Barrett's email - August 31st - Russian National Dance Show

Text with pictures: Every quarter we have Culture Night, so last night{a week ago} we went to the Russian National Dance Show [image 1. The theatre was in the Kosmos Hotel [image 2], across the street from the Air and Space Museum [image 3, that's the sculpture in front of the museum. That tower is not part of it. The tower is actually a couple miles behind it and is allegedly the largest radio tower of it kind in the world. My apartment is 10 minutes away from it].


The show was incredible and I highly recommend it to all of you, the next time you're in the area. We went as a district. [image 4] Sister T, Sister F , Elder R , Elder P. [image 5] Elder C , Elder W (they both saw the picture coming, Elder C wasn't really angry and Elder W wasn't really yawning), and [image 6] Elder B, my MTC companion . It was a ton of fun. I can't even describe it. The first half was the history of Russia - in dance. It was awesome. And then, somehow, the second half was even better. You just gotta see it

This is a mom's payday moment - email:

ANA'S DRIVING!! Holy Cow! Well, that's awesome. Now when I get back she can drive me around everywhere. Haha. I'll probably need it, I won't remember how to drive in 2 years.


It is very cool for both me and Elder R that our moms are communicating. Tell her thank you from me. I can tell from Elder R that she is an incredible mom. She did a really good job. Elder Roberts is great.


I think that may be what prompted what I said last week. Elder R was telling me about his mom and how he realizes now she did for him and how much he appreciates it now. It got me to thinking, My mom does all those things! Cooks and cleans and talks with me, Plus working a full time job, sunday dinners every week, and certain family problems that it doesn't sound like the Roberts have, etc. You are incredible, mother. And I just want to make sure you hear it from someone. We all think it, but for whatever reason, we don't say it enough. Thank you! I love you more than I ever expressed before. You really are the best mother I ever had, or could ever had. Thank you for everything.


And tell Dad and Greg that I love them too. I'm learning a lot and I'm changing a lot out here. I am getting better at seeing things for what they really are, and they're a lot better than we thought. I cared about a lot of things that weren't that important before. I can't really explain it yet, maybe because I'm still in the process, but it is good. Life is good. Elder Oaks said "We emulate Christ when we do for others what they can't do for themselves." I'm still internalizing this statement. It is powerfully significant and full of meaning. Charity and love


I love you.
Have a great week
Elder Hamp


p.s. tell Gavin Happy Birthday

Barrett's email - August 16th - Chalk draw

Dear FAMABILY,
Things are going great here in Moscow! Elder R and I have not gotten arrested yet, so we're doing alright. The weather here is great. And by that I mean it changes every few days from miserably hot to insane downpouring. I love it. I use my umbrella often and it is doing a fine job. We do our laundry in a tiny little washing machine in our kitchen, then we hang them up to dry on this really cool drying rack from Ikea (yes, they have Ikea in Russia, we drove by it on my first day in Russia, and I took a picture of it, thinking of you, mom :) I don't think I need clothes yet. Everything seem to be holding up.

The flea markets are called reenoks, and they are great! Elder Roberts and I actually just discovered there's a pretty big one right above the metro station we use every day. There are 3 Big Reenoks: the main reenok, that mostly sells clothes and shoes and stuff. That's where we get ties. Elder Zinn and I went once and I got 3 pretty cool ties. We got them for 150 rubles each, but next time I think I could get them down to 100. Everything is negotiable. There's also an Electronics reenok. That one is pretty cool. And finally, the Souvenir Reenok. Holy Cow, that place is incredible! A gigantic flea market full of nesting dolls, fabreje (I know that's not how it's spelled, haha) eggs, fur hats, necklaces, wooden spoons, soviet era stuff, etc, etc. It's amazing. I've already started looking at all my stuff rather critically, determining what I will not be bringing home at the end of my mission to make room for all the stuff I will be getting my last transfer. Haha. The whole country is a giant yard sale. Everywhere on the side of the street people (mostly old babushky) just sit and sell all sorts of stuff. But Sis. Sorenson told me my first day, wait 'til your last transfer. Otherwise you have to carry it around every time you move. Good advice.

Well, time is running out. Real quick, I wanted to tell you that we finally got a meeting with that man we met the day before Elder R got here. Oh, boy, he has been prepared. I will keep you updated.

Love you
Elder H