🙏🏻🙌🏻Never Forget, Always Remember🙌🏻🙏🏻 Week #104 February 27, 2017

What's up family and friends, How Trunky, finished, and DONE I truly am right now!! This is my last weekly letter and there are sooo many things to say, it feels sooo weird to me that I'm finishing up 2 years in the Florida Orlando Mission!! My last week was a solid one and I felt very good about the things that I've accomplished out here. Tomorrow I will head up to the chapel near the Mission home, I will see everyone else who is going home. We will have a little meeting and then we will go to the mission home spend the night and I will be on that Plane in the A.M. Headed straight for the S.L.C.!!!

Soooo Friday I went to the Temple for the last time as a missionary! I went with the Elders and Sisters who are going home with me! It was such a great experience and I really felt the spirit very strongly! As I was praying I felt the conformation that what I have been doing for the past 2 years was great and the Lord was pleased in the things I've accomplished, even tho I was far from perfect! I have relied on the Lord countless times as I've been out here! I truly am thankful for my mission and the wonderful blessing it's been to me and will continue to be throughout my life!

Man oh Man I'm going to miss all of the people and the friendships that I've made!! I've love the people of Florida and all of my amazing areas!! It all started in the beautiful Melbourne for 4 1/2 months, Elder Weiss trained me and then I spent time with Elder Honda!! Amazing Ward and the people are soo loving!!  then I was on to Minneola for another 4 1/2 months with Elder Bateman.. and I enjoyed all of the Mission Homies (Bateman, King, Gillen, Stiggins, and Leishman...that I gained in the Blessed Hills!!! Went to Lake Reams for Christmas with my pops, Elder Weiss (Trainer) and enjoyed my time there! Went to Cocoa for 4 1/2 months, I was with Elder Fenn who is truly a good friend and Elder Goddard who inspired me to lose those Lbs!!! I really enjoyed the work and really loved the recent converts I had and the people I got to know! Then they shipped me to Kissimmee for just another 6 short weeks, had a blast there with Elder Hawkins! Went to Deland for 3 Months, Elder Olsen and I found and baptized someone in 1 transfer, that was a first for me!! Killed it with Elder Reyes!........uhhh feel like I'm out of breath just going through this lol... Finally after 18 months I landed in the Heart of Orlando, Olympia where I spent 3 months and grew to Love the Ward and amazing members...Elder Coon and I straight chillin in the Ghetto and Elder Russell who never failed to make me laugh! Last one.....Leesburg, 3 month sentence haha jk. I was a little nervous I wouldn't like it here but just like every area I've had there has always been amazing Gems (members) and lots of good experiences that I've grown to Love. I may have made my last Companion Elder Birchell very Trunky but he will be fine lol, he's been a trooper and a good friend. I've enjoyed all of my time here in Florida and wouldn't trade it for anything!!

Man I'm just so pumped to be going home, I'm gonna miss this but I'm just excited to see all my family, hang with some homies! Kill it with the ladies and find someone to put a ring on it...don't worry I don't want to rush into it.. haha their is just soo many good things ahead of me and I'm grateful for the man my mission has made me! I know that centering my life upon Jesus Christ and his Gospel will guide me and my future family as I move forward, I know that God Lives, I know that Jesus Christ Lives and as we live and make the Gospel a priority, we will be blessed and we can return to them some day!!! 

Something I wanted to share for the last time was from President Henry B. Eyring, "O Remember, Remember" ... find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. It will build our testimonies. You will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done. Those who are faithful to God are protected and prospered. That comes as the result of serving God and keeping His commandments.....Did I see His hand in my life?  And then find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him. I will never forgot and always remember the love that I've felt from God and my Savior Jesus Christ through this experience.

In Just 48 Hours I will be home lol, once again I love my mission, I love this great work and I'll continue to do them best i can to grow as a person!! I'm thankful for all of you guys that support me and show me love!! The final scripture I want to share comes from Heleman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Love you scripture, love you all!! See you in 2 Days!! 

Elder Gentry,  FOM

Departing Temple Trip!!

Gonna miss my little homie Caleb!!

Last District!!!

Here I Come!!!!

🙌🏻😝My Last Week Is Here😝🙌🏻 WEEK #103 02/20/2017

What's up family & friends, this is the beginning of my last week in the Mission. It's gone by so quick, it is hard to believe I am now stepping in to my last full week. Lately I have been reminiscing and just pondering on the past 24 months, and thinking of all the things I've learned and who I have become here in Central Florida. I really thought that this week would never come. This upcoming week will be sick, we have the last temple trip on Friday for me and the other elders and sisters going home with me, This week I have also been given permission to call members I love from around the mission and say goodbye. So I will be calling all the cute YW from the wards and keeping in touch ;) just kidding of course. Lol This past week was really good, this area is what you would call popping right now!!!

So first off we got to teach that new family (nonmembers) that moved in from Michigan a couple of times, they were both solid lessons!! I feel like this is already a Mormon family. Elder Birchell and I walk into their home and it just feels like a Mormon home, we got to know them and they are just the sweetest little family! During the lesson we were talking about the importance of scripture study and the dad was explaining to us how he has a hard time reading and comprehending the scriptures and so I was telling him how I read a couple of verses and then I break them down and look for ways to apply them to my life. I was impressed to share a scripture that I read earlier that morning, 1st Nephi 14:1.....it applied perfectly!!! This family has been going through a lot of struggles, the mother has had 5 major back surgeries in the last 14 months and the said multiple times that the Gospel has really held them through! They are amazing and just have a few things holding them back from baptism but nothing to worry about, it won't be long until they are able to join the church! 

Oh don't think even for a second that I forgot to mention...... I only have 9 days!!! Lololol Single Digits baby!! I'm thankful for all this great work the Lord is providing to keep me focused!!

We also received a media referral from a 16 year old kid who wanted a Book of Mormon, he's a cool kid. We taught him the restoration and he loved it... he said that his family is not religious but I've always wanted to be. He seemed very interested in the things we taught. He has been reading and texting us asking us questions. I've never met a teenager so eager to learn about the gospel. Hopefully things go well with him!

Something I wanted to share this week comes from General Conference By Elder Eduardo Gavarret Of the Seventy "Yes, Lord I Will Follow Thee".....Keep the Commandments; by doing so you are saying, “Yes, Lord, I will follow Thee!” As you strive to come to Him, you will gain the power to relieve life’s burdens, whether physical or spiritual, and experience a positive inner change that will help you be happier. “Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, ‘Follow me.’ He instructs, ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’ He pleads, ‘Keep my commandments.’” ....Keeping the commandments of the Lord can and will change our lives for the better. I've seen it in many people as I've been on my mission.

Well here it is, once last chance to kill it all week..... hahaha I feel like I've got a ton to do this week!! It's all good. I love this work. I will miss it. The scripture I would like to share this week comes from the lesson that we had with the Uren Family! 1st Nephi 14:1 hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks-- love this scripture and the message we can learn from it, love you all hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day!! Have a good week!! You know I will!

Elder Gentry

Rocking my Valentine's Day Tie!!! 2017

My date for the day!!! Lol 😝 

🙌🏻What Matterz Most🙌🏻 Week #102

What's up family and friends,

It is getting sooooo hard to stay focused, only 16 more days!! It's impossible not to count at this point! Haha Plus it doesn't help that every missionary around me asks how many days I have left. Lol Just too much excitement. I'm going to miss the mission lyfe that's for sure, Even though that's been tough we have had a ton of good things coming out of nowhere in our area. Lots of good work being provided by the good Lord in the area of Leesburg.

First things first, Saturday was amazing!! It was the Baptism of Jeff, Suze and Michael Bajard down in Olympia. Elder Russell and I started teaching them about 3 months ago. They have been through a lot since then with losing their oldest daughter in a car accident. The baptismal service was perfect, it was a huge turn out of at least 50 people and their family was soo happy!! This was definitely one of the best moments I've had while being out here serving the Lord!! I said the closing prayer and their was so much gratitude in my heart! I feel so blessed to have been able to meet this strong family and see them go through soo much and still find peace in what matters most "The Gospel" I love that family and I'll always remember them.

So this week we got 8 people to church, well we didn't hahaha the Lord did lol we did the best we could to encourage them. This new family showed up and after sacrament we go talk to them and find out that they are both non-members and they've been taught everything in Michigan and said that they know they belong to this Religion and it's only a matter of time until we join. We are planing on seeing them this week. They Most likely won't be baptized this transfer but it's all good! Ill do what i can to help them progress in the time I have left.

So update on Sylvester who has been really good lately, he's been bringing a friend to church and she really enjoys it. Sylvester will not be getting baptized on the 25th, let's just say he needs 1st presidency approval. He super solid and has turned his life around. I'm not worried about it he'll be a member soon. 

Just in case you were wondering......... IM SO TRUNKY LOLOLOLOLOL

We had a solid lesson with Caleb (11 yr old), he's such a cute kid and he's super smart! Not much progress has been made with the adoption that we know of. He has been struggling in a sense of feeling like God doesn't love him! We had a powerful lesson and helped him know that Heavenly Father Loves Him more than he could ever imagine!! He was sooo happy to hear that and wanted to say the closing prayer!! He said in his prayer please bless these missionaries and bless them that they will stay here FOREVER!! It breaks my heart that I'll have to leave him. I've grown to love that little kid! 

Something I wanted to share this week comes from in a talk from Dieter F. Uchdorf My dear brethren, we have a great work to do. We stand overlooking the horizon of our age. It is my fervent prayer that in spite of temptations, we will never lower our standards; that in spite of distractions, wherever they may come from, we will not lose focus on what matters most; that we will stand resolute and together, shoulder to shoulder, as we valiantly bear the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray lift our heads and with unwavering voice proclaim to the world, “We are doing a great work, and we will not come down.”

My oh my I love this Gospel, It is tru!! Another email coming to a close! Only 2 more week till I wrap things up here in Florida! I'm going to live it up!! Love my mission and This Great work!! The scripture I would like to share this week comes from 1st Nephi 7:12 .....the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. Love this scripture, love you all have a good week and Happy Valentine's Day Tomorrow!! 

Elder Gentry

FOM

Elder Coley current Missionary in their area that baptised them
Elder Coley, Russell and I with the Fam!!

Elder Russell and I with the Bajard Family!!

With the Homie Elder Coley!!

With the Homie sister Larsen!!

Crazy 😜 brother Gray drove us all the way down to Orlando for the Baptism!! 90 yrs old texting at the wheel lolololo life in the fast lane 

😂 ✈️ "How far away is that Plane??" 3 weeks ✈️ 😂 Week #101

 Hey family and friends

Three weeks into my last transfer and things are going good, we had a lot of good things happen this week! I have 23 days left and it's hard not to think about home but I do want to make the best of the time I have left!! The work is looking up! This week we had 7 investigators at church, most of them came from members who invited their friends to church! The ward clerk comes up to Elder Birchell and I and says "Wow, I knew when I first saw you two in our ward that the work would pick up, you guys are Great Elders" while it was a nice compliment, I give all the credit to the Lord. He is the reason we are having success in this area.

It was nice to be able to have our referrals set appointments with us, we had really good visits with them, we taught them the Restoration! I have taught that lesson hundreds of times and it always feels good to teach it. That lesson really helps to invite the spirit and I know that those we teach feel that same spirit even if they can't recognize what it is. Hopefully we can start teaching them on a regular basis, one of them seemed really interested and wanted to learn more.

Man, when I tell people how long I've been out they always bring up the question "what am I going to do when I get home?" Man I wish I knew hahahaha I always get Into good conversations about what they do for a career so it's good to get some advice. This week I was talking to a member who works in Construction Management and it really got me thinking about it..... soooo many things that I need to ponder and pray about lol. It will all work out!! 

I had a great exchange with Elder Heward, he is a good missionary and overall just really a good guy. It was just one of those days that I was feeling very unmotivated but I just got out there and did the best that I could lol, we started the day with doing like 4 hours of service helping a member move all of her stuff from a storage unit into her home! It was nice to help her out, she was definitely in need. We gave 3 blessings to some great people!! and gave the sacrament to one of my favorite members in the ward Brother Eller, he has health problems so we try to help him out as much as we can.

Well something I want to share this week is from Dieter F. Uchdorf "Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circumnavigate the globe, but your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? A few miles? A hundred miles? The answer might surprise you. An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles (800 km) off course, or one hour of flight for a jet. No one wants his life to end in tragedy. But all too often, like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster. The commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course."

Well here's an end to another email! Twenty3 days left and I'm going to kill it the best I can lol! Wowohwow, I love my mission and the experiences it has brought me! I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the Sacrifice he made for me. I STAND ALL AMAZED AT THE LOVE JESUS OFFERS ME!!! The scripture I would like to share this week is short and simple! 1st Nephi 3 16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; love this scripture, love you all!!! Have a good week!

Elder Gentry

FOM

💯🙌🏻😝Keepin' it One Hunnit😝🙌🏻💯 Week #100

Hey Family,

I just finished week 100, blows my mind to think about how fast it's gone! I probably sound suuuuper trunky, hah it's cause I am. Lol I now have 30 days remaining, and I'm just tryna' stay alive and take care of my people!! Haha wowzers!! Elder Birch and I are doing well!! We had a good week, Worldwide Missionary broadcast brought a few changes to missionary work. Overall they were good changes!! We got out there and found some more peeps to teach!!

So we found a new Less Active to teach and she is pretty cool, her name is Sister Merrell. She's been a member for like 20 years and she loves the missionary's. She just has a few things that she struggles with but that's what we're here for, To help her overcome her weaknesses through Jesus Christ, She is also killing the game when it comes to missionary work! She gave us this pretty solid referral, we have been able to see her a couple of times this week. Her name is Evelyn. She has been looking for a church to attend and just really trying to find her place with God! We had a really good lesson with her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it is possible to make changes in our life even when we think there is no way!! I felt the spirit very strongly and it's always nice to get that reassurance that through Jesus Christ we can become who are Father in Heaven wants us to become, we're excited to work with these two and help them in the best way we can!

So the new changes that the Missionary Department made were in the Schedule like we now have a little more freedom in what we do in the morning time from 6:30 till 10:00, we now do nightly planing in the A.M., and the other change was in the Key Indicators.. the stuff to keep track of the work we're doing! Which will be really nice cause it now lets missionary's worry about helping people and their needs rather than working with people that won't progress! they will be good changes, :)

So I have eaten like a king this week, I'm talking La Palma (Mexican Restaurant), Olive Garden, Golden Corral and Ichiban Japanese Buffet!! Soooo much foood. It's making it very difficult to shed some lbs! But hey at least the ward it's taking care of us missionary's soo I can't complain to much haha 

Well something I want to share this week is from General Conference in a talk given by Elder José A. Teixeira of the Seventy, What a comfort it is to know that there is a plan providing us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice makes it possible for all people who comply with His gospel teachings to be forgiven through repentance. What a comfort it is to know that help is available for us to succeed in our endeavors to return to live with our Father in Heaven. What a comfort it is to know that we are not alone sailing uncharted waters as we go through life’s experiences. One gift that will help us navigate our lives is the gift He has given to all, the ability and power to choose. Our choices have the undeniable power of transforming our lives. This gift is an extraordinary sign of trust in us and simultaneously a cherished personal responsibility to use wisely. Our Father in Heaven respects our freedom to choose and will never force us to do what is right, nor will He impede us from making mediocre choices.

Well everyone, these weeks just slip on by! I'm doing good, I'm happy! I love this Gospel and sharing it with the people of Florida! I love this work and I love my mission! The scripture I would like to share this week comes str8 out of Moroni 7 13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Love this scripture, love you all! Have a blessed week! 

Elder Gentry

FOM

Meetings!! Trying to stay Fresh!! #Dirtymirror #Awkwardbigipad

Sister Merrell and I!

Fortune Cookie from Ichiban!!! 

🙌🏻💎I've Been Out So Long They Look Like Up Too Me💎🙌🏻 Week #99

What's good family,

man I've written soo many emails I don't even know how to start them off anymore without sounding like I'm repeating my self hahahah

So,
well here is another document of words telling you how my week went!! Lol.. first off, week 1 of my last transfer is now in the books!! Not much happened this week, we have just been out trying to find more people to teach and taking care of the Less Actives and Recent Converts. We have also been doing lots of service!

So to update you on the little 11 year old kid we have been teaching, his adoption is slowly moving along, it will probably be a month or 2 before he can get baptized. Hopefully I'm still here. Either way I love that kid and he will do big things for the church, he's a smart kid and he loves when we come over and teach him.. he knows soo much! I'm happy I have the time that I do to be able to share something I love with him! 

We have been doing a ton of service, from volunteering at a thrift shop to volunteering at a food bank to helping members move cause this ward is sooo old so they can't do it haha it's been good it's always good to help people out. It's what Christ did!! 

We had a couple of people we found this week that may have potential moving forward, hopefully we can start teaching them. One of them is a sister of a member and she said she would like to take the lessons soooo we will see where it can go. The other one gave us a fake number but as she was giving it too me I pulled out the phone and as she was saying it I dialed it and called her but her phone wasn't ringing, she saw that I was trying to call her sooo she was like just give me your number and then she called us...her actual number and the 1st number she gave us were soooo different, anyways we got her number who knows where it could go hahah not my first time I've been given a fake number out here hahaha

Something I want to share this week comes from a talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Will we give up after knocking on a door or two? A floor or two? Or will we keep seeking until we have reached the fourth floor, last door. God “rewards those who earnestly seek him,” but that reward is not usually behind the first door. So we need to keep knocking. Don’t give up. Seek God with all your heart. Exercise faith. Walk in righteousness. I promise that if you will do this--even until the fourth floor, last door--you will receive the answers you seek. You will find faith. And one day you will be filled with light that grows “brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” God is real. He lives, He loves you, He knows you, He understands you, He knows the silent pleadings of your heart. He has not abandoned you. He will not forsake you.

5 short weeks to go, 36 days but who counting hahaha I'm trying not to be trunky but it's literally impossible. I'm just so close! I'm still happy to be out here serving the Lord, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I love my mission and I love this work! Even if I'm not the most motivated in the world!

 Shout out to my little brother in Alaska just because I love and miss him!!

 The scripture i would like to share this week is 3rd Nephi 14:7-8..... 7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Love this scripture, love you all!! Have a Great week!

Elder Gentry

FOM

Me and Elder Birch after Church  1/22/17 

🙌😝PREACHIN' FOR THE FINAL 42😝🙌 Week #98

What up family, your favorite missionary from Florida, Elder Gentry with another update! My time is short I'm now entering my last six weeks of my mission, the final 42 days. Elder Birchell and I will be staying together for my last transfer. We had a great transfer together so I'm looking forward to this next one! We saw a lot of success in the work that we did, and I've got some good things coming in the future. I'm trying so hard to stay motivated, but I'm sooooooo Trunky! LOL it will be OK I think I will make it. Here are some good things that happen this week!

Aundre was Tized!! This week we have been going over all the necessary preparations for Aundre to get Baptized, he has his interview and everything was good to go!! We had the Baptism at 9:00 so we had to get to the church early to fill the font! The sisters didn't tell us that we needed to turn the hot water heater on so about the time it was full is when we found that out!! The water was COLD!! The program went really good, the sisters had a killer musical number!! Brother Abbot baptized him 1st try! We were so happy to see Aundre make this step closer to Heavenly Father in following Jesus Christ!!

Baptism was really the best thing that happened this week, another than that we have been just working with the people we have and we out here searching for the lost souls!! Spreadin the Word!

Something I want to share comes from General Conference comes from Elder L. Tom Perry "Bring Souls unto Me" The gospel is centered on the Atonement of our Lord and Savior. The Atonement provides the power to wash away sins, to heal, and to grant eternal life. All the imponderable blessings of the Atonement can be given only to those who live the principles and receive the ordinances of the gospel--faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Our great missionary message to the world is that all mankind is invited to be rescued and to enter the fold of the Good Shepherd, even Jesus Christ. No other message has such great eternal significance to everyone living on the earth today. All of us need to teach this message to others with power and conviction. It is the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost that testifies through us of the miracle of the Restoration, but first we must open our mouths and testify.

6 Weeks left, I'm not gonna lie, I never thought I would be at this point hahaha it just blows my mind!! I'm super excited and pumped to do what I can these last 6 weeks! I love this Gospel, I love my mission! The scripture I would like to share comes from Doctrine & Covenants 18:16 16 ​And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ​​​kingdom​ of my Father, how great will be your ​​​joy​ if you should bring many ​​​souls​ unto me!  Love this scripture, love you all have a great week!!

Elder Gentry

FOM

Aundre was Baptized :) 

Aundre and Brother Abbott

                                                       
 

Elder Bigler and I ..

Cousin on my Dads side and her daughter was fun to spend a little time with