Poetry

I have 7 weeks left.

I am going to cry.

I love my mission.

I might just die.

I love this Gospel.

I have 48 days.

I love Russia.

I'm living my life the Russian way.

I am SO grateful to be here!

This week was wild. I had a fever for three days and it was just awful. Cute sister Hullinger told me that one night as she went to sleep (i went to sleep 2 hours earlier than her) she told me "I couldn't fall asleep until I went over to your bed to touch your forehead." hahaha i love her. She touched my forehead and I didn't know it even happened. Bless her dang ginger soul. 

So I was sick this past week, right? I had a fever for 3 days like I said, and it sucked. But it just made me grateful for the days that I do have good health! I just slept all week. It made the week go by so slow, but somehow we managed to give out a whole box of Books of Mormon. It really is a huge miracle! Anyway,I have some miracles to share with you that maaaaaaaaaaaaaaay or may not seem a little silly. So we sleep every night with the window cracked a little bit open. Well, I woke up and was freezing cold when I had a fever, so I got up and went to shut the window which usually ALWAYS shuts so smoothly like butter. But for some unknown reason, it was stuck. I tried and tried and tried to get it to shut but it just wouldn't budge. So I prayed, and I told Heavenly Father that I had faith in Christ that He would help me to shut the window. When I said, "amen" I took a deep breath, looked at the window, and it shut so easily. haha don't you just love that? Heavenly Father gives you opportunities to strenghten your testimony. It's just the dang best.

Honestly I feel like not a lot happened this last week. But a few little gem things happened. We found a lady in the area book named "AN" who is 76 years old. She met with the elders a year ago, and so we went over with the SILLIEST couple from the branch named "TM" and “NT”. She's half Russian half Korean. And she’s just a dang dream. So we went over to "AN"s house for a lesson, and she ... is just.... FABULOUS! She's an actress and she taught all her grandkids about the art of acting, and now they too are actors. They LOVE the theatre. We taught her the restoration, or rather, tried to, because every seven minutes she would burst out in a theatrical burst and just recite poetry. FOR EVER....... it was great. But the best part is that we hadn't eaten dinner yet, and she brought out a fresh watermelon. THEY are wayyyy better here in Russia! And silly sister Hullinger hates fruit, but she HAD to eat it in order to no offend this woman "AN". So dang funny. 

We've been meeting with this way sweet 30 year old named "KT". She speaks english and is studying it currently at the university. Fun fact about her/ She called our branch building one fine day. Usually no body is t the branch building but that day she called this member named "V" was at the building. He answered, and it was "KT" and she told him that she was interested in meeting with us! SWEET! So we called her and met with her and we gave her the book of mormon in english and promised her that as she reads it, she'll learn new words, and her english will improve, and she'll feel power and love from God as she reads it. Well, we met again this last week and she started reading and she asked inspired questions and it's awesome. She is moving along and she's a HUGE miracle!

I learned a very significant lesson yesterday at church. We as a mission did a mission wide fast for specific blessings that we are seeking to obtain from Heavenly Father. As I sat in sacrament meeting while fasting, along with all the missionaries in our mission, I read preach my gospel, under the Christ-like attributes, specifically under Faith in Jesus Christ. It was as if the whole section just jumped out at me in a way that it has never jumped out at me before. I learned that we really CAN obtain Christ's attributes. I love what it says in the Faith in Jesus Christ section" 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 exercise His power unless we give something in return to see His mighty arm in our lives, in this work. Unless we exercise faith in Him and in His son Jesus Christ, we will not see the miracles which we pray for. 

Something really sweet: We had a training this week during district meeting and we all felt that we really haven't been doing our part on talking with 3X as many people. (something that we've been requested to do in order to see miracles) We have set that goal as a district now, and we are really excited to see the miracles from doing so. We have already seen some sweet ones too. Like Sunday! Yesterday were on our way to church yesterday, and this young girl about age 22 was watching us, and then when the seat across from us was free, she got up, sat down and said "What is that book?" We were able to give her the Book of Mormon and exchange numbers. I just love the sweet miracles and I know that exact obedience brings miracles. If we hadn't talked to the cranky lady who originally sat across from us, then maybe “YA”, the 22 year old girl wouldn't have come over to talk to us. 

I have some miracles to share with you that maaaaaaaaaaaaaaay or may not seem a little silly. So we sleep every night with the window cracked a little bit open. Well, I woke up and was freezing cold when I had a fever, so I got up and went to shut the window which usually ALWAYS shuts so smoothly like butter. But for some unknown reason, it was stuck. I tried and tried and tried to get it to shut but it just wouldn't budge. So I prayed, and I told Heavenly Father that I had faith in Christ that He would help me to shut the window. When I said, "amen" I took a deep breath, looked at the window, and it shut so easily. haha don't you just love that? Heavenly Father gives you opportunites to strenghten your testimony. It's just the dang best.

We have been calling that woman “NN”, but she hasn't been answering our phone calls. We got a hold of "OL" the corpse bride lady with the daughter reading the Book of Mormon, and it turns out that she's just been really sick and she's trying to get better. We haven't been able to see Tatyana this week a whole lot because I was so sick. But, the times that we did see he, she just was talking to us and then she went all King Benjamin on us and started talking about how much she LOVES the book of Mosiah. It was such a miracle! We felt prompted to invite her to be baptized right then and there on the street, and she said "Let me read the book all the way through first, and then I'll get back to you on that invitation." It's been really amazing. Such a sweet miracle. 

I am feeling really good right now. I learned a valuable lesson last night. We met with a less active and did a scripture study activity. We all asked questions that have been weighing down on our hearts, then we prayed for inspiration, and took about 20 minutes reading the book of mormon to find the answer to our question that we needed. It was a neat experience and the less active LOVED it and she committed to reading the book of mormon every day now. I learned something very great too. My question was "Is the Lord satisfied with the efforts that I've been given thus far on my mission?" and then, I opened up the book of mormon to 2 Nephi chapter 33 verse 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. It was really cool and it just strengthened my testimony in knowing that yes! I am not perfect! And NO! No effort I give is ever 100% because I am not perfect. BUT the Savior is perfect, and His atonement will make up the rest. It's just amazing. I am grateful to be here! 

Don't you dare forget, that The Lord makes up the difference. We aren't perfect, and we aren't expected to be. BUT, we are expected to give our best effort and do what we can, and Christ will make up the rest. I know this is true. 

I love you all and wish you the best week EVER! Have a good time and don't forget to read your scriptures! Seriously. I will hunt you down if you forget. LOVE YOU ALL.

Love sissy T

Cat friend

The pals at english group.

DS is the cute sass standing by me. She's such a riot

me and my fever

me and my fever and my companion

the dang tastiest burger of your LIIIIFE

carving watermelons the way we carve pumpkins.

Halloween booties. so stinkin cute. This woman Sveta made them

more cat pals

me and "ND". She is just the pal. She's a member here in Tolyatti

and that is ND's roomate VL. He's a character to say the least.

This is a member named Vasya. He is 12. 

He is the cutest little friend! His mom is less active.

He begs her to go to church with him, but she never wants to go, so he rides a long bus all alone so that he can come to church. I really look up to him for that!

SUCH A CUTE LITTLE FRIEND! we are both double jointed.

our branch building.

After church I was stalking "LB" and her family from the other side of the road. This Canon has a dang good zoom if you know what I mean! "LB" is the one that took us to Lenta. 

She's like our mama here in Tolyatti.

Mom. Pedi's.... ASAP. (Hayd don't you miss my dry feet? HAHAHA)

our lil kitchen

I have this many days left in Russia! WHAAAT!?

It's just heart breaking.

The little primary activity

I was at english group and then I felt something pop in my eye and it was real itchy and sharp and a cute lil vein popped in there! Precious

Bonnie look! I had a baby too.

"L" has a boyfriend?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY CLAREY!!! I can't believe that you are 2!!!!!!!! The time just flies. I have a lot of good memories with you. When you were 7 months old, Whitney put lemonade into your mouth and you HATED IT! and you clung to me and squeezed your little arms around my neck because you were mad at your mom for doing that. But you really didn't have it bad because my mom used to put lemon slivers into my mouth!

One time when you were about 6 months old, I was babysitting you after work one day. We were sitting on the couch and I was sitting with my knees up and I had you in my lap. Well, there was a black remote next to me and I took it and ran the little string attached to it across your face and you just started giggling and giggling and giggling. And then, I took the remote and pushed it lightly into your cheek while I made a buzzing sound and you............ just............ LOST IT!!! hahahaha you were BUSTING up laughing the way that old men and women do when they can't catch their breath. Then, you laughed so hard that tears started rolling down your face. Pretty soon we were laughing our heads off together and crying. I realized in that moment that you are my best friend! And that I was yours hehehehehehehehe:)

Saying goodbye to you on April 9th 2014 was the worst day of my life, because I know that we wouldn't be able to play for 18 months. But now i get to see you in just a few weeks! And we'll get to play ALL the time! Happy birthday my lil precious I LOVE YOU. BFF'S FOR LIFE!

This past week was a DREAM for many reasons. We were in the beautiful city of KAZAN with my pal sissy Wilson and her trainee sissy Neilson. It was a dang blast running around that big city with each other. I ate THE yummiest middle eastern food called Ploav. It was the best Ploav I've ever had on my whole mission. DANG. I had to go there twice because I couldn't stop dreaming about it. I think that my favorite part was girl chats with sister wilson. She really is on of my best friends, and it was like being in disneyland with your gal-pal. But really. We then had the LONG train-ride back to our beloved Tolyatti. When we got back, I didn't realize how much I missed it while we were gone. I realized that I really do love Tolyatti. It's a great place to end my mission. I hope I get to end here.

On Friday morning, the woman that takes care of the trash at our dome is named "TY". We had met her about 2 weeks earlier and given her the Book of Mormon. She was really interested and even asked for all the brochures that we had, so of course we gave them to her. She didn't want to give us her number though for whatever reason, so we respected her decision and went on our way. Well, on Friday we saw her again during the morning contacting hour. And guess what: she said "GIRLS! This is a sign from God! I have been wanting to see you and talk to you so bad." It turns out that she has been reading the Book of Mormon, and she LOVES IT. She is currently in 2nd Nephi 29 where the Lord is telling us all that there will be another testament of Jesus Christ and not only the Bible. She bore to us her testimony that she really feels that the Book of Mormon is true, and how she's been searching for truth for so long but finally gave up because she couldn't find it. But from reading the Book of Mormon she feels that she has finally found the truth and she wants to meet with us! She gave us her number and we are looking forward to meeting with her this week.

We only had roughly...... 3 days to work in our own area when we got back from Kazan. We saw a lot of miracles too. On Friday evening, we had an appointment set up with this woman named "L". We met her on the streets a weeks ago. We went over, and ended up teaching her the restoration and she said o us "Did you know that I'm Jesus' girlfriend?" hahahaha what? I actually did not know that. So now you all know too. Just kidding. But I honestly didn't know what to say so I just shrugged my shoulders and said "Yeah.... Christ is your brother and He loves you!" So awkward. Came to find out that she has schizophrenia which isn't a big problem, we can work with that. We invited her to come to church with us and she was WAY gung-ho about it! She ended up coming to church yesterday and staying for two hours and she LVOED it. At the end of the 2nd hour, she told us she had to go, but then asked when we could meet again. We agreed to meeting tonight so keep her in your prayers so that she'll be able to recognize the Spirit as we teach her. 

On Saturday something WAY cool happened! I'm a fool and I didn't realize that I ran out of medication. So, we ran to the medicine store which they call "APTEKA" and tried to get my medicine. To my worst surprise they didn't have them. I was really stressed about it so I called President Schwab (he's the DANG pal) and told him all about how it was passed 6 (we are supposed to be contacting from 6-9 at night) and that we should be taking to people but we can't because I really needed to get my medicine. He laughed at me the way he does and then told me not to worry, and to go check as many apteka's as I needed until I could find my pills. He then said "you never know. Maybe there's a nurse at the apteka who needs to meet you." Then, we left and headed to the next Apteka just down the road. We waited in a line. found out they did have my medicine, and then we ended up having a great conversation with the nurse that worked there. We thought "President was right! That lady is so nice." But then, we walked out of the store, and turned left which was weird because we needed to turn right in order to meet our member help.(“BR” himself) We turned left, and said hello to this 75 year old babushka who, by the way, is SO sprite and spunky. And she scanned my arms, and saw the Book of Mormon I was carrying and she said "I have that book. I love that book! These two young men gave this book to me several years ago. I know that the book is from God. Can we PLEASE exchange numbers I really would love for you to come over as guests and then you can teach me all about the book of mormon and all about your church." OKAY! It was awesome. Her name is "NN", and she is really prepared. We look forward to that meeting as well.

AHHHHHHHHHH THE JOY! I can't even express to you how much I wanted to roll around on the unleveled dirty ground. Heavenly Father honestly really does work in mysterious ways. He puts us in the right place at the right time. Because He does so, we were able to meet "NN" and she is really stoked about the Book of Mormon and meeting with us. #ILOVETHEBABUSHKALIFE. I am really grateful that God has a perfect plan with perfect timing. 

In 2 Nephi 31, Nephi is about to prphesy about why Christ was baptized. He tells us in verse three of that chapter "For my soul delighteth in plainess; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth ligiht unto understanding; for He speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding. 

The Lord will work plainly among us. Sometimes He works so plainly that if we aren't paying attention, we may not see His hands in our lives at all. Just like we saw His hand as He put us on a different direction which led us to "NN", who is SO prepared. I love the Lord. I love the simplicity of His gospel, and how plainly and intricately He works among us, and through us to bring to pass His miracles. 

Look for His hand, and you'll see it. Let Him put you on the path where you need to go, and you will be FAR better off than if you hadn't listened to Him, or followed the path which He has pathed for you. 

I LOVE you all. We are in the 50's my friends. It's getting close. SEE. YOU. SOON!

Love SISSY Twede

Last night with the gals.

this dang cute beast named aleesa

 Raduga

The biggest rainstorm EVER. I was soaking wet if you can't tell.

we threw popcorn out the window and it just floated around

look at my new hairclip! suh cute

if you look close enough theres legs in there. 

I may or may not have thought they were real when I first saw them...

House anyone?

"AG" the less active. Poor thing is only less active because she has really bad diabetes and the branch building is too far away from her house :(

Goodbye JL! you just HAD to move to Moscow now didn't you? 

THE DANG PLAOV THOUGH! 

look at this lil' friend i met!

Bauhman street in Kazan

reunited and it feeeels so gooooood

Ploav part 2

KAZAN I LOVE YOU

Love this lil lady

the sensual cat.

 This one is for you Hayd

^.^

The muslim Kremlin

met this lady at the bus station coming home to tolyatti. 

She gave me a tomato, and she's a natural healer. her name is Leena

we were all matching our companions on accident. hahaha shoot.

nighty night my preciouses!!!!!!!!!!!!!