Hello everyone! how is everyone doing? Things are going really well here. This past week has been pretty awesome. Busy but awesome. On Tuesday, we drove the whole zone into Kingston in the mission bus for a mission conference held by Elder Rasband who is the Presiding President of the Quarum of the Seventy and Elder Cornish a member of the Quarum of the Seventy. They held a question and answer session. It was great being able to be taught about missionary work by two General Authorities. After the conference, we were planning to stop somewhere with the zone to eat and then to head back to Sav-la-mar to stay the night because we were supposed to have a zone meeting the next morning in Sav. As I was driving, my Mission President called on the phone and was talking to my companion. My Mission President told him that Elder Rasband wanted to meet with  Brother Banhan and I the following morning. So, I went on a last minute trade-off with the assistants and the following morning Elder Rasband, Elder Cornish, and their wives, and President Hendricks, and President Brown met with the Banhan family and I. Elder Rasband had heard some of Brother Banhan's conversion story from President Hendricks, so he wanted to meet with us and talk about Brother Banhan's conversion. It was awesome being back with the Banhans after being away from Kingston for about two months. As His conversion story was told, the Spirit was very strong in the room, and it brought back my sacred memories of teaching Brother Banhan. Near the end of the meeting, Elder Rasband asked if when the Banhans go to get sealed in the temple he could preform their temple sealing. The Banhans excitedly said yes. We also gave a priesthood blessing to Brother Banahan. As Elder Rasband was leaving, he said that the Lord had sent him to the Banhan's house that day. What an awesome experience! I was touched and very greatful that I could be apart of it. I feel like I dont deserve all of these awesome experiences, but I am very thankful for them. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and that he guides the Church through His chosen servants. Love you all,

ELder Nugent

Hey everyone! hope everything is going well! things are going really well on this side of the world. This past week has been pretty good. we are working hard and we are really starting to help the members become involved with the missionary work here. it is awesome. This week, we spent time doing splits with some other areas in the zone and we also had to go into Kingston for zlc. I am healthy and love it here in Santa Cruz. the people are great and time is flying by way too fast. This past week, I have been thinking a lot about how the gospel is really here to help us become and measure up to our full potential. I thank God for allowing us to come to earth to be tried and tested, to learn and to grow, and eventually if we are faithful become like Him. I thank God for providing us with a Savior to make it all possible. I love my mission. And I love all of you back home,

Elder Nugent

Hey everyone! how is everyone doing back home? I am doing excellent out here. I am loving the mission right now more than ever. My companion Elder Taylor from San Diego and I get along very well. This week has been awesome. We experienced another miracle. A few weeks ago, we asked a very inactive member who they knew who would be interested in or benefit from the gospel. She told us about a friend that she had named Camile, but she said that she would have to talk to her before she gave us her number. Several weeks passed, and the inactive member finally gave us Camile's number. Several days passed after we got the number, but for some reason, we waited to call Camile's number. Then, on Thursday, we were looking through our planners and Camile's name stood out to me and we decided to contact her. We set up a time to meet with her later that day. When we arrived at her house, Camile seemed very eager to learn, and as we began talking with her she told us that for the past three days, she had been fasting and praying for God to show her the steps she needed to take to follow Him, and that that very same day in which we had called and met her, was the day that she had ended her fast. In fact, she told us that it was about 2 hours after she had ended her fast that we had called her. It was an awesome experience. As we continued to talk with her, we asked if she had any questions she would like answers to. She then said, " yeah, why are there so many churches, and how do I know which church I should join?". It was so amazing to see how she had been prepared by the Lord. I know that this work is the work of the Lord, not just because I have experienced miracles such as this, but because the Holy Spirit has borne that witness to my soul.

Love you all,

ELder Nugent

Hello everyone. Greetings. Peace. Love. Respect. Blessed. haha Things are going awesome over here in Jamaica. This past week has been pretty busy, but it ended with a baptism. So no complaints ever on this side. This week, we were training missionaries in Negril and Montego Bay, and then we had a zone conference in Sav-La-mar. so we were sadly out of our area for a while. On Sunday, we baptized the daughter of a recent convert that we have been teaching for about 6 weeks. It was cool to see how happy they were. It was definitely a special moment. That family will always hold a special place in my heart. I have loved teaching them. being a missionary is just great. it is awesome. I love serving others and serving God. Today, I have been pondering on the grace of Jesus Christ that comes via His Atonement. The power of Christ's atonement is more than just raising us from the dead. The power of Jesus Christ's atonement enables us to become new creatures. It enables us to be transformed. It enables us to become gods. It enables us to change. Without it and without Him we are as dross. It is impossible to change our natures to a godly nature on our own. We may change our actions, but we cannot change our natures to a godly nature on our own. How do we experience the power of His amazing grace? we just need to put our full and complete trust in Him. We must do everything He asks of us regardless of our fears and consequences. I have seen many lives transformed from His amazing grace. I have seen my own life transformed from His amazing grace. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is the Son of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love,

Elder Nugent

Hey everyone! Hope everyone is doing well! Man, time has been flying by too fast. I am loving it here in Santa Cruz. This past week, we have met and taught some really cool people that have a lot of potential. So i am very excited about that. In missionary work, we the missionaries, always try to recieve referrals from members and non members, because this is the most effective way to find good investigators who are likely to be baptized. A constant struggle that missionaries face, however, is that many times members are afraid to refer their close friends and family to the missionaries because either they think that their friends and family wont be interested, or because they think that it will somehow disrupt their relationship. This has been a dilemma i have faced for much of my mission until about 2 weeks ago. The answer to this dilemma came from the Lord, and the answer is to go to the Lord. I challenge all who read this post to do these few simple things:

 

1. Read and ponder Alma 16:16. The Lord has been preparing people who we know to recieve the gospel. He has prepared their hearts by the Spirit. This scripture applies to us today.

 

2. Get on your knees, and pray to God to ask who among the people that you know, has been prepared to hear the gospel. And who among the people that you know, you should share the gospel with. God uses us to soften peoples hearts as well.

 

3. As you close your prayer, remain on your knees and ponder. Prayer is a two-way communication with our Father in Heaven. We need to give Him time to communicate with us. Remain silent, and ponder for several minutes. As you ponder, I promise that names of people you know will come to your mind, and heart. This is revelation from the Holy Ghost. (D&C 9:8)

 

4. Write down the names that came to your mind and heart on a piece of paper

 

5. Contact the missionaries, and ask for their help in sharing the gospel with those people. It is best if you contact your friends first, and invite them to meet the missionaries. The missionaries can help you know how to contact your friends.

 

Always give thanks to the Lord for revelation. This process has worked every time. The Lord does answer prayers! I know He lives and I love Him. I love you all as well,

 

Elder Nugent

Hey everyone! hope everything is going well, and I hope everyone has had an excellent new years. Things are going really well here. We should be having a baptism on saturday and we are working with some really cool people. Time is flying by faster than ever, and I am enjoying the sweet work of the Lord. This past week, I have been thinking a bit on how we need to receive the Holy Ghost. When we were baptized, we were given instruction at confirmation to recieve the Holy Ghost, which is an action phrase. At baptism we were given the gift of the Holy Ghost, but it is up to us to receive that gift. As we are obedient, and honor our covenants, and keep the commandments, and partake of the sacrament, we receive the Holy Ghost. As we are disobedient, the Holy Ghost leaves, and instead of light, we are filled with darkness.  May we all strive to be more diligent in receiving the Holy Ghost throughout our lives.

Love you all,

Elder Nugent

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's. This past week was awesome. I had an excellent Christmas. We were able to share Christmas messages with many people and help them feel the Spirit which was awesome. We were also fed by some members which was excellent as well haha. On Sunday, I gave a talk in Church about conversion which went pretty well, and got me to thinking about ways that I can become more fully converted in my life. And since it is New Year's, what better time to set some resolutions? As I prepared my talk, the realization came to me that we become more converted as we experience blessings from the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and as we allow ourselves to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost; because, It is the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost which causes a mighty change in our hearts. When we are converted, we are born again. We become changed creatures in Jesus Christ. So, we need to apply the atonement by living the gospel including faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, making and keeping covenants, following the promptings of the Spirit, and enduring to the end in faith. We need to invite the Spirit into our lives through obedience to God's commandments including daily scripture study and prayer, and participating in sacred ordinances of the gospel such as the sacrament. May we all strive to do better to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this upcoming year. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Love you all

Elder Nugent