What a week!

We are finally getting adjusted to the new area and our new investigators. Sister Lifferth is doing great and is a fantastic missionary!

On Wednesday we had interviews with President. I love him so much and I'm so thankful to have him as our mission president! Interviews were really great and we talked about faith and hope and how the English language is not detailed enough for there to be a difference between the two. It was a great meeting!

We also volunteered at the food bank again! I love the foodbank!

Friday we had new missionary training at the mission office with all the new missionaries and trainers. It was good and helped both of us as trainer and trainee. And I saw Sister Wikstrom again :)

Saturday was our ward talent show! It was a lot of fun to get to go help set up and watch that. We did leave during the worldly skits and what not, but it was still fun to get to meet and get to know more of our ward.

Saturday was church and Sister Lifferth and I both spoke! That was a good experience. I enjoy speaking in Sacrament. And we had another Come See For Yourself Fireside down in Lynnwood. Some people from my last ward were there, so it was great to see all them again. And one of our investigators from there is getting baptized! I only actually met him once (a few days before transfers) but he came up to me and thanked me for all Sister Lawson and I did for him and he asked if I can come to his baptism, so hopefully I'll be able to go!

Arlington is great and we have such a wonderful ward. We have been so greatly blessed!

Love, Sister Tennant

 

 

Beautiful Arlington!

My eyes do this weird super excited crazy looking thing, but this is Sister Cram and I love her so much!

It's Sprintime!

Sis. Lifferth

Sis Wikstrom at the Fireside

 

I am in Arlington Washington, in the Arlington ward! It's just north of Marysville and my YSA ward covered this ward so it's been cool getting to meet some of my friends' parents and families from the family ward. If that makes sense?

So I went Everett, Marysville, and now Arlington. I keep moving north a city at a time so next stop should be Mount Vernon!

Weekly Update from     3/2 15

I completely forgot to type out a weekly update! 

So, Sunday after Sister Lawson left, I was with Sister Soloska until transfers on Tuesday.  We had fun together but most  Monday and Tuesday morning I was packing and deep cleaning the apartment.  And Monday at FHE, I said goodbye to the Armar Ward.  I think a piece of my heart will always be in Armar YSA.

Then transfers were on Tuesday!  We packed everything into the car and headed down to Mill Creek.  Since I’m training, I didn’t find out right away who my new companion would be, but I found out I’m in the Arlington Ward!  And it’s fun because I now live in the same apartment complex as Sister Solesko and her new companion!  (They’re in the Stillaguomish Ward).

Sister Wikstrom is training again, so we stuck together through transfers and met all the new missionaries.  Then when it was time to assign trainers and companions, all us trainers sat on the right side of the chapel and the new missionaries on the left, and one at a time President Bonham called our names and we met in the middle.  And I am with Sister Lifferth from Kaysville, Utah!  She was originally assigned to Brazil, so every day we get to study Portuguese. It’s a lot of fun!

Since we’re both brand new to the area, we’ve been meeting as many people as we can this week.  We have a nice group of investigators, and a couple of unbaptized children preparing to be baptized!  The ward is great, the Bishop is great, and it is so beautiful here!

I must’ve done something fantastic in the pre-mortal life to have been lucky enough to come to  Washington on my mission!

D& C 15:6 says, “And now , behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.”

I  am so thankful to be a missionary and to get to bring souls unto Christ.  I can’t wait for the big reunion in Heaven with all the people who have touched my life and made such a big impact on me.

Love, Sister Tennant

Our District

We had to get the perfect picture with Ryland

Stuart and Blake

Packing up the whole apartment. And our megabed.

Smores! Thank you Heiners!

Both of our last Sundays with the ward. A large portion of the ward stopped between 2nd and 3rd hour to take a picture with us!

Right before our sad and tearful goodbye :(

Our friends Deep and Jasmin

Jesse

New companion Sister Lifferth!

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!