September 22, 2014

Happy P-day Everyone!

    I'm totally going to come home next year expecting Mondays to be awesome... oh well. For now they are! Hope you're having a good day so far :) this week has been really good. We were on foot all week so it was kind of a struggle to get around to the places we needed to be, but somehow, we were able to get there! I'm really grateful for the members that drove us to different areas when we had appointments. If you haven't asked the missionaries in your ward if they need rides, definitely let them know when you're available. It has been heaven-sent. We had a really cool experience on Saturday.

     We needed to get to the temple in the morning to teach a recent convert/friend named Danny his new member lessons and we could not FOR THE LOVE find a ride there. It wasn't until we called about 10 different people, that Sister Alexander called us to tell us that she had seen a couple of sister missionaries in the temple that knew us. And proceeded to tell us she was going to do more work in the temple, but felt like she needed to go and give us a call. We told her that we really needed a ride, and she was there in 10 minutes. That was something so small, but it made me realize how special the Spirit it. It's so easy to see the blessings in our lives when we are aware of the little things.

     Jenifer has been doing really good! We had a lesson on the Plan of Salvation with her this week and I know it makes sense to her. Now it just needs to go from her head to her heart, and she will want to act upon it! she's getting there. She wasn't able to come to church this week either which is kind of lame, but the General Women's Meeting is this Saturday! I know she will be going to that. If you haven't already, invite your friends and families that are women 8 and older. I know it's going to be a really amazing evening.

      Meet the Mormons is coming to theaters near you! Take your friends that aren't members! It's not a proselyting movie. Instead, it's to help our friends understand who we are! It's about a missionary mom, a football coach, professional woman kickboxer, and more. It'll be sweet. Our Mission President is going to be showing it to us next month!

      This week Sister Kaimarama and I both decided to work on a Christ-like attribute. I wanted to focus on diligence and she wanted to work on patience. Never let the Lord know what you are working on... he'll give it to you. Haha Just kidding... but seriously. He definitely tested us, but I am so grateful for it. It's not fun to be uncomfortable; however, it's definitely necessary for us to grow. I'm so grateful for the Savior, for the empowerment I receive when my desires are pure. He loves us so much. Never forget it. Have a great week!

Love you lots,

Sister Penman

September 15, 2014
Good Morning ya'll!

     Have I mentioned that it feels good to be back in Missouri? It's been a really great week. We had the car so we were really able to get around to all of our appointments and go to places that wouldn't be possible without the car. Want to know something crazy? On Saturday we went to the temple in the early morning around 10am to teach our friend Danny his new member lessons and who I saw? Some of my favorite people from Clinton! It was such a sweet experience. They're like my family down in there. Can't wait to hug them all! I'll send a pick of just a few of them. 

     I am so grateful to serve in Zion, and especially in my new area in NKC. I just want to mention a few miracles that happened. 

     First off, I'm so grateful to have Sister Kaimarama as my companion. We both have been working our tails off, and we already work so well together. This week we had Zone Training which was really good. The only problem is that I forgot my study journal so I can't remember some of those quotes that I like a lot haha. But, just know that is was good and our zone leaders did a great job. 

     This week we were able to teach a lot of people! The sisters in this area have been teaching Jenifer Lagana this the beginning of this year. She is so sweet. Her son, Jordan, 15, who is autistic, got baptized earlier this year in February and her mom was less active for over 30 years and started coming back to church at the beginning of the year. On Wednesday we had an appointment with Jenifer and her son Jordan was able to be there for it. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and how and why it is important. During the lesson Jenifer asked Jordan, "How did you know that it was true?". The Spirit was so strong as he talked about first sitting down with the sister missionaries. How he knew that they were servants of the Lord. There was something different about them. He told about his experience when he got baptized and how much it has changed him. I was so grateful for that boy. That he as able to open up to his mom. She is now really progressing! We're excited to continue to help her. Miracle? She came to church on Sunday for all 3 hours! Halelujah.

     You know how we found that one lady Angela last week while walking her dog? We set up an appointment for this last Saturday to see her again. And a lot of the time people forget about those haha, but we knocked on her door and she opened it. She's like, 'Come on in girls!' That night we talked to her about the Restoration and more about the Book of Mormon. She told us that she had been thinking about our visit from the previous week and knew that God was trying to tell her sometime and then that night she met Mormon missionaries.... she cracked up right after she said that hahah. Funny how the Lord works! She said she never would have stopped to talk to the guys in the white shirts on bikes, but said that we were really sweet. Yay!! I love the Spirit!

     Also, their was a zone goal of getting 3 new investigators per companionship and this week we found 4! We have been so blessed. Obviously not all weeks will be like this, but man. I am so grateful for the Gospel. The church is true. If you're struggling with your testimony; go to church, read the Book of Mormon, and pray. And I know, He will never lead you astray. Love ya! Talk to you next week!

Love,

Sister Penman

Zone Training. Just ignore my ridiculously awkward mental hand hahah

September 8, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

 

     Drum roll Please............ I GOT TRANSFERRED! No big surprise. I had a feeling, but I'm so excited! This is my 3rd area! I am now in the North Kansas City ward in Kansas City, Missouri. I'm back in Missouruhhh ya'll! Glad to be back. Listen to this. My chapel is right next to the Kansas City Temple. I get to see it every single day! I'm so stinkin blessed. I'm in the Liberty South zone now. Normally, I would be within the boundaries to serve in the Liberty Jail, but the NKC bishop, asked specifically for non-visitor center sisters. That's me! I've had multiple missionaries come up to me and say that it is their 'dream ward' to serve in. The ward is on fire! I'm so excited to get to work. I live in an apartment complex, i'll send pictures of it soon, that has 2 bathrooms in it which means I get my own bathroom! I feel like it's Christmas already. My new Companion is sister Kaimarama! She is from the Cook Islands, just south of Hawaii. We're practically twins!... Ok not really, but she is so awesome and fun. I'm so excited to work with her. It's already been a great half week with each other. The only kind of not so cool thing is that we have the car one week on, one week off. But, the weather is becoming so beautiful so people are going to be outside! It's a hidden miracle.

     There has been a lot of new things happening so right now i'm just playing meet all the members, find people to teach, and learn the area! I'm so grateful to be here. This week we didn't have the car, so we were walking! We were ale to teach a lot of lessons and find a new investigator! Her name is Angela. We were just walking home from our dinner appointment when this lady with a dog start walking by. We talk to her a little bit and find out she went to the Kansas City temple open house a couple of years ago! We talked to her a little about what we do and she said we can come back next week. Miracles!

      It was difficult to leave the members in OP2 just like it was in Clinton, but I can already feel the support of the members here. Want to know a huge miracle that happened yesterday? Bishop Vance told the sisters to stand up in sacrament meeting and he introduced me to the ward. During the testimonies, I had a such a strong feeling that I need to share mine. After the meeting, a really cute older lady came up to me and said that she really appreciated my talk and that she felt really good. She told me that she wasn't a member and that she was only visiting with her brother who was in town from Logan, Utah. She asked what we did as missionaries, and after talking for a few brief minutes she said that she looked forward to meeting with us and we exchanged numbers!

      I don't always have such strong promptings, but that will be an experience I will remember. Even though I talk to strangers every day, I was still nervous to get up and share my testimony. Heavenly Father knew I needed something a little stronger to get up on the podium haha. We are so blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel. When we are willing to act upon the Spirit we feel, Heavenly Father will guide us in the direction or course we need to go, or the person we need to talk to. It's ok to let Him humble us a little bit. When we are uncomfortable, it leaves room for us to grow. Love you all. Talk to you next week.

 

Love,

Sister Penman

 

Last Farmstead, Ihop with the girls before transfers!