Technically, Hudson, NY. The Hudson River runs right by his appartement. I sure had him in my thoughts and prayers aaalll day when he flew out. I wondered how his travels were going. It is comforting knowing he is always with a group!
Can you believe he and little Megan Thornock were in the MTC together for a day. She's headed to Washington and had just arrive at the MTC. They both thought it very neat they got to see each other! So sweet.
And now I check Instagram all day to see what Adren's mission Presidents have posted. It is such a treat to see anything Elder Geertsen!
Of course I have watched the video of him arriving at the airport to their welcome one hundred times.
Something extra special is that the Woods host these Elders for dinner every Monday night. Sister Wood is the Relief Society President in their tiny branch (they call it a twig.) She is a convert herself and holds a special place in her heart for the missionaries. They have investigators in their home and feed everyone. What I love most is that she takes a lot of pictures and gives me details of their visits. I tell her she is the angel my momma heart needs right now. I am so grateful to her for being a touchstone and loving these Elders!
Elder Geertsen and Elder Konold! Adren has been so lucky to have such a great companion right off the bat. They both play guitar and have so much in common. Elder Konold is from California.
I had to zoom in on this picture and get a better look at Adrens Book of Mormon. How great is that???
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| My goodness! |
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| Dinner at the Woods! |
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| I sure love our Monday phone calls. I have sooooo many questions. |
Adren has been trying to figure out how to get his hands on his own guitar. Elder Konold already had one, but apparently there is not a good guitar store nearby. I really don't want to ship one of his because of cost- and his are nice ones!
Leave it to Grandpa Geertsen to catch wind of this and he sent him a guitar so that he wouldn't be without one come transfers. Soooo sweeeeet!
Everything the Gentries post on Instagram I screen shot so that I can zoooooom in and find my Elder Geertsen :)
So far, Adren is loving every minute. His words, "I'm thriving, Mom". I told him before he left that his late nights and early mornings are going to make the beginning of his mission rough and he told me he has adjusted just fine. He says he is super comfortable walking up and talking to people and has learned to not take it personally if people aren't ready to hear his message. He likes us to ask him missionary-related questions on our call.
"Do any of you have questions about being a missionary?" This came during a call where Eli was updating him on new XBox games and Zeke kept playing with the filter and turning us all into cats. Good grief. It is much easier to keep it together now (I started crying once and have really tried to NOT do that again.) He always ends his calls giving us a family challenge or invites us to do something to help us grow closer to Christ.
What a guy!We barely recognize him! Ha!
