Expect Miracles and Surprises from God

Family and friends,
We are teaching a family!!!!! The other night we got a call from the
mission office with referral for us (meaning somone called in and gave
our mission a name of someone they want missionarirs to go meet and
try to teach). And this referral was an entire family! Much better
than any Christmas present. We called them and they invited us right
over the very next day. They just moved here from Armenia with a 6 and
7 year old daughter and son. They are such a cute little family; kind
and honest people :) They were all ears from the start (which was a
complete suprise). Shashaneek and Verasdad (the daughter and son) ARE
SOOO CUTE! We did kinda like a family night with them. We read a story
from the friend and taught them "Love One Another". To end we taught
them how to pray as a family, on their knees and in a circle. It was
such a beautiful sight seeing a family pray together for the first
time. I was able to testify how entirely and completely the gospel has
shaped and blessed my family.
The interesting thing is that they don't know Russian very well, and
neither do Sister Pinkston and I. HOWEVER, the double language barrier
doesn't stop anything. It was so cool to see how all of them truly
wanted to understand what we were saying, so every once in a while
they would pause and have to translate for each other if they weren't
sure they completely understood. It really is true, the most important
language is the language of the spirit. And the spirit was definitely
there :)
I spoke yesterday in Sacrament. I often bear my testimony, but this
was my first official talk. Gah. I have always loved giving talks back
home in my own language, but I'll admit I was pretty nervous. I know
this week is my mission's year mark (SERIOUSLY ALREADY???) but
regardless I am far from mastering Russian. In just about every
sentence I still make mistakes (Russain grammer is literally a
nightmare) which isn't a huge problem when you're conversing with
people, however, when you have to give a talk ALL ON YOUR OWN it's a
little frightening. I prayed alot. Especially because my theme was
Matthew 6:24; you cannot serve God and Mammon, and I hadn't figured
out how to pronounce "mammon" yet in Russian until 5 min before the
start of sacrament meeting. haha I had to be careful cuz if I said
mammon just a little wrong, it would sound like the word for Beer
belly HAHAHA. I can testify that God helped me, and that I know that
the spirit was there. I now love speaking not only in English, but
Russian as well :)
So yea, the moral of these strories are: expect miracles and surpises
from God, and remember He's always there to help us. I know this is
true from the botton of my hert, and whenever I forget it, God reminds
me right away. We are so blessed!
I love you all!
с любовью сестра Тенни

LOVE YOUSELF, EMBRACE YOURSELF, APPRECIATE YOURSELF.

Dear everyone I love,
I just want to talk about the importance of BEING YOURSELF. Sometimes
as a missionary, and I think as normal people, we get so caught up in
trying to be "perfect", whether in the world's eyes, or even just in
God's eyes, and as we do this, we start to forget who we are and bind
ourselves to these guidelines we'e made up in our head. I am guilty of
this. Sometimes I'm trying so hard to do every little thing right,
that I forget to relax and be myself. AHHHH! We cannot let this
happen! There is a reason we are who we are. Nobody wants to talk with
a robot missionary who is just trying to do everything just to almost
check off the list of all the things I should be doing. INntead we
should love and appreciate who we are, while ALSO trying to be a
little bit better and "stand a little taller" each day. We remember
our purpose and why we are here and also enjoy life and embrace
ourselves, our personalities and charactaristics.
It's just so cool to see as a missionary, the change in the work as I
remember to be myself. When I got here in Russia, as I would "contact"
people (we don't knock door to door, we just walk around and talk with
people on the streets) and I would just ask "can i give you an
invitation". Of course this had a lot to do with my lack of languauge
skills. But then I started to get a little brave and would ask if they
believed in God. HA! How boring and lame is that? Who wants to talk
to anybody like this? Sister Pinkston and I have just been trying to
TALK and CONVERSE with people on the street. Its SO much more fun and
effective. Instead of worrying what to say, we're laughing and making
friends. Instead of being awkward and people trying to avoid us,
people are coming up to us and asking US about who we are. WHAT A
CHANGE! Of course we aren't forgetting our calling; as we converse we
testify, from the heart, that we know that Christ's gospel is restored
and how this knowlege blesses our lives. I feel like I'm finally
doing it!
So please, LOVE YOUSELF, EMBRACE YOURSELF, APPRECIATE YOURSELF. I
promise as you do so, coupled with the daily proccess of "personal
perfection", you will be SO much happier, and the Lord's spirit will
be more abundant in your life. You will be lead to where you need to
be, and you will just smile as you think about your life.
I know this is true, and I know our Heavenly Father knows and loves
each of us, and wants us to be happy. So be happy!
:)
love, сестра Тенни
ps- я знаю что Бог жив и что Он любит нас!

Reminders of Love :)

My dearest family and friends,
I had the most awesome weekend with a general authority! Elder
Christoffersen came with his wife and our area president who is also
an authoirty Elder Shweitzer. I'm not sure if I really am just
special, or it's just a state of mind, but every time an authorty has
come I have had a cool thing happen with each of them. This weekend we
had flown up to Peter with nothing to do so we were asked Sunday
morning to help prepare breakfast for the coming apostle and leaders
:) While my mission president and wife were picking them up from the
airport, my companion and I cut fruit giddily and then just sat and
studied waiting for them to get there and help serve breakfast. I had
locked the door as they walked out and when they came back they were
locked out, so after a peaceful time of study we hear the door trying
to be opened and we freak out knowing Elder Christoffersen had come! I
run and open the door and he walks in with a huge smile and his hand
already stretched out for a handshake. WOW! We got to chat a little
with him and President Shweitzer and meet their wives as we helped
serve. So amazing! Let me tell you, they were both so kind, and happy,
and they had such a peaceful and calm countenance in contrast to mine
(which was trying not to burst of both excitement and nervousness).
For those of you who know me, it took me all I had not to just walk
around the house jumping up and down as we waited for them ;)
Elder Christoffersen gave a beatiful talk to the Russians in the
church meeting. One thing he said really hit me. He said directly to
us, that "God could not know you any better or love you anymore if you
were His only child". That sent shivers right up my back. In summary,
Sunday was a powerful day, and Monday was even better as just us 60
missionaries met with him. We all shook his hand and introduced
ourselves, but we already knew eachother so Elder Christoffersen and I
were just telling inside jokes by then (haha kidding but basically ;).
The council we were given was just what we needed and he even had time
set aside for us to ask questions. I asked the last question and he
answered so beautifully and made me realize how NECESSARY and CENTRAL
Christ and the atonement is. HE is the reason, the way and the light.
HE is why we have hope, why life even matters. Without Him, and the
atonement, there would be no reason, NOTHING WOULD MATTER. However,
because He did do it, life has meaning and each of us, so beloved by
Him and our Father in Heaven can and WILL make it back to him, if we
so choose :)
So keep reading your scriptures, have daily time with your Father in
Heaven, and taking the time for meaningful prayer. PLEASE. I promise
you life is better doing so. And I promise you will feel more special
and loved each day, as I do!
To top the weekend off we flew home first class :) I have no idea why,
but I'm thinking it was just a tender mercy of the Lord reminding me
He remembers and thinks about me. I promise if you will look each day,
you will find God's little reminders of love :)
I love you all!
-Sister Tenney

 we're at this old gate to the city, like a fort thing :)

me playing this awesome ancient piano at the fort

cute puppies!

привет всем!!!!!

привет всем!!!!!(PREEVYET SEM!)
That means hello everybody! haha I've been out here in Russia so
long and just realized I can type in russian... wow I'm slow. SO this
week my mind is just blank as what to tell you all. I just want you
all to know that this whole mission experience has been amazing. I
love it and knowing I'll be home in just over 6 months is freaking me
out. I dont want it to end so soon! Its not fair elders get to serve
so long. Esp eciallycuz I'm really only out in Russia for a year and 3
months.
I dont know how to put into words what a mission is like or why its so
wonderful. I wish I could. So my only thing to tell you is to go on
your own mission so you can understand what I am trying to say. If
you're old, go on one with your spouse, if you're a young man, look
forward to it and prepare for it, and if you're a girl, start praying
and preparing now and the Lord will direct you as to what you are
supposed to do. I know the Lord loves us and leads us and will always
help us to do whats best and makes us the most happy. Even though
sometimes its hard! I love you all!!!!! love. Сестра Тенни