It's Okay to be Clueless

Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 12:16:15 PM
Subject: It's okay to be clueless

Hey!

I loved hearing the highlights of Stake Conference from everyone. We really have the greatest stake ever. I am so grateful for President Sinclair and all he has done for us.

Laney got her mission call?!?! Ahh! That is so awesome. She will be great.

Let me know if any other friends get their calls!

This week was...weird. It was all a blur. I got so little sleep with a lot of work haha. I definitely felt the enabling power of the atonement of Christ. SO much. It amazes me.I really could not have even stayed awake this week without Him. But I did that and missionary work, so I am filled with so much gratitude.

So TRANSFERS! We got up at 4 AM and began our long 4 stop and 5 and a half hour drive to Kirtland. Driving gave me lots of time to ponder and see how beautiful Ohio is. It is so strange how much my views have changed the past 6 months. Anyways, so we finally get to transfers, with 2 minutes to spare. Then we ran in and we met the new missionaries who we would be training. My new companion's name is Elder Gorringe. He is great. He just graduated High School and is from Riverton, Utah. He has a great testimony. He really is excited to work and wants to be obedient. That's everything I could have asked for in a companion. I am excited to serve together. Oh and he is a Visa waiter too. For Rosario, Argentina.

When we got back to the Zone Leader's apartment, we started taking out Elder Gorringe's bags and realized he was missing one. The small carry on he brought that had all his journals, his letters from home, scriptures, Preach My Gospel. So we made some calls and couldn't find it anywhere. We said a prayer that night and asked that we might somehow find it. and...MIRACLES ARE REAL! His bag had fallen out of the back of the truck on the high way on our long 5 hour drive. But this kind man pulled off the side a few hours later, picked up the bag and all the belongings he could find, and called Delta to let them know he found a lost bag. Wow. That is incredible. How many people in the world would pull off to pick up a bag at the side of the highway?! Anyways, so we got it back. He lost a few things, but his scriptures and journal were okay.

The next few days were stretching for me. It was hard and I love it. That is one huge lesson I have learned is that hard things aren't meant to make us unhappy. We can be happy and do hard things at the same time! But training is harder than I expected. I really felt overwhelmed and inadequate, but I prayed with all my heart for the enabling power of the atonement to strengthen me and help me be more than I am. And wow, I saw that. We went tracting one of his first few nights here and I was so happy. I was so filled with love for every person we talked to. I felt so much help and power to be happy and optimistic. Not only in that, but it so many other things this week. I am by no means even close to perfect. But I am doing it. I am doing what the Lord called me to do. "The Lord doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." and that is so so true. He will always strengthen us to be able to do what He wants.

I am doing so well. I am focused on what is most important or at least trying my best.

Tomorrow will be the official 6 month mark of my mission. I only have 17 months left! I really thought that I would know what I am doing by this point haha. When I left the MTC, I remember thinking "Okay, in 6 months, that will be awesome. I will know what I'm doing. I will be good." Yeah...I'm still waiting for that. I don't know if I will ever know completely what I am doing . And that is okay because I am not in charge here. I may not know the perfect way to work with the wards, to knock on doors, or to teach the word of wisdom, but in the past 6 months, there are things that I have learned and am sure about:

I know that Heavenly Father really is performing His work. THIS IS IT! This is "the great and marvelous work"! These are times that have been prophesied for thousands of years. You are literally living in the times that Daniel and Isaiah and Christ himself have prophesied of! We are a part of history in the making. This IS His marvelous work. He can do great things with us, even though we are not the greatest tools, He can make us the great tools He needs. The atonement is real.

I know that Christ lives. He is such a dear friend to me. The past 6 months, I have grown closer to Him. I love Him so much. More than I could have imagined 6 months ago. He is everything to me. Being like Him is everything to me. This is ALL about Him. and it's okay that we don't always know what we are doing, because He does. and He will never ever leave us on our own. He loves us SO much. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank you for all you do! I am so blessed to have the greatest family and friends.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"

From: "Heath Tenney"  
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 11:43:13 AM
Subject: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"

Hey Family!

So tomorrow is transfers again, so thats why I'm writing on Tuesday again. I cannot believe this transfer is already over. It seems like it just started. But wow, what a past 6 weeks it has been. I have definitely been stretched in many ways and I have learned so much.

I found out that I will be training a new missionary starting tomorrow. I will be staying in St. Marys. I am so excited to do that! At first, I was a little scared and felt inadequate, but I remembered D&C 38:30 "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." So I realize, yes I am inadequate, I think we are always inadequate in the Lord's service, but that doesn't matter because the Lord has prepared us to do what He calls us to do, so I know I can do it. But that scripture is so much of what I learned this week.

I realized last week that in terms of the work here, we have kind of been going in circles. Just doing the same thing over and over again...(going to a city, stopping by potential investigators who usually aren''t there or dont live there anymore). So I realized we need to do things differently. We started to do that this week. We stopped by a nursing home to volunteer and see when we could come sing hymns and talk with people there, we stopped by several funeral homes and added our names to clergy that could be called, and we started tracting more.

Weston sent me some awesome tips on tracting that we practiced and applied this week. It was so helpful. So things are getting better and changing!

At one door, we were talking with this guy named Ron, he told us he wasn't interested because he had a church. I felt prompted to tell him a little bit about Joseph Smith. I told him how Joseph was confused as to what church to join and didn't know what to do, so he prayed and asked God. Then Heavenly Father appeared to him with Jesus Christ and answered his prayer. He was so interested, he kept saying, "Really?!" and after I finished, he said "Wow, that is amazing. You just gave me the goose bumps!" He was excited to have us come back and tell him more. So we are going back tonight!

We had a lot of success tracting this week, which is not a usual thing. I am so confident that it came from our studies and practices in the morning. We did role plays of door approaches and read through Weston's tips and we prepared. Then we were blessed with success because we prepared. There really is so much power in being prepared.

Last night we had a great lesson with a less active man. He told us why he had left the church and his concerns. I felt like all we could do was listen. So I listened. After he told us his story and concerns, I felt exactly what I needed to share with him. We bore sincere testimony to him that God loves him and will guide him and answer his prayers as he seeks him. It was sad to hear about his downfall, but I know he can come back. He knows too. It is always amazing to leave a lesson feeling the approval of Heavenly Father knowing we did out part. It's up to the person to act, but we just invite.

I am so excited to train and to help a new missionary get started off the right way. I am so excited to work hard and be 100% obedient together. I know even more miracles are just waiting to happen here in St. Marys! There is so much power in preparing.

I love this. I can't believe I am 1/4 of the way done with my mission. I am terrified of finishing. There really is nothing else in the world I want to do or even want to think about. I know that this is truly the work of the Savior. Nothing else could change me like this is. It's easy to get distracted on other things, but He really is the center of all we do. I love Him so much.

 

Have a wonderful week!

 

Love,

 

Elder Heath Tenney

Working with the Savior in Sight

1810 Winston Dr.
St. Marys, OH 45885

Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 12:00:53 PM
Subject: Working with the Savior in sight

Hey!

I can't believe it has already been another week. Time goes by so fast. Christmas is in 4 months?! That is so crazy. I am almost 1/4 of the way done with my mission? ahh. It is weird. I really am cherishing my time though. There is literally nothing in the world I would rather be doing. I occasionally have thoughts such as "Man, I miss that..." or "this person..." or whatever. But then after a few seconds I think, "Wait! I am literally serving THE SAVIOR!... I don't miss any of that." I really am so grateful for this time.

Anyways this week has been a great one. I usually say that the week was hard, but this week wasn't that hard...which I think is part of the reason we didn't have great success. But it was still good.

A couple weeks ago, I felt prompted that I need to do more in language study with Elder Mitchell. I usually just study alone during that time because I felt like it was more personally effective. So I started doing that and practicing with him more, then a week later, the Lord blessed us with Spanish speakers to teach! But since then Elder Mitchell has gotten so much better at Spanish and it has been amazing to see the progress. So our language study has been so great and we are really helping each other to grow. It was a good lesson for me that I am not just here to grow personally, but to help others and grow together.

I went up to Lima, Ohio this week on exchanges with Elder Taylor. It was really good. I loved being able to work with him. Elder Taylor came out with me as well. We were in a biking area so that was fun to bike everywhere again. We worked really hard together and I learned a lot from him. It left me with a greater desire to work hard and use the Lord's time in the best way we can. So I was grateful for that. One funny story from our exchange, we were teaching a recent convert named George, and he is a little bit slow, I think he is slightly autistic, but such a sweet guy with a great testimony. He doesn't have great volume control, so he kind of yells everything haha. I asked him what it felt like to know that he lived with Heavenly Father before this life. He responded, "It felt good! It felt great! It felt wonderful! It felt....BOOM! DYNAMITE! Oh so right!...It felt good..." It was so funny. I love Greg. I definitely agree with him. It definitely feels dynamite to know that we lived with Heavenly Father.

Then on Saturday, we had a great lesson with Domingo. He 1st talked to us, and told us he appreciated what we do, but he knows the gospel, so we should spend our time with other people who don't know Christ, like his roommates. I told him that it was so great that he knows the gospel. I said "We aren't here because we think you don't know Christ. That is so great that you do. We are here because Christ's church, the same church he established when he was here, is here on the earth again! Los cielos estan abiertos!  (The heavens are opened!) and that is why we are here, because we want you to know about His true church and authority that is here on the earth." So he agreed to meet with us. It was so great to teach him. Elder Mitchell did great with Spanish and Domingo was excited to pray about what we taught. He shared with us that he had been praying to know a place he could go to church because no one spoke Spanish at the churches by his house and he hasn't been able to go since he left Mexico, but he really wants to. Then we came over and he knew we were the answer to his prayers. The only problem is he doesn't have a ride and we don't have any members who live in his city to give him a ride. So please pray for Domingo to be able to find a way to church.

This week I realized that,I think partially due to the lack of success we have been having in St. Marys, I had a couple of times finished the day with the mindset of, "Okay, after this lesson, then we will go home." It's not that I wasn't enjoying working or anything. I was just working with the end in sight. But that is not the way I should be doing it at all. I realized that I shouldn't be running with the finish line in sight, I should just be focused on running my heart out. So I tried to be better this week and I felt so much better in my standing with the Lord and in the work I did. I learned that we should never work with the end in sight, but just work with the Savior in sight. And that gives me the motivation to work as hard as I can ALL day. So I am so grateful for the spirit teaching me these things to do better. I know that this really is the work of the Savior. I love being a part of it!

Thank you for all your love and prayers! I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

I Stand All Amazed

From: "Heath Tenney" 

Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 12:00:00 PM
Subject: I stand all amazed

Hello family!

This was an awesome week. Earlier this week, Elder Mitchell and I were talking about how society (myself included) today misuses the words like "amazing" or "awesome". They aren't just casual words like "Oh, that burger was awesome." Awesome means it left you in awe. Amazing means you were really amazed, surprised, in awe. But anyways, after thinking about that and what amazed really means, I really can say that I stand all amazed at the hand of the Lord in this week and always. I really do stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.

So on Wednesday, it was the last day of the month, so we decided to spend the last of our miles (we have a limited amount that we can drive each month)tracting in the farm land, because we don't get to talk to people out there very often. It was a gorgeous, misty day. There was fog all around us and in the fields of crops, it was beautiful. Anyways, there was one really creepy house Courtney would have loved. We started walking to it, and around the house they had a barbed wire fence, and behind the fence there were 3 cows. As we walked closer to the fence, these cows came running towards us. Then when they got about 20 feet away, they stopped. They just starred at us as we walked up the driveway. It was really weird but funny haha.

On Friday we had a long day, we rode bikes all around Celina again. We stopped by about 12 potential investigators and several less active members, but no one was home. Then we tracted for a little bit...so after dinner I was kind of beat. Sadly, I felt ready to just go home because I felt like our efforts weren't doing any good. But I knew I shouldn't feel like that, so I pulled out a picture of the Savior that I keep in the car, and I just looked at it. I looked into His eyes, and I asked myself "why are you here?" Looking into His eyes, I felt and remembered why I am here. I am here because I love Him! I'm out here serving because I love Him and I want to do what He wants me to do. So it doesn't matter that I feel tired and that I haven't had much success, what matters is that I am doing what He wants me to do because I love Him! That's all we really need, just knowing that we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. If we can feel that and know that, nothing else is important. So that experience gave me a big boost for the night and other times in the week when I began to feel that way. I feel like one of  Satan's biggest tools on most missionaries, well on people in general is to try to make them forget why they are here. There is so much power in remembering the why.

So for dinner that night, I wanted to go eat at this Mexican restaurant, to hopefully find some Spanish speaking people we can talk with (Mexican food wasn't a bad perk either). I have been praying almost every day to be able to find people who we can share the gospel with in Spanish. When I 1st got to St. Marys, all the members said "you won't get to use your spanish here." But still I have been praying, so I wanted to put ourself in a place where we could at least have that opportunity. So we went there, we ate some below decent Mexican food, the "Mexican" workers didn't even speak Spanish, they charged me extra for shrimp, it was over priced...so that didn't quite work out as I planned. haha. So objective failed, right? No! We showed the Lord in going there that we really wanted and were willing to do whatever we needed to do in order to find Spanish speaking people. And we were blessed for that. Later that night, we stopped by Emmanuel, a guy other Elders had talked with before, but they said he wasn't worth the time. We showed up there and he was excited to see us, he ran and got his friend, Domingo, because he really wanted to introduce Domingo to us. So we got to talk with them for 30 minutes in Spanish. Domingo is so prepared. Emmanuel told us that whenever anyone offers him beer or to smoke, he says no. Whenever the other guys in their apartment or at work are partying and having a good time, Domingo is in his room studying the Bible. He is just a good good guy. He is from Mexico, and doesn't speak any English. Emmanuel said that he (himself) isn't nearly as good as Domingo, he has lots of problems and sins, but feels like he needs to get closer to the Lord and wants to do it. They were really excited to come to church and said they would be there! So now we are teaching Domingo and Emmanuel, in a place where not even the Mexican restaurants have Mexicans. When I got home that night, and kneeled down to pray, all I could do was smile and silently say in my head "you did it! Thank you Heavenly Father, thank you." I felt His excitement with me. He answered my prayers! I laid in my bed in awe, trying to fall alseep, just thinking of the great miracle the Lord had done for us. Ahh. I am still excited thinking about it now! He answers our prayers! He really really does! Don't ever doubt Him, because I promise He will answer the righteous desires of your heart!

Ahhhh. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

Lastly, on Saturday night, we were riding home right at the Sunset. We were riding on this bike path that along the "Great St. Marys Lake." Yeah. During the Sunset. I was freaking out...I almost crashed a couple times, and almost hit a few dogs...and kids. But anyways, it was SO gorgeous. It wasn't blocked by trees, it was just the open sky, reflecting off the water. I was truly filled with awe. As I starred at the orange, pink, and purple filled sky over the water, I couldn't imagine how anyone could ever doubt the existence of God. The amazing part is that it happens every night. That is what is so amazing about Heavenly Father, we can see thousands of sunsets, they happen every day. But when we take the time to really notice them or when we take the time to see what He has done for us, we can stand all amazed over and over and over again. It leaves me standing amazed thinking how could I ever doubt Him.

God is real. so real. He doesn't just exist, he knows you. He knows every little personal challenge you have, even the things that seem so deep inside of you no one knows about. I truly stand all amazed at His love. Nothing can separate us from His love. Check out Romans 8:35-39 It is one of my favorites.  I love you guys! Have a wonderful week! Look for the miracles! They're everywhere!

 

mirando milagros in Santa Maria,

 

Elder Heath Tenney

 

 

Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision.

July 29, 2013

Elder Heath Tenney

1810 Winston Dr.

St. Marys, OH 45885

Hey!

This was one of the most personally humbling and growing weeks of my life. There weren't any huge events that happened that made it happen or anything...just lots of personal revelation and lots of realizations. So it was a really hard and good week.

I had an incredible interview with President Vellinga this week. He was so guided by the spirit and I felt so much love from him and from Heavenly Father. It was such a blessing.

The quote that is the title of this sums up my week. It is from Elder Neil L Anderson from an awesome talk Mom sent to me this week, but it gave me stregth this week. Faith really is a decision. We can't choose faith and fear, just choose faith.

I had planned to write about a few stories of my week, but an e mail I just read caused me to change that. I read a few minutes ago that George Djelic, an incredible man in Warren (last area) passed away last night. I want to share with you George's story. George had a rough rough childhood without a father figure in his life and with so many challenges that I don't even know. When he turned 18 he joined the military and was in the military for 10-15 years after that. He never wanted to even talk about it because of all the things he had seen and done. He traveled all over the world in the military. He saw some of the worst things on this planet. He came back and never saw life the same. He tried about every career you can think of, a chef, business, pilot,...etc. But he never found the thing that truly made him feel happy. I don't know any specifics, but I know he resolved to violence to solve his problems, he was involved in so many rough things that he is ashamed of. He kind of began to just try out different things to try to find happiness, he even walked all the way across the country, just to try it. George was always laughing and making jokes, even at what some people considered to be sensitive subjects, but he told us in a rare moment of serious conversation that the reason he laughed so much was because it was the only thing he could do to not cry. George went through so so much. One day he was at his sister's dance studio, he saw one little girl, Ginny, who just looked different than everyone else. She had a light about her. Later on, when he met her parents, he realized they were different too. They were so happy and they just had a light, they were different. George quickly became great friends with the family. He began to meet with the missionaries. He said he started to feel this peace, that he had never felt in his life. He felt this happiness that he had never found before. Amidst all the craziness he had seen and been a part of, he felt peace now. He felt it, and he prayed about the thigns they were teaching. He could not deny that he knew this was true. It would be an understatement to say becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ would be a life change for George. It would take a nature change. A complete change of everything he had ever known and been. When the Elders taught George the law of chastity, he said it was one of the hardest things he ever had to change, but he told us "I knew it was true, so I had to give it up." He didn't fear or doubt at all, it wasn't easy but he had faith and he knew he had to do it. As he was changing his life and changing his nature SO much, George was baptized. George was by no means perfect after he was baptized, he had struggles just like everyone. I remember thinking "this guy is a member?" after my 1st time being with him. He had to work hard to stop all the old habits he was accustomed to, but he was doing his best. Every week George would go out with the missionaries. He was the 1st one to volunteer for service opportunities. The 1st one to be there when someone needed help. He was so so good. George taught me so much. He had his old habits still a small part of him, but that man lived the gospel. He chose faith. He completely changed his ways because he knew it was true. While he had outward struggles that others might judge him for, no one went out and did things like George did. He got things done. He helped people. Not out of a desire to look good to others, not out obligation, but because he truly knew this was what God wanted. I will never ever again have even a thought of judgement based on someones outward habits, because George taught me that it doesn't matter. What matters is who you can become through the transformitive power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And he did that, he was transformed, and is still doing that.

George passed away about 6 months after he was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know He is eternally grateful for that family who just lived the things they knew, the family who was his light to be guided to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I will always remeber George because he showed me with his life that he has changed and he was trying to change. He had so much faith. I know he is rejoicing in paradise for the decision he made 6 months ago, the decision that forever changed who he is.

I'm sorry this is so long, but I know there is so much we can learn from the life of George.

Know that I am working hard and miracles are happening in St. Marys.  I know that Christ truly lives and that this is His work. Nothing else is that important, it's all about Christ.

I love you all!

Elder Heath Tenney

This Joy Can't Be Taken

Elder Heath Tenney

1810 Winston Dr.

St. Marys, OH 45885

Hey family!

It is really sad to hear about Daisy. She was such a good dog. I will miss her.

This week was a hard week, I say that every week haha. The more I get into this, the harder it gets, yet the more joy I feel in every moment.

On Monday evening, we went and cut down a tree for an older couple. I got to use a chainsaw, so that added some excitement into my week. I love being able to serve so much. It's great.

Then on Tuesday, we stopped by the house of a few of our friends who want to learn more about the Church, Jim and Joyce. They are in their 50's and have several grown kids. Jim and Joyce both love to talk, so it is hard to keep them in the same conversation because they will just keep on interrupting each other haha. It was funny. But so then Joyce just decided she would talk to me, and Jim decided he would talk to Elder Mitchell. So they both got to talk. In talking with Joyce, I asked her when she has felt peace in her life. She told me of several experiences when she has prayed and felt overwhelming peace. She said, "But then it just wears off after a while" she went on telling me other stories. But later on I asked her what it would mean to her to have that peace more in her life, she said "that would mean everything. Oh, I would love that." I promised her that she could and that we want to share with her how she can have that. So we are going back this week.

Later that night we went to visit a less active man, we came to find out he lives in the middle of nowhere and was evicted from his house which was down this long driveway in farmland, but it was an adventure. I saw a wild peacock! that was cool. I did my pterodactyl cry to it, then it started squacking and freaking out. I felt so cool.

Wednesday, we got up to run to K-mart for our work out because we needed a bike pump. Then Elder Mitchell walks in and says "I don't feel too well. I don't think I can go out today." So he was sick for the day, which means I got a lot of study time. I studied for SO long. Literally all day. I have a slight feel for what Weston felt like studying for the MCAT. But it was really good. I was able to go through the area book and look through all the records and make some phone calls and become more familiar with the area. I also went through and set some goals for what we can accomplish here. So it was a revelatory day, but a very long revelatory day. I was really really excited to just get out and work the next day.

Then the next day comes, we did our weekly planning which took way longer than it should have, then we had to go to the library to take a mission survey, then finally we are able to go out after everything at like 5:30. We were on bikes because we are low on miles, but then I'm riding down the road and I hear this loud noise that sounded like a gun shot...but it was accompanied with my front tire losing all it's air. so, my tire exploded haha. I got off my bike and wanted to be angry but I just couldn't. So I just laughed. Satan just didn't want us to work, or Heavenly Father just really needs me to learn patience...probably both. So then we got a member to come pick us up, we went home, then finally we got to teach one person that night so that was a blessing. At the end of the day I felt this conflicting feeling of wanting to be upset that we haven't been able to work the past 2 days, and this strange, indecribable internal joy. My mind just kept on saying, "I should be upset, we haven't done anything in 2 days." And I kind of wanted to be upset, but there is this internal joy that just can't be overpowered. This joy that I pray for every night, this joy of serving Jesus Christ. So I couldn't be upset, because this joy just overpowered that. It really is a miracle, the joy that becomes a part of us as we serve Him.

FInally on friday we got to work. All day. It felt SO good. It made me realize how much I love to work. Good, honest work. We went out on our bikes and we stopped by some people's houses. I loved being able to bike through the farm land here, it is so beautiful. Biking is the best. But those 2 days of not being able to work showed me how much I love to work. Before my mission, I could work hard, and I was okay with it, but now I just love it. I do not like when I can't work. The joy and fulfillment that is felt as we give everything to just work is indescribable. I love work. It really is joy.

It would be nice if I could write home and say that we are having trouble finding time for everyone to be baptized, or telling you about more teaching opportunities, but that's not Heaven's will yet. But one thing you can be sure of is that I am working as hard as I can here. I am giving everything I am to bring forth the Lord's purposes here, and I will not stop. I will work so hard. So I just want you to know that although there are lots of things to change, I'm doing my best. And doing my best for Christ is what gives me that inner joy. That joy that really can't be taken. I know He really is the way to true joy. This is all about Him.

Sorry my emails are so long. I will try to make them shorter. I love you all so much! You are in my prayers! Thank you for all you do!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

St. Marys, Ohio

Elder Heath Tenney

1810 Winston Dr.

St. Marys, OH 45885

Hey family!

It was good to hear about girls camp and how well that went! I was praying for Mom and Court all week.

So I was transferred, it was a crazy day at transferrs. But I was transferred to St. Marys, Ohio. This area is literally as close as I can possibly be to home haha. My area is on the Indiana border. It is so weird being so close. There are signs on the highway right next to our apartment that say "Fort Wayne Indiana: 50 miles". I think I'm a little under 2 hours from home. It is super weird.

Oh and before I forget, my new address is:

1810 Winston Dr.

St. Marys, OH 45885

But before I get to that, lets back up a few days. On Wednesday, we rode through the craziest weather I have ever been in (on a bike). It almost blew me off my bike. It was so awesome. I was just laughing and smiling so much haha. It was awesome.

 That evening, we had our last lesson with the Ps. It was great. I talked with them about God's love, how he truly loves them individually. I asked them how they have seen God's love in their life, Lucy said that she felt God's love through me being sent there. I told her how knew that Heavenly Father had sent me there to bring them His truth, to bring them the Book of Mormon. I told them I wouldn't always be there to teach them, but this book always is there to bring them closer to God and teach them, and I know it is true. When I told Lucy that I would be leaving, she began to cry, and said "No nos ovlide. No nos ovlide." - "do not forget us. Do not forget us." I assured her I wouldn't ever forget about them. I pleaded with her to please read the Book of Mormon everyday, because if she does then miracles will happen in her life. That was all I really could do. Just share my testimony because I'm not sure how much more they can be taught at this time after I leave. She then said with tears in her eyes, "You brought this book to me. You brought me this miracle. It is because of you that I know this is true and I know this is the right religion. You have brought me this book, and I can feel it changing my life... I know you were sent here from God." I can't even explain the love and spirit that I felt for them. I then started to cry as Lucy in between her sobs said "Gracias a Dios...Gracios a Dios" --"thank you to God, thank you to God for this boy." I love that family so much. I am amazed at that love that I felt, that I still feel for them. It was heartbreaking to leave them, but I have faith that Heavenly Father will guide them again to the truth.

So leaving Warren was hard. I love the people there so much and I will miss them. Transfers. Transfers was great. I found out I would be serving in St. Marys. a 4 and a half hour drive from Kirtland, where we were. So we said our goodbyes then headed out. The more I heard about St. Marys, I really felt the Lord has a great work to be done there. I was studying in Jacob 5 the day before transfers and I really received inspiration for what the Lord wants from me. I loved how when the Lord planted the tree in the poor spot of ground, the servant was kind of confused. The Lord then said "counsel me not". Then a little later the tree brought forth much natural fruit. This taught me that there is no such thing as a "poor spot of ground" when we are laboring with the Lord. It doesn't matter where he sends me or what this new area may appear to me, this is the Lord's work and He is the one who nourishes the fruit, so there is no such place as a "poor spot of ground" here. I decided that I wanted to have this attitude in the new area I go to, I had no idea what area it was at that point; But I decided that I was going to view this new area in the way it can become through the Lord's nourishment. I wrote out goals of how hard I want to work to fulfill what the Lord wants for this new area I would be going to, and determined that we will see miracles. Then when I found out I was going to St. Marys and I heard more about the area, I knew exactly what the Lord wants for this area. Last week before I got here there was 1 lesson taught total. So it is kind of slow as of right now, but I really know that miracles are about to happen in the Saint Marys branch. I am so excited to be a part of it.

My new companion is Elder Mitchell. He is from Herriman, Utah. He came out with me. We have a car sadly, which means I will probably be gaining weight soon. Elder Mitchell is a great missionary. He has a great heart. St Marys is a super Catholic city. The sign that says "welcome" doesn't say "St Marys welcomes you" it says "The churches of St Marys welcome you" haha. So the people here are so nice. Really good people. They just aren't very open to other religions...yet. I really know that this area is going to get better. We will work so hard to change this area.

I wish I had more time to tell you about the other great experiences we have had and the great people.

I hope everyone is doing really well and loving life! I am so excited to be here in St. Marys. I know the Lord has great plans for this place. I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

P.S. and I still have 0 idea when I will get my Visa. haha. So every week is an adventure. Oh and there is a Sister Tenney in the branch here. It was so weird hearing her name come up so much in branch council, Mom just came to mind every time.

Notwithstanding My Weakness

Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 12:13 PM
 
Subject: "Notwithstanding My Weakness"

Hey!
1st of all, once again, I am not in Argentina haha. This week is transfers so we had P-day on Tuesday. I found out last night that I am being transferred, so don't send anything to Warren anymore, you can just send letters to the mission office for now, and they will forward them to me.

This week was one of the best weeks of my mission so far. We found out Wednesday that Elder Payne is training again, so we knew one of us was leaving, so we wanted to make this the best week. At first we were both a little anxious to find out what is going on, but after a few minutes I realized it's not really a big deal. I already know what I am going to do, I am going to go wherever the Lord wants me to, and work my heart out. So that's what we did, we just went to work and stopped worrying.

On Tuesday, we met with Mirah. Mirah is doing so well. It makes me so happy seeing her progress and seeing her light as she continues to act and become more converted. We had a lesson on faith with her that was awesome, she talked about her faith and experiences she has had when she has had to take a step into the dark, not knowing what was going to happen, but trusting in God. We invited her to do that, to exercise her faith and trust in God by coming to church and feeling His spirit. Mirah was supposed to come the last 2 weeks, but things came up and she couldn't go the 2 weeks previous. When we said that to her she cut us off and said, "Oh, I am going! I told everyone, all my kids, my husband, 'leave me alone on Sunday. I'm not babysitting. I'm using the car. And I can't do anything for you because I am going to church!' " When she said that Elder Payne and I just lit up. We were so happy. She was totally determined to come, and she did. When she walked into the doors Sunday, words cannot describe the joy that came and the spirit that we felt as we saw her come in. Ahhh. It was awesome. As missionaries, we can only teach and invite. But when people decide to ACT for themselves, that is when conversion happens, and it brought us so much happiness to see that with Mirah.

Then on Wednesday, we had a lesson with the Pagan family. Last week, Lucy was adament that she would not join another church or go. So once again, I had no idea what even to talk about with her. As we started talking she told us about a dream that she had. A dream where she was in a hospital bed dying. She said she thought it was God telling her that she needs to make changes in her life and "die" and become a new person. When she woke up she said she could only think about us. She knew that we were sent from God to help her and that she needed to come to Church. That was definitely a miracle. Heavenly Father really is touching the hearts of His children preparing them to receive the gospel. It is just up to them to act on it and accept it. Sadly Lucy didn't this week, she ended up not coming to church, but I know Heavenly Father will continue to guide her and invite her.

So on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I had been praying asking Heavenly Father to "please guide us to someone, even just one person who needs us. Who really needs help and uplifting." All day Wednesday, I talked with everyone trying to help them, but didn't seem to find anyone who really needed help. We headed home at about 8:50 and had like 10 minutes before we needed to be home, so we went to stop by someone's house, they weren't home, but then I felt like we should go a different way home. We then ran into Janniss who was sweeping out her garage. We offered to help, then strated talking with her. We  found out that she had just gotten back from the hospital. Her mom is in bad health close to death and she is really struggling with it. I shared Alma 40:9-11 with her and my testimony. We talked with her about God's love, said a prayer with her, and left her with a Book of Mormon. We told her how much peace it has brought to our lives. She said she would read it. I know Christ is SO involved in this work and he really will guide us if we ask for it and work for it.

I don't have much time, but lastly, on Sunday at church, Anna came again. We have started meeting with her seperately because she is progressing more than the P family and she lives somewhere different. It has been awesome to talk with her one on one and find out how much she really loves the Book of Mormon. At Church I translated for her. I know I say this every week too, but the gift of tongues is REAL! I sat there thinking about it, and this makes no sense. It is incredible that I am able to do this. It really is amazing, I wish I could explain it more, but it just is beyond description. It is not me at all.

I am really sad to leave Warren. Especially because the Ps and Anna especially will have no one to teach them. It scares me, and I am kind of worried for that. But I really know that Heavenly Father knows so much more than me, and He will do His work in His own time, so I just need to trust. I know I really was in Warren for a reason, even though Anna hasn't been baptized yet, I was able to share with her the true gospel of Jesus Christ, I was able to share with her "El Libro de Mormon", which has already began to change her life. And God sent me, a brand new 18 year old missionary who speaks broken Spanish, to Warren Ohio to give that to her and to others. The Lord watches out for each one of us individually.

I wish I had time to tell you about all the miracles that we saw this week. I have never been more tired at the end of each day and I love it. I am so excited about this work. It means everything to me. I was studying in 2 Nephi 33 this week, this is at the very end of Nephi's life. He says the phrase "Notwithstanding my weakness" and it really hit me. I compared how he was feeling earlier in his life in 2 Nephi 4 to then. Earlier he was feeling down, he had great faith but was so overcome by his weaknesses. He just wanted to be really good, but felt like he wasn't good enough. At the end of that chapter (4), he says that he knows where to turn, to the Lord. Then at the end of his life, he says that he was still able to do these things "Notwithstanding his weakness" . He didn't let his own weaknesses get in the way of doing what the Lord wanted him to do. He came to learn that it is okay that he has weaknesses because he can do great things through the Lord . That was something I have been learning more, I know I really do have a lot of weaknesses, but "notwithstanding my weakness" I can do the Lord's work because He breaks through my weaknesses and makes up the difference. That goes for everyone. The Lord trusts YOU. He knows you have weaknesses, but He has called YOU to serve him, and notwithstanding your weakness, YOU can do great things for the Lord because it is not you doing this work. We just have to stop focussing on our weaknesses and focus on the Savior.

I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week. This work is true!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord"