Back to my Roots!

Okay, I'm just going to warn you this email might be long BUT IT WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE WEEK!!!!!

Before I get into things- the mission office has asked that all packages and letters be sent directly to our apartment. So just in case you are wanting to send any fun letters or packages my address is

Hermana Kensington Kent

2263 casa verano Way apt 201

Kissimmee Florida 34744

Okay so this week.

Tuesday was pretty crazy. We had a really long meeting trying to figure out area boundaries and stuff. Then lots of other crazy stuff happened. We saved a turtle that had gone into the middle of the road.

Then later we saved another. And then another. I have never seen so many turtles in my life.haha.

Thursday. We had ZTM and it was amazing. I love this Zone. They are hitting really hard on obedience this transfer. I LOVE obedience. That probably sounds cliche but I do. There is a joy in being obedient.

That night as we were driving to our English class we got stopped at a stoplight and there were a TON of police officers. We didn't know what was going on until we saw a hearse with a bunch of flags and even more police officers. I don't know if any of you heard, but a Kissimmee cop was killed last week really close to where we actually were. It was pretty emotional to see all the police officers escorting everyone to the cemetery. One last service.

For English class we had a party. We had Arepas (a Venezuelan food), root beer floats, a Mexican stir fry, and cookies. It was so fun!! We actually found new investigators from it and everyone had a good time.  Although Spanish people don't like root beer floats. Haha.

Friday: WE GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!! Man I miss the temple. To all of you who are able, GO TO THE TEMPLE! Whether that is to do baptisms or the other ordinances. Please go!!! Don't take for granted the blessing of having so many temples so close. We had to wake up super early but I didn't even care. It was the first time Hermana Banks has seen the Orlando temple and so it was fun to see her get so excited. I love seeing all my missionary friends in white. It is the closest thing to seeing heaven! It was fun to drive through my first area which I miss a lot! But guess what!! I GOT TO BACK THIS WEEK!!! Friday night we got a call from the Windy Ridge sisters informing me that one of my former investigators Jimena and Akemi were getting baptized! I was so excited!!!! So that brings me to Sunday.

I was so excited all day. When we got to the church I pretty much ran inside. I will admit, I was a little fearful people wouldn't really remember me. Well, that was not the case. Everyone was there and was so excited! Jimena and akemi looked so happy to finally be baptized.

Quick story- I started teaching them back in February. They moved here from Peru and were living with their cousin who is a member. They have wanted to get baptized for a very long time but couldn't get permission from the dad who was still in Peru. So we prayed and prayed that his heart would be softened. Well they want back for a little and his heart had changed. He was all for them being baptized and he himself is now investigating! They were so happy. I cried tears of joy because I knew how badly they wanted this.

I got to see Patricia, Douglas, Armando and Alejandro. Don't worry. We all were crying. I miss them so much!!!!

I love this work. SO MUCH!!!! Nothing brings me greater joy or happiness! I hit 10 months this week which means I've only got 8 left.

Time is just getting faster and faster and it's not okay. So if anyone knows of a way I can reverse time I would really appreciate the advice.

I love you all so much and pray that all is well!

Con amor,

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

English class fiesta

Jimena, Akemi, and their husband/dad after their baptism

My family here in Florida - Patricia, Douglas, Armando & Baby Alejandro

We got pizza and the pizza lady wants to meet with the missionaries

Got to see my recent convert Samuel

Temple

Temple

ZTM

The Mystery of the Mat

I want to begin by saying I freakin love my companions! Normal trios suck but we are having so much fun! Hermana Banks is in her second transfer of training but you wouldn't know it because she is such a good missionary. Hermana Klein has been out for just over a year and we are the same person. All three of us are from the promised land of Davis County. We have been having a lot of fun talking about all these inside Davis county jokes, restaurants and other stuff that no one else understands. It's been really fun. We laugh all the time. This area is really awesome. I am serving in a branch which has 3 other companionships of missionaries. Elder Parker Zollinger from good ole b-town shares the ward so it's been fun seeing him all the time.

Another crazy story (which is where my subject comes from) is literally about our doormat. We don't have one. But we walked out of our apartment Saturday morning to go running and there was a bright green door mat. We were so confused. The next morning we walked out and it was turned sideways. This morning we walked out and it was a completely different door mat. It literally happens between 9:30 at night and 6:30 in the morning. I think it's hilarious. Slightly creepy. But hilarious.

On a more spiritual note. I read this talk this week that changed my life. It's called Missionary work and the Atonement by Elder Holland.  Funny story- my mom sent me this talk to read a few days AFTER I found it. It definitely answered some prayers. Here is a small section of the talk I'd like to share.

"I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."

I feel like this can be applied to more than just missionary work.  This is just life. Life is hard. I love the part where it says, "How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?" We all have to walk through Gethsemane and onto Calvary. The only difference is we don't have to do it alone. Christ has walked that road before and He does it again, and again with each and everyone of us as many times as we need Him to. I am grateful for my Savior. I am grateful for the chance I have had and continue to have serving Him. Nothing brings me more joy than placing His name on my heart each morning. I know this church is true. I Love this mission and I Love Florida.

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

On our way to transfers.  We were pretty sad

Saying goodbye to my trainer, Hermana Brown
who finished her mission.

After 4 months of writing, I finally got to
meet Hermana Wade!

Some of the Hermanas at transfers!

Ice cream at Abracadabra
(Ice cream made from liquid nitrogen).

Mystery of the Mat - Day 1

Mystery of the Mat - Day 2

Mystery of the Mat - Day 3

Trio flavored ice cream... get it?

Buena Ventura Branch Missionaries

Farewell Semoran

Yep that's right! I am getting transferred! Hermana Christensen and I were not expecting this at all. We thought we were staying for another but I am going to Branch called Buena Ventura to a trio with Hermana Klein and Hermana Banks! I am so excited!!!!! They are both great sisters and I have wanted to serve there my entire mission. It's pretty crazy that I am getting transferred after only two short transfers here in Semoran. I love this area so much. It's always hard to leave, but I am excited for new adventures.

Well besides transfers this week was pretty chill. We spent the whole week knocking doors and nothing came from it..... until Friday. From Friday to Sunday we found 8 SOLID people. It was really cool. I love teaching families more than anything.

I finished the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time on my mission. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I know I have said this many many times in my group emails, but it is because I mean it. I have such a strong testimony of it. I know the Book of Mormon is true!!!

I know this is a common scripture but it has such power behind it.

Ether 12:27

"27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I am about to begin my 8/13 transfer. In a short 8 months I will no longer be living the incredibly blessed life of a missionary. Never before have my weakness been made so known to me. And yet, I have become so much stronger. I love this scripture and it hit me really hard this week.

I hope you all have a blessed week and last little bit of summer. I love you all!

Con Amor,

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Elder Nelson is an elder in our zone who has legit, been waiting for his
Christmas package for 8 months.  We were at the mission office and
were able to take it to him.  We were pretty pumped!

Last 9:00 Stake n' Shake run

A darling member from Semoran that LOVES missionaries

We went and walked around Pulse today.  It was really cool

District Photo

My family (sister-Hermana Bond; niece-Hermana Andrus; mom-Hermana Brown

Orlando Zone

Orlando Sisters

What Matters Most

We had a really cool week here in good ole Semoran. We lost almost all of our teaching pool....... but I promise it isn't as sad as it sounds. That just means we have more time to find "los escogidos"- the chosen. And boy did we this week! We set a goal to find some good families. Well, like the good book says, knock and ye shall receive. We founds lots of really cool families. We really focused on teaching the Plan of Salvation.  We knocked this one door and this Puerto Rican lady named Jennifer opened up. She wasn't super interested at first and was very standoffish. Well I gave her my fav pass a long card with the SL temple on the front and the life questions on the back and showed her the question- can families be together forever and said that we answer this question. I then asked if they had someone close to them who had passed away. Her and her daughter both started crying. Her ex-husband and father of the daughter died 2 yrs ago and the daughter is still struggling with it. We told her we can tell her exactly where her dad is and she then opened up the door and invited us in. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the mom cried through the entire thing. It was really cool. 

In church yesterday a member bore their testimony on spending time on what you value. She said "What we value is shown by how we use our time. If we value the scriptures, we read them. If we value our calling, we do it, if we value our families we spend time with them." I LOVED this. Before the mission I wasted so much time in things I didn't really value such as Facebook, Pinterest, Netflix, etc. If their is one thing I have learned, it is that there is so much more to life than those things and there are a billion ways I can better spend my time. 

 This is the last week of the transfer and Hermana Christensen and I are going to finish strong! I love Florida. Even the heat and humidity. There is no where I'd rather be!

 

Con mucho amor,

 

Hermana Kent

 

Exchanges with my sister, Hermana Bond.
We were both trained by Hermana Brown

Selfie

Storm rolling in as we rolled out to work

 

My Feet Are on Fire

This week flew. I literally don't even know what happened. 
Monday night I stepped on a red ant hill so that was fun. My feet were on fire!!! I ended up with 17 ant bites. Haha. All part of the experience. 

We had a lesson with Andres (nephew of a recent convert in our ward visiting from Spain) on Wednesday. We legit walked in Planning to teach him English and as soon as we sat down he asked "what do I need to do to be baptized. I would like to be baptized before I go back to Spain in October." WHAT THE WHAT?! Who does that?! When does that happen! Oh that's right, NEVER. We are ecstatic. He is going out of town the next two weeks but we planned on doing Facebook lessons. He is so awesome. 

This week in District Meeting we talked a lot about Repentance. I have really come to learn the joy of repenting. I used to think of repentance of something you did when you did something bad. But I have learned that is not the case. Repenting is the act of changing for the better. You don't need to have done something awful to repent. None of us are perfect and always have room for improvement and repentance is the way to do that. 

Alma 22:16
16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

I hope you all have a blessed week! 

☀️Hermana Kent☀️

Selfies waiting for dinner to shop up at a restaurant

Stepped in an ant hill.  17 ant bites

Watching some children during our
ward missionary activity

In a land where nothing ever dries, the sidewalk is green