April 18, 2011

What an absolutely incredible week.....

I'll first start off by telling you about my new area/companion/ward/and new life really.

I have been moved from the London Zone, to the Brampton Zone. The Brampton Zone is in the heart of the mission, and is where the mission office and mission home are. We are around all the office missionaries, the APs, and a few senior couple missionaries who are an EXCELLENT addition to the already fantastic tools and resources that we have in this great mission of the Lord. The Heart Lake Ward which I am serving in now is the very center of Brampton City. The Creditview ward is on our left, and the Brampton 1st ward is on our right. Brampton City is VERY different than London City. Brampton is a very, very clean and very nice place. There is a RIDICULOUS amount of cultures and different kinds of people here, which makes things interesting. TONS of Islam, Hindu, and Sikh people. All of them are really nice. It is strange not living in a much lower class area anymore. It’s been a strange adjustment.

My new companion's name is Elder John Hancock II. He's from Phoenix, AZ, and he's a true gem. He is easily the most Christ-like person I have ever been able to associate with. So, so amazing. He is so loving, understanding, and such an amazing missionary. Our styles of doing missionary work are almost EXACTLY the same, which is weird, but awesome. He is pretty much what I hope to become in the future. His contacting, teaching, and social skills are all developed in a way that I hope to achieve someday. Such an amazing guy. We've been working SO HARD this past week. Even during breaks, and meals, we are going non-stop. Always updating records, always calling people, always rescheduling/scheduling appointments. It’s a good feeling when you go to bed at night knowing that you did everything that the Lord expects of you.

The Heart Lake ward is the most missionary orientated ward I've ever witnessed. SO AMAZING. Fellowshipping isn't a big deal, because there is always somebody in the exact same situation as your investigator. And they are always willing to help. I love the ward and its members already. They have such genuine love, they make you feel like a king. So amazing. I love them so much and can't thank them enough for their Christ-like example they set for me.

My life is a lot different in the sense that I HAVE A CAR NOW! Haha, woooooohhhhhhooo! I love cars more than ever before. We actually have a BRAND NEW Subaru Impreza. The missions always get really nice new cars, because we just keep them right until all the warrantees run out, then we sell them and buy brand new ones. So we've got an awesome car, it’s amazing.

This past week Elder Hancock and I surpassed all of our goals and all of the missions Standard of Excellence goals as well. Everything EXCEPT finding hours. We honestly didn't have time to find, because we were teaching almost all week. AMAZING. The Lord is blessing us so ridiculously much. We're worthy, we're obedient, we're working hard, we're trying to be humble, we're trying to always be better, we have genuine love in our companionship...it’s so humbling to see how the Lord will bless you if you simply DO what He wants us so. So humbling.

We had quite a few miracles this week.....

Day 1 for me in Brampton we did some finding in a place called "the jungle". There are tons of high-rise apartment buildings, so we find in the middle of them all. We contacted an 18 year old girl named Rebecca. Right off the bat you could tell she was VERY prepared for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We chatted for 5 minutes, and set up an appointment for 8pm that night at the library. Elder Hancock and I met with her, had an awesome lesson, and set her for baptism on MAY 1st! 3 weeks away. She is Brampton YSA, so we passed her onto the APs who cover the YSA ward here, and we've been getting frequent updates from them, and she's doing amazing. She came to church and was fellowshipped like crazy, and she can't wait for May 1st to come so she can be baptized. MIRACLE.

Day 2 in Brampton we went tracting, and when we tract, we typically go door to door, but we stop and talk to anybody we see outside, and then continue on. While we were going door to door, I saw a lady across the street poke her head out and then go back in. I knew she was home, so we crossed the street to talk to her next. We knocked on her door and she answers, and we have a quick little chat with her. She's so prepared its NUTS. She goes to church because she knows she should, but she doesn't get anything out of the Catholic Church she's attending. We shared our testimonies with her, and she let us in to teach her right then and there. Once again, amazing lesson, and she committed to be baptized on MAY 1st!!! She came to church, and she's doing amazing. We had a member invite her to FHE tonight, so we're excited for that. She's excited for May 1st to come up as well. Another MIRACLE.

We are being SO BLESSED here. My testimony of faith, diligence, and obedience has grown lots and lots this past week. So actually see and feel results to your quest to be better is such a relief, and a blessing from Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful to be here in this AMAZING City and Zone, and have the privilege and blessing to serve my Master at this time.

I love you all! Thank you for your support and prayers.

Until next week

ELEVATE THE STANDARD

-E. PORTER

April 11, 2011

Well, in 1 week I will be hitting my 5 MONTH MARK. Man, I am not a baby missionary anymore. I'm getting "older" every day. It’s kind of depressing actually.

I have been serving here in the city of London, in the London 2nd ward for nearly 4.5 month, or for 3 transfers. 3 or 4 transfers are pretty normal, but 4 are much more common for a walking area. As the transfer drew to a close over the past week, a desire started to grow bigger and bigger inside me to stay a little bit longer in this area. When I got here I didn't like it. Not much at all. I liked being a missionary, but not London. I worked my guts out and tried to be happy, optimistic, and hard working. It wasn't until I realized that my time in London may be drawing to a close, that I started to feel with strong emotion how much I love it here. I didn't even realize it until recently. I love it so much. I love the people, I love the ward, I love the stupid hills I have to walk up every day in any direction I walk from my apartment, I love our investigators, I love the memories, I love the things I have been blessed with while I've been serving here, and I love the things I've learned about myself, the gospel, and the way this area has changed me for the better. It’s just another experience on the pile of things that shapes me into who I must be. I received my transfer call last night, I will be heading to the Heart Lake Ward, in the Brampton Zone. I know Heart Lake isn't a city, I think it may even be inside of Brampton. I'm not sure. Its most likely just west of Toronto, in the suburbs that way. I am going to be paired up with Elder Hancock, who has been out for 2 transfers more than me. We're a pretty young companionship, but Brampton is ALWAYS loaded with the best missionaries. They've got to set a model zone for the rest of the mission. It’s where the headquarters is, and where the AP's work and things. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Elder Hancock, so I'm REALLY excited. Brampton even has a motto-"BRAMPTON BAPTISES". It’s a nicer part of Ontario (or so I've heard), and it’s pretty close to the Toronto temple. Oh, I GET A CAR TOO! HA! Yeah, pretty excited about that. Walking was cool and had its perks, but walking in the summer would be tough. That’s really all I know about my new area...I have no clue what the address is or anything, but I'll get that by next Monday.

So after I got my call last night, I just sat at my desk, staring at the wall for about 45 minutes. It pretty much shattered my entire universe, ha. I wasn't expecting it, and I didn't want it to come. It’s so funny how big changed make you realize what you really feel about places and people. I love it here. I am going to say goodbye to my FAVORITE people in the whole world...Bro. and Sis. Hofstetter. They've had the BIGGEST influence on my mission. They are incredible people, and they honestly changed who I am. We visit them every Sunday, many times for dinner. I love them so much. I love lots of people here.  It’s going to be really sad to leave. Man.

I finished this area with a strong push though. We've got 2 investigators with baptismal dates, 1 of which is SUPER solid with no concerns thus far. We're working with an amazing 13 year old girl, whose mother isn't letting her be baptized. But we've been working with her mother, and they are coming to stake conference together this Sunday! She even had me and my comp over for dinner last week. Things are looking up with nearly everything now. I'm glad I was able to leave this area better than when I found it. It was a tough past 6 weeks. But I made it through.

The Lord has His hand in this work, and in our lives. It is so easy to see if you step back. Everything around us points towards a loving Heavenly Parent. We're so lucky to be blessed with this truth and knowledge that we all have. We've got to take advantage of the light that we have. We've got to pray more sincerely, study more diligently, be more exactly obedient...these simple little things make the make-or-break difference in the end. I pray that we can all remember that we are simply clay in the hands of our Master. Everything will work out. I love the gospel, my Lord, and my mission. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, and I'm receiving the positive consequences that come from it.

Never forget to "ELEVATE THE STANDARD"

-E. PORTER

April 4, 2011

This past week has been a real interesting one. I feel like I learned a LOT. Conference this past weekend along with the personal whisperings of the spirit combined together to make this past conference wonderful. I learned many things I need to do as a missionary, as well as a child of God. I'm very grateful for the opportunity that we have to listen to living apostles and prophets. How lucky we are. I'm so grateful, and I testify of the truth that we have in the Church of Jesus Christ. The truth that we possess is often taken for granted, or not understood as much as it really should be. The more and more I learn and the longer and longer I am on my mission serving the Lord 100% of the time, the more and more I realize I have a testimony. The more and more I realize we have ordained servants of prophets of our Lord. The more and more I realize WE HAVE THE TRUTH. Words can't express the wonderful things I've learned about myself and about the gospel during my short 4.5 month time I've had to serve my Master.

I did learn an interesting lesson this week. Well...more like had a lesson re-confirmed in my heart and spirit. Faith is the power by which the Lord rolls forth His will among His children. It’s pretty simple actually. If you don't have faith, nothing will happen. If you have faith in a righteous, inspired goal, it will happen. Pretty simple, eh? (ha). My good companion is a GREAT guy. Great sense of humor, great personality, lots of fun. But this past week there was a very apparent lack of faith. He and I are joined by a spiritual power during the time we serve together. If one of us has faith, and the other doesn't...then our companionship doesn't. It’s a win-together, lose-together situation. Conference was a wonder opportunity we had, together as a companionship, to discuss and talk about things we could prayerfully implement in our missionary work to help us find more success. I DO know from the past, that AS WE SHOW OUR FAITH (faith is an ACTION word, my friends) then we can and WILL accomplish the Lords will. Whether we are missionaries or regular church members. The lesson I've learned is that we must follow Christ’s teachings to accomplish His will. A big part of His teaching is developing Christ-like attributes. Every Christ-like attribute is an ACTION word, or a verb. You cannot develop something, or become something without doing it. We've got to ACT, and NOT BE ACTED UPON. If we do, we will act as tools in the Masters hands, mouthpieces in His mouth, and we will be able to fulfill our divine calling of being the sacred vessels in which His spirit, and His will will be accomplished. It’s our duty and privilege. I know the Lord is REAL. I know he LIVES. His influence is ETERNAL. And we must RISE TO THE STANDARD to accomplish what he has set us out to do.

As I show forth my faith this week, we will find success and progression. This past week, every single person in our teaching pool got sick right before conference. Coincidence? I think NOT! Very frustrating. We've dropped lots of our investigators, including one from the past who was almost baptized. It’s the second time we've dropped her. She blew her second chance. So sad. We've got 2 not-so-much-progressing investigators, BOTH with baptismal dates. They will be postponed if things don’t get moving. We're teaching an AMAZING 14 year old girl. Cried to her mom frequently to be baptized. We haven't gotten the ok-go YET. We'll be working with her this coming week.

Out of time. Love you all!

RAISE THE STANDARD

E. PORTER