Weekly Update - May 31st, 2006

May 31st, 2006
Hi there everybody! Today is the last P-Day of this transfer (transfer = 6 weeks, remember?) and my companion, elder Lokey, has completely fallen apart! He’s finally let it sink in that he’s going home and he’s a mess. (LOL!) He’s excited to see his family again. I’ve learned a lot from him and am thankful to have served with him his last transfer as a missionary.

I’m not sure if I already told everyone but there’s been a new rule made for our whole mission. No more movies. Before, as some of you already knew, we were allowed to watch certain, approved movies. I was able to see movies like “Chicken Little”, “Dreamer” and “Narnia” (!!!). All good movies, all of them I enjoyed. But they were all a bit distracting. Instead of focusing on learning and teaching the Gospel and keeping the spirit with us, we were thinking about what movie we just saw or were going to see. And so, for good reason, we now no longer watch movies. And I’m 100% fine with that. Because, I didn’t think I was going to be able to watch movies on my mission in the first place. So, yeah. That rule was instituted at the beginning of this transfer (so about six weeks ago), but I thought I’d let you all in on that anyways. (Better late than never, right?)

So I realized the other day, that I’m almost a third through my mission already! I’ll have been out for 8 of the 24 months I’ll serve in less than two weeks! I can hardly believe it! I need to make sure I don’t miss a moment because this’ll all be over before I know what happened.

Hey family. You’ve got incoming mail. So keep your eyes peeled. *Smile*

Oh yeah! As far as transfers are concerned. Here’s the scoop. I’m staying here in Derby, Kansas which is what I expected AND wanted. And my new companion’s name is Elder Shinkle (sp?). I here he’s a good guy so that should be exciting.

The weather out here is nothing short of violent. I haven’t seen any tornadoes yet, but I have seen the weather change on a dime. It’s very, very, VERY humid out here. No joke! It feels like you step into a sauna or even straight into a pool every time you step foot out of a building. And it apparently gets worse. Which means, if you don’t here from me for a full transfer, it means I’ve probably died of heat stroke! *wink*

We found a family and we’re teaching them! They are the Bell family. I’m really excited for them. I pray that they will accept the gospel. They are a young couple with two children. One of which is just a 4 month old baby. So cute! I’ll be sure to keep you posted on all that. Oh, and as far as Barbara Fagan is concerned. I think that she’s trying to keep herself busy. I don’t think she really wants to give herself time to think about the things we share with her. So, we’re still her friend and we still go visit her. We’re just not actively pursuing her right now. You know, giving her some time. So that’s what’s up with that.

Well, that’s about all that I’ve got to share this time around. I love all of you. Feel free to slide me in your prayers this week. Satan is working hard on me and I can use all the help I can get! But I refuse to get discouraged or fail in my calling. So I will press on! I love being a missionary! I’m growing so much!

Your Son, Brother and Friend:
~Elder Penrod

Weekly Update - May 24, 2006

May 24th, 2006
I can’t stand being sick!!! You won’t believe this! I have Strep Throat AGAIN!!! I felt it coming on and went to the doctor yesterday and he told me that I was right, it was strep. I got a shot and more pills. Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you just how much I like taking pills (I HATE IT!).

Anyways, on with the update. This last week not much has happened. Almost all the people we’ve been teaching have dropped out of our teaching pool. There’s only one person we’re really teaching right now and her name is Mary Miller. She came to church last Sunday and said she liked it except for the fact that it was really long. She wasn’t used to church taking longer than just one hour, but she liked it. We’re going to see her again on Friday. So, I’m praying that’ll go well.

We had President’s interviews yesterday and I was very pleased with how they went. President was pleased with me too. I also found out that I might be able to go to the temple while I’m a missionary after all! If (WHEN!) any of the people that I helped baptize go to the temple in a year, then President Hacking will do what he can to help me get there with them! That’s so cool!

Well, I have to take off now. My companion’s kicking me off. He’s really excited to go play basketball. It’s one of the things he wanted to do before he goes home. That’s right, he goes home a week from Friday. Crazy, huh?!

I love each of you and I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on here. Sorry there hasn’t been much lately, but the work IS moving forward. Slowly, but surely, it’s moving forward. And I’m so thankful to be a part of it! (Even if I do have Strep. *smile*)

Weekly Update May 17th, 2006

May 17th, 2006

I know. I know! I haven’t done this for about three weeks, I’m sorry! I’m here now, so I’ll get typing.

Today is Elder Lokey’s 21st Birthday! … And it’s P-day (Preparation Day. That’s just code for: We get a break!) We’re going to play Paintball today!!! That should prove to be a lot of fun! It was last time and I suspect it will be this time too.

Just in case any of you are wondering; Yes, Matthew Cox got baptized!!! That was so neat. He asked me to do it too! I had no idea he’d do that and it came as a very pleasant surprise. I felt very privileged and honored to do that for him.

Our whole mission was able to have a three hour question answer session with Elder Bednar, an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That was an amazing experience! One that I will never forget. If any of you want to know more about that, just let me know and I’ll do what I can. (That whole time issue. I’m sure you understand.)

Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, which meant I GOT TO CALL HOME!!!!! Holy cow! What a delight that was! I got to speak with everyone too. AND I got to speak with my sweetheart, Megan. That was wonderful! My dad was at home and I was able to speak with him too. We just talked. I didn’t really care what it was about (In this case, it happened to be about retirement and the Navy and Work and my mission). Just the fact that we talked was great. Like a conversation between friends. I really liked that. And then, I got to talk with my little brothers and sisters… ALL OF THEM! Yes, including Shaun! We called at an overlapping time and then got connected to each other. We were able to speak for a little bit and that was awesome! He asked me questions about my mission and I asked him questions about his. We laughed and joked and I was able to tell him that I miss him and that I love him. And then, of course, I got to speak with my mother. I was really looking forward to that, because I realized that I hadn’t written as often as I should and that I needed her to know just how much I love her. Which I did. It was so good to talk to her and let her know that. She told me some of the things going on at home and I told her some of the things going on here in Kansas. I love my mom. I love my family!!! To anyone reading this, your family is the greatest blessing in your life! They are people you can always count on to love and support you. Treat them right! Treat them well! Be kind, loving and PATIENT with them! You will be blessed for such kindness, love and patience… Promise!

Well, tonight, we’re going to go see the BYU Young Ambassadors perform their “Circle of Life” show. I’m so excited! I’ve never had the chance to see one of their shows, so I’m really looking forward to that.

Oh! And one more thing worth mentioning (and then I have to go. Time’s running out). Remember, that the witness comes only AFTER your faith has been tried! My faith in many things was tried on Sunday and Monday, and AFTER I decided to exercise faith and place trust in all those people, I received comfort and peace. And then, I received my witness, in the form of a letter, that turned my faith into knowledge and I was left Thanking my Father in Heaven for His love and concern for me and His many blessings.

All of us have a Father in Heaven who knows us personally. He knows our struggles, our strengths and our desires. And if we are faithful and TRUST Him, He will bless us in ways that we can’t even imagine. And we will be happy. I love my Father in Heaven and I know He loves me. I know that He loves and cares about each and every one of you too!

Take care, everyone. I should be able to write the updates regularly again. So, you can feel free to expect them again.

I love ya!
~Elder Penrod