Boats and Baptisms

A good week full of quite a bit of service, training and prepping for the Baptism! We were able to go to Pearl Harbor and do service there again. We vacuumed the USS Missouri. It’s a good time and fun experience learning about everything as we go. It’s crazy to think that the area I serve is where the most destruction happened during the Pearl Harbor Bombing. You look now and if it wasn't for the memorial you would have no idea. I think our lives are like that some time. Terrible things can happen, or we can do terrible things and thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ it can take it all away. Make our lives beautiful again and help us overcome anything. It won’t leave any marks but true lasting and eternal forgiveness will come and it will change us. 

Last transfer I was able to serve in 3 wards. We were teaching this girl named Rachel. She has such a cool story and Elder Fanene and I had the opportunity and pleasure of teaching her the lessons and answering her questions. A week before her baptism we found out that we wouldn’t be covering that ward anymore, however we were able to still attend and be a part of the baptism this past week. It was so cool, especially with her nonmember parents there and supporting her in this decision she made at age 29 to change faiths from her Baptist church she was super active in since she was a kid. Because of the spirit that comes from the Book of Mormon, she says "She found what was missing in her life and beliefs." 

Today we were able to attend the Temple, and let me tell you the Laie Temple is Gorgeous. It was such a spiritual time to remember the covenants I have made in the past, it was a time to help those who have passed away to choose to accept Christ. I am grateful to know where I have come from, why I am here, and where I am going. Life is hard, but it’s easier when we know these things. Families can truly be forever, sins and mistakes truly can be forgiven, Habits overcome, and Peace found... and these things come only from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know the church was restored and that Christs Priesthood, his authority, is on the earth and it allows for these things to happen. We can pray, read the Book of Mormon and Bible, and attend church. If we just put a little effort to knowing for ourselves we will get an answer time and time again... and we will find out these things are true. I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week full of smiles, laughs, and good memories! 

 Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

Rachels baptism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Floor hockey

 Pearl harbor

 

  Temple

 Tags

 

ALOOHHAA

Another great week! There is no place I’d rather be then here serving my Heavenly Father! We had some super cool things happen. For example, last week at church we were in the youth Sunday school class and the teacher asked for someone to teach the class for this next week. No one spoke up so our two investigators we had there looked at each other and said "you down?" the other said “yeah”. So this last Sunday they taught the class and did an AMAZING job! They also came to chapel clean up at 6:30 in the morning. I was so impressed, especially since they are 15 year old boys. It’s so cool to see how interested and dedicated people can be to finding the truth. It doesn’t matter your age. God loves you and will tell you the answers to your questions. Just pray and ask! And that is exactly what Malike and Dane have done and they are diving in head first because of the answer they have gotten to their prayers. 

We were walking in the city visiting some people in the sky rises. On our way from one of them this older Micronesian guy starts walking towards us so we great him and says "In Chuuk 6 of you came and talked to me then I moved. Come tomorrow at 4 and teach me". So we came the next day and there he was. He guided us to his house, we taught him and had an amazing lesson with him. He is so excited to learn and come to church. It’s amazing how when people seek they will find. That is because that is a promise from our Heavenly Father! Seek and you WILL find. 

At church after the speakers had all talked our Bishop of the Samoan Ward stands up and says "When you know something it is in your head, when you believe in something it is in your heart" Friends and family let us all have Christ in our hearts. Let us believe in him. If you’re struggling to believe or you feel your faith decreasing pray, read the scriptures, serve others. Try to build your faith. When Christ is in your heart it will bring so much peace, love, and joy into our lives. I want you all to know Christ is in my heart. I really do believe he lives, that he is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the son of God. He is also my friend. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week. Make Christ a part of your life. He did everything he did because he loves you and he wants to know you. Smile, laugh, and enjoy your week!

Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

Elder Lewis going to big island again. Good byes!

 Kaneohe

 Mission progression by Elder Fanene

 My planner cover this transfer.. A member drew me the back.

 Spams on lock down I guess...

Bored on Pday so we went to Toys R Us

 Got floor hockey sticks to show my big Sole how to play!

Some Pics a sweet member sent

Light of Christ

This week was Fantastic! We did a super cool service project with "Surf the Nations". They acquire a bunch of food and do a feed the hungry event. So we spent 3 hours handing out food to people. It was such a blessing to see their faces light up with joy as you hand them food. It’s also a very humbling thing knowing these people go to bed hungry every single night but tonight they would have a full tummy. So many people were able to be fed and it was a great chance to spread the gospel as they recognized that we were doing all we could to follow Christs example.

We were busy this week with lessons as well which was so awesome! And our week of lessons concluded with 4 baptisms. The Programs were awesome and the spirit was so strong! I am so blessed to have been able to have watched these wonderful people change, progress, and now make covenants with Heavenly Father. It’s incredible to see how Family and Friend relationships grow exponentially when the teachings of Christ and his restored Gospel are integrated in that relationship. One thing I am witnessing on my mission is ANY burden, heart ache, emotional stress, or sin will be lighter and eventually overcome through Christ. There is so much money spent, so much time taken, and so much sadness endured trying to find another way.... But if we will just look to him, embrace him and his teachings, He will heal us. He is the light, life, and hope of the world. Through him he can not only light up us but light up the world. 

 Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

Bishops Museum today

Snail races haha

 Baptisms

 MLC

 Service

What’s been weighing you down?

Wow so many things in one week, interviews, zone conference, movie night, Visitors Center trip, and MLC. It was a fun week and can I just say... It is wonderful to be a missionary! I love it! Nothing brings more peace and happiness than sharing with others that they are loved, they are a child of God, and Families can be forever.

This week we had a movie night and invited everyone we’re working with and the ward members, if they brought someone to come to the chapel and watch "Meet the Mormons." We provided drinks and popcorn. It was a great turn out! The spirit was strong and we all got so much out of it. One thing that stood out to me was that the Gospel is truly for everyone! We also got to go the next day to the Visitors Center with our investigators while their cousins were sealed in the temple. We got to go and watch videos of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once again I learned that the church is for everyone. Think about your life... What are your struggles... Is there tension at home between your family? Are there conflicts with friends? What about feeling lost about what’s next in life or even what your purpose even is? These are just a few of many questions or struggles we all feel at some point or another. Friends and family from the bottom of my heart I want you to know I have seen the Gospel of Jesus Christ resolve conflicts, heal broken hearts, take away addiction, and even build confidence in not only others’ lives but in my own. I would urge you to just try. See what the gospel can do for you. I promise that it will do nothing but support, uplift, and inspire. That is because you are a child of God. He loves you, this is his church put here on earth to bless you! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Things in Hawaii are great, hot and humid, but great! Please please please.... Don’t forget to smile this week! 

Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

  Itchy Butt is a food place.. mandatory for every missionary to eat one time... one and done that's all ya need.

 Elder Pugh

 The Visitor Center

 On the way to the Visitor Center

 This is Elder Amida, from the Phoenix Arizona Mission, returning home with Honor to the Micronesian Islands. Had a lay over from his flight, since the airport is in our area we got the chance to have him with us.

 Our District/Zone

 With Elder Wills

 Set up for movie night