BUNNY BYNNY RABBITT!!!

Dear Family,

I can't believe I won this month. It was December 1st yesterday and nobody said anything. I feel like a million bucks!

Somehow, every week just gets better and better! I don't think I told you last week but we had Thanksgiving soup with our District provided by the Senior missionaries in Riga (there are 3 couples, plus the two office sisters) and that was great and tasty. That evening we had a really great lesson with Ilvars, who's progressing well. That evening we taught a man who is a gate guard for the mission home and was baptized about 2 years ago, he's very kind and faithful but has been pretty depressed with all of the economical problems in Latvia. He said that 70% of the pension has been cut. I think pension is an English word but it's basically like retirement plan or social security. So we read the 10 lepers story and had a lesson on gratitude. We also brought the candy corn you sent and listed off 5 things we're grateful for. At the end of the lesson he was beaming and was so much more at peace. I think one of the biggest things I've learned and realized is how much gratitude can affect our outlook on life, which often determines how happy we are, no matter what's going on.

We spent some time this last week preparing for a leadership meeting that we held yesterday, with all of the district and zone leaders from across the mission. There are 17 districts, and 6 companionships of zone leaders so it was a big group (about a third of the missionaries). We reviewed the goals and results of 2009 which is really interesting to me, and Christopher asked about them as well so I'll give you the update. Our big goals were 150 total baptisms, 12 families, 30 baptisms from member referrals and part member families, and 75% retention. As of November, we've had 111 Baptisms, 8 families, 38 baptisms from referrals and exactly 75% retention (which has been steady for the last 7 months!) Retention means that they come to at least one sacrament meeting in the last month. So we're doing really well in some areas, especially member work, but the total number of baptisms is down. Next year's goals are similar with 150 Total Baptisms, 12 families, except 50 baptisms from member referrals and 85% retention. I didn't even come up with the number of families, but I fully support it. It's neat to see the progress of the church here, and it really is incredible to see the growth that has happened after only 15-16 years. I'm excited to hear about the first stake in Latvia in 12 years from now. Oh that would be so cool. Still a ways to go.

Katya is making amazing progress. We taught her yesterday evening and she's in Alma 24, but again that was yesterday so she's probably somewhere 15 chapters beyond that now. No joke, she says that when she wakes up, the first thing she wants to do is read the Book of Mormon. That is awesome. A very prepared person, and she'll be a strong addition to the branch. Tatiana, her mother is also becoming more and more interested. She's always listened and participated in lessons, but she's not as quick to accept everything, especially commitments. Yesterday evening we taught them with a couple in the branch who moved here for good in the summer. They are from Omsk Russia and have been members of the church for 11 years, he was a district president, their son is a returned missionary and their daughter is serving right now (both kids served in Russia). They are easily the most solid members of the church I've met here, as well as just very fun and loving people. But last night the wife just took over the lesson (in a very good way) and spoke about their conversion and life in the church and shared their testimonies and favorite scriptures and experiences and it was awesome. Especially because the lesson I had prepared (my companions were teaching someone else in the same area), was not the one we used-- we focused much more on Tatiana than we usually do and it was worth it because she said she would read the Book of Mormon! Lessons are always more powerful when members are there, that's another thing I've learned over and over here. So you may have gotten the hint but if the missionaries ever ask you to teach, I'd highly recommend it. Or if YOU ask them if you can help teach, you'd be their absolute favorites. The experiences I had working with the missionaries beforehand were very helpful, and always fun! But it's often the fun that you don't realize how much fun it was until after it's over because at first it's somewhat scary. But I learned a good lesson two weeks ago before going into a lesson with a REALLY old family in the ward (the Kuchins-- who are in their 70s) as we gathered in the stairwell and the father offered a prayer that the Lord would guide our words through the spirit. And throughout the lesson, things that they said were definitely prompted by the Holy Ghost. It's so simple-- God really answers prayers. Ah I love it.

Well, we gotta run but I love you!

Love, Elder Barnes #12

P.S. We ate the thanksgiving dinner Sunday between Latvian and Russian sacrament
meetings. It was the quickest and most delicious thanksgiving meal I've ever had! Well your homemade rolls, and turkey and gravy and stuffing are Jello are much tastier but you gotta love a meal that's made in less than 20 minutes.
Especially as a missionary.