WEEK 76: HEMET - EVERY MISSIONARY'S DREAM

The View of Hemet

Hemet is every missionary’s dream.

There are people always outside and most of the people here are humble.  I am in the Echo Hills ward, and the Tahquitz YSA ward.  We cover the whole stake of Hemet, and it is awesome.

We are teaching a group of 7 YSA’s (young single adults) people right now, and a few families for the family ward.  The work is going great, and we talk to like 30 people a day because there are just so many people it is amazing.

Our Zone after the ZDM meeting

We have a small zone of 6 companionships, but everyone loves working hard.  The other zone in the stake is pretty cool.  They are in the half called San Jacinto.  My old companion Elder Dunn is a Zone Leader there so we see each other at meetings that we have to go to!

Elder Moyers

My companion is Elder Moyers from Wenatchee, Washington.  He is a hard worker, and I am excited to keep the work going in this area.  Also super excited/dreading having to learn yet another area.

Love ya’ll and have a great week!!!

EP

Anza, California

Idyllwild, California

Chieks came for a visit!

Easter Box from home - 2017

WEEK 75: IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

So Elder Pennington was transferred to a new area.  He is now serving in Hemet, California and his new companion is Elder Moyers.

Below are some pictures he took of the great missionaries, member families, recent converts, and investigator families he had to say "Good-bye" to:

The Squad

Isaac, Stephanie, Divinity & Skye

Recent Convert and Investigators

The Nielson Family

The Crazy Nielson Family

The Nelson Family

The Martindale Family

Investigator family

WEEK 74: SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

In response to some questions we asked Elder Pennington

about spiritual experiences he has had recently on his

mission, he wrote us the following letter:

Dad and Mom,

Dad, Mom and Son picture - they use this familial
relationship to describe who trained who!

So last Tuesday, March 28 2016 I went on exchanges to 'Spanish Land' with Elder Osberg.  Previous
to the exchange, I always pray for success and that I will be able to influence or help the missionary I am working with in any way.  So I prayed for the gift of tongues because I hate not being influential when everything is in Spanish.

We were in a lesson and I caught some of it because I have learned some Spanish, but I really wanted to bear my testimony to this person.  I prayed again and that night we had a lesson with an investigator named Claudio.  All we really talked about before is that he needs to come to church or the missionaries would have to stop teaching him.  We were in the lesson and I felt prompted to tell Elder Osberg to read John 14:15 and Elder Osberg said he had read that at the beginning but referenced it and I told him to ask if he loved God and why.  I kinda caught a little bit, but after they spoke I felt another prompting and heard Matthew 6:24 come to my mind.  I told Elder Osberg to read it, and he did.

Elder Smith & Elder Pennington's matching watches

In my head I was wanting to tell him, "Claudio, keeping the Sabbath Day is a commandment.  John told us that if we love Him, then keep the commandments and if you want blessings to pour down upon your family, you need to stop letting money deviate you from loving and serving God.  If you want good health, protection, and knowledge, it can only come from you taking the step of faith."

I wanted to tell Elder Osberg this but I didn't want to interrupt him again.  Right after I was thinking about this, Elder Osberg said exactly what I was thinking.  It was crazy and amazing to feel the comfort and love of the Spirit.  It was an amazing thing to feel and a huge answer to my prayers.  That has been a pretty recent spiritual experience for me.

As for general conference, I was able to reaffirm how important it is to read the Book of Mormon

Apparently floral ties are popular!

every day and to be worthy and to stay worthy.  It made me reflect on my life growing up.  It made me wish I lived a better lifestyle.  I really have gained a love for the Atonement and how it can help cleanse me for all the stupid stuff I've done, am doing, or will do in the future.  Also, I've been praying about basketball and if it should be in my future and if I should use it as an asset in helping me gain an education.  I've been able to have amazing things happen to me through the power of prayer.  I feel like that book you gave me has really helped my prayers become more heartfelt and sincere.

Is this a GQ photo shoot?

WEEK 73: FAMILIES ARE FOREVER, TEMPLE SEALING

Marisa and Matt, sealed together for time and all eternity

On Saturday I had the opportunity to go to a sealing for Marisa Sutton and Matt Grover, who are now together for time and eternity.  It was amazing to be able to witness this wonderful marriage and be able to see old friends from Moreno Valley.

Here come the sealed couple - Matt and Marisa.

I have really enjoyed being able to be on my mission, and see people in white entering into the baptismal font making a covenant with Heavenly Father to follow him.  Being able to see them sealed is just as spiritual and as powerful as seeing someone enter in to the waters of baptism.  I am so grateful for all of the wonderful things I have been able to learn and see as I have been here in Riverside, California.

This past week I have been able to really reflect on the past 17 months that I have been here and I have really enjoyed all of the many people I have been able to meet.  Being able to return and see people that have truly become family after 7 1/2 months in Moreno Valley has been amazing.  I am so grateful for the areas I have been able to serve in and the area (or areas) I will finish serving in for the last 7 months.

I love God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost and how perfect they all work together to bring to pass the gathering of the elect as we are diligently striving to be a light to others.

Que tenga buen dia,

EP

Kyle and Elder Pennington

Elder Pennington got to see one of his favorite
friends from Moreno Valley - Bro. Rey.

Elder Pennington's new watch

Received another crazy picture of our missionary
hanging out at the Neilson's home for dinner.

WEEK 72: 10 NECK TIES FOR $1 DOLLAR

Check out my sweet fish tie.

This week we were able to have some investigators we are working with come to church!!!  We have been struggling with church attendance for some reason...but other than that we had a really good week.

We also had ZDM this past Tuesday, and Elder Anderson and I trained our zone on consecration and obedience.  We have been doing well as a zone so hopefully we can continue to rise!!!!

Exchanges with Elder Brown, picked up some sweet ties.

Also, I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Brown this week. He is a stud, and a really good missionary from the "AZ".  On Saturday we were doing some walking, and we found an estate sale going on.  Walked in and got 10 sweet ties for 1 dollar!!!  Best yard sale steal I’ve ever gotten!!!

Have a great week ya’ll !!!

Love,

EP

What is lurking in that field?

WEEK 71: FISHING ON P-DAY & NATALIE'S BAPTISM

Fishing in a "fish-less" lake, oh well!

We didn't receive a group letter this week so here is a summary of what we know.  Bro. Handal, a member of their ward, took them fishing.  Mission rules allow them to fish from the shore only.  To quote Elder Pennington, "It was fun, but we didn't catch anything.  I don't think there were even any fish in that lake."

Natalie's baptism

On Saturday, March 11, Elder Pennington attended another baptismal service.  He and his companion taught a sweet young girl named Natalie.  Her are a few pictures of her special day with the missionaries who taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elders Anderson, Pennington and Dunn with Natalie

Natalie's Baptism Day

Below are some pictures that tell a little bit more about this week:

Always exciting to see a TN license plate !

Elder Pennington loves to go gangsta by wearing their
suit coats inside out - what a rebel!

Not sure who this is but Elder Pennington called him
"Baby Face" and said he came for a surprise visit.

Baby Face came for a surprise visit.

WEEK 70: COVERING TWO WARDS & COMMUNITY SERVICE

This week was our first week covering both wards, and it went pretty well.  We are doing good with handling both wards, and there is a ton of work to be done in the La Piedra ward, so we have been working hard.  Other than that, there isn't very much that is new.

Elder Pennington performing community service.

We talked to a guy on the street the other day and he is gonna get us in to a private lake and take us fishing!!!!!!!!!!  Super pumped for that, fishers of men!!!!!

Sorry that this is super short, but that’s all I got!!!!.

Love,

EP