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Monday, April 28, 2014

Snow?

Hey Mom and Dad,
So this last week has been a crazy one. But it has been pretty fun. The weather has been getting down to 13 degrees C. I have a little bit of a hard time getting out of my nice warm bed. It is even harder to be in a biking area at this time. But we move forward. I will probably need to get some gloves and a scarf soon, but for right now I am doing okay. Crazy Cold! The funniest part is we have two Arizonians in one of the coldest parts of the mission, fulfilling their duties on bikes. :) But we still work hard. 
Right now we have an investigator named Brother Mafeking. Amazing. Elder Ramat and I tracted into him on a week in which he took off of work because of health problems. He was very receptive to The Restoration. This last week he had some more problems and had to go to the Hospital. When he got out Elder Cathemer and I were able to go and visit him. We got to teach him the Plan of Salvation. Wonderful, Powerful! I couldn't think of a better time to teach him about this Plan of Happiness. I am so happy for him. Hopefully one of these Sundays he will be able to come to church. He just has a crazy work schedule. So we keep praying for him. 
Also I had a question for dad. We have this investigator named Sphokazi. She is 18 and we have almost gone through about all of the lessons, just finishing up with some commandments. She has a baptismal date for May 18. But as Elder Ramat and I were teaching her, we suspected that she had a crush on E Ramat. Suspicions were confirmed when she told Elder Cathemer and I. Now we are coming up on her baptismal date and we are wondering if she is doing it for the right reasons. She keeps coming to church and participating in classes. I am just wondering if you have any ideas about what should happen. She is so excited for Baptism, but we don't want to do it if she is just going to fall away shortly after. Any thoughts? I would love to hear if you have any ideas or had any similar experiences. Thanks dad. 
Okay mom, so Thanks for the FHE idea. I love it! It will try it everyone will go with the whole compass pointing north thing... even if it works or not. Also the choice consequences FHE worked out great. That will be our thing for the next little bit. 
I love the youth program as well, they are preparing for a great work. The day of this life is the time for men to prepare. I am happy that the youth are actively participating. That is awesome. 
The FHEs are going great. We still have 2-3 each week. It is a great way to get to know the members and to maybe bring some investigators or less actives that need some ward support. 
I love my new companion. This week has been a great week. we get along well. He is great. He does cook when he needs to. I have been doing pretty good at rice and mince. I can eat okay each night. This morning I had no cereal (we need to go shopping) so I made some rice and put in some sugar to make it sweet. And it was pretty good. Not too bad. Thank you for what you did teach me and for the recipes in which you have given. They are wonderful and simple. You are great!  
I look forward to talking with you guys too. We will have to plan a good time in which I can talk with everyone. 
My headaches have been okay. I get them every now and them...but I have been better with my water intake. So they have been getting better. 
And yes it is cold. there is a chance that it will snow. Yeah for the biking missionary!! We will just have to wait and see. 
I love you so much too. I loved those days in which i had to spend with you. I miss them and think about them often. They were great. I am very grateful for what you and dad have taught me. I continue to be able to put your teachings to practice. Every day. Thank you for everything. Love you LOTs!!!!
Okay Dad, That sounds like a crazy week. I can only imagine how overwhelming everything gets. I have had a pretty crazy week as well. With the weather being cold everything feels like it goes by so slow. But yet time flies. We are on week three of this transfer. Kinda insane. We so have to make the most of everyday. The only hard part is we are on bikes, but we keep pressing forward. I just really hope it doesn't snow. 
Love is an important thing. We have talked with many people this week. We had about 18 lessons and made 20 something visits, we try for about 10 quality gospel conversations each day. But that is something we are striving for, right we get about 3-5. But we are doing a little better. Thing is a lot of people that give us some time are drunks. Crazy. This last week we had 2 investigators and 1 less active come to church. But we can reach up to about 4 inv. It is just hard with the area being so far away from the church. But that also provides a great way to weed out our progressing and dedicated investigators from those who just want the white guys to come and visit. 
Elder Cathemer is doing great. He is from the Florence area. Kinda nice to have someone come from so close to home. 
I loved those service projects as well. I look forward to continuing to serve with you guys one day. 
I look forward to Skyping. I can be on at anytime. It looks like the afternoon (for me) would be best. for some reason I can't do the math in my head. What would be a good time in which everyone will be together? I would call on my Sunday. We get out of Church and done with our Sunday DA around 2:30 or 3. but we can be pretty flexible. Just let me know what time all of you would be there. I really can't wait until we can chat. 
Give Meagan a hug for me and sing her Happy Birthday for me. I love you dad. And I love your emails. They are wonderful. 
I am studying Preach my Gospel, I just finished going through they commandments. Also I am going through the Book of Mormon like Elder Bednar challenged. And I continue to grow in testimony of how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Soon I will hopefully be able to study the General Conference Talks. 
 
Mom and Dad, know that I love you very very much. Thank you for everything!
Love Elder Pennington

Easter

Hey Mom and Dad,

So for starters. When I got up to speak in church, I said, "I don't know if any of you have ever had that moment when your heart is about to jump out of your chest, but if you hear Ba Bump Ba Bump, Bear with me :)" or something like that. Its hard to make them laugh here, but they loved it. This is a good ward. But I do miss the humor back home. Conference all of a sudden started playing in the background when the 1st counselor got up to start the meeting, but he didn't make any comment. He just sat there and waited for a moment. I would have said something like... maybe we should turn the time over to the professionals or something like that. Nobody but us elders really even laughed at it. But hey everyone has different senses of humor. :)
That is so cool about The Amazing Race. One day I will see the shores of Namibia. Right now Queenstown (QT) is landlocked, but I saw for a moment the coast when I was in East London and Capetown. The water is beautiful. but for now I get to look and mountains.
I loved our Easter Sacrament meeting as well. I love the spirit of this Holiday. It stands right beside Christmas.
Thanks for the Easter pics. I loved them. The Bunny did GOOD!
Okay so for Mothers day. Since I am still in QT I will be able to Skype home for about 40 minutes at the Thomas.' So I will need a Skype account. And we will still have to figure out time wise.
And finally my new Companion. Elder Cathemer. you will get a picture soon. but he comes from our home land of Arizona. From somewhere around Florence. Really cool guy. Reminds me of Bryant and Denton. I really think that this will be a great transfer.
 
I haven't lost weight (I actually made things this week. I made Poor mans and it didn't turn out too bad. Looked different but still tasted pretty good. I will eventually perfect it. )
Mom, I am so happy to hear of your Easter holiday. Mine was okay. Not the same. but it was a good day. My Companion and i would wish Happy Easter to everyone. Really fun.
Thanks for the FHE idea and the bubble pizza recipe. I will HAVE to try it. soon.
In sacrament they had messages on the Atonement and the YSA sang "He is Risen" was a pretty good meeting. I love Easter!
We haven't taught at the school for the last week or so, holidays you know.
Driving wise...slowly. I don't have to get a license, I just have to get mission approved. my first test run driving stick i didn't get pulled over but the Elder who reparked did. The cops we wondering why the car kept stalling. So they left us with a warning :) I really need to at least start by driving automatic at least until I get comfortable.   
All is going well over here. I love my new companion. Great Elder. We are going to do great here in QT. Just so you know it is getting kinda cold here (it might snow), I will probably get a sweatshirt to wear around the flat (so as not to get my proselyting gear ruined.
I will keep you up to date with my new adventures. Time sure does fly by though. I just need to "just keep Swimming" Keep moving forward. I love you all. I pray for you everyday. Thank you for your prayers.
Love Elder Pennington

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Peanut M & M's

Hey Mom and Dad,
For starters, Happy Birthday Dad. I thought of you alot yesterday. I even had some Peanut M&Ms with you in mind. I just wanted to wish you happy Birthday and tell you that I love you very much. Make sure that Heidi gives you a Birthday Hug and Kiss for me. Okay? 
 
Also this week is transfer week. So craziness over on this side of the world. I won't know anything until the end of today (we will go to the thomas' for scones and transfer news). I will let you know everything next week. All I know is I will get a new companion. 
 
Anywho...
I am so happy you guys enjoyed the temple. I can't wait to come and enjoy it again myself. One day. And that is pretty cool about the ward activity. I hope it goes well. That would be a wonderful missionary opportunity. I hope that the missionaries make the most of it. I am happy that the new ward is still going strong. 
 
Also I hope that you enjoyed some cobbler for me. I was able to have some tasty enchiladas this week. And some M&Ms, but no cobbler :( That will be something that I will have to wait for. 
I am doing my best in the work. My training is just about over. I am adjusting. I gave a pretty good talk at church. I even made everyone laugh. Which is kinda hard :) But it went good. You asked what I think would help the priest be prepared. I would suggest that the Priest do go to mission prep. And that they do study Preach My Gospel. May they always pray and study their scriptures. If they have a testimony of the points in the lessons, they will be wonderful missionaries. I will keep thinking. But once they get to the field they will pick up and learn many of the things that they need. 
 
No news on Botswana except we have two new missionaries who were in Botswana but were kicked out. Good news is three other missionaries got an extension on their visa. So we are having hope. Thing is In Botswana there are only 10 missionaries. In Namibia there are only 2. I have more missionaries in my Zone then there are in the entire mission. I so pray that I will be able to go soon. The work is needed. 
 
So there are four of us boarding together and two zone leaders who are not far away. So 6 in my district and we meet every friday. Zone conferences are every 3 months. We do a multi zone conference and training. So those are really kinda cool We do multi because we have 14 in our zone. But it is a highlight each time I get to see more missionaries. Just to think that we are all a part of a great army. 
 
I love you too Dad. I hope you had a good birthday and got some good books for me to read when I get home. I love you!
 
Thanks Mom for your Email. I have had a great week. Loved it! Again I had some great enchiladas that reminded me of home. I am so happy that you guys are enjoying the temple. Keep it up. 
I love your comments about Joseph Smith and our own conversion. Those are wonderful. We need to pray and know for our selves. That is something we as missionaries stress. We could talk all day, with the spirit even, but they will not progress until they kneel down and pray for themselves. That is were lives are changes, when you are on your knees. Thank you for your thoughts on that. I loved the conference talks that talked abut Joseph Smith's experience. I also loved Pres. Utchdorfs "Don't Sleep Through the Restoration" We are all involved.
 
Thanks for the recipes. I am slowly gaining confidence. We do have ground beef, but we call it mince here. I made a meal last night with rice, ground beef and carrots. (I need to go shopping so I will have to try poor mans soon. Maybe once everything settles this week.) Thanks again for the recipes. 
 
I look forward to telling you all of my new companion, but I don't know yet. Anxiety. Nervousness. :) I will get though it. I just have to make the next six weeks AWESOME. Wish me luck. Also I am so happy you have Elder Buehner as well. I feel very connected. 
But what makes me feel the most connected it the fact that we are all going about the same work. Even if we are on different sides of the world. I love you Mom. Thank you for all that you and Dad have taught me. For your examples.
BTW tell Bro Nuttall, thanks for the referral I will try and talk with him once the dust settles with transfers. This is going to be a crazy week with this. But tell him thank you for me. 
 
I love you all very much. We are working hard down here. there is much potential (we could have 6 baptisms this next 6 weeks.) I look forward to continuing the work. 
You are all in my prayers as well. I love you very much. I hope you have a fantastic week. Thanks for everything. 

Love Elder Pennington

Conference

Hey Mom and Dad,
Conference was wonderful!!! It was really cool to have the chance to listen to the words of the Prophets. To sit at their feet and feast on the words of Christ. Mom, Elder Hollands talk was great. A great way to start conference. I prepare everyday for the strength to defend what I believe in. Growing up there has never been such a threat. Mission might bring some. I strive everyday to act like the Saviour. To carry my cross. I love Elder Andersens Talk as well. To be strong against the whirlwinds. And Elder Bednars. Wonderful, the need for Burdens. I thought about our covenants. I can't wait to finish conference next week. I have found every session one of power. 
 
The FHE's are great. They give a chance to meet with members (and to eat :) The Canti family (the C is a click) Most of those kids aren't even members but they come anyways. I am happy to plant those seeds. That is why I love giving fist bumps as often as I can to the kids I see. They are so much fun. 
 
The school is going great. They had break, so we took the chance to visit some of them individually. Found a couple of potentials. One of them we walked to conference with. The walk of a life time. It felt good. And I can see how the Gospel of Christ can change lives. We met with one lady this last week for the first time. Taught the first two principles of the Restoration (ask Bry about what those are). Then when we went back for our next appointment she had a cake and some Coke (not bad but not something I want to drink often). She said that her life is changing and she knows that we have been a part of that change. Moments like this make me grateful for this call.
 
I love you very much mom. I can't wait till I came back and go through the temple with you either. I look forward to that day. Dad, thank you. I too loved conference and look forward to further studies. it was wonderful. Priesthood was powerful!! 
 
That is so cool about the garden. the fruits of your labors. They do have gardens here. It is great to see the work that they put into them. The area we are in are mostly government built houses for the less fortunate. So to see that they work hard to support themselves is great.
 
You asked about games, they are so creative with their equipment. I see kids playing soccer in the street everyday. They have stones as goals and a ball created out of layers of bread bags. They are smart. And as far as games that I don't know of, the girls down here play netball. I have no idea what it is.
 
This next week Transfers come up. I don't know what will happen, but we are about certain that we will have new companions. I might stay in my area for about 4.5 months, but no one really stays in Queenstown much longer. I just have to wait and see. Soon Pres. Wood will go home and a new Mission president will come. So things will probably change. Nevertheless I have been learning the area. sure and steady. We have received a new map. So that will be a great tool. I have been to most every area, but there are still some to explore. I do feel more confident about my knowledge of the area. So I will be fine if Elder Ramat moves out and someone new comes in. 
 
Dad I have been reflecting on my many blessings lately. They are great. Yesterday I started a gratitude journal. My "Happiness is..." journal. there are so many reasons to be happy. I hope I will be able to always live after the manner of happiness. Thank you dad for your words of comfort and support. I gain strength and joy after every email.
 
I hope you all have a wonderful week. 
It truly was a great fantastic week.
Love, Elder Pennington