Dundee is the place to be!!

I have been in Dundee 4 days this week. For leadership meetings, district meetings, and exchanges. I may as well live there! Nah-- Perth is too good.  ;)

I was on exchanges with a new Texan elder, Elder Magby.We street contacted for 7-8 hours! It was awesome. We found a bunch of prepared people.

The next morning we went with this older member to a storage shed to help him move some stuff. We opened up he shed and there was a huge stack of boxes filling a 15x15 ft room. There were around 50,000 books! It was crazy!! He is donating the books to charity! 

We got a return appointment with a man on the first day and taught him the Holy Ghost principle. He shared a time he felt the Spirit and I told him to look and seek for that as we share with you Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision. After we quoted Joseph Smith and said "Hear Him" we sat in silence. We could see through anointed eyes that the Spirit was upon this man. I asked him what he felt. He said  he was feeling a strong uplifting feeling. I testified that I know Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and the Spirit was so strong and he told us that he felt it was true! The Holy Ghost principle works... and that man is on his way to conversion and knows the truth of the restoration.

1,400 piece stained glass mural of
The First Vision by Tom Holdman
in the Palmyra New York LDS Temple

We had A______ and N____ (A______'s boyfriend) at church. N____ got up and bore his testimony on how much he wants the gospel to change him! We started teaching N____ this week. We are super excited!(: 

We had a great district meeting, we learned a lot about charity, how to be more efficient with time, and to find the deeper reason why we are on our missions. About 6 months ago I had a very sacred experience that I feel impressed to share. It has changed my view on missionary work and my attitude towards it forever.

I was sitting on a bus in the middle of Cowdenbeath and I was looking at the people around me and I started thinking.. .I could talk to every one of these people. Then I heard a voice ask me, "Do you LOVE me?" I was a little confused at what was going on and why I was being asked this. Then even stronger I heard it again, "Do You LOVE ME?" This time I Recognized the voice. I knew I was being asked by our Father in Heaven if I loved Him. I thought  to myself and pondered it and gave Him an answer that YES, I did love Him. He said these words. "Then why aren't you sharing the gospel with everyone?" I have never had my soul pierced so deep in my life. It shook me to the very core of my being and I knew then why I'm on my mission, why I work, why I go out in the pouring rain, why I put up with rude people on the street, why I speak to everyone every where... In cars, on bikes, running, on the other side of the street, or in any situation. It is because I love God more deeply than I can even begin to express. There is no scary moment that can take this love away from me. I have found a driving force that will drive me and my testimony to my grave and into Eternal Life. Nothing can stand in the way! I Invite All Of you to Find your Love for Our Father, I can promise you that you will come to know him as I have and you will have an anchor so deep in the gospel that nothing will shake you! NOTHING! But it is up to you to find that love and act in faith. When you do find it you will be swallowed up in the joy of Christ and like the sons of Mosiah (Alma 31:32-38). 

O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, and also my two sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ. Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.  Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee. Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 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. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

Which is the best feeling in the whole world... nothing compares!!  It is very similar to when Peter and the apostles became the sound missionaries they were when Jesus asked Peter a very similar question!

I love all of you and I KNOW God Lives!!

Elder Penman

               

Hurrah For Israel!! (:

I'm alive!!

 It's been one of those weeks were you pray to be humbled and receive humility and you get it! 

We had our first District meeting. It was pretty good we are focusing on becoming sanctified so as a Family(District) we are applying Christ like attributes to help remove and replace our sins! I love being humbled by our Father though... It is no fun but know that I'm growing and who I am is becoming deeper and deeper... but it's so interesting because the less I think of myself the deeper it gets! It's so amazing that Through Grace we can all freely change, we just need to let it happen and want it to. 

 

Elder Penman before his surgery this week.  He
had a minor outpatient surgery and is doing well now.
We love the nametag with the hospital gown.
Thanks for all your prayers on his behalf.

I got to go visit the Davis Family in Paisley before my surgery. It was awesome!! I miss the Paisley accent a lot! My surgery went well.. It was super weird to be alone in a hospital room with a women nurse... I was loopy and I was mentally freaking out. I never thought that I would ever in a million years think like that. It was weird to take it easy for the first 2 days back I felt like a waster or a lazy missionary. Hopefully I don't get fat with not being able to work out every morning... Oh well. 

Our friend A_____ is progressing and has read through 1st Nephi. She is doing awesome!! She has a date set for September 5th... Hopefully I don't move before then!

Have a good week 

Elder Penman  

Elder Penman and Elder Lattin in the hospital.  

A meal out with Elder Lattin, Elder Penman, Elder Wells.
 (Elder Perkes is taking the picture)

The Omagh (Nor'n Ireland) Branch Young Women sent E. Penman
a care package.  He loved it!  Thanks everyone! 

The M & M (Marvelous Missionary) package from Omagh YW

  

Training in the Training

Well, this week I got to give some training in the Zone meeting we had... YAY! It was so fun.. 

Ok it was alright. 

We also learned a very cool principle we call the Spirit Principle. Where people who have not had a witness from the spirit that our message is true. First remove all distractions then invite the spirit in with the prayer. We teach them about who the Holy Ghost is. He is a member of the God head he doesn't have a body like Jesus or our Heavenly Father. We teach them about the nature and how the fruits of the spirit are peace, love, joy, peace,and comfort. You tell them that the spirit is very unique... Like for me it is a calm feeling that floods my body some people get excited. You tell them to diligently seek the spirit as we teach and tell them that they will have the spirit and receive a witness it is true. While we teach them we ask them how they feel and use our anointed eyes to know when they are feeling the spirit and to explain what they are feeling. It really works. 

I know as I have applied these same principles to my self while I study... I understand the truth I receive the spirit while I study! 

It will work for all of you... If you have never received a witness. If you apply the poorly instructed directions above you will receive a witness that it is true! just like Nephi in 1 Nephi 10:19

diligently seek it and the mysteries of God will be revealed.

I love all of you and If you don't understand the spirit principle just ask because like I said Short Time=A Bad Explanation. But if you get any cool experiences let me Know!(:

Elder Penman

P.S. I guess according to other missionaries in my group I only have 356 days left... Ewwww

9th Transfer, 9 Companions, 5th Area

Elder Perkes and Elder Penman (Thanks
Sister Tracy Johnstone for the photo)

Well Perth is pretty great! It's literally less than 20 miles from Dunfermline's area! So that's awesome! Elder Perkes is AWESOME! I'm so excited to learn from him and to see him grow. We are teaching a lot here. I love it! The members are so good at member missionary work. It's going to be so good. This week, a nun gave Elder Perkes and I a kiss on the cheek. It was awkward! But it made a long day of finding quite interesting. 

Breakfast with the Perth Branch members (Thanks to Aimee Grant)

Well, I am super excited to see who the new apostles will be! 

Joseph of Egypt forgives his brothers

I am learning a lot about how service brings true charity from the worst feelings and turns hearts softer on my PMG study! The examples of Joseph of Egypt and Ammon help me realize how much more I need to serve.  I love you all! 

Elder Penman

Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad, made someone feel glad? If not I have failed indeed! (HYMNS, pg. 223)

President Thomas S. Monson: "Have I Done Any Good?" (Mormon Messages, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdmy7mbSUEo)  

Notes from others about Elder Penman: 

Elder Penman with Brother
and Sister Beaumont

From Brother Beaumont in Dumfries: "Just a short note to say how wonderful it has been to have had Elder Penman in the Dumfries Ward.  He really is a lovely lad (as we say in Yorkshire).  He is also a very spiritual young man. The last time he was in our home, just last week, he offered the most wonderful prayer before he and his companion left us.  Jackie and I both felt the Spirit strongly.  We will miss his contagious smile and his infectious enthusiasm.  Thanks for getting him ready and sending him out." 

From Sister Johnstone in Perth: "I was in his company this evening while he was teaching a family friend. [They] shared a spiritual lesson, lots of love and laughter and cheesecake. Strawberry cheesecake with strawberries washed down with strawberry and apple juice! It was a berry good evening. haha" 
"Your son has fallen in love with my mother's carpet! Haha He's so funny, he would rather sit on the floor and rub the carpet, but if he does sit on a chair, he rubs his feet on it! He hasn't taken his socks off yet, but I'm sure he'd love to haha"
"Had a visit from two cheerful dudes tonight. Great lesson, great company, thanks guys. Celeste Karen-- love these dudes"

Elder Perkes (Elder Penman's current companion in Perth): "Elder Penman is an extremely extraordinary missionary. He is always looking for ways to improve and he's so humble and full of the spirit. He's a super funny missionary as well. Basically I am really going to like serving with him for this next transfer."

Wow! 9th Moves Call! (and why missionaries are like pirates...)

Captain...Captain Jack Sparrow

So I'm moving again! As soon as I'm getting settled here, I'm packing up to go again..

A wise missionary once said, "A missionary is like a pirate." We live with strangers, sleep in others' property, we spend someone else's money, we get transported in someone else's vessels, we talk to every one, we are hated by everyone, we trade supplies, and we are constantly moving. We are righteous pirates though  (;

   

Well on the 22 of July, I will have to get a surgery. That will be exciting! ):

But in my moves, call I am going to be finishing up training a new missionary in Perth just a couple of miles north of Dunfermline! So I may get to see people at Dundee stake conference if I'm lucky! Which would be absolutely amazing... and Allan...or President Brown {who lives in Dundee Stake following getting released as mission president}!

We got to teach the full restoration with J____ and E___. It went really well. The Spirit was so strong! I think they understand our purpose. Today, we are going to help J____ build a huge race track in his house for the electric racing cars (like the kind every child wants for Christmas).

In the Isaiah Chapters in 2 Nephi, I found a very nice verse in chapter 19:

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

I have realised as I have pondered "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." That Our Father did not make Jesus come to the earth. He had the same choice we did. Our Father did not make Christ bleed from every pore and die on the cross... Our Savior has agency just like you and I do. He came and did these things because He ultimately loved God but in all reality He did it because He has so much love for you and me. He has so much love that the very particles of the earth obey Him. Christ used His agency to show His love for you. Will you use your agency to show Him the only gift we have that cannot be taken? I will! (: And I Do (: It's very hard but I love Him! I have never felt so much joy than being part of God's Work!!! When we do this, like Elder Holland said, "We are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best lives [people] this world has ever had."

I love all of you!

Elder Penman

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.

Hurrah For Israel!

Clover

Eating Clover

Elder Penman and Elder de Vries

Elder Erickson and Elder Penman

L to R: Elders Erickson, Hornberger, Henrie (going home), Penman

Elders Penman and Zander

Maclumphas

Bishop Goodare's head

Glasgow

On the road to Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow (the Duke of Wellington's statue in front of
the Gallery of Modern Art. The statue usually
has a traffic cone atop his head.  Police have removed it,
but it keeps showing up.)

Elder Zander.  Looks like someone "found"
Elder Penman's camera

The Turner Family (partially)

BHS??  In Scotland?

fun with pens

This area must have reminded Elder Penman of the Sacred Grove

Re-enactment of Joseph Smith's
first vision from the movie

Re-enactment of Joseph Smith's 
first vision from the movie

Beaumonts

Ammon leading the way on the Elders' dash

Emma, Jaimie, Elder Zander, Elder Penman

"They gave us this telescope."