Returning From Whence I Came

Hola a todos!

Another transfer here and I will be leaving my beloved Buena Ventura and returning to my lovely Semoran! I will be companions with Hermana Stowell- a fellow BHS brave! I am so pumped! There are so many amazing people that I was sad to say goodbye to in the Ward. It's been a good time here in the great Buena Ventura Ward!

We had some really incredible spiritual experiences this week! We visited with a less active family that had been praying that morning to feel Gods love and within 5 minutes of his prayer, we texted asking if we could come over. He told us that the knew God was telling him we had a message he needed to hear. We shared 2 Nephi 1:15 and Enos which was exactly what he had been praying about. It is so cool to see how the Lord works through His missionaries!

We had an appointment fall through and ended up having nowhere to go on Saturday night, and we kept knocking on doors and no one was answering.... We prayed that atleast one person that night would let us in, and our prayer was answered! A woman let us into her home and we were able to talk about Christ and the peace that we can find through Him! It was really amazing! 

Felix and his son blessed and passed the sacrament on Sunday. It was the first time I had been able to see one of my converts do so. It was such a tender experience. I feel such gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all the blessings He has given me. So,e people feel that they go on a mission to "payback" but if anything, I feel more in debt  to Him. God is Great!

Buena Ventura Young Women.
These girls are amazing and I LOVE them so much!

Mama Davila

My little princesses!

My amazing companion!  I'm so sad to be leaving her:(

Count Your Blessings

Hello all!

What a neat experience we had this past week to hear from our newly called Prophet- President Nelson and his new counselors. I was especially moved by 2 things that he shared. 

1- to keep the covenant path and always remember the promises and commitments we have made with God 

2- that he promised (as should each of us) to serve God with every remaining breath of his life. 

What great council we have already received from him!

This week Hermana Robbins and I set a goal to identify at least 1 miracle everyday. It turned out to be such a special experience. Thursday was a really difficult day.  We started the day with every appointment set and confirmed. However each time we pulled up to an appointment they canceled or weren't home. Canceled appointments happen a lot, but not usually EVERY appointment including our dinner appoint. We drove a lot that day trying to figure out where the Lord wanted us to go. I was frustrated and felt like time had stood still. After driving to yet another appointment 30 minutes away only to also have them call and cancel as we were pulling up their street, I had about had it. It was all I could do not to burst into tears. I was tired, cold (it was 41 degrees and for Florida that's cold!) and I had no idea where to go. As we drove back, I felt like giving up and calling it a day even though it was only 7:45.  I remembered our weekly goal, although I really couldn't think of any "miracles" that had happened. However, I knew I had to change my attitude. I started to think of all my blessings the things I am grateful for. Listed are a few things I included from that moment. 

• The texture of Florida Sunsets
• The fact that I have a car to drive not just a bike
• My patient companion
• Music
• My Savior Jesus Christ 
• The sacred privilege I have to be a missionary even when it is hard 

As I did this I actually was able to see little tender mercies that had in fact come throughout the day. 

The Lord was testing our faith . About 20 minutes after I was about to give up, but decided to be grateful instead, our phone rang. It was a sister from Mormon.org with a referral! Someone was really interested in taking the lessons and studying the Book of Mormon. So we immediately called her and set up an appointment. Then as we were walking around we met a young man who deeply needed to know that He was a Son of God, and we met another sweet lady named Emma who is now a new investigator! All three things happened the final hour of one of the longest and hardest days of my mission. 

I can't help but think of the 4th verse of the hymn "Count your Blessings". 

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings; angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end

I have a testimony of Gratitude. As we turn our hearts to Gratitude we can our attitude. The problems may not go away, but "help and comfort give you to your journey's end". Or in other words, we will be able to make through. Angels are here to help us, so don't be discouraged. Be grateful. 

Con mucho amor-

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Sorry I'm really slacking on the pictures.
Here is a picture from our exchange this week.
I got to go with my friend sister Sorensen again! 

A Type of Savior

Hello Everyone!

I have just a quick thought for you all today! We got to go to the temple with the Trinidad family this past weekend to do Baptisms for the Dead for their first time. We were blessed to have the Temple President speak to us before. He said something that hit me really hard. He explained that the Savior did the Atonement for each one of us because we could not do it ourself. On a smaller scale, the work we do in the temple makes us a TYPE of Savior because we are doing something for someone that they can't do themselves. Just like we are so incredibly grateful for what the Savior did for us, those in the spirit world are so grateful for our work in the temple. So, if you are able, go to the temple! Do something for someone that they can't do for them self. If you can't go, do what is necessary to be able to.

A quote that a wise seminary teacher once told me "If you are too busy to do things for the Savior (ex: scripture study, prayer, temple attendance  etc. ) then you are far busier than God ever intended you to be. Christ wasn't to busy for those in need, and neither should we be.

Things in Florida are all well and good! The leaves are finally starting to fall......

I hope all is well with each of you! I love you and pray for you!

Thank you for your prayers!

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Praise to the Man

I really just want to bear my testimony of Prophets. This week in my studies I studied a lot about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. Then as you all know, President Monson passed away. He was such an incredible teacher. I loved his talks and prophetic direction. The night he passed away, my companion and I testified of him in an incredibly spiritual lesson. Then the next day we watched Jospeh Smith: the prophet of the restoration movie with our recent converts.

The cool part is, during the movie Jospeh Smith explains to Brigham Young right before he leaves for Carthage how he will be the next prophet. So we explained to our recent converts how we will still have a Living, modern- day prophet. I am grateful for the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Also, I love that President Monson's last talks were about The Book of Mormon and Charity and love. Just let that sink in for a minute. Both Powerful tools on how we can be true followers of Jesus Christ.

The work continues to move forward here in Buenaventura! It got pretty cold here this week.... I know it's probably colder in Utah, but here in Florida where we aren't used to 30 and 40 degree weather, IT WAS VERY COLD!

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

We bought stuffed animals and they sit in the car with us:)

I can't really explain this... but it was so funny that we
both collapsed on the floor laughing shortly thereafter

THERE WAS FROST IN FLORIDA

It got colder than that, but I got a picture of 42 degrees

Zone Conference!

A Year of Miracles

I could go on and on at how grateful I am for 2017. It truly was a miracle year, because every day of it I spent serving the Lord here in Florida.

This week had its difficulties. I actually legit had two doors slammed in my face and was cussed out by people for trying to talk to them. We had another investigator tell us that she knew everything was true but doesn't want to change. Well that was a punch straight to the throat.  However, despite all of that, I STILL love being a missionary. Hermana Robbins and I pushed through and ended the week with a miracle.

After dinner we felt that we needed to go see Miguel- an investigator we have a hard time getting in contact with. He wasn't available so we were about to leave but HR remembered a guy named Gonzalo who about 2 months ago as we were walking in the complex waved us over and told us he recognized us a missionaries and asked us to visit his family when they got back from Colombia. well it was about the time he said they would be back and sure enough there were! Only come to find out, he was diagnosed with SEVERAL severe forms of cancer about a week ago. We met his daughter named Ingrid who told us that her boss is a "pastor" for the Mormon church. We asked his name and she said Jose Rivera! We couldn't believe it! That's our bishop!  She said that she really wants to meet with the missionaries and come to church. We called bishop after and he told us he's been working on her for a while and how she is prepared. There is no such thing as coincidence. HR and I talked about how the spirit must have spoken to her dad that night telling him that we needed to meet his family because we are going to help them when he goes. There are too many "coincidences" in this. The Lord's fingerprints are all over this miracle.

My goal this year is simple. I want to do tie doing the things I learned to do in 2017. I don't want to regress- only progress. I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season and that many blessings come to you this year! Through Jesus Christ, we always have a new beginning.

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴