Biggest storm in history to hit NY and of course I am here for it. ❄️❄️❄️ 1/26/15

Hey everybody! This week was great. I really am in the best mission ever! I love New York. Everything that I'm experiencing, I am growing and learning from. 

I have been blessed with spiritual experiences before and during my mission. But I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me an understanding that what is most important is not these experiences them-self, but the "why" of them. I've seen how these times have strengthened my faith. I keep them close to my heart, but I've also come to realize that the pure testimony God is strengthening through the miracles, revelations, and healings is really what it's all about. 

I've learned a lot out here on the East Coast, some of which I will leave here in the mission field, some I will leave with my future family, and some I will bring with me through the eternities-- that of which is eternal 'truth' or light.  

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in Him, Jesus Christ, to be the "light" (or another word for truth) of the world. We believe He is the son of God, a perfect being. A man born in a manger, raised by mortals, and crucified by his own. We believe he came, he suffered, he died, he came back, and he will return again. 

So.. How does all of this information affect us in our daily lives? Do we have a better understanding than the world does of Christmas and Easter? Do we come to Church on Sunday? Attend our meetings, obey the commandments, go to mutual, go on missions, and fulfill our other church obligations? Yes! But, there hast to be more than that, doesn't there? 

Shouldn't Jesus Christ have more of an impact? Not just in "our daily lives" but in our every thought, action, and feeling? Shouldn't He be the one guiding us, leading us, and directing our paths? 

So, how do we allow Him to do that?  

I'm sure everyone is different. But what works best for me is what us missionaries in NYNYS call "real time repentance". The idea of this is that when we go throughout our day, we recognize immediately whether or not a choice is good or bad. Well, if it's bad, we need to repent, right? So, instead of waiting to the end of the day.. Or week.. To try and remember all of the things which you need to ask forgiveness for. Repent right then! Repent real time. 

As you do this, as I have done this, I have felt closer to God and His son than ever before. I have been able to immediately feel of Our Father's forgiveness and unending love. I know you can experience this same thing.

By repenting real time, we allow Christ into our lives. He is able to direct our choices, quickly followed by our thoughts, and our feelings. His Atonement starts to play a roll in our lives like never before, and we gain so much. 

 My stellar mission President Kevin Calderwood is the one who introduced this to me in the beginning of my journey out here. Through this principle alone, I have a much greater understanding of The Atonement, Repentance, Christ, and Forgiveness.  

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I love Him. I truly am serving here in New York, WITH Him. This is His work and I am privileged to be a part of it. This is His Gospel, and it is His Church, He does direct it. 

He can change people, he's changed me. And He has the power to change you too. 

Love always, 

Sister Samantha Mona Tenney

Also, CHECK THIS LINK OUT! It is so cool!!! 

https://www.lds.org/church/news/joseph-smith-atop-smithsonian-magazines-top-religious-figures-list?lang=eng

Oh, Mom and Dad-- yes. Apparently the biggest snow storm in history to have ever hit New York is on it's way right now. Haha we are all aware.. 

But President Calderwood is smart and isn't letting us out tonight. 

#iamsafe 

Love you! 

Baptisms by water, and fire. Hahah.. Bad joke 1/19/15

This week was super crazy! 

The best and worst parts of my mission happened within a matter of days. 

I'll start with the good news. Javier, my best friend ever (from Nicaragua) was baptized and confirmed! It was so amazing! When I first met Javier he didn't even believe in God. Now he is a changed man. 

The day started like this: woke up, worked out, showered, studied, drove to Riverhead, witnessed a baptism of two of the Carberry children. Then all hell broke loose..

Right when their baptismal service was ending I saw a woman in the hallway, Sharlene! I used to teach her. I was super excited that she was there, so I went up to her and she said "Raven's house is on fire." 

What?! 

So, it's kind of complicated but Cynthia is a girl in Riverhead that I escorted through the temple. We also went to her and her husband's sealing. She's like my best friend and she is married to Deren Krueger. They are living in his parents house, Raven and Lee. 

Raven and Lee have 5 kids, the only one active in the church is Deren. They are such a great family and brother and sister Krueger are super strong. For the last year or so, their family has been hit with some major trials. Their youngest son was diagnosed with  leukemia and they have been really struggling with that. 

Anyway, they went out of town for the first time in a long time and a day later they get a call that their home started on fire. He built it himself and it was their dream home. Besides that, they are swimming in medical bills up to their ears. So devastating. 

There wasn't anything anyone could do, and I just stood outside and held Cynthia's two year old daughter Kyleigh while they tried to get their important stuff out of the house. I felt like I was in a wind tunnel of emotion, haha it was straight out of a movie. 

Life lessons are being learned every day. 

One being: 

Stuff. Does. Not. Matter. 

Take everything from me, my home, my clothes, my bed, food, scriptures, church.. I still have a relationship with God that is bigger than any of that. I know him. He truly is my Father in Heaven and I am so grateful for the strength that knowledge gives me every day, and every second. 

God is good. 

I'm forever changed day by day. I'm being who I want to become. I love this work and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. 

I love you guys! 

Love, 

Sister Tenney

I said "sar" today instead of "saw".. I've been on Long Island for too long. 1/12/15

Hey everybody! We are almost half way into January and it is colder than ever.

This past week was so great. Sister Ewell and I saw a lot of miracles. Yesterday right as church was starting and people we had seen earlier in the week kept walking in! It was the best feeling ever! 

Also, yesterday my old investigator Javier contacted me and told me he decided to be baptized this upcoming Friday! I am so stoked for him!  he truly is a miracle man. He's going home to Nicaragua in like a week and is going to bring his entire family to church there. 

Everything is going well, and quickly. We had interviews with President Calderwood this past week and they went awesome! He only has until July and then our new President, Gary Reynolds will be here. 

So, New York is the bomb. There's nothing else like it! 

Love you all, Sister Tenney.

Oh ya, my hair is brown now. I'll send a picture next week. 

Peace. ️

Megan is 16?! 1/5/15

Hey family! 

I hope you all had a great New Years! We are super close to the Rockefeller Center and the Giant Ball that dropped.. Yet we were in our apartment at 6:00 pm 

That's one thing about serving a mission in such a cool place.. It kind of is a bummer we can't go to all of the cool stuff, like the Macy's Day Parade and all of the events going on in NY. But I understand why.. People are crazy in New York! And I love it! Haha it's one of my most favorite thing I do.. Meet random people! 

Last week we knocked on this door, and a man said "the black man is God" and shut the door. Hahaha we just quickly ran away before he came back out, because there are such things as Heebie Geebies who "can prove Christ is black" and they carry around machetes- for when Christ comes, they are going to kill all of the white people. 

Anyway.. I am loving Bayshore and my companion Sister Ewell. She's the best! We're working really hard and seeing miracles. Love you all! 

And most importantly, happy birthday to the greatest little sister of all time. She's beautiful, smart, and hilarious. I love you Meggster! 16! Party without me! 

Sister Tenney 

Christmas miracles 12/29/14

This week has been full of Christmas miracles! 

Christmas was fun and everything to see my family, but it was good to get back to work right away! I ate Christmas dinner at a soup kitchen after we served and sang with a ton of homeless people. Yum.. Haha. 

But we met a girl there who was randomly volunteering, we started to talk with her and turns out she was baptized in Peru when she was eight! She is so cute and nice and pure in heart! And she came to church on Sunday!! Miracle. 

Christmas night I was still pretty distracted from talking with my family so I asked Heavenly Father for an opportunity to forget myself... 

Good idea Sammy... Haha 

The next morning in the middle of studies we got a text asking us to come help with a service opportunity. We spent five hours helping a family in our ward clean out one room! Because they struggle with hoarding, the state is threatening to take their children away. Yeah! Crazy! Everyone was struggling to be nice about it, but I thought it was the best thing ever! Plus I love to throw stuff away. I even gave all five of their kids trash bags and told them to go into their rooms and come back out when they were full. Everyone was laughing because I was making it like game for them. 

Last night we taught two Spanish ladies! They committed to be baptized on the 17th of January! Woo! They even both came to church yesterday, so I am stoked about that. I seriously was a nervous wreck teaching in Spanish without my Mexican companion to help translate for me. It was so hard! 

Well, I don't have much to say except for I am having a lot of fun with Sister Ewell! She is "boom boom". 

Love you all, 

Sister Tenney

I miss Riverhead! 12/22/14

It's been a rough adjustment to the Bayshore Ward.. Haha but I do have an awesome new companion named Sister Ewell! She's from Vernal, Utah, she is 4.11 feet tall, just graduated high school in May, and is a really awesome person and missionary! 

I miss Riverhead. But I am super happy to be with an obedient companion. Hallelujah!

We live in this tiny studio apartment called "the loft". I just came from the Taj Mahal compared to this thing. Haha the head of my bed is right next to our fridge! So, it wakes me up all the time making weird noises. Our sink is like six inches long, six inches wide, and I feel like I am living in a hotel room or something. 

Besides that I think I get second-hand high every time I walk outside of our apartment because it smells like weed so badly. 

Yet every night I lay my head down, I am so grateful for the things Heavenly Father has blessed me with. Seriously, we go into homes and I just think "how do people live like this???" I've become aware of how truly blessed I am. My eyes are definitely opened when I see people, children, sleeping on cold floors. Families with no presents? No, try families with no food to give to their children. 

It's a humbling experience to go into the homes of others. 

Anyway, I don't really have a lot to say except for that I really am grateful to my Heavenly Father for my really comfortable life, my amazing family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and remember what it is all about. 

Much love, 

Sister Tenney 

Oh the little lady getting baptized is my most favorite investigator Paige! She sent me pictures of her baptism today.  Sister Snow and I taught her this summer while she was in school in New York- you're welcome Michigan mission. Haha jk, but really... 

Temple trip, Christmas party, National Veterans Memorial, and Transfers. 12/15/14

Well it's been a crazy last week in Riverhead! Yeah, that's right, last week!  today is the last of my ministry hear in Zion, Long Island. I am so sad! And so are all of the members  I've never been asked to come over for dinner so many times in my life. But my American family (the Blom's) made me my favorite Gringa dinner last night and my Spanish family (the Leon's) are making me my favorite Spanish dinner tonight! :) #hondurantacos #fatgirlprobs

Anyway, I have had a great week. I got to go to the temple on Wednesday and it was amazing. I love the city! Haha except for the smell, but I think you just get used to it because it doesn't even phase me anymore. 

I need to stop making bets because it gets me into trouble. Haha but I may or may not be dying my hair brown tonight.. I guess we will see what color my hair is next week! Hahah speaking of coloring hair, I cut and colored Sister Acosta's hair last Monday and it turned out really cute. 

On Saturday Elder Duncan, Elder Rose, Sister Acosta, and I went to the National Veterans Memorial and places wreaths on graves. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done! There were so many soldiers. 

Then Saturday night was the Riverhead branch's Christmas party. It was a blast! And a lot of investigators showed up. 

I have loved serving here in Riverhead and I'm so grateful for the last six months I have been blessed with. 

Love you all! 

Sister Tenney!