Seek, Receive, Follow, Repeat

November 29, 2014

Hey Family! 

So this week in the office...

Well... our system to put in the baptismal record has been broken for a couple weeks and when I tried to fix it, another problem always came up. So finally, I called Salt Lake (Now I have memorized just about all of the help specialists for the South America area), and after an hour and a half on the phone, it is fixed now! So now I have like 70 baptismal records from the last 2 weeks to fill.

Thanksgiving.

I have so much to be grateful for. Most of all, I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is so endlessly patient with me and strengthens me in ways I don't even know. I am so grateful to be able to serve Him and have the new opportunity everyday to be a little more like Him. I am SO grateful that I am here in His service. P-day has come to be my least favorite day of the week, because I just want to work, and do something more to help someone come unto the Savior. 

To celebrate, we had lunch with a member, and everyone at the table shared what they were grateful for. They made us "bombas de papa" or in english, potato bombs. They are like balls of mashed potatoes with ham and cheese in the middle, then fried. They are SO good. so that was a thanksgivingish meal. Then we went to get icecream at my favorite icecream place for dessert. Elder Engebretsen even put up a sign on the wall to write what we are grateful for, so it was a great Thanksgiving. 

So things in proselyting are good, but we aren't having the success we should to have. Before, when I first got to the offices, the Lord blessed us with so many miracles that were easy to see, like Ricardo and the familia R who were baptized. So now it is kind of a reality check that it isn't always that easy. Even though it isn't that easy, the miracles haven't ceased, they just come differently. So this week, we received the miracle of revelation.

 First, I felt distinctly that we need to be super efficient with our time, only using our time with people who really are going to progress. So, we went out at 6 to work, and worked, worked, worked, being as efficient as we could be, not wasting time and…we didn't find any of the elect we were looking for. But we came back, and I got on my knees, received more. The next day I felt that I should have a greater focus on Christ, in EVERY contact, it has to be centered on Christ. So I applied it that day and felt the spirit more the whole night. We talked with a ton of people about Christ, but...still didn't find those we were looking for. So we are in the same point that Nephi was in when he was trying to get the plates for the 3rd time. I know we will find the ELECT! I really have no doubts. It is just a matter of continuously seeking, receiving, and acting upon revelation, even when the results aren't immediate. So there is a lot of work to do, but the miracles have not ceased, and they won't. :)  

Success doesn't always come immediately, but if we are diligent in seeking new revelation, it will come. 

I love you all so much! Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Tenney

The Lord will provide a way.

Nov. 22, 2014

Hey family! 
This week was great. It has been crazy. The day after Elder Christofferson was transfers. So the craziness just kept going. Transfers are awesome. There are SO many things that have to be done and remembered, so it is always exciting. I messed up a lot this time and forget several important things, but the good thing is that all the new missionaries that were supposed to come are here, and all the ones going home made it home, so all is well.

Funny story from a couple weeks ago. So we had to do a delivery at night in downtown BsAs. It was in the apartment of Sisters, who live on the 10th floor. So they came down and gave us the keys and waited there while we brought the dresser up to the 10th floor (yes, luckily there was an elevator). Anyways, so we got to the 10th floor, it´s kind of late already, then we are trying to open the door with the key, but it didn't fit, so my companion tried it...still didn't fit, as we tried forcing it in, which shook the door and made loud noises. Then I looked up at the apartment number, "Hey, uh what was the apartment number?" I asked... "2" as we looked up to see "4" on the door we were at. so my companions, who were holding the wardrobe with me, dropped it and ran haha. So I was there outside this apartment holding the wardrobe alone. haha. But then they came back and helped me. 

In other news, I had the best icecream I have ever had in Argentina. It is amazing. it is like an icecream that looks like it came from willy wonka or something like that. It is huge! probably like a foot and a half tall. So good... I will send pictures. 

So the familia R (who is the miracle family from a couple months ago) is going through some struggles. They haven't been to church in 3 weeks because something else always comes up. Really, the root of the problem is that they don't have the support from the parents. The parents love the church and everything. They want to be baptized and they go to church, but they aren't determined to do it. So we had a lesson with them this week. 1st, we just listened to their problems. It is hard, because we can see so easily that all these "huge problems" are just excuses from Satan to not keep the commandments, but it is easier to see when you're not the one it is happening too. As they spoke, we could feel exactly what they needed. The key is the parents. We felt guided to teach about the commandment to keep the sabbath day holy. I have never taught it like we taught it then. Basically, we directed most of it to Alverto, the father, we helped him to feel 1st of all that this came from God, himself, and 2nd, that he has the ability to immensly bless the life of his entire family if he keeps this commandment.  The spirit was so strong. I knew he felt that this came from God. At the end, he began to tell us about his work schedule and how it was not possible to go every Sunday, he said God gave him this job to provide for his family and he has to do it. In that moment, it would have been so easy to do what is most comfortable and tell him he is right, just do the best you can, come when you don't have to work. But I thought, "What would Christ say if he were here?" and I know he would never say, "it´s okay..." to breaking the commandments of God. So we read in Mosiah 13 again, when it talks about in 6 days the Lord created the entire earth and every creation. He said he believed that. So we asked him, "if God did all of this in 6 days, do you believe that He can provide the way for you to live this commandment?" He paused, and said, "well...yeah...but...I just don't know."...."Alverto," I said, "your family needs you. You have the power to bless and completely change the life of your entire family in your hands. I know you want that.... I testify, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that HE can provide the way for you to live this commandment and to help your entire family." The spirit was super strong. I pray that He lives it, so that the kids can grow up faithful. 

Being in the offices is such a challenge. It is a challenge to have success when we have so little time in our area, but I love it. I love the opportunity to grow. I have felt many times this week the phrase, "I´m not done with you yet." I know that is true, there is so much more the Lord has for me to do and even more for me to become. So I won't slow down, because there is a great work to do. I love the Lord and His work. 

Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Tenney

Foto: I dont have a picture of me with it, but here is Elder Engebretsen with his. 

Elder Christofferson Visit, November 15, 2014

Hey! 
So this morning we had the mission conference with Elder Christofferson. It was great. 

This week was super busy getting ready for all of it. They have been working on the chapel for the last 2 months to prepare for this visit, which is kind of funny. They redid the roof, parts of the bathroom, and deep cleaned everything in preparation for it. 

I have never slept so little in one week in my whole life. (and don't worry, all of this is within President's approval)  It was so amazing how I always had the energy and strength to do all the things I needed to do. One night, after finishing all the prep stuff I was doing, it was super super late, and I had to finish putting in the baptismal records. I had put in like 30 and had 3 more. My eyes were closing as I tried so hard to keep them open to finish the last record. Finally, I finished, pushed save, and literally in the moment, just colapsed and fell asleep on my desk. I finished all of them. His grace is so real! 

Then today, after sleeping very little and fasting, I had the energy to stay awake during the whole meeting and receive the revelation I needed. Everything went super well. The West mission also came so we had plans for them and it was a lot of work, but there were so many tender mercies and it went so smoothly. 

Elder Christofferson visit.  Elder Engebretsen, our friend from Philly,  is next to Elder Tenney & Elder Christofferson.  

So the conference with Elder Christofferson was incredible. It was ALL about repentance. It was amazing to me because it was so singularly focussed and direct. I left with very clear guidance and exactly what I know the Lord wanted me to hear. I know He is a prophet of God. He literally said exactly what I was telling Heavenly Father I needed to hear. He said some great things. He said,"I used to think, 'how much more time before the Lord comes?' but my wife helped me to learn that what we lack is not time, but a prepared people." So it is not so much a matter of time, but a matter of who we are. 

Ah, now that it is all over, I am super tired. I look back on the whole week, and it all kind of blends together. But the word that pops into my mind thinking about this week isn't "sleep" or "tired" or even "Elder Christofferson" it is "GRACE". There are so many miracles I do not see and I do not notice, that I want to. There is so much He does for me that I overlook. But one thing I cannot deny and cannot look over is His grace. I felt His grace physically. I felt it intelectually, to remember all the important little and big things that we needed to do. I felt His grace spiritually, filling me with His Spirit even though there were so many opportunities to get stressed out.   

I know Christ lives. I love Him and am so grateful and amazed by His grace. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tenney

 P.S.  (A note he sent to Courtney after writing the note above)  

Part 1:  Sorry I don't have time! Elder Christofferson is about to enter the office and I have to leave!!!

Part 2:

Woah. So when I sent that, I was partially joking. I didn't think he was literally coming in that second. I thought it was in several minutes. But he really came into the office, right when I sent that. And I met him and shook his hand and talked with him. We took a picture. He lived in Indiana for a while when he was in the military. I could feel the spirit just in shaking His hand. What an amazing experience. I know He is a man of God.

Pictures! 

Elder Valerdi and I !

This other one is President's office here that they converted into the waiting room for Elder Christofferson. They told us we couldn't go in and we shouldn't even open the door (this was taken after). I think that place was cleaner than the temple. 

A five year-old Mayweather fan. November 8, 2014

Hey family!

So today in the morning we had to go buy things for the conference this week which took a while. Then President called us and invited us to go skateboarding haha. President is awesome. Therefore we didn't have time to write. So President gave us permission to write now. 

So the most exciting news of the week. A new assistant was called this week. We work a ton with the assistants and have Pday together, so we are really good friends. So last night the new assistant walked in and it was....ELDER ENGEBRETSEN! Which is amazing. My whole mission I have hoped we'd be able to serve together and now we will. (for those who don't know, Elder Engebretsen is a really good family friend who is in the same mission). So I am super excited and grateful to serve with him. It is so crazy...

This week we had the leadership council. I had been praying and preparing for it for several weeks. So we have a list that we work with of all of the converts for the last 6 months where you can fill out if they have a calling, priesthood, are going to church, and if they have been retaught the lessons. Then every week the missionaries in each ward update the list for converts from their ward. It is an amazing tool to use to work with the wards and stakes. but the problem is that the missionaries haven´t been very good in updating it, therefore it isn't accurate. I fasted this last week to know what I can do to help the mission improve. Then that same night, I found an error in the formulas that are used, that caused that a lot of the informartion was incorrect. It took a ton of time to fix it all, but it was a blessing because now it works better. Then, in the leadership council, I felt so guided and at peace in my part of the meeting. I really felt the spirit testifying of the Love of the Lord for the people on that list. So the Lord blesses me with so many miracles. 

So, there isn't a ton more to tell...this week there was a little 5 year old girl who asked me where I was from,"the United States" "oh..." she said slightly confused. I tried to help her, "its the same place where...hmmm......who would be a famous person you would know..." she cut me, "Mayweather is from your country, right?" haha. I, slighly in shock responded, "uh...yeah... he is." haha. So this 5 year old girl apparently is a boxxing fan. 

I am happy. I love to serve the Lord. I know He lives. Have a great week!!!

Love,

Elder Tenney

How You Serve, Nov.1, 2014

Hola Familia! 

It blows my mind how fast every day and every week is passing by. I was super busy this week. I don't even think I'll have time for P day today, I have so much to do. I love it. It is the greatest feeling knowing that in all I do I am serving Jesus Christ. Even if I am just doing things on a computer most of the time, the things that I am doing help people to come unto Christ. It is such a priviledge. 

We didn't have a ton of time for proselyting this week because there was so much to do in the office and all over the mission. Elder Christofferson is coming here in 2 weeks so I am super busy planning all of that. The Church sent us the guidelines for his visit and it is super interesting all of the specific things we need to do. 

Let's see... one night we were doing a delivery to some Elders. We were on our way home, when we saw blue lights behind us, and heard the sirens of the police. We stopped. I am used to the US when the police man comes up to your window, so we waited. After 30 seconds or so, they yell to us, "get out of the car," As they hide behind their open doors with their hands ready on their guns. We got out, super confused, and then saw relief come to their faces. "Oh, we are so sorry, we didn't know it was you guys."  They went on to explain to us how we had been driving the wrong way on a one way road (which we didn't even know haha. We were just following the GPS). But they told us there was no problem and let us go. It was super funny. 

Last Sunday, we were passing by investigator's houses in the morning to go to church with them. We passed by someone who had commited to go. We arrived and there was a man in the house on the 2nd floor, who stuck his head out the window. We asked for our investigator, and he told us, "uh...she's not here...she left to Paraguay yesterday." (this happens a lot). We told him, "Well, we're pretty sure she's here because we talked with her just last night and she told us to pass by in the morning." He paused..."well... she´s in Paraguay."  and closed the window haha. Then we kept clapping to see if she would come out, finally the same guy came down to knock on her door to tell her. He was speaking louder than he realized, he said, "yeah there are 2 guys here who said they are here to go to church with you...yeah... theres 2....uno es un americano feo (one of them is an ugly american)." hahaha. She didn't go to church, but the man said he might go this next week. 

All the things that happened this week were just office things that aren't too exciting to tell haha, So I am sorry if this letter is boring. There is a quote from an apostle that has truly been coming alive for me recently, "It doesn't matter where you serve, but HOW you serve." I truly am trying to magnify my calling and serve in the best way I can. Sometimes thoughts of being in the field flood my mind, but never without the spirit whispering "this is where you are supposed to be." I may not be testifying of Christ with my words out all the time like I was before, but I can testify of Christ everyday in the way I serve. I have a vision of the good that can be done in this position. There is an opportunity to elevate the vision of retention which can be the difference of a soul in Heaven. I know there is so much good the Lord has prepared for each one of us to do.

I know Christ lives. I love to serve Him. 

Have a super awesome week!

Love,

Elder Heath Tenney

Buenos Airesss

The week go by so fast. Oct. 25, 2014

October 25, 2014

Familia!

This week was great. I feel so much joy each day. Really, even when disappointments happen, the frustration passes so quick and is swallowed up in the joy.  

So this week it was amazing to see the transformation in Ricardo after his confirmation. He is serving everyone all the time now. He is smiling more and more. He goes with us to visit investigators. This man is amazing. I love him.

This week passed by so quick and we were so busy, but I don’t remember a lot that happened.

The Lord is blessing us with so many miracles. There have been lots of people this week who seem super elect and they are super excited when we 1st talk to them, but then the next day when we passed by, something had happened and they didn’t want to go to church anymore. So that is hard, It is amazing how much love one can feel for someone they met just a day before, but man, it hurts when I see them make that choice. But I know the the Lord has it all in His hands. There is nothing to worry about. He will keep the miracles coming.

I love this work. I love being here. There is no place I’d rather be. I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week! 

Love,

Elder Tenney

True Conversion October 18, 2014

Hey!

Last Sunday was one of the greatest days ever. Ricardo was baptized. He is a suepr interesting guy. He doesn't really show his emotions and he doesn't have one of his fingers (not that those two are related at all...but just a fun fact). And after his baptism, I heard him saying several different times, "Wow! What an incredible experience." And he was even smiling in the end. It was so cool. One of the most beautiful miracles in life is to see someone start to smile more, not just the act of smiling, but when you can see the smile is real. It is not about the smile with the mouth and teeth, but the joy comes from the changes that that smile reflects. Really, that is why I want to be here most. I just want to see people happy. And true, lasting happiness comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So Ricardo is amazing.

Later on Sunday, we taught the familia R about missionary work and why it is so important to share what we have. They were super impacted by it. We gave them all a piece of paper and asked them to write any names that came to mind. Every single one of them wrote 2 or 3 names, and not just that, they were asking us when we could go to visit them. And every single one of them had one of the same names on their list, Alberto. He is the dad of the family. They all want to badly for him to start going to church with them. They are praying for him and he started to read the Book of Mormon this week :) miracles. The most incredible of all was Priscila (the 9 year old who had 2 pages of notes from conference). When we asked her who was on her list, she had 14 people with whom she wanted to share the gospel. Some of them were neighbors, others were friends from school. She didn't know where some of them lived, so we gave her pass along cards to give to them at school. Then for an hour and a half or so, we divided up with a member and members of the family to go and visit the people whom they had written on their papers. It was so incredible. As I was experiencing it all, the thought came to my mind, "this is true conversion." Sometimes we think true conversion comes from experience or even just over time, but they are evidence that experience is not a factor. 

Then on Monday night, the familia R invited us over for dinner. They wet through so much sacrifice to make it for us. They made like 8 gallons of fruit salad and cooked a ton of asado for us. They really were priviledged to do it. They thanked us so much for coming just to be with them and eat their food. It is so humbling to see that kind of love and service. 

This week we found an awesome investigator named Alan. He is great. The Lord is blessing us with so many miracles. Even though we only have 3 hours to work everyday in our area, He makes up the difference. He blesses us with so many miracles. The miracles of amazing members to work with us. And amazing investigators who are so prepared. I love the Lord so much. I know He lives and is SO involved in this week.

I am living the dream. I love every moment. Have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Tenney

fotos: baptism of Ricardo!

Today for P day we went down to the "beach". Its not really a beach, but it is cool. We took a lot of pictures. 

His Limitless Miracles, Oct. 11, 2014

October 11, 2014

Hey family! 

This week was amazing. It was filled with so many beautiful and distinct miracles. Everyday is such an adventure. I am so overwhelmingly grateful to be here. Oh and I will attach the pictures of the baptism from last week too!  

So on Tuesday we had transfers, which is super busy and crazy. There is so much to do for that, so that was a lot of fun work. 

STICK SHIFT: So last week I was super stressed by it. It seemed like I could never feel comfortable driving stick shift and I felt dumb because it isn't so hard for everyone else. I was praying a lot for the grace of the atonement to be able to learn how to do it, because Elder Heaton was about to leave and he was the only one who could drive. We went out to practice, and before we went, Elder Heaton said, "do you want to say a prayer first?", so we said a prayer and I pleaded for Heaven's help and protection. Then when we went out it was incredible, it was so much easier, I felt so much more confident and at peace. I felt completely different than the first few days. It changed in just a moment. I know it is through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if it is overcoming addiction, finding forgiveness, or learning to drive stickshift, His grace is limitless and so powerful. There is nothing we cannot overcome through HIS grace. 

Last night, we went to deliver a bed to some Elders in Capital, right down town where there are all the tourists places and trafic is crazy. It was so incredible. Look up "9 de Julio, Buenos Aires" in google images and you will see the street of like 16 lanes that I drove on last night. It is such an incredible experience. Never in my life did I think I would ever be in Buenos Aires, driving through the city. 

The adventure of Thursday: So Thursday, we had to go out to Zarate (the zone furthest away in the mission). We first had to deliver a bed, then go to pick up an Elder who had to go to the hospital close to the mission home, the next day. The roads here, especially outside of the city, hardly have any lines. So I missed the exit like 3 times haha. FInally we got to pick up the Elder and his brand new companion fresh from the MTC, then we headed back. It was really late, everyone was sleeping, and it began to sprinkle...then a little harder....a little harder...and eventually it was pouring. I could hardly see anything and the roads here don't really have a drainage system for the rain, so there were just huge puttles. I was on the edge of my seat, driving so carefully. I told myself, "I am getting off at the next exit, but I couldn't even see the lines so I couldn't exit so easily. So I kept going... and the 3 Elders in the backseat had no idea what was going on as they slept haha. Finally, we got off the highway, and were 10 minutes away from home. I still could hardly see anything. We got close and now in the city where we live. I turned down the street we always turn on, and suddenly I could hear the water rushing beneath the car. I breaked, but the car wouldn't stop. I had no control. I wasn't going fast, so it stopped. But then the engine shut off. I opened the door, and the door was touching the water outside the car. We were in a river of water. The Elders awoke to see that we were stuck in a huge river of water. I tried to start the car and it wouldn't start up. I prayed. And prayed. and prayed some more. Then tried again, as the water levels were slowly rising. Finally, the car started, and miracuously I could somehow get control and back out of this flooded street. Really, it was a miracle. I thought for sure we were stuck. Adventurous Miracles!!! So after that night, it has been pretty much easy to drive stick shift in anything else, so that is a blessing too!

The greatest miracle of all is Ricardo. We found Ricardo on my 2nd day here. When we first talked  with him, he didn't seem well. He looked rough, messy hair, white beard, and missing parts of his fingers. He didn't show a ton of interest and we left him a pamphlet and told him we would check to see how it went. The morning of conference, we passed by and he said he wanted to go and he was searching for change. So he went. Then Sunday, he went again, to both sessions. He began to read the Book of Mormon everyday. He said, "It frustrates me, because I don't remember anything I read." He didn't remember, but then as we taught him, he paused us to make a comment and taught even more than what we had taught. It amazes me. He even cleaned his house that he was ashamed to let us see. Now, he is commited to be baptized. He has transformed. He told me, "I am going to continue with this forever. There is no point in starting something and not keeping with it, because you will never know what you could have accomplished, and what you could have become. I am sticking with this." This man is incredible. In just weeks, we have seen the atonement transform him. Ah, I love that man so much. Faith, not understanding is what we need for the atonement to transform us. He is getting baptized tomorrow. 

I am happy. I am so grateful to be here. It is so cool to be here in the offices, driving through the city, eating in cool places, but my desire and my greatest joy by far is being a witness to conversion. There is nothing so beautiful.

I love you all so much! Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Tenney