Happy New Year everyone!

This week we celebrated on new years eve with my Andong branch.  But because we have to be home by 9 we had to cut it short.  We went to a restaurant and had some pork, it was super good.  And after we turned the restaurant into a (church appropriate) 노래 방 or Karaoke room! The branch members got so into it, it was hilarious.  They made me, Sister Lee, and Kelly (the English teacher in our branch from america) sing You Raised Me Up.  I'll try to get the video cuz I heard it was funny, and then they wanted an encore so me and Sister Lee did Footloose and taught them the dance.  It was super fun! Then the next morning we got up to watch the sunrise with the members.

I went on another super long exchange this week.  It started Thursday afternoon and went until Saturday around 5 o'clock, so more than two days.  The missionary I was with had only been out one transfer more than be so we didn't have great Korean skills, and it was my first time being the man in charge in Andong, so it was scary.  I don't know the city too well because we kind of stay in the same area.  So we chose a random bus stop on our map and set out to proselyte all day.  My temporary companion is still a bit quiet so I had to do a lot of the talking.  It was super fun! There were a bunch of people out and I was able to have an actual conversation with some of the people I talked to and get some pretty good contacts that I feel hopeful about.  

Right now I'm really trying hard to talk to everyone.  I made it a goal to find 2 new investigators by my birthday on the 22.  So far we found one.  He was a referral that lives in Yeongyang.  The city we said we would never go to again.  He's from South Africa and his name is Lion.  We met with him this Wednesday and just got to know him, and learned about his background and stuff.  This week we're meeting with him and the lady that referred him to us and we'll teach him the first lesson. I'm super excited! 

Things are starting to go well! I'm getting less afraid to talk to people, and picking up a little bit of the language.  Have a good week Love you all! 

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Elder Geddes