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