THE BEST

Wow what a week! Your emails were just filled with news and love and mission calls!!! I am so pumped for KC and Dean, they'll do great! I think Cambodian has the same alphabet as Russian. Which makes it a worthy-to-learn language. Wherever you go a mission will be the best for you. That's a nail-biter about Jae Nae's call but it'll make finding out so much sweeter! I really don't think I could've waited another week but by the time you get this you all have already waited so the hard part will be done and the fun's about to begin!

This week has been all work and a whole lot of fun. I love Elder Freeman. He's like the spiritual energizer bunny that loves missionary work and has a good sense of humor so he even laughs at my jokes. He has the Riga fever so we've spent the last week just camping out in center talking to everyone and we've seen a lot of success! Also when you're in public places you come into contact with people from all over-- from a professor from Spokane University, to a brother from Nigeria. We also taught a man from Malta (yup that's a country-400,000 people) who spoke english really well and another from Turkey, who speaks a little tiny bit of Russian. We're actually in Riga again today for a council so my time is running low, so if this letter comes to a quick end, know that I'm happy and loving life. When we come up here to Riga we do internet in a place where all the riga missionaries come so i've been catching up with old companions from the field and MTC, they all are doing very well-- you can't
help but be happy when serving the Lord.

The exciting news with our progressing investigators is a new man named Alexander who was found by lithuanian missionaries, really feels at peace when he comes into the church, and is flying through the Book of Mormon. We've had a few great lessons with members which are always exciting because they want so bad for these people to come into the church so they tell them about everything whether or not we've reached that point in our teaching: tithing, temptations before going to the temple, interviews for serious sins... But Alexander is really ready and he has a big desire to live righteously. Richard and Igor didn't make it to church last week, but we'll probably teach them both later this week so I hope everything
will work out.

We were in Siaulai yesterday and had a packed day of teaching. There's no better feeling than coming home after seeing and feeling the joy that comes from learning the gospel. The best is that as you teach, you can learn so much. We taught a russian family there who've been having a hard time and we read the sacrament prayers with them. The power of the promise to come to church and have the holy ghost always is such a big help, when the “wordly spirit” is trying to dominate with all of the economic problems. Bishop Steve used to always say, "we're on the winning team", which is so true. We already know who's going to win, we just got to jump on the band wagon. And push along.

Welp I've got to run but I love you! Thanks for your prayers, emails, and everything else. Congratulations to Elyse for graduating! If you see anyone at home that I know tell them "Hey, how are you? Good to hear, He's doing great, just never been happier." Just kidding you can use your own words but seriously, I love being a missionary.

Love, Elder Barnes #12