tough goodbyes....what next!

Dearest Darlings,

Its weird but I'm ready for home now :) I cried so much as I was leaving Petro. Members even came to the train station to say goodbye and ran with the train as it headed off. It's weird how I have only known these people for 2 and a half months but they have become family to me. This week in the city has been exhausting and awesome and just weird. President Clark told me to fix anything if I saw that the sisters weren't doing the things they need to do. Each companinship I have been with this week has been completely different and it's weird how I have felt directed with them, and how they all had such different needs (dont worry correction wasn't necessary :) thank goodness. It was also weird but cool to be back in my first ward (because of the creation of the stake it is now a WARD and not a BRANCH like when I was there). It was weird to have my last sacrament here, but it was cool to see that the members all remember me and love me so much still. I totally thought they would have forgotten me by now. AND it was cool cuz I could actually talk to them and understand them haha. I mean I could before, but I didnt understand too much. Maybe I did learn some Russian on the mission :)

Today I have my exit interview with President Clark. I dont know what to expect. I'm guessing I'm going to be hearing about how I need to get married. Wow, the subject of marriage is EVERYWHERE these days. Here in Russia when you are saying bye to someone or congratulating them for something you "wish" or "desire" them things. Lately EVERYONE has been desiring me an amazing husband and talented kids.... everyone thinks more about my husband than I do! And being on these splits with the sisters they all keep telling me I'm going to get home and get married right away. Every American sister that has come home from this mission has gotten engaged within like 3 months from getting home. Gah. I'M SO SICK OF MARRIAGE and I haven't even finished yet! haha. Don't worry I promise you I want to get married. And I'm even looking forward to it :) I am just not in any rush. Just marriage please leave me alone for a little bit ok???

I'm already exhausted. I haven't gotten like any sleep. Being on splits basically means SLEEPOVER and with me leaving it's just been crazy as I've had lots of great conversations each night.....

I like my happy little ending in St. Petersburg. I've felt so loved, and just enjoyed walking around the city that I love. I really do adore St. Petersburg. And Russia. And my mission. I've had a great goodbye session with all of it. I'm ready for the farewell, just not sure if I'm ready for this next chapter to start.

BUT...

I'm happy and I'm ready. I'm pretty sure I cried all my tears out in Petro, but we'll see today when I'm with President, he always seems to get me to cry.

Remember what I said everyone, mom is the first hug, then dad and the sibs. Love you all to bunches.

с любовью

сестра Тенни

до скорого!

Vision, expression, love, laughter, understanding

To all that I love,

This may be my last email home. I'm trying to think of how to make it awesome but I'm BLANK! Mainly I'm just overwhelmed with SADNESS and EXCITEDNESS and can't even figure out what to think.

You have all heard me say this over and over again, but really, I LOVE my mission. I love Russia. I love the gospel. And I have never felt such deep love for my Father in Heaven and my Savior.

I have a list book full of random lists that I have been keeping my whole mission. One of my favorite lists is the things that I have learned on my mission. I want to share a few.

• The power and importance of VISION in life. We need to know what we want! And once we've caught the vision, we need to go after it. Do it. Make it happen. I've met so many people who are just walking around without anything to strive for. They are wasting their life! We need to ask ourselves, what do I want? And then we need to ask ourselves, am I willing to give my soul to make it happen???
• I learned the beauty of communication, expression, and being understood. First of all, trying ot speak Russian and having people understand you is no easy task. But the real feat is people trying to understand THE MESSAGE I am sharing. I just want people so bad to "catch the fire" or the "drift" of the gospel! Its such a rare gift to see the flicker of understanding in one's eyes. Whether it's a child in primary, an investigator, a member, your companion, or even those humbling moments when you REALIZE something yourself. I have sought for this my whole mission.... I didnt experience it too much, but those moments I saw it I felt blessed :)
• The power of laughter. Gosh, really the most healthy companionships I've had, and the only good investigators I've had, I look back now and see that we laughed REAL laughter with each other. Its so relieving and neccesary!! I feel accomplished as a companion when I make my compnaion laugh, and my favorite companions have always easily made me laugh :)
• I learned how important it is to understand people. Recent example; This new sister in our trio, Sister Schwarz, I kinda wanted to kill her when she first got here cuz after every meeting, she had no idea what was going on (cuz she can't understand Russian) but afterwards she would basically tell us all the things we didn't do or should have done. Gah!!! It was so annoying, but mainly it was annoying cuz she was somehow right and I hated being humbled. BUT this last week I finally was able to get to know her and now I LOVE HER! She is hilarious and always has me laughing. And now I see why she does the things that she does. You just really need to try to get to know people and try to understand why they do the things they do. As we come to undertand them we can show them love in the way that they like to recieve it. And hear you me, when your comp is happy, then You are happy, and I have strived my whole mission to be each of my companions favorite companion haha :) good goal right? I like it...

Anyways, those are just a few things.

To sum it up, life i Petro is feezing and amazing, my comps are hilarious and I cant wait to go to Peter this week and go on splits with all the sisters! Basically the end of my mission is one big festive way to be the best missionary I can be. I love you all and thank you for my prayers and CAN/CAN'T wait to see you next week :)

 

ALL MY LOVE

Sister Tenney

PS- don't be surprised to see a very VERY white and out of shape Sister Tenney next week...... :)

Land of ICE

Dearest Ones,

Remember how when I first got my call to Russia, we all imagined this crazy winter land full of ice and snow? Well guess what, I'M LIVING IN IT! This last week I was the COLDEST I have ever been in my life. Luckily I realized right away I need to dresss warmer. After doing so I was alot better :) thank goodness! But seriously the wind here was killer, actually no, murderous. I felt so bad for greenie Sister Schwrtz, she just kept yelling "PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE HERE?????". It was hilarious slash not hilarious at all. The wonderful thing is I love the coldness, because I only have so much time to experience it left. If I was here this whole winter I would want to die, but these last two weeks Imma SOAK IT UP.

This whole 3-some companionship is so fun/difficult. I love it. And I hate it. Not going to lie. These two sisters are so talented and amazing, and everyday I realize yet again how much I need to work on and do to be better. I felt really blessed. Sunday I specifically fasted to better understand and love both of my companions. Things kind of had not been super smooth between the three of us the last few days. But, because our Heavenly Father is wonderful, He blessed us yesterday during companionship study with a really strong spirit as we practiced and prepared to teach. I felt all of our hearts soften and we realized how lucky we were to have the rare opportunity to all serve together. It was beautiful. And exactly what I needed (cuz you all know how NEEDY I am when it comes to feeling like evryone loves me ;). So dont get all worried now, our companionship is awesome. And gets better everyday. But its no easy jig.

Those darn gypsies. I'm pretty sure the two daughters will be baptized next weekend :) SO PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM! I guess you could say their baptism would be THE BEST GOING AWAY PRESENT EVER. But we'll see. The most important thing is for them to want it and really be ready to make those sacred covenants. I pray that they will be.

So yea thats life :) Petro really is a miracle land. I dont have time to share any more miracles. But know that I see them everyday. My mission rocks. I dont think anyone could have a better mission than me. I love you all.

 

Love, Sister Tenney

My new dream "primary chorister"

Family and Firendzies,

Just rocking the 3 sister companionship these days. We finally got our #3, shes awesome! We got to night train it up there and back to pick her up from Peter. AND President was here this weekend in Petro which was a treat. I seriously love that man. I had a really quick interview with him and we both started crying cause... well you know.... time is flying if you know what I mean.
My thoughts are all over the place I cant think.... Sister Schwarz is our greenie. She's from Oregon and she's 6 foot. Not gonna lie her Russian is TERRIBLE but she's a go-getter and has already taught me SO MUCH. Sister Kareba is my angel. She's just so pure and kind it almost kills me. At the time being, I am pretty much a translator. I want so badly for the 3 of us to understand one another and love one another..... its so interesting how different the dynamics are now that there is 3 of us. I love them both and I'm grateful for the change.
I dont think I have mentioned to you that I am basically Petro's primary music leader. I LOVE IT. We got here and the primary was a disaster. There aren't many kids (ranging from none to 3 usually haha) but we were assigned to fix it all up. The kids would just play the whole 2 hours... how sad is that? They didn't even know one primary song! Our first singing time was a disaster. The Sister Fellows, she's a senior couple sister, she plays the piano for us so thats relieving I dont have to do that. Our first sunday we attempted singing time it was CRAZY. The kids completely rebelled against us and wouldnt do a thing. I was convinced they were going to hate me cause I was strict with them. We decided to meet with the families of these kids each week to show the kids that we love them and to really get to know them personally. Basically we're seeing a miracle. The kids now love us, we love them, and they sit quietly and listen to us, and they know "I'm trying to be like Jesus" and "I am a child of God". On top of this miracle, we found a less active family with 5 kids 10 years old and younger. The father asked us last week if we could take 2 of his daughters to church. "OF COURSE" we said, and thanks to these 2 girls (by the way they are the two cutest things ever... 10 and 8 years old..... baptism age!!). So our primary was even more full this week and the kids were better than ever. Sister Clark (our mission president wife) came in and joined us on sunday and sat there with tears in her eyes. She later told us that she was SHOCKED at the change in the primary and couldn't believe how the kids just soaked it all in. Basically, when I get home imma beg my bishop to be the primary chorister. That is my new dream.
SO yea, life is good. These days I'm just avoiding calandars and clocks.... cuz time is NOT my friend.
Please keep praying for the gypsies. They are being pills these days. I just can't seem to figure out what they need and its driving me crazy! They are so close to "getting it", but they aren't quite there yet. I dont want to be dragging them. I want them to want it... ya know? Luckily my Heavenly Father is on my speed dial these days...
Petro is the best. My comps are awesome. And Imma go eat my thanksgiving dinner now. Love you all,
SISTER TENNEY
ps- IM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU!

Saying "good bye" is hard

Family and Friends,

I'm just going to be honest, this week was an emotional one. Gah. This week an Elder, who was my really good friend finished his mission and left back to Ukriane. Saying good bye to him, and then realizing that time really is flying, basically sent me into a freak out mode. WHY!? Im just angry. Mainly because Im just finally becoming a real missionary. Im just starting to be the missionary I dreamed of being. Its starting to happen!!!!..... and then the end was near.... seriously?
I randomly cried the other day while we were tracting. Well, to start the story of right, this week we had planned 28 meetings. That is so many! I think the most meetings I have ever had in a week was 17 or 18. Anyways, while we had 28 planned, 10 of them actaully happened. When people tell you "missions are hard", its often referring to this- we have so many great dreams and plans.... and then people cancel. The beautiful thing about this though, is that even though as missionaries, our favorite thing to do is meet with people and teach them (aka; the more meetings the better, cuz when you don't have a meeting, it means you're out on the cold street just talking to people, which can also be really fun, but not until you actually make yourself do it) but, as I was saying, the beautiful thing is, you get all bumed when your awesome plans don't work out, but then you try to be good missionaries and tract or contact, and then you experience miracles you never would have if you had been at your meeting. Therefore, God just has to remind us over and over again He has a better plan than ours.
Anyways, so this is what happened to us, we has a meeting planned we were SO excited about, and then it got cancelled and we didn't know what to do the rest of the night. SO, we set of tracting. And we hit GOLD! We knocked just one set of stairs in an apartment building (about 20 doors) and almost everyone was nice to us! And invited us back! WHAT????? However, one babushka answered her door, and right away started telling us that she didnt believe in God, we kept talking with her and it turns out both her son and husband died within 3 months of each other years ago and she doesn't understand how a loving God could let that happened. My heart was breaking for her. She was just SO hurt, and lost, and sad, and she is searching for peace, but her heart was hard and she wouldn't listen to us. We tried everything. We hugged her, we testified, we talked about the plan of salvation, we tried to explain agency, and God's love. EVERYTHING. And finally, she just slammed her door in our face. I just started crying. I couldn't handle it. I felt her pain and her hurt. I wanted SO BADLY to fix it, to help her feel God's love and peace. It just didnt seem fair and right to me that she wouldn't listen. Gosh dang it satan YOU Stink!
But talking to people really is one of the greatest things about the mission. A lady on the bus yesterday tried to tell me that God didn't exhist. I totally rocked her world when I explained to her how, and why there is a God. She said if God exhisted he wouldn't create a heaven and  a hell and wouldn't require us to give everything to him. I explained that God, is like our very own parents. A loving father tells his child not to touch the hot stove. The father cannot force him, but can only warn him and tell him. The child then has the agency to choose to do it or not. If he chooses to he pays the consequence! God already warned him and tried to help him with commandments, but we simply choose not to listen. We choose our fate, not God.
Gah, I dont have enough time to explain everythiung, but basically, Our father in Heaven is THE BEST and has it all worked out for us. We simply need to love Him, and others, and keep the commmandments :)
The gypsies are doing good. AND I have awesome news, Lena back in k-grad, her little brother got baptized yesterday! WOO HOOOO!
well I love you all so much,
kiss kiss, hug, hug,
Sister Tenney

"Typical street contact"

Mya Sembya!

Typical street contact:

• us: "Hello how are you!?" ( smiling enthusiastically and awkwardly stepping in front of them)
• the lady: " ... " (she looks up at us half smiling in a puzzled look)
• awkward pause
• lady finally answers: "I'm sorry I cant remember you, how do I know you?" (here in Russia when you just say hi to someone they think you are an aquaintance of theirs because its so not normal for people to just start talking to each other haha)
• us: "Oh we just moved here to Petro, are you from Petro? we LOVE it here."
• lady: "where are you from" (asks very bluntly and usually unamused)
• us: "Well I'm from Yekateringburg, and my sister... I'm from America!"
• lady: "No way. you students here?"
• us: "NO, we're here as missionaries!" (as we show them our badge and then just follow the spirit and then they want to meet with us and want to get baptized and then we had 30 baptisms in Petro)

Yupp, thats pretty much a small taster of my every 2 minutes on the street. Just thought I would share :)

We found out this week, that next week we, Sister Kareba and I will, will get a 3rd companion, a greenie. She's American. Is it terrible to admit that I just did not want to train? I have loved this whole last transfer, it has just been so EASY and SIMPLE. Sister Kareba and I know what to do, and we go do it. We speak the language. And we're unified and just work. TRAINING is so hard ( yupp Im totally whining). I'm trying to remind myself that I LOVED training and even asked Pres Clark if I could train at one point. Also, I"m super worried about this whole 3-some thing and me and the greenie being Americans and then sister Kareba hardly knowing english..... rock hard place. BUT I am excited, and its going to be a crazy Petro adventure :) So, yea, I just need to decide RIGHT NOW its going to be awesome and not leave any room to change my mind about it later. Pray for me!

Also, I know I have told you a little about the gypsies. Have I told you that I am now obsessed with them? Galina the mom, with her daughters Vera, Nadia, and Luba (their names mean faith, hope, and love :). Vera, who is 21 cannot get baptized cuz shes on parole for 2 years (she didnt do anything terrible, just is stupid sometimes). Nadia HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE WOOT WOOT! Except, shes addicted to smoking (and shes only 15!) so we need to work on that. And Luba also has a baptismal date. I love them all. So much. Its a miracle to see how much they have changed and that they even want to be baptized. The mom is deathly afraid of water, meaning she refused to get baptized even though she really wants to. GAH! How do you deal with that??? They all LOVE me, and I love them. Its a huge party whenever we go over there. Just after we set the baptismal date with Nadia, all of a sudden she looked all sad and was like "Sister Tenney, why cant you baptize me?" HAHAHA. My eyes lit up and I gently explained to her that we as women have a different, yet beautiful role and that only men have the priesthood (little does she know how much she made my night :) haha. So pretty much all my thoughts are on them these days.
I'm happy, and trying my best to be excited for the upcoming change. I forget that I can't always choose everything, because lately I have been getting WAY too much of what I want. Just gotta remember God has a better plan than mine :)
I love you all! Pray for me and the gypsies please!
с любовью сестра тэни

Satan strikes my companion

Family and dearest ones,

 

I really see how Satan is trying SO hard to stop us and do anything he can to keep us from doing this work. It started off by him making my companion SICK. Gosh, lets just say it really is the WORST when your companion is sick home all day sleeping and you have no idea what to do. We had SO many good plans and so much to do and we had to cancel it all. SATAN YOU ARE THE WORST. I pretty much went crazy being stuck home all day for a few days. Positives: I finished the bible. I finished Jesus the Christ. I probably called over 1000 people, both members and non-members to invite them to things and just support them. But man I have never been SO thankful to be out in the freezing cold all night with nothing to do but knock doors (cause I finally got to do that last night and it was so awesome!). I might die if my companion ever gets sick again.

Back to satan; one really weird thing, we had a really important meeting with an investigator, and I'm convinced he made the cat sick to ruin our lesson! First of all, its disgusting, but everyone here loves cats more than their own children, so my russian companion and our babushka investigator kept fussing over this nasty cat that kept barfing. The whole time I'm over in the corner trying not to get sick (both because of the nasty cat and the gross adoration for the nasty cat). Basically it was grosse and our meeting was totally unsuccessful because of it. Sister kareba and I both decided it was satan.

Another positive; because my companion was sick we went to a russian hospital (meaning the we went to the doctors, but here in russia the hospital is the same as the doctors pretty much. Oh yea, turns out my comp had bronchitis or however you spell it). So pretty much the hospital was a lovely tour of Russia: I'm pretty sure the stretchers are from world war 2, the staircases reak of cigarette smoke, AND I even saw a doctor walk by all in his white doctor clothes with blood all over his shirt. SICK!

BUT, with all the craziness of sickness,we did fit in a miracle this week. So tuesday we had a zone conference ( basically a 4 hour district meeting becasue Petro is its own zone), and Sister Kareba and I had to teach on how to give someone the baptismal invitation (that sentence sounds like bad english but i cant figure out how to fix it). We basically ended up practicing over and over and over again and after each time, we were talking about how we can do it better. So, us and the elders learned a lot and set out the rest of the day to do what we noramally do. Turns out, by the end of the day, that both the elders and us set a baptismal date! WHAT!? We went out and did exactly what we had practiced and learned, and then we saw miracles because of it. Thats craziness. Our mission this last week somehow set 20 baptismal dates. I know none of you understand how miraculous that is. Lets just say, I'm pretty sure since the start of this year we have not had more than 30 or 40 baptisms. And now this last week we set over 20 baptismal dates. CRAZINESS!

So yea, even when Satan is trying his hardest, we overcome, we are victorious because we are with God. We don't need to fear or doubt! We must have confidence. Trust that prompting. Do that thing that you dont want to do but you know you should. Apologize. Admit you are wrong. Just do whatever it takes so that you can turn to your Father in Heaven with confidence. That's happiness. And that is what we are here learning to do one step at a time.

I love you all!

Love, Sister Tenney

Joys in your baby steps

Faaammmiiillllyyy,

BLIZZARD.
FULL ON.
IT WAS AWESOME.
AND COLD.
AND FOR SOME REASON I LOVE IT.

I can't remember if I informed you of our goal of having 50 people at church by the end of November. Since I've been here we've had 30 at church. Yesterday: 42!!!! MIRACLE.

On every 1st meeting with an investigator Sister Kareba and I have invited them to be baptised. Its kinda weird feeling at first, but its producing miracles. Every investigator is perfectly aware of why we are meeting with them and what they are striving for. Its crazy. I feel like a crazy missionary these days. Super forward and direct. But it is working! We now have an investigator with a baptismal date :) YAY! And soon there could easily be like 6 more baptismal dates. We got SO much work here its awesome. So many investigators and less active members. And they are all progressing! Coming to church, reading, praying.... I'm in a missionary's disneyland right now.

I know this is a short and probably boring email to all of you. But Im so happy. Im basically "soaked" into my mission. I've never been so focused and centered on my purpose before. And I'm seeing miracles left and right because of it.

The other night while I was laying in bed, I thought back on my mission and asked myself "have I been successful?". All the investigaors who never got baptised, all the less actives who never came to church, all the days spent just talking to people who weren't interested or didn't even care..... I flipped through it all in my head. The "numbers", or "results" or whatever you want to call them, they aren't amazing, but somehow I didn't even care. Honeslty. I just felt a deep love for my mission, for everyone in it, for the great work I'm a part of. I felt so happy. And I really am so happy. So often we judge ourselves, or our results, as Satan tells us we should. Are you looking at your life, or at yourself through his eyes, or through you Father In Heaven's eyes? Eyes with an eternal perspective... eyes that know your heart, your intentions, your strivings and your growth. The Father who joys in your baby steps and weeps when you weep. I promise if you strive to see yourself, your life, and others as HE would..... that is when you will find peace, love, and a determination to continue forward.

And thats why I am happy.

I love you all,
Sister Tenney

Tracting and loving it

Family and friends,
This week was full of unusuals:

1. I got sick! WHAT? Sister Tenney sick?? I never get sick. So it really wasn't anything too bad. Just a stomach ache, and no energy. I was able to do everything we normally do... just uncomfortable. I think God wanted to remind me to be thankful for my awesome health. Im already all better. But yea... weird.
2. I smiled at a lady this week. And she smiled back at me. I was shocked.
3. The relief society President called us just to ask how we were doing. Thats it. Just to see what we were up to and how she could help. It was so weird. Nobody ever does things like that for us! We are the "thoughtful" ones (as missionaries we try to be at least). It was so nice to know that someone here cared.
4. We started TRACTING. And we LOVE it. Becasue this city is smaller, not many people are on the street at night. So instead of contacting, like I've done my whole mission (just walk around and talk with people on the street), we have started knocking doors! Woooo hoo its awesome and full of surprises. Let me explain though, here in Russia, nobody lives in houses. Its all apartment buildings. To get into them there is a door with a phone thing and you have to have a key, or you call an apartment to let you in. So we usually start off with calling through the "domophone" and hope someone will let us in. Most apartment buildings are 2-6 stories and most dont have elevators... so thats fun (exception, we live on the 8th floor and we have an elevator and we have a beautiful view of the awsome lake here.) 
5. Funny experience. Yesterday we were tracting and a man walked out of an apartment building so we were freely let in. We started on the highest floor, and the 1st door we knocked, a babushka answered and yelled at us for being annoying to everyone in their apartment buildings (dad-i know I said babushkas arent grouchy, but, you know, everyone has their grouchy moments ;). So we left her alone and kept knocking and by the time we were a few floors down we noticed a man who kept walking up and down all the stairs carrying things so we offered to help. He jokingly said we could help, not actaully expecting us to help, and then handed to me, as a joke, a huge bin thing full of water. I enthusiastically, with a sly smile, grabbed it, knowing how against russian culture this was, and started walking up the stairs. All of a sudden he's running after me shouting to me "stop! your health! your health! put it down!". HAHAHAHAHA. I need to explain. Here is Russia, it is believed if a woman carries anything relatively heavy, they will not be able to have babies. Being the person that I am, this totally annoys me and I try to defy it as much as possible. SO of course I was tickled here to once again "prove my womanly strength ;)". So, he grabs it out of my hand and I stomp my foot on the ground and tell him (I may have shouted I am not exactly sure) " I play rugby I can do this!". He then, in shock, doesnt know what to say to me and we start conversing as all 3 of us head up the stairs to his apartment. ( if you were wondering, NO he did not give me back the jug to carry :(. Anyways, turns out, he lives with the lady who had chewed us out earlier, and we now have an appointment with them this week. HA! Neat right? Finally I've got a cool story.
6. So last week I relayed to you my depression due to my new "terrible-ness-at-russian". (ps- im not really depressed, thats just my dramaticism coming out. please dont be worried about me haha). Well this week, I have now seen the blessing in disguise. Well, kind of. So my last 5 transfers, I've been the companion who "knows" Russian, and basically, I did ALL the talking. ALWAYS. It was exhausting at times. And God really helped and blessed me. Now that I have a Russian companion, who not only knows the language, but is a good teacher and knows the gospel, somehow I am the quiet one in the companionship (kind of, you know me, i cant be quiet, I am just now not the jabber you could say). But, now that I'm not constantly worried about having to say everything, I have the beautiful opportunity to REALLY listen, both to those with whom we are talking, and to the spirit. Basically, since I've been in Petro I have had the MOST spiritual lessons since I have been on my mission. The Lord is really directing me, in all I say, and I dont even know why or where it comes from. But I feel SO blessed and I am doing everything I can to keep it flowing because it really has made out meetings, and just talking with people on the street and at their doorstep, so much more powerful. I am so blessed!!!!! All the time.

So yea. Just a few wonderful things from this week. The gypsies are doing good, and all the rest of our investigatrs are progressing too. I've never been surrounded by so much success its weird, but I love it. And I love the message I share, I love my mission, and I love you all!

Love, Sister Tenney

City of "Miracles"

My Dearest Ones,

 

Did I mention last week that Petro is the city of miracles? No joooke. Everyday we experienced mini miracles and then Sunday was the icing on top!!! First of all, we had 3 investigators at church (Oh my gosh that sounds like so little but thats my record!). The mother of the gypsy family, with her youngest daughter, and a babushka with whom we met on the street and invited. It was a miracle that the babushka was even there because she had messed up the address and couldnt find our church, but then randonly asked a lady on the street who happened to somehow know where it was. She LOVED conference (oh yea, this sunday was conference sunday) and she had SO many questions and can't wait to meet with us this week so we can answer them (you can always count on the gospel to answer anyones questions... including your own. Thats a wonderful promise!). Galina, the mother of the gypsies, and her youngest daughter Luba came, and her other 2 daughters would have come if they werent sick (too bad). We're in an interesting situation with the gypsies because the mom wants to be baptised, but is dead scared of water and says she WILL NOT get baptised because of it (I dont that one... she will I just know it). Because of this, the 3 daughters dont seem to understand the importance of baptism, but we know things will start to change this week. Im certain of it. We got to go to Nadia's bday party (shes the middle daughter who turned 15... she's my favorite ;), and see how russian gypsies celebrate. In our family we usually pinch someone as many times as their new age, or we do a spanking tunnel (thats the best for sure). For Nadia, we each took turns pulling her ears 15 times, to help her to grow up and look her age :) how cool is that???

 

So some more miracles. Usually its a struggle to find new investigators... just to find anyone interested. This Sunday, we started the day, the last day of the week not having found any investigators that week... we ended yesaterday with 4! THATS WHAT I CALL A MIRACLE. The babushka, an 18 year old girl we met on the street (we had a great lesson with her yesterday and she is excited to start reading the Book of Mormon), and then a young couple. I want all of you to pay attention to how we met them, so you can do the same at home and be an answer to a missionary's prayers. We had a meeting with the Relief Society's president last night. We went over thinking we were just going to get to know her and her family more and share a spiritual thought. Instead, they invited their neighbors over ( a young couple named Yuri and Vera) and had us share a spiritual thought with them. This member family had already shared the book of mormon with them and this young couple is so excited to know more! WHAT??? It was a dream come true, best present a member has ever given us. So yea, think about that ... I know you all know someone who you can introduce to the missionaries. You gotta tuist us missionaries and God on this one,but I promise you, you will be blessed!

WELL, i love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Tenney

Real Russian Gypsies

F-f-f-familyand friends,

I am currently writing you from my new and FREEZING and awesome area PETRO!!!! woot WOOT!!!!!

I'm sure you are all dying to hear about my night train ride. Let me just tell you it was awesome and peaceful, and fast, due to the fact that I slept almost the entire time (except every once in a while I woke up and glanced out the window into the dark russian night and watched the russian forrest pass by). Ideallic right???

So Petro. Its awsome. Smaller than k grad (which I love small cities) and there are even HILLS here! Its crazy, my 1st hill in russian, and I live on it! Everything else is so dang flat. Petro is known for its HUGE lake... which one day I hope to go down and stroll by (and freeze considering the prediction that snow starts THIS WEEK! seriously????).

As for my companion. She's russian, 26, doesnt know english, and AWESOME. Sister Kareba is her name. So my last companion was who I would consider a best friend, we chatted non-stop and seemed to live in the same wave-length. Its completely different with my new comp, but I like the change. You see I always thought I was the most diligent, obedient, hard-working sister- that is, until I started serving with her. She is crazy diligent. I know for other sisters that have served with her, it was hard on them. But I like it :) alot. SO now we are two crazy sisters together (mainly an awesome crazy sister (kraeba) and me, who thinks she is awesome but is seeing once again, how lazy and prideful I really am. Its good for me).

The WEIRD thing, is what has happened to my language. You see the last 5 transfers, I have been the one in the companionship who knows russian, and the trainer, basically everything relied on me. And everything always worked out cuz Heavenly Father is just that awesome. The thing is, I never realized how much He was blessing me until now. Now that I'm with a russian speaker, I dont need the help as much. Basically I'm trying to say my russian is now TERRIBLE. Its so sad!!!!!!! (I really could just start crying about it). I mean everything I say is understandable (which is the most important), but al of a sudden I'm stuttering again, and my grammer is all over the place, and I cant even remembver easy words! PLUS, rememnber the old "tressa" who always lived in her own world and never listened to anybody and made everyone repeat everything?? Well since I've been in russia, that was NOT an option, and I became a REALLY good listener (in order to undertsnad what the heck was goin on of course). But now that I know my companion understands everything I'm startingto do that again. AHHHHHHHH. Plough-haw (bad). So yea, basically I have never studied russian so diligently since coming here to Petro. Kinda backwards in a way.

So the Elders gave us a few of their investigators (takes giving missionaries to do that!). And we are now teaching a family of GYPSIES. REAL RUSSIAN GYPSIES. Cool right? A mom and 3 daughters (11, 15, and 20 yrs old). They are so awesome and really have a testimony of the church, but for some reason they dont seem to understand why they NEED to be baptized. We'll work on that with them :) I just love them and know that everything is going to work out with them.

So yea, as you can see, life is good :) I'm being humbled, thawed, and better undertsanding my purpose as a missionary, and in general as a daughter of God. A cool quote I came across today... something to think about.

"Not only time but eternity is your field"

- Elder Reuben J. Clark

I love you all!

love, Sister Tenney

"hopes and dreams can come true"

Family and my favorite ones,
Oh.MY.Gosh. (I think I may start every email this way, but really, I have nothing else to say but "wow!". Have I told you that missionary work is crazy and awesome and all over the place and that I'm SO happy?? Let me just list some of the many reasons why:

• Yesterday while walking to church I smiled and greeted a babushka as we passed her and then all of a sudden she comes running up to us and says "devushkee (girls), I have a grandson who is 27, very attractive, and he just bought a new apartment on the 17th floor with an amazing veiw, which one of you will marry him?" Sister M is trying to understand/ figure out if she understood, while I start to laugh. The woman, however, did not start to laugh. She was serious. She even pulled out a picture of his apartment and started stroking my hair (the Russian people are surprisingly touchy, I have had my hair, hand, or back stroked MANY times on the street by complete strangers). She couldnt seem to grasp that we were missionaries, no matter how much I tried to explain, so finally we just had to say "good day" 
• Remember Lena??? My favorite little Russian girl in the world. Well, her little brother Daniel now has a baptismal date! WOOT WOOT!!!! Such exciting news. I'm overjoyed.
• Between meeting with Lena and Daniel, and all the members and their friends they brought to the Mexican fiesta, and the members and less actives I wanted to say good bye to, Sis M and I didnt have to prepare one meal for ourselves this week (very unusual for missionaries out here). It was a mix of Russian deliciousness and absolute disgusting-ness. Borsh (YUM!), russian salads, and grosse fish dishes (I dont know how I got it down and made them think that I actually liked it!?!?!). Don't worry, we still enjoyed our apples and even enjoyed the start of grape season..... lets just say we made the most divine grape juice from the grapes we picked at a members home... who knew I would never get to do that!?
• While being with all these people I love was amzing,it was SO SAD having to say goodbye. These people are my family! After 7 months you tend to get a little attached. So, for my transfer news.... you ready for this? drum roll please.............PETROZABODSK!!!!! I know that just sounds like the name of some random city in Russia, but let me try to explain to you how REVOLUTIONARY this is. The transfer before I came out here to Russia, one, randonly ONE city in the entire mission was opened for sisters to serve in (of course it was my dear k-grad :) The sisters had been "banned" almost to only the city of St. Petersburg, that in itself was revolutionary, but now with the creation of a stake, more cities are opening, and I am blessed with the honor of opening an outer city for sisters. WOOOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!! I am so exciting I cant even breath. Another important thing about this story, is that I have been wanting to go to Petro for as long as I can remember. I dont know what it was, but my heart longed for Petro, even before there was word of it opening to Sisters. Once the rumor started that sisters would be there within a few transfers I immediatly told President Clark that I wanted to go there. So, for the last 4 months, everytime I have seen President, I have made sure he knew exactly what I wanted :) haha. And guess what??? I GOT IT! I know I haver already talked about this soooo much, but knowing what you want in life is sooooo important. If you know what you want, then you WILL get it (if you're willing to work of course). It reminds me of something Elder Holland told my mission President one time (they are good friends). He said, "now Warren (thats my pres' name), you need to have hopes and dreams, God cannot bless you if you dont know what you want". So keep that in mind..
• Another amazing thing about Petro where I will be, in order to get there I have to take a night train! As in a train ride over night. Yea I know. Awesome.

These are just a few of the many blessing of a mission. I feel so blessed. Overwhelmed with blessings. Who knew life could be so amazing. I love this work. I know its true. I feel so trusted and lucky to represent our Savior at this time.

I love you all! Lets all go have a great life.... -Sister Tenney

ps- sorry to everyone for not emailing back this week, I wrote my email and the whole thing got erased so I dont have much time today. britt, bryce, siblings and fam i promise to write better next week. Love you all!!

Successful "Mexican Fiesta"

My Dearest Ones,

300 homemade sopapillas, 200 home made tortillas, 30 lbs of homemade
salsa, 50 lbs of flour, 60 Russians, 4 broken elbows, a sombrero,
pinata, and an asole (thats russian for donkey ;) .... of course for
playing pin the tail on the donkey).
We, the 6 missionaries in k-grad (2 sisters, 2 elders, and a senior
couple), held a MEXICAN FIESTA that ROCKED k-grad. NO joke. I have
NEVER made so much food in my life. Literally 6 of us  made ALL of that
food, AND had to carry it to the church (we dont have cars... hence
the broken elbows... I never knew I could be SO SORE from carrying
things to an activity! SO ridiculous). I was so excited all week I
could hardly eat. Sister Morrison and I have been planning and
dreaming about this for over a month now. We started meeting with all
the strong members of the branch last week and challenging them to
invite their friends to our fiesta. They rose to the challenge. I want
to cry at how well everything turned out. I hoped to have 80 people, we
only got 60, BUT, listen to this, over 20 of them were not members.
20!!!!! That's unheard of!!! We thought we had maybe ten turn up, but
as we started to count our eyes just kept widening. more than 20. And
this week we have meetings set up with alot of them! They LOVED the
party. Everyone did. Remember how before my mission I was known as
"indecisive" and "nice". Well, I have become bossy Sister Tenney here
in Russia. Sister Morrison and I had such a vision of what we wanted,
and IT WORKED! ?("where there is no vision, the people perish" 29:18)
So basically, for the first time on my mission, our problem is trying
to fit everyone in this week. I'm about 99% sure its my last week her
in k-grad, so on top of all our new investigators and potentials, I
need to say bye to all my favorite people in the world. UGH. Saying
goodbye is the worst.
So the Russians here LOVE mexcian food, and the only time they get it,
is when missionaries make it, so we basically got TONS of brownie
points with all the members for throwing the fiesta. It was crazy how
hard it was to throw this. All the normal things we have back home,
are non-existant here (no sombreros, or mexican clothing or decor, no
tortillas, salsas, basically everything mexican is completely foreign
to them... how sad is that??). So we had to do it all! Oh my gosh, I
was exhausted saturday night afterwards, but it was sooooooooooooo
worth it.
We played limbo (I totally won and everyone was shocked! Somehow it
then got out that I was Spanish and the rest of the night they all
called me the "spanka" hahahah! Thats Russian for Spanish girl ;). We
also had pin the tail on the donkey, and a homemade pinata which was
awesome. We ended with a "mexican dance thing"... kinda of not really.
We just gave everyone balloons to tie around their ankles and had an
Elder play an awesome mexican song on the guitar while we stomped out
each other's balloons.
Ok, I'll try to stop taking about the fiesta. IM just so stoked about
it still..... wow. miracles.
Anyways, as you can tell, I am happy. So happy.
Last night we met with a less active lady who is absolutely hilarious.
She came to the fiesta and couldn't stop talking about how amazed she
was with my limbo-skills. She called me a "sportsmenka"... russian for
female athlete.. my companion and I couldnt stop laughing at how
hilarious that sounds.... oh gosh, shes one of the many people imma have
to say good bye to.
Anyways. I've been studying alot about work, the blessing that it is,
and how necessary it is in our lives, and about happiness, and
how those two things are inseparable... even though its seems
otherwise. Some of my favorite quotes....
"Let us realize that the privelege to work is a gift, that power to
work is a blesssing, and that love to work is success" - Elder David
O/ Mckay
"The major work in the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by
ordinary people with balance in their lives, who have learned to work
in an extraordinary way" - Pres Hinckley
"Life isn't about finding yourself, its about creating yourself" -
Gearge Bernard Shaw

SO think about those this week and work hard and be happy! I love
you all!  
 Love,   Sister Tenney

Dramatic or expressive!

Family and friends, короче моа сембя :)

So recently just about everyone has been telling me that I'm dramatic.
WHAT? I never really thought of myself as dramatic. Yes lively, and
expressive.... but dramatic.... me???? Naw. Haha. But really, Sister
Harps, she is here with her husband in k-grad as a senior couple, she
keeps telling me that she loves the way I teach and interract with
people because I'm so dramatic and expressive...... I take it as a
compliment. Sometimes I wonder what kind of a missionary I am..... or
what I am like in general. So interesting to think about.
This week was beautiful in the fact that just about everyday, in my
morning personal prayers, I prayed for specific help or guidance, and
within the next hour during personal study, was lead directly to the
answer! And not only in answers to question, but I prayed for desire
to do things, and within days, not only was I wanting to do what I
before did not want to do, I was enjoying it and not wanting to stop!
WOW! I always forget, time and time again, that God really does answer
our prayers. How many times doesn He need to remind me??? Its not just
a beautiful phrase the prophets loved to say, its not just something
our teachers are told to tell us, its not just something I tell
EVERYONE (on the street and in their homes) but its TRUE! God listens,
really listens to our prayers. And THEN He answers them. The beautiful
thing about personal problems, or personal questions, like I had this
week, they only involved ME and HEAVENLY FATHER. Aka, there wasnt
anyone else's agency involved in the mix making things a little mushy.
It was between me and Him, and because I was willing to work and use
my agency, He rewarded me! Sometimes as missionaries (actaully ALL THE
TIME) the agency of others is SO frustrating. We just need to remember
that as long as we are using ours as we should, and truly repenting
and striving to be better, then our prayers will be answered.... just
as God knows they should be. Oh my gosh.... this gospel is way too
awesome. Everything is a win-win.
We got two new investigators this week! (that sounds terrible, but
really thats huge for us). We havent been able to find anyone
interested, and this week we found 2!!!! WOOO HOO! I pray that they
will start progressing this week.
We're holding a missionary activity this week, a "Mexican Fiesta".
Everyone thinks the theme is random and hilarious, but I am sooooo
excited! The elders think I am crazy because I am convinced there will
be more than 80 people who will come. You gotta keep in mind that
yesterday in church, about 50 people attended. But I just know this is
going to be a huge turning event in the missionary work in k-grad.
Please keep our Mexican Fiesta in your prayers this week! K-grad needs
it!..... (and so do I !)
Something thats been on my mind lately...... Isaiah 55:8-9..... "My
ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your
thoughts"...... I want to catch a glimpse of God's ways.... His
understanding..... His vision. Is it possible? What does it take? What
do we need to be doing to bring His ways to pass?? For remember, it is
His great work and glory to bring our immortality and eternal life to
pass! What is our part in that??
Just food for thought.
I love you all so much!
I promise pictures next week.
Keep being His servants and serving. I promise you will find
happiness.... even when things arent going the way we want. God has a
reason for all!

Love you,                                                                                                                                           Sister Tenney

Expect Miracles

 Fam and Friends and all the rest,
 OH MY GOSH. I dont even know how or where to start. At all. This week
 was THE BEST WEEK OF MY MISSION. BY FAR. This is the basic shedule
 from this week:
Wednseday: flew to Peter and went on spilts with some sisters. had a great time.
 -Thursday: zone conference, which is always awesome (I taught about
 how to begin teaching.. fun stuff). then we went on spilts and stayed
 with different sisters.
 Friday: moved on to the 3rd set of sisters to be on splits with.
 Witnessed miracles.
 Saturday: finshed out our week of splits with another pair of sisters.
 Saw how obedience not only blesses you but makes you happy and blesses
the work!
 Sunday: prepared lunch for Elder Nelson (yes, the ELDER Nelson) and
 Sister Nelson and got to hang out with them (we were the only
 missionaries of the whole mission to do so...no big deal ;), was a
 part of the meeting of the creation of RUSSIA'S 2ND STAKE! WOOOT
 WOOOOOT! Wow the spirit was soooooo strong. Many from the other side
> of the veil were present and I have never felt so happy! (slash
> slightly depressed knowing that one day I leave these people and the
> land that I love). We then had a missionary meeting with Elder and
> Sister Nelson. I dont even know what to say besides IM SOOOOO STINKING
> HAPPY! AND BLESSED! We then flew home absolutely exhausted and have
> spent most of today sleeping :)
>
> So because I'm the "coordinating sister" (whatever that means) I was
> privileged to go on all those splits. I was told by the assistants to
> help each companioship see that this work is a work of miracles, to
> help them focus on being effective and fulfilling their purpose. I
> had no idea what to expect or how to prepare myself, but the Lord so
> lovingly helped me to know the needs of each sister and compnionship.
> He helped me to know right away that I needed to focus on planning and
> goals, and I was able to show all the sisters the miracles that happen
> from GOOD, EFFECTIVE planning. Whats crazy is that the Lord had
> prepared me and Sister morrison so well for this week. Eveerything I
> taught these sisters, sister Morrison had just learned and worked on
> for ourselves, and we knew the miracles that come of it. I know this
> email is not specific, but we really were so blessed to leave each
> companioship SO MUCH better than when we came. We all learned SO much
> and are so much more excited for the work.
>
> Just an example of the many miracles I experienced: While on splits I
> went with a sister to visit a member who is completely not active and
> had nothing to do but complain about the church. Our focus and
> commitment to her was to get her to come to the meeting that Sunday
> with Elder Nelson. She kept making excuses and saying she probably
> wouldnt make it. I was sitting there listening to her pathetic and sad
> responses, when all of a sudden I blurted out, in complete confidence,
> even shocking myself, "I know you will come on Sunday because I will
> pray that you will, and God ALWAYS answers my prayers". She paused for
> a minute, amazed at my boldness, and then said she would try. I left
> the meeting slightly freaking out, becasue if she didnt come I would
> feel like such a fool! But, not to my surpirse,at the end of the
> meeting on sunday, I turned and looked at the multitide as Elder
> Nelson was walking out, and I saw her standing in awe of him. And then
> I rejoiced and realized the power of faith- complete confidence in
> God. Im trying not to cry as I write this. I know it is so simple, but
> God really knows our hearts and desire, and truly blesses according to
> our faith.
>
> I am almost out of time, but this weekend I know that I experinced
> history. I am sooo stoked that we did it! We have a stake! And now I
> just know the work will really start to move forward. Something Elder
> Nelson said, that I have really pondered about... he said to the
> multitude sunday "I hope the Lord will bless me to see in reality what
> I see in vision". I wonder.... what is the vision that I have of my
> life? Do I have the faith to know that I will make it a reality? Do I
> even have a vision of my hopes and dreams? What do I want??? It makes
> me think of the proverb "where there is no vision, the people perish"
> (proverbs 29:18). I want each of you to ponder that. What vision do
> you have for yourself and what are you doing to achieve it?
>
> I know this life is a life and world of miracles! seek for them! I
> promise you they are there. I love you all, love Sister Tenney

New investigator

My fellow Family and Friends,
Just a quick "privyet" from k-grad! I'm not really quite sure where to
begin with this week...... it was ALL over the place..... literally. I
was in Gdansk, Poland this week for a visa trip, and somehow didnt get
home until 1 in the morning, which just kinda threw off our whole
groove for the rest of the week. The cool thing about Poland, is that
while polish has our same alphabet as us (meaning it is NOT cyrrilic
like russian), it is very similiar to Russian. So I could KINDA
understand polish while I was there! How cool is that? It was so
entertaing reading road signs and hearing people speak and trying as
hard as I could to figure out what it all meant. SO COOL!
With being exhausted from this whole Poland event, our week just was
going terribly ( just me being dramatic). So Sis Morrison and I
decided we needed to stop being such whiners and find the "miracles"
in each day. As we started to do this, the result was huge! ( Well
at least in our eyes). I will list a few of the results:
- we had over 60 people at church (lately only 40 or even less have
been comiong).
- a random/old investigator just decided to come to church. Woo hoo!
- we have a brand new investigator who is AWESOME!!! And its a miracle
how we found her..... actually how she found us. The senior couple was
out buying raisins in this cool market they have here called a
"rinik". While the old senior couple was trying to decide which dried
raisins were the best/trying to order them even though they dont speak
Russain, this lady came up to them who worked there and kept pointed
at their badges and talking to them in Russian. They gave her a
pass-along card, and then while I was in Poland with some members,
they returned with my comp and got her phone number. We went by
yesterday and she has TONS of questions and kept asking for
"literature" or anything to read about us,. YAY! A REAL investigator.
So many of our "investigators" arent really investigating the church,
but are more intersted in knowing about us or America, I forgot what
it feels like to be around someone who is sincerely interested. So
exciting.
The last bit of good news involves a babushka whom we met on the bus.
Lets just say, while on the bus we made a deal with her, she would
teach us what she knows, and we would teach her what we know. We show
up to her appt and before we know it she is showing off her beautiful
head stand she can do "for hours". You neeed to know that she is prob
90 years old, if not, def 85. She then tried to make us do it but
regretfully, our dresses wouldnt allow it. Her "knowledge" she wanted
to share with us was all about health and weird natural things we
could do to be healthy. Lets just say she forced spoonfuls of honey
down our throught (yes I felt like a child as she spoon fed us, all I
was lacking was my bib) AND she even gave me a massage. HA! She
started to pull my dress up and I freaked out and she was like "come
on I;m just an old babushka and just want to give you a massage!".
Luckily I convinced her that a massage would be just as good with my
dress on. And it was! Free massage woo hoo!
Pretty much, you can never know what to expect out here in k-grad.....
or even in Russia.
Next week expect an awesome email all about the creation of the St.
Petersburg stake with Elder Nelson! Woo hoo!
Gotta run! I love you all. When you feel down, look for the miracles

in your life. You will be amazed.

Love,

Sister Tenney

Autumn in the air

My Family and Dear Ones,

Wow this week was just beautiful..... in every aspect. First of all,
FALL has... sprung??? It is here and amazing and so chilly and breezy
and fresh. I feel like its waking me up, I love it. Autumn has brought
with it APPLE SEASON. Oh. my. gosh. So many people have given us huge
bags of apples, and guess what? We have become proffesional apple
sauce makers. Dont schrunch your nose over that; this apple sauce is
more than divine. So fresh, and all you have to add is cinamon and a
pinch of sugar. LOVE IT. This week we were also blessed with the find
of CILANTRO. Oh how I have missed cilantro. I've really gotten
obsessed with making "salsa" (tomatoes, onions, peppers, and lime...
so I guess you could call it salsa). But this cilantro has made our
week. Basically I've become obsessed with cooking and baking, and for
those of you who know me.... this is very new to me. But Sis M and I
basically own our own bakery out here in k-grad.... the members, our
investigators, and WE just love it. Mmmmmn. For the first time in my
life and I cant wait to be a mom in an apron cooking all day.... what????

This week sistrer M and I had an interesting experiment. We decided to
pretend we were assistants to the president. We tried SO HARD to do
everything perfectly right, and not just fill our time with things to
do, but with exactly the Lord wanted us to do. WOW. The outcome was
MIRACULOUS. Whats weird is that we dont really have investigators
right now, however, we did SO MUCH GOOD this week between meeting with
less actives and active members. The spirit was so strong with us this
week. Thats seems like a given being a missionary, but not every
meeting is the spirit very strong.... but this week it was so obvious
to Sis M and I that we were doing just what the Lord needed us to be
doing. And there really isnt a better earlthy feeling than that.
Each day on my mission I see more and more how PRIDEFUL I am. Yupp.
Just as the word is written... FULL of PRIDE. So this week I decided
to pray to be humbled. <WARNING> If you pray to be humbled God will
make sure you are humbled. Its tough... but such a sweet experience as
well. I challenge each of you to do so... sincerely and with real
intent of course :)

We were lucky to be able to go to the BEACH 2x this week. How lucky
are we! Of course it was beautiful and homey... sitting in the sand
listening to the waves. I forgot how much I miss that. And to be able
to do so with the members out here. It was really special.... gah I
wish I was articulate.... few things are better than being at the
beach with those you love (see pics I attatched).
I just want you all to know I love you and I feel your prayers. I need
them, and the people of Russia need them too. Aren't we so blessed to
have prayer! i hope you all are praying and really communing and
conversing with your Father. He loves you. I Know. I love you all too!

love, Sister Tenney

ps- the pic of me reading is a memorial for the beloved Pushin. They
are obsessed with him here. Isnt the book and quill so cute?

"No Change, you're still together"

Family and friends,
Stink, I dont have much time today so this will prob be short. This
week was awesome!!! Being in St. Peter with all the leaders of the
mission was such a great priviledge! I have always wanted so badly to
go to these meetings, but of course, never thought I would because only
Elders are leaders in missions.... but not this one! I was so
impressed with the Elders and Pres Clark, they treated Sister Morrison
and I with such respect... and they treated us as equals. When they
talked about the mission and just anything, they always included
womanhood and how important our role as women are as well... both in
regards to this mission and in general. I was expecting them to think
it was weird or not right to have a sister at the meeting, but on the
contrary I was an equal., colleague and friend. President Clark just
blows me away. The way he loves and respects his wife is so inspiring.
She is always at the leadership meetings and plays a huge role. He
always trusts her and what she says. He NEVER cuts her off, interrupts
her, argues with her or anything. He treats her not only as his
partner, but also as his beautiful wife... I cant find the words to
articulate this right. Lets just say I'm on the search for a man who
will treat me as such as well..... which of course would mean that I
need to be an amazing woman who can be trusted and treated as both
partner and "beloved" wife haha. MAN... i just want it all... and
think I deserve it all. There's nothing wrong with demanding respect
and adoration right???? haha.
Speaking about getting what you want.... so my whole mission I have
basically gotten what I wanted. I'm not shy in letting pres Clark know
what I want.... and somehow I usually get so. I was planning on
spending another transfer in k-grad with my dear sister Morrison, and
I had informed Pres clark, but while we were up at the conference he
tipped me off saying I wouldnt be here next trnasfer with her. WE WERE
SO SAD!! Sis M and I were freaking out all week trying to prepare her
to take over k-grad... and then saturday morning we get the transfer
call and President Clark tells us "NO CHANGE! YOU'RE STILL TOGETHER!"
We nearly fell out or our seats out of excitement, shock, and anger at
him. Pres Clark is just laughing his head off saying "I so fooled
you!". Haha he thinks he's so funny. He then told them I was going to be
a zone leader, and I was speechless (pres clark ALWAYS does the
unexpected... anything is possible with him) and then he starts
laughing again and said he was joking. But seriously pres clark????
The moral of the story is... I get what I want, because I know what I
want and I work for it! (ha how bratty does that sound??). But I urge
you all to try it :)
Serving with Sister M is the best because our conversations are
AMAZING. Especially during companion study. Every morning it is such a
struggle to keep our comp study within the hour limit. Her love and
curiousity for the scriptures is so addicting. She questions and
ponders everything, and now I'm like that too! I go to show her a
scripture I, before I can even finish the first line she's asking
a question or trying to find a scripture related to it... we then get
tangled into billions of other scriptures and great conversation, then
and hour and 5 min later we are just in amazement with all that we
just learned and then realize we still have not got past the first
line of the scripture I shared...nor planned anything we were supposed
to plan that day. I get so excited for both personal and comp study
everyday..... its amazing! I hope the scriptures truly are delicious
and exciting for you... if they arent, I promise you they can be! Try
to understand why the prophets wrote what they wrote, look at the
footnotes, use the bible dictionary.... everything. I promise you the
scriptures can be a feast for anyone!
Well I gotta run. I love you all. Read your scripps, pray, and just
try to follow that still small voice. I promise you, you will be lead
and directed in life. How magnificent is that!?
love you all!
love, Sister Tenney

"Positivity in life"

Family and dearest ones of mine,
Yet another jam packed week. It started off SOOOOOO SLOW. Tuesday we
thought we had made such good effective plans, and then NOTHING worked
out, not one thing, how we wanted it to, and somehow we ended up just
being out on the street contacting the ENTIRE DAY. It was sooooo hard
(yupp I'm totally complaining and being a whiner). We literally had
like 6 backup plans too and nothing worked out. We were so frustrated
and felt so ineffective... like we had been wasting the Lord's time!
(prob the worst feeling in the world). So wednesday and the rest of
the week we planned SO well that it never happened again and our week
turned our semi successful :)
Whats hilarious is that this week Sister Morrison and I were the
biggest whiners/complainers ever..... and then we got a call that we
will be flying to Peter this week for a leadership training meeting
and that we will be teaching the leaders of the mission about the
power of positivity..... how bout that??? haha. So lets just say since
then we've had a marvelous attitude change :)
Also regarding flying to St. Petersburg, we will fly out in
Septemeber as well because Peter is having a HUGE MEETING WITH ELDER
NELSON (YES THE APOSTLE) (aka we are becoming a stake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I know I haven't talked too much about this, but basically the entire
goal of the mission since Pres Clark got here (he got here the
transfer before me) is to become a stake. We have worked so hard...
and its finally here! Its truly a time if miracles. I feel SO
privilaged to be out here at this time.......
So we met this week with a lady in the ward.... she has been a member
since 1995, and is one of the few original members when the first just
started out here, who is STILL ACTIVE. Its soooo sad how many members
there are in Russia, who have just gone completely innactive. But
anyways, she has an inspiring story. She has always been a rock, and
just like 4 years ago, on Dec 31st she was walking home from a branch
activity at night, there was a huge storm coming in and the winds were
so wild that a sign blew over and landed on her and now she is
confined to a wheelchair the rest of her life. Regardless of this
tragic story, she comes to church each week, and her gransdon was just
baptized this last week. Its amazing to see that truly, no matter what
happens in our life, even if our 6th back up plan fails.... that God
truly does have His own plan for us, and we can choose how we want to
respond. I realized something this week... our positivity in life
really is a reflection of our faith and hope. When we are positive, no
matter what surrounds us, we are testifying to God that we trust Him
and know that He has a plan. It really is the beautiful promise of the
gospel; no matter what happens to others or in this world, as long as
we personally are doing all we can to fulfill God's will and keep
His spirit in His life, nothing else matters! Our salvation relies on
no one but OUR VERY SELF :) So, "let us waste and wear out our lives"
in our very own adventure home to our loving Father in Heaven.
This gospel is true! We have no right to despair or be discouraged.
God has already given us everything we need and prepared the path home
for us, let us choose to follow it, and help others to do so with us:)

i love you all! давай ликовать! (Let's rejoice!)
Sister Tenney

ps- I totally forgot, we got to go out in Dacha land again and serve
on lday's dacha in our branch. It was a rainy, but beautiful day. She
made us put on russian bonnets and even made me wear her pants haha.
So funny! Enjoy the pics.

I have the truth

My dearest Family and Friends,
I decided that I need to be both more informative and expressive in my
emails. So here it goes for all of you.
This week was jam-packed, yet once again what we accomplished doesn't
seem to show all the hard we have been doing. We haven't been super
successful lately, which just about kills me, BUT I know miracles are
right around the corner if we continue to keep working as we have
been. So for some reason, this last Sunday (a week ago), as we were
preparing to start a new week of goals and accomplishments, I felt
very ambitious and ready to go tear it up, so in our companionship
prayer, to end the night and kinda start that next week, I prayed that
we would work so hard each day that week, so that we would come home
and be exhausted. A word of advice: NEVER DO THAT!!! I dont think I
have ever had a more exhausting week than this one haha.
So one interesting thing that happneed this week, as we were heading
home from a meeting and talking with people as we did so, this woman
we contacted got pretty angry at us and started saying things like "I
think its not right, annoying and rude for you to be out on the
streets preaching what you think is right. We all believe in God! And
we all have our own faith and way to God, so go back where you came
from.... and anyways, if that church really is "the truth" why would
you even need to be out preaching about it???? wouldn't people be
running to it themsleves????". So, before my mission, and maybe even
the first few months of my mission I would have had no idea what to
say, and just shyly testified, but NOW. Oh gosh, these days its
almost bad, but arguments such a these do not scare me one bit. These
people do not realize that I HAVE THE TRUTH!!! And NOTHING, not one
thing, can shy me away, make me back down, or feel ashamed. I looked
at the lady, and somehow was inspried to respond " You believe in the
Bible right? Well CHRIST himself spent his whole life, GAVE his whole
life actually to preaching the fullness of truth. If Christ himself
had to do so, how much greater of a need do we need to do so now???"
The woman kind of mumbled a few things, we testified and turned away.
I really trully felt so inspried, I have no idea where that answer
came from. But something I do need to be careful about these days, is
arguing. I was never one who argued before the mission, and now Im
like "bring it on!". But I need to remember the spirit of contention
helps with nothing, really testifying and walking away is what you
should do, even though it can be so hard to do so...
A reason I LOVE my companion right now, is that each week we are able
to identify what we need to do to be better, we work SO hard that next
week to improve, and by the end of that next week, its become a
STRENGTH of ours! Its incredible to see the rapid growth and
improvement in all aspects of missionary work. Oh how I love her!!!
Its just such an exciting time with her... regardless of our
success...
OLYMPICS MOMENT: thank you for all the updates everyone!! We had a
hilarious incident the other day when we walked into a flower shop and
found a TV playing the olympics! We freaked out and become good
friends with the ladies working in the store. They complimented our
woman's gymnastics team (WOOHOO!) and they couldn't stop talking about
how much they love Phelps. It was cool to be able to be having a
friendly conversation with Russians about the olympics. I may in
future years cheer on my russian friends :)
I finallly had another "missionay moment" in the fact that I
completely WORE out and BROKE my shoes one day. They completely fell
apart and I had to walk home barefoot (hahahah I felt like such a
rebel).
So this weekend President Clark and his wife flew out to K-grad. It
was actually kinda intense. You see k-grad is so seperate from the
mission the members feel really isolated. Because of this the
leadership here in the ward isn't the best and Pres Clark often had to
do some clean up whenever he flys out. Yesterday in church, we had
such a sweet testimony meeting, and I was so proud of my k-grad members,
until, the very last testimony, a lady got up and started yelling
about how the leadership has completely ignored her and her daughter
and how she never wants to come back to church. I wanted to crawl into
a hole! The worst part is, that Pres Clark immediatly took her into an
interview, and I had to be the translater!!! UGH! SO hard and intence.
But President Clark, in his awesomeness and love-ingness worked it all
out and everything is going to be ok. But really translating for such
things is not easy. I also had to translate this week as Sister Harps,
a senior couple missionary spoke at a baptism. Translating from
Russian to english is one thing (which I have to do each sunday and
district meeting), but taking english and forming it into RUSSIAN,
thats tough. But I'm learning and the Lord is definetly helping!
BUT while President Clark was here we had interviews..... and somehow
I am now the mission's first corrdinating sister???? WHAT??
Coordinating sisters are sisters who iron their clothes and know how
to be reverent and that "perfect sister missionary". (if you are
wondering I do NOT fall into that catagory!). BUT considering that I
am the oldest sister in the missionary I think Pres Clark had no
choice but to call me haha. Im actually secretly stoked. I asked pres
clark what I will be doing. He himslef doesn't really know... I;m just
going ot be training the other 11 sisters and working alot more with
the leadership of the mission. AWESOME!
SO yea, thats my week. I love you all and hope all is well!!!! Being a
missionary is such a privilage and i love it! make sure your opening
you mouth, sharing and testifying at home. The Lord will bless you. I
promise.
Love, Сестра Тенни
Ps- I GOT MAIL THIS WEEK! THANKS ALL!
pps- the photos
me stoked about my package!! We ate the reeces right away :)

me in the center square in the city with the huge russian orthodox
church behind me

a cute little thing somebody made... and it was raining.

me and sis M!

me climbing to the top of k-grads biggest building

 

"faith-crisis"

mya sembya ee teh kto ya loobloo!
(my family and loved ones!)

Let's just say this week was my "faith-crisis". You see, I've always
considered myself a faithful person, actually a very faithful person.
I honestly thought I was going to come into Russia and the miracles
would just start to flow.... like I was God's gift to Russia. I
thought I would see miracles everyday and have loads of those amazing
missionary stories that every missionary seems to have. I thought it
would be so easy and just... I dont know... fulfilling. It is
fulfilling, hear you me. It's the most fulfilling thing EVER. But its
no merry-go-round. And this week, everything seemed to come crashing
down. Nothing terrible happened, it just seemed like everything was
shouting at me "YOU HAVE NO FAITH! YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ONE MIRACLE AND
YOU NEVER WILL. WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING HERE????". I couldnt get these
thoughts out of my head. And then yesterday my head almost exploded. I
just felt like I had no faith, and because of it, I was failing the
Lord. (Gosh how depressed and down do I sound???)
My companion and I kept talking about it and we both just seemed so
confused and we couldnt even figure out what faith even means. FAITH!
The first principle of the gospel, the simplest easiest thing.... why
had it turned so confusing??? I started to write in my journal last
night, and I just let it all out onto the paper. As I was writing I
realized that it doesn't matter; I need to get this doubting spirit out
of my head and return back to my child-like faith. The faith that no
matter whats going on, no matter how hard or easy life is, no matter
where I am, who I am, or what I've experienced..... that NO MATTER
WHAT, all that matters is that I DO MY BEST. MY VERY BESTEST. And I
trust the Lord that as I do so, I will fulfill His will. That He will
lead me, He will teach nme what I need to learn, He will lead me so
that I can be His hands here in His vineyard. So let's stop counting
our "miracles". Let's stop trying to measure our faith. Cuz its not up
to us to measure our faith. We just need to forget ourselves and do
His work, and He will do the rest. And all will be well.
Wow. I feel so much better getting all of that out of my head. But
really, the gospel is true! God lives and loves us, and so does His
son, our Savior and brother. And I love them so much.
And I love all of you.
-Love Sis Tenney
ps- the pics in order...
my CRAZY hair from humidity and the litle girls in the ward deciding
to brush my hair haha
my search to find those ready for the gospel :)