Barrett's email, Monday, August 27th, 2012

Okay so you may have noticed I sent the email from last week. I am so sorry! I'm not sure what happened. I wrote it all up, it just didn't send. I really hate writing on the iPhone. And I'm sorry I haven't been sending pictures. Another downside to the iPhone. Oh man, I can't believe you didn't get an email last week. I am so sorry. It won't happen again (I hope). 

Last Monday was awesome. We had our culture night. We went to the Russian National Dance Show. We have to go see that when you come. It is awesome. 

Than on Tuesday the new missionaries arrived. They are awesome! They just couldn't wait to get out and contact. Actually at the airport there were 30 missionaries arriving. All but our 8 were headed to other missions. It was crazy. When we took them to Red Square we hardly had any time because they had spent too much time talking to people on the way there. It was awesome.  

On Friday and Saturday we finished up the last two splits and now we're done! We hit every companionship of Elders in the mission. And not a moment too soon. We are exhausted. Haha

Sunday was our first day (well technically my first day back) in the Arbatskii ward. I love that place. And you want to talk about miracles, Kiril gave his first talk that day! Of all the days to come back and of all the days to give a talk. It was awesome. He spoke on sacrifice in the church, tithing, fast offering, temple and family history work ( a sacrifice of time and love). He told the story of Joseph Smith's martyrdom, and he finished by bearing his testimony about the greatest sacrifice of all, the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Holy cow! It was spectacular. I took notes. I love that guy so much. 

Ok, well I gotta go. Again, i am so sorry about last week. The church is true. I love you all. And tell NateDog and Diana it's about time! Haha. No, but seriously, congratulations. 

С любовю (With Love,)

Elder Hamp

Barrett's email, Monday, August 20th, 2012

So I sent the request for the badger pin. I wasn't sure exactly what to say, especially in English. In Russian there just aren't that many different ways to say things. If you want to ask for something, you just ask for it. If you want to be respectful, you just use the respectful form of the word. But in English you have to worry about how to phrase it and which words to use to be more polite. It was pretty stressful. 

What a week. We did quite a few splits here in Moscow. On Monday and Tuesday we were with the Arbatsky Elders. One of them is British, so my companion was excited to work on his British accent. Then we just hopped around Wednesday, Thursday, Friday to different Moscow Elders. On Friday we were with Elder R, my second companion. Right now he is serving with a short-term missionary from Nizhny Novgorod. They are awesome. Elder R is going to train a new missionary next transfer. I'm going to have a grandson. Haha

Then we went down to Kaluga. Whata place. I think Kaluga is the smallest city in the mission right now. They have an average Branch attendance of 5. Nine if you count the missionaries. Crazy. 

Then it was just a 2 hour bus ride to Tula for church on sunday. We got into Tula with just enough time to get a taxi and fly over to the branch building. We made it with 2 minutes to spare. So with Tula we have now been to every city in the mission. Wow. And after 2 more splits we will have gone on splits with every companionship in the mission. Wow. What an adventure. I wish I could tell you all the stories and all the miracles right now, but it would take too long. Короче, this church is true и Бог еще есть Бог чудес (In short, this church is true and God is a God of miracles). And next transfer Elder T and I will still be together but we will be moving back into the area Elder C and I were in. I'm excited, especially to see Kiril again

Barrett's email, Monday, August 13th 2012

Volga meets the Oka

Sand dune jumping

Contemplating the jump

Smolensk 

my "mattress" 

Tsaritsino park. 

Oh, my goodness! I am so sorry I didn't email yesterday. It was a crazy day. I don't have any time to write right now, but luckily I wrote the summary of the week on the iphone yesterday while traveling, which I will cut and paste. It sounds like you had a great week. Thank you for the pictures! To be honest I really could only skim the email, but it sounds like things were great, sunday dinner, etc. Be careful with those books. I trust you:)

Ok, here is the email

What a week. So from last p-day, let's see. So after I emailed last week, we went to a forest that reminded me a lot of Sly Park. We played capture the flag with watermelons as flags, but we ended up getting tired of that and just eating the watermelon. Then we went around this lake to these awesome sand dunes and jumped off them. It was a ton of fun. (Dillon Beach is better). Nizhny Novgorod is awesome. 

So then Tuesday was our office day. Transfers are coming up. Another big group of greenies: 6 new Elders and 2 new Sisters. We have to open up two new areas. There is a companionship opening a city up near Yaroslavl. Exciting times.

Wednesday we were out in Smolensk. Smolensk is the western most city in the mission (ie the closest to you guys). It was fantastic. Smolensk is also one of the cities in which a young missionary is the branch president. That's intense. We're there studying Preach My Gospel for the first hour, he's studying the Handbook 1. Crazy! Then on Friday we were back in Moscow for a second office day. I guess with school starting up soon, they needed some extra help planning travel for transfers and visa trips. So, that's always fun. 

Then Saturday we were with a companionship in Moscow. The miracle of the day was when my companion called an old number from the area book he got a lady who didn't even know the person we were looking for, but got interested in coming to church. One problem was that she didn't live in the area we were currently in, but (and here's the miracle) she lived in the area of the Elders were going to be with on Sunday! Granted she didn't end up showing up, but for a little while it was a way awesome miracle. Haha

Sunday we were with the Elders of the Sokolniki ward, so we went to church with them. It was my first time in that ward. 

We ended up staying with the Sokolniki Elders til p-day. The plan was to write home on the iPhone while we were traveling to the next area, but the iPhone was malfunctioning, so right now I'm on the metro writing this email in the "Notes" app. Haha. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to send this yesterday. I hope everything is going well. I haven't even been able to read your email yet. 

Ok, gotta go. Love you. Have a great week. I'll try to do better next week. 

Love 

Elder Hamp

P.S. How did the Olympics go?

It's Official! - Regional Driver, Owen

Owen passed his last test and is heading home to prepare for life on the road - Tuesday at 10 a.m.

The road

His trainer

The truck, sort of 

Movie Night, a walk and the DCI simulcast

On Wednesday I got a call from Patsy to meet her at Carrie's to go to see Hope Springs.  Yippee...so fun to spontaneously say 'yes' to such invitations.  Having my days and nights free (for one more day) has been so much fun.  Love Meryl Streep!  When I was there I saw the advertisement for the Drum Corp International Phantom Event broadcast of the National Championships (quarter finals) for the next night.  I have always wanted to go to a Phantom Event at a theater to see what it would be like.

Thursday I met Steph for a walk...a 13000 step, six mile walk....ouch but fun.  Great way to catch up.  Well guess where she was going...yep, they were going to attend the DCI National Championship broadcast.  She invited, I decided to go.  All five hours (3:30 to 8:30)  Turns out it was a live simulcast from Indianapolis.  That was cool.  Not disappointed at all.  

Killing time when the feed went down

  

Because of severe thunderstorms, the broadcast feed stopped for about 20 minutes until the storm passed.  Here is how the kids entertained themselves. The DCI ran the two corps we missed - everyone was happy about that.  

The bands are seeded based on past performances during the season so it really isn't surprising.  

Here are the Blue Devils, seeded first and came out on top.   Steph was a Blue Devil from 1975 through 1977.  In high school the drum line dreamed of being Blue Devils.  

Blue Devils - the gold standard of DCs

Tonight is semifinals and Saturday is finals.  Seems like a lot considering they only eliminated two last night and then 12 tonight.  Each night makes money for all of those parents showing up to watch their kids.  Pretty obvious but the kids like to perform so that part is good I guess.  

Surprise Birthday Luncheon for Elder Hamp

Today Sister Sorenson emailed me two pictures of Barrett.  The office couples had a surprise birthday luncheon for President Sorenson and Elder Hamp.  How fun and thoughtful that they would include him.

Barrett's email, August 6th

Me and Lenin

Random cool looking statue

Birthday celebration in Nizhny. Sorry for the terrible lighting

 Sushi... with dill on it. Only in Russia

Way awesome statue

Me on an empty metro car

Clinton B is home!? Holy Cow! That's crazy. Tell him hi for me. wow

So this week started out a lot like last week: p-day, office day, another zone conference (east this time). Thursday we had zone leader counsel. It went really well, and Sister Sorenson got her hands on some real American ballpark franks. It was fantastic. And for the rest of the day we were with the north zone leaders who live in my first area, as in the area I started my mission in. Then on Friday we were with the Elders who, как раз, live in me second area. It was a nice little trip down memory lane. And then that  night we caught the midnight train to Nizhny Novgorod. Holy cow! Nizhny is easily the most beautiful city we've been to so far. I can't think of a better place to celebrate my birthday. We didn't do much celebrating, but there was a rice crispy treat and a good solid day of missionary work for me. Oh, and I did get the package a few days ago. Thank you so much! What a fantastic surprise! Thanks for the socks and the mints and the Oreos and the soap and the balloon kit and for the letters, etc. It really made it the best birthday I've had all year. And I mean that. 

So then on Sunday we went to church in the upper branch. It's so cool that there are so many members in Nizhny that there are two branches here. We went to the smaller one. It was great. And after church we went with the other Elders for the rest of the day. We had a lesson with a man who made for us the best borsch I've ever had, and I don't think I'm just saying that because it was fast Sunday. Oh and the kompot was the best.

And now here I am in Nizhny Novgorod writing this email on the iPhone in a marshrutka (tiny taxi-van of death) on the way to a lake for a p-day picnic activity. Wish us luck. 

... I love you all so much. Have a great week. Talk to you soon. 

Love

Elder Hamp

Family Get Together at Cindy's

Cindy and Bob live on acreage...a lot of it.  They recently built a home there and had us all there before Alice went home.  It was nice.  Merle is missed.  Thanks Cindy!

Kimberly, Owen, Laurie, Dina, & Jean Ann

Jean Ann, Diane, Cindy, & Jeff

The girls watching a movie in 'Merle's' room

The siblings - Owen, Alice, Jean Ann, & Cindy

Cindy and Merle's girls

The gang