April 15, 2014

Dear Fam and Friends,

     Is it too early to say Happy Easter? Never! Hope you guys have a great holiday and eat lots of peeps and reeses' eggs (my personal favorite). However, don't forget the Savior this weekend! I'm so grateful for this time of year to remind us of the importance and the reality of His resurrection. He is my ultimate role model and I strive to be more like him every day. Something I've been working on this week has been the Christ-like attribute of Patience. I used to think I had a lot of patience (especially compared to my brother Shaun, no offense Shauny boy ;) but, if there is anything I've learned this week it is that, we can constantly be improving. This short mission we are able to embark on can change us completely if we let it! We must rely on the Savior so that He can make 'weak things strong' and even our strengths, stronger than before! What a blessing.

     I guess I'm going to start off with bad news. Chuck wasn't able to get baptized this past Friday... Bishop tried calling him earlier the morning of his baptism to let him know that he wasn't able to be there because he was still out of town for work, but he wouldn't answer. And then Chuck finally replied and told him 'He had an emergency and he needed to reschedule'. We tried to get ahold of him the remainder of the day, but he never contacted us back. So Friday was kind of depressing. The Elders (Simonsen and Nielson) drove up all the way from Warsaw to fill the font and help with the baptism. It was really nice of them. But after everything was cancelled, we all had dinner that night with the Stock's (Bishop's family). So it turned out to be ok. We ended up going over to his house yesterday with Bishop and Sister Stock and he was definitely a little loopy. I guess he had fallen off his combine and popped out a few disks in his back thinking he could jump off no problem... Dangit Chuck! It's ok though. At this point he is just adjusting and healing, and he'll be back to it in no time. But please keep him in your prayers because he has had problems in the past with prescribed medicine and I know Satan won't let up on him because he's going to be an amazing member! I'll keep you updated. 

     Megan M has been dong so great!! We were able to meet with her a couple times this week to teach her more. We pretty much have taught her all the missionary lessons, but some people progress slower than others and there's nothing wrong with that! She texted us yesterday telling us she had read 6 chapters in 1 Nephi and she was so excited. We visited her the next day and she showed us certain scriptures that she had highlighted because she had felt the Spirit really strong when she read them! I am so excited for her. We reminded her with love about Chastity and how Bishop could totally do her wedding! And she said it might be going the other way, but she'll let us know.. Poor girl! She is in the middle of making some really big decisions in her life. She needs the prayers and thoughts as well. Megan K is doing well. You can tell she is progressing, but at a very slow rate, especially without the support of her husband. We are in the middle of getting him some solid home teachers since he is a member.

      Jessica G is doing great. However, her boyfriend just moved in with her. So that's another wall to tackle. But I know as she is feeling the Spirit and wants to change so we just need to need to help her to see the importance of this commandment. What I want to know is why our investigators have so many issues with the Law of Chasity!! Out of all the commandments! But it's all good haha. They are still growing. We visited Darlene this week as well. She is such a sweet old black lady! Her son who is retiring, with his wife, is builiding a home right behind her. We were able to meet them as well. Emanuel and Keisha. Sometimes I wish I was like them. They're so cool! They all go to the baptist church and she loves it, but I know all we need to do is get her to read the Book of Mormon and she'll be hooked. 

      We had some other appointments as well. It was a pretty solid week. It's just the best feeling when you teach and serve others. On the topic of service, however, this weekend we did quite a bit! We helped Sister Quinnelly get her backyard ready by raking up all the leaves and power washing her porch and picking all the weeds. I was assigned the sitting area and Sister Quinn said it looked amazing and that I seemed to be a perfectionist. That's new!! I'll be ready to clean up the cabin, Grandpa :) I'm still sore! It's a little pathetic haha. Also, on Saturday we went to dinner with the Camden's in Chilhowee and we went to Roger and Debbie's place and watched them milk goats and see the little baby goats. It was awesome! I think it's really helping to be around them and help them to know we're normal people! In time. We also went over to the Camdens and helped them with a couple of chores before dinner. We collected eggs, fed the horses, kissed a llama, sat in an amish buggy, fed the rabbits, MILKED A GOAT (yeah I milked a goat), and then Sister Laycock and I castrated a couple of goats. And then they fed us soup all made out canned items. Including rabbit meat. However, I saw three little hearts in my soup so I pushed them to the side. That kind of freaked me out a little haha. Anyway, it was quite an adventurous week.

      Now, Sister Laycock and I are going to P-day it up. We don't have solid plans so we're just going to go with the flow. Just the way I like it. But we're definitely going to the mexican restaurant for sure :)  As well, tonight Sis L and I are driving up to Independence tonight because I have Visitors Center training on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. So we'll see how that goes. I guess all the VC sisters will be going. And I am full pros and VC so I guess I'm invited! And then we have zone conference on Thursday and then Kye's baptism on Saturday, and Easter Sunday will be her confirmation! Does it get any better? I'm so grateful to be a missionary at this time. I love the people I get to teach and the opportunity I have to help them to come to a knowledge of the restored Gospel. I know these things are true with all my heart. I hope you guys have a great holiday and look for the blessings in every day. Talk to you soon!

Love,

Sister Penman