December 12, 2011

This past week we attended a zone conference.  We arrived quite early, so we went over to Lake Ontario to take a few pictures.

Time is ticking. Wayyy too quick. I don't want to be over halfway done. It makes me feel sick a little bit-literally. I wish I could trade places with one of these fresh, new, young missionaries. But at the same time, I'm so glad I've done what I should with the time I've been given. I have held nothing from the Lord. I have reserved nothing.

Some recent thoughts I've had....

Things like old hobbies, girlfriends, bad habits, and doing what you want when you want are among the easiest things to give up. Anybody can give those things up if they want to. Time simply passing can cause you to give those things up.

Another level of dedication is full of giving up truly meaningful things like family, close friendships, and genuine constructive things. They may even be spiritually healthy things like studying the gospel topics that you want to, or focusing on how you can progress in life. They are all good things, and they can only be given up if you have a true testimony. If you know this is God's work, and if you have a true desire to play a part in it.

There is yet another level of consecration. It is the kind of consecration that involves giving up your entire self. Every last fiber of your own will need to be surrendered to the Lord. It is not only accepting the calling to do missionary work, but focusing on it with your mind and your heart, and well as your might and your strength. It is giving up all of your energy as you pray for the investigators that you love with a pure and genuine love, it is giving up literally all personal time to help other missionaries who are struggling around you, it is focusing throughout the day on nothing that doesn't build spiritually and help people progress towards the Savior. It is the kind of focus that Jesus Christ had and the only way to obtain it is through being transformed by the power of the Atonement. I testify that the work of the Master brings greater happiness than anything else. Seeing the Atonement transform people and watching their desire to live a Christ-like life grow brings more lasting and genuine happiness than anything I have experienced. The scriptures are indeed true yet again, saying "he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." I know the gospel is the way. I know it through the power of the Holy Ghost.

I love my mission. I've talking a little bit about Celine. She is 21, from Germany here learning English, and she is the most wonderful and heavenly investigator I have worked with my entire mission. This last week we have been teaching her the last things she needs to know before baptism. We taught her the Law of Tithing. She has had lots of bad experiences in Germany with giving money to apostate churches and them not using it for good things, hence, she had some major concerns. She wanted to see the church in Germany to make sure it is the same as it is here. She thought the church programs were too good to be true. In the past, she has had powerful experiences praying to know the truth. Knowing the Book of Mormon is true, knowing Joseph Smith was a prophet, and knowing that baptism is something that Heavenly Father wanted her to do were all obtained through praying. We committed her to pray and ponder about tithing and baptism again. My companion and I both fasted and prayed earnestly for her to receive an answer. I don't think I've ever been more focused during a fast my entire life. She was humble enough, and had enough "real intent" that God answered her prayers. She wants to be baptized this coming Sunday! She is so great, and she will be a valuable kingdom builder. I'm so grateful I get to witness prayers being answered and see testimonies grow. This work is the Lords and we are privileged to be a part of it.

-Elder Porter

December 5, 2011

Goooood morning!!! We sure have been blessed here in Toronto with astoundingly warm weather for December! Currently it's around 10C and raining. This time last year when I was here we had nearly 4 feet of snow. We've been blessed, but the warm spell is sure to come to a screeching halt pretty soon here...

Week one of having my new assignments has been great! My new companion's name is Elder Montana Welch! He is a great and humble kid from Monticello, Utah! He comes from a town of only 1,500. He's grown up in the church his whole life and has a great big family-9 kids! He wants to show his faith by being a missionary, and wants to develop the skills, talents, and testimony that we are capable of obtaining if we apply ourselves. Normal apprehensions regarding speaking to strangers still exist, but they did for me at this time too-no big deal. Here is a picture with my trainer, Elder Lee, and Elder Welch.

Elder Welch and I have had a great week...extremely hectic getting settled, finding time for all I have to do, meeting members and investigators, and getting the hang of things together, but still great nonetheless. We had some great lessons with investigators...Elder Welch taught a great part of a lesson about baptism to an investigator who has turned down the invitation to be baptized, and the spirit taught us all and softened the investigators heart. Elder Welch is a great teacher, and we've had some great spiritual experiences so far, with many, many more to come over the next few months.

I'm part of the sweetest District in the world. 2 Farsi companionships and 2 English. All 4 companionships have trainees with their first companion still-it's incredible. So much greenie faith!! They are teachable and want to learn, so it makes my job a lot easier. I planned and conducted my first District Meeting this past Thursday-it was a great learning experience! It went well, and we focused on our missionary purpose. The spirit was felt and important truths were learned. It was a great experience.

Things are still chugging along....I cringe and feel nauseous when I realize my 13 month mark is just around the corner...I don't enjoy talking about or thinking about how long I've been out and how long I have left. These new missionaries are so lucky they have so much time left, and I would trade them spots if I could. I love this work and know the gospel in its fullness has been restored through Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true and this pathway will make us happier than anything else!

-Elder Porter

November 28, 2011

Exciting week! First things first....yesterday we had a baptism! There was a less-active family who had fallen away from the church a few years ago, and they have recently made their way back. One of their sons was 11 and really wanted to be baptized! So we have been working with them for about a month or so, such a wonderful, wonderful family. It’s amazing to see how the gospel lightens people’s loads and put smiles on! It helps us be our best selves. It turned out to be a very nice service with a remarkable feeling.

 

We have been working with an exceptional young woman from Germany for a month or so now, and she is excited to be baptized on Christmas! This week we worked towards setting her with a baptismal goal, and she is so excited! We met her on her first day here in Canada, and she has embraced the gospel and its teachings beautifully. After teaching her many of the missionary lessons, we challenged her to start praying about baptism. She wouldn't commit to a date and said she would keep studying and pray about it. We went for almost a good week without seeing her, and at our next appointment the first thing she said was she decided she wanted to be baptized! Her answer came in an interesting way....we had been seeing her nearly every day for a few weeks, and when she didn't see us, and when she wasn’t at church or talking about the gospel with members for a period of time, she sensed that something was "missing". There was a hole that she didn't realize was there before. When she came to realize that the thing was missing was learning about the gospel she immediately decided she needed to be baptized! She is awesome and is progressing wonderfully. Her baptism is officially set for December 25-Christmas day.

Another bit of exciting news! Transfer calls yet again...my dear time with my good companion Elder Tomsik is spent. He is getting moved back to Spanish work further south in the city, and I have received a new assignment to be District Leader and to train a new missionary again. Last time I was really nervous, and I am a bit this time too, but I'm very excited for the new challenges that this will bring and the possibilities I now have to learn and grow even more!

Mortality is all about learning lessons required for progression! I'm glad Heavenly Father lets us keep learning.

E. Porter

November 21, 2011

Well, something exciting happened this week. It snowed. Not a lot, and it didn't stick, but it snowed.

Don Valley ward is doing well. Our District is very unique. 4 Farsi Elders and 4 English Elders. The Farsi Elders stay in the same ward their whole mission. They all stick around so we get to know them very well.

Elder Tomsik and I have been together for 11 weeks...and transfer calls are next Sunday. I've decided it’s worthless to try to guess what will happen because the Lord usually has a very different idea than you do about what is best. We'll leave it up to him, but there could be a potential change coming up.

We are working with a really awesome YSA girl named Celine-she is from Germany! We talked to her on her first day in Canada, and she's doing awesome. She's been to church all 3 weeks she's been here, and she's read a huge chunk of the Book of Mormon. We've had some great lessons with her. She even taught the family she is staying with the Plan of Salvation! We'll help her understand what the spirit is telling her and set her with a baptismal date soon.

I am grateful for the way the gospel allows relationships to be strengthened way beyond what they could be without it. The love of God is the mending power that holds everything together!

This week my thoughts have found a certain subject. I know that our weaknesses can be transformed and made into strengths. I have changed a lot over the past while, but I'm still the same person I was when I left. I'm just a better same person. That’s all. Jesus helps us be our best selves, it’s really that simple!

I love this work and am so happy I have this opportunity to labor for my Master!