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.

YEAHHHH PACKAGES!!!

Easter surprise!!

Me and cute sissy McKell. She's just a beauty.

day in a trio with sissy Manley before she heads to my homeland Penza

running home because we didn't want to be late hahaha so nasty.

another from our trio day

Me and sissy M at our apartment

easter cakes from easter time

"VT" GOT BAPTIZED/ See you later Balakova!

Guess who got transfer calls? THIS GAL! Guess what happened? We were sitting there, waiting for Sister Martinez to get news that she is leaving Balakova, but guess what? SHE ISN'T. I AM! hahahahaha Oh my word it was so unexpected. She will be staying here, and it'll be her 5th cycle here. And a sister that is russian is going to be her companion. The real question is..... where am I going?

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That's right, I'm going to the BIIIIIIG CITY SAMARA!!!!! I am soooo stoked outta my mind! I can't even tell you. Guess who my companion is? SISTER MCKELL!!!! Gotcha. You thought I meant my companion in Penza sister McKell. Well, there is another sister in the mission named sister McKell hahaha but I am still sooo stooooked because she is just a dream and we are already good friends. I was able to talk to her over the phone the other day and tell her that she better be ready because I fart a lot. hahaha she laughed and said, I already know... sister McKell (my old companion) told me! Anyway, I am so stoked for my new adventures in the big city. I will be in the heart of the mission, in an area called Aurora. Guess what? We write home at a senior couples home and their names are the Dunns and they're just nuts. Haha a lot of people have a hard time with them because they just talk and talk and just aren't street smart, but it's okay because they're so funny. Also, I was told that they feed us lunch too so I am stoked about that... I am always hungry, and that's just the truth. But the bad thing is, is because they talk sooooo much, apparently it takes like 4 hours or 5 to write home. I'm kinda bummed because I love pday and getting things done, but now that'll change, but it'll be good anyway.It just feels right. It was just interesting because sister Schwab called to tell us our transfers, and she said "Sister Twede we actually thought that you were going to stay in Balakova, but that is not what the Lord wanted, he  needs you here in Samara and Sister Martinez in Balakova. It was really cool, and it really did just feel right. I am super sad to leave Balakova. I really love it here but I just know that I have done all that I needed to do here, and I am so grateful. I witnessed a TON of miracles, and I have seen a lot of growth in myself too. I LOVE this special little city! I already miss the members and all the silly people on the streets. I will especially miss Valentina......

Who is "VT" you ask? AHHHH oh my goodness I'll tell you. There is a member here in Balakova named “NS”. She is just a hoot. She never breathes because she is always just talking. She got baptized 16 years ago, and ever since then has been teaching her mom and telling her ALL about the gospel, all the depths of it. Her mom's name is “VT”. She is 76 years old and she is the TINIEST porcelain doll you'd ever see. She knows the bible inside out, and reads the Book of Mormon EVERY day. She came to church by herself for 9 weeks in a row, the whole time that I have been here in Balakova. We would ask her to meet with us and she would say no, I don't have time. Well, guess what? She finally agreed to having us over, and we taught her the restoration and invited her to be baptized and she said no, she won't be ready. Well, this was bad because she is going to live on her Dacha (summer home) until october, and won't be back in Balakova. She also takes care of her 86 year old friend named “MS”, because his kid's don't take care of him. Well, we prayed and prayed, and went back over on tuesday, invited her to be baptized on saturday ,and she said YES!!! sooo dang cool!!!

This week, I feel that it was a week of focusing my faith on/in Christ. I felt my prayers were more sincere and I really felt like an instrument in the Lord's hands. I know that “VT’s” baptism was not a result of anything we did, it was all the Lord! He is the best! I think this past week was really incredible for several reasons. This week, I had several doubts and fears, worrying that “VT” would back out of her baptism date because she didn't feel ready. It was interesting, because even up until the day of her baptism, she said "I still haven't received an answer if I need to be baptized or not." We promised her, that all good things come from God, and that baptism is good and it is of God, and that she will definitely receive an answer when she is baptized. Well, Saturday came, and she was baptized and it was just such a miracle! To hear her cute testimony after she had been baptized really just touched my heart and helped me to realize that this mission, and all that comes with it, it so worth it. The joy I felt is SO indescribable! I can't describe it, but I am just so grateful. Her baptism would have never happened if it weren't for Christ touching and softening her heart. After her baptism, as we were leaving the Russkaya Banya, (like a sauna where we do the baptisms) she said "I feel it! I feel so pure and cleansed. I feel the Spirit!" It was so AWESOME!! It really strengthened in the Savior. I love Him.

It was so fun to work so hard with Sister Martinez and preparing lessons. I love it. We were over at “’VT’s” house every day preparing her for baptism. Each time we went over, you could see her testimony growing and growing. On Tuesday, when we invited her to be baptized on Saturday, she sat in silence, looking at the ground, while were were praying our hearts out, and to our surprise she perked up, about jumped up outta her seat and said with the biggest smile on her face "YES! I will be baptized!" It was the coolest moment. The best moment was seeing her be baptized though. I just think of our mission call letters which say something like "Be prepared to feel the most joy you will ever feel which comes by serving the Lord." My mind goes back to that and now I understand what that means. I have felt so much joy, and I thank the Lord for it. I will continue to pray for it as I go into my new area. I am sooo excited and soo nervous all at the same time! . I am so grateful for being able to witness the miracle of “VT” getting baptized! I just LOVE that lady, she is so special. It was so funny too because when we taught her the plan of salvation, she actually taught it to us. She knows so much, and her Spirit has definitely been being prepared for years. She is so pure and kind. What a miracle. She even cried when she said goodbye to me. I cried more though, I really love her a lot. 

 I can't believe that soon, I only have 6 months left. I feel like I just barely got here! I remember serving with sister McKell in penza when she only had 6 months left, and now she is HOME! WHAT!? SO SAD! it was good though, because I was able to talk to her on the phone for a while yesterday, and also with sister Coleman. I will miss them so much, but I know I will be seeing them soon. They really are my best pals on the mission! I CAN"T wait for you to meet them! Time just flies. It is a good reminder to never take any moment for granted, even the really crappy moments. I am grateful for those, because they help me get closer to the Lord!

This work is real people. I know the Lord leads it. I don't know how He does it, but He does! Prepare your mind for conference because there are some really important messages that will be shared especially for you. I love you all, please keep your heads up high high high! Thanks for your support and for your prayers. Love you so dang much! But Christ loves you more, and that's something to smile about, because I love you soooo much and that means He loves you even more.

MIss you all &

I LOVE YOU all!

Love, Sissy T :)

last time at LENTA the best store ever.

you best believe i had a photoshoot with Lenta.

me and "SV"

Us with "VT" getting ready for her baptism

We ate sushi all week long

UP & DOWN

There were lots of downs this past week.. and lots of ups as well! A lady that we met on the streets who became an investigator not too long ago, called us yesterday morning and told us to never call again. I don't really understand why those things happen, but it really broke my heart. SUPER annoying, because our mission pres. Told our mission that last night Russia aired a program that was all about LDS missionaries in Russia and that it was just full of so many lies about our religion. SO disgusting. I hate how hard Satan works on people. Y'know? JUST CUT IT OUT!! Gashh! haha ugh. Anyway, last week I wrote about that cool miracle girl named "KS", who is the 17 year old granddaughter of a less active who hasn't been from about 13 years. Well, she kind of fell off the earth for a little bit. I feel really bad, because I had this idea to call "KS", and to go with her to her less active grandmother's home. We decided on meeting her there, and we got there, and she was nowhere to be found. We called her, no answer. Texted her, no answer. All we could hear as we sat on the street waiting for her to show up, were two people arguing in the dome. We assume that it was "KS" and her grandmother, and it was really sad. We tried to call and text her after that, but she never answered. It was so heart-breaking. But the worst part was when "KS" finally called us back on saturday! But to our surprise, it wasn't her. It was a woman yelling at us, threatening to call the police on us "mormon girls." I just told her "Go ahead, call the police because we aren't don't anything wrong here. We didn't come to Russia to bother anyone. We came here to invite people to come closer to Christ, and "KS" has that desire. She's an incredible girl, and we love her. Have a good day, God loves you." And the woman who once yelled just sat quiet, listening to me, as I hung up the phone. Moments like that which happen, really gives you the decision: 1) to hand it over to Christ or 2) to not.  I think that sometimes the hardest part of missionary work is the handing of things over to Christ, and to actively exercise faith in Him, not faith in these people. BUT, I would much rather choose that, than to just trust in man. I know that things will be okay, because she knows who we are, and she has the Book of Mormon, and she has the desire to grow in faith.

Guess what though? So "KS"'s grandmother/mother (not really sure who it was who called) that yelled at us on saturday, is a less active member. So get this: we went to church yesterday, and there was a man in sacrament meeting who I have never seen before. I talked to him for a while, and guess who he was? "KS"'s grandpa! Who has been less active, and hasn't come to church for 13 years! He is a member, his wife is a member, and their 4 children are all members, all less active. What an incredible miracle, right?! The best part is that he said "Yeah, "KS" knows you sisters. She was going to come to church with me today, but something came up and so she couldn't come." BUT HE CAME! His name is “VR”, and everyone was stunned that he came to church. AND HE SAID THAT "KS" WAS GOING TO COME!! That means that she will probably come next week too! Things are happening for their family, and the Lord is softening their hearts. I know that this is all in His hands, and that everything will go according to His plan. I have peace, however, because "KS"'s whole family are LDS and she has her own Book of Mormon, I know that everything will be okay. Even the fact that she was going to come to church is really SO cool! We just have to have faith that she will come next week with her grandpa. He's a silly guy, and his ringtone on his phone is this sassy teenager pop song in Russia. haha good guy.

So....I really slacked off at talking to EVERYONE this week. I have no excuse for it either. But I see how the windows of heaven have been closing because of just a couple of days of that. I have repented, and I just really don't want to be selfish, I want to talk with EVERYONE! Today I read Matthew 14. There really was something amazing in there. Right after Christ finds out that Herod beheaded one of his dearest friends John the Baptist, it says in the scriptures that Christ left the city he was in onto a boat to go to a different city. I can only imagine that Christ felt so heart broken and sad as he sailed over to another city, mourning the death of his dear friend. It says in that same verse, that the people in the city where He was at, at the time of finding out that Herod murdered John the Baptist, gathered themselves and on foot, followed Christ to the next city where He was going. When Christ gets to that next city, he saw the multitudes that gathered together and followed Him, and he was filled with compassion towards them, and amidst his sadness and brokenheartedness, he healed those people. When I read that I just felt so much love. The times we get heartbroken, the times the work is slow, the times we just want to give up, those are the times that we need to look to the Savior, and follow His example, of forgetting ourselves and serving others who SO desperately need this Gospel. I need to look to the Savior more, but we all do! That's the best part is that nobody can ever look to the Savior too much. 

We also actually met with "VC" this passed week. AND HAD A REAL LESSON! It was really awesome! We started out by just telling her that we wouldn't be good friends if we didn't share with her something that we know is true and good. We then taught her the restoration. It was fun because we taught the apostasy with candy and cake. We had different kinds of candies and those were all the different churches. Then we had a big cake that we brought and that was Christ's church that he restored through Joseph Smith. I'll tell you what, that girl sure has a head on her shoulders. She really understood, and really understood the apostasy which was really incredible. We then invited her to be baptized. She told us "I was already baptized as a baby." Then our member help "CV" (such a dream!) said "Well, do you remember your baptism?" "no." "Do you even know why and what baptism is?" "no." We then explained to her what it is, and she really understood. We then invited her to pray to know if she needs to be baptized, and to pray about the truth of what we talk about. She agreed that she would. It was really incredible! But the best part, was at the end of the lesson, she asked "Where are some chapters about forgiveness?" We showed her the back of the book of mormon where she could find verses according to topics. We then committed her to read 2 nephi 31. Then guess what? "CV" gifted "VC" a bible for her birthday! Isn't that great? Now "VC" has the materials she needs to read up about forgiveness, and any other topic she needs. It was really great, and it was so fun to see her feel the Spirit. She is just so elect it really blows my mind. Just have to keep praying for her and her boyfriend to come to the knowledge of truth and to get baptized! They didn't come to church yesterday though. It was "V"'s (the boyfriend) birthday and they had a lot to do? At 10 am.... haha I don't ever understand that, but I know that they will come next week, because "VC" said "We'll be there next week." The Lord loves her so much, she is doing FAB. 

We met with "NN" (the one with the j-dub friends). It was a great lesson. She didn't come to church either, because she was feeling sick with a headache in the morning. We went and taught her about church attendance and why church is a commandment. We read with her 3 nephi 18:25 when Christ says "Come, that you may feel and see." We invited her to come, to feel and see that this really is Christ's church. She promised that she will. It was annoying, because she said "I'll get baptized once I've finished reading the Book of Mormon." AHHHH PEOPLE!!!! You don't have to read it all the way through to know that it's true! We told her that, and asked her to pray about baptism. She didn't understand that once she is baptized into Christ's church, that she will not go to the Proveslovni church anymore. She kept saying "What will my bahhtushka (russian men that study to become holy priests which then get paid.) think?" Our member help was one of the legendary Balakova sisters named "V" (I LOVE HER), and she just testified so strongly  about the priesthood, about Christ's church, about baptism, about church and why it's important. We then invited "NN" to say the closing prayer, and her prayer went something like this "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending me these wonderful sisters. I am so grateful for their influence. Please, help me to get ready for baptism. Help me to read the Book Of Mormon and to know that it's true." Then closed her prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. It was such a sweet prayer, and it really was clear to us her pure intentions to follow Christ and to find the truth. 

We tried to meet with "ND" this week, but still no success. We set a time to meet with her, but she didn't show up. We went to look for her at her work, only to find her mom and her little sister, and her boss, the man “S”. We walked in and the tension in the room was soooo thick. It was really evident that an argument just happened. We called "ND", and she told us that she had just been in an argument with her mom, but that she would call us back in ten minutes. She didn't, and so we just contacted instead. She hasn't answered us back, but we are just going to push out our doubts and our fears and know that everything is going to be okay! Everything will go according to the Lord's timing. We are trying our hardest.

Shooooot daaannng. I really feel always that my patience is getting tested a lot. I feel myself getting offended at really dumb things, and I really don't like it. I really want to forget myself, just like Christ forgot Himself as he healed/ served those people who followed Him into the city even though he was sad. I feel like Satan is stepping up his game. It's really evident of that from all the things going on in this country lately, and even in the world as a whole. But that gives me hope because that means that the Lord's work will just keep hastening! I love this work more and more every day. I am really grateful to be here at this time. I want to change and just keep changing and become who the Lord needs me to become. This week I am going to focus on forgetting myself (sounds funny doesn't it?) Doesn't that mean I'll be thinking of myself? HAHA anyway, I will be better. i just gotta be better!

We can all be a little bit better. Just keep going line upon line precept upon precept. Lift up your heads and serve those in need. They're ALL around us! 

I LOVE YOU ALL JUST SOOO MUCH!!!!

Love sissy T

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VC!!!

mazes

getting rid of hiccups the russian way

oldie but goooodie

Miracle Week

Happy birthday this week to.... CLAUD BAUD! CLAUD MY MA!!  I love you mom and I hope you have the most magical day because YOU are magical!

It was a really incredible week over here in Balakova. Yesterday me and Sister Martinez fasted for the investigators that would come to church, and fasted that they would be enlightened and that they would feel the spirit, and desire to be baptized. It was amazing because 6 investigators came to church, and 6 less actives! It really was a miracle, especially because our branch is soo soooo tiny. Really, about 22 people each week, maybe less, and yesterday there were 30 people there! It was a riot, i loved it. 

MIRACLES: It was an interesting week. We were supposed to go on exchanges this last week with the sisters in Dachney Saratov, but one of the sisters is sick and ended up having to go home. Really sad, I loved her. Sister James is her name, but it's okay because she is also from Utah so we will play when I go home. Anyway, with her abrupt going home, we stayed in Balakova instead. We were really bummed. We really looked forward to getting out of our area for a change, but then quickly got over being bummed because we realized that the Lord probably had something else in mind and needed us in our area. The Lord works in miraculous ways, and I know for a fact that we actually did need to be in our area this week. 

#1 "ND"- This 19 year old girl who works at a photo center. We went to get some baptism photos printed some weeks ago to give to new converts. We went to this little shop, and gave her the Book of Mormon. It was interesting, because the man that she works with, "S" (54) took out his video camera, and recorded us as we taught them the restoration. (I was NOT against that! I told them to go back and watch it over and over hahaha I'm so sneaky.) Then, "ND" said, "I will read this!" We went back 3 days later to ask her how her readings were coming. To our surprise she said "I haven't started yet." JUST KIDDING she said "I have been reading and reading and right now I'm in the book of..... MORONI." MORONI. She was in the book of MORONI after three days! It was rad. She told us, "Yeah, it's such a sad book. So many sad things, but so many incredible things!" We agreed, and then a bunch of customers rushed into their shop so we had to leave. We decided to go back in a couple of days. So the timeframe now at this point in the story is just this past week, on thursday. We go to see her, and were stoked to hear that she finished the Book of Mormon. Then you know what she said next? "Moroni 10 is my favorite chapter. I really felt so much love when I read it. I felt so warm and good as I read it." We then told her those feelings came from the Holy Ghost, testifying to her that the book of mormon is true and good. Then she said "I was athiest before I read this book.... Now I know God lives. There is just no way that anybody couldn't NOT believe in God after reading the Book of Mormon." My jaw dropped to the floor. It was INCREDIBLE. What an SWEEEET miracle! We then reread with her the promise that Moroni gives to us all in moroni 10 that if we read the book of mormon, and then ask Heavenly Father with sincere hearts and true intentions if it's true, then he'll give us an answer that yes, in fact it is true. She then said "I feel that same feeling again right now as you talk. I feel so warm it's the Holy Ghost." We said YES! Then we asked her if she has ever prayed, and she said no because she doesn't know how and that she feels awkward when she does. We explained to her that it's a conversation with God, and that he will answer her. We taught her how to pray, and she was grateful. We invited her to pray about the Book of Mormon and she said she will. Then, she asked US to meet with us some time soon when she isn't at work to ask us questions that she has from when she read. She unfortunately hasn't had time yet, but we know that soon she will. In fact, she told us "After I read the book of mormon, I just looked up to the sky and started talking to God and asked him if it was right for me to marry "SL" (her fiance). She then said she felt the same warm feeling from the Spirit when she did that. How amazing is that? An incredible miracle. The Lord truly is amazing. It strengthened my testimony that the Book of mormon IS in fact true. I think that sometimes I forget about that, it is really easy to do so, but it really strengthened my testimony and we are so so so so sooooo excited to meet with her this upcoming week. 

#2 We met with an investigator this week named "NN". Sister Coleman and I met her on the streets while we were on exchanges a couple of weeks ago. She believes in God, and is the one with many jehovahs witnesses friends. We met with her, taught the restoration, and invited her to be baptized. She agreed to being baptized on the 4th of April! It was really amazing! It was  a really great lesson and the Spirit really was strong. Our Branch President "JY" was on the lesson with us. We went back for another lesson on Saturday with "JY" again, to do a restoration review. "JY" told us that "NN" called him and started talking and talking and talking to a man named ""VC"?" Apparently she tried to call a man named "VC", but accidentally called "JY" without noticing, and just talked on and on, and she was telling this man named "VC" all about our lesson that we had with her... "JY" told us that it was really really weird, and that it sounded like she was reporting to this man the meeting that we had with her? Super weird.... So we went back for the second lesson, and asked her what she remembered about Joseph Smith, and she didn't remember anything, and didn't remember anything about the priesthood. We reviewed that with her.. and when we talked about baptism again, she was weird about it, so we invited her to pray about her being baptized. Well, she was supposed to come to church yesterday, but she ended up going to the Rinok (market) with her friends... it was a big bummer. BUT on the bright side, she told us "Today I ACTUALLY started reading the Book of Mormon! So far so good." It was good news, but we are just going to listen to the spirit as far as working with her goes. She is about 62ish years old, so she might have a bad memory, but we will just play it by ear and listen to the Spirit, he will tell us what to do. "JY" thinks that maybe she is autistic, but I am not too sure about that. We will see.

#3 We were out contacting one night, when we saw these two young 17 year old girls named "NC" and "KS". "KS" said to us "HEY I know you! My grandma went to your church all the time when I was young." Turns out that her grandma is a less active who hasn't been for a number of years. We gave "KS" her own book of mormon, and exchanged numbers with her. The next day, she called US and wanted to meet. We went to this sweet woman member's home and got to know one another, and learned that she believes, and that she used to read the kid's book of mormon all of the time as a kid. She then told us that when she took her book of mormon home after we had given it to her, her little 13 year old sister started reading it and said that she just LOVES it. Isn't that something?! We invited her to pray about the book of mormon, and to begin reading. She agreed that she would, and it was just another miracle. 

#4 Remember when I told you about the miracle about the former investigator "VS" and her boyfriend "VL"? They came to english group on saturday and just LOVED it! "VS" has been doing so well. She comes to family home evening every week, and she even came to church last week which was a miracle. Guess who came to church yesterday? "VS"! Guess who she brought with her? "VL" her boyfriend! Guess who stayed for all three hours? Both of them. "VL" said that he didn't really understand sacrament meeting. It was awesome though, because one of the members spoke about the sacrament and about what it sybolizes and what it means and why we partake of it weekly. Then sunday school we talked about service, and in relief society we spoke about repentance. In elders chorum (is that what they even call it?) haha basically, the third hour when all the men get together and stink up the room. They spoke about the atonement there. Then, church ended, and they just told us that they really enjoyed it a lot, and then asked us "So what's next hour of church?" hahahaha unfortunately, church is only 3 hours. It was really funny. "VS" got a young womens pink manual too, and she said she wants to do it. We are going to invite them to start meeting with us and we will pray and fast for the Lord to soften their hearts. 

I'm freaked out that soon I only have 6 months left on my mission. I know this is really silly, but I have a lot of dreams of me walking down the escalator in SLC as I come home from my mission. Usually it's just the best dream because I miss you all, but guess what? This last week, in my dream as I was coming down the escalator, I cried when I saw my family and friends, not tears of joy, I cried and cried because I didn't want to leave Russia, and all the friends and family and beautiful people here. I really am starting to love my mission more and more every day, and I know it's because I really am trying to forget myself. I'm not perfect, I can be more consecrated, I can be more obedient, more patient, more loving, but I am trying and I know that the Lord sees that. I love Him.

Things are a lot better lately. I really start to love this work more and more every day. I noticed something about myself this week. I feel that at the beginning of my mission, I had a lot of patience. I would even say it was one of my strongest  points.. But now I think that it's one of my weakest points. It's so hard not to get frustrated with people on the streets. It's so hard to be patient with my companion, and even with myself. I don't really know why it's become such a problem. The coolest part to me about the weaknesses which I have, and which we ALL have, is that we can overcome them! All we have to do is just turn it over the Christ. I have found out that is the answer to EVERYTHING in life. You have a question? Turn it over to Christ. You feeling lonely? Turn it over to Christ. Have heartbreak? Turn it over to Christ. Are you SO happy and life is going so well? Turn it over to Christ. I know that we can't overcome things alone, but with Christ who has done ALL things, ALL things are possible. 

Ruby and Jon sent me a thought that I LOVED.

"The Lord works from the inside out.  The world works from the outside in.  The world would take people out of the slums.  Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums.  The world would mold men by changing their environment.  Christ changes men, who then change their environment.  The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.  Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world."

Turn to Him. HE is the answer to ALL things. Have the happiest week! LOVE YOU!!

Love sissy Hayster

"NN" fed us a FEAST. Russian hospitality

This is what I look like when I am already full but when there is a feast in front of me

This little pup followed us around all morning last week! WE fed him hotdogs.

getting rid of the black heads

dinner time for the strays

Volga river

sushi from lunch today

spring just around the corner

cool dome at dusk

NEW BOOTSSSSS THE CUTES!!!

NEW SHIRT THE CUTEEEEES!

Womens Day

GUESS WHAT? Today is my 11 month mark. Next month I'll be out for a year, isn't that nuts? Time is flying incredibly fast it freaks me right out.

Today I read a talk by russel m nelson from conference october 2013. He said that when we fast, we understand God's power, and we are then able to receive His power. Such a cool thing. Then he just went on about how when we don't keep God's commandments, we don't know of His power. It's just so true that we are more free when we keep the commandments, and not only free, but we come to know God's power. Really really incredible. Want to hear something funny? This lady I met the other day just called us and invited us over for today, and she said "Come at 2! I invited the jehovahs witnesses too, i thought it'll be interesting." hahahaha I just had to laugh because it sounds like my worst nightmare. They're good people, but they just like to argue. We told her we can't today, so boom there you go dodgin' bullets left and right hahaha.

We went on exchanges with SISTER COLEMAN! I love her and it was like therapy being with her. I really needed to just be with her. I love her so much, and she really is one of my best friends of my life. She goes home in two weeks I just want to cry because she's taking sister mckell home with her. Crying a river over here. My two best friends!, Anyway, while on exchanges sister martinez and coleman met this lady named "M" on the streets. She invited them over for the next day, and gave them her address. We went over the next day, and it was really incredible. We sat down with her, and she said "Alright girls, teach me." First time ever someone has been really willing to listen, and who understands what we do while we're here. We taught the restoration, and she said "It just makes sense!" Do you know what the craziest part is? We were a little late for that appointment because I had a biiiiiiiig break down earlier (that's another story) and when we got there, she said "The Jehovas Witnesses came to my house today, and I thought it was you girls when they knocked! They gave me this." Then she held up a brochure they gave her. Satan is working double time on "M" because he knows that she is prepared, willing, and ready to hear the Gospel. Well, we taught her the restoration. I was really worried because I always get nerves when we teach, but then I said a little prayer and asked the Lord to just speak for me, and really soften "M's heart and it was incredible because He did! He softened her heart! AND he spoke for me. 

She committed to reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. We invited her to be baptized, but she said she needs an answer. It was a great lesson, and it is just so much easier to just put everything on the Lord and just be His instruments. Only HE can work miracles. I am constantly reminded that I am nothing but an instrument in His hand's and it makes the load lighter. That is how it is supposed to be. Just rely on the Lord, and everything will work out how it is supposed to. The big cry story...I had a really big cry on thursday. I was just really frustrated for so many things. I feel like there has been a gray cloud between me and Sister Martinez. I don't know why it's just been really rough but it has been. We had a really really long talk about everything, and I had a good long cry, and it really helped our companionship a lot I feel. I feel like we are a lot more open with each other now and it just felt good to talk everything out. I really do love her though, she's just so soft, a soft little mexican blanket. 

Last week I told you about that former investigator from 8 years ago named "VL", the 18 year old. It's truly been amazing to see how the Lord has been working on her and really softening her heart. This week was really great too! On monday, we invited her to the family home evening held at a members home here in Balakova.  It was soooo coooool! The spiritual thought/lesson was about family history. We all went around and said our mom's names. We then went around and told stories of our mom's moms. It was a great topic! But I noticed that "VL" looked a bit sad. Her mom passed away in September and so I think it was just pretty hard for her, but she sat with a smile on her face and just felt the spirit. After family home evening, we were waiting for a bus and "VL" said to us "It's really great that I met you girls the other night. It's just crazy because every time that I have a hard time in my life all these years, my mind goes back to your church." SO AWESOME!!! And it's just so evident that when she went to church all those years ago, she really felt the spirit and it really did touch her life. We told her that it really was a big miracle that we met each other, and that God loves her, that he's proud of her, and that her mom is happy for her. Then guess what happened? On Saturday night, we invited her to come to church with us. She responded to our text "I was already going to come by myself, but let's go together!" IT WAS SO GREAT! Especially because it was women's day in Russia yesterday and holidays here make people have excuses... really ridiculous excuses sometimes, but it was no excuse, and she came to church anyway. She loved it. Sacrament meeting was great, the talks were about how we can strengthen our relationship with the Lord, and how we can communicate with Him. Sunday school's topic was the law of chastity... which was good but I was really worried because she lives with her boyfriend, and so I didn't really know how she was going to take the message that was being taught, but then I remembered that she already knows all of this! That's the great part, is that all the people that we teach, they all already know the gospel, they have just forgotten it when they came to earth. But especially "VL", she actually really was taught about the law of chastity at a young age! She really enjoyed the lesson. She didn't get to stay for the last hour, relief society because she had some things to do, but when she was leaving she said "I really don't want to leave! I just have a lot to do." Then she said to us, "So, tomorrow, family home evening? I'll be there!" SHE is the best. I love her so much. She even bought me a yellow rose and gave me chocolate for womens day! She's just a dang treat. I gave her chocolate and earrings. Definitely one of my best friends over here.  I can't wait until she gets baptized one day EEEEEE ^.^

Womens day is a huuuuge holiday here in Russia. All the women everywhere have flowers in their hands, and everyone just eats and has huge feasts. We had a lesson with the member "N" who is handicapped's mom "SH" last night. She had this HUGEEEE feast and the yummiest yummiest piroshki which are bread filled with potatoes and onion and cabbage (so tasty i'll make them for you when we get home) and everything tasty you could ever dream of was there. It was a great lesson, we read that article from the March liahona about Christ's respect for women. It was especially awesome, because "SH's neighbor "VY" was over celebrating with them, and she got to be part of the lesson too. Her heart was really softened and she took the book of mormon and wanted the liahona so we gave it to her. it was soooo great and I love love LOVE womens day. I definitely want to celebrate it in america, so mark that on your calendar for next year! March 8th, 2016 womens day. There is also men's day in february, on february 23rd. 

We had a branch activity on saturday, and all just celebrated both those holidays together. We sang russian songs and drank tea and ate cookies. It was a good time, and russians are just sooo funny when they celebrate holidays because they always say "Congratulations! I wish you happiness, health, love, a handsome husband, lots of kids, and joy." Without fail. To anything, they will tell you that and I love it. They're just the silliest friends over here.

ALLLLL outta time over here. Things are great. Transfers in two weeks, I have no idea what will happen. I love this area and I love these people. I hope that this week that you just take a second and think of Christ. Really think of all He has done for you. You will feel his love really strong, and your week will be happy. Serve others, say hi to strangers, and just laugh at all the crappy moments because all these crappy moments will pass and they always ALWAYS make us stronger, I know it, because I live it, and I love it. There is so much good in life. This church is the truth people, I know it. Pray so you can know it too. Even if you already know, ask again, and help those that don't know. This is true and I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love SISSY hayster

flowers from "VL"

sooo sleepy

big random hole in the ground

smart cat at the eternal flame keeping warm

"A" made us things to wash ourselves in the shower with. 

I'll take the hint, you think i'm smelly. 

Haha creepy plastic loofas. Love this lady

I looooove blessings

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THURSDAY TO MY HAYD! Have the happiest birthday of all best friend. Don't forget that this gal loooooves you<3

I don't have too much time left, I wrote a really gnarly letter to my mission president because times have been a little bit testing for me right now on the mission. Don't worry though, everything is good. I Just feel reeeeeally really tested and stretched. So stretched, that I look like a pasta noodle! Just kidding not that stretched. Missions are just tough and people are just really prideful and sometimes you just want to cry because you feel like your testimony is really being tried. But I'm no too surprised, because in my patriarchal blessing, I'm warned about a lot of the stuff that I am going through on my mission. How incredible is that? It's just a testimony to me that our patriarchal blessings really are directly from Heavenly Father and that everything will come to pass in this life, and in the life to come.

This morning I read something today that really helped me a tooooon. The Prophet's talk from general conference October of 2013. It was right after the Prophet's wife passed away. I think the talk is called "I will not forsake thee." He spoke of trials, and how we all face difficulties. He said. "It is not the difficulty that we are given in life that is the hard part. The difficult part is enduring to the end while we have the difficulty." Really interesting huh? He then reminds us all in his talk that we are given trials to help us remember the Savior. I hear that alot, but today it actually sunk in. I noticed a lot, that this past week I was constantly drawing to the Lord in prayer. I remember just being on the streets, being inside, being wherever it was where we were, I remember that I said a lot of prayers last week. A lot of them weren't prayers, just complaints and cries. All the same, I realized today that the Lord heard every complaint, every cry I had, and I was really frustrated because I didn't receive instant relief. I didn't instantly get the desire to do this work, but I was blessed as I did it even though I had no desire. Sometimes we have to do hard things in life, and sometimes we don't know why we go through some of the hard things we go through. But I know that just as the sun comes up every morning, all our trials will end and will be for our good. I realized today that the Lord really is trying to teach me to just be patient, and to just keep pressing forward and always to remember Him and just to endure to the end. I know that He is always testing my testimony and my faith because He loves me. I don't understand fully why He does it, but I know that there is always something to learn from our trials. Just like we read in Ether 12:27. Trials bring blessings and blessings make me pee because I love blessings.

CRAZY MIRACLE! We were contacting one night before a meeting we had with a member who is going through some rough patches right now. Her name is Sister "R", and she's fab. Anyway, We were talking with everyone... EVERYONE it was so great, but it made us late for our appointment with this sister "R". We decided, "okay let's take a bus." Well, we asked these punk teenagers if the bus that just approached would be the right bus to get to our destination. They said yes, so we got on the bus. While on the bus, we saw a former investigators grandson who is the sassiest of all, named “S”. We asked him if it was the right bus, and he said no. Sure enough, he was right. We ended up getting really really far away from this member's home, and the end of the day was quickly approaching. We had to cancel our meeting with the member. Me and Sister Martinez looked at each other, and just said "Well, guess the Lord has something else in store for our night." We started walking on the empty street after getting off the bus. Nobody was around, just some cats and some dogs. We then decided to walk down this dark path, and we didn't know why. It was like we didn't have a choice whether or not to walk to lit road of the dark. It was as if the Spirit just guided us to the dark path. Well, we're on the dark path, when we see this young couple. Secret..... talking to young couples is my biggest fear. They intimidate me so much! They're just so cool and normal and I'm just so freaky in a homely skirt haha. 

Well, we had talked to everyone that we could possibly have spoken to earlier before this part of the night, and... we walked past the young couple. Then the unthinkable happened: We ran after them. Haha we were those kind of people. After walking past them, we felt the strong need to go back. We run after them, and they stop to talk to us. Guess what happened next? The young girl said "my name is "VC"." Guess whose name was in our area book from 9 years ago? "VC". It turns out that 9 years ago, she used to come to our branch here in Balakova all the time with her older sister who was investigating our church at the time. She had read the kid's book of mormon and loved it. She loved coming to church. While we were talking with her and her boyfriend, she said "Yeah you're mormons! I used to go to your church all the time, I loved it." The conversation got better and better. She told us she lost the kid's book of mormon that she had and that she loved because she moved out of her house into her boyfriends house after her mom passed away in September. We testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and about how it's true, and that she will find comfort as she reads. We went to give her the book of mormon, and she declined, but then her boyfriend, “V”, took the book and told us that he'll look into reading it. "VC" is 18, her boyfriend is 22. They are SO great. After talking and teaching and testifying, we told them that we had been looking for "VC" (true) and that we actually got on the wrong bus and that it's not a coincidence that we ran into them on the street. They also agreed to it not being a coincidence, and as we ended the conversation to walk home because we were already late, they said "We'll walk you home, it's dark and we want to make sure you get home safely." IT was soooo amazing, what a miracle right? But it gets better. Then "VC" came with us to our english club on saturday. She told us that the night before, she read the introduction to the Book of mormon and the testimonies in the front of the book of mormon. We can't believe how merciful the Lord is and that he really worked a miracle. We're really excited to start meeting with her and her boyfriend, and invite them to be baptized as well. We'll just have to work around the obstacles of them living together. "VC" also told us that she doesn't drink because she doesn't have the desire to. She is so elect it blows my mind. We have become really good friends with them, and her boyfriend is saving up money for the both of them to come to Utah in a couple years. 

We also met with VL’s mom "O" and his sister "VK". We invited them to be baptized, and they declined. "O" said "If I get baptized it means I have to change my life." We said, "yes. you have to change your life in order to follow the Savior." (she has a lot of addictions) and she said "I'm just not ready to do that." We told her not to worry because we are here to help her to get ready toward baptism, and she just shook her head no. But then she invited us back. It's just the worst because she felt the Spirit as we testified of Christ being baptized and because of Him we too need to be baptized. She even said "i'm going to cry." as we testified to her. We just have to be patient and just pray for a miracle so that they can all be baptized. 

My call to you all this week is to be patient. I know all the hard things you have right now in life are really reeeeaelly hard, but if they weren't hard then we wouldn't progress. Don't forget the Lord in your trials, because he is the one that gives us our trials so that we come unto Him, so that we can grow. I love Him, I know he loves you all, and I know that you're all so strong and I look up to you all. Just keep pushing, just keep going, and you will see amazing blessings happen. Then you'll pee just like me, because like I said.. "I loooooove blessings!"

LOVE YOU MOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

Love,

сестра твид

Frosty day

a real life шуба so fabulous.

Aunt "S" fed us again... fish and pancakes. SO TASTY for real i ate so much

 This girl works at a place where we develop photos... her name is "N" and she is sooo cool and interested in the gospel! 

This is what all the grocery stores look like. Advertising in russia is only the finest

this is at a floral shop.... check out those gnarly garden figures

so many choices!

my personal favorite...... just a baby chilling in some cabbage.

You best believe I'm bringing this baby home

cute beast

this little friend kept giving me kisses and i didn't mind at all