March 24, 2014

Dear Family and Amigos,

     I hope things have been going well with my friends and fam on the west coast and around the world! It's going to be a great week! This past week has been pretty good. I thought I was patient before my mission, but I'm really learning that Christ-like attribute now! We had some really solid appointments with our investigators this week, but most of them fell through, but that definitely doesn't stop me from remembering the blessings of this week.

     One day we were preparing to visit some investigators and Jessica Scott popped into my head. We hadn't planned on meeting with her that day, not for a couple of days actually, but I knew that we needed to visit her. We went over there and she had barely come home from a hair appointment and for some reason she seemed a little frazzled. After chatting a little, she went on to tell us that she was so happy that we came over. Her hairdresser I guess is Jehovah's Witness and would not stop Bible bashing while she getting her hair done today. The only thing Jessica said to her was, "I know the Book of Mormon is true. Please don't cut off all my hair." haha. She then went on to say,"Satan just won't leave me alone!" We encouraged her that if she kept staying on the straight and narrow, that the temptations will not be as threatening. I know that even if we are doing our best to keep the commandments and follow in our Savior's footsteps, we will still be tempted! That is part of the deal we had when we decided to come to Earth. It's a good thing, however, because I know if we keep striving to make good choices that we are going to be more converted to the Lord. Kick Satan to the curb everybody!

      Kye is doing so awesome! We taught her a few more commandments this week and she is doing great in living the Word of Wisdom. She's been telling everyone in Sunday School that she is planning her baptism right now and that she'll keep everyone updated haha. We went to the VC and the Liberty Jail with her last Saturday! It was a great experience. We went to the Book of Mormon kiosk and watched a video on one of my favorite BOM stories about the 2,000 stripling warriors. She went on to say, "It's crazy that I feel the Spirit give me chills even though I haven't got this far in the BOM yet." The sisters at the Liberty Jail did a great job. One of them had only been here for 3 days... I can't believe it's been 5 months. We also went to a really awesome Mongolian BBQ for lunch. The Spirit and a girls trip to the City? That's what mama likes!

     We taught Chuck this week with Brother Anspaugh about Baptism and Confirmation and the Priesthood. (I'm learning so much about the Priesthood as I study and teach it. I'm so grateful for it!) At the beginning of the lesson, when we were following up with his progress. I asked him if he has prayed about these things and he said he had, and then I asked if he recieved an answer and he said he'd tell us after the lesson... I was a little nervous. But, after we taught the lesson and bore our testimonies, I asked him again, and he said that although he has been baptized in the past, he knows it needs to be by one holding the authority from God. He's getting baptized this Saturday the 29th! Brother Camden (the one that referred us to Chuck) went up to us at church yesterday and asked us how we did it.. I don't know! He was just so prepared! All we are are are instruments in the Lord's hand. I'm so grateful to be His servant for this short time in my life.

     Another miracle this week was seeing Amy again! Back in January, we taught her the Plan of Salvation and she said she wanted to learn more, but she was getting a knee replacement and she told us to come back in a couple of months. This week we decided to go back. We only had time to share a scripture with her and catch up, but she said we can come over whenever she is home. And after we said a closing prayer and I prayed for her knee to heal well, she said that she knows the surgery had went so well because we had prayed for it the last time. She gave Hermana Laycock and I scarves that she had made as well. She is such a sweet lady, we are so excited to see her progress. I know she will know the truthfullness of it!

     Here are a few random updates from this past week.. We taught Anne and Hailey with her family on Saturday about missionary work and how we can share the light of Christ with others. It went reall well. When it was time to go, they gave us some awesome no bake cookies to take home (I'm telling you, they're trying to get me chubby!) And then Judy went on to tell me that she want me to marry her brother who is in the Phillipines right now on a mission... Oh jeeze ha. On a more spiritual note, this past week I was called to be a 'Sister Training Leader'. I go on exchanges with the sisters in my zone and I help them with any thing they need. I also go to the Leadership conferences/councils in Independence with the district leaders and zone leaders. I'm excited to help serve my sisters. 

     All in all, it's been a great week. Hermana Laycock and I have so much fun working together. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. And I'm so proud of my friends back at home for preparing for missions. I love this Gospel with all my heart, and I'm honored to be able to be a representitive of my Savior and to share my testimony with others. One of my mottos for this transfer is something that Elder Martino from the Seventy said in a Zone Conference last month. "If it is to be, it is up to me". I hope you all have a great week! Love you so much!

Love,

Sister Penman

     

I love the Missouri Country! and Kye!