Sister Alena Porter: ZONE TRAINING MEETING

Sister S. from AZ.

Hello! This week was so different. It flew by so fast, but was so amazing. This country still makes me smile every day. We are loving this work and the sweet gauchos we are serving. This week started with us in Santa Maria. We were there for a couple days handling visa paperwork because I've been in Brazil for about a year now. And we also had the mission council meeting with all of the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and President and Sister Parella. I loved being able to pass my P – day there in my first area. Sister G. and I went to visit some people I taught and knew as a new missionary. It was incredible!

Santa Maria, I.

I absolutely love seeing everyone again. It was so cool to see how much I've changed in such a short amount of time and to remember all of the hard days I had there struggling at the beginning of my mission with the language and basically, everything. Ha ha. Heavenly Father truly helped me through it all and comforted me when I needed it.

C.G. and family

Santa Maria is a place I will always remember. I felt so alone when I was serving there, but I grew so close to my Savior. He is my true friend, guide, and what I relied on. It was so funny seeing the people and seeing them get all wide eyed in shock that I could speak and understand them. It was amazing.

G. and familia

Seeing J., who was baptized, left me emotional. She looked me straight in the eyes and thanked me for inviting her to be baptized and for teaching her. She gave me the biggest hug and we just shed tears of joy together.

What an amazing experience it was for me. Being a missionary is the best thing ever. Members told me that the whole ward talks about the "Little American sister who struggled to speak but did everything with love." I was so amazed at how even though I thought I wasn't making any difference, the people were touched by my loving them with my actions. The mission council meeting was good. I'm officially the oldest sister in the mission, all others have less time. So weird. So sad. Thursday was our zone conference in Alegrete.

Conferencia de zona

It was so weird giving a trainment during the conference but neat seeing how the sisters can help teach the elders too. President Parella turned the time over to us and we gave a trainment about the Book of Mormon and how we need to use it to teach. I don't remember what I said, but I know the spirit helped me know what to teach the mission. It was so nerve-racking teaching in front of half the mission, the assistants, and President and Sister Parella, but everything went well. So many elders and sisters complimented us at the end and president said he loved it! So we are way more calm now, ha ha. I love my calling and this work.

I'm so glad that God helps us accomplish what we never thought we could do and stretches us to be more than we are. He knows us so well and knows what we can become with his help. All we have to do is have faith in him and his plan.

We are teaching tons of amazing people that should be baptized soon. C. needs to get married so she and her kids can get baptized. L. too. A. needs to come to church along with V. and V. Here in southern Brazil, this is the problem - Marriage, and coming to church. But, we know God will help us to baptize his children when we follow his ways and plans. I am so grateful for this time in my life. I love these people with all of my heart. I know God is helping us and loves us. He so real. I love this gospel.

Sister Porter