A Post from Early September

 

 

 

Just found this in my drafts. I guess it didn't send a few weeks ago!

Missions are such a roller coaster! We had 5 of our investigators drop us out of the blue this week, so we're pretty much back to square one with finding. It's fine though because we are ready to try some new ideas and really be led by Heavenly Father to those who are prepared to receive the gospel.

We have been working with a cute unbaptized child named Michelle, and on Saturday, she was baptized! The program went so well and the spirit was so strong. Her way less active dad said the opening prayer, and it was beautiful. And we did this demonstration that got the whole ward involved to show the family how much we love them and how we all are there to help them make it to the temple and be sealed. And Sunday in sacrament, all the men in the ward went up and sang "Ye Elders of Israel" and Michelle's dad sang too! We almost cried we were so happy! Great things are in store for this family!

I had my first being chased by a dog experience. It was my fault though because it had tiny puppies and we got out of the car to see them. Don't try to walk up to new puppies when the mom is close by.

Thursday we had dinner with one of the recent converts in the ward, who runs the zoo/animal preserve we volunteer at and he barbecued and made a bonfire! The elders in our district came too and it was a lot of fun! We even made smores under the stars :)

While we were there, the zone leaders got leadership calls from the assistants so they could tell us right away instead of waiting till later. And I'm training again! So Friday we had trainers training, and one of President Bonham's companions from when he was serving was there! President talks about this companion a lot since they are still best friends, so it was cool to meet him in person. The meeting lasted literally all day between all the traveling there and back and whatnot, but it was so good. But with that, we knew Sister Bird and I were being split up. We were hoping for 2 transfers together, but the Lord has other plans! And this morning we got the text and it is official so Sister Bird will be leaving tomorrow. :(

Last night we had a meeting with all the missionaries in the zone and our ward mission leaders. It was really good and one of President Bonham's councilors was there, and he was quoting someone and said that the Hastening of the Work is the most significant event to happen in the world since the First Vision. How cool is that that we all, full time missionaries and member missionaries get to be a part of that!

Love, Sister Tennant

 

 

 

 

Got to go back for Marie's Baptism 9/5

And Heather's Baptism on 9/12

 

What a week!

 

Monday we went blackberry picking with a member in the ward. No wonder blackberries are so expensive- it's miserable picking them if you get caught by the thorns! I have a couple battle scars on my hands, but the homemade jam was well worth it!

 

Wednesday we had interviews with the mission president! Interview transfers are my favorite cuz I love getting to talk to him one on one. President Bonham reminds me a whole lot of my dad with their mannerisms and humor, so it's cool having a dad away from home.

 

And Saturday, everything went into utter chaos. We had a big windstorm that started Friday night (which really didn't help the wildfires), and Saturday morning all the power from down past Seattle up through Canada went out. Everything was way dark and windy and eerie. There were talks that it would be out for a couple days so we were nervous it would still be out on Sunday and we wouldn't be able to have church. Sunday morning, our bishop actually did cancel church, but then it came back!! That is my 2 lights miracle and is just another testimony to me that Heavenly Father wants his people in church, so things will work out. And we had 4 investigators and a less active man there that day, so it was such a blessing church was able to happen.

 

As the end of my mission draws nearer and nearer, people like to remind me that I am one of the "old ones" now, and that I am the next one in my ward to come home. It's true, my days are numbered, but I am so very thankful for the opportunity I have had to serve my Heavenly Father. This truly is the best thing I have ever done and I am so grateful to be in the Washington Everett Mission. I know as I continue to focus on the things around me and serve with all my "heart, might, mind, and strength", miracles will continue to happen. I love this gospel, I love being a missionary, I love my family, and I love my Savior.

 

Sister Tennant

I touched a deer. We got really close one day, and a few days later, there was one in the middle of the street, so we stopped and rolled the window down, and it walked right up to my hand! Then it walked around to the other side of the car to Sis Bird.

 

Last night was the Come See For Yourself Fireside and it was in Everett so I was afraid we wouldn't get to go since it's so far away, but we did! And Will from Port Gardner spoke! I taught him back in September-November and he was finally able to be baptized in May. I talked to him for a long time after and he is doing so great. He and his family are well on their way to becoming an eternal family, and I can't wait to be there when they are sealed!

 

Sister Bird is 13 weeks in, and I'm 13 months in, so obviously we had to take a picture

 

And Washington is in a state of emergency with all the wildfires. The other day, we could hardly breathe and our eyes were irritated because there was so much smoke in the air. Please pray for rain in Washington!

 

I hope everyone has a great week!

Sister Tennant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 Weeks--13 Months!

Our first picture together like a week and a half late

A member just has this train in their front yard. no big deal

Deer Everywhere!

 That little canal is all that separates us from the mainland

Favorite Signs

 

I'm an Islander now!

I am on Fidaglo Island, the city of Anacortes, and the Mount Erie ward with Sister Bird! She is great and we are loving it here!

Tuesday was crazy teaching a couple lessons in the morning, then packing up and heading south to transfers. I'd met Sister Bird once before, and she'd actually taught one of my investigators in Arlington while she was gone (in Sis Bird's last ward) for a few weeks. So we are excited to be here and excited to be together! She's only been out for 3 months but she's an amazing missionary and I'm learning a lot from her already. She got to the area 3 weeks ago cuz of an emergency transfer a handful of sisters got moved around in. So we are both practically new here and figuring it out together.

Thursday we went to this zoo thing. So it's more like an animal preserve place and it was cool we got to help clean it up. Two of our recent converts own/run it so we go every week to help out.

This ward loves missionary work and it's great! Good things are happening in the Washington Everett Mission!

Sister Tennant

I'm being transferred again! Just 6 weeks in Mt Vernon. There's a huge group of missionaries coming in tomorrow (last we heard it was 30) so everyone is being shuffled around and 1 in 5 missionaries is training (I'm not this transfer), so it'll be interesting to see where everyone ends up.

 

It has been a good week. We taught Marie, the lady who showed up at church last week, and she loves the gospel so much. The last 17 years of her life have seriously been preparing her for the gospel, and she totally recognizes it too. We told her we're both being transferred, and she said, "Thank you so much for introducing me to the beautiful ways of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and teaching me about the restored gospel." I am so excited for her and hope to hear she is getting baptized soon!

 

We have another investigator who is on date and wants so badly to be sealed as an eternal family so we are excited for them too. We're slightly worried though because she seems too converted to us instead of the gospel. Hopefully it's just that she's sad we're leaving and will love the next missionaries just as much. We are pretty sure we've found our Jackie and our Robles family.

 

It is a good life being a missionary, my friends. The very best!

 

Love, Sister Tennant

It was a good week! Last Monday, we went to Deception Pass, where the top of Whidbey Island and the mainland meet, and it is so beautiful!! There's a bridge connecting them that we walked around and looked at the view! It was a good day!!

 

We had a great day yesterday too. In Relief Society, the sister talked about an article in the LDS Living magazine about the Hill Cumorah Pageant. and the man who plays Jesus. He explained how while the costume designers put on his wig and beard, sometimes they cry because they are looking at him, but they are really looking at Christ. And during the play, other cast members cry because they each get a moment with their savior. How powerful and special that must be.

 

Then we had a baptism for Jasmin! She's 8 and super cute. The Bishop had her come stand up front with him for a minute and whispered in her ear, "Watch this. This is magical." and he said, "Raise your hand if you love Jasmin." Everyone's hand went up. It really was magical. So powerful. I seriously and deeply love so many people, so I can only imagine what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ think of me and of all of us!

 

I have such a testimony of the Savior and his love for each one of us. The atonement is real.

 

Love, Sister Tennant

 

 

 

 

 

 

P-Day at Deception pass