June 22, 2015

Selfie Sunday

The good news about this week is that Hermana Carpenter does not have a brain tumor. She had been having these weird headaches for a week and the mission nurse didn't know what to do about it so Friday we found ourselves in the emergency room and she was getting a KAT scan of her brain. The doctor said that it is just a migraine so we need to make sure she is drinking a lot of water and what not. So we dodged that bullet.

This week has been interesting. Since we are covering both areas now I kind of feel like a chicken running around with her head cut off. We are just running from one place to another and I don't really feel like anything is getting done/i feel like we are accomplishing a ton! I feel a little bit of pressure because I've been in both areas but it has been so long that I've worked in Galt that I don't really know where to take us and the same with Lodi. I've only been in Lodi for a short period of time so I don't know where to go or what to do. It is a little stressful. The good news is a lot of our members are helping us out. Thank goodness! 

If I'm being honest, I'm a little bit sad writing this email today because Ruben isn't going to get baptized this weekend. He told us this week he wasn't sure if he wanted to be baptized anymore. My little heart is broken and I'm trying to catch up with what is actually happening. We decided what would be best is to give him a little bit of space and make some choices on his own and we want him to rely on the Lord for what he should do, not us. He made the choice not to come to church this Sunday so we are going to go over to his house on Tuesday to see what he is thinking. I guess I will let you know what happens next week. 

So I don't think that I made it clear last week but me and Hermana Carpenter are the only ones living in the apartment now. The STL left and they weren't replaced and so because they left me and Hermana Carpenter cover their area. It is quite the work load. I love Hna. Carpenter so much! We are like two peas in a pod. Sometimes we talk too much...studies are hard to do but this week we are buckling down. She is from Utah. This is the first companion that I've had from Utah. She is 22 years old (Her birthday is the 16 of July so make sure to send her something.) She has graduated from BYU with a degree in Biology and after the mission she plans of going to medical school. Even though she is super smart she doesn't make me feel stupid. She is one transfer younger than me and she is amazing. Her Spanish is great and I feel comfortable talking in front of her. We are doing great balancing everything in lessons and I think we are going to do great together. Especially since we have 8 weeks together instead of 6. 

So I guess now is the time to yell you that I've received a 2 week extension of my mission.l You should get a letter about it in them mail this week. On Sunday I will no longer be in the California Sacramento Mission I will be in the California Modesto mission. Please stop sending mail to the Sacramento Mission Office. When I receive the address for the new one I will let you know. Hopefully that doesn't mess up our plan for the future! 

Alright everyone. I love you so much and I hope you have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Porter

 

At the hospital.

 

June 15, 2015

Yesterday was basically the craziest day of my life. Transfer Monday = my least favorite day. They are so crazy and hectic that sometimes you just don't want them to happen. The whole day you have a knot in your stomach because a phone call that comes at 8:00 decides your future for the next 6 weeks at the very least. Can you start to understand why I hate transfer P-Day.

We also call Transfer P-day Man-Up Monday because you go a week and a day with out rest so usually you try to find some sort of service for Monday so you can still function. Welp, yesterday we found us some good service. We moved a family, who were non members. They got movers to pack their stuff for them and let me tell you something. I will NEVER have movers pack my stuff. Also, a must have for my future husband, he HAS to be good at Tetris. That is a must for moving. I almost died twice. At the top of the pile was a SWING. A huge porch swing. Ugh. It was not fun. That took us all about 4 hours to do and we were SWEATING like a pig on the 4th of July. It was so hot that I took ANOTHER shower. 

That night we went to have a dinner at a members house with the whole zone. It was quite the party. We didn't get to stay long but we got some good chicken sandwiches. We had a really good lesson with the Esparza family. We talked a lot about the Lord and what he expects of us. We watched the Will of God and that video always hits home with me. I love so much how they say that "The Lord loves us to cut us down." and that is something that I'm still learning. The Lord loves me enough to tell me what I need to do and what I need to change. I love that so much. 

Our night got really hectic around 8:00 p.m. That is the time that transfer calls usually start coming and we got a call from President Jardine. The whole thing about this transfer is that if you stay south, you will be in the Modesto mission but if you go North you will stay in the Sacrament Mission. So this is what is happening to me. 

Hermana Porter has served diligently and faithfully in the California Sacrament Mission for the last 10 months of her mission. The Lord has called me to serve, again, but this time I have been Re-assigned to the California Modesto Mission, where she will finish the remainder of her mission. This becomes affective as of July 1st, 2015. 

Yes. Homegirl is leaving President and Sister Jardine and Sacramento as she knows it. My new companion is going to be Hermana Carpenter. I'm not sure what area we will be covering yet but I know that I am staying in the same apartment. The STL's are leaving and NOT being replaced. As well as for the rest of the district. Elder Williams is staying here and being companions with Elder Guzman. We all almost died because we though that Elder Anderson was leaving. BUT that champ isn't leaving us he is just being made a ZONE LEADER. I think he is really stressed about it but I'm so proud of him. He is a spiritual giant. 

My new mission President will be President Palmer. I'm really really sad to leave the Jardines but I know I have a lot to learn from the Palmers and I'm excited for this time that the Lord has given me to grow and learn. 

The rest of this week has been really good. We took a temple tour with Ruben and he LOVED it so much. He told us that he wants to serve a mission and he wants to be a missionary like us. He also said that he feels sad for all the people who don't want to enter the temple. He came to church on Sunday and he is progressing very nicely for his baptism date on 27 of June. 

Cool experience. On the way home from the temple we stopped at Chik-fil-a (they don't have one in our zone) and this guy named Justin served us. He is a member and he is trying to decide if he wants a mission next year or not. He is not entirely convinced of the idea. We got to bare our testimonies to him about the importance of missions and i could see the spirit speak to him. It was beautiful. 

Alright ya'll, I love you so much. 

Les quiero, 

Hermana Porter

 

LODI SURVIVORS: E. Phillips, E. Ducket, E. Williams, E. Blanchard, E. Anderson, E. Simms, E. Graham, S. Christensen, H. Webb, me, H. Cuesta, S. Pisa, S. Williams, S. Amos

June 8, 2015

IPADS!!!

This week has been quite crazy. We got to spend a total of 4 hours in Galt all week. That was a little bit stressful and disappointing to me but this week we are going to try to use our time more wisely this week as to what area we are going to be in. We have specific days planned out for the area that we need to be in.

Some crazy new. Lodi was hit hard this transfers with crazy things happening to it. This week we had another E.T. (emergency transfer). Our beloved zone leader Elder Murdock was made an
Assistant to the President this week so he left yesterday. This was our zone at the beginning of the transfer. 

Elder Graham and Elder Snapp (E.T) Murdock came in (E.T)

Elder Anderson and Elder Willams

Elder Owusu (E.T.) and Elder Riplie (E.T.) No one came in

Elder Ducket and Elder Phillips

Elder Bilbrough(E.T) and Elder Blanchard and Edler Simms came in

Hermana Porter and Hermana Flores (home)

Hermana Cuesta and Hermana Webb

Sister Amos and Sister Pisa

Sister Wilson and Sister Christensen 

Currently there are 12 areas in our zone and those 12 areas are being covered by 6 sets of missionaries. That my friends, is very crazy. Lodi was hit hard this transfer and we are all trying to survive it. The devil has come at us hard but we are growing in ways that we never though were even possible. The Lord is teaching us so much and we are developing muscles that were non existent  before. We are learning more and more how to rely on Him and we see how He has a plan for everything that He does. This is His work and we are simply instruments in His hands. 

This week we had an amazing zone conference where we learned a lot. The assistants trained us on how to keep track of the commitments that we receive and apply them often. As we continue to keep them they will make us better missionaries. We then received our I PADS! It was slightly anti-climatic but it was exciting none the less. We are excited to have this new technology to help us with the work. We have already seen so many blessings from it. It makes finding resources for lessons so much easier and some of the videos bring the spirit so strongly. The Lord really has his hand in this work and he know what he is doing, not that we doubted him before.

-How was church?

Church was really good this week. It was fast and testimony meeting and the testimonies were amazing. Almost all of our priesthood holders bore their testimony and the spirit was really powerful. Our returning less active member Jorge bore his testimony and the spirit was so powerful. This gospel has changed his life more that anyone could ever imagine. It was a beautiful sweet conviction that the Lord loves and know each of his children individually. 

Relief Society was on patience and how good things come to those that wait. We watched the video with the kids and the marshmallows and we talked about how patience and charity go hand in hand. As we try to develop patience we can look at charity for reference and vice-versa. It was a really good lesson. 

-Do you understand most of what is said?

I understand a lot of what is being said, although it takes a lot of paying attention. I find that by Relief Society I am exhausted and usually tune out. I'm trying to make sure I pay more attention in that class but it is progress. 

-How's the companionship situation?

We have our problems like any companionship but we are doing really well. We  have noticed that none of us are on the same mood schedule. One of us is mad on any given day of the week. We all stink at communicating our feelings but we are trying so hard because we know that if we don't get a long it will be so hard for us to work. Practice makes perfect! 

-Did you get my card with the Subway gift cards?  Were you guys happy to get them? And what was the goal you set?

We did! We got it but we haven't had time to set a goal yet. We are going to do that tonight at 8:00. (keep this on the D.L but we haven't finished weekly planning yet..oops.)

-The Elders here said after the repentance talk you get the iPad. Did you get one this week?

Got the I PAD. Still getting used to it but it is awesome. It is hastening the Lords work so much. He is making it so much easier for his children to be found.

- How many dinner appointments do you get each week?

We get a lot. We are going to try to start something new that Sister Jardine thinks will help hasten up the work with the members but that might break it a bit. We love the member and we are working really well with them. They are amazing at helping us fellowship our investigators.

  
- what is your favorite food you've had?

Sopes. They are DELICIOUS. It's a round thing with beans, cheese, meat, cheese, lettuce, cheese, and salsa. SO delish. 

- How many days do you spend in Galt and how many in Lodi?

Yeahhh....

- Who drives?

ME! I've developed an extreme case of car sickness this last transfer. Plus the other two hate driving so I'm the lucky winner! 

- Anything you need?
A new CTR ring...Long story but please? Mom. See if it fits your middle figure and go up a size so it fits on my cyst figure.

 

 

We took all the stuff Elder Anderson gets distracted by....this is only a portion.

 

June 1, 2015

 Trip-ship in front of the temple.



Those who go to the temple together, stay together.

 



So I hit nine months on Wednesday. Whoop-te-doo. I hope you can feel like sarcasm dripping out of those words because it is hard core soaked in there. I really cannot believe it has been 9 months already. Where in the world did the time go? I feel like it was just yesterday that I was boarding the plane to go to Mexico City. Crazy that I've been though Training, Follow Up Training, and now all of my companions are dead minus one. (also, one died prematurely). Oh, also, how could I forget the trio. I've been in two trios. What in the world...

This week has been pretty anti-climatic. We went to an IPAD training where we in fact did not receive I PADS. What kind of training is that if we don't even have the device we are going to be using. I'll tell you what kind of training it was. It was inspired from God. We ended up talking about the repentance process the whole time and what kind of servant of the Lord we wanted to be. We were all called to repentance in a good sort of way. I'm really grateful that the Lord has given us that opportunity to learn more about our calling and how we should act as missionaries. 

On Wednesday we had interviews with President Jardine. They went well. Not my favorite interview that I've ever had but it was decent. I felt a little misunderstood throughout the whole thing but I did learn quite a bit. We talked about what it meant to expect perfection of ourselves and he brought something to light that I had never thought of. He said that when we expect perfection of ourselves we cut out the atonement from our lives. We start to believe that perfection is something that we can achieve on our own but we can't. We have to have Christ's help. I had never thought of the atonement that way before. Also, as we start to cut out the use of the atonement we start to loose the peace that we feel because peace is what comes when we us the atonement. Never thought of it that way before either.

There isn't really any more interesting news. 

Here is some sad news. Ruben doesn't have a date for baptism now. He was really sick so he couldn't come to church this Sunday. He is still progressing really well and he is going to pick another date at our next lesson. 

I CANNOT BELIEVE I FORGOT ABOUT THIS. 

The whole Esparza family came to the temple this week. Luis and Cholo and get this EDUARDO! He is home now and Hermana is SO happy. They all came to the temple and the spirit was so strong. The Elders got to ride with them to the temple and I think that was really good for them.

On Sunday, they all came to church! Heck yeah! The elders went out and talked to them and they said "We promised Hermana Porter we would only sit out in the lobby for 3 week. In 2 weeks we are acutally going to enter the chapel. I love that family so much!! 

I hope you all have a great week. 

Les queiro, 

Hermana Porter

 The Esparza's at the temple!

 The Temple!

 District Temple Photo: Elder Williams, Elder Anderson, Hermana Webb, Me, Hermana Cuesta.

 The signature Elder Williams.

 Our Gangster Faces.

 Our Temple Selfies!

On the way back home.

May 25, 2015

On Exchanges!  Hermana Clark (my sister, Hermana Hurley trained her also), Hermana Webb, and Me!

1. Nine months...holy cow. I cannot believe it has been 9 months already. Who would have thunk I could have made it this long? The mission is seriously the best thing in the entire world. This week I have been so stressed about things but I wouldn't change it for the world. It is the best kind of stressed because it is the Lord's work and He controls it. I'm stressed over something so righteous and I'm so grateful for this change I have made in myself. I feel happiness creeping into my life and I just feel JOY. It took me a lot time to get into the groove of life but I'm starting to grow and see my progress. I noticed that the change only came after I forgot myself. I focused on the people I was talking to, and the investigators I was teaching, and everything took off from there. When I forget myself I feel so happy. Sometimes I slip and those are the worst days because I'm so focused on how I'm feeling. The elders usually remind me to get back to work.

2. Hermana Flores went home and I was so sad. It was a lot harder to loose her than I thought it would be. But I'm not going to type too much in case she reads this. I don't want to make her feel bad. But, she is sorely missed here in the mission. 

Along with Hermana Flores, most of our zone were emergency transferred. Elders Snapp, Owusu, Riplie, and Bilbrough got moved. It was pretty stressful and we were all really sad to see them leave. It was super weird and we are not sure why it happened. We are adjusting to being a new zone but so far so good. 

3. THERE WERE TWO INVESTIGATORS FROM GALT AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY. 

You better believe momma was happy. I was so so so so so happy I almost cried. Ruben came and he is progressing to his date nicely. Also, we taught Ruben the word of wisdom today and he totally understood it. We asked him what he thought hot drinks would be and he said..."Ummmm, coffee and tea." When we asked him to live it he said "yeah, that'd be easy. Coffee and tea make me gag anyways." I love that kid so much. He makes me so stinking happy. He said he is really nervous about church but the more he comes the more he will get used to it. The Elders were really sweet to him and stayed about his side for most of priesthood, until a member stole him and took him to young mens. That was bad because Ruben doesn't speak English and young mens is in English. Ugh. Elder Williams and Elder Anderson felt really bad for loosing track of him. But all is good and he wants to come back next week. I love that little booger. 

Nathan was our other investigator that came to church. He is a beast. He is 10 and his mom and brother are members. We went over to their house this week and asked Nate if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes. He is currently praying about what date we wants to be baptized on. He is a little cutie and we are so happy for him. 

This week has been amazing and I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve the Lord. The blessings are coming and I can feel it. 

Les quiero, 

Hermana Porter.

 

Our Trio!

My Zone Leaders.  Elder Graham and Elder Snapp (E. Snapp left)

Elder Owusu, MY FAVORITE ELDER EVER!  I'm so sad he left.  We had spent 4 transfers together.

Elder Williams, Elder Owusu (he left), Elder Anderson, me, Hermana Flores (she left), Hermana Cuesta, Hermana Webb, and Elder Riplie (he left)

When we play basketball in the morning, Elder Snapp (he left) and I would always wear the same shirts.  We had to take at least 1 selfie before he left.

Last pic with my buddy.

Hermanos Amaya.  They are my FAVORITE!!

Homegirl, (Hna Flores) is gone and Momma is sad.

Our Apartment!  Hna Cuesta, Hna. Webb, Hna Flores, and me.

 

May 18, 2015

Me and Hermana Flores!!!  My new companion.

Hi beautiful world. How has everyone been? Today I am a mixture of good and bad. Good because Luis struck again and I had another crazy spiritual experience with that kid. Seriously, I think I came on my mission for him. Bad, because it has been two weeks since we have added an investigator. I'm really struggling to focus on the good but the Lord is helping me though this hard time and I am becoming more and more aware of the blessing that the Lord is putting in my path. Luis and Ruben are two of those.

Transfers always bring a learning curve that I really wish didn't come. SO this is just part of that learning and the Lord has helped me a lot. I'm letting myself learn instead of become destructive and getting disappointed. I'm trying and am not perfect yet. Step by step! 

Anyways, last week Ruben lost his baptism date and we were really sad. He has had a problem with coming to church. We decided to have a lesson with him talking to him about WHY baptism. We didn't want him to feel like we were shoving it on him. We talked to him and he understood so we asked him to choose his own date. He did. He chose the 7th of June. We were so happy. We were literally floating on clouds by the time that we left there. He has promised us that he would come to church but he didn't show up. I'm not going to  lie...I was a little bit angry. Elder Anderson kept saying "Calm down, Hermana Porter. Maybe you shouldn't go over to his house after church. You might beat him up." 

The good news...I didn't beet Ruben up. The bad news, his excuse for not coming to church was really lame. But we did have a really good lesson about WHY we come to church and he said "Oh, I get it now. Church is a really important thing...I HAVE to come. I'm not going just because you asked me to." Sometimes...things like that happen and I feel like a crappy missionary but then I'm just so excited that he understands that I forget all about it. So Ruben...progress. Hopefully next week my email will be all excited about how he came to church! 

Luis....man I love that kid. He is Brad to a T. The more I spent time with him the more I'm like, Dude, you are Brad. But we had an amazing lesson with him that I'm not going to share all the details of but a lot of stuff happened and it ended in him promising to come to church every Sunday for a month. Holy cow I feel the spirit so strong every time I talk to that kid. He was at church on Sunday and he made an amendment to the promise...he gets to sit on the couches outside of the chapel...I mean it's progress, right? He was cracking us up because his girlfriend just joined the church (well, ex girlfriend) and so that makes him really nervous to go. He told us "Ugh, why did she have to join the only true church? Why couldn't she have joined one of those hundreds of others that are fake?" That kid is my favorite.....

Anyways, this week has been really good. The next few weeks are going to be really busy because we are preparing to receive the IPads. We have an IPad training on the 26th of this month and we get our IPads then! We are all so excited! 

Les quiero, 

Con amor, 

Hermana Porter

 

Ruben (in the background) and  his little brother, Andrew.

Selfie Sunday with mi companera.

We got to play some soccer after correlation on Thursday with the Lopez family.  It was a blast!

MY BROTHER!

Yeah..... masks to the maxxx.

 

May 11, 2015

The New House.  Hna Cuesta, Hna Webb, Hna Flores, and me!!

 

Splendiferous Speech Patterns

 

Happy Mothers Day! Mothers day is now my favorite holiday, and Christmas of course. I was so happy to be able to talk to the family yesterday. Have I ever told any of you that I have the best family in the world, Because i do. The funniest moment was probably when Amanda's family got on and all the kids got to ask me one question. All of them were asking "What do you like about your mission?" "Is your companion nice?" "when do you get back to Nana's house?" It was Miles turn he didn't really have one at first so he just decided to state a fact "Maya's birthday is on Wednesday." Later on, however, he did decide that he had a question. The said (in the cute little accent I don't really remember him having) "When you were a baby, what color was your hair?" I seriously almost died. I love that kid so much.

The whole time I was just so thankful to Heavenly Father for the family He has given me and I am also so thankful that there is a way that families can be together forever. I'm so grateful for that gospel truth that I know. Families can be together forever, I always want to be with my family! Thanks for taking the time to talk to me! 

Lesson wise this week has been really good. We got to see Ruben (Yay for Ruben) and it went really well, although he did not come to church this week. That is something we have been having a problem with. We find really cool people to teach but it is really hard getting them to come to church. We hope that Ruben will be able to come soon. We are trying to bring fellow shippers but we will see how that goes. There aren't a lot of youth that live in Galt. We taught Ruben the Plan of Salvation and when we finished Hermana Flores said, Ruben, do you feel awkward when we come over. He said, Yes. That is going to be something that we will have to resolve. I'm going to work on being his friend this week. 

We also had a great family home evening with the Esparza's. I schooled Luis and Oslvado in Basketball. It was really funny. We are making so much progress with that family! 

Sorry this week is really short. I feel like I talked about everything but I haven't. Next week will be better! 

les quiero, 

Con amor, 

Hermana Porter

 

 My Zone last transfer.

Elder Owusu, Elder Phillips and Elder Anderson.  They bought us all watermelon.

 Spanish Sisters and Elder Wednt.  He was going home so he was desperate for pictures.

My Zone Leaders last transfer.  Elder Wednt and Elder Snapp

The Elders were super nice and gave us brownies and a letter with Indians on them.

Welcoming the New District!