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