I Love the Vyborg Branch!

Hello again!... From Vyborg!!!! :D I didn't get transfered to the office like everyone thought I would... Elder Anthony did. :) ha ha. I'm still serving in Vyborg, and I'm still with Elder Domanskiy. It is good. :) Elder Domanskiy really helps me a lot with Russian, and is a really good missionary. I think my Russian is really improving. I LOVE the branch here, and am really happy I'm staying. I had all the youth write in my journal just in case I was leaving, and they all wrote such nice things in there. Their friendship is genuine, and you can see the light in their eyes. I look forward to seeing the youth here become the leaders of the Church and seeing it grow here. Yeeeahh. The Code-man in the Bronx!! I can't really compare, because I've never been there, but I think the Bronx would be kind of like downtown St. Petersburg... but bigger. He has nothing to worry about. He's got angels on his right hand and his left, and the Almighty God has gone before him, the God of Israel is behind him. The only thing he has to worry about is getting толстее (fatter). Блинь! (Dang!... literally translated means "Pancake!") Just kidding!!! Cody does look a lot different though. So we are a little worried about our baptismal date with Roma... before we set it with him he was meeting with us 2 a week or so... But then we were in for a week and this week he is not answering his phone when we call... He answered once and just quickly said "I'm busy this week and hung up..." We haven't given up hope yet, but we are a little worried about it. I got your birthday card/letters! Thanks a ton! I showed the card to Elder Wilde from St. George, because he is a big hunter... Made him want to go hunting. ha ha. Tell K.B. she is becoming a little artist. :) So this Saturday I have a visa trip again. This week end I will be companions with Elder Andersen!!!!! :) (He's going to K-grad too, so I will have to tell him to say hi to people from me and have him check on a couple people, like Youlia for example.) I don't know where we are going yet. We will see. The driver will be either Brother Nekiferov from Vyborg, or Igor... Both really cool guys, but only Igor speaks English. Tell Kelsey thanks for the pictures she sent for my birthday, and tell both Kelsey and Liz thanks for the letters. They both like you guys back home a ton. Kelsey told me about Meleea offering her a ticket to Brad Paisley, and she said she almost cried because it was so nice. Also tell congrats to Amanda Wignall, Kels told me she is engaged! Have you heard much from Karl about BP? I heard he lost a ton of weight, and he sent me a birthday email, and said he STILL hasn't gotten a letter from me?! GRRRRR. Still haven't bought anything for my birthday, but we are going to look for a Russian hat today. The youth knew it was my birthday and they all wished me a good one. Elder Andersen also called to wish me happy birthday, and the Luna's told me happy birthday when I was in the office. My birthday was good! Don't worry! I think one of my happiest birthdays... because I celebrated it with the Lord. One of my favorite scripture passages right now is Ephesians 3:14-21. I love the apostle Paul. He was one of the worst of sinners, but became a great disciple of the Lord. He tells the Ephesians why he does the work he does for the Lord... "that they may know the love of Christ, which passeth all understanding..." (or something like that... don't quite have it memorized..in English) I miss my dog!!!! The other day a golden retriever that is the same color as Millie was walking through the park with his owner and he stopped and stared at me and started chattering his teeth and twisting his head like Millie does. You should send Millie to Russia!!! I'm having the greatest time on my mission. I can't believe it has already been 8 months!!! Before I know it, I'll be back at home and won't know what to do. I WILL come back to Russia someday after my mission. I know this Church is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves everyone of His children, and He is just waiting for us to look for Him. He wants us to learn things on our own, and that's why he doesn't do everything for us. The gift of free agency is a great opportunity, and the one of the greatest gifts, lower only to His Love, which is Eternal Life. I know that Satan exists, and that he uses all manner of ways to destroy us. I know the Savior will help us overcome anything though, if we believe in Him. Gotta run. times' almost up Love, Blake