20th Anniversary.

Privyet!!! (Hi!!!) Here I am on yet another wet and rainy day in Vyborg, sitting in the library. It doesn't feel like P-day already. Sunday was the 20th Year the Church has been in St. Petersburg, so the Vyborg branch was there for church. It was cool! Some of the first members of the church in Russia bore their tesimonies, as well as the President of the Helsinki Temple. It was also cool to see and hear how the church started here. Made me realized how young the church is here, about the time I was born was when it was started. Weird to think! Got your letter with info about Nate R. and Elder Andersen. I laughed really hard when I read his story! It's SO Russian! ha ha. Also finally got a letter from Nate Booth. It takes over a month to send letters, since he is on the complete opposite side of the world in Chile. Do you talk to his mom at all? I wish I could hear from him more... It's starting to get colder here, and today we looked at coats for me to buy. Coats here range from 2000 to 3500 rubles. The coat I brought here is definitely not going to be warm enough... I'm really excited for our investigators Igor and Elena! Igor is progressing really well, and I hope he will be ready for the baptismal date next week. Elena still needs to work things out with her living situations, as she is not married to the person she is living with, but she is a great lady and really understands the restoration of the Gospel and wants to be baptized. The man is not interested in learning the gospel... Please pray for them. To be completely honest, I've been a little home sick lately... I'm happy, just miss things at home. Russia isn't the same as home. People are a lot more gruff and direct here... Not to mention I don't perfectly speak there language, if at all adequately. I know the Lord is with me and I am happy though! Sorry to here about Code. Tell him that I'm rootin for him! He's in my prayers. I'll send him a little letter real quick after this. So the other day we went to the hospital because one of the members requested that we come and give his mom a blessing. First of all, must say that Russian hospitals are pretty clean, but pretty GHETTO. We came in and there were 6 beds in this tiny room, each with an elderly lady on them. The member asked everyone if it was okay if we gave his mom a blessing, and explained what we would do. Everyone said that we could, and that was fine. So I annointed and Elder Domanskiy blessed. Some visitors were there and wanted to watch. The spirit was there during the blessing and it was a cool experience. One of the ladies wasn't happy that we didn't cross ourselves, but we explained why we don't. Overall is was a good experience. Well... Gotta run. Sorry about the less eventful letter... I just don't want to write the same old thing everyweek. Any questions for me to answer about Russia? Gotta Run. Times up! Love, Blake