Hailey in Russia: Grateful

I'm coming home. I'm leaving my eastern home and returning to my western home. I never thought that this day would come, honestly. I have SO many mixed emotions about it. It really doesn't even feel real to me that it's my turn to go. Well.... here it goes.

Guess who's 22? This gal. So weird. I still feel like i'm 12! Anyway, I honestly think this birthday was truly one of the best that I've ever had. The festivities began at 6:30am. I woke up, opened my cute socks and card from mom and dad and read the card my sister wilson wrote me. It was a good time. I made myself some breakfast which consisted of fruits and yogurt and then we started out the day with studies.

I think my favorite part about the day was when I changed my outift.................. 3 TIMES! Just like I'd do as a first-grader. (fam, remember that?) Then at noon we had a lesson at “BI”’s house with “KY”. Let me paint the picture for you: “BI” calls several minutes before we got to his house and he sang me HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And then he also proceeded to sing a song from his favorite movie "Love potion number 9". It was just majestic and SOOOOO funny. Anyway, he bought me a cake and we all ate it with tea together, and then had a sweet lesson with “KY” about trusting God, and about repentance and baptism. She hasn't committed to a date yet, but she agreed to pray to ask God if she needs to be baptized into Christ's Church.

We went home, finished our studies, and then at 5 I got to go to my family! (in Tolyatti) The “YLSW’s house. It was so fun! We made tacos for my birthday. They're the dang friends. They gifted me pretty yellow flowers and a russian necklace and bracelet. It was truly the dang best. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Do you know what's better than yellow flowers? RED ONES! You'll never believe it. I got a phone call from a random man tat said he had a gift for me. I was really confused... and then I thought of the sneakiest friend in all the lands. HAYDEN! that sneak sent me flowers and a cake and a message in a bottle. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! It was so great. I felt so special. I sure do love him. It was just the best dang surprise.

It really was a great day. I can't believe how lucky I have been to be able to celebrate 2 birthdays in Russia! I love Russia and I love russians. Quick story that will melt your heart just like it melt mine.

The other day we were on a bus. The woman who sat across from me had such a kind face. We began talking with her and found out that she knows a tiny bit of english and that she travels the world and has been to most places. Well, I made the HUGE mistake of telling her that I really loved her pretty scarf. She proceeded to tell me that she bought it in Turkey while on vacation. And long story short... we gave her the Book of Mormon and right as we were getting off the bus, she takes off her scarf and wraps it firmly around my neck and INSISTED it as a gift to me for the wonderful book that we gave to her. It really did melt my heart and I wanted to cry. I can't believe her generosity, to give me something that she really treasured, and she didn't even know me! ALL russians are that way. They'll give you the clothes off their backs if they have to. I really do love them. It's going to break my heart to say goodbye to them in just a couple of days.

I have learned so many things as I've had the opportunity to serve the Lord here in Samara Russia. I have made a list of 20 condensed things that I have learned while being here.

1) Christ is in charge. ALWAYS.

2) The minute you think: "I did that!" or "I could understand that person because I know russian" we take Christ out of the work, and His hand gets stayed a bit because of our pride.

3) NEVER agree to giving an old 76 year old babyshka a "little back rub" because the next thing you know she's literally topless, and you've got yourself a big saggy smelly silly back massage in front of your eyes.

4) Never give compliments to things you like which people have. Because they will 70% of the time give it to you. (They're just the dang best!) They are so generous and kind. AND hilarious.

5) Without the Spirit, this work really can't progress. The Spirit REALLY is a member of the Godhead, and we really can't do anything unless we rely on the Spirit to know where to go, what to do, and what to say.

6) God's children are just so beautiful. All of them and their cultures are just amazing.

7) EXACT obedience brings miracles. I've seen it over and over on my mission.

8) The corn on the cob that is 10 rubles is AWFUL. ALWAYS spend the extra 20 rubles for the good stuff.

9) MEMBERS ARE THE DANG FRIENDS! They've truly changed my life for the better. They're so dang funny and so dang weird.

11) Heavenly Father and Christ want us to have fun on our missions.

12) What they say "The Lord doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." It's soooo true.

13) Before my mission, return missionaries would say "the mission is the hardest thing i've ever done in my liiiiife." I thought they were all just whiners, but no. They're so right. Mission really are so heart-breakingly difficult but so flippin worth it.

14) Dogs don't say "woof woof" they say "gaff gaff". Cat's don't say "meow meow" they say "kees kees"

15) Sister Meyers from the district is my IDOL! (jk. all you former missionaries get me.)

16) Heavenly Father won't deny His children the opportunity of hearing the gospel because we may not speak their language too well. He will always make up the difference.

17) The atonement is real. It is infinite. It's for sinners, the broken hearted, the used, the misunderstood, the comfortless, the depressed, the lonely, and everything in between. It's real, and it's for all of us!

18) I am NOTHING. I am weak, I can't write in russian, I can't speak russian the way I'd like to. I can't ever feel satisfied with the efforts I give. BUT like in 2 Nephi 33:4 "I know the Lord God will consecrate my [[efforts] for the gain of His children. All the [efforts] I've given in my weakness WILL be made strong [because of Christ] for His children."

19) We really can obtain Christ's attributes.Above all of His attributes, the BIGGEST and the most important is Faith in Jesus Christ. I love what Preach My Gospel says about it. "With faith in Jesus Christ you accomplish what the Lord wants you to accomplish." And then later in the paragraph it goes on the say "Faith is a principle of power. God works by power, but His power is usually exercised in response to faith." GOD. WORKS. BY. POWER! But He can't exersize His power unless/until we give something. Unless we exercise faith in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ. This is just so true.

20) I have learned to trust my Father in Heaven. I have learned to trust my Savior. I have come to know my Savior. I know Him. He knows me perfectly too. I thank God and Christ every day, and I'll continue to thank them everyday of my life, for sending me here to the Samara Russia mission. This place has my heart. They knew I wasn't needed here in this mission, they knew I needed this mission. Specifically THIS place. I have been reaquainted with my friends from Heaven here in Russia. I really strongly feel that that's true. I have changed for the better because of these russian people. I am more humble, I am stronger, and I know that I can do hard things WITH the help of my Savior. I love this place. I will always long to be back here. I am grateful for the opportunity I've been blessed with to become more and more, here and little and there a little, who God needs me to become. My mission has helped me to do so. I love Russians, I love Russia, EVERYTHING about it, and I love the Lord Jesus Christ. He is ALL knowing, ALL powerful, and omnipotent. I love Him, and I love His work. I will serve Him all the days of my life.

I would be so ungrateful if I didn't mention the help and support which my mission president President Schwab and his wife Sister Schwab. I LOVE them. They have filled the void of my family for the passed 16 months. I love them. They have been willing to drop EVERYTHING that they're doing to answer my questions, to lift up my broken spirit, to teach me, to tell me jokes, to listen to me. I will miss them so terribly. I also truly believe that the Lord called me to this mission because I needed the example of the Schwabs in my life. I will NEVER forget them and their sacrifices on my behalf, and their examples, and all the bad jokes we would tell each other. I love them so much AHHH! The Schwabs for life!

I would also be so ungrateful if I didn't mention my companions.

SISTER COLEMAN, you taught me to love the work. You taught me to always be myself and to just be a freak and to share my talents with everyone. Love you for that! Best trainer ever. Singing with you always was a treat. I love you.

SISTER MCKELL, we had the best times together. We got to live together for 5 months! Some of the best 5 months of my mission. You taught me to just rely on Christ and to know that success isn't measured by anything. It just is measured by the love you feel to and from others. I love you. (& shiny Craig ) hehehe

SISTER MARTINEZ, you taught me to give all the glory to Christ. All of it. You taught me what it truly means to serve others. Thanks for that my lil mexican bean feast! I love you.

SISTER MCKELL, you taught me SO much. You taught me to never ever give up and to never ever complain, even when you break your foot. You really are a light to me and to others and you took care of me when my health was at it's worst, and I took care of you. You're just the pal! I love you.

SISTER REED, you are so sassy. You made the best crepes I've ever tasted in my life. You taught me to push myself just a liiiiitle bit further and further each and every day. You have amazing drive. I love you.

SISTER HULLINGER, you introduced me to my turn on earth. Need I say more? Just kidding. You have taught me a lot about loving others. You have so much love, especially for children. You have a desire to be obedient and it whips me into shape when I sometimes fall off the obedient train. I love you.

I am so grateful to have served here. I am most grateful to my God, and my Savior, and to my parents who provided me with the means to be able to be here. I LOVE YOU! Neighbors and family who helped me to get here too, I LOVE YOU.

I am grateful to the Russian people. My friends, my family, all the things that I have learned from you. I love you dearly and will always always miss you and always always love you.

I have come to know the mysteries of God little by little, and I will continue to do so as the door of my mission closes, and as the Lord opens up the next door. I am so excited to get to the other side of that door and see all the cool things in store. I am so grateful and I hope that you all retain in remembrance the greatness of God. He LIVES! And He LOVES each and every one of us. I know it. I have seen it. I have lived it. I will continue to live it.

I will see you soon. I love you all!

Love,

Сестра Хэйли Джейн Твид

Россиская Самарская Миссия

April 2014-October 2015