Hailey in Russia: MILK IT

HAPPY BDAY TO SPENC! Love you and I hope you had the happiest week!

BONNIE YOU BE LOOKIN GOOD! I can't believe you have a baby in your belly. WOAH. PS you have to email me his name because I have to know before everyone else because it's not like I can tell anyone about it. LOVEYOU

I hope you all had a happy snappy week. It was real good over here in Samara.

Weekly rundown for you all:

MONDAY- We went to the mall with the Dunns (i'm obsessed with the dunns) and they bought us BURGER KING! Okay i know what you're thinking. "that's not that good" but I'm here to tell you.... it was AMAZING! I had a bacon burger and it's been over a year since I've had a good burger and it was just the best time ever. We then saw a young man wearing booty shorts and his girlfriend wore booty shorts too. but his were way shorter and more booty licious. European fashion am i right? Anyway, There is just nothing quite like hairy legs and tiny shorts. You best believe I'm talking about the young mans hairy legs......... AND hers because nobody here shaves. Mom and Hayley McDonald, you'd be in heaven because you'd fit right in :)

TUESDAY- We had exchanges with the STL sister “ST”. She is the funniest russian gal you will ever meet. I love her. We met with "TY" and it was an amazing lesson. We felt really inspired to have a testmiony meeting and share our conversion stories with each other. Sissy "ST" talked about how she too was russian orthodox and about how she had to make a choice between proveslavni church or Christ's church (our church) and she prayed and asked specifically to have the feeling of a physical presence surrounding her if Christ's church, if the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is true. She explained that after she asked, she indeed felt that physical presence and was baptized not too long after. It was so great because "TY" has been feeling torn about being baptized here, or not. She really related to sissy "ST" beacuse she too was proveslavi. Then, cute sister Dunn testified about Joseph Smith and as she did, tears filled Tan's ("TY"'s nickname) eyes. We invited her to be baptized and she said "I'm seriosuly thinking about it, and I think about it every day." AHHHHH she then committed to pray about baptism specifically just like sister "ST" did. Keep her in your prayers because she's just so close and it's amazing! I think she might be my best friend investigator I've ever had on my mission! She is the beeeeest.

WEDNESDAY- A day of exchanges with sissy Wilson! Such a grand time. I love that sass. We spent the morning hitting the streets in the windiest rainstorm. It was so fun! Then we came upon a milk truck. Yes, a milk truck. It's the milk that comes straight from the utter of a russian cow living in a russian village, and straight to the truck, then straight into a bottle, then straight into your mouth, then to your belly. Me and sissy W were skeptical about it, but decided we'd try it anyway. Oh. My. GOSH. BEST MILK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not a huge milk drinker unless oreo's are involved (as you know) but this milk seriously is out of this world. So fresh, so tasty, dang. But the best part about the whole experience was the milk lady named "LB". She is just the nicest lady. When we asked her what we could give her to repay her for the free milk she gave us, she said after pausing.... "Give me your number. I want to meet with you girls." OKAY, done. It was so cool! We have her the Book of Mormon and she's really stoked to read and meet with us. I hope she brings us milk because shoot. Russian cows know how to produce. Later that day we saw this woman on the street corner that we have talked to in the past, and her name is Tyote RY (aunt RY). This lady is petty old, and not very interested in meeting with the missionaries. Anyway, she's ending our conversation, but then we kept talking with her, asking her about her family when all of the sudden she just paused and said "Do you know "LV" the fat lady? Well, she's waiting for you to go to her house, here's her address." This random lady from the streets gave US a referral and it was SOOO COOL! And right when she was done giving us "LV"'s address, she just walked away. Isn't that crazy? that NEVER happens here! It really was a dang miracle for reals. It was a huge testimony to me that the Lord really leads this work, and he will work through old babushki to make it all happen. So awesome.

Later that night, we went to a coffee shop to meet with a potential named "KT". On our way there we ran into a group of young men who all spoke english, who were here on student exchange from India, Africa, Turkey, and Egypt. They told us they've all seen our church in their home countries. We told them to go to the church once they go home because we KNEW it wasn't a coincidence. Pretty cool. Anyway, we go to the cafe, and "KT" as way happy to see us. The best part though was this other girl named "SH" who was working too. She expressed to us how she's been on the search for truth, because she doesn't feel it in the Proveslavni church. We ended up teaching the restoration to her as we drank hot chocolate and smoothies. And by the end, "SH" was almost in tears. It really was amazing. We gave her the Book of Mormon and she's stoked to read soon :)

THURSDAY- a crappier day... I was having some bad anxiety, but then it went away at night when we went contacting. FUN FACT I'm obsessed with contacting, I think it's just a dang blast I love all the different people and hearing all their crazy stories. Also, sister Reed and I had a heart to heart, and it was really needed and it was way awesome and I just love that lil' lady, she's just the cutest sassiest trainee in all the lands.

FRIDAY- WAYYYY sweet zone training with president Schwab and sister Schwab. Guess what? President has shingles and it's so sad. I made a joke to him last week and said "Hey president, next time you remodel your house, you should get a flat cement roof instead of a peaked roof with shingles." hahahahaha he thought that was pretty funny, and I did too. Anyway, we talked a lot about inviting people to church and how we as missionaries aren't making enough promises in Christ's name, and we need to emphasize that more. We decided to emphasize making promises in His name on the streets, and it's seriously been super cool. People have been way more receptive to us and they also feel the Spirit as we testify and make promises to them in the name of Jesus Christ. I love it, it's been way awesome to just see that light in their eyes. Later that night we had interviews with President. He helped me out a ton. He is the best! I also got to have girl talk with Sister Schwab. and she's just the cutes so that was fun.

Then, we had a lesson with a member named "LC". SHE IS THE CUTEST MEMBER OF MY LIFE!!!! Her story is really sad. She got in an accident and had to get a blood trasfusion (several years ago) and she ended up getting AIDS from her blood transfusion. So heartbreaking. She has a lot of pain and sickness, but you'd never guess because she's so positive and she never complain. She's just the best pal! Keep her in your prayers.

SATURDAY- Saturday comes along, and we decided to go to "LV"'s house, the referral that we got from that lady Tyota RY. We prayed, then rang the doma phone, and we hear a woman answer "Hello?" we answered ""LB"!" and without asking any further questions, she opened the door for us. We looked at each other amazed, and then walked up the stairs. And to our surprise...................... she just swings the door WIDE open and ushers us in "COME IN SISTERS COME IN!" I have never met or seen this woman before in my life. What do we do? Obviously we go in. We take our shoes off, and have a seat with her. We get acquainted, and find out this lady is a former investigator! She's only a former because she lost her phone back in the fall and since then had lost contact with the sisters. We told her about that woman Tyote RY, and she thought and thought and thought... "Oh Yeah!" she said "I have an acquaintance named Tyote RY." So amazing. The Lord is AMAZING. We talked more, and found out that she and her best friend who lives across the street from her have been reading the Book Of Mormon together for MONTHS! At the end of our meeting with her which we were inspired to talk about prayer, she said to us "I really do need you sisters." It was soooooooooo miraculous SHOOT! It was great. She invited to come back again. She is SO prepared it just makes my heart melt like a popsicle. But the funniest part about the whole thing was when her old old old 86 year old dad came home. He walked in the room, and sat down. Sister Reed was testifying really powerfully and her old dad didn't say a word until sister reed finished testifying. Then at the end of her testimony, he stands up and just starts YELLING at us. HAHAHAHAHA oh my gosh he was being so dang funny, but he genuinely hates us. He was saying things like "WE DON'T NEED YOUR PREACHIN!!!! I ALREADY LOVE CRIST AND KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM. GET OUT OF HERE!!!!!! " But we didn't get out of there, we just sat there in awe because it was just so dang funny. It was like an episode of days of our lives but better because it was real life and it was all in russian. He then told us how he scared the last sisters that were over so bad that they ran away and never came back. Then he skreetched at us "AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE TOO!!!" Then shook his shaky creaky wrinkley finger at us. But we didn't leave. We just testified to him that God loves him, and that we are here as representatives of Jesus Christ. But............. he still screamed. So the next time that we meet "LV" we will have to meet somewhere that isn't her house because her dad is super anti-kind girls who are just sharing the gospel. haha it was pretty funny.

SUNDAY- We ate dinner at the Dunns. It was really great, and then I got to have a long talk about obedience with the Dunns and about how we are all just here trying, and we will never be perfect, as long as we are striving to be obedient. Then, we went to EM’s house again, the member that can't walk. Seriously, she is super ripped because she has to crawl on the ground to get around. Maybe i'll start doing that so I can get buff too. :)

I hate that I have to leave now, but I must. I just want you to know how much that I love you all and look up to you all! Have the happiest week and know that things over here are great, and that the Lord loves you, and he does work in mysterious ways, and as we listen to the Spirit, then everything will be okay! I really do know that this is Christ's church and that He leads it. I love Him, and He loves you! Have a tasty happy week!

Love sissy T