Service: This week we went with Uncle Bert to the Lo'I which is wet
land taro. (Taro
is the crop they use to make poi and the leaf is used to wrap loulou.) So we went and helped clean out the streams connecting the bodies,
harvested taro, and then replanted. It was such a cool and fun experience! They
were telling me how everything is still done old Hawaiian style at that one we
worked. It was fun to learn about how it all works and flows together! Although
Taro was fun to work with, it isn’t my favorite thing to eat haha! We also
Helped Uncle Bert at a local farm moving some pigs from pen to pen. It was a
full week of getting dirty but it was fun and meaning full service that helps
out the community in Kohala. That was my favorite part is it was all local and
all ran and operated by people we know!
Trunk or Treat: So Trunk or Treat is a BIG thing here and hundreds of
people come! Elder Siaosi and I wanted to go around and talk with everyone so I
jokingly though out the suggestion to decorate a wagon.. Needless to say we
decorated a wagon I sat in it with a bucket of candy and he drug me around the
entire night while I gave out candy hahah.. I definitely got a good companion!
lol. It was awesome everyone loved it and enjoyed the night! All the games before
and chili cook off was way fun too! It was awesome to see all the kids running
around playing and getting candy! (pictures to come when we get them from the
members)
Sausage Making: We had a ward event this week making sausage and most people
just dropped off the pork butt and couldn't stay. So there was only like 8 of
us there working with it but we made 200 lbs of smoked sausage. It was way
cool, we didn't stay the whole time because we had lessons but for the time we
were there is was crazy how much meat they made! The best part was that day
Uncle Bert Received a package from my parents with some elk steaks in them. So
everyone there got a lil taste from Idaho! It was absolutely delicious!
This week I was reminded of a
wonderful truth. That no matter where we are at in our stage of life. No matter
how religious you are or how far away you are... each one of us are followers
of Christ. Each one of us made a decision and commitment to follow Christ and
his plan. Each one of us chose the Plan of Happiness and to come to this earth
to learn, grow, and do all we can to be led back to Christ according to our
mortal choices every day. No matter how far away we think we are, our family
is, or our friend has gone. Each one of us is a follower of Christ. Each one of
us fought for and declared our testimonies of Christ. It is our responsibility
"when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Through the power
of the Holy Ghost we unlock, reveal, and recognize the things we learned in the
Pre-mortal life. When we are converted we "strengthen our brethren"
through service, through love and charity, through simple and powerful
testimony, we strengthen them by setting a good example to help not hinder
(Alma 4:10). What can you do this week to help others remember their commitment
they made long ago, even before they came to this earth?
Family and Friends, I love you and I
wish you all the best. I want you all to know I know this Gospel is true. If it
wasn't for my personal witness and testimony I received I would not have come
on a mission. If it was not for the Holy Ghost testifying to me the truth and
divinity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I would not be
here in Hawaii today. I am most grateful for my testimony, for the answer I got
from my diligent prayers and scripture study. I am so blessed to be here and
witness to all that Jesus is the Christ. He Loves and knows us perfectly, He
loves us so much he died for us to give us an opportunity to repent and follow
him. I know that opportunity is always there, but he won’t force it upon us. We
must choose it again, as we did before this life. I know we all have our
struggles, let us overcome them by helping others and serving them. The Book of
Mormon holds the truth of all things, you can hold it in your hands, you can
receive a witness for yourself even a 3rd or 5th witness from the Holy Ghost. I
encourage each one of you member or nonmember, active or less active. Read the
Book of Mormon. It will strengthen you when you’re down, it will boost you when
you’re doing well, and it will NEVER pull you down or digress you in any way.
There is no flaw or error in reading the Book of Mormon. It is another
Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ lives. He desires you to strengthen yourself
and help your brethren. I love each one of you and pray for you often.
Have an excellent week, have a Happy
Halloween! I’m going to stay away from candy because Hawaii has me at a +12 on
the scale already... Hahah Love you all!
Elder Porter
Honolulu, Hawaii
Uncle Bert and I and the elk stakes... and that is 100 lbs of pork we
made sausage.. that is one of two pans we did.. so we made 200lbs of
smoked sausage!
This is a Lo'i farm (wet land Taro). Taro is what poi is made of. We
got to work on the farm for a day and harvest and replant it. We learned a lot about it all. This one still uses old Hawaiian traditional farming
so it is natural fed by a stream and nothing is modernized about it. It
is so cool and hidden in the mountain. I though we were hiking to a
marijuana plantation or something it was so hidden lol.
First trip to the Doc in Hawaii. I had a small run in with fire ants. Doing better now.
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