SHORT BUT SWEET(?)

FAMILY!

Happy 12th!

We had a few lessons this week from investigators who've been taught before and they were awesome. The first was with a kid named Giorgi, (or George). I'm pretty sure I told you about him, but he's a cool 19 year old that LOVES serving in the army. Well I called him up last week and said “Privyet!” and immediately he responds “Wow...Barnes!” He was really happy to hear from us and had just recently gotten back from France where he served in their legion. We met up on monday and first thing he does is pull out his I.D. Card-- and it turns out his real name is Marek! I was like, you've had two names this whole time? And he goes, yeah, I'm in the army. That's not exactly how the conversation went but basically he had to live by a different name for a year and just couldn't say anything, but it's been so weird now talking to him because I always call him Giorgi at first. He still works a ton, every sunday, but believes in the book of mormon, and really wants to be baptized so that is awesome! He should get sundays off in september so we'll see from there.

I was reading in 2nd Nephi 25 during studies and read verse 5 about how Jewish people understand the things of the prophets more than everyone else. It made me feel not so guilty at first, because although I appreciate them more and more each time, the Isaiah chapters still seem like references to people and places that I've never heard of. But I also realized that Artiom, the 18 year old karate kid in Vilnius whose mother is Jewish understood all of 2nd Nephi so clearly. So the book of mormon prophecies are true, which is neat. Also he's getting baptized next week! I've talked to Elder Freeman a few times and he said he's doing incredibly, on his last karate trip he gave a friend a book of mormon and said that now she wants to be baptized too! That's what I'm talking about.

We actually have to run because there's the monthly council today with all of the zone leaders which starts soon. But know that I love you, pray for you, and am always smiling when I think of you!

Thanks for your support,

Love, Elder Barnes #12