I love pictures

 
Here are some pictures Jess sent this week. I love seeing him so I know he is doing alright. It looks really cold but beautiful there.

Hey everyone,

Well, not the most eventful week here in Russia. I fell again and my companion fell again today as well so that's always kind of funny. The week has been better because Elder Traasdahl is really happy right now. He found out he gets to go to Finland for his visa trip and will be there for 3 days. He gets to go because the only other person in his visa group is Elder Jouttenus, the Fin. Also, President knows he is struggling and I think he just thought this trip, plus the chance to go to the temple, will be a good boost to get him through the rest of his mission. We'll see what happens. I get to be with the other two elders in Veronezh from Saturday night until Thursday morning. It should be pretty fun. We got to go on splits this week and I was with Elder Waite, the greenie. He is a pretty good kid and has been here for a little over 3 weeks. It was so much fun to be the senior missionary for a day. We knocked on some doors and Elder Waite gave his door approach, when the guy at the door answered, then asked another question, Elder Waite just immediately looked over at me, with a look I've had many times and still have quite a bit like "I have no clue what that guy just said" I understood the guy, answered his question then asked him one. It was so cool to once again realize how much I am growing and learning here. After that, we successfully planned and taught 4 lessons the next day and gave away a Book of Mormon. It was such a great day that we didn't even have time for dinner. Those days are the best when you can lay down for bed at night and know you did everything you could that day and didn't waste any time. I loved it. I felt like I am ready to have a younger companion. We would be able to handle everything and between the two of us, we would still have enough greenie faith to move a mountain. There are two companionships right now of elders who were in my district at the MTC. I am so jealous of them! Oh well, maybe someday I'll get to do that too. As for now, I'm staying positive and having a lot of fun. Something weird that happened this week: We had a lesson with an investigator we recently started teaching. We found out she was only interested because she is part of one of those companies that sells things and when you bring a referal that ends up buying the product, they get 1500 rubles. Anyway, Elder Weight and I taught her and she asked if we would come to her company the next day so she could show us what they do. She was very careful not to say that she was selling anything so Elder Traasdahl and I went the next day. She took us to this room and the head lady for all of Veronezh came in and gave us the whole presentation. The product was this magnetic card thing that was in a plastic case. Some scientist had figured out that people are generally calmer and happier in places like the forest, or at the beach, so he somehow has taken the magnetic vibrations from places like that and has written them on this card. So not only does it make your mood a lot better if you just keep it on your person, it has a whole bunch of other features. You can place a glass of nasty water on it for about 5 minutes and the water tastes great and is healthy. You can even put your dinner plate on it for a few minutes and your food will be more healthy and delicious. If you are offered a glass of wine or beer that you don't want to drink, all you do is put it on the card and it will take the alcohol out and make it healthy as well. It can turn a glass of Vodka into nothing more than lemonade. I wonder if Jesus had something like that when he turned the water into wine, ha. Anyway, it was such a crok and it seems like the "investigator" just thought our church would be a goldmine for referals. So that was kind of funny. Last p-day we took some pictures that I'm sending you. Also, there are pictures of us at the balet, ice fishing, my big furry hat, and the Christmas tree on Red Square. Hope you like them.

My golden contact that I gave the Book of Mormon to asked me not to call him again. I'm not sure why people do that. I think they just forget why they said yes in the first place and they forget what they felt. I kept his name and will give him a call someday in the future. I really thought he would accept. Oh well, gotta keep trying.

It sounds like you guys are all doing pretty well and keeping busy, thanks for not forgetting to write me mom, that wouldn't be too fun. Are you guys getting pretty good at the wii? Well take care, and have fun. I love you guys!

Elder Geddes