April 13, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

     Logan got baptized on Saturday! It was a wonderful service. Sister Lamb gave the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and I sang a hymn with the Keeney girls in our ward. I blanked on which one.. so I'll tell you another time. I just realized that I will have been in Kansas City, MO for about 8 or 9 months now. It doesn't get much better than that! It was a pretty crazy week, nevertheless. We finished all of Logan's lessons in time for her baptismal interview and she was ready and excited when that day came. One of the days, we were going to go to the church building for a lesson and to try on her baptismal jumpsuit to make sure it fit, but she got really really sick that day from a chronic illness she has. We rescheduled and prayed and prayed that she would feel better. The following day she called us and said the pain subsided and she was feeling great! I was so grateful for the tender mercy that day. On Sunday, she received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and her temple recommend. Sister Lamb and I are hoping we will get permission to go with her for her first time. She is doing so great! Miracle? Her mom and dad, best friend, and cousin all came to the wedding! Her best friend, Ian, came to church for all the meetings and said he wants to come back! Logan's parents weren't able to come to church on Sunday because of work, but her dad committed to coming to church next week... yup, that's real. The very person that kept her from getting baptized two years ago, said he would come to church with Logan. The Lord truly softens our hearts. 

       This week we also had MLC and zone conference. It was so much fun to see past companions, and past district and zones that I was a part of. What I wasn't aware of was the fact that this was my last zone conference.... which meant I would give my testimony, along with those that were going home with me. That threw me for a loop!! At the end of the meeting, I got up in front of over a hundred missionaries and shared what I knew to be true. Let me tell you, there is nothing that I could say in those 3 minutes that could define these last 18 months of my life. I definitely did my best to express my love for the Savior and my Heavenly Father, and the way it's changed my heart. However, I also added that I never thought I would be a sister missionary. Yet there I was. Standing behind the podium giving my final testimony! It was a pretty surreal feeling. 

      Sister Lamb and I are best friends. Do you know what it's like to be companions with your best friend? I'll tell you. It's pretty great :) It's been such a blessing to go through both of our ups and downs together. We've both worked on plenty of patience. This transfer has been by no means normal. But hey, regardless of what the world throws at us, we know our purpose and we are stoked for the next few weeks. Only 2 weeks til Abbey gets baptized :) Want to know something cool? I saw Bishop Vance from NKC ward yesterday after church in the hall. He tapped me on the shoulder and said he almost hugged me! He thought I was just visiting and that I might've gone home. Silly Bishop!! He kept asking me, 'How are you doing? You seem to have a glow. What's changed? How are you doing?' I guess I'm not sure what has happened, but all I know is that I'm down right happy. Heavenly Father has blessed me with friends and family that are eternal. We are all a family. We are all part of God's family, all with the same goal: To be more like Jesus Christ. I know He lives and this is his Restored church. Talk to you next week!

Love always,

Sister Penman

Logan's baptism; family and girls from Young Womens!