Oct. 7, 2013

Hey Everyone!

So this week was pretty good! On Tuesday we went to district meeting and then went to a really great Mexican food restaurant, the only one in Winnipeg, it was so good. Wednesday we went to lunch at our mission leaders home and ate some delicious spaghetti. We are teaching Lauren a lot. (the skitzo one)  we've been advertising a lot for the sports night and bible study trying to get people to come. 

Friday we went fishing with an investigator a couple hours away. It was sooooo cold. It was like 30 degrees f. and with 30 km winds and with it coming off the lake, it was brutal haha. It was really fun though. Elder Johnson and I go fishing a lot lately. It's great for finding investigators. The river is right around the corner from our apt. so we just bought a bunch of fishing stuff and we go fish right by people and they don't have a choice but to talk to us, haha. We got permission to do this so were not breaking any rules or anything. We've been eating the fish that we catch so were surviving with food haa. People always think its really funny and strange to see us fishing in our shirt and ties. One guy asked us if we always fish in shirt and ties and Elder Johnson said, "yes. we do. I mean we have to look nice for the fish, I mean, were gonna kill them haha" we have a lot of fun. Elder Johnson and I mess around a lot and joke a ton. The members are always saying how well we get along and stuff.   We went for dinner at a real nice family in our branch the Emers. They have a daughter who is autistic and loves us way too much haha. She has our names down and climbs all over us taking off our watches and our tie clips.  It's good thing I'm good at staying concentrated. It's a little hard to teach about the plan of salvation while im busy being a playground though. This weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada! We're going to a lot of dinners haha. We're really excited! It looks like we won't be eating fish this weekend. So we blew a lot of our money on the fishing stuff so weve been surviving off of all the fish that we catch hahaha! Budgeting our money is really important ;)

On Saturday we built a huge horse shed for a member in our branch, Bro Archembault. It was pretty cold that morning so I was wearing a face shield and my cute little took (silly hat) haha. We were late watching the first session so we ran to the library, watched it, went and showered and sped down to Winnipeg. We made it just in time. Conference was so great. One of the most important phrases that stood out to me was by Pres. Uchdorf. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith..." that was really important to me. If people did that and turned to God for the answer, no one would fall away. I pray a lot and as I pray sincerely, I always get that answer. its okay to have questions, its okay to have doubts, we all do, but as we turn to God to solve those questions, He will always answer us. Sometimes I have to pray multiple times, but I do get that answer.

 

We went with our zone leaders to pick up a family who hadn't been to church in 13 years and they were coming to conference. Me and Elder Johnson waited in their car for them. As we were waiting, this guy came out of his house and he was smoking. I had my window down and I said "great day eh?" he freaked out.. He was yelling at me "whats so great about it?! you guys look for little boys and do this and that and your a bunch of..." and I got so mad... like I was really mad... I was just shaking I wanted to go and just trash him, but I just ignored him and started to pray to keep calm. Right then our zone leaders called us and told us to go inside. I got out of the car and said, "I hope you have a lovely day my friend" smiled and walked away haha. I've come to realize that there will always be opposition, and that I have to always act as the Savior would. Elder Johnson was like, "wow you did really well, I could tell how angry you were and you just sat there and took it." I've grown mightily in patience already, and I'm really glad I have!

The sunday session of conference was really good. In between sessions a family who had just moved from Washington state, fed all the missionaries in Winnipeg (and us) lunch. It was so good. I got so full that it was difficult to keep focused during the last session. I was full of food and comfortable. I am finding that as a missionary, you are so tired. It's so hard to get up for a workout in the morning. haha

This week has been really excellent. I cant believe I am already a month out. Time is going fast and I know its just going to go faster and faster. I miss you all and I hope you are all doing great. thanks for all the support.

I love you all

Elder Porter

3 ne 5:13

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they may have everlasting life.