Hey Ya'll!

     I'm working on my country accent since I live in right in the middle of the country. I'm getting good at it. This week was amazing! I'm so excited for Marc! He's just gonna love it. I know if I would have heard all those sweet boys sing Armies of Helaman I would have cried. I'm so proud of those guys! I'm glad that you're hosting the Mission Prep classes! Those will be really good for Shaun. I wish I would have humbled myself more before my mission and taken a few. But, oh well make sure Shaun goes!! 

     This week has been great. I always forget everything by the time P-day comes because I'm always going! We've done some service at the Samaritan Center this week moving boxes and lifting them on top of each other. I got a pretty decent arm workout that day. And tomorrow we're helping distribute these boxes that have food and soap and towels and things to everyone who needs it. I LOVE service. We've met some incredible people these past two weeks. One is Jessica. She is amazing. Her husband is less active and she's not a member. She knows the church is true and she loves everything about it. Everything we teach she just soaks up, but she's had a few baptism dates she's had in the past and she's bailed on them, but this week we went to teach her about the restoration, but we felt like she needed a member to be with her. So we brought Sister Jensen (cute blonde mom from Utah who went to Utah State with her husband, cool right?). But I know it was the direction of the Spirit because we didn't end up teaching her anything about the restoration, but Sister Jensen told Jessica she had anxiety and they just clicked. Jessica told us as well that she's always had anxiety too! Long story short, they get along so great and now Jessica has fellowship in the church and that's what she really needed, so now we just need to get her baptized! I'm so excited for her to progress. I love her!

     Another person we are working with is Eric. He's married to an active member of the church, but he's not a member. His wife had cancer a few years ago and got a priesthood blessing, and the next day at the doctor, the tumor was gone. Then, Eric got cancer and he got a priesthood blessing, but he still has cancer and is going through it right now. I know he wants to be baptized, but has some doubts. So we're gonna fill those in with a whole lot of faith!! He's progressing because he wants to go to the temple. Sister Call and I are so excited to continue to teach him and help him through! There are a couple more progressing, but I don't have much time left. Clinton is so prepared, it's such a blessing!

     We had zone training this week which was pretty good. They talked about keeping Christ in Christmas and how the world is trying to take him out of it. So NEVER say X-mas again. Because it's like you're crossing out Christ. That just blew my mind a little bit. This week has been a little less finding people, and having more appointments with those that are progressing. Which is so exciting!! The Elders that were here before us, are now in Warsaw. But, I just feel like they need Sisters. Plus, they can't be as mean to us cause we're girls, which is nice. But seriously, I am so blessed to be here in Clinton. I see the Work right in front of me and all I want to do is harvest all these people wanting to know more about our Savior! I love the people like crazy. We went to this one lady's trailer who was a less active, but it was quite an adventure. She didn't have any teeth, and she had her dogs on her bed (they might have had fleas or something) and they pooped and peed on it while we were visting with her. It was quite the experience. But I couldn't help, but love her and just want to help her. I also drove out to one of the small towns in our area with sister call and Sister Stock the bishop's wife to visit some people this week. While visiting one of the members, her 40 year old daughter came out tripping on meth and had soiled herself.. as she talked in murmurs. The Spirit was not there. I'm so grateful for the Gospel in every commandment, doctrine, and principle. We are trying to help her the best we can with visiting teachers and fellowshiping. It just made me realize how truly blessed I am, and now I'm out here to help others come unto Christ and recieve salvation. 

     Which was what my talk was on this week! I didn't have as much time to prepare my talk this week because we were so busy, but I did my best and worked really hard and prayed my guts out. I know the Spirit helped me say what I need to say. I talked for 15 minutes without looking at my talk, always finding the words to say. I've never experienced that. I never knew I could do that. I felt so amazing as I sat down. Because I knew, as I was obedient and asked my Heavenly Father to help me to find the words to say, he filled my mouth. I am so grateful and so uplifted! This week we have a mission conference in Independence and I get to see my friends from the MTC and we're singing White Christmas and another song with my zone for the program. I'm so excited!!!! Tis' the season! I'm so grateful for this Gospel and all that it has given me. I'm here to spread the glorious news that Our Savior's church is restored!! I have never felt so much purpose in my life. I'm so blessed. Have a great week and love one another!!

Love,

Sister Penman