WEEK 79: A POWERFUL WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST

The past few weeks have been awesome.  We were able to have a baptism for Johnnie, who is an awesome YSA.  We are teaching his other 4 friends that all have a date that they are working towards for baptism.

The work in the Hemet area is going awesome!  In my zone there are six companionships and everyone is doing awesome.  This zone is truly working together, and I wouldn't be surprised if we were all translated like the city of Enoch.  It is really weird having such a young zone, Elder Moyers has been out for 22 months, and I have been out for a little over a year or so :)  The rest of the zone, the companionships are all 10 months or less.  It feels like yesterday that I was with my awesome trainer Elder Heelis and it was the year 2015!!  It is so crazy to see how fast the mission has gone by.

But what has been even more spectacular has been the many people I have been able to come to love and see enter into the waters of baptism.  Also, my faith in Jesus Christ has grown tremendously, as I have done my best to serve Him and come to know Him.  It is one thing to know facts about the Savior, to be able to know that He walked the earth, or He walked on water, or that He cleansed the Temple and told the people to not make mine Fathers house an house of merchandise.  But it is another thing to truly, truly know Him, and feel the love He has for you through not only the scriptures, but the words of modern day prophets.  I know that He is coming again, and that now is the time to prepare.  Christ taught that no man knoweth when I will return.  Not the angels not even myself, but only the Father. From that we know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate and distinct individuals that want us to know They love us and care for us.

I truly know that the Book of Mormon’s role is to convince us that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, and that the Bible is the word of God.  Because of Joseph Smith, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored church, and that he truly did see God and Jesus Christ in that Grove called Sacred.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. There is no other name that you can be saved by. 

Love,

EP

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Christina's Baptism

A former investigator that Elder Pennington had an opportunity to teach was baptized this past week and he was able to go back to Moreno Valley to see that happen.  Here is what he wrote...

"I finally got to go back to a baptism in Moreno Valley!  Cheyenne, a girl Elder Smith and I baptized a year ago in April, had a mother that was pretty interested as well, but it wasn’t her time yet.  So a year later she was able to enter into the waters of baptism as well.  Her name is Christina!!

WEEK 78: THE WATERS OF BAPTISM

And another week without a "family email" summarizing his week.  Bummer!

We do know this though...

Elder Pennington has been teaching a young single adult (YSA) named Johnnie, and he was baptized this week!!!

Enjoy the pictures!

Johnnie's baptism

Johnnie's baptism

Elder Pennington and Johnnie

Elder Pennington & Johnnie

Elder Pennington & Nick. He has a baptismal date for May

Hey Nick... are you sleeping?

Anza Valley

Welcome to Anza Valley

WEEK 77: IT'S GONNA BE A HOT ONE

Elder Pennington was apparently busy this week in his new area because we didn't get a letter this week.  We did receive a few pictures though.  Enjoy!

Hot California Summer is coming!

Pet lady bug

Can't grow grass?  Paint the concrete green.

The streets of Hemet

Got my Easter box, but why was there a piece of gum missing from it?
Hmmmmm...

Elder Pennington gave this YSA (Young Single Adult)
one of his ties.  He loves giving away stuff to folks
that need some clothes for church!

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.