Madison on a Mission

Hello from Sister Porter

We worked really hard this week. We came home super super tired every single night. We've been doing our best to help the ward and map all the members in the ward. We are making some progress and I think our branch president is excited about it. But it hasn't been easy asking and asking and asking people where people live and being makulit when trying to get information. I've never been the most outgoing person so every day I have to keep trying to talk to people. Sometimes it is super awkward, and to tell the truth I'm the only one usually who goes out of my way to talk to people so that's been hard. But I'm praying to improve and that I can heed the promptings of the Spirit to who I need to talk to. One member we found has been living in Manila for over 20 years and almost never comes home to Naguilian. But we happened to find her on the day that she came home for the holidays for the first time in years. We shared a quick message with her and she cried and remembered when she was in Primary and all the hardships she has had since. We gave her a Book of Mormon and hope that her ward finds her in Manila with the information we got. It wasn't a statistic but no effort is wasted -- it was a person to be loved. Lots of little miracles are happening as we ask to find old members. The branch is little by little getting more united, and I feel like we are really trying to help the branch. We are still going to members houses and asking for them to give Book of Mormons to their loved ones. We will keep following up on them.

Brother Nuevo is getting ready for his baptism in less than 3 weeks. He has become so humble and anything we ask him to do he does it. He has had to change and leave behind most of his old life and friends for this gospel. But what he's found is happiness -- he smiles and ponders the scriptures and is finding strength to his body that he hasn't had in years. What a blessing to see the true change. He is learning to make covenants to his Father in Heaven so I am not worried about him making his baptismal covenant. He is learning and growing so much. He is even fellowshipping his next door neighbor, Brother Arnold, who is also progressing very well. He came to church for the first time and loved the testimonies about the Book of Mormon. He is reading and praying if it is true and coming to church. He has true intent, and I know that people like that find the truth because Heavenly Father blesses those who seek it. The members are excited about him coming to church because he was a referral years earlier but that wasn't quite ready yet. The time is ripe now.

A couple weeks ago a lady stopped us on her motorcycle and felt impressed to talk to us. She is a single mother who adopted and rescues kids because she was an abandoned and unloved child when she was young. She wanted to talk to the missionaries. She came to church yesterday and enjoyed it. We taught her the Restoration last night and she truly listened and then gave a heartfelt prayer to know the truth and in thanks to her Heavenly Father. She still has a ways to go but she is doing great and we have high hopes for her. She is so lonely and we know what she needs is the gospel and belonging in the Church.

Brother Wally passed the sacrament for the first time this week. I couldn't even contain my excitement for him; I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. We have been having the elders teach him so he can have more priesthood support. He's a little lonely right now because all the men his age are returned missionaries, getting ready to be married or are at work or preparing to serve a mission.

Brother Arsenio Mendoza went to the temple right after his baptism, and he loved it. He is already a home teacher and the branch is so excited about him because he is opening up the doors for his family.

The Estebillo family is having a little bit of a hard time accepting the Restoration right away because they have been in their religion their whole life. But their 18 year old son is starting to read and pray about it so I am praying that the Lord will help their family and bring them to the truth.

It's been great to feel a little closer to the members. A few of them bore their testimonies that the missionaries helped them recommit to the gospel these past few weeks.

I've truly enjoyed this week and love Naguilian with all my heart and to be honest I really don't want to leave ever because there is SO much work left to be done. I feel converted to this work even though my abilities and capabilities are truly not very much comparatively.  But I've seen miracles here in Naguilian.

Sister Porter