Thanksgiving, What a good day

So I want to share a miracle! I made it through another Thanksgiving in Hawaii!!! haha 
It was a wonderful day though! We woke up and went with a member in our ward and some of her friends and went and gave food to all the homeless people on this side of the island. It was so neat to do. It made me realize again how much people suffer. There was one tent a boy about 4 years old comes out and he was just sooo excited to have water… Something so simple but made him so happy and excited. We do not have to go far to serve others. There are people in friend groups, family, neighborhoods, and maybe even in the walls of our own homes that are struggling. Let alone the many people in our community. Something so simple can and will change the course of someone's day. Let us keep our eyes open and be alert to those that stand in need especially this time of the year. 

This week we were able to teach this young adult man named Tristan. It was amazing to see how the first lesson with missionaries. The message of the Restoration had such a big impact on him. The spirit pricked his heart and he was truly moved. Coming from a different background and rough times he was able to take great hope and faith from the message and sounded so familiar to him. From looking from the outside I would not have guessed him to be a person to be interested. But this is the Lords work. He is preparing people for the gospel and we are his hands to take it to him. Friends and family I share this with you cuz I love you. This Gospel I truly believe with all my heart to be the same church Christ organized. It is the way to return to live with our Heavenly Father. It is the way to be with our family for eternity. It is the way to peace and happiness in this life. For those of us that have accepted and live it continue and strive to live it to a more exact level. For those of you who believe me and don't live it I invite to start today. I promise great happiness awaits you it is very much worth the change and work. And for those of you who don't believe or know I tell you do not believe what you hear from me, do not just trust what your family or friends say. Take this invitation to read the Book of Mormon and to ask God if it is true. It is a simple act that will change your life forever I Promise you that. I have seen huge changes in my life and in my family’s life from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you don't have access to a Book of Mormon, let me know and I will make sure you receive one. I love all of you and appreciate all you do for me, and that is why I share this because I know this will bless your lives in a manner like you have blessed mine. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week with many memories, laughs, and smiles! Grateful for you all!

Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

 Pics from our hikes

 Dad, and just so ya know.. this is a Cook pine.. you can tell by the way it is!! pretty neat huh! 

Glenn playing us a song.

  Sister Tani send this pic and message home. Look who I found!! We have some folks in common, I'm on their dinner calendar, 12/12, I'm excited to get to know your boy better...he has a sweet spirit sister...

 Bro Williams sent these pics and message home:

Happy Thanksgiving. They came over for lunch today.
He’s an awesome missionary!

Turkey Day already?

I just want to share an experience this week. In our mission we are pushing for every missionary to talk to 10 new people every day. As we have done it, I have realized how many people you can influence every single day. This last week I was on exchanges with Elder Ferrin. We were in his area which happens to be a walking area. In the morning we studied then made it a point to go about doing good and doing it with a great sense of diligence. We went out and man was it a good day. We were led and directed to so many people. We did not have a single teaching appointment set up. However, by the end of the day we taught 7 lessons. We were able to talk to 70 new people and share some part of the gospel with them. Of those 70 about 45 were quality gospel conversations. It was amazing to see how effective you can be in a single day. I know every day probably won’t be like that and I know we were so blessed to have so many miracles that day but I did learn a very important principle. If we go about our day with a righteous purpose backed by worthy goals, our Heavenly Father WILL help us fulfill his will. Let us surrender our will and desires for his will and his desires.

I hope you all have a wonderful week full of joy, peace, and smiles. What a wonderful time of the year it is to be grateful. I am grateful for all of you, for the influences you have had on me. I know that without those things I would not be here today. Our Heavenly Father knows us and Loves us. He places Angels in our lives to help guide, support, and inspire us. I am grateful for all of you being the Angels in my life! I love y’all, and wish you a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! Don’t forget to Smile.

Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

No pics this week. Sorry

Rain rain go away!

This week was a great week! It was much cooler than usual and much wetter too! All of my papers inside are like all weird now because of how humid it has been, they’re all wet from just sitting on a desk. It’s crazy! 

We had some awesome service projects cutting tall grass for this widow and doing service in the farm for Castle High School! It stopped raining just long enough for us to complete the job so that was awesome!

One of our investigators is doing an amazing job quitting his word of wisdom addictions! It’s amazing how much a priesthood blessing can do for someone. It’s also due to the amazing fellowship that the ward has given and his desire to follow Christ! He also played a guitar and sang to us. He even made one up one the spot about Elder Allen and I. It was awesome! 

Today we went on a hike and it was amazing!!! Soo fun and so beautiful! We had a great time and it’ll be fun to do it after the mission again when we can swim! Such a fun time! Nothing too crazy or exciting just lots of hard work and talking to everyone this week!

We also had Stake Conference, It was all about the Book of Mormon and the Atonement it was fantastic. Just to relay one thing I learned.

• We will change no matter what, either by the world or by Christ. The world will change us from the outside in and Christ will change us from the inside out.

I know we will be so much happier in life if we will just turn our life to Christ. Let him change us. Let him give us the peace and happiness in life that we all need. Have a great week!!! And don’t forget to smile!

Elder Porter

Honolulu HI

Wonderful Times in Hawaii

Well Well Well, Where to start? This week was crazy busy and crazy awesome! This week is going to be even more hectic. Over the past 3 weeks, things have changed so much. We went from just planning to see a bunch of people and just stopping by due to the lack of investigators, now we are scrambling to plan due to our 5 appointments a day! It’s crazy how fast things have picked up and started flying! 

A week ago was Halloween and our proselytizing is restricted but we were able to get together as a zone and have an activity, IT WAS SO FUN! We met at our senior couple’s house and played games, had dinner, laughed a ton, and built a great sense of unity here in our zone! It was great! 

We were able to contact a former investigator, her name is Patti, and she is AWESOME! We met with here and had an amazing visit, it’s one of those that you just wish and hope that every visit would be like it! It was terrific and ended with return visits to read the Book of Mormon together!

We randomly ran into 2 of our less active members at like 8:40 at night, we had a short little lesson and then they both came to church! 

We were sitting in Zippy's with our member for dinner and we said Aloha to the guy sitting next to us. We talked for a little bit but he said he can’t hear it’s too loud because he forgot his hearing aids... so the conversation ended. Our food came and we begin to eat the guy comes over and sits by our member on the bench. He asks, "Are you Protestant?" we responded "No, we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, the Mormons." He says "Oh good, I used to be visited by you guys. I don’t want to be a Mormon, but will you come teach me? I’d love to learn?" He was such a sweat old man from Spain. It’s so cool how little miracles happen!

This week has taught me so much, one thing I am constantly reminded of is checking how I’m progressing, and what am I doing today to be better than I was yesterday? Well this week at church the teacher asked a very profound question...."What can I do to prepare for my personal interview with the Savior?" I know this life is so important; the things we do and learn can and will change us for eternity! I love you all and with the best week upon you. This is a new week and a fresh start to make a difference in the world. It starts by one decision at a time. Let us SMILE and go and do!

Elder Porter

Honolulu HI

This is a sweet message we received from one of the wonderful members in Kaneohe, HI. 

Aloha,
Our Ohana has been blessed from your son’s service. We feel so privileged to have them over for dinner and feel of the spirit they add to our home. Thank you!
My son wanted them to play Simon Says and they were kind enough to play along.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
xxxxx Kaneohe 2nd Ward

Elder Porter can jump! haha