WEEK 50: LAST WEEK IN MORENO VALLEY

Glad to see that fresh breath is important to Elder Pennington

Elder Pennington had another great week.  It was busy so he didn't get off an email to share.  He did send a few pictures.

Fun socks from Mom - Amurrica!

We spoke for a brief moment of what his plans might be after his mission.  He is very motivated to get a good education, play ball, and start a good career.  It was good to hear him talk about how these things are important to him.  He is definitely growing up quick through this experience.  Enjoy the pictures!!!

The zone having fun.

These elders and sisters get along so well.

It's all good in the MoVal Hood

WEEK 49: SERVICE AT MARCH AIR FORCE BASE

Doesn't get much better than this - boys playing in big airplanes.
Scroll down for more pics of this day of service.

Due to the Columbus Holiday and the library being closed (internet access), we didn't get a lot of info from Elder Pennington this week.  We do know that they did service at March Air Force Base though. 


They painted some old airplanes for their museum, built some sheds, and fixed golf carts.  After he helped a vet fix some of the golf carts, he let Nathan drive the golf cart around the air base.

One of the reasons I was so excited about Nathan's call to Riverside is because my mom's family is from this area and my dad was stationed at March Air Force Base before going to Vietnam.  He was a navigator/bombardier on the B-52 bomber aircraft.  I'm sure Nathan walked some of the same ground where my dad walked back in 1966 and didn't even know it.

Below are some pics from this fun day of service:

Getting ready to tour and work at March AFB

Let's give these babies a fresh paint job!

Now that's a big plane

Look Ma!  I found a faster way to get to my teaching appointments!

You can barely see Nathan through that dirty window

Can you see the pilot's name on the plane under the window?
Lt. Col. Gary Pennington - What a coincidence!

Nathan aka Ice Man - maybe he will want to be a pilot
when he gets back from his mission.  Nope!  Momma
ain't gonna allow that - no way Jose!

WEEK 48: BOWLING FUN & GENERAL CONFERENCE

Elder Pennington with other missionaries in his mission

This week was good!  Really enjoyed hearing General Conference this past weekend.  It is awesome that we have the opportunity to hear from people that are called of God to further enlighten us with knowledge from the Savior.


 

 

Click here to access General Conference talks

 

Conference was really the highlight of the week, other than that nothing really stood out.  It was just a normal week in the mission that consisted of walking, talking, teaching, laughing, and many other “ing” verbs that I can't think of at this moment.

Elder Pennington at a bowling activity.
Scroll down for other fun pics!

 

But today was one of the sister missionary’s birthdays so we all got balloons and surprised her and sang to her.  We played some games as a zone and that was about it.  It is always nice to play sports since you only have like 30 minutes in the morning.

 



Things are going well we also had a multi-zone conference and won the cleanest car inspection thanks to a member of our ward who has a super dope detail cart!  Our car was the best! Everything was shiny!

 

Love you all and hope ya’ll have a great week!

 

Love, EP

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BOWLING PICTURES

 

 

 

 

 

 









 

WEEK 47: CONNOR'S BAPTISM

Connor's baptism

This week was awesome!  We had a baptism for a kid that Elder Smith and I started teaching when I got in this area, so a looong time ago haha.  It was a PMF (part-member family) but now the whole family are members and things are going great with them.  They have been coming to church more and more. They hadn't been to church in like two or three years so it is awesome to see the change.

Connor's baptism

 

Connor's baptism

Car life is still awesome as ever.   It makes the work go faster and you are able to see a ton of more people.  The only problem is now you don't have a way to bike all the food off that the members feed you.

Getting ready for Connor's Baptism

This past week a member of our ward Brother Sibley, he is crazy haha.  So we sit down and smash two huge hamburgers and two sausage links and fruit, then he asks if we were done with the appetizers and brings out trip tip steak.  Oh my goodness that was the most food I think I have ever eaten in my life!  I am gonna invest in a scale so that I can start maintaining my weight haha.

Moreno Valley Zone

Other than that the work is going really good, This is gonna be week three of this transfer, so it is going by really quick.  I am coming up to 7 months in this area so I wonder if my picture fell off of President’s board and he forgot about me haha!!

 

Love you all, thanks for all of the letters and packages and prayers!

Love, 
Elder Pennington

WEEK 46: WORKING IN A TRIO AGAIN

This week was a pretty good week.  Right now we have 9 people on date for baptism.  I am in a pod once again, and I am looking forward to it.  Mainly because with a pod comes a car!!! Super stoked to not be on bike again. Tender mercies!  But I can't really complain about biking, because the last transfer Elder Avei and myself biked maybe once.  We just kicked it foreign like and walked everywhere!

Elder Pennington with Yeaman & Avei at the View with
another companionship of missionaries.

 

I am looking forward to this transfer and for the potential our teaching pool has.  Now that there is three of us, we will be able to all split up and go do work, so that is going to be super effective!!!  I really love being out here and serving the Lord in California Riverside.  We have a baptism this Sunday, so we are looking forward to that.  Other than that, thank you so much for all the love and for keeping me in your prayers.

 

Love, 

Elder Pennington 

Elder Pennington didn't tell us this missionary's name
but I would probably feel pretty safe walking the streets
with this big Samoan missionary!

 

WEEK 45: CALLED TO BE A DISTRICT LEADER

Below is an email we received this week from Elder Pennington's Mission President.  He has been called to serve as a District Leader:

12 September 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Pennington,

I am pleased to let you know that Elder Nathan Charles Pennington has received the assignment to serve as a District Leader in the California Riverside Mission. This special assignment will offer your son an opportunity for leadership growth. He will have the sacred responsibility to lead and teach those missionaries who are within his district. The Lord has chosen him for his outstanding performance and commitment.

You can take pride in his missionary accomplishments. I am indeed grateful for the training and guidance you have provided that has helped qualify him for this opportunity.

Thank you for your support, and may the Lord be with you always.

Faithfully yours,

John H. Mullen

President

California Riverside Mission
===============================================================

We are excited for Elder Pennington's new assignment and responsibility as a leader in the mission.  They also gave him ANOTHER new missionary to train in addition to the one he currently has.

When I asked him if he was ready for all this, he responded, "I think so ha ha!  I'm a little excited."

Elder Pennington with another "Greenie" - Elder Yeaman

Elder Pennington back in a TRIO, training two Greenies -
Elder Avei (6 weeks) & Elder Yeaman (1 day)

First training lesson - this is Moreno Valley at night and
this is how we do the MT (Money Team) picture.

WEEK 44: LETTERS FROM THE PRIMARY

Elder Pennington received a package of mail from the Walnut
Grove Primary children and can you tell he was very excited?!

 

This week was really good.  We were able to have 5 people that we are teaching come to church, and that all have dates for baptism.  We are doing pretty good with all the other work.

 

 

 

Someone caught us out working
with their cell phone and then
emailed it to us because you know
our flip phones can't do this!

 

 

This is the last week of the transfer so I am curious to know if I am gonna stay another transfer with Elder Avei or if I am gonna have to leave....It has been six months in this one area, so anything can happen!  I would really love to stay another transfer and be able to continue to work with Elder Avei and all the people we are teaching, but if I leave I know Elder Avei will be able to take over the area.

 

Other than that, special congrats to Josh and Evelyn Kennedy!  Love you both, and I am so happy for you guys!  That is it for this week, hope everyone is doing well!

 

Love,

Elder Pennington