that if he will read the Book of Mormon and pray about it that he will get baptised. Well, not exactly the most eventful week I guess, just some good ol' fashion missionary work. We taught some pretty good lessons and had some fun this week. Oh ya, I keep forgetting, everyone needs to take out their conference edition of the Liahona and look at the picture of Jorge F. Zaballos. When I saw that picture, I thought Dad must have spoke in conference and I just missed it somehow. He looks exactly like Dad, ha. Anyway, I love you guys, thanks for everything. I'll talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Geddes