WORLD OF VILNIUS

Dear Family!

Congratulations Lysee!!! If I timed it right, by the time you get this letter you'll be done with high school. Wowzers life does not slow down. And thanks for the pictures, you are beautiful! I'll try to send a few pictures from Elder Freeman and my adventures from the last couple weeks. I've never had so much fun doing missionary work. We're teaching a ton and have a few investigators progressing to baptism. That's what I'm talking about.

Elder Freeman is famous for finding and teaching people from all over the world, I don't know how he does it but it's a skill I'm trying to learn. The last man they baptized in Riga was Sunnel, an Indian man living there for a few years to study and so ready and in love with the church. I was on a lesson in Riga with him when we asked him if he knew about fasting and he's like “yeah it's when you go for 24 hours without food. I do it every week!” Elder Freeman responded, that's awesome, keep that up.

This week we taught a man from France and one from India. We met Anthony on the bus back from Riga and he was so humble and open. I spoke french, but was struggling and his english was pretty much perfect. I know a good amount of words but they're all over the place in my brain, like a 52 card pick up with different decks. He was excited to read the Book of Mormon, but heading back to France in two days. The following day we were on a way to a lesson when we met “Lucky”, a 25 year old man from New Dehli. Just the nicest person alive. We taught him later that night. He said he prays every morning to meet good people, and he was so glad to meet us and very open to read the Book of Mormon. We got a Hindi Book of Mormon (crazy language, the numbers are different!) and we'll give it to him tonight.

The most exciting investigator is Alexander who we've been teaching for a few weeks. He has come to church and is getting along great with the members. He understands clearly and even mentioned that if Christ came to the earth today, a lot of people would give excuses why they were too busy to follow him. It sounded a lot better when he said it but you get the idea. He also calls us “our” missionaries and “our” church which is just awesome. He's preparing for baptism at the end of June so we'll hope things work out!

Welp we gotta run but thanks for everything. I was looking forward to findinf out where Nae got her call today but was shocked to hear Megan is getting married!!! Wowwy wow wow, she seems so happy and so I'm happy for her! I'm safe, feeling healthy and so very happy. I love you!

Love, Elder Barnes #12

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

A RIGA-ISH TRANSFER

Dear family!

Elder Brimley left for RIGA this morning, and Elder Freeman is coming down from RIGA right now to be my companion here in Vilnius! Whew I’m so excited. Elder Freeman was one of the first missionaries I met at Zone conference my first transfer and he’s been a hero ever since. Now we’re companions! I’m a wucky guy.


It was tough to see Elder Brimley go and he was sad to leave Vilnius, especially because of the great members in the branch and their involvement in the work. For
some reason memories and thoughts from Riga had been on my mind last week and now I know why! Sorry if the tricky subject tricked you. Well sort of…

Elder Freeman went to Springville high school, has spent his whole mission in Latvia, including the last 6 months as an assistant. He knew were Eugene was before I met him which only told me one thing—he’s a long distance runner. He ran track and cross country at SUU and so he’s a hard worker, with a quick sense of humor.
He’s basically everyone’s favorite and I’m really looking forward to serving with him. And we’re brothers-- he was also trained by Elder Glauser—which is the case with the majority of Russian elders in this mission it seems. There actually is a shortage of Russian speakers and so one missionary who’s been in Lithuania for less than 6 months got transferred to Narva, Estonia (a 95% Russian city) to be a Russian elder! Ha, can you imagine that, wondering if you will be staying in your city in the morning, and than being on a bus to a different country, about to learn a different language three hours later? Yeah it’s crazy—but I was happy for him, Russian is the way to go. His companion will be Elder Hillman, who I served with in Riga and he’ll do great.

Wow I realized this whole e-mail has been about transfers which probably are not as exciting to you as I might think—we’ve been making phone calls to make sure people get off okay all night and morning so that’s maybe why it’s on my mind… I’ve also just realized that transfers here are somewhat of a logistical nightmare because you’ve got four different languages and a limited number of elders and sisters who speak each language. I’ve met about 2/3 of the 100 missionaries in the mission which is more than a Lithuanian Elder who will never see the other 2/3 plus. Interesting hunh? I love this mission because it’s the best for me and where I’m supposed to be. But what makes it good is preaching the gospel so I should probably tell you more about that—

Richard came again to church last week, with a tie just looking so fly. I’ve never taught an investigator that just understands like he does and he really commits when he does something. For that reason he’s had doubts about whether he’ll be able to stay solid after baptism and basically change his life for good. I think he’s really felt and received a witness but is maybe scared to act. If only he understood that receiving the gospel would bring more joy than anything else! But I’ve got faith that things will work in the Lord’s way in his time. I just am trying to build up the patience to wait for that! Patience is the hardest attribute for me to develop, it just doesn’t come quick enough!

Igor is falling off the deep end as pressure from his family and “friends” planted some serious doubts and caused him to revert to some old ways. He made incredible progress in record time, but now it’s falling fast. Ah it’s a heartbreaker. But getting discouraged does no good so you just gotta keep on keeping on! And everything will work out.

We’ve got a few other new people with some great potential so we’ve just got to get them to come to church this week so they can see what we’re all about! It’s a
blessing to serve, especially with Elder Freeman. He’s just good. I’ll send some
pictures and you’ll see.

I love your happy attitudes and support! Life can always get better because our problems and trials have already been overcome. I know that’s true, and I love you!

Love, Elder Barnes #12

MORE PICS...

Random Picture Explanation

Last email's was us with Igor at his mothers grave, we went there to help take away a fence that's old and rusty. And he wanted a picture...

This was post-morning work out pose. Beanies knitted by Elder Eddington, all time favorite. (He does them while making nightly phones calls! That's almost even more impressive than while driving...Mom)

And I spotted the Enchanted Forester in Vilnius last Wednesday! Maybe he's resurrected. Just kidding, but seriously I hope he's okay! And that Lysee and her friends are safe, too.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE

Dear Family!

Yesterday we had one of the worst moments I've seen followed by the best. Interesting how it works that way. We received a call from Igor Smirnov (with a
baptismal date for May 30th) in the morning and he was just acting off and bringing up doubts and concerns from out of nowhere. We brought brother Artus Fales, the oldest member in Lithuania (he's 40, but member for 16 years) to the lesson in the evening. At first Igor had all of the reading materials we'd given him and was trying to give them back. My heart dropped. The member, who's seen so many people go and come, lovingly told Igor to keep the materials and that maybe they'll be useful when his mind changes. It was pretty intense and I can't remember exactly what was said but it was clear that Brother Fales was led by the spirit in what to say and do. After about 5 minutes, Igor had calmed down and told us the list of things that had happened including friends at work, family members and non-active members giving him garbage and even threatening to never speak with him again, he was being accused for debts for previous renters, was worried about paying tithing and had some pretty crazy nightmares. Yeah, well at the end of the lesson Igor was back to himself, prayed, read scriptures, bore his testimony and had a huge smile. Satan tries, but in the end he's a big-time loser. We'll see what happens but one thing is for sure--
without God this work would just not be possible.

So that's it for intense miracles of the week-- other miracles include finding and teaching a cool 16 year old kid who's a basketballer, than going to his family's
a few days later and teaching his parents who would have not let us in if we were not already friends of their son. We also met a 22 year old Ukranian on the streets who's "looking for the right path," who's now reading and enjoying the Book of Mormon. We try to schedule in a chunk of time for talking with people on the streets every day and it's incredible looking back and seeing how we were led to meet and teach those whom we do. I'm beginning to better recognize the promptings of the spirit and how daily revelation is a reality. But just like we tell investigators over and over, unless we DO something to test our faith--miracles just can't happen!

Last Sunday we had District Conference when all of the members in Lithuania gathered
in Kaunus. It was great to see the strength of the members and missionaries I love. The best part were the talks given by President and Sister Dance, President Genadius Menataes (Grandma and Grandpa Barnes's hometeachee/district president) and Elder and Sister Senkans,(a Latvian member of the 3rd Quorom of the 70). All are very powerful and clear teachers who really have a love for these people. Another interesting aspect, that I think Dad will enjoy-- is the logistics of the languages. Each speaker, (or couple) spoke in a different language: english, lihuanian, and russian. That means for every talk, at least one person was translating, sometimes two. For the English and Russian talks some native members translated into Lithuanian from the pulpit and then for the Lithuanian and Russian talks a Lithuanian member and I took turns translating into English through a headphone system for all of the Missionaries (older couples who only speak english, most missionaries who'd dont speak russian, and a few who don't speak Lithuanian) and the Senkans family (with 4 kids) who don't understand Lithuanian. Ha! It really felt like an organized and righteous conference at the tower of Babel. It also made me appreciate the logistical nightmares of General Conference! But the church is so true and even when I couldn't understand the Lithuanian talks, I still knew they must've been true. I love the Baltics.

Well I hope you have a good week! I can't believe this past year has felt like one quick and long week. I'm thrilled and grateful to be engaged in the Lord's work. This is where I want and am supposed to be, God knows best! Like Dad said, I'm a lucky guy. I'm also looking forward to hearing about the mission calls of KC and Jenae -- whew this is the life.

I love you all so much. I know your prayers make a difference, because God hears
and answers them! Thank you.

Love, Elder Barnes #12

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

FAMILY!
Wow it was wonderful to talk with all of you! You all sound so smiley and lovely. It was a special treat to hear from Grandma and Grandpa Sager, and I’m so proud of the work they are doing in Nashville. While talking I realized how much I love all of you. It’s blatantly obvious how much the gospel has blessed our family. In his e-mail, Christopher talked about how God is good. I totally agree.

Well Sunday evening was raining miracles in Vilnius (maybe that was the Eugene influence that started the day!) We ended church with 6 lessons to teach in order to make the area standard of 15 lessons a week. We had worked hard earlier, but spending 2 ½ days in Riga cut down on proselyting time. We were able to teach a less-active member right after church and then a member invited us over for lunch and to give her grandchildren blessings. Big time bonus because we were able to teach, get a spiritual boost and not have to go home to cook. But we still had 5 new lessons to teach and everything previously set up had fallen through. I knew that could that can only mean one thing; God had a better plan. At least I hoped so!

So we went to teach another man, but he wasn’t home and so we knocked his dome with not much happening. It was a little before 5:00 and still light out so we decided to go outside and talk with people on the streets. The second guy with his “harmful Chinese dog” was interested. We walked with him to his home and taught him and his wife. We were going to leave and go back out to the streets but Elder Brimley suggested that maybe we were led here. We said a prayer, felt good, knocked on a door and taught 3 cool university students. This process repeated twice more, just substituting a cool 24 year old Russian guy and an 80 year old Polish man. It doesn’t even stop there. So we had one more new lesson to teach and 30 min to go, walked outside and taught an 18 year old kid sitting alone on a bench. We walked home in the clouds, humbly reminded how much this work is led by the Spirit. These ridiculously miraculous days don’t happen every day, but I guess it’s possible. Haha, maybe if we called home every morning… Just kidding. But seriously.

We taught Igor yesterday evening with Brother Gennadi Ustanovich and it went great. Brother Ustanovich is the best member missionary I’ve ever seen—he walks up to people20he doesn’t know and talks to them about the book of Mormon—he’s my hero. He actually drove us over to his non-member daughter’s apartment right afterwards and we set up a lesson for tonight. He just has the biggest desire and has seen the incredible blessings and changes that living the gospel brings. That’s basically all you need to be a missionary. Plus some heavenly help. Well I’m happy to be a Barnes. I’m grateful to be a member of this the Lord’s church, and to take part in His work which is ever-growing. We are blessed. Life is good! I love you! Thanks for your e-mails, prayers, smiles and examples.

Love, Elder Barnes #12

HAPPY DAY AFTER CINCO DE MIYO

FAMILY!!

The weather was been cooler this week but the work is on fire! That's corny but true.

We're in Riga again for the day so this will have to be the spark notes version-- but it's alright cause we'll get to talk voice to voice on Sunday Woo-hoo!!

Both Richard and Igor came to church last Sunday-- they are so awesome. I've been especially impressed with Igor who's been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy-- after two weeks he's somewhere in the beginning of Mosiah and understands well. We had a lesson with a member (of 7 or 8 years) and Igor mentioned that Moroni was Mormon's son and the member was like “really, I didn't even know that.” Haha, but the result of his reading really shows in the way he's changing. He was a heavy smoker a week ago and has cut way down and just has so much more light in his face, and even walks more energetically. Alright so I didn't see him walk a ton before but the point is he's becoming a new man. We brought him some copies of hymns last night because he was embarrassed that everyone else knew the words and he didn't. And he volunteered to sing the melody just to make sure he got it down (he plays the guitar). He did made up his own tune, but I kinda like it. It's so fun to see the gospel of Jesus Christ at work.

We've also had two new lessons this week with members, a rarity because the investigators are people we found contacting but members just happened to be in the right place at the time. It's fun to teach with members because the blessings of the gospel are so fresh for them.

Zone conference was focused on teaching and I really enjoyed it! I'm constantly reminded of what a balancing act it is to teach. I'm impressed that Mom and Dad taught/teach seminary and institute because you're teaching a wide range of topics from all over in the scriptures to a wide range of students, some of whom are maybe less than super interested. We've got it easy because we teach the same things over and over to individuals and or families. But it's neat to see how every lesson is different because when you listen the spirit really gives you the words to speak.

I also enjoyed all the letters and scrumptious package! The chocolates just disappeared and the peanut butter is going quick. And the memory cards, socks and pen are the best! You spoil me in love. And I love it. It was also great to hear from Bro. MacArthur, Gary, Gus, Geoff Derven, Laura Barret, some BYU buddies, Lori Walker, so if you bump into them tell them thanks and I'll try to get back soon! Which means the next few months... It's also been very fun to catch up on all the missionary updates from the 3rd ward army-- we're all over the place! My favorite is getting hearing about William who's about to get baptized as far as I know, but then by e-mail I hear that Jenny is already home! But I guess it's kinda like someone reading the book of Mormon for the first time and cheering Ammon and his brethren along only to realize that they are already preaching the gospel to people on the side. Speaking of families it's cool to hear the Sister Richeys are serving simultaneously and it sounds like Jeff and Alex are also serving with all their hearts. I still think that Jenny should write a weekly e-mail though because reading her e-mails is like taking a weekly happy pill. Ah again the gospel is just true, there's no doubt about it. Welp talk to you soon.

I love you!!!Love, Elder Barnes #12

Happy Early Mother's day-- if you call on Sat eve at 9:30 your time (which is 7:30 Sunday morning our time) that'll be perfect! “I'm waiting without patience” That's the Russian translation of I'm excited. I love Russian. And write down any questions because I'll just talk about random things otherwise! Which would be fun too. I'm also glad that Christopher and Bethany are swinefluless. And Married!