Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Welcome Home Elder Blake Theo Porter
We just want to let everyone know that Elder Blake Theo Porter will be coming home today on a Medical Release. We are all very proud of him. He will be arriving at 8 pm tonight, January 10th, on American Airlines. Let's make sure we all give him our love and support.
February 2, 2009 Our last amazing letter from Elder Blake Theo Porter!
Hi Family!
Man the past week has been so ridic. The craziest part is probably the wreck of the party van. For like 2 days it was really cold and icy and my district leader Elder Johnson and the SSpanish missionaries, Elder King and Elder McKeen, were all driving out to Post, which is east of Lubbock. They were driving the big party van that the office uses and they hit some ice and rolled it 1.5 times. Crazy huh?! No one was hurt tho, except Elder Johnson might be a little traumatized, which is understandable. They were definitely protected though.
So I heard that Ford was like dropping Volvo, like they won't be making anymore Volvos. What's that do to Ryan's job? Like does he still have one? I love getting news through the grape vine, it's so reliable.lol.
So transfers are coming up soon and I have no idea what to suspect. Either Elder Craven or myself will be leaving Lubbock. I would guess, but you never know. We had a really tough week last week, but we're both optimistic this week will be better. Trying to teach people with the Superbowl on was ridiculous! Like we'd get them to mute it, share some scriptures and then immediately they'd turn it on again. Ha, ha. Like why try? We can't compete with that. lol
Another ridic day that I partically video documented was the day after the big van accident. Everyone in Lubbock was parked in the morning and our bikes were in another apartment that is closer to our area. So we had to walk 2 hours. We never quite made it to our area lol. We walked to where our bikes were, then ate lunch, then had the office drive us back to the apartment to get our car, cause we could drive after lunch. Worst morning ever! So ineffective, and for no reason the roads were fine.
Hmm, I thought I got some pictures of the new family room, maybe I didn't or maybe I just didn't say enough about it. I think I remember seeing the TV and like a weird clock. Looks good. . .I bet :)
Man nothing too cool going on. We have to move Didi's baptismal date back cause she hasn't been coming to church. That's way lame. It's all going good though. Man I swear I try to eat healthier and I get more fat. I hate it!
The days here are usually really nice tho, the winter here is nice. I found a really good brand of sunflower seed, they're called Giant. they have a buffalo on the package for some reason.
I just got back from playing ultimate Frisbee and my team was horrible, no one could catch and it was a disgrace. Then we played basketball and that was a bit better, but our team had all the short kids so the rebounds were really pathetic. I'm exhausted right now. So do y'all have my credit card? Did y'all put any $ on my lame card? I just wanted to know, no big deal. I want a nap.
Well, I can't write anymore. Hope everything is going way good fer y'all. I'm going to dinner and family home evening so ttyl.
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
Man the past week has been so ridic. The craziest part is probably the wreck of the party van. For like 2 days it was really cold and icy and my district leader Elder Johnson and the SSpanish missionaries, Elder King and Elder McKeen, were all driving out to Post, which is east of Lubbock. They were driving the big party van that the office uses and they hit some ice and rolled it 1.5 times. Crazy huh?! No one was hurt tho, except Elder Johnson might be a little traumatized, which is understandable. They were definitely protected though.
So I heard that Ford was like dropping Volvo, like they won't be making anymore Volvos. What's that do to Ryan's job? Like does he still have one? I love getting news through the grape vine, it's so reliable.lol.
So transfers are coming up soon and I have no idea what to suspect. Either Elder Craven or myself will be leaving Lubbock. I would guess, but you never know. We had a really tough week last week, but we're both optimistic this week will be better. Trying to teach people with the Superbowl on was ridiculous! Like we'd get them to mute it, share some scriptures and then immediately they'd turn it on again. Ha, ha. Like why try? We can't compete with that. lol
Another ridic day that I partically video documented was the day after the big van accident. Everyone in Lubbock was parked in the morning and our bikes were in another apartment that is closer to our area. So we had to walk 2 hours. We never quite made it to our area lol. We walked to where our bikes were, then ate lunch, then had the office drive us back to the apartment to get our car, cause we could drive after lunch. Worst morning ever! So ineffective, and for no reason the roads were fine.
Hmm, I thought I got some pictures of the new family room, maybe I didn't or maybe I just didn't say enough about it. I think I remember seeing the TV and like a weird clock. Looks good. . .I bet :)
Man nothing too cool going on. We have to move Didi's baptismal date back cause she hasn't been coming to church. That's way lame. It's all going good though. Man I swear I try to eat healthier and I get more fat. I hate it!
The days here are usually really nice tho, the winter here is nice. I found a really good brand of sunflower seed, they're called Giant. they have a buffalo on the package for some reason.
I just got back from playing ultimate Frisbee and my team was horrible, no one could catch and it was a disgrace. Then we played basketball and that was a bit better, but our team had all the short kids so the rebounds were really pathetic. I'm exhausted right now. So do y'all have my credit card? Did y'all put any $ on my lame card? I just wanted to know, no big deal. I want a nap.
Well, I can't write anymore. Hope everything is going way good fer y'all. I'm going to dinner and family home evening so ttyl.
Love,
Elder Blake Theo Porter
January 19, 2009
Hi Parents :)
So what's life? Hmm I hate writing a letter in cursive and then back to normal, like I can't write. So Mom I didn't tell you I went to the temple, cause I didn't. lol. The temple is right next to the church so ya people just get pictures by it. lol and I did go to the temple just 2 days ago, which was really nice. lol. So I hadn't gone in any of those pictures, but I did just go so next card I send home y'all can see my "when I went to the temple" pictures :)
So I'm way mad cause we can't baptize Anthony, the 12 yr. old foster kid, at least as far as we know. Which is really stupid and I hate stupid laws. I guess cause the state has like custody over him we aren't allowed to do anything. It's the worst. We have a baptism date with Didi, so hopefully that will have more success. We watched the Testaments with Brent and Lara last night, it went pretty good. They have been reading and stuff, he just has weird doctorinal concerns that aren't even important. Hopefully their prayers will be answered.
So ya, things are going pretty regular here. It's P-day obviously and I think we're going to play ultimate frisbee, which should be good. It's nice here like 70 + today. O ya, I liked Dad's Bishopric newletter thingy, very creative :) Man we rode our bikes for the first time in like 2 months, it was pretty rough. I wish there was a way to exercise better, I just can't get motivated when I wake up to go running. Riding wasn't near as hard as when I was just getting over mono though, so that's good. I used the Plan of Salvation wood cut out thingy you sent me with Ecko & Lalita's family. It worked good I think the kids liked it:) Man all we do is find. Every single person we have ever taught in 4th ward is from finding. No media referals or member referrals at all. It's amazing we get new investigators each week, definitely a miracle.
Well, I look forward to seeing some pictures of the remodeling and stuff that y'all have done. I don't really have much to say. Everything is going good. Tell everyone hi for me. I love y'all and miss y'all a lot. Tell the ward youth thanks a ton. They sent me a Book of Mormon, some candy and toothpaste stuff. Way nice. I miss our ward it was a good one I think. The ward here is really clickish and the youth can be noob sometimes here. Like some girl is dating Gilbert's 16 yr. old son and she's in our ward and like doesn't even attempt to get him to church activities, probably so her dad doesn't know or something stupid. Ugh way noob. I swear I just care about missionary work for the rest of my life and will baptize more people when I get home, not that 0's hard to beat. lol Well anyways, love y'all .
Elder Bake Theo Porter
So what's life? Hmm I hate writing a letter in cursive and then back to normal, like I can't write. So Mom I didn't tell you I went to the temple, cause I didn't. lol. The temple is right next to the church so ya people just get pictures by it. lol and I did go to the temple just 2 days ago, which was really nice. lol. So I hadn't gone in any of those pictures, but I did just go so next card I send home y'all can see my "when I went to the temple" pictures :)
So I'm way mad cause we can't baptize Anthony, the 12 yr. old foster kid, at least as far as we know. Which is really stupid and I hate stupid laws. I guess cause the state has like custody over him we aren't allowed to do anything. It's the worst. We have a baptism date with Didi, so hopefully that will have more success. We watched the Testaments with Brent and Lara last night, it went pretty good. They have been reading and stuff, he just has weird doctorinal concerns that aren't even important. Hopefully their prayers will be answered.
So ya, things are going pretty regular here. It's P-day obviously and I think we're going to play ultimate frisbee, which should be good. It's nice here like 70 + today. O ya, I liked Dad's Bishopric newletter thingy, very creative :) Man we rode our bikes for the first time in like 2 months, it was pretty rough. I wish there was a way to exercise better, I just can't get motivated when I wake up to go running. Riding wasn't near as hard as when I was just getting over mono though, so that's good. I used the Plan of Salvation wood cut out thingy you sent me with Ecko & Lalita's family. It worked good I think the kids liked it:) Man all we do is find. Every single person we have ever taught in 4th ward is from finding. No media referals or member referrals at all. It's amazing we get new investigators each week, definitely a miracle.
Well, I look forward to seeing some pictures of the remodeling and stuff that y'all have done. I don't really have much to say. Everything is going good. Tell everyone hi for me. I love y'all and miss y'all a lot. Tell the ward youth thanks a ton. They sent me a Book of Mormon, some candy and toothpaste stuff. Way nice. I miss our ward it was a good one I think. The ward here is really clickish and the youth can be noob sometimes here. Like some girl is dating Gilbert's 16 yr. old son and she's in our ward and like doesn't even attempt to get him to church activities, probably so her dad doesn't know or something stupid. Ugh way noob. I swear I just care about missionary work for the rest of my life and will baptize more people when I get home, not that 0's hard to beat. lol Well anyways, love y'all .
Elder Bake Theo Porter
Monday, February 9, 2009
This is a late Post.
This letter is from 1/19/09
Hi Sister!
So it's p-day and I'm exhausted! Way tired I don't eve want to move today. So naturally we are playing ultimate Frisbee. I can't wait to sleep in again, someday lol.
So ya we can't baptize Anthony and I"m way pissed about it. Stupid laws. Other than that everything is going pretty good. I'm glad your kids like church. I miss them a ton, hopefully they'll remember who I am.
So we had a funny door yesterday. Elder Craven and I had a priest from the ward with us and our appointments punched and so went finding. One of the first doors we knocked on was answered by this guy, probably like Dad's age. He's all "I'll tell you a message about the Jesus Christ that died for my sins and doesn't live on some planet int he ozone layer!" then he slammed the door ha ha. Way funny, didn't even make total sense, I hope Patrick (the priest) enjoyed himself. WE did get in a door not too soon there after and this feminist agnostic older guy named Robert let us in. He liked our message a ton except about how women can't hold the priesthood. He feels that's not fair, although it is. Anyways he's very different from most people we teach except maybe lenis??? (can't read that word) who we haven't gotten a chance to visit in a while. Robert wanted us to com over the same time as some Jehovah Witnesses lol. I guess he meets with them too. There's no way he'll agree with their message, I wonder what he thinks of them. I'd love to go over the same time as the JW's, they'd probably die though they always avoid us. It's definitately a miracle that anyone lets us teach them, everyone except Frank and Chris that I'm taught on my mission has been from tracking. Like I hope y'all give missionaries referrals and bring kids to church, I sear I'll be able to do more missionary work at home than here, I h hope I can be a legit member missionary when I'm home.
So we are way short on miles so we got the bikes out again, I'm sore from just one day lol. Not near as bad of shape as when I just got out of the office and mono. I like biking, it just feels like we don't see as many people. Like there's no such things as street contacting in W. Texas, like it's the most unfriendly place for bikers and pedestrians, everyone drives no matter what and t here's never a shoulder to ride in so I almost die continuously. So thanks for writing me, I really appreciate it. I like the Calender lol don't cry over things silly, especially a noob like me. Hope everything keeps going good and that the kids don't drive you too crazy. :)
Love Elder Blake Theo Porter
Hi Sister!
So it's p-day and I'm exhausted! Way tired I don't eve want to move today. So naturally we are playing ultimate Frisbee. I can't wait to sleep in again, someday lol.
So ya we can't baptize Anthony and I"m way pissed about it. Stupid laws. Other than that everything is going pretty good. I'm glad your kids like church. I miss them a ton, hopefully they'll remember who I am.
So we had a funny door yesterday. Elder Craven and I had a priest from the ward with us and our appointments punched and so went finding. One of the first doors we knocked on was answered by this guy, probably like Dad's age. He's all "I'll tell you a message about the Jesus Christ that died for my sins and doesn't live on some planet int he ozone layer!" then he slammed the door ha ha. Way funny, didn't even make total sense, I hope Patrick (the priest) enjoyed himself. WE did get in a door not too soon there after and this feminist agnostic older guy named Robert let us in. He liked our message a ton except about how women can't hold the priesthood. He feels that's not fair, although it is. Anyways he's very different from most people we teach except maybe lenis??? (can't read that word) who we haven't gotten a chance to visit in a while. Robert wanted us to com over the same time as some Jehovah Witnesses lol. I guess he meets with them too. There's no way he'll agree with their message, I wonder what he thinks of them. I'd love to go over the same time as the JW's, they'd probably die though they always avoid us. It's definitately a miracle that anyone lets us teach them, everyone except Frank and Chris that I'm taught on my mission has been from tracking. Like I hope y'all give missionaries referrals and bring kids to church, I sear I'll be able to do more missionary work at home than here, I h hope I can be a legit member missionary when I'm home.
So we are way short on miles so we got the bikes out again, I'm sore from just one day lol. Not near as bad of shape as when I just got out of the office and mono. I like biking, it just feels like we don't see as many people. Like there's no such things as street contacting in W. Texas, like it's the most unfriendly place for bikers and pedestrians, everyone drives no matter what and t here's never a shoulder to ride in so I almost die continuously. So thanks for writing me, I really appreciate it. I like the Calender lol don't cry over things silly, especially a noob like me. Hope everything keeps going good and that the kids don't drive you too crazy. :)
Love Elder Blake Theo Porter
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ok, I really should be doing homework but this is so much funner! (lol I know that's only a Utah word!) Here are some exerpts from an especially missionary-like letter from the cutest missionary in the world, let alone Texas.
1/19/09
Hi Cutie Pie! :)
So I hate government, we can't baptize Anthony because he's under the State's custody, like so dumb. I don't even get why he can't join a church. Like the moment things start looking really good, they just fall apart... I think I'm cursed, like I swear I work so hard and nothing I do makes a difference. I'll just have to work harder and get rid of this curse. :)
You talked about my religious convictions, I'm glad you are proud of me :) I don't deserve any praise though, I want you to know cutie that it's true, and that I wouldn't leave you if I didn't know 100% that it's true. Jesus has atoned for your sins, He lives, and He and His Father appeared to Joseph Smith, who translated the Book of Mormon. The Spirit has born witness to my spirit that these things are true many times. Like we are teaching Laura who has read before and come to church, (she lived in SLC) and she feels like God hasn't answered her prayers either. It's like that for me too, even on my mission I feel like my prayers aren't answered ever. I've discovered that very rarely are my prayers answered there on the spot, in fact I can only think of one time where on my knees in the very act of praying did I feel like I got an "insta"-answer. Answers come after the trial of our faith, when we are ready to act on the answer. They come from obedience and diligence. One of my fave. scriptures is John 7:17, Christ tells the noobs that in order to know whether His doctrine is His own or his father's.
Lol, no I will definitely not have Texas pride when I get home. Texas is a joke, it makes me appreciate Utah. Like if you thing Utahns are conservative and in a bubble, West Texas is infinitely worse. Everyone drinks and smokes and I swear they are just retards ugh... I need more love for them. I love our investigators, but just the random Texan is hard to love, for me.
So ya, things are weird right now, but I'm doing really good. Teaching the gospel is the best thing ever! Like I have never been so focused in my life. In many ways my life is extremely simple, and yet I don't think I've ever cared or worked so hard for something in my life. Like I'm trying to help save souls and engaged in a very real and epic battle between the Devil and his angels and God. What job in the world will ever be as cool as that? I fear work and school will just be boring and I'm not excited to have a job again lol. It'll be way nice to have like personal time to myself again tho. :) O and I am just decent at bowling without my ball :( like 120-150.
Well I miss you my love, I hope you know how much I love you and that I can't wait to be with you.
Love, Elder Blake Theo Porter
P.S. you better be done with school when I get back, slowpoke! ;) he he
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
