May 27, 2014
Hey Family, Friends, and (Fellow & Future Missionaries)

     I thought I would throw that one in there considering I've been getting tons of notifications (on my email in the library) about people from home getting their mission calls! I am so excited for all of you. Please keep telling me. It's like Christmas every P-day. This week has been crazy for us here in Overland Park, Last week we had Sister Fuenzalida and now we don't. She was with us about a week and a half and then she had an emergency transfer to Gardner where she replaced Sister Adams (whom I love). Sister Adams was transferred to Independence to be closer to the mission office and home because she's been having kidney stones. I've been seeing so many missionaries having health issues lately. I'm so grateful I've been healthy besides a few extra pounds brought to you by the members of the Clinton and Overland Park wards. Whatevs though. It's all good. I've been so blessed. 

     Last Tuesday we volunteered at Farmstead and Sister Beard and Fuenzalida and I greeted the guests. When I was counting the guests with this little clicker thing, 1100 people came in through the gate within the hour of 9-10am. It was crazy! Volunteering there is awesome. We do it every Tuesday morning. Look it up on the internet if you haven't already. This Tuesday (today) we were over the Dairy Barn. We helped prep the place for Martina's morning milking, swept and cleaned the room, moved the calves into another stall, fed the calves the milk that Martina had, cleaned water bins, and wait for it... took a couple of baby goats on a walk around the Farmstead. It was so great. They had leashes and everything. They loved it and obviously so did I. Yesterday was Memorial Day so the libraries were closed so we planned to email on Wednesday because we were packed with appointments after Farmstead today, but after we did some of out studies, we knocked on the Ehpel's door and they weren't there :/ I'm not too worried because they have been progressing so well recently and Sister Beard said they haven't ever done so well since they started teaching them in January. We were excited to meet their dad today because he had work off tonight (and he's the only thing holding them up for their baptism) but, another day soon. I'm so excited for Riann (11) and Simrick (8).

      Memorial Day was awesome! We studied, did laundry and shopped briefly. Then we went to the park where we had our ward BBQ. We invited a lot of our investigators and the less actives we've been seeing, but unfortunately they didn't come. After that, we went straight to the stake center where we played sports til 6pm with the other missionaries. I played basketball for about 3 hours or so. I actually was making some good shots! The Elders weren't worried about me at first, but then someone yelled out to get me marked! haha Now I'm making up for it. I tried to go running this morning, but it was a joke. My body is so sore haha. Oh well. It was sweet. 

      The rest of last week we hardly had any time in our area. It was really lame. We went to Independence to drop off Sister Fuenzalida and then Kansas City to go to the Temple. However, it was so great. President Keyes pretty much took two days to go through the temple with all the missionaries in the mission. And then we had lunch and a small meeting where he talked about Temple and Families. President Keyes said that the number one thing that President Monson said the age change had to do was.. to bless families. We went on to say that it wasn't a coincidence that boys are now going to be getting home around 20-20 1/2 and sisters are getting home around 20-20 1/2. Awkward. He pretty much made everyone get stoked to get married in the temple. Which I think was his job.. so it was a great conference. 

      We were also able to to visit a few more people this week. Like Sister Saltzmann. We had a great visit and we shared a scripture about how Heavenly Father makes weak things strong and she was really excited about coming to church and to the bbq, but she didn't come. And then we had dinner with a part member family, the Neuburgers, at this AMAZING mexican restaurant (Best enchiladas ever fyi) We shared a message afterwards about the Book of Mormon and found out he had read the Book of Mormon before, goes to Sacrament every week with his wife, and calls it 'his ward', but when the Spirit was there and I was prompted to invite him to take the lessons. He said no. Good ole agency once again getting in the way. Denial is kind of rough. And then we had dinner with this less-active lady named Sister Greenhaughl (50's) and she doesn't come to church and she is a returned missionary. And she doesn't seem very interested in coming back and we don't know why!

     Despite quite a bit of trouble this last week, I'm excited to work hard, do my best to help people come to church, progress towards baptism, or be baptized. No matter what, I will be planting seeds and working my tail off to do what the Lord wants me to do. Only a couple more weeks in the transfer. Let's do it. I'm so grateful to be here in Zion preparing the way for the Lord. I know this is where I was meant to go and I'm grateful for the many lessons I learn every day. One of them being Ether 12:27. Which is one of my favorite scriptures. If your not already doing so, I invite you to open up your scriptures and read at least a chapter a day. Obviously I was never good at that before my mission, but I have seen the blessings it gives as I see families commit to doing so. And I know that as we do, we will feel God's love more fully, see the Spirit's guidance more abundantly, and be able to receive all the blessings He has in store for us. It's the best feeling ever! I love you guys so much. Talk to you soon!

Love,

Sister Penman

May 19, 2014

Dear Everyone,

     Another week gone by. May is like a dream. It is going by way too quick. This week we were really able to enjoy May because we didn't have a car. For the first time on my mission, I had to WALK. Believe it... Yeah I know I'm so spoiled. It was really great to enjoy the beautiful weather and to talk to people. We were able to see a lot of miracles and I know it was because we relied on the Lord to lead us to know where we should go and who to visit. We found 5 new investigators this week and the 'standard of excellence' is 2 so that was really good because we haven't been able to find a lot of people recently. Overland Park is a wealthier area so many people are content on what they have and what they know which makes it hard to give them the fullness of the everlasting Gospel! But this week definitely showed that Heavenly Father prepares people if your willing to get down and find them! 

     Did I mention I'm in a trio now? I know, isn't it sweet?! I've had 6 companions so far. I'm now with Sister Beard and Sister Fuenzalida. I knew Sister Fuenzalida from the Clinton zone when I first got to the area so that was cool. Sister Fuenzalida's companion got her visa (after 14 months in the field) to Brazil so she left last week and now Sister F is with us! I had to admit I was a little nervous because she seemed a little intense, but it has been so great how much we get along! Although, she still can't believe I wore really short shorts before my mission.. She grew up in Salt Lake. No more of that though! haha The little things you learn on a mission are such a blessing! Our apartment is pretty small (I'll try to send a picture next week) so we had to move our beds to the living room. It feels a little like we're orphans from Annie, but it's really fun! 

     One of the miracles that I'd like to share happened on Wednesday last week. We didn't have any appointment scheduled for that day so we preceded to try to visit people we had planned the night before and tract inbetween. After about an hour of walking we went to visit a family that has recently moved into the ward and there was this younger woman with her cute toddler running around outside. Her name is Amanda. We starting talking to her after she told us the Bird's weren't home. One of the first things I said was that I loved her sweatshirt. She had on an "Alaska Grown" sweatshirt on. Shout out to my Penman cousins! She went on to tell us that when she was younger she went to a couple of Mormon dances with her friend. We got to know her a little and we were able to introduce the Book of Mormon and she said that she wanted to learn more about what we believe. We set up an appointment and we're seeing her Thursday and I can't wait! 

     I have a strong testimony in being an example even when no one is watching. I know that that guy that invited her to the church dance never thought it would do anything, but I know the little invitations we make to others will prepare them. If not at that time, then down the road. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. A seed planter and a harvester. I'm so grateful for the message we share. We were talking to Chris (Romanian guy we gave a Book of Mormon to) and his cousin Dennis. And they were having a hard time believing that the Book of Mormon is scripture. However, while we were talking, I shared the first vision and the experience of Joseph Smith. And although they were basically bashing on everything, they never said anything about the first vision. I know they felt the Spirit. My testimony wasn't wavered. I know that this church is true. Joseph said, "For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under comdemnation." I know he did in reality speak to God and his son Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is true because I've read the whole thing and prayed about it. I never received a witness as bold a lightning bolt to the face, but I know it is true. What wonderful knowledge we have. I love you guys. Thank you for everything. Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Penman

Sister Beard and I, and Julian's graduation cake. Yeah it's edible and it was so good.

May 12, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

     Man. What do I even say? Last night Jessica (my sister) told me on Skype she was probably going to have the baby sometime soon. Then I get on my email and Jessica had written me a message that said she was in labor and now my mom sent me a picture of their new baby boy!! I feel like i just went through a whirlwind! haha I'm so excited for her. He's adorable and giant by the way :) He'll be exactly a year old when I meet him next year! It was so good to see all my family yesterday for Mother's Day. I'm so blessed. I love them so much. 

     This week was really good. It definitely was not a normal week. It felt like we had hardly anytime to really visit people! Monday was P-day (in which I played soccer, basketball, and volleyball. It was the best thing ever, but I paid for it the rest of the week...) then on Tuesday we volunteered at Farmstead for half the day, Wednesday I had my mission leadership council meeting in Independence at the mission home, then Thursday we had weekly planning, Friday we had Zone Training and Interviews with the mission president, Saturday we got go to work, and then Sunday was church and talking to our families. It flew by like it was nothing. And now its already almost half way through the month! This time of the year is the best. The weather is nice and people are outside! President said that if we work hard and find people at this time, he said he promised us, it will carry us through the summer. I'm ready to get to work!

     I just wanted to mention a few things this week. We have been teaching The Ehpell's, a party member family, The mom and older brother are members, but not Riann 9 and Simrick 8. So that has been really great to teach them. I haven't been able to teach kids a lot on my mission so far so I'm really enjoying it. They are such a sweet family. We are teaching them again tonight! As well, one day this week we were out trying to find people from the ward list. We were walking through some apartments and and couple of teenage girls were on the grass next to their bikes. As we were about to get in the car, they yelled, "I love you outfits!" It was so cute! We talked to them for a few seconds, but then we proceeded to get in the car and drive away. After a minute I was like, WHY THE HECK DIDN'T I INTRODUCE AND GIVE THEM A BOOK OF MORMON. I was so mad at myself. I don't know why that didn't come to my mind. But then Sister Beard and I got the impression to go back to the apartment really quick and write a small and sweet testimony and highlight a few scriptures and then drive back and give it to them and talk about it. I thought it was kind of a silly impression to get, but we went with it. After we did so, we were walking out of the apartment towards our car when we hear someone say, "hey!" We turned around (FYI no one ever calls after us so this was crazy) and he went on to ask us if we went to church (after he saw our nametags he seemed to back off a little) But we ended up talking to him for about 10 minutes about the Book of Mormon and the Bible and how they complement each other. But the coolest thing happened. Just as I thought that the things that we were teaching him weren't going anyway, Sister Beard starts bearing such a powerful sweet testimony about the message we share. I could not deny the Spirit I felt. I went quiet for a few moments, and decided that he wanted to read the Book of Mormon and asked if we could get it in Romanian (he's from Romania). We said we could and a few days later we went to drop off the Book of Mormon at his apartment and his cousin answered and told him Chris had said he wanted us to give him this book. We talked for a minute and then he said that he speaks Romanian and that he can read it too... Halelujah! We're following up tonight. Can't wait.

     Mission leadership council was on testimonies this week and it was such an amazing experience to train on some of the trainings that were given. My testimony was strengthened for sure. I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it, but only because I really rely on the Lord to help me haha. I have been so blessed to be in here in Kansas. I really do love it already. Thank you for all the support and love. Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Penman

Dear Fam and Friends,

      Drum roll please... I got transferred! I had a feeling it was going to happen, but I seems surreal that I'm not in Clinton anymore or Missouri for that matter haha. I'm in Overland Park, Kansas in the OP2 ward. So I went from the boonies to the city. They say I'm now in the 2nd richest part of mission. I have to admit, it's pretty nice :) My new companion is Sister Aaliyah Beard. She is from Shelley, Idaho and has sweet curly hair and is half black! A dream come true! We're pretty similar so we get along pretty great! It's interesting going to a new companion that is already trained because you both do things differently and you have to work together to find the best way to teach and find. It's kind of exciting! I have been here since last Thursday so I went to church on Sunday and met alot of the ward. They seem really nice! I'm excited to get to know the new area, people, and experience the Overland Park mall on P-day. Today for P-day we are going to the stake center and playing games and sports with all the missionaries in the zone! That's insane! I've got my soccer ball ready. Sister Laycock is staying in Clinton and training a new missionary! I'm a grandma already you guys! The time really does go by so fast haha. I know she is going to do such a great job, I love her alot. Elder Simonsen (our district leader) left Warsaw and got transferred to Independence to be a Zone Leader. I'm excited for him! Everything got really mixed up so it's been fun :)

     I'm really going to miss Clinton and all the people that I have grown to love! It's really bittersweet, but I'll be back to visit so I'm not to stressed, and I know the Lord wants me here in Kansas and I'm grateful to be here! It has been a crazy week. Last Sunday Matt got baptized, Tuesday night I got transfer calls, Wednesday I packed, said goodbye to people, Thursday morning I got transferred and I've been working in Overland Park ever since. Chuck, one of our investigators in Clinton, bailed on his baptism this past FridayAGAIN. It makes me so sad. He's really busy. Yet, he wants to be baptized, but he cancels like it's no big deal. Sometimes other people's agency is such a pain! But I know Sister Laycock and Sister Guido are going to do great down there. 

     Our area is not too big. I takes about a 30 minute drive to drive through it so we have a part time car. 3/4 weeks we will have a car, but for one week a month we'll be walking! We walked only about a mile or 2 yesterday and it was kind of hard haha. Isn't that pathetic? It's hilly and getting hot here already. Right when I get used to the cold and the ice storms they throw in heat and tornados haha. Oh well, it's never boring. I love it!! There is one man named Xavier that we taught this week. It was the first time Sister Beard had taught him too. We were at the church and one of his LDS friends Melissa came with him too for a team-up. It was a great lesson. He grew up going to Catholic school so he's very knowledgeable, yet you can tell he is searching for more. He was asking all the right questions and it was just awesome. We have another appointment this week. I'll keep you updated!

     The rest of the time I have been just getting to know the area and we've been finding and visiting less actives as well. We are working on finding those people that are prepared for the Gospel. They say it's harder to find new investigators in the city, but I definitely won't live up to that. There are 4X as many people here and I know Heavenly Father will put them in our path if we are obedient and are willing to work hard and go out of our comfort zones. I don't believe there is a lot of awkward in missionary work. We're in skirts and name tags. We already look different :) We have to live it up while we can. I hope everyone has a great Mother's Day. I'm so grateful for the mothers in my life including my mom, my sister, my grandma and grandpa Sillitoe and Penman, my Aunts, and friends. Thank you for letting your love, kindness, and goofynes show. I love you guys so much. Skype ya soon ;)

Love, Sister Penman