Moves Call for Transfer 7--No changes!! :)

I'm so Glad i'm staying in an area for more than 2  transfers. But wow!! the past 6 weeks are flying! I feel like I was just in Edinburgh picking Elder Forbush up. Time is flying. 

So this week I had a bunch of unfortunate events happen. So I told God that I was going to be better about planning bus times, so we could have more finding time on the way. So I was working on that and BAM! Trials come my way to show me really how weak I am at planning bus times. Literally we had 4 or 5 buses not show up. Which made us late to a couple of appointments. It was the worst. I felt so rubbish. 

We taught K___ this week and asked him the baptismal questions and had no problem with any of them. He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and loves the gospel. But he didn't come to church, so we may move his date back a week. We will see what God wants though. But he is doing awesome!

We taught J___. She is doing amazing. We were teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ about Faith, Repentance and when we hit baptism, she said I am actually excited to be baptized. She has a date for the 30th of May. We then finished the points Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. She came to Church for the first 2 classes but didn't stay for Sacrament Meeting. She does say so much when we are in the classes and participates so much. It's AWESOME. 

I'm so excited for both of them and I love seeing the change that's happening in them! It's so incredible to watch and be a part of this great and marvelous work. I love seeing and feeling the blessings that come from actively engaging in the restoration and like President Uchtdorf said "not sleeping through the restoration." I wish all of you could feel the joy that comes from sharing the Gospel Of Jesus Christ... Oh wait you all can!! (D&C 18:16)

Elder Penman

Common Broom Bush Cytisus scoparius

Another Week, Come and Gone

This week was good. We started teaching a 17 year old named K__ who is a member's friend. He is awesome. He has a Baptismal date for the 9th of may. He asked us "why being a Mormon wasn't popular? It's so good every one should join!" He has read through 2 Nephi and is so solid.

We were able to teach J__, her mind was blown when we told her Adam and Eve were real. She has to pray and know if it really happened. She told us she enjoyed church last time and said she was really considering converting. She is so awesome. I love teaching all the lessons to the basics.

christ in gethsemane 1879

Carl Bloch interprets the scriptural text with great sensitivity; the angel tenderly and compassionately embraces the Savior as He takes upon Himself the sins and infirmities of all mankind.

I got to go on exchanges with Elder Wells this week. I served around him in Paisley. We talked about all the stuff we did there but also what we have learned since then. It's cool to see how much grace has changed him. 

Well, I have had some deep thoughts of Christ's life and it has brought me to receiving some amazing revelation on his life and on the Atonement. I know the Atonement is real and was performed out of love., I don't have too much time.

Elder Penman

Answers to questions from Mom:  

Haggis

 Mom: Elder Forbush's email last week talked about that you guys ate haggis.  Had you had it before, or was that the first time?  What did you think about Haggis?  

Elder Penman (EP): Mom, I've eaten haggis more than 20 times. It's way good. 

Elder Lewis

Mom: My friend from the choir, whose son is in that mission is going home in 1 1/2 weeks.  Did you meet him?  Elder Lewis?  I think he was in your zone in Ireland.  She is WAY excited!  

EP: Yeah I love Elder Lewis he was in Belfast Zone with me.

Elder Forbush

Mom: How's Elder Forbush doing with his learning to teach, understanding the Scots, etc?  

EP: Elder Forbush is struggling with understanding some people [accents] but is getting along pretty well.

Mom: How is your ward?  

EP: I love this ward. It feels almost like my home ward which is the first time it's felt like this on my mission. It's different.  All of them have been awesome though.  

CONFERENCE IS THE BEST!!

With Elder Wu (Elder Johnson photobombing) Probably at Dundee Zone Development

Wow!!  Conference was the best way to close a week. The talks were amazing! Elder Brent H. Nielson's Talk was hit me the hardest. (SUMMARY HERE: https://www.lds.org/church/news/brent-h-nielson-waiting-for-the-prodigal )

We had a good week Monday after P-day it was pouring rain and we went out to go tract for a few hours. Right as I opened the door I felt it was wrong to go out and tract. I thought I was just being lazy and trying to get out of it so I questioned it and the Spirit said, "no, you need to be somewhere else."  So I shut the door and looked at Elder Forbush and said, "we aren't supposed to go there." He looked at me so confused. So I said a prayer to know where we should go. Then Elder Parry called us and asked us to visit a recent convert. The spirit said inside me "YES!" and joy overcame me. The whole time we walked I could feel the Spirit with us. As I got closer the more I could feel the Spirit. I knew that was where we needed to be! We had a great conversation with the sister and she had some concerns and didn't know if she ever wanted to come back to church. We had her tell us her conversion story and WOW! She started glowing while telling us and reliving these precious moments. 

I know it is so important to keep our feelings of our conversion at the surface. When we bury  it and sink them, the harder it is to remember the way we felt the first time we knew God was there. That He loves us and knows us so perfectly. We all should keep these moments on us at all times, so when hardship comes we remember why we chose this path. Maybe you have had experiences now and in the more recent times. These are even better. This is like replacing old sand bags with new ones that aren't falling apart so they cannot be washed away in the run off season. 

On my mission and even back home I have seen the weakening of a testimony because it is not being nourished. They aren't getting the care they need. The apostles and prophets say this time and time again. This is why we pray, read, and receive a witness for ourselves. We have been teaching through the lessons with members and inviting them to receive a witness again that the Book Of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ's church is restored and HE still leads it. It is never enough to only receive one witness. When we strengthen that witness, we will have courage to obey and to stand like Our Savior for what is right.

I have reflected a lot about Christ this Easter. I know He lives, I know He showed more love that could and will never be matched. I know my Brother and Best Friend leads us and wants to help us in all circumstances good and in bad, when we know he's there or when we have no clue, and when we love Him or when we hate Him. His Love will never fail. I love Jesus soooo much. I Want all of you to know that. He is the BEST! 

Love, Elder Penman

Chicken stir fry--it's what's for dinner!

The Flat in Cowdenbeath

Pictures from Elder Brock Forbush of the flat of Elder Penman and Elder Forbush.  I love the washer in the kitchen.

Dunfermline Ward Building

I Dunnae Ken

Elder Penman, up close

This week went by really fast. So I dun-nae ken.

  Through out the week I have been focusing on how to make my studies and prayers more effective and receive revelation. It has been so amazing!! I have learned how to focus my thoughts and think about what I'm reading and saying. The more time I take time to think and listen are the times that the spirit over comes my thoughts and even studying the simplest things I'm able to apply it so perfectly into my life. During my prayers, I have been letting the spirit bring my true thoughts and feelings and questions to the surface so I am able to truly know what I need. I have been spending a ton of time on my knees just listening in silence.  Letting our Father give me instruction on what I can do to become better. I have been finding the more I do this the more I grow closer and strengthen my love for Jesus Christ and our Father. I love them more then words can explain and I know He loves me and all of you a lot more then I love Him. I can not wait till the day comes that I can fully comprehend His love. It will be an amazing day.
   I have been studying Come Unto Christ because it has always interested me. It is our purpose to invite others to come unto Christ. So I wonder why we wanted others to come unto Christ. Others I take it is everyone. We invite less actives to Christ, non members, and even members. Why is it so important? I learned that it's the first step in all things. When you wash your hands you don't rub your hands in water and then put the soap on and then walk out. NO!!! You would put soap on then wash it off. Christ is the first thing we need to, to be made clean. "There is no other name given under heaven where man can be saved." (Mosiah 3:7)  That's why if people  say I'm too far gone to come to church. its like saying I'm too embarrassed to take my broken car to the auto shop. No, you don't say that! Its the same thing. Christ heals and makes imperfect people better. If you feel you can't come to Christ because you're not worthy, stop that and just do it.
   We had Jane at church on Sunday. We also got a referral from a member to start teaching. His name is Kyle and he is ready to learn!


-Elder Penman

"...That they do remember him that they may have his spirit to be with them." D&C 20:77

(To fill in the travel log of what happened this week, Elder Penman's companion, Elder Forbush, shared the following:
So for the whole week we had a lot of appointments fall through and I felt like most of the days were wasted, but there would be something that would make the day better. We had another appointment with D___ and it was really intense!!! During the middle of the lesson the spirit told both me and E. Penman to tell her that Heavenly Father wants her to be baptized on the 12 of May. The whole room got quiet when I invited her. She said that's going to be a hard goal. We told her that Heavenly Father wouldn't give her something that wouldn't be impossible. That really calmed her down and she agreed and excepted!!!

Later in the week I had my first plate of HAGGIS!!!!! IT WAS REALLY GOOD!!! Evelyn made it for us on Saturday and it looks like ground beef with oatmeal hahaha!

A really cool thing that happened this week is that J___ one of our investigators went to church this Sunday!!! She said that she really liked it and that she would like to come again! I was really surprised because the meeting was all about the Ward Counsel setting up to get the ward involved in missionary work. She loved it! I can't wait to have her experience a Sunday that's full of gospel lessons, too.

-- 

Love Elder Joshua Brock Forbush
Scotland/Ireland Mission

With Brother Richard Gallant

I'm so glad he's doing this while dressed as a missionary....  :O

Brother Brian Hall

With Brother Brian Hall

Elder Penman with Brother John and Sister Lynn Hargreaves from Kelty

Brother Hall

Total eclipse for my birthday

Elder Penman and Elder Forbush at the bus station

So we had a pretty good week! 

We taught Ayrton the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. We used Alma 36:18 to show that the Atonement can make pain disappear but also turn it into joy beyond your pain. Ayrton was expressing how she really wanted to be baptized on the 18th of April. 

After Ayrton, we taught Titch and Leeanne. They are doing OK. Things have slowed a little but it is a hard thing to give up addictions. After Titch's we had another amazing lesson with Jane. Jane is remembering what we are teaching and said she doesnt want to know truth she wants to feel if its right. 

The manual on how to deal with a "Greenie" Companion.
Elder Forbush has been out 2 weeks now!

We are teaching members and less actives through the discussions. Its good especially with the new guy Elder Forbush. We can have low pressure practices. Elder Parry and I were on exchanges one day and we ended up teaching the Restoration 4-5 times. We are learning so much from teaching it and perfecting the way we teach.

Dunfermline City Chambers and skyline, Fife, Scotland

Dunfermline

 We had an amazing Zone Conference on receiving personal revelation and also working with ward council unity.  Sam Wong's talk from General Conference last October really puts into perspective how important it is to not work faster than the ward or not to work slower than the ward. We need to be hand and hand. I have been thinking about this non stop for the past week... How can we be more unified in the work of Salvation. It seems when ever I have deep thoughts on this stuff God strings me along to try my faith and see if I actually want an answer because It never comes easy!

...SQUIRREL!!!

Dunfermline Abbey

Elder Forbush and I felt we shouldn't go to the lesson with Debbie so we canceled and right after we canceled, the Marr family called and asked us if we wanted dinner. It was another amazing event God put in our path I still don't know why we weren't suppose to go.

Well there was a total eclipse on my birthday. That was cool. We were in studies when all of a sudden our room went really dark then back to normal. I wish we could have seen it. Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday.!! (:

Birthday Stash!   Happy 19th Birthday Elder Penman!

I love you all a lot!! 

Elder Penman

Birthday hat for the birthday boy!  Buzz Lightyear!
To Infinity...and Beyond!