It's not what you AREN'T but what you ARE, and what you are is GREAT

Mom and fam!

I couldnt sleep last night I was so excited to email you :)  I cant beleive its already been 4 weeks. its nuts! Its amazing I'm still enjoying it here :)

So the MTC schedule changes a little each day but most days go something like this. I wake up at 6:20, I'm ready and in our classromm by 7:00 planning and studying, breakfast at 7:50, study from like 8:45 to 10:00. Gym from 10:00 to 11:00. Get ready till 11:30, Computer Russian program study time from 11:30 to 12:30, lunch from 12:30 to 1:30, class from 1:30 to 4:30, companion study from 4:30 to 5:30. dinner from 5:30 to 6:15 and then class from 6:15 to 9:15. Finally at 9:30 I can read letters and dearelders and get ready for bed/write in journal. In class most of the time our 2 teachers (Brat Beus and Sistra Jones) mostly only speak russian to us, even when we're learning about gospel/discussions and practicing contacting, but class is always a mix of language learning and study as well as gospel study. Its great. Sometimes after two 6 hour classes though I can feel super drained, and sometimes it takes all of me not to fall asleep duringh class or study, but so far I havent fallen asleep! Quite a defeat for me :)

Sundays are our only days without class, sundays are a bunch of spiritual meetings/church. Every sunday everyone in the branch has to prepare a talk in Russian and our branch president randomly asks a few missionaries to talk. Its super scary but so far I have yet to talk! Luckily. But beacuse I'm one of the 4 sisters of 100 russian elders in the branch I'm sure I'll have to speak soon. It will be way fun I'm excited/scared out of my mind. Tuesday nights are the devotionals, and sunday nights are fireseides and those are my FAV! They are always amazing.

 

Our investigators are our 2 teachers posing as investigators they actually taught on their missions in Russia and Ukraine. Most of the time I completely forget they are my teachers and try to do all I can to help them realize how ESSENTAIL this gospel is in their life and how they NEED the BOM. UGH! But our lessons are improving sooo much each time. Both the russian part and the teaching by the spirit part. Its sooooooo inspiring looking back at mine and Sistra Paletta's progess. Its amazing.

Speaking about my russian. The other day I was talking to my district and I was like "Mainly I'm just bad at understanding Russian, but I also struggle with reading it, and I'm horrible at speaking it" hahahah after I said that I realized that with those as my weaknesses I basically suck at Russian in general. But everyone laughed and was like "Sister Tenney you may not be amazing at Russian but we know your strength is your OPTIMISM". So yes, I may not be the brightest missionary in my district, but Im enjoying every minute of it and I know the Lord is helping me. This is cheesy but in our devotional on sunday they kept repeating "It's not what you AREN'T but what you ARE, and what you are is GREAT". Isn't that such a great message? That's what I have been focusing on and I know it's helping me in my own ways. And in my patrirchal blessing its says that "I will always be thankful for who I am which will allow me to recieve countless blessings". I believe that is true! It is an insult to our Father in Heaven if you dont appreciate who you are. Learn to love yourself :)

 

I just learned this quote and I love it: "Missionary: one who spends time away from their family so others can spend eternity with theirs" :) Isnt that great?

 

So just a quick side note, My russian is greatly improving, but I know its becasue of God's help. Could you all pray for me to have the gift of tounges? Not mainly for me but for those that I will be serving in Russia. I need all the help I can get. THANK YOU!

 

Isnt it amazing I'm 1 thrid of the way done with the MTC? ITS NUTS! Mainly I'm sad becasue all the russian elders that I've become close friends with that have been here 6 more weeks than us leave next week, I'm going to MISS THEM! And even scarier of a thought is that it makes me the oldest Russian missionaries (as in we've been here the longest) and when the new Russian missionaries get here in 2 weeks I''ll have to be the example to them. YIKES! The honeymoon period is over and its now to time to get to work!

 

Some crazy things have been happening to me at the night. 2 nights ago the fire alarm went off at 2 am. I was sooo angry I just kep yelling "POCHEMOOO!" (WHY?!?!?!?! in Russian haha) Luckily once it was over I feel back asleep right away. And the other night I woke up and I was sitting up mid-laughing. It was creepy! I was actually laughing in my sleep and I caught myself in the act! Thats just how happy I am here hahah.

 

Also, since I arm wrestled that elder last week, everyone asks me about it and asks me if I was the sister who beat the elder in an arm wrestle. Totes embarrasssing. Even more embarassing is that alot of the elders call me sistra jimmer. SO ANNOYING!

 

 

Oh I taught everyone how to pigbark :) They all think its hilarious.

 

 

And Sistra Paletta and I have been keeping up on our pranks. We know these spanish elders and we've been doing funny things to their desks and leaving them poems, its hilarious. When you've been at the MTC this long you have to start finding weird/fun things to do to occupy yourself and Sistra Paletta and I excel at it.

 

 

Please tell all our Tenney fam about this blog. I owe some family letters and I just havent had time to write them yet I feel bad!

I have a few shoutouts!

BRITT- WOOOOO WOOOOOO! I cant believe you're engaged! Go Jarms! Seriosna? (seriously in russian) Im stoked for you and want pics ASAP.

Kira- love you babes! I have hardly heard from you, dear elder me!

rach- Hows the wedding planning? Tell me about life

kara- Your letter was THE BEST and i so needed it, THANKS babe!

Jeni carpenter: Thank you for the letter and package! It made my day! Tell Brandon he's gonna love his mission.

Sorry I'm out of time! I love you alllllll! 

Love,

Sistra Tenney

Taking down the Elders!

My Hollywood Mom! Family!

The MTC is still good. Sometimes planning Russian lessons and learning Russian can take its toll, but it always quickly gets better. Whenever I think about how not smart I am and how hard the language is I realize how much trust and confidence Heavenly father has in me to be able to do this! And I know he wouldnt have called me to Russia if he wasnt going to help me :) The best thing about this week is how much I've learned about revelation. We ALL are entitled to personal revelation! Whenever I'm feeling the spirit, whether it be at a meeting or devotional or something, I always make sure I'm listening to any small, quiet thoughts and write them down immediatly. The spirit has taught me SO MUICH this week as I'm practicing doing this. I've also realized, any GOOD idea or thought that comes into my mind is usually a prompting or a small inspiration from GOD! Anything. So make sure you arent discrediting these small thoughts that come into your mind, that you're acting on them, and thanking God for them after :)

The devotionals and firesides here are amazing. The spirit is thick and I dont think I have ever been so happy.

GYM. Its still my favorite :) The bball court opened up again and let me tell you its so fun! Some elder challenged me in lightening (one of my favorite elders ;) and dont worry, I got him out that very first turn!

The most hilarious/embarrassing thing that happened this week happened in the cafeteria. The other night we were eating and some Russian elder challenged me to an arm wrestle. You know me I cant turn down a challenge so the throwdown began. We were even in strength so it was a great match and within a minute of the dual I begin to hear people throughout the ENTIRE cafetaeria getting up and cheering me on. As the wrestle continued more and MORE people are watching and soon everyone in there is watching. by this time I know my face is bright red from my efforts and im SO EMBARRASSED. Of course I win. But now I will forwever be known as the sister who beat an elder in an arm wrestle and I now cannot go anywhere without elders saying something to me about it. yea Im never doing that again! So funny though.

In my lesson last week I accidenlty asked our investigator if we could meet with him the next day at 4am. that was pretty funny too.

That CD of me came from my companions best friends dad who works here at the MTC. We ran into him the other day so he said he would send you a video. How nice is that? Hahah I think I was going a little crazy in the video. By the evenings I'm wasted and start to get a little silly. But yea you shud totes put it on this blog :) What did you think of the Russian I was speaking? Everyday my vocab is increasing, its crazy. Only little by little but slowely I'm able to talk more and more with my russian investigators. Its exciting.

Today I'll be seding more pictures so you can see what I've been up to :) OH I'VE GOT THE BEST NEWS! I memorized the 1st vision! In english AND russian. Crazy right? It took me a few weeks but I've got it, I am so proud of myself it was not easy. I wish you could hear my say it, it sounds hilarious! Russian is hilarious but sooo cool I love it. I cant wait to comer home and have you hear how I sound speaking it. I also cant wait to actuially be able to speak it haha.

Do you guys have any questions for me? Things here are getting harder everyday, which also makes it get better each day. I'm working on learning how to work. And work hard. I'm trying not to waste a minute and learn as much Russain as I can before I leave. I'm def one of the slowest learners in my district but the good thing about that is that I'm surrounded by way smart people who are willing to help me! Hahah so the joke is on them.

I love all of you and will write you a letter today! Keep the dear elders and letters and packages coming! LOVE YOU! -Love, Sister Tenney

Speaking Russian! And having a good time :)

Some family sent us this video and a few pictures on a CD. We're a little confused how we got it, but who cares it's awesome! Look at how good her Russian is and how happy she looks!

2nd Week Already!

Mom and family!

Thank you for the package! I so appreciated it, it was everything I needed. And everyone was jealous cuz of how cute it was :)

This week was great... soooo much faster than the last week. Its crazy how fast things are going now. My companion is still awesome and we've been having a blast. Russian is coming. Its not super speedy but I see progress. Ha no mom I dont ONLY speak to russian speaking missionaries. My zone is all russian, and my whole floor is where me meet for class, but there are plenty of other missionaries I talk and see everyday. The elders are finally starting to awknoweledge us sisters! When they elders get here at first I think they tried to avoid us cuz they werent sure how to treat/talk to us, but now we're all starting to be friends.... its so much better that way.

Talking about my zone..... my zone leader is soooooo hot. And nice. I think I'm in love. No big deal. Just thought I would let you know .

I love the dear elders you guys send me... keep them up! And packages and letters are great too :) (hint hint).

So teaching lessons and discussions in russian can be hard! But they're slowely improving. Last week I asked our investigator to read the book of mormon and she just laughed in my face. Turns out I asked her to "sneeze" the book of mormon, instead of read it. It was hilarious. Another funny thing that keeps happening is in the bathroom where our classrooom is for somereason there is always a huge puddle of water behind the toilet. Of course, I forget this everytime and dont hold up my skirt whgen I go to the bathroom and end up walking around for an hour with the back of my skirt wet looking like I've peed my pants, or dropped my skirt in the toilet. Its hilarious. I dont forget about that puddle anymore :)

Also today a bird pooped on me! I dont even know how. Somehow crazy things happen to only me! Everyday too.

The food isnt so great anymore. I still like making wraps but lately I've just been sticking to diet coke, bananas, salads, and wraps. oh and cookies too. But really its not that bad at all.

The gym had been closed for P.E. cuz theyre fixing the floor so we've been outside all week. I've jusrt been beach volleyballing it up. Its so fun. Esp playing with all the russain elders. Helps us to learn alot of russian too!

Harry Potter comes out this week! Woooot woot! I expect news all about it. Is anyone going to the premier?

How are the elders in our ward doing? Elder sharp and jolly? Can you get their address for me? Arethey still teaching todd rymer? Could you ask them for me and tell me? Thanks! (spaceba!.... thank you in russian.... but spelled in english)

I speak russian alot, like please, thank you and your welcome.... its weird to say thank you now. And now moer and more words I'm starting to say in russian and not in english. its really cool. Esp cuz I'm only living with russian speaking sisters.

Sometimes learning the language can be tough and frustrating and we'll have a bad lesson, but uaually within an hour or 2 something happens making our day awesome again. Its a continual rollar coaster between feeling great abour russian and hating it. But overall I love it. OTLEECHNA! (thats wonderful in russian :)

Tuesdays are the best days of the week here (besides wed my p-day). Tuesdays we always get 3 hours of personal study time and then at night we have the devotional. Personal study time is my favorite here. The scriptures are awesome! Seriously! Read them. They are filled with exciting happy things, tons of encouragement, and of course its all about Christ. Read them.

The devotional last night was all about the Savior and His life. Afterwards we had a district "review" of it. My district is awesome. 6 elders and 4 sisters. We had a powerful testimony meeting. I KNOW this is where I am supposed to be and I KNOW God and Christ will help me to know what I need to do. I just need always be worthy to have the spirit, and when I have it, to listen to it.

Im happy and well. I love being on a mission and I never have second doubts about being here. I love you all!!! So much! Send everyone my love. Thanks,

Love Sister Tenney

Look How Much Fun!

We recieved this picture in the mail this week and on the back it said "Look how much fun I'm having at the MTC! I love it here! July 6th" all in her cute handwriting :)

yay! it's me sister tenney!.

MOM! DAD! FAM!

Can you believe I have made it a week already? Only 11more weeks to go :) I leave here sept 13th i think, or maybe it was sept 12th. I cant remember, but I have GREAT news for you. It says my release date is Dec 18th of 2012..... I'll be home for Christmas! wooo hooo!

This week has been great. The MTC is basically one giant EFY so of course I am loving it. The spirit is strong here and I'm working hard to always have it with me. Especially as I plan lessons for our Russian investigator. We taught our first lesson in Russian last Friday! Can you believe how fast that is? Saturday i could already bear my testimony and I did so on Sunday. Sacrament meeting in Russian was undescribable. I have never felt the spirit so strong. My branch is all Russian missionaries so church is held in russian. Its so cool. Last week I was one of over 500 new missionaries, of which 80 of us are going Russian speaking! Its crazy! I am the ONLY sister in all of the MTC going to St. Petersburg... crazy huh? But there are about 7 elders going with me so thats fun. Oh, and last night I met my new Mission President! Him and his wife are here til Monday. It was awesome meeting them. They are so loving and warm, and already trust and believe in me! Their confidence in me before they even know me is such a relief and already I love them and want to make them proud

My companion's name is Sistra Paletta. She is wonderful. I already love her so much, and she even loves me back! We get along great. She is not prudish at all (I was worried about that), and is way down to earth. She's from mapelton and we are always laughing. Everyone in my district says its a party with me and it really is! Everything is fun, even when Russian is exploding our brains and we just wanna fall asleep we are so tired we always find something to laugh about. I live with 5 other sisters! All Russian speaking. Our room has 3 bonkbeds... its nuts but so much fun. All of the sisters are inspiring and strong and such a good time. I am so blessed by the sisters that surround me.

Mom, there are SO MANY tall, cute elders all around me! Where were all these guys before???? I was expecting to be surrounded by annoying little boy buy I've been surprised with awesome, elders that seem my age, and sometimes even older.

on Saturday i got to watch fireworks! We had a 4th of july "program" which was a blast and then all the missionaries were aloud to go outside at night, past curfew (930 we;re suypposed to be in our room) and watch the fireworks from the stadium of fire. As all the missionaries were running, like a hug stampede to the "best" spot to watch the fireworks, of all things I TRIP! hahahahaha. I flew through the air, screaming, landing laying down, downhill, with my dreww over my head. It was hilarious. Missionaries are all running chaotically around me as I realize what happened and just bust out laughing. Everyone was dying, I def. made my companion's and the other sister's night. Bad news though, even though I landed so graciously, I was holding the camera and Kinda broke it. It still works somehow, but more tape is now needed to hold it together. I dont care tho, it works and it is now an artifact of a great mission memory!

Russian. Its hard. Right as I walked into class the teacher was only speaking Russian. I guess the new russian missionaries that came in with me, we're a part of a new program where we are basically only spoken russian to at all times during class. The elders in my branch that have been here 7 weeks were so impressed we could already bear our testimonies in russian so I guess we are learning much faster than they did with this program. Even so it can get frustrating and teaching lessons in russian is way nerve racking but still awesome. I've learned a lot already, yet still so little. But its great. I know the Lord and His spirit is helping me and I know this is what I am supposed to be doing. Things that are hard are always worth it!

Braden, I met Elder Christianson (i thibnk thats his name, your friend from BYU hawaii also going to russia). He seems way cool.

Gym is the best part of the day. And let me tell you, I'm kinda a big deal on the bball and vball court. Since saturday i've been playing lightning. I was nervous cuz they were shooting 3's so I warned all the elders I would prob stink. Once the game began I didnt miss ONE 3! I miraculously won the game easily. I think the spirit has helped improve my bbal skills or something. After that all the elders love me and I've even won every other game of lightning I have played excpet one. I dont know whats going on, but I like it! The Lord really is blessing me so much!

Waking up at 630 everyday sucks but once I'm out of bed its not too bad. Every once in a while I become uncontrollably tired but for the most part I'm happy, almost crazy during the day. Like I was saying everyone loves me and thinks I'm hilarious, and I feel the same about them.

 

my time is about up! I love you all!!!! believe in christ and live so you can have the spirit with you. keep writing me often! love you!

love, Sister tenney