A great mission experience

Hey guys,

Well I'm in Almaty, along with the other three elders who are going to Astana. We are awaiting permission to preach the gospel in Astana. I already have permission to preach here in Almaty, so we are just here working until we are able to leave in order to not waste time. It's cool to work here with Elder Hasbiullin. It's a lot easier and more productive than it was the past couple of months. We are working hard and the time is flying! Just like I knew it would. We are all pretty antsy here in Almaty, waiting to go to our real area. Elder Hasbiullin and I are just working in the area I worked in with Kruglyak, the other two elders are on splits with some other elders here. We are working hard and doing pretty good. We didn't have a ton going for us when I was with Kruglyak as you remember but we are trying to build it up a little right now before we have to pass all of our investigators and contacts to other elders in Almaty. The elders are being reduced from 6 to 4 so our area is kind of being absorbed by other elders. We have been doing quite a bit of street contacting trying to get in shape for Astana. Yesterday we were on the streets for a few hours straight and it just flew by because we were talking with everyone. We got I think 5 or 6 contacts and had a good time. That's how it will be in Astana, talking with everyone, all day every day. Last night we went over to a members house and had a lesson, she said she had some friends in Astana. She called this guy right up while we were there and said to him that he would have a chance to help us build the church in Astana. It was obvious he was a little confused, he asked, "what, do they need an apartment to meet in or something?" She just said, no, don't worry, all you have to do is show up and listen, they will explain everything when you get there, just listen to them! She's awesome, there have been like 4 or 5 or even more people that have been baptized because of her. She'll be meeting with this guys mom today and has already told her all about us. I really hope that turns out to be a good contact. President Woolley said that our assignment is to build the church by finding families and prosperous people. It should be awesome. Today I think I will by some warm shoes. We have been watching the weather in Astana, the coldest I have seen it (during the day) was -32 and the warmest -18. Also it is supposed to be pretty windy there, so that only adds to it. The senior couple claims that a few nights ago it got down to -47, that's just crazy. If it is that cold, I don't even think you are supposed to go outside. I'm glad I brought my thermals! I wanted to just tough it out in these shoes, but my left foot has been wet and cold for the past couple weeks and it's no fun. Also, I think the leather is spoiled on that shoe due to the crack, so the leather gets really wet and then when it dries, it is completely white from the salt on the roads. I look pretty bad. I think I'll buy some nice warm shoes, then when the snow is gone, I'll get these shoes back out to finish the mission in. They look fine if I can get the salt off of the one.

Anyway, we got here to Almaty about 6:30 Friday morning. We got here to find out that the missionaries that were here while I was in Russia left us with around 4000 tenge, that's 800 rubles, for two weeks. We have a few more days to last and we have 1000 tenge, 200 rubles! that's like 6 dollars or so! We are going to buy a bunch of Raman noodles to last us a few days until we get our new money. What a joke. We're doing okay though, mooching off of everyone of course. We had to take our p-day today because the patriarch has been here this week giving blessings in the branch. We have taken turns as missionaries sitting in the branch while he gives blessings to help make sure the reverence is maintained and to help the people who are recieving their blessings fill out things, answer questions, anything they need. It has been such a neat experience. The patriarch is from Provo, he is assigned to our area, the Eastern European area, and he comes to different missions throughout the year. He has such a busy schedule when he is here, giving 7 blessings a day for about three weeks. I'm sure it is just spiritually draining. He takes it very seriously and is an awesome guy. The branch has had a spirit in it like never before for the past week. It has been a sweet experience to feel the spirit so strong when in the presence of one of God's chosen and very valuable servents. His name is Gary Browning and he was actually the first mission president in Russia back in the 90's. Cool huh?

That's cool that Marie was a page, I can't believe she is a senior either. I got a letter this week from a bunch of the youth in our ward back home. It was sent sometime around Christmas, but it was awesome to get it. Jack James is also graduating? That's crazy to me. He told me he is really excited to graduate and move to college. He's a cool kid. He said he can't wait to talk to me after I finish my mission, and to watch out for muggers because they are evil and greedy. There are a lot of people I can't wait to see from the ward, the James family will be some of them. How are they doing? Did they get divorced? Are they still living in that house? What's Joe doing?

A few days ago someone called us, a former investigator that I have never met. She wanted to meet with us and told us an address where to meet here. We set up the meeting and last night went to it. The address was a hotel and we were taken into a conference room where there were a few other people, a table with a tv and some kind of health products on the table. There was some kind of infomercial playing. I immediately understood what it was but it was too late, we were already there. We sat there for about 15 or 20 minutes and listened to the most unoriginal pyramid scheme ever. All you have to do is invite people and you can become a millionare. It was pretty funny, we participated, answered questions. The guy asked me some questions and said, if you were to continue doing what you are doing today, would you be able to become a millionare in 15 years? I said, absolutely not! Ha, it was funny. We finally just said, we have to get going, we have a different meeting. He stopped the whole presentation to try to talk us into staying. This lady must have been pretty desperate to invite a couple of young missionaries to her little pyramid scam thing. The guy's whole point was that the company had existed for 15 years and already 80 people in the company have become millionaires. He asked me what I was doing 15 years ago, I said, well, I was 5 years old, if that answers your question, ha. It was a good laugh, but a waste of time. I think we offended the investigator lady but oh well, I had called her a few times to try to meet and she never wanted to, so I guess that's that.

That's good that you got to speak in church. I have decided that I have learned what a talk should be, and that I will take every chance I get to stand up in front of people to teach the gospel. That's what a talk should be, teaching the principles of the gospel. That's what the Prophets and apostles do, and that's what we should do, I can't wait to give it a shot in English. My mission has helped me in so many ways. One thing I have been searching out my whole mission is what gifts of the spirit do I have. There have now been a few times where people have given me their opinions, without me asking, and I take it as answers to my prayers. Pasha in Kaluga, who I wanted to baptize, told me I have the gift of speaking with people, conversing with people. No wonder I always got in trouble in school for talking too much! Little did those teachers know, they were trying to hinder my spiritual gift! But last night when we were on that lesson with the member, she mentioned something that she noticed and felt. Elder Kruglyak and I had a lesson with her a while back. She invited a friend from a different church, and it ended up being a big argument between this friend and Elder Kruglyak. I was trying to keep my calm and still teach the restored gospel. The lady wasn't listening, but one time I said something and she said, Just look into his eyes, he has the calm peaceful eyes, something to that effect. Last night, I was surprised, but Svetlana, the member, remembered that comment and began to talk about it. She was talking about why some people don't accept the gospel because we don't always teach with love. She used the example of Elder Kruglyak and I last time we were there. She said Kruglyak was just trying to argue, to prove everything, and trying to teach without love. She said both her and her friend felt from me and saw in my eyes, peace and love. She said after we left that this lady told her that when I would tell her something she would feel peaceful and appreciated how calm I was and that I didn't argue. There have been a few times on my mission where people have commented to me that I have a calm about me that helps people feel comfortable. Obviously God doesn't give us gifts for us to brag about, but I feel like this is one of my gifts and I know that my mission has helped me develop this gift and find out about it. It's important to find out our gifts so that we can use them to our benefit and more importantly, to the benefit of the people we serve and associate with. God truly does answer our prayers, he listens to us and loves us. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door unto me, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20) Something to that effect, maybe not word for word, but close. I know that God could give us anything and everything we need, but sometimes he just waits for us to ask for it, to show faith that he can and will answer our prayers. Sometimes we are shy to ask, or we just think, if it is the will of God he will give it to me, if not, then not, but we see so many times in the scriptures, ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened. How often do we try that? All we have to do is open the door. I love the gospel and all the blessing that it brings. I hope everyone has a chance each day to open the scriptures and study the words of life, actually, I know everyone has the chance, but I hope we are all taking the chance. I love you guys and am so thankful for your support and love. I feel your prayers and hope that you feel mine. I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Geddes