Barrett's email, January 15h

Me, my companion, and Sister Elena who organized the whole Gypsy Culture Hour

Me, not dancing, but learning some gypsy dance moves, haha

Me and my new best friend, Dima, at the gypsy culture hour. Notice the tamborine

Not only was last friday Friday the 13th, but it was also the eve of Russian Old New Year. In celebration, we ate a bunch of candy and my companion taught me how to play Тысяча

Tuesday night a pipe broke in our upstairs neighbor's bathroom. Here's the water coming down into our bedroom... at 2:00am

A new contacting method! One of us shovels while the other talks with the shoveler, haha

1. Me, my companion, and Sister Elena who organized the whole Gypsy Culture Hour
2. Me, not dancing, but learning some gypsy dance moves, haha
3. Me and my new best friend, Dima, at the gypsy culture hour. Notice the tamborine
4. Not only was last friday Friday the 13th, but it was also the eve of Russian Old New Year. In celebration, we ate a bunch of candy and my companion taught me how to play Тысяча
5. Tuesday night a pipe broke in our upstairs neighbor's bathroom. Here's the water coming down into our bedroom... at 2:00am
6. A new contacting method! One of us shovels while the other talks with the shoveler, haha
Oh, my goodness. That was a good email. I feel life is good. You are right. Our Heavenly Father truly knows each of us individually, and He wants us to be happy. He is not content to provide for our needs only. He delights in our righteous desires as well. The fact that I am writing to my family in the basement of a library in Moscow Russia right now is a testament to that.
It sounds like it was quite a week. Kindles playing movies, Justin Bieber spoofs, a rugby game!? Holy Cow. (Did they win?) Congratulations Jason and Jessica. Совет Вам да любовь!
Mine was quite a week too. My first week with the new companion. Oh, I got your DearElder about your trip to DC. And if you remember (I know it was a couple weeks ago) in the post-postscript you mentioned charoite from lake Baikal. Well, did I tell you that my new companion is from Lake Baikal? Yep. He's great. And I also got the DearElder from Sister Locke. Tell her thank you so much from me and quite a few other missionaries with whom I shared some goodies. I am so excited to hear of her decision and to find out where she will go. Keep me updated.
Speaking of updates: How are Arpil and Aaron and little Barrett Jr.? I still can't believe she's married.
And you know who else I haven't heard much from, Gavin. How's he doin'? Has he finished the 151? Can he speak Russian fluently? Has he solved world hunger yet?
As you have already probably seen in the pictures, we had a branch activity this past saturday, The History of the Gypsy Romance. It was fantastic! I think there might be a little gypsy in me. Sister Elena, literally the sweetest old lady in the entire world, organized the whole thing. She told the story, she had people read poetry, she even danced. It was a ton of fun. I wish you all had been there.
I got Elder Schoenfeld's email. Some interesting facts. Last year we had a 7 week transfer to get on schedule with the Madrid MTC (where all native missionaries go now) and now Elder Schoenfeld and I are on the same transfer schedule. And as far as the weather is concerned, Moscow is having an unusually warm winter too. I guess last year around this time it was about -30c but this year we're hovering right around 0c.
Ok, well, I'm off to the Planetarium for a p-day activity with Sister Elena, the very same. She's fantastic. I'll have to send you her bliny recipe. They're amazing and we eat about a million of them every time we go over. haha
Have a great week. I love you and pray for you. 2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of ^afear; but of ^bpower, and of ^clove, and of a sound mind.

Love
Elder Hamp