A glipse into the MTC

" Me and Elder root at the bookstore.""I told everyoone it's my goal in life to play Lucifer in the temple videos. So they said this should be in my Statn portfolio with my devilish grin."
" My District

Back left to right: Root, Lundquist, Ricker (one Leg), Hamilton, Hills (last 2 from Farmington) Front Left to right: Me, Elder Fankhauser, Watson" "I like my pose better in this one :) "

Yea a letter and Pictures

So Blake sent me my first letter. I was pretty excited. And I guess these pictures are from someone elses camera. So anyway here's the letter.
(Arrived May 29, 2008)
Hey Sharon,

I don't know who to send picture to so I'm gonna send these to you I guess blogmaster. So how is California? I can't believe you're or went to St. George LOL you are brave.
So I had a cool experience in the RC (referral Center) I called a day to confirm she received a Book of Mormon. She had it but hadn't opened it yet. I told her to get it and we read Moroni's Promise together and I testified. Well I thought we'd be done there. O By the way she's from Tennessee, in Talbot and sounded like it ha, ha. She went through all the pictures and I talked to her for over an hour. I seriously gave her 2 full lessons on the phone, the restoration and the plan of Salvation. I sent the missionaries back to her and committed her to pray about the BoM and the things I told her. I dunno if she did but it was fun talking and teaching her.
People really are babes in the gospel like words you'd think Christians would know they don't really understand. She was kinda Baptist but didn't' know what the Holy Ghost was she was thinking it was like Casper or something.

The MTC is good and necessary but I'm really glad I'm not here long. I'm in like a Cantonese zone so their district is her for 3 months. I would kill things. But they are fun they try to teach us some, all I know is Bingo Woy Jo Kato (I dunno how to spell it) but it mean like "who will volunteer to pray" I guess it fun to say. I['m just glad my district is cool, my district leader only has one leg but he's a rock star like her was on warp tour and stuff. He's a good guy. I am so annoyed by my companion sometimes but we teach well. He like needs constant attention I think he's used to being the center of attention or something. Well I miss the kids, tell Mark and them hi for me. I want to play four square again it's a big deal in the MTC lol kids are way competitive with it. Well see ya.
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter

Kind of fun, the pictures are fun too. He's funny.

Belated Blog on Farewell Talk

I feel a little bad because I went totally out of order with my blogging.  First, the farewell talk of all farewell talks.

I don't know if I've ever laughed and cried so much in one talk before.  I love seeing Blake so humble because he always seems to know everything he wants to say or do, never stutters or stammers and always says it with authority so you believe it's true no matter what it is.  Anyway, it was nice to see him a little unsure for a change, and yet he started that way but by the end, he was again that authoratative and full of power Blake.  He of course has to point out I was late for church.  Ugh.  But I won't forget why he started talking about me.  He gave me one of the biggest compliments of my life by quoting part of my homecoming testimony.  He quoted me proclaiming that my mission meant everything to me.  I have to set the record strait here, that's actually taken from Elder Holland's testimony.  But it's also mine now, because it's as true for him as it is for me.  It still means everything to me.  And I know Elder Porter will be able to say that for himself in 2 years.  If you love people like Blake does, and the Gospel just as much or more, then it will be one of the most meaningful things he will ever do.  

I loved his talk because it makes me feel like it's been worth it to not badger him about his story and wait for the right time to hear it.  He was so open about stopping his personal prayers in high school and struggling with noobs along the way, including himself.  I can remember a time when I went to find hangers or something in his room and saw his Book of Mormon out by his bed and not a trace of dust on it. My heart filled with hope, but had to keep it inside.  I'm so happy that he found his way.  We all do.  Everyone has to I think, and if you haven't felt like your testimony is weak or your weren't sure of things, well my opinion is it has to happen for it to become a true and abiding belief that will be strong enough for the next trial.  I knew he'd come around.  I had no doubt.  In fact, his process of truly finding his testimony and watching him become such a good and sweet person, helped me while I struggled with mine.  He will never know how much it helped to know that if he could come back, I could.  

Enough of that personal stuff, I apologize.  SO, it was the weirdest true talk ever given and I will never forget how proud I felt of him and my feelings of overflowing  joy.

Gosh I miss my mission and I miss Blake. 

FYI

I've posted some pictures so look back on the older post to view all of them. I have more to add.

Going to the temple.

Here's some pictures of Blake when he first entered the temple.

Video from the MTC

I thought you might like to see some of the video from the MTC. Sorry about the green night vision. Melinda was filming :-)

My First Letter!

I got my first letter today too! It made me laugh and smile and very happy. I thought I would share it with everyone because he's so cute in it. I can hear his voice in my mind when I read it :)

5.15.08

Dear Ali,

Finally! I have free time to write you LOL it has been a whirlwind dude. I won't lie this is the scariest thing ever I think the main challenge so far is just living with  little kids. Like even at 19 I don't remember being so noob. My companion and district are really awesome. My companion is Elder Root and he's 20.

I won't get super mushy but know you are in my thoughts and prayers always. It's nuts how much you pray LOL and like you don't even have time to be shy cause like you constantly just are praying or bearing your testimony in front of everyone it's fun tho. I'm like homesick I think too but it'll fade.

The church is so true already I have learned so much by having a companion. The Book of Mormon is the word of God I finally opened it today and started studying preach my gospel and just testifying and teaching it with Elder Root and my district has helped my testimony a ton. Well I have some lame Health orientation meeting in like five minutes. Tell your family hi for me I hope you got that Thank You card LOL I did it just after I was set apart. Eeee pray for me cutie piiie.

Love,

Elder Blake Theo Porter

First Letter

Dear Family,

So it's almost bed time here after my first day as a missionary. The MTC is the weirdest place in the world, but it's really cool too. I think I'm doing ok . I was randomly assigned senior companion (they do it by alphabet) so ya, we'll see how that goes.This is a huge change for me. I'm just glad I have an awesome family. I love you guys so much, LOL. I was not planning for Dad to cry like he did, it really caught me off guard and he got me crying too. I'm really looking forward to sleeping, the church is still true.

Love, Elder Porter
P.S. O ya , Elder Root is my companion. He's 20 and seems cool for sure.
P.S.S. Us Dear Elder.com, you can email it and I get a hard copy the next day or something.
P.S.S.S J/K Looks like I got some emails already LOL

The Big Day

After the lead up to one of the greatest farewell talks ever, I thought that Blake's stress level would subside by the time we went to the MTC.... I was wrong. I really hope that Blake does not end up with some bladder infection because I would feel really bad poking fun at how many times he had to go to the bathroom in the short time we were together before saying goodbye. However, my worries over his stress level were somewhat put to rest as we showed up at the MTC and unloaded all his luggage. We walked to the specified area to drop off his luggage and we overheard the Elder in front of us mention to one of the volunteers that he was going to the same mission as Blake. Blake looked over at me and smiled, and then walked up to the other Elder and introduced himself and mentioned that he was going to the same mission. Blake is a very likable person and will make friends easily. I told Blake that I am glad he made it a short goodbye at the MTC, because the tears flowed easily. I love Blake, and I have all the confidence in the world that he will have a successful mission. Ryan

Some Pictures

Farewell Favorites

There are so many good moments it's hard to pick a few. I liked when he asked Melinda why she wasn't with the family or when he was talking about Mr. Mac's and then just started laughing at his friend in the back. I loved that he told his personal story and that he is so open with it. I bet it will be helpful on his mission because I think a lot of people will be able to relate to him.

Overall, it was the best farewell talk I've ever heard. One of my good friend's boyfriend of 4 years (named Scott) just left on his mission recently as well and Blake and I went to his farewell along with my friend (Tara) and friends Sage and Sharon who all came to Blake's farewell. They were saying afterwords that Blake's talk was definitely better than Scott's lol. Our friends Madi and Haley and Haley's mom were all crying. Everyone was saying how good it was. I would never be able to speak so well with nothing written down. It is one of his talents for sure which is ironic because he would tell me how nervous he gets about speaking in church or sharing his testimony but it seems to come so naturally to him.It was awesome how many people came; more evidence of what a wonderful person and friend he is. He has so many friends and knows a ton of people. Whenever he and I would go somewhere, at least half of the time, he would see a friend of his. In the most random places too! Everywhere we went I would just expect him to see someone he knew. I guess that's not really related to his farewell talk or anything but it was something that always impressed me and was apparent at the farewell party-thing afterwards.

I have some pictures, I'll have to see if I can put them up (but I can't now 'cause I'm at work- I know shame on me but there's really nothing for me to do here right now besides think of my cute missionary!).

Farwell

This is one of my favorite moments from his farewell. Ok, so I thought I should make a little explanation about this blogger address. During Blake's talk he talked about how he was praying for a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith, he walked to Temple Square on his lunch break from Mr. Macs. "Listening to some tool wish I could say it was MOTAB," He went to there to read. He was reading the Doctrine and Covenants, and he came across the scripture in D&C 76:22 (I think it was correct me if I'm wrong) it says: 22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! And he just started to bawl, he said. He looks up and there are two Asian sister missionaries there. One is talking to someone but the other was staring at him, and just smiling. And he just thought..."this is the weirdest true church ever, am I being photographed too, for the Ensign." It was pretty funny. Totally true though where else would someone just be beaming at you for reading the scriptures and crying over them.

There are so many other great moments from his farwell I hope others will share them. HINT, HINT!!!

Mixed Feelings

We took Blake to the MTC yesterday.  We had a fun morning.  We ate at Village Inn in Provo and then walked around the Missionary Mall and Deseret Book trying to find something we could get him.  We didn't find anything, he was too prepared.  It starts hitting me as we drive and park at the MTC.  It was so fun to video tape him getting his tag and watching him laugh and talk to the ladies helping him.  I think he was pretty nervous, as he has every right to be, because he kept going to the restroom.  It made me smile.  Anyway, we go to the dreaded room and hear from the MTC President and his wife, then what the movie Called to Serve.  I started thinking about the last time I was there.  I remembered saying goodbye to my parents and that got me started.  It was so sweet and special to see him saying goodbye.  It's  actually a pretty sacred experience.  All the rest of the day I pictured him doing much what I did after leaving.  They lead you to this other building, and at corners along your way every volunteer lady has a box of tissues and hands them out.  I'm sure he had his shot record checked, and got his room key, number and especially, his companions name.  He then was probably given some confusing directions on how to get all his luggage and stuff to his dorm room (I'm sure someone helped him, gosh I had huge suitcases and getting them up the stairs, no elevator, caused some stress until about 4 other sisters helped me.  Such a great place).  

I'm so proud of him.  Everyone will just love him!  And want to be his friend!  That's how he is.  He is very worried about having to let his pants out, so we'll have to see how the MTC food treats him.  Everyone keep him in your prayers, the MTC is so wonderful, but it will try him and refine him.  

We miss you buddy!

Visit To California

Before Blake left for his mission, he came to see some of his nieces and nephew's. They had a lot of fun. His nephew Michael totally idolizes him. So it was so good that Blake could come down and visit. Here he is with Michael, Savannah, Taylor and Drew.

The Call

On February 6, 2008 I got a phone from my family and I heard this, (it was Blake speaking) "Elder Porter you are hear by called to labor and serve in the Lubbuck Texas Mission." I was expecting an engagement announcement. It was a suprise for most of my family. It was a very exciting night for everyone.

What this website is

Ok, so I'm Blake's sister.  My sister and I are going to do a blog for Blake, or should I say Elder porter while he is on his mission.  We will post pictures and letters.  We figure this will be an easy way for people to see into the Life of Elder Porter.