Busy Missionary

Hey everyone,

Sounds like things are going pretty good on your side of the world, things on this side are going okay as well. I am loving working with Elder Khasbiullin. He's a great elder and without a doubt will be one of the best in the mission. Hopefully when everyone sees how awesome he is they say, wow, he must have had a dang good trainer, ha. Just kiddin. He really is cool though. He wants to work hard and do a good job. I honestly don't have to do a whole lot as his trainer, it's pretty nice. As far as zone leader, it seems like everyone has at least one problem ever day. At 9:00 when we are planning, I get a call from every companionship in the zone pretty much and they all need me to answer some question or call the ap's to find something out or whatever so I never get to eat anymore at 9:30 like I usually did and I usually don't have a chance to even change out of my clothes until 10:30, but it has only been a week so maybe things will calm down this week. I actually really like being the one people turn to, it's pretty fun. I really like to talk to people so it's no big deal that they are always calling.

This week I have been showing Elder Khasbiullin around the city and we have been meeting with our investigators and less actives as usual. Last night we had a meeting with Dennis, that guy who we gave the loaf of bread to. We got to his apartment and he had a friend there with an open bottle of vodka on the table and an open pack of cigarrettes. Both men were drunk, the friend more so than Dennis. Dennis proceeded to tell us how we are just brainwashed little kids who someday need to grow up and figure things out. He is a mess and I'm afraid we can't help him. I especially don't want to keep going over there if he is going to be drinking. He won't allow us to get a word in anyways so I don't think we will continue to visit him. After the meeting, I told my companion that if I ever in life even think about leaving the church, all I will have to do is remember Dennis from Veronezh. His life is so sad, he is so miserable and has actually brainwashed himself into thinking that there is no God and that the church is just a system created by America in order to control the world. Dennis is the best example of being poisoned by degrees I have ever seen. Satan whispered in his ear and is carefully leading him away from God. His flaxen chords have become chains around the hands and feet, and most importantly, heart of this man. I am grateful for the chance I had to meet with Dennis as it has strengthened my testimony of so many different things. I know the church is the only path to happiness. Dennis knew that at one point in his life. Even though he is completely off the deep end right now, he still knows that the church is true and that it brings us happiness, he feels like he has gone to far from the church and can't get back so he has made up excuses and lies in order to justify himself. It's very interesting how God works. My testimony has been strengthened by a drunk man who tried to convince me that I am a worker in a business that we try to call a church.

Anyway, enough about that. After we met with him, we went over to Anatolie's house, the less active guy who Elder Cecil and I stole Cigarrettes from. We had such a nice meeting. Last time we were there, we left him with a list of verses to read from the book of mormon. He said he read through those verses probably ten times. We talked about repentance with him and by the end of the lesson, you could see a slight smile that he just couldn't seem to get rid of. His eyes were lighter and he had life in his voice. That is what the gospel is for. It gives us hope, even after we feel like we are hopeless. He eagerly asked us for another list of verses to study until our next meeting and promised to come to church this Sunday even though the meeting will be at 8 o'clock in the morning. It was a good ending to a strange day.

Okay, you can call me on Sunday. I think 8:30 a.m. would be the most convenient time for people right? Mom, I think I will try to give you a quick call when you wake up so we can figure out the best time. Once you read this email, talk to people to figure out if that time will work and how you will do it okay? Elder Tanner's parents called him today to make sure that works and it worked out, so hopefully it works for us as well. I will have a calling card just in case. I think that is all I have to say for this week, I'm really excited to talk to you all. Think of some good questions so we can use our time effectively okay? We are all going to go over to my apartment right now and make some borshe! I'm excited. I love you guys, thanks for everything. Talk to you soon!

Love, Elder Geddes