January 6, 2014

Happy 2014 Ya'll!

     Man. Where do I even start? I feel like it's been 10 years since Christmas for some reason! We've been seeing so many miracles here in Clinton and our surrounding areas. Sister Call and I are working our tails off to continue the Lord's work. Last week was a rough week for our zone. Not one companionship found new investigators the week of Christmas which is normally a great week for finding! So that was sort of embarrassing. The zone leaders sent out a voicemail to our zone to let us know that has never happened since President Keyes has been mission president. However, instead of just sulking in our self pity, we knew we needed to work harder and pray harder for those that are ready for the Gospel. So as we went on this week, working hard as normal. It felt like we were hardly working! Throughout the week this week, we found 10 new investigators! And 18 altogether in our zone!

     One of them was a boy named Alex. Sister Call and I were tracting a little after contacting a referral and we start talking to this guy named Devon who was smoking outside. We briefly talked about the Gospel and gave him a BOM. But as we were talking to him, two of his friends came outside and were listening in on the conversation. We left soon after and went on with the rest of our day. Later that night, we got a random text that said, "So ya'll mormons'. And were a little taken aback because normally those texts don't end too well. However, we texted back and forth for awhile, discussing what we believed, and this person starts opening up to us and the next day we set up an appointment for us to teach him more. This was Devon's friend who was listening in the conversation earlier and Devon had given Alex our phone number. Hello miracle!! We're really excited to teach him. 

     Other investigators have been part member families and people we have met tracting. It's been a really blessed week. 

     Dan dropped us this week. I've never experienced that before. I wanted to be like, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, THIS IS YOUR SALVATION AND YOUR ETERNAL JOY AT STAKE", but I held my tongue. He said we could come by his apt and we could talk about what he's been feeling and why he is done. We definitely think it's because he sincerely hasn't been reading the book of mormon. Because those that do and pray about it cannot deny the truthfulness of it. But, I'll tell you how it goes next week.

     We're teaching Megan K this week and we're really excited! Hopefully she still wants to be baptized at the end of this month. 

     We just love Jessica like crazy. We went to her daughter's birthday party this week and had a great time. This week we are planning on going to institute with her, going to the Independence Visitors' Center, and having a teaching appt. We are hoping she will want to be baptized by February 1st because Sister Call is leaving that week... but we'll see haha.

     Cutie 13 year old Anne Scott is back in town and we'll be teaching her this week as well. She wants to be baptized, but it probably won't happen til the spring so that her real mom in Arizona can be there. But, we continue to come over and teach her to continue to develop her faith, but to also be there for Randy, her dad who is a nonmember. Sister Call and I have high hopes for him. 

      We have others that we are teaching and following up with as well. We are so blessed! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the new year and is trying to eat well and workout. I will pray for your success ;) I love you guys. I'm so grateful to be here on a mission and be an instrument to the Lord. I am always amazed to see things happen the way they do. There are no coincidences in missionary work. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ and all they have done and continue to do for me everyday. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation. This knowledge brings people so much peace and joy. I know this Gospel is real. I love it. I hope you have a great week and continue to love your neighbor and serve others because as you do, you are also in the service of our Heavenly Father! 

Love, 

Sister Penman