What's New????

So I am here to tell you all about what is new in my life. What California is like and everything. well Let me tell you that the weather is only 65-75 degrees and pretty much I need a sweater. I am rediculously acclimated and it is pathetic about how cold I get. I am pretty shocked at my self but you know whatever. I will just come home in April and be grateful that we are going into summer before another winter occurs. But I do have to say it is nice that it is cooling down and that it is reminding me of winter. I like to pretend especially since Thanksgiving is next week. I am so excited. We get to go to some of my most favorite places that day. Our investigators who are coming to church want us to come spend some time at their houses and it is just so exciting.

So this past week we have been working so hard. And I wanted to tell you about this guy that we have been doing service for for the past year. Sister Folsom is someone who continued to keep doing service and she was truly inspired of God. Louis is his name and he has kinda wanted to learn more about what we believe because he loves the Mormon people so much but hasn't ever really understood the doctrine. I gave up trying to teach him because it always ended badly. Well he approached us last week and wanted us to teach him. We taught him yesterday and I have to say that it was such a privilege to teach him. He has a lot of questions and I don't know that he will ever accept the message but there was a spirit about teaching him yesterday that I have never felt with him before. It was as though walls had come down and he wanted to know. It was the coolest experience that I am going to treasure. It was so cool to see God soften someones heart that much. God is in the details that is for sure.

Other than that not much has really happened. It was Sister Andersons birthday and that was a lot of fun. We had great members help us out in making it so great!

Well what was your miracle this past week?

Love y'all

Sister Pendleton

All in God's hand

Okay so this week has been a great week of miracles that I can't even think of how to express. First off we had 6 investigators at church which increased our congregation by about 15% which is crazy but so exciting. They all have baptismal dates and are reading the Book of Mormon and are just excited to be at church. They are seeing a difference and it is intense. Last week with one of the investigators we fasted for work and this week she has gotten called in for work more. She is getting more work and we are seeing her prayers answer. She is reading and feeling the spirit. Our other investigator Kathryn finished the Book of Mormon and she is teaching her son Calvin who is 11 all about how the Book of Mormon has great strength to help them through anything and can get rid of demons from you. Her desires to smoke has pretty much gone away. She is developing talents and it is so great! Her sister Liza is now taking lessons and she came to church. She loved it but it was long is what she said. Her sister is encouraging though and wants her to love it just as much as she does. Rose is Liza's daughter and she is queitly sitting back and loving it all but doesn't want to admit that she loves it either. Then we had Gloria who we are meeting with and now she wants to be baptized and wants to see her prayers more answered but she is seeing the blessings of God. She want's the spirit with her so much more. Then we have been taking people out with us all hours of the day and God is just placing people all around us helping us and guiding us. He is even prompting members to come out with us! It is so great. I love the Lord. Our mission has changed its focus and we all pray at 630am and at 10 at night for miracles and we are just seeing them left and right. It is so wonderful! I love Him so much. I don't think that I have seen so much progression ever. 

I don't even know what miracle was the greatest this week but there were so many and I always feel a greater increase of Faith when I look back and see God's hand throughout the day. He loves us and keeps us safe and I love the prayers that you say for us. That is what keeps me going I know. 

Sister Anderson has had a rough week because she injured her knee all because I wanted to run up a mountain and well yeah. It was a little too much for her I guess. But it was fun to run up the mountain and I am so excited when I can do that again!!! 

Well here are some pictures I hope you enjoy them!

What miracles did you see in your life this week???

Sister Pendleton
 

Last picture was when it rained!!!!!!!!!!! We loved it! Our member actually caught us dancing and playing in it :) She thought it was funny.

Past Halloween

Well I have so much to tell everyone but by the time I get to emailing I always forget what to talk about. Just so you all know our investigators are amazing! I love them a lot. They are showing greater faith than I have ever seen. It inspires me. We have a ward who support us and help us out weekly. I have never been so happy before. Despite the ups and downs. I love this place. I am going to have to work a little harder in doing better and strengthening my faith.

 

So really my life is interesting. Our zone isn't very unified at all. It is aweful yet I love it. We are the only two sisters in the zone and it has 14 elders. Sometimes they forget that we are there and they are a little too boyish and then other times It is very interesting in the fact that the only reason that they are even kind to each other is because we are there. Me and my comp have noticed that we are like the glue that holds them together. They have been having a hard time with becoming number chasing people. I think that what it really comes down to is that they forget the reason why they come out to serve a mission. We record the number of lessons we teach we record the number of people we are teaching so we are accountable for our time and to the Lord and if we begin to struggle the people around us are better able to understand that we are struggling with the work and fix the wound before the infection spreads. I have watched as one Elder complained about how the numbers are not representing people at all and people only care about numbers to the point of division in our zone which was getting almost detrimental. As a result they are all struggling with finding people to teach which means they are not happpy all because one person was leading everyone astray. It reminds me of Amalakiah who lead so many people astray and caused a split. Me and my companion work hard and accomplish a lot and it is because we know that we are serving God and that these are people out there that need Him in their lives. That God wants us to teach multiple people. He has told us that the field is White already to harvest. That there is great work to be done. We just need to do it. I am seeing the power of just one person who can gain such followers who aren't following God causing a lack of faith and happiness. I have to stop and think of the times throughout my life that I have lead others astray and have to think about what I say. I don't wnat to be that person ever. I hope you all feel the same way.

 

Well that is it fore the day! Love you all! What are the miracles of the week??? Ours is that we were able to teach in a members home 2 times!!! It was the best thing ever!

 

SIster Pendleton

Halloween......

Hey Fam and Friends!

 

So yes I was able to receive a package and thank you for it. I am not mad that you used my favorite shirt. I am totally okay with it actually. I laughed really hard though when I found out that it was one of my favorite shirts though :) It was great. So I need prayers from you all please :) Thanks!

 

This past week has been a crazy good roller coaster of a week. We went on exchanges with 3 different sets of sisters and they are all so great! I love them so much. One was from the phillipines and she reminded me of the family that I taught in Cerritos. I miss them a lot.

 

Last night I had a dream that I was going on another mission but I was going to be missing another 2 Christmas's in a row and it meant another 3 years before seeing my family and friends...I was in a panic and said that I would have to decline the mission. I needed to see the family and be there. SO I don't know what that means but....yeah that is what I have to share.

 

Yesterday in church in Sunday School we had a member who was a friend of the investigator there and God knew that she needed to be there. We talked about tithing and Fast offerings. Our investigator is a single mom and she was trying to figure out how she was going to afford it whenn our member ended the class on explaining how she was able to get help from the church and that even though they gave her more that she gave back in return she still paid her tithing and it all worked out when she was a single mom. It was perfect. Our investigator was so relieved and it was just perfect. I couldn't even believe it. So all you members remember how important your testimony is to those who are searching for truth.

 

I love and miss all of you!

 

Sister Pendleton

BEST WEEK EVER!

SO this past week has been soooooo good! We had som great lessons with our investigators and they are progressing so well! Lori and Kathryn came to church iwth their children. We walked with Lori to church and her son is just so adorable! I can't even tell you how great God has been to us this week...the sad thing is  is that I can't even begin to think of how to tell you everything in just a short time. I have done a lot of personal responses so sorry this might be short.

SO we taught the word of wisdom and it turns out that one of our investigators have a major issue with it but it was so cool becuase as we talked with them about it they told us that they knew that this would be brought up and that they felt prepared. It was SOOOO cool! God is really ready for them to come to his flock and they are so receptive to the spirit! I couldn't even believe it! I was so impressed! I love Heavenly Father so much! Then we had another lesson with new investigators that have just been going so well. The spirit has been so strong lately!

 

Today we went on a hike and that is why I am emailing so late it was the best thing of my life lately!

Sister Anderson is o cute! Here is a picture of us at the water tower we hiked to.

 

SO something that I am learning is just how involved God is in all of our lives. I thought that I would be leaveing Whittier this transfer but because I haven't I am seeing so many miracles come about meeting just the right people at just the right time and it all feels so great! Not that that wouldn't happen other wise but I know that God has me here still for a greater reason and I feel Him remind me of that constantly. I know that where everyone is right now is where God wants us to be and if you don't feel that way then you should probably figure out where you should be at instead...He wants to let you know!

 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all the support that you give me. For the emails and letters as well! Love you

 

Sister Pendleton

Transfers once again!

So question for all of you....why do we support halloween??? Why do we put up scary decorations supporting it when we clearly want to stay away from the devil! I was talking with a members neighbor who will become mormon when our member decides to do more missionary work because well I just feel that in my heart and it is a great opportunity for the member :) but he is a devout christian from Russia and he was talking with us the other day and he asked us why his neighbor was in support of something so demonic...well I couldn't answer him because I actually felt that he was right. But I just don'g know why. I wouldn't want God to come visit me on halloween because that wouldn't be the most spiritual time I would ever be. anyways food for thought!

So Mark was confirmed and well he came in all white which was awesome! It was cool.

Oh are you all wondering where I am going for the next 7 weeks (this transfer will be for 7 weeks then we will go back to 6 weeks again) Well this transfer I will once again stay in the Pickering ward! Hahaha it is so exciting! Although so many of the ward members came up to me and were like are you okay staying for another transfer....well just to let you all know I love this ward and at times I feel like I am just ready to find something else...but then I think of the family that I just adopted and the investigators that we are teaching and all the people that I would have to say goodbye to and it is just sad! So really the benefits of staying clearly outweigh leaving. AND I am getting an amazing companion named Sister Anderson. I cant even tell you how excited I am about it!!!! She is such a sweet girl!

Okay also mom your email was so criptic....just so you know...

Well this investigator that we are teaching came to church with her children this week and she was glowing as she walked out it was so great!!!! She loves the gospel and she is overcoming all her barrirors and every time she has questions or gets antied she just asks us and researches and pays attention to the spirit and she over comes it! I love the gospel and GOd a lot!

No super funny stories this week but we have laughed a lot though. We stopped playing the game but not because of the flirty contacts that I was getting I haven't had one of those for the past week! I am super excited, restoring my faith in contacting.

Well I have been learning a lot...tender mercy of the Lord this past week was the opportunity to meet with the family that I just adopted...don't worry not a replacement family it is just a more the marriere type of family!!! Yep so great!!!

Love you all! SOrry about the spelling errors I just don't have the time!

SIster Pendleton

What do you know...a cold...achoo

Yep this past week one of the sisters decided to share with me her lovely cold. I think I am going to have to explain to her that Charity for others is when you share happy things not things that will cause misery...I hate sneezing and blowing noses. I don't think I have had the classic cold in years...but will get over it soon I am sure!

 

Well I have so many stories and short on time! So I will share with you that Mark got baptized! That was so great! So simple and perfect. Great spirit about it.

 

I don't know if I told you before but my comps and I have a contacting game so that they are more motivated to talk with people. Well for every contact we get 1 pt then for every referral we get 3 then if we get a return appt we get 5 and then if we get a new investigator it is 10 pts well if we contact someone and they flirt with you you get -5 pts and if the bible bash it is -3 pts. WEll last week after emailing you all There was such a nice guy who came up to me and asked me hold old I was...I told him and then he asked me to guess how old was so I weezled out of it cause I hate that question he told me he was 43 then he proceeded to ask me to be his boyfriend...(he was special needs) So I try to politely tell him no...well the whole computer place went dead silent! DEAD SILENT and everyone was trying not to laugh at the whole situation...where were my companions!!!! Not standing next to me! So I told him I was a missionary and couldn't date people. He then was very persistant and asked me why not...it was a bad ordeal...if that wasn't enough then a sane OLD man being snarky asked me what church I was from and asked if he could be my boyfriend...Hewas like 60....I couldn't believe this -10pts right there and it was only p-day! I lost the game that week all because of these two men who couldn't keep their mouths shut...good thing I still care more about peoples salvation than anythings else so I still talk with everyone!

 

Love you all

1SIster Pendleton