WEEK 27: MOTHER'S DAY CALL AND 6 MONTHS DOWN, 18 TO GO!

No letter from Nathan this week because we spoke with him via Skype on Mother's Day and it was so awesome to see his face, hear his voice, and be able to have live interaction with him.  Our son is a missionary!!  He loves it and we love that he is having this experience.  We have a ton of pictures to share with you this week.  Enjoy!

Inside joke for our family and favorite quote from the 2005 edition of the movie, "Herbie Fully Loaded."

"Herbie is a car."

Elder Pennington runs across some interesting stuff every day on his mission in California.  Here he got to see a movie star - Herbie!

He got a kick out of this sign.  It's a Donkey Crossing sign.  The area he is in is a large farming community and most of those employed are Hispanic so this apparently is a preferred mode of transportation.  Glad he sees things like this that entertain him and make him smile.

 6 MONTHS DOWN!

There is an unofficial tradition carried out by some missionaries in recognition of timeline milestones reached on their missions.  Nathan reached his 6 month mark and for that accomplishment, the tradition is to burn a tie.

We are still trying to figure out why he chose such a good looking tie and one of our favorites to burn.  Here, he and his companion Elder Smith are practicing their Scout fire starting skills.  It looks like they can still build a good fire.

And here he is burning his tie.  It will be November before he burns anything else and I believe then it will be a white shirt for his halfway mark.

Be careful son and don't play with fire!!!  Oops, too late.

 

SUNSET PICTURES OF MORENO VALLEY

 

In his current congregation (ward) there is a large Samoan membership. Here he is at a church activity that was a celebration "Samoan style."  We were excited that he stayed in the USA, but he is getting plenty of experience with other cultures outside of the USA.

One of the great blessings of having the age for missionaries changed is that now there are a lot more "Sister" missionaries.  Here Nathan is with those sisters serving in his Zone.  They asked the Elders for priesthood blessings that day and so they obliged.

This sister missionary (Hermana Jordan) knows Nathan's cousin Brooklyn.  Brooklyn is deaf and so here they are sending their love to her in a picture with Sign Language.  One of the great things of membership in the church is how much smaller the world seems to be at times.

Nathan's good friend from home - Annie Posey - sent him this "Money Shirt" to go along with his "Money Tie" theme that he has started.  Thanks Annie!  He sure got a kick out of this.

 



ELDER PENNINGTON'S APARTMENT

 



WEEK 26: MONEY TIES FOR THE MONEY TEAM

 Unfortunately, Nathan didn’t get much computer time this week so he just sent a bunch of pictures.  Mother’s Day is coming up as well so he’ll update us on this week then.  Emailing for a quick minute...




At Nathan’s request, Lisa and I
bought some ties with dollar bills on them.  He has given them out to some missionaries.  He has his own “stipulations” on who he will allow onto the “Money Team.”  Here, he and his companion are showing them off like only they know how to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nathan has been sharpening up on his cooking skills.  He has created some very interesting meals he tells us about.  Here is the most impressive dish I’ve heard of so far – noodles with some veggies in a sauce.  Bon apetite!

WEEK 25: COPS AND A CUTE LITTLE STRAY DOG



On exchanges with Elder Hoyt.  Nice to be in a car!!

This past week was a really good week.  We had a ZDM where we received training from our Zone Leaders, and that was on Tuesday.  Then the whole zone came crumbling down.  Almost everyone in our zone (18 missionaries, 9 companionships) got sick.  So I went on exchanges with our zone leader, Elder Hoyt, and we left our sick companions back at the apartments! So I got to see what being in a car was like for a couple of days, so that was nice!

Elder Pennington taught this LAPD officer in his first area
and was able to go back and be there for his baptism. The
man on the far right is also LAPD and performed the baptism.



Elder Pennington was asked by this LAPD officer to
speak on the topic of the Holy Ghost at his baptismal service.

One more group picture!

Then This is where the cops come in...  So this past Sunday I went back to my first area... for a Baptism!!!!  MY investigator from there decided to get baptized, and he is LAPD!!!  It was awesome. His friend that is also a motor cop baptized him!  It was an awesome experience.  He asked me to speak on the Holy Ghost at his baptism.  It was sweet!


The infamous stray dog hanging with the Lord's servants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, on Saturday me and another Elder were on a blitz so we were walking around and then found a dog!  It followed us everywhere.  It was so sweet!  But then we had to leave and when we got in the car to leave, it chased after us :( It was so sad :(

Stray dog

 

Working with our stray dog for a day.

Hope y’all had a great week

Love,

Elder Pennington

 

My area (Moreno Valley) at night.

Brother Campbell in the ward makes things out of wood
and he made us a pen and a knife.

Wooden knife made by Bro. Campbell

Wooden pen made by Bro. Campbell

Elder Pennington with Jean Luc who took
him to Subway on his birthday.



Elder Pennington said this Japanese lady came and
performed after a community service project.

 

 

 

Elder Pennington with a unnamed missionary
on his mission.



WEEK 24: LOGGED 20 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THIS WEEK

This week was filled with service.  We had four service projects this week.  That put Elder Smith and my hours up to 20 for this week.  So I think the theme song for our week is “Have I Done Any Good “ because of having done so much service.

We had a pretty slow week for finding people, but we had all of our recent converts and less actives we are working with at church so that was awesome!  I had the opportunity to speak at church this past Sunday so that was good.  Other than that, it has just been a really physically exhausting week. 

Zone picture with Pres. & Sis. Mullen

 

 

Get crazy picture... but don't touch the PREZ!!!

We had a multi-zone conference this past week that was 10 hours long!  It was so tiresome, but I learned a ton. That’s all for this week!

Love,

Elder Pennington


On P-Day.  Writing my mommy...

Smiling this time

We received this picture from a member where Nathan was
eating dinner tonight.

ASL Elder that cousin Brooklyn knows.  Almost
done with his 2 year mission...

 

WEEK 23: ANOTHER BAPTISM BUT NO SNAIL MAIL

Cheyenne's baptism day

So we had a really great week this week.  Cheyenne got baptized, and it was an awesome experience! The spirit was so strong, and it was awesome to see how happy she was afterwards.  It was an awesome experience to be a part of. And, by teaching her and helping her, she was also helping me. She has an awesome testimony of the gospel and is being a great example to the rest of her family.

This week was good for Elder Smith and myself.  We picked up a new teaching pool and are doing very well at helping our investigators progress to the waters of baptism.  Being in an apartment is going well.  The water out here in California is terrible so I got a Brita water filter so that is working well.  I am slowly purchasing things that are making being in an apartment a lot better.

This week is going to be short, but it consisted of a lot of rain, us pushing three different people’s cars into the garage for them from down the street, and even more rain.  My bike got another flat tire, but I got a super duty heavy tube so hopefully that will get the job done.  That is all for this week.  I hope everyone is doing well!

Love,

Elder Pennington

No snail mail.  Snif snif. Please write us!!!

 

Elder Pennington wanted to remind us that he is
"Bayless" for 2 years... he's OK with it.

A little pre-baptism selfie in the mirror with Elder Smith

Zone meeting pile up

 

 

WEEK 22: "BEAT TO TEACH" IN MOVAL (MORENO VALLEY)

Elder Pennington and his new companion Elder Smith
feasting on some In & Out Burger.

Looks like he managed to pack his life-sized
Michael Jordan cut out for the trip to Moval.

This week was my first week in my new area that’s called Moreno Valley.   My new companion, Elder Smith, is awesome, and I am enjoying this new area.  I feel like there are a lot more people outside and so probably a couple times a day we do what we call “Beat to Teach.”  So if there are people out playing ball, we challenge them to a game of “two on two” and when we win, we show them the new Easter video about Jesus Christ and try and get a follow up appointment.  Now, every time we are in certain areas they are like “Hey Elders,  are ya’ll gonna ball with us?”  It is pretty funny.

I was able to help finish up teaching the missionary discussions to a young woman named Cheyenne.  She is getting baptized this next Sunday.  She is super solid and has a strong testimony.  We have a lot more potential in this area, and I am looking forward to return to my last area in a few weeks for two baptisms.  Other than that, things are going well out here.  It is hard to believe that I have been out five months today.  It feels like I have only been out for like a month!

Well, I hope all is well and I miss you all.  Thank you for all of my true friends.  Thank you for the love and support ya’ll give me.  If anyone ever needs me, let me know!

Love,

Elder Pennington

Our son the barber...

...the sacrifices these guys make to
live within their budget.

Elder Pennington and "The Canadian" Elder