Elder Penman

Hey family

I hope you all had a good time on the camping trip or whatever you did. This past week has been good for Elder Miller and I. We were able to do some fun things with the ward here. Well just able to get to know the ward a little better is the right word to say I guess. We did a lot of spits, that's where we go with two people from the ward to visit more people. That was pretty good. Last night (Sunday) we had a bishops fireside but we were in charge, it was pretty cool cause there was a lot of youth there and they got excited to do missionary work or to just do missionary things. It was pretty cool. Winters is such an amazing place. Its not near as busy as Vallejo is nor will it ever be but the people here are really nice and are will ing to do almost anything for the missionaries. its really good. I hope that we can still pick up the work cause the more people we teach the better! The church we meet at is the size of a branch building but we heard that its going to be expanded into a normal size church. ha ha that's about the biggest news i have so far. ha ha.

this past week we had president interviews, he told me that i was going to be in some big leadership positions here soon which is pretty scary, i mean i haven't even been out six months!! ha ha. He told me that's why he put me with Elder Miller. Elder Miller has been a district leader plenty of times and has been a zone leader a few times so he is a great missionary and is now training me how to be a good leader. I am excited to be with Elder Miller but I am also scared to be in leadership right now.. I guess we will see what happens down the road.

Church yesterday was amazing. I love fast Sundays now. some people have amazing testimonies and really just bring the spirit and its just so amazing!! I love it so much! I love being a member of this Church!! its so true! everything in the church is true. the priesthood, prophets, the way its run. oh gosh its amazing.

Elder Bitten, (another missionary in my apartment) has this video called reflections of Christ, well we watched it, its basically how they got the pictures and stuff, but it brought the spirit so much and just made my testimony of the Savior grow. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Song of God. Because of Christ, i can live with our Heavenly Father again in the Celestial Kingdom. I know that its true. I love him so much. He is my savior, my brother and my best friend. I heard a song this past week that talked about The Savior and the after life, that just made me trunk(a phrase meaning ready to go home) to die! ha ha. but of course i still have plenty to do on earth and will do the best i can down here so i can see Jesus again and have Heavenly Father not judge me harshly. ha ha.

we had a lesson on the Atonement yesterday and somebody said, when you truly understand the Atonement, you will take advantage of it, you will take the sacrament, and you wont be scared to talk to a priesthood leader when we make mistakes. that made me think a little, its true, not all of us will humble ourselves and talk to a priesthood leader when we do something wrong, but that cause we don't understand the Atonement. I hope that you all (myself included) get to learn more about the Atonement and get to learn more about our Savior.

I know that the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. there is no doubt at all. I know the book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith was called of God to translate the Book Of Mormon and to restore the true church. I know that all to be true. there is nothing wrong with the church. its true no matter where you live, Utah, Idaho, California, Russia, Brazil, anywhere in the world, the church is true. don't forget it. we go to church because we love God, not because of the people. :)

Love you all very much, i hope you have a good week. Talk to you next week.

Love Elder Penman