Hi Parents!
I am glad to hear that ya'll shot a deer, I expect lots of deer jerky asap:) . So Elder Craven is from Tremonton, Utah, well actually Thatcher, but no one knows where that is. He's cool though. I've served around him my whole mission pretty much so far. He's like Elder Tripp in some ways, both kinda metro and like the same things. We are in the 2nd South Ward, so not in Sister Ernest's ward. This ward is pretty nice tho, I like it more than 4th Ward. 4th is just too rich. We have a lot of work, this area has been whitewashed out the past 3 companionships, and the missionaries just before us didn't put anything in the area book. It's taken 2 weeks just to contact all their investigators like we called one of them and literally had to follow a treasure map to find an investigater because they didn't have the address, ugh, so noob.
O but yesterday was cool, I'm definitely a big hero. We were visiting a member and when we left his apartment I noticed a fire on soneone's deck. I was like "Is that a fire?"LOL. The member, who's older, was like no that's just their BBQ, LOL. We got the bottom neighbor to call the fire department and then we ran around and up to the apartment with the deck. We knock and like it felt like a door approach as this college girl sees we're missionaries and kinda rolls her eyes. I'm trying to tell her that her deck is on fire, but she can't hear me over her dogs and through the screen door, and I tell her and she's freaking out now and like runs around. Luckily her bottom neighbor that we told got a garden hose. But ya in like 5 more minutes it would've been an inferno, Dad would've been proud. LOL
It's sad to hear about Colton, (Colten came home from the MTC this week) hopefully he stays real active. That'd be hard to live with especiall in Utah. I know how it feels to have all your friends on missions and live in a weird society where the mission is everything. I hope he'll be ok and that'd be cool if he went back out. This month we've had 2 missionaries come back out that went home for similar reasons, so he can do it.
Things are going pretty good. I'm not getting completely destroyed riding my bike so that's good.:). Oh, Magic is officially banned so I'll send my cards home next week. Lame sauce (?) Now I'll have to play sports all the time, headed by one of our Assistants, kinda lame. Ha,Ha. I just got new cards! Thanks for the B-day list although I think I knew mine and Ali's :).
Love you guys,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
October 21, 2008
HI Sharon and Family!
So it's really nice being out of the office. I got whitewashed into an area again and the missionaries before us where...not the best they didn't even write down half their investigators. But I'm on a bike so that's different not having a car, guess it's supposed to help me get over mono faster? ha ha
The zone leaders are in our ward, 2nd ward in Lubbock, and we were eating at a member's last night and their little baby boy reminded me of Drew so much, I almost called him "Druga" LoL. I miss all of you a lot I hope I can visit again while you're in San Diego Although ya'll will probably be somewhere else. I liked San Diego though, I heard you are getting like homesick again ha ha maybe you should move to Utah silly sister, at least for a little while :-).
So I got a CD from Ali with music/noises that are scientifically supposed to help one sleep, it works way good for my companions, like Elder Craven my new comp. falls asleep instantly, but it doesn't help me Lol. I like listen to the whole thing every night.
We have a couple of cool investigators though. Pei Ming and his wife Tong Tong are from Bei Jing and it's fun teaching them. he knows a lot more English than her, but still it's like we go slow. He's smart tho and understands everything once we get thru the language barrier. We haven't gotten to teach their son yet, or his wife much, but PeiMing said ti'd be "no problem" to get his family, he's super nice. They live right next to a restaurant the "Beijing house" and I asked if he ever ate there and he said he had his wife so he had no reason to Lol.
We also have Chris who was a media referral, he requested a Book of Mormon. He like is really teachable and believes the BoM and things we teach it just doesn't' really sink in yet he want to keep going tot he Lutheran church which he just got active in again. But once he gets a testimony he'll understand, but he's single so we'll be farming him over to the singles branch Elders anyways. We have a couple of other good leads and investigators too, it's just hard biking everywhere cause we have a huge area.
It's nice being in the city though, we go up to Texas Tech to email and it's the only time I feel like I'm in a city ha ha. We'll just saying hi, use the return address on this letter or just the mission office, office will just get to me a couple of days later. Thanks for the awesome drawings, Savannah and Michael and Taylor and Drew. ya'll are growing up way too fast :-) I love all of you thanks for writing, tell Mark hi for me.
Elder Blake Theo Porter
Sunday, October 19, 2008
"Back on the Road Again" October 13, 2008
Hi Family,
So nothing to crazy going on. Elder Craven is my new companion and we get along really well. I'm excited for our area in 2nd Ward. Basically our area in the past has been pretty bad. lol. We whitewashed in, so that's 2/2 for me getting whitewashed. I like it, but I also don't know any better. ha ha. Elder Craven has never whitewashed before and was just made a Senior, so I feel like the Senior sometimes, lol, but we both are learning together.
Our ward area is pretty rich so that is maybe one reason why it struggles a little bit. Like we go finding all day to get no lessons. O ya, I'm in a bike area. Ha, ha. Must be part of my mono- recovery plan to have me on a bike all day with no car! lol. And President said I'm not allowed to go out if it's raining. O which reminds me, can you get me an overcoat at Mac's? Size small. You can get the $ off my account and then mail it to my new address. It's starting to get cold so I'll need it. We start wearing suits in 2 weeks, so that's lame.
I can't remember if I asked you already, but was Davey in that choir at General Conference? I just heard it was Kaysville/Fruit Heights people and was wondering. I thought that was an awesome idea. Their songs were good. Conference in general was just great. I don't have a lot to say really, I mostly wanted to get ya'll my new address. I'm feeling better. The first few days on a bike were really rough. I thought I was going to die, and I'm still sore, but I feel better. I love ya'll a lot. Tell everyone hi for me!
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
My Address:
Elder Blake Theo Porter
6302 Elgin Ave #15
Lubbock, TX 79413
So nothing to crazy going on. Elder Craven is my new companion and we get along really well. I'm excited for our area in 2nd Ward. Basically our area in the past has been pretty bad. lol. We whitewashed in, so that's 2/2 for me getting whitewashed. I like it, but I also don't know any better. ha ha. Elder Craven has never whitewashed before and was just made a Senior, so I feel like the Senior sometimes, lol, but we both are learning together.
Our ward area is pretty rich so that is maybe one reason why it struggles a little bit. Like we go finding all day to get no lessons. O ya, I'm in a bike area. Ha, ha. Must be part of my mono- recovery plan to have me on a bike all day with no car! lol. And President said I'm not allowed to go out if it's raining. O which reminds me, can you get me an overcoat at Mac's? Size small. You can get the $ off my account and then mail it to my new address. It's starting to get cold so I'll need it. We start wearing suits in 2 weeks, so that's lame.
I can't remember if I asked you already, but was Davey in that choir at General Conference? I just heard it was Kaysville/Fruit Heights people and was wondering. I thought that was an awesome idea. Their songs were good. Conference in general was just great. I don't have a lot to say really, I mostly wanted to get ya'll my new address. I'm feeling better. The first few days on a bike were really rough. I thought I was going to die, and I'm still sore, but I feel better. I love ya'll a lot. Tell everyone hi for me!
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
My Address:
Elder Blake Theo Porter
6302 Elgin Ave #15
Lubbock, TX 79413
Monday, October 13, 2008
Elder Porter leaves the office!
Hi Parents!
I got another letter from you yesterday:) It had all the same info as the last one lol, but it did tell about your talk with Sister Ernest. That's great you got to speak with her. I went out with a missionary tonight and his greenie. The trainer is going home in 3 days! Crazy to think it'll actually end someday, just feels like I've been a missionary all my life. We taught a great family though that they knocked in to a few weeks ago. Their names are Dean and Lori, they came yesterday to Conference and really like it. President and Sister Robison are amazing, they went and picked them up for it and Sister Robison like brought treats for their two daughters and took them around the church. This family was definitely prepared by our Heavenly Father. It's amazing to see how much of the gospel they are already living. The church can just add more to it. I'll probably not see them again, lol, they aren't going to be in my new area.
I'll be serving with Elder Cravin starting Wednesday, (Oct. 8th) and we'll be whitewashing an area lol. My second time, twice with my first 2 real companionships, pretty funny. It'll be hard. I bet we are both pretty 'young'. I'm real excited to be doing normal missionary stuff. Teaching that family today got me way motivated. This pen is leaking all over me. So ya, the greenies are coming in tomorrow. I'm way excited, it'll make me feel all grown up :) I can't believe I've been gone for 4 1/2 months already. I just really hope we can find and teach people in this new area. It rained today, it's getting nice and cool here. I think I'll need a coat, and 2 more long sleeve shirts, or 3 or 4 I dunno lol., cause November til like April we wear long sleeves so I'll need a few more. I'll let you know next letter what the deal is.
But Conference was amazing! It just really helped me a lot and just made me way grateful for the church. Guess you don't appreciate what you have til it's gone sometimes. I think magic will get banned soon so if you get a package full of cards, don't be surprised :) I really hate having stuff lol. Like all I think is how I don't want to pack and lug around extra junk. Anyways, it'll be great to get out of the office. Just wanted to write ya'll a quick letter, thanks for writing. I love both of you. Especially Mom:) You have done and do so much for me and I definitely don't deserve any of it. I have the best parents in the world.
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
P.S Do we have any relation to the Whitney Elder Cook talked about in the Sun. afternoon session? (We found out she is Blake's great, great, great, great Aunt.)
I got another letter from you yesterday:) It had all the same info as the last one lol, but it did tell about your talk with Sister Ernest. That's great you got to speak with her. I went out with a missionary tonight and his greenie. The trainer is going home in 3 days! Crazy to think it'll actually end someday, just feels like I've been a missionary all my life. We taught a great family though that they knocked in to a few weeks ago. Their names are Dean and Lori, they came yesterday to Conference and really like it. President and Sister Robison are amazing, they went and picked them up for it and Sister Robison like brought treats for their two daughters and took them around the church. This family was definitely prepared by our Heavenly Father. It's amazing to see how much of the gospel they are already living. The church can just add more to it. I'll probably not see them again, lol, they aren't going to be in my new area.
I'll be serving with Elder Cravin starting Wednesday, (Oct. 8th) and we'll be whitewashing an area lol. My second time, twice with my first 2 real companionships, pretty funny. It'll be hard. I bet we are both pretty 'young'. I'm real excited to be doing normal missionary stuff. Teaching that family today got me way motivated. This pen is leaking all over me. So ya, the greenies are coming in tomorrow. I'm way excited, it'll make me feel all grown up :) I can't believe I've been gone for 4 1/2 months already. I just really hope we can find and teach people in this new area. It rained today, it's getting nice and cool here. I think I'll need a coat, and 2 more long sleeve shirts, or 3 or 4 I dunno lol., cause November til like April we wear long sleeves so I'll need a few more. I'll let you know next letter what the deal is.
But Conference was amazing! It just really helped me a lot and just made me way grateful for the church. Guess you don't appreciate what you have til it's gone sometimes. I think magic will get banned soon so if you get a package full of cards, don't be surprised :) I really hate having stuff lol. Like all I think is how I don't want to pack and lug around extra junk. Anyways, it'll be great to get out of the office. Just wanted to write ya'll a quick letter, thanks for writing. I love both of you. Especially Mom:) You have done and do so much for me and I definitely don't deserve any of it. I have the best parents in the world.
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
P.S Do we have any relation to the Whitney Elder Cook talked about in the Sun. afternoon session? (We found out she is Blake's great, great, great, great Aunt.)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Letter September 27th, 2008
Hi Family!
So my companions are Elder Hewitt and Elder Scadden. It's funny cause Elder Scadden went to Bro. Poll's institute class too so I kind of knew him before the mission. He's going home in just like 8 weeks. Hewitt is From Alberta, Canada so he sounds funny. They are both cool though. I can't believe Ali, she's trouble in cars I've decided. lol She's so cute tho, I can just see her getting cited for not having any of that stuff. Can't she go to prove in court that she has license and registration /insurance? I'm glad ya'll hang out though, that's cool for sure. :)
So I saw Dr. Farrell, who's a member, yesterday and I'm still sick, but he told President I could go back to do normal stuff. So hopefully in 1 1/2 weeks I'll have a new companion and be able to just be better. I'll still have to sleep more for a while, but it'll be interesting to see what goes on. Dr. Farrell is cool tho, he looks like Elvis and like worships him. He's got the hair and long side burns, ha, ha. He wants members to call him Brother not Dr., which I like.
So Ruth is doing great, she's considering all on her own, to sell the coffee shops that she owns in E. Texas. She's not drinking anymore and has just has been thinking it's probably not right to sell it, so hopefully she decides to do that, even tho she doesn't have to or anything. So I know it's Ryan's B-day. When is like David's and Nathan's, aren't they all close? I can't remember, I feel bad, I want a list of these things I've decided :). If you could please let me know:) And yes Elder Tripp misses me. Matthew, Paul's grandson, sounds like he'll be baptized so I'm excited. Wish I was there, o well.
So ya nothing really worthy of note going on beyond that. I can't wait to get out of the office, it's like a prison sentence. So is Dad dying? Like you'll have to let me know what the TB results are. O ya, Dr. Farrell had just had mono too, it took him only 5 weeks to get better. I'm just unlucky and apparently no doctors in Texas know how to check for cancer, so I'll just keep dying :).
I think I'm getting fat cause the office Elders get fed every night, so different from Plainview. And I'm paranoid of going bald. It's a rough life :). So is the economy like really crappy? I love being a missionary and just randomly hearing that the stock market and banks and everything is just gonna go under. It's relaxing. . . . . . .
Well , we're gonna go to Hobby Lobby. lol Elder Hewitt needs some ribbon. I love ya'll, I think I'm getting better, thanks for the support and prayer. :)
Elder Blake Theo Porter
So my companions are Elder Hewitt and Elder Scadden. It's funny cause Elder Scadden went to Bro. Poll's institute class too so I kind of knew him before the mission. He's going home in just like 8 weeks. Hewitt is From Alberta, Canada so he sounds funny. They are both cool though. I can't believe Ali, she's trouble in cars I've decided. lol She's so cute tho, I can just see her getting cited for not having any of that stuff. Can't she go to prove in court that she has license and registration /insurance? I'm glad ya'll hang out though, that's cool for sure. :)
So I saw Dr. Farrell, who's a member, yesterday and I'm still sick, but he told President I could go back to do normal stuff. So hopefully in 1 1/2 weeks I'll have a new companion and be able to just be better. I'll still have to sleep more for a while, but it'll be interesting to see what goes on. Dr. Farrell is cool tho, he looks like Elvis and like worships him. He's got the hair and long side burns, ha, ha. He wants members to call him Brother not Dr., which I like.
So Ruth is doing great, she's considering all on her own, to sell the coffee shops that she owns in E. Texas. She's not drinking anymore and has just has been thinking it's probably not right to sell it, so hopefully she decides to do that, even tho she doesn't have to or anything. So I know it's Ryan's B-day. When is like David's and Nathan's, aren't they all close? I can't remember, I feel bad, I want a list of these things I've decided :). If you could please let me know:) And yes Elder Tripp misses me. Matthew, Paul's grandson, sounds like he'll be baptized so I'm excited. Wish I was there, o well.
So ya nothing really worthy of note going on beyond that. I can't wait to get out of the office, it's like a prison sentence. So is Dad dying? Like you'll have to let me know what the TB results are. O ya, Dr. Farrell had just had mono too, it took him only 5 weeks to get better. I'm just unlucky and apparently no doctors in Texas know how to check for cancer, so I'll just keep dying :).
I think I'm getting fat cause the office Elders get fed every night, so different from Plainview. And I'm paranoid of going bald. It's a rough life :). So is the economy like really crappy? I love being a missionary and just randomly hearing that the stock market and banks and everything is just gonna go under. It's relaxing. . . . . . .
Well , we're gonna go to Hobby Lobby. lol Elder Hewitt needs some ribbon. I love ya'll, I think I'm getting better, thanks for the support and prayer. :)
Elder Blake Theo Porter
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Letter to Ryan and Sarah & Family Sept. 20, 2008
HI Brother and Family!
So how old are you next week? 33? Dude I feel way old at 23, it's the worst for sure. Ugh! I just woke up and I'm way tired. I haven't gotten up at 6:30 A.M. in like 1 1/2 months cause of the mono, but I had to today cause a member's making breakfast.
It's crazy being in the office. We get fed every day by members, in Plainview I was lucky to get one dinner a week. I better not be getting fat.
I'm way mad ya'll get to go to the cabin and go hike in the mountains. I really miss them, I completely forgot what time of year it was because there's nothing out here. I forgot the pretty mountains with the changing leaves. Texas is just flat and lame. O man I laughed way hard at your story of Mom and Dad hiking, they really are crack ups hah? O random thought, did you know your birthday is me and Ali's anniversary? Like of when we first kissed and started dating. Funny huh.
So being a missionary in the office seems completely different. It's fun being around the AP's and especially President and Sister Robison more. That's the best part. But it's really weird not proselyting near as much. I'll be able to go out with a couple office elders at 3:00 each day to do missionary stuff. So that's gonna be good. I found out he's keeping me here 2 1/2 weeks till the end of the transfer, probably just to give me more rest and it's cumbersome to try to fit me somewhere before transfers. I feel better though, but still like a zombie. I keep telling them I have cancer, but no one believes me.
So we have one investigator. lol The office hasn't had a baptism in a long time. I guess , ha, ha. But her name is Ruth and she's awesome. I really think she'll be baptized. She comes to church every time she's in town and she's really smart. She works at the Texas Tech Hospital and actually a member Dr. there really helped and is still helping to fellowship her. Ruth moved here form New Orleans after Katrina and her accent is great. She lives with her granddaughter here still, it's cool she feels like she was compelled to stay and live here, and ever since she has had tons of encounters with the church. She said the Mormons are surrounding here. lol. I know her staying here and meeting the missionaries and members was a great blessing. We had a lesson 2 nights ago and it was cool, she found all these racist quotes by like Brigham Young and found out about blacks not holding the priesthood. (Ruth is black BTW) But it was neat to see how quickly she saw through all the anti she found. She said "I think I'll stay studyin' the Bible and the Book of Mormon" ha, ha. It's cool teaching a smart, "normal" person. For a while in Plainview it felt like 90% of our investigators were handicap or on drugs or just "not there" socially. (not the ones I've written about really, but ya). Well I don't have any more info to fill another page. Tell everyone hi. I miss your family a lot especially Davey and Nathan. LOL "memorial" dinners for me, Mom. . .
Love Elder Blake Theo Porter
P.S. We had breakfast yesterday at a members and their son was a lot like Davy, he talked for like half an hour about Star Wars Kotz, he was way cool.
So how old are you next week? 33? Dude I feel way old at 23, it's the worst for sure. Ugh! I just woke up and I'm way tired. I haven't gotten up at 6:30 A.M. in like 1 1/2 months cause of the mono, but I had to today cause a member's making breakfast.
It's crazy being in the office. We get fed every day by members, in Plainview I was lucky to get one dinner a week. I better not be getting fat.
I'm way mad ya'll get to go to the cabin and go hike in the mountains. I really miss them, I completely forgot what time of year it was because there's nothing out here. I forgot the pretty mountains with the changing leaves. Texas is just flat and lame. O man I laughed way hard at your story of Mom and Dad hiking, they really are crack ups hah? O random thought, did you know your birthday is me and Ali's anniversary? Like of when we first kissed and started dating. Funny huh.
So being a missionary in the office seems completely different. It's fun being around the AP's and especially President and Sister Robison more. That's the best part. But it's really weird not proselyting near as much. I'll be able to go out with a couple office elders at 3:00 each day to do missionary stuff. So that's gonna be good. I found out he's keeping me here 2 1/2 weeks till the end of the transfer, probably just to give me more rest and it's cumbersome to try to fit me somewhere before transfers. I feel better though, but still like a zombie. I keep telling them I have cancer, but no one believes me.
So we have one investigator. lol The office hasn't had a baptism in a long time. I guess , ha, ha. But her name is Ruth and she's awesome. I really think she'll be baptized. She comes to church every time she's in town and she's really smart. She works at the Texas Tech Hospital and actually a member Dr. there really helped and is still helping to fellowship her. Ruth moved here form New Orleans after Katrina and her accent is great. She lives with her granddaughter here still, it's cool she feels like she was compelled to stay and live here, and ever since she has had tons of encounters with the church. She said the Mormons are surrounding here. lol. I know her staying here and meeting the missionaries and members was a great blessing. We had a lesson 2 nights ago and it was cool, she found all these racist quotes by like Brigham Young and found out about blacks not holding the priesthood. (Ruth is black BTW) But it was neat to see how quickly she saw through all the anti she found. She said "I think I'll stay studyin' the Bible and the Book of Mormon" ha, ha. It's cool teaching a smart, "normal" person. For a while in Plainview it felt like 90% of our investigators were handicap or on drugs or just "not there" socially. (not the ones I've written about really, but ya). Well I don't have any more info to fill another page. Tell everyone hi. I miss your family a lot especially Davey and Nathan. LOL "memorial" dinners for me, Mom. . .
Love Elder Blake Theo Porter
P.S. We had breakfast yesterday at a members and their son was a lot like Davy, he talked for like half an hour about Star Wars Kotz, he was way cool.
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