Wotishiwa nomai wa Porter shimai des senkyoshi des!!

So last week I put into my companion's planner a sticky that said "TALK MORE!!! " haha and you wouldn't believe how much she is talking more! She is laughing and telling me stories and talking to other sister's. It literally is a miracle, she did not know English when she came! Anyway... I'm so proud.

So last Friday morning we came to the Square at 9AM for our assignment's. We were in the North Visitor's Center when Sister Bank's came in and told us that we needed to take a VIP tour right away! hah I guess that they had forgotten to schedule a tour for the Romanian Ambassador and his wife! So my companion and I were privileged to take them around the square.. along with the 4 body Guard's and church hosting couples :) It was so amazing though! We played the narration for them at the Christus and I felt prompted to ask him how he felt, he told us that he felt very peaceful and that he needs to find what is important in his life and make it more of a priority. So cool!!! My heart was just racing after I asked him and prayed that he wouldn't be offended or something. He was so kind at the end of the tour and thanked us for sharing our light with him! Oh and don't worry... they had a meeting with the First Presidency immediately after our tour :) I almost asked to escort them there.. but withheld myself. hah. It really was such a unique and wonderful experience.

Last Thursday we had our mission tour. Elder Pace of the 70 came and spoke with our mission. He was so incredible! I had the most spiritual experience that I have had since coming on my mission. He spoke to us about sharing the image of Jesus Christ with all the guest's that we meet everyday. He also reminded us that this is no casual message but that we should be overly enthusiastic and excited to share it with everyone whom we meet! My favorite part of his talk was the end when he took us on a journey and at the end he asked us what it will be like to be introduced to our Savior, then for him to introduce us to our Heavenly Father.. then for him to introduce us to our Heavenly Mother. He said that at that moment any doubts concerns or misunderstanding about the beauty of motherhood will vanish away. I had tears just streaking down my face as I thought of what a beautiful incredible moment this will be for each one of us!!!

In D&C 138 Joseph F. Smith shares with the church a vision that he received concerning the Savior's visit to the spirit world. I LOVE this section and it helps remind us that the work is going on there as well!!! Verse 24 it says "Their countenances shone and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name". How incredible! I know that we are not in the Lord's presence at this time, but I know that someday we will be introduced to him, I want him to be proud of me and the work I have done on earth. While we are on earth we should follow the counsel given in D&C 101:38 to, "seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life". We have to keep seeking and never lose the sight of him!

Yesterday we took 3 high school girl's on a tour from Phoenix. They were so curious and had so many question's to ask us. At one point I taught them that we knew our Heavenly Father and our Savior before we came to this earth, we knew about this life and the hard trials we would go through, but we also had a hope that we would endure well so that we could return to their presence. One of the girl's then asked, "If he really loved us, why did we have to forget all of these thing's when we came to earth?" I just simply told her that it was now her choice and her opportunity to seek after him and that if she listened to her heart she would know what the truth was. She then said, "yes, I think you are right". At the end of our tour 2 of the girl's filled out the card and wrote .. everything. Meaning they want to know everything.. so good. The Lord had prepared them to hear our message and now they get to meet the missionaries at home! yay!

On Sunday night we had dinner at 7 but instead of leaving at 6:55 we decided to walk up to the Christus one more time. We saw a couple up there taking pictures. I felt that I should simply go and invite them. I asked the man if he wanted to learn more about the things he had seen and felt here, he said "yes, of course" filled out the card, and left. It is amazing to see that as we pray that the Lord is really sending prepared people to us. Miracles.. miracles... miracles.

Yesterday I had a training with my district about the RC or Referral Center. We talked about using the spirit during this time to share the message of the Gospel with these people who we call. It is very very hard because we may be there for 3 hours and only 6 people answer the phone. Sometimes these people have been called many many times so they get mad and yell at us on the phone.. hah. We always try though to share a message and bring the spirit to them. It is amazing that as we do this, people's heart's are softened and they want to know more about it! I was so excited because our referral's we received in the RC doubled yesterday evening!! hah all the sister's were so excited!!

So everything is going well. The Square is beginning to pick up and get a little more busy. We are anxiously anticipating SPRING!! It is still pretty cold but whenever the sun is out we take our heavy coats off and just love it! The flowers are just beginning to blossom as well... so exciting!

I LOVE my mission!-
- Loves- Sister Porter

3 Nephi 17:7- "for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy".

oh p.s. I got to announce in English last sunday after the Tab Choir! It was fun!!

Born and raisened in Utah? 2/16/10

Hey everyone!!

So everyday I try to teach my companion new phrases to use when getting to know the people that we meet, my favorite by far was.... "So were your born and raisened in Utah?" of course meaning born and raised. Sooooo funny, I about died laughing while walking up to the Christus statue.

We receive new assignment's yesterday! I am thrilled to be staying with my companion for another transfer, same apartment, same roommates, same zone :) So it's good! But one change is that I was made District Leader! haha ya I know.. weird huh? As district leader I am over 11 sister's and we have district meeting's once a week, assignment's to cover, pretty much a lot of responsibility! I am so excited! I was very shocked, but of course I know that with the Lord's help I will be able to teach and be a good example to these amazing Sister's.
Oh and some of you may be thinking that this is a little different... this is the only mission in the whole world where we have sister's as District leader's, zone leader's, and ap's. It's pretty cool!!! Best mission eva!

We had many wonderful experiences once again this last week. We took a man Flavio from Brazil on a tour. He started asking questions right away and explained to us that he never believed his Catholic religion and always felt that he was missing something. After telling him how much Heavenly Father loves him and is ready to bless him with so much, he said "I'm afraid it's too late, I have already made so many bad choices" I just smiled and told him heck no it's not too late!! It was so cool, we were able to give him a Book of Mormon to read on his flight home and he is anxious to meet with the missionaries back in Brazil. After teaching him about Faith and showing him a short clip I asked him how he felt he said, "You know I don't really know what Faith is, but as you were reading I felt something new and warm inside." wahhhhhh so cool!

We also took a couple and their granddaughter from Texas around the square. They were Christian and were sooo kind. The girl was 14 yrs old and she had so many questions. She asked about what we believe, and why she hadn't heard about the BofM before, and how she can read more about the prophet's... It was so cute to see so much curiosity. It was even cooler as I watched her grandparent's as we answered her question's. They just watched and listened carefully and I could almost see the spirit touching them, especially the grandpa! It was so neat. I am so excited for them to learn more.

It is hard to explain what my mission is like because it is so unique. But I can say that every single morning I feel so ready and excited to share the good news of the Gospel. These people that come to Temple Square all need something in their lives, I hope to be able to bring the spirit into their heart's so they can find it. It is very hard sometimes to come to love these people so quickly and then to say bye to them, but I know that the Lord loves them and he will help them!!

I have been thinking a lot about the scripture Alma 5:14.. "have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" I hope that we are all aware that we have to constantly be changing. This process to become like our Savior is never-ending. BUT the point is not to be discouraged but to have HOPE in the power of the Atonement "Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise". (Moroni 7:41).

So I guess my message today is to have hope. Do not be like my friend Flavio and think that it is too late to change, it is never too late! Neither should we ever feel that we are done changing. If we are not changing ourselves every day then the question you should ask yourself is what are you missing, right?

I love the Gospel, I love my Savior, I know Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the only true church on the earth. This message is so important. It is easier than you think to share this simple message with people you meet everyday.

Love you all!!! - Sister Carly Jo Porter


oh p.s. 2 sister's were called yesterday to serve in boston for their outbound! Sister Tandiman and Sister Thornton. Both are amazing and they will LOVE Boston for me!!!

I Am turning Asian!!! 2/23/10

I think maybe I was supposed to be born as an Asian? I LOVE Asian culture's with a passsssssssion. I am continuing to love my time with my cute companion from Japan, she is vonderful :)

Another wonderful week has come and gone. I think to say that I have had feeling's of inadequacy is an understatement ....:) It's okay though! I am doing great now. It just took me a few day's to understand how I can fulfill my responsibility as a district leader. I have simply been called to help these sister's understand how to serve, to love them, and to carry out what the President wants for the mission, more so what the Lord wants for each of us. We had our district meeting yesterday morning and it went soooo well! These Sister's are all amazing and we are going to learn a lot from each other this transfer.

So many good experiences this week! I would like to tell you a little bit about Michael Jolly. We met him taking Lot's of pictures in the North Visitor's center when he told us that he was just "touring", which usually means that they don't want to talk to us. We found him about 20 minutes later in the basement taking more pictures and I felt inclined to ask him why. He said well I am a Christian and my wife couldn't come, she would love these pictures. He then said "I'm can't believe you don't have any pictures of Joe Smith? I thought that you worshipped him?" This is something that we hear often at Temple Square and I LOVE it! This opens the gate for us to bear witness that we are centered on Jesus Christ and this is his true church on earth. So we began walking with him and explaining the Restoration and what we believe. He had Lot's of question's and kept on asking more. We then took him to a display of the Book of Mormon and my companion just started talking about prayer. He said he had never prayed before because he felt that God was far beyond us.. My companion testified to him that he could pray and had tears running down her face. He was silent for about a minute and none of us said anything. He then said "Thank you for sharing your heart with me.. I think.. think that I might try to pray". He really appreciated her testimony and the spirit that touched him. We then saw him about an hour later taking pictures outside of the Temple and he looked at her again and said "yes, I am going to pray, because of what you told me". SOOO COOL! Anyway.. I really liked Michael.

Yesterday we had tour after tour from people who were coming in and literally asking us for tour's which does not happen very often! Usually we just ask people if they would like to "walk around the square with us" because they get scared if we mention a tour. All of these people were so amazing and so prepared. Our mission has really been enforcing to pray throughout the day that the Lord will send prepared people here and I have literally seen a difference in the kind of people that come here. The power of prayer is so real!

I'm grateful for the Gospel. I am so grateful that the Lord knows each of us so individually that he gives us calling's and assignment's to strengthen us and shape us into better people. I promise you that the Lord knows you! If you have a calling or assignment that you don't understand then get on your knee's and ask Heavenly Father! We have to humble ourselves sometimes:) But I promise that it work's and that the Lord is waiting for us to come to him, so he can help us!

I forgot to tell about my experience a few week's ago when we sang for the Jewish Rabbi that came! I sang Consider the Lillies during their catered lunch hour. It was neat to see that when we I stood to sing that everyone simply stopped eating and discussing so they could listen. 2 other sister's sang as well. The Rabbi came to us afterward and told us that he felt something special and that we were simply beautiful angel's uplifting his day... so it was good :)

I was also called as the Organist for this transfer! Every Sunday morning we meet in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building chapel for our meeting at 7:30 AM. It is all the sister's and couples serving at TMSQ with our Mission Presidency presiding. We always have wonderful meeting's! haha I really don't know how to play the Organ but I am managing it okay. My companion and I were practicing the other day when the TMSQ organ tuner came in, so he gave me the rundown on everything and let me see behind the organ pipes! 4500 pipes! So cool!

I love the Gospel, I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and love the Book of Mormon. I strongly believe that the day we stop reading the Book of Mormon is the day we begin distancing ourselves from the Savior. That is scary! Soo... never stop reading, it will protect us and give us the guidance we need at this time!

We are all part of the greatest work on earth! I love you all!

-Love Sister Carly Jo Porter

"For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled"- Mormon 8:22

Konnichiwa!

Hey Everyone!

I just wrote an email for 30 minutes and it was erased :( So... I will try to remember everything that I wrote but I don't have much time.

So this Thursday I am singing at an International Relation's Church meeting that will be held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. They are having a guest speaker who is a Jewish Rabbi. I am singing Consider the Lillies. So... keep me in your prayer's that day, that the Spirit will be able to touch his heart! I am nervous but excited for this great opportunity!

Last night we had a mission party and watched Mulan and The Best Two Year's, it was soooo good and fun to be with all the sisters (155 of us) and just to relax. I think I was laughing more at all of the funny sister's comments and reactions then I was at the movies! hah!

We have transfer's next week, I cannot believe how quickly this transfer went by and how much I was able to learn! I am so grateful for my companion and how humble patient and sweet she is with me. I am soooo far from perfect but we were able to learn a lot from each other. So we will see next week what the changes will be.

I gave my own copy of the Book of Mormon that I carry around everywhere away yesterday. I gave it to a man named Steven. As I was talking to him my heart was touched by how humble he was and how the Lord was preparing him to hear about the Gospel. He doesn't have a home address or phone number so no way of getting at in touch with the missionaries right now. After sharing my testimony with him I felt very prompted to give him my Book of Mormon which I have been marking for the last two months. I pray that it will help him and that things I have written in there will be a guide for him until he can get in touch with missionaries! He was amazing!

I met a girl on Sunday her name is Abby Barth and she went to China last semester with the same program I went with. She actually went to the same school I went to in Changzhou! I just cried as she updated me on all the kid's that I taught and the experiences that she had while there. She told me that they still talk about me all the time as I was the first Head Teacher at the school. She said they still insist in doing thing's the way the "Carly Said"! haha I just laughed and it made me so happy to see that I had made a difference at that school! This was such a tender mercy from the Lord for me to meet Abby and to be reminded of that wonderful experience I was able to have! Oh and just a few minutes after this I met the cutest couple from China.... oh perfect :)

I have been working on memorizing the Living Christ for the last few week's. I cannot even begin to explain what a wonderful experience that this has been for me. It has fortified my testimony of the Savior and has given me word's to say when my mind seem's to go blank. That document was so inspired and is meant to be used be the member's to strengthen our testimonies and to share what we believe about the Savior! One of my favorite lines is, "His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth... God be thanked for the matchless gift of his Divine Son." So powerful! I encourage everyone to read it, study it, and perhaps... memorize it :) common if I can do it, anyone can!! Who doesn't want more blessing's?

I am so grateful for my mission, every single day I realize what a privilege it is for me to serve here. I am even more grateful that the Lord is willing to teach me in so many way's. I have found myself sharing with member's a lot lately that the Lord loves them so much and know's them exactly. He know's where we are in life and where we needs to be. He is so willing to take whatever path we are on an make it straight, no matter what has happened in the past. I hope you all realize how much the Lord loves you and know's you! We all have trials, make mistakes, and have hard times, but that is the beauty of the Atonement. Christ already suffered for us so we must turn to him. We have to humble ourselves over and over again and realize that we cannot be fully successful or happy without his mercy and grace.

I love the Savior! I love sharing my testimony with the World every day! It is amazing as I share that sometimes I say thing's that I haven't ever said or really known before, I know that that is the power of the spirit. We all have this power inside of us, if we will listen!

I have more stories but I will save them for next week! I love you all so much! I really appreciate the letter's and love that you send me, I couldn't ask for better friends and family!

Loves- Sister Porter

Alma 13:28-29 :)

oh and my favorite thing that my companion shared this week was.. "I know as you read Book of Mormon your faith will begin smiling". So wonderful!

la la la I love my mission! 2/2/10

I wanted to share a few question's and statement's I have been told this last week.. mostly from non-member's.
How do I use the Atonement as you say?I also have authority, I'm an ordained minister. I'm already saved. What doctrine is in that book that is not in the Bible? Why was Joseph Smith so prejudice? How was Joseph Smith different than the Pope? Your christian is much different from real christians. What proof is there that the Book of Mormon is true? Why in the world would you leave Boston to come here? I only came to see inside the Temple and you say I can't go inside? How do you know it's true? So since you are crying for me, God is crying for me to? Are the women allowed to get married? To go to heaven do I have to join your church? What does your church have that mine doesn't?
Sister's you just answered my prayer's. YES! I knew I needed to serve a mission! Your faith is so evident. Thank you for your dedication. Hey Elder's! (random old guy crossing the street! haha). You answered my question's so perfectly. We had a delightful time with you. You carry a special spirit, we can see it. I will read that book. I feel comfort and peace here. "I can't believe he did that for me, he died for me" (from a 10 year old at the Christus).
Hah so as your can see, every week I get many kind's of up's and down's. People LOVE asking us all the questions they have ever wanted to ask the Mormon's. It's okay too because that is why we are here! To help them and to answer their questions. BUT, many times I feel like Amulek when speaking to Zeezrom in Alma 11 when he said "for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord". We are asked difficult question's many times. Some of those time's it is okay to answer and especially to use the Book of Mormon to answer, but other time's the Spirit strongly tell's me just to simply testify.
example- Patrick was a really funny man. He was quite the talker and loved telling us about all of the "searching" that he has done. He is a bible teacher and love's looking for weird religions that he can find and argue with. He told us about many weird groups out there that just blew him away at how far from doctrine they were. I asked him how Temple Square was and he responded that there was nothing here he could argue with that "everything was good". Then he went back to his religious tangents and I stopped him and said.. "Patrick I am glad you have had a fun time looking for group's with false doctrine, but how is your search for truth going?" hah his face was so funny, he said, "Now THAT is the right question! Way to go!" Then we began discussing our religion and I used several scriptures to help him better understand. He asked at one point "why do I need the book of mormon when I have the bible, what is in there that is not in the bible". Well... we all know that the Book of Mormon is FULL of stories, lesson's, doctrine, miracles, that are not in the bible. But I felt that I needed to testify. I told him that I am not a knowledgable person, that he probably know's way more than I do, but that I knew without a doubt that if he read this book that it would bring him closer to the Savior and he would also know that Christ's true church was on the earth today. Both of us were emotional as I shared and he thanked me for my testimony. ANYWAY, long story short, it was an incredible experience. I know that he felt the spirit, yet he was still stuck in his way's. He has a Book of Mormon at home and I gave him some chapter's to read and he promised that he would.
I have 3 other experiences this week almost exactly the same as this one. Another girl was in her 20's and had completely left the church. She was seminary president, engaged to a RM and her whole family is still active. She had TON's of questions! Tons!! At the end though after I shared my testimony and was trying to help her, she responded and said that after all her searching, she KNOWS this is not the true church and her heart breaks for her family and friends that are still in it. SO SAD!!! I had to go to a room and just cry after this because it literally broke my heart. I was so sad that there was nothing I could do or say that could help her remember or help her understand what she was missing. SO sad! I'm sorry this was a sad story but it helped me realized a few things. 1) How solid my testimony is, never ever ever would I deny the spirit I have been given. 2) People have their agency and when we make tiny wrong choices, Satan will take us and drag us down the wrong path. 3) As a missionary, I do all that I can to preach the truth through the power of the Spirit, and that is all I can do. I have to be happy with what becomes of it.
We met another women, Melanie, who was just coming back into activity after 27 years out of the church. She was incredible and full of fire! She had a long and sad story but I could literally see how the Atonement was working for her. I thought of Mosiah 4:2-3 when the people view themselves in their own carnal state and recognize that they are nothing without the Atonement. It is so so true! We need the Atonement every day to cleanse and purify us.
We went to the Temple thismorning after not being able to go the last few week's because of cleaning. I LOVE the Temple so much! I had missed it so much! I am so grateful that we have been given the blessing to be able to make special covenant's with the Lord and can use them to strengthen me everyday. The WORLD doesn't even know about this! WAHH! As member's we must be doing all that we can to share this message, the Gospel! True!!
My companion continues to amaze me. Her English is so good and our contact's are becoming much more balanced. There are not a ton of people here on the Square because of the Winter so we have lot's of time to practice and do weird activites.. I'm pretty creative.
This email seem's long so I am sorry about that! Those experiences were just amazing and helped me learn so much. Missionary work is hard, so hard, but I love it so much. I want to fully become Sister Porter, Carly is back in Boston or Mesa somewhere, but for now I am Sister Porter! :)
I want the Lord to shape me into the woman he need's me to be in the future for my family and for eternity. What an incredible time that I have been given.
I love you all and I love this work!

Sister Porter2Tim 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".

I smell like bacon! 1/26/10

Another wonderful week has come and gone!
Ok I just had to start off by sharing some fun things about my companion. Soo.... she makes Bacon for atleast 2 meals every day, to go in her Japanese food. So we were walking to the square after dinner and she looked at me and said "you smell funny" haha I about died laughing!!! Sometimes my scarves seeps in the bacon smell.. so now I smell like bacon.
- A few day's ago we had just stepped on an escalator in the North Visitor's Center when a sister above us asked me a question. So I hurried up a few steps back to ground to talk to her. A few seconds later I looked down to see my companion running up the escalator after me!!!! I can't even describe how hillarious this scene was. She was so determined to catch up. I told her "no no just go down!" ha she almost fell like 3 times, so she just went down. That just show's how well she follow's me :) te he-
So every day for about an hour we are in the West Gate Booth to help visitor's who come. When visitor's leave she always yells to them "thanks for coming!" they rarely understand her so she get's embarassed when they come over to ask what she said. So cute though that she is trying so hard! -
Yesterday she was praying before we left our apartment and all of the sudden she was just silent, I thought she was thinking or something and about 30 seconds later she say's "sister porter amen!" haha I guess I didn't understand that she had already said amen... haha. too funny. -So we have funny moment every day and I LOVE! She is the cutest thing ever and she just want's to keep working so so hard.
So the highlight of my last week was Zone Conference... seriously so incredible. The focus was on Christlike Attributes. I came away feeling like a new missionary, I was so excited to go to work! One of the main thing's I realized was how precious this time is for me. Sometimes I feel like I will be on a mission forever, but then I realize that it will come to an end quickly. I want to use this time well! President taught about Dilligence and how we should be anxious to keep finding people and obtaining referral's up until the very last minute! I totally agree with him, but sometimes it's easy to forget that. I love the scripture in Moroni 8:16-18 when he talk's about preaching the word and how our perfect love casteth out all fear. Sometime's it is sooooo hard to talk to people! Especially because they probably already talked to other sister's. But we have to be bold!! I also love in Alma 38:10-12 Alma teaches Shilblon to use boldness but not over bearance.... so key to Temple Square. We are the face of the church here and we would never want them to leave with a bad impression.. never.
So a few experiences. Yesterday we met Dylan, a kid who lives in SLC and has had a really hard life. After talking with him we could see that he is searching for truth in his life, he want's to over come his trials. I told him I had a scripture for him so I opened my Book of Mormon and started looking... I could NOT find anything!! I was thinking, "what in the world? I can alway's find a scripture!" THEN I looked at my companion and she was standing there smiling with a scripture all ready to share. She started talking and new exactly what to share. I was AMAZED as she bore a powerful pure testimony and I was humbled once again by her desire to follow the spirit. We also took 4 Stanford business student's on a tour on Sunday. They were all so awesome and had great questions. 2 of them referred to recieve the Book of Mormon and we were so excited! It was so neat to see how prepared they were. What was surprising was that the two who referred were actually the 2 who seemed less interested.. alway's interesting.
I had some great experiences in the referral center as well! I spoke with a women minister who lives in New Jersey and she had a TON of question's about the Book of Mormon. I love how my heart beats so fast as I just pray that I will be able to answer her next question.. she was talking really loud and I was feeling like she was going to get mad or argumentative, but then I would answer her question and she would just say "oh ya, that makes sense". Sister Watanabe next to me is trying so hard. She get's sooooo nervous to call people because her English is still so little. But she alway's does soooo well and we alway's celebrate after she get's a referral.
Last week I was talking with a new Sister who is from India. Her name is Sister Vupadda and she is incredible. Of course my love for India has drawn me to her and I just want to know everything about her life. So she joined the church 5 years ago, shortly after joining her father passed away. Last September, her brother who was preparing for a mission, also passed away. When she told me this my heart just broke and I got teary eyed. I was just reminded of all the sweet sweet people I know and LOVE in India. This Sister has gone through so much and sacrificed so much to be here on her mission. It was such a special moment for me to recognize once again my blessing's and also to see how significant it is to have sister's that are here from all over the world. So humbling.
Another sister who is going home shared this in her talk last Sunday. She said that Elder Perry came and spoke to our mission last year she shared that during his talk he suddenly looked up and said "The Temple Square Mission is the most powerful missionary force that has ever been assembled", then he went back to his thoughts. I think about this and am overcome with gratitude that the Lord trusted me, Carly Jo, to come here to this mission. I am working hard ever day to do the Lord's work, so that I can give my best to one of the most powerful mission's in the world. I thank you for you love, concern, and prayer's.
Love you all!- Sister Carly Jo Porter
Mosiah 4:27

Japanese noodles and fancy poodles :) 1/19/10

Hi hi hi hi!
Sound's like it's raining everywhere! Mesa, Boston, and in SLC. I love it when it rains here because it clears out the sick foggy air and everything is crystal clear and beautiful! So training is going well so far! my companion is Sister Yoshie Watanabe from Miasaky South Japan. She is tooooo funny. She work's so hard and is trying so hard to learn English. She never ever complains and just follow's me running around everywhere. Whenever we are in a contact even though she doesn't really understand what's going on she just smiles and say's ya ya ya haha. I love it though! I'm sure her English will pick up after the next few transfer's.
So funny story.. We took 2 rm's through the family presentation and were visiting with them afterward's. I asked one of them how he liked it.. his response "I hated it, I really hate my family". I just stared in absoulute unbelief. He looked like a totally normal guy but he was dead serious. SO before drawing conclusion's I started questioning him and his answer's were all pretty lame. So after being kind and nice for a while I just looked at him straight on and said "Seriously you need to figure thing's out and change right now, because you are going to have a sad and long life ahead of you". He was totally negative about life and everything, said he hated his mission. I told him he could change and that was the whole purpose of the atonement. I told him he need's to love his family and he said it was impossible. ANYWAY- I gave him a good talking to. It was really cool though, I didn't feel like I was being rude at all, I simply was telling him exactly what the Lord needed to hear. His friend totally agreed with everything I said and thanked me for being the one to say it. haha
I did have very uplifting experiences this week as well, I just wanted to change thing's up a bit :) CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES- Which one are you working on? I have been thinking a lot about meekness lately. The definition of meekness is, quiet and gently, unwilling to argue. A few day's ago some sister's in my apartment got into a silly confrontation, I sat listening and trying to figure out how I could fix the situation. Finally I explained to them what the solution was and told them that there must be a compromise. Another sister that was in the room thanked me the next day and said " I really appreciated your ability to correct the situation in meekness and love, it was exactly what they needed". I was grateful for her remark because it caused me to think. How meek am I? Am I putting aside myself and really asking as Christ would? In MORONI 8:26 we learn that only through meekness and lowliness of heart can we recieve the Holy Ghost, which then can teach us all thing's. Also in 1Peter 3:4 we are taught that the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, is a great price in the sight of God. I am learning that these attributes are not being used until we realize it is difficult to use them.. does that make sense? It is easy to have patience and charity when thing's are going well. We can only know our true nature of Charity at those time's when it is hardest to love. That's when our charity becomes real! Patience isn't expected of us only when it is convenient or easy. We have to learn to find joy in those time's when patience is the hardest! Hah I hope that this is making sense. Developing Christlike attributes is so crutial to our purification and becoming like the Savior. Those weird little thing's that people don't like about us can totally be gone through this process. I still have such a long way's so go, but I'm grateful for these learning experiences.
I thought of an analogy the other day that hasn't left my mind. I was studying about virtue and I thought of the First Lady. You think about the virtue she must have as she represent's our nation. She must alway's have the loving, kind, giving, compassionate attributes. Her manner in which she walk's, talk's, dresses, and everything must be perfect. She represent's one of the most powerful nations in the world! Ok so then I realized that my calling is even greater than her's. I don't represent a nation but I represent my Savior Jesus Christ. I must hold myself even at a higher level as I try to emulate the Savior. As member's of the church we should alway's realize who we are exemplifying. What an incredible opportunity for us to shine in a world that is getting darker!!! Wahhhh- be virtuous! Shine his image from every action and move you make! I know that it is not easy, but it wasn't supposed to be easy. THAT is why we try and try again.
I love you all and am grateful for your love, prayer's, and support! Everything at Temple Square is going well! It was wonderful to see our neighbor's the Smith's here on Sunday morning! How fun for me to take them and their group from MVT around Temple Square. Love it!!Have a wonderful week.. remember virtue and meekness :)Moroni 7:48- " when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is".
loves- Sister Carly Jo Porter