Satan wont stop the work

This week was great! I wish I had the time and means to tell you everything and all the stories but I don't so I will just tell a couple that are funny, gross/sad, and spiritually uplifting.

Our baptism was set and ready to go at 10 am, we go down to fill the font at 8:30 only to find raw sewage, backed up pipes, and cockroaches in the baptismal font... we worked on trying to get it fixed and ended up scrambling to change the building. No one in our YSA branch was answering their phones so it made it stressful and quite difficult. We got it figured out and headed to the other building, got in and filled the font. SB, our investigator, that was being baptized texted us and his roommate took his moped without asking so now he needed a ride. We got him a ride and things were going good. Then there was a wreck and it backed up real bad. Satan was definitely doing all he could to stop the baptism. The program went well and the spirit was very strong! SB even bore his testimony at the end and it was AMAZING! He shared his experience and how he came to know the truthfulness of the gospel. He talked about how at the beginning he was analyzing everything way too much and thinking with his head trying to prove it. He came to a scripture that talked about feeling with your heart. He said he tried it and the spirit hit him with a great peace. He knew it was true. Since then he has felt it time and time again. He was so prepared and is going to be an amazing member, leader, and priesthood holder!

We had Zone Conference and it is always such a blessing to hear from President Bekker and his wife. They are both so amazing and so inspired and wise in what they share. It is truly a blessing to be with them. It was sad as the departing missionaries gave their departing testimonies and we sang ALOHA OE'. Good friends and brothers in the faith are heading home. They will be missed and are leaving HUGE shoes to fill. It's so great to be around such amazing missionaries. It has truly blessed my life.

I know the gospel is true and I know it because of the experiences I have had before my mission and on my mission with the Holy Ghost. I know God is eager to speak with us and we need to be eager to communicate with him. Pray and study the scriptures and I know we will find messages enter our heart and mind that was sent from heaven. Have a wonderful week. God loves you and I do too! Smile, be happy, work hard and have a wonderful week!

 Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI

 Not fun at all

 Makeing progress on getting our pad repaired.

 No lizaeds were hurt in these pics.

This is what the church dumpster looks like after a party...sooo full lol

making smoked meat

Keki's

This week was crazy busy! We had four exchanges; I think I have forgotten what it is like to proselyte with Elder Dushku. Lol, good times and many memories being made. I love the opportunities I am blessed with to serve with and learn from these amazing missionaries in Hawaii. Some dear friends and others I got to know. One amazing thing about serving a mission is every missionary, no matter where you're from, what language you speak, or what you like to do... our purpose is all the same. You can be paired with anyone, go out and work hard and have a great day.

This week I remembered, with Elder Wills it was about 8:45 pm and our day was wrapping up real fast. We went to talk to a few more people and "night tract" knock on a few houses that have lights on. We met this boy named CJ. He is 15 years old. We were able to bare sincere testimony about what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has done for us in our lives. We shared experiences and the Spirit was just so strong. We left after setting an appointment and extending some commitments. Later that week we returned and found he had kept all the commitments, he listened attentively to next the lesson and prayed at the end of that lesson for the first time ever. It's amazing how prepared young people can be. What a crucial age for the young people. Many people make it or break it then. I remembered that evening the great significance and urgency it is to help, teach, and inspire the "rising generation."

This was a special week. Porsche our amazing and super solid recent convert from last transfer had a son that turned 8. He got baptized this last week and it was amazing! At the program, his little sister who is 5 started singing the primary songs during the intro. It blows my mind how much those two kids have learned in such a short time. That again showed me the impact we can have on the rising generation! I hope we can all have a wonderful week, reach out and help those in need. However, I would make a special invitation to do something out of the ordinary for the "Rising Generation" this week. I love you all! Have a great week, Smile, Laugh, and Serve!

Keki=Child in Hawaiian

Elder Porter

Honolulu, HI