November 25, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

 

 

     I think I'm going to start a riot. The mission won't let me listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving. However, obedience and faith are the key to miracles so I can be patient... Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope everyone gets to spend some time with family in between work and travel. It's one of my favorite times of the year for good reason. We get to reflect on our year and recognize the blessings the Lord has given us. Thanksgiving this year will mark my first full day in the mission field. I am so grateful for the past year I have spent in Missouri and Kansas. It seems surreal at times that I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to a completely new place, talk to people with all backgrounds, serve with some of the most amazing examples, but most of all, I am grateful for the chance I get every day to share my testimony. I will never let a day go by without sharing a witness of the things I know and treasure. And now, I have been strengthened by the Spirit in ways I didn't know were possible.

     This week was full of events. Two of our investigators dropped and we had to drop 2 more because they weren't progressing, ready to change, or we haven't been able to get in contact for weeks and weeks. It was pretty rough, but one morning we were especially disheartened because all of our appointments fell through and we were in need of some upliftment. We got in our car (another thing I'm grateful for this time of year) drove to our WML's house, borrowed a couple of rakes, bought a few recyclable brown bag, and went to a member's home that recently had surgery, and cleaned up their whole front yard thick of leaves. Although it rained on and off, we didn't stop til we were done. On Sunday, I taught the lesson in Gospel Principles class and I shared that experience. I didn't do it for recognition or pride, but because Sister Kaimarama and I knew that by serving those around us, we would be able to be rejuvenated by the Spirit and gain Heavenly Father's trust to put people in our path to serve and to teach. I am so grateful for the chance we have to serve and love each other. If you have a desire to serve, but don't want to intrude and/or the person you asked, 'Is there anything I can do to help?', said no. I have one thing to say. Just do it! Don't ask. Just do it. They will remember it far longer than it took you to complete it. I promise you will feel a greater abundance of the Spirit, and you will be happier! Its a feeling you don't want to miss. 

     We took Precious to the Independence visitors center yesterday!!! It was really great. Jenifer, one of the ladies we taught we when first came here come to church and had a great experience. My friend and lady I taught in Clinton (Megan Kragenbrink :)) is getting baptized this Saturday and I think I'll be able to go to it! I'm so excited to see everyone. My other investigator from Clinton, Susan, got baptized 3 weeks ago. Let me tell you, there are miracles around every corner. Thank you so much for your love and support. Stay warm. Feel free to write me at 7013 N Chas Dr. Apt. C, Pleasant Valley, MO 64068. I love letters! But I guess, who doesn't? Talk to you next week :)

 

Love always,

Sister Penman

 

Danny, a recent convert, working on going to the temple!!

November 17, 2014

Dear Friends and Family, 

 

     Good morning! This is the last p-day for a lot of the sisters in our zone. They're all going home the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. So we're going to play plenty of sports and have a lot of fun :)

 

This week was pretty rough haha. We went on exchanges on Saturday, and we had some amazing appointments planned for our area, but when I came back to the area Saturday night, we found out that all of the appointments we had with out investigators either went sour or fell through. We ended the week with no progressing investigators. So that was pretty lame, but Sister Kaimarama and I are excited about this upcoming week to find new investigators and help our investigators like Precious and Lori to overcome their concerns.

 

     On Sunday we invited all of our invstigators to church and none of them were able to come, but sister Kaimarama and I sang 'If the Savior Stood Beside Me' during sacrament meeting. A lot of people came up to us and said that we did a great job, which was really nice! I learned something this week that I needed to learn. Humility. In order to see miracles and progress in the Lord's work we need to rely on Him infinitely. I'm so grateful that we can take the Sacrament each week and start over :)

 

However, no matter what Satan likes to throw at us, It's always a great day to be a missionary. Life is so good! I'm so grateful for my Savior and the perfect example he gives me to follow. Love you guys always. Stay safe and warm! I'll have more to say next week I promise haha.

 

Love,

Sister Penman

November 10, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

 

 

     Happy P-day! Hope everyone has good plans to relax for a few minutes by reading missionary emails, rereading some talk from conference last month, or reading the standard works. Today, I will be going grocery shopping, getting some lunch, and then playing sports. I always make sure I find time to juggle a soccer ball, even if no one wants to play with me haha. I'm getting better at basketball, however, which is pretty cool.

   

     This week has been full of really powerful meetings. On Wednesday we had MLC (mission leadership council). It's always the first Wednesday of every month, where the zone leaders and sister training leaders will be taught by the mission president and the assistants, and then we teach our zones the following Friday. We talked about a lot about humility, talking to everyone, setting goals, and being accountable. As you can see, all of these things go hand in hand. Our zone on Friday, then set a really bold goal.10 baptisms in November. On average the Liberty stake has been getting 1 or 2 every month, but we all felt inspired to change that. We wrote down every one of the 10 names down in our planner and had a zone fast for them yesterday. Miracles followed.

     As I mentioned last week, we couldn't get in touch with Precious. However, we finally got ahold of her this last week and she still wants to be baptized! Her date is now for Nov 29th. She has been struggling a lot, but is just getting back on her feet. Thank you for your endless prayers on my behalf and for her and our other investigators. I know He hears them and I know we have been so blessed because of it!

     I'll  tell you a couple of really amazing experiences. Our appts with Angela and Dusten went so well this week. Sister K and I were a little nervous because Dusten seemed a little uneasy as we taught them the Restoration on Wed. We went home that night and talked about it, trying to figure out what could have made him feel uncomfortable? We came back a couple days later for our next appointment and Dusten really opened up about his experiences and how he felt that night. He told us he was uneasy because of the guilt he felt. He knows the things we are teaching him are true, but what he realized is that he needs to change. Now comes the hardest part... having the desire enough to actually do it. It's way too easy to just stay put. Stay in your sins, and not progress. Dusten realizes that and is struggling. I know the Lord has prepared the both of them. Please keep them in your prayers! We have zone conference coming up this week and some great appointments set up. I'm so grateful to be the Lord's missionary. Hope you have a great week and stay warm wherever you are. Unless you're in Nevada, then enjoy the weather! Talk to you next week.

    

      Funny things that happened this week. Dusten kept saying, "I have been trying to find a church that pulls people up from the congregation to talk. Last night I was thinking about just going to my church and yelling, why aren't you guys doing this (missionary work) and teaching these things? These are the last days!" haha I told him to do it.... jk. Don't get mad, Mom... I got pulled over on Saturday. I was going quite a bit over the speed limit. After the officer got the registration and my license, he came back and said he was trying to print out a warning, but it wasn't working so he to me just go slower.. and then he said "You know you have a 'how's my driving' sticker on the back of your car right?" .. haha I just kept thinking, please don't call the number, I've learned my lesson! Any way, all is good in the hood. Just wanted to remind you how ridiculous I can be.

       Love you!

     

 

sister training leaders in the Missouri independence mission

November 3, 2014

Good morning!

 

    

     Hope everyone is having a great P-day and had a good Halloween. The last couple of weeks have been so beautiful here. The leaves already have fallen. I can tell it's going to be a cold winter! I'm ready for it, especially considering we have the car full time at this point. It would be quite difficult to tract in 10 degree weather. But if I had to, I would do it. Halloween was great for us. I went on exchanges with a couple of the sisters I'm over. I worked in one of the wards that the Liberty Jail sisters are in. It went really well. Halloween night we were instructed to return to our apartments after dinner and plan. We spent it with Kathy and Jenifer. If you look at the pictures, you will see sister Kaimarama passing out her first candy. I get to be with her for her first Halloween and Thanksgiving! We're going to make it awesome.

     This week was pretty crazy with the holiday because everyone thought they were busy... but we were still able to meet a lot of people, and teach a lot of lessons! Precious is doing ok. However, her electricity was turned off. Since it's getting really cold now, her and her mom are living with her sister for the time being. The only problem is, the sister won't give us her address! And she was planning on getting baptized on the 15th! Please pray for her.

     Miracle of the week? The ward hosted a Fall Festival/Trunk or treat at the chapel on Saturday. We were really trying to get our investigators to come so they can meet people from the ward and make some friends, but it seemed like no one was home. We decided that we were going to try to see Angela in the afternoon (we are normally able to catch her at night). When we knocked, she let us in and we invited her and her son Dusten (22) to the activity. Guess what? They came! And Dusten brought his friend Zach (21)! During the Fall Festival, we gave them a church tour. It went so well. You can tell they've had a rough growing up, but they've all had experiences with the Spirit and the Savior that has changed them. Unfortunately, they didn't come to church this week, but they have a lot of potential. Pray for them as well!

     The next couple of months are going to be crazy with all the holidays, but it's the best time of year to share the Gospel. The Spirit of Christ is all around us. Don't pass up a chance this week to serve someone, share a helping hand, give someone a call that you've been thinking about, and share your testimony to those that need to see your foundation before they know why and how they can build their own. We all need someone to show us they care. Never forget there is someone is always there. To love, support, and encourage you in your trials. 'Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' Mat 11:28-30

 

Love Always,

Sister Penman

October 27, 2014

Dear Everyone,

 

     I'm sorry I don't have a lot of time today, but I just want every one to know it's been really great! sister Kaimarama's and I investigators are really progressing. We've been seeing a lot of miracles her in Kansas City. Have I mentioned it's Royals mania here? It's the best! I need to get me some gear.

 

 This week I will hit my year mark. Pretty crazy. I'm really glad I have 6 months left, that's all I have to say. I'm enjoying and loving every minute of the time I get to serve the Lord. I am so blessed to be serving with all my friends and family. Although we are in different places all over the world, whether your a full time missionary or a member missionary. The purpose is the same: to help Heavenly Father bring is children back home.

 

 Precious is doing really well. We have 3 investigators on date now for November. It's going to take a lot of work and change in order to get there, but with Christ I know that all things are possible. And with the miracles we've seen so far I know the Lord has been preparing these women for years.

 

 Sister Quinnelly (one of my favorite friends from the Clinton ward) emailed me this week and told me about how the friends she's been working with for over 10 years now, recently got baptized and now they are having the new member lessons in her home. She is a huge example to me of dedication and love. She wasn't friends solely on the purpose of getting them baptized, but was there whenever they were ready to take the plunge :) Just know that whoever you are working with, a friend or a stranger, it is possible. Sometimes we just have to be patient.

 

I love you all and am so grateful for your examples of Christ-like love. You're always in my prayers. Talk to you soon!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

On behalf of my year mark: KC temple (what it's all about), a casino we drove by which reminds me of home, and a billboard that is trying to make me trunky. It says "Vegas is Caling". Nice try :)

October 20, 2014
Dear Everyone,

      Well, another week has passed. It was transfer week and I have been called stay in the North Kansas City ward with Sister Kaimarama! I'm so glad. We work really well together and we have some really great things going. At the end of November she will for sure be gone because 11 visitors' center sisters will be going home and they will need her back in there. Next transfer day is the day after Thanksgiving, so I will be with Sister K for her first Thanksgiving! We're going to make it so sweet. I know I'll be here for awhile (possibly til next February) so feel free to write me here :) I'm really excited about this upcoming transfer.

     We had teamups for almost every appointment we had this week, except the only draw back was that a lot of the appointments fell through... oh well. My slogan on my mission is 'Not every day is going to be like yesterday'. Because every time you have a really good successful day, the Lord likes to humble us on the next day haha. I'm grateful for it. Besides some appointments that fell through, it really has been a good week. One experience sticks out.

     On Sunday, our investigator Precious and her two kids, Jeramiah and MaRiyah came to Stake Conference! It was a great session and really laid back and we were able to ask Sister gist (her fellowship) if they could have dinner with us that night as well. It turned out so great!

     Sister K and I have been so blessed. Precious is on date for Nov 15th and there are at least 3 other people that will have baptismal dates soon as well. The Work is hastening. Jump on the train. Talk to your missionaries. Get to know them! They want to serve you as the Lord does. thanks for all the love and support I receive. Talk to you next week!

 

Love,

Sister Penman