May 24, 2011

May 24, 2011

This week has been a good one! Just a few days ago on Sunday we were able to fulfill our missionary purpose and confirm Taryn a member of Christ's church, and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Her conversion has been such a special one to be a part of. Such a good experience. During the past week of work we were still riding off the high of the baptism. She is doing awesome, and the ward is doing an amazing job supporting her and solidifying her decision to be baptized.

During the past week we worked really hard, we both feel good about how we worked. Our area is doing awesome. We've been blessed with 5 new baptismal dates over the past week! 3 of those dates belong to a Hindi family who have accepted a baptismal date of June 12! There is still a lot of work to do to help them be prepared, but they can be ready by then if they do all they should be doing. We've had many special spiritual experiences with them over the past few weeks. The power of Jesus Christ is real. It can help anybody no matter where you are from, how old you are, or what situation you find yourself in. I'm so glad I get to share this every single day. 1 of those dates is from an investigator who has been taught for 6 or 7 months. Missionaries have tried forever to help him work towards a date, and it’s just never happened. Following the direction of the spirit, we have been able to help him see why acting and committing to a baptismal date is important. He is scheduled to be baptized this coming Sunday. We are seeing him tonight to do our best to solidify the big step he's committed to make. The last date isn't really new, but it’s a date for a child of a less-active family missionaries have been working with forever. It’s pretty solid, but anything can happen as we've seen in the past. Our goal is for this ward to have 7 baptisms before the end of June. When we complete our goal, we will have beaten the missions "expected standard" by 7 times. It's unheard of, but Elder Hancock and I have truly discovered the very REAL power of faith. Why can't we baptize that many people? There isn't ANY reason. So, we'll go out, work hard, have faith, and make things happen. We will do all that is required of us to make our goals come to pass.

Transfers are actually today, and the transfer calls were on Sunday night. Elder Hancock has been here for 6 months already...and staying in an area for longer than that is pretty rare. BUT, we made such an amazing team that the Lord is blessing us to be together for another transfer. We were both extremely happy we were together for some more precious time. There WILL be a change however, a rare change-we are now a tripanionship! We've been blessed with another missionary in our companionship. His name is Elder Roberts. He has been on his mission the same amount of time as Elder Hancock. The 3 of us will do our best to finish things out and exceed the goals we have set.

The next few transfers in preparation for the merge with the Toronto East mission will be a little bit different. This transfer will be 5 weeks instead of 6, and the next transfer will be 4 weeks instead of 6. After the merge the transfer cycles will go back to the normal 6 week rotation.

I left my camera cord at home, or I would send some pictures...I'll make sure to do it next week.

Love you all! Keep doing your best, and never let up on making correct choices!

E. PORTER

May 16, 2011

 Taryn Barnes, baptized!

Well, the past 6 months have shot by pretty quick, EH?! I'd say they have. I didn't realize it was my 6 month mark tomorrow until dad reminded me in the email this morning. I'm lost in the great and amazing service. There is no more compelling or rewarding work than this in all the world. How blessed I am to be a part of it.

I have a lot to write this week. I'm not sure I will be able to get it all down.

To start off, I had my first baptism last night. The magnitude of strong feelings of love brought by the spirit make it impossible to give justice to the service by writing to you all through an email. Sorry, but you had to be there.

Taryn Barnes was baptized last night. I was blessed with the honor by her to be the one to perform the ordinance. It was the most special, sacred experience I've ever had. The spirit was so strong. The service started out with the hymn "There is sunshine in my soul today". When we found Taryn, it was a very cold, wet, foggy rainy day. We had the same weather last night and the day of the baptism as well. The spirit instantly came into the room with the hymn and the support and love of many ward members, missionaries across the city, and friends and loved ones of Taryn. We had some excellent talks on Baptism, and on the Holy Ghost by a senior missionary, and a good friend who is a ward member. There was a fantastic musical number by a family who has 4 girls. They sang beautifully, and it invited the spirit even more. Then I was able to baptize Taryn. It was a special moment for the two of us. I was able to find her, teach her, and finish opening the gate to salvation with performing her baptism. What a special experience. Words can't describe what all happened-but it was very special for the both of us. After we were changed, Taryn stood and bore her testimony and conversion story that she had written the day previous. She was so sincere. She understands the gospel and the spirit and what it can do to change lives. It brings such peace, happiness, love, and a culture of gentleness into your heart that nothing can compare with. It truly is true. Her testimony was so powerful. The room was on fire and every single person could feel it. In fact, the leaders of the ward are so impressed with her, that she will be speaking in sacrament meeting next week, and she will be speaking at the next stake conference. She's that good. She is a TRUE KINGDOM BUILDER. I was able to fulfill my purpose as a missionary by helping her progress towards the waters of baptism. The last 6 months of walking through waist deep snow in -25F degree weather, sharing the gospel despite a constant bruised heart and constant rejection, the feelings of missing family and loved ones, and always striving to "elevate the standard" have finally paid off. I feel like I don't deserve the blessing I've seen in the past 5 weeks while serving in Brampton. I'm so blessed to be a part of this GREAT latter-day work.

When people keep commitments, progress towards baptism, and decide to actually make that commitment, they change. They change forever. There isn't much more I can actually write to explain the amazing experience. Words simply can't describe. Seeing the change in somebody, and realizing it is such a REAL thing strengthens your testimony so much. I'm grateful to have been blessed with this unforgettable journey and experience with Taryn.

Now regarding earlier that day! There was a TON of small opposition just before the baptism. It’s honestly a miracle we made it and had it happen yesterday. Taryn was totally ready and prepared, but a few things went a little crazy yesterday.

Taryn has a really bad back. She requested that we fill the font extra full, all the way to the overflow drain so we could actually baptize her, because otherwise she didn't think it would be physically possible. So we give the font 4.5 hours to fill, rather than the regularly required 3. We come to the church to start setting up for the baptism an hour and a half early, we check the font.....and the water in only 6 inches deep. The drain was messed up and had been draining the whole time. Not good. So we get lots of people in the stake center and we start filling up the gray garbage cans with water from sinks, and bathroom, and any faucet we can find. We are all going crazy filling the font with buckets and everything! It is pretty funny now, but we were all stressed out of our minds. We realize 20 minutes before the baptism starts that I don't have any of my baptismal clothes, because we got stuck at the church filling the font. It is a 15 minute drive from the church to our apartment. So we get in the car and drive really fast to the apartment. We grab my stuff, and we start driving back. There was a bunch of traffic, so we parked the car and started running. So we're running through the streets and mud in baptismal clothes, with bare feet, rushing to our baptism. Pretty funny. We got to the church, and there were a bunch of Sikh guys (Indian religion-they all wear turbans) right outside the temple and church gates. So obviously, our job is to share the gospel-we talk to them and invite 5 or 6 of these non English speaking Indian men wearing turbans into the church for the baptism. They stayed and watched respectfully the whole time, and you could tell they felt the spirit. Pretty funny-they took up a whole row in the Relief Society room. The TV wasn't working either, but we got it working 30 seconds before the baptism started.

So it was the most crazy, dramatic, stressful scramble of my life, but it turned out to be the most spiritual, peaceful, edifying, memorable experience I've ever been a part of. Such a blessing.

Almost out of time. LOVE YOU ALL

Keep striving to do more and do better. The spirit will guide you to make right choices!

E. PORTER

Pictures

Here are a few recent pictures Matt has sent home.  This is his companion, Elder John Hancock II, from Phoenix, AZ.  He has been out three or four months longer than Matt.  Matt says they get along super well, and he loves him like a brother.  He says they really think alike.

Tanner Wheadon's aunt is serving in Matt's mission with her husband.  She is now in his district and met Matt and made the connection.  She took this picture and sent to to Tanner's mom, who forwarded it to me.  Thanks, Jana!

P-day internet time -- Elder Hanckock, Matt's companion.

 

 The temple is just barely outside the ward Matt is assigned to (within a block).  He is assigned to the Heart Lake ward in Brampton.  The mission office is also in his area.

 Matt finally got a car, now that winter is over!

 Matt said the car was previously in northern Canada.  He said they seriously have polar bears there.

This is Taryn, an investigator who has committed to baptism.  Matt and Elder Hanckock tracted her the first week Matt was in Brampton.

Brother and Sister Hofstetter

Brother and Sister Hofstetter are a lovely couple Matt grew to love from his last area in London.  He wrote to me that they are among his favorite people he has ever known.  I received a letter from the Hofstetter's today.  It says, in part, "Elder Porter has been in our home many times during his assignment while serving here in the London Second Ward.  He has in every way honoured you and his calling.  He has worked hard and it has been an honour and a blessing for us to have had the opportunity to get to know and love your son.  It is so clear that Elder Porter understands his calling and the reason he is here in the mission field.  We have felt the spirit so many times as he has been in our home and shared some of his missionary moments with us.  Elder Porter is a missionary of the very finest quality and we deeply miss him already."

I'm so grateful to them for writing to me, especially this Mother's Day week!

May 2, 2011

Week 3 of transfer 4 of area 2 has been great! Elder Hancock is continuing to be a stud. He's amazing. Everything-teaching, finding, studies, being a great person. I love him to death. We have no contention, we're working as one, and we're seeing miracles every single day.

Last Tuesday, Elder Hancock and I found a wonderful Indian family. They are inactive in the Hindu faith. Brampton is close to half Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Sikh. So actually finding someone from the East that will listen to you is a great treat. The family consists of a mother, father, a 12 year old girl, and a 5 year old son. They are all amazing, and they recognized that they felt "different and happy" when we come over. We are slowly teaching them about Jesus Christ and all that He can do for us in our lives. We gave them a chapel tour, and they loved it. They definitely felt the spirit, and want to continue learning and meeting with us. They'll be coming to church next week. Pray for them! They are amazing, and it’s great to be teaching a FAMILY!

The second day I was in Brampton, I knocked on a door and we found a wonderful woman named Taryn. Taryn is amazing. Active catholic-but she realized that church wasn't doing anything for her, and she felt the spiritual fulfillment with the things we share with people. We committed her to be baptized in the first lesson. We've met with her loads of times now, she has us over for dinner a decent amount, and we've grown very close to her. The gospel is SO amazing with its power to heal wounds of the past. The Atonement of Christ can fix anything! She has felt the power in her life as she changes from her past lifestyle, gains a testimony of Joseph Smith, partakes of the spirit of the Book of Mormon, and prepares herself for baptism. She will be baptized this coming Sunday, straight before I call home for Mothers Day. So it should be a pretty good day!

We are seeing miracles, reaching most of our goals, and gaining stronger testimonies of the principle of faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power that drives the universe, even if most people in the world don't know about it or won't acknowledge it. It’s so amazing to be a part of this glorious and AMAZING work. It’s such a privilege. I am humbled to be here in this great and amazing time.

April 25, 2011

Brampton is awesome. This week has been full of miracles-just as last week was. Elder Hancock and I are working as hard as we can, and doing everything that we know how to do. I'm so blessed to be paired with an amazing missionary like him. It feels SO good to have somebody who is constantly lifting you up to a higher standard, instead of doing your best to maintain enthusiasm and try to constantly carry your companion and an area.

The past week has been FULL of teaching. We fell 1 lesson short of our goals this week, and it’s only because we got bombed on Sunday evening. We're teaching like crazy! It’s hard to find time to reach our finding goal of 20 hours per week. We had 7 lessons taught to investigators with a member present...it’s a great blessing to be able to teach so much! We're reaching all of our other goals, and our area continues to be one of the most consistently successful units in the whole province. We're so blessed to be here. There is something very special about Brampton. I think it is the influence of the temple being so close.

Let me tell you a bit about my new area! (If I haven't already) I'm currently serving in the Heart Lake Ward, and the Toronto, Ontario Temple is about a block outside of our ward (proselyting) boundaries. We attend the Stake Center which is right next to the temple, so we get to see the temple a few times a week which is so awesome and amazing. My area is in the heart of Brampton, and we cover approx. 200,000 people. It’s a burdening feeling to know that my companion and I are the only two chosen people of God to bring every person we see unto salvation and guide them back to Heavenly Father. It’s a blessing to be able to stretch yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually every day. You learn and grow so much here, its amazing.

The Heart Lake Ward is the most missionary-minded unit I've ever seen. Ever. The leadership is just fantastic, and we have resources for missionary work I would have never imagined here. The members are fantastic, and our ward has many, many different cultures. Lots of people from Africa, Guyana, Colombia, China, Europe, and many other smaller Asian countries. Such a diverse place.

Contacting and tracting is very unique in Brampton...there is a HUGE population of Indian people here. Lots and lots of Islam, Hindi, and Sikh people to talk to. I'm learning words and greetings in quite a few languages, and often make people laugh from talking to them in the wrong language or displaying my ridiculously strange accent. There are some places you go and it feels like you are in India. Everybody you see will be wearing turbans and be speaking in Punjabi. It is a really strange experience.

A few random things about Canada that I have not yet mentioned-the milk here comes in bags. Not jugs or cartons. BAGS. It still freaks me out every time I pour a bag of milk to drink. Every single dinner app. I've had here has also had a dessert. I have a dessert almost every day. And it makes you chubby. No good. It's a Canadian thing. It’s awesome in a way, but so terrible as well. Also, it is a culture thing to take off your shoes when you go into any house. I know lots of people in the states have that rule at their house, but it appears that everybody without fail has it here. They don't even sell shoe hangers that go in closets, because your shoes will never make it to your bedroom.

Well, the work here is speedily coming along. Our area vision that we made has a goal of BAPTIZING 2 this month of May, and having 2 future dates set. It’s very realistic, and we're both expecting to hit it. We'll be having a baptism (possibly) this Sunday. We're working with a less active family who has a 9 year old son, so technically he is an investigator, and will count as a convert baptism. We're also working with an AMAZINGLY PREPARED investigator. Her name is Taryn. She is so prepared for the gospel. She has had so many hard things happen in her life, and every single thing has slowly and eventually prepared her to meet the missionaries. It’s so amazing to hear her already strong testimony of the love Heavenly Father has for all of us. She is so convinced that it was meant to be that we knocked on her door the other week. So many things lined up and started making sense right to the point where we met her. So amazing. She is doing so well, and is currently powering through the BOM before her baptism (which has been moved to May 8th) She is simply working through an addiction that should be taken care of by then.

Elder Hancock and I are continuing to find people to teach, and are continuing to teach by the spirit. We feel good at the end of each day, knowing we've done all that our Father in Heaven has required of us. It’s so amazing to watch both of us grow stronger and stronger as missionaries. We can FEEL if the Lord is displeased after a contact where we did not say what we needed to say. We can FEEL when we didn't follow the promptings of the spirit in a teaching appointment. It’s so amazing to go back, and fix your mistakes and make the Lord proud. It’s how you learn and grow. I'm so lucky and blessed to have a comp. that helped me make those proper steps.

It’s finally warming up-but raining a lot more. It’s not cold at all, but it’s been wet quite frequently. Hopefully it'll even out a bit. I'm afraid to start complaining, but I've heard it gets really really hot and humid. It gets to around 40C (104F), with 100% humidity. Such strange weather...so opposite ends of the spectrum.

Anyway, things are amazing here in Brampton. Until next week-

-E. PORTER