October 5th E-mail

What is going on! That is what I'm talking about! the trio winning out this week! (especially the niners! woot!) Its fun to see (hear of) them playing good again! Its been a while! Things went pretty well this week. Elder Allred was down and out for a day but we still managed to get some work done. I hope we can stop the back a forth sickness thing.. Its no fun. But we got a new family to conference and we are so excited for them! Their names are Joe and Elaine Hartley and they are awesome! They live within their means. Elaine is able to stay home with the kids because Joe definitely believes in providing and having a good mother raise the kids. They are so ready for the gospel! We put Brian Abbott on-date for baptism. He will be baptized on the 14th of Oct. Its a Wednesday night at 7:00. We are so excited for him. We watched conference with him and afterwards he went tracting with us! I've never taken a non-member tracting with us before but it was awesome! This lady answered the door and we tried talking to her and she said that she wasn't that interested at the time and Brian just opened up to her and told her how he had been meeting with us and how good it was and how it could have a positive effect on her and her family! The spirit was so strong and he was testifying to this lady! It was a very neat experience! He is ready to go! So things are going pretty well. So at Zone Conference our assistants gave us a training on using the BoM with people as we first talk to them. So we knock on someones door and we try to, as we talk to them, see what their needs are and then turn to a scripture in the BoM that can help them with whatever it is that they might need. It has been going pretty well! Its kinda fun because you not only have to know the BoM pretty well but you have to be listening for the still small voice. It helps me to not get worked up but to be calm. Otherwise you cant hear the still small voice. So it has been really fun to do. For example this guy said that he doesn't believe that we need prophets today and so we read with him 2 Nephi 29:9 (6-9) and it was cool to just feel the spirit come in and testify to all that would allow of those truths! People really do open up a little more and the spirit truly comes when we read the BoM with others! I am excited about it and it has also allowed me to increase my knowledge and testimony of the BoM. Just some examples of questions/concerns would be Why do i need to be baptized again? Why the BoM? I'm not comfortable talking about my religion. Why Plural marriage? Why do you believe in the BoM? We are all prophets. Why do Mormons think that they are saved by works? So just some things like that. There are plenty more.. But look at those and see what scripture in the BoM you would turn to to help them overcome their concern or to answer their question... Its kinda fun :D tell me how it goes :D Conference was absolutely amazing! Elder Holland is my hero! I love that man! :D So transfers aren't for a couple weeks. We get our transfer calls on the 17th. Man i loved priesthood too! It kinda took me back though talking about father/son relationships! It made me have a trunky moment :D But a spiritual/good trunky moment lol! I was just thinking man i cant wait to go to priesthood with my dad and my brother and then go out to dinner! Its going to rock! But hey guess what! Only 1 more conference before ill be home :D wow! time is short! Its kinda wierd to think about.. Especially when all the missionaries in my district are reminding me how old i am and how short of a time i have left.. And i still have 7 months... So I'm not that old yet! lol! Ok so some members (the Searcy's) took us to a place called Wolf Lodge! I had a 24oz. Porterhouse steak! It cost $30! and it was the best freaking steak i have ever eaten in my life! It cost Bro. Searcy like $140!!! it was freaking sweet!!! You will have to look it up. Its in CDA and oh my goodness! and it comes with a huge baked potato and a salad! And of course i downed it all! :D I'm just telling ya now.. If you thought i could eat before the mish... that's nothing :D lol! but i would love to take the fam there when we come back up! anyways! Thanks for everything! Tell Grandma P. That i love her and i hope she gets better! I love you guys! Take care of yourselves! Elder Penman