Dear Friends and Family,
It has been a week filled with missionary work. I'm so grateful to be able to serve others and teach. I was able to go to a leadership conference this week with all the district leaders, zone leaders, and sister training leaders in the mission. I thought I was going to pee my pants. I didn't have to do anything except listen to the Spirit teach me through the talks that were given by a few missionaries, President Keyes, Sister Keyes, President Medina, President Hepworth, and other senior missionaries. Sister Rasmussen, a senior missionary, talked on the importance of having a 'rainbow' diet and exercising in the mornings. The average weight gain in the mission is 30 lbs... crap. They feed very fell in Missouri that's for sure. I almost wish I didn't have to worry about it like my friend David Winward. He's lost 45 lbs in Chile! Rock star. The talks and trainings were all on the missionary daily schedule and the importance of being obedient and being dilligent throughout the day. I was really grateful to be a part of it, even though I was the youngest sister there. I'm going to be training 3 of the topics in zone training this wednesday, so that'll be fun! Pray that I'll have the Spirit and convey the message the Lord wants me to give. One of them is on Dress and Grooming. I think I can nail that one.
We had wonderful appointments this week with our investigators. At the beginning of the week, we were teaching Jessica G (there are ALOT of Jessica's here!) the Plan of Salvation and a couple of her friends came in and had stopped talking for a second and then Jesssica said don't stop, they need to listen! So we told them what we were teaching and then Jordan asked us some deep questions.. I then felt prompted to teach him about the great apostacy and the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. The Spirit was strong with these 20 year olds. After I introduced the Book of Mormon, Steven asked, 'Where can I get one of those?!' haha I know the Lord has a plan for these three. I'm excited to help them to come to a knowledge of their Savior. Jessica G was able to come to the General Women's Meeting and ice cream social last Saturday and she brought her 14 year old friend Rachelle with her as well! It was so perfect. Now we're working on helping them to come to church! Great things are in store.
We were able to teach Megan K this week. She is progressing slowly, but she still has a desire to learn more and she continues to read. I really wish she would just get baptized already, but I suppose I can be patient... A miracle, however, happenned with her this week! She came to the General Women's Meeting on Saturday and brought her daughter Julia, and we didn't even make her!! She couldn't stay long (she's 9 months pregnant and should burst any day now) but she she still came. It was perfect :)
We had planned for Chuck to be baptized last week, however, we failed to realize he drinks coffee when we taught Word of Wisdom last week. So his date has been rescheduled for the 11th of April. It's coming up! We're so excited for him. He's going to be such a great member and asset to the ward.
One of the best experiences this week was when Sister Laycock and I dropped by Amy's house and taught her the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong!! Amy has so much potential. When the lesson was closing, she asked us 'So if all the other churches have bits and pieces of the truth, does your church have all of the truth?' We pretty much were like, yeah exactly haha. She went on to say that it's a little scary to her. I asked her why and she said because all of it is so real... I know the Spirit that was there wasn't something she had felt very much in her life. I agree with her, the knowledge we have is a little intimidating, because it gives us the responsiblity to act on it.. But I cannot think of a greater peace in my life than when I am obeying God's commandments and following the example of my Savior! The joy is uncomprehensible!!
We were also able to teach Sister Battaglia again!! Halelujah. It was about 3 weeks since we were able to meet. Her husband and her bought triple combinations and scripture markers and a case since we met with them last! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ using 2 Nephi 31. She is trying her best to remember the doctrine. But we told her to remember that it is most important to believe in the doctrine and have faith in the Savior and the knowledge will come. Faith will always be the foundation. I didn't know much of the doctrine before my mission, but I've had faith since I was baptized. I'm so grateful for that. Sister Battaglia and her husband are planning on going to the temple, so baptism is just the first step. I know it will be soon and they will recieve some important callings in the future :)
Overall it's been a great week! I'm so blessed to be able to serve in this area. As much as we are harvesting, we are doing our best to continue to plant seeds. I was asked to speak in sacrament about preparing to serve a mission yesterday (they like to torture me) I think I have a fear of public speaking a little. Why didn't anyone tell me?! But, I was grateful to study and talk about the importance of it. I'm so proud of the boys at home that are preparing now, including my cute little brother Shaun. Encourage and build each other up. The Lord is preparing his fields for you! Tell Kolton congrats on Ohio, he's awesome! Love you guys. I know my Savior lives and this is his restored church. One thing that stuck out to me during the General Women's meeting was that 'keeping covenants brings happiness and peace into our homes'. I know that is true. Have a great week ya'll!!
Love,
Sister Penman
Wierd fact: I ate duck eggs and the Camden's fed us a geese they ran over and killed when they were working on the ranch. And they fed us pork as well. I mostly had that, but the geese wasn't too bad! You can throw up later... :)
Pic- Sister Deidrich and I at the Leadership Conference! She was my first sister training leader. Crazy how time flies!
No comments:
Post a Comment