"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.