Hello everyone!
Sister Snow and I had a pretty good week in Richmond Hill, Queens.
First of all, my voice is back and the cough is gone. Hallelujah! You never really appreciate being healthy until you're sick.
On July 2nd we had a mission-wide conference to welcome our new mission president and his wife President and Sister Reynolds. They are both shorter than me. But, I love em'. They're from Salt Lake City, Utah and have three children. President Reynolds is in the construction business and has done A LOT of major projects in Utah. Including: the Provo tabernacle reconstruction into the second Provo temple, the U's football stadium, temples, even city creek mall. So we saw a bunch of pictures of that. He loves it, I don't plan on going into the construction industry though.
The conference was a lot more casual than other meetings I've been to while on my mission. President Reynolds left time for missionaries to ask them questions. None of the questions were very good but I did like something President Reynolds said. A missionary asked what he expected of us and his response was, "What do I expect of you? Your contract is with the Lord." Amen. I'm grateful to have my mission president's trust. I am most concerned about gaining God's trust.
On the third of July Sister Snow and I exchanged with our Sister Training Leaders. Sister Placheta who came out with me, and goes home with me, came to Richmond Hill for the day. It was a good exchange. She says really really really long, thorough prayers. Which is good. I've been working hard on improving my prayers and something I've learned is it is not how much you say, it's more about just how and why you say it. It's really important to follow the spirit's direction as you pray. As I've learned to do that, I've been truly able to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for prayer. I'm grateful that God allows us to, at any time, anywhere, communicate with him openly and freely.
I am also grateful to be in a country where we are free to pray, believe, and worship how we choose! #godblessamerica Happy Fourth of July!
Our Fourth of July was great. Sister Snow and I were reunited and went out tracting/finding people pretty much all day long. We ate dinner at the spanish sister's house. They made hamburgers and watermelon. We brought salad and corn on the cob. The only thing that I actually liked was the corn. Haha I miss my mom's food!
When we got home we looked out our deck and could see so many fireworks. We went up to the roof of our apartment building and could see all of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. It was one of the coolest things ever. So many fireworks were going off at one time all over the place. I tried to take video- but it doesn't do it justice because you can't really see the Empire State Building or the bridges. It was the best firework show I've ever seen.. But New York doesn't know what it's like to lay on a field and watch them right above you.
It seems like nobody here is from America, but New York loves to celebrate! I woke up at 3:30 am to use the washroom and fireworks were still going off! Haha crazy.
Yesterday (Sunday the 5th of July) was fast and testimony meeting. I loved it.
Deborah Perez got up and bore the most sincere, humble, powerful testimony. She's amazing and I'm really grateful I have been able to be a part in her conversion. But even if I weren't here, I know there would've been some other missionary. She was prepared by God to receive the Restored Gospel and is now working to obtain her Patriarchal blessing.
After church we had lunch with a lady named Sister Cherry and our branch mission leader. That was very interesting.. My eating habits have changed a lot, but there are still some things that I just can't eat.
After Sister Cherry's we tracted/found people in her area, East New York. I don't necessarily like the area, but I do love the people! They're so humble and teachable. It makes me wonder what it would be like to serve in South America, or Africa. But after my mission, I'd be okay if I never had to go into another project building, ever.
A funny/cool story: yesterday I was sitting on the bus next to this man, he started laughing because there was a huge fight going on in the bus. A woman's son was sitting on a camp chair in the middle on the isle making it almost impossible for anyone to get by.. And it was super crowded. Haha these women were screaming at each other and it was a big dramatic scene.
Me and the man started talking about how you wouldn't see this anywhere else besides Brooklyn. He told me that he is from Nigeria and moved his family here to give his children a chance to gain an education. I talked to him about how everything starts in the home and that "no other success can compensate for failure in the home”- David O. McKay
He was awesome! I could just tell he was a good man who was trying his best to raise his family in righteousness. Anyway, I had to quickly get off the bus because we got to our stop, but I hope he meets with the missionaries. He lives right outside of our area's boundaries. Bummer.
Anyway, I know that's true. I'm grateful that I came on a mission because I know I'm going to be a much better mom than if I hadn't. My mom and sisters didn't need the refinement of a mission- but I definitely did. I've gained a lot of patience, humility, charity, knowledge, and love of God that I know I will need to raise my children some day.
Some days are harder than others, but I'm making the most of every single one of them. And “On particularly rough days when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is one hundred percent and that’s pretty good.”
I'm trying my best and I haven't regretted the decision to come on a mission yet, so.. It's going good. Haha :) There are a lot of changes happening in the month of July. Change is scary to me but there's no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone. I'm a little bit uncomfortable, but good news is that I'm growing a lot!
"We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude” (President Thomas S. Monson).
Sorry this is long, but RIP President Boyd K. Packer. He was a stud.
Also, I just heard that Sister Cook passed away today. I'm crying this as I'm typing. She was such an amazing lady and always so sweet to me. The Cooks hold a special place in my heart and I'm so sad I won't be seeing her in November. Tell Brother Cook I love him and give him a hug for me. They're the best and I'm so grateful that I've got to know them over the past decade. She also made the best cookies around. She'll be missed.
Love always, Sister Samantha Tenney
Here's some pictures:
1. my leg.. What bit me? Haha I'm not sure if it was a spider, a tic, or what ever else bug in the projects.. But this picture is better than what it looks like now. It doesn't itch.. Just hurts. That's a giant bruise all around the bit. Gross, I know.
2. This door that loved America. It was just funny because everyone else in the building was Russian.
3. The Alabama stop on the j train
4. One of my favorite pics of Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment