February 17, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

 

       Hope all is well! Sorry yesterday I couldn't email because the libraries were closed. But this morning I have the blessing to tell everyone how GREAT the past week has been. The Lord has a way of making His children feel like each of us are his 'favorites'. That's how I've felt this whole transfer. Katlynn Shannon got baptized and confirmed on the 14th and 15th and it was definitely an event I'll remember forever. Her nonmember ex boyfriend even came! Sister Bradshaw gave the talk on Baptism and I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. I talked about how precious the Gift of the Holy Ghost is in our lives. The Lord never leaves us alone. When we are down in the dumps and no one is around, the Holy Ghost will testify to us of God's love and our self-worth and divine nature. And throughout our lives, as we strengthen our testimony, the power of the Holy Ghost will give us a conviction of the truth of the Gospel stronger than any physical manifestation. Can you believe how incredible the Holy Ghost really is? God loves us so much!

     Yesterday was the last pday of the Transfer. I'm so nervous I could puke a little. It'll be my last 2 transfers. I told President Vest last week that whatever happens, whether stay or go, I go where the Lord wants me to go. He wrote back yesterday and said 'And do what the Lord wants you to do? I know you will. Sister Vest and I love you.' Oh boy. I don't know what that means, but please pray my heart will be at ease. Everyone in the ward keeps asking me if I've found out about transfers yet... not to mention, Bishop Vance announced in Sacrament meeting on Sunday that I might be leaving them this week. Man. I love this ward. One of the most special things I will remember is the Love I feel for God's children, although its only a pinch of His eternal love, I get to experience a little of it every day as I see His children succeed and excel.

     I'm so grateful for the sacred opportunity that I have to be one of our Heavenly Father's daughters. He really does love you guys so much. The Savior loved us enough to suffer for us that we might live. An act of pure love I hope to one day fully understand. Keep your steadfastness in Christ! He is the Alpha and Omega! Talk to you next week!

 

Love always,

Sister Penman

 

Katlynn's baptism :)

 

February 9, 2015

Dear Everyone, 

 

    Thanks for all your emails and thoughts! I'm so grateful for all of you, for supporting me throughout my mission so far. Good thing I have plenty of time left! Next week is transfers and I'm not 100% what's going to happen, but it's likely I'll be leaving North Kansas City. Which will definitely be sad, but I'll always go where the Lord wants me to go. This week I was actually pretty sick. It started with a sore throat and fatigue, but now I actually think I have a sinus infection. I don't think I've ever had one before. but hey, I'm still alive. I'm grateful it's not anything worse.

     Sister Bradshaw and I are working hard trying to continue to help our investigators progress. We were blessed with another great week of member presents; quite a few above standard. We can see how it's been helping those that we've been working with. I don't know if you guys knew this, but MEMBERS are key to missionary work!! Katlynn is excited for her baptism day this Valentine's Day and so are we :) She definitely is being tempted, but has been able to overcome every situation so far. Also, the Shadoan family I told you about last week, went on a church tour with us and some members yesterday evening and she asked ' What exactly do I need to do before my kids and I can get baptized?' Wowwwwww. I am so grateful. I promise I'll write more next week to tell you about a powerful experience I had and to tell you all about Katlynn's big day! Love you all so much! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

February 2, 2015

Dear Family and Friends, 

 

      Man, where do I even begin? I don't know if you guys know this already, but God is a God of miracles. That's really what explains the past week. When Sister Bradshaw and I first became companions, we were teaching quite a few people but no one was progressing! Then after a few weeks of trying to determine what the Lord wanted us to do, we went to Him and prayer, and after talking to a few of our investigators, we realized that many of them were not ready to progress, and by the middle of December, we had no one to teach! It was really disheartening. However, after much fasting and prayer, by the beginning of January, we are teaching more solid investigators than I have my whole mission!

     We received a referral this week for the Shadoan family. Their aunt from Vegas, asked the missionaries to go find them. We didn't know what to expect, but as we knocked on the door with Sister Johnson, the woman answered the door. We started to introduce ourselves and explain that one of her friends had referred her family to the missionaries. At first she got worried, but then after we explained her Aunt Ginger sent the missionaries, she said 'Oh come on in!' We sat in their living room as they talked about how much they love their Mormon Aunt Ginger! Then Bro. Shadoan came into the room and talked to us about how he grew up Mormon, but his parents weren't supportive, so people from the church would always pick him up for church every Sunday. We shared a little about the Plan of Salvation with them and then we asked if we could come back to teach them more. The wife and 15 year old daughter said they would love it! Sister Shadoan said she has been reading the Book of Mormon Aunt ginger sent her! Can you believe it?!? The Lord has been preparing His children. Now it is our responsibility to be worthy of those children, and in-tune with the Spirit!

     Katlynn is continuing to do great. Want to hear something totally awesome? It was Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday at church. Most of the testimonies people shared were on missionary work. Sister Bradshaw and I both went up and shared our testimonies. (I don't understand; I talk to strangers everyday about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but I get so nervous to share my testimony.. pretty sad huh?) But hey I did it!!!!!!!! But, wait the best part is.... KATLYNN SHARED HER TESTIMONY! At the last minute, when bishop was standing up to close the meeting, Katlynn asked if she could still go? Sis. b and I were like, yes, go go! As she was walking outside the pews, Sister Bradshaw and I stood up a little bit to point to Bishop that Katlynn was going! So he continued to sit back down :) The Spirit was so strong in that meeting. I'm so grateful to see the progress of the ward and the members.

     Never in my life would I have thought that I would be a missionary. But man, I would never take it back. The things that I have learned, the Spirit that I've felt, the people I've met, will bless the rest of my life. I know this is truly Christ's church on the earth. If you don't know this yet, I invite you to act as it says in Alma 32, even if you only have a 'desire to believe'. I promise He will 'manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you may know the truth of all things.' It's true, and man I am so grateful. 

 

If you want to know if my personality is still the same since being a missionary..... Sister Bradshaw and I accidentally locked the car keys in the apartment right before exchanges.... I thought that I could possibly open the sliding glass door on the back, but it's on the 2nd story. So Sister Bradshaw helped me up and as I tried to climb up the wood porch and beams, I totally ripped my tights... woops. It's all good!

 

Love you,

Sister Penman

 

P.s. I have a really bad sore throat and stomachache. It's made me really tired.... It can be healed by playing P-day sports right?

 

 

January 26, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

       First off, Katlynn Shannon moved up her baptismal date to February 14th. Wouldn't you say that's the best way to spend a Valentine's Day? ...It is for me :) She is doing so good! This week we had her over at the Brose's home (awesome family). We had dinner and a lesson. That night we taught her Law of Chastity. Katlynn had been dating someone for a few months at this point, but she knew that that was God's plan. She had been hoping that he would be supportive of her baptism and he was! However, over the week, she pondered about what she wanted for her future family. While I was on exchanges, she went with Sister Bradshaw and Sister Merritt to the Liberty Jail to see Meet the Mormons with a Part-member family (the Arendt's) and as the NM husband teared up about how he much he loves his family and wants to be unified in the way the church is, Katlynn said that night she knew in her future family, she wants her husband to hold the Priesthood and her family to be sealed in the Temple. I know the Lord is so aware of her, as He is of all of us.

        I am doing great! This week, Sister Bradshaw and I were blessed. The ward was so supportive in coming out with us on team-ups all week and testifying to our investigators. I had the highest number of member presents on my whole mission so far, so you could say I'm a little ecstatic! We also went to the Vistors Center in Indepedence with Katlynn yesterday and she loved it. Love you guys so much. Stay safe. Here are some scriptures that really stood out to me this week -

“There is a difference between receiving a testimony of truth and being truly converted. For instance, the great Apostle Peter bore his witness to the Savior that he knew that Jesus was the Son of God.

“[Jesus] saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15–17).

I know Jesus is the Christ.

Love, 

Sister Penman

     

January 20, 2015

Dear Everyone,

 

     Another week has passed here in Kansas City with Sister Bradshaw. I don't know about you, but January has been such a great month. This week we had a few more appointments with Katlynn! One day we invited her to come to one of our dinners with a member family, the Johnson's and had a great lesson on Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. Then, a couple days later we went to get ice cream at Sheridan's and had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom with one of the old YSA relief Society. Yeah I know it was kind of a different setting to have that lesson, but don't worry, I didn't get the large ice cream. However, I do recommend the Razzle Dazzle if you get the chance to go. As we taught Katlynn the Word of Wisdom, she really opened up about how she was affected by the addictions of others around her. She told us that when we mentioned how we don't have coffee at dinner the other day, she donated all her little Keurig coffee cups to her work the following day. Wow. She is an inspiration. She is so aware of the Spirit and is able to recognize truth more than anyone I have taught on my mission so far. I think about how blessed I am to have been here, at this moment in time, to be her missionary. However, I believe I knew Katlynn before this life, and in that premortal world, telling her that I would find her. On Sunday, during church, she told us that she wants to be baptized on February 21st :)

     This morning, Sister Bradshaw and I went to an appointment with a referral named Lyn. We didn't know what to expect, or neccesarily know exactly what to say, but we sat down with her with Sister Stokes from the ward and had one of the most Spirit-filled lessons. Half the time was just listening and discerning her needs. So amazing.

 

The rest of the week was also great! I hope you all have an awesome week! Love you so much!

 

Love,

Sister Penman

January 12, 2015

Dear Family and Friends! 

 

     Man. So much to say so little time. However, I did want to make sure you all knew that I'm in Kansas City another transfer with Sister Bradshaw! So grateful! I guess the Lord likes to keep me in areas for a quite a long time. This is my second area I will spend 6 months in. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure Bishop Vance is trying to figure out what he has to do to get rid of me! Jk he is so great. This weekend was our 2 days of all-day splits with members in our ward. If you look up the #KCMissionarySplits on any social network you might be able to find a picture of me and Sis Bradshaw and other missionaries in the mission. It was a really cool event!

     Katlynn is doing so well. We went to the Liberty Jail with her this weekend and she came to church for the second time and she's going with us to dinner at a member's house this weekend! She has been so prepared. I'm so grateful I have the opportunity to feel of her Spirit and to teach her the saving principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll try to write more next week, but I'm doing great. Thanks you for your prayers. Love you so much. I know this is Christ's church!!

 

Love

Sister Penman

January 5, 2015

Dear Everyone, 

    

     Happy New Year!!! It has been a great week. Seriously. Sister Bradshaw has taught me recently by her dad that 'Fasting and prayer and do more than just prayer alone'. I know that has been true especially in our area. We have been doing our best to keep 'our eye single to they glory' keeping our focus on the work and the people. We've had to drop a few people because they voiced they weren't ready to progress; however, we also met with Katlynn (the referral I told you about last week) and she is so ready to get baptized!!!!! YAYAYAY! Below is a picture of all of us together after we went to the Visitors center in Independence and watched Meet the Mormons. Katlynn said she loved it! We also taught her about prophets in the prophets room there. Cutie, Sister Currie (a sister I was over back in Overland Park) took us on the tour.

    

     Katlynn also came to church this this Sunday and said she loved it! Have I mentioned she asks the best questions and also some of the most deep questions I've heard on my mission? Most of the time investigators ask questions like, "what happens after we die?' or "how do I stop feeling guilty about mistakes I've made?". But she's asked "What is Kolob?" (Might I mention, she asked that on our first appointment haha) and then asked "If your spouse passes away, can you be sealed to another person?" I was like, uhhhhhhhhhh..... haha I don't even remember what we said, but I know the spirit guided us. No worries though, we didn't go all deep on her. She's doing so good! It's such an amazing feeling to feel just a little hint of God's love for His children. It's impossible to not love the people you teach or even people you see in the streets! No judgments. Just love.

 

     I went on exchanges with Sister Oleson this week in Shoal Creek Valley ward. It went great! You'll see a picture of us in a spot that looked just like Clinton. Transfers are this Thursday, so if I stay here for another transfer, I'll be here for 6 months! We'll see what happens.

 

Investigators:

Angela- is doing ok, but got sick so we weren't able to take her to the Historic Liberty Jail this week like planned, but we know she once she is feeling better things will start picking up

 

Katlynn- we're teaching her this week in the Relief Society President's home :)

 

Precious- after meeting with her quite a few time and discussing it, she said she isn't ready to focus on church right now so we won't be going over too much at this point, but I know she will accept the gospel in the really near future.

 

Grayson Family- the holidays have made it hit and miss, but they loved when the elders and us caroled to them Christmas eve. Please pray that they will open their hearts and be ready to accept our message!

 

     Love you guy so much! Talk to you next week :)

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

McKenzie, Sis Bradshaw, Katlynn, Me, Kami (our mini missionary for the weekend!)