BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Monday, April 27, 2015

April 27, 2015

Hey You Guys,
This has been a pretty good week. We have been building up for transfers. My transfer news... Everything is staying the same. I will be with Elder Vanfleet again in the office. In fact the my office district is staying the same and a majority of my zone. Not much change in my world right now. But the work is good. Slowly improving. Our area is great. Wonderful members. Great leaders. A pretty good ward. 
We have also had some pretty good lessons. Another great talk with Brother Burger. He is going through some hard times. He is preparing to keep moving on. He came to church again. This time he even brought his son from Joburg. It still hurts him to come, but it is slowly getting easier to deal with the pain. He is doing so well. Loves coming. It makes me so happy to see him. There is great joy when you see the people you teach act and grow in their faith. but then comes those moments when they don't come to church or read. Brother Burger was the among the few people we taught last week that had come to church. No investigators. We did have some recent converts, but It just hurts a little to see those you have been working with not progress but acting to grow their faith. But that has been mission thus far. We keep working and are to never get discouraged by these things.
But not too bad of a week. 
Dad, Thanks for the story. Brother Garrett did well. I know that as we do listen to those prompting, He will lead. I think so much of Nephi. Commanded to get the plates, goes into Jerusalem after a couple of failed attempts. 1 Nephi 4:6. Lead by the spirit not knowing beforehand what was going to happen. He went and did. Action. 
The work is going well. We had several good lessons. One in particular we were teaching two men from Democratic Republic of the Congo. They speak french and not very good english, so we had to keep things pretty simple. What we did in talking about the Book of Mormon, we read it just as outlined in the Donaldson papers. Got to verse 12 when Lehi reads the book and feels the spirit. One brother asked "What can I do to feel of the spirit all the time?" We talked a little about reading, praying, and coming to church. But than talked about the need for baptism and invited them to be baptized. They did not understand the question. So we brought out a Picture of Christ being Baptized by John and asked a little bit slower. They were able to understand. The other then asked what he could do to overcome the bad things he is doing and to do good. We were than able to testify of the atonement. It was a simple lesson because of the language, but it turned out very well. The Spirit does lead. 
I am listening to the Prophets. I love the quote. They do speak the words of Christ. 
Thanks for everything dad! Love You!!
Mom, Wow Mothers day is right around the corner. I do not yet know what will be able to happen. I am pretty sure I can find some way to Skype. We will figure it out this week. Times, that is a tough one. We will probably have to do it after Church for me and before Church for you. Just like last year. Would that still work. What time is church for you? I have my skype info. I hope that that will work out. I can't believe it is that time already. Time does fly. I am almost down to one more call home. Craziness. 
Mom, Life is good hear. It is nice to be close to President. It was Sister Merrill's birthday on Saturday, So we made them a cake and took it to them. Fun little things like that we can't do in the Eastern Cape. Nice being close. For me, i think i will be here for a while. I would not mind 6 months here. But we will see what the Lord has in store. I can't believe how fast time is flying. So much change and stuff. Just yesterday I was Home teaching Sorens family and now he is dancing with my younger sister. Crazy! :) No problem with the camera. No pressure. Thank you for helping me out. 
Mom, i love you and hope that you have a very wonderful week. Love YOU!
Bryant, District Leader eh? You will do great. Love the members of your district. Get to know them. Don't have boring district meeting like me :) Have fun with it. You will do great. I know you will do great. You are a good leader. Remember where your Loyalty is. The Lord, Your Mission President, Your District. As you seek guidance you can help your District become better. Page 55-66 of the white handbook, really do help us understand what we need to do and how we can be the best that we can be. I love you Bryant, and know that you will do great. The Lord may not call the qualified but He does qualify those He calls. I love you Bry!
Meagan, Happy Birthday. You are 14 now right? I can't believe how much you have grown. You are so big now. I hope you have many good dates and that each of them come and talk to dad before you even go with them :) You will have alot of fun. dating is fun. Funny enough, The Halversons on my side of the world took a picture with me and were going to send it to your side. So you might see that soon. You are quite a busy one aren't you. Feeding the starving Children and dancing. I know you are doing a great work. My week was pretty simple. Just trying to invite people to come to Christ and all. It is amazing the faith that so many people have around here. The African people as a whole often just take out message as something they already know. They do not seem taken back that we are the only true and living church with the Priesthood and everything. So they keep listening, but then they just keep going to their old church. But we do our best to invite them and invite the spirit so that he can testify of truth to their hearts. 
I hope you have a great week. And a very happy Birthday!! Love you Meagan!
Heidi, Don't you worry about those times you forget. I love your emails, but I know that you are busy sometimes and that we all just forget at times. I am happy you had a good week. Did you enjoy your poem. What was it about? Heidi, dad sent a picture of you, you are growing up so fast. I see the 10-11 years around me and can just see a grown-up Heidi. That is so crazy. I hope you have a good week. Enjoy life! Love you alot Heidi!!
Jera, That is cool. A triathlon in Mexico. I can imagine that it was hard being sick, but I also know that it must have felt good finish that thing that you have been working so hard to do. The feeling of accomplishment. Cool. My breakthrough this week... My unique position as a missionary, priesthood holder, and a member of the church. I was pondering Elder Holland's talk in this last General Conference. Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet. The brotherly arms. As a representative of Jesus Christ, as His servant, I have a responsibility of being those arms at times. To listen to the spirit and respond to those in need. I have the privilege of lifting others when they are down. We can all be those arms as we go and do. Now to use my hands in such a matter and be those arms. Pretty cool. Love you Jera!!    
Well Everyone. That is it for now. I hope you all have a great week. I can't wait for Mother's day. Another Birthday shout out for Meagan. the big 16! What a great time to be alive! Love you all very much!!
Love, Elder Pennington

Last week - April 20, 2015

Hey You Guys!!
It has been such a week! We have been working hard. Finding and teaching, teaching and finding. We have met some great people. We reached our lessons taught to a less active goal. One of those less actives was a man in his 70s, Brother Burger, He had lost his wife 15+ years ago to cancer. She had loved the church and was very strong and active. He loved her. When she passed away going to church was painful for him. When we met with him, we asked him when he joined the church. That question brought tears to his eyes. He really misses his wife. But when we got to church for our correlation in the morning. He was already there. Waiting in his car. With some tears in his eyes. It is helpful that his daughter is in the ward. She was a great strength to him. But the smile I got. He is on his way, preparing himself for the day he not only sees his Heavenly Father but his wife again as well. I do love this gospel. Life is hard, but step by step we can get there. With Christ all things are possible! Love it!
Dad, Thanks for the wonderful words and for the family updates. I love family gatherings, and now I think I am getting a little to big for the kid table :) But I can't wait for the gathering. Those moments are special. Special moments that bring strength and happiness to keep moving forward. I love the wonderful plan of happiness that a loving heavenly father has set forth for us. I love you Dad!
Mom, It is okay with the Money. I am okay for now. I even found my planner this last week so I have a couple of the cameras that I have seen that might be good, if you want to look into them or something. The only one I found with WiFi (now I havn't had too much time to look) is the Samsung WB35F for R1500. Now WiFi is nice when you have big picture files but for the most part it is not that important. Then we have the Nikon Coolpix S2800 for R1000. The Canon Ixus145 R900. And the Samsung ES96 for R700. I like the look of the ES96 and it was on sale, but I don't know how good it is. But then We found a place where we can find Flash drives and SD card for about R69-R129. So I don't think that will add too much more to the cost. But thanks for the wonderful help. I look forward to sending some wonderful pictures home. But for now I have some good ideas for the perfect shots :) Love it!
I can't wait to hear how everything goes. I am sorry that I am so far from the funeral, but it has been a week of great pondering on the important things and all of the wonderful memories I have had with my great family. I do love you all very much! Life is going too fast. There is only enough time to focus on the things that matter most. I love you Mom!
Meagan, I can't believe you are almost 16. That is pretty crazy! You will enjoy it! Hope you have a good week during your final hours of being 15. And I know you don't have him. I have Brother Halverson's parents as some of the Senior missionaries here in my mission. I work in the Office with them. Small world huh? I love you Meagan!
Heidi, I met this young lady yesterday. She is about your age and if you are anything like this girl you must be growing up so fast. She seemed way older than 11. but she is. And you are going to be too. So big and mature. Hope you have a wonderful week. Love you Heidi!
Bryant, that is how I felt after my 2nd transfer in Queenstown, than I stayed 2 more. :) I know how you feel. You are doing great. You will enjoy every area you have. For different reasons and such. We just keep on swimming. You are almost at your quarter mark. Crazy! You are doing great. With the Donaldson papers, I don't expect you to read then any more than you have time. But there are pretty interesting. You will enjoy them whenever you are given the chance. I love you Brother. You are a great inspiration!
Jera, Love you Too!
Well it has been quite the week for us hasn't it. I hope you all had a safe trip and are doing well. I love you all very much. Keep it up! Enjoy this next week. Especially since Meagan will be available on friday. Last one you will have for a while. Date night will take her away :) Boy is our world changing like crazy! Love you all very much!!
Love, Elder Pennington

Monday, April 13, 2015

April 13, 2015


 
Hey You Guys,
This has been a pretty nice week. Quick quick! It is week 5 already. Hard to believe that I got into cape town about 4 weeks ago. Doesn't feel like that. Cape Town still fills new and big. :) but all is going well. We had a great fast and testimony meeting yesterday. Would have been great for investigators. But sadly no one came. :( I think they were scared of the foggy weather. It has been kind of cold lately. Here in Cape Town we don't have snow, but it is a rainy and foggy type of winter. Should be interesting. We shall see how it goes. 
The work is going great. Had some great lesson. I am not there yet but we are working on our boldness. 
We had Zone training and interviews. Very nice to talk with President Merrill. In the past those days we would see him, I would always try to linger as long as possible to say good-bye. But Now that he is a stone throw and a skip away, I get to see him even more. It is kind of really nice to be close by. Nevertheless the interviews are still a wonderful time of learning and growth. I was told by my Zone Leader that President had told him that out of the whole mission I was the most sound with doctrine. When Elder Prisbey told me that I recognized the bar I now have to reach. Yay, high expectations :) Funny. I don't know if you remember my setting apart, there was Bold as a Lion (still coming) but there was also a special relationship with my mission president. And I feel that more than President Wood and even Botswana's President Wilson, I feel it was talking about President Merrill. A great man. We all feel that just as now when President Merrill is a mission president, his mission president, Elder Ballard is a General Authority. It will probably be the same if any of us SACTM missionaries were to become a mission president, we would share stories about Elder Merrill... :) 
But yeah that has been my week :) Lots of great appointments and finding oppotunities. Got to Love it :)
Dad, I am sad about Grandma, but also strengthened by the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. Through Christ all that had been wrong can be made right. When death came into the World He conquered Death. He does live and now we can live again. But on our side there is plenty of memories and some sadness. But I too am happy that Grandma and Grandpa are together learning more about this wonderful Gospel. What Joy fills my heart for them and with gratitude for this wonder plan of happiness. 
I am happy to hear that Brandon is back and doing good. I had forgotten that he went to Chile. That is cool. Funny how things keep moving. Crazy time does too. We have Easton (who is probably back huh), Logan, and a couple of friends at school who left the year before me. They will all becoming back soon. Crazy thought. 
I love that story of Peter. It is better to look Up! The story that I have been thinking about it John 21. That moment with Christ changed Peter. He became fearless and bold. Loving to all. He became even more. A great change. I love that story and want to do a great study of it. Some day. but for now it has been the Donaldson papers. they have been great tools and a great time of instruction and learning. 
Thanks for everything dad. I talked to Bishop Parson yesterday at our lunch appointment. A very good man. I asked if there was anything we do. Nothing yet... but that relationship is being built. We just talked a little but it was nice. Thanks for your example and counsel. Love you very much! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!
Mom, Thank you for being such a great mom. I am happy the emails are good :) first cameras. I did look and I got some prices even with some names so that you all could do some research and advise me what is best. But then I lost my planner. My missionary-life support is gone. I have a good idea where it is so I will find it soon. But as far as prices go. The range of some good camera would be between R900 and R1300. I think that would also cover a new SD card and all. So that would be great. They wouldn't be the same as Lenny, but I think they will be pretty good. (No names yet, it would probably be a naming of Bryant moment...I will see him and know his name :) but thank you!
My area is great. We have some good investigators, but we are still trying to make them pretty solid. We are going to keep finding some new ones though. Fun! But we have a man named Lufefe. He is pretty good. When ever he gets some money he will search Lds.org and mormon.org. He is homeless, but there is a great change in him. Pretty golden. We just have to help him build a habit of getting to church (which he probably walks to, despite the difference). Then we have Patricia and Juliet. They are great. Ask some pretty good questions, but are slowly coming along. 
There are so many people here. French from the DRC, Xhosa, White Africaaners, English, Zimbabweans, so Diverse. We even have a Sister from Utah in our ward. She had married a South African and now lives here. Such great people. I love it!
I am doing better. Never fun to be sick, but we got through it. So all is back to the same.
The office is nice. Had a pizza run this week. We were kicked out of our apartment for a couple of nights because the APs had to have a couple of surprise guests. We just do what we are told. But it has been good. 
Thanks for everything mom. I love you so much!
Bryant, Don't worry too much, I have only just finished the letter, so I will wait for your transfer news. If you spend more that 4 transfers in your first area than you have dad and I beat. But you probably will move. How does that feel? You are a good missionary. I will go where He wants me to go, Huh? I love you Bry, just Keep Swimming!
Meagan, It has been a great week. Mormon Prom with Easton Webb. I still can't believe that you all are grown up and 16. How does it feel to be so close to such a date? I will approve Easton though. He was very creative with the asking. I hope you have fun and I can't wait to talk about it. 
AZ Merit, Shame! I am sorry you have to do that. but I know that you will do well. have fun! I am happy you are doing well. Love you Meagan!
Heidi, I am happy your week was good. Sorry about your friend stuck in the swing. Thats not fun. but hope She got unstuck :) Good luck with your AZ Merit. You will do well. You are a smart little one. I do love you Bud. Hope you have a wonderful week. Keep working hard and having fun at school. Read any good books??? Love you Buddy!
Jera, thanks for the Wonderful Pictures. So much fun. As far as I go, I just love to hear what is going on at home. The fun times and funny moments. Life updates. I love the story about Kora and Shelby's little lady bug talk. I did not know that they could nod their heads, every time I would talk to them I got only an approval of silence. Love it! Those two are growing up. Duke is getting big. He was a little guys when I was home. Now he has chocolate messes all over his face :) Love it! 
Thanks for the news updates. I get some funny ones from what is called the Daily Sun. They post up headlines on the street lights. There are some funny ones like "Church Elders Beat Me" it wasn't us. Cheesy little paper. 
Thanks so much. Love you Jera! Hope you have a great week as well. 
I love you all. Have a safe Trip to Oregon. Enjoy the escape from the heat. Make this week something else. Love you Much
Love, Elder Pennington the Elder 

Monday, April 6, 2015

April 6, 2015

Hey You Guys!!!

What a week! It has been hard being sick. My fever came and left came and left all week. Luckily I was able to keep working for the most part. So that is good. I got through it well. Conference was great. We are listening to the last session as we are emailing. Benefits of using the office to email. :) But yeah this has been a good week. The highlight of the week (besides conference) was giving chocolate-mallow Easter eggs to the kids of a township called DuNoon. It was fun. Some Sister in the ward had a fundraiser sort of thing of eggs at her school. She then passed on 600 of these eggs to us. We passed it on to the kids. The four of us elders stayed in the car (for protection). Then we would pass out the candy wishing everyone a happy Easter. The kids went crazy! We had kids chasing our car. Some little chubby kid chased after our car for a block or two until we realized he did not get one. Boy was he tired. When I think of the song "I want candy" I think of all of these little kids running after us. Or them all reaching into the car. But it brought such a laugh to us and a great smile to many wonderful kids. There were a couple of kids that even shared the candy. Sweet. But then there were some who tricked us by saying they had not had any yet. Shame. Overall our Saturday was a lot of fun. I hope you all had a great Easter as well. 
Dad, that is a very funny funny. I love it. You r name will get out there well. I enjoyed very much the talk about the fast and I look forward to doing that more prepared and ready rather than all of those time when I get to bed at 10:30 and I remember that tomorrow is fast sunday. I need to take it more serious and make it more special. But I think that my favorite talk overall was Elder Hollands and Elder Anderson (Wilford). The latter because of his great analogy. Elder Hollands because of the story of the brothers. I agree, it gives such a vivid example of how much we need Him. "Like lighting in a summer storm." He does live and He does love us so very much! 
Tell Cory and Jake and Brandon Hi for me. It is hard to believe that now people are going to start coming home. Sorry you didn't have anyone to go with to Priesthood. Two times from now, maybe? Thanks for you encouraging words. Have a wonderful day dad. Love You!!
Mom, I keep praying about Lenny as well. I will take a look at prices and let you know. Thanks for the help. And thanks for the money in the account. I will try not to use it that often. This last week I had gotten some candy for conference and a little bit of the weeks food. I have been working at my budgeting but sometimes there is never enough MSF. But I will get better. But it is nice to have the backup. Thanks!
But I get to watch all of the sessions but the last one. And now we are just listening to it in the office here. Kind of nice. I did enjoy all of those wonderful talks. Grace and everything. I love the Atonement. That is such a nice story about the sister. Maybe the Lord does have another plan for us. Wonderful. Overall everything is going great. It was a wonderful week. I hope you have a great week too Mom, I love you so much!!  
Heidi, Good Friday with No School. That is always fun! I am happy you had a great week. I loved your Picture of President Uchtdorf. You are such a great Artist. Keep it up! You are doing great. Have fun this week Heidi! I love you Lots!
Meagan, Just be yourself, you will be able to get there. I am happy you are enjoying  school and breaks. I am happy that you are having fun! Keep it up. Sounds like you and Courtney are having alot of Fun. Keep having fun! I love you Meagan. Did you have a Favorite conference talk?? Have a great week! Love you!
Bryant, Yup AAP. I am happy to hear that you are doing well as well. I am preparing a letter for you. Hopefully I can get it out in good time this time around, but know that I am thinking of you and hope you are doing well. Love You Brother!
Jera, I am doing better. Yes I feel so strengthened. It is hard to believe that I have been in this area for about 3 weeks already. pretty insane. And yes I do feel very loved. I am very excited to tell people about the ark that our Modern Prophet has told us to build. We preped everyone for conference (none of our investigators came) and now we will tell them what they missed. I am also looking forward to interviews. I love talking to president Merrill and now is the time to do so again. I am least looking forward to nothing. This is really going to be a pretty good week. Thank you Jera! I hope you have a great week!
I am happy everyone had a great week and enjoyed conference. I am happy I got to listen to it this time. It was so nice. have a wonderful week. I love you all so very much!!!
Love, Elder Pennington The Elder