Oct.20, 2014

 

 

What a week!

 

So Monday we officially got the transfer text and Sister Wikstrom's name was on it, so we knew for sure she'd be leaving on Tuesday. We spent most of the P Day packing and cleaning the apartment for the new sister to come in.

A family in the ward wanted to have us over for dinner, but since we already had one scheduled, they took us out to lunch! We went to this restaurant right on the water and it had a BEAUTIFUL view of the Puget Sound. And for dinner we got to eat with another one of our favorite families so it was a good 'last meal' as a companionship.

Then Tuesday. Dreaded Transfer Tuesday. After we had all her stuff packed into the car, we stood in the living room of our apartment and just hugged for a long time. And then we headed to the mission office. When you get there, the zone leaders hand you a slip of paper with your name, your companion's name, and where you're serving on it. Sister Wikstrom is now in Ferndale! She wanted to go back north, so I'm happy for her. And I'm still in downtown Everett with Sister Davis! After another hug with Sis Wikstrom, she was off, and we headed back to Everett.

It's been hard trying to adjust to someone new because all I knew of a mission was Sister Wikstrom. But Sister Davis is great and we're having fun together! She is from Mesa, Arizona and has only been out for 1 more transfer than I have (She came 6 weeks before I did). It's also been stressful because even though I'm still the junior companion, I'm leading the area because I know everyone and where everything is. It's okay though.

I can't believe it's already been 3 months! Time is flying!

Hope everyone is doing well! I miss you all!

Love, Sister Tennant

Everett Update October 13, 2014

 

 

 

 

It was another good week!

 

Last Monday, we went and toured the Boeing factory with the YSA Sisters. A lady in our ward works there and she got us tickets. It was so cool! Still blows my mind that it's so big.

Monday night we exchanged. We do exchanges every transfer and I was not nearly as nervous about this one as I was the first time. The YSA Sisters are our Sister Training Leaders so we exchanged with them. I went with Sis Smith and Sis Wikstrom stayed with Sis Slade. So I was in the YSA ward for all of Tuesday. We went college contacting at the Everett Community College, and it was terrifying just walking up to people as they were going to class, but after a little bit it got better. We also had a couple of lessons and it was really cool teaching people my age. Again, kinda scary at first, but it all turned out okay.

Thursday nights before transfers, the Zone Leaders call letting those with leadership positions know who's doing what. I was hoping and praying we wouldn't get a call because we really wanted to stay together, but the call came. Sister Wikstrom is going to be a Sister Training Leader! It was a sad night because at that point, we knew for sure we were being split up.

So then Friday morning, we had to go to leadership training. I sat out in the hall with all the other companions and everyone who had a leadership calling went and got a couple hours of training and instruction. Sis Wikstrom has never been an STL so she's nervous about it but is feeling better now that she's done the training. I know she's going to do amazing and the sisters she's over are going to love her!

Saturday morning, Malachi was baptized! He's 8 so he doesn't really count as an investigator, but we were still teaching him because he lives with his grandparents and his grandpa isn't a member and his grandma is starting to come back to church, so he hasn't been raised in the church at all. He's a sweet little boy and even made each of us rainbow loom bracelets to wear.

Later that day, we got 2 new investigators. Mike and Theresa. Mike is Theresa's son and they had started learning with other elders but then they moved into our ward! They're pretty solid so we're excited about them!

After church on Sunday and all day today have really just been going to say goodbye to people Sis Wikstrom wants. It's hard moving away. Tomorrow will be tough but I know I will love my new companion as well!

Love, Sister Tennant

We went to the Everett Arboretum last Monday

 

 We were teaching, and this lady's grand kids kept bringing me all of their toys one at a time and piling them on me.

 

Countdown to Conference!

  

 

Malachi's baptism!

 

 

 

 

I Made a Balloon Animal!!

Boeing Tour!

Fogtober is Here!

It's Already October!

 

 

 

 Nerf Gun Battle, 

 General Conference Weekend!

 Building Confidence

 

 

It's been a great week! We've just been working hard, doing the missionary thing.

Can you believe it's October already?! I started my mission in July and now it's October! It's crazy how fast time flies. Already almost 3 months in!

On Thursday, we ate dinner with a family in the ward, and when we called earlier to confirm, the lady said we'd eat and that we needed to prepare for a Nerf battle. So we got there and had pizza (which was fantastic. We'd been craving it all day), and then we went downstairs and they had a line of Nerf guns all lined up in a row. Then we had a battle for like 45 minutes just shooting each other. It was so much fun! I have a new found respect and appreciation for Nerf guns! They even gave us 2 little guns to take home for ourselves. We've had some fun with them the last couple days :)

Saturday and Sunday were amazing! We woke up Saturday morning and were like "It's conference!" General Conference is like Christmas for missionaries. #LDSConf

We went to the stake center and got to watch it with all the other missionaries in our area. I love it when people mention "the missionaries". I am one of the 88 thousand missionaries! How cool is that! I love being a missionary and getting to help spread this incredible gospel.

Today (Monday) we went with the YSA sisters and toured Boeing. It was so cool! That building is HUGE. All of Disneyland in California can fit inside the building and still have 12 extra acres. It's crazy how massive the thing is. It was really cool getting to see the planes too. And see them all being put together. Cameras weren't allowed on the tour, so we didn't get any pictures, but we got one out in the lobby!

Transfers are coming up and there's a good chance Sis Wikstrom will be transferred away, (even though we certainly hope we have one more transfer together!) so I have been working on taking the lead and pretending to be the senior companion just in case. It's going well and I'm getting more confident talking to people and being a missionary, so I know that if (and when) we get separated, everything will be okay and it'll all work out. It's a good life being a missionary.

We are continuing to work hard and have fun together! I love hearing from everyone so continue to write letters and email!

Love, Sister Tennant

 It's been a great week!

On Tuesday we got to go to Seattle!! I had a doctors appointment so that's not super fun, but leaving the mission, let alone the area is always a fun adventure! We ate lunch out there too just to make it more of a party :) Sister Wikstrom doesn't like driving on the freeway, so I got permission to drive us to Seattle and back. I've missed driving, so it was fun. We were disappointed that we went all the way to Seattle and didn't even get to see the Space Needle. Maybe next time...

Also on Tuesday, one of the YSA sisters who was living with us got attacked by a dog. They went to the emergency clinic and she got stitches in her leg. She's doing well though. We got to help nurse her back to health the last couple days

We have 2 new investigators! Calora and Heather. Calora is Marshallese (there are seriously so many Marshallese people here. It's where everyone from the Marshall Islands decided to congregate) and we were going to meet a new lady in our ward and we were leaving the apartment complex. I have to back Sis Wikstrom up whenever we're in reverse. It's super embarrassing for both of us because I have to get out and stand at the back of the car, and she looks like she doesn't know how to drive. But the rules are the rules so we do it! So Sis Wik was in the car and I was standing behind her and Calora walked up to me and asked if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. I said no we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she said she wanted us to come teach her! It was really cool. She's sweet and we have another lesson scheduled with her.

The Jefferson's met Heather. She works at McDonald's and they used to always go get ice cream cones there and they built up a friendship with Heather. Her daughter's dad is inactive but all of his family is still super involved in the Church. Things didn't work out between him and Heather, but she still wants to know more and provide a good life for her daughter. She's really nice too and we're excited to keep meeting with both of them!

Saturday afternoon the YSA sisters moved out of our apartment. They moved into the Jefferson's old apartment now that they're gone. It's weird not having them there anymore, but it's nice having the place to ourselves again. And the bathroom situation is much better too. 4 girls to 1 bathroom makes the mornings no bueno.

Saturday was the Women's Broadcast! We got to watch it at the Stake Center with all the other missionaries and women in the stake. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk! So good! We meet with a lady in our ward every week and she hasn't been to church in a long time, but we invited her, and she came! Oh it was so cool seeing her there. And it gets even better. She came to church on Sunday too! Hallelujah!! And during the sacrament, she leaned over to me and said "I've missed the Sacrament. It's good to be back." Hopefully she'll be there next week too!

So for the last 2 weeks or so, we've been sharing the same message with all the less active/inactive people in our ward. This is actually one of my favorite verses in all the scriptures. It's John 11:35 and all it says is "Jesus wept." This is the story of Lazarus, one of Jesus' friends, and Lazarus dies. His sisters, Mary and Martha are upset and call Jesus to them. Jesus comes and of course goes on to raise Lazarus from the dead, but Mary and Martha don't know that. At the time, they are sad, upset, and hurting because they just lost their brother. When Jesus gets to them, he doesn't tell them everything is going to be okay, even though he knows the grand picture. For them, at the time, it's not okay. They are crying and He cries with them, so, "Jesus wept." He sets this example for us because when we are baptized, we covenant to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." We covenant to have compassion for one another and help each other in tough times, because even though we all know it will all work out in the end, sometimes, things are just not okay. I also love it because when we are going through hard times ourselves, we know that Jesus is always there for us. He has been there and He will help us through anything and everything. We can always turn to Him and Heavenly Father. They are always there to help and comfort us. Always.

I am so thankful to be a missionary. I'm thankful to know these things and know that this is Heavenly Father's true church and I get to help bring people to the knowledge of it. It's a good life being a missionary!

Love, Sister Tennant

 

The banner we made for the Jeffersons' surprise going away party. What a good looking banner

A member in our ward's hedgehog!

While the YSA sisters were with us, one day, we came home and our beds were put up on the ledge! We slept up there for a night but then brought them back down haha

 

We also made homemade tomato sauce with about a zillion tomatoes a lady gave us from her garden. The project took up our entire kitchen

 

We made porcupine meatballs with rice and they turned out delightful! We're becoming real homemakers

Week 9 Update from Everett

 Bouncy Pancakes, Best Day Yet.....

That night was Ward Movie Night, and we were watching the Testaments, so we were allowed to go! (We can only watch movies produced by the Church) So we show up, and it's all just us missionaries. Us, the Jefferson’s, and the elders were the only ones to show up. No one else came. So instead we played games and participated in their family home evening. We played catch phrase and then shared a scripture. It was actually really fun.

Tuesday we had interviews! Our zone met at the stake center and President Bonham came and talked to us for about an hour, and then one by one, we all went out and met with him. It was only a couple minutes long and we didn't really talk about a whole lot, but it was nice getting to know him a little better. He's a fantastic mission president, and I'm thankful for all of his and Sister Bonham's hard work.

One night, we didn't have anyone feeding us, so we decided to make something ourselves, and we went for German Pancakes. The kind you bake. When we pulled it out of the oven, it looked like a foam mattress pad. Not appetizing at all. But we ate part of it, and then since it had a funny texture, I dropped a square of it on the floor, and it bounced. IT BOUNCED. We are not meant to be cooks. Our poor future children. Good mission memories though!

Our Sister Training Leaders gave a lesson about ourselves being converted and how we have this power and authority that comes with our calling. Our mission scripture is 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." They had a couple people, myself included, stand up and recite it, then we all stood and said it. It was really powerful. And I was thinking about my ministerial license. It says " This certifies that the bearer, Sister Shelby Noelle Tennant, who is in full faith and fellowship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been duly called and set apart as a missionary of the Church and as such has authority to preach the principles of the gospel. We invite all people to heed her message." I know this gospel is true and I love how I have been set apart and everyone is invited to hear the message that I and all other missionaries are working so hard to share!

Saturday was such a good day. Probably the best day of my mission so far! We were smiling all day long! We met a new investigator in the morning and then were busy with appointments for the rest of the day. It's days like that that make the whole mission so worth it. We even stopped in and met one of our investigators, Otila at her work. We were supposed to have a lesson with her on Tuesday, but because of interviews going so late, we didn't make it, so we wanted to go see her. She is so cute and us stopping in really made her feel happy and special. We love Otila!

It's been a solid week and the weeks continue to fly by!

Sister Tennant

These girls in our ward heart attacked our door last Saturday night so we woke up to it Sunday morning. It was so perfect especially since Saturday was so tough

Week 8 Update

 

 Time Flies, Day of Service and Amy's Baptism

On Monday a lady in the ward gave us massages! It was glorious :)

We also had to say goodbye to Patricia. She's moving to Arlington so we won't be able to see her again unless she comes back into our area. She’s  practically already a member. She just needs to get baptized! I'm sure it'll happen one day!

On Wednesday we had zone meeting! I have officially made it through one transfer and I'm not the newest anymore! It's a great feeling. It's crazy how fast time flies! It seems like last week that I was the newb and didn't have any clue what was happening and now I'm a whole transfer in. We got new elders in our ward to split the area and we were afraid they would take our car and give it to them and we would be on bikes but they didn't HALLELUJAH. We both have cars.

On Saturday, our ward participated in the National Day of Service! We helped pull weeds in the flower beds of the elementary school next door to our church building. It was a lot of fun to help the school. We also got to wear pants which was heavenly!

We also have this girl named Amy who we're working with. She's 12 and super cute. She started the lessons with Sis Wikstrom and the sister before me. It's hard because her mom is supportive but doesn't want it herself so it's hard for Amy to have that spiritual independence when she's so young and no one else at home cares about religion. Her baptism was quite the ordeal because her mom and sister wanted to come, but they showed up an hour and a half late, after Amy had already been baptized. We waited for 45 minutes, but since they're not super reliable people, we couldn’t be sure they were coming or not. So when they did get there, she was not happy. It was just a super stressful situation. But Amy was still so happy and glowing!! Then she had the biggest smile on Sunday when she was confirmed. Amy is so sweet and we're so happy for her!          The young women love her too so she'll be well taken care of :)

We got the new sisters all moved in with us and the elders started working in their area, so it's been a good week!

Hope all is going well at home!

Love, Sister Tennant

 

Saying Goodbye to Patricia

Amy's Baptism Day

Making Room for New Sisters

Week 7 Update from Everett - Making Room for more Sisters

Week 7 Update 

It's the last week of the transfer so everyone's wondering who all is going to be transferred! We just found out Sis Wik and I will stay here together thank goodness. I know the time will come when we're split up, but for now, we're happy just where we are. 

The other day, we also got a text saying that we'd be 4 packing with two other sisters in our apartment! So now we're scrambling to get our apartment clean and ready to have 2 more sisters move in with us, and decide exactly how we want to divide the area. It's been stressful trying to get everything organized and ready!

On Wednesday we went to the dentist so Sis Wik could get a few cavities filled. It was award when I followed her back to the room and I had to explain that we are missionaries and companions and we have to stay together. Haha oh well.

We have a new investigator named Will, and he's another one like John. He LOVES learning and reading and really has a testimony of the gospel. We are super excited about him. 

On Friday was weekly planning, so for lunch, we decided to go out and we went to this restaurant called the Sisters! How perfect. Obviously we had to go. It was good too. 

On Saturday, we went and helped this couple in the ward paint their house. Out here, the houses aren't brick, so you can just pick whatever color you want your house to be! And we got to wear not-church clothes which was fun :) Regular clothes for about an hour

Last night for dinner, we went to the Jefferson's house. They're the senior couple serving in the ward with us. They're so sweet and are leaving September 26th to go home. So we talked for a while, and Sis Jefferson gave both of us jewelry. She works for Cookie Lee and wanted to give us going away gifts. It was really sweet of her. We're going to miss them a lot. 

Since we found out the sisters were coming to live with us, and we have an extra bedroom, we decided we wanted to have a slumber party before they came! So we moved our mattresses into the room, set up our portable dvd  player, and had a movie night!  With cereal too of course.  We can only watch things produced by the Church, so it has to have the Church logo on it, so we watched the District haha. Nothing too exciting. Neither of us slept very good, but it was still fun!

Nothing super exciting has gone on this week. Just same old same old. It's good though. It's always good being a missionary!

Love, 

Sister Tennant

Beautiful Sunset