Labas Visiems!

First, I apologize for this being late. We had some training meetings in Kaunas and so our preparation day was moved to Wednesday, so here it is.

Yes, I have moved clear across the country, it's about a four hour drive from Vilnius to Klaipeda, which we made a few times this week, but more about that later. Today we're actually going to go to a dolphin show, since we are right by the ocean. It's also interesting being here, since everyone is basically employed in the sailing world in some sort. A lot of ship engineers, sailors, and other people working for those companies.

This week started off beautifully. We were contacting and talked to an old man, who called us šiaunouliai, which is roughly translated as 'good-jobbers' because we are learning Lithuanian, mentioning how the Russians have been here for years and still don't speak Lithuanian, so that was pleasant. Another younger guy, told us the same thing later, and then most surprising of all a group of teenagers contacted us probably with the intention of making fun of us, but when they found out we could speak lithuanian, they were shocked and complimented us as well, we had a nice little chat with them and they all were quite friendly and shook our hands afterwards.

THen a man on a bike swerved over right next to us and stuck out his elbow so he could hit me, but luckily I dodged it. We also saw a man on a motorcycle slide along the rode bouncing and bumping around, for probably close to 100 yards. He was fine, and got up and picked up his bike and rolled it to the side of the road.

A group of ten year old boys harassed us for a bit, asking if they could have any number of things that they could see us holding, like Elder Whicker's glasses, watches, etc. We've run into them a few other times and always say hello, but try to keep our time together short.

Met with Ainas, an investigator who has a baptismal date for the 24th of September. He's 17 and looks kinda like he should be in an Asian cartoon, he has a very round face, with blonde hair that sticks up in a unique way on the top of his head and blue eyes. He's very solid and has fantastic questions and desires to learn. We taught him with the branch president, President Donatas Blinderuk, who speaks Lithuanian, Russian, and English and served a mission in Wisconsin, I think. Most of the lesson was President and Ainas talking about how he got converted and adjusted to the life of a Church member, which was very good, adn something that Elder WHicker and I can't really talk much about, experience wise at least.

Friday we went to Vilnius in hopes of getting my leidimas gyventi (permission to live) card, for the evidence that I am legal to live here. It was in and we called to make sure the place would be open when we got there, which they said they would. We drove for four hours, get there at about 3.30, they said they closed at 4. It was closed, they closed at 3.15. We were going to spend the night and get it the next morning, so it wasn't a total waste of a day, but being a government building they don't work on Saturdays, so we headed back to Klaipeda, getting home just in time to go to our apartment. Although I did see some people successfully hitchhike, which was a bit exciting.

Saturday we saw a couple old men start brawling with each other. At first it was kinda humourous since they were missing, but then they got way intense and were kicking slamming into fences and the ground, just awful. The horrors of alcohol ladies and gentlement, making sixty + year old men act like teenagers.

Later a man called us over to him and we started talking to him about God and the Restoration. He then called us stupid and rapidly got angry, yelling at us to disappear or he would beat us up. He then started to count to five, his friend said in English, Get outta here, but in a kinda panicked, helpful, I don't want you to get hurt way, so we walked briskly away.

Lithuania got third in the world basketball championship, which lead to some very excited people here, honking their horns like all night after it happened.

Sunday I spoke in Church, which was fun, a lot better than the first Sunday speaking in Vilnius. A member of the district presidency was also there, who is from Vilnius, Kestutis. He spoke after I did, and while he was speaking mentioned what I had said, which was way exciting. He also went a little over and one of the members in Klaipeda hates it when the meeting goes over, so while Kestutis was speaking he walked up to the podium puts down a note and then walks back to his seat. I was shocked. Mostly because I can't imagine that ever happening in America, but it was quite funny.

Monday and Tuesday we had training in Kaunas, Elder Whicker and I got to be companions with Elder Cooke, for some proselyting in the city, since he's serving there now. That was sweet, since both of us were trained by him, it was just way awesome to be back with him.

Tuesday the training ended at about 1, so we hurried and caught a bus to Vlinius, to get my liedimas gyventi for reals and hopefully make it back to Klaipeda that night, so we could have a full preparation day. We were successful and I now have my liedimas gyventi, proof of my legality. Hoorah!!

Oh, here's a bit about where we live. We live in the attic area of a member's home, who are currently serving a mission in the Helsinki FInland Temple, so they are renting out their house, to help pay for their mission, actually. Beneath us, lives some doctors, who work nights, so they sleep during the day, so I haven't ever seen them. I feel like I should be planning some big heist in our apartment though. It has a large open room, with wood floors and a table, some couches, and just the two of us living there. Anyway, just picture that and that's the feel that this place has, which is exciting.

Thanks so much for writing and your support. I love serving and know that this Gospel is true and blesses lives. I appreciate your prayers and pray for you. I love Lithuania, and am glad you all get to experience it a little with me, but hope you all have the opportunity to someday come here, it's probably the coolest, most amazing place ever. Enjoy school, while your there, just soak in the opportunity to learn because that's something I miss. I mean I'm still learning obviously, but studying Lithuanian and the Gospel all day, does leave some thirst still for other learning, which I''ll just have to keep in mind and fulfill when I return.

Love,

Vyrenysis Conor Hilton