Hello from Sister Porter

This week we found ways to serve a couple members in their yards. We had some powerful lessons with our investigators. One was with Dengerald, a 17 year old boy that really wanted to be baptized before but his mother is strictly against it. Ever since he hasn't been regular to church. We taught him a powerful lesson about trials, about darkness that comes before the light just like Joseph Smith, that Satan knows and repeatedly tries to hedge our way from doing the things that matter most. It was powerful, and even though Dengerald didn't go to church we know he still has it in his heart and we told him that someday he can become a great missionary.

We've been visiting a 15-year old recent convert lately named Rhenier. He is absolutely incredible. He heard of the Book of Mormon from his aunt and felt a strange desire to read it. He asked for one from his classmate that he knew was Mormon. He started reading at his house the Introduction, and then decided to ask God if it was true. He was scared to pray at first, he had never prayed with real intent before -- he was used to memorized prayers from his religion. As he prayed the room grew quiet and the Book of Mormon grew hot in his hands, then the feeling went straight to his heart. He was so shocked. He told his family but they told him he was going crazy. But he knew, without a doubt in his mind, that the Book of Mormon was true. He came to church and was baptized fast. Ever since, he told us, he has shared the Book of Mormon with EVERYONE he knows -- all his classmates, all his friends, at school, at home, everywhere. He's been persecuted too -- his grandparents don't believe it and his parents aren't with him anymore -- one died when he was little. He had a dream that he was to become a missionary someday that he was to receive a call letter. He worked with us this week along with some other young adults and testified to the people we met. He wants to work with us every week now. He is living evidence to me that the Lord does his own work. Rhenier is a special kid and his story fills me with faith in the Lord.

We decided to fast this week for investigators to come to church and it worked! We had two part member families come to church for the first time so hopefully we can start teaching them. Emilia Rosario came to church. We are having a hard time with her because she really wants to be baptized and has come to church for a while now but she is still not converted and says she doesn't know if the church is true even though she has felt it in her heart. We had a powerful lesson with her but she still needs some help but we are shooting for December. Nuevo Dumaging came to church for the first time too -- we had a powerful lesson with him too about finding answers, and acting. He is searching for the truth because he hasn't found it in other churches that he has visited. We believe he can make it and be baptized in December too.

Angelitio De Leon who was baptized in October is having a hard time and needs reactivating of his family. But he is strong in his knowledge and belief in the Book of Mormon. We are going to work on that. Wally Licuanan is doing good -- he was ordained a priest yesterday and spent some time with the YSA's so hopefully that will give him some fellowship.

Cultural note: Investigators are loving giving us the fruit of the season -- PAPAYA and SUHA. It's super delicious and our desserts all the time.

Filipinos love to tell jokes -- the cheesier the better. Often playing on words. If you ask someone how they are doing -- instead of mabuti (which means good) you can say mabeauty (play on english beautiful)

Love you all!!!!!

Sister Porter

One Soul Unto Me

We kind of had a rollercoaster week. The ups were the best, and the downs were hard too. But on weeks like this we know we have to press forward and not give up because Jesus Christ is perfect even though we aren't.

I also believe that Heavenly Father doesn't want us to feel discouraged so we will continue to believe in the power and perfection of Jesus Christ. The things that I might be able to do might be small and seemingly insignificant because of my capabilities, but I know that the grace of Jesus Christ can give us power to do good works that we otherwise would not be able to maintain or do. As much as I wish to understand everything, I know that God has a perfect plan. I try to live the commandments, I never EVER go without a day without the Book of Mormon and sincere prayer -- I tell Him everything on my mind. I know that when we feel this way that it means that if we press forward and take a step in what seems like darkness in faith in Jesus Christ that things will work out. I know that this is His work -- even though sometimes we feel like we live in a world of confusion because of human agency.

This week also had one of the happiest day of my mission. Seeing Brother Wally baptized was probably one of the biggest outpouring of love I have ever felt. Seeing him so happy and his girlfriend happy filled us with so much joy. When he took that step of faith and was baptized, and then bore a simple and absolutely beautiful testimony about Prophet Thomas S Monson, Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ, the feelings of repentance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the feelings of his heart, the Book of Mormon, we were overjoyed. He was so grateful and so happy. He bore a sweet testimony in Priesthood meeting too. We gave him a picture of the temple and told him that that should become his goal. He is taking the priesthood seriously and is studying everything he can about it. The only thing that concerns us is that he is shy, so we are going to keep trying to get him connected with the young single adults. But one thing I know -- that to see such a humble seeker of happiness start on the path to eternal life -- when he makes it to the temple and endures to the end I know I will feel a fullness of joy. Not because it was because of me. To be honest all we did was come to his house regularly, teach him, and give him reading assignments, and care about him. That's it. He and the Spirit and the member family that fellowships him did the rest -- almost everything. It has been a privilege to see the work of salvation happen in a young man with so much potential. He even introduced us to his family this week. They were a little apprehensive but are very proud of their son and who he has become in just a couple months.

Our other investigators are having a lot of personal struggles and are not so easy. We've been looking for more people to teach. We found one sweet family -- but we aren't sure yet their interest in the gospel. But we know it will change their lives as a family. We found them through the Book of Mormon project and looking up their name again on our list of names.

Hmmm... Anything else? New food... I am trying to learn to cook more Filipino hahaha. I'm getting into Filipino veggies -- sitaw, talong, ampalaya, calabasa. I'm not much of a cook but we get along hahahaha. Also, our branch mission leader had a great FHE at his house -- we love the Javiers, they take care of us hahaha--- we eat crabs and other Ilokano dishes. It's suha season and the fruit is soo good this time of year. I love it.

Culture -- haha sometimes I forget what is different about culture here and there in America -- We don't have Thanksgiving if you're wondering. But Christmas is coming and Filipinos love Christmas!

Sister Porter

Halfway through training

Magandang umaga po

This week was a little bit of a down week on stats but we are definitely trying new things. We are writing a proposal letter here in the computer shop to send to the Baranggay captains about film showings of Finding Faith in Christ to brighten up the Christmas spirit here in Naguilian. We are thinking about doing it in Naguilian High too.

Our door to door knocking this week was a little hard because we weren't received too well. Sometimes we felt like we didn't know what to say or stumbled on our words or felt a little lost. But it increased our commitment to really listen to the Spirit and he really will direct us where to go. We have to trust Him because it is His work and not ours. He knows who is prepared. Hundreds and thousands of people can learn the truth through our efforts if we have faith-- do good works, repent, and pray continually without ceasing. I know that my heart has been purified during my mission! I will continue to hope and pray and keep getting up even after I fall, as a companionship pray for the faith that the Lord will guide us if we don't doubt Him. Doubt leads to fear or holding back, which is not something I ever want to fall victim to. There have been a lot of miracles in Naguilian this week -- tons of people came to church this week.

Wally Licuanan had his baptismal interview yesterday. He really wants to be baptized this upcoming Saturday. We were amazed by his humility and sure testimony that he found Jesus Christ in this church and it was the true church on the earth. Over the course of a little over a month, his girlfriend Jennifer testified to us that sobrang nabago ang ugali niya. He testifies to her and her family of the church. He writes in his journal and finishes all the Book of Mormon chapters we give him. He listens with his whole heart and believes. He was so prepared and accepted everything we taught him. It increased our faith that as missionaries we seriously just teach the truths and study them but really all we do is find and teach. The Spirit really does everything. Wally's heart was so prepared and we are excited to see him go to the temple someday and be married for time and all eternity. Wally's experience increased my faith of the importance of referrals from members, and that truly there are people prepared for the gospel and we just have to pray and be willing to act on the Lord's promptings of where to go. We have to open our mouths and act in faith. He places people in our path.

I know that always my efforts are not enough. I always fall short in my efforts. But there is nothing more compelling than missionary work and I never want to give up even though I fall short. I have to keep pleading for courage, forgiveness, and hope when sometimes I feel inadequate or lost or alone. Because I believe I'm not. I have a wonderful companion too that stands beside me no matter what and we support each other. We love to see other people happy and that's what makes us happy. Sometimes we get stressed about the people we meet and how to help them and that's what stresses us out. I never want to be accountable for the failure of bringing someone to the truth that sometimes it stresses me out. I stumble over my words or am kinda awkward and sometimes don't know what to say.

We taught Sister Joanne Guerrero again this week. She is SURROUNDED by super faithful Latter-day Saints that are converted to the gospel, and she is a member of a Baptist church that has a lot of the same beliefs that Latter-day Saints do .We shared the Restoration, but what she really has to do is read the Book of Mormon. I think that is probably the only thing we can help her do. We can't force it but let the Spirit work with her over time.  We will not doubt, because God will make all commandments possible!!

Cultural Notes: I'm trying more vegetables this week. Trying to learn how to cook better haha. I don't know a lot of Filipino cooking. But I bought eggplants, and ampalaya, and stuff. This month is the season for SUHA -- it kinda tastes like grapefrusti but it's really big. People just give it to you if you ask. That's Filipino culture. They love to share everything they have.

Tagalog word of the Day: Pangangailangan -- it means the needs (like the needs of others)

THE SCRIPTURE THAT TOUCHED MY HEART THIS WEEK:

Alma 58

11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, in so much that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.

12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.

Love you all,

Sister Porter

Pasko na!!

We learned a lot this week of course. I had a great week studying. Studying has become my anchor to everything I do. I think I could practice more studying specific questions for my investigators -- but I have learned how to gain personal revelation in all my studies -- especially personal study. I studied a lot about Joseph Smith, conversion to the gospel and feeling it from the Holy Ghost, Revelation through Prayer, and trying to find answers to my questions. As a result, I learned so so much and couldn't constrain my testimony during fast and testimony meeting that I know without a doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith and Thomas S Monson are prophets and this is the true and only true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the earth. Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life and I feel so blessed to see people finding the gospel in their lives. It truly is what changes lives and hearts.

Wally Licuanan is getting ready for baptism in the next couple weeks. He has been fellowshipped so well by a family in Bauang, the family of his girlfriend, and we are trying to get him involved with the single adults -- we have some really great single adults in this branch. He has been reading the Book of Mormon little by little and writing about it in a notebook and really believes that this church is true. He has felt the Holy Ghost. He's still trying to be sure that Joseph Smith is a prophet and we have to finish the rest of the lessons but he is progressing so well. He doesn't have a lot of support from his family but he is truly looking for peace and happiness that he sees in the Saints.

Jerome Bautista needs some more help because of the influences around him. He doesn't have a lot of support from his family. But The Book of Mormon he reads every day and Jesus Christ is becoming his anchor. Whenever he is sad or angry or makes a mistake, he says he goes to his room and cries to the Lord and receives forgiveness and his heart is changing. How incredible is the power of the Atonement. Jerome exercised faith to be healed of sickness only a couple weeks ago. That is true faith. He still needs some help staying away from bad influences and finding support in the church. He hasn't gone to church in a couple of weeks because of his Baranggay job. But his progress is astounding and truly the power of Christ. He wants to be regular in church and seminary so we will really focus on that with him this week.

We found some investigators this week seeking for the truth and asking us incredible questions. One was a referral from President Baybay -- Sister Joanne. She leads another church but there are SO many powerful Mormon influences in her life that what they said impacted her heart about the Spirit and she wrote down what she says and feels strangely drawn to the Book of Mormon. She believes a lot of the same things that Mormons believe, but this week we are going to focus on priesthood authority and the Restoration. They are a wonderful God-fearing family and know that God is working in their lives. It was actually an insane lesson this week because her questions are so so deep and we had to answer calmly and clearly from the scriptures. It was a little scary but we truly do believe that the Lord made everything work out. She was deeply pierced in her heart by temples and being sealed and that it was the only way to be married in heaven.

We did a Book of Mormon project at the palengke in Ortiz on Friday morning. We talked to tons of people and asked them to read pages of the Book of Mormon and what they liked about Jesus Christ. Some were truly touched and interested; others not so much. But we have some names to truly look for this week and follow up on.

Sister Ballesteros is doing great. She is becoming more involved in all the planning and our transitions are exactly 50-50 when we teach. We listen to each other's opinions and are strengthened by each other. 100% her heart is in the work and with her investigators. We also made a companionship language study plan that is helping us both improve our language. We get along great. We aren't perfect, but we love each other and love the work!

Cultural Notes:

The day of the dead was super interesting to me although we didn't go to the sementaryo, we were out proselyting. But everyone goes to the cemetery and stays with their ancestors. They bring candles to their doorsteps and have them going all night so that the dead can visit their house. I'm sure it has some Spanish root in it because the Spanish occupied the Philippines for a long time.

People love it when foreigners speak Tagalog. They absolutely love it. They love to see us trying even though we aren't perfect. One man came up to me and just said Thank you for speaking our language. People wave at you wherever you go. People here are literally the sweetest.

Sister Ballesteros told me this week that she doesn't feel like she talks to a foreigner. Even though my Tagalog is not perfect, she says my inner personality is literally Pilipina/ pinay and I think it is so true. I seriously couldn't fit in more with a culture in my opinion. I tend to be a shy, but laughing and sensitive person and so are they.

I hope you all know how much I love you!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Porter

Magandang umaga po.

Another interesting week for sure. A lot happened and we are grateful that we have seen the Lord's hand in our lives. I think this week has been a little bit of a refiner's fire. I am learning even more just what it means to just do what the Lord wants and not what I think is best. I think our companionship has been strengthened for it -- learning to confide in each other and just trust each other in every lesson and in all we do.  It really helped me realize that we desperately need the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through the Atonement of Christ, He can fix everything and the work is heading in a new direction here. It's a little stressful when there's a lot to do and little time to do it but I'm grateful for a loving and patient companion.

We are really trying to help President Baybay who has a ton on his plate. He was so happy yesterday when we told him we would do everything we could to help and we spent some time on the computer trying to make maps to locate members. The whole plan is to help map members and find part member families and new investigators in the process that we can bring to church. We felt excitement and peace feeling like we were trying to do what the Lord wants us to do by listening to His servants. Of course this is not going to be easy. We are focusing on baranggays at a time, but we are going to trust that God will help us.

Seriously it strengthened my resolve that for the rest of my life I will seek to help my bishop in anything he needs. Including my wonderful father!

Sister Vilma Gonzalez passed away this week, the member with diabetes that we found on her deathbed last Sunday. We are so grateful that we found her and were led by the Spirit to Sitio Apit Liaoc Sur that day. Her funeral service was this morning and we got to sing there. We did CSP and helped with some yard work at the home of her family. Brother Gonzalez was so grateful for the kindness. He even came to church for the first time in probably years. Christlike love works miracles. It was really the love of the members that made everything happen after we found them.

On happier note, Angelito De Lion's baptism was a success. He is living evidence of the power of the Book of Mormon. He loves to read the Bible. He was a former investigator who didn't recognize the truth the first time the missionaries visited him, but they left him a Book of Mormon. As soon as he began a serious study of the Book of Mormon, however, he quickly recognized that it was coming from God. He loves every chapter he reads, and studies diligently. He came to church on his own by asking his member friends, and that's when the missionaries started to teach him. He was baptized only a month and a half later. Because of the Book of Mormon, he says, he believes everything else, that it is the true church and Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we have living prophets today. The Book of Mormon truly is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations." As we study the Book of Mormon diligently, the Spirit will testify to us that it is true and a power will flow into our lives. As missionaries we will teach with power and authority and with the Spirit if we teach from the Book of Mormon. He's a little shy though so we are hoping that someday his wife will start coming back to church and we can help him meet more members.

Cultural Notes: Lechons are whole roasted pigs. They are expensive but I got to taste my first one at zone conference.

  

We don't have Halloween here we have All-Saints Day where everyone stays at the cemetery for the night and remembers their family members who have passed. Funerals here are different from the United States.

Word of the Day: pinaaalaalahanan -- basically it means to remind someone.