What a week it has been.

First off, I found out I'M TRAINING, second, I found out I'm WHITEWASH TRAINING.

Monday was Sister Lawson's last P day so we played volleyball at the stake center with some other missionaries and members of our ward. Then for FHE we had a talent show and a less active man (not YSA but we're still working with him a little) came and performed on the piano. He's pretty fantastic so it was cool to have him there.

Tuesday we had dinner with the two of our favorite families in the whole wide world and we took a big family picture with them! We love the Duces and the Danhofs and they have each made such an impact in my life.

Thursday, all the missionaries going home had a big conference. Usually they just have individual interviews with President, but since there's 32 of them (which is a huge massive group) they all met together. So I was on exchanges in Stillaguamish, and we exchanged back after the conference. So that was an emotional day.

We also got to help some sisters who were struggling, and we took them on a drive and just sat and talked with them overlooking Lake Stevens. So. Beautiful. And they are doing much better now!

Friday we worked at the Marysville Food Bank and a miracle happened! My recent convert, Amy, in Everett, moved out to Marysville the week after she was baptized and we lost contact with her since she didn't have a reliable phone and we couldn't get her address. I've been worried about and praying for her since she left, trying to find a way to track her down. Then low and behold, her mom walked into the foodbank! I talked to her and found out where Amy is. We were able to go find her Saturday and I gave her a huge hug! I am so thankful we found Amy!

So Thursday nights before transfers, we get "Leadership calls" where you find out if you're going to be a Sister Training Leader/ Trainer, etc. I've had this feeling for the past 3 months that as soon as Sister Lawson and I were done being companions, I was going to train. I was so nervous about it. But 10:30 pm came and went and I thought I was safe. But at 11:30 when we were both asleep, we got the call and I am going to be a trainer.

Friday afternoon we went to the mission office for trainer's training, and guess who else was there? Sister Wikstrom! She's training again for her last 12 weeks! We sat next to each other and Sister Lawson was there too so it was cool having them both there together. I love these sisters so much!!

Saturday we spent most of the day packing both of us up since they're closing our area. Since there are so few missionaries after this huge transfer is leaving, so they have to close some areas and spread us all out, so we have to have our apartment spotless.

Sunday was the saddest of days. I found out in ward council that I was giving a talk in sacrament since it was my last Sunday too. Sister Lawson was giving her farewell talk so then they asked me to speak too. After church, we had to say goodbye in the parking lot and we both cried a lot. She will do amazing things and I am so proud of her! She accidentally took the house key, so Sister Solosko and I had to drive down to the mission office to pick it up and I got to see Sister Lawson again for a few minutes! 

That made me happy :)

Now on to finishing packing and preparing for a new area and companion tomorrow!

Love, Sister Tennant

 

 

 

We had Zone Meeting this week! We went to Arlington Zone, the zone some of our other sisters are in and we got to instruct on Family History! I am so excited for family history and I want everyone to do it!

Thursday was lame though. We've been having car problems so we took it into the dealership and it was only supposed to take an hour/hour and a half but we were there for 4 and half hours instead. Almost read the whole quad. Just kidding but it felt like it. Finally some lady there offered to drop us off somewhere, so we had her take us to our dinner appointment. On the way, we got to teach her the Law of Chastity because she doesn't know what to do about her son, so that was cool. 

Friday since we didn't have our car, we were walking around all day. We walked to the Food Bank and got to serve there! I love going to the food bank- it just makes the day so much better!

That night we had dinner with a member, and the poor guy doesn't cook a lot. He pulled out his frozen chicken we were going to cook with him, and it was 2 years expired. It was so rotten and nasty! So Sister Lawson and I ran to the store and bought some new chicken. The dinner was still super awkward, but it makes for good memories!

Saturday, Jacob got baptized! We've been working with him for a little bit now and he got baptized! He's a re-baptism, when he was 18, his dad made him remove his name. He went way off the path, and now he's come full circle. His testimony is so strong so it is amazing to hear him say it! 

And Sunday was fantastic! It was such a good day at church, and one of our friends from the foodbank came to hear sister Lawson and I teach gospel principles. 

Then we went to the mission fireside, and it was so amazing. The spirit was so incredibly strong, and Sister Wikstrom and Sister Davis were both there! I loved seeing both of them!

Aw man. Good week. Good week.

Love, Sister Tennant

Monday was great! We had dinner with the one of the members of the Arlington stake presidency who is also our Institute teacher. I live in Marysville and he's on Camano Island which is about an hour away, so he and his daughter came and picked us up. They live way out in the middle of nowhere in the woods it was so beautiful! 

And for FHE, since everyone was so upset about the Seahawks losing, so we just played volleyball the whole time. Sis Lawson played and I just watched. Jacob, our investigator seemed to enjoy it, and he's making more friends in the ward!

Tuesday I had a slight operation on both my feet so we had to go down to Seattle. We left Marysville at 2 and didn't get back until 6:30 so it took up quite a bit of our day. I am doing great though! After we got back to Marysville, Sis Lawson bought me ice cream, then carried me to and from the car and church building for Institute. I just had my big socks on and sat for as much as I could. Thankfully my feet were still numb so it didn't hurt too bad. 

Wednesday though, it had worn off and I was really sore. I got a blessing from my district leader and the other elders in our district, and went back to work! I'm so grateful for the priesthood. Even though it didn't take the pain away, I wasn't upset about it anymore and I was promised I would heal quickly. 

That night we had dinner with another one of our favorite families and that made everything better :)

Thursday was MLC! I love getting to meet with all the other Sister Training Leaders, Zone Leaders, Assistants, and President and Sister Bonham! It was Sis Lawson's last MLC though so that was kinda sad. Lots of tears saying goodbye to some of her favorite people. 

I found a quote a while ago that has made a big impact on me. It says ""Holy Places' may have more to do with how one lives than where one lives. If we live worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, then we stand in a Holy Place." I know that as we are worthy of the Holy Ghost, we will be able to always stand in holy places and we can create a holy place wherever we are.

Love, Sister Tennant

 

 

Super Fans!

President Flake (in the Arlington Stake Presidency) and Sister Flake

Sister Lawson carrying me after the procedure

 

Sister Solosko (from Flower Mound) and Sister Lyman

Sister Wawro from Denton!

Mu Su Bee- Spam, rice, seaweed. Sis Lawson made it and it's actually really good! I'm kinda scaring myself with all these new foods I actually enjoy...

Gas is $1.99!

This is what happens when you serve in Washington

 

Super Bowl and Spiritual Experiences:

 

 

It's been a great week! Last Monday it was so sunny and beautiful! It was up the 60s so we put on short and t shirts and hand washed the car. It was so fun!

We went on 2 exchanges this week which was exhausting, but we love our sister so much. I've decided that exchanges really just make you appreciate your companion, even though we love the other sisters. I am so thankful for Sister Lawson and that President Bonham was inspired to put us together :)

Sunday was the Superbowl. Everyone here are superfanatics so I am so glad football season is finally over. Now everyone will come to church on Sundays! We had to come in early to avoid all the drunks. Sad the Seahawks lost though

So I want to hear about everyone's spiritual experiences, and how you see the hand of God throughout their lives! I love hearing about these experiences and I ask that everyone will send them directly to me at Shelby.tennant@myldsmail.net. I have prayed for more myself, and it's incredible what happens when we recognize the miracles in our lives.

Love,

Sister Tennant

Catching Chickens, Praying for Lights

 

 

 January 26, 2015

 

 

Sorry I didn't get to write a weekly update last week, so here is a brief overview of the last two weeks!

We got to help a family catch all their chickens that had escaped. Turns out that' one of my hidden talents

We volunteered at the Marysville Food Bank again and got to help a lot of people

We had a ward activity at Alfy's pizza in Everett, MY OLD AREA. It was really cool being back in my "home" seeing all my old places, but there was almost a sense of closure because it didn't feel like my area anymore. It was neat to feel that Marysville/Armar ward is now where I need to be

Sunday, we got to church and no one was in the parking lot and all the power was out. We still had our meetings with the ward mission leader and Bishop, with lights from the windows, but the bishop decided that if the lights didn't come back on, we would just have Sacrament meeting. So we were all praying really hard, and went forward with everything. We started Sacrament, and as we all took our breath to start the opening song, the lights flickered on! I knew they were going to come back on, so it was a great testimony to me that the power of prayer is so real.

Last Monday, we went to one of our investigators' house and did origami with his little brother. It was so fun! I love all the friendships we get to build out here :)

Wednesday was Zone Conference!

Saturday we were on exchanges and I got to go to the Stillaguamish ward in Arlington

Keep reading your scriptures, saying your prayers, and going to Church!

Sister Tennant

 

We helped a family catch their chickens. First time in my life touching a chicken

Bowling for P Day!

Right before transfers, saying goodbye to the Armar team!

 

Thai Food Again!

I like Thai food and crabs.

On Monday we played football with the Zone! I'm terrible at football, so really I just ran back and forth, but it was still fun! It had been raining all day Sunday and sprinkling Monday morning, so it was slippery and wet, which made it even more fun!

Wednesday we had interviews with President, so it's like Zone Conference, but we each had a 7 minutes interview also. We got to instruct again, and this time, it went much better than at Zone Meeting. We instructed on increasing member enthusiasm and finding families. The Spirit was strong and I'm glad we got to do it!

Then we had an amazing Institute class about where we will all be in 5 years and standing before God with confidence. We read Jorg's talk from Conference and it was a really powerful lesson overall.

Friday we went to the Marysville Food Bank and got to help set up, then take people through the lines! It was so fun getting to walk through it all with someone and get to know them and their story. We went with our district and some of the Spanish missionaries, and two guys from our ward came too. I hope we get to go back and volunteer again sometime!

Some of our sisters have been struggling a lot so after the Food Bank, we went up to Arlington where they are and spent the afternoon and evening with them to give them a break from each other and try to talk out the issues. The night ended with us going to Burger King for Oreo shakes :)

Then Sunday we exchanged with them after church until this morning, so it was just a mini-exchange.

And we just got the transfer text and both of us are staying here! This is Sister Lawson's last transfer so I will be the one to send her home. It'll definitely be bitter sweet but I'm glad I get to be the one to send her off. I love her so much and I'm so thankful we get to be companions for another transfer!

Love, Sister Tennant

Can't remember if I already sent that one or not, but we went caroling before Christmas and got soaked!

Saying goodbye to Sis Covington before she went home

Awkward missionary goodbye to Taylor. He's in our ward and he just moved to Utah. We helped him become reactivated!

Last Monday for P day, we played football with our zone. I cannot catch a football to save my life

 

After football. Them Seahawks tho

New Year 2015

It's 2015!!

Wednesday night we had to be in by 5:00 to avoid all the drunk drivers, so we came home and did our weekly planning. 

It was a good night and we brought in the new year by going to sleep early! This was the first year in a very long time that I didn't stay up till midnight. But I slept great and now it's the new year!

Thursday we had Mission Leader Council with all the other Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders and it was good to discuss the mission. I am thankful to have this opportunity to be a leader and work with the other mission leaders :)

We had two exchanges again this week which was kind of exhausting, but they both went well! Saturday when we were on exchange, all four of us were praying hard for us to find new investigators for each area. And the sisters found two new investigators for Armar and we found one for the Skagit ward! It was really cool to see that miracle happen. Prayer is real! 

It was also my first time being the more experienced sister for a day. I was so nervous because they sister I was with is still in training. But the day went really well and I think it made her feel better knowing that she can lead an area, and me feel better that I can help even when I don't feel very experienced myself. 

I love being a missionary!

Love, Sister Tennant