My Christmas Week

Family!
Merry Christams! saroshdestvom! (Merry Christams in russian haha). SO
I gotta tell you about my Christams week. First of all, it started off
with a bang. Literally. Right after I emailed last week me and my comp
were leaving the apartment in the elevator and it broke! We were stuck
in this TINY elevator for about 40 min.... that was hilarious. And
then on Friday after we finished our service at the Hermitage (the
world's 2nd largest art museum....no big deal ;) we were walking down
the beautiful marble staircase, and I dont know how, but I totally
biffed it and tumbled down the staircase. Like movie style. Wow good
times :)
SO I'm embarrassed to admit I totally started the week off as Sister
Scrooge. I knew we had a mini xmas tree and some decorations in the
closet but I just didnt feel like spending a few 20 min to take it out
and set it up. But finally the morning of xmas eve, eve (23rd) while
my comp was in the shower I decided to surpise her and set it up. OH
MY GOSH WHAT A DEFFERENCE IT MADE! I know its just a stupid fake tree
and some sparkling lights and cheap ornaments but OH HOW I LOVE OUR
TREE! Its sitting on the windowsill and it is beautiful. I love it. It
really brings the xmas spirit into our appt. the spirit of xmas is so
important! And it comes in the little-est of ways :)
So xmas eve we were essentially having a pretty bad day. We tried to
stop by less actives homes and no -one was answering and it was cold
and snowy and we still had 2 hours and not many ppl left to stop by. I
randomly decided to call the relief society president to ask if we
could stop by on xmas but she said it wouldn't work out. SO I hung up
the phone and tried to figure out what we would do the rest of our
bleak night. BUT TEN minutes later she called back and invited us over for dinner!!
We ran over (meaning took a 30 min trolley bus to her place) and walked
into her home finding her kitchen table covered in food, a big bright
xmas tree, and her family and kids happy to see us. The night
instantly turned into a warm, memorable night. They sang with me and
asked me about my xmas traditions and danced with me cuz they knew my
family at home was performing our dance without me :)
Let me tell you, of course I love and miss my family, but this xmas
was very special. I'm finally starting to understand what the spirit
of christams is!
I love and miss all of you! MERRY CHRISTmas. Love, Sister Tenney

Merry Christmas!

Family!
wow can you belive its already christmas time? and that in less than a
week its christmas!? CRAZY!
Well me and my new companion are together... she's from moscow, doesn't
know any english, has been a member for 3 years, is the only member of
the church in her family, shes about 6'1" and prob about 200 pounds.
She's SOOOOO kind. Which is really good for me, cuz I'm not the
kindest. She's always doing little kind things for people and thinking
about others while all I care about is progresss and baptisms haha. SO
we're really good for eachother. ALso, she seriously has the weirdest
voice and accent so while I already struggle to understand russian,
understanding her russian is even harder. But again, with that big
heart of hers she does all she can so I can undertsnad her, and
others.
So seriously the russian langauge is so intersting. I struggle how to
start to get to know people cuz I always want to ask "what do you like
to do?". NOPE. You can't ask that in russian, they don't undertsand
that, Instead you gotta remember to ask "What with do you busy
yourself?" haha. And russian is intersting cuz you can't ask "who are
you going with?" or "why is she doing that?"

Instead its "With whom are you going?" and "For what she do that?".
SOOOOOOO weird.... gosh. But my russian is def improving. Everytime I
see someone I know, like a member or investogator they compliment me
on how my russian improved. Yea I pretty much rock....I have a russian
companion so i gotta learn this language somehow.
Saturday our branch had a Christams activity. OH MY GOSH IT WAS
AWESOME. It was kinda like a giant talent show but SO MUCH BETTER.
They made it like one continuous story of a knight who was looking for
his princess (the brach president was the knight). ALong his journey
he ran into russain dancers (so cool! And serious they didnt crack a
smile once), a magician (an old grandpa in our ward) a gypsy,
breakdancing penguins (hilrious. they "breakdance" here and they are
serious about it. its way diff than our break dancing and we have a
professional break dancer in our branch and a little 4 year old who is
already taking lessons. was so awesome!) and a fortune telling
babushka (a man in the district presidentcy with his daughter, was
hilar). Anyways, can you belive all the talent we've got in our little
branch! And they went over the top. There was so much food, MUSIC, and
singing of russian folk songs. But most of all I felt such a strong
spirit of love. the members here really understand what its all about.
They weren't concerned about everything being perfect and what time
everything started and if they had the best performance or if their
clothes are the cutest. ALL they cared about was the whole spirit of
the evening. I just wish all of you could have been there with me. I
LOVED it and I'm so glad I have the oppurtunity to be on a mission and
better understand the meaning of life. Remember, right now isn't a time
of presents and cute clothes and business and toys. It's a time of love
and family. Its a time to become closer to Christ and remember that
He loves us and wants us to be happy.
What I'm learning on the mission is that this church and gospel, and
our lives are so much bigger than we realize. All God asks of us is to
keep His commanments and remain worthy of His spirit and then He can
use us as His hands here on earth. I'm realizing that my small part on
earth, the little I can do is BIG in God's eyes. And that I am
necessary to God's HUGE plan, AND SO ARE YOU! So remember to do the
few things God has asked us and then we will slowly become the child
He knows we can become.
I love you ALL and wish you a wonderful and very merry Christmas :)
Love- Sister TENNEY

Happy Day to You!

Family :)
Oh my gosh this week has been so full of newness! Let me tell you,
serving with a native Russian is an adventure. I fell like I'm finally
starting to see and live some Russian culture. Imma try to tell you
all the things shes does, or all Russians do that are
hilarious/different than us Americans. They are freaks about cold
water, or drinking cold drinks. My companion only drinks warm tea
(fruit tea of course :) or warm up milk. The warmed up milk grosses me
out. they are all obsessed with tea here. In Russian its called
"chai". I am actually am slowly converting to the chai, its
delicious! They are obsessed with hot dogs here. They call them meat,
but really its just different kinds of hot dogs haha. I think its
hilarious. the last thing you ever want t do is sit on the ground in
front of a Russian. they'll freak out. even in a house or inside....
however if you sit on a newspaper or rug, then you're fine ha. There's
so much more funny culture things I just cant think of them...
My companion has been fun in the fact that shes a total Russain. 1st
off, in Russia, if you're a girl your completely allowed to stare at
yourself in the mirror wherever you are. Vanity is the usual, its
expected. The girls here are obsessed with skininess. My comp is too
and as her diet shes doesn't eat meat but she can eat chocolate and she
loves loading butter on everything (they don't understand here what is
ad isn't healthy). But the main reason I love her is because here in 
Russia holding hand is just what you do. ALL day as we walk aroud she's
eiter holding my hand, or we're arm in arm. I love their touchines
here. My theory is it has to do wth it being so cold. But even little
boys up until their like13 go around holding each others hands..... ha
isnt that something?
This week has also been a little tough having a companion who doesn't
really know the missionary "rules", but shes been willing to be
obediant so I've been lucky :) I've been green with jealous rage all
week cuz my comp can freely converse and just talk with everyone in our
lessons while I struggle to say what I want, and sometimes have no
idea what they are talking about. But its all good. I'm totes excited
to train my new missionary staring wednesday! She's Russain, and from
moscow, and shes tall. Thats all I know and IM stoked!
I love all of you and I hope this christams season you are inviting
all your nonmember friends and family to church activities and to your
home. This is the best season to do so! Go out on a limb and be
fearless, thats my motto these days :) Love you! Sis Tenney

overflowing with happiness

Friends and Family,
My how I love you! I hope all of you are HAPPY. Cuz I am. More than I
ever have been in my life. Let me tell you about my last week. In one
week I killed my trainer (she finished her mission), I served in a
3-some where we only spoke Russian, I, and the rest of the
missionaries in my mission were called to repeentance by Pres Bennet
of the 70, and I now have a mini-missionry who doesn't speak a word of
english. And it has been the best week of my mission ever!
seriously. As I sit and ponder my last week I would think it would've
been really hard. But no, it wasnt. I realized that I can be better,
much better, and I want to be better, and I know I can be better. I
realized that I'm not just here to invite people to church, but I have
the richest, most significant news that exists on earth. I realized
that I shouldnt just talk and invite everyone, but that I WANT to talk
to everyone and invite everyone. I realized that I'm apart of
something so much bigger than i could ever realize. This is ETERNAL
HAPPINESS we're talking about. This is HUGE. And besides, all people
might say is "no". Whats so scary about that?
Last night me and my mini missionary, sister solnzeva, we were
contacting on the way back from an apointment and we talked to
EVERYONE. It was so fun. We had good, real conversations. yes we were
turned down alot, but it was still amazing. Our last person we
contacted, the first thing he said was that he didnt believe in God. I
let Sister Colnzeva talk to him, and then I asked his name, and if he
was happy. He pondered and said "no, my wife died just 30 days ago". I
almost cried right there on the spot. Within seconds the Holy Ghost
joined our mini meeting on the street. We were able to testify to him
that he could see her again, that he can be with her forever, and that
he could be happy. All of a sudden he changed from being too busy to
talk, some one who didnt believe in God, to a changed man. He said he
could change his schedule to come to church. he gave us his number so
the elders could call him, and he walked away with a smile on his
face.
That is why I am here.
And that is why I am overflowing with happiness right this second.
Please look for opportunities like this. I know you can have them too.
You can do it! I love you!
-Sister Tenney

GETTING LOST IN THE WORK

HELLO EVERYONE!
So remember how last week I told Russia that imma kick its butt? Welp
right after I sent that email home guess what started.... SNOW! Haha,
I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I promise you, while on a mission
once you get a tiny bit prideful, immediatly your are kicked in the
butt and humbled. But the snow wasn't bad at all. It just snowed all
day. Luckily, I was wearing my sexy marshmallow jacket so I was
completely warm. And I even had a trial test with the padding. For
your information is does not hurt to slip and fall in Russia because
our coats are packed with padding. YUPP. The first day it snowed I
already slipped and fell. It was pretty funny.
This last week was my busiest yet due to the fact that Sister Parker
(my companion) is leaving this Wednesday so people were calling from
the woodworks dying to have one last meeting with her. It was
miraculous in a way. Becasue she was leaving we were able to get into
doors we haven't before, and we were able to touch people's hearts who
usually keeped them locked up nice and safe. It's really interesting
that amid all this running around and trying to meet with people, we
truly did forget about ourselves and we got lost in the work. 2 days
in a row Sis P and I didnt even have time to eat. We were often fed
treats at people's houses, but besides that we seriously hardly ate
anything. We would get home each night exausted, but fulfilled as we
saw how busy and successful our days were. im not saying Im planning
on not eating the rest of my mission, but what i am saying is that
what would usually seem like a big sacrifice, before my mission,
doesnt seem like a sacrifice at all now. I am slowly seeing how BIG
and IMPORTANT the work is that im doing, and I know the Lord is
blessing me, in many different ways, to help me to forget about myself
and truly do HIS work :)
After Monday it only rained the rest of the week, which I think is
quite bizarre. It finally started snowing agian today... yay! For some
odd reason I love the snow here! ( yet more evidence of God's
blessings.... before my mission I HATED snow).
Family friends, I love you all and pray for you everynight. IN RUSSAIN!
Its quite fun saying your names in my prayers in Russian cuz the
endings changes. When i say, for example, please bless krista and
tauna, in russian, Im say please bless Kristu and taunu (an ooo sound,
like the sound when you say shoe). Isnt that sweet! I think it is! and
braden and bryce turn into Bradena and bryca. COOL!
Love you all! _love sister tenney

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Family!
 So much to talk about where to begin...
first of all, we busted out our Full on winter coats and boots this
 week. basically Im officially a marshmollow at all times. But I cant
complain cuz this marshmallow seriously keeps me warm HAHA russia Im
not scared of your so called nasty winters. Imma beat you. Nope, we
still havent had any snow yet, which is crazy becasue Moscow already
 has. Im oddly excited for the snow, i've heard it can get nuts! And
the light here is getting kinda cool, basically the sun finally comes
 out at about 11 and then goes back down around 4 or 5. Isnt that
 crazy? The weirdest partis that Im hardly even effected by it like I
 thought I would. Weird right? In about 5 weeks it'll start getting
 lighter anyways.... so russia take that! You have nothing that has yet
 to scare me :)
 Alright so people have been asking what my week is typically like. A
Basic day is wake upat 6:30, bundle up and go outside to work out (aka
 Sister Tenneys personal time to shoot hoops and be a baller). We have
 a court nearby so I just shoot hoops its sweet. Afterwards we go home
 and shower and get ready. At 8 we start personal study (prob the best
 part of the day) then 9 is companion study where we plan our day and
our lessons for the day. At 10 we continue comp study with the
 training program im in (cuz Im still considered a greenie). 11 is lang
 study, which gets funner and funner everyday as Im finally starting to
 better understand this russian language (again russia take that! Your
 language isnt so hard after all). By noon we usually are heading out
 to an appt of some sort. We walk out to the metro wich is about 15
 min away, or we hop on a bus. It takes about 45 min to an hour to get
 anywhere we want to go usually (which is such a shame!) but we usually
 contact and talk to people on buses. This is my fav kind of contacting
 :) Then we meet with people and teach. Sometimes we go back home for
 dinner but usually we're running around trying to meet with people so
 we often get food on the street (like a banana and a yogart and
crackers or something) and then get to our next meeting. Then we try
 to be home by 9 for planning and then we plan til 10 and then go to
 bed by 10:30! Its like a rat race everyday trying to meet with our
 investigators, meet with members who can help us find more
 investigators, or the best is to meet with investigators at a members
 house. Yea..... so thats basically the day in the life of ME :)
 The food here is good. Lots of soups, lots of cabbage made into things
I never had before. I dont really know what to say about the food.
 pretty typical. The yogart here ROCKS I love it.
 Oh before I forget, HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I love you all and I
 know you are praying for me. I've felt it and I need it, and I thank
 you for it. I know you will, but remember to look for the blessings in
 you life. Last night we met with a lady who is inactive who just sat and
 complained to us the entire night about how God doesn't answer her
 prayers and doesn't bless her. As she complained I looked around and
 saw her clothes, her food, her warm house, her book of mormon..... the
 list goes on. We often don't realize the blessing we have until we LOOK
 for them. God loves us, and He blesses us. We just forget to see them.
 So let's look for our blessings this week aight? I love you all!
Love sis T

She understands some Russian!

Everybody!
Gosh, life is gonig by so fast it's crazy. Anyways, to start off, I want
 to thank you all! Your prayers for me to learn this russian language
is helping! This last week was miraculous in the fact that ALL OF A
SUDDEN I could understand most of what people are saying in lessons!
And in church! Its so crazy. Last monday after I emailed you all I
 went on a lesson and we walked out of it and I couldn't stop thinking
 about how crazy it was that I understood everything. SO I thought it
 was over but the next day it happened too! And then the next, and then
testimony meeting in church yesterday, I could understand basicaly
 everything. CRAZY!
 SO yes that is really evxciting. So yes, to answer the question, YES
 it is getting cold here. One night of contacting and being freezing I
went home and decided I needed to change some things so I wouldn't
 freeze. The ONLY thing I changed the next day was I put in this shoe
 liner in each shoe. Kinda like an extra layer in the shoe. That whole
 day I wasn't cold at all. Is that not insane? I added ONE tiny thing, a
 shoe liner, and I was warm. Now let's think about this. The details in
 life really do make a big deifference. We know in Alma 37:6 alma says
 it is "by small and simple things that great things are brought to
 pass". I want to testify to you today that it is true. when we meet
 with inactives out here the three qeustions we ask them is "do you
 read your scriptures everyday? do you pray? and do you go to church?".
 those three little things CHANGE EVERYTHING. I know when ppl do those
 things they stay on the path and they recieve the strnegth they need
 to carry on. they have the spirit and they have the joy of the gospel
 and makes them happy and makes them understsnd why we have
 commandments and that it's a joy to follow them. and tha'ts what I want
 each of you to think about. What is something so small, something
 almost insiginificant you can change in your life to be just a bit
 better? Just something small everyday. I know by the small things
 great things come to pass. I know it! And I know you all know it.
 continue to pray for me. I promise to pray for you. Email me, write
 me, aight??? haha. I'm happy and excited for this work. keep being
 awesome. SO will I ;) haha. Love sis T.

everday we see the small rewards

Everyone! Hello!
If you were wondering, the baptism was AMAZING. of course. I felt like
a little girl on christmas morning. I woke up and was so excited all
day! She was ready and excited too wich made the baptism all the more
better.
I have about 3 min left so I just want to tell you all one thing.
Learning this russian language is a rollar coaster. it really sucks
sometimes. This week I finally had a mini break down after visiting
with a  babushka and not understand a word she said I cried on the
subway on the way home haha. But then not 5 hours later I was on an
exchange with a russian sister and we communicted fine to each other in
russain for a straight 24hrs. and we did some excellent missionary
work together. And then after that I thought I was amazing so then of
course I went to a meeting and didn't understand anything again and
then went right back to feeling like an idiot. But guess what? THATS
LIFE. when we run hard, we get tired, and we sometimes trip and fall,
and we often don't get first place, but everyday we see the small
rewards of our persistance. and thats what matters. dont get caught up
in the big goals! nope, you're not rich yet, you're not skinny yet and
you're not perfect yet, but you're getting there step by step :)
and thats the biggest reward. we just gotta remember to see that.
I love you all!
love, sis Tenney

Life is good. I hope yours is to. I love you all!

Hello everyone!
Can you believe my 1st transfer is already over?? I cant. That means I
train NEXT transfer... yikes.
Happy Halloween! Party hard for me and eat some kits kats for me.
Those are my fav.
This last week has been a good one. We officially have a baptism with
our 26 yr old investogator uliana. Let me tell you a little about her.
My 1st sunday here after sacrament she ran into the bathroom and was
BALLING. We met with her the first few weeks I was here and everytime
we did she would cry.... her life is hard. She's got a messy life. But
despite this she really wanted to know if this church is true. She
didn't really understand the Book of Mormon but she had always read
more the next time we met with her. She always asked about the
atonement and Christ and she couldn't really understand what it meant.
She was full of questions and we did our best to answer them. When I
first got here she dressed kinda immodestly, was always sad and always
seemed burdened. Now let me tell you about her this last week. This
last week when we would come to meet with her she would laugh and
tease with us. She was dressed in brighter colors and was modest. She
was full of life, and light feeling. She is EXCITED for her baptism
and she continues to read her scriptures, go to church and pray. Her
prayers are sincere, heartfelt. The CHANGE has been miraculous to
watch. Isn't this soo cool??? THIS is the essence of the Gospel. This
is why we are here on Earth. We're supposed to be happy. We're
supposed to have trials, but we're supposed to know that we can turn
to God and know we have them for a reason and that He will help us.
uliana's life is still messy and full of trials, but she has the hope
of the gospel.
Something the DRIVES ME CRAZY OUT HERE is that people think life has
control over them. They think that its too hard to go to church, that
they just "cant". That scripture reading everyday is for the perfect
people. SERIOUSLY???? They dont realize they have control over life.
They can CHOOSE to read everyday and CHOOSE to go to to church. Its a
choice we should make ONCE and then just do it the rest of our lives.
Does your life have control over you? Or are you controlling it
yourself? Are you making the most important decisions first? Dont let
them be the last on your to do list. Put them first, and then God can
put you first on His to-do list :)
anyways.... this week me and my comp found a vending machine that
sells umbrallas! Ha, what a great idea. It rains so much here why not
make umbrallas easy to buy? I thought that was hilarous.
Life is good. I hope yours is to. I love you all!
love, sis T

Happy halloween!

Everyone!
Before I begin I made a very important discovery this week. Tenney has
a meaning in Russian, tenney means Eye Shadow! Hahahaha. SO when
russians hear my name they think of me in their head as sister eye
shadow.... isnt that hilrious?? I think it is.

Anyways. Wow. This week was frustrating. I just felt like all the
goals we set werent accomplished and all the ppl we wanted to see
dogged us and all the wonderful plans we made got changed. BUT. I'm
learning alot. SO MUCH. Things get canceled for a reason, things
change for a reason, things are hard for a reason, EVERYTHING HAPPENS
FOR A REASON. God knows the real plan, and He makes sure everything
happens as it should. Its take us to use our agency to try to align
our perspective with God's. Our Father in Heaven is the Mater Planner.
So we just need to trust in Him and remmeber everything hazppens for a
reason! but GEESE why is that so hard?

So saturday we met with an 11 yr old girl whos father is innactive,
mother is a nonmemeber, gma is a member, and she LOVES meeting with us
(SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE RIGHT???). so we met with her and ended up having a really cool lesson.  We wanted to show her the power of
her example. So I told her an experience I had (and yes I told it in
russian and was OH SO proud of myself afterwards :). One time while
working at sea world it was a really busy night so they had me selling
these glow swords in the HUGE shamu stadium. I was in there before
everyone came in and then watched for the next hour as the stadium
filled up. The show still had about 10 minutes till it started but
the stadium was already packed to the brim. While just standing there
I heard a little girl, probably about 5 years old say to her dad
"Dad, I wanna do the wave!" he replies, "then lets do it". They loudly
count to 3 together and stand up and do the wave. A few people around
them saw it and did it too. The 2 of them try it again.... 1,2,3! and
then about a few hundred people join in. By the 3rd time that one
little girl had the entire stadium do the wave.
isnt that crazy? I felt honored to have witnessed something so
signifigcant. That 5 year old girl had just affected and influenced an
entire stadium. And guess what, each of us have that kind of influence
and power. We are each important, and we each make a difference. The
power comes from deciding to do so.

A russian update, everyonme this week seems to think I am awesome
already at speaking russian. I was complimented several times for
already speaking so well :) Everytime someone complimented me my
companion laughes and agrees and then afterwards we laugh together
because while the russians think I CAN SPEAK WELL, THEY HAVE NO IDEA i
cant understand anything! HAHA. So yupp, I somehow need to learn to
understand this language. Hopefully before then end of dec I will
progress, becasue then i will no longer have a translator near my
seide all the time (my current companion). Instead I will have a
companion who expects me to do the translating.
ahhhahahaha. That is going to be so funny.
Welp, I love you all! Thank you for the emails and prayers! Every bit helps!
I love you.
Love, Sister Tenney

this last week

Sorry everyone we had some technical difficulties but read the second post that one's from 2 weeks ago! Tressa is happy and well we hope you will pray for her :)

Everyone!
welp I got some news this week. So not this next transfer, but the
next (my 3rd transfer) my trainer goes home leaving 5 sisters left in
our mission. The 3rd transfer however we have 5 new sisters coming
in...... YUPP. DO THE MATH. I'm gonna be a trainer my 3rd transfer. I
met with my mission president this week and its official. So start
your engines everyone and begin praying for me!!! Of course I'm freaked
out but im also stoked. Such a cool opportunity! Ha yupp, literally
blind leading the blind...... but im thinking we may be blind, but
we'll be able to see what really matters. Hahaha. It just makes me
laugh.
I have a mini story that happened to me yesterday that really shows to
me that God cares  about us. Yesterday in church I kept falling alseep
in church (oops). I was tired, couldnt understand anything, and
STARVING. ANd I was desperatly craving chocolate. Like seriousy
desperatly. SO I decided to make a test. I decided to see if God
really does answer prayers. Even stupid ones like sister tenney, who
is already so blessed with warmth and food and friends and family and
knowlege... I just wanted to see. So I prayed on simple prayer and
then smiled to myself cuz I kjnew I was gonna get some chocolate
soon. (arent I such a brat!?). So after the 3rd hour of church we were
meeting with some ppl in the kitchen and guess what? Someone pulls out
a huge cholate bar and shares with everyone and I got PLENTLY as I
laughed to myself and siently thanked God for answering my bratty
prayer and proving to me something I already knew: God loves us, cares
about us, and even cares about the petty, stupid, childish things we
care about.... like chocolate, when I have such more important things
to be praying for!
So dont forget it aight? Trust God. He is a marveous planner and I
know He has a plan and a reason for every little thing in your life.
And dont forget to pray for me ;)
loves and missionary handshakes to all from your lovely sister tenney

2 weeks ago...

Hello everyone!
I hope all of you watched conference becasue it ROCKED. No joke.
Conference to us missionaries is like disneyland. Saturday morning as
we gathered together to watch it in English we were all giddy with
excitement. And it was AWESOME!
few cool stories about it. first, the lady elder Nelson talked about
from st. petersburg, yea, I know her. She was watching it on the 3rd
floor just above me on sunday, in russian, as we watched it. Isnt that
cooll!I dont know her very well but I know all the russains love her
and they loved being talked about it confernce haha.
2nd, so this last week we were focused on finding becasue since I got
here we havent yet found a new investigator. And I was SICK of that. so
this week we talked to EVERYONE asking EVERYONE for referrals. We'd be
contacting on the street and as people we talked to said no we would
ask them if they knew of anyone who would want to hear our message
haha. But anyways. Nothing seemed to be working, but all of a sudden
one day my comp dared me to go contact this black girl so I did and
as I was takling to her she started crossing her arms and saying I
english, I dont know russain! Ha~! I was stoked. Turns out she
studies here and shes from africa. All three of us were taking the
same metro so we got to talk to her for a while and we got her number.
We weret ever able to meet with her this week but we randomly called
her and invited her to come watch confernce with us. She surpised us
and was like "yea! and can a bring a freind?" WHAT!?!?!? hahah of course! She came
with her friend and it was the coolest experience to sit next to them
sunday morning of conference and watch it through their eyes. They
had little background and knowledge of our church and beliefs, but I
loved watching them inch closer and closer to the tv as they soaked
up everythuig that was said. When the prophet came on they were SO
FOCUSED and entertained. They were like little kids. And so was I!
(man isnt pres. Monson awesome?) after the first 2 hours they had to
go but they loved it and kept telling everyone how they loved the
prophet. Wow i am so excited to meet with them! And testify and help
them to be happier! This was a mini miracle to me that showed the Lord
cares. He cared about them two and helped get them to conference while
also caring about me and sister parker and helped us achieve our
goals.
Just as a warning, if you ever come to russia dont step on gutter
holes (what are they called again?) becasue people fall in them here,.
No joke. An elder fell in one one time haha.
This gospel rocks! SHARE IT! I love all of you!
love, sister tenney

just plain nutty

Friends, family, followers, loved ones, joyous beloved people!

Hows life? Whats up with all you? Email me attressa.tenney@myldsmail.net, I want to hear from you :)

The mission is great lots going on. So basically this whole new culture here is
pretty wacky. They think alot of weird things. First of all, like
everyone has the same name. No joke. All the typical russian names you
think of, like svetlana, olga, nastia, ola, ana, anya, andre,
alexander, sasha, yea that is basically the name of averyone here! So
frustrating. I think one of the hardest things here is keeping
everyone's names straight. As we plan me and sister parker have funny
ways to remember people becasue they all have the same name... its
naustia that fed us, naustia with the mustache (she has one its
gross), naustia who is progressing, etc.... pretty funny. I'm so lucky
my trainer is so awesome and and patient with me. There is so much I
cant remmeber or dont undert\stand but shes always helping me out.
This week we went to an old babushka (babushka technically is the word
for grandma here but they really do call old women here all babushka
and there literally is babushka EVERYWHERE its kinda creepy theres so
many of them and they aren't dead yet). So this old babushka cant
understand a thing I say so I felt like an idiot the whole lesson
because I either wasn't talking or if I tried to she didn't understand
me. The lesson ended perfectly with me messing up on her name and then
breaking her glass tea cup. HAHAHAHAHA. Oh my gosh I walked out of
there and just cracked up. What can you do?

Other weird things I can think of about Russia.... they congratulate
you when you get out of the shower, not allowed to whistle it brings
bad luck upon people, and women dont play sports here! Today my comp
and I went and baught a bball and soccer ball and the guy working
there was so confused and asked us why were were buying them. We were
like...."to play with" and he looked at us like we were crazy
hahahaha. gt's. My comp and I usually run every morning but lately a
friend of ours has been playing soccer at 6:40 every morning with his
friends so we get to play! So fun!

But prob the hardest thing about the mission is waking up at 6z;30 every
morning. Man...... tough.

But life is good. We've got an awesome progressing investigatoir with
a baptismal date for the begining of Novemeber. Want to hear how
awesome she is? This week we tried to get referals from the members
and we got nothing, but with uleana (our investigator), she calls us
before a meeting one day and told her shes trying to bring her friend.
Her friend ended up being sick but shes planning on bring her friend
soon. WHAT!? We hadnt even asked uleana for a referal and she was
handing us one like it was no big deal. SICK! And we taught her the
word of wisdom and law of chastity this week and she went off on how
important both these things are and how she already lives them. WOW.
Arent we so blessed with uleana?

My hair here is nuts. NUTTY. CRAZY. PSHYCOTIC. However you want to say
it and imagine it you're probably imagining it right. Ha its fun. I
can wear it in a braid one day and the next day take it out and
it'll go curly afro again as if it were never up. Everyone here is
transfixed by it and its like a Christmas presemt to the few young
women in the ward when I come to church with it down becasue they love
to do fun braids in it. They are nutty about cool fun braids here I
love it. I think I've used the word nutty/nuts a little too much in
this paragraph...

So yesterday the elders in our branch went to a different branch. Me
and sister parker knew it was gonna be crazy with out them becasue 2
of the guys we play soccer with were planning on coming to church....
and us as sisters really arent supposed to work with guys. So the guys
came, and the whole three hours of church we basically juggled them,
with our other investigator, our 3 young women who are all inactive,
and the needy/loving members of the branch here. It was a hot mess.
But we did it... or at least we thought we did until the end of
church. All of a sudden after our missionary meeting with the ward
mission leader, its just me and sister parker, the two guys, and
LUCKILY one of the inactive girls. We were starving and had brought
food becasuse it was fast sunday and we had a meeting to go staright
to. So somehow it ended up us 5 eating in the kitchen together and it
basically looked like a date. AND of course the branch council got out
and all the branch leaders walk by and see us and probably think we're
shady sister missionaries. CRAP! Hahahahahaha. What could we do? And
of course they live right next to us so us 4 traveled home
together...... gosh. I've never been so thankful for elders before. So
anyone reading this, please know WE DID NOT INTEND to almost have a
double date with them...... geese I totes feel guilty about it.... and
awkward. Ha.

Quick shout out the the birthday peeps...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BELOVED
BRADEN AND MY WONDERFUL KIRA!!! KISS KISS HUG HUG! I PROMISE TO SING
YOU BOTH HAPPY BIRTHDAY DURING STUDY :) :) :) :)

I love all of you and pray you all are doing your part in missionary
work. Always be looking for opportunities to share your beliefs,
testify, invite, promise, discuss, ANYTHING. Please, I think about all
the opportunities I have missed in my life and feel horrible. I
remember when elders in our ward at home asked us for referals and we
didnt give them one and we never really tried to. YIKES. I never
realized how much they needed our help. And how easy it would be to
help them find people. ITS SO EASY. Pray about it. Seriously.
Much much love to one and all. LOVE Sister Tenney

I think i want to be a missionary forever

Mom and Family,
What a great week! So FULL and busy and exciting and crisp and cold
and beautiful and full of food and so much russian/rushing ;) hah....
get it? (no pun intended;).

Anyways, life is great. I think I want to be a missionary forever. I
decided my favorite thing about the work. Because I don't talk a ton in
our lessons (I DO talk though, dont think I'm some lame quiet
missionary), but becasue I don't talk a ton, and becasue when I do talk
my Russian is terribly hard for the Russians to undertsnad, when I
talk....... EVERYONE LISTENS! It's so cool. I feel like I'm super
important (hah cuz I am duh). But seriously, when I talk in lessons
everything becomes very still, the Spirit comes, and people really
listen. And I usually bear testimony (becasue thats about all I can
do)and I know it makes a difference in the lesson. This is my role
right now and I'm soooo lucky to have it and I make sure that I take
advantage of it and use this special role as I know God would want me
to.

This last week while we were contacting in a park a nice babushka
(all old ladies=babushkas) stopped and talked to us for a while. At
one time she stopped and stared into my eyes and told me I had
beautiful eyes, that they were pure, and good, and that she knew we
were doing a good work. ISNT THAT COOL? Too bad she couldnt seem to
undersand this "good work" we are doing could help her. It's wonderful
to have experiences like this when contacting becasue most people in
Russia aren't too friendly right away haha. Most people don't even
acknoweledge us as we try to conact them. It's so odd! So every once
in a blue moon when someone simply smiles its exciting and we try to
talk to them and share our wonderful message!

So you know how my 1st lesson I said "I pee" in russian. Hilarious.
Well this week when we met with her again we afterwards helped her
with her English practice. She was trying to talk about the food she
eats and the 1st thing she said was "I pee" HAHAHAHA. She was trying
to say "I like to eat peas" in english, but quite ironically said "I
pee". aftedrward we high fived as we realized we both messed up in
each others languagues as we proudly declared our ability to go to the
bathroom hahahahah. So ironic its amazing.

This week we got to go out of the city on a train!!!! Oh my gosh it's
beautiful out of the city. SOOOO much green and trees with fall leaves
changing, so crisp and chilly (already I know.... I'm gonna die like
next week cuz Its getting cold so fast... pray for me). But it was sooo
fun and we went to a memebers house who has this HUGE garden that her
husband works in all day (he doesnt have a job he literally only works
in his garden). It was so enchanting and full of lush vegeatble
gardens, trees, fruit, flowers, mud, even a huge red mushroom like
straight out of mario cart. SO COOL. Plus he's not amember so one day
we're gonna ge him baptized. Seriously Im so pumped right now I just
wanna get out and work.

I had to play the piano again. Sucked.

So for all you who are reading this blog my commitment to you, I mean,
I want you to commit to do this: call up your ward's missionaries
RIGHT NOW and offer to help. Maybe go help them when they teach a
lesson, offer your home to teach lessons in, tell them about a
friend they can talk to.... the missionaries NEED YOU. No joke. Our
members here are AWESOME and so helpful and to help for them often
means precious time away from family and an hour metro ride to meet
with us. Do your part, ther Lord needs you!
Welp, I'll get off my soap box, thank you for committing. Love you
all. I promise to pray for you if you pray for me :)
loves, Sister Tenney

I'm happy and i love it here

Family!
Wow so much to tell you. So much is going on here and so much to think
about. I'm having a great time. St. Petersburg really is beautiful and
exciting. I feel like a little kid walking around staring at everything
and trying to take it all in. I'm the annoying person in the subway
who stares at everyone haha... I just cant stop looking at everything.
The architecture is beautiful and whether it's raining (like usual) or
sunny (the sun is such a treat!) everything is so pretty and cool/
Theres lots of sick grafitti here too ha.

So last friday I went to the Hermitage for my very 1st time!!! The
Hermitage, for those who dont know, is the world's BIGGEST art museum.
Sweeet right? I have yet to actually go and view some of it, we just
did service but it was way exciting. We just stand at an entrance and
make sure people leave their coats in the cloakroom. Sounds easy but
can be a little challenging for a person who doesn't really know
Russian (like me ha) but it was an adventure. Luckily ALOT of ppl here
know english, or a little english so if I need to I can communicate a
little bit with people. Everyone in the branch loves talking to me in
english ...... doen't help my russian but it is helping me to gain
trust with the members!

So our brach.... we are lucky to have such a strong branch. We have a
lot of strong members who can be a great resource for us. Just recently
did missionaries start working with the members here. I don't really
understand why they didn't before, but basically this mission is on the
brink of blasting off with missionary work. We're slowly using the
members more and more and starting to get referrals from them. I think
its normal but my companion keeps trying to get me to understand how
awesome all the growth is. Pres. Clark is making awesome changes and
I'm excitited to see how this mission changes in the next year.

So we walk into our church on Sunday and they needed a pianist. HA.
Sister Parker knew that I took lessons so she offered me to play. The
sad thing is, I really was the best painist there that day. Only 2
women in the branch can plan and neither were there. So yupp, I
played the piano in sacrament on sunday. You all should be laughing out
loud right now. It was horrible. Hahahahaha. Most of it was only right
handed. And it was pretty bad. But everyone was so appreciative. I've
been able to pracite a few times since then if that ever happens
again. For those of you planning on serving a mission do yourself and
your future area a favor and practice piano!

The most awkwad thing I've decided is introductions. Here in russia
there is a formal way and an informal way to greet people. So first
off I dont know which one to use (old ladies usually get offended if
you use the informal but then some old lady members want to be
considered friends so they want the informal..... totes confusing),
and then I have no idea if I should hug or kiss them (a lot of russians
are huggy and kissy) and then they say something to me I have n idea
what they are saying. HAHa so its a mess. Often ppl tell me their
name and I don't even know because it sounds like a mush of noises. And
then I dont even know if they're asking me my name. The other day we
went to a ladies house for a lesson and we walk in and she was talking
and I had no idea what she was saying so when she paused I assumed
she asked me my name so I introduced my self. She looked at me
awkwardly and kept talking. Turned out she was asking me if I was cold
hahahaha. Gt's.

Good news of the week. 1) My companion woke up in the midddle of the
night to me sleeptalking.... IN RUSSIAN! Sick right? I know. Maybe I'm
already fluent in russian already I just don't know it. 2) Russain is
slowly turning from a mesh of noises to words..... slowely. And even
thought its not sounding like mush I still have no idea what they are
saying... but its progress! Woot woot!

Everyhing is great I love it here. The hardst thing is knowing what we
should be doing. Our goal is to be the most effective. Sometimes we
aren't sure if we should be contacting people in the street, finding
inactive members, meeting and making relationships with members.... so
many options but what is best? We're slowly fiuring it out. God is
helping us!

I'm happy and I love it here. Thanks for your support and love.
Love, Sister Tenney

St. Petersburg is awesome... I can't wait for it to become mine

 Mom and Family,
I'm here and I'm alive!!! Yay! Oh my gosh I'm so excited I can hardly sit
here and type. My flights were all smooth and I arrived Tuesday
afternoon. That first day the Clarks (our mission president and wife)
picked us up with some missionaries and immediatly we headed off to
street contact. Haha, pretty fun. Just as we made our way back to pres
and sister Clark's home we talked to people on the street and handed
out "invitations". I'm kinda scared of the Russian people from all
that I've heard about them, but they've been more kind than I
expected. Afterwards we had a delicious dinner at the Clark's. OH how
I love the Clark's! They are awesome. So warm and loving and real and
just good. I know they love me and really care about me. It was
wonderful to be in a home and just know that I would be taken care of.

Afterwards I slept with some sister missionaries who lived in the area
and I konked out! I fell asleep the night before we left at like 1,
woke up at 4 and then we flew and stayed awake until about the
afternoon of the next day (in Utah time.... is this making sense?). So
needless to say I was extremely tired. Yesterday I met my companion!
Her name is Sister Parker. She's from Utah and she's awesome. We had a
great day planned and I even got to teach a lesson with her last
night! Oh my gosh how I love teaching. It was with a newly baptized
member named Jana. It was so fun to plan with Sis. Parker. She told me
all about Jana and her needs and basically had me plan the whole
lesson. During the lesson I don't think she expected me to be able to
help much but I guess I really suprised her with how much I was
involved and participated. I asked a lot of questions and often bore
testimony. Oh it was so cool I'm finally a real missionary! I didn't
realized how great the new teaching program is at the MTC becasue Sis
Parker said she couldn't have been as involved in the lesson as I was
last night in her first time. So basically I was pretty lucky to be a
part of that program! Only one little Russian mess up in the lesson
last night. I went to say "when I write" but, the verb for to write
and to pee is the same, but differentiates depending on how you
conjugate it.... haha so of course I said, in my very first lesson,
WHEN I PEE hahhahahaa. Oh it was hilarious Jana was dying she thought
it was so funny. Welp, I'm not gonna mess that up again :)

St. petersburg is awesome. I havent seen much of it yet but I can't
wait for it to become mine. Our mission only has 50 missionaries, and
currently only 7 of them are sisters. Isn't that crazy??? So basically
I will get to know all the sisters very well. Also, basically all
areas of the mission are in the city it sounds like, except for one
location so I'll be in the city probably my whole mission. It has been
raining alot so those boots you sent me are PERFECT I'm so lucky to
have them. Its already a little bit chilly so soon I'm gonna be frozen
haha. Our mission president lives in the way nice apartment in the
same building with the mission office and church building. I'm suprised
at how nice all of it is. It's weird that a church is in an apartment
building, but its also weird that its still like a normal chapel and
church building,..... somehow they built it like that. I'm trying to
think of what I else I need to tell you.... so much to talk about!
I don't understand any Russian basically haha. I'm a little bummed my
trainer isn't Russian... a Russian would've helped with my Russian
a lot, but I really like Sister Parker and we're gonna get SO MUCH done
together :) I just get so excited thinking about it. Our area has greatpotential so of course we're gonna be busy!

Today we had to go back to the office to get some visa stuff done and
while we had to wait for a few hours us and some elders got to play
floor ball in the cultural hall thing. SO FUN. It kinda like hocky
witth sticks and a ball and stuff. Sister Parker was thrilled becasue
I guess she hasn't been able to play much sports the whole time she's
been out she's served a year now). Basically the mission president
before Pres. Clark was SUPER strict and had rules for everything.
random rules like elders arent allowed to share candy with sisters,
don't move the furniture in apartments, sisters can't play sports with
elders, and sisters had to have their hair shorter than shoulder
length! NUTS right? Im SOOOOO thankful to have the Clark's here. And
thank goodness they don't have a rule about cutting hair.... I would
def. cry. So basically Pres. Clark's rules are to follow the white
handbook. He's only been out here 2 months so he may add rules, but I
know if he does they would be good ones that I would want to follow.
It's about 4:30 here on thursday...... our preparation days are on
thursdays so this is about when you'll be getting my emails.
Everyone: yes, you who is reading this, I love you! Thank you for your
support and prayers, I need it! Write me :) aight? I know this church
is true and I cant wait to share it with everyone!!!!

Russia on Monday!

 I got your package thank you!I love the dress and everyone is
jealous of my nightgown, thank you. About boots, I decided I want you
 to get me a pair. I'll buy a super warm pair out there, so can you
 send me a cute simple pair I could wear with everything if its not
 super cold? Get what I'm saying? Remember I have huge calves so the
boots have to fit over them, and I have a size 10 feet. Thanks! I'm so
excited to get boots! ahhhh im freaking out... I'm leaving! This is
my last email from the states...... crazy right? I can hardly sleep at
night I'm so excited. I can't stop thinking about it. Do I have
 everything I need? I hope so!

This week was awesome. One reason, I
finished the Book of Mormon! I read it in less than a month. I read 15
to 20 pgs a day and circles every reference to Christ and God. Whether
it was their name, a He or a Thou referrring to Them, or them
speaking saying "I". Oh my gosh it was so cool! The BOM really is a
testament of Christ and is full of His doctrine, His words, and the
plan of salvation. Only 24 pgs in the Book of Mormon do not mention or
refer to Christ. Only 24 of 531!!! THATS PRETTY CRAZY. You all better
be reading the Book of Mormon everyday. I know sometimes it gets
confusing and tiring, but if you read looking for something, or with a
high lighter, just some sort of purpose it will help alot and I know
you'll get alot more out of your reading like I did :),

So last week
in TRC we committed our "investigator" (who's a member) to fast and
bear his testimony this sunday, after saying yes he committed us to
doing the same, so Sister Paletta and I bore our testimonies in
Russian this last week. It was amazing. Basically all I would normally
testify of in English I can now say in Russian. THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!
GOD KNOWS AND LOVES US AND CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR!, So exciting.

Oh my travel plans, did you get the letter I sent with them??? So I leave
The MTC Monday morning at 5. My first flight is at 8 and is heading
to Chicago. I land in Chicago at noon Chicago time and don't board my
 next flight to Frankfurt Germany until 3:40 chicago time so between
then is prob when I'll call you. MOM have youir cell phone near you
all day just in case anything changes. IM SO EXCITED TO TALK TO
EVERYONE! I hope the kids can be there too and dad (or i can call dad
too ) so I can talk to everyone. I bought a calling card for like 3$
with 500 minutes on it so i think I'll be ok :) yayayayayayaya so
excited!,

Also this weeek Sister Paletta and I had a fun oppurtunity
that really helped us to see how much we've learned and how much we've
grown since we've been here. Every sunday each district does a lesson.
A companionship teaches it and then afterwards we evaluate how they
taught. We do this so we can all learn how to be better teachers. They
are always awesome and really spiritiual. A member from our branch
presidency is always present. Well this week a couple members of the
branch pres. weren't here so Sis P and I were asked to go for them to
one of the new districts of Russains. These missionaries are really
new and quite frankly their lesson wasn't that good so afterwards
Sister Paletta and I were able to tell their whole district all the
many things we have learned that have improved our teaching. We never
realized how much we had learned and how much good advice we have
recieved and listended to that has greatly helped our teaching. I'm not
saying I'm a pro at teaching or anything, cuz I've got alot to work on,
but being able to help others was such a blessing to us and reminded
me that I need to recognize my progress and not just be sad cuz im not
amazing. So make sure all of you are looking for the baby steps of
progress in your life and thanking you Father in Heaven for it. Don't
get down cuz you're not perfect, no one is, instead get motivated
and and take that first baby step., Yikes, a week from now I'll be in
Russia trying to talk to people!!! hahahahah such an entertaining
thought. I'm totes ready. God will help me :) Luke 1:37., oh dad: HAPPY
BIRTHDAY!!!! Woo hoo! You doing anything fun for your special day????
I hope it is wonderful, know I'll be thinking about you :), Everyone,
sorry my letters were all lame this last week, I have less and elss
time these last 2 pdays for letters cuz I have to start packing and
making sure I'm all set to leave. But I'm still writing you today. Oh
and I dont have my address with me but I wrote it on the letter I sent
with all my travel plans.... I hope you got that letter., I don't
really have much else to say besides I'm happy and hopeful. Of course
I'm scared out my mind for Russia but at the same time I just want to
get there saychas! (Russain for NOW!).,

Oh, guess what I have to do
this sunday.... sing. Somehow a sister in my district tricked me into
singing lead kindly light with her *(in russian of course) in
sacrament. I said yes as long as she promised not to make me sing a
solo. Then yestersay she informed me I have a solo part in it. Great.
Pray for me! haha. I'm esp. excited cuz shes a singing major at BYU and
is an aspiring opera singer so I'm gonna just sound great with her
hahaha. Whatevs!, I hope you all are great! Krista, keep it up in
school and start your BYU papers :) tauna, write me!!! Braden, wassup?
Bryce: I heard your doing awesome in football. Mom and dad, thank you
for your many letters and dear elders. I need them and they are
 helpful. I love all of you and cant wait to talk to you! yudda yudda
best.
Love, sestra tenney :)

Happy Times

MOM and family,

I've got bad news, this last week during dinner me and the 3 other St.
Petersburg missionaries were called to the travel office. They all
left immediatly but I had to finish eating, but I was freaking out.
When we FINALLY had finished dinner we basically ran to the office. As
we did we passed the 3 elders and they all looked like they were gonna
cry. When I finally burst into the travel office I yell "can I still
go to St. Petersburg!?!?!?" all the workers start cracking up and say
all I have to do is sign something hahahaha. The 3 elders knew I would
fall for it, and I totes did. So jk about the bad news, I'm still on my
way to St. Petes!

So this week was full of hilarious mistakes. One, all the Russian
elders have begun playing this mafia game, where if you say someones
name, and they look at you, you shoot an invisible air dart at their
neck and they're stuck dead until someone "pulls it out". Of course,
everytime someone said my name I fell for it, so I was basically dead
this whole last week. One day at lunch i fell for it yet again and
just yelled in russian to the elder: "I want to kill you!"..... well
atleast I though thats what i said. After I yelled it sister Paletta
started cracking up, and after saving me told me I had in fact actually
yelled "I want to love you!" haahahahaha. Yupp, I yelled "I want to
love you" accross the cafeteria to an elder. To love in russian is
loobeet, whereas to kill in russian is oobeet, so you can understand
why I may possibly confuse the 2. plus I'm a lover not a fighter ;)
Also, while we were teaching the plan of salvation this week I went to
tell Nastia, our investigator, that after we die we either go to
spirit prison or spirit paradise. She bust up laughing, becasue
apparently I told her she should want to go to CHUBBY paradise,
instead of spirit paradise hahaha. Oh doesn't russian sound funny? And
believe me it is weird. They have a verb for everything. We actually
found a verb that translates into "to take the hair of the dog that
bit you". Just one word! And why would they even want to say that? But
there is a lot of cool stuff about russian. Like the verbs to learn and
to obey. In Russian, you can add a "sya" sound to the end of a verb to
make it reflexive, or make it something you do to yourself. The verb
to learn, is the exact same verb as to teach, except with a "sya" at
the end of it. Isn't that a cool thought? When we "learn" in russian we
are literally saying "i teach myself". And to obey is the verb "to
listen" with a "sya" at the end of it. Meaning when we obey we are
listening for oursleves. SO COOL!

Great news. I got my name tag in Russian yesterday! Because my name
tags I already have are all in Russain but my name, but now I have my
name in Russian! Turns out I've been spelling my last name wrong in
Russian this whole time. Ha. Not too surpirsing. I'll try to take a
pic and show you it soon. Also, TOMORROW I get my flight plans :)
YAY!!!!!!!! I promise to make a copy of it and send it to you asap. I
feel like I'm almost being done potty training and about to be able to
go to the bathroom on my own! I only have a week and 5 days left.
NUTS. I should be leaving Monday the 12th. Oh gosh I'm a little
sick/way too excited when i think about it.

Alright, now onto all the GOOD stuff. Best devotional ever last night.
Guess who!? Yupp, ELDER HOLLAND spoke to us last night. And I was less
then 20 feet away from him (us Russians have been here so long we know
all the tricks to getting the good seats, and belive me it's not easy).
There was a couple times last night that he looked directly at me when
he spoke. He did not have one thing written down, he just SPOKE to us,
straight from the spirit. I forgot my notes but he 1st talked about
how many ppl think missionaries are perfect, and that even though we
aren't, we do not have the right to defile this image, that we must
uphold it and do our best to be as perfect as we can be. He talked
about how we are the most prayed for ppl in the world (besides the
prophet) so on any bad day we need to remember that and ask for that
strength. Yesterday the MTC president handed a few districts notecards
to write down a question on we had for a general authority. Our
district got to write one, but Elder Holland didn't get to ours. The
questions people asked were amazing and how Elder Holland answered
them was incredible. Someone asked "If Christ had one thing to tell us
now, what would it be" and Elder Holland said that Christ would say
"all that I have said is true". That's a cool thing to think about isn't
it? Truly, everything Christ did say is true! We cannot forget that.
Also, he talked about God's love for us. How real and pure and all
encompassing it is. I have never heard someone speak with such
authority, love and intensity as Elder Holland did when he spke about
this. He began talking about how imperfect and human he is, but even
though he is imperfect, he almost has a perfect love for his children,
and would do anything, ANYTHING for them. He said, if I, an imperfect
person, have such a strong, pure, real love for my own children, think
of how powerful, and real God's PERFECT, ALL-KNOWING, love is. God,
who created us and gave us HIS OWN SON. Of course He loves us. And I
know God does love each of us. I have felt it over and over again. He
wants us to be happy, He cares what we care about, He wants us to
succeed, and mainly He wants us to return to Him. And we can, and we
WILLL :) (that is if we choose to).

Isn't that great!? Also, last week in the TRC (where we teach in
Russian to volunteers who play themselves, they don't act as
investigators) we taught the same guy we taught our VERY FIRST WEEK.
this was cool becasue this time we could actually talk to him and
understand eachother. Somehow we had our best lesson every and the
spirit was strong. I didnt think about my Russian once but Sister
Paletta said it was amazing how perfect and clear my russian was. It
was a really special experience the 3 of us had during that lesson and
I know we all learned and grew from it. Such a blessing and I know it
was a tender mercy from God reminding me that I can do this work. (I
need to reminded every once in a while).

I love all of you and pray for all of you. I just want to ask everyone
who reads this to not be shy about your beliefs. We are SO blessed to
have this gospel and this knoweledge. SHARE IT. You can do so in a
non-imposing way where you wont offend anyone. I promise. I was always
so nervous I would offend someone or they would think i was weird, but
it's not true! Talk about church, talk about your beliefs, share what
you know, and INVITE! Ask ppl to come to church, activities, go to
mormon.org, or give them a Book of Mormon. I challenge you to do this
and I promise you will be blessed and guided as you do so. this gospel
can bless and help ANYBODY and EVERYBODY so don't be selfish ;)

Love you all! Ya loobloo tebya! -Cectpa Tenney
PS: thank you everyone for your prayers, dear elders, letters and
packages. I so appreciate them!

GT's!

Our friends. Fun times.

The one with the blue tie is the one who proposed to me. All 3 of us played Vball together. GT's!

Elder Dougherty, me, Elder Elwood (blue tie)

A hilarious picture of me for some reason they zoomed up on me. With Elder Braider. funny kid

Aren't I so cute? haha

A sister just gave me thi.s It hink it's better than the other one! Hilarous!

(This is her sister speaking, the other one, in my opinion, is WAY better :)

us partying together. Sister Paletta, Sis Cardon, and me!



I have a New Best Friend

Mom and Fam!

Gma and gpa are coming here m/w/f/ afternoons? Tell them to find me! I
want to see them! Tell them I eat dinner from 5:30 to about 6:00 or 6:15.
Please tell them to find me!

Thank you for the packages! I got the one with the watch and shoes and
stuff as well as the one with the sports bra and retainer, where did
you find my retainer by the way??? THANK YOU!

This week has been nuts, yet again. So basically after this week I
have a new best friend. He is AWESOME! We talk all the time, almost
constantly actually. I'm pretty sure you all know HIM. Its Heavenly
Father. Things can get tough here sometimes, or other times, you know
how open I usually am with my thoughts and feelings, well, I can't
really be that open and out spoken on a mission, so basicslly probably
over half of what I would normally just tell someone or say out loud I
now say in prayer to my Father in Heaven. I rely on Him sooooo much.
Good thing He knows me so well, and cares about me so much, so He
doesnt mind :) Basically he is the PERFECT best friend (no offense to
all my besties out there I love you don't worry!). So He's helping me
through this, and is always rememinding me I can do it.

Like last week, we had TRC. TRC is where we teach volunteers who come
to the MTC so we can work on both teaching, and our language. The girl
we were teaching is from Moscow, was just baptized 3 moths ago, and
was about to go to the temple for the first time the next day. And
besides all that, I could not understand ONE SINGLE WORD she said. oh
I felt horrible, and so embarrassed, but somehow my companion could
understand everything (miracle!) so sometimes she would let me in on
what was going on. So we taught about prayer, and I did say a few
things, but for the most part I was either frustrated/sad, but the
other half of the time I was amazed at this 20 year old girl's faith
and courage. At the end of the lesson we walked out feeling bad cuz
even though my companion could understand some of it we felt like we
taught horrible and that we were all over the place. After we teach at
the TRC they have the volunteers fill out a form letting us know how
we did and what we could work on. All she wrote on it was that she
felt comfortable with us, felt the spirit, and that through faithful
prayers we can recieve what we ask for. We were AMAZED! We could not
believe she understood and learned exactly what we wanted her too. And
that she felt "comfortable" with us even though there were plenty of
awkward pauses and awkward sentences as we tried to understand
eachother. It was SO COOL!!!!!!! I can't explain it but God works in
mysterious ways and we needed to know that we can still teach even if
our language sucks haha.

OOOOH another tender mercy. So we had one of our teachers leave for a
week so we had a sub. Our teacher just got back Monday. Before he left
I could never understand what he was saying and what we were supposed
to be doing in class (remember our teachers ONLY speak in russian ALL
the time), but on Minday when he returned in class I could understand
everything he said! Whether it was what we were supposed to be doing
or when he was teaching us something I could understand almost
everything! It was weird to actually know what was going on (hahah),
but seriously. I know I have soooo much to learn with Russian still,
and when I get to Russia I doubt I'll understand anyone, but to know
that in a weeks time I have learned enough, gotten so much better to be
able to understand so much more is crazy!!!

Oh guess what I did on Sunday, gave a talk! Oh my gosh it was soooo
scary but sooooo thrilling! I think I explained this already, but
every Sunday EVERYONE prepares a talk in Russian and then they
randomly call 2 of us up to give it. Last week our branch president
told us sisters to be ready so I had feeling I wopuld be called. (my
branch president is super scary and intimidating but SO NICE and he
LOVES the sisters :) The talk was on the Holy Ghost (my FAVORITE
topic) and I did pretty well. It was frustrating having to read my talk
the whole time (you know I hate reading my talks I just kinda like to
say whatever I want) but I kept the Russian extremely simple so
hopefully everyone could understand what I was trying to say. I ended
with my testimony and my favorite thing I said was what i finished
with. Directly translated from Russian I ended saying "God wants so
that we know what to do". And I know thats true! God wants to help us,
so look to Him, ask Him your questions, tell Him your thoughts and your
frustrations, tell Him what you've been thinking about. He wants to
hear! And I know he will help you.

Oh, best news ever! One of our "investigators" has a scheduled
baptismal date. Woot WOOT!

So I think I've forgotten to tell you every week we have do "service"
basically meaning we have a sceduled time to clean the MTC haha. We
ALWAYS clean the Barbershop. Ha, isn't that funny there's a barbershop
here? Anyways, for some wonderful reason our service is 6 am every
monday (makes me want to kill someone) so we always look hilarious as
we clean becasue 1) we always wear our hair in pigtails (its for fun).
2) we're all super angry cuz its so early in the morning 3) Just the
fact that we are cleaning a barbershop is hilarious. So yea, just a
small little fun part of my life I'm priveledged to do so early in the
morning.

OOOh we had an awesome speaker last night. Elder Zivic of the 70. It
was amazing. I wish I could tell you everything. My favorite thing he
said was this quote "God grant me serenity to accept what i cannot
change, courgae to change what i can, and wisdom to know the
difference". He followed the quote telling us that we cannot change
our physical height but we change change our spiritual height. So
true! So make sure you're not stressing/worrying about the things you
can't change, and that you're working on changing what we have the
ability to change :) I know I really needed to hear that. Makes me
think of the most annoying scripture ever Mosiah 4:27 (i think). The
one that says we cannot run faster than we have strength. Makes me so
mad cuz I just want hit the ground running and be awesome right away
at everything. I hate not being good at things and having so much I
need to work and improve on (and believe me the MTC is a great place
to go if you want to earn alllllllllllllllllll of you faults and
weaknesses) but we just need to trust in God and know that he knows
we're trying our hardest.

Goodness I feel like Im preaching to you, sorry! I just have so much
cool stuff im learning I gotta share it! I love all of you. Thank you
for your prayers, and your letters and concern. Can you believe I have
less than 3 weeks? Time flies! I love you!
Love,
Sister Tenney