November 3, 2012
What an incredible week! Without a doubt the business of my entire life. We witnessed one of our investigators be baptized last Sunday, Elder Green finished his mission, I received a new companion, Elder Sommerfeldt, we received 7 amazing new missionaries, and we completed the second largest transfer in the history of the mission. WOW! The mission is literally bigger than the state of Texas, at the same time having 229 missionaries. It is one of the largest missions in the world in every way. One of the biggest in geography, one of the biggest in number of missionaries, and the very biggest in cultural and lingual diversity. We have been in the office the whole week from sun up to sun down. We work to get everyone in their right places doing the right things, and do all we can to aid President Scott in lifting his burdens. We are the eyes and the ears of the mission. If we say something or notice something, instantly he is on the phone doing something and then driving to a faraway place in the mission to interview someone. It happens so rapidly. President is an incredible leader who constantly strives to magnify his calling. Amiss all this craziness and business we had a special and sacred experience with President Scott this past week which has impacted me.
My companion, Elder Sommerfeldt wrote his parents about the experience. I'll share what he sent out...
"Elder Green and Porter and myself felt that these certain missionaries were up to something they didn’t call in and they were supposed to because of the storm. So we go to their house at 10:30pm and they weren’t there. Their door was open however. We called President and he was there in 10 minutes. We waited in their house for 2 hours till they arrived at midnight. Upon arrival President asked Elder Green and Porter to take one missionary and for me to stay with him, and virtually interview them. WOW what an experience. I was trembling a little bit it was very intense. He pulled their phone and car immediately and said call your zone leaders every two hours on a pay phone. Sent them out to work the streets. The following day they put a full days of work in for the first time in their missions, had spiritual experiences and as a result there missions were changed. Their lives are changed forever."
President shared what I just did in our Zone Leader Council meeting earlier this week. I have never seen anybody get ripped and rebuked as hard as I saw President rebuke in this experience. The missionaries were in tears as their testimonies, manhood, and character were questioned. It is a humbling experience to realize that President was inspired the whole time. That is exactly what those two young missionaries needed to dig deep, and work to receive a testimony. I was nearly in tears from joy when he shared the result of his follow up interview a few days later. Both of those missionaries had special experiences in their days of work following our encounter in their apartment. They are both in new areas with new companions doing great with their new found commitment to live in accordance with the testimony that they have. It is one of the most remarkable experiences I have ever witnessed. Of course we've left out details, but it is a huge testimony builder to see how the keys work and to see that Christ is so much more connected and involved in this work that we almost always tend to think. Jesus Christ is a living, person. He thinks, feels, reacts, loves, forgives, and works for us to become like Him. His divinity is my testimony. His gospel is a perfect model for how to live life. Faith is a principle of action, repentance a principle of humility, and baptism an ordinance of submission. By following Him who loves us perfectly we will reach our potential and see Him as He is. He may become like Him.
Having shared this story, we arrived back at our hotel room at 3am, and got two hours of sleep before we arose at 5am, put on our happy faces, and welcomed some incredible new missionaries to the greatest mission in the world. I have never felt more physically sustained or uplifted as I have this week. My prayers have been answered and my testimony strengthened from these experiences.
Other than this experience, our week has been full of transfer planning, welcoming new missionaries, instructing them, departing missionary business, planning for and presenting a zone leader council and a few other things. We are busier than I ever have been before in my life! I am grateful I am trusted simply to represent Jesus Christ. It is an honor to be one of His servants.
It was sad to say goodbye to Elder Green. His parents picked him up on Thursday - they are touring the mission with him for a week. Serving in his place now is Elder Sommerfeldt. We were in the first district his first transfer, and have had a great connection all through our service. Elder Sommerfeldt is top of the line in every aspect of his ministry and of his leadership. He is one of the finest missionaries to walk the streets of this mission. His stalwart example of living a converted life motivates me to reach towards my potential like not many other companions have. Bottom line, he is the most capable missionary for this assignment in the field right now, and we are great friends. We teach, instruct, correct, study, plan, and work together seamlessly. It is an indescribable tender mercy from the Lord to finish my mission with a companion of this caliber. We are best of friends already.
I'm grateful for what I have and am not looking to the right or left. The Savior is real and this is His work!
Elder Porter
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