Elder Logan Porter: Week 1!!

Friends and family,

What a terrific week this has been! Wow not even sure where to start... 16 hour days slammed with stuff from the time you wake up to the time you retire to bed. I guess I’ll start with my Companion. Elder Andrew Hansen is a stud! He’s from Draper Utah and is super athletic; he enjoys rock climbing, wrestling, and lacrosse. We made friends quickly and enjoy each others company and work together well. It is so good having a good companion as I begin this journey. I got assigned to be the District leader for my district. Elder Hansen is my assistant and we are over 5 other companionship's. It is so awesome and our district is fantastic. We have 4 elders going to Hawaii, 4 elders going to Georgia, and 4 sisters going to Arkansas. We all clicked right off the bat and have fallen in love with working together. Walking in to the MTC is how I imagine heaven. Tons of people with huge smiles on their faces welcoming you as they are running around working, serving, studying, and preparing for their missions. From the beginning it was go go go. Tons of class time and study time. We jumped right into it starting to teach our teacher as they acted as a investigator. The days feel like they go on for years but looking back it flew by. And by the way this doesn’t have spell check so hope this is okay LOL

Day one I learned that all my worries and insecurities are all focused on me and my abilities, but then as I looked at what I was most excited for it was all focused on others and their progression. I learned that first day that these next 2 years I had to absolutely forget myself, my concerns, my worries, and just focus on tuning myself in with Heavenly Father and he will take care of the rest as i do my best and work hard.

Day two I got to know my District better and also got called by the Branch President to be the District leader. My room Consists of Elder Hansen, Dabbs, Roberts, and I. Our room is like the dream team room! I love them and am pumped that us four are all going to Hawaii so ill get to see them in the field and continue to grow our relationships and love of the lord together.

Day Three I saw my first Miracle here on my mission. Elder Hansen and I had been teaching a man by the name of Paul (our PI), he was super interested in the church but had doubts and wanted to know the logistics of the Atonement and how repentance works. We got out of our first appointment with him kinda discouraged because he was asking the same question over and over and we would answer it for him and he wasn’t getting it. So we committed him to read the Book of Mormon. We went back the second time and he was progressing but still getting held up. Elder Hansen and I had been praying nonstop and studying and were coming up with nothing that would help him. We were studying in class one day and Elder Bunker a missionary in our zone came in wrote two scriptures on the board and walked out. He didn’t know us at the time or why he decided to do that but those two scriptures answered all of Paul’s questions. The next lesson we shared this with Paul and committed him to baptism. I saw that day the power of prayer and the various was the Lord answers them.

Day four was full of classes but I found out for myself that.. The Lord will never deny your best. So long as we are trying and giving it our all. So long as we put our faith in Jesus Christ. So long as we have the spirit in our lives and invite it to be with us every day. So long as we humble ourselves and work God will make up the rest when your best isn’t good enough.

Day five my entire district joined the MTC choir which is massive there was easily 1600 missionaries singing at the same time. It was so powerful and amazing!! We sang "Johns song" and "I was born" such amazing songs by the Nashville Tribute. Look them up and find the meaning. I learned about John the Baptist and the man he was. We sing tonight for Elder Holland as he is visiting the MTC to give us a talk!! I am so pumped for this and to hear his words and counsel.

Day six TODAY IS P DAY!! We woke up and went to the temple as a zone at 5:15 this morning and it was awesome! We also ate in the cafeteria there so we could get a break from the MTC food lol...

I’m going to figure out how to add pics and ill send you some shortly

I want you all to know that God loves you. He has a purpose and plan for your life. As we live our lives trying to be perfect in Christ he will manifest that plan to us. I know without a doubt that as we do the things were supposed to do and follow Christ’s example that we will be showered with blessings. I realize that one of the biggest blessings I have now besides my eternal family and the covenants I have made in the temple, Is the opportunity to wear Christs name on my chest as i serve his children. I am grateful to be here in the MTC and cannot wait for the day to enter the field in two weeks and head to Hawaii. Jesus Christ died for us, he atoned for our sins, but more importantly he Lives today. He lives and gives us the ability to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The only way to do this is through him. So find him.

I hope you all are having a fantastic time this week! I love and miss you all! What are you doing today to be better than you were yesterday?

Elder Porter

Honolulu, Hawaii

8/16/2016

I'm official