Barrett's email - February 5, 2012

Happy Birthday Elder Schoenfeld!

Me and my old companion

My new companion and the Stake President on the metro

an ad for the 99 ruble store, haha

Look at the coat! There must be at least 20 foxes in that thing

the river has frozen over. It's getting pretty cold

MY VAN!!!!! YOU KILLED MY VAN?!?!?!? "...after all it's just a car"? Have you no heart, Elder Schoenfeld? Ok, I guess you're probably right. It was her time to go. She lived a good life. May she rest in peace... tiny crushed up little pieces
Well, there's not much time to write, I'm using the mac again and I'm still trying to figure it out. I got some pictures out this time, so that's improvement.
Have you sent the package yet? I have maybe a strange request. Could you send a copy of "Animal Farm" by George Orwell and "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley? I have both of them in the book shelf, if you can find them. They're both pretty small. The package sounds great. I am so excited.
So the epic story of the week. We met with this babushka who grew up pretty communist. For example, when we asked her if she believed in God, she told us she believed in Stalin and the future of Communism. And then she laughed this really creepy laugh. Anyways, on a later visit, she offered us homemade cranberry vodka. We obviously told her we couldn't, but she poured herself a shot glass. She asked us what our purpose is, so we quoted the missionary purpose on pg.1 of Preach My Gospel, and here's the epic part: She lifted her shot glass and toasted to our purpose! A communist russian bab toasted homemade cranberry vodka to our missionary purpose. That's fantastic. That was definitely the highlight of the week.
So now, how 'bout some B + O
B: So do you speak Russian with an American accent or have you taken on the Russian accent?
O: That's a hard thing to gauge. I've been told that my accent is alright, but so have a lot of people who's isn't so great (was that judgmental?). I am certainly trying to pick up as much of the accent as I can. Russian really is an amazing language.
B: Where is your companion from?
O: A small town in Idaho. And my last companion was from lake baikal; and the one before that was from the Salt lake area; and before that was from the salt lake area; and before that, another small town in Idaho
B: Where is every one from?
O: Most are from Utah. In fact it's a bit of a joke among the members that all the missionaries are from Utah. But there are some from california, a couple from indiana, two from Germany (they're actually cousins), a sister from latvia, and 3 native russians.

Well, I'm out of time. Don't worry, I'll figure out these macs someday
Have a great week. I love you
love
Elder Hamp