Exploring Orlando

Hello!

I don't have a ton to write this week. We decided to explore Downtown Orlando today. I LOVE ORLANDO!!!!!!

We had an awesome miracle this week by the name of three girls: Stephanie, Lorean, and Bianca. Three sisters that we found while we were visiting their great-grandma. Their mom was there and told us she wanted us to come teach them about Jesus. So we did. They are awesome!!! They are 22, 21, and 11. They have a deep desire to understand their purpose in life. We taught them to pray and then had an awesome follow-up lesson with them where they all said they felt themselves change and feel happier since they prayed. There is real power in prayer. I felt so blessed to know from the beginning who I am, why I am here, and where I am going. I am especially grateful to know that I have a personal way to connect to my Father in Heaven.

Things are good here in the sunshine state! Hermana Stowell and I are working hard and seeing miracles. Also, I really enjoy biking. It makes it so much easier to talk to people.

I'm sending lots of Florida Sun your way!

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Companions

O zone Hermanas

Playing at a museum

Ted Bundy's name carved into this courtroom desk. #Florida

Oh How Lovely Was the Morning...

This week was probably one of the most spiritual weeks of my mission.

We had the incredible opportunity to have a MISSION CONFERENCE with presiding authority Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Accompanying him was Presiding Bishop, Bishop Causse, Returning member of the Seventy Elder Klebingat, and Area seventy Elder Carter. Yeah. You could have called this a spiritual FEAST! We got to shake each of their hands and have a "personal interview" as we did so. It was a really neat experience.

Elder Klebingat visited our mission a few months ago, so it was really cool to have him come back and "follow-up" on how we have been applying the things he taught us. He has a special place in my heart because he really helped change my perspective on a lot of things and become the missionary I am today. I was thrilled to hear from him again.

Elder Stevenson really focused on our purpose as missionaries. I can't express how grateful I am to have a tag on my heart everyday. The work of a missionary is a sacred thing. I feel so blessed to be part of it.

It was such a powerful thing to listen to him bear his special witness and leave upon us missionaries an apostolic blessing that we will understand our purpose here and that our burdens would be made light.

Honestly I could go on forever talking about all the things I learned and felt. But this I will share with all of you. I know that we have a living prophet today and that he is the mouthpiece of the lord. I know that the Lord has once again called 12 apostles to assist our dear prophet. I know that we are the only church with the authority of God.

I know my purpose as a missionary which is to invite others to come unto Christ. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is our advocate with the father and the only one to have lived a Perfect life. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I will defend the truths found in it with my entire heart and soul. I know families can be together forever.

I hope all is well and you all had a happy Valentine's Day. Do me a favor, and try and share your testimony with someone this week. :)

Con mucho amor,

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

Biking for days

Sweet Brianna's baptism

The view from my apartment #FloridaWins

Our quartet for a special musical number

Spanish dudes reunited at the missionary conference

Our valentines dinner with the Cerratos'

Minivan member missionaries

We had a good week here in a Semoran! We work hard, bike hard, and laugh hard. 

Yesterday was absolutely amazing!  After church we had made plans to go with Hermano Sanchez to An investigators house to introduce them and help our investigator make friends with some of the members. Well because Spanish people love their Countries and missionary work, word got out and we ended up having the Cerrato's come! S/O to Hno Sanchez and his minivan for driving us.

The lesson was AMAZING! They did exactly what us missionaries want members to do in lessons! Their testimonies and friendship where exactly what our investigator needed! They used scriptures, shared personal experiences of their conversion, and their testimonies. They invited him to pray and ask and even though we had been teaching the same thing, it finally clicked!  We then went and visited some other members and it was so amazing to see the Lord work through the Cerratos and Hno Sanchez to share exactly what these sweet Members needed to hear! They said they had so much fun they want to do it again. 

Members are the key to successful missionary work! I love member missionary work!!!! I’m so so very grateful for the incredible, humble, charitable members of the Semoran ward in the Orlando Stake. 

One of the members said something that I hope to keep with me forever. He said, “Members think that Sundays are meant for going to church, eating a nice dinner, and taking a nap. But in fact, the best way to spend the Sabbath is to do missionary work and visit the members!" I couldn't agree more! Even a short 15 minute visit can make someone's day and help edify the kingdom.

I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day! I love every one of you! 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture from 2 seconds ago with Café Rio:)

Our selfie with our ride driving away, leaving us
stranded at the church

Sunday night selfies:)

My date for Valentine's Day this year:)

 

Frogs Squish Like a Tube of Toothpaste

Hello everyone!

Just to start off by explaining my subject line.... My first week in car- share ended with me squishing not just one, but TWO frogs with my bike tire. It was disgusting.

Hermana Stowell and I had a bomb week here in a Semoran! We completely hit the ground running and have already seen some incredible miracles together. I'm just going to summarize everything up with what happened on Sunday. After church we made plans to visit an investigator and invite him to be baptized. We role-played over and over just how we were going to do it. Then we set off on our bikes. Just to mention- it was raining, so I feel like we were in need of some extra blessings.

Anyway, we get there only to see him and his brother sitting outside with an array of empty beer bottles. We were so stressed! As we sat down to start talking to him we quickly realized that he had not been drinking at all. However his brother was drunker than a sailor. We were worried that we wouldn't be able to have a spiritual lesson with his extremely intoxicated brother talking every 3 seconds. Well, a true miracle occurred. His brother did not say A SINGLE WORD between the opening prayer and the closing prayer. The spirit did come, and we were able to invite our investigator to be baptized on the 24th. He is so sweet. He accepted the date and offered a sincere prayer asking if it be right that he be baptized that day. I love this work and I know that God will always provide a way. "Where one or two are gathered together in my name, there will I be also."

🌴🌊☀️Hermana Kent☀️🌊🌴

BHS mini reunion in Florida
Hermana Stowell, Elder Zollinger and myself
all went to High School together!

Transfers!  Companion switch up:)

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☀️🌊🌴