Complete in Christ

Hello friends and fam!

I hope you are all staying warm! Things are going great here in the FOM! Another transfer has come and gone! This week we started getting back to normal. Kind of. We still did a ton of service though! We got to go back to Cocoa Beach on Saturday. My heart goes out to all those affected by the recent natural disasters.

My spiritual thought is credited to one of my companions. She shared it during companion study but I continued to ponder over it during the week and it really impacted me.

Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be PERFECTED in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be PERFECT in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are PERFECT in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

The word perfect can be defined as being complete. So in fact, we are made COMPLETE in Christ. We all have imperfections. At times we feel like there are pieces missing in our lives. At times we may feel like we are not enough. However, with Christ we are complete. All our imperfections are made perfect, our voids filled, and our inadequacies made whole. God is real. Jesus Christ lives. He is our savior and redeemer. He loves every single one of us. So my invitation to you all is to allow Christ to make you complete. Ultimately it is our decision. He has already paid the debt. It's up to us to allow him to take it.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I'll send some sunshine your way!

Con Amor,

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

The following are excerpts from emails back and forth between Missionary and Mama~~~

Yeah so transfers. I'm going to be a mommy!!!! I'm staying here in Buena Ventura and will be getting a new missionary tomorrow to train:)

So guess what? Everyone from my MTC district is suffering from a natural disaster right now. My companion is in Washington with all the ash from California, the elders are all in Mexico City with the earth quake. CRAZY!

Yeah so the Tukuafus. Funny story. So I guess they went to the English ward right before me and were talking to the missionaries and they told them they were from Bountiful. The missionaries told them that there was a Sister Kent from Bountiful in the Spanish branch. I guess they put it together so after sacrament they came up to me and asked if I was Sister Kent. I was super confused because of course I didn't recognize them. But then they told me they were from my ward and they had moved in just when I had my farewell. It was pretty cool. I asked who the bishop was but they didn't know yet. They texted a bunch of people but no one responded.  I'm excited about the new bishop. Bishop Wilkinson was my mission prep teacher when I left and the bishop when I get home. :) he will be great.

Baby Genesis

Branch Missionaries

The Tukuafus from my home ward

My companions.  Both are being transferred :(

Irma Brings Blessings of Service

Hello friends and fam!

Wow! I am just beat. This week was full of service and I LOVED it. I forgot what it was like to wear a skirt because the entire week was spent in pants, t-shirts, and sneakers. This email could be a mile long if I told you all about all the service I did. Last night we tried to count how many hours of service we did. Guess how many hours.... just guess.... okay I'll tell you. It was 47. 47 HOURS OF SERVICE! That doesn't include all the driving time to get to those places. Here are a few places we went this week to help clean up debris, fallen trees, etc. 

• Give Kids the World (a place for the kids and families to stay that come to Disney from foundations such as make a wish. Super cool. Look it up.)
• A shelter where a bunch of elderly people were staying because their retirement center was completely wrecked. So we just helped out the Red Cross there. 
• Lots and lots of neighborhoods
• Our churches 
• COCOA BEACH

Yes, after nearly 11 months I FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE BEACH!!!! The Cocoa zone is right next to ours and they had a lot of damage so all the missionaries in our zone went over there and helped out all day Saturday and Sunday. We woke up Saturday at 4:30 to be there by 7 to help Brother Müller from Cocoa drove over an each way  to  pick up all the sister missionaries from our zone. The elders drove in the AP van. We worked until 5:30 Saturday and it was truly amazing. I've got lots of battle wounds from the trees, and muscles that I didn't even know existed ache, but it was all 100% worth it to see the joy in people's face and we cleaned up their devastated yards so quickly. After clean up, Brother Müller drove us to the beach so we could see it. Guys. I got some sand. Don't freak out- we got permission. :) 

Sunday we did the same thing. We got to Cocoa by 9 and had sacrament meeting in our service cloths then headed out to clean again. It was a very cool sacrament meeting. We didn't get to take the sacrament last week because that's the day the hurricane hit so I was pretty excited. That was just the spiritual boost I needed to hit the rest of the day hard.  Our service group was a bunch of people that work on the Church ranch (one family being the CEO of the ranch). It was so cool. I tell you, those people know how to work. We had a good time. 

One more really cool experience that I feel like sums up how incredible this week was. Friday we were looking for places to serve. There was a neighborhood that we had been working in that was...  well.....  now a Lake. It had been flooded pretty bad and tons of huge trees were down. We had done several yards already and were looking for more. So my companions and I drove way far in scouting out places to go before all the other missionaries got there. We passed several yards that needed help but we felt like we needed to keep going. At the end of this very long road we found an older man standing outside and looking at his 5 acre yard. We got out of our car and asked if we could help him. At first he just kind of looked at us. Then he said "well, if you want to.." we told him that about 12 more people were on their way including some men. We talked for a minute longer then got to work. He is the sweetest man. He grew up on a farm in Georgia and has all that southern charm. He had spent the weekend of the hurricane at his fathers funeral and had just arrived home  to see his house for the first time when we pulled up. He didn't even know where to start or how he could do all of it. We spent the next 3 hours cleaning up his yard and by the time we finished, had cleaned up everything that wasn't flooded. He couldn't believe it. He liked the sisters better then the elders. He said we worked harder. Haha. There were tears in his eyes as he expressed sincere gratitude for helping. We came to find out that he loves books about American history. We can hardly wait to go back and give him the worlds greatest American History Book (Book of Mormon). 

Ironically this week my reading in the Book of Mormon was in Mosiah. In Mosiah 2:17 is says "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." That pretty much sums up the week. I have never felt more love for the people here in Florida or love my savior and my Heavenly Father than serving so much this week. So go do some service  this week! I promise you will feel all the warm fuzzies. :)

Con mucho amor,

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Cleaning Andy's yard

Hunters Creek missionaries heading out to serve in Cocoa Beach

First time seeing the ocean in Florida

Flooded street

I caught a frog

Finally got to do the classic "name tag at the beach"

Tree clean-up

Knock, Knock (email sent 9/9/17)

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Irma

Irma who?

Irma-gosh we got special permission to tell our parents we are okay. 

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

So yeah. I'm doing great! We are staying together in our apartment. We are on the second floor so we are as safe as you can get. We have plenty of cases of water and tons of food that doesn't need to be cooked. We are set. You raised a daughter who knows how to take care of herself. All those camping trips of pooping in the woods somehow makes me feel like I can take on the world. Haha. We got a blessing a couple days ago to make sure we had clear minds and calm hearts, so we are doing fine. We have plans to build a fort in our apartment to keep ourselves entertained. 😎Hahaha. I promise I am fine. I haven't been worried/scared at all. My companions remind me so much of my sisters. We all act like siblings. There is no greater comfort than being together with them. 

President has asked that our families don't respond to this email until Monday. If we have power we will be emailing Monday. If we don't have power we will email as soon as we do.

I also got my shoes. So in love with them! Thank you!!!!!!

I love you all so much!!!!!! Don't read into the hype on that moms page. They are all being dramatic. This is serious but we are all being well taken care of and have received lots of information on what to do. I'll talk to you all as soon as I can! 

Muchas besos! 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Mega bed away from windows. Yup, we gonna have to cuddle

Pantry fully stocked. I know you can't tell, but I'm
gonna cook like a poor Hispanic who doesn't have power

Getting windy as we head into lock-down in our apartment
for the next few days.

Irma Comes to Florida

Hello Friends and Family!

As you all are probably pretty aware, Florida got a visit from Hurricane Irma. It was a pretty intense week. A lot of people were already on edge because of the devastating effects of Harvey  in Houston. I still have no idea the damage that occurred in Florida as we are still confined to our apartment. You all probably know more than me. However, there were a lot of lessons learned this past week!

Lesson 1: ALWAYS BE PREPARED.

We knew about the hurricane for about a week. Last Monday we got prepared by buying Food, water, and gas. Tuesday Floridians began going crazy. Stores were packed, gas stations were jammed with long lines of people all frantically trying to prepare. The traffic on the highway was at a standstill Tuesday-Friday of people fleeing south Florida. Stores were rationing out water and by Wednesday many gas stations were closed because they were out of gas. Shelves at the stores were completely bare. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE FOOD STORAGE. Our church leaders were really thinking when they said to always have plenty of food and water and be prepared for an emergency. Floridians were not prepared, and that's why they were frantic. It got very eerie by the end of the week when all the houses were boarded up. Looked like a zombie apocalypse was about to go down.

Lesson 2: DISASTERS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN HUMILITY We have had a challenging time with communication between the branch and the missionaries, but this week that was not the case. Members were calling us all week and during the hurricane asking if we were okay and if we needed anything. Wednesday night we had a meeting with our branch president and all the missionaries to discuss what members in the ward needed help. From Wednesday night to  Friday night we contacted every single member in our area to see if they were prepared and felt safe. It was interesting because us 19 year old girls from Utah were very calm and helping console terrified members who had lived here their whole life. We sent a list to our branch president of where each of them were staying and if they needed anything. It truly helped build the relationships between the missionaries and the members. As we were going around visiting members we were able to talk to lots of panicked people and help them feel the comfort of the Lord.

So even in an emergency, we found people to teach.

Lesson 3: I DO NOT LIKE SITTING STILL

We have been inside since Saturday afternoon and I am dying. Haha. I want to be working, serving and helping. This hurricane has given me a little glimpse of what it will be like to come home and not have a schedule and somewhere to be every moment of the day. I don't like it.

Not excited to come home. (Good thing I still have 8 months). My companions felt the same way so we had a lot of fun trying to entertain ourselves. Weird things happen when you're inside for 3 days. Stories that are going to have to wait until after the mission.

Lesson 4: MY MISSION LEADERS ARE AMAZING Please keep President and Sister Clark in your prayers. They have had a very stressful week making sure all of us missionaries are safe. We got a text from President at 2:00 A.M. saying the worst of it was almost over- indicating that he probably didn't sleep at all. We didn't know because were fast asleep in our fort.  I have an amazing district leader, Zone leaders, and assistants that took great care of checking up on all the missionaries. I asure you, missionaries are well-taken care of!

Lesson 5: THE SAVIOR IS NEAR

We did a lot of studying about the last days/signs of the second coming and I tell you- we are in them. My companions and I decided that in context of the Book of Mormon, we feel like we are in the end of Alma/ beginning of Helaman. I mean- 2,000 young warriors fighting in the army of Helaman, and how the age change happened so that even younger missionaries are fighting on the front lines of the war against sin.  Christ is coming and we need to be prepared spiritually.

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." - D&C 38:30

It reminded me of the 2011 windstorm only with rain so bad you can't see across the street. I felt great comfort from the Lord this week each time fear crept into my heart. I know as we put our trust in Him, He will guide us safely home. I love being a missionary and I am excited for the many service opportunities coming this week. This gave me just the push to continue serving with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Thanks for all the prayers in behalf of Florida and us missionaries.

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Right after getting the phone call that a hurricane was coming
(Not real.  We weren't really scared.)

Boarded up houses

District meeting comic relief

Dying of boredom

Our 72-hour kits expired. We ate the fruit roll-ups anyway

Heading inside for the next few days

I survived Irma

Don't judge. We got bored and did some makeovers then took pictures

New shoes from my mom that I got the day before the
hurricane.  Style - Irma

What many of the shelves at Walmart looked like

Me Encanta la Obra misional

Alma 29:9

 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

Hello friends and family! This scripture pretty much sums up how I felt this week! I got so pumped about how much I LOVE missionary work. It all started Tuesday with Zone conference. Obedience was hit really hard as well as the Importance  of working with members. I know I said this in a letter several months ago, but I want to re-extend the invitation to call up your local missionaries and ask what can you can do to help them. I guarantee they have plenty for you to do. This work is not just for us full-time missionaries. We all made a covenant at baptism to help build the kingdom. SO CALL YOUR MISSIONARIES! 

Wednesday we had dinner with a family whose son just returned home from his mission the day before! It was so fun! The first thing he did was ask us to see our area Book so on our iPads. (A map showing where all our members, less actives, investigators- former, present, and potential.) immediately upon seeing the amount of less-actives he said, "sisters WE need to get to work!" He was just so excited about everything missionary which made me SUPER grateful I am still a missionary. 

Saturday we just got super pumped again. We went to a baptism for some elders in our zone and it was legit one of the most spiritual baptisms I've ever been to. Afterward we got so excited to just go out and work. We knocked doors and were just so excited to be missionaries. I can't express how much I love this work. I love my mission which my whole heart.  There is nothing more satisfying than talking to people about Jesus Christ. I know this Church is true. Because I know that, I want to do all I can to let as many people as possible know that. 

I love you all and hope all is well! 

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Exchanges!

Our investigator Sandra came to church and she was so excited.
She texted us all morning telling us she was ready for her ride to pick her up
(this began at 9 and church starts at 1:) she's adorable. 

A recent convert gave us these fans from Spain
so we took tool pictures in the bathroom. 

Zone conference. Not sure how to explain this.
Elders aren't always as mature as they seem. Haha.