May 26, 2014

Hey Everyone,

So I leave to Brandon on Thursday. It's about 3 hours west of here. I'm so sad to leave. Like, I'm really sad. I didn't tell anyone I was leaving, except for about 15 people who I really care about and love. I hate saying bye. Rosemary Merasty (my favorite person I have met on my mission) said she's going to bawl like a baby when I leave. I'm going to try not to, but idk. I'm really close to these people. It's going to be really hard but exciting at the same time.

I had to speak at a fireside last night about how following the prophet has blessed my life. I think I did a good job, especially since I just stood up there and winged it.

We found a new guy to teach the other day. His name is Fred and he's from the Carribean. We talked to him while he was painting his house and he was pretty interested. He's a good guy.

We went to Margarita Demarchi's house yesterday. She's in the ward. She's brazillian, she's such a good member missionary. She had a friend over last night, who we got to talk about the gospel with while laying in hammocks in her basement. It was so much fun and the Spirit was really strong.

I've finally learned to like my companion. It's great cause now its almost over. but oh well. It was a good run here.

Brandon is 15x smaller than Winnipeg. I'm so ready for that. There's a reserve out there called Waywayseecapo. I'm going out there to visit all the natives. I'm excited about that. It's taken a bit, but I've really learned to love these first nation people. I understand how to teach them and we really click. I love aboriginal people, even when they threaten to beat me with a beer bottle. haha.

Well I'm loving the work and I'm going to kick it hard in Brandon. I love the gospel. It is true.

Elder Porter

just a 20 inch fish I caught this week!!!

May 20, 2014

The sunflowers look great! I bet the kids are excited for summer. It doesn't feel like summer here at all! its still in the 50's and 60's most days and I can still see my breath most days haha. It sounds like things are going good with your young womens. I know the yw pres over here and it's so funny to hear them say how busy they are with yw when there is only 4 girls. I'm like okay whatever haha.

Well we get transfer calls here this week, and facebook training tomorrow. I'm excited and really nervous for transfers. I sent a longer email to dad this week so you guys can all read that one. it explained my week better.

Hey dad

Sounds like things are rollin for youth conference. All that sounds fun. How’s Ash adjusting to his new cast? haha

Yeah I’m really excited to go to Brandon. I don't know the kid I’m serving with but from what I’ve heard he is a good kid. He likes to work hard and he can actually walk. I’ts been killing me not being able to walk. I feel like I’ve just been being lazy and theres nothing I could do about it. We only have a certain amount of kilometers we can use a month so we can’t drive too many places and it was really wearing on me not being able to get out and kick it into high gear and just work. But it’s over now and Pres. Thomas is happy with me. He knew it was going to be hard.

Yeah I’m really sad to leave this area. I’ve grown a lot here and love so many people here, but its time for a change, a good clean start in a brand new area with new people, so I’m excited.

So we got questioned by the game and fish people this morning. We went fishing at like 5 am and at like 9 they were asking to see our licenses and stuff. I was pretending to act all weird and stall and I could tell they were just so excited to write me a ticket. Then I whipped out my license and they left. It was super funny. We caught some good fish. haha

But other than that I’m just doing my best to make it till Thursday. I’m super excited. Love you dad

Elder Porter

Well things are going well. I'm loving it. most days haha. I just hope next transfer im with someone I can have an intelligent converstion with, instead of talking to a freakin brick. I love you all

Elder Porter

 Show message history

May 12, 2014

hahaha tell Syd that's how she always smells, and yeah I miss the leftovers. Food is sparce over here hahaha.

holy! Rim to rim would be so much fun! and maybe I will have a girly by then. Lets hope so!

My testimony is growing. I am gaining a great understanding about the gospel. Some missionaries I know, really judge me for asking questions about the church trying to find answers but its something that Olguin helped me understand is, that it's good go ask questions, because once you find an answer it helps your testimony even more. I've gained a good understanding about the Atonement and how it's okay to make mistakes. I mean we're all here to learn and no one is going to be perfect. That's why I love this gospel.

Well today I dropped my comp off with Elder Martin and went fishing with the other elders all day. It was tons of fun. We also did some service for Maria Tridder. It was great.

Well I enjoyed talking to you all yesterday, it was great. I love you all. You're all looking so grown up.

p.s. I still didn't get any emails from the girls so thanks again! have a great week. Love you all

Elder Porter

 Show message history

May 5, 2014

Hey Everyone

Well our district had a baptism this week. May Panisiak. She’s 80 years old and a really funny lady. It was a really good baptism. We have another one coming up this Saturday to a 10 year old girl named Talia. I get to interview her this Wednesday.

It’s been a pretty good week. I’ve been trying to be kind to Elder Coombs more but I’ve definitely been struggling. The other Elders have been as well. Last night Elder Coombs told me he feels like the red headed step child of the district. I told him I hope he gets a companion that he really likes next transfer and that even though we are not friends, that we can still be united in our purpose as missionaries. I cant wait until next transfer.

Well Mothers day is coming up soon! I’m really excited to see all of you! It’s really ironic because I’m going to be at the same members’ home as I was on Christmas doing Skype. I’ve been here for a bit. haha.

We stopped by some less active members this week like always and got some pretty good stories out of them. The excuses people make are so ridiculous hahaha.

As we were walking to a less actives house we saw this lady raking leaves and  asked her if she needed help. She said sure. So we dropped our bags and started helping. She thought we were joking, but she was super nice and we talked for a bit. It was really nice.

I’m not sure if I told you about Jason last week. He wants to meet with us and he is super nice. No Christian background, so this is going to be fun haha

We had some fun dinner appointments this week. The Moores were way fun. they have 3 crazy kids and they put on the Beatles on their record player and told us that we didn't have a choice. I was definitely okay with that haha. So it was really nice and we had a great time.

Well I hope you all have a good week, and tell the kids that I really enjoy not hearing from any of them for months. come on. its not that hard to send an email... haha

Love you all, and thanks for everything! talk to you soon!

Elder Porter

just being little pranks

April 26, 2014

That's super fun that Ivy is learning how to read. And yeah I end up getting into a shout match every time its time for Elder Coombs to do the dishes because he is literally the biggest baby about cleaning up after himself. So yesterday we did a deep clean and I made him clean the nasty bathroom and he was super ticked about that. I just told him to shut it or he would be calling president telling him to get him a new companion asap... he did his cleaning.

So I keep hearing about how I need to be careful about my head and how I shouldn't be wrestling and stuff. Let me explain how it happened again because no one understands. I was playing basketball and I smashed heads with another missionary. Nothing happened. And I'm fine. I'm kind of irritated because it's not like I'm trying to get hurt. It was an accident. I didn't get knocked out. I blacked out for a split second. It's just like getting a goose egg. We all hit our heads sometimes.

This week we had some good stuff happen. We got a new investigator (Jason) from china. He's a great guy and he wants to learn all about Christianity.

We have volunteered as tour guides at the zoo by our apartment, so that should be fun!

We volunteered at the humane society.

We volunteered at this kids center in downtown to help keep kids off of the streets. It should be fun.

I taught a members less active anti son and his non member girlfriend so that was a good step.

We are all getting fed up with this area. It blows. It's always cloudy and rainy and cold lately and were all getting depressed. We had our temple all constructed but someone destroyed it, so we're pretty ticked there. We're starting to do chalk drawings of book of Mormon stories in the forest so that will be fun.

Basically I'm just filling up my time with service, because we don't really have anything else going on. Another sister is going home so that's really great.

Well hope you all have a good week. Love you all!

Elder Porter

 Show message history