President Dieter F. Uchtdorf visits Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland

President Uchtdorf said he was touched by a beautiful Primary choir from the Belfast Northern Ireland Stake. The country has a great history but also a challenging history that is marked by feuding religious groups in the nation.

“They are not perfect yet, but reconciliation is something we need to find in all places,” he said. “We need to reach out and talk with each other to find a solution. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. It is the answer for peacefully, lovingly working together and living together.”

President Uchtdorf said he loves the motto of the city of Belfast: Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus, or “What shall we give in return for so much?”

“We as Church members have been given so much,” he said. “We have been given more than eyes can see or that hearts can feel and minds can comprehend. We need to return some of this to our fellowman.”

Many members in Europe said President and Sister Uchtdorf spread hope during their visit.

“That’s the message of the gospel,” said President Uchtdorf. “We should never fear. As Paul said, ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7). We should always have hope, because God is with us. It is a wonderful thing. We can trust Him.”

Children in Belfast, Northern Ireland, greet President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf on May 22.

Children in Belfast, Northern Ireland, greet President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf on May 22.

Children in Belfast, Northern Ireland, present President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, with a book of letters and pictures on May 22.

Church News: Uchtdorf visits Europe

Beautiful Oban and the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond

Elders Perkins and Penman on the hill above Oban

Two SIM Squad members, Elders Penman and Perkins
spent last week and this next week in Oban Scotland
on the Western coast of Scotland. On their way, they
stopped by famous Loch Lomond and The Trossacks Nat'l Park

Well Oban is pretty. I don't have too much time to write. All I can say is that the Branch here (on Sunday) had 5 members, 3 visitors, my comp and I, and the senior couple, who are legends. It was one of the most spiritual sacrament meetings ever. 

Saying goodbye to Elders Gates and Harman from the SIM Squad
(in the center of Elders Perkins and Penman on the edges)

  Elder Perkins and I have been working hard to get a teaching pool going, so that way, in 1 week when we leave, either new missionaries or the senior couple will have people to teach. I will fill in more info next week. But quickly I have an update. I have gotten my new assignment for the last 5 weeks of my mission. I will be going with another missionary named Elder Haller and we will be traveling around the mission going to each area. Very similar to what I was last doing but we will get to choose... essentially where we go and what missionaries we work with. 

I love you all! 

Elder Penman 

Loch Lomond

Standing "on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond"

Loch Lomond?

more pictures from the drive to Oban

picture from the drive to Oban

---------------------------------------

Mom received a lovely email from Elder and Sister Young, who are the senior couple missionaries assigned to Oban Branch.

"Dear Sister Penman,

We are the Senior Missionary Couple assigned to Oban in the Scotland/Ireland Mission. This past Tuesday your son, Elder Penman, was assigned to spend the next two weeks with us here in Oban. I know you've had some concerns about his health. In a conversation with him a few minutes ago he confirmed that he was mending well and was feeling very, very good. 
With the arrival of this fine, young missionary and his companion (Elder Perkins), the influence of the missionary spirit returned to Oban. Though they won't be with us long, we know important things will happen while they are here. We are so grateful for their untiring efforts. What remarkable Missionaries they both are.  

With warm regards,

Elder and Sister Young" 

Loch Lomond song

Picturesque Oban (from Internet).  It looks kind of like a picture
that would be used in a jigsaw puzzle.  :D 

A picture from the internet of beautiful Oban

About Oban Scotland

"On the West Coast of Scotland, there's a small town called Oban. Be careful...you may fall in love." 

About Oban

Your first view of Oban is one you are unlikely to forget. From the north, you glimpse this bustling port from the top of the 'Bealach-an-Righ'. As you sweep down the hill towards the expanse of the bay, the view opens up before you and one begins to appreciate why Oban has developed into Scotland's most popular west-coast holiday town.

Read about the history of the town below and explore the rest of the site to find out more about this beautiful area of Scotland.

Beyond Oban ("little bay" in Gaelic - Scotland's ancient Celtic language) lie the islands of the Inner Hebrides: Kerrera, which protects the town from Atlantic storms; the low, green island of Lismore; majestic Mull, and the granite mountains of the Morvern peninsula. Beyond them, the sacred island of Iona, Coll, Colonsay and Tiree.

Oban today has a resident population of 8,500 and is the unofficial capital of the West Highlands - the "Gateway to the Isles" - however it has recently become better known as "The Seafood Capital of Scotland". The panoramic views of the mountains, lochs and islands which have captivated artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries are as striking now as they were when Dunollie Castle, a ruined keep which has stood sentinel over the narrow entrance to the sheltered bay for around six hundred years, was the northern outpost of the Dalriadic Scots.

It is no surprise to find Oban in the 21st Century remains a magnet for travellers from all over the world. The town's present day popularity owes much to the Victorians, and as early as 1812, when the Comet steamship linked Oban with Glasgow, the town played host to intrepid travellers touring Staffa - the inspiration for Mendelssohn's Hebridean Overture - and Iona - home of Scottish Christianity since St Columba stepped ashore in AD563.

Indeed once Oban had the royal seal of approval from Queen Victoria, who called it "one of the finest spots we have seen", the town's destiny as an endearingly enchanting holiday destination was as firmly set as the lava columns of Fingal's Cave in Staffa.

http://www.oban.org.uk/about-oban/about-oban-overview/ 

Well, That Was Good!

Round 2 everyone.

 Alright so this week was good. We had sweet week. The 5 Guys (SIM Squad) were all down in Dublin this week. I love Dublin City Center!! It's so fun. Sometimes I feel as if I am in Brazil when I am here because there are Brazilians everywhere! It's great! We had some good success. 

Always a missionary

Thursday, I split from everyone, to head off early that morning to go back up to Belfast to get surgery...Again. It went well I think. 

Belfast?

Belfast

Belfast

The next day I we went to a baptism with the Belfast Elders. I was standing there just thinking, when a lady walked in all dressed up in a church outfit. Naturally, I assumed she was a minister of another church. So I started talking to her, and she started opening up about how wonderful she felt. She kept telling me "it feels like I am coming home. I found the church I am a part of and I felt that that was it for me. As I walked in today, I know this is where I am meant to be."
So we showed her around and she saw wonderful painting of the Savior and then wonderful paintings of the restoration of the Priesthood. and she started tearing up and said "ever since I held the Book Of Mormon and started reading it the is feeling came over me and I couldn't stop reading. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God." She went on to cry all the way through the baptismal service then to cry even harder at the baptism itself.  We started talking to her and she kept saying, "I want to be baptized. I feel this is God's Church." So we invited her then and there to be baptized on the 4th of June. She started crying and said "yes!"
Later, we found out that she committed to give up everything that was not in accordance to the teachings of modern day prophets and the commandments of God. Some of the things I don't even know if I could give them as freely as she did. She came to church today as well. It was so amazing and so spiritual.  I Feel so blessed that God has allowed me to witness such a conversion, and to be able to give her such a small portion of knowledge that the Holy Spirit could drive home!

Facebook message from Chris Shearer
from Holywood Road Ward:
"We're so happy to be reunited!
 ‪#‎guylove‬"

Facebook message from Beth Mayne from
Holywood Road Ward: "I told him
he wasn't allowed in case you
were wondering
why he isn't making a face"

  I also was in Holywood road ward today! It was so awesome to see them all again! I Love this ward! 

 
Another thing. I am going to be in Oban for the next 2 weeks with Elder Perkins and myself. The 5 of us are getting split up due to a few missionaries going home this last week for health and other reasons so we are taking their spots. 

  God Lives, I have seen his matchless power this week and the miracle of conversion and I stand as a witness to all of you that this Is God's Church and He leads and Guides it in soooo many ways! 

-Elder Penman

Belfast City!! Again

SIM Squad in front Queen's University of Belfast

It was so good to be back in Belfast this week. 

Gary "The Legend" Peoples from Holywood Rd Ward

I saw so many people that I hold very close to my heart. I was able to see Gary Peoples!! What a legend! I love that man. 

At dinner at Johnny
and Miriam Shearer's
for dinner

I saw Jaquie the lady that we taught to baptism. I also got to see many members from the Holywood Rd. Ward and the Omagh Branch. I Love Northern Ireland.  It was fun to talk to people in front of the uni all day every day just like the good times.  

With Emma Fisher
(Holywood Road Ward)

with Alan Marshall (Holywood Rd Ward)

Jade Fox takes a photo of the SIM
Squad during their Skype calls home to
their Mums for Mother's Day
at the Belfast Stake Center

Jade Fox and Victoria
Shearer took the SIM
Squad and Holywood Rd
Ward Elders out to lunch

With Margaret Deery Cathcart from Omagh Branch at Stake Conference

  

Victoria Shearer was driving by on
the streets of Belfast and noticed the
Elders and especially E. Penman, so
ran back to say hello and send a pic!

 We had a rough start at the beginning of the week. Due to some random bumps. It ended up being a really good week. I ran into my good friend Sebastian on the street as well. It was pretty awesome. 

During the week I met this young lady. We had a regular chat on the street but she decided she would meet with us. The next day we taught her about the Holy Ghost and she was so happy and loved it. She wants to get baptized so we met with her the next day and had an amazing lesson on the how the church came to be. As soon as we taught her she started telling us, "I feel like I remember this, but I have never heard it before. I feel a peace as I hear what you are teaching." We asked her to pray and as she prayed, she said, "I have never felt this way in my life and had this clarity in my mind before. I know and am sure that Jesus Christ is leading the church that these to Elders teach about. I I know these things really happened to Joseph Smith." The Spirit was so strong. It is so powerful when people we teach testify of what the have learned and know to be true! 

 I know that the members of the Godhead is made up of God--Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ--the Savior of the World, and The Holy Ghost--the Spirit of truth who teaches us all truth. The Holy Spirit is a Member of the Godhead therefore He is a God. He has more power than any writing, any book. Scripture is only good sounding words. Without the Holy Spirit we can learn nothing... In fact scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Holy Spirit is greater than anything of this world. When the Holy Spirit teaches you it is of great importance. It is greater than any words and anything of this world. When the Holy Spirit teaches we must obey!

Elder Penman during his Mother's Day Skype call home

Elder Penman

 (4 pictures from Alicia Wang, member from Holywood Road Ward--regular goofball Elder Penman)

We Have Become Dundonian

Outside St. Giles Cathedral?? in Edinburgh

SIM Squad

 Well We were in somewhat of my old stomping grounds... Dundee. I have been in or around Dundee a lot on my mission. It was so good to be back. I love that Area so much because it is really where I figured out how to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ! Interesting enough many many times in the scriptures it talks about retaining a remembrance of our sins. Remembering is so key. I will finish my email tomorrow. We had a fireside tonight for new members!
==============================


Well, sorry about that. To finish my email--Funny story of the week. Elder Harman was teaching a younger lady and was having an amazing lesson. The lady felt the Spirit really strongly, moments later a seagull excreted right on her head. We had to go and get paper towels to help her out. It was funny. 

   We had a lot of success this week in Dundee though. It was a real boost to have so many character building moments come back to my memory. 

Map shows location of Dundee from Edinburgh

  Well we got our assignment for this week!!!!! We are going to Belfast!!!!!!! I'm so excited to spend all week there and to see my Norn Iron Family on Sunday!! 

I love this Gospel. I learned this week that revelation comes through the Holy Spirit without Him we would be lost on matters attaining to salvation. I know that He Lives! A Member of the Godhead we can have constantly in our lives!

Some SIM Squad members wearing "5 GUYS Burgers" hats
(they are 5 GUYS!)

Elder Penman

Elder Penman at the famous St. Andrew's Golf Course
Scotland is the birthplace of golf. 

Drawing the plan of Salvation on the sidewalk

Good way to store extra mattresses for the SIM Squad to sleep on

Information about Dundee Scotland

Dundee (Listeni/dʌnˈdiː/; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dè [ˈt̪uːn tʲeː]), officially the City of Dundee, isScotland's fourth largest city and the 51st most populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. At the 2011 census, Dundee had a population density of 8,541.8/sq mi (3,298.0/km2), the second highest of any Scottish city. The mid-year population estimate for 2014 is 148,260. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea. Under the name of Dundee City, it forms one of the 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland.
Historically part of Angus, the city developed into a burgh in medieval times, and expanded rapidly in the 19th century largely due to the jute industry. This, along with its other major industries gave Dundee its epithet as city of "jute, jam and journalism". Dundee's recorded population reached a peak of 182,204 at the 1971 census.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundee