Sure and Certain

HELLO FRIENDS. I was right last week. It feels like I just sent out the last weekly update like 2 days ago. Tomorrow marks a month since the day I left Brentwood. That´s crazy to think. We´re watching a broadcast that changes some stuff about the daily schedule later that everyone else has already seen so I´m pumped for that. 

It´s been more of the same here this last week with not a whole lot of exciting things happening. I chose the song by Jimmy Eat World because I can always count on the schedule looking almost the exact same every day. To be honest it´s getting a little old and I really can´t wait to get out in the mission field. Before I left my twitter bio read "Underprepared and overconfident" and I don´t think that´s ever applied more in my life than it does now. I´m gonna go out and talk to people in terrible Spanish and just hope they understand me. It´s gonna be great hahaha.

One of my favorite teachers here came back this week, Hemano Grilo. He´s the sickest guy ever. He was invited to play for Benfica (professional soccer team in Portugal) a few years back, but he turned it down so he could serve a mission. He hasn´t played soccer on a team for like 3 years now, but he´s still insanely good. Like one of the best I´ve ever played with. I can´t imagine what he was like 3 years ago.

We went to the mall last week for P-Day and it mostly consisted of my companion and I running around trying to find things that we had little or no hope of finding. We did manage to find a Taco Bell though. I was pretty disappointed with the quality of my quesarito. Taco Bell in the states is definitely a hundred times better.

I don´t have any pictures this week, but I got to see my cousin that´s serving in the field in Madrid yesterday during sports time. She´ll probably have a picture to send in her next update so stay tuned for that. Well, that´s all I got for this week. I´ll talk to you all in another 7 days!

-Elder Penner

P.S. I apologize if there are typos in my updates, but I really don´t have time to go back and proofread so sorry :)

Roller Coaster

Wow I can barely believe it´s already been another week. Much like the song by Bleachers, it´s been a real rollercoaster. The longer I´m here in the CCM, the faster time seems to move. I keep hearing that the mission field is even better so I´m glad that time is moving so fast now.

It was another week full of Spanish classes and such. It´s a little insane how much they expect us to try and learn on our own, but I´ve been keeping up fairly well so far. Learning foreign languages is hard folks, but don´t get me wrong, I know it´s gonna be worth it. A ton of people here speak like 3 or 4 different languages. I really don´t know how they do it. I think I´m just gonna be content with Spanish once I actually get the hang of it.

The art museum we went to last week was pretty cool, but if you know me, I get bored really fast in those kinds of things. I´m the guy who took a nap inside the Louvre instead of looking at all the art when I went to France a year and a half ago. To be fair, I was jetlagged pretty bad though. It was great to finally get out and see more of the City though since the CCM is in the suburbs. I seriously love Europe so much I can´t tell you how glad I am to be here.

I think something changed with the church´s policy on tablets in Salt Lake so we can use them in the CCM now! It honestly doesn´t change a whole lot though since we still can´t use them for anything besides like mormon messages for lessons. Still can´t take pictures here except for outside on P-Day. I´ll try to get a picture of where we play soccer sometime this week.

The Portuguese Elders and sister went off to Portugal at the beginning of this week so that means we got a whole bunch of new missionaries on Tuesday. They´re all foreigners that don´t speak much English. Mostly Spanish speakers so I hope that will help all of the Americans here with learning the language.

I think that´s about all I´ve got for this week. If time keeps moving at this rate, then I´ll be here again emailing in what feels like two days and I´ll be home in a few months. Hasta Luego!

-Elder Penner

Pictures: 

1. With the Portuguese-speaking Elders and Sister

2. Some cool street in Madrid (Have no idea what it actaully is tbh

Hurry, Hurry

It´s been a pretty frantic week. I chose the song Hurry, Hurry by Air Traffic Controller this week becuase it kinda describes what life in the CCM (MTC) is like. Running around trying to get everything done is hard when you´re one of the most forgetful people on the planet. If there was a Spanish version of the song then it would be perfect. This hour of emailing they give me each week might just be the most stressful part of being here.

This week wasn´t super eventful to be honest. It was mostly just Spanish classes and workshops along with trying to teach a teacher acting as an investigator the lessons in broken Spanish. Lucky for me, my companion and I seem to be a bit better off as far as the language goes compared to other missionaries.

My birthday was this last Sunday and I honestly didn´t even realize it until like 3 hours after I had woken up because I´m so focused on all the stuff we have going on here. I gave a talk in our little sacrament meeting and a couple teachers gave me candy bars and such. We had a small party in the dorm with my roommates with the party supplies my parents sent (shoutout to them for that hahaha). At lunch, one of the sisters saw a few members from the cast of Studio C (A show with Mormon SNL skits like Scott Sterling for all you non-Mormon recipients) taking pictures in front of the temple. A bunch of other elders and I ran down and chatted with them for a bit and got a picture with them.

Yesterday Elder Farmer thought it was a good idea to give other missionaries haircuts. He started with Elder Ricks and it turned out pretty well to be fair, But Elder Malone was a different story. The battery powered clippers started to die in the middle of his haircut. By the time they completely died, his hair looked atrocious. He still managed to clean it up fairly nicely for what it was before. Needless to say, I think I´m just gonna have one of the teachers cut my hair when it´s time.

It´s the Portuguese-speaking Elders last week here at the CCM so they came in and we exchanged ties yesterday. I got a few pretty good ones. I´m really gonna miss those guys. They´re all hilarious even if I can´t tell what they´re saying most of the time, and playing soccer with them is the most fun I´ve had playing the game in a long time.

´We´re going to an art museum later today so it´ll be our first time going into the actual city of Madrid since the CCM is in the suburbs. Can´t wait for that.

Hope all is well back in the States! Until next week,

-Elder Penner

I took some pictures this week so here are a few:

1. View of the Madrid temple from the stairwell of the CCM

2. With part of the cast from Studio C

3. The Elders in my district

4. My companion, Elder Ward and I

Kids Aren't Safe In the Metro

Hello everyone! It´s been a crazy week and I´m super pumped to tell you guys everything about it.

I decided to adopt my older brother´s tradition of making song titles the subject of my weekly updates because it´s brilliant and I can´t actually listen to the songs here so it´s the next best thing. This week I chose the song by Satellite Stories because of the events that transpired on the metro that I´ll get to later in this email.

This week has been the slowest week but also the fastest week of my life. The few hours between meals studying Spanish and other things here in the MTC feel like entire days. It´s exhausting but looking back, I feel like it´s crazy that it´s already been a week. I hope that makes sense hahaha. We´ve been learning basics and stuff in Spanish this week and my companion Elder Ward and I have already taught several practice lessons in Spanish. It´s a little frustrating knowing what I want to say during lessons, but not being able to put it into Spanish. But that´s the reason I´m here so I can´t complain too much. After all, I´ve only been here a week.

The first couple of days here were a bit rough since my luggage got delayed in Paris. The MTC president had to lend me some clothes that had been left here by previous missionaries so it wasn´t too bad. Once my bags finally got here a day and a half after, I didn´t really get the chance to unpack so I´ve just been unpacking a little bit at a time whenever I get some freetime which is rare.

My favorite part of the day is probably sports time. I´ve played soccer every time because, well, what else would I possibly want to do with my time? Whenever my district gets paired up with the Portuguese speaking district I know it´ll be a great time. Some of the Elders from Brazil are so increadibly good. Elder Burt (one of the elders in my district) and I are the only Americans that actually play soccer here, but almost all the elders and some of the sisters play every day. There are two court-like fields here close to the MTC that they have nicknames for: The Pit, and The Cage. To me, they sound more like torture chambers than places where you go to play soccer. Playing soccer in Europe is unlike anything in America. Sometimes there will be Spaniards there that we play with as well.

Each Saturday, all the missionaries go to the park and try to find people to teach or make contacts. We all got bundled up this Saturday and got right to it. May I just say: Missionary work is hard. It´s even harder when you barely speak the native language. I know it was my first real experience and all but it made me realize just how discouraging it can be. My temporary park companion (we get a different one each week) and I managed to talk to a few people using mostly English. On the way back to the MTC on the metro, we were proselyting on the train. When we got off at the stop for the MTC, we looked back and as the doors were closing saw two elders that were still on the train (told you I´d explain the subject). They ended up getting back to the MTC okay so no harm done, but we´ve been poking fun at them for the last couples days for it.

Well I love you all and I hope your guys´ weeks have been even half as good as mine has!

- Elder Penner

Each Sunday the missionaries at the Madrid CCM sing on the temple steps, I was able to get a video of this.  Cameron is in the middle row, in the middle.  There is a picture below that is clearer. 

I Made It

Hey, it´s you´re favorite missionary coming at you from the Madrid MTC in Spain. I made it safe and sound, but unfortunately my luggage was delayed in France, so the airport is delivering it tomorrow morning. Had to stand in a line for two hours at the airport after we landed to try and sort it out. I´m just glad I got it figured out.

I´ve only been here a matter of hours and I already love it. All of the missionaries I´m entering the MTC with are great. The weather feels almost exactly the same as Brentwood at the moment. I can´t wait to learn with all these great people here. I met the MTC president, President Packer, just now and let him know that Westover says hi. He seems like a top quality guy much like President Westover. They told me to sit down and write my family real quick to let you guys know I´m alive and whatnot. Personally I thought it would be more fun to leave you in suspense, but I guess this will do. I won´t be able to write again until the following P-Day so it´ll be a little while before you hear from me again. 

This day seems to be never ending although I guess technically it´s two days. Anyways I´m tired and can´t wait to get started. I´ll talk to you guys soon!

Elder Penner (Still feels weird saying that)

Called to Serve in Madrid Spain

Hey everyone, 

Just to be clear...this is Cameron's mom and I will be updating his blog for the next two years.  I hope to share his mission with you, and also keep a journal of letters and pictures that I can print at the end of his mission.  I'm starting this blog with the talk he gave in our ward before he left on his mission.  He's a great son and I love this missionary.  

Hello, I'm Cameron Penner and in about a week I'm flying off to Madrid to serve a mission. I really couldn't be more excited. I was asked to speak on spreading the light of the gospel to the world. In the month of december, the church has been promoting the Light the World campaign for the Christmas season. On mormon.org...

"In an increasingly dark world, we can be a bright light to those around us and a shining example of Christlike love.”

“Opportunities to shine surround us each day,” President Thomas S. Monson teaches. “As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others, whether they be our own family members and friends, our co-workers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers.”

When I think of the best examples of people that show Christlike love in my life, a few people come to mind. Firstly, my parents who I've gotta say did a phenomenal job raising me as well as the rest of my brothers. I don't say it nearly enough but I'm truly thankful for them and what they've taught me as ive grown up. Im not entirely sure how, but they really make the whole ‘having six boys’ thing look easy. Another person that comes to my mind is my Grandma Penner. She was without a doubt the most kind and selfless person I have ever known. She was always looking to help people and never turned down the opportunity to serve others. I honestly don't think the word no was in her vocabulary when it came with to lending a helping hand. She always had a positive mindset as well. She taught me to always service and I'll always be grateful for that.  I miss her a lot but know she's up there proud of my decision to serve the Lord.

It then goes on to say on mormon.org, This holiday season, follow the Savior’s example and look for ways to be a light to those around you. As you do so, the light you share will reflect back and brighten your own life.

Join us in December and let your light shine in 25 ways for 25 days."

It then lists the dates of December 1 through 25 with a small way someone can emulate Christ and spread his love for each day. The first day is a worldwide day of service and encourages those participating to perform an act of service, big or small. It could be something as simple as holding a door for someone or helping with the dishes. The other short tasks are really simple too and they are all in the same format. They say something like 'Jesus did this thing and so can you' and proceeds to list an example of how you can. For example on the 3rd of December it says "Jesus helped others see and so can you" and the example is pointing out a virtue you see in someone else that they might not be aware of. The act of service on the 7th is to donate food to a food bank to emulate Christ because he fed the hungry. The campaign as a whole is designed to just make the world a little bit better than it is now and Christmas, the season of giving, is the perfect time to do that. I remember going on social media on the day that the challenge was for everyone to share a scripture and seeing so many different friends and family posting their favorite scriptures. Claire Ashcroft just to pick on her a little bit posted I think 4 different scriptures because she couldn't possibly pick just one. It was really refreshing and warmed my heart to see the words of prophets and the Lord on Facebook and Twitter for the day


I'd like to compare this campaign to my mission. The goal of missionary work and Light The World are really similar. They both aim to spread the light of the gospel. As I prepare to leave I now realize this more than ever. In the story of Christ’s birth in the bible, angels appear to shepherds tending their flocks and say to them “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” I'll be doing the same thing on my mission by delivering the message of the gospel to those that need to hear it.

 My brother Jordan is currently serving his mission in Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. I can learn a lot from him and I'm really grateful for the example he has set. The scripture that he chose for his plaque is one of my favorites and applies to this spreading the light concept perfectly. It's d&c 50 24-25 and it says " 24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
 25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;" it'll be my duty as a missionary to receive God's light and broadcast it to the rest of the world. I know Jordans done an excellent job at doing this and has touched the lives of many.

A couple months ago I was studying in preach my gospel and came across a series of questions. It says to Take a few moments and think about your final day in the mission field. When that day comes:

What do you want to say you have done as a missionary?
At that point I wasn't thinking about a lot about this and more of what I was going to do while in the field. It really helped me to see it in a different way. As I was pondering my answer one of my favorite talks, We are All enlisted, by Elder Holland came to my mind. In it, he says

“This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked.

So we have a dilemma tonight, you and I. It is that there are thousands of Aaronic Priesthood–age young men already on the records of this Church who constitute our pool of candidates for future missionary service. But the challenge is to have those deacons, teachers, and priests stay active enough and worthy enough to be ordained elders and serve as missionaries. So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work.”

So going back to that first question: What do i want to say as ive done as a missionary? I took Elder Holland’s sports analogy and formed an answer. I realized that I want to do All that I can. I want to be able to say that I left it all out in the field. That throughout the duration of the game, through the highs and lows, that i always gave 100%. That I couldn't have done any more than I did. The biggest thing for me is I don't want to come back with any sort of regret.

The second question asks What do you want to have become?
Almost instantly i thought that i simply wanted to be stronger in the gospel. Yes the mission is all about teaching others but that in no way stops you from learning more about yourself and strengthening your own testimony. The way I like to look at my mission is seeing all the potential I have to change the lives of many by spreading the light of the gospel to them, but as the great philosopher Brother Stone once said “potential means you haven't done anything yet.” So in preparing to leave, I've done my best to ensure that I can live up to all of this potential and accomplish all that I am able to.

The last question is What differences would you want others to notice in you?
I want others to be able to tell that I served a mission just by looking at me. There are a lot of RMs that I know that are like that like Matt Moser or Jeremiah poti for example. And this is in no way a bad thing. There was just a certain light about them that was and still is noticeable to all. Both of them seemed to be happier in general when they got back. Missionaries leave and come back as the same person, just upgraded I guess is the best way to put it

I really can't wait to serve the people of Madrid and have the time of my life while I'm out. I’d like to close by bearing my testimony...

(He spoke from the heart at this point, and I do have it recorded but I won't be typing it here.  I hope that you will follow this blog and read his testimony as he shares it throughout his mission.)

Here are some pictures before he left...