November 23, 2015

 I found this Snickers.  It describes me!!

Baptism!  What a great day!!

This week we have been so busy that our immune systems were a little low and we got sick! Isn't that the worst? Me and Hermana Martinez are both sick with colds and we feel and look like death. We hope to get some sleep this preparation day to help us survive the rest of the week!

We have seen so many miracles this week. So let me start off by telling you I can't remember what I write in weeks past so if I repeat myself, sorry.

We have this AMAZING family we are teaching right now and they soak everything up. The branch has really supported us in fellow-shipping them and we see miracles with them daily. Se llama la familia Penaloza. So this week we had 2 lessons with the whole family and then 2 other lessons with just Jessica and the kids because Fidel works in San Jose. Anyways, in our appointment last Sunday we found out they weren't married and she was totally opposed to marriage. She has seen too many people fall apart once they get  married and she doesn't want that to happen to her family. Well, that is a concern considering they have to be living the law of chastity to get married. So we decided to talk to her about it on one of our off lessons. We knew that she loves the prophets so we used the family, a proclamation to the world to teach the law of chastity to her. She said "Hna, I have to be married to be baptized?" We said "yes, it is a commandment of god." and she said "alright, I'll do it." She then told Noemi (her daughter) and she didn't believe her because Jessica has always been so against marriage! Her girls were so happy. We then started talking about eternal marriage and how they could go to them temple next December and be sealed as family. When we were talking about it Noemi started to sing "I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday." Because she has been falling asleep to the primary songs...isn't that precious?

On Wednesday, when we had our lesson with both of them we taught the law of chastity again and Fidel says "We aren't doing that, are you calling us sinners?" Our branch President then said "Yes." There was a moment of awkward silence and then the spirit came to me and we got it all resolved. I said "Well, we aren't calling you sinners. You didn't know about this commandment before, but now you do so you have to start to live it. If you don't, then that will be sinning." They were like "ohhhh, okay." Then, guess what. By the end of the night, they had decided that they were going down to the court house in the morning and getting married then. Isn't that crazy? they learned the commandment and then wanted to live it so quickly. Fidel was so amazed that Jessica actually wanted to get married. He kept teasing her and saying "I'm not that easy, you'll have to get down on a knee if you want me!" It was so cute! They have a goal to go to the temple in a year. Unfortunately they weren't able to get married the next day because he lost his passport but he should get another one on Monday or Tuesday so all will be well in Zion!

We had a ton of lessons with the Espanoza girls this week to prepare them for their baptism. The law of chastity was the worst when we taught it to them. We didn't know if they knew what sex was and so we were trying to hint around the bush and you could just tell they weren't getting it. Finally, we turned to their mom and said "how would you explain the law of chastity to your kids?" then she said "you don't have sex before marriage and you stay away from bad stuff." They were like "oohhhh" Once we found out they know the word sex, all was better.

The baptism was beautiful and had an amazing turn out. The grandma gave the talk on the holy ghost and it was perfect. She had been worrying about it all week but it turned out perfectly, especially for her less active children who were there. The spirit was so strong.

I'm so thankful for all these miracles we have been having. As I see so many people changing their lives it makes my testimony stronger that this gospel is true. People don't change things on a whim because of something false, they only do it for things they know are true and if these families are willing to listen, the least I can do it continue to do the things I know are right for the rest of my life.

Thank you for all your prayers and love and support. I am so THANKFUL for all of you this Thanksgiving season!

Love,

Hermana Porter.

November 15, 2015

Boy, I don't think I've ever heard such a truer phrase! I'm either loosing my ability to handle the cold or California is having one of the coldest winters ever! I think it is a little bit of both, like 2 weeks ago it was 80-90 degrees and then over night it was 40-50. I don't remember last winter being this cold or windy, I can barley stand straight! Jack Frost is totally nipping and my nose, and toes, and elbows!

This week has been really good. We have been working really hard to get the Espinosa girls ready for their baptism this coming weekend! We have a ton left to do but through Christ all things are possible, right? We have to find baptismal outfits and everything, I'm really upset that we don't have a ward mission leader because life would be so much easier if we did.

We've been focusing on trying to get member involvement here and this week we have 4 lessons in members homes! We have seen so many blessings because of that we have 6 baptisms coming up! We found a family this week and they are so solid. 

Yessica has been to church 3 times with her girls and this week we had our first lesson with her. We showed up to the members house and Yessica had brought her husband Fidel. We taught them the restoration and they are all sponges! We can only meet with them as a family on Wed and Sun because Fidel works out of town but they were so excited to be able to meet with us. When we taught the Book of Mormon they were like "Oh my goodness, we have to read it so we can know if it is true or not." We were like, uh yeah. We were so shocked they had such a desire to know, we weren't expecting them to be that interested. Last night, at our lesson with them, they readily accepted a baptism date for December 12, all they have to do is get married. Yessica is just like Beatriz was, she soaks up everything we give her and she read literally every book we place in her hands. She read all the way to Abinadi in the children's Book of Mormon stories book. She also loves the prophet and their guidance to us. 

The Lord has blessed us so much the last few weeks. We are just trying to keep warm here. This week we are focusing on Yessica and Fidel and making sure we get everything in place for the girls baptism! The Lord really does prepare for us after we have done everything we can. 

I'm grateful that I see the blessings the Lord is giving me. Thanks for all your prayers, they are working. 

love, 

Hermana Porter

November 9, 2015

Hermana Gutierrez!  She's the best!

Sister Martinez!  Also the best!

Susie!!!

 

 

This week has been quite a trying week and I've learned quite a few things. Hopefully I will have them time to write everything that I've learned over the last year, I mean week.

So it all started with TUESDAY! We had been looking all week for investigators to take to the farewell testimony meeting of the departing missionaries. We had found for that had promised to be there but they couldn't give us a ride because they were all riding together (all from the same family.) You are suppose to attend these things with you investigators because ya know, a spiritual experience with their missionaries, plus missionaries who had taught them in the past, what would be a better experiences? Well, the problem was that we couldn't find a ride up there for the life of us. We had asked everyone on the face of the planet to take us but everyone was "busy". We were devastated. After dinner, we were traveling back to Patterson to visit some people and we both looked at each other and were like, "what do we need to be doing right now?" We said a prayer and we both felt like we needed to be at the farewell testimonies. Although it is strongly frowned upon, we went to the testimony meeting in a mission vehicle and guess what, not one of our investigators showed up. We were so devastated. they promised us they were going to be there and when we called they were like "yeah, we are getting ready to leave." Me and Sister Martinez were HEART broken. We basically just spent the whole time crying, well I guess I spent the whole time crying. We decided we needed to say because there was reason we felt that we needed to be there. I'm so glad we stayed. I got to hear Cody give his departing testimony and let me tell you all, he did New Albany proud. He bore the sweetest testimony of the Savior and His love for us. The spirit touched my heart so strongly and I felt like I need to study the Saviors life more and follow His example and sincerely pray to the Father in His name.

After Cody's comments, President Palmer spoke and I loved what he had to say. He talked about how it is all about our choices. We either choose to life the gospel or we choose not to. We choose to be obedient or we choose not to be. We choose the Lords plan or we choose the Devils plan, it is up to us. I can find as many excuses to be disobedient as I want, or I can find as many way so be obedient as I want. It all depends on how I want to use my agency. I know that sounds so simple and "duh" but I had never thought of it like that before. I can choose to and show Heavenly Father that I love Him or show Him that I don't really care. I get the choice. I'm so grateful that I was able to feel that spirit there and have that planted to my heart and be able to apply that to the coming months of my mission. I'm glad we listened to the spirit and I got the learn that important principle in a different way.

This week has been a little challenging for many reasons but one of them is that Hna Martinez and I just felt like we weren't really getting anywhere with the branch and they were a little unhappy with us and we just weren't really on the same page. We felt like drones and we weren't really progressing.  

We felt lost in the work and we were praying for what we should do. I was feeling really down in the dumps so I went back to some emails I had printed off when I was in my big depression state. I read one that mom sent to me about charity and how it never fails. Man, that relief society really knows something, aye? I realized I had forgot charity a little bit. I was contacting people and riding my bike because I felt like I was forced to, not because I loved them as my spirit brothers and sisters. Once I was reminded of that, I felt like my week really changed. I was helping out the ward council because I loved them and I love this branch and I want to see it grow, not because I was being told to and it was my role. I was doing it out of love for the people and also the Savior. Another thing that had been brought back to my memory.

The last thing I've been struggling with is all the information I have now, that I didn't have at the beginning of my mission! I ponder on the things that I've learned the last few transfers and I'm like "I was so lazy at the beginning of my mission and I'm still lazy! I've got to whip into shape!" As I learn more and more I feel so guilty for the time that I had wasted in the past and it is hard for me to remember that "I didn't know that back then, I've just go to apply it to the time I've got left." I imagine most of my life will be like that, in marriage, parenting etc. I'll have I wish I would have known moments and I'll have to use the atonement to get through them. I'm so glad that the Lord is teaching me this lesson now so I don't have to struggle though it in a few years!

I'm so grateful for this time that I have here on the mission. I'm learning so much and I hope it will give me what I need to be a good member of the church when I get home. I want this experience to change me and make me the instrument I need to be in the Lords hands. thank you for all the prayers you give to the missionaries and those serving around you. You would be surprised the boost it gives them to continue on in the hard times.

I love you all,

Hermana Porter.

 

Saying bye to Elder Lino.  He is from Peru!!

November 2, 2015

Me and Hermana Alcaraz are matching, we are super in sync!! haha

We match!  I love Sister Maukeni!

This week was transfers! We were all super nervous, if you were wondering. President Palmer gave us the longest time line ever, we had to wait TWO whole days for the call. He said that he could call sometime Saturday Night or Sunday morning. We didn't get the call until SUNDAY NIGHT!  We were going crazy. The verdict has come in though, and it is.........Hna Martinez and I will be staying here in Crows Landing 2nd Branch and Hna Maya is going to go to LODI! Seriously, Lodi is the best place in the world. We are sad to see Hermana Maya go but we are all a little bit glad that we won't be in a trio anymore. Trios are rough.

This week was a really good week. We have 4 investigators on date and we are so excited about them and their willingness to follow the Savior. We have seen so many blessings since being here in Crows Landing. Our first week here, the sacrament attendance was 25 people this last week we had 45 people in sacrament meeting. ISN'T THAT SO COOL? We have got the opportunity to work with so many less active members and also with new people. The Lords knows what each part of His vineyard needs and when they need it. There is so much work going on here and me and Hermana Martinez are excited to see it continue to develop. We have grown a trust with the Branch and they are doing so much to help us. We have also gotten a good in with the English ward here in the area and they are wanting to work with us too. We are also really excited because we are getting some AWESOME missionaries (aka Elders) in that ward, the ward is really excited as well. 

This week we had really good lessons with our investigators who are the daughters of a less active member who is returning to activity! They are so great. They are 15, 10, and 9 and they are so funny. They don't have a lot of understanding about the gospel but they have such a desire to be baptized and follow the spirit that felt when they went to a baptism of a girl in our branch. They have so much support from their family and it is such a blessing to be a part of this work. We also had some really good lessons with our investigator Olga. She was shaky before but she has started getting a lot more firm. Every time we trying to meet with her, the devil throws something at her. This week, we had a SUPER SPIRITUAL lesson on Monday and we had a member there who bore such a sweat testimony to her and Olga and her son Arcenio were feeling the spirit so powerfully. They had such a desire to learn everything that we were teaching them because the spirit was there. When we went back for their return appointment, a power-line had fell on their house, well next to their house, and then they couldn't meet with us for a few days. Finally, they had the chance to meet with us and it was a really good lesson because she ACCEPTED A BAPTISM DATE! When we first started teaching her, she said that she would NOT accept a date but she would get baptized this last lesson with her, she accepted to get baptized on the 27 of November. She said that she needs to step it up and show her faith and start going to church. She already made that commitment herself, we didn't have to ask her to. 

This week, I got to TALK TO ELDER PERRY! Can you believe he is coming home in just a few days? He is a little bit nervous, aka a lot a bit, and he doesn't know what comes next for him. He said he is going to miss everyone here and he really just wants to continue to be a missionary but he knows that he is needed at home because his time is done. 

Alright, I don't have time but it has been a really good week and we are starting to see all the blessings for our efforts! Thanks so much for all your prayers and all your thoughts! 

Love, 

Hermana Porter

 

We biked!!  President Palmer has made biking mandatory!  I love it!!

Susie!!! We are BFF's!

Abraham!  I love this kid!!

 

October 26, 2015

 

**Selfie**

 

This week has been so crazy. It has been a big blur.

So, Tuesday we went to the New Missionary Meeting. All of us learned so much while being there and we were excited to apply it. Something I have been struggling with is knowing how much to force obedience on my companions. I have NO backbone and I just decided to lead by example and I did everything that I knew I should and I prayed they would catch on. At the meeting all the things I felt like I needed to address they said they wanted to fix on their own. I was so grateful for that. I didn't have to speak up! 

Thursday we had district meeting and we left feeling pretty lousy about ourselves. Our contacting needed to be better and we should have just been working harder. We felt pretty lousy even though we had improved a lot. On the way home I saw this crazy man and I felt like we should pull over and talk to him. We did and we didn't talk to him but the Lord showed us that we were there for another man. We didn't get to add him but we did get to talk to him and he took a restoration pamphlet with our number. Then after that we went to dinner and tried really hard to talk to them about spiritual things and the experiences they have been having. The Hna had gone out with the relief society counselor that day and we felt inspired to ask her to go visit less actives with us that evening. She said yes and it was amazing. The spirit was so strong in all of our lessons and we met a lot of people who weren't even on our radar.  That day a member called us and told us that her less active daughter was ready to come back to church and her children wanted to be baptized. We were reaping the blessings of trying our hardest to be exactly obedient.

Friday we had a horrible weekly planning session. We struggled through and I was getting angry and the Hnas could tell. We were there till 4 and didn't get anything accomplished. The next day we watched all The District segments on planning. We felt like we needed to work on our area book and go back to planning. We did and it was the best planning session I'd had my entire mission. I'm so grateful that we did that! We got so much done and we are so prepared for the week. 

Sunday was disastrous. The morning went well and all was good until we went to dinner. Hna Martinez started to feel sick and went to the bathroom. She was in there for a really long time and so I went to check on her. She opened the door and she was shaking hard core. Guess what, she was having a panic attack. That was crazy. We were there and she was throwing up and it was loco. We went home and then Hna Maya had a panic attack. I really needed to be in two places at once but I couldn't be. I called the STL and they came over asap and President called. Elders also came over to give them blessings. We think it was just a mixture of stress and homesickness. but ya know. WE didn't get to go out to work Sunday. We hope it gets better soon. 

That is how my week went. Also, all of you are slacking on writing me. I now have 20 weeks left but come on. Sisters still need love. 

Alright, love you all.

Love,

Hermana Porter.

Lucy got baptized!!

Cutest kid ever. (I can't decide)

 

Cutest kid ever. (I can't decide)

       

October 19, 2015

I don't know, too much pressure, I can't think! -Elder Graham. ‏

This week has been pretty uneventful! I got the flu. Apparently, when you are feeling a little ill to being with, you aren't suppose to get the flu shot. I didn't know that so according to President Palmer I "made an Elder decision." Monday, we went to dinner with our Branch President and his family and then afterwards I was feeling really sick and I was starting to get a bad cough. The sisters took me home and made me take my temperature, it was 101.5. I swear, I've never had a temperature before. They were freaking out because apparently that was "high" they took good care of me because my temperature kept climbing until about 12:00 that night. The next morning we woke up early to go to Zone Conference in Modesto. The assistants and President and Sister Palmer gave a really good training on the Sabbath day and also making sure we are talking to everyone. I got really motivated to talk to everyone. Unfortunately I was sick all week so I haven't got to apply anything that I've learned but I did learn a lot because I went on a district marathon and I watched basically all of the district multiple times. It made me super motivated.

To be honest, I was feeling a little down on my self this week because I was trapped in the house. I just started thinking about all the time I've wasted while on the mission and the stupid things that Satan puts into your head when you're sick and can't leave the house. As I was pondering the crappy job I've been doing at training and being a missionary and all the thought came to my head "Isn't that the beautiful thing about the atonement?" My despair turned into peace automatically and know that is one of the simple truths that I was forgetting in that moment. I started thinking about all the things I had learned from my past transfers and what that has done to make me the person I am today. I can honestly say, that if I had not been through those transfers I would not be who I am today and I would not know what I know. The great thing about the atonement is that I can do what President Uchtdorf said at conference and start where I'm at and get better. I know that the Lord loves me and that He is helping me learn all that I need to become a good sister, daughter, mother, and wife one day. I know everyday I can start over and I just pray the people around me can see that I'm striving to do my best. 

This week I've also been reading in Mosiah and I keep thinking, every time I read, how important it is that we follow the good examples in life. King Zeniff was such a good example to the people and they loved him and they followed the ways of righteous but then, as soon Kind Benjamin was in charged people saw wickedness as acceptable and they couldn't remember what had happened and good they had been taught just months or years previously. It was a testimony to me that we cannot stop doing to little things and the good things, because if we do, Satan creeps in and we start to loose those good habits that we had before. 

Sorry this is short, but I didn't have a lot go on since I was in for 5 of the 6 days this week. 

I love you all. Hope you have a great week. 

Love, 

Hermana Porter. 

October 12, 2015

Leaving my Samoan girl!!

Tengo un tos ‏

Well I got a cough yesterday. I guess that is what I get for not getting a flu shot yet. I'm going to day, so don't worry. This is the first time I've been sick sick in like a year and 2 months. That's crazy. Haha Beniciones from the Lord. So this is how this last week went.

Monday. 

We got a call from Sister Palmer we were moving stat. It took us all afternoon but I'm glad to be out of that garbage pit. It was so gross. Plus now we have a functioning shower! What a blessing, I can get clean now! I'm not a funky monkey anymore. Because we spent all day moving we missed out two appointments that we had that night. We were a little disappointed but we tried to see them anyways and we just got return appointments for different nights. We are now living with Sister Dimpter. Crazy story, her son Elder James Dimpter served in the Louisville Kentucky Mission and he served in the Madison Ward of the New Albany Indiana Stake. He also thinks Larry Porter, the Stake President, is the coolest guy in the world. Isn't that crazy? He knows dad. I'm sure we don't remember him but he remembers us. What a small world. Anyways, Sister Dimpter is single and she is amazing at doing missionary work. She works hard core with the less actives. She has over 35 people she has befriended in her missionary efforts. She keeps us motivated sometimes. 

Tuesday.

Was a day of eating. We had a few lesson that were in the morning but all of them fell through. We looked for some new investigators that we could add and also some less active members. I was pretty unsuccessful. Then we had to go grocery's shopping because we didn't get to do that on Monday because we were moving. Then we ran home and dropped our food off and then after that we went to an appointment in Newman. The lady is a returning less active and she was like "I made you food" Well the bad thing was that we were going to be having dinner in like 5 minutes. So we ate her food and then after that we went do dinner. We are teaching this ladies son who is 8 so he doesn't count as an investigator. But he just started coming to church recently and he is going to get baptized soon. His names is Moses and we are basically best friends. He loves Mario and I love Mario, only when it makes me his best friend. haha We taught him the restoration and it was really well. He loved it and thought we were cool and he actually know a lot for never going to primary. 

Wednesday. 

We went to dinner with Hna Rosas and we ate some spicy food. She didn't mean to make it spicy but she did. Even my native companions were dying so it wasn't just my weak sauce white genes. But we ate chicharron and it wasn't that good. Hna Ku always told me I'd love it and that she'd make it for me but she never did, and I'm glad she didn't. It is a super chewy pork dish and it was G-ROSS. After her we went to see a lady who is less active. She just had baby and he is SUPER cute. We asked her if we could start coming over to teach her family the lessons and she said YES! WE taught her the restoration that night and it was a little rocky. We need some practice in making sure we distribute the time equally between the three of us. Also, there were a LOT of awkward silence gaps. We are getting better though. I'm learning to be quite until one of them speaks...sometimes that's a few minutes...

Something else that has been happening is we are tying to seethe less actives and a lot of them say that they were never baptized. There was this lady who said the elders always stop by looking for her but she hasn't ever stepped foot into our church. That has happened twice. I'm not sure if the people here in Crows Landing are just a little crazy or if it is true. I guess we will find out.

Thursday. 

WE had the BEST dinner with our Branch President and his family. They are so amazing. Sister Martinez doesn't speak Spanish at all but she is learning because she is in the Relief Society Presidency. We walk into her house and she says "SISTER! I'm trying to be a good missionary and I think I'm going to be having someone come over for dinner who isn't a member. Hopefully it all works out right!" She invited her ex-son-in-law over for dinner. It was so kind and he wants to feed us at there house every time we come over. He wasn't going to stay around for the spiritual thought but he did and Sister Martinez was just crying she was so happy. We talked about prophets and the general conference. He was getting ready to leave and she was crying and he said "What's wrong" She said "Nothing, it's called the spirit. I'm just so happy you are here. If you ever want to meet with these ladies call me and I can set it up." It was a tender experience and I'm glad she felt the power of missionary work. 

Friday. 

We had a lesson with a lady named Silvia. She had forgotten about our appointment and had fallen asleep. The whole lesson she was nodding off. The good news is she accepted a baptism date. But we didn't count it because she had not clue what she was committing herself to. It was a really funny lesson. Then we got to know our Elders Quorum president. He is the sweetest man in the world. He is do sad that our ward is down to 20 members. He is going through dialysis and isn't able to what he used to. He said he wants to come out with us soon though. He is the only member in his family and he is so sweet. he always says "they'll come around in their own time. and the more I have you over, the more exposure they get." He is the cutest man. The sister training leaders decided to make a surprise exchanges with us. It was quite the fun night. I got to spend it with Hna Carpenter and we got to catch up with each other. It was quite a nice time. 

Saturday.

I realized that we need to spend more time outside the car and make an effort to talk to everyone. Hna Carpenter reminded me of that. 

Sunday. 

We went to church and then had a crazy long chat. It was quite the evening. We have some goals though that we will all be working on and hopefully that will help somethings to become better. There have just been a few things that were off and now we are back on again. I'm excited to see where this week takes us. 

I love you all so much. I hope you have a great week and you make good choices and read your scriptures and say your prayers. 

Love, 

Hermana Porter.

 

Ana's baptism!!!  She is Beatriz and Enrique's granddaughter.

Saying bye to Genny Garza!

Amelia Perkins, we look like twins in this picture.

 

Bye Bye Ellyn.  I miss my YSA friends.

Saying bye to Hermana Sellers.

Baby Maya is tired.  haha  She sleeps in the car all the time.

The District.

The lady we moved in with made us blueberry muffins.  She's the best!!!

What my area looks like.  Five towns of this dirt stuff.

We were together for a day!  Reunited with Hermana Carpenter!

The Trio!  Hermana Me, Hermana Martinez, and Hermana Maya!