January 11, 2016

Well, I've definitely made some rash choices this week that have helped me learn and become better. I probably shouldn't have done some of the things that I did but ya know, we live and we learn. Here is a scripture that I feel describes what happened really well.t 

It comes from the war chapters of Alma and Amalickiah is extremely angry with Captian Moroni and he make a rash decision...here are the verses...

 9 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people

 of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiahhad again ^astirred up the hearts of the people of 

the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together 

soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with 

all diligence; for he had ^bsworn to drink the blood of Moroni.

 10 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was ^arash; 

nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to come to battle against the

 Nephites.

 

 

 So how does this apply to me? Well, for the last few weeks in the mission we have been talking about distractions and pride and President Palmer pretty much gave us all a call to repentance. It was a harsh blow to a lot of missionaries although I got something spiritual out of it. I had a similar training probably 5 or 6 times and every time I received it I just felt so down and depressed about it, but you want to know what I learned. If we want people to not be distracted or prideful we should probably talk about the opposite of those things. If i want to not be prideful, focusing on pride is not what I should do, I should focus on charity or humility. If I want to be more focused on the work I should study diligence and what not. Something I realized is that sisters think the opposite way, elder do not. Men just say it how it is and they roll with it and aren't offended. Sisters have a little more sensitive souls. So they came to me and were fairly upset. Well, my rash choices lead me to call the Assistants and ask them for help which then caused them to call President who then called me who was upset. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and didn't just solve the problem myself. I got a few chastisements and I was in a whirlwind of craziness. Luckily I have an awesome district leader, Elder Torres, who helped me through it and helped me see that I could just fix this problem on my own. I've had to do a lot of apologizing to the zone leaders and President but I learned the lesson on my own.

So to fix the sisters and their feelings we had a sister meeting this morning with my stewardship and Elder Torres. It was a really good meeting and we talked a lot about when we receive correction, in whatever way it was presented, we have to take it back to our heavenly Father and see how he would like us to apply it. I think it all goes back to the conference talk "What Lack I Yet." Heavenly Father know us perfectly and he loves us so much that if we ask him what he thinks he will tell us what is going to make us the better person. Elder Torres gave a great training on not only do we not know how much good we do but we also don't need to beat ourselves up about the things that are going on in the mission. We just have to include Heavenly Father and if we have sincere desires to serve him all will work out well. The spirit was so strong and I honestly love my stewardship so much. 

Investigator wise we didn't have a lot of progress this week. We didn't get the chance to see Jessica because she was in San Jose all week but we are starting to meet with her again this week. We are seeing a lot of progress and there are somethings that have been pumping us up to get motivated. I really think being an STL has helped me keep motivated until the end. I'm scared that I wont be one next transfers and I really hope I can keep the feeling of loving everyone that I am meeting and helping them come unto Christ. That drives me to do so much. 

As I was studying pride I read the talk by President Ezra Taft Benson "Beware of Pride" something that I learned and am trying to implement in my life is "what does God want me to do with my life?" Isn't that such a great question to ask yourself? That is going to be my motto from now on. I think as we base that at the center of our life, we will never go wrong and we will always be improving. I'm so thankful for this time that I have to serve my mission and the things that I've learned here. Even the mistakes that I've made have helped me become a better person. 

Thanks for all the love and support from home. I love you. 

Love, 

Hermana Porter.

January 4, 2016

This week was difficult, but instead of talking about the hardship I would like to talk about the things I am thankful for and the blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me. 

1. I am thankful for a body that works properly. Even though we are subject to sickness and pain because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, I have been blessed with a body that work properly. By body properly works for all the Heavenly Father has given me to do. I have the ability to ride a bike, walk, run, drive a car, get things in the kitchen (even if I do need a step stool), and most importantly, breath on my own. Sometimes we get bombarded with the things that our bodies aren't doing properly when in reality the work a lot better than bodies others have been give. 

2. I am thankful for my companion. She is always willing to listen to my concerns, my insights, my encouragement, my compliments, and what ever else I feel like saying. She listens and when prompted to by the spirit, gives suggestion on what I can improve. This companion has been one of the few that I have had where we are working on our weakness and becoming better. She is amazing at setting goal and holding herself accountable to them. When she prays to the Lord it is with an earnest heart, sincerely having a desire to know what He expects of her and us. She sees what she can improve on and has the desire to ask for help. She is humble and sensitive to the spirit. She is courageous and and full of valor. 

3. I am thankful for the power of prayer. It is something that has become extremely sacred to me on my mission. Sometimes, I'm not a fan of how many time we pray as missionaries. I have been feeling that my prayers have become rote and insincere and I have not been liking that. At the beginning of the week I started with my morning and night prayers. Making sure to pause and think about what I was saying. Is this what I would say to my Heavenly Father if He were next to me, in person? Immediately I felt a difference in my attitude when I was praying. I was then able to be guided by the spirit to the things I needed to say. That not only happened for my morning and night prayers, but then worked its way into my daily prayers. 

4. I am thankful for the missionaries I serve with who give me the chance to grow. Hermana Parkinson, Hermana Robison, Hermana Alacraz, Hermana Williams, and Hermana Pimentel are such wonderful missionaries. They are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. They are examples of Him in "all times, all things, and in all places." I am continually inspired by their examples and their desires to serve the Lord. They know why they have come on missions and why they continue to serve Him. When rough times come, which they always do, they are diligent in all things. Keeping their eyes on the Glory of God. They have become my examples and role models. I'm so thankful I have the chance to serve and learn with them. 

5. I am thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. Repentance has always been a struggle to me. My thought were always "What do I need to repent for if I am not breaking the law of Chasity, or Word of Wisdom, or any major commandments?" Well, I need to repent for that very thought, I've learned. There is always something to repent for. As we repent, something I have felt is my connection with my Savior and Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, grow. I have felt His love for me and in return, I feel the love, and charity, He has for my brothers and sister. He has felt all my pains and all my sorrows and can mourn with me and also rejoice with me. I have truly been blessed. I have a lot of fault that need over coming. Sometimes that is all I can think about, my faults. But then the Holy Ghost, sometimes in the form of my companion, whispers "Just be thankful and rely on Him who brings tidings of great joy." Isn't that a wonderful gospel truth? 

6. Lastly, I am and always will be thankful for my mission. There have been ups and downs, good companion and bad companions, quick transfers and slow transfers, growing and regressing, but always there has been something to learn. Looking back at past transfers I have always needed those opportunities that came to grow. I couldn't see my strength then and sometimes I still have a hard time seeing it, but I know I have grown. I will always be a different person because of what I have learned here. The mission has refined me. Has given me a perspective I have never had before. I cannot imagine being married and having a family without first having the insights I have gained here. The Lord is preparing me now, to help His future missionaries be brought up in a gospel centered home. My mission has changed my testimony unlike any other thing. No EFY or Girls Camp or Youth Conference can beat what I have learned here. I can testify that Jesus is the Christ. He is my brother. I know he has suffered for me and is always there to listen and to send me the comfort of the Holy Ghost. I know that the Book of Mormon in the word of God. The insights it contains are unimaginable and the Spirit you feel when you read it is indescribable. I know that my family has been sealed for eternity through the power of God's restored priesthood. I know that through sacred covenants, we can be closer to our Heavenly Father and be on the path to eternal life. I know that Christ lives. 

Thank you for all your prayers and your support. I am thankful, as well, for your example and all the prayers your make for me and other missionaries around the world. There is no greater work than what I am currently doing. Thank you for the role each of you played in helping me get here. 

Love, 

Hermana Porter.

December 28, 2015

Car Selfie.  We are waiting on the Elders to bring the other Sister's car back so they could leave.

I can hardly being I just experienced my 2nd and last Christmas in the Mission. Along with the last Christmas it was also the last phone call I got to make home. It honestly amazes me how quickly time flies. I could of sworn it was just yesterday that I was with Hna Hurley in N. Sac and I got my tooth knocked out. Can't believe it has been a year already with Derek (the name of my fake tooth.)

I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the whole family on Christmas. It was good to get a sneak peak of what I will be coming home to. It also gave me motivation to keep strong until the end. Not only do I have 4 BIG siblings looking to my example, I've also got 10 little nieces and nephews who will remember the one time their aunt Hannie served a mission. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much and I can only imagine the blessings he is giving to my family. I don't think I will ever be able to see all the blessings we have received in the last 18 months.

As I reflected on Christmas and what it means to me the definition of others came to mind. First, gifts and giving. Next, time with family. As I was thinking about this Christmas I was thinking that I'm 1. not going to get a lot of gifts and 2. not going to be with family. As I pondered those 2 ideas I then though of this "I don't get worldly gifts, but I get the best gift of all, giving others eternal life. I get to give them the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of that, I will be blessed eternally. Not only will my family get to spend time together for eternity but so will others because of my service for the last 18 months." I know the birth of Christ was just the beginning of the plan out heavenly father has for us. If Christ has never been born, we would never get to experience the joy of the atonement or the feeling of peace we get from the knowledge that our families have the ability to be together for eternity through the restored power of the priesthood.

As I enter into the new year a question, that a missionary who has returned home asked me, rings in my ears. He said "What are you doing now, to grow your testimony." I've reflected that question for the past week I have had, this is how my testimony has grown this last week. The people we are currently working with would make the testimony of any person grow. It still amazes me, even after 16 months in the mission, that people are just willing to leave behind everything they have ever know and join the restored gospel. I'm not sure if I'd have the strength. To see their dedication in reading the scriptures and learning everything about this great message we share. They make the change to go to church for 3 hours on Sunday, study the scriptures throughout the week and say prayers at night. Literally changing everything about their life. How could this not be the restored gospel? I'm so so SO thankful to my Heavenly Father for this time I have been chosen to preach His gospel and help His children return to Him. There is truly, no greater calling.

I am so thankful for the service I am able to give as the Lords Representative. I'm thankful that I am learning now things that will help me be a better sister, daughter, mother, and wife and a better instruments in the Lords kingdom.

I'd like to invite all of you to think about what you are going to do this week to help your testimony grow.

love,

Hermana porter.

         

Elder Williams.  We are still best friends even after being away from each other for 3 months.

 

My Comp.  Hermana Pimentel.

 

Exchanges with Hermana Alacraz are always fun.  She is such a hard worker.  She taught me so much.  I remembered what a good lesson felt like.

Lodi Reunion!!  Elder Bell, me, and Elder Yuson.  They are characters.  We got to see each other at the Mission Christmas Devotional.

 

 

December 21, 2015



New Boots~!

 

Merry Christmas!

How's the new companion?  I want to know everything about her, where she from? How good is her Spanish? What do you like about her? How Willing is she to work?

Her name is Hermana Pimentel and she is super cool! She is from Yakima Washington and she is the oldest of 3 kids. She is originally from Michoacán Mexico. She is really nice and yes, her Spanish is really good. English how ever, is good but there are some communication errors. Looks like we will be speaking a lot of Spanish this transfer. 

Where will you spend Christmas?

We having to be out on Christmas so we have houses lined up to be at all day. Hispanics go hard on Christmas Eve so we have a lot of places to be the night before Christmas. Also, we have a mission wide Christmas Conference. That should be fun. We will go to the Gutierrez house on Christmas Eve to open our Christmas presents (that's why you got the picture last night. I wrote my letter to Santa and was putting it on the tree). Our investigators will be there as well so it will be really fun. Christmas morning we are going to the Andersons house (favorite family in English ward) to have breakfast and make cookies. Then we will skype (or facetime) there. Afterwards we will go to the Gutierrez and spend time with them and our investigators. Also, a lot of other members houses are lined up for that night.

Who's your favorite family in your branch?

The Gutierrez family. They are so excited to meet you all we you come out to pick me up. She is the R.S. president and he is in the branch presidency. They are so funny. they have 3 kids and who are the younger siblings i never had. She is my mom away from mom. She is the one who talked to you last night. 

Are you getting all of our Christmas letters?

yes. I am loving them. Some of the GK have so much personality it cracks me up! Landon and Grants letter had me crying! I'm excited to receive more!!!

Did you get your Christmas box?

I did and I will open it on Christmas eve! I'm so excited to open it but even more excited to talk to you all. 

How do you like being a sister training leader? Do you teach and preach my gospel?

I don't really get this question. I like it. There are more meetings and you aren't left out on what is going on. I HATE being left out. We go on exchanges too which is fun. 

Do you know what time you'll call on Christmas Day? (we are trying to make it so Brad can be here because he will be in Madison to talk to Morgan. For us, the later the better.)
So I will probably call at 11 my time and 2 your time. I'll see if I can get it changed. I'll call Christmas morning. 

This week has been really good. 

Sad story:

We went to see the girls who got baptized a few weeks ago. They are less active now. Their mom got back together with their dad. WE went to see them and the doors answered the door and they got really awkward. we were like bet you weren't expecting to see us! They said we will be right back. Then their dad came out and said "I really don't want you confusing my girls. Please stop coming over." As we started to walk away Josue said "Bye cookie quarter, I love you" Then his dad slammed the door. It was so sad. 

Happy: 

Fidel and Jess are back on track. They want to be baptized on the 1 of January. They are so excited. We had an amazing spiritual lesson with them last night and the Gutierrez really helped them out a lot. WE discerned their needs and it got so much better. WE are not longer as worried about them. Hna Gutierrez could relate to Jessica like no other. It was a glorious lesson. I can't wait until you can meet them. 

This was basically my week! 

love you, 

Hermana Porter 

ONLY 4 MORE DAYS

December 14, 2015

 

 

District Photo
(Hermana Martinez is the only one leaving)

Hno. Diaz and I switched glasses!!

 

Well, transfers are here. It seems like it has been a year since I sent my baby Hna Maya off into the big world by herself but it has only been 6 weeks. This week, I found out that I will be sending my other baby, Hna Martinez out to face the world of Stockton too. My babies have left the nest so early!  But the Lord has called them to those places and they are going to kill it! I'm so excited for Hna Martinez. She seems really excited to get a change of scenery and to work with the people in Stockton and see what the Lord has to offer her there.

Meanwhile, here in Crows Landing I will stay with Hna Pimentel. She has only been out for a transfer so I've haven't escaped 12 week yet. I've still got 6 more weeks of it...But while we are 12 weeking I will also be a solo Sister Training Leader over 2 companionships of sisters. I haven't found out which ones yet but I'm excited to be working with all these sisters and learning from them. All the Spanish sisters are new except for 3 so I am excited to see the energy they have and feed off of it. It will help me go strong until the end.

This week has been really rough for me and Hna Martinez. Basically, Satan came at our branch hard and we had a little break down about it. A lot of the things that are happening are way out of our hands. I mean we are only 20 and 21 year old girls who have hardly any life experience. We don't know what it is like to have MAJOR marital problems or to have hardships with your children. We've only experienced the drama of high school and some basic college. We are not on the same level as these people we are teaching.

As I was pondering what little I've experienced compared to the people I'm teaching, the Spirit brought some thoughts to my mind.

1. I've had to use the atonement.

2. I've experienced the power of prayer and receiving revelation.

3. I've experienced heart ache.

4. I know the blessings the gospel brings when we are obedient to the Lords commandments.

Really, those are the only things that I need to be able to preach the gospel. Sometimes, investigators, members, or companions get into the game of "you've had a cushy life" or "you don't understand because your life has been easy." Well, my life has been hard in ways for ME. The Lord gave me my trails so that I could learn and grow. With that I gained a testimony of prayer and repentance and faith. That is all any of us need to be able to testify of the gospel and its truthfulness. We don't have to have experienced the same trails as another, we just have to realize the power of change and it's importance. That is what gives us the power to testify.

I'm so thankful to Heavenly Father and the faith that He has in me to help these people change. He has intrusted ME with a great work to do and help His children come back to Him. While doing His work I've learned so much about myself and who I am. I've learned the importance of relying on the spirit and doing what He wants, not what I want. When I follow that path, I always end up more happy than before.

I love you all and hope that you have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Porter

December 7, 2015

The Penaloza Family!! Jessica and Fidel and sus hijos.

Nahoemi and Iker.

Hno and Hna Diaz.

Me and one of our little instigators se llama Nahoemi.

We have had an interesting week. This week a friend of our branch presidents family died and they have been struggling but we got to meet an awesome little kid named Daniel. He came and was helping us set up for our Christmas Party and he came to our Christmas party. He sat down with us and I started to talk to him and I asked him about his family. He said "I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters and one dad. no mom. since Monday, morning." I started to crying right there and I cried in his face for like 10 minutes. But Daniel and I became best friends and I was able to tell him about how his family can be together forever. WEll Thats about ALl I have to say this week!! Oh before I forget tho this week I had the best district meeting ever from the best district leader, He is soo spiritual and smart and just really good at everything its incredible he might be one of the three nephites I dont know but wow it was a good district meeting. BUt yeah it was really great and then me and hermana martinez went out and just did work and you know everyone wants to get baptized so we are just making them wait untill they get there stuff together and are ready to get baptized but you know some times it takes awhile for peoples stuff to get together so its a process but hey when your in the work of the lord its allll worth it in the end.

We also talked to Jessica and Fidel this week. We haven't had a sit down lesson with them but Jessica told us fidel is struggling to live the word of wisdom. The good thing is that he got a new job in town so we get to start meeting with him more often. They are still working towards him getting his passport. 

have you all read this months ensign? It is so good. The thing I love about it is it talks about Christmas miracles and in every miracle it involves service and christ. Me and hna martinez are thinking about how we can incorporate this into missionary work so we can be an example to our members. The members did a great job inviting people and we had a GREAT turn out. A few less actives came as well. 

Sorry this week was short. Next week is transfers and I will have more to talk about! Love you.

Love you all a lot 

Hermana Porter

November 30, 2015

I don't have much to talk about this week considering we were in all the week except for Saturday and Sunday. It has been a hard, hard, week. The Lord is giving me growing experience that I'm not sure I can handle. Sometimes I think He thinks I am stronger than I actually am! Hopefully with prayers and following the spirit this week will be better than the previous. 

On Saturday we had exchanges and I got to be with Hna Arevalo. She is one of my Sister Training Leaders, along with Hna Carpenter. We stayed in Crows Landing and we got to visit some pretty cool people.  Hna Arevalo is 25 and a fashion designer from Texas. She is so funny and we had a really great day. We planned to find all day long because that is something we are sorely needing! Luckily, we did find and we were exactly where we needed to be all day long. We just walked the streets of Patterson talking to everyone that we could find. It was quite fun and we felt the spirit testify of the good planning we had done the night before because everyone we talked to needed us that day. I had the chance to testify of Christ and His love for us and how He is SO aware of every single thing we are going through and through our trails, we learn our purpose. 

Yesterday we had a lesson with Fidel and Jessica which we taught them the Word of Wisdom. The lesson started of with them telling us that if we were ever sick, all we had to do was take 2 shots tequila and we would be better. Honestly, as soon as he said that I thought "Oh no. This is going to be a rough one." We got into the lesson though, and we went do good! They are so willing to live it and they are just ready to be baptized. Fidel said that him quitting drinking and smoking will not only help his body physically but also spiritually and he will not have to worry about forking out money to feed addictions. Hna Martinez and I were like "what the heck.....they are so prepared!"

We also had a lesson with Espinoza girls last night. We were seeing what they remembered from the lessons we had taught them and they remember so much compared to the beginning. We are so proud of them and the progress they are making. The sad thing that Rosario got a temporary job for the holiday season and has to work Sundays. We talked last night about keeping the Sabbath day holy and hopefully they will let her go in late or something for Sundays. We are prayer for her. It is good that Rosario's parent's are in our ward so they are great and take the kids to church for her. We don't have to worry about them going anywhere! 

This Thanksgiving season I am SO thankful for my family. They are such good examples to me and even though we have our problems and our rough moments we are so luckily. I've meet so many people while on the mission who have crappy families and they have no where to turn when times are hard. Luckily, my life isn't like that. 

I'm thankful for my mission. Even though there have been hard days, weeks, and transfers it has allowed me to grow and become more spiritual. I've learned things there that I wouldn't have been able to learn in any other place or though any other experience. I've experienced a deeper appreciation for my parents and for my friends who show me love. I've learned more about the atonement and how I can always rely on the Savior even when I feel like life is impossible and no one understands all I have to do is pray. The burned isn't immediately relieved but it is made clear to me that someone understands. All I have to do it keep going a little further and the blessings will come. They always come. 

I'm thankful for the message of the Restoration that I get to share with everyone here in Crows Landing and people in California. The Lord has blessed me exceedingly. 

Thank you for all your support and prayers. 

Love, 

Hermana Porter