Week #41

Suffering, sorrow and pain. 

Hello Family, Friends, Blake Sykes, Mark McDermott, Jon Ruggles, Adrian Ramjoue, and all of the other people who I would like to email me.

This week was one for the ages.

E asked us if he could be baptized. March 4th is the date. VERY EXCITING!

I gave a talk in church. I tried my best to get up and just talk. (not read from a paper) 

 The first speaker spoke about the Book of Mormon and Sister Kunzelman then spoke about Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

I then got up and said "Šodien, es runāšu par Ciešanam, Bedam, un Sapem" (Today, I will speak abour Suffering, Sorrow, and Pain.) Everyone got sad.

I spoke of my favorite New Testament verse (Romans 8:18) and how sometimes we focus on our trials and forget the big Picture.

I then told the whole story of my Grandmother, Linda, and her life. I spoke about how through the death of her Husband and Son, she stayed focused on the BIG PICTURE not on the little things. I then spoke of my mother, Tamera, and how she lost her Dad, Brother, and Husband and still keeps going. 

I ended with the point, "Nav Svarīgs kas notiks mūsu dzīvēs, bet ir svarīgs ko mēs darām kad sliktas lietas notiek, tāpēc, ka viņi noteikti notiks visiem" (It is not important what happens to us, but it is important what we do when bad things happen, because they will for sure happen to all of us)

One of my favorite members, An, told me to tell my Mother and Grandmother they they have a sister in the gospel in Latvijā. Also, to say that you have a good grandson and son. Tee hee.

Have a good week.

Week #40

I bought an ice fishing pole. The Daugava has frozen over and the fish are about to go CRAZY. I am also about to go CRAZY. No one can keep me off the ICE.

Massive perch out of these waters, 5 times the size of the little guys we catch on Utah lake, President Chugg. Very beautiful fish. Also tasty.

I like panfish in general. Crappie, Blugill, Sunfish, Perch, it is all good. Sadly, I still have never caught a Crappie.

No Crappie in Latvija. Lots of Pike though. Breen too, but they are ugly. They also like to eat Carp in Latvija, so that is awful.

I wish investigators were fish. I wish I could just throw a Curly tailed white jig tipped with carp meat into a pond and have a 5 lb Jānis or Līga or Andris or Marta or some other Latvian hooked. 

We did get some bites last  week and this week. Ma, cool guy. Also Ed. 

ALSO GO STEELERS. Skin Bill and Tommy ALIVE!

(Too harsh? No.)

E and  Alare doing well.

P showed up to work with his Church of Satan star and shirt, MASSIVE leather boots, and gave his dad as a referral. Also, he is going to SLC in march. Who is down to take him to dinner? (I have a great time, every time.)

Have a good week. 

I miss fishing, if you didnt notice. Also music. Tootsie Rolls Too.

Week #39

Friends, family and Jon Ruggles,

Avatar: The Last Airbender was brought up in conversation this week. I will how make multiple connections between ATLA and the Gospel.

1) Battle within Zuko. The battle between good and evil that takes place in Zuko is QUITE accurate to what goes on each day with us. We can choose God or Satan, lets just be like Zuko and choose the right. Kick the Firelord in the face.

2) Zuko and Iroh. The relationship between these two is the same as with us and God. We are rebellious and think we know all, but we don't. Iroh is always wiser than us. He just wants us to choose the better path. #WhiteLotus

Your welcome. I will save the others for a future date.

I am fine. Investigators are cool. Latvija is not AS cold as Jūta (Utah) but it is cold.

3 new investigators last week. Woot Woot. 

I thought about Jon when I thought about Avatar. Luv u Jon. 

Bye

Week #38

2017 Resolutions

1) Be Better.

2) Lose more weight.

3) Don't make mistakes.

4) Maintain the power that I have gained.

5) Gain more power.

6) Beat every Escape Room in Riga.

7) Never be a Junior Companion.

Good list.

I had a drunk man ask me to rub noses with him yesterday. I told him no, and he said "Americans... (I had already said I was from the USA) All you do is vote for George Bush and invade Iraq." I said "Yes." If I was not a missionary, I would have done it. His name was Karlis. He did get close enough to my face that I could smell the cheap Russian booze.  I love Riga.

I bought a selfie stick.

We (me, Elder Demille, Elder Cooley, and Elder Birch) have done 2 Escape rooms in the past 3 weeks. We will do another today.

I had a man text me his Bank and Credit Card info yesterday asking for 30 euro. 

Happy New Year. 

This very well may be our last. All hail King Trump and his cheap orange spray tan!

See you next year. 

Week #37

Hi

Skyping the family was good. I tried to Skype from my account, but it wouldn't let me. It said "We see a problem with your login, you are no longer in the USA" and I said, "No I am not" LOL at Skype and at me and at Latvija. 

The thing I miss the most about Christmas in America is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" 

The greatest movie of our generation. A green furry man has a change of heart. HINT: Repentance. Even the Grinch can make use of Christ's atonement. Merry Christmas.

Also Christmas Shoes.

Latvija is a MESS. Everyone is sassy and pagan/lutheran and they HATE us. I LOVE IT! :)

Nothing happened at transfers for the Elders. Two sisters are switching from Liepaja to Riga. it will be fun.

Week #36

Es tikai raksīšu Latviešu Valodā šodien, un es ceru ka Google Tulkotajs stradas.

Ta bija davana no Eldera Nelsona, mans apmacītajs. Ta ir Deivida Bekama bilde, kura bija uz ielas pirms dažiem menešiem. Bija parsteigums man, un mans prieks bija pilns.

šonedeļ, es ceļoju uz Liepāju un Jelgavu, lai apciemotu Elderu Kāru un Begliju un arī Elderu Nevilu un Rombergeru. Es gaju kopa ar Elderu Bērzu. Viņš bija mans parinieks MTC. Viņš ir cits Zonas Vadītajs. Viņš is zirgs un man nepatik ar vinu stradāt.

Man isti nepatika Liepāja. Es domaju ka Jelgava is smukāk un skaistāk. Bet man vienalga, jo es kalpoju Rīgā un par to, esmu laimigs.

Es arī domaju ka Jūta Štata is aukstāk neka Latvija. Es jutu līdzi.

Es esmu sajusma par Ziemassvētkiem. Es ceru ka jums visiem būs priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un Laimīga Jauna Gada.

Elders Demīls ir labs parinieks un viņš arī ir labs cilveks. Es ceru ka viņam patic es.

Ar mīlestibu,

Elders Devins Džeims Josts

Here is how google translated it. 😊

I just raksīšu Latvian today, and I hope that Google translator works.

It was a gift from Elder Nelson, my trainers. It is a David Bekama picture, which was on the street a few months ago. It was a surprise to me, and my joy was complete.

this week, I am traveling to Liepaja and Jelgava to visit Elder war and Begliju and also Elder Neville and ROMBERGER. I went along with Elder Birch. He was my companion for MTC. He has a different zone manager. He is a horse, and I do not like them to work with.

I do not really like Liepaja. I think that Jelgava is nicer and more beautiful. But I do not care because I was serving in Riga and on'm happy.

I also think that Utah is colder than in Latvia. I felt along.

I'm excited about Christmas. I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Elder Demīls is a good companion and he is a good man. I hope that he likes me.

With love,

Elder Devin James Joost

Week #35

I have about 3 minutes to write this. Sorry.

Good week, hopefully next Monday you will hear about a few Baptismal Dates.. :O

Elder Demille is well. All is well.

I got bit by a spider.

I got beat in ping pong by a 60 year old man named Jānis. He won the first 21-19, I won the second 21-19, he won the third 21-17, and he won the forth 21-19. Close, but no cigar (BTW cigars are HUGE here).

Love you all.​​