Dundee Stake Conference/Getting the Flat Ready to Be Sold

Elder Penman and Elder Utley in Edinburgh

Hi-ya I'm loving the short time I have left in Cowdenbeath. This is the longest I've been anywhere! I love the people here so much. I hoping when we get our moves that I just move over into the Dunfermline Elders Flat With Elder Utley. But God knows best where I need to be so what ever happens I will be happy.(:

Dean Village area Edinburgh

   Well this week we taught our new Friend N______. She is a single Mom of a 2 and 4 year old boy. She is AWESOME she is searching for God and wants her boys to grow up with good high standards. Sounds like she is looking in the right place!

    We have been getting the flat cleaned everywhere and have been organizing everything so we can move.. I don't like having to do this. I feel like I could be doing more missionary work.. but it needs to be done.

    Stake conference was so good!! The talks were all on doing the small simple things to help each other. Also the power of positivity... It really changes everyone's attitude if one person is positive! If you have a smile on always the situation turns out better.

I love you all so much.. I know Jesus our Savior Lives for you!! 

  

Elder Penman

**Elder Penman visited Edinburgh with Elder Utley for a non-emergency medical appointment.

Old Parliament Building, Edinburgh

Old Parliament Building, Edinburgh

Princes Street

Edinburgh Castle

Monument to Sir Walter Scott Edinburgh

Cockburn Street Edinburgh

Elder Boehme and Elder Penman (zone meeting?)

Exchanges and St. Andrews Golf Course

We went to district meeting and learned a lot about listening and how you can really get to know people. I went on exchanges with Elder Parry and it rained hard, all day. We tracted a lot and talked to so many people on the bus. One experience, we walked by a car with the window rolled down. After we walked by, I knew we needed to go back. I instantly turned around and walked right up to the window and knocked on it. It was man who had lost contact with the missionaries a few years ago and was actually thinking about coming to the church. It's so amazing what the Spirit can do if you follow the subtle promptings right away and not thinking about why you don't want to do it and give up your personal affairs. Amazing things happen.. Just like in (Alma 31:37,38) 

37 And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.

 38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. 

The sons of Mosiah, Alma and Amulek and a few others.  They take no thought of themselves and the Spirit gives them strength beyond their own. The things that usually would get in the way or cause them to have fear were taken away by the Spirit. You all should read about them... ITS SO GOOD!

St. Andrews Golf Course  (from Internet)

I went on exchanges With Elder Lattin up in Dundee. We got to street contact in St. Andrews. It so amazing there. We talked with so many American people. We have such weird accents. It blows my mind that we have an accent. We say our R's so weird. We got to see the St. Andrews Golf Course. It was so cool. 

Skype selfie with Mom, Elder Penman,
Ray, and Dad

St. Andrews Golf Course (from Internet)

We are moving K___ and J___'s baptismal dates to next month... 

The Mother's Day Skype home was great... even though I felt like I had just talked to all of you a few days before (at Christmas)!! Time is flying, but it's the best time of my life! 

God is real... He loves all of you so much. Don't any of you ever feel you are not worthy to feel loved by our Heavenly Father because He truly loves you more than you can comprehend!

Elder Penman's view

Elder Penman

More pics from P-day golf outing May 4

Elder Penman, Elder Forbush
P-day golf outing May 4

Below is a still of a video of Elder Penman hitting a ball on a May 4 P-day outing at Pitreavie Golf Course in Fife.  Scotland is the birthplace of golf, although Elder Penman says his game is "rubbish."

A post from Mom (and our Skype call!!)

Family picture (missing our oldest daughter Kellie)
Mom, Elder Penman, brother Ray, and Dad

A post from Elder Penman's Mom:
Hooray for Mother's Day!  For those who aren't Mormon, our young missionaries (18-21 year old boys and 19-22 year old girls) commit their hearts and souls to serving the Lord for two years. They have one day per week to catch up on laundry, shopping, and emailing their families, and THEN if there's time, do a fun activity.  No phone calls home, no social time.  They don't mind though.  It causes amazing growth in them as they forget themselves.  They don't only try to proselyte but they also do service for those they come in contact with.  They are really living as Jesus' apostles did in going forth and sharing the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people.  They can Skype home two times per year, once on Mother's Day and once on Christmas.

"And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on. And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ."

Yesterday, during our hour long Skype call, our son told us thank you for helping him to serve during this time in his life. He loves it so much.  He can't imagine doing anything else. He has grown in so many ways.  He has deepened his personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He loves the people in Scotland and Ireland so much.  He desires to help them be happy and to bring them unto Christ.  To see him leave our house as a kind, but normal teenager at 18 and grow into this man we see before us 9 months later brings us great joy.

For this mom's heart, I appreciate it when my non-Mormon friends tell me stories of meeting the missionaries, being kind to them, giving them a ride, buying them a soda, giving them a smile.  They are there not to change you, just to share with those people who might be interested in the message of the restored gospel. Those missionaries represent my own son.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of their mothers that you are kind.  It's okay to say no to them.  But if you think of it when you meet a Mormon missionary on the street, maybe take a "selfie" with them and ask if you can send it to their mom's phone.  She will LOVE IT!!

With Elder Penman's companion Elder Forbush

All kinds of youth all over the world are reaching out to serve their fellow man.  It doesn't have to be through a church mission.  It helps them to see the bigger picture of the love that God has for each of us and to be an instrument in His hands. Hooray for missionaries, peace corps volunteers, volunteers at charitable organizations, those who serve in the military, or any number of things that youth can do to serve mankind.  You warm my heart.

Thanks to all you "angels" out there watching out for our kids.

Love,
Elder Penman's mom

Zone Training and Lots of Food!

It's a good thing we know these two like each other....

Elder Penman, Brother Mendez

Filipino Food from Brother Mendez

This was a pretty great week. This Monday we at at Brother Mendez's house. He is Filipino. He fed us soooo much amazing food. My stomach felt like it was going to explode. Then we had another appointment and they fed us as well. I have never felt so full in my life! 

 

We were able to teach K___ about temples and temple work. He seemed pretty interested on what was going on. We showed him a bunch of pictures of the temple rooms and he said "that's the cleanest room I have ever seen." He wasn't able to catch a bus into church so his date will have to be the 23rd of may. 

We taught J___ (more like she taught herself) And she is doing really well. She Is growing such an amazing relationship with God. I love it!! She was able to be at church for all 3 hours and seemed to have loved it. We were able to mow J___'s lawn as well because her husband just had surgery.

Wilma and Peter Little

D_____ always makes us amazing meals!! and we invited her to read the Book Of Mormon from cover to Cover! I love Being at R__ and D_____'s Home!

    

Zone Training was GOOD! We focused on prayer and how important it is for salvation!! On our part and our friends learning!! Prayer is how we strengthen our relationship with God. It's just like the only way to get to know someone is by talking to them and them answering back.   I had my last interview with President Brown it was good, but sad! (**Note--President Brown will be finishing his mission as the Scotland Ireland Mission President at the end of June)

Elder Penman

Elder Forbush

Elder Forbush....Levitating?  

Grave Marker- Robert Bruce,
King of Scots (1306-29)

Elder Penman and his favorite hat from home
He asked mom to mail it to him for P-days
It is from our trip to Maui in March 2014.  It has a picture
and name of the reef triggerfish from Hawaii:
Humuhumunukunukuāpuaa

Golfing on P-day

Golfing on P-day

Golfing on P-day with Paul and
Joshua Lynch

Daril and Monic Watson and their kids Megan, Kristi, and Kyle.
Brother Watson was recently released as stake president.

Brother Richard Gallant and Elder Penman.  Evidently
Brother Gallant is moving back to Canada soon.