Barrett's email 060811

This week there is not a lot for everyone. I asked Barrett a lot of questions about things I needed to know for our final shipment of stuff to him before he leaves the MTC, like the iPod with missionary appropriate music and a pair of pants I needed to order, etc. Here is the rest:

Holy cow! Less than two weeks left! Time is flying faster than ever. I don't have too much to update on...Tell Cindy that I did get the Vistaprints package and it its fantastic! Thank you so much. I don't know if I've ever owned anything as cool as my own stamp.
Oh- and I sent a package to Amy with a present for Beans in it, namely: a piece of jerky. ....
So, Julie came in today! I haven't seen her yet, but Elder Bishop did! haha. I guess he saw her, recognized her from the graduation picture you sent that I showed him when I told him I knew someone coming in today, and he went up to her and asked if she was Sister Moore, from Wisconsin, and of course she said yes, and then he said that I say Hi, and then she said... well I don't know what she said because I wasn't there, But I know that she is here! Incredible
Allegedly we get our travel plans tomorrow! Crazy
Well, time is quickly running out. I love you all so much. I can't wait to talk to you. Have a great week.
love you
love
Elder Hamp

Barrett - Week 8?

Barrett leaves the MTC in three weeks...so I think my weeks are off? Oh well. Have a good week everyone.
Lynne

What a week! I have no idea what happened! haha. Everthing just blurs together. First of all, thank you to everyone for the letters and the updates and the packages. Thank you Trish! What a fantastic surprise!
So I guess I'll just take a few minutes to tell some random stuff, since I cannot for the life of me remember anything that happened this week. Oh - wait! Guess what? Something did happen: we got our Russian name tags!! With our names written in Cyrillic!! It is awesome! My name is now Старейшина Хэмп - how cool is that! Yep, that was definitely the highlight of this week.
Julie Moore - I was standing in line for breakfast the other day, and the Elders in front of me had name tags in a different language, and I like to ask people about their language, so I asked them, and do you know what they said? Danish!! So I told them I knew a Sister Moore coming in next week, and they said they leave this week so they wouldn't be able to tell you I said hi, but I asked what building their classroom is in and they said the third floor of 10M. I know that doesn't mean much to you now, but let me put it this way: my classroom is on the second floor of 10M!! Crazy!
Some random facts, let's see. One of my new favorite words is молния which means 'zipper' and/or 'lightning'. With the leadership change, Elder Bishop is now the District Leader. And with all the new missionaries, they form their own districts, so our district is still the same, and all the companionships are the same. The construction in the cafeteria is finally done. It is very nice. We haven't had another banana day, fortunately. There was talk of Apple day, but I talked them out of it. haha. We didn't get any mail on Memorial day. Russian is still the best language ever! Life is good and the Gospel is true!
Have a great week, everyone. I hope to hear from you soon. Send pictures! I love you all

Старейшина Хэмп

Barrett - MTC Week 7

He added some Russian, I have included translations. He really is using his email to share with all of you. Thanks for all of the support.

Lynne

Well, another incredible week! The new Russian-speaking missionaries arrived. They're everywhere!! 35 new Elders, 3 Sisters for our zone, and almost 50 for the other zone! Gym is packed. haha. They started immediately on the new pilot program, preparing for the full curriculum change in August, which means that they're teachers are teaching them all по-русский (in Russian) right from the start. They're moving fast! It's great. Seeing all of them, it feels like we're riding the front of wave that's about to hit Russia!

Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke to us last night!! Oh, it was great! He and his wife spoke about obedience and hard work. He even quoted "Fiddler on the Roof", which I bet he just watched because he's going to Moscow next week to organize the first stake in Russia!!!!! Can you believe it? He didn't mention it in his talk, but he did speak about our responsibility to not only share the gospel, but also to help build up and establish the kingdom. He was talking to us! Directly to the four of us (my roommates) who are headed to Moscow. Unbelievable.

It sounds like Placerville ward is getting some changes of its own! That is so exciting! Удачи! (Good Luck!) How is everything in Placerville? Поздравляю (Congratulations) to the Strayers for the маленький ребёнок (small child) on its way! If it's a boy, I can tell you that I have been quite pleased with the name "Barrett". haha

Oh, and to Steven: Happy Birthday!!!! Happy reading, my friend.

Thank you to every one who has sent me mail! And pictures!! And Cindy, I got your package - Thank you so much!! I call it my small plates. haha. Thank you.

Well, have a great week, everyone. I love you all! Я вас люблю! До свидания! Увидемся! (I love you! Goodbye! See ya!) 30 seconds! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Love

Старейшина (Elder) Hamp

Barrett Enters the Missionary Training Center

Barrett entered the MTC on April 6th at 1 p.m. Here is he at about noon. Michael still with us, showed us around and took us to take the traditional picture of the new missionary at the MTC sign...except that they took the signs down. Michael and Tacy have the sign, Seth, Brandon and Barrett do not, yet we still had to take it. We are a quirky bunch aren't we? Suddenly he looks so grown up....wearing the Tacy winner tie.
After we took the picture we dropped Michael off at class. One last picture of two really good friends for a couple of years.
After, we went to the BYU bookstore for the final thing Barrett had to take, composition notebooks, for journals. Then, he makes one last call to his brother, Greg, to say good-bye.
Then at 12:57 we drive into the MTC parking lot, take our place on the curb, which is full of host missionaries to take the newbies in.
There he goes! I think that is the biggest backpack I have ever seen.
Look his host missionary is taking all of his luggage. Bye baby... love you!

Brandon Off to the Missionary Training Center

Look at what a great missionary Brandon is...he has a spanish Book of Mormon front and center on his backpack, ready to share.
Checking in
We hung out downstairs until he had to go through security
Brandon, Celesa, Amy and Barrett
Brandon and his mom, Celesa
Brandon with us - Barrett, Lynne and Owen

Brandon with Amy, Brandon and Celesa

Brandon heading up to security Off he goes
Not yet...we had to keep watching him until he went all the way through security