Week 6 yall!

Alright, my friends....it's Week 6...of my mission. I bet yall are just happy 'bout that, aren't ya? :P It still doesn't feel real!!

I went to Lexington on Wednesday. I'm tellin' ya, Lexington is the place to be! I loved it! We talked to 20 random people throughout the day and shared #BecauseHeLives with everyone! It was great!! I was surprised at how many people didn't know what the true meaning of Easter was! But it was a blessing to get to share it with them. If you haven't watched the video, do it!

Last Monday was quite the...adventure, for me. I learned a huge lesson on patience when things don't go my way, and I've been much happier since. :) It's been a good week!

PLUS! We got to end it with GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Ok, I have to say, before Conference, I made a list of questions that I had answers to. I mainly asked the question, "How can I do life as a Return Missionary successfully?" And you know what most of the talks seemed to be about?

MARRIAGE.

UGH! Not yet! Not happening! But aside from that, Conference was good! I received a lot of revelation about other things. I really liked Elder Pearson's talk. It was what I needed to hear. I can't wait to review the notes I took. Luckily our car has a USB port, so I just put all the Conference talks on my jump drive so we can listen to them all this week. :D

We really are so privileged to live in a time where there are living prophets and apostles to lead and guide us. I know they are called of God. I can't deny it! Our Savior loves us so much that He calls apostles and prophets to lead and guide us here. How grateful I am for their counsel! I am so grateful that the Spirit taught me what I needed to know specifically for my life.

Alright my friends, next week will be my big sob-email. For now, I'm going to enjoy my final week of declaring the Gospel to EVERYONE!!!!!!!! It's not going to stop after my mission, but I'm going to give it my all while I'm still doing it full-time. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Porter

Patience

Well. This week I found out Heavenly Father definitely has a sense of humor! Just when I was thinking to myself, "Wow, Hermana Porter, you have actually become a more patient person! Good job!"  .........

- My curling iron broke halfway through curling my hair yesterday, about an hour before church...the little metal coil under the handle broke, so now there's no spring to keep it closed! And my comp didn't have a curling iron... and my hair is too short to pull into a bun....can anyone say bad hair day?

- The missionary email system got shut down for a few hours this morning and we couldn't get on until just now.

Like I said, Heavenly Father gives you... opportunities, to develop Christlike attributes when you pray to develop them. And you just have to take em as they come and be grateful--no matter how hard it is!

This week was quite the trial for me. On Tuesday I went to the doctor because I was feeling a lot worse and showing signs of bronchitis (Ain't nobody got time for that! Especially a missionary!!!). I had an upper respiratory infection that would've turned into it had I let it go any longer. They put me on antiobiotics and prescribed "rest", but I didn't want to rest! I wanted to work! But then the next day we had interviews with President & Sister Brough, and they ordered me to rest. So that's what I did for two days. It was so hard and frustrating for me. The sleep felt nice, but it was frustrating because I told myself I was going to work harder than ever this transfer. The first two weeks were going great, and then I crashed. I just remember breaking down frustrated, saying, "I don't want to end my mission like this!" But then I remembered that sometimes God has a different plan than we do. We need to learn to be ok with it, come what may.

I've been focusing a lot this week on how we need to make God's will and plan, OUR will and plan. Like they said in the Women's Conference on Saturday evening, "If it's God's plan, it should also be our plan." We can't change God's will or plan no matter how much we may want to, and we shouldn't try to force our own. That's what Satan tried to do. Heavenly Father knows better than we do. We have to be humble and prayerful enough to learn it and accept it. Honestly, we're a whole lot happier when we do!

Luckily I am feeling better now and back to normal. Thank you antibiotics and priesthood blessings! I am ready to serve hard and work hard these next two weeks. April is coming up this week, but I'm trying not to think about it. We have been seeing a lot of success with some great people we're teaching and working with, and I'm going to keep working hard with them til the very end. I just love Kentucky and never want to leave!!!! (Spring in Kentucky is BEAUTIFUL. Just sayin!)

Well, my friends, have patience. Trust God. And believe in Him! Also, watch this video and share it with EVERYONE!!!!!! That's what we're doing! #BecauseHeLives

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-shares-because-he-lives-easter-initiative

Hermana Porter

Lifetime of Learning

It never ceases to amaze me how much I am learning each week. So many things have happened this past week...where do I even begin!

We went out of town for two days on a couple of blitzes in Evansville and Owensboro. Because of some things that happened there, I learned 3 very important lessons:

1. I finally learned the meaning of charity. I'm not perfect at applying it yet, but I had an epiphany of sorts this week. We need to havecompassion on each other. Having charity means having compassion. This means giving each other the benefit of the doubt and not focusing on each others' weaknesses and bad qualities. Focus on others' strengths! We wouldn't want others to focus on our bad qualities! And just be nice!

2. EXACT obedience is key! It's not enough to be kind of obedient or to kind of follow the rules. Follow them with exactness; don't look for loopholes; and be responsible! You will earn God's respect as you show Him you are worthy of it. In everything you do, think of Christ. You can't stand before Him confidently and say you truly love Him if you aren't even willing to obey His commandments with exactness. Show you deserve His trust and revelation by your acts of obedience. EXACT OBEDIENCE BRINGS TRUE HAPPINESS! And you can never be too obedient!

3. This kind of goes along with the last one. It's a quote from Preach My Gospel that I wrote down on the final day of my planner: "The attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly Father and His Son and yourrespect for the priesthood." I love my mission. I haven't served perfectly, but I have tried. I am trying my hardest to show God that I truly love Him and am truly thankful for my mission experience. I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior. I'm not perfect at showing it, but I'm trying to.

Although this week was kind of rough, I know that the experiences I had helped me have those little revelations. Like I said, I'm amazed at how much I'm still learning!

I've been sick most of the week, and last night I finally got a blessing. But I woke up today feeling a lot worse. It started off as allergies last weekend, but this weekend it turned into a phlegmy cough. My whole body hurts, and I feel absolutely drained. It's a little frustrating because I really wanted to work hard this final transfer. I was working the hardest I ever had the first two weeks, but this last week really slowed me down. I want to work! I want to find! But I was reminded in my blessing that I need to rest too. Meh. Ok.

Last thing: Nancy is AMAZING! She is our little miracle! She has come to church every Sunday since we met her, has been reading in the Book of Mormon every day and praying, and this last week she informed us that she quit watching CMT on Sundays and started watching BYUTV instead! haha. She also said she drove to Crestwood the other day and tried to look for the temple but didn't quite get there. She is such a gem! This week we're watching the Women's Conference with her and having her over to a member's home to teach her a lesson. She is teaching ME so much!!!!

I love life. I love my mission. Hope it never ends.

Hermana Porter

[ No Subject]

What a week it's been. I don't even know where to start!

Hermana Graham went home. I miss her dearly!! It was SO different when she left....made me pretty sad for a few days. She's a tough presence to fill! But it's ok. I'll see her soon! I just miss her so much! She's really inspired me to be better and to make this last transfer the best.

My new companion is Hermana Hopwood. She's sweet! She's been out for about 11 months, and this is her third area. She just came from Lexington. She's from Colorado. Nice girl!

The day after Hermana Graham left, a HUGE snow storm rolled in. We got about a foot of snow, and all day Thursday we weren't allowed to use our car. So we walked around, as far as we could go, in a foot of snow to try and find people to teach. It was good! The only thing that frustrated me though is that we couldn't go to the other half of the area we took over from the Spanish Elders. I was feeling really frustrated that we couldn't go meet all the investigators and less-actives they've been working with; I felt pretty stuck.

We spent the first few days organizing the two area books, going through formers, organizing like crazy. You know how I get when I get to cleaning and organizing stuff. My poor companion probably thinks I'm crazy haha. When I get doing something my way, I get a little lost in it. But we have most of it all organized and cleaned up, so I feel a little better. Eventually we made it out of the house and got to use the car again, and we finally met all the new people. We have been talking to people like crazy and meeting people all over the place. So many Hispanics!!! I love it!!! There is PLENTY of work to do here these next few weeks!

Guess what! I went on an exchange with the Lexington Hermanas, and one of them is the brand new Hermana Imlay! :D She and I talked about Hurricane a bit. She told me when she met you, Mom haha. She's great. :) She'll be just fine out here. I'm excited to see where her mission takes her! I'm glad I got to work with her once before I go!

The work is really on fire here, and we're excited about it. Nancy came to church for the third time yesterday, and her daughter and son-in-law came to visit from Ohio. It was fantastic! Please keep her in your prayers; she's struggling to quit coffee, so we're working hard with her. We also are working with lots of other wonderful people. I'm excited to see what else happens this transfer.

I've really determined not to think about the end of this transfer. I'm working hard, giving it all I have and giving the Lord whatever else I have left to consecrate. Hermana Graham really inspired me, and I'm excited to work hard and give it what I have these next few weeks. Lots of hard work coming up, but I'm ready for it! Here we go!

Love you all! Read the Book of Mormon!

Hermana Porter

[No Subject]

The Big News

Well, here's the transfer news! My greenie, Hermana Gamett, is training!! I'm going to be a grandma!! She's going to do so well! :) We also have 3 other hermanas training. President Brough is also closing the Shelbyville Spanish Elders' area, so it's combining with ours.... That's going to be huge. Our area just got a whoooole lot bigger. Well, at least we'll have plenty of work to do my final transfer. One zone got dissolved, and lots of areas are getting rearranged...should be an interesting transfer meeting tomorrow! Plus we're losing 26 missionaries and getting 10 new ones. AH!

Also....we're getting a new car tomorrow. I hope it's a new Corolla. Those things are niiiice.

I think that's about it for big news!

The Funny Stuff

We saw a duck get hit by a car on Friday. It just planted itself in the middle of the lane, and all of the sudden we see this big hunk of duck go rolling down the street, feathers everywhere. Ugh, it was horrible. We saw it just relaxing in its final moments.... It was a good, solid duck too!

The Spiritual Stuff

Ok, now for some miracles. Last Saturday (the 21st) I had stepped into a huge slushy pile of cold water and snow, so Hermana Graham and I decided to go buy some Little Caesar's instead of cooking because we were so frozen. As we were walking out with our pizza, a middle-aged man with two teenage girls stopped and he said, "Look, it's the sisters!" We were confused because we'd never seen him before, so we stopped and talked to him. Turns out he's a less-active from Minnesota and has lived in Shelbyville for a while, but he's never come to Church. Last night we stopped by to see him and his family, and he told us that about how he converted, how he used to be the YM's president for a while, and why he fell away. Then he told us, "That day I met you at Little Caesar's, I had told myself just 3 hours before, 'If I ever run into the elders or the sisters again, I know it's time to come back to the Church.' " And sure enough, that's when we ran into him! Isn't that a miracle?! And to make things better, he has two daughters who want to get baptized!! What a miracle!

Nancy is doing fantastic too. She came to church on Sunday for the second time and just loved it. Axel also came too. We had quite a few Spanish members there! They reorganized the Bishopric yesterday, and it was also fast and testimony meeting. It was probably the most spiritual sacrament meeting I've ever been in. I learned so much from the testimonies that were shared and from observing the young families and wonderful members we have here in Shelbyville. My heart was full.

My dear Hermana Graham is leaving me tomorrow. It hasn't been hitting her, but it finally did when we woke up at 6 am to do our deep cleaning this morning. I just listened to her and hugged her as she cried. I'm going to miss her so much. Of all the companions I've had, she's affected my life and my future the most. I don't know how I'm going to do 6 more weeks without her! She's inspired me beyond my mission. My life goals and aspirations are hire because of the things we learned together. She's one of the closest friends I've ever had.

Well. I'm going into my final transfer. It's been weird being with Hermana Graham and just being a transfer behind her. She's been so focused on the work, that it hardly seems real. I've been watching what's going to happen to me. Honestly, it scares me. It hit me on Sunday, March 1st, that I'm finishing. This next transfer is going to be extremely busy with combining areas, MLC, 10 exchanges, General Conference, and 2 baptisms...but it's inevitable. It ends! I can't focus on it. I'm going to finish strong and focus on the here-and-now. I'm going to give God whatever it is I have left to give and leave the mission a bit stronger than it was before.

It's happening! Here we go GKLM! Stay strong, work hard, fight hard, love hard y'all!

Hermana Porter

Don't Step in the Snow!

I thought I knew cold when I moved to Provo. 

And then I moved to Kentucky. 

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

We had quite the week with weather! On Monday, we were lucky and got to email because our apartment complex has a computer. But most missionaries didn't get to email until Thursday or Friday because of all the crazy weather we got. It snowed ALL DAY Monday (10 inches!) and then again all day Wednesday...and we had to drive in it! Luckily my companion drove...because I'm from Arizona and don't know how. :p We had a meeting 30 minutes from where we live that we had to give a training at, and it took us a good hour and 15 minutes to get there Wednesday morning because of the snow. 

To make matters worse, it got up to 40 degrees on Saturday, so everything started to melt, and then it started to rain. Everything turned to pure slush, and I got to learn it the hard way! We were knocking doors on 10th Street, and I started walking into this yard, but as soon as I stepped into the snow, it turned into a deep pit of black water up to the middle of the calf. And I kept walking into it, thinking "I'll hit the sidewalk any second now!" BUT NO! There's nothing colder than soaking wet boots and 10 degree weather friends. BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! 

Aside from all the "fun" weather problems, we had a pretty good week. Gave a training at Zone Meeting, had an exchange with the Corydon hermanas, got lost driving in Louisville again, and saw a couple of cool miracles. We also pushed a few cars out of the snow and cleaned windshields for people. Monday night we had to go work without a car, so we were walking around trying to talk to people, but there was literally no one outside...except for some gym buffs trying to dig their way into the gym on Main St. That was an interesting conversation. 

ANYWAY! Kentucky is great! I have to tell myself, "I'm from Alaska! I love the snow! I love the cold! I loooove it!" everyday when I go outside...and it kind of works! 

Also....it's my final week with Hermana Graham. She's going home in a week! :( I'm going to miss her! I don't know who my new companion will be, but I'll know by next Monday! AH! Then it's my last transfer....... just push it under the rug, I don't need to think about it yet! 

Keep on truckin' yall, and keep us in your prayers! I'll do the same! Love you!!!!

Hermana Porter

[No Subject]

What a day! It's been snowing all morning, and we're supposed to be getting 8-12 inches by the end of tonight. President Brough restricted the whole mission from using our cars until 12:00 tomorrow, so we're stuck inside until then. Luckily our apartment complex has a computer in the office, so we get to email for a bit. We're going to trek over to Goodwill after this. Luckily it's right across the street.

Before I get started talking about the conference with Elder Christofferson and Elder Soares, I have to tell you a really funny story! It's probably the funniest thing that's happened on my mission so far. I was in Lexington on an exchange the other day, and Hermana Arnoldsen and I were walking around a neighborhood talking to random people. We got to talking to this nice black lady, and about 3-4 minutes into our conversation a bird pooped right on her face! I had the hardest time not laughing. I awkwardly looked up and said, "Oh, it's a bird" and hooked her up with a tissue and hand sanitizer. It was so embarrassing. Luckily we didn't laugh until later, but man, self-control was a virtue in that moment!

Saturday morning, Elder Christofferson of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy came to speak to our entire mission. It began at 9:00 am. It was so cool to watch him walk in -- he was shorter than I expected -- and to feel the Spirit rush into the room. Elder Soares spoke first, then his wife, then Elder Christofferson's wife spoke, and finally Elder Christofferson. He did just a question and answer session, and there were a lot of good questions posed, such as:

- How can I be the best companion I can be?

- What is the significance/symbolism of the laying on of hands?

- How can I help my less-active family members and friends from out here?

- What is the term 'Heaven' intended to describe?

I just have to tell you: I learned a lot from his responses, but I learned a lot more by just observing him -- observing the way he talked, responded, moved, etc. He was so peaceful. He was not rushed. He was real. He was professional. He was so Christlike. In the end, he left us with his testimony. He said, "Above all else, I want you to remember and know that I said to you in person, that I know that Christ lives. I know He is our Savior."

Brothers and Sisters! We have prophets in the land today! This Church is lead by Christ Himself, not by man! I have listened to and seen an apostle of the Lord in person, and I can't deny the things the Spirit testified to me: that he is one called of God to be his special witness; that Christ lives; that God loves us and knows us; that this Church is the Church of Jesus Christ. Above all, I want the peace the Spirit brings. I want to emulate Christ. I want to have the Spirit with me always. I don't want to jeopardize that one bit by doing something against God's will and commandments. No matter how hard the circumstance or difficulty in keeping a certain commandment, do it anyway. There is no sin that's worth losing the Spirit. Use the gift you've been given. Be worthy of it always. It's so precious! A testimony is so precious!

Christ lives! I am so grateful to be a missionary so I can declare that to the world right now! I love this Church. I love my Father in Heaven. If you still don't have a testimony of the Church or of the Prophet or of Christ, ask God. Do what it takes. I know He will give it to you.

I love you all!!!!!

Hermana Porter