February 23, 2105

Hey Everyone,

Things are going good. It was -52 here the other day, in farenheight that is -61. None of you know what that even means. It means that when I decided to take a whizz outside it was a really really bad idea. I’ll leave it at that... have you ever been able to spit into the air and catch it coming down as a chunk of ice? yeah. its freakin cold guys.

On a positive note today is only -12 so I don’t have to wear my parka, just a light jacket which is super nice. I’ve been teaching a lot of people addiction recovery lately and I’m loving it. It’s been quite the intense week. Lots of crazy things happened. 

Our mission president came up this last week and I had an interview with him. I wore my moccasins to the interview and he didn’t even know what to say. I could tell he wanted to ask me about them and why I was wearing them but I just let him wonder haha.

Well I’m not sick anymore. I was sick for a while and walking around in the cold doesn’t help. I thought I was getting pneumonia. That would have been aweful!

I think we’re going to play pool today with some friends. It’s literally the only thing to do here besides sit at the subway and watch people fight each other all day, which is fun too I guess.

We had lots of dinners this last week. I had to talk to lots of people to make sure they would feed my companion because no one wants him to eat their food haha, but I think things are getting better. At least no one is trying to fight him anymore. 

Well I’m loving it here, having a good time and teaching lots. Love you all!

Elder Porter

February 16, 2015

Hey Everyone,

Things are going good. I’m loving this place still and working hard. We were out walking in -50 farenheight the other day and I was sick, so that just made me sicker. We were walking by our investigators place and I was just like Elder Sorenson, I cant breathe this air anymore. I’m sick and I think I’m going to get pneumonia, so we went in and just made a bunch of food and a bunch of our other friends were there and we had a lesson out of the addiction recovery book that we’ve been working with. One of my bros here used to drink every day and couldn’t quit for even 12 hours. Now he’s been sober for 5 weeks and is doing awesome. The assistants were with me this last week for the day and we were visiting him and I went upstairs and he just told them that I can’t leave yet because I’m the one that helped him change his life and he doesn’t want to go back to that life again, but isn’t strong enough to do it on his own. It meant a lot to me. 

Thats what I’ve been teaching a lot lately, is the churches addiction recovery program. I took the training for it so I can teach it pretty well. I love teaching it. Sometimes it’s sad because you just make people feel really bad for the things they have done, and right as they feel like crap you give them the hope that the gospel brings. So I feel like I bring them even lower before I lift them back up. It’s a different kind of teaching, but I love it. I love helping people change, and I want to continue helping these people, I hope I can come back here after the mission. 

Sorry I haven’t written in a bit guys. I’ve been going through a bit of a rough spot. I carry a lot of other peoples burdens in the area I am in right now. Living on the reservation and dealing with the 3rd world craziness that goes on is a whole new experience. I’ve seen a lot of things here that shouldn’t be seen sometimes. It’s a crazy life but I guess thats why I’m the one here to do it. Some times I just get worn out. Seeing a lot of sad things or the results of peoples bad decisions. The violence or the crime, substance abuse or abuse in general. This will definitely help out with my future career as a police officer. I love these people so much. I really click with the aboriginal people and I know this is where I’m supposed to be. 

I’ve got 6 months left and I’ll be back on September 4th. Time sure is flying by. I cant believe it. I love you all.

Elder Porter

Feb 2, 2015

Hey Everyone,

This week was really good. I am so happy I get to stay. I was pretty irritable this week because I was stressed about leaving and everyone else was stressed and getting antsy. I was getting like 20 phone calls every 3 hours asking if I got my call yet and that didn’t help. But on the bright side I probably get 3 more months here, because i will be training Elder Sorenson to be a new zone leader. So that will be exciting. He’s a good enough kid.

The northern lights this week were amazing, so beautiful, I loved them. We got some pictures but the pics don’t do them justice. so fun fact. If the northern lights are good enough, you can whistle loud and they will start dancing like crazy and swoop around you. They are so much fun to see. kinda weird though.

We had lots of people at church yesterday. Everyone was making bets on who was going to cry hahaha. All three missionaries got up and bore their testimony, then I got up and was like, "well I’m not leaving" everyone just cheered hahaha. It was a good fast sunday.

Well thanks for all the prayers everyone. This last transfer has mentally been one of the toughest for me. This place gives me some of my highest highs and lowest lows. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love you all. heres some sweet pictures, Love, Elder Porter

January 26, 2015

Hey Everyone.

This week was super good. We found 3 new investigators to teach. We had some good lessons with people and helped some people move. While we were helping move we were moving this pigeon to the new house and as I turned the corner the door to the cage flew open and I saw the bird fly out onto the cables over the house. It stayed there for a whole day then died because the temperature dipped down again haha. 

It was warm this week. Now its cooling off again. Everyone here is sick. All 3 of the other missionaries are sick except me. 40% of the high school here is out because of illness, and we had to take our friend wally to the hospital this morning because his appendix burst. Things are going crazy this week!

Well I’ve become quite the expert at preparing moose meat. We were sitting around the table with a bunch of our friends and they started messin with me telling me that they were going to show me how to prepare moose the native way and I just started preparing it all fast. Everyone was like what the? holy you know how to make moose haha.

But it was a good week. Staying positive. We find out transfer calls here in a few days. Pray that I stay in Flin Flon. I love this place so much!

Love you all,

Elder Porter