Ether 12:27! Let your weaknesses become your strengths

Mommy! And family!

 

Thank you for all the letters this week. That was my favorite letter I've gotten so far for sure. And it came exactly when i needed it, thank you!

 

Wow this week was a lot longer than the last few. I kinda hit another wall. Friday we met with one of our teachers to talk about the progress of our investigators and I just felt like an IDIOT! We're trying to teach to their needs but I couldn't even figure out what their needs were and I just felt like the worst teacher ever. I've always thought I was a good teacher until I came to the MTC. I dont know what my problem is but teaching hasn't been easy for me. The whole time we were meeting with our teacher I was trying not to cry. Luckily, once class was over it was bed time so we went home and I took a shower and got ready for bed trying not to think about it and not to cry. I've been kinda gunky lately so I went to the bathroom and went to spit my gunk and somehow i ended up spitting on myself! Oh I was SO mad! I just started bawling right there all alone in the bathroom, I guess spitting on myself just did me over. Hhahahahaha so funny to look back on. Anyways, luckily that was the same night I got your letter from all you girls and it was perfect. I still went to bed thinking it couldn't be possible to have a good day the next day, but I did! I woke up, kept on going, and was able to have a really good day and a really good lesson. I just think I really needed some humbling. Thats the interesting thing about a mission. Everyday I learn something new about myself; usually its a new strength or talent, but sometimes its a weakness. Its no fun seeing and learning about the bad things about myself but I know I'm learning my weaknesses so I can try to make them strengths. ETHER 12:27! No one is perfect, but through humility, diligence and hard work we can slowly overcome the faults that easily beset us.

 

Another thing i've learned in the MTC: I STINK AT LISTENING. In all aspects. During lessons I often dont listen to my companion cuz im trying to figure out what I want to say in Russian, I often zone out when ppl talk in russian then have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing. Just overall I need to learn to listen. And this kinda freaks me out cuz the only thing I can remember from my setting apart lesson is when President Osborne paused (which seeemed like forever) and then told me in a VERY VERY urgent and pleading mannor, to LISTEN. I know he was referring to the Holy Ghost, not necessarily ppl, but if I can't liesten to ppl in front of my face how will I be able to listen to the quite, subtle impressions of the Holy Ghost???

 

And the Holy Ghost is SOOOOOO important. I love it. I hear/feel the Holy Ghost EVERYDAY here. EVERYDAY. And I want everyone to know that you can too. We are entitled to the Holy Ghost as our CONSTANT companion. He wants to help us. Its not always through words or voices or strong feelings. Mostly I just have a very slight impression or thought. Maybe its just a question to ask in a lesson, or the thought to grab something in the morning, idk, but slowly Im realizing how often I've listened to the holy Ghost in my life without even realizing it. I urge everyone to try to notice these times. Learn to recognize the Holy Ghost in your life. The more you recognize it, heed it, and thank Heavenly Father for it, the more He will want to give you! I promise this will bless you. And don't forget my favorite scripture, Moroni 7:33. through Christ we can have the power to do anything!

Now let me get off my preacher box ;) I have some hilarious news. Guess who I ran into last week here who's serving a mission???? PHAYA!!!!! It was so awkward. We both saw eachother and were like "what the heck are you doing on a mission????". And his classroom is in the same building as mine. Its pretty hilarious. He's only here for 3 weeks he's going to the NY NY south mission. Good for him! I never thought he would actually serve one. Oh and I run into elder brown and Elder Hjelmstad all the time. Yesterday Sister Paletta and I street contacted Elder Brown it was Hilar. (street contacting is when you walk around the mtc and pretend to contact ppl and tell them a little bit about the church and you try to set up appointments with them to talk more about the gospel) Me and sister Paletta street contact in our free time its a blast and really helps our Russian.

 

Oh! Since starting the Book Of Mormon last week Sis Paletta and I are in Mosiah! Right on track to finish by the time we leave. Are you reading your scriptures everyday? And not just reading but really trying to understand why what your reading a prophet so long ago felt it was important to record? The book of mormon is sick I'm addicted to it. Sis paletta and I read every chance we get. It's a little nutty ;)

 

EVERYONE: thank you for your prayers and your dear elders and letters and love. I soooo appreciate them . Esp when they are funny (like you, bobo, britt, kira and krista). All I want to do each night is sit on my bed and read the hilarious things you send me. All my roomates aer so jealous cuz they think I know the funniest ppl (cuz I do). As Im sitting on my top bunk each night reading and laughing they always beg me to read the newest updates. You're all the best thank you. WARNING: I leave in less than a month! If you want to send me a package send it soon! (HINT HINT :)

 

Yesterday Sister paletta and I convinced an elder I was russian and didnt know english. it was hilarious! Guess im getting better at russian :)

 

I almost fell off my bed this week. still been donmiating it bball :)

 

I love you! ya loobloo tebya!

Love you, Sister Tenney

;)

Braden, and Fam, and Mom,

 

 

This week flew. I cant believe I've been here for a whole 7 weeks now. I still feel like I just got here. 7 weeks! That means I'm over half way now. AHHHHHHH! Does it seem like I've been gone that long? But here is the BEST news of the entire week. This Saturday was the VERY first time I truly felt like a missionary. Like a real missionary. It was crazy and such a good feeling! Sister Paletta and I had to teach a random lesson we weren't expecting to teach on Saturday. The only thing we quickly prepared was a scripture and then we headed to the lesson. Keep in mind this lesson had to be in russian too. We start talking too the guy and it was fun! And not hard at all! And all of a sudden neither of us were trying, we were just talking and having a great time getting to know this guy and talking to him about the gospel. The lesson we gave came from nowhere but I know it uplifted both of us, as well as our investigator. It was amazing. I've never felt so good about a lesson. Now everytime we teach we strive for calm, uplifting spirit like we had on Saturday. Im slowly getting a little better at this stuff...... with a lot of help from the spirit of course!

 

This week we started teaching the word of wisdom to our investiogators (slova mudrustee in russian). Its fun teaching people who dont understand why drinking or small things like coffee and tea are bad for our bodies. We're so lucky we've always known not to do these things!

 

We have a new district goal that started yesterday. Our goal: speak russian AT ALL TIMES! NO ENGLISH! (theres a few exceptions like on p-days, and at gym, and when talking to ppl who dont know russian), but isn't that crazy! Its SUPER hard, but its already helping me so much. Please contiunue to pray to bless me with the gift of tounges, and also that I can be diligent. That hardest thing about the MTC is that they dont babysit you or make you do anything you dont want to do. All of my learning and growing depends on ME and how hard I want to work. YIKES! So I've been trying to work hard, but man I suck at being diligent. I love this work and I want to be the best servant of the Lord I can be. I need to learn how to work hard!

 

K, you MUST look up these scriptures. Turns out prophets of the New Testament had a sens of humor. Look up Ephesians 2:5, 2 cor 12:2 &3, Ephesians 5:9, and ephesians 6:2. All of these scriptures have winks! in them ;) SOOOOO funny. I've become a master at finding winks and smiley faces throughout the scriptures. Just a random thing I thought you'd like to know.

 

OH! Me and Sister paletta have a new goal. Yesterday we restarted the Book of Mormon and we're going to finish by the time we leave! Im sooo excited. I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. Are all of you reading it? REALLY, truly, trying to read and understand it? I promise you, this book is amazing. It is packed with gospel truths and wonderful stories that help us to see why these truths are so necessary. Alma, Nephi, moroni, etc, they are so awesome. PLEASE read this book everyday and ask yourself how you can relate it to your life, and ask why did they write this? How can this help me? I promise as you do soon you will notice a difference in your life and your desires and what you think and do and say. You'll want better things and you will be happier!

I hope everyone is well and happy and remembering to choose the right! If you are I know God will bless you. I love you alll SOOOOOOOO much and miss you tons! Write me! Please! Ya loobloo tebya!

love- Sistra Tenney

Some cute photos...

Just me being Mary Poppins

Our jam sesh singing and stuff Elder Lythgoe (a good friend of mine who just left), me, and Sister Paletta

This is Elder Mitchell who the whole MTC saw me beat at arm wrestling, he decided to do a re-enactment. BEFORE.

AFTER!

jumping + umbrellas = awesome



I miss my mom! I can't make my bed (the sheet always comes off). everyone was making fun of how retarded I am at making my bed.

So I decided to show them that I really am retarded :)

 us partying in the hall

me being knighted with my new desk by Elder Brasier. as you can see I was TOTES excited

I look retarded. These are me zone leaders (well my old zone leaders). Elder Bodily, me and Elder Larsen :)

A happy missionary is a successful missionary :)

Mom and Family,

WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO BRADEN! Guatemala sounds awesome! Im sooo excited for you :) You're going to love it. I think its cool that I heard the news of where you're serving on the one month mark of my mission.... too bad I wont be seeing you for so long, but it'll be fun to write each other :)

 

I cant believe I'm already emailing home again and that its been 5 weeks already. Nuts! Time is going faster and faster now..... its freaking me out I dont know enough Russian yet!

 

SO this week has been a little sad for a few reasons. ONE: All my friends left! Meaning, all the Russian Elders that were 6 weeks ahead of us left. It was tough saying goodbye they have been so helpful with our russian and so supportive of us PLUS they were all sooo fun and cool. We had a huge good bye ceremony on Sunday. I was givin the honor of receiving one Elder's comfty chair for my desk, I was knighted with it and everything :) that was fun. (Of the people who left includes my zone leader...... dont worry he has my address ;). One of the elders proposed to me before he left (he was being serious)... that was awkward.

 

Another reason this week was hard was I basically hit a wall. All of a sudden I couldn't teach or anything. In lessons with our investigator I wouldnt even know what to say in English, let alone Russian (which is weird becasue usually I do most of the talking in our lessons) and Russian was just extra difficult this week and it was just a mess. BUT, as I was trying to get over this hump I decided to look extra hard for blessings, and to try to find the good things. After a day I was amazed at what I found! Im sooooo blessed, and I can feel the power I'm receieving from everyone's prayers for me. It was especially cool to see how my studies were lead to help me. For some reason I started studying HOPE. You have got to talk about hope at Family Night or something. It is SO important! Without hope, we have nothing. My favorite, is that "hope isnt knowelegde, its trust in God" hahahaha. I definetaly dont have much knoweldge in the gospel and with Russian, but I CAN trust in GOD :) Thats easy. And I know since I've begun doing that things have gotten better :)

 

Another cool thing we discovered this week is the power of hymns. Usually in my companionship I'm the happy/crazy/energetic one, but there has been a few days that I haven't been (which is weird) and it throws everything off. One day I was trying to do everything I could to slap out of it but it just wouldn't seem to go away. Sister Paletta and I decided to go practice a hymn (in Russian of course we only sing in Russian here) for a lesson and as we did so I could feel the negativity and frustration leaving me. We sang a couple songs and finished feeling so calm and ready to do the work. It was a miracle. Now whenever we are struggling we do this and it helps sooo much! Remember this whenever you're struggling or angry or need to think about something good, I know it will help.

In the middle of this plateau I hit another thing that helped me was hearing " a happy missionary is a successful missionary". HA! Im not the smartest, most spiritual, most hard working missionary but I can definetaly be a happy one :) I love that promise.

 

Hey mom guess who spoke to us in Relief society on Sunday.... Sister Cook! From the young womens board! I even got to talk to her after and shake her hand :) I so wished you and tammy could be there with me. She talked ALL about virtue. It was awesome. Tauna and Krista, do the younge women's recognition for VIRTUE they sounded like such good things to do. My 2 favorite things she talked about was GRACE. Go read grace in tyhe Bible dictionary. I love that it says GRACE is the ENABLING POWER of the atonement. That means NONE of us are perfect and we all mess up, but through the enabling power of the atonement we can not only be clean and whole again, but we can have the power to do things we otherwise wouldn't be able to do without it! Sorry for those of you who need alot of thios enabling power, I'm hogging most of it with my Russian studies :) And let me tell you its helpful! The other thing she talked about is the necessity of P.R.O.S. in our life everyday. P: prayer. R: read BOM everyday. O: obediance (pray for strength to have it and want to do it). And S: SMILE! Be happy! Look for the blessings in you life! I know as we practice with the pros everyday we'll become a pro at being righteous and happy :)

 

And dad guess who spoke to us last night at devotional!? Gerald n. Lund! The writer of the Work and the Glory books. I was stoked. He gave a powerful talk about hope (just in time with my own study of hope that was cool). I'm so lucky to be here at the MTC!

 

So basically here at the MTC everyone is CONVINCED I am a spaz. And they have some pretty convincing evidence to believe so. Somehow everyday I'm tripping (not like a small little trip either), falling, spilling, yelling, laughing. You name it I've done it. In fact I tripped walking over to this very computer. I really dont get it I've never been SUCH a spaz before, but somehow it really helps becasue me and my companion always have something to laugh about :)

 

Oh our lessons! Besides those few days we were struggling they are getting so much better! Yesterday we talked about the plan of salvation to our investigator.... witthout any notes! It was a miracle. The vocab for that lesson is hard, and just talking about the plan of salvation in english is heard, but we did it! (not perfectly but who's perfect?). Usually when we teach we use notes but our goal is not to have any anymore and we've been blessed since we started. I think one thing that has helped are SYL days (speak your language). We've assigned a few days a week where we can ONLY speak russian. We're not that good at it yet but it GREATLY imporves my russian. Isn't that crazy we can do that already?

 

Shout outs:

Scottay! Up top mister perez thats for the letter!

Jarms: you are totes a baller. ps I think I eat more bananas than you everyday.

Kira, britt, rach, jack, Bcon, Kayla: I LOVE YOU!!!

So yes Im doing great and still having a good time. Mom, I never realized how much a like I am to you. All day I say the stupidest corny jokes that really aren't that funny but I think they are hilarious. Of course everyone laughs cuz they are so amused that I find it so funny! You have always been like that and I've admired you for it :) If anyone has any good jookes could you send them to me? Im running out of material up here. hahahahah.

 

I love all of you and pray FOR ALL OF YOU!

LOVE SISTER TENNEY

It's not what you AREN'T but what you ARE, and what you are is GREAT

Mom and fam!

I couldnt sleep last night I was so excited to email you :)  I cant beleive its already been 4 weeks. its nuts! Its amazing I'm still enjoying it here :)

So the MTC schedule changes a little each day but most days go something like this. I wake up at 6:20, I'm ready and in our classromm by 7:00 planning and studying, breakfast at 7:50, study from like 8:45 to 10:00. Gym from 10:00 to 11:00. Get ready till 11:30, Computer Russian program study time from 11:30 to 12:30, lunch from 12:30 to 1:30, class from 1:30 to 4:30, companion study from 4:30 to 5:30. dinner from 5:30 to 6:15 and then class from 6:15 to 9:15. Finally at 9:30 I can read letters and dearelders and get ready for bed/write in journal. In class most of the time our 2 teachers (Brat Beus and Sistra Jones) mostly only speak russian to us, even when we're learning about gospel/discussions and practicing contacting, but class is always a mix of language learning and study as well as gospel study. Its great. Sometimes after two 6 hour classes though I can feel super drained, and sometimes it takes all of me not to fall asleep duringh class or study, but so far I havent fallen asleep! Quite a defeat for me :)

Sundays are our only days without class, sundays are a bunch of spiritual meetings/church. Every sunday everyone in the branch has to prepare a talk in Russian and our branch president randomly asks a few missionaries to talk. Its super scary but so far I have yet to talk! Luckily. But beacuse I'm one of the 4 sisters of 100 russian elders in the branch I'm sure I'll have to speak soon. It will be way fun I'm excited/scared out of my mind. Tuesday nights are the devotionals, and sunday nights are fireseides and those are my FAV! They are always amazing.

 

Our investigators are our 2 teachers posing as investigators they actually taught on their missions in Russia and Ukraine. Most of the time I completely forget they are my teachers and try to do all I can to help them realize how ESSENTAIL this gospel is in their life and how they NEED the BOM. UGH! But our lessons are improving sooo much each time. Both the russian part and the teaching by the spirit part. Its sooooooo inspiring looking back at mine and Sistra Paletta's progess. Its amazing.

Speaking about my russian. The other day I was talking to my district and I was like "Mainly I'm just bad at understanding Russian, but I also struggle with reading it, and I'm horrible at speaking it" hahahah after I said that I realized that with those as my weaknesses I basically suck at Russian in general. But everyone laughed and was like "Sister Tenney you may not be amazing at Russian but we know your strength is your OPTIMISM". So yes, I may not be the brightest missionary in my district, but Im enjoying every minute of it and I know the Lord is helping me. This is cheesy but in our devotional on sunday they kept repeating "It's not what you AREN'T but what you ARE, and what you are is GREAT". Isn't that such a great message? That's what I have been focusing on and I know it's helping me in my own ways. And in my patrirchal blessing its says that "I will always be thankful for who I am which will allow me to recieve countless blessings". I believe that is true! It is an insult to our Father in Heaven if you dont appreciate who you are. Learn to love yourself :)

 

I just learned this quote and I love it: "Missionary: one who spends time away from their family so others can spend eternity with theirs" :) Isnt that great?

 

So just a quick side note, My russian is greatly improving, but I know its becasue of God's help. Could you all pray for me to have the gift of tounges? Not mainly for me but for those that I will be serving in Russia. I need all the help I can get. THANK YOU!

 

Isnt it amazing I'm 1 thrid of the way done with the MTC? ITS NUTS! Mainly I'm sad becasue all the russian elders that I've become close friends with that have been here 6 more weeks than us leave next week, I'm going to MISS THEM! And even scarier of a thought is that it makes me the oldest Russian missionaries (as in we've been here the longest) and when the new Russian missionaries get here in 2 weeks I''ll have to be the example to them. YIKES! The honeymoon period is over and its now to time to get to work!

 

Some crazy things have been happening to me at the night. 2 nights ago the fire alarm went off at 2 am. I was sooo angry I just kep yelling "POCHEMOOO!" (WHY?!?!?!?! in Russian haha) Luckily once it was over I feel back asleep right away. And the other night I woke up and I was sitting up mid-laughing. It was creepy! I was actually laughing in my sleep and I caught myself in the act! Thats just how happy I am here hahah.

 

Also, since I arm wrestled that elder last week, everyone asks me about it and asks me if I was the sister who beat the elder in an arm wrestle. Totes embarrasssing. Even more embarassing is that alot of the elders call me sistra jimmer. SO ANNOYING!

 

 

Oh I taught everyone how to pigbark :) They all think its hilarious.

 

 

And Sistra Paletta and I have been keeping up on our pranks. We know these spanish elders and we've been doing funny things to their desks and leaving them poems, its hilarious. When you've been at the MTC this long you have to start finding weird/fun things to do to occupy yourself and Sistra Paletta and I excel at it.

 

 

Please tell all our Tenney fam about this blog. I owe some family letters and I just havent had time to write them yet I feel bad!

I have a few shoutouts!

BRITT- WOOOOO WOOOOOO! I cant believe you're engaged! Go Jarms! Seriosna? (seriously in russian) Im stoked for you and want pics ASAP.

Kira- love you babes! I have hardly heard from you, dear elder me!

rach- Hows the wedding planning? Tell me about life

kara- Your letter was THE BEST and i so needed it, THANKS babe!

Jeni carpenter: Thank you for the letter and package! It made my day! Tell Brandon he's gonna love his mission.

Sorry I'm out of time! I love you alllllll! 

Love,

Sistra Tenney

Taking down the Elders!

My Hollywood Mom! Family!

The MTC is still good. Sometimes planning Russian lessons and learning Russian can take its toll, but it always quickly gets better. Whenever I think about how not smart I am and how hard the language is I realize how much trust and confidence Heavenly father has in me to be able to do this! And I know he wouldnt have called me to Russia if he wasnt going to help me :) The best thing about this week is how much I've learned about revelation. We ALL are entitled to personal revelation! Whenever I'm feeling the spirit, whether it be at a meeting or devotional or something, I always make sure I'm listening to any small, quiet thoughts and write them down immediatly. The spirit has taught me SO MUICH this week as I'm practicing doing this. I've also realized, any GOOD idea or thought that comes into my mind is usually a prompting or a small inspiration from GOD! Anything. So make sure you arent discrediting these small thoughts that come into your mind, that you're acting on them, and thanking God for them after :)

The devotionals and firesides here are amazing. The spirit is thick and I dont think I have ever been so happy.

GYM. Its still my favorite :) The bball court opened up again and let me tell you its so fun! Some elder challenged me in lightening (one of my favorite elders ;) and dont worry, I got him out that very first turn!

The most hilarious/embarrassing thing that happened this week happened in the cafeteria. The other night we were eating and some Russian elder challenged me to an arm wrestle. You know me I cant turn down a challenge so the throwdown began. We were even in strength so it was a great match and within a minute of the dual I begin to hear people throughout the ENTIRE cafetaeria getting up and cheering me on. As the wrestle continued more and MORE people are watching and soon everyone in there is watching. by this time I know my face is bright red from my efforts and im SO EMBARRASSED. Of course I win. But now I will forwever be known as the sister who beat an elder in an arm wrestle and I now cannot go anywhere without elders saying something to me about it. yea Im never doing that again! So funny though.

In my lesson last week I accidenlty asked our investigator if we could meet with him the next day at 4am. that was pretty funny too.

That CD of me came from my companions best friends dad who works here at the MTC. We ran into him the other day so he said he would send you a video. How nice is that? Hahah I think I was going a little crazy in the video. By the evenings I'm wasted and start to get a little silly. But yea you shud totes put it on this blog :) What did you think of the Russian I was speaking? Everyday my vocab is increasing, its crazy. Only little by little but slowely I'm able to talk more and more with my russian investigators. Its exciting.

Today I'll be seding more pictures so you can see what I've been up to :) OH I'VE GOT THE BEST NEWS! I memorized the 1st vision! In english AND russian. Crazy right? It took me a few weeks but I've got it, I am so proud of myself it was not easy. I wish you could hear my say it, it sounds hilarious! Russian is hilarious but sooo cool I love it. I cant wait to comer home and have you hear how I sound speaking it. I also cant wait to actuially be able to speak it haha.

Do you guys have any questions for me? Things here are getting harder everyday, which also makes it get better each day. I'm working on learning how to work. And work hard. I'm trying not to waste a minute and learn as much Russain as I can before I leave. I'm def one of the slowest learners in my district but the good thing about that is that I'm surrounded by way smart people who are willing to help me! Hahah so the joke is on them.

I love all of you and will write you a letter today! Keep the dear elders and letters and packages coming! LOVE YOU! -Love, Sister Tenney

Speaking Russian! And having a good time :)

Some family sent us this video and a few pictures on a CD. We're a little confused how we got it, but who cares it's awesome! Look at how good her Russian is and how happy she looks!