SENT TO SANTO ANGELO

Ola! 

I cannot believe it is Monday again. The time flies by so quickly! This past week a ton of things happened. First off, we received transfer calls this week and both my companion and I were dying to see what would happen being as I will be leaving to come home in the middle of a transfer.  Every transfer is a complete surprise for me....Annnnd, what do you know? Yep, I was transferred! Ahhh!!! I couldn't believe it. Heavenly Father once again surprised me. I knew another sister would need to finish my comps 12 weeks of training in whatever circumstance, but it makes me sad leaving her now with four weeks left. But, I have been called to serve in the city of Santo Angelo with Sister Cruz Souza.

I have already met her once before in a zone conference and I'm excited to serve with her for a little bit. I know Heavenly Father needs me there at this time. I also know there is someone waiting for me there and He wants me to help this sister. I'm really going to miss Rosarío do Sul, 

my comp, 

and all the amazing people I've met here.

Opening an area, and training, wasn't the sea of roses I thought it would be, but it was so much fun. I loved helping my sweet companion learn how to be a missionary and being able to see Heavenly Father's hand in the many spiritual experiences we shared together serving.

The time here was amazing and will always be a part of my heart. My companion has cried for the past three days (Not even kidding) haha. She really is so sweet and has been by far my easiest companion. I love her so much. She keeps saying, "But my new comp won't do this like you do" or "I'm going to die if she doesn't do this like you did."haha So cute. I remember The scary feeling of leaving my trainer too. I'm so grateful for the blessing it was for me to be able to have helped her. Heavenly Father is so aware of each of us -it's amazing.

We have been teaching some incredible people.

W. is the brother-in-law of R., an investigator. We began teaching him and he has so much interest in the Gospel. He is one of the people I know I was supposed to find and teach on my mission. He accepted and wants to be baptized. I'm grateful for the opportunity that I had to teach him. We have been working with some less actives and have had some incredible experience helping them too. A. hasn't been to church for a while because he fell into depression and started doing drugs. But, when we went to visit him, he remembered the times when he would teach with the missionaries. He came on visits with us, is now dating a cute member, and he is so happy. They're planning on getting married and sealed in the temple. So I am beyond happy about that! We also visited A., who stopped going to church because of gossip he heard about himself from the Quorum president. When A. was born, the doctors didn't give his mom a C-section when she needed it, and so they broke some of his bones leaving him deformed. He has many challenges because he thinks normally but is impaired in many ways. He is an inspiration. He didn't need to be baptized, but he understood that in order to go to the temple he needed to be baptized. So he was, and has performed many baptisms in the temple. We visited him a few times, and I was so amazed. 

One day all of our lessons fell through and we didn't know what to do, but I kept thinking of his name. So we stopped by and asked him if he knew someone we could visit. He took my planner and wrote down 7 names with their addresses (with #'s and all). We couldn't believe it! The spirit knew he would help us. He kept telling us that he would never go back to church but that he knows it's true. Alma 5:26 came into my head.  I quickly flipped there and as I read the verse to him, (And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?). he began to sob. He cried so hard. He looked at me and said, "You burnt me, sister." He is difficult to understand when he speaks, but I knew the spirit helped him to realize what he needs to do. He then said, "I will go to church tomorrow. I will." My companion and I about died knowing how the spirit totally helped him to change. I love being His tool.

The mission life is tough, but so amazing. I love everything about being here. I've learned so much through it all. At times I don't understand why Heavenly Father does certain things. "And I said unto him: I know not. – 1 Nephi 13:22. But, He knows all and what is best. I'm excited for another adventure! I love you all!

Sister Porter 

JUST HOW I LIKE IT!

Hey everyone! 

(I didnt' take any pics 

this week because I was a 

little sick. So I took a selfie 

to send something 

to my mom haha )

I hope you all are happy and well. I bet you didn't believe the news (of the earlier return date) I got last week, Huh? It is still so crazy to me. The time will go by way faster now. It's insane! The mission is so great....Hard, but so great. I loved seeing all of the pics of the week last week from home. You all look so happy. This week was a tough one here on the mission. Opening an area is super tough. But we are working hard and meeting so many people. It's like a never ending cycle of searching, serving, teaching, and dropping/or continuing as a missionary to search for the ones prepared to make covenants with God and change their lives.  We divide the work in the branch with the elders. So, they have one side of the city and we have the other half. The city is small, but it's just how I like it :-). We saw some miracles this week. We were contacting the addresses that we had written down and we passed by a house that we already tried before. The woman who live there told us to come back another day and so we tried again. Her daughter answered the door this time and let us in. She is a 23 year old mom and was super welcoming. Her name is F. We started talking to her about what we do as missionaries and began to speak about the Restoration of the Gospel. She was so interested in everything. Her mother showed up, and her younger brother too, and we got to teach all of them. The lesson went so well. The spirit was so strong. They were interested in how there are living prophets and apostles on the earth today. We truly are so blessed to have this blessing. We challenged them all to be baptized and they all accepted. It was so cute because my companion gets so nervous teaching and about died when I give her the look, "It's your turn to invite them to be baptized."haha But she is such a powerful missionary and is so sweet with her words. What made the lesson so incredible was how the mom already has been going to a different church and was planning on being baptized there, but changed her mind as we helped her to understand more. The family has been looking for the truth for years. Especially F. who has so many questions and doubts. It was a very neat experience to see how Heavenly Father knew we needed to find them.

We had another neat experience with an investigator named R.  She is a young mom who suffers from depression really badly. She has a huge desire to be baptized, but needs to get married first. Literally no one gets married nowadays, it's sad… And makes the work so much more difficult. Satan really loves attacking the family in so many ways. But she is so amazing and meets with us every day to learn more. My companion and I arrived there this week on Wednesday and she told us that she had been thinking about killing herself. My companion got wide-eyed ...poor girl. But I loved being able to talk to her, and for some reason, the words just came into my mouth. It was so neat to see how this truly is the work of the Lord. He guides us, and helps us to know when and where we need to be. He is in charge. I know I say this a lot, but I LOVE being a missionary. Yes, I am beyond tired. Yes, this is the hardest thing I've ever done and yes, sometimes we feel alone or discouraged. But, it is the most amazing work in the world. It gives us missionaries an indescribable happiness that will stay with us forever. I'm trying to give my all these last couple of weeks working as a missionary and to do all that my Heavenly Father wants of me. How grateful I am for all he has done for me. May we all remember to do our best and give Him the time and service that He deserves from us who have everything because of Him. His love is truly real and for us all.  

Vai com Deus! 

Sister Alena Porter

Hahaa we were eating lunch &

 were dying laughing because....

 the Teddy Bear has FEET!!!! 

SURPRISING NEWS!

NEARING THE FINISH LINE

May 16th, 2016

OK, I have some HUGE news! I've been dying ALL WEEK to tell you!!!  President Parella called me on Tuesday morning on a conference call with another missionary. He said he was sorry to call so late, but he had some important news. President and Sister Parella will be finishing up their three years as mission presidents on July 1st and the new mission president will be arriving soon thereafter. He said that he did not want to overload the new mission president by having him give us our last interviews (being as he doesn't know us) and he wants to finish with this group. He also said, that some missionaries in our group have expired visas and need to leave sooner. So, due to these and other things, our return date changed. We will be finishing our missions with President and Sister Parella on JUNE 28! Ahhh!! I couldn't believe it.

My mouth flew wide-open and I cried. Not tears of happiness, ha ha, but of sadness. I'm getting gypped two weeks! Sooo not fair. I am really going to miss being a missionary and teaching these amazing people. I love everything about Brazil. It was truly heartbreaking news. I love, and am excited to see my family, but man, how I love the mission! So yep, I will see you all in six weeks at the airport. It takes a while to get there, and so I think I will be leaving here on the 28th and arriving home on the 29th (in the afternoon-ish). ALL who would like to come to the airport to see me are welcome. 

This week was difficult with me being 50% sick and trying to battle a cold. But, we are working our hardest. Tons of people are catching the flu really badly and so everywhere we go, someone is sick. Brazil is super humid, and the south is cold and wet. So it's not a good blend. We are teaching a woman, M., who has a lot of potential. We are just waiting on her answer to be baptized. We had a family night with her and some members this week and it was so fun. She's getting to know the members, and it's great. The members here are already like family to me. They are true-blue Latter Day Saints. We are reactivating some amazing people – A., F., and G. It is been quite the experience to be able to help them remember the feelings they used to have when they were attending church and how they can feel that same way again. It really is interesting seeing how Satan works with people and how he lies to them. The atonement is so real, and so powerful. Our Savior can cure anything. It is never too late. We taught so many people this week. It is so neat to be a missionary and see firsthand how amazing the church is. Even the less-actives can't deny that the church is true. We had a lot of lessons this week that were planned to visit people but when they didn't work we ended up at other places that perfect time and situation to teach someone else. It is amazing how the Lord works. He uses his servants to help those who are ready and He knows where they will be and how we can find them. Everything is going great here in Rosario. The members, the work, my companion - everything is wonderful. I'm trying to take in every moment and work my hardest while I still can. The mission has taught me so many things and has changed me in so many ways. I love teaching. I love bearing testimony. I love feeling the spirit working through me to help God's children. This truly is the best time to spread the gospel. I couldn't be more grateful for this time my life. I'm so happy! I love you all and hope you have a great week! We will all be together soon! 

Your missionary,

Sister Alena Jane Porter

P.S. It's so crazy I literally only have 6 weeks left. I'm gunna go get em´!

My boots didn't last a whole year and a half....:

(they got a huge hole in them & because we are getto on the mission,) 

I used tape for a whole day to cover it up hahaha 

I bought new replacement boots...dont worry.

My companion laughed soooo hard when I came to study like this one morning. She is African-Brazilian and so she uses this to wrap her hair every night to make it stay straight. hahahahahaha I said, "Look sister! I'm Brazilian like you!!"....She cried, she laughed so hard.

I love the horses that are in the middle of the street.

LAST SKYPE ~ SPECIAL !

Oi! Sorry it took so long today to write, we had a lot to do today. I loved being able to see you all yesterday on Skype! You all look so great and I was so happy to hear all about the things that are happening at home. I loved being able to see my brother open his mission call.   What a special moment it was for me to witness. He will bless so many lives with his humor and powerful spirit. I feel so lucky that I will be able to see him off and help him prepare for the temple and mission. I was hoping I could. It's gunna be awesome to spend time with him before he leaves! I love you G.B. and Happy Birthday tomorrow! I will always be so grateful that Heavenly Father sent me my cute little brother 18 years ago. You are so special to me. 

This week started off amazing with us finding and teaching new people. We see miracles every day and it's been super fun opening the area together. I love my companion. She really is the best companion I've ever had. But the week ended with me being super sick with the flu and a high fever....which wasn't fun at all. I could hardly move I was in so much pain. But like all trials, I learned so much. Patience in the Lords timing is so key to our lives being what He wants them to be. But all is well now. (Sorry I didn't take any pics this week as you can imagine). But the week ended so well with me getting to call you all and with a phone call that I got from the zone leader. He said "Sister Porter, I have some news for you.....your area in Uruguaiana is going to be baptizing 5 people this Saturday!!" I about died. He continued, "I asked the zone leader there how this happened and he mentioned you and how you taught a family. Well,,, they are going to be baptized on Saturday! Congrats for the work you did there Sister Porter!" Ahhh I literally burst into tears. The family of C. were baptized on Saturday and I couldn't be more happy. The kids needed to go to church for 3 months straight in order to be baptized (it's mission rules) and they were strong and always came! This work is really amazing. I know that the spirit lead us to that family. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father allowed us to find them and teach them. There are no words to describe the happiness that comes to my heart when families are baptized. Generations change!! It's so amazing. I know this is His work. I love him. He is my master. I know that through Him all things are possible. 

Sister Porter

Singing Happy Birthday to mom! 

ALL NEW WITH A NEWBIE! LOVE IT!!

Guess who gets to speak with you on Sunday?! Ahhh! 

I am so excited to see you all. I can't believe how fast the time flies! I feel like I just talked to you all on Christmas. But this time, it will be way special for me to Skype you all. It will be on Mother's Day, on my mother's birthday, and it will be the last time I will be Skype-ing on the mission. The next time I see you, I will be at the airport. So crazy. But what a special day it will be on Sunday! I loved hearing all about your trip to Florida, mom and dad! What a fun way to spend time with the family. I laughed hard knowing that you were with a bunch of Brazilians speaking Portuguese. Mom, it's not French ;-) but, it has similarities. Portuguese is a strange language because it's almost like Spanish, French, and Italian mixed. We can understand what all of these languages are saying. That is so cool that you got to meet some of my people there :-). Brazilians are so amazing. 

This week was absolutely amazing. I'm learning that training a newbie and opening an area at the same time, wasn't as easy as I thought. 

I wanted to have a challenge these next two transfers and Heavenly Father granted my wish! Ha ha. 

It's been tough, but so much fun with so much work to do. We have been finding many people that I know Heavenly Father has been preparing for us. 
My companion is so sweet. 

We have so much fun together. It's so cute how she gets all nervous talking to people and how she freaks out when it's her turn to challenge someone to something. I love her so much, and I'm loving teaching her and helping her. She has such a strong testimony. We are seeing miracles together and learning so much. The Lord has really been guiding our actions and words. 

Gave her skittles for her 1 month mark of the mission

One night we were out of plans and everything fell through. We try talking to people on the street and we clapped so many doors, but no one wanted to listen to us. We were freezing cold and had no idea what we should do. I remembered that we made a list of people that previous missionaries had contacted in the street along with their names and addresses from the area book. I pulled it out and immediately was drawn to the first name. I saw the address and number, and to our surprise, we were stopped in the middle of the street right in front of this house. We clapped the door and a woman answered. She said he wasn't home but that we could come in. We were shocked at how welcoming she was and how accepting she was of us. She began to say that normally she leaves in the evenings to visit people but that she felt she needed to stay home. So she sat on her couch and was just thinking. She said that she knows it was because we were going to arrive. We were so shocked. She told us that missionaries have talked with her before, but she never felt so moved before when they came. She expressed doubts she has about her church and how she knows ours is true. She listened as we talked to her about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the church. The spirit was SO STRONG. She accepted to be baptized on the 28 May. It was an amazing experience for us. We could see how perfectly the Spirit led us there. He knew we would stop there in that moment in the middle of the road. He knew he could count on us to find her. He knew she would be at home at the moment. He knew the time she would accept the Gospel. We hugged each other with tears in our eyes and with so much joy in our hearts after that lesson. Heavenly Father truly is using his spirit to guide us and we can feel it and see it. That woman never accepted to be baptized before after years of missionary lessons. But because the spirit prepared us all to meet each other that night, she couldn't deny that the message was true. I love teaching people and bearing testimony to them of the restored gospel. This is the truth! 

The elders had a baptism! Yay!

I love the quote the president Marian G. Romney said, "I always know when I am speaking under the influence of the Holy Ghost, because I always learn something from what I have said." It is so true. He gives us the words we need. We laugh after lessons sometimes because we don't remember anything we said because the spirit was so strong. He is essential in the work of God. I'm so grateful for the special gift we have as members. The Holy Ghost can always guide us and help us when we are living worthily and allow him to do His work. I love being a representative of my Savior. I know the church really is His because he still is the same. Always serving, and teaching, and blessing through his called missionaries. He is so perfect. I love Him. I'm so excited to see you all soon! Have an amazing week and be examples at all times! Love, Sister Porter :-)