Hailey in Russia: Fractures & Hospitals

I have recently gotten the opportunity to see missionary work in a different way because....

My precious angel baby companion Sister McKell fractured her ankle. It was just so sad. We went to my birthplace Penza on exchanges. We went to go work out at this little park that I used to work out at when I lived there which is right by the apartment there, and guess what? There was a tree stump. And Sister McKell thought it was a great workout to jump on the stump which it really was it looked way good. Then, I look away, and then I hear her yell "SISTER I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I BROKE MY FOOT!" I think I ran faster in my life in that moment than I ever have before. She's like my baby sister! I was flippin out. We quickly took her boot off (yes we worked out in our boots because we didn't bring our workout shoes with us on exchanges.) and sure enough, he ankle started swelling up reeeeeeeeal nice. It was so sad. These men that were at the park called the ambulance so we just waited for it. And then we waited. And waited some more.. then finally after 20 minutes, the ambulance comes, and the nurses didn't even run over to see what happened they just waddled on over in the slowest pace I've ever seen. What's up with that!? Then, we get into the ambulance, and headed to the free hospital in Penza. Sister McKell is such a dang champ, she was talking about our church the whole time with the lady that was doing her x-ray of her ankle, and with all the nurses.... so dang cool. She wasn't even crying because she's not a baby like this gal. I would've been bawling my dang eyes out not talking to the people working there. Anyway, the doctors said "you just tore ligaments, no broken bones." Then they gave us the xrays and we were outta there.

She spent the next two days hopping around. on one leg. We left our exchanges which were so strange. Quick story. Met with this less active that loves me. His name is “VM”. It was so awkward. In the middle of the lesson, he left, and then came back into the room with a huge tub full of water and a bar of soap and insisted on washing my feet........ i was like... WHAT THE noooooo.... it was so weird. It was just sad because we made such a beautiful lesson about following Christ which means doing what he did/does which means not smoking an he got SOOO offended. Then after we left, he kept sending me texts telling me he looooooooves me. He even bought me a stuffed monkey and a penza pin. The funniest part of all was when he gave me the pin which was actually a magnet he said "you can put it up next to the toilet when you go to the bathroom so you can always think of us here in penza when you go to the bathroom." WHAT THE hahahahahahhahahahaahahaha so strange. He's a strange one. He means well.... the best part was alllll the pictures of me he saved onto his phone from my facebook. Also during the lesson he brought up facebook and told me to talk to my family. YEAHRIGHT! no offense family but.. i don't want to talk to you when i'm no supposed to! haha nahmean? It was so weird. But it was alright because “A” and “T” and their baby “m” came to the lesson too so it made it all okay. They're just my best friends from Penza. I also got to see “L” and pluck out her chin hairs so that was all a treat :)

Back to the juicy stuff though. So we got to the train station and we sat in this little cafe while we waited for our train. She needed something cold on her feet, but guess what? All the had was ice cream, so you best believe that we bought ice cream and put it on her foot.... but the best part was that when it was melted, we ate it. So then, we got to our train and Sister McKell is still just a dang sicko and she's just sooooo cool and she kept sharing the gospel with EVERYONE. The man that pushed her in the wheelchair to get onto the train, named Sergei, funniest thing. There were a lot of people in the way and what does he do? just start screaming "LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS!" and then everyone moved outta the way. It doesn't seem that funny, but just imagine a russian man screaming "NOGI NOGI NOGI NOGI!" and then you'll get a nice chuckle.

We met a ton of cool people on the train, like this couple who were acrobats in the circus. They had a 10 month old baby that was about 11 inches tall that walked all by herself. It was kinda creepy but she was just the most adorable baby. Her name was Vika. I'm obsessed with that name.

We finally got back to Samara, and this is where the story gets good. Our mission doctor who lives in Moscow wanted Sister McKell to go to a different hospital for another check up. So we went to this clinic, right? But in order to get there we had to call a taxi. We have used more taxi's this past week than any other time in my life (before my mission I had never ridden in a taxi but i bet you probably already knew that) This taxi driver is named "VD". This is such a sharp man. He is about 37 years old, and when we started testifying about the truthfulness of the book of Mormon, he really opened up to us. He told us all about his 2 year old daughter who he only gets to see for two days every other week because he and his wife have just recently separated. It was really easy to discern that he was heartbroken, and has need for a lot of spiritual healing. He took us to the medical clinic. Which was SO DANG RITZY I felt like I was on vacation in a nice hotel. Literally the nicest thing ever. While there, Sister McKell got a cast on her foot... and then we found out that she didn't only rip ligaments but she did fracture her poor foot. HAHA what a dang funny story right? Anyway, long story short at the hospital/clinic where we were, we met the coolest lady named “TY”, and she helped us out a ton. She is going to come to our english group and hopefully to church too! We got to have lunch at the ritzy hospital banquet cafe too and it was soooo tasty.

The best part of that story is that when "VD" dropped us off, and said to us “Sister Twede, Sister McKell, can we exchange numbers? I would love to talk about this message you share some time." SOOOOOOOOO COOL! He wasn't able to make it to church this past week because he went to Moscow for work for a couple days, but he promised to come next sunday. We are so excited. Seeing the Spirit testify to him the truth of all the things we spoke about with him really was awesome. Even amidst the challenging circumstances that come as being a missionary, there are always miracles that are just waiting to be had!

Long story short, I am obsessed with Sister McKell. I haven't heard her complain once about her foot. She's the dang best.

Okay now I get to tell you all about how awesome Sister McKell is. She is a FIREBALL! When we were in Penza, we went to a creepy free hospital where we got her x-ray done. Do you know what she did? She was just sharing the gospel with EVERYONE even though she was in pain. Seriously she's the best example. We gave out 1 Book of mormon and several brochures by the time we left the hospital all because Sister McKell really is talking to 3X as many people. She really is amazing, I am really impressed with her positivity during this time, and how she really has relied on Christ. I honestly think if it were me, I would have had a nice pity party for myself about the fact that I fractured my ankle, and I would have cried, and I would have not talked with everyone.. I probably wouldn't have talked to anyone...... I am so grateful for her example. She really is so strong. I feel so blessed that I have gotten to work alongside her during this time. At times it can be a little discouraging for us both because there is so much in our area that needs to be done but I know that the challenge of getting around is all part of the Lord's plan, and that miracles really will come from it. We have tried really hard to have meetings over here at the Dunns. I remember one day we had 4 set up but they all fell through except for one. But we are trying and we know that that is enough in the Lord's eyes. I once heard a quote "You gotta move your feet first in order for the Lord to guide your steps." It's just so true.

I love the question that the Savior asks his disciples when they fell asleep as he was atoning for us. He said "Could you not stay up with me for just one hour?" I think it makes it easier to think "Sissy T, can you not contact for just 3 hours?" or whatever it is. Ask yourself this, and you will find that you can do anything with Christ's help.

I love you most!

Love sissy T