December 27th...

So this Christmas was definitely full of suprises and just way fun. I saw miracles, I played ping pong with a 69 year old man, and we pushed several cars out of snow. I got to share Christmas joy and give people cookies that we baked, and I even went caroling. Our little companionship totally felt like sister missionaries because we wrapped cookies up all nice and attached pictures of Christ. Totally a sister thing. haha. And of course I had a blast talking with my family. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas as well. I love you all and hope you have a Happy New Year. If you guys are into making new years resolutions may I suggest making a missionary goal for the year? We are all missionaries with our without name tags. So go out there and spread the Gospel and make it a great new year! I have enclosed some miracles for you all. Nothing huge, but huge for me.

Miracle 1.
This transfer we have been trying to visit a less active family. My companion had also been trying in previous transfers but with no success. Every time we knock they ignore our visits even when we hear the TV playing. So Christmas day we decided to go by a try again. We knocked on the door and waited not really expecting much to happen. Then we heard the handle move and found ourselves face to face with a toddler whose eyes were huge from all the Christmas excitement. We said hello then came face to face with the father whose eyes were huge because missionaries were standing in his doorway. He was polite and let us in. We were able to share a little thought about Christ, pray with them, sing to them, and leave a Christmas treat. Definitely a miracle.

Miracle 2.
We were harvesting a few weeks ago and talked to a nice old lady that wasn't interested. We asked her if she knew of anybody that would be interested and she said maybe her neighbor. She mentioned that his wife had just passed away and he was all alone. So we knocked on his door, he answered, growled at us, and shut the door. So it wasn't the warmest welcome. But for whatever reason we remembered this man and put him on our list of people to visit for Christmas. We went back Christmas day with smiles on our face and Santa hats our our head. He answered the door, we said Merry Christmas and gave him a picture of Christ and some homemade cookies. He smiled, said Merry Christmas, and shut the door. Although it was small, it was still another Christmas miracle.

Armastusega,
Elder Boyce

Suur Aitah sulle! Selle ullatus oli suur ja hea. Ma armastan teid vaga. Head uut aastat. Maleta et teie olete misjonarid. Siis jaga selle evangeelium inimestega alati. Meil on kutse jumalalt kui me saame liikmeks. Ara unusta and Jumal armastab teid ja ma armastan teid ka!!!

December 20th...

hey Everyone!!
So we had a way fun week. A guy invited us to go cut down Christmas trees with him so we got to see the woods. It was really fun. Then we got TWO baptismal dates this week. The weird guy from last week is well, still weird. Freaking people out. But we got Gints, and Vistors. Ones thirty, vistors is 15. So we will see how it goes. Unfortunately nobody came to church-bums-but we are keeping the hopes up! I am just so excited to talk to everyone on Saturday!!! The language-i really can;t speak much, but I surprisingly can understand a lot. So its way fun. We have a few people i can talk in English with which helps me from going insane. But, i pray, with the help of a prayer card. Way funny. haha. They speak Latvian and Russian here. We occasionally get cursed out in Russian. Last night people were way mean as well, but its all good. We are giving them chances. There are 5 missionaries in Liepaja right now and about 80ish in the Baltics. Crazy little. We seriously got a foot of snow last night. I cant see out our window. Its so fun. I am starting to like snow. So remember the mom and daughter with the baptismal date, well they kind of disappeared. We found out that the little girl has a tumor, and she could die. They need to get her an expensive operation, so we are hoping all goes well. She is so cute though. Man, its heartbreaking. Oh ya, I got my Latvian tags. That was way weird. I am officially Elders Boye. ah! But cool news, we got a snow plow at church. Yay! It reminds me of Dad driving around all winter. We have some fun things planned the next week. We are going to carol in town square with the branch, we have a hristmas party planned, and we have fun less actives planned for Christmas eve and Christmas day, and of course, phone calls!!!! I am so excited. Remember, Give a gift to Chrst. Perform a miracle. I love you all. The church is true!!
Elder Boyce

Ps. All mail needs to go to the mission home. I dont have an address that I am aware of here in Liepaja. Haid Joule minu eestlastelle. Ma armastan teid niiii vaga!! Ma loodan et te olete onnelikud. Mul on. Ma ei tea miks aga ma tunnen nii hasti. Minu meel on tais!! Loodan et see on aru saadav. Armastan teid.
Boycei

December 13th...

Hello my friends. Well you would think that not much could happen in 5 days, but in the life of a missionary you would be wrong!!! So this week we didn't have a whole lot of time to work, we were short 2 days, but that didn't stop us. One night we only had 15 minutes to go knock but instead of bagging it, we went ahead a did it and found a way cool guy. He's a little rough around the edges, but he seems way good. We are meeting with him tonight. Then another day we were contacting in center, and I saw an old guy with a beanie on that had the american flag. So I waved to him and his friend ran over and started talking to us. So we set up a meeting with him and taught him and he accepted a baptismal date for the 15th. So that is exciting. But he came to church on Sunday and the longer we were around him the less sure we were about his sanity. (there are a lot of crazies in the baltics). So he stayed for two hours and in the second hour he kept staring at people and it freaked a girl out so bad she started crying. haha. So ya. We will see what happens with that. So that is pretty much my big news for this letter. We are just working and serving and doing our best. I am way stoked about Christmas. It will be so good. Oh ya, so the baptism the other Elders have for Christmas may have to be pushed back. They didn't come to church yesterday and her oldest daughter (who is a member) is freaking out saying sheš not ready. She is a way bossy daughter and needs to back off a little bit. Let missionaries do there thing ya know? So pray for them that it will all work out. They also have another kid who wants to be baptized but he is just waiting for parent permission. So pray for them all!!!!! Well that is all from my poolt. I love you guys. We will talk next week. Go out and make a miracle happen. Hearts are softened at this time. People are more willing to listen to the spirit, and God is more willing to perform miracles, so go be apart of one. I love you. Armastusega,Vanems BoycePS. Kui keelelgi on Maarja Liis Ilus j6oulu plaat palun saata neid filid mulle v6i selle plaat mulle. Ma tahan kuulata. Ma armastan teid vaga ja ma loodan et k6ik on hasti teiega. Ma tean et teie olete palvetanud minu eest. Suur aitah. Ma ei saa olla siin v6i 6ppida lati keelt ilma teieta!! Ma loodan ka et ma kirjutan 6igesti. haha. Armastus minu poolt. Vanem B.

December 8th...

Hey My companions are so much fun. They are finally opening up and we are just having a blast!! I am loving it. We went to Riga this past few days for zone conference and our Christmas celebration. I have never enjoyed myself so much on my mission as I did the past few days. It was so much fun. We just had amazing training and discussions and the elders we stayed with were so much fun. I love all the missionaries here. Its crazy. Yesterday we did a nativity play and white elephant gifts. It was just so much fun. Really got us all in the spirit. We are going to buy a Christmas tree (hopefully) today. So that will be really fun. They made a Christmas slide show and I got so emotional during it. I just saw all my Estonians, and the members and Elders and sisters that have gone home. It was really fun but just hard. Its incredible how so many people have become my family and how much I love them. I have learned a huge lesson in just being grateful with what you have because I didn't realize how much I loved Estonia until I didn't have it anymore. But all is well. The work here is going so good. I have made it possible to teach woman because of the three some, so the other Elders now have a woman being baptized with her daughter on Christmas day. She has been taught by missionaries for 12 years and is finally doing it. So that is way awesome. We are just way excited. So that is what is going on. I am happy really. Things are going great. The language is slow because I only have an hour a day to practice, but I am not really worried about it. It will come when it comes. I have seen it work once. haha. Thank you for all the prayers. I love you. Until next week.Elder BoyceMa armastan teid. J6ulu paev tuleb varsti. Mul on hea meel. Muidugi ma tahan olla koos teieige ja pidutseda teiega, aga pole midagi. Jumal vajab mind siin. Ma teen too. haha. ps. Ei vaja midagi. K6oik on hea. Armastan.Boyce

Latvia...

Hello everyone.Latvia. I still can't really believe I am here. You are right, this town is beautiful. Theres no doubt about that. We have an old church right out our window and the bell rings all the time, the streets are all cobble stone, and they have a delicious bakery. But the language is completely different from Estonian. I don't have much time to really study it, so I just pretty much sit in lessons all day. Day dream a lot. haha. But it is going good. I do a lot of hearing and copying. I still can't tell the differnce between latvian and Russian, but I am sure it will come. I have enjoyed seeing how I dont need to speak the language to make friends with people. There is a member named Gunars and he is hilarious. We have never spoken a word, but we are way good friends. haha. Its crazy how that works. I will admit I was pretty down this week. I mean it snowed, its freezing, and I should be in Estonia during all of that, but we got to work and I slowly just forgot about it, and felt a lot better. We got a trainee. So my companion is pretty much training two people-but I got the missionary part down. Its funny. Our companion is Elder Koltko from Ithaka New York. He reminds me of a hallmark card the way he talks. But he's way good. We had 2 baptisms on Saturday here!!!! Wahoooo!!!!! Two men actually. They both recieved the priesthood on sunday which was completely awesome. So that was very exciting to see. We had a huge thanksgiving feast last week full of turkey and mashed potatoes. I love it. haha. Like I said it snowed and got freezing here. It went from 12 degrees two weeks ago to minus 12 degrees. Crazy. So its that time of year again. haha. But everything is going so good. Don't forget me in your prayers. I need them for this language. I want to do all Gods wants to me to do here. So I will do my best. Armastusega,Elders Boyce****Eestlased. Armastan teid. Ma tulen tagasi kunagi. Ma luban. Ka, tervita Helmi, ja Nadezda minu eest. Armastusega,Boyce

November 22nd...

Sveki!!Well hello. Boy do I have so huge news! So last week when I wrote I was in Riiga. I was doing some training with the Assistants and President wanted to meet with me. So we met. He informed me that I was being called to Liapaja (lee a pie a) Latvia, Latvian speaking. I was, and still am shocked about it. I, in the beginning, was not comfortable with the idea at all. Not at all. I have 18 weeks left, and this is the time of my mission where I should be rocking it with the language, loving it, and baptizing everyone. So I was just shocked. President gave me a few days to think about it. So in the mean time we had a General Authority visiting the mission President Schwitzer. He taught us for zone conference-which I spent in Latvia. At this time I was struggling and so I was able to meet with him. We talked and he told me that I needed to follow my mission president because he is called of the Lord. So I went home, prayed some more, and had my interview with President Dance again. I asked him why. He said he had been asking the same question and the only answer that came was "there is someone for you." So how could I say no to that. So I am not in Liapaja, Latvia. My language has been switched to Latvian and I am now learning it. I am one of the first Estonians to ever get switched to Latvian, so it is a huge surprise to everybody. I am in a three-some companionship again which is really nice. We can teach whoever we want now. Liapaja is beautiful. I haven't really gotten to see much. I got here on Saturday night and we were at church during the daylight, so its still a mystery to me. It is a coastal city like Parnu so that is way fun. You know how much I love that. The church here is beautiful. It was built a year ago and its really impressive. Nicest building I have seen. The branch is quite small. There are 40 active members and apparantly hundreds of non actives. I was told that the church was persacuted pretty heavily so a lot have fallen away. So this week has definitely been a faith tester, and a faith builder. We say that we are willing to follow the Lord, but I didn't know if I could really do it. Its going to be so hard. Yes, I know how to teach and be a missionary, I have those skills. But speaking a new language is going to be brutal. Yes it isn't as hard as Estonian, but still. Its another language. I was able to speak on Sunday, and my companion just translated for me. They seemed to enjoy it. So ya. That is my big news. My faith has definielty been strengthened though. I got the call, and I had to take it ya know? I am really sad not to be in Estonia, but what an adventure this is. I am trying to just keep the positive and move forward with it. As far as Tallinn and all the work there, I have no idea. I can't have contact with anyone because we are in seperate countries now and I can't call. We have two baptisms here on Saturday and a few more coming up in the next month. We are celebrating thanksgiving today, so happy thanksgiving!!! haha. I am excited about that. I am grateful I am out here even though you sometimes get slapped in the face. But its good. I love the work, and I love the church. Have a great week and we will definitely talk next week. Armastusega,Vanem Boyce or now Elders Boyce My address. Elder BoyceBaltic MissionCesu iela 31-2k2Riga, Lv-1012LatviaIts just the mission home address. So there ya go. Send me letters and love. I am going to need them. :)Ma kirjutan oma eestlastele. Ma armastan teid nii v 6ga ja igatsen teid. Ma loodan et ma saan tulla tagasi kunagi ja et ma saan n6ha teid veel. Kirjuta mulle ma tahan kuulda kuidas teil elud on. N6aeme tulevikus. Jumalaga,Vanem Boyce

November 8th...

Hello!!!
Baby girl!! I was so excited to hear the news. My sister is having a baby girl!!! I am so excited to come home to these babies. haha. People here think I am weird because I am so excited. Well I have learned another talent this week. I can hem pants. Yes I did it to one of my suits that the hem was falling out of. Who wouldn've known. haha. I was pretty excited. this last week was crazy busy. We had splits all week, Elder Baird was in Riiga, and its gotten COLD!!! haha. So funny story of the week. I was walking to my apartment with Elder Aardema in the back parking lot. Well they have gates with chains strung across. Well I saw it, so I started to step over, but Elder Aardema didn't see it. So it made me fall and he followed me to the ground. It was so painful, but we were laughing so hard because it was so ridiculous. There is never a dull moment with me and him. So this week was huge for investigators. We had 101 people at church-we almost had to open the over flow wall. The branch president was so excited. But the coolest news-between 3 companionships we got 10 investigators to church!! 10!!!!! Wahoo!! That was awesome. So the work is going good. We have just so many investigators right now. I just hope they will move towards baptism. Its kinda slow right now. But we just did a mission fast, so that will help. So cool news. Zoja-whom I baptized in Pärnu last December recieved her Patriarchal Blessing. How amazing is that. I was so excited for her. She is so awesome. I am greatful to be apart of her life. So the weather is now officially cold. We had ice this morning, and I was already slipping. haha. Never a boring moment on my misison. The church is true. I love you and miss you all. Send me some love will ya?
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce.

Happy Halloween!!

Hello Everyone!!! Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!This week was way fun. We are teaching a part-member family, and they really remind me of my family. Their one daughter Triinu is the member and she is amazing; popular, smart, and grounded-only 17. Her parents are amazing and so friendly. Their Dad, Aare, reminds me of Dad. It is almost scary. I guess that is why I like going over there so much. They have been taught forever and the mom wants to be baptized but is waiting for Aare but Aare just isn't ready. So they invited us over for Halloween so we dressed up a little bit. I wore my new suit and made a bow tie out of one of my ties and they had a rad play gun so I was James Bond. They gave us a pumpkin and had us carve it, and they all dressed up as well. Halloween is not a holiday here, so they did it just for us missionaries. We ate cake and hung out, and played games. It was so much fun! A way good Halloween! We did service at the zoo as well with the branch and it was so fun. ´We raked and then got to explore the zoo. So much fun!! We have been teaching good people, but they are jsut so bummy. They will not do anything. It is so frustrating. Robert still is getting baptized on the 27th of the Month. So that is way awesome. i have been able to do splits with other missionaries too lately and that has been a blast!! Work is good. The church is true!! I love you all and hope your weekend was awesome. I am excited its November now!! I get to listen ´to Christmas music!!!! ya!! haha. Armastusega,Vanem Boyce

October 25th...

Hello!!!
Riiga was fun. My language was worthless. You have no idea how I felt when we stopped in Parnu and I was able to buy a piece of cake in Estonian. I loved it. haha. The small and simple things. We have had a great week. So many intersting things happened. I hit my 18 month mark on Saturday. I had no idea that I was so old. haha. So to celebrate a new convert invited us over for dinner (it was her 2 month mark as a member). So Elder Baird and I planned the coolest lesson for them. They made us blood sausage, and I ate it. I must say, it was actually pretty good. I am a fan now. Then we read about Captain Moroni and the title of liberty. So my companion got up and ripped his shirt off-just like Moroni- and we made there own title of liberty as a family. It was so awesome. They were so shocked. Then we burnt a shirt for Me, Elder Baird, Elder Jenkins, and Triinu (the member). It was a really fun way to celebrate. But also that afternoon we set a booth up in the park. We flooded the park with all 10 missionaries for about two hours. We had a sign in Russian and Estonian talking about our church and what we believe. Of course we had hecklers, but we found some good people as well. I was able to set two lessons up for tomorrow as were the other Elders. So it was a complete success. And it has been snowing but for the time we were in the park the weather was perfect. We sang hymns, contacted, and just had a geat time. It was awesome. So its been a really great week. Elder Baird and I definitely have differences, but we teach so well together. Its awesome. Just know that I am embracing my mission. 100 percent. I don't want regrets, and so far, I have none. I love it out here. Thank you. I love you all so much!
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce

October 18...

Hi Everyone,We are doing a huge training in Riga this week. Today through Wednesday so I am here learning how to teach better. The MTC has a new teaching plan, so they are implementing it now with us. So there are about 30 missionaries taking Riga by storm. I fell like I am in my training again. My language is worthless, I don't understand a thing and I am constatly lost. haha. So its been fun. Its interesting to be here and see the differences between Estonia and Latvia. Of course my mission language is worthless. Nobody understands me, but its part of the experince. So I was transferred to Tallinn Center with Elder Baird (MTC comp) and I am still District Leader. We have been able to teach a few people which is nice. We are teaching a Chinese kid named Robert who has a date for the 27th of November. We also have a few eternal investigators I want to baptize. So that is pretty much what is going on. Just busy busy. Well send some love. I would love emails or letters from anyone. Sadly I cant respond to the emails, but its the thought that counts. Love ya all.Elder Boyce

Pics...

October 11th...

Hello!!
Thanks for the emails. Well this week was so fun. We were able to teach a guy named Karl. We knocked into him and he was way accepting to listen to us. When we came, his dad was there as well. His dad has met with missionaries before and he was really nice. He talked like crazy, and it was hard to get a word in edge wise, but they want us to come back. So we are very excited about that. Then on Saturday we did service all day. We helped a family at there summer home. They had a ton of leaves so the ladies raked, and me and the other Elders loaded all the leaves up into a trailer attatched to a four wheeler and moved them to another place on the property. We did at least 50 piles of leavs. Took us several hours, but it was the most fun I have had in a long time. Who knew that working in the yard would be a blast? haha. but it was. I have cool pictures I will attatch.l So it was really fun. It is getting so cold here. I am wearing scarves, and yes...gloves!! haha. But its all good. We have transfers on Wednesday, so I will let you know what happens with that. We went bowling last week and I scored 100 and 98! Wahoo!! haha. But we are still just working, and knocking like crazy. Gerneral Conference was so good. We were able to listen to it all in English this past week. I really loved Elder Hollands talk when he was thanking people. It was so good and made me realize how amazing my parents are!! I love them so much and miss them like crazy. I hope you all enjoyed it as well. Until next week!!
Love
Elder Boyce

October 4th...

Hello everyone!!So not much has been happening with our investigators. Its a bit slow but we are supposed to meet with one guy this week, so hopefully that goes well. This week was a little bit slow. Sickness has been going around the mission and I caught something. So we were in for like a day and a half. I hate being stuck inside as a missionary. haha. Its so boring and pointless. But I got to sew alot. haha. I am feeling a lot better though. We had General Conference this weekend, and that was way fun. Yesterday was a long day though. 3 sessions all in Estonian. haha. But it was really good. I did splits with the zone leaders on Friday and we taught one of their investigators named Rein. He wants to be baptized but not until next year. But after seeing conference he changed his mind and will hopefully be baptized at the end of the month. So that is really rad. Good for him ya know!! I got to go exlpore old town all last pday and that was really fun. I enjoyed it. This city has just slowly gotten a lot smaller. haha. Everything is so close. I love it. The weather here has turned cold. Fall is here. All the Estonians are bundled up in scarves and huge coats. I am following. I think I may be busting out some gloves soon. The mornings are especially cold. haha. We just bury ourselves in blankets. Its way funny. But that is about it. Boring week I know. haha. Hopefully we can teach and find alot this week. Love you all!Elder Boyce

September 27th...

Hello my friends in America!!! Maybe Estonia as well.... This week has been so busy, but so succesful. We had the training by President Dance and it was so much fun. I learned so much stuff. We did a lot of practices about calling on the holy ghost when we are teaching and getting more comfortable with silences to really listen during a teach. It was also really helpful beacuse we learned that while we are having companionship study; say we have a really difficult investigator that we don't really know what to do with, we can each pretend we are the investigator and teach 'him' and recieve revelation how to better understand him and know what to teach. It was just a really good training. President seemed to single me out to in all the teachings and was helping me and it was awesome. He seemed to always be my companion and it just went really well. He seems to have loosened up so much or else I am just liking him more. haha. But I really enjoyed myself. We went knocking this week and we got to this really beautiful house with no dog. So we rang the doorbell and this man walked out and I thought 'okay, we're leaving!'. But he invited us in, we taught him, and he promised to read. Then on Friday we did splits for a little while and me and Elder Jenkins taught a 15 year old couple and they were way good and way intersted...so yes, we got 3 new investigators this week. Way awesome. Its about time. hahaha. Then the best day was Sunday. District conference in Tallinn!!!! I got to see all the members from Tartu and Parnu. It was so much fun. Man I missed them all like crazy. It was so much fun. I got to see Bruno, Tiia and Jaana. I made Jaana a book cover and she was so worried I was going to forget but when she saw it she said "nii armas!" So that was really good. I was really excited she liked it. I also made Eda a book cover and she was excited as well. We just had so much fun being together. It was amazing also...we sang 'The Spirit of God' and I heard it in 3 languages. English, Estonian, and Russian. I mean, does that happen anywhere else? It just touched me. I can't explain it. I just loved it so much. I love this mission. God really had a hand in sending me here. I know that. I cannot imagine myself serving anywhere else. I love it so much. Well anyways, I hope you are all doing well.Armastusega,Vanem Boyce

September 20th...

Well Hello everyone!Flip! Another week. haha. I cannot believe how fast it is going. Well this week we finally found somebody to teach!!! Yay. haha. It has been so slow, but we have just been working so hard to find people to listen to us. We met a guy named Said or (Sayeed). He happens to be egyptian, and a Muslim; but that didn't deter us. We found him an arabic Book of Mormon and met with him and told him a little of our history. It is really crazy how much our religions are similar. We prayed, and then he prayed for us. That was very interesting. I had never seen anything like it. He also gave us a koran so we have to give it back next week, so it was a good excuse to meet again. We also found a new technique to get into peoples house: ask to use the bathroom. haha. It worked. So that has been really cool. This week was just good. I don't really know why. I just feel like we are working so hard, and I know that God is going to put someone in our paths. We still freak out knocking because all the dogs, but it gives for good laughs. We've been caught in the rain alot too. Soaked and knocking. You would think people would take pity on us, but they just eject us from their yards instead. haha. Its all good though. I am loving it. This is how its suppposed to be right? And getting stuck in the rain means a hotter wife right? While we're knocking, she's just getting hot. Well this week we have alot of training coming up. President is coming to Tallinn Thursday and Friday to teach us, and then Sunday is District conference. This is when all the branches in Estonia come together. I am really really excited about that. It will be so awesome. I miss everyone from Tartu and Pärnu. Well thats all for this week. Loves. Elder Boyce

September 13th...

Well Hello!!!

Big news!! My sister is pregnant!!!!! Heck yes. I am going to be an uncle twice over. The Estonians say I am a 'very rich man' because of this. So I am doing absolutely wonderful! Can I just say, I love Tallinn and my companion is the best. We have an absolute blast here. We have had the funnest week. Tallinn is huge, way bigger than Tartu or Pärnu so yes we were enjoying ourselves getting lost everyday. It was just way fun. We have no investigators or potentials or contacts beacause our area was ran my sisters and then closed down for 12 weeks. So pretty much we are starting from scratch. We have just been contacting and knocking like crazy. People are very different here. They are much more busy and less open to talk with us. And the most annoying part, that answer back to us in English. Yuck. I hate english. haha. Especially when we can both talk in Estonian with each other just fine. But we are still working hard and trying to find those people that are ready. It takes about 20 minutes to get into our area, so we only went in on Wednesday. We went knocking for like 3 hours and lets just say, there are some huge dogs. You would've have been hysterical watching us check the gates for 5 minutes to see if there was a dog or running from dogs or jumping and screaming because dogs scared us. But really I am loving it. This just makes me not want my time to end. I live right in downtown Tallinn as well and it is so fun. Reminds me a lot of Salt Lake. There are so many people and sky scrapers and we just love it. haha. So Eda from Pärnu was baptized on Saturday by Bruno (who was baptized 3 weeks ago). She called us and was just super excited about it. We were way excited too. We haven't really found any investigators yet, but we are working on it. Miracles are in the works right as I am typing. Our branch is huge. Its like a ward. haha. Well not quit. But there are about 60 active members, tons of priesthood. They just don't need missionaries here. It is weird, because we are so needed in Tartu and especially Pärnu. So its a different feel. But i like it because we can just focus on finding people. Way good week. I hope you are all doing well. I will attatch pictures.
Elder Boyce

Enjoy the pictures. There is an 'american' store here called stockmans. The oreos are 10 bucks. haha. but they had bisquick and...wow. Just amazing. haha.

Labor Day...

Hello Everyone,So do you want to hear some news? I have finally made it up to the big leagues. I am in Tallinn. Me and Elder Aardema have both been white washed into Tallinn and I am district leader. Lets just say it has been a fun and confusing few days. He had to stay back in Pärnu until Saturday so I came up with Elder Jenkins and Elder Baird for a couple of days. They got sisters in Pärnu finally after a year so he had so introduce them to everyone. So I came here and tried to learn my way around for when me and Elder Aardema got together. It has been a hilarious few days. We are so lost, and have no idea what we are doing. I felt like the new, awkward kid in church yesterday which was strange. But it has been such a blast. I wasn't to excited to serve here. But me and Elder Aardema were plotting to become companions, which worked, but we both didn't want to be in Tallinn. But I already love it. It is a blast and there are so many people and just so much to do. I have learned how to work a gas stove after letting gas leak out for 5 minutes (new worries we have a C02 detector) and we figured out how to bake a cake without a thermostat on the oven. We have figured out what to do when lost, and we can make it to the church, grocery store, and now the library. We are attempting our area tomorrow. haha. I am having the time of my life and I love it here. I hope you all know that. I miss you like crazy and I can't wait to start sharing more miracles with you. Tell everyone hi, and pass on my new address. Love you like crazy. Vanem Boyce Oh ya, happy labor day. They don't celebrate it here, but its always good to remember. Vanem BoyceP/K 3379Tallinn 1056Estonia (Eesti)

August 30th...

Well what a week it has been. Pärnu is just on fire with success. Wehave been really blessed. For the month of August we had a missiongoal of 19 baptisms. We fell short of 15 but, 5 were from Pärnu. Sowe were really excited about that. On Saturday, Reelika was baptized.We baptized and confirmed her on the same day, and it was so good.She was so excited to finally become a member and now she can enjoyall the blessings she was missing out on. As for the miracle that wewere praying for last week...we were hoping that a long time churchgoer would finally get baptized but the lesson didn't really go asplanned, and she still has problems with tithing. So pray for Eevithat her heart will change. We saw the Kiev, Ukraine Templededication on Sunday which was a way cool experience. I have neverseen one before so it was really fun. President Monson was justmaking jokes the whole time when they were doing the cornerstoneceremony. Oh, and way weird. Carol Mckita the news anchor lady wasthere. That was a little weird to see I forgot all about her and allthe news channals back at home. haha. It was fun to be with themembers that were worthy to go and see them take part. Pärnu isamazing! Eda is also doing well. I keep thinking she is just toogood to be true, but she is. She has no problems with anything thatwe teach her and she acts as if she has already heard it. Plus shemakes amazing strawberry cheesecake. haha. She will be baptized onSeptember 11th. What a day right? I am still getting over my cold.Blah. I just have a cough. Its annoying me. The weather has turnedquit cold here as well. Fall is here. I am not excited for this. Ineed gloves to go outside. haha. But we will survive right? Amember just brought me so way nice wool knitted socks as well, sohopefully I will stay warm. Well I love you guys. Transfers are thisweek. I will let you all know what happens so you can send me carepackages :) Armastusega,Vanem Boyce

August 23rd...

HelloWell where to start about thispast week, I don't even know. Umm Wednesday my old companion ElderLee came on splits with me and we found out he is moving to midway soI am excited tohave him close to us. Me and Elder Aadrema teach alady enlgsih and she wanted an english lesson so we set up a time withher. So all 4 of us missionaries went to her work which turned out tobe a senior center. So she showed us around invited us to leave booksof mormon and then set up a big meeting thing. So we were able toteach a first lesson to a bunch of patients and employees. That wasso fun. Some were entirely crazy but some were very sane.I love these people here though, and you just get in the mind set that you are never leaving. Like Iknow I am going home, but its almost not real. So that was cool.Also a guy got baptized here about 7 months ago and he speaksestonian, russian and some english. He has been inactive as of late,but he brought his girlfriend who only speaks russian to the churchlast week. So we asked if we could teach her and she said okay. Wellwe taught a first and yesterday we taught her the plan of salvationand committed her to be baptize. She didn't say yes, and she didn'tsay no. But its cool we teach in Estonian and he translates toRussian. But she is already way nice to us whereas before she wasvery standoffish. So hopefully things will happen with her. Brunowas baptzied on Saturday and confirmed a member on Sunday which wasawesome. After his blessing he just sat there and said 'Wow!' Sothat was really neat. Saturday Reelika and hopefully Eda will also bebaptized. We have a temple dedication to watch on Sunday so we aretrying to get all the new converts allowed to go. So its veryexciting to see the work just move forward. We have been busy and theLord has been blessing us. We are also praying for a miracle thisSaturday. There is a lady that has been coming a long time namedeevi. Well we are trying to get her to be baptized on Saturday aswell. The other Elders teach her and they are going to teach her thisweek. Pray she accepts. Well that is all from me. I love you somuch. Love you. We will talk next week.Armastusega,Vanem Boyce Ps. My address is Vanem Boycep/k 55Hommiku 2Pärnu 80010Eesti (Estonia)

August 16th...

Hello!!Ya it was so funto see the smoots. sister smoot served here about 1 maybe 2 yearsago. They took us out to dinner and attended churchwith us. So I got a letter from Kärt(she is the one in Tartu i taught). I gave her a book cover and meand Elmer signed a book of Mormon for her. That was way cool. She isgoing to america any time now and wants to go to yellowstone. So i amexcited to hang out with an estonian when I get home. We have anotherbaptismal date with a lady named Eda. I committed her during englishand she accepted. So that is so exciting. We now have 4 dates. Thework is exploding. The other 3 that were baptized are oding so well.I love them so much. The Mom and Daughter are just shining examplesto there Dad and simblings and the Dad will be baptized on Saturdayand the son will follow shortly after. Kristina the other one thatwas baptized just went to a youth conference thing along with Kerle (itaught and baptized her last Jauary) So that is so awesome. They areall so strong. The work is just going so well. So many people wantto listen to us. Its a weird feeling. haha. I am so excited abouthaving a niece when I get home. I brag to everyone here. I cannotwait to meet her. But everything else is going well. Thebranch is doing good and today we are going to ride bikes and itsgood. Anyways. I love you.Boyce

August 10th...

Well we have
some extieing news. We have 3 more baptisms planned for August 21.
Bruno and his son and Reelika. Reelika has been coming to church
since December time and her mom gave her permission to be baptized.
So we were very exctied about that as well. Blessings. The past week
was really fun. I was in a 3 some with Elder Aardema and Gray as
Elder Hortin was in Riiga for training. So it was a blast here. We
could teach any one we wanted and it was just a successful four days.
We had zone conference yesterday in Riiga and it was such a blast. We
learned a lot about baptism and our purpose and i just really enjoyed
it. Umm..really that is pretty much all that is going on that I can
remember. So i hope you are enjoying the summer and ya.
Love,
spen

Do You Want To Hear A Miracle?

Do you want to hear a miracle? We started teaching a girl named Kristina. She has been coming to church for a year but her parents won't allow her to be baptized. Well last Sunday I was sitting in Elders Quorum bored out of my mind so I decided to go downstairs and just sit on the couch. I was just thinking and all of the sudden an idea came to mind (God) The idea was to have Kristina write her testimony down and give it to her parents. So we committed her and didn't hear much else. She said she was just working on it. So Friday came around, the day of the wedding. Kristina came running in and yelling Im getting baptized, Im getting baptized!!!! My parents said yes, they read my testimony and said Okay, its your decision!!! I was in shock. I just could not believe that the idea worked. So we did a baptismal interview and she passed. That night she was baptized. So I learned a big lesson. I was sent here for people, it wasn't about me, it was about others, totally. So the wedding was amazing. The branch planned it all and was so excited. It was so awesome. So right after the wedding we went to the River where Tiia (the mom) Jaana (her daughter) and Kristina were baptized. It was so amazing. Tiias husband and son will be baptized at the end of the month so we are looking forward to that as well. On Sunday all the missionaries got to stand in the circle and confirm them members of the church! It was a way neat experience and we added 3 people to this church!!! That is just unheard of here in Pärnu, so be excited!!!! haha. Then we taught the family about Temples on Saturday night and they are planning on being sealed next August 28th, so I will be back in Estonia for that. So awesome. It was just a really awesome week with all of that. So that is my news. Enjoy it as much as I did.
Armasusega,
Vanem boyce

Update & New Address...

Sorry, email way short. I am in Pärnu. I really have no time. I love it here. The members love me and I have missed them. We have a wedding and baptism planned for this Friday which is way exciting. I will try to write a lot more this week.
Elder Boyce

Pics...

Hi...

Well hello,
Another week. Crazy. Well, there was a baptism this week. How freaking awesome!!! We had 9 investigators total at the baptism. It was such a huge success. Valdo was so excited. Harri was able to baptise him. He was so nervous as it was his first time, but he did amazing. We were proud. I got to do splits with the other elders this week and that was really fun. Switches my days up a little. We did service this week at an old ladys grave. We pulled all these plants of it, hoed it, put a tarp down, and covered it with sand. She was very grateful. haha. I had a blast. The weather has been so hot. But on Tuesday we were walking to the church and the clouds rolled in and just dumped on us. So me and Elder Elmer were just soaked through. We had to teach english like that too. It was really nice to have the cool down. Its been about 35 degrees here-warmer than Spain. All the Estonians are sure to tell as that. They like when they beat other countries at anything. haha. We found a new guy this week and he is awesome. We were teaching him a second and he just answered every question perfectly. So we are hoping ot meet him again and committ him. He was 3 deceased children and he liked the fact that he could see them again. The gospel is amazing. My sewing is, well, amazing. haha. I sewed a bag with a zipper. All my little projects I just give to random members here in Tartu. It is really cool for me. They love them too. I made a scripture case for one member and then just a bag for outside for another member. They were so excited. Now I am attempting a skirt. A girl said she couldn't come to church because she didn't have a skirt so my companion said I would make her one. We'll see how it goes. haha. You guys probably think I am so weird. haha. But I need to find something to entertain me at night. The Jakes-a missionary couple from Riiga-were up here this weekend. So they were able to see the baptism. Aftwerwards, they took us out to dinner which was way nice and way good. Then they spoke in sacrament and taught class. So all the missionaries were busy translating. It is so weird how everything is so clear to me, and so foreign to them. I understand it completely and they just thought it was jibbersih. The gift of tounges is real, and I possess it. Heavenly Father is the man!! Transfers are Wednesday and we hear tomorrow. I could very possible leave, but I really hope I don't. I feel like I have more to give to this branch. I love it so much here and I just don't want to leave. Plus I love being district leader. I love planning district meetings and holding them and just helping this branch. I feel like we are just starting to have alot of progress and I want to keep it that way. This place is like my baby...I can't let go. haha. But I know if I do have to leave, it is Gods will. And who would I be to mess with that right? We have been working with Joosep more. He is a 20 year old less active. We met with him last night and he is just lost. Its hard for him being a member here in Tartu and not having anyone his age. But he has a desire to serve a mission, so we are just going to try and help him with that. He would be amazing. We are losing an awesome couple here in the branch-another blow to Tartu. They are both going to Tallinn to study, so that is a bummer. Maris teaches us Estonian and Vend Crandall is an American-he served a mission here 5 years ago and married Maris-he is our first counselor and he just always has my back. So I am just way bummed about it, but again, Gods will. Well I am rambling on and on so I better close for the week. We get to go to the zoo today with Peeter and Kärt (my favorites). Kärt is leaving for America soon so it will probably be our last time. I made her a book cover for a going away present. I hope she likes it. Anyways. I love you!!! Until next week!! :)
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce

The Talk I Gave In Estonian:)

Tere hommikust kallid venna ja õed. Mul on väga põnev täna rääkida. On väga palju misjonäre igal pool maailmas. Iga me õpime, me räägime, jutlustame, koputame ja õpetame - see on meie töö. Me proovime aidata inimestel tulla Jumalale lähemale. Me teame, et see on õige töö. Ja me proovime teha Jumala tahet. Kui me saame misjonäriks me õpime Misjonäride õppimiskeskuses. Seal me õpime, kuidas kuidas olla head misjonärid. Ma mäletan, et meie õpetajad ütlesid, et kõige tähtsam asi, mida me peame õpetama, on taastamine, et meie kirik on taastatud. See on see, mille poolest me erineme teistest. Nad ütlesid, et kui me räägime bussi peal või ukse peal või ükskõik kus, peame me rääkima taastamisest. ”Vii ta kiiresti taastamisele!” See on see, mida me teeme iga päev – me jutlustame taastamisest. Lisaks ütles meie esimene presidentkond, et: hoolimata sellest, keda sa õpetad või kus sa teenid, keskenda oma õpetus Jeesuse Kristuse evangeeliumi taastamisele. Issand õnistab teid, kui te õpetate taastamise sõnumit maailmale, mis vajab meelehetlikult Jeesuse Kristuse evangeeliumi.” Täna ma tahtsin rääkida taastamisest.
Tuhande kaheksasaja kahekümnendal aastal (1820) oli üks poiss. Tema nimi oli J.Smith. Ta oli neljateistkümne aastane ja oli väga usklik, nagu tema perekondki. Nad lugesid koos piiblit ja palvetasid koos. Ida osariikides valitses tollal suur usuline elevus – oli palju erinevaid kirikuid ja kõik ütlesid, et oma kirik oli õige. J. ütles ”erinevate usulahkude vahel oli nii palju segadust ja vaidlusi, et minusugusel noorel inimesel oli võimatu jõuda mingile kindlale otsusele, kellel oln õigus või kellel mitte”. J. ´i suur soov oli liituda õige kirikuga. Ta ütles ” ma küsisin tihti endalt, mida ma pean tegema? Millised neist kõikidest usulahkudest on õiged? Või on nad kõik eksiteel? Kui mõni neist on õige, siis milline see on ja kuidas ma seda teada saaksin? ” Otsides erinevate kirikute seast tõde, avas J. juhatuse saamiseks piibli. Ta luges Jakonuse raamatust peatükk 1, salm 5. Aga kui kellelgi teist on puudu tarkusest, see palugu Jumalalt, kes kõigile annab suisa ega tee etteheiteid ja siis antakse temale”. Ta mõtles sellest ja otsustas palvetada Jumalale ja paluda Jumalalt, mis kirik on õige. Ta läks kodust välja metsa. Ja laskus palvetamiseks põlvili. Ta sai uskumatu kogemuse. Ta kirjeldas:”nägin otse oma pea kohal valgusesammast, mis oli eredam päikesevalgusest ja laskus tasapisi, kuni langes minu peale. Valguse levides nägin ma enda kohal õhus seismas kahte isikut, kelle sära ja hiilgust on võimatu kirjeldada. Üks nendest pöördus minu poole, kutsused mind nimepidi ja osutas teisele ning ütles: ”see on minu armas poeg, kuula teda”. J. nägi Jumalat ja Jeesust. Päästja ütles J.-le, et ta ei liituks ühegi kirikuga, kuna nad kõik on eksiteel. Nad kutsusid J.-i prohvetiks ja tema kaudu rajati Jeesuse Kristuse Kirik maa peale. See kirik on Viimse aja pühade Jeesuse Kristuse kirik. Nad andsid J.-le preesterluse volituse, et ta võiks tegutseda Jumala nimel. See kirik on täpselt sama kirik, mille Jeesus rajas piiblis. Suurepärane, eks? Minule on!
Kuidas me saame öelda, et me oleme ainuke kirik maa peal, mis on õige? Me teame, et kui Jeesus oli maa peal, rajas ta on kiriku volitusega ja ta andis sama volituse oma kaheteistkümnele apostlile. Jeesus löödi risti ja need kaksteist apostlit tapeti või surid ja neil polnud võimalaust anda volitust edasi. Siis see tähtis volitus läks kaduma. Ja Jeesuse kirik muutus. ”Jutlusta minu evangeelumit” ütleb: kuigi paljud head inimesed uskusid Kristusesse ning püüdsid mõista ja õpetada tema evangeelumi ei olnud neil täit tõde ega preesterluse volitust, et ristida ja teha muid päästvaid talitusi. Nad olid saanud päranduseks ususttaganemise olukorra, kus igale põlvkonnale avaldas mõju eelnev põlvkond koos muudatustega õpetuste ja selliste talituste osas, nagu näiteks ristimine. Nagu Jumal oli toiminud Aadama, Noa, Abrahami, Moosese ja teiste prohvetite puhul, nii kutsus ta J. Smith´i prohvetiks, kelle kaudu taastati evangeelumi täius maa peal.
Me oleme praegu sakramendikoosolekul. Me vaatasime sakramendi õnnistusi Jeesuse volitusega. Üks ristimine tuleb varsti. Ja kui ta saab ristitud, on see volitusega. Meil on volitus Jumalalt. See tuleb taastamise kaudu. See on, miks me oleme erinevad – meil on prohvet ja ta juhatab meid volitusega. Meil on Mormoni raamat, see on tõlgitud volitusega.
Aga ära usu minu sõnu... Sa võid ise teada saada, et see on õige.
Mormoni raamatus viimane raamat on Morini. Moroni oli viimane prohvet selles raamatus ja oma viimases preatükis andis ta meile lubaduse: Vaata ma õhutan teid, et kui te loete neid asju, kui see on Jumala tarkus, et te peaksite neid lugema. Et te peaksite meeles kui halastav Issand on olud inimlastele Aadama loomisest, isegi kuni ajani mil te saate need asjad, te mõtiskleksite selle üle oma südames. Ja kui te saate need asjad. Ma õhutan teid, et te küsiksite Jumalalt, Igaveselt Isalt, Kristuse nimelt, kas need asjad ei ole mitte õiged; Ja kui te küsite siira südamega, kogu hingest, omades usku Kristusesse, ta teeb selle kohta ilmsiks tõe läbi Püha Vaimu võimu. Ja Püha Vaimu võimu läbi võite te teada tõde kõigist asjadest.
Te saate palvetada selle üle. Küsi Jumalalt, kas Viimse Aja Pühade Jeesuse Kristuse Kirik on ainuke õige kirik maa peal. Ja ma luban teile, et ta vastab teile. Ta ütleb: ”Jah, on küll!” Te saate teada kindlasti, sada protsenti, et see on õige. Vanem D. Hales ütles: ”järgi J. Smith´i näidet ja taastamise mustrit. Pöördu pühakirjade poole. Põlvita palvetamiseks. Küsi usuga. Kuula Püha Vaimu. Õpi, et sinu nimi ja vajadused on Taevasele Isale teada, nagu J. Smith- igi omad. Ela evangeelumi järgi kannatlikkuse ja püsivusega.
Ma tean, et Viimse Aja Pühade Jeesuse Kristuse Kirik on õige. Ja ma tean, et Jumal armastab meid väga ja ta tahab, et me elaksime õnnelikult. Ta tahab, et me naaseksime teama juurde jälle, et me saaksime elada temaga igavesti. Ta õnnistab meid, kui me järgime teda. Me oleme õnnistatud, kui me loeme pühakirju ja järgime Jeesuse näidet ja teeme häid asju. Ta on meie igavene sõber. Ma tean, et ta elab, et Jeesus on meie päästja ja ma tean, et me saame elada koos oma perekonnaga igavesti. Ma olen igavesti tänulik selle elu eest. Ma armastan teid! Ma olen tänulik, et ma olen siin, ja et mul on võimalus tõõtada koos teiega. Ma on tänulik et ma saan teenida eestis ja et ma sain tuutavaks teiega. Te olete väga tublid. Ma ütlen seda Jeesuse Kristuse nimel, aamen.

Hello Again!

Well Hello again,
Weeks go so fast. Its so crazy to me. haha. To start off I have been leaving our house keys everywhere. My head is just so full of other things. I left them at the bus stop on Monday right on the steps. We got all the way home and I realized it. Luckily when we got back they were still there. But it was an hour of time just wasted. I hate that. Then on Friday we were going home and we got to the apartment and I realized I left the keys in the teaching center....this day also happened to be my 1 year mark in Estonia. So I just took us out to lunch. I felt bad for forgetting the keys again. Now my comp carries the keys and i'm not allowed...but I am okay with that. haha. On Sunday I got to do my first baptismal interview...all in Estonian. Thee man..Valdo..passed with flying colors and he will be baptized this next Saturday. He was so excited when the branch president announced it in Sacrament. I also spoke sunday in sacrament. I prepared a talk in Estonian. Thats another one of those moments when I am just in awe of myself. haha. It was like 10 mintues too. I threw it down about how we are the only church with authority. I never realized before the mission how important authority is. But it was really cool to get to speak. So that is all the coolness from my week. We are still finging and teaching and sweating on busses. haha. But it is all good. I love it. So I will talk to you next week. I love you. I have attatched my talk...jsut so you can see it and be proud. haha. Sorry this is short this week. oh well.
Love,
Elder Boyce

Happy 4th!!

Hey,
I hope the fourth of July was fun for all of you. We spent it at Tiinas house. She is a member and we helped her move into her new place on Friday so we had a party there with some of her friends. We ate pizza and mashed potatos. Really good. haha. This week has been a really good one. We have been working with a less active named Mart and he is now coming to church regularly and willing to teach with us. So I was talking to Vend Lutt and he mentioned how he lives in Marts same building and he couldn't believe how much Mart has changed. He said 'I don't know why, or how he has changed but he just wants to be better now and go to church and help missionaries.' So our work wiht him is really paying off. We are also working with a kid named Joosep. He is about 21. He's now way active but I think he is starting to come around. It is really hard to be an active young male in the church in Estonia. There just aren't that many around here. So he has sturggled a bit. But he wants to be better. He came to church yesterday and wants to teach with us today, so that is awesome for us to here. He wants to prepare to go back to the temple and I hope he can just keep this drive for right now. We spent a day looking for a new teaching center and that was really fun. I was talking real estate...in Estonian. I can't fathom that I am doing that. haha. But we found a really cool place right in the main square. So I hope it works out. We also started to english classes this week. I love teaching the english classes and at first they think we are so weird in white shirts and being missionaries. But they warm up. So its really fun. I really look forward to it. We taught Marja this week. She just called out of the blue and wanted to talk about the Book of Mormon. So we went over and she made us chocoloate covered strawberries and snacks. She has a wall covered in things she has learned about the book of Mormon, but she will not be baptized. I just think she is confused. She gave me so baby socks for my kid when I have one. It was pretty nice. She made them herself. haha. It was fun. So the coolest news. Yesterday was fast Sunday. So all the members were bearing their testimonys and then Kerli got up. She talked about how much this church has changed her and how much she has learned and grown. How 'her missionaries' have taught her so much and that she knows this is the only true church!! I was so impressed. I felt like a proud dad watching their kid graduate school or something. It was really cool. Amazing. So worth it. Well all for now. Until next week.
Elder Boyce

June 28th!

Well Hello,
Can I just say that this week has been....awesome!!!! It started out with Jannie Päev. This is a big holiday here in Estonia. It is kind of like fourth of July. There is alot of camping and parties and parades and stuff. We went out to a manor on the edge of town to a party with a member. We got to shoot paintball guns for a little bit. That was way cool. But night time is when everything really happens...and we were home. So that was a bummer. They celebrate this day because it is the longest day of the year. I woke up at 3 am and it was still light outside. So that was pretty cool. Then Thursday was the baptism. So many members turned out for it and it was amazing. Kerli showed up in all white...even down to her shoes. She was just so excited. When she came out of the water she said she just feels a peace and everything seems more clear. We taught her the next day to start retention and she just looked so different. She was so much happier and just...I can't explain it. She just looked different. Sunday she was confirmed the newest member into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was so awesome. She wanted Elder Elmer and I in the circle when she received the Holy Ghost. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong. I just couldn't believe how good the member were to her. They brought her flowers and I made her a Book of Mormon book cover (yes, I sew now...i'm amazing) and Elder Elmer gave her a pillow with Choose the Right on it. It was so rad. Such a good week. Teaching wise it was slow. So many people were out of Tartu and couldn't meet. But...amazing week! So I think that is all for that! haha. I will send pictures. Oh ya. We ran out of minutes on our phone as well so we can't call anyone until the first. I feel so handicapped without a phone. Its hard to do missionary work. haha.
V. Boyce

Ps. New Address.
p/k 66
51002-Tartu
Eesti (Estonia)

Happy Father's Day!

Hey!!!
So we had zone conference on Saturday and I met the new sister missionaries, and they are strange. haha. Its crazy whenever one missionary leaves I swear their identical twin comes and replaces them here in Estonia. It has happened every transfer they either look the same or act the same. Its crazy. But hopefully they warm up. They will be training in two transfers. haha. Crazy. I am still with Elder Elmer and we are having a ton of fun!! We have been teaching Kerli alot and she passed the baptismal interview yesterday so she will be baptized on Thursday!! We are so excited. So is the branch. We are finally having a baptism. It is amazing. Plus, the other Elders just picked up a baptismal date too. So it will be awesome!! We had zone conference on Saturday and it went really good. Those always just pick me up and motivate me. President just keeps giving us new rule after rule and it gets frustrating so I went to Zone Conference completely frustrated about it, but afterwards it was all resolved. The magical power of zone conferences. haha. Then President and Sister Dance drove us back to Tartu-it was weird to ride in a car. haha. It was alot better then I thought though. We got to talk with them and hear about their lives and get to know them more on a personal level. So that was really neat. They spoke in Sacrament meeting yesterday and it was so good. We had like 5 investigators there and the talks were perfect for them. It was all about holding onto your faith. Afterwards President did a combined two hour meeting and told the branch to work with missionaries better and to befriend new investigators better. It was cool too, he asked them what they see the church like in twenty years and the members had such great visions and he promised them it could happen if they donated their time to the missionaires and opened their homes and help the work go forward. It was really good. Well as for the week it went so rad. We started out by going to a castle. They were remonting it, so all the doors were open. So we had free froam of a castle and went in everyroom and it was soo cool. It was my closets thing to secret passages and stuff. You know how much I love that. I have amazing pictures. It was so much fun. We helped an investigator chop a bunch of wood which was fun too. It was actually nice to do some physical labor. I enjoyed it. Then we just taught and taught so everything is going really well. I recieved the May and June ward newsletters....again I was absent. Sadness. Well we are just excited for this week and the baptism. Yahoo!! Our English classes ended last week so we are starting up again next week. I love them. They are so much fun. Well I love you!! Thank you for emailing me. I can't believe how fast the weeks go by!! I love you. Tell everyone hi for me!!
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce

June 14th...

Well Hello everyone.
Yes i stayed in Tartu. I was excited. Not really up for packing just yet. I have a lot of stuff. haha. The baptism for Kerli is next Friday and she is still on track which is exciting. She had some problems with a few things but I think she is getting through it. Well we had another missionary die off with transfers. I am slowly becoming the oldest. We got two new sisters and I haven't met them yet. We will meet them Saturday at zone conference. We had a good turn out to church we had 4 investigators from our side come. So that was really exciting. Last week we saw the coolest caves in southern Estonia and this week we are going to a castle. I can't wait. We met with Liis, Peeter, and Kärt. My favorite Estonians. Way sad, but Kärt is leaving to America soon. Hopefully we get to see her before she leaves. She is goign to try and take us to a zoo. We have Liis and peeter a proclomation about families thing and framed it for them. They are the best. I really love those guys. Kärt also gave me some way cool pictures that she drew so that was cool. Well I don't have anything else really to write. So many people are having babies or getting married. STop!! haha Its way werid. Home will look a lot different. I won't recognize one.
Elder Boyce

June 7th...

Hey!!
I know, I cannot believe it is June now. Time just flies and doesn't stop. The trip to the forest was so fun!! I ate leaves off of the ground and tree branches-they turned out to be delicious. It was nice jsut to get out of town for a little bit. We had a lot of fun. Well we have a baptismal date. We taught a girl named Kerli and the beginning of the transfer and she just kind of disappeared. Well she's back and going strong. We are going to try and baptize her next week if she passes all of her interviews. So that is way exciting. Just when I thought this transfer didn't bring anything, we get a baptismal date. I guess we are blessed when we work hard. haha. Well that is pretty much the cool news from my week. Transfer news comes tomorrow, and I am sure I am staying here. But I am lame and this is really all I have to say this week.
Boyce

Hello!

Hey!!
So me and Elder Elmer have no investigators right now. We are teaching and finding and teaching more but nothing. Nobody wants to do anything. Its hard to be in a place for almost 5 months and not have anything really to show for it. But we are just working and knocking and finding. The semester is ending so a bunch or people are oging home for the summer which stinks. But we are persevering. haha. Its crazy too how well my Estonian is getting. Oh there is no way I could learn this language without God. Me speaking Estonian is proof that God exists. I wish the Estoninas understood that. The weather cooled down a lot last week. It was cloudy in the days and rainy in the nights. I loved it. I may be changing from a beach bum to I dunno...what the equivalent is but like oregon weather or something. haha. Weird. I can't believe its Memorial weekend. I completely forgot about that holiday. I found out that I am allergic to the Estonian water. That was pretty funny for me. but I am healthy. I have been helping in the primary lately and thats been fun. It has reminded me of my calling before the mission. I miss that. This next week we are going out to the forest with Marja and a member so that will be fun. I am looking forward to that. Anyways. Not much else to write. Just another week. haha. Sorry the email was a little lame. Hopfully something big next week!!
Elder Boyce

Tere!

Hello,Well to start off this letter I heard some awesome news over Mothers Day. My sister in law Chelsea is pregnant. So I am going to be an uncle. I must say, I am pretty darn excited. Plus I have never held a baby so my time has finally come. haha. I am so excited for them. Well this week has been a bit better. I really enjoyed my split in Tallinn with the zone leaders. It was just nice to get out of Tartu for a while and have a change of scenery. I really hope I get to serve in Tallinn. I am actually in Tallinn today. We had to pick up Elder Elmers Id card so we came up for pday. Its really nice. Rainy though. I just realized I only have 11 months left. That isnt much time. I need to baptize people. We had a fun week teaching Vend Stahlhut. He is a member from Germany and owns a huge factory in Tartu. We got to go tour it and we are trying to prepare him to take his endowments out. So thats been really fun. I love that guy. He has the coolest house with my dream library in it. haha. I traveled alot this week. To pärnu, tallinn, and tartu. Back and fourth. It was long. But we did teach a way cool guy yesterday that liked what we taught him so that was cool. In Tallinn we taught a bunch of new kids and one guy from the Estonian island Saaremaa. Way cool. So it was fun to actaully teach some young cool people for a change. Tallinn was cool because I was the only one that knew Estonian and the other two new Russian so we had 3 languages between us and we were able to talk with everyone. Way crazy how Russian sounds like gyberish to me and Estonian is so clear. haha. I love it. Well I hope you guys have a great week. I will try not to get eaten to bad by masquitos. They are waaaay bad. haha. i love you. I can't wait to talk next week. Elder Boyce

Hello...Hello...

Hello,Well this week has kinda been a bummer. We got Jaked all week long. Everyday 3 or 4 lessons just didn't show up. So that was a little bit of a downer. Thursday we went to a school and we were guests in a religion class. So all the students just asked us questions and tried to get to know us, so that was really fun. I enjoyed it alot. They thought it was pretty funny when I said that I really miss carpet. They thought I was crazy. We tried teaching people all week but we did just alot of finding. One night we taught a way cool couple, and they said hey...go talk to our neighbor so we did. When we showed her the book of mormon she freaked out and told us it was from the devil. We talked with her a few more minutes and they she yelled at us in a non earthly language. It was way creepy, and she stopped and was just normal again. I could of sworn satan was coming through. So that was interesting. But I didn't feel scared or anything. So we just told her she was a daughter of god, and left. Knocking here is always interesting. Well the weather here has been awesome. 80's all week with rain at night. I love it. I get to go to Tallinn this week on splits so I am way excited. But nothing else to write so talk to you next week.
Elder Boyce

Hello!

Hello,
Well I have had a big week here. I was made District Leader over Tartu and then all of my district was transferred. So I am the only one here righ tnow in Tartu. It wasn't really a surprise to get called, but man there is alot of work to do. I am now just getting the hang of it. I am senior companion now too and my district is so young. I am the oldest missionary out. My companion has been out for 6 weeks. His name is Elder Elmer and he is from Las Vegas. He is way good at the language...way better than I ever was. So it is really fun. The other two elders are Elder McGavin and Elder Lane (whom I helped train). So they were white washed into the area. This is there 4th transfer each. So it has been a big change if anything. My Estonian has already improved just from Wednesday. I am speaking all the time now, and I am understanding members that I never thought possible. I am also paying bills and all this stuff in Estonian. So I think its safe to say that things are coming well. It has just been so busy though. Elder Elmer doesn't really have an opinion about anything yet and I am not used to planning days but its been good. We taught a bunch of lessons this week which was cool. Plus I have been working with a less active named Luule and she finally came to church. That was awesome. We were able to teach Liis, Peeter, and Kärt. It was so much fun. Kärt made us the best sushi I have ever had. We had a way good discussion with them about the church and it was just a really fun night. I love them. Plus, I could understand their estonian as well. haha. Its so crazy. Tartu has two baptismal dates. Hopefully three soon. But the two haven't come to church yet. So we are hoping. I have been calling some of my old contacts from back when I first lived here and I got hold of a guy that miraculously remembered me contacting him back in September. At the time he wanted to quit drinking, and he still wants too. So I have a meeting set up with him this week. So that was awesome. Well it is all going good! The work is booming. I am excited to see what this next transfer brings. It will be way fun.
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce

Hello...tere!

Hello,
This week was fantastic!!! It went by so fast. I can't believe I am sitting at the computer again writing you guys. So we set a goal in our District to teach 20 lessons per companionship so we could have 40 total. Well Satan found out and did everything he could to stop us. We had lessons cancel, we got jaked, and we had investigators drop us this week. But we did lots of splits with members and persevered. This all happened to the sisters too. so by Sunday we were 6 lessons short, and we had to go to Tallinn for District Conference so we didn'tt really have time to teach people. So last night at 6 we were talking about how we did 6 lessons in 3 hours. So the sisters went out and Hortin went with a member and I went with Elder gray. The sisters taught 4, Gray and I taught 2 (and got one new investigator) and Elder Hortin taught one! So we taught 7 lessons in 3 hours! We reached our goal! It was awesome!! We prayed, had faith, and worked so hard. It was way cool just to see the Lords hand in the work last night. He totally guided us and helped us. District Conference was so much fun! The whole Estonia church met in Tallinn for a two hour meeting. So I got to see all my Pärnu firneds. And it was amazing. I've been away from them for almost 4 months and now I can understand them. It was the coolest thing. Ah! I love this language. It is so much fun to speak. We also taught a less active and she was so cool. So willing to change and come back. I am excited to see how she progresses. I had an old investigator here back in September named Anti and he had a baptismal date but it just never worked out..well HOrtin and the member taught him last night and they said he is way good. So thats way awesome that we are going to start teaching him again. He has a desire to be baptized so thats rad. Gray and I taught Marja last night and we had a really good talk. She said that she dones't know if she believes the same way we do. So I told her we would still visit and still teach but the pressure would be off from baptism and she was greatful for that. So I think we are just going to start at the beginning with her. She studies all the time on her own and she is amazing. but she is just confused. The sisters go home on Wednesday and that is so crazy. I am really going ot miss them. they have been so much fun here. I am really ready for transfers tomorrow. I just need a change of companionship. I saw Maive-she is from Pärnu and has tons of kis-well she was talking to me and said her son Kristjan misses me so much. (I've sent home tons of pictures of him) So she wants to bring him to Tartu for a visit. I was way excited. I love that kid. Well everything else is going just great. I will let you know about transfers and where I am going. But I am pretty sure I am staying. the weather here has been crazy too. Way cold and rainy, or nice and sunny or both on one day. It can't make up its mind, but thats estonia for ya. Ya its crazy I am one year old. One year to go. Before you now it I will be home. But this has been such an amazing experience. Yes it is difficult, but it is so fun. I love it. Anyways. Love you all. I hope you have a good week!
Elder Boyce

Hump Day Yesterday!!!!

IT WAS YOUR HUMP DAY YESTERDAY!! YA YA YA!!! SEE YOU IN A YEAR:)

Hey...

Well, another week down. They go so fast. It has been very good. It went by really fast. We were able to got on an all day split the other day with a member so me and elder gray were together and it was so much fun. We are workign with a less active named Koidula just trying to get her back. We have tried everything and she still won't come but we aren't giving up just. yet. We haven't had really anything new happen this week. The sisters have one more week so they gave their final talks in Sacrament yesterday. They did really well. Oh so I gave Inge her scriptures and she loved them! She cried. Its so awesome how much they appreciate the little things that we take for granted. I love it. We taught Malle and she is doing so well. She told us that she was meetin gwith her family this past week and that they were saying how she is so different and so happy. Also how mormons are lame...and she stood up for us! That was way cool. So ya. Oh and we were running to a bus the other day and some guys ylled out...'Hey Elders!!* That was cool. But really not much else to add. Vend Vilpos kids want to be baptized still. We got them way excited for church and Ave shes eleven says she wants to be a missionary. That really made my week for sure. Oh ya! One year mark this week!! Can you believe it? I can't.
Love you all!
Elder Boyce

Happy Birthday Elder Boyce:)

I can't believe I am 21 today.. It is really weird. I cant believe that ayear ago today I was giving my farewell talk. Ah. Its crazy how much Ihave changed since then and how many amazing experiences I have had. Humpday!! Ah. Its coming. So crazy. I have loved every minute of it. Thesisters made me a birthday dinner last night. Fettucinin alfredo and giantcinammon rolls. Plus, I lucked out having my birthday on Pday so we aregoing out to eat and going on a walking tour of Tartu. Tonight Nedezda isthorwing me a little birthday party. Then last Saturday was zone conferenceand I got sang to there. So its been way fun. haha. Zone conference wasamazing. There was this kid in Pärnu that I helped teach named German, andhe was baptized. So he came to zone conference in a suit and tie-totallylooked like a missionary. When we had testimony meeting he bore the mostamazing testimony about how after he was baptized he was having some healthpains and he prayed and was comforted. Then another night he prayed, hesays Jesus appeared to him and asked 'whats wrong my son' so he told him hedidn't want to live here anymore. Jesus said 'just follow the right pathand everything will be okay' and now he is an active member wanting to go ona mission. It is so amazing. This kid would get in fights drink and smokeand now he is an active member in the Viimse Aja Pühade Jeesuse KristuseKirik and he loves it. I was so amazed by that. Really felt the spirit.We were so busy this week doing more exchanges. I set up a meeting with akid and we taught him and he was awesome. He was 18 and so grown up. Wewere so surprised. Not the normal Estonian. He was way interested so we'llteach him again this week. We taught Malle again and she promised to readand pray so that was way good too. So its really been a good last week!thanks to all those who wished me a happy birthday! Your the best!!! Loveyou all.Elder Boyce

Happy Easter...

Happy Easter!! Remember Easter a year ago? My farewell, birthday, and Easter! Wow. Time is flying. Wow what a week its been. haha. It was just busy. We have stepped back from Maarja. We are just giving her time now. Mikk was out of town this weekend (friday was a holy holiday) so we couldn't teach him. Alot of investigators actually left for the weekend. We have been going on a lot of splits which is way nice and its been a lot of fun. We were delivering conference invites to inactives this week and I was 'senior companion' a little bit and its crazy. Being in that position makes you have to do alot more. I could just speak and understand better, I was bolder, and I just had more confidence. Anywyas...story. We went to visit an old lady named luule. So we walk in and shes just smoking. And she kept ignoring me, but it turned out she was just deaf. haha. So we were talking to her when her old daughter comes out and just started screaming. It scared me so bad. She had a dark evil face and I just felt terrible inside. She was screaming and swearing at us and telling us to get out. So that mom yelled back and the daughter went away. I asked if we should leave, but she said no. So we taught her for a second and got out of there. That is the scariest experience thus far on my mission. But it was pretty cool. I just couldn't believe she was yelling at her mom like that. I swear she was posessed. haha. We started new english classes and i love it. Our class is so good. We got two new girls in it and they are way smart. So that has been really fun. They show interest in the church so we'll see. Sadly none came to Conference lame. Elder Hortin left to Tallinn on splits and Elder Barnes came down here (he's good friends with Sisar Richey...she's the Finn from the MTC that I was related too) We get along really well so that was fun. I got to be senior companion for the day. Answer phone calls and set up lessons. I loved it. haha. Cool thing is Elder Barnes speaks Russian. So we went to an investigators house that speaks Russian and Estonian. So we taught him, and he accepted a baptismal date!!! So May 1st. Alexander will be baptized. That was exciting. Then we just went contacting a bunch in center. That is my favorite thing to do. I actually learned a good lesson too. With the language I have had my faith in me instead of God. So when I went contacting I just forgot about myself and remembered the message and the words to say just flowed. I understood people and ah! It was just great. Then on Staurday it was Elder Grays birthday and I set up lessons and everything. That one day of Senior Companionship just showed that I can do it and gave me so much more confidence. Well conference was great! I saw a couple sessions in Estonian. I understood about 40 percent which is better compared to my 5 percent last November. Then I saw a couple sessions in English. It was so good to just hear and be fed by our leaders. We are going to watch them next week in English. I can't wait. We also have zone conference on Saturday. I am excited. Then next Monday is my big 21 BDAY! I want letters. From anybody. haha. I am way excited. I'll be sure to send pictures. Anyways. More earthquakes I hear. That is scary. Signs of the times. Well thats all this week.
Armastusega

Elder Boyce

Hello Again!

Hello,
Well again another week is over. They just go by so fast. We had a good week. W have been teaching a ton with Members and it has helped a ton. Yes we went back to Maale! We have taught her 3 times now and we have another lesson set up for Friday. I think her and our Member have crushes on each other. The member has given up everything for the church. Even his family...his wife wasn't supportive. So maybe Maale is a blessing. At first she didn't want anything but now she is really interested in it all. So its very exciting to teach her. We also have/had a baptismal date with a guy named Mikk, but he didn't come to church so its being pushed back. He's been taught since I was first here, but he seems to be doing good. Taavi came to church too. One more and we can baptized him! Maarja is being a bum. We need to drop her. She is just being stubborn and hardening her heart. I love her, but I am starting to think that leaving her alone for a while will be the best thing to do! The weather is finally getting better. The snow is melting like crazy. I need a boat to get around Tartu, but I am loving it. I get hot walking around. I have missed that. haha. We went and taught Monika once and she showed a lot of interest then we went back again and she jaked us. So I dont know about her. We saw her and she said her baby was sick and kind of ran off. So we will try back again. I am just really excited for General Conference this next week. You are all so lucky to watch it on TV in your pajamas at home, in English. haha. We have to wait a few days for the English one, but I will try to understand it in Estonian. haha. It will be rough. Well I love you all. I hope you have a great next week!
Elder Boyce

Tere Tere Kallike!‏

Hello everyone!
This week has been so good for you me. I have had so many amazing experiences. One of the best on my mission. First off, I am still in Tartu. I am with Elder Hortin and Elder Gray came with us as well. I served with him for one transfer in Pärnu. We are now the only ones in a trio in Estonia! God likes me in trios for some reason. I still haven't figured that one out. Elder Baird from my MTC is training. So that is cool for him. So this week me and Hortin were a little trunky because of Elder Widdison leaving. So Elder Gray got here and our Tuesday night didn't have anything planned. All our lessons jaked us (stood us up.) So we decided to go knocking. We tried a building and nobody would let us in. Then I tried a builiding and the lady didn't want us to answer but I asked if she would at least unlock the door and so she did. So we went knocking and I was able to give away two books of mormon. I was just trying to be really happy and really smiley and it ended up working. At first they didnt want them, but I persisted and they finally took them. Then our last two doors we knocked. I talked to the first lady and she didn't want anything to do with us. Well her name is Maale and we finally got her to agree to us to come back. The second door was a young girl named Monika and she also agreed. So we taught them both this week and well we have 2 new investigators. They are both moms. Maale is single and Monika is 21 with a live in and a baby. So that was really cool. We taught once and they both want us to come back. They seem interested. So I will let you know how that goes! Sunday church I was able to follow along in Sunday school and answer questions and pay attention and everything. It was so dang awesome! I loved it. Man you have no idea how greatful I am for this opportunity to be here in Estonia. It is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done but I am growing so much. I absolutely love it. of course I have days where I am down but thats okay. For every bad day theres many more good ones. Im just happy. Oh and in Priesthood I am now the official piano player. I just play those simplified hymns but I am pretty sure thats going to be my new calling. haha. We have taught Taavi and his sister and now his sister Ave wants to be baptized. She is always in the country on the weekends but we are trying to get her to church. Sh eloves the book of Mormon and is just awesome. Thats exciting.
Well thats all this week. Love you. Send me letters. Please!!
Elder Boyce

Hello Again!

Hello everyone,
This week has been busy. We have had blizzard snow storms here and man its cold. I slipped again yesterday and now have a huge bruise on my leg. The things missionaries go through to serve the Lord. haha I love it! Well we had so much fun at zone conference! Good to see everyone again. President Dance taught us alot about how to keep the Spirit with us in the work and how to plan better. It was actually very helpful. So a really good zone conference. I said goodbye to Vanem Roberts my trainer. We are preparing for Widdison leaving. He ships out tomorrow. I am going to miss him. We find out transfers tomorrow. Two new Elders. I am not sure what to think. I don't know whats going to happen. Either way Ill be excited. Maarja still hasn't been baptized. She now says when the spring is here and she can be baptized in the Lake she will do it. She wouldn't lie to me either. So I am positive its going to happen, but when I am not sure. We'll continue to teach her and challenge her. We are teaching Triin from english and we taught her with a member last night. It went really well. We committed her but she doesn't want to leave the Lutheran church and make them feel bad. Shes so sweet. haha. So we will continue teaching her. Taavi is being a punk but his sister who is a year older has shown a lot of interstest lately. So we are going to change our focus. Shes way good. Something will happen soon. Liss, Peeter, and Kärt are so good. They took us to the Atlantis again and they are planning something for my birthday. They are so just dang busy. They all work like crazy and its really hard to teach them at the Atlantis. So as of right now they are not progressing but they really like us. So something will happen, I just don't know when. Kärt is moving to Michigan in August. She is getting her masters degree so I hope to do something with her before she leaves. But right now is just seems like a waiting game with our investigators. We have a ton, but you know. I think once this blasted snow leaves and spring arrives things will change. Estonians moods change with the seasons. I feel like something will happen soon. I am excited. Well until next week!

Elder Boyce

Tsaio...

So today is womans day in Estonia. So happy womans day to all of you out there. I hope it is a good one. This past week has been crazy busy again. We were able to teach Kert, Liis, and Peeter again. They made us some yummy food and took us home in a car. (Food and Cars from people don't happen often in this mission) It was fun. Liis and Kert even wear CTR rings. Pretty cool. But they have just a few problems with the church because they have seen some really strict mormon families judge them. To bad, but we are getting them past it. They are throwing Elder Widdison a good bye party on Tuesday. I am going to try and bake a cheesecake. Wish me luck. We taught a few people this week that just faught us. Everything we taught, they had a concern. These Tartu scientist. haha. We are really working hard. We also have a bunch of new investigators from English class. One is named Triin, and she looks like Kate from the show Lost. She is against smoking and drinking and is pretty much living a LDS life right now. So we teach her private english lessons, and then some doctrine. So thats really fun. An old missionary that lives here is getting married on the 20th to an Estonian so his whole family will be here next Sunday so I am excited for that as well. And Zone conference is this week. Spiritual nourishment. I am excited.. Well I love you all. I hope you have another great week! Thanks for all the messages you send me!
Love you!
Elder Boyce