December 30, 2014

Dear Family and Friends, 

 

     I almost put 2013.... man. Time is going by too fast, but I'm doing all I can to keep up with it! Today Sister Bradshaw and I were blessed to go to the temple. I was able to see the Camden's from Clinton, Sis. Neuburger from Overland Park, the Tubb's, Stewart's, and Sis. Alexander from North Kansas City. I felt like I was in heaven seeing so many people I love in one place. It's gotta be something similar to feeling to the joy I've felt today and this last year. At the close of this year, I just want to reflect on the miracles I've seen and the sorrows I've learned from. Life is too good to focus on the negative. I am continually seeing myself change by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He really has to be patient with me... thank goodness He's perfect at that!

 

     Transfers are next Thursday. I'm not sure what will happen! I almost want to pray that I will stay another transfer, especially because I think 3 of our investigators will be baptized, and many of the couples in the ward, I've fallen in love with, will be sealed in the KC Temple. But I have to keep telling myself 'thy will be done' because it's not my work. It's the Lord's and it must go on! Sister Bradshaw and I love being each others companions! We have seen so many miracles recently. This past week, the Thackeray's in our ward told us one of their 20ish year old daughters had an old friend from high school contact her and ask if she could meet with missionaries because 'a youtube family she really loves is Mormon and they keep telling their subscribers to learn about the Gospel'. So sweet! We're meeting with her (Katelyn) tonight! I'll tell you next week how it goes :) Also, we met with a part-member family in our ward and we are going to be teaching them and their daughters next Monday! Seriously you guys, I feel so humbled at what is happening in the ward right now. It just testifies to me that this is the work of the Lord. No matter what happens, when people are prepared, the Lord will find a way for them to hear the restored Gospel!

 

     Thank you so much for the Christmas cards, letters, and love! It's been a great 2nd Christmas on my mission. Mostly because I got to spend the whole day with people I love, caroling to the sick, less active, and elderly, sharing messages about the Saviors' birth,

life, and legacy, and eating Mexican food of course. I pray that at this time of the year you will all think of a goal or two that will help strengthen your family, your testimony, or your faith in Jesus Christ. I know as you do, you will be a beacon of light to those around you. Stay safe and warm out there. Missouri has been really cold, and has only had 3 days of sun all December long... It's all good though. The church is true! Love you! 

 

Love,

Sister Penman

December 22, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

    .

      This week was really great. Sister Bradshaw and I are both the sister training leaders. We went on exchanges with the sisters that serve in the Liberty Jail. Sister Ray came to the NKC ward with me and Sister Bradshaw went to Shoal Creek with Sister Hansen. It was so great to be able to learn from Sister Ray. As we were out trying some of our investigators (we didn't have any solid appointments that day) we were talking to everybody. Then at one point I was confused on where she was walking to and then she went up to the car window with a man inside. She said hi and we started talking to him through the car window haha. It could have been such an awkward situation, but we had a great discussion about the message we share. He didn't set up a return appointment, but he referred us to one of his friends that has been struggling. Another instance is when we were about to step into our car, we met Tachea a 19 yr old, that said she would really love to come to our church.

      It can be uncomfortable to change, to do something that we don't normally do. However, the Lord has promised that if we rely on Him for our inadequacies, He will succor us, and give us the strength to accomplish the task at hand. This Christmas season I pray that as we ponder on the Jesus Christ, the ultimate gift God has given us, that we also ponder upon what gift we can give our Heavenly Father. I hope that we will all make a goal to be better, to be a little more grateful, a little more kind, and little more consecrated. The church is true. I love the Gospel. I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas :) Talk to you next week!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

December 15, 2014

Dear Mi Familia y Amigos, 

    

     I guess I just felt like speaking a little espanol. Hopefully it spiced up your morning. Hope everyone is doing well! I had a pretty good week. I do have to admit it wasn't too great teaching wise. We just found out that a couple of our investigators just want money from us which kind of stinks because we can't really help with that, but hey, so is life. However, we did find two new investigators this week through the 'He is the Gift initiative. Miracles are happening as we focus on the miracle of the Savior's birth :) If haven't given any out to your friends yet, take a moment to ponder about the people in your life and say a prayer in their behalf to know how you can share this beautiful message with them! I know it allows them to feel the Spirit and gives them the opportunity to receive revelation for themselves. Go out and preach the Gospel ya'll!

     This week we had our all mission zone conference! All of the 250+ missionaries were in the Independence stake center for a really powerful meeting. Something that really stood out to was something President Medina said. His talk was on appreciation and how we can all do better at loving people genuinely and unconditionally. Although we can make righteous judgments for our spiritual safety, we need to express our gratitude for all our brothers and sisters.

                                                 

                                              A smile can heal a burdened soul

    

     I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this time of year we get to remember and celebrate the Savior's birth. At different times this week I've thought about Mary. Can you imagine how she felt when the angel came to her and told her she would 'bear the Son of God'? Although I know her faith was exceeding, imagine the responsibility she felt to raise him and nurture him. I think sometimes we reflect on our own families and pray that we have taught them enough or that our example was strong enough or one they could turn to. Just as Mary did her best and put her trust in God, we can know our best is all that is asked of us. Because Mary and Joseph did their best and led by example, Jesus Christ was raised and accomplished the most important event in history. The Atonement.

     I know we can be healed through His Atonement and through our example of sincere repentence, give others the chance to see that Gospel of Jesus Christ is about forgiveness and change. I love you all so much! Thank you for your endless prayers! Talk to you next week!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

Sister sommer and I at the conference!

December 8, 2014

Dear Family and Friends, 

 

     I feel like I have so much to say this week, but whenever I come to email, it never quite comes out right. But I want to make sure everyone knows how grateful I am to be a missionary here in Missouri. This is the second holiday I get to have set apart to serve our Heavenly Father's children. There is no greater calling than to teach people about the Savior this season. He is the gift. This month I am trying my best to really learn about him. His love, His sacrifice, His example, His ministry, His life.

     We had the NKC ward Christmas party this week. We had Angela and Jenifer come both with members of the ward. I'm so grateful for the members that are so willing to serve and support those we are teaching even if at the moment they don't have any referrals for us. For the Christmas program they showed 'Because of Him' and 'He is the Gift'. The Spirit was so strong as the primary kids then sang some Christmas songs they had been practicing.

     Eric, an 18yr old guy that has been inactive since he was little, came to the Christmas dinner as well! The Spirit has been working on him a lot recently. He's been through a lot in his life. Please pray for him by name in your prayers.. He reminds me of my little brother and all his friends that I used to hang out with. He has so much potential to progress in the Gospel again. To hold the Priesthood of God, be a missionary, go through the Temple and be sealed to his family for eternity. I picture him and all my investigators in 'white'. When you see your friends and acquaintances, picture them in white.

     This week sister Bradshaw and I went to go see one of our investigators named Loretta about 8pm one night. We saw her enter a different apartment then her own. We didn't think it would be bad if we knocked on that door as well. We went up the apartment stairs and as we were almost to the door. I saw some light through an apartment window, and in it, a lady inside. Sister Bradshaw was about to knock on the door we had planned when I told her we need to knock the door with the lady inside. Sister Bradshaw told me that that wasn't the door that Loretta walked in, and I told her I know, but I know we need to talk to this lady. When we did so, she let us in her home and we talked about a couple of the things that we believe! She went on to tell us she got really scared when we knocked the door because all night the tenants of the apartments next to her go back and forth doing drugs in their homes.

     I'm not sure if anything would have necessarily happened if we knocked on the door we had planned, but I know the Spirit had prompted me to talk to the lady next door. I'm so grateful for the weekly reminders that the Lord gives His missionaries of love, safety, and assurance. But hey, I'm ready to go knock down peoples' doors this week! Maybe not that late again however ha. I pray that we all do our best to recognize the Spirit and the promptings that come to us. I'm glad I get to continually learn new things every day. Have a great ya'll! Be safe and warm! I'm hoping it'll snow soon. I'm getting jealous of my friends in Washington, Idaho, and Colorado! Talk to you next week :)

 

Love always,

Sister Penman

December 1, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

 

     Hey, remember how it's December? What in the world. Hope everyone got to spend time eating and celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with family or friends. I have so much to be thankful for. I especially grateful for my family who support me on my mission, friends that are great examples to those at home, my friends on missions that are great examples of the Savior, and members I've met so far on my mission that have impacted me forever. This weekend I really remembered what I was grateful for when I was able to attend my friend Megan's baptism on Saturday in Clinton. I met her in the middle of December last year, with her husband Allen at the ward Christmas party. They randomly decided to go, even though Allen hadn't been to church since he was around 17. I taught her for all of the months I was serving there. She said that she would be baptized, when her husband could do it. I knew it would happen, but I didn't know when! I'm so grateful for the Spirit that brings us peace and gives us answers to sincere questions. Because I know God is our loving Heavenly Father, he will answer our prayers!

     In all seriousness though, Saturday was one of my most memorable moments on my mission. Those days make everything worth it. The rest of the week turned out really well! We did a lot of service for our investigator Jenifer, visited a lot of less actives that didn't have immediate family around, and had some great lessons with our other investigators! Jenifer has come to church 2 times in a row! She's really progressing. I know she will be baptized, but I think she is going to wait until her son Jordan turns 16 and can baptize her :) during third hour of church they had all the young men, young women, priesthood, and relief society all meet together to discuss with the Book of Mormon musical coming to town in January. A lot of people have not heard of it or think that it's produced by the church, but it's not. However, we talked about how we can still make it a positive experience!

     I forgot to mention that we had TRANSFERS last week. Woops haha. Sister Kaimarama decided she wanted to ditch me... jk she was transferred to Platte City and Sister Bradshaw came to me from the Platte City ward. They just switched places! Kind of funny. Sister Bradshaw is great! She is 26 and is the oldest sister missionary in the mission! She even beat Sister Call. Crazy, right? ;) (Don't kill me Lauren, I love you). Sister Bradshaw is from Virgina and grew up in a branch that consisted of 5 counties. A little different than Henderson. However, we get along great. We had a really good thanksgiving together and an even better rest of the week. I know that we are going to see miracles this month as we focus our thoughts and our hearts to the Savior. Born is the light of the world. I know we think about Him all the time as His missionaries, but I'm so grateful that we have a time set apart to remember him. What a miracle His birth was! I know that He is the Christ and that He is my Redeemer and that He loves us. Pure love and Charity are the center of His sacrifice. Please remember and celebrate it with those that we love and those we don't know. Love you all so much. Have a great week!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

 

     sister lee, Sister smith, Megan, and I :)