Hailey in Russia: Easter ya'll

HAPPY EASTER YA'LL! I haven't celebrated yet. I hope that you had the most magical easter of all. My easter..... hasn't happened yet because they celebrate it the 2nd sunday here in Russia. So let's just say things are going to get crazzzzyyyy... especially because today me and sister McKell are going to go buy new easter dresses. Ah heck yeah. You best believe that tradition never died!

Samara is sooo siiiiick. I love it here so much! I was so scared to come here because it's a big city and everything, but I have no idea why I was scared because it's literally the best. There are soooo many people from all over the world here. We started teaching this kid named Elvis who is from Nigeria the other day. He moved here 4 months ago. On our way to our lesson, we stopped at this little shack so he could buy gum. He didn't know how to say gum, so he just started screaming MINT MINT MINTS MINTS at the lady behind the desk. hahaha it was really funny, because he was actually mad about it. I laughed, but then helped him out. Good thing I learned the word for gum not too long ago.... It was a pretty good lesson.

Did you know that on april fools day me and sister McKell told pepole on the streets we were j dubs? hahahaha just kidding. I thought about it though. I really wanted to, but then I just decided that was a bad idea all around.Did you have a good april fools day? Did you play some good pranks?

We have our district meetings at the mission office, and guess who came? PRESIDENT SCHWAB HIMSELF! i just was soooo stoked because I LOVE HIM! He is the best! I ran over to talk to him and he said "hey Sister Twede how are you?! it's a beautiful day!" I said yeah it is....."SAMARA IS JUST THE BEST!" and then he shrugged his shoulders and said... "Well.. every city in our mission is the best." haha oops. Blew it. haha it's okay because he has to agree. Samara is just the best!

It is always a little difficult when you get transferred. Not only because you will miss the people that you had to say goodbye to, but because getting adjusted in a new area is always a little nerve wracking. The adjustment from transfers really hasn't been tough this time though! I will always miss the people where I serve, It is always a little difficult when you get transferred. Not only because you will miss the people that you had to say goodbye to, but because getting adjusted in a new area is always a little nerve wracking. The adjustment from transfers really hasn't been tough this time though! I will always miss the people where I serve, but the more and more that I am on my mission, the more and more I realize that the areas in which we serve, our companions with whom we serve, it is all how the Lord wants it to be. I know that this is where I need to be at this time, and I am so excited to serve with Sister Mckell. This week was a riot! I have never felt so exhausted (in a good way) on my mission before. It is just funny because our numbers were low this week, but we really worked so hard and we saw some really sweet miracles.Again, it's about quality, not quantity. Sister Mckell and I discussed what goals we wanted to set for this transfer, and we both decided that something that we want to do is get to know the Savior more. We want to know Him personally and we want to have stronger testimonies than we had before. We were inspired that we would be able to do this as we would testify to people on the streets everyday, one new thing that we learned about Christ that day during our studies. it's so fun as we really forget ourselves and have faith in Christ. Sister Mckell and I have found that as we forget ourselves, that is when we really find Christ. I just want to know Him so much better!

Dang. This week really was jam packed full of little miracles left and right. The first miracle. Friday after district meeting, we called a taxi, because we had a box of books of mormon. So our taxi comes. His name is “G”, and he is about 45 years old. He told us about his job he had as an underwater engineer.(whatever that means) He spent some time in America a few years back, so he spoke a little bit of english which is always fun. But the most fun part was that there was heavy traffic, which is always a miracle because the taxi people have no place to run, no bus stop to get off at, so we got to talk to him for quite a bit. We ended up teaching him the restoration, and as we talked about Joseph Smith's vision, his heart was really touched. He really felt the spirit, and was really excited when we gave him the book of mormon. We testified to him that he can feel God's love and support. He said he wanted that because his wife left him several years ago, and his son rarely talks with him. It was such a miracle to see the Spirit soften his heart. At the end of our car ride, we told him we lead discussions and share Christ’s teachings with people as we are here. He instantly gave us his number and asked us "will you call me? Or should I call you?" We told him we would call him. He hasn't answered yet, but we just know that he WILL!

Next miracle. Last night, we were on a tramvai and we saw this girl listening to music. We went and talked with her. Her name is “LZ”, and she is 19 years old. We asked her what she liked to do, and she told us "I like to make friends!" Always a good answer. We told her we like to make friends too and that we are here as volunteers from our church. She told us "yeah, you wear those black name tags right?" We told her that we usually do, but at the time we weren't. She said "I met the elders in summertime. They invited me to play soccer with a bunch of people and I was really excited, but then when I went to play, nobody was there." We asked her if they gave her the Book of Mormon, and she said "they explained it to me, but they didn't give it to me." We were stoked because we gave her the Book of mormon and the best part when we gave it to her was when she said "NO WAY?! For free? Thank you so much." Then she asked "so all you have to do is just read this book and ask God that it's true? Or is there more?" We explained that there is in fact more, and that as she reads and knows of the truth herself, she will have the desire to be baptized into Christ's only true church. Then she sat there for a second, and then said "This is really is interesting to me." We testified of the book of mormon, and promised her feelings of peace and joy as she reads. She told us that she really wants and needs to feel those feelings. We then invited her to family home evening, and tonight she is coming! We are so stoked. She's just sooooo precious and cutes.

I had such a great study this morning. I want to share with you what I learned! I started with this question... okay how does this chapter (matt 18) relate to easter? I love verse 11. "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost." I thought about that, then I realized, that we are all lost. Now I'll go on with my rant. Verse 12)How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? V 13) And if it so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. V14) Even so it is not the will of your father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

I finally understood it today. We mean EVERYTHING to the Savior, the Lord who created the heavens and the earth, the stars,..... the great creator KNOWS us inside and out. He knows us so well, that he recognizes when we have gone away from Him. He loves us perfectly. I know just as this parable states, that Christ does in fact, go after the 1 out the the 99 because so many times, I have been that 1 that strayed away, and he has come after me every single time. He lives, he is REAL and if we doubt the reality of the Savior, remember that we can always pray. It is NEVER too late to change! It is never too late for the Savior to lead us back to the ninety and nine. Seek Him, and you shall find. Only he can lead us back, and only he can heal us.

Then, I read in Alma 9:26 "The Song of God, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long suffering, is QUICK TO HEAR THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE and to answer their prayers."

WE are HIS people! He HEARS our endless cries, and He is ready to save. Because he lives, we too can live. We TOO can make it back to the ninety and nine, but not without his help. I then read from the new Liahona for April. There's an awesome talk about repentance by Boyd K Packer in there and he said something I loved "The Lord is always there. He has suffered and paid the penalty if you are willing to accept Him as your Redeemer." Then he posted a question: "Why did Christ atone for you? Why did He atone for me? Why did He do it for all humanity? He did it, for the love of God the Father and all mankind. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends. (John 15:3)"

What a gift RIGHT?!?!? AHHH I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT! Not only are we His people, but we are His friends. I know that he atoned for us all, and that he was resurrected for us all, and because he was resurrected, we too will be too, and it will be amazing. Why? Because all the spiritual stuff of course... but also because I am literally going bald right now... and just to know that not a hair from my head will be lost. I'm going to look FAAAAABBBBBULOUS! I love the Savior though. I can't believe that I get to serve Him right now, and that I just get to testify to people that Christ lives. I love it. I know He lives!

I am all outta time. I hope that you had a happy easter!

Love, Sister TWEDE Hayster.