June 23, 2014

Dear Everyone,

     Hope you've had a good week! As a missionary, time is always different. Some minutes take hours, hours feel like minutes, months feel like days, and your mission, well it feels like a second. I have had a great week. Sister Champagne and I work really well together. We are very different, but it doesn't matter because we are sisters with the same purpose! She's a sweetie. The last little while has been difficult to find people and to help the ward progress, but we have seen so many miracles this past week. 

     On Tuesday, there was a Relief Society activity we went to. I lvoe going to those because you can invite your investigators so the women can fellowship them, there are normally a decent amount of women that are less-active, and there's always food... you know me. The topic was about the Savior and the Presidency did a great job. At the end of the activity, Sister Lenz asked if I would give the closing prayer. I did, and afterwards this little girl came up to me. Her name is Hermosa and she is 14. She asked me about my prayer and asked me how I know that God answers my prayers or how I get answers. I talked to her about how her Heavenly Father loves her and how with faith, we can receive answers through the Holy Ghost. We talked for a few minutes and found out that she wasn't a member, but was living with a recent convert named Arthena! I can tell she's had a difficult time growing up, but she is sweet. We ended up setting up an appointment and we taught her about the Restoration on Thursday! I think she is still trying to understand why all this important. But I think, first, she needs to know of her divine worth. She came to church on Sunday and we have another appointment on Thursday! I'm excited!

     We also have been working with a sweet lady named Iva Pruett. She is the coolest. She's a widow of about 14 years, but she's only in her 60's I think! She lives right across the street from a guy named Brandon, who is kind of creep... the previous sister taught him a lesson one time and now he calls our phone multiple times a day.. but it's all good haha Sister Pruett thinks that he might kill her some day.. hahah But she hasn't come to church in a really long time. We've really been building a strong relationship so we asked her to come to church with us this Sunday and she said she isn't ready yet. We are still working with her, but I know she will get there!

      One last miracle that happened this past week. Sister Champagne and I drove home one night because it was getting close to curfew, but we were trying to figure out what we should do for the last few minutes of our time proselyting. So we get out of the car and there are two cute young girls about 23 that were walking by. One says, "Hey! My friend is your new neighbor!" We talked to them for a little bit getting to know them and where they were from. They are awesome! Melani asked what we did for work, and we told them that we were full-time missionaries! We talked a little about what we do and then helped Laura move up her stuff to her new apartment, which is literally right next door! We talked inside her apartment with Melani and Laura and we introduced the Book of Mormon. I bore my testimony of how it has blessed my life and how it contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We discussed a little more and then after we had Laura read the Introduction, she said, "Can I borrow this?"... um no but you can surely HAVE IT!! We gave both of them Book of Mormon's and we are planning on teaching them this week! Miracles happen you guys! 

     Seriously it's been such a blessing to see the Lord's hand in Overland Park this past week. Every day I am excited to serve because the knowledge we get to share with people. It has changed me. I know this is Christ restored church and if we do our best to share our testimonies of the truth that we have to our friends, our testimonies will be strengthened and we will literally feel His love for us and for the people we share it with. I encourage you to find a way to share your testimony to someone this week. It's the best feeling. I love you. Have a great week! 

Love, 

Sister Penman

P.S. We finally got a ward mission leader! Someone 'fruit attacked' and put water bottles on our car.. we don't know who it is.. haha and then we had a picnic hosted by one of the members!