Elder Logan Porter: Malo e lelei

Well first week of the transfers are definitely the longest ones trying to learn the new area and new people. So I am Serving in Kahuku 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Tongan). Yes… I’m covering a Tongan ward. Learning the language is not the easiest thing ever.. Anyways the area is so cool and such a change from Kohala on Big Island.

Here in Laie it feels like EVERYONE is a member, we hear the phrase "Hey Elders" at least 100 times a day haha. In Kahuku Sports are huge! Their Football is super good and their basketball team just one the State Championships this week! There were fireworks and you could hear the whole area cheering it was nuts! #Redraiders

Even though "EVERYONE is members" we managed to find and begin teaching some people this week, it’s been CRAZY to see how much they progressed in a weeks’ time. We even had some success with some less actives this week as well. I’m so excited to continue working here in Kahuku. It’s an awesome place!... Besides the biking thing is killing me. I’m so outta shape lol

Cool things about Laie:

- I see the "7 mile miracle" every single day where people come from around the world to serf that stretch of beach.

- Many of the Youth in the wards have full ride scholarships for athletics.

- Polynesian cultural center, Laie temple, and Visitors center is all in the area.

Those are just some fun facts for the week.

A cool experience of a man named David. We went to visit this less active family, they were not home, as we were walking down the long drive way this man mid 20s turns the corner and starts walking up. We talk story with him for a few minutes and out of the blue he pretty much cuts us off and says "Can you guys come back Saturday? I want to learn more about your church." We were so excited and said of course! When we went back Saturday we had probably one of the most spiritual conversations I have had on my mission thus far. We found out he was baptized when he was 10 years old, but hasn't gone since then. He shared his life experience with us about how he has been searching for truth and visiting all these religions and would go and they would teach something he knew wasn't 100% true so we would go to the next. He has studied the bible every day and has been praying for answers. It was so awesome to hear him before we left tell us that "This is what he has been looking for." He came to church the next day on Sunday and we will continue to meet with him. I share this story to pose a question. How much do we want to know the truth? How hard are we looking? Are we satisfied with what we have, or do we want a deeper more personal understanding?

Friends and Family, we must choose... choose to believe. We learn that Faith is a principle or action and power and it is in that order. Action then Power. Our lives are priceless to God. We are worth the life of Jesus Christ... We are worth the life of a God. If we mean that much to him, don’t we think that Heavenly Father will give us every opportunity we need, every resource we need to make it back to him. Of course he would, and he does. All we must do is have faith, even if your faith is as small as to say you have a desire to believe. That’s all it takes to have a witness that he is there, that he loves and has a plan for you, and enough to answer any other questions we may have. If there is anything I wish everyone could know it would be that our Heavenly Father is real and he loves and cares about every single one of his children. Friends and Family let us be diligent in keeping and protecting our faith, but let us also be diligent in growing our faith our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and experience an increase in faith. Serving in a Tongan ward now I thought I’d learn the most important words first... Ofa'atu Friends and Family I love you. Have a wonderful week!

Elder Porter

Honolulu, Hawaii