May 18th 2015

Hey you guys!

This has been quite a week. it has gone from teaching institue on tuesday to some pastor guys trying to force the trinity on us. To some wonderful lessons with some wonderful investigators. It was a good week over all. Hard to follow a great skype call, but we gave our all :) Nothing too big and crazy though. 

Dad, I love that story of Lisa, The scriptures do relate to our day. I love taking the Donaldson method about reading the Book of Mormon, starting from the begin. In just 12 verses we can really show people how the book will relate to them. The story of a family. A man prayer to know and prays for those he cares for. He is given a book (much like we give our investigators a book) and feels the spirit. So simple and yet profound. Our Heavenly Father is testing us and yet he has made it an open book test. I just got done reading The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox, it came from president Merrill's Library. It is a wonderful book. He took the "His grace is sufficient" talk and turned it into a book. I loved it. I have been able to learn so much about the Atonement on mission. To watch those investigators that we have come to love so much make choices that bring them closer to Christ and to our Father. It brings that joy. I imagine Christ feels even greater joy as we make those choices to repent and keep covenants. Even when we slip and get back up again. He is there for us. He loves us so much and wants to help us back Home. I do love this gospel. 

That must be a nice time with Emma. Hope you all had fun! And Meagan will do very well in the run. Those are some catchy slogans. 

We came accross some new people. The way we find them is in street contacting and tracting. Which does not bring much but it does bring some. Member referrals are so nice, but for one our area does not have a super lot of members. We  have 6 elders in the ward, our area is the furthest away. But we do ask from those members and they either say that the don't have any friends or they give a referral that would go to another set of missionaries, But now we are going to make a strong effort to Flood the world and our lives with the Book of Mormon. Actually now that I think of it we have been using the Book of Mormon alot in Finding. It has been fun!

I love you dad! Have a wonderful week.

Mom, It was a good week. Nathan will love Joburg if he ends up getting to go there. Very small environment. But he will enjoy where ever he goes. And there are some Weddings going on. Time is going to fast. That is pretty crazy. 

It was great to see and talk to you. I love those moments. I love seeing how you are doing and hearing what was going on. Fun times. I hope you continue to be doing well. i love you Mom!

Bryant! It was great to see you as well. Keep working hard and keep up on the journal. I can't wait to share stories! Love you Brother!

Meagan, you will make a great Class Secretary, great slogans. One step at a time. I bet you enjoyed having emma over. I bet she is a hoot :) 

My week was fun. Pizza on tuesday. Benefit of AAP. Pizza and I don't have to go into a missionary meeting. :) But slow week. We had to do a lot of finding and stuff. not too much luck. But we did find a couple of good potentials. We will see how it goes. Love you Meagan!

Heidi, Rose are red and Violets are Blue, 

Heidi is my sister and Meagan too. 

Mission is fun becuase families are special. 

Special and eternal and forever and ever. 

I hope you like this little poem of mine.

It would probably get a 12 out of 9. :)

Love you heidi, I am happy you had a great week. Keep working hard and enjoying each day. I keep meeting 11-12 year olds and I can hardly believe that my little bud is all grown up like them. :) Love you Sister!

Jera, I hope you had a great week. I sent along some pictures. I will try and get some good ones outside of the car, but I am just being careful right now. Love you Jera :)

Sorry for not much. Hope all is well on your side of the world. My side keeps on spinning. Working hard and enjoying the journey. It has been a precious gift for me. Live each day like it is the last. I don't have too many. Two years is not enough, but I will make the most! love You all very much!!

Love, Elder Pennington the Elder

 

 

May 11th 2015

Hello Everyone,

I was so very nice to see you all yesterday. I love Skype. I love you all. Great to see your smiling faces. It was a perfect way to end the week. Ultimately the week was not too bad. We found some pretty good people. Tried to follow up with some of the former investigators that were pretty promising ut had disappeared. (For example Lufefe, the homeless man that had been great. He was golden. But then Eskom... he disappeared.) But not too much luck with that. We did find some cool people though. Serge and Junior responded well to the message and wanted us to come back. We talked about the Book of Mormon with Serge. He desires to read it and come to know of the "goodness and mysteries of God" (see 1 Ne 1:1). But we gave him a Baptismal date and hope that he progresses well towards it. 

Also had a wonderful Zone Conference with Elder David Evans. Talked about sustaining the prophet, being obediant, magnifying our callings, Building the church, and so forth. Eternal perspective as well. It was a wonderful conference. 

It was a very good week. But as I said my highlight was probably being able to see you guys and to laugh and talk with you. I love you all very much. 

Oh also I came in this morning to the office and I had two packages. 1 from you. It finally got here and it gave me even more smiles. Another from Steve and Rachel. They had sent it from about december 3. it finally got here. (So if I can have a email for them or if you can pass on thanks. I would really like to express my gratitude for it.) Also Thank you for the wonderful package. I love it!

Dad, Less active work is a great way in this work. We are slowly getting things going with that. We found a great less active yesterday. Knows his stuff very well, was just out of town most Sundays. His wife is not a member, so we are excited to also teach her. But the thing we will struggle with is although they live in our boundaries, they desire to go to the Mowbray ward, where he has spent much of him time as a member. People around here sometimes have trouble changing wards. But we will work with that. i wish you the best with your work this week. 

yes, District Leader and AAP. It is not that hard. As AAPs My companion and I spend about 6 ours in the office a week. and then random other errands. This provides plenty of time for my calling as a DL and a missionary. So it is not that bad.  I enjoy the load, sometimes. 

Uganda. I have a member from Motherwell that is now up there. Nathan will probably meet him. His name is Elder Sifundiso Beja. So That is pretty exciting. It also means that he will probably go to the Joburg MTC if he gets his visa in time. That means he will be President and Sister Collins. he will love it if he gets to go there. Hope him the best. (And maybe he gets to Joburg and can't get a visa into Uganda and is then a SACTM missionary like me :) That would be fun too. Anyways tell him congrats for me. 

Thanks for everything dad. I love you!

Mom, You are the best! I hope you had a great Mothers day. It was great to see you. Sounds like a busy week. I am very grateful for the time I did have to talk to you. I hope you are well. enjoy your week coming. 

Thanks for Wesley. Tomorrow I will be getting an SD card and a flashdrive. There is a place down in another area that has a 4gb sd for about 50ish rand and and 16gb flash for about 100ish rand. I should be able to take enough pictures this year to fill that us. I am getting a small sd so that I can have safety in transfering to the flash. That way, I am ready for Africa :) But thank you for your help. I will get some pictures off now now. I got the WiFi one so I will be able to do it more often (especially since the office has WiFi :) should be good. 

I looked so much forward to seeing you on Mothers day. It is what got me through the week. Thanks for being able to talk. The family is looking good. I love you Mom! Thanks for your great example. 

Bryant. Great to see you Brother. I am happy you are well. Keep working hard. Keep loving the people you serve and you serve with. I can see the growth already. You are the man! Love you Bry!

Meagan. You look so beautiful. I love the Pictures. I was always fun seeing my date pictures. My dates always looked better than me. There was even the time I had the crazy hair for senior prom... Jera would remember that. but I Think that your pictures have surpassed any of the one that I might have. :) I am happy you enjoyed the date. You are growing up so fast. Hard to believe you are dating. Keep doing well. Enjoy the last little bit of school. Crazy to think that you will be a Junior. (right?) Enjoy every moment of it. Love you Meagan!

Heidi, you are quite the artist. And you have some funny faces :) I loved laughing with you yesterday. School is almost over. Good luck on your projects. And Who is the science person, I may know him, I have met many people here on my mission :) You are growing up so fast. You will be in 6th grade now now, right? Love you Heidi!!

Jera, It was wonderful to see and talk to you too. I hope you are keeping very well. I look forward to sending over some pictures through Wesley. There is this beautiful mountain called Table Mountain here. We have a nice veiw here and there. From the mission office we can see the side called Devils Peak. From where we get pizza we can see the table part clear as a mountain that looks like a table. And from my area, any street that we go down has a great look at Lions head. Cape Town is a good place for those pictures. Love you Jera!

It was great to see everyone. Hope you all have a great week. Love you all

Love, Elder Pennington the Elder  

May 4th 2015

Hey You Guys!!

This has been a pretty good week. Did some good work. We got some pizza for the new Elders. We had some good bold lessons. Met with Brother Burger. He has not been getting as emotional during our lessons, but has been sharing some great memories. He is a great guy. Preparing to sell his home. So we are going to go over this week to help with the Garage. He doesn't know what he is going to do with all of the camping gear. If only you all didn't live too far :) But he has come consistantly the last three weeks. Loves church. Another less active that we have been working with is Ching. He is doing great as well. Baptized young with family. But never really got a testimony of his own. He just wondered away. But he has had somethings happen in his life that brought questions. Now it takes him a while to believe anything, and was worried about his testimony of the gospel. But he has begun praying and reading the Book of Mormon. He feelings his testimony growing. Watched the Jospeh Smith Movie with him, he loved it. Now the only problem with church is his work. Doesn't work a super lot on Sundays but it does keep him from church two out of the four sundays. But he does go when he can! It has been cool. The only weird part is his family that he is living with had been members but are now Muslium. But they love when we come and meet with him. So yeah... it has been a pretty good week. 

Dad, I love that story too. It has been fun introducing the Book of Mormon to people. I have grown in my love for that Book. The sooner we can get it to people the better. 

I can believe we got some more missionaries coming out here now now. Canada. that is pretty crazy. He will love it. And Nathans will be a good one too. 

I can't wait to talk to you all either. I am pretty sure we will be able to find a way to skype. Probably with the Senior Couples. We will be looking for some way. Since I do come to the office, if anything changes i will send an emergency email. But The plan right now is probably for me about 4 which would make it about 7am for you guys. is that okay? I hope so. Again I will let you know if anything might pervent that. We will do this. Hopefully it will be on Mothers day :) But I got all my skype info and am ready to see you all.

I love that talk too. It has brought a different vibe to the mission here. We have been doing things a little more simple and it has been moving things forward a little more. It has been kinda fun to work with it. Thanks for that great story. Love you Dad! 

Mom, I am super excited to see you on mothers day. I can't wait, I don't think the week can go fast enough. Again. Everything will work out. Sorry for not being able to be exact with anything. But this has snuck up on me again. I even circled it on my calendar and I still found it on the doorstep. Time just goes too fast. I can't wait for Sunday!

That is so true. We don't like to look stupid. Crazy human nature. Dig deep and find what we really believe, who we really are. In teaching Ching, it has been cool to see that change happening. He knew all of this stuff, but know he is coming to Know for himself. Same with Brother Burger. he had lived with his wife knowing that families can be together forever, but now he is put to the test. Does he believe that? and is he willing to show his faith? But both are doing well. 

But then there is another example. Brother Germann, an investigator of ours. His young son passed away this last monday. We meet them on Saturday. Taught Germann and reminded him of the plan of salvation. About the Atonement and everything to help him grow in hope. But then Germann wife, dona. Was in the other room watching tv. Specifically TB Joshua, one of those prophet guys. She was watching him do "miracles" and stuff. I imagine it hurt her to see others get "healed" while she is without her son. But she wanted that easy way. One of those God will save everyone. Where as with Germann we were teaching how he can feel that peace and hope through Christ. Especially as we seek his hand through prayer and the like. Also as we go to enter into His House. But we are here to learn and grow. And I am here as a missionary to help people find that source of eternal Hope and Joy and Peace!

Thanks for putting in some money. I will probably get a nice simple camera. Thanks for everything. 

Brandon didn't see Elder Cathemer did he? He lives close to florence.

And I hope that everything will go well with Porter. 

I love you Mom and am happy to see you soon.

Bry, Love you too! I should get that letter off soon. Love you Elder!

Meagan, Again Happy 16th. Another year older and wiser too. Just do your best at tryouts. Dance like no one is watching. You will do fine. it has not been too bad of a week for me and sounds like you had a pretty good one yourself. I remember my 16th birthday. I think. I don't know. but I still can't believe hope grown up you are. Can't wait to see you Sunday either. Love you Sister!

Heidi, the civil war was a very interesting time. I love learning about Abraham Lincoln. he was a pretty good man. 

Water days are a blast. I bet you got pretty wet. That must be fun. We are getting ready for a wet winter here. I hear that we get lots of rain in Cape Town. Enjoy your week. Can't wait to see you.

Love You Bud!

Jera, Thanks for the pics and the funny story. I love and hate my brows :) A bitter/sweet relationship. But hey I am a Pennington :) Love you Jera, Hope you have a great week too!

Love you all a lot! can't wait to see you. About 7 Am Sunday Morning!

Love Elder Pennington

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

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 

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