Ridgecrest, California

Oh my goodness hello everyone! It's been kinda a while sense I last sent out an email. A lot has happened but I will do my best to keep it short. 

Sunday night my MTC district said our goodbyes. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do. We all bore our testimony and took an overload of pictures with each other. I couldn't have asked for a better MTC district. I met so many wonderful people who I have come to love so much! 

I arrived in Bakersfield last Monday, however it was not easy getting here. We left the MTC at 2:30 a.m. and had our first flight at 6:55 a.m.  But due to some electrical problems we had a three hour delay from the SLC airport to the Phonix airport. So naturally we missed our connecting flight. However this was a huge blessing in disguise. I became violently ill and made the airport bathroom stall my new home. Eventually the paramedics were called in to check all of my vitoles and convince me that a bathroom stall was no home for a lady. Thank you all the prayers because slowly I was able to regain my strength. I was finally able to get onto a plain at 9:45 p.m. to head to Bakersfield...yes a super long day to be stuck in an airport when feeling as sick as I was. I finally made it to the mission home at 11:30 that night. 

Overall I'd give this experience and 15/10 haha. 

I am currently serving in the Ridgecrest area of the Bakersfield mission. Let me tell you this, it is not the prettiest place, but I absolutely have so much love for all the people here. This is definitely  no Bountiful, but I'm happy to be here serving the Lord. My companion is Sister Leavitt. She is truly so amazing! We have been teaching so many people this week ots hard to keep them straight Haha. We are teaching this one investigator named Austin. It is a part member situation. Austin's wife is a less active member, and we are hoping to baptize Austin soon. We had him on date for the 28th, however the advisory never gives up. We received a text the other night from Austisn wife asking us to postpone the baptism. I would like to ask all of you to please keep Austin in your prayers. He has so much potential and is ready to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, he needs to remember the strength he can have through relying on the Savior. 

We also live right next door to some other missionaries named Sister Wainwright and Sister Carlisle. They are also so amazing! On Thursdsy night we went and gkt Trailer Park Tacos. Now what is a Trailer Park Taco you might ask? It is exactly like what it sounds. Here is how you get to it. You drive down the main road until you see a Starbucks, after that you will take the second left which leads you to a long dirt road. The dirt road is very bumpy and no friend to those with a full blader. After driving past all these scary looking trailers you will see a bright LED light that reads "open". Do you feel safe stepping out of the car, no not really, but the delicious smell of tacos takes away all of your fear. To be honest they are the bet $1.00 trailer park tacos I have ever had. 20/10 would recommend for everyone to try. Not just because to the food I so gosh darn good, but how can you beat an experience like that? 

This past week Sister Leavitt and I have shared The Christ Child video a lot this week. If you have not had the chance to watch it I highly recommend you do! You can find if on YouTube (what a beautiful thing) or go to lighttheworld.org  please share this video with everyone you can think of. It is a great reminder of what this Christmas season is really about. 

I love being here in Ridgecrest, even with all the small earthquakes (that I've slept through) all the thousands of stray cats, and even with all the doors being shut in our face, I have loved it all. I am so thankful for all of your support and prayers. It's not easy being a missionary, but with the Lords help anything is possible. I love you all so much! 

Love always, Sister Kent  

My MTC family

My lovely home in the Phoenix Airport bathroom

All the Ridgecrest district sisters decorated Veterans graves

The classic trailer park tacos

Safety Pins and Snow (Letter sent 12/3/2019)

Hello Family and Friends! 

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. They truly do spoil missionaries here at the MTC on holidays. On Thursday we had an early morning devotional, and Elder Neil L. Andersen was the guest speaker. The second he walked into the room the spirit filled the air instantly. I can testify that he is truly a called apostle of God. After the devotional we filled our stomachs with as much thanksgiving food as possible. Don't worry dinner was indeed a sack dinner hahaha. 

Yesterday all of us missionaries in the my district received our flight plans!!! Sister Pedersen and I are off on Monday morning at 2:30 a.m. What an exciting time to be alive haha. I have come to really love everyone in my district. They all have changed my life more than I could have ever imagined. One of the sisters that room with us (Sister Bryant) has only been wearing an earring in her left ear the last three years. So Sister Pedersen and I took it upon ourselves to re-pierce her right earlobe. In case you are wondering we did exact same method as the movie Parent Trap. Except with snow instead of ice...and a (very clean) safety pin instead of a regular needle. It worked! I am now open for business if anyone is looking for a ear to be pierced .

Over that past few days Sister Pedersen and I have been busy planning lessons for our TRC's. I have loved teaching so many people. This week we found an investigator named Jessica. Jessica is going to school at UVU, and her boyfriend is a member! She wanted to find out more about why we are the True church and why we have the Book Of Mormon. Sister Pedersen and I both felt that we needed to teach her about The Restoration of the Gospel. Once again the spirit did not abandon us during the lesson. We were able to testify to her the Joseph is a true prophet of the Lord, and through him was able to restore this beautiful gospel.  We invited Jessica to start reading the first two chapters of the Book of Mormon, she practically jumped out of her chair when we extended the invite. 

I am truly grateful for this gospel, and for the Lord to be with me always. I know that even in hard times when we feel we are completely alone we are not. I love the Book of Mormon, and I love studying the words of so many amazing Prophets. I love you all so much, have a great weekend...and stay warm! 

Much love, Sister Kent 

Classic Map Picture

Visiting the Provo Temple as a District

Eating creamies during a snow storm

Seeing the Christmas lights around the MTC

Sister Bryant's new look... all the sisters
in my district took on the same look

We all enjoyed the snow way too much...
yes, snowballs were thrown ha ha ha

Two Blondes Make One Brain

Hello everyone! 

I hope all of you are well! And happy (early) Thanksgiving. I am alive and well! Adjusting to missionary life is definitely an adventure, however I am loving every moment of it. I have the sweetest companion, Sister Pedersen. If you all think I have blonde silly moments, you should meet Sister Pedersen haha. We are very very similar. As we both have. Even figuring out MTC life our motto as been "Two blondes make one brain" hahaha we luckily have been able to figure out most things on the first try. 

This week has seemed to be a bit of a blur. It has been physically and spiritually exhausting, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yesterday Sister Pedersen and I met with our first investigator named Rayna. She is such a sweet heart. We spent most of the time getting to know her, but left her with a commitment to pray to her Heavenly Father and ask for calcification on what her relationship is with him and with the savior. The spirit was so strong in the room, and I felt so much love that our Savior has for Rayna. 

I am so grateful to be here at the MTC. I know that the savior is walking beside me every step of the way. If any of you question your own relationship with the Lord, invite you to kneel in prayer and ask him with a sincere heart. He answers prayers. I know that to be true.  I love and miss you all so much. Thank you all for you sweet emails that I have received throughout the week. They help more than you know! Have a great week, and eat an extra slice of pie for me! 

Love always, 

Sister Kent

Sister Pedersen gave me a dinosaur sticker...
yes, I did cry

The famous MTC map

Hanging out with some of the Elder's from our district

Sister Pedersen and some of the other sisters

Here is my district.  I love them all so much.  They truly
have become my other family.