Hello! Happy Easter! from Elder Peter Barnes

Whew! It's been a great week. And to top it off, I opened my e-mail box today to find 12 un-read e-mails! Sorry for the super short e-mail last week and I don't have too much more time today but I'll try to fill you in. First, please pass very big thank yous to Grandma and Grandpa Barnes and Sager for the birthday gifts, Tyler, and the Hubler Family for the E-mails, and to Sister Jenae Brett and the Brett family for the packages-- I got them last week and they were awesome! I've already worn my new favorite "Ammon" tie and Spokane shirt (not at the same time), and all of my companions are very jealous. The birthday cake has yet to arrive, but I've got faith that it'll come soon. And I'm so excited! Also, I forgot to thank the 1st/3rd ward primaries for the valentines letters, and cookie mix. Super delicious. I say it a lot but probably not enough, thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, e-mails. I really do feel the love and it makes serving far away seem not so bad at all! I really love serving a mission and I'm a lucky guy to have the world's greatest family and friends. Thank you!

I'm jealous that you were able to watch all of conference! In Latvia and Lithuania, we watched it the following week-end, but in Estonia (the more high tech of the countries) they watch it live and do a direct translation into Estonian! So we were able to watch the Saturday morning session at 7:00 PM saturday evening and the Priesthood session on Sunday. We didn't watch all of them because we were just supposed to watch them in our mission languages with investigators and then next week we'll get to watch recorded English sessions. It was fun to watch it in Russian, and I can understand pretty much everything they say, it's just not quite the same as watching it in English. Especially when President Monson started to "ad-lib" and the translator got lost... But it was a nice teaser to see a little bit and I'm really really excited to be able to watch them all. Conference week-end is one of my favorite times of the year and it just reminds me more and more how true the church is, no matter where you are. We actually had four investigators come on Saturday evening, which was awesome! Two were young guys from our English class, who are pretty interested in the church and really enjoyed it although they said their bottoms hurt for sitting down for so long. Ha, and the other two are a miraculous couple we just started teaching-- their names are Robert and Fiona and they are from China! So I guess their real names are Kong Shw Wu and Wang Pintint (no joke) but they chose English names because they are (a lot) easier to say. They are both 23, will be here for 3 years for studies, met each other here, and they already look and act like members of the church! When they watched the restoration video, in Mandarin, they were so so excited. Fiona pointed at the picture of Christ being baptized by John the Baptist and asked if they could do that too!! Ha I'm not sure how much they understood at conference, but they said they still liked it and that the music was really peaceful. I told them all about Christopher speaking Mandarin and serving in Paris and living in Nan-Jing and they were really interested in that too. I thought about trying to arrange a lesson with him over skype, but then realized that that's probably not allowed and I probably like the idea so much because then i would be able to see Christopher over skype... But there's an awesome member here from China so we'll hopefully teach them together this week. I love sharing the gospel with humble people from all over the world-- it's the best!

I had a very solid birthday. A member who we've been working with for the last few weeks invited us over for lunch and it was really good. (That's probably the 3rd or 4th dinner appointment of my mission. haha!) I didn't tell many other people about it, because it's kind of odd to walk up to someone and say, hey did you know today is my birthday? Especially on April 1st because no one believes you anyway... But my companions treated me very well and we made a birthday pizza and mayonnaise cake(surprisingly really good-- although no comparison to pink elephants.) The assistants told me that last week at church Igor was walking around and telling anyone that would listen that "April 1st is Elder Barnes's Birhtday." And then he'd say-- "oh and it's mine too!" And Karl texted me from Finland too, which was really nice-- i felt the love from all around the world, so thank you! Speaking of Karl, I called him last night just to see how he's doing and he was really happy. He lives 25 KM outside of Porvo (not sure if there are missionaries there...) and he's working 10 hours a day building a yacht and doesn't know how long he'll be there. He misses us and was bummed to miss Conference and his potential baptism, but he started over in the Book of Mormon and is loving it. I asked him where he's reading and he said where Nephi is building the ship. And I said, Karl you're Nephi! And he thought it was a good joke. He's such a good guy and I really believe he'll find his way into the church sooner or later. Welp I gotta run but again, thank you, I love you, keep praying for me and I will for you!

love, Elder Barnes #12

Just hanging out with The Brethren, HAPPY EASTER!!!, from Sister Brett

Hello beautiful family and Happy almost Easter and New PDAY! We have preparation day on Friday now, so that's when my emails will be headed your way.

My first two days in the office have been the longest yet most wonderful days of my mission thus far! We welcomed the new sisters from the MTC at 7am on Wednesday morning, and literally haven't breathed since. Working on schedules for 200 sister missionaries while also trying to take care of the crowds here for conference has been a challenge, but wonderful. I have a perpetual migrane from overworking my little brain, but we can't slow up because this is a HUGE weekend and such an incredible chance to do the Lord's work. I cannot believe conference starts tomorrow!!!! YESSSSSSSS.

Speaking of conference....oh man, I don't even know where to start...

Well, yesterday (April 1st) I woke up and it was already a GREAT day because it was my best friend's birthday (Elder Barnes)...then, we had the incredible privelege of going with the Assistants and one other companionship to help serve lunch to the 1st Presidency, the 12 apostles and Quorum of the 70 between their general conference training meetings at the Church Office Building. Yes, you read that right, yesterday I personally met President Monson, his counselors and many other men called to lead the Church and work of our Savior Jesus Christ! I can't even begin to explain what an incredible experience that was.

The first general authority I met was President Eyring while I was putting punch out. Definitely not a situation I ever expected! He walked right up to me, shook my hand, asked where I was from and thanked us for all our service. I just smiled like a child who had just recieved the best Christmas present ever and said, "...Hi President Eyring...oh, you are welcome....our pleasure!" as if that were a normal sentence to come from my mouth. Pah!

Then, we served and mingled with them for an hour or so as they ate. It was such a neat sight to see because the Presidency and 12 apostles were spread out at the tables among the 70 and some other auxilary leaders, and they just seemed like they were all so happy and content to be together preparing for general conference. As we walked around and helped, they'd talk to us and joke with us---Elder Perry and Elder Holland were especially firecrackers yesterday to us 6 sisters, haha. Then as they began to filter back to their meetings I ran into the 70 from, or over, Riga, Latvia and said "hello" and "thank you" to him in Russian....the only 2 Russian words I know. He seemed pleasantly surprised and responded with a "No, no, no, thank you!" I was tempted to ask him if he knew an incredible Elder who served in Riga for a while, but decided he was probably a little bit busy. ;) Elder Bednar's table stayed an extra 20 or so minutes and Elder Bednar was just teaching the gospel like no one's business. I heard him say, "alright...you study that and so will I, then give me your address and I'll send you my notes." I want to be on that mailing list...

The icing on top came as we were cleaning dishes in the kitchen and President Uchdorf came in, said hi and thanked us, then about 12 minutes later President Monson came in! Actually, it was more like he waltzed in like he owned the place and then he met and gathered us 6 sisters around him and just began sharing stories and talking with us as if he had all the time in the world. He stayed there and talked to us for almost half an hour. He told us about the first time he saw his dear wife Francis and how the only thing he could think to say to her was that her middle name was spelled wrong in the ward directory, haha!!! Needless to say he got up the courage to ask her out. He told us the story that I know you have all heard, about when he met her parents. He came to pick her up for their first date, and upon meeting Francis' dad he ran and got a picture of 2 young missionaries, asking if he was related to the one with his same name. President Monson said it was his grandfather's brother. Because of that missionary (Pres. Monson's great-uncle) all of Francis' family had joined the church, and when they had made this connection her parents both gave President Monson a huge hug and kiss. "Most guys can't say that they got a hug and a kiss from their girl's parents before they even got one from her!" President Monson exclaimed with joy. It was hilarious and he just went on and on about stories from him joining the Navy and leaving his angel, but then eventually returning and marrying her forever. He spoke so fondly of her, and got very sad when he talked about her not feeling well right now. "She promised that she will be right next to me at conference though! Oh, my dearest angel."

It was fun to watch, because when he told these stories it was as if he were right back in 1945 reliving it all, but then he would jump back to reality, look you straight in the eye and say something like, "Sister, decisions determine destiny, every single one." I had to keep pinching myself because I just couldn't believe I was standing there with a Prophet of God hearing his love story and life advice. Even more, when he looked you in the eye, there is no dispute he holds God's authority, ALL of God's authority. It put a whoel new perspective to me on the saying "Eyes are the wondow to one's soul." That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I will never forget exactly how I felt.

Family, I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called to witness of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that his counselors, the 12 apostles and all the other leaders and worthy priesthood holders in this church truly have the authority to act in the name of our Savior for our salvation. This weekend we will be priveleged to hear, through His called servant's, God's instruction for us TODAY. He loves us! So much that He still is sharing with us how we can receive the greatest happiness possible. This truth is proven, above all else, in the beautiful plan He set up for us which is centered on His Son Jesus Christ. This Easter weekend please don't forget about why we are celebrating. President Monson told us that in the Sunday morning session he will be speaking on the Resurrection, and he so humbly said "I think it should be good." Our living prophet will be reminding us of that Sunday morning so many years ago when our personal Savior overcame death, spiritual AND physical, so that we can do the same. What incredible news! He LIVES! I pray every day that we live worthy of this knowledge, and now we have to tell the world!!!

I love you all so much, this weekend will be incredible!

Love,

-Sister Nay Brett#3

I'm getting Old!

Thanks for all of your great e-mails! Unfortunately i haven't been able to read all the way through them yet (don't worry, I printed them off and will be able to enjoy them later. Your emails are so great!)-- we just got into Riga and we have a council that starts in a wee little bit so we have just enough time to check in and tell you that we are still alive and happy. And I'm staying alive and am very happy!

This week hit us with a few suprises, but like always-- everything will be alright and will work out for the best. The biggest shocker came during our thursday lesson with Karl when he told us that he's going to Finland. (Yet another across-the-sea connection to Sister Richey!) He's been looking for work for the last year and a half and has been doing all that he can to work anywhere. He is a carpenter and has worked with building planes and yachts and houses and everything in between. We've been meeting up with him the last 3 weeks and over the last week and half he's REALLY gotten into the Book of Mormon, reads and prays every day. He says that he's been a lot happier over the last while and can feel that his life is improving. He still misses his wife and 6 year old kid more than anything and it's really hard for him to be apart from them. But he says that he's been praying that God would give him work and boom-- Heavenly Father answered his prayer. It's definitely a tender mercy from the Lord, and even though it's tough to see a investigator leave the country one week before he's about to get baptized, I really believe he will become a member of the church. I'm not sure when, and where, but if I don't get to see it, then Cami just might! His friend who referred him from Riga was planning on coming up to Tallinn this saturday to see the baptism, but Karl is not sure how long he'll be in Finland so we'll have to see. If he'll live in Finland for a long time, he'll probably just get baptized there. I'm not sure in which language though, haha. He's not too great in English and I think he only knows a few words in Finnish-- but could probably learn it quickly because he knows Estonian. Baiscally we still don't know what's going to happen, but the Lord will definitely provide a way!

Well that was the main suprise of the week-- we also took a 2 hour train to visit a less active member, and it turned out to be way worth it. I'm pretty sure I told you about him last week, but he's the one who called us up and wanted to change his life. We were going to go out to him last week but we didn't know how far away he lived until we got on the train (he thought it was about half an hour) but we figured it would be good could to get promission before we took a trip halfway across the country, so we asked President about it and he said go for it. I think he trusts us a lot and he's excited about the work that is happening in Estonian. There are some really great members here who are willing to teach with us and that makes a big difference. We were able to teach Karl 4 times last week with a different member every time and it really amazes me the dedication and willingness of the members here. The church is just plain true!

Sorry this is such a short e-mail but we've got to fly. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and I'm looking forward to trying to eat the cake. Haha. Don't worry if it doesn't come before the 1st because weeks feel like days and months feel like a blur so half the time I don't even know what day it is. All I know is that 3 months too late the snow on the ground is finally starting to melt. Tha's what I'm talking about!

I love you!!!

Love, Elder Barnes #21?

part II

Hey again! Okay where was I... oh yeah- Karl! He's the investigator who's a refeferral from a member in Riga. He's come to church the past three weeks, and we've started to teach him with the branch mission leader here and last Friday we taught him the second half of the "gospel of Jesus Christ" and it was super powerful. We've invited him to be baptized a few times already but he always says that he needs to learn more first. During the lesson we asked him if he believed Joseph Smith was a prophet- and he said I'm not sure. So then we asked him if he believed the book of mormon (which he's been reading a lot, and really enjoys) and he says, yeah, everything that's written in there is all correct. So we read the introduction to the book of mormon-- which is so inspired and clear-- and he made the connection. So we invited him again and he said yes! It really has been neat to see the way the Lord has prepared Karl throughout his life to except the gospel-- the crucial part being played by the examples of members and how the gospel has blessed their lives and brought happiness. Karl always talkes about how the members are so happy and how everything worked out for his friend in Riga. Karl will be a great addition to the branch-- and I'm looking forward to seeing the way the gospel will bless him. I read something in preach my gospel a few days ago that I really like. "As people are taught the gospel and live it, their needs will be met." It's so simple and so true. You put God and your family first, and do your best to live the gospel, and everything else will work out.

I mentioned that we found some cool people on the streets sunday evening but what I forgot to say is where they are from--one is named Varoon from India and the other is Chen from Nanjing, China! Hahah i was so happy to somehow have connections to those places, and I even got to use some chinese with Chen. "shei-shei." One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 26:37, it shows that God takes care of us, no matter where we are. That's so true! And I love that I get to help others come to know that.

I love you and please pass a big hello to all of the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents in Utah!

Love,Elder Barnes #12

make new friends, but keep the old! from Peter

Dearest Family,

I don't know about you but this week has flown by far me. The first week of a transfer is also interesting because you spend a day with new companions and it feels like you have already been with them forever. Last trasnfer was a blast and I miss Elders Patterson and Plothow (I sent a picture of us from last sunday-- I'm not sure I've ever sent a picure of us together.) Elder Patterson is in Narva where he started his mission and Elder Plothow is living one stairwell over with a Estonian speaking misisonary that is from from the MTC-- so they are nearby and we see each other often which is good. .

But having said that, I'm again blessed to serve with stellar, very focused and fun companions. One of whom is a foreigner!! Whew-hoo! I've been reading about Sister Brett's companions and their crazy stories and testimonies and was a little envious, but now I've got a non-american companion myself! His name is Elder Koegler. And he's from Canada! That may not seem like a big deal, but it still counts. First, his pass-port is a different color (or colour in canadian), his ancestory is from Germany but he looks kinda french, and he does occasionally use the word eh? and other odd words/pronounciations-- to phone someone, a beg (or bag in American) and there's others but I just can't think of them. But I've decided that I love Canadians because Elder Koegler is the man. He's had quite the ride of a mission, being called to Vladivastok, Russia (furthest east mission) getting kicked out after 3 months because Russia would not renew his visa, he served 2 weeks in the Spain MTC, 3 weeks in Riga and now he's here! He's officially assigned to the Batlic Mission so they'll be sending his luggage here, which will be good because he's gone the past month and some with only the clothes on his back and a backpack with a few changes of socks, ties, etc... The amazing part is that he does not complain one bit and yesterday he said it's been cool to see the Lord's hand in where he has been serving and the specific reasons he's been places. It's his 4th transfer but I'm extremely impressed by his Russian (best accent i've heard from a non-native missionary) and missionary skills. It's a blessing to serve with him. The other key piece to our tripanionship is Elder Reid-- another awesome missionary that I've served around a ton in Vilnius and Riga and been on exchanges with a few times and am excited to serve with. He's had 3 latvian speaking companions so sometimes we SYL in Latvian-- but it never goes very far-- he definitely knows more than I do, but I can understand what he's saying. It's been very fun to speak Russian together on the streets and I can see that I'm learning more quickly than I have in a while. I love Russian and it's crazy how rich a language it is. I don't know how many words there are, but there must be a lot.

Sunday evening we were planning to go out to our area and teach a family but it didn't work out. So we had a free hour and a half and were trying to decided if it would be worth it to travel all the way out there, knock a few doors, and then have to come back right away. So we decided to stay in center and talk with people on the streets and it was the right call! We were able to talk to a few people who were really interested and got their phone numbers and scheduled a time to call them this week.

Losing Elder Plothow from our companionship also took away half of our investigators and less actives/ recent converts we've been working with, so we definitely did some more finding this week. The Lord has led us to some great and interested people including two Russian families that we found while knocking that we should be able to teach this week . We also have a lesson sceduled with two young solid members (one is a returned missionary) and their friend who's come to church a few times. Member referrals are the best!, hold on a sec i'm going to send this first half

funny photos from Peter

on saturday we saw these kids playing dungens and dragons in the middle of the city. They were going after it.
the second picture is on our run this morning. The building behind me is where we have teaching center where we meet with investigators.
the last picture is the ribs we bought from the store and cooked. Lets just say we want be doing that again. They were actually pork and definitely not my baby back baby back ribs.

RE: Hi from home :-), from Sister Brett

Heya Family and Best Friends!

So good to hear all the happenings on the home front! I forget how crazy busy life always was in our home growing up with family, school, work, sports, dance, music, etc...but it's so fun to be reminded of it and to see that the little sisters are carrying on the tradition! Yeah Josie! Oh that little ham, I just love her :)
I totally understand how Jessie feels too. Senior year was incredible, but that itching to get off to college gets worse and worse until the day it finally comes! Speaking of college, Sister Beylis (my trainer from Israel/Russia) found out this week that she is accepted into BYU-Idaho like Jessie!!! She hasn't heard from Provo yet, but either way she's staying close. YEAH!!!
The work is still going great. The sunshine has been coming more often (although the rain and even snow like to "dampen" every few days still ;). The sun brings more people here though, and it's also been spring break for a lot of Universities so we're getting a whole ton of opportunities to share the gospel with people our age! Sister Sundaram and I cannot wait for conference, we're hoping we will stay together because conference is right at the beginning of next transfer. We'll see though! Time is going by really fast this transfer, does it feel like it's going fast to you too?
We met an incredible guy named Brandon last night. He was here with a few friends and his brother for skiing and they thought they'd stop by Temple Square for a few minutes. He asked if we could show them the tabernacle, and of course we said yes! It was hard at the beginning though because they were wearing sunglasses so I couldn't read their eyes. Eyes are such a HUGE part of knowing if someone is or will be receptive to our message. That whole light of christ thing is REAL, very real. But luckily they took off the glasses in the tabernacle, and as we started to teach the history of our church and about prophets Brandon watched and listened SO intently He had one of those soft looks the whole time where he would meet your eyes and you knew he knew this was something special we were sharing. Neat guy, incredible experiences. God is definitely blessing us. Of course with more good comes more bad and opposition, but we're gonna win the fight either way so we just love 'em anyway!
This past week The 12th day of the 3rd month came about and it was GREAT! In the morning we went and played soccer with 12 sisters, and as I was there I realized I was the only sister from the USA. Same thing in the temple this morning--I looked around at some of my now dearest friends and realized they are from all over the world! India, Germany, Pakistan, Mexica, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Russia, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Africa, Tahiti, Jamaica, and the list goes on. The gospel is truly spreading all around the world, and my best friends and companions here are perfect proof! This is an incredible mission and I love the sisters I am serving with so much. What an honor we all have to represent our countries and our Savior at the headquarters of His Church.
I also daily grow in my knowledge and testimony of a living Savior who loves us all so much. This work is incredible and we are so blessed to be on the forces bringing it about in the last days! It's so real and it's so incredible!

I love you all and your prayers are felt every single day.

-Sister nay Brett#3

P.S. Yep! Elyse and Peter Barnes both have birthdays in 12 or so days! And can you believe that this time next year we could be having that long-awaited Barnes v. Brett basketball game?!?! Keep up the skills siblings, we're gonna womp on 'em. ;)

P.S.S. The pictures attached are of my comp and roommates--Sister Kao(Taiwain), Laurente(Phillipines), Sundaram(India). Yes, our house always smells like very foreign food. We also went to East Hish School (where High School Musical was filmed, so I'll send pictures of that soon!

P.S.S.S. Tell Britt and Jer and Kobe to get better! Tell Jess to have an incredible last day of childhood, tell Josie to keep holding down the fort...or raising the roof, either one works, tell the grandparents I love them beyond reason, and Mom give Dad a kiss, and Dad give Mom a kiss for me. I love you all