December 14th 2015

Hey you guys!!!!

Can't believe it is already monday. Time is going too fast. I can barely find time to record in my journal. But i am trying. :) things are good on this side. People are leaving for holiday. I said my first good-byes this week. It is hard to say good bye. I am not really looking forward to the next couple of weeks. I remember just two years ago. I looked back at the 

Phoenix airport and i could see mom and dad through the window. Now it will be another group of loved ones. But hey there is hope in the plan of salvation. 

Every moment has been good this week. It felt good. We met some great people. Had some powerful lessons. Did some deep cleaning of our flat. It was good. Church was good too. Nothing too crazy cool that i won't mention later. So lets see if i can remember to mention those special moments. 

But this next week should be great. We will be in PE for a couple of days. Zone Conference is here. We will get some great training and some yummy food. Looking forward to it. Not looking forward to the drive, but we will get through it. 

Let's get started now,

Dad, i feel that alot too Dad. I feel sometimes that i am preparing people for others to baptize. It has been many a moment that i have been asked "Elder Pennington, you remember so and so. Yeah, they are so great. Yeah, they are baptized." "Oh Elder Pennington, everyone talks about you." These moments make me smile nonetheless. I am happy to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. However He wants to do it, i will follow. It is not my mission, it is His. So as long as th work gets done. I will do my part and make the most of every moment. 

I have heard of "the Plan." Helping return missionaries get back into things. From what i understand when i looked into it before. It will begin before people leave. They set goals and make plans. Then review every now and then on mission with help from president. And then at the end they can hit the ground running. Sounds like a great plan. No one has talked to me about it though. I will wait and see. 

And yes, families are hard around here too. It is every missionaries dream and goal for a family. As much as families are a part of the culture and traditions around here, most families are broken or incomplete. You have many mother led families where the father has never been a part of the picture. Or you have many unmarried individuals. It is so interesting. But in fact on my side too, we had a great lesson with a family yesterday. Father led and everything. It was wonderful. Powerful. They seem interested. We just got to keep with them. I am excited. 

I love that thought on continuous revelation. 

And have fun with your classes and studies. Looks like we will all be studying at the same time. That will be good. 

I love the excitement that come with missionary moments. This last week we went to the shop for something and got talking to a young man named Jaco. We got talking and it led to testifying of the help that we can gain through Jesus Christ. He asked why we would choose to go on mission and things like that. The interest was there. It was a sweet conversation. Got a return appoint and everything. He wasn't home when we went to meet him, but we followed up with him and something came up. Things happen. It was just exciting in praying for him and for the chance to talk and give him the life changing message of the restored gospel. I love this gospel. It still gives me those excited goosebumps. Thanks for making it a part of our lives. It has been great to see people change. So cool.

Dad, i love you!!!!

Mom, i am sorry for all of the stress that come through finals and final projects. I remember those and are grateful for your help with those late nights and weekends. 

Things are moving and changing around. Things are changing rearranging. People coming and going. Thats a part of life. Now we get to look back at these memories with joy. These precious times are wonderful moments. "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity." 

Thanks for the help with the money. Still got a couple of things that i might get. But i will probably save a bit for the time in Cape Town and for the travels. I haven't heard any things about it either, but i will have save some for it. 

As for time and place. Still need to confirm on the place. They weren't at church so we are going to confirm this week. But as for time i think about 4 or 5 as normal would work out. Even if there is one machine my companion and i will work things out because of the time zones are different, we will work out something. 

And hey i carry around your pictures and i sometimes brag about my family. Not too often, but i like to do it whenever i can. :) 

I love you Mom!!!

Bry, love you too Elder Bro!!!

Meagan, i remember our Christmas movie night dance thing. I was running around everywhere. But at least made an ornament out of it. :) good luck with all of the finals and such. Finish strong. You are down to 1 1/2 years of school. That is crazy!! Enjoy every moment. Make them count. Keep working hard and keep on swimming. Love you Meagan!!

Heidi, i always love hearing from you. Hope that your project went well. You are looking good. Keep working hard and when you graduate next year, you will be ready to take one the big world. Oh wait, you still have a couple years before graduation. Make the time count. Enjoy every moment. Love you Heidi!!!

Jera, i am happy to hear you are feeling better. As happy to hear you had some time to spend with Gavyn. Looks like you got him to come down hey. 

Between these two great talks. Tough one. For the people that i know and according to what they need. I would probably use Elder Andersons talk. So many think faith comes or stays passively. But there is choice and action that is needed to help faith grow. And faith is meant to grow. 

As for the Christmas season here. Not too crazy. In fact stores are shutting down. Which for some of these big businesses it is a weird business move. But hey, at least everyone is getting some time with family. 

Thanks for the pictures. Heidi is looking great. And Kora is zoned in on that phone. :) great pictures. 

I love you!!!

Well. I hope that you all doing great. Have a wonderful week. May the Spirit continue to guide you all. I love you and miss you. I look forward to seeing you next week. We will get ready for it. 

Love you!!!!

Love, Elder Pennington

December 7th 2015

Hey you guys,

Well it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Our tree is up and it is about 30C outside, that is on the days it is not raining. That has been a little crazy of a week. Nothing too bad, the holidays are for sure upon us. It is not often that we have a wednesday with 6 lessons planned. In the end we had only two. Everyone is just dodging us or busy with something else. People are even saying good-byes for holidays. Which makes it hard for me because they won't be back by the time transfers come. So i have to do them now. But besides those funny people i have been able to focused pretty well. And despite the dropped appointments, we did have some pretty cool lesson. The highlight was probably with the Pangel family. They are solid members. And we have been working on the family mission plan with them and they have been sharing their missionary moments with us. This last week they were walking in town(which they do all the time because of no car, they even walk a couple kilometers to church, great family) and they saw a family. The youngest pointed and said, mom we have to convert them. And so they went and talked with the family and built a friendship. And now the ball is rolling for them. So cool. It was simply amazing to see the joy that the pangels had as they told us this story, they were all glowing. It was awesome. It is really cool this small things that we get to experience here in the Lord's service. Anywho, lets keep moving forward...

Dad, thanks for the pictures. I especially like the one of Heidi and Mom feeding ducks, Heidi is getting tall. 

But wow it looks like Penningtons are pretty big over there. Over here i have found a Porter st. Probably done in honor of my serving here :) but besides that there is a town named Pennington in KZN (KwaZulu Natal) which is one of the Providences here. Unfortunately out of my mission boundaries. But maybe one day. Because there is probably a connection somewhere. With Pennington being an English name. The town was probably settled by a Pennington from England. He might have been a war figure as well. But that is just my guess. 

But thats cool about Dustin, drones are getting popular. I hear they are trying to work something with drones and Amazon. Drone delivery. Technology these days. When i left for mission i would think of star wars when we talked about drones. Where is this world going? But cool happy to hear everything is good on that side. 

I love you dad!!!

Mum, i am happy i never had to get a tan for ballroom. Benefits of being the guinea pigs. But thats for all of the exciting Christmas updates. We have a good idea about what we will skype with but we will just have to confirm. But wow is it sneaking up on us. 

I am slowly getting my Christmas presents. Thanks for taking care of the card. 

And yes the correct flight plans came in. Cape town to london to dallas to home. That is quite the flight. Should be good. For the most part i think i will be with the other missionaries for most of the way. At least until london if not dallas. Because coming here the others took salt lake to dallas to london. So they will probably take that again. And in changing the flight plans for me, they probably just changed the final leg. So it will be nice to have someone else on the flight.

For sure mixed emotions. But this has become a second home. Luckily we do have to eternities to catch up with those on this side of the world.
Well the upcoming weeks are looking good and festive, so hope you have a great week. Love you Mom!!!!

Bry, love you Brother!!!!

Meagan, aren't you just a busy little bee. Thanks for the pictures. Just so you know that young Pangel girl, she is fourteen right now and reminds me of you. At least the you that was fourteen when i left. Crazy to think that that time has passed huh? Well i am happy dance is going well. Keep working hard it pays off. Well have fun, know i will be home soon. Maybe we can go on a double or something :) 

Love you Meagan!!!!

Heidi, wow you are a tall little one aren't you? Growing up too fast. Hope the essay went well. For me i like the penny and i think we should keep it. But sounds like a good music program. I love Carol of the Bells. Hope to hear it soon. Have a great week buddy. Enjoy. Love you!!!!!

Jera, thanks for the Pictures. Funny little Kora. Fast sunday. :) for my fast sunday run, it will be a good sprint. You are right, this is what i was trained for. What i have prepared for. It is show time. 

Hope you have a great week. Love you Jera!!!

Well even with the heat Christmas is in the Air. Lights are coming on and everything. It is the time to be happy and remember Christ. I love you all so much. Hope you enjoy your week. See you soon. 

Love Elder Pennington

November 30th 2015

Hey you guys,

This has been a pretty simple, hot, a bit rainy, thanks giving filled, awesome week. Nothing special went on. Thanksgiving was nice, celebrated it alone, but i tried throughout the day to give prayer of thanksgiving. It felt good to take a look at all of the many wonderful blessing i have been given. So many blessings. We even sang count you blessings for church. Everyone was mindful of it being thanksgiving, but unfortunately it did not bring turkey and pies. But that is okay. 

I am sorry, you all ask for stories, and i lack in them most of the time. This is not much different. But Heidi made it more specific and asked for my favorite story. So i will share my favorite experience of the week. 

Lately we have been teaching a young man named Siyabonga. He has a baptismal date for the 3rd of January and he is pretty cool. He is not working too much but is looking for a job, so we can see him often. Already in the commandments with him. But this week we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a simple lesson because his english is not the best. But it was still pretty powerful. In talking about baptism, it was great to hear his excitement concerning it. Everything is just moving along nicely. It is just really cool.

Then there was last Sunday, gave some blessings to a family, with exams and stuff going on, they just needed a little more help. It has been great to give many blessings to the people of my mission. Makes me grateful for Dad, who was willing to give one to us. His example has been great. Makes me as excited for the day when i can give a fathers blessing to my own family. 

Too many thoughts have been going through my head lately. But i must stay focused.

Dad, i did get the family newsletter. It looks great. Sorry i have not been able to write anything. Not much time, but soon. 

It is great how mission is a micro-life. We learn so much in these two years, shows our true character and potential even. A time of great learning. 

That is a funny story. If i were to end up in Salt-lake, i probably would have gone home with one of my SACTM brothers i will have gone home with. Then i would have made it through the trip with someone else. But most likely i will be alone after the stop in Europe. Or wherever. Whatever happens, happens. 

It is great to hear that Brandon is doing well. He is a good kid. 

Blessings of a living a covenant life. I love those quotes and will tuck them away somewhere. They will provide for a great study. 

Nice groupie though. You are more in touch with the lingo than i am. Scary thought. I didn't even know there was such thing as a groupie. :) 

I love you dad!!!

Mom, that looks like a very busy week. But you did get a small break on thursday. For my side i got pizza for my comp and i. It was good. Nice place called Romans. They are like little ceasars. I have heard rumor that they are owned by little ceasars. Just like game is our walmart. I did get a tree though. Small hut nice. Makes me want to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas. Just on the look out of Souvenirs. 

Zach's back, Matthew's almost back. Where has the time gone. 

I love the story of Abinidi, i also love the bit of humor in it. He comes in disguise and teaches again. They capture him. Bring him before the king. The priests ask an Isaiah question. He starts talking about the 10 commandments. They are angry want to kill him. He starts to grow and says that he has not finished what he was sent to say, and on top of that, he has not yet answered their question. So don't touch him. He was a strong and faithful man, until the very end. Bold as a lion. A great example of courage.

Yup, for me everything is the same. No changes.

Thanks mom, i love you!!!

Bry, members are too kind to us. If we happen to be there at the time they are either having or preparing dinner, there is magically some for you. Even if you were just there for a moment, they take care of you and you can't decline. All of this kindness has made me want to be a great member to the missionaries. 

Keep up the good work. Love you Brother!!!

Meagan, that is a busy week. Did you buy anything for black friday. They had some black friday stuff going on over here. But mostly on food items. It doesn't get very crazy over here, but happy to here that you survived. 

Keep busy these holidays. Good luck with the program coming up. Too much shopping. Love you Meagan!!!

Heidi, Wow. 25.54. That is cool. You must have been saving for a while. If you were here you would have just over R250. Cool huh. Bet the shoes look great. 

I just remembered some more things. We had the primary program yesterday. It was cool and funny. I thought of you. And all of the little ones making faces and funnies. It was nice. Also we were at the store and i heard a kid not too far away telling his dad "look it's superman, look it's superman." And then his dad yelled out, "hey clark." Not quite sure who they were talking about, but it made me smile. People are funny around here. 

I love you Heidi!!!

Jera, those are some great pictures. Cute little ones. Growing up so fast. I think i remember Kora being as small as duke. Time flies. I too am bad in the picture department. But hopefully i will be able to get some pics of families soon. 

Those are funny little ones. Duke and his hat, funny story.

Love you Jera!!!!

Well, hope that is good with stories and such. Too much funnies. I love you all very much and hope you have a great week.

Love, Elder Pennington