be happy!

Everyone!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! (and Tauna and Syd ;) Can I just tell you how
happy I am? Like it's crazy how happy I am, not just today cuz its my
birthday, but everyday. I no longer wake up each morning dreading
having to get out of bed ( not that I dreaded my day, just who likes
waking up at 6:30 ya know?). But now I like waking up. I just don't
know how to describe it, but I finally feel like I'm a missionary. I
get home every night EXHAUSTED. Everyday Sister Pinkston and I work SO
hard. When we aren't having a meeting we are just talking with EVERYONE
on the street, inviting them to church or to get a Book of Mormon, and
these people actually want to come, or want to receive one, it's weird!
And it's sunny here. And it's just so cute here. And I love my
apartment, and my investigators and my big bed (I have a queen bed it's
amazing I feel like a spoiled missionary). Just everything is
wonderful. AND this week was Miracle-packed. No joke. I don't even know
where to begin. We will set a baptismal date this week with one lady.
We had a first meeting with a lady this week and she prayed on the
lesson and was so excited to start reading the Book of Mormon. We had
a goal of 2 new investigators this last week and yesterday at 6 we
only had one new one. But we randomly went by a lady's house that we
met on the street this week. She invited us right in and we ended up
giving her the first lesson and the Book of Mormon. She prayed on the
lesson and then said "give me a week to read the Book of Mormon and
then I want to meet with you again". It was amazing. and CHECK!!! We
got our second investigator just before the end of the week. I know
these sound like little things, but they are HUGE to us. And they are
sooo exciting!
On our way here to internet, on the bus I was just standing there
smiling and thinking about how happy and blessed I am. And I couldn't
stop smiling! I can't explain it, but inside of me is such a "big"
happiness I feel like its going to burst out of me. I don't get it. But
I like it :) and as I was sitting there enjoying my "happiness" I saw
an older man just looking at me and smiling at me. For the course of
the next 5 minutes we just kept glancing at each other and smiling and
laughing. It was like we were instantly best friends. It was bizarre.
As I walked out of the bus I waved goodbye (you're not supposed to
wave in russia they don't really do that here) and he waved back at me!
And as the bus drove away I looked at him and he stood and waved good
bye so happliy and aggressivly and I decided it was one of the best
birthday presents ever haha.
Such a random weird story, but I think it's hilarious and I can only
imagine all of you imagining me in Russia smiling and laughing with
an old Russian man on a bus haha. What the heck I'M IN RUSSIA! AND I'M A
MISSIONARY! So hard to believe sometimes.
Well I love you all and wish you the best week. BE HAPPY! It's so much
more fun then on the contrary. I promise you if you want to be happy
you can find something to be happy about :)
Happy birthday again Taun and Syd! I love you all! thank you for your
prayers and birthday wishes! love love love, Sis Tenney