Re: Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

From: Barry.Romney
Date: 3/8/17 4:46 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: Corina.Tonini
Subject: FW: Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

Sr. Tonini (still Corina to me),

Do not be discouraged about your language.  I know just how you feel.  When I went on my mission we did not have the MTC and had to learn Japanese “in the field”.  There was no language training program whatsoever.  I had to sit in meetings and listen to try and pick out words and then look them up in the English/Japanese dictionary.  I couldn’t even tell when a word started and ended.  We all eventually learned the language…some better than others.  Your first few weeks will be a language challenge but soon you will realize that you are understanding more and more about what is going on.

Enjoy being the junior in your companionship.  There is much to learn and soon enough you will have to make many of the daily decisions…where to go, what to do, etc.  You will be blessed abundantly.

We are so proud of you and your decision to serve a mission.  What a great heritage you are providing your children…being the 4th generation of sister missionary efforts.

Con mucho amour e abrazos.

Gpa

PS.  I just realized you are our first grandchild to go on a non-English speaking mission  Omedito gozaimasu (ops, that is Japanese for congratulations!)

Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

GUESS WHERE MY FIRST AREA IS?? HEMET, CA! That's where my brother's in-laws live and I was here for the wedding reception. My ZLs go out with Justin Powell all the time!! I haven't seen them yet though...and I don't know if I really will.

My new companion is Hermana Chandler. She is...different from Hermana Harper. She is very strict with rules and I kind of feel like I can never do anything right with her. We have  some fun moments, but other than that....I don't know. I am learning patience and humility that's for sure. Also the Spanish is impossible. I am really struggling to speak the language. What is really difficult is not being able to understand what my investigators are saying. I can't help them if I can't understand them. It's getting a little bit better, but it's hard. This is the hardest thing I have ever done. It's hard enough teaching in English, but to do it in another language? Also, I didn't get to email the past two weeks and our Pday got switched to today because we had interviews yesterday, which means I have barely any time to write everyone.

OKAY I'M DONE BEING NEGATIVE NOW.

So, I only have time to share about two of our investigators. The Rios family is so so so dear to my heart already. The fourteen-year old daughter, Aisel, has such a big heart, and every time I see her I can just see how much the gospel can bless her life. Then the other family is the Sanchez family. The mom is a member but we can't find her records from Mexico so she is going to have to get baptized again. They have an inactive and a member daughter. The two of them are SO FUNNY. It's always a hoot, and last night I understood about half of what was going on, so that's a start. I really hope the Rios family gets baptized, but we aren't sure how much of a desire they have. The Sanchez parents get baptized in like...a weekish!! I am so excited that they will be my first baptism!

We have already had a family drop us, which was hard.

So here, we don't knock on doors. We do Buscando con Fe, which means we walk down the streets and talk to people outside. On my first day, we and one guy who said he would talk to us again since we aren't Jehovah's Witness or Mormons. And then proceeded to lift up his shirt to show us all of his scars and bullet wounds. Rad.

Also we have an investigator named Carlos Albanaz, but he can't get baptized because he is on probation, which is super hard. In one, week he read 100 pages in the Book of Mormon!! Like, he wants to be baptized so bad, but he can't! Hopefully he can be baptized sometime while I am on my mission!

OH MY SUNDAY. So I bore my testimony and afterwards Hermana Conchita went and got super emotional. And as she was walking from he pulpit, she passed out!!! An ambulance came and everything!

I love being a missionary. It is hard but so so so rewarding. I have felt the Spirit so many times this week and I am just constantly learning. I am trying to be bold, because when I am, I see the blessings.

Sister Tonini
California Riverside Mission

Now Arriving at Terminal Two

(This is a post from the mission blog):

Everyone else took the escalator.  

Elder Thorpe took the stairs.  

We applaud how anxious he was to 

arrive.... nothing to do now but wait!

Here they are now!  If it's the bottom 

of the escalator this must be Riverside!

President Mullen, you're pointing the wrong way.  

Headed to get luggage.

Gathering to get acquainted, receive new companions...

and share first testimonies.

Introducing our new missionaries and their trainers:

Elder Bryner (L) 

with his new companion, Elder Smith

Elder Hansen (L) 

with his new companion, Elder Moss. 

Elder Hansen (R)

with his new companion, Elder Eldridge. 

Sister Harper (L)

with her new companion, Sister Garcia.

Sister Harris (L)

with her new companion, Sister Keith. 

Elder Hite (L)

with his new companion, Elder Wood.

Sister Moran (R)

with her new companion, Sister Stone.

Sister Palmer (R)

with her new companion, Sister Wilde.

Elder Riding (L)

with his new companion, Elder Cornaby.  

Elder Thorpe (R)

with his new companion, Elder Frost.

Elder Williams (R)

with his new companion, Elder Young.  

Sister Tonini (L)

with her new companion, Sister Chandler.  

Welcome to the California Riverside Mission!

http://downbythecaliforniariverside.blogspot.com/2017/03/now-arriving-at-terminal-two.html

I Thought You Looked Familiar

It is a small world - especially when you are a Romney.  Would you believe that Corina is related to her mission president?!?

                                                                                Hermana Tonini
                                                                                         |
President Mullen                                                           Mom
            |                                                                             |
Charlotte Romney                                                Grandpa Romney
            |                                                                             |
Gordon Romney                                                    Ianthus B. Romney Sr
            |                                                                             |
Miles Archibald Romney  -----  brothers -----       Eugene Romney
            \                                                                             /
              \                                                                          /
                \ --------------     Miles Park Romney --------  /


To make the relationship even closer, President Mullen's dad was in the El Paso stake presidency with Corina's maternal great-grandfather, IB Romney Sr, at the same time that her paternal grandfather, Daryl Tonini, was on the High Council.

Small world indeed.

Arrival Letter & Pics

1 March 2017

Gregory and Raena Tonini

Minot, ND 58701

USA

Dear Brother and Sister Tonini,

We are so grateful to have Sister Corina Tonini join us here in the California Riverside Mission! It was exciting to meet her at the airport. I had the opportunity to interview your missionary and we were able to hear her testimony before having dinner together. We have been impressed with her testimony and desire to serve. It has been a privilege to get to know her.

Sister Tonini is now hard at work in her new area, the HEMET Zone with her companion Sister Kyandra Delaware Chandler.

Preparation day is Monday; most missionaries choose to email their family on that day. We encourage you to write or email weekly as well. Thank you for keeping your letters positive, uplifting and encouraging Sister Tonini to work hard and take advantage of the time spent here in doing the work of the Lord.

As we visited with her, this is what she said about her family: "We love baseball!!"  She is most excited about bringing others and herself to Christ.

We look forward to a wonderful experience together with your missionary.  Thank you for preparing one worthy to serve.  May God continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

John H. Mullen, President

If You Are In an Airport and You See Mormon Missionaries...

...ask them if they would like to borrow your phone to call home.

We received this gem while she was in transit in Mexico City.  She described the photographer as "a nonmember Canadian guy originally from Mexico...he was really nice!"

And then, shortly before she was to board her flight to California, she was able to borrow another traveler's phone to make a quick call.  Raena couldn't find me (I was outside shoveling snow) so by the time I got my hands on the phone, I only had a few seconds to tell her I love her and that we can't wait to talk to her in May.  Afterwards, Raena exchanged this IM with the owner of the phone:

Thank you for letting my sweet missionary call!  It meant the world!

For anything! I heard them behind me on the escalator

and they sounded so heartbroken.  I wish they could have

had more time.  She looked energetic and ready to get to work!  

You'd be very proud!

Thanks.  We really are proud of her.  Miss her so much.  Thanks for the gift!

Mexico MTC - TONINI/CORINA - Back to the States!

This is a pretty nice itinerary - I imagine they will get to the mission home tomorrow night, go to bed, and then get after it on Tuesday.

Monday 27 February 2017

American Airlines AA 389

Departure

27 February 02:19 PM

Mexico City, (Benito Juarez Intl) (+)

Terminal: 1

Arrival

27 February 05:05 PM

Dallas, (Dallas Ft Worth Intl) (+)

Terminal: D

Duration

02:46 (Non stop)

Distance

937 Miles

Booking status

Confirmed

Class

Economy (S)

Seat

24A (Left side of aircraft, Window seat, No smoking seat) confirmed for Corina Tonini

Equipment

BOEING 737-800

Flight meal

Food for purchase

.

Monday 27 February 2017

American Airlines AA 1605

Departure

27 February 07:00 PM

Dallas, (Dallas Ft Worth Intl) (+)

Terminal: 0

Arrival

27 February 08:13 PM

Ontario, (La/Ontario Intl) (+)

Terminal: 4

Duration

03:13 (Non stop)

Distance

1,185 Miles

Booking status

Confirmed

Class

Economy (S)

Seat

22A (Left side of aircraft, Window seat, No smoking seat) confirmed for Corina Tonini

Equipment

BOEING 737-800

Flight meal

Food for purchase