What? 5 months?!

This week we did a lot of working with members. Our stake president has asked all the missionaries in the stake to deliver a Book of Mormon to each member and help them to think of a way to give it to someone. It has been really cool hearing testimonies of the Book of Mormon and helping the members share something so special to us with their friends.

Tuesday there was some misunderstanding with our dinner appointment and we ended up showing up an hour and half earlier than they had planned. The member went into a panic and was really upset. We immediately went and began helping her cook dinner and clean her house. It actually ended up being a really cool dinner. Her husband is not a member and does not like the missionaries. But he was impressed with how kind and helpful we were that they actually started talking with us. By the end of the dinner he was asking when we were coming back. This member said that she does not like feeding missionaries because it always stresses her out, but we were able to completely change her perspective and relationship with missionaries.

Friday was so amazing! We went to contact a referral named Wally. He was in the parking lot when we got there and immediately recognized us. He told us, "I don't know how I did because you were too far away to see the name tag but as soon as I saw you, I knew you were here to bring me the truth. You have something different about you. I don't know what it is, but I want it." He is seriously so cool. He has heard of the Book of Mormon his entire life, but never seen one. When we gave him one he just hugged it to his chest. He is the most humble man. He, his wife, and darling Disney obsessed daughter moved here from Puerto Rico a few years ago. After our lesson with Mario we did some tracting in his complex. After a little bit of that we saw a Blood donation bus and Hermana Guerrero and I thought, What the heck, all of our service projects got canceled this week. So we checked the white handbook and then gave blood. It was actually really cool. We all the people donating were Spanish speaking so we shared messages about Jesus Christ while we were laying giving blood. We saved lives and souls. Boom. Missionary work. After our blood adventure we went to a members house for a Pizza/movie night. Okay don't freak out. It is not what you think. Her nonmember cousin is in town from Peru and the member really wanted us to show her the movie "How rare a Possesion".

It is a movie about the Book of Mormon and shares the story of Parley P. Pratt' conversion as well as an Italian man whose name I really can't spell so I am not even going to try. Haha. We then talked to her about the Book of Mormon and told her that she too can have an experience like these men did if she reads with a sincere heart. It was really cool.

Okay, the final miracle. This one made my mouth drop to the Floor. My first day here in Florida i met this amazing woman named Fatima.

Hermana Brown and I taught her and invited her to be baptized several times. She would tell us each time, that she loved this church, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and everything we taught her, but she didn't want to be baptized just yet. So we kept teaching her. A month and a half ago We stopped being able to meet with her. She kinda dropped off the face of the earth. So sadly and with a broken heart, we dropped her from our teaching pool. Then a a week or so ago we got a random text from her asking how we were and if we would come visit her again. So Hermana Guerrero and I went visited her a few times.

Saturday after a solid lesson on repentance we asked her for the third time to be baptized. This time she said yes!!!!! She said she finally feels ready. She is on-date for April 22. I am so happy! This was a testimony builder that all things happen in the Lord's time. NOT ours.

It is definitely warming up here. The humidity is getting worse as are my tan lines. Haha. My hair is whiter than its been since I was 6.

Haha But I LOVE Florida. I love this work with all my heart. I know this Church is true and I know it can bless and change lives. My testimony of Repentance has grown so much. I am so grateful for a Savior who atoned for me and all the many stupid imperfections  I have. Don't underestimate the power of Repentance. Pray to God with all the energy of heart. I love you all so much! I hope you are all doing well. I hope you all have an amazing Conference Weekend and that your prayers are answered.

Love,

Hermana Kent

Armando got new church clothes.  Haha.  Such a stud!

A cute little girl in our ward.  She is obsessed with selfies.

Post blood donation.

New "Gators" and Real Gators

This week was amazing! We started off with Zone conference on Tuesday. One of my favorite things that was said was about the Book of Mormon and how important it is to read it. A sister said, "The man who saw God (Joseph Smith) came to KNOW him by reading the Book of Mormon. I can add my testimony to that. There is so much power behind it. I know I talk about the Book of Mormon every week, but I have such a love for it and a testimony that it is true. 

So after our spiritual feast at Zone conference we had a physical feast. 4 dinners back to back. Before our 3rd dinner we literally prayed that we could make it through this dinner. So. Much. Food. The next day we literally did not eat. We felt too sick. 

Thursday I saw my first alligator! Don't get your hopes up. It was at a restaurant in an enclosure. But I still saw it! We had some time in between appointments so we just walked International Drive (a big tourist street with all the hotels and restaurants) and passed out cards. We talked to so many people from all over the world. We met two guys from Scotland and England. Pretty much my day was made. We met people from Greece, Latvia, Jordan, Tunisia, Brazil, Columbia, and Great Britain. 

Friday we contacted two referrals from other missionaries. The first was Paola from Columbia. She is amazing! First lesson and she is already on date to be Baptized in April. It was such a spiritual lesson. She said that she desires to follow God but is confused by all the different churches. Sound like anyone you know? The other person is Henry. Also from Columbia. He is living in a hotel right now with his wife until they find a place to live. We literally were knocking doors at this very rundown hotel trying to find him because we got an incomplete room number. So yeah. I have knocked doors at a hotel. We found him (miracle) and he is incredible. He was taught by missionaries in Columbia and wants to b baptized as soon as he is settled into a place to live. 

We had to move Francis' baptism date. :( Venezuela is not letting her have some of her paperwork in order to get her marriage license so they can get married. She has incredible faith and knows it will all work out the way it is supposed to. I love her. 

The work is moving here in Windy Ridge. I love being a missionary. It has its hardships but the miracles far out weigh them. I love you all so much! I hope you are all getting pumped for conference! I know I am! 

Love, 

Hermana Kent 

In between dinners 3 & 4.  Feeling like we're going to explode

British friends on International Blvd

Sunday night dessert with a Brazilian family in our ward and the
Portuguese elders.

Ward BBQ

My first Gator!

Life South of the Turnpike

Hola!!! Como estan?!
Life is busy as ever here. Hermana Guerrero and I have been busy this
week teaching and finding.

Francis is ready for Baptsim next week! She is so prepared it's
ridiculous. She just soaks up everything. She gave us 3 referrals of
her friends to teach because she wants everyone to hear this message.
Seriously I love her.

Our district leader challenged us to read the entire Book of Mormon
this transfer. I love it! I am already almost finished with Mosiah. I
highly recommend reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover. There is
nothing more amazing than the Book of Mormon. I was especially struck
with the Story of Abinidi this week. As a missionary, we see a very
small portion of the impact of our efforts. Here was Abinidi who died
preaching and bearing testimony of Jesus Christ. To his knowledge,
nothing came of it. He had converted himself completely to the Lord
and done everything he could to help others do the same. What he
didn't know, was that he converted one man who would in-turn bring
thousands unto Christ. Often times we focus so much on the outward
success that we loose sight of other blessings that come. As long as
we are bearing witness of Jesus Christ we are planting seeds. Always
stand as a witness. Never forget who we represent as members of the
church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. I love this Gospel with
my whole heart. I KNOW that God lives. I KNOW that Jesus is the
Christ.

I love you all so much! Until Next week!

Hermana Kent

Hermana Olsen (one of my favorite sisters) twinning at ZTM

Hermana Shelley, a former missionary of FOM came
to visit Windy Ridge.

Temple service with a less active member

Construction. Prime tracting for future missionaries!

Dinner with a family from Deltona (Hermana Guerrero's last area)

Ice cream on International Drive

Orlando South Zone after ZTM

Transfer, Book of Mormon, and Zena

This week was so insane. We had transfers on Tuesday. Hermana Brown

left for Valencia and we were super sad! My new companion is Hermana
Guerrero from San Diego California! She is really awesome. She is
really bold and outgoing and is really good at talking to people so
we had some crazy contacts this week.

Our District leader issued a challenge this week to read the entire
Book of Mormon this transfer. I am super excited because I LOVE
reading the Book of Mormon. We had a good lesson with our investigator
Auri and her family last night about the Book of Mormon. I will never
get tired of seeing people convert through the Book of Mormon. I know
that it's true. I will give up everything I have to support and sustain
it. My Book of Mormon has become my most prized possession. I am so
excited about this challenge to read it cover to cover in 6 weeks.

Ok, I have to talk about Zena. She is this old Lebanese woman we met
at our mailbox. She speaks 5 languages and speaks them all at once so
it's hard to know what she's saying but it's hilarious.  She hates men
and Americans. Except she likes us. She would outwardly scoff at every
man that walked past us. Also, she has a mouth! She was swearing up
a storm and I was dying I was laughing so hard. We ended up being
best friends and walked her back to her apartment. She is seriously so
funny.

Francis is quickly progressing towards baptism. We are planning a
small wedding for her and her fiancé before she gets baptized on the
25th. She is awesome!! She is so accepting of everything and willing
to do everything she needs to do. She is truly golden.

The work is booming here in Windy Ridge. We have so many families to
teach and not enough time to teach them. We are truly blessed. We have
two other families contemplating a date for baptism, although they
still need some time. Mario was confirmed this week and received the
priesthood! We are planning on going to do baptisms at the temple with
him next week!

I am loving life here in Florida! Thanks for all your support and
love. I hope all is well and that spring is well on its way! The
church is true! I cannot  and will not deny it. We got to watch the
face-to-face event this week and I highly encourage looking it up! It
was amazing.

Have a great week! I love you all!

Hermana Kent

Last few minutes with Hermana Brown

Zena

How we spend P-Day

Weekly planning in the sun!