Hello everybody! how is it going?! thank you for the birthday wishes, I appreciate it. This past week has been good. The Jamaicans have a tradition where when it is your birthday they throw flour all over you. They call it flouring. So, naturally, on Tuesday I was floured. Pictures will come next week. 

Everything has been going well here though. Yesterday, I gave the longest talk I have ever given in a sacrament meeting. It was roughly 30 minutes long. My companion overestimated the length of his talk so he only talked for about 8 minutes, so I had to make up the difference haha. It was good though. The mission has definitely moulded me into a better teacher and speaker. 

It is crazy how the mission has been changing me. I hardly have any fear about going up to random people on the street and talking to them. I love studying the gospel like never before. Before I came on my mission i thought gospel study would be like a chore, now it is something i look forward too. It is amazing to me how every time you read your scriptures you learn something new. 

Everything you learn, if applied into your life can help you become a better, happier person. Many people spend their lives searching for the secret of life, how to be successful, and how to be happy. The answer to all of those questions are contained in the scriptures. we just have to open them with an open heart and read and study and ponder and apply them into our lives. 

Time has also been moving than faster than ever now. It feels like every day i just wake up and then go to bed. Everything is moving like a blur. I love serving out here though. We are working with a really cool investigator who is 16 who should be getting baptised on may19. He is awesome. he has been reading and praying and so i am excited for him. training is going pretty well. 

My companion and I definitely have our ups and downs, But i am thankful because i am learning so much from this experience. After all, we go through troubles and trials so we can learn and grow. I love this gospel, and I love my Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and loves us. I am so very grateful for our living prophet who helps us stay on the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. I love and miss you all,

Love, 

Elder Nugent

Hey everybody! how is everything going? I hope you are all doing something fun for my birthday hahaha. Just kidding but I am doing great here in Mandeville. We have someone who should be getting baptized in 2 weeks so I am excited about that. A quick funny story is about to follow: so yesterday at church, out of the blue over 20 non members came to church. In church, My companion and I teach an investigator class where nonmembers go to sunday school. So in our investigator class we had about 25 people that we taught which is much more than the usual 5 that show up on other sundays. After the class I learned that most of those new people are students at a bible college and many of them are studying to become clergy, and they showed up to get more information about our church for a research paper. so, they came to the church and were all pretending to be investigators. It was kind of disappointing to learn that they just came to the church to write a paper, but hopefully the message of the restoration which we taught them will plant some seeds in their hearts, and hopefully they will be willing to learn more and find out for themselves that the church is true.

This past week has been good though. We have been working hard. Training a new missionary can be challenging at times, but I am definitely learning in the process. We had another cool experience a couple weeks ago with one of our investigators. I will call the investigators name Dr. M.. Dr. M has been taught by missionaries for about a year and still has not been baptized. Then, a few weeks ago he had a dream where he saw his dead grandfather and Joseph Smith, and they were friends. The very next time that Dr. M came to church we had a lesson about temple and geneology work. Dr. M had been taught about temple work before, but I think he really felt the spirit testify to him at church about the divinity of temple work and genealogy because right after church, He came up to us and told us that he wants to be baptized as soon as possible. He should be getting baptized a few weeks into May if all goes well.

I love serving here in Jamaica. Everyday I love this country more and more. And everyday I learn more and more. I love my mission and I love the people here. I definitely know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ truly lives. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today who leads and guides us. Sorry this email is a little bit shorter today too. But I am sending a couple pictures and pictures are worth a thousand words. so technically this letter is really long. haha

P.S. as of tomorrow I am no longer a teenager that is another weird thought. time sure is flying. P.P.S. The pictures are of our Preparation day. We went to Treasure Beach in Saint Elizabeth. The person that is in a few of the pictures with me is the companion that I am training. 

Hello Everybody, Long time no talk. sorry this email has to be pretty short, i just came back from the beach with my zone. Things are going well here in Mandeville my companion and I are getting along well. It is a little bit different training, because my companion looks at everything that I do and I am constantly teaching so I have to be at the top of my game, which I always strive to do anyways, but it just puts the pressure on a little bit more. This week I was also called to be a district leader so I will have to teach district meeting every week which i am excited to do because i always find that i learn much more when i teach others. Our investigators here are doing well though. We now have 7 investigators who have a baptism date. We should be baptizing a man in about 2 weeks. There is a really cool story about how he finally comitted to baptism, but that will have to be shared next time due to lack of time. But i am doing well here. we are working hard and staying busy. Next week i will also send some pretty sweet pictures. But I just want to let all of you know that I know this church is true. I am so thankful to be serving a mission and I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that we have a true prophet on the earth today. And we are so blessed to be living in this day and time. Well I hope to hear from you all very soon. I love and miss you all

Elder Nugent

Hello everybody! Long time no talk haha. I wasnt able to email yesterday because it was a national holiday in Jamaica and the email place was closed. I am still doing well in Mandeville. This week has been pretty crazy. My new companion was stuck in texas for a few days because of some tornadoes, so I was put with a missionary from another area close to mandeville for a few days. But, my new companion finally arrived safe and sound on saturday and we are doing lots of work here in Mandeville. He is a great missionary, and is excited to serve here in Jamaica. His name is Elder Olson by the way. The work has been going good here so far. We have three people with baptism dates and we have a lot more who are progressing slowly but surely. This week, I was reflecting on my calling and purpose as a missionary, and it really hit me that as missionaries we are called to represent Christ and help people become cleansed from their sins. I then thought of how much in my life I use the atonement, and the joy that comes from repentance and forgiveness, and it has really motivated me even more to spread the gospel to others. It made me feel kind of like Alma and the sons of Mosiah and also like Enos. In Preach My Gospel they tell us that as our understanding of the Atonement increases, our desire to share the gospel will increase as well. And I definitely know that to be true in my life. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and I know that he truly atoned for our sins. I have experienced the cleansing power of the Atonement in my life, and I love being able to help others apply that same power in their lives. Well I love and miss you all. Happy late easter! 

Love,

Elder Nugent

Hello everyone! Elder Nugent here. This week has been pretty good. It was a little bit tough because a lot of appointments fell through, but we were able to push through and have a pretty successful week. This week we also received transfer calls, and I will be staying in Mandeville and I will be getting a new companion who is a brand new missionary who i will be training. I am a little bit nervous, but im excited too. 

General Conference was really good too. I loved hearing all the talks and it flew by way too fast. Every session felt like it was only 30 minutes long it was so crazy. I definitely learned a lot of principles that will not only help me in my missionary work, but also when I come back home. I loved preisthood session, It really gave me a strong desire to serve the Lord and others with all ive got. 

I loved in conference how they also emphasized the importance of family. I never realized the true importance of family until I came on my mission and saw the effects of having unstable family units. I would like to add my testimony that strengthening the relationship that we have with our families is one of the most important goals and objectives that we should EVER have in this life. The family is so important. As a missionary I constantly try to find and strengthen families. The best way to strengthen and grow a family is on the principles of the gospel. These principles will cultivate love, respect, charity, service, and other essential attributes that are required for strong family units. Scripture reading, prayer, service, family home evenings, and spending time with family members are great activities to build the foundation of the family on gospel principles. All of these things invite and cultivate an enviornment where the Spirit can be present to make the family grow stronger. 

This gospel and my mission has definitely changed my life. I am so grateful for it. I know that Christ lives and that he atoned for the sins of the world. I am thankful for my family who have helped me become the person that I am. I love and miss you all

Love,

Elder Nugent