"There and Back Again"

 

Brasil Manaus Temple

It was the best of times. Period. These past two years have really started to blur together for me into one giant ball of happiness and suffering and joy and stress and all around smiles. From being taken from my loving home and shipped to the Amazon Rainforest to the death and birth of loved ones, these two years have been some of the most event filled of my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be able to serve the Lord in this bit of heaven on earth. I truly feel that I have a greater understanding of the wonderful gospel plan that our loving Heavenly Father has for us. I´ve seen people in all different stages and problems throughout this plan, and many of them found that sweet joyful peace that comes after sincerely seeking the true Healer of all pains. I have come to love the stories and teachings of the men called of God who left their writings for us, and that were later translated into a book of scripture that is the keystone of our religion. I am thankful for the charity of others and for all the help of members and investigators and especially all of my wonderful companions throughout these two years. I feel like I have put off the little childish me and grown up a bit. I´m not completely there yet, but I think I got a little bit wiser here on the mission. It´s a funny thing seeing these things for the "last time." I hope one day I may be able to come back. I am truly going to miss Brasil and it´s wonderful culture. Portuguese was fun to learn, too. I pray I won´t get rusty.I know that this truly is the work of the Lord, he guides it personally and trains us through revelation, the Spirit, and inspired leaders with divine authority. I am truly grateful to have had President Jayme and President Klein here on the mission to help guide us along these two years. Meeting two apostles of the Lord is also an amazing experience that not many people get a chance to do. Thank you all for your love and prayers and support to me and my family and to everyone else included throughout these past two years. May the Lord bless you and to those who are going to the Brasil Manaus Mission: Enjoy the Heat. Job 30:30 {My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat}.

 

Love you all tons!

Elder Mitchell Hayden Tenney

Brazil Manaus Mission

Set Apart:  15 September 2011

Departed from Home:  16 September 2011

Returned & Released:  07 September 2011

Alma 29:13

"Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full."

Week #102: "1"

I guess a picture says a thousand words, and I´m really at a loss for words right now. Hope you all like the pictures.

-Elder Tenney    

 

Elder Brasil
26 July 2011

Elder Eca and Elder Tenney
26 July 2011

Elder Feuz and Elder Tenney with Elder Laws back left
26 July 2011

Elder Tenney and Elder Owens
26 July 2011

Elder Johnson and Elder Tenney
26 July 2011

Elder Brasil, Gabriel and his father Rivelino, Elder Tenney
30 July 2011

Training @ Staff
02 August 2011

The Elders of Nova Cidade
21 August 2011

Gabriel and his mother, Karina
26 August 2011

Rivelino and Karina
Wedding Day
26 August 2011

"One Ring to Rule Them All"
Karina and Rivelino's Wedding
26 August 2011

Elder Silverio, Leonidas, Rivelino, Karina, Maria, Elder Tenney
26 August 2011

Gabriel's family with Elders Barbosa, Brasil and Tenney
26 August 2011

Week #101: "2"

Well, another amazing week. The zone conference was pretty good, and we had quick interviews afterwards with President Klein. Mine was quick. He asked how I was doing and if the amount of time left was getting to my head. He seems to know what sort of dilemma I am in right now. He just gave me a pat on the back and said just keep going and the stress of what´s going to happen will all go away. Something like that. I noticed the picture he has of me is one in a blue tie and I sat there thinking, "where on earth did I use a blue tie on the mission?"... then I remembered it was the pic that I took with shorts on and the suit coat to send out to the mission and I think with the calling as well. Funny how that picture stayed with me throughout the mission. Take a good picture of yourself! President will be using that the rest of your mission. Elder Brasil was going to be staying with me until the 29th, so basically my last week I would get my last companion... but yesterday there was another mix-up and Elder Brasil and Elder Barbosa, the other short time missionary at our house, went home yesterday. Now I am companions with Elder Rangel Silvério from Riberão Preto, São Paulo. He is a crazy cowboy. This should be a fun last two weeks. I got the whole ward as my area again as well, so things should be interesting. Update on Gabriel´s family: Wedding papers are in and it´s all systems go. We are so super excited for them. I´m so grateful the Lord gave me the opportunity to get to know them and teach them and lead them to the path of the tree of life. They grabbed onto that rod of iron like it was the last Krispy Kreme donut in the world. Soon they, too, will be partaking of that wonderfully delicious fruit, which amazingly they have here in the Amazon as well. Ok, maybe I´m a little hungry right now with all the food references. :p I am losing weight quickly for some reason. = not happy camper. I was all excited to come home and not get blown away in the wind and suddenly I just can´t manage to eat more than one plate of food at lunch. I think I've lost a little more than 5 kilos {11 lbs} the last couple of months. Well, hope you all are doing awesome, and doing what´s right.

Love y'all tons.

-Elder Mitchell H. Tenney

Missão Brasil Manaus

Week #100: "3"

So, the highlight of my missionary labors during this time is Gabriel´s family and the amazing faith and progress that they are having. This last week we had 3 marvelous visits in which we discussed the 3 pillars of personal revelation: Prayer, Scriptures, and Church Frequency. When we are doing these 3 things, it is more likely that we will be led to do what is right and to truly perceive the whisperings of the spirit. We basically get there and I just ask a few questions and they teach themselves. Who do we pray to? Why do we pray? When should we pray? Just simple questions and I get amazed by the amount of knowledge that Rivelino, Gabriel´s dad, has about these subjects. They truly are an elect family who were prepared to hear the Lord´s message. I don´t think I taught anything really... I just ask questions and they answer! I´m so grateful that the Lord led us to such an amazing and elect family. This ward is truly amazing here. I´m excited for it because the stake will split here in a bit and then the ward. We went to go help clean out the chapel building on Saturday morning and Gabriel was there with the other young men and the Bishop already helping. Gabriel should be getting the Aaronic Priesthood here in a little bit. He will be a teacher for a while, but soon a Priest. He is already going to seminary and everything as well. :) On a different note, my companion, Elder Brasil got his mission call, as well as the other short-time missionary that lives in our house, Elder R. Barbosa. Elder Brasil will go to the Brasil Belo Horizonte mission, and Elder R. Barbosa is going to the Brasil Campinas mission. Elder Brasil was super crazy excited when he opened it and the first words from him were, "Dude! I´m going somewhere cold! I´m finally leaving this burning rainforest!" I got it on film. Good stuff. kkkkk We have another zone conference tomorrow. This is the one where I get to "bury" my last testimony to the mission. I always thought it was funny how the younglings say "bury" instead of "bear." :p

Mmm... blueberry muffins.... mmmmmmmmm.....

Love you all tons!

-Elder Tenney

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!

Week #99: "4"

Well, I´m still alive. The jaguars are getting kind of feisty, and the neighbor's anaconda keeps crawling over the wall and almost ate all our chickens. No, I´m kidding, it's not like that here in this part of town. At least the anaconda part... and the jaguars... but there are a lot of chickens..I´m in this strange stupor right now of just keep working one day at a time but I feel like I know when the millenium is and there is just this void of what's going to happen after such and such day... will life be the same? Who is going to be there? What am I going to do? But, I got another month before I deal with that, so we just keep walking in the dried up heat of Manaus. I don´t remember it being so hot here..I think last August I was still in Acre and it was getting a cold front. But for now, we have a couple weddings in the makings. One is going to be on the 26 of Rivelino and Karina, who are Gabriel´s parents, and his sister Maria is also going to get baptized. The other couple is Nente and Gibson, but they are being a little difficult with me right now and won´t mark an exact date. They are leaning between 3 September or 30 September. I don´t know what´s taking so long but they won´t give me an answer. We already have their papers all set for the wedding, it's just do it now. Other than that it's just tudo de boa. {"all good"} Have an awesome week! Smile!

-ElderTenneyInBrasil

Week #98: "5"

Well, I guess I´ll write a letter to you all, seeing as how I have so little opportunities to do this during the week. :p So my not so exciting transfer suddenly got a vortex of twists and changes and crazy mad cow disease h1n1 stress action. Basically I got my comp changed to Elder Brasil, and late that same night a 2nd missionary pair got sent to our house and then one of those two got switched out again a couple days later. I spent my week showing the area around and then had a few stress attacks at the lack of attention my area was getting and we went into overdrive to get it all caught up. Spiritual Experience of the week besides another encounter with satan's demons: Gabriel was baptized and confirmed. I think I´ve told his story, but his parents are just starting a most fascinating adventure. Karina, G's mom, went to church the other day and said it was exactly the type of church she was looking for. Baptism- her in tears, confirmation- still crying, Sunday night visit with Bishop Robson- crying again and both parents basically asking us when they can be baptized, too. Their wedding is marked for the 27 of August, but there is a slight problem with one of their birth certificates, so pray that we can get it all settled quickly. I feel like suddenly I don´t have enough time to do all that I´m wanting to do to help all these here peoples in my area. It really is a strange feeling. I know I´m where the Lord wants me to be, with who I need to be, teaching who I need to teach. I just hope I can keep going and find some more people for the ones who come after me to teach, too. It´s like when Elder Gannon left, he left a bunch of people for me to teach, and during 2010 I saw basically all of them get baptized. I´m hoping the same for the people I´m teaching now, and also that they can all continue going strong and prepare for the wonderful temple being built on the margins of the Rio Negro. It really is starting to look amazing!

Love you all tons! Buckets of love for y'all.

-Elder Tenney

P.S.  Moroni is in town now. Any day now to set him all up on his new home. :)

Week #97 Part 2: "Emergency"

Hey, I´m just sending this email from the staff building right now. We had an emergency transfer due to a missionary not coming to the mission and now I have a "short time" missionary as a companion. His name is Elder Elderlan Brasil and he is from Manaus. He is waiting for his call to come so I might even get another companion in the half time of the transfer. Just to let you all know. Love you tons!

-Elder Tenney

Week #97: "Very Anti-Climactic Ending, But I Like It"

Hello peoples,

Once again, it rained today and so the internet is very very slow and after an hour I have finally managed to get to this part of writing. I think I´m going to try and find a different lan house and check my luck. But, for now...

Well, it´s that time of the year again, where people come and people go, new areas, old areas, new companions, old companions. The trial of faith at venturing into the unknown. As much as I would like to say that I am going into the Amazon Rainforest to find a hidden tribe and convert them all to the gospel after learning their local dialect, I will have to settle with the anti-climactic. The continuing story. The never-ending truth. Or... in other words, I´m staying put here in Nova Cidade with Elder Eça to finish out the fight. I´m actually kind of happy, though. He has been teaching me capoeira and it's actually really fun.

So, this week we have a young man named Gabriel all set up for baptism, and we are working with a few other really good families. Our ward mission leader is most excellent, and working with the ward the frequency has gone up by 30 since I´ve been here. We are hitting around 180 each Sunday in sacrament meeting. I´m happy to have been given a wonderful area and companion here in the final stretch.

We keep going to the center every other week it seems, and I keep buying more junk to bring home. Today was the piranhas. You guys are going to freak out at them. Limited supply. I´m trying to avoid spending here in the last few weeks, but I want to get the weight back that I lost. . . .
 

Well, hope you all are having a great time.  Plan on going to Wingers with me here in a few weeks! I´m craving it! Love y'all!

 -Elder Tenney

Week #96: Lucky 7

Dear Family people,


Elder Tenney, Kellen, Elder Eça
Kellen's Baptism
17 July 2011

How are all of you? I am doing great. I feel different now... my last milestone on the mission has passed after last Friday, and I´m starting to get this strange anxious feeling inside. This last week was an extremely long week with the whole "change pday to Monday" thing. It was very weird. But, we are going strong and had a record 8 people in sacrament meeting. The investigators are all going good. This transfer has been one of the fastest ones I have had so far.

We also had a baptism last week of a young woman, Kellen, (18). She is the cousin of Marcileia who I baptized with Elder Gannon forever ago. Small world. I even got Marcileia's number and called her out in Parintins to tell her and catch up. It was cool to talk to her and her husband Ronaldo. They had a baby girl last month. I don´t know why missionary work seemed so hard at the beginning. I think it was just learning how to follow the spirit and teach in a way that others can feel that this stuff we are saying is true. It´s amazing to me to see people who fall away from the church and start going to another church that just opened up a few weeks ago. I almost want to rip what little hair I have left out of my head and say, "Did you never pray to Heavenly Father to ask him if this stuff is true? Why would you go against something like that?" I am so thankful for the power of prayer. Some of the people I have taught have had dreams and visions and warm cuddly feelings. For me, I just don´t have any doubts come into my head. It´s just a simple, straight up fact to me after I pray about something. I feel that it's right, and then I go with it. Never doubt your first impressions. The enemy always comes along to put doubt in you for the second round. Anyways... church is true, y'all. If you don´t believe me, go pray about it. Don´t stop praying until you get an answer, too, because God is there listenin'.  You just gotta be patient enough to get the message back to ya.

Happy Sailings!

Elder Tenney

P.S.  We played football on the Ponta Negra again. Temple is looking awesome. Everyone loved the Swedish fish.

{And from Elder Asa Laws' blog this week: "This week I got a survival package from Elder Tenney... An American flag, Pepto-bismol, and playing cards!!!!!!" It is so nice to know the elders have each other to support them in their work so far from home!}

Week #95: I Hate Mondays

I just don´t know how it happens, but another week down. Oh wait, I was just here last Wednesday... It is so weird to have P-Day on Monday now. I´m all flustered. The week suddenly looks so long until Sunday. How are we going to manage it? Good luck. Anywho, how be all you people in the computer screen? I see you put more messages in my inbox, and for that I am happy. We got our new mission goals from pres to the zone leaders to us. Basically we are having a mass change and it involves the members a whole lot more. Stuff like having 10 people in sacrament every week and marking 6 new baptismal dates. Nothing TOO big. But still, it is a big goal. We hit the ground running thankfully and the ward here in Nova Cidade has gone to arms to help in any way possible. Our baptism for last week fell, but we re-marked for this week. If all goes well we will be baptizing straight for at least the next 3-4 weeks from what we have so far. I like areas like this. 

I feel like I have nothing to say as it's only been four days since my last email, so for now, this week we have interviews with president and ... I´M TURNING 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What on earth is happening??? I still feel like I am 18!!!!! Where did all the time go???? Ok, I guess it´s not that bad. I actually forgot about it the other day until the package came... Time stands still on the mission. Thank you for all the love and wonderbars! Fun story, other day our ward mission leader came to teach with us and he starts preaching to our new investigators about baptisms for the dead. The woman suddenly got all confused and said 'how is it that you can do that? Is it really possible to save people after they are dead?' She didn´t voice this until another visit last Friday-ish. I spent 2 hours trying to explain  the how and why and all that, but she didn´t get it. Then she re-worded her question: How can you force someone into the celestial kingdom by doing this baptism? Oh.... This isn´t something that forces people, it gives them the opportunity to be baptized according to the commandment so that they can get there if they accept it on the other side. Problem: solved. Some people.... We also had a young man named Gabriel who after praying had a dream of a pillar of light/second coming and on our next visit was 100% ready to accept the baptismal invitation. That´s some experiences from the week. Hope you all are having a good time! I know I am. :) Loves and Hugs!

-Elder Tenney

Week #94: Extra from Elder Asa Laws Blog....

{Kind words from Elder Asa Laws serving in the Brazil Manaus Mission...from his blog....}

We met our new mission President on Monday, the 4th! He is so cool. President Moroni Klein! He is from Porto Alegre, the south of Brazil, and he has a wonderful family. He is just so excited and he has a TON of energy. I instantly liked him from the moment I saw him.  ... He is a history major and he knows a ton. Everything relates back to the gospel. ... he let us sing the Star Spangled Banner as the closing hymn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to conduct and Elder Tenney held up his giant American Flag. It was AMAZING!!!!!!! I LOVED IT! Everyone here knows I was in the ROTC and they all know I am really patriotic.

Speaking of Tenney, he said he is going to give me the flag when he leaves to pass it on to another loyal American. We talk alot on p-day and meetings. He is a way cool guy. Today he said "dang, why does this have to be my last transfer! We would have been great companions!" He is a cool guy and he is a good example of a hard working missionary.

Week #94: Picture Day!

 

Mixed Emotions? - 24 June 2011 

 

First off, today I remembered to bring the card reader, so lots of pix coming. Second, as a notice to all peoples who write me, please don´t keep reminding me about how much time I have left. I am very aware and would like to not be aware. Thanks. 3rd: love all you all tons!

 

Current Companion: Elder Eca - 20 June 2011

So,  the email finally opened up. We tried earlier and the myldsmail was down. Finally got in. So, let´s start from the beginning.


Bedroom - 29 June 2011

 

Elder Tenney's hammock - 29 June 2011



More of the house - 29 June 2011



Stairs in new house - 29 June 2011



Washer - 29 June 2011



New mission president came last week. Elder Eça and I saw him early on Friday because we were dropping wedding papers off at staff and he invited us to come have a morning devotional with him and the secretaries. He is very excited and animated. It was weird not seeing Pres. Jayme there.

Wedding - 28 June 2011

Wedding Decor - 28 June 2011

Friday night, the staff building caught on fire. The missionary apartment up top had a wiring problem and burned about 1/4 of the upstairs to nothing but ash. Everybody is all right, but the secretaries lost there duds. We are all donating to help them out. Nothing of the mission office was destroyed either - just their personals.



Ward Party - 01 July 2011



Pinata @ Ward Party - 01 July 2011

Afterwards, we had an activity Friday night in the ward and we got tons of references! I love when this happens! It was like a cowboy dance party thing that happened in the ward in PV before I left. There was a giant wooden pole that was there for people to climb. It's a daring test like climbing up the açai trees in the Amazon forest. I tried it out and made it to the top in my missionary stuff. Pretty good work, Elder Tenney. Thank you.

 

With President and Sister Klein - 04 July 2011

 

24 June 2011



03 July 2011



Afterwards, on Monday, there was a Manaus conference and everyone got to meet President and take pictures with him and whatnot. As it was Fourth of July, I brought my American Flag with me, and Elder Larsen from my group asked him if we could sing the National Anthem and I whipped out the flag real fast. It was quite hilarious, and Pres said "yes". So at the end we sang gloriously the Star Spangled Banner song and it was amazing.

Elder Tenney @ Indian Cemetery - 02 July 2011

Indian Cemetery - 02 July 2011

Elder Eca @ Indian Cemetery - 02 July 2011

Rotary in Brazil - 06 July 2011

 

Autographed? - 04 July 2011

 

On Tuesday, (yesterday), there was zone leader conference. A lot of changes are happening here in the mission. The one I think will affect you the most is that...

P-DAY IS CHANGING TO MONDAY!

I hope you take note of the notice which I placed in the note this section that says...



P-DAY IS CHANGING TO MONDAY!



Thank you. So, this is my last Wednesday email, but I´m back sending the next one off in a few days.



Visiting Elder Johnson (in yellow) 15 June 2011  



Goalie - 06 July 2011



P-Day Soccer - 06 July 2011

 

Elder Tenney's Feet after Soccer - 06 July 2011

We played soccer today and I was goalie for my team, again. I like it better. I´m getting pretty good at the whole dive for the ball and drop kick it low and far technique thing. It was sure fun. I will say this, though- I miss playing tennis so much!



Missionary Supplies - 01 July 2011

We are starting to get some quality references these days and we end up not having enough time in the day to go meet everyone. Elder Eça has a tendency to wander to the same places every day to do friendly visits, but I am starting to get to know the area better now and we get more done these days. Well, in all, I hope you are all having a most glorious day, and may your French toast be super tasty. Whoops, sorry.  FREEDOM toast.
 

Happy 21st B-Day, Elder Tenney (coming up on 15 July 2011!)

Love you all tons! I´ll start sending pix!

-Elder Tenney

Week #93: "10"

To: You

From: Elder Tenney

Title: How to Slay a Dragon

In the year 1328, there was a fearsome dragon who roamed about the land, eating the peasantry and stealing what little gold they did have. As would have it, there was a mystical sword that slays dragons, and as all fairy tale legends go, only one person is chosen by the sword to wield it. That poor bloke happened to be Sir Whippersnippers. In short, he went to slay the dragon and got eaten. The dragon later died of smallpox because Sir Whippersnippers never took a bath in his life.

What does this story have to do with me? Nothing. I was just bored and didn´t know what to write. So this week we both got sick around Friday and we both still have a bit of the sniffles, but we are getting better. I´m eating chicken noodle soup and what-not, so yes, I'm on the mend. So is Eça. We marked a baptismal date with one of Marcileia´s cousins. Cool beans. We basically showed up and the first words out of her mouth were "I want to be baptized." As you wish! In all, we are going good. Pres. Klein's airplane touches down in the airport at noon today, and Pres. Jayme leaves for the US at 3-ish. I am going to miss them a whole lot. I guess that´s the highlight for the week. Marking a date. Happy Birthday Livers! Tell Ike to use his hands to open the door instead of his head. Happy DragonSlaying!

Loves,

eLdEr TeNnEy

Week #92: Internet Slow in Caveman Area

Dear peoples at home,

This week was pretty good. The chapel is a rented building here. New chapel bigger than our stake center will be done in August. No piano here. The area is huge. It used to have 4 missionaries here. Hope it opens up some more. Lots of missionaries coming in. Groups of 16, 19, 17, next one 20. The mission is finally growing as I'm leaving. My comp is "maluco". That means he is crazy. I like him. I have about the same time on the mission as he does {as a} member of the church. I'm teaching him English, too. He has a great attitude and we are getting along well. 

21 June 2011

"Going Away" Conference with Pres and Sister Jayme
(Elder Tenney is in the 3rd row, right behind President Jayme!)

We had a going away conference with President Jayme. I will miss him a lot. I find myself surrounded by my old comps at these meetings. It's pretty cool. OH! I just remembered. Fabio, one of the men I baptized forever ago, is now the Elders Quorum President in Castanheira! I'm so happy for him. Suelen had a baby girl last month, too. It makes the whole mission feel worth it. They are waiting for the Manaus temple to open next year. I talked to a certain sister Hammaker the other day. She gave me Ty´s address out in Spokane. I think I´ll try writing him a letter here in a bit. Today we were going to play football (real football) on the beach next to the temple, but our bus was hit by a car this morning. I took a pic but it's not loading. The car tried turning left on the inside of the bus which was also turning left. He scraped up right under the window where we were at. Basically destroyed our pday. So we went to the city center and looked around. I found out that Elder Fox passed in this area a long time ago. Pretty cool. Well, hope you all are having a most excellent time, being happy, playing nice, eating your veggies, smile!

Loves,

Elder Tenneysan

Week #91: One Ring to Rule them all...

Dear Family and members of the Fellowship of the Ring,

The quest to save Middle Earth is going well. I just barely took a long voyage back to Mordor in the heat and stuff, so I´m going to be battling here on the front lines again. In case you´re not understanding me very well, yes, I got transferred back to Manaus. It was actually really sad to leave the Shire (Porto Velho). I don´t know why, but I wanted to stay there some more. It was really good to see a ward with a functioning leadership. Our ward mission leader, Samwise Gamgee (Fernando Grabner), was one of the best ones that I had up to now. If we needed anything, he was there. The bishop was super friendly and doing a lot, and basically all the leaders did their job well. But, now I´m here again, back in Manaus. So, my area is way out on the northern tip of manaus, on the opposite side of the city from where all my other areas are. It is called Nova Cidade. For the first time I have a companion with less than a year on the mission. His name is Elder Josimar Eça from Camamu, Bahia. He is a descendant of Portuguese and African people. He is in his second transfer right now. My flight didn´t come in from Porto Velho until 1 AM and I hardly slept at all Monday night. Last night I just died and went to sleep when the time came. We went around and met some of the ward members yesterday. One of the investigators here is the uncle of Marcileia, who happens to be the first person I baptized on the mission with Elder Gannon! Small world. This area is a bit smaller than my last one, so maybe I´ll get back the weight I lost in Porto Velho. For the first time I have an air conditioner unit in my house, so maybe I´ll get some quality sleep now. Elder Eça´s last companion finished the mission up this last transfer, so I´m kind of starting from scratch here if you know what I mean. There are lots of missionaries coming into the mission. Last transfer had 15ish come in, this one 16, and the next they are planning for 20 more to come. Sounds like things are starting to pick up now. Wish I could be here to see the mission filled up again. President Jayme is still here until the end of the month it sounds like. They do the trade somewhere around the 30th, and they will both be here for just 2 hours together and then Pres. and Sister Jayme get the airplane home. Well, I´m super-de-duper-100% excited to go out into this area now. To boldly go where probably lots of other missionaries have gone before and pick the fruits from the seeds they sowed. It doesn't matter where you have been, it is where you are now and the direction in which you are heading. The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that we are the pilots. Well, hope you all have a splendiforous week and make the most of it. I know I will. Loves and bear hugs.

Elder Gandalf the Grey. (Tenney)

Week #90: 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

Dear People,

Another week gone by so fast. Same difficulties as usual. It´s weird how after being in the same area for a while the routines start to become monotonous. I am thankful for transfers. I love my areas, but I don´t think staying in one for large amounts of time is such a great thing. Oh, by the way, transfers are this week.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE LAN HOUSES!!!!!!!!!!!! THE COMPUTERS ALWAYS FREEZE AND I LOSE MY ENTIRE LETTER!!!!!!!!! I CLICKED SEND FOR A GIANT LETTER AND IT FROZE AND I LOST ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

Yes, I am doing fine. I'm as calm as a daisy and peaceful as a butterfly. On the outside at least. Inside I'm wreathing with rage and destruction and craziness. Well, I´ll just list the stuff now. Taiane is back. Baby had pneumonia and infection afterwards, but will be baptized this week. Pres. Jayme finishing up the battle. Don´t know what's going to happen this week, if everyone goes to manaus for mission conference or what. That´s basically it. Sorry for the ruined letter. Love you all tons.

ET

{Three months from today....!!!}

Week #89: KUNG FU PANDA 2??? NO WAY!!!!!

Hey all,
  

"We had a zone activity today. Soccer and basketball. I forgot my shoes in Manaus, so I've been playing barefoot and today I got a massive blister. Not going to be fun walking... maybe." (Elder Tenney:  Second from right)

This week was a hot walking in the sun go about talk to everyone milkshake physical therapy where are the investigators why isn´t our baptism working out kind of week. In other words, this week was normal. Elder Guerreiro started to have back pains the other day and so we went to the hospital and he got an xray. From the looks of it, his spine is collapsing or would have had we not come in when we did. They ordered him to start physical therapy, which we do once or twice a day now. Poor guy, after physical therapy it gets better, but then much later in between sessions he says it still hurts. Hope he can get through this. Took an injection and meds and stuff for it, too. Not pretty. Taiane´s little baby girl got pneumonia a couple weeks ago and finally left the hospital this Sunday. We went to go visit her on Monday and right before we got there they rushed back to the hospital as Grazielle got bad again. It's so sad... it's a little baby girl with a rocking hairstyle. I´ll try to take a pic one of these days if I can. So... we spend our days talking with people. As our area is the city center, for every 10-12 people we talk with, 3 give us their address. Of every 10-12 addresses we get, 1-2 live in our area. So, we get to talk to lots of people. That´s basically the battle plan for this week and next week so that the next transfer can already start off good. We walked past a movie theater today and I saw a poster for Kung Fu Panda 2. Let me just say I am so excited now I'm just getting all giddy inside. Well, hope you all are doing amazing! Love you all tons! Have an awesome week, work hard, go read a book or something. Loves.

-Elder Tenney

"100"

ONLY 100 DAYS LEFT FROM TODAY FOR MITCHELL'S MISSION IN MANAUS!!! :D

Week #88 - Part 2: New Mission President

Elder Tenney will be getting a new mission president on or about July 1st!  He will miss President and Sister Jayme tremendously, but his new mission president will be wonderful.  Doesn't he look happy? Elder Tenney will only have him for two transfers!

Ana Lucia Da Silva Klein and Herberto Moroni Klein

Herberto Moroni Klein, 51, and Ana Lucia Da Silva Klein, five children, Brazil Manaus Mission; Ipanema Ward, Porto Alegre Brazil Stake. He serves as a counselor in the Brazil Porto Alegre South Mission and is a former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, Young Men president and missionary in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. Institute director. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to Edmundo and Olga Carlota Dittrich Klein.

Sister Klein is a former stake Relief Society president, stake Young Women president, Relief Society president, Young Women president, Relief Society teacher, Sunday School teacher and seminary teacher. Born in Florianopolis, Brazil, to Vicente Manoel and Auta de Paula Raimudo Da Silva.

Week #88: And....

Dear Family,

How are all of you? I am doing just grand. In a nutshell, missionaries are starting to get a little sick again in the region, so I gotta be careful on where the water I´m drinking comes from and stuff. Elder Marchette in my district spent all last night vomitting and whatnot. Not pretty. Also, Taiane, who was marked to get married and baptized this week, didn´t work out because her little 5 month old daughter got pneumonia last Tuesday and is still in the hospital. Doing better, but it was enough to set us back a bit. I´m finding some old investigators that are starting to get interested again, but we really need a new teaching group. We went out to the park in the city center and did contacts with people there for a few hours. It brings some interesting conversations, from crazy pastors to wild hippies. There was one guy who stopped US and asked us 3 questions: 1- Are you Mormon? 2- Do you use your Bible or the actual Bible? 3-Do you keep all the commandments? The 3 one was his way of saying why don´t you keep Saturday instead of Sunday. From that point, I knew he was an Adventist, so I tried to explain to him and invite him and whatnot, but he wouldn´t give me a chance to speak, so I just listened for a little bit, and he finally let us go. I got his phone number at least. We did a service project at Bishop Diniz´s house yesterday and pulled all the weeds out of his backyard. He is a school teacher that teaches class in the morning, afternoon, and night classes, so he rarely has time to do stuff like this. Oh, yesterday was a holiday in Brazil. I don´t know if I said this yet, but I think Brazil has more holidays than any other country. There are like 2 or more every month. Just another excuse to go drink and miss work. Oh well... Hope you are all doing great! Love y'all tons!

-Elder Tenney

Week #87 and Week #86

Week #87:  What a Fast Week!

So this last week was pretty good. Jaimison, Luide and Larissa were all confirmed this Sunday at church, so we are all caught up now. This week is Taiane´s wedding and baptism. Should be a good one. José hasn´t really gone anywhere. The fire kind of cooled down with him, but we have a bunch of other super awesome investigators that we are teaching right now. For now, I think what our big issue is going to be is finding more people to put into the system for the next few months. If we don´t find people now, June and July are going to be kind of empty. We had Zone Conference Monday and Tuesday. It was most excellent. I participated more than usual due to the small size of the zone here, so suddenly I seem to be a talking machine to president I think. After this conference I actually really do feel more confident in what I am capable of doing to help others here on the mission. It´s funny because the Church Mission Office makes the curriculum for training missionaries, and now they aren´t teaching so much what the topics are, but how to teach in general. I guess they realized we know the material, but we are just terrible teachers. :p It only works when the Spirit of the Lord is with you, otherwise you are wasting a lot of people´s time, talents, and money. Let´s see... It sounds like Elder Poulton was called out to Boa Vista. Lucky guy. That´s the one state I haven´t gone yet. Let´s see how he does. I hear it is super hot and sunny during the day, sunscreen a must have. Well, I guess that´s it for this week. Elder Guerreiro and I are getting along splendidly. He and I have a lot in common. Hope you are all doing well, and I´ll hear from you next week!

Love in a bucket,

Elder Tenney

 Week #86:  Another Week.....

Elder Tenney and Train
May 2011

Well, I basically don´t have anything new since Sunday, so here are some pictures. Another couple of baptisms this week if all goes well. Love you all tons!

Thanks for the amazing phone call. Take luck!

{Short email this week since the Mother's Day call just 3 days ago, but pictures make up for it!}



"Greengo the Dog"
30 April 2011

  

"Mario and Family"
30 April 2011
{Mario and his wife are the couple Elder Tenney told us about a couple of weeks ago who had been inactive and decided to come back to church and they had children who are ready to be baptized and other family members interested in the gospel!}

  

"Jaimison"
Baptism Day
30 April 2011



"Joa Vitor"
Baptism Day
07 May 2011

"The New District"
(Elder Guerreiro and Elder Tenney far right)
09 May 2011