DON'T GIVE UP!

previet!
OK so this week. Ugh. It really wasn't too bad, really, but seriously
I'm going to be honest, I want someone to get baptized. I want
miracles. And I want lots of them. And right now I just feel like I'm
going around in circles. Actually this is how I feel:
So we raked and cleaned up the church grounds on saturday. There were
tons of leaves and just trash and it was just kinda all messy from the
winter. There was about 20 of us with brooms and rakes as we swept
pathways and cleaned off the grass. I was off in a coner trying to
clean my "area". As I did so I just kept getting more and more
frustrated. No matter what I did my rake wouldn't get all the leaves
and I just wanted my area to look perfect! I kept looking out at
others areas and seeing how clean and pretty theirs' was. What was
wrong with mine! All of a sudden I had a secret sad moment as I
realized this is how I was feeling regarding my missionary work. I
have been trying to "rake up" and "
clean up" this area in Russia where I'm currently serving and nothing
seems to be happening. I'm looking out at others and seeing their
success and just getting so frustrated! WHY!? It's not fair. I'm
working as hard as I can. What more can I do??? I feel like Christ in
his vineyard. We see in Jacob 5 how much work and effort and love He
put into his vineyard, yet still, the fruit wasn't always "good". After
a time Christ himself wept and said "what more could I have done for
my vineyard?" (Jacob 5:41). As I read this chapter I really start to
understand the work of the Savior. How much He HAS done and CONTINUES
to do for each of us.
So then as I was having my sad moment a guy in the ward came and
changed me rakes and then all of a sudden with my new and improved
rake it worked so much better! I'm really not sure what this new rake
reprsents in my allegory. Maybe a change of perspective or attitude,
maybe simply a blessing from God, I don't know. BUT yea, so right now
I'm not the most successful missionary. But I know as I continue to
work SOMETHING HAS GOT TO HAPPEN! It will, I know it, cuz I'm going to
WILL it to happen :)
So to all of you who are frustrated with your rake or your area of
your work, DON'T GIVE UP! Cuz I'm not going to :) And remember, God is
mindful of all His people (alma 26 37). And thatevens means He is
mindful of you :)
So lets be positive and have a good time while we labor. Thank you all
for your support and love! And especially your prayers! Love you,
Sister Tenney

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

I think I found the best place in the world

Fmaily friends, one and all,
So did you all go look up Kaliningrad? If you haven't, do it now! And
then be jealous of me. Becasue seriously, I think I found the best
place in the world. Its' soooo cute and old with its cobble stone
streets and old chapels and fortresses and castles. The people here,
get this, they actually SMILE (sometimes ;) and they LIKE talking to
us (usually). Its BIZZARE to me that when i go to talk to people on the
street they smile and talk with us! I can't put it into words how happy
I am right now...
So I had a little "worry" I had shoved to the back of my mind and
refused to let myself think about. This worry was the fact that I
would be with an American sister for her second transfer. This means I
am with a missionary who can basically testify in Russian and that's
about it, like she hardly understands anything at all. And you see, I
know I've been out here for a while already, but my Russian is not
great. Especially my understanding. But my goal I had decided when I
found out my transfer, was to refuse to let the language become an
excuse or barrier for our work. I decided I would be confident, be
dilligent in language study, and know that God would help us. The
first day and a half sister Pinkston and I were together it was pretty
hilarious cuz I would often start talking to her in Russian not even
realizing it until I see the blank stare in her face as she tried to
figure out what I had said! Ha so funny. I was just SOOO used to
always speaking russian. Another funny thing was how TALKATIVE I have
been the last few days.I felt like a chatterbox our first two days
together BECAUSE I COULD ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE EXACTLY HOW I FELT!
hahah I felt so powerful. I didn't realize how much I had missed just
being able to talk in English. Sadly, I don't even think in Russian
anymore, that's already gone. But, out of all of this the miracle is
that everything has been fine :) What I mean is that on every lesson
and on the street and just wherever we are I have been able to
understand people! And I can actually communicate and talk with them,
all by myself :) I always had relied on my Russian companion to do all
the small talk and basically just everything, but I didn't know I can
do it too! I have understood SOOOO much in these last few days, it's
crazy. I KNOW that God is helping me. I feel like He has put mini
interpreters in my ears. All of a sudden I can understand so much!
Don't get me wrong, there is still sooo much I don't understand, but I
understand everything that I need to. I feel so empowered! And I
LOVE the Russian langague!!
And most important, I love my mission. I love everything. I just love
my area, my companion, the warm weather (40 degrees :), my little
branch, each person on the street. I love it all. I feel so lucky and
so blessed. And I'm ready to work. I've been working my companion, we
get home each night SO tired. I feel like a missionary and I love it :)
Are all of you happy? I hope so! Please, live so that you are happy!
Live the commandments, read your scriptures, and follow your dreams. I
know how cheesy that all sounds, and so simple. But it's true. God
wants you to be happy :) And so do I! So do whatever it takes to be
happy. And do it NOW :)
Remember Mosiah 2:41 "Consider the blessed and happy state of those
who keep the commanments of God"
I love you all! Pray for me! Love, Sister Tenney

Cheers for change!

Family , friends, one and all,
OH MY GOSH MY HEAD IS SPINNING I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN!
Seriously one phone call saturday morning changed EVERYTHING. I'M
FINALLY GETTING TRANSFERED! I have been in the very same place my
whole time out here in russia, and I have LOVED every minute of it.
And seriosuly this last week we rocked it. I'm not gonna be bashful,
God blessed us this week and I had the best, most successful week on
my mission. I felt like I was on top of the world at one point. We had
a meeting with Vlad our 19 year old investigator (who is AMAZING) and
as we met with him he prayed, he's been praying, he's been reading the
Book of Mormon each day, and he said when he knows the Book of Mormon
is true he will be baptized. It was the best meeting I have EVER had
on my mission. And we had 2 other great meetings with other
investigators and another meeting tonight and tomorrow night.
Seriously EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. besides the fact that I'm LEAVING!
But you know what, I'm also SO STOKED to get out of here and start
over fresh. And listen to my new area. Its called Kaliningrad. look it
up alright? It's the only area in the St. Petersburg mission you have
to FLY to get to. Yupp I'll be on an airplane this week. Isn't that
sick? AND I'm training an american girl. Its her 2nd tranfer here.
Therefore, everything relies on my LITTLE knowledge of Russian. HA.
This is gonna be hilarious. I'm sure you all think I'm fluent by now,
but let me tell you...... ON THE CONTRARY! But I know God has
prepared me and somehow its' all gonna work out. Yesterday I bore my
testimony in sacrament and afterwards asked my companion if it was
understandable. She replied "hmmmmmm, well I understood! I THINK they
understood" haha. But everything is gonna be fine.
In life God throws these curve balls, but then we learn how to hit
them! And through time, we might even get a home run. That's what I'm
aiming for. Cheers for change!
I love you all! Love, Sister Tenney
ps- thankyou everyone for my package and thank you to Krista's seminary
class for the bday cards! Happy Bday to ME! :)

we TESTIFIED

Family and friends :)
Before I begin my story I want to notify you all that this email is
not meant to bash those of the Jehova's Witness' faith. It's just my
experience that I've had here. Understand? Thanks :)
So last week we were leaving the apartment of a member when we ran
into a friendly JW in the elevator. We talked religion for a bit and
then she gave us her number. We met with her this last friday night.
For those of you who are familiar with this "religion", they are quite
dilligent and passionate in what they believe. I think besides us
Mormons, they are the most passionate and faithful church to their
beliefs. They usually know the bible inside and out and man it can be
tough talking with them. We started our meeting with a prayer and
before we could start our lesson she began asking us soooo many
questions about our beliefs. She loved listening to our answer and
then telling us what she believed and then proving that her belief was
right becasue she had "biblical proof". She did this very kindly
actually which I appreciated, but still it wasn't exactly fun. But I
was actually very surpirsed with how I felt throughout the entire
meeting. You see before my mission I was always so nervous when people
asked me questions about my beliefs becasue I wanted to make sure to
give the right answers and also make sure they didnt think I was
weird, etc. But this time it was different. While this lady tried to
prove her points with us, we were able to calmy explain what we
believe, and most importantly, we TESTIFIED. We told her what we knew,
we tried our best to avoid "bible-bashing" and we simple declared what
we knew, and that we knew it becasue of the Bible AND the Book of
Mormon.
Have I told you how much I love the Book of Mormon???? ;) Seriously,
if you want to strengthen your testimony of ANYTHING in the gospel, or
if you have a question. The Book of Mormon will solve everything.
Think about it. If you truly KNOW the Book of Mormon is true, then you
already KNOW: 1- Jospeh Smith was a prophet 2- Joseph Smith restored
God's true church 3- Christ is our Savior and redeemer and our way
back to our Heavenly home. 4- That our church is establised on living
prophets and what they ask us to do is revelation and direction from
GOD 5- We have the priesthood power on earth that allow us to make the
covenants we must make to return to God. AND SO FORTH. I could go on
and on. By you knowing the Book of Mormon is true, you essentially
have a solid testimony of every single gospel principle.
So don't worry. All you need to do is read the Book of Mormon.
Everyday. And I promise you everything in life will work out. And The
JW's wont even scare you one bit ;)
I love you all! Thank you for your love and support. Keep me in your
prayers always :) LOVE Sister Tenney

THANK YOU!

FAMILY!
oh my gosh the wedding sounded like the best thing ever. THANK YOU to
everyone who emailed me and told me all about it. And "I am honored!"
(pink panther) to have had "Swing Swing" dedicated to me!! Even though
I wasn't there I feel like I was a part.
So I was super nervous this week I would just be sad all week, but I
wasn't! God blessed me with a deep sense of peace and assurasnce. As I
thought about Britt and everything I was missing I smiled and was
happy for her. It was a miracle! I was also blessed becasue I hardly
had time to think about anything besides Angela, my favorite
investigator. She's 19, writes music, and is planning to study writing
music in Vienna. She is amazing and inspiring and just listen to this.
Yesterday I texted her and told her to read Moroni 10. 5 minutes later
she texted me back. "I'm reading it right now and I believe it is
true!"
I couldn't help but cry. It may seem small but I know this is the
beginning of a new life for her. I have never been so happy.
SO this week right as I thought I was beggining to be able to speak
Russian, at our district meeting I went to say that we as
missionaries need to develop. "Develop" in Russian is razVEEvatsya,
but I made the mistake of saying razDEEvatsya. As I said this everyone
just started laughing and I tried to ignore it and finally just yelled
"WHAT DID I SAY!" haha instead of saying we need to develop I said we
need to undress. HAHAHAHAHA. The difference a tiny mistake can make.
Hilar.
Anyways I love you all! Jack good luck with your tooth ;)
have a great week everyone, love sister Tenney

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! i love you

Family and friends!
For all of my family and friends who will be at Britt's wedding this
week PLEASE do me a HUGE favor and EMAIL me. ALLLL ABOUT IT. I want
pics, and I want details, and i want similes :) haha.
So this mission stuff is SUCH a rollar coaster. We had SUCH an amazing
week. 4 new investigators! and more new ones will be coming :) I
seriously couldn't have been happier. But also this week we called our
best investigator and she told us she doesnt want to see us again and
doesn't want us to call her and then she hung up. I just forced it out
of my mind so i wouldn't be sad, but then the next day my favorite
investigator, an older man who is SOOOO kind (he owns a hospital here
in St. petes for kids who don't have money), when I called him he said
so kindly "Tenney, I love you and your goodness and your church but I
know its not for me". My heart broke and I just started crying right
there. (secretly.....well I hope he didn't know I was crying on the
phone haha). I dont know where I'm going with this email, I just want
you all to know that life is always up and down. It's never what you
expect it to be and its often not what you thought you wanted. But
there's always a reason for everything, and at the end of the day
somehow I always go to bed with a smile. Sometimes its annoying cuz I
had a bad day and I feel I have the right to be mopey and sad! but
somehow God always gives me a reason to smile as I go to bed. SO
unfair! ;)
And I hope you can go to bed with a smile each night too!
I love you all! and EVERYONE, don't forget to give me a report on the
wedding, and Britt and Jarman: I'm totes excited for you! Dont forget
to "party hardy and boogy oogy!"
love, sis Tenney