Hello!

How is everyone?? Thank you so much for your lengthy email Mom! I love hearing about everything thats been going on back at home. I'm def jealous about the Hunger Games, but my time will come when I can watch it haha. Well it's only been a couple of days since I've talked to you because of my Visitor's Center P-Day, but alot has happened! Saturday: I did referral center with the VC sisters, hung out and studied with the Mormon Batallion sisters, then we went to Temple Square and did splits! I had a cute little Phillipino sister named Sister Millares. She is 29 and converted to the Gospel three years ago. People like that inspire me so much. Could you imagine going on a mission new into the Gospel? I can't! But she has so much faith it's amazing. I know how blessed I am to have grown up in an LDS home. During splits we planned a little, walked to certain spots on the Square, tried to find people to talk to, but there were sisters everywhere haha so we just found some members to talk to. The tabernacle had some Gospel singers belting it when we went in. I loved it. But I'm sure you could imagine that. I love soul! Then we did some mormon.org chats and a couple of phone calls. There was this 15 year old UK boy that went on chat and asked us "My brother started smoking and he knows it's bad, but he said it helps him get friends, should I tell my parents? I just don't want to lose his trust." How sweet is that boy? He has so much love for his brother. We did our best to give him some decent advice, but I just thought it was heartwrenching. I know he'll come around if he knows his Heavenly Father loves him and will give him strength if he tries his best to be obedient. We then had dinner and then drove back to the MTC. It was a great day. 

Sunday was wonderful as well. It was the Elders and myself's last day before we left for the mission field. We had great meetings with our branch presidency (who always inspires me) and devotionals. Especially the evening devotional by Elder Stephen B. Allen of the Missionary Department. He made it interactive and the Spirit was so strong in that room. He asked questions like, "Stand up if your significant other has sent you a Dear John/Jane letter already?" "Stand up if you're a 19 year old sister" "Stand up if you're and 18 year old elder" "Stand up if you have a significant other and you're still writing" It was hilarious and really fun to see people stand at these questions. Although the beginning of his talk was a little silly, he then talked with such power. One of my favorite things he said was, "Compare yourself only to yourself and never give up!!" Sometimes its hard not to compare our talents and skills to others, but I know has long as I do my best, God will do the rest. I will never lose faith. After his talk concluded. He asked the MTC President's wife to play the piano as the auditorium of missionaries sand 'Come Thou Font of Every Blessing'. It was so beautiful. I can't express to you the Spirit that we all felt. The Elders were crying. Even the tough polynesian elder in my district kept wiping his eyes (He reminds me of Shaun like crazy). After the Devotional, we went back to our classrooms and the Elders gave Sister Griffes, Sister Bowler, and myself priesthood blessings. It was amazing. And I saw Nick Werber at the devotional. So cool.

This is the funny part of my last weekend. I stayed up late last night to shower and then woke up at 3:30 this morning so I wouldn't be late to the bus at 4:30, so I finally made it to the bus with the help of my companion Sister Clarke (Yeah she woke up that early for me, I know she's amazing!) So I said goodbye to her and then hopped on the bus really excited and ready. However, everyone on the bus had little packets and I didn't so I was really confused. Then a man from the Travel Office asked me to talk with him for a second and he proceeded to tell me my flight is planned for Tuesday morning!!!!!!!!! My district president told me it was Monday and I didn't double check my travel itinerary. And then he said I'm going with a big group, but I'm the only one headed to Missouri so I'll be alone (which is fine), but the district president thought I was gonna be with a few more elders and sisters! Hahahah They just don't want me to leave!!!! So I took a short nap afterwards, but I've been pretty tired today ha. Oh well, I guess I'll be there tomorrow! haha I know things happen for a reason. I love this Gospel so much and I'm so happy I'm able to get out in the real world and show my faith in my Savior. Do your best to follow the teachings in the Book of Mormon. It's the Word of God! I know it.

And mom, my awesome companion Sister Clarke's mom just friended you on FB and she wanted me to let you know!! hahah so add her! I'll email next week about my adventures and pictures in Missouri as long as the MTC decides to let me go!! Love ya'll so much. Have faith in all things. The church is so true! Have a great week! HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Eat alot of pie for me!

Love,

Sister Penman