Reading Sherlock Holmes prepared me to read Jesus the Christ. (05-25-2015)

In reference to the subject line, I'm sure that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and James E. Talmage would have been best friends! The complexity of their writing is fantastic!

Ok. I have like no time to write today. We have to get to a hair appointment for Sister Martin. 

BUT! We had such a great week! Not a lot of progress in the work, but we had several meetings and trainings that were very uplifting and inspiring. We had a meeting with Elder Clark of the 70 to prepared us to receive iPads to the mission soon, but the focus was really about our choices and eternity. It was amazing. I wish I had time to type all the notes I took! 

So, Sister Martin is getting transferred tomorrow! Sad, but good. It will be a chance for more growth! My new trainer will be Sister Unstead and I'm excited to get to know her. 

I spoke in church yesterday about missionary work, and it was so encouraging to see the members response! Several came up to me to compliment me and tell me that got them excited to do more missionary work. That was a good feeling. 

One of the members said, "You have to be the happiest person on the face of the planet!" and he told me my smile is contagious. That was also a good feeling :) 

Ok I've got to go. I'm sorry. I love you all! Have a good week!!!! Pray and smile always!

Love, Sister Porter

QUOTE: "It's hard to serve people you don't like, but it's harder not to like the people you serve."

Last week of transfer #1... What?! (05-18-2015)

Hello! 

This transfer has flown by! On Saturday we will be finding out if we are staying or going. Sister Martin has been here about 6 months, so she's feeling ready to move on. It's not super common to have more than one trainer (training lasts for the first 2 transfers/12 weeks), but a lot of people are thinking I will. I really don't know! 

So this week was...... interesting. Some eventful parts include a phone call that came Tuesday night around 10 after we had planned for the next day. A 47 year old investigator of ours sent a text saying, "Sister Porter, can you call me I have to ask you a question." As I was reading the text, the phone started ringing, so I answered it and put it on speaker phone so Sister Martin could hear also. This gentleman was calling to proclaim his love for me and ask if I returned his feelings! I told him I only had the most pure, Christlike attitude toward him and that I had no more feelings than that for him. He said that made him sad because he was really hoping that I loved him too. He went a little crazy after that, so we are no longer teaching him. HOWEVER, through him, we met Keith! Keith is this SUPER awesome 17 year old who absolutely loves the gospel, and we have set a baptismal date for him in June! The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Another interesting thing happened with a referral we had received... We were on our way to find this referral when we saw a woman walking in the apartment complex parking lot, so we started walking with her and talking about what we do, when she stopped walking she was in front of the apartment door we were about to go knock on! She was our referral! She told us she had been waiting for us to come for the past 2 weeks and she would love for us to come back! What a miracle! This woman seemed golden. Then we went back for the appointment and there was no answer. We left a note, texted her the next day (no reply), went back the next day (no answer), went back the next day (no answer even though we knew they were home)... then we went back a few days later and there was a sign taped to the door along with the card we had left her that said, "DO NOT DISTURB! NO THANK YOU!" I wanted to cry.

So, yes, this week has been a little discouraging. We are trying to get the members more involved in our work since we know that is the key! Please, remember the council of Elder Bednar! He said that the missionaries are to be full time teachers, and the members are to be full time finders! It would be amazing if we could just teach all day instead of feeling like we're wasting the Lord's time by going to return appointments where we just get stood up all day. Something that occurred to me this week is that in D&C section 4 when it says, "If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work," no where does it say anything about being between the ages of 18 and 26, being single, being a life-long member, or any of that! And then I read in the section heading, and realized that this was a revelation given to Joseph Smith Sr., a member missionary! So cool. This is an admonition to anyone who wants to serve God, and you can do it right where you stand. So do it!

Also, I read a talk this week by President Uchtdorf given in the April 2014 Priesthood session of conference entitled, "Are you sleeping through the restoration?" He talks about how it seems like everyone has the idea that the restoration is already over. The truth is back on the earth, we have the Priesthood back, we have the Book of Mormon, everything is good, right? NO! The restoration is not complete until the Savior comes again! The restoration is a restoration of bringing souls back into God's presence, and that is not complete until EVERYONE has heard the true gospel and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done! Isn't that what the gospel is for? Giving us access to God?

Something awesome from this week is that Si'i called us wanting us to come over and answer some questions for her about the restoration. We weren't sure what kind of questions she would have, but when we went over she said, "Sisters, how do I tell other people why I believe what I believe? How do I share my testimony about the restoration?" AHHH! So cool. She's the best. We need more people like her! 

Also, Edwin and Angela's kids, Tiyanna and Al, are going to be baptized by their dad in June! They are such an awesome family! I love teaching them. 

I love you and miss you all! Please help the work move forward wherever you stand! God needs us on His side!

Love, Sister Porter

QUOTE: "Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you will every be again." #deep

You know you're in NV when...(05-11-2015)

You know you're in NV when... you do yard work, and it just consists of moving rocks, and you start to think, "Oh those are some nice looking rocks!", or when you think, "That's a really nice shade of brown!"

Hello friends and family!

So, this week felt kind of dead. We have a LOT of new investigators, but we're struggling with getting them to progress. We are also trying to get in contact with all of the referrals we've received, and that's a chore all in itself! But it means we stay busy!

Saturday was Si'i's baptism! It was absolutely beautiful. As she went down into the water, my companion and I were at the top of the stairs of the font waiting with her towel. I couldn't help crying. She is the most beautiful example of pure faith and love for our Savior, and she truly loves this gospel. 

Since Sunday was Mother's Day and we cover 2 wards, I heard a LOT about mothers and families! It made me so grateful for such a wonderful mother and such a supportive family! I love you all very much! I can't wait to be a mother and have a family of my own someday. Si'i was sitting with us in sacrament meeting, and her girls were all cuddled up next to me. They love us. Eventually they both fell asleep on my lap, one on each side. As watched them, I started to cry because I thought of how their lives will be different now since their mother has accepted the gospel. These 3 beautiful girls will probably go on to be baptized, live the gospel of Jesus Christ, be married in the temple, have callings, and raise families of their own. I was overcome with such love for these girls and I thought, "Father, I know you loves these girls so much. Thank you for letting me love them too." That's how I feel about each of our investigators, and how I know I will feel about my children someday. I'm just grateful for the love in my life, both that I receive and am able to give! 

The gospel is a gospel of love. Love is the motivator for everything we do, because it's the motivator for all Christ does for us. I have a quote that says, "Love is the great power to influence this world," and it's so true. Do all things with love. Without charity we are truly nothing. 

I love my Savior. I love finding others to share that love with. The Lord said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) If we are ever tempted to vary from that which we know the Lord has set for us to do, we just need to ask ourselves how much we love the Lord. Do we love him enough to graciously accept the gift he has given us as he has paid a debt we could never hope to pay? And do we love him enough to accept him as our creditor? And follow the terms he has set? And still be rewarded beyond measure though we stand as helpless servants? It boggles my mind, but I'm ever so grateful!!! The gospel is the atonement, and it is real. I love it so much.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Love, Sister Porter

It's windy here, and we wear skirts. (05-04-2015)

Hey friends and family!

Well, it's been another week already! I can't even believe it! Friday was my 1 month mark for being a missionary! What?! Craziness. It's already flying by. We are so busy! We don't even have time to try to find more investigators because of the ones we already have and all of the referrals we get every day! It's great! 

We are also having fun. Last Preparation day our district went to a chocolate factory nearby,

so that was good! I really like my district. Then today a member took Sister Martin, another set of sisters, and I to the Hoover Dam. It's good to get a change of pace every now and then! 

Being myself and still being a missionary!

I've figured out how to be myself and still be a missionary, so that's good. Up to that point was kind of stressful. But I've figured out some new outlets for stress and I've been able to incorporate my sense of humor, which just makes me a much better missionary! 

We got to go to the temple on Friday with President and Sister Snow! We go as new missionaries together, and then we get to go  quarterly. It was so wonderful! The temple is gorgeous here! Afterwards we all had lunch together and took pictures. Then Saturday we had Zone Training Council, and that was so great! I got to know my zone a bit better and we had some really constructive discussions. We want to become a Zion Zone, or a zONE! Clever, huh? 

The Poulo Family!

Edwin and Angela Perez were baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday!!! Woohoo!!! They are the coolest couple, and they have an awesome family. The next step is to teach their older kids (11 & 13) so they can be baptized too. They are on fire with the gospel! I hope I continue to find people just like them all through my mission. Peter was drunk again 2 of the times we went to see him this week :( It's so sad. He's been drinking since he was 9, and his body just can't handle the withdrawals if he stops. Si'i Poulo is going to be baptized this Saturday! And her husband, who hasn't been very interested, came to church with her yesterday! They have 3 gorgeous girls who are 5, 4, and 2. They love church. They were running late to the meetings, but we had saved them a spot on the pew next to us. Then another family who was recently baptized came in and took the spot we had saved... we looked around and there was literally no where to sit. The chapel was so full because a couple in the ward was blessing their baby that day and there were tons of people visiting. We didn't know what to do! The baby blessing happened, and the Poulo family still wasn't there. As they came in we looked at them afraid we wouldn't have anywhere for them to sit, and lo and behold the bench behind us had opened up! A family who had been sitting there left as soon as the blessing was over. Miracle! Miracles happen every day. God is pretty awesome like that. 

Well, the work moves on! We are working hard! I love it! I'm bracing myself for the heat. Our car said that it got up to 109 degrees this week, but I'm pretty sure it's off. In any case, it's getting hotter. Pray for me! 

I love you all!!! 

Love, Sister Porter

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