Week of Miracles! (04-27-2015)

Hello friends and family!

This week has been CRAZY! Just to share a few experiences...

I taught the restoration at a man's door step in 7 minutes and he invited us back. That was cool. 

I did a street contact through our car window to a man sitting in his car at a stop light. That was cool too!

My companion and I went to teach Peter, a middle-aged man who has been receiving the lessons for the past 3 months and is so ready except that he can't kick the alcohol. When we (and the 2 members we had with us) arrived, he was wasted. He spent the whole time crying and yelling. It was an adventure to be sure! Pray for him. 

I went on my first exchanges with one of the Sister Training Leaders. It was so fun! She really showed me what it means to work hard and have fun at the same time. I hope I get to serve with her someday. We had a lot of success! We did meet one man, however, who would not let us get a word in edgewise. He had some awful misconceptions about the church, and wouldn't let us clarify or correct him at all. All we could do was say, "We're sorry you feel that way," and walk away. It was sad. I think I've given at least 20 speeches to myself as to what I would have said if he would have let me. 

We made a break through with Danny and Erin! Erin is a member, Danny is not. They've been living together forever and have 2 kids. Erin hasn't been active for most of her life, but they've become very active together in the past 3-4 months. Danny wants to get baptized so badly, but he can't until they get married, and Erin is afraid of getting married because of a past divorce. It's so sad! And it's pretty selfish on her part, in my opinion. But we had a lesson with us last night where we invited one of the bishopric members, and we taught about the priesthood. We talked about having the priesthood in the home, and what a blessing that would be to their family. We encouraged them not to hold themselves back from the blessings that they could have. Then we offered that they could receive a priesthood blessing right there from Brother Hills, and Erin had actually been thinking about asking for one. It was perfect, and very powerful. The Spirit was so strong! I hope they have the faith to move forward soon. 

Yesterday in church we were singing the sacrament hymn, and there were 2 extra verses that never get sung. As we were singing I thought about how I would love to sing those verses. I had a YW leader in MN who hated it when we didn't sing all the verses to the hymns, and I ended up adopting that same pet peeve. You don't get the full meaning of the song if you don't! But I thought we probably wouldn't, and then we did!! Also, I like to read sacrament hymns to myself while the sacrament is being passed, and I came upon "Jesus, Once of Humble Birth," which is one of my favorites, but we seem to only ever sing it at Christmas time. I knew they choir was singing that day, and I thought, "It would be so awesome if they would sing this!" and then they did!! Heavenly Father knows me! And He gives me tender little mercies to show me that He's aware of me. 

Si'i's husband joined us for a lesson! Hopefully he continues to join us. She wants him to accept the gospel so badly. 

The theme for church yesterday in both wards we attend was tithing and fasting, and all of the investigators who came to church with us had had that same lesson just this week! That was a miracle. Quote from Sacrament meeting, "Fasting and missionary work are kissing cousins." Haha!

Being here is hard. I won't lie. There are dogs outside our apartment who bard all hours of the night. I'm tired a lot. My companion and I aren't clicking like I would like us too. The weather is bi-polar! I freeze and sweat several times in the same day. Getting up at 6:30 every day is not always fun. I miss all of you! But the blessings far outweigh any sacrifices I feel I'm making! I am stretching and growing like never before! (Thankfully not physically... I'm determined not to gain weight! They will not make me fat!) There is work to be done, and I am here to do it. I am loving being a missionary. I want all of my efforts to be consecrated to the Lord. Thank you for your prayers! I feel them every day. The Lord is behind this work. He give strength to those who follow Him! Keep on keeping on! I love you all!

Love, Sister Porter

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It's okay to be a glow stick... sometimes we have to break before we can shine."

First week in Vegas! (04-20-2015)

Hello!

Wow. There is so much to say! To wrap up on the MTC, it was amazing. By the time we left my district had all grown very close. It was hard to say goodbye to the ones not coming to Vegas with us, but after reporting to the travel office (at 3:30 am), a shuttle ride and two different trains to the airport, an hour and a half delay on our flight (due to a blizzard), getting my bag fully searched and receiving a full body pat down at security (my bag tested positive for explosives), sobbing on the airport floor while throwing away some of my favorite perfumes and lotions (totally forgot not to put them in my carry on and didn't want to pay $150 to check a third bag), getting my carry on searched a second time, and talking to my loved ones on a pay phone, we were on our way!

Landing in Vegas was awesome. The Mission presidency and the assistants were there to meet us, and we were taken to the mission home. Because we were so late we didn't get time to take a nap or relax much like other new missionaries get to on their first day. It was all just craziness. BUT! I met my first companion and she is fantastic! Her name is Sister Martin (pronounced Marteen) and she is from Mexico City. She didn't know any English before coming on her mission, but she does very well even though she still struggles here and there. She has been out for almost a year. She and Sarah actually reported to the MTC on the same day, but swapped countries! Pretty funny. She has been very patient and good for me. We are serving in Henderson in the Lake Mead Stake, Fairview and Calico Ridge wards, and we live in a very nice town home.

The weather has been great so far! It gets a little hot in the afternoon, but otherwise it's been perfect. Except the first evening I was here, we were out talking to people and I was freezing. Leave it to me to come to somewhere like Vegas and still be cold! Ugh. 

The people here are so great! I haven't even been here a week and I just love it so much! I love being a missionary. It's funny, because usually I just feel like Hannah. Like, everything feels very natural. It's not until I get recognized in ward council or people give me funny looks that I'm like, "Oh yeah, the name tag... I'm different now." We have several investigators and part member families that we have been seeing. We are so busy!!! We have two baptisms (Edwin and Angela - married couple, 4 kids but none of them are interested) on May 2nd, and another on May 9th (Si'i - from Samoa, 3 beautiful little girls, husband isn't interested, she wanted to wait until he would join with her but decided to go ahead anyway). They are amazing people! There are some others who we have been seeing who I have really clicked with. All the elderly men and I get a long fantastically! We have the same sense of humor haha... I don't even have time to name all of the others we are teaching! All of the members are so supportive and invigorated to do missionary work with us. It's awesome.

Well I love you all! I love being a missionary! I love the gospel! Pray always and take care!

Love, Sister Porter

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

"Decide what to be, and go be it!"

Hello, outside world! (04-08-2015)

Hello! 

I can't believe I've been here a week!!! It feels like an eternity, and at the same time, no time at all. This might be a little long, but you have your agency and you can read as much or as little as you like! Isn't that great?! :)

Someone told me once (as a joke) that the only difference between the MTC (missionary training center) and prison was that you get visitors in prison. Some of the missionaries here certainly feel that way, but I'm loving it! Being called "Sister Porter" feels so natural. It's a crazy busy time, and I've grown more spiritually in the last week than I have in my whole life! It's been hard, I won't lie. As we were driving up to the MTC to drop me off I told my friend, "I'm more freaked out right now than I've been in my whole life. Someone just needs to tell me I have cancer. I could handle that." Hahaha... But they really don't give you too much time to freak out. From the moment you say goodbye you are hustling and bustling here and there getting this, getting that, going to this orientation, and on and on and on. The craziness doesn't end! We have a strict schedule, and I have definitely been blessed to be able to wake up on time, and be ready with all of my assignments. They assign us so much work, it doesn't seem like anyone could ever get it all done! If there is anything driving me crazy it's all of the sitting! We sit in class for about 10-12 hours a day just studying, learning, planning, teaching, role playing, more studying, doing assignments, etc... Also, I've had a little bit of a hard time not being able to be alone. My companion is amazing and I love her to pieces, but I do love my solitude. So being with 7 others the entire day is a little overwhelming sometimes. But I'm adjusting and I've made some goals to help me. The Lord is most certainly behind us and helping us. There is no way I could do everything I do here normally (emotionally, physically, mentally), but I have been held up by angels. 

On our second day here I was called to be the Sister Training Leader for my district/zone, so that was definitely humbling. I have the responsibility of looking out for the other sisters in our zone and making sure we are all doing alright and being obedient. My companion is Sister Borup, and I could not ask for anyone better! She basically reminds me of a 5'2" itty-bitty, 19 year old me, except that she has a lot more energy! She keeps everyone laughing and on their toes, and helps me lighten up when I get a little to serious. I love her so much! We share a room with Sister Tuski and Sister Dittman. Sister Dittman is so, so sweet and just a quiet force for good in our district. She had the hardest time transitioning out of all of us. Most of these missionaries have never lived away from home, so it takes a lot of courage on their part. Sister Tuski... Oh what to say... She has righteous desires and good intentions... but I guess there is always one... :) The rest of our district is made up of Elder Clark and Elder Viollis-Lee, and Elder Palmer and Elder Turnbow, all great people! It's so awesome to see the growth in maturity and spirituality these young men have made in just one week. I love our district!

Okay, wasn't general conference just amazing?! Oh my goodness, I couldn't pick a favorite talk for the life of me. It was fantastic to sit in a room with hundreds of the Lord's missionaries feasting on the words of the prophets and apostles. I wish I had time to tell you what I took from each and every talk, but alas, this will have to do. Just one thought that I loved was from Elder Pearson's talk. He said, "AVERAGE IS THE ENEMY OF EXCELLENCE." I love that, and it's so true! Strive to be excellent! In everything you do! It will pay off. 

Today we have a new district joining our zone, so I will be able to meet them, give them a tour of the campus, and orient them a bit. I'm so excited! I'm excited to assure them that everything will be okay! I think of who I was a week ago and who I am today, and already I am not the same person. Crazy what can happen in so little time if we truly dedicate ourselves to something worthwhile. I have a testimony of this work. I've learned that the Lord doesn't need me. With or without me, this work will go on because it is true. However, I will be honored to be an instrument in His hands and let Him use me for His work. I have talents and abilities that He will use, and I will gladly let him. I know my purpose here, and it is solidifying my purpose in life. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. And even when I leave my mission, that will continue to be my purpose in my work life, my personal life, my family life, and everywhere I go. If one person can say that they felt the love of God because they met me, I will be happy. Read the Book of Mormon. If you don't have one, get one! If you need to know how to get one, tell me! It will change your life and bring you hope and peace you never thought you could feel! I love it so much. 

I have to go, but I love you all. Thank you for being in my life. Don't forget to pray always! He listens!

Love, Sister Porter

QUOTE FOR THE DAY! 

"I have been quoted as saying, 'Do the best you can.' But I want to emphasize that it will be the very best. We are too prone to be satisfied with mediocre performance. We are capable of doing so much better." -Gordon B. Hinckley