Monday, January 25, 2016

πŸ™πŸ» Barbara Is Officially a Member of the Tru ChurchπŸ™πŸ» (WEEK #47 Wow Time is flying!!! )



Hey Everyone, so this week was really good, we had a ton of good things happen, Barbara's Baptism went really well. We had a Worldwide Missionary meeting, that was pretty good. Anyways here are some things that went on this week.

So we receive Bible Referrals all the time!! It's not a bad thing but we never have Bibles! We only have copies of the Book of Mormon. We didn't have a bible but we wanted to meet her and see if she was interested in the church, She lived in these Redneck Trailers so we were a little Sketched out but this lady is super nice and she accepted a copy of The Book of Mormon and she said she would love to hear more about what we believe. We're super excited to work with her and see where it can go. We now have 1 Bible and we plan on giving it to her next week. 

Elder Fenn and I were Less Active Hunting this week and we found this really cool older couple, we mostly talked to the wife... Well she talked to us haha She gave us her whole life story and was talking to us forever, she has had a lot of horrible things that has happened to her and trials that she has had to endure so it was good to talk with her and share some things that I know was able to lift her spirt up. We're hoping we can work with her and eventually get her back to church. 

Barbara got dunked on Friday, it went really great and was an awesome experience, everything worked out perfectly. She asked me to give a small talk on baptism, something I wanted to share from my talk was the poem that I read out of the Friend Magazine, "I’ll make a sacred covenant, On my baptism day. I’ll promise Heavenly Father, To follow in His way. I’ll gladly take upon me, The name of Jesus Christ, And promise to remember, His loving sacrifice. I’ll follow Christ’s example, Be honest, good, and true. By serving others kindly, I’ll do as He would do. By keeping the commandments, I’ll learn the ways of God, And stand up as His witness At home and far abroad. And when I make wrong choices, I know I can repent. The sweet peace of forgiveness Returns then, heaven-sent. Then as I keep my covenant, I know I will be blessed. The Holy Ghost will guide me All through my earthly test." I was so blessed to be a small part of her baptism and her step on the straight and narrow path. She has been awesome to work with and we're excited to get her to the temple for baptisms soon. 

After Barbara's baptism, she took Elder Fenn and I to a Mexican restaurant, since it was her 50th birthday and that's her favorite food. In the middle of dinner I got up and said, I got to go to the bathroom. I went and talked to the Waiter and asked if they could sing Happy Birthday to Barbara, The whole crew came out and sang to her, it was pretty sweet, she loved it haha she didn't see it coming!! 

Beach P-Day was today and it was pretty fun, it's always good to go to the beach with the district. It was so cold though, it was like 40 degrees so we weren't there long. We went to Ron Jon and just to hang out for a while and then we went Bowling! I was a little rusty but I still had fun haha
Random crazy story haha, Me and Fenn were going to Titusville Sunday night and i was going like 60 MPH and out of nowhere this Raccoon runs right in front of me and I DESTROYED the little guy and he did a pretty big number to the car and tore the Bumper off haha it's all good 
tho we ok.. 

Anyways haha this week was pretty good, it was nice to see Barbara get baptized and I know that this is the first step in her journey back to our father in heaven. THE GOSPEL IS TRU! Now we be on the daily grind to find the next one to be baptized! And I know the Lord has prepared people to receive the Gospel. The scripture I would like to share this week is Alma 7:14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Love this scripture, love you all have a wonderful Week!!


Elder Gentry
FOM


Monday, January 18, 2016

Barbara's Baptism.πŸ‘Œ"Lord, I Would Follow Thee." πŸ™ Week #46!!!

Hey Everyone,
This week was really good, We were able to see a lot of people and we also finished teaching Barbara the things she needs to be taught before baptism. We had Zone Conference Thursday with Elder Maynes of the Seventy, and Regional Conference on Sunday.

Tuesday I went on an Exchange in Viera with Elder Gooch. He is a pretty Chill Guy. He goes home in like 3 weeks, anyways the best thing about this Exchange was being able to go see an Old Friend, Nathan Nickerson... ALRIGHT! I love that guy and I really enjoyed being able to see him again. I've been to Viera 6 times throughout my mission and I've visited Nickerson every time haha. 

So Barbara's Baptism is going to be this FRIDAY!!! January 22, Her 50th Birthday! Elder Fenn and I are super Pumped. She had been meeting with missionaries for about 3 years. It just goes to show us missionaries teach people all the time and we just never know when the time will come for them to be ready to enter the waters of Baptism. THE LIVES YOU TOUCH MAY FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. Each missionary has a part in their progression. So I just want to shoutout to all those dedicated Elders who didn't quit on Barbara #youtherealMVP Haha. She is just awesome and has a very strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm lucky and blessed to be a part of her baptism and having the opportunity I have had to get to know her. 

I went on an exchange Saturday with Elder Demille, He's a great guy and fun to be around we had a sick day and were able to see a ton of people, I also got to teach a Lesson in kreal jk I watched him teach it. I can't speak that crazy language haha. I also had Haitian food for the second time. It was pretty good. 

Something I wanted to share was in this talk by Robert D. Hales. "The blessings we enjoy now are because we made the choice to follow the Savior before this life. To everyone hearing or reading these words, whoever you are and whatever your past may be, remember this: it is not too late to make that same choice again and follow Him. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, believing in His Atonement, repenting of our sins, and being baptized, we may then receive the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift provides knowledge and understanding, guidance and strength to learn and gain a testimony, power, cleansing to overcome sin, and comfort and encouragement to be faithful in tribulation."......  It's not too late to follow our savior Jesus Christ and to center our lives around him. 

Things are still going great here in Cocoa, Elder Fenn and I are doing well, I'm super excited for the things that are going to be happening this week. Including my lil bro back home getting his mission call hopefully this week. Anyways The scripture I would like to share is 2 Nephi 31:17-18 17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. 18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.... Love these scriptures, love you all! Have a Wonderful week. πŸ˜ƒ

Elder Gentry
FOM
Elder Jordan Gentry 2015-2017
Elder Gentry and his companion Elder Fenn

                                                         Elder Gentry with Elder Demille
                                                                 
Looks Like a fun Group of Elders!! 

Monday, January 11, 2016

πŸ™πŸΌ The Lords Work In Cocoa Florida!! ☀️ Week 45!!

What's up family, things are going pretty good here in Cocoa Florida. This week went really fast and we were able to see a lot of people, as well as a lot of success. Stake Conference was really great. Things are going well and Me and Elder Fenn are out here enjoying every minute doing the work of the Lord! 

So this week I went on exchanges in Titusville with Elder Larsen, he's a pretty cool guy and we had a good day. We had a lesson with this crazy guy who is a member and in the previous lesson asked if the next time we could give him a lesson on the Book of Revelations in the Bible. So that morning, we were looking for something to present to him, and THAT BOOK IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND!! haha We shared the scripture mastery cause it's all we had. When we shared it with him and he just laughed and we were like What!?! Then he just said "I didn't think you guys would actually look for something to share that book is so complex only a prophet could understand it". Haha it was a good time though, He is a really good guy.

So on Wednesday I went on splits with a couple of men from our Ward, Brother Bruno and Brother Staples. We went and saw sister Morton and we had a really powerful lesson on sacrament and the importance of going to Church. We also were able to help her understand the Role of the Relief Society. It was really good and brother Staples was able to help her out a lot with some of her needs. She is awesome and I've been able to see the Growth of her Testimony in just 3 short Visits.

So Stake Conference was really good, the main thing they focused on was the opening of another Stake, Vero Beach Stake. So now there is a total of 8 stakes in our Mission. The church is GROWING. One thing that was really cool was during the Adult Session Saturday night. Sister Sherker from the Melbourne Ward, who took us out to eat a few times was talking and she shared an Experience where she was inactive in the church be cause her husband wasn't supportive of the church and wouldn't let her go. For years the Relief Society would always send her letters of the lessons each Month and she studied and enjoyed them. It's awesome to see how much the Relief Society made a difference in her life. Her husband has since passed and she has been able to return to church and go through the Temple and recently she was able to have her husbands Temple work done as well. She has also been able to be Sealed For time and all Eternity. I'm so happy for her she is so nice and cared a lot about the Missionaries. Also being able to see the Wilsons this weekend was exciting, I've missed them a lot, LOVE THE WILSONS!! 

Things are pretty good, We have Zone Conference this coming Thursday. We also have Regional Conference on Sunday which is a multiple Stake Conference. So looking forward to those. The Scripture I would like to share this week is 1st Corinthians 15:57-58; But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. This is a powerful scripture. We must always do our best to accomplish the Lords work. Love you all Have a Wonderful Week.

Elder Gentry
FOM

Monday, January 4, 2016

Happy New Year from Cocoa Florida!! Week #44!!!

Happy New Year everyone, this week went really well. Transfers were on Tuesday and I'm now in Cocoa Florida and my new Companion is Elder Fenn. He is from California and he has been out on his mission for 7 months. He is pretty cool. He knows so much about cars. HE IS IN LOVEEE WITH FORD!?! But it is ok we all know Chevy is better. We taught quite a bit of lessons this week and had a good time spreadin' the good word!

So my new area is pretty sweet. We live in a House instead of an apartment and it has TWO bathrooms which is awesome cause I have one all to myself. #Blessings oh and we are Full Car which is sick cause I hate that bike. Are area is pretty big and we are the only set of Missionaries in the Ward which is nice cause we are always busy! 

Next week is Stake Conference and I'm pretty Excited cause now that I'm back in the Cocoa Stake I will get to see some of the Great Members of my first Area.. Melbourne.

We had a really good lesson with Sister Morton, she is a less active that has been working with missionaries for a while now and wants to return to church. She is awesome and the nicest lady ever. We shared a message about the blessings of the Temple. And she said she wants to do everything thing she can to make it to the Temple.

Something I wanted to share that I read in the 2016 New Era this week is, How do we Press Forward? By Neil L Anderson..Press forward implies something more than simply going forward. Press implies something is preventing your advancement, and you must push through it. To go forward in this life, you must press temptations aside, press through obstacles, press the doubt and the fear under your feet, and embrace the divine qualities of faith, hope, and love....Pressing forward means pushing away the “temptations and cares” of the world and keeping the commandments with exactness. “If ye love me,” Jesus said, “keep my commandments. This is an amazing article I encourage you all to read it... Read It Up.

We had a Killa and super Spirtual lesson with our investigator Barbara on Tuesday Night she is super cool. She has been meeting with missionaries for a while now and should be getting baptized soon. We taught out of the Book of Mormon, we shared with her the importance of baptism and how it is making the first step to returning to our Father in Heaven. We are excited to work with her each week.

Hope Everyone enjoyed New Years and is setting some good goals for this next year. I think it is important for us to look forward to this coming year and do everything we can to be better than we were the year before. 2015 was a Great year and I've had tons of fun, made good friendships and learned a lot. I'm looking forward to this year. 2016....MY FULL YEAR OF BEING A MISSIONARY!! And being able to see what I can do to be better. Life is good. The scripture I would like to share is 2nd Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men...... Love this scripture. Hope you all have a wonderful week!!


Elder Gentry
FOM