July 24, 2011

The short, 4 week transfer is over already. I cannot believe how quickly time goes. It is horrifying to see how quickly and frequently the alarm clock goes off every morning. It seems like every few minutes is the beginning of a new day. It feels like I'm constantly coming home from a day of hard work. Constantly writing in my journal and planning. Constantly crawling into bed. It is all a giant blur. It is scary that it's already been 8+ months.

There are 10+ new missionaries coming out later this week. A big group. As I've had the chance to reflect on the experiences of the past month, it is amazing to see how the Lord pulls and stretches you in the exact spots that you are weak in. He always tugs at your weaknesses. It is a blessing...in the long run. The past weeks have been the hardest of my life-without a doubt. What great growth and progression we are able to have after and during trying times.

We had some blessings at church this Sunday. We had 6. That is a lot. The ward loves it when they see us bringing so many people to church we can't handle them all ourselves. We love it too.

We're still teaching our Hindi family. Progression has been slow due to crazy work schedules and unkept commitments. We'll see how things go over the next few weeks. Awesome family, but just like anybody else, you've got to act to progress or gain a testimony. Staying where you are won't benefit anybody but the adversary.

Still working closely with another Indian woman. A deeply rooted Hindu as well. Her name is Chander. It is so great to watch her learn and grow because she is so ridiculously sensitive to the spirit. She keeps commenting over and over about how "beautifully simple" Christianity and the gospel is Jesus Christ are. This coming week we'll be teaching her the Plan of Salvation with members of the ward. If she can be sensitive enough to the spirit to recognize truth, it will be a huge building block on her progression. We have had some sacred experiences with her, helping her learn to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. The spirit is always so strong with a sincere person that first time they pray. It’s just more evidence that what we're doing is real and right.

Thank you for setting the example for me. Please keep doing the small and simple things with the family that will create a strong foundation for them.  I appreciate your parenting every day! I'll attach a picture of my missionary tag with this email if I remember-I've got a picture of the family on the back. You'll like it.

Elder Wendt and I are working hard! Trying our best to work in diligence and fulfill our purpose as missionaries. Keep the prayers coming-we need all we can get.

Love,

E. PORTER

July 18, 2011

The work continues to push forward in the great city of Brampton. As we do ALL that is required of us we are blessed with miracles.

The week was full of finding once again. I have truly come to have a testimony that the Lord leads His missionaries in their efforts. It is impossible to find people who are prepared off chance or by yourself. But if you ask the Lord to lead you to them, it works out a lot better. You can see the hand of the Lord guiding you as you focus on inspired planning...truly trying to go where the spirit tells you. You are lead to those who are interested in the church. Pretty amazing.

I had a great experience this week. It’s happened a few times on my mission. A few too many times to simply be a coincidence. We were planning and looking at the map to find the next street we should work. You pick a street and try to feel in your heart if somebody is waiting for you there. Sometimes you feel nothing, so you move on. But after a few tries, just as D&C teaches us, your heart will burn if you are on the right path. You feel the spirit after you have picked where you need to go. This particular experience we only had a 20 minute random chunk of time to go finding. That is not a lot. We had to be precise and go straight to where somebody needed us with the time we had. After studying the map I felt that we should go to a particular spot at the end of a street. On the top left part of the cul-de-sac to be precise. Well guess what? We went there, knocked 3 houses around where we felt we should and we found someone who wants us back. Coincidence? I think not.

Earlier this week we also decided to take the bikes up into the country again and knock off some clusters of homes that have not seen missionaries in the past 20+ years. Long country lanes and beautiful farm land in southern Ontario. Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately with long country lanes and farm land comes mean, angry, people-eating dogs. We were pulling out of a lady's driveway and a dog started chasing us! Classic missionary moment. Unfortunately, my bike was meant for a 12 year old, so it wasn't very fast. The dog was quick, and apparently it thought I would be tasty because it bit my right ankle! It actually hurt pretty badly. It caught up to us again and came back for round two. But I was prepared this time. As it jumped to get me again I kicked it right in the mouth. It stopped chasing us. The blood was definitely pounding after that, and the rest of the day continued without any interference. Exciting, eh?

Other than those exciting moments the missionary work is coming along. I have one more experience I would like to share. Last week my MTC companion and I went on exchanges for the day. It was so fun and great to get to work hard with him. We haven't worked together since the MTC, so it was a real treat. We found a Hindu lady, and we taught her and her daughter the message of the restoration. The spirit was present, and they both understood what we taught. At the end of the lesson I had the mother (Chander) offer a kneeling prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Most people have never prayed legitimately how they are supposed to before. And it is one of my favorite things to do with people. During the kneeling prayer, the spirit was very strong. And everybody in the room recognized it. She came to church and had a great experience and will come next week.

Later in the week she called on the phone and wanted me to say a prayer so she could write it down and repeat it. I taught prayer and knowing spiritual truths through the Holy Ghost again, and had her offer a kneeling prayer with me over the phone. I haven't felt the spirit stronger many times on my mission. Directly after the prayer I asked her how she felt, and she responded..."I feel lots of heat inside me! Inside my heart...it’s warm. It feels lovely. It is like lots of love. So much that it doesn't fit right. I like it..." After having experiences like this, your testimony grows so much. I had a similar experience with another investigator this week as well. It is so humbling to truly understand how great of a calling and blessing missionaries have at this part of their lives. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to sacrifice for the good of God. I love my Father in Heaven and have a strong testimony that this is His work.

July 11, 2011

Week 2 of training-complete. Training is a very interesting assignment. When you first find out you are training, you think to yourself "Hey! I must be doing something right, eh?" A day or two later you realize how little you know and how little of an impact or success you can have on your own. You need divine help that only comes through humility. You are stretched to your limit day after day spiritually and mentally. You don't think you can do any more or go any further. But you do anyways. You might not have any visible success (number-wise), but you can come home and feel a spiritual confirmation that you did you best. You kept your covenants and you served as a sacred servant of the Lord should.

Something that has been in my mind the past few weeks is the need for spiritual power. You can be ridiculously eloquent, well taught and practiced, and the most confident missionary in the mission, but without spiritual power, you won't convert anybody. At best you may convince a few people. Spiritual power is the force behind anybody's conversion or any missionary's success. Miracles happen with that power. It is something that everybody needs to do everything they possibly can to get. Whether you are a missionary or not.

I have seen some remarkable things happen inside me the past months. After serving with Elder Hancock (who is amazing), and after having the assignment of training a missionary I have witnessed my nature begin to change. You develop a desire to talk to people not because it is your duty, but because you love them and know how important what you share is. You think back to what it must have been like in the Councils of Heaven, when we were all gathered together as spirit brothers and sisters. The great Plan of Happiness was presented to us and we all shouted and leaped for joy. All of our brothers and sisters were rejoicing right next to us. We were instructed more about the plan, and we all understood that some would fail. Some would fall short, be deceived, and not receive the happiness and peace that would have come from returning to our Father in Heaven's presence. Everybody understood this. But did the people we are searching for as missionaries ever think it would be them that would be lost..? As your understanding of the gospel increases your desire to share it expands as well. I am starting to feel it rather than just know it in my head. It is an amazing experience to be a part of. Having a brand new, untainted, faith-filled new missionary trusting me to train him right makes you put things in a proper perspective.

Elder Wendt is just great. He has strong faith and has a desire to work all day. We're working on improving teaching and finding skills mostly, as any new missionary would work on. Most people in our teaching pool have recently been baptized, so we're working on finding quite a bit lately. Going straight back to the basics instead of getting ahead of myself has been a good thing for me and my skills and development as well. We are doing a pilot-program to help the new missionaries learn the "Fundamentals" of missionary work. Focusing on different aspects of missionary understanding, work, teaching skills, etc. It’s a great review for me as well.

This past transfer our district boundaries were switched around, so my MTC companion (Elder Nash) is in my district now. We got to go on exchanges for the first time together this past week. It was one of the greatest days of my mission, to see how we have both learned and grown through our own trials and assignments. It was so great to work with him. We had a full day of finding and taught a few lessons out of it and found a really great Hindu lady who came to church this past week. She is very Hindu and quite rooted, but she is very receptive to the spirit, and she wants to keep coming and continue to learn. You never know what the spirit can do to people’s hearts and natures over time.

I am happy to be here training at this time. It’s really tough, but I'm growing and learning lots. Everything will work together for the better in the end.

-E. PORTER

Here is pic of Brampton Zone Conference

June 27, 2011: President Monson!

This past week we have received so many blessings. It’s been the most packed week of my mission. So many changes, so many exciting and happy things coming our way.

During this past week-

-We found the most prepared, most amazing lady who will be baptized on July 24th.

-We got to listen to President Monson speak at a sacrament meeting! We had investigators there. Awesome.

-We concluded yesterday with 2 baptisms, both of which were amazing!

-We got transfer calls...and I am training a new missionary right from the MTC!

Last Tuesday we had an appointment that nobody showed up for. Whenever someone doesn't come to an appointment, the first thing you need to ask yourself is "Why did the Lord bring me here?" We contacted around the neighborhood, and talked to a lady who was raking her yard. Her name is Laureen, and she is from Jamaica. She is a very smart mother, has a successful life, and has a young son. We talked to her for a few minutes and scheduled a return appointment. We came back and had a very spiritually charged lesson about the Restoration. She accepted everything, no questions asked. We asked her why she didn't have any concerns, she simply responded "I know that you are servants of the Lord, you are His representatives. I shouldn't question anything you tell me or have me do." She proceeded to tell us she had already downloaded the Book of Mormon onto her iPhone and onto her computer at work so she could start reading. She'd spend hours picking apart the websites from the church, and had all her questions answered on there. She said things like "The Lord has been preparing me through the course of my life to hear your message". It was as easy as a practice teaching situation at the MTC. So amazing. She accepted to prepare for baptism on July 24. The date could very well be switched around before then, but that is the standing plan. Amazing day.

The week went along as normal, filled with hard work. President Monson came to Ontario to dedicate the new church camp in Peterbourough. He decided to come speak at the Mississauga Stake Center for one of their sacrament meetings. We as missionaries had a heads up and we got permission to go if we brought investigators. We brought some people, and we got to listen to a prophet speak to us! He is such a nice, sweet man. He talked about love, service, and faith. Very inspiring. He shook everybody's hand on the way out. Great experience.

Later that same day, we finished off the transfer with 2 baptisms!

Damine, who has been investigating for over 7 months finally decided to get baptized. His wife is very Hindu, but is very supportive. At the baptism, she bore her testimony about how the things the missionaries have shared with Damine have changed him to be a new person. It was a very spiritually packed service. It was a great sight to see him in the water.

Annie was baptized later that day. She is 11, and came to live with a family in the ward after her life was shattered from the earthquake in Haiti where she lived until a year or so ago. The baptism was great, and lots of the ward members attended.

With all the news and exciting things happening, we almost forgot that transfer calls were the same night. We got a call from President Brower, who asked for Elder Hancock first. Everybody in the whole zone figured he was going zone leader somewhere, he is an amazing missionary. After Elder Hancock talked to him, he handed me the phone and said he wanted to talk to me, I was surprised, and didn't know why. President Brower went on to tell me that I will be training a new missionary straight from the MTC. I am going senior companion and training in Brampton Heart Lake where I currently am. Elder Roberts is moving on, so I've got the area all to myself. The new Elder is from Germany, and that’s all I know. I'm very excited and also very nervous. I hope I can handle the highest performing area in the mission with a brand new missionary. I figure if I work as hard as I can, remain humble and never forget where our blessings and power comes from I'll make it through okay.

All in all debatably the most exciting week of my life. I've been out 7.5 months, and there are probably only 10 missionaries younger than me in the whole mission and I am training. It caught me off guard but it will be a great experience. I love being a missionary and know the work I am doing is for the Lord!

Ps. Did you know about the Canadian mail strike? I think its been almost 4 weeks now...no letters have gone in or out of the country at all. Or moved around inside. It is beginning to create a huge problem with rent and bills and stuff. It could get crazy if it continues. Huge inconvenience. Especially for missionaries.

-E. PORTER

June 20, 2011

A mission is full of ups and downs. Crazy ups and crazy downs. Satan is real, but so is the power of the Lord. The first part of the week was really tough. Spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally. The latter-days of the week were full of miracles and awesome finding situations. We found 4 new investigators this week, with quite a few set up for next week. We also have two baptisms scheduled to happen this coming Sunday. Our very hard work is paying off, and we're about to see some visible results.

We're teaching very close to our weekly goals of 20 lessons in all. We're achieving our goals for finding hours as well. Our tripanionship is working in unity as we're entering the final week of the transfer. We've only got another week together-there is no way our tripanionship will stay together. Elder Hancock is going somewhere else for sure, and nobody can guess what will happen with Elder Roberts and myself.  Here is my tan line from my watch.  Unfortunately, it will only get worse!

As I'm now PAST my 7 month mark, I am starting to become more and more comfortable in my role as a missionary. I can be asked just about any question and be able to "pull the gun" and answer anything just off the top of my head. As a young missionary I looked forward to the day when I could do the things I am doing right now. But now that I "know many of the answers", I understand missionary work (and life in general) on a whole new level. It is NOT about knowing all the answers, or being eloquent or quick or smart or cunning. Everything a real missionary does completely boils down to having spiritual power. A very real, almost tangible influence and power that flows straight from the divinity of the Godhead through yourself. If you don't have that you are nothing. If you have that, you have everything. Baptisms are handed to you as you are always trying to improve your skill set, as you are obedient, and as you truly purify yourself and work in diligence. Everything about using the power of your calling as a missionary comes down to having, using, and exercising the POWER you are blessed to be endowed with. In my farewell talk I mentioned a scripture in D&C43..."Sanctify yourself, and ye shall be endowed with power...” At that time, I thought I knew what it meant, I really didn't, but I thought I did. I feel like I understand now. I've been a witness of people who have sanctified themselves, and they have been endowed with the power the Godhead has trusted all of us with as we earn the right to use it.

There is always another step you can take. Life isn't entirely about jobs, or schooling, or random activities...it comes down to having spiritual power, and keeping the covenants you've made with God. Elder Ballard challenged us to rise to a new sense of competency and commitment as we understand the true significance of the Baptism, Priesthood, and Temple Covenants that we have entered into. The final line from an apostle of the Lord is...Take the next step, and you will be very, very blessed.

May we all have the strength to take another step in a proper direction. Myself as a missionary, and you, in whatever assignment you are currently serving in. It doesn't matter.

 

This coming Sunday, we have got 2 baptisms scheduled!

The first is a man named Damine. He is part Jamaican, but has lived in all his life as far as I can remember. He has always grown up with a Christian background, and has been investigating the church for over 6 months now. We looked at all the teaching records (nearly filling the 3rd now) and he has been visited nearly 40 times. Crazy. Long. Conversion. Some people it just takes longer. We're gone through all the lessons more than once with him, and we've been doing our best to help him recognize the spirit and truly see the spiritual growth that he has made since reading the Book of Mormon and since meeting with us and coming to church. It has been a long, long road, but a few weeks ago he committed to a baptismal date. He is finally feeling ready. The solution was not crazy complicated and cross-referenced lesson plans. It was simply coming to him home, and reading the Book of Mormon with him for 30 minutes. We've had some spiritual-powerhouse lessons from simply reading the Book of Mormon. It is the pure vehicle for the spirit to flow through, because it is the pure word of God. He is progressing continually and will be baptized next Sunday (according to plans.)

The second is an 11 year old girl named Annie. She is Haitian, and she came to Canada when the really bad earthquake hit her country a few years ago. Her life was shattered from the disaster, so she came to live with her aunt and uncles family who was at the time investigating the church (in Brampton). Her aunt and uncles family was baptized into our ward, but she was not because her mother was still in Haiti, and was an active member of another church. We went through the long process of teaching her with a Creole/French translator so she could understand. Her English is not well. We've gone through everything, and she's read most of a children's Book of Mormon. She has CRAZY amazing understanding of Christian doctrine and principles. She was active in her mother’s church growing up. The reason she wasn't baptized earlier was she needed permission from her mother. After many weeks of fasting and diplomatic reasoning, she has permission to be baptized, and her service will be held this coming Sunday.

Hopefully all goes as planned!

Next week should be an eventful week! I'll fill you in next Monday.

With much love,

-E. PORTER

June 13, 2011

This last Saturday we were able to be a part of a very special experience! The whole Canada Toronto West Mission and the whole Canada Toronto East Missions were joined for a day in a conference directed by the one and only Elder Ballard. Over 200 missionaries were in a single room! Simply walking through the crowd of missionaries you could feel something special and powerful. What a blessing to be a part of such a great work as this.

One of my personal highlights was that I was able to spend some time with Elder Tanner Wheadon from back home! He's been out about 3 months longer than I. He has been serving in the East mission. It was so strange, but so nice to see somebody from home right in the middle of my whole mission experience. Pretty crazy. He's the only person I've seen in 7 months that I knew previous to leaving home. Blast from the past. It is possible that we will get the chance to serve with one another once the missions combine this coming July. You never know, right?

Something interesting that I experienced was the joy of seeing past missionary companions and friends during this conference! As I look back over the past 7 months, it doesn't seem like it’s been all that long-but SO much has happened. I've done so much work, made so many changes in myself, and grown a lot. The joy of seeing missionaries I worked around in the past was so great! Every time you turned around you walked into somebody who you dearly miss and want to spend a few minutes with again simply remembering good times together. I realized how many amazing relationships I have made while I've been here, and how much they all truly do mean to me. It makes you think about what Heaven will be like! Rejoining with family and loved ones will be such a special time. Even seeing Elder Wheadon for the first time since high school...we weren't close friends. We knew each other and would say hello...but since we've both experienced a similar transformation that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we've both instituted that foundation into our lives, I can honest say that I love him and everybody I've ever known so incredibly much more than I did before I went through this experience. I can't wait for the time where I come home from my mission, and get to rebuild my relationships with others. The gospel brings so many blessings. We are so blessed to have this in our lives.

Besides the amazing reunions and instruction, and the baptism a week ago, things are in a bit of a rough patch still. The work has been slower than normal, and we're doing our best to get to the root of the problem instead of poking at the symptoms. It helps you remember that no matter how good or bad things are-there will always be opposition in everything.

We've still got a baptism of a man who has been investigating for much too long-his name is Damine. He is quite a character.  I've loved working with him and watching him progress to the point he is at now with having a desire to be baptized. His scheduled baptismal date is June 26.

The Indian family we've been seeing is moving very slowly-but still in a positive direction. Their baptismal date of June 26 will need to be moved back until we can help them have solid testimonies of Jesus Christ and of the Sabbath day.

I have loved the time I've spent as a missionary. We have 2 weeks left of this transfer, and some big changes will be happening in my life. My companion has been here for 7.5 months, which is much longer than normal. He's gone for sure. The TRIpanionship will almost for sure be split up. It will be very interesting and exciting to see what happens. You never know with President Brower and the Lord. They make quite a team.

Love,

E. PORTER

Note:  Here are some additional pictures Matt sent:
Baptism of 8 year old and 9 year old brothers.  The Bishop baptized them and Matt confirmed them.  They have been teaching their family.

Matt and his Sikh friends

Matt and companions with the Lau Family in the Heartlake Ward

June 6, 2011

We were finally able to solidify and help a family follow through with the baptism of their two young sons! Keon and Tynan, 9 and 8 year old brothers were baptized yesterday by the Bishop of the ward. What a great experience to see the spiritual strength of a baptism lift a family and help them feel the spirit of the Lord again. I was blessed with the privilege of confirming and blessing both of them. It was a special experience, and the first time I have had that opportunity.

The TRIpanionship is still rolling forth with much power. The area we are serving in is the highest performing area in the mission since I had the privilege of coming here, and with 3 Elders, the power and intensity is still maintaining. We counseled with the ward and the Lord, and we are set on helping 5 of God's children enter the waters of baptism this month (converts), with 3+ dates (converts) set for next month. We are killing average numbers and standards simply because they don't exist. They are all limitations placed on situations by people of little faith and understanding. The 1st of 5 was baptized last night.

Elder Hancock and I have been working with an inactive member of the ward since my 2nd or 3rd day here in Brampton. In the short month or so we've been able to act as his guide in helping him come back into full activity, and he bore his testimony at church yesterday! A special moment for Elder Hancock and myself. In my book a re-activation is just as joyful as a baptism.

We're doing our best to keep faith levels high and expect success. It’s tough a lot of times, but we're doing the best we know how.

As of today, we have 3 baptisms scheduled for June 26 - Part of a Hindu family, and an investigator who has been investigating for 6 or 7 months now. It will be my last Sunday with Elder Hancock, and we'll be pushing to help those people take those steps and finish out our time here STRONG.

Something I have learned more of and understood at a deeper level is the spirit's role of guidance and reassurance. It’s a humbling process to learn how to feel the spirit of the Lord help you make correct decisions, and confirm those decisions with the same feelings. When you read the Holy Scriptures, and you realize the responsibility you have to preach and teach the word of God, you begin to understand the duty you have to do all within your power. Reading scriptures like Jacob 1:19, and Jacob 2:2-3 do a lot to help you feel the weight of your calling. But working in diligence, truly feeling and wanting to complete and finish your role, causes a change in your nature over time. You start to feel the work more, you start to love strangers, you start to see everybody how they really are - children, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of us and of Father. You strive to do more not because it is a duty, but because you WANT to. You WANT to help people, you WANT to fulfill your calling and do all you can because you love Father. You will begin to have the deep-rooted, strong, and real yearning that Enos had...."And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me, 'Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.'"

May we all strive to fulfill our duty. Not out of obligation, but out of love. Weather your duty is working with diligence as a full-time missionary, serving as a Bishop, being a younger brother, a ward clerk, a primary teacher...it doesn't matter. Serve with love. Look at people the way the Savior would, and your Christ-like actions will naturally follow.

Serve God and your fellow-man TODAY, and "elevate the standard"

-E. PORTER

PS!! We just heard there is a DUAL-MISSION-WIDE conference Saturday. All the West mission, and all the East mission will be meeting at the Stake Center ( in my area!  Ha) on Saturday. Elder Ballard will be presiding, and we'll all get to meet him. I will also get to meet Nick Sorensen’s cousin who is serving there as well as Elder Wheadon- a friend from high school. I’ll write more about it next week.