CLAPPING FOR JOY

Oi todos!! First off, I have to announce some awesome news. Our mission president is allowing us to Skype our dads for Brazilian father’s day!!! AHHH so I can Skype my daddy on August 9th!!! YAY! I am so excited! So get ready dad :) I will let you know times and everything later.

Health- mommy, this week I have felt sooo much better. I think the meds are starting to work. I went from having major pain all day every day to only once a week for a day or two. Heavenly Father is really blessing me. I know I am supposed to be here. I am doing everything I possibly can to take care of myself, so I hope I will feel completely better soon. :)

Awesome stuff:

-The little kids here ask us every day to say their name in Ingles (English) haha it’s so funny.

Funny:

- I told a lady that the church was resurrected instead of restored haha The words are so close in Portuguese.

This week. Oh my goodness. I found out yesterday that my dear investigator in Santa Maria, J. will be baptized on the 8th of August too. My heart is full. We are working like none other here in São Gabriel and I am loving every minute of it. I am literally in Heaven. We taught so many lessons this week and helped so many people. But I want to share the miracle.

One day we were clapping doors and no one was answering. I had the thought that maybe someone is just waiting for us and we are just in the wrong place. We walked around and my companion saw a house and said, "Sister, this is the house." We clapped the door and I began to talk to the lady. She immediately let us in her house, showed us pictures of her family and we taught her the restoration. The entire time the spirit was SO powerful. The room was completely filled. At the end of the lesson, I felt the strongest prompting to tell her that Heavenly Father loves her, that he led us to her, and that it wasn’t by chance that we met her. Tears filled her eyes. She expressed to us that she has been waiting for this message and knows we are messengers of God. My comp and I couldn’t believe it. We met with her again and talked about the Book of Mormon. She said she feels the calmest spirit when we visit and when we gave her the Book of Mormon, she started crying and was so grateful. I was so amazed and touched. She came to church with us yesterday. We walked with her in the freezing cold, on her birthday, at 7:30 in the morning. I am so excited to teach her more. She loves the church. I love being a missionary.

I have 6 months in the mission tomorrow. I can’t believe how fast the time is flying. I am living my dream and loving every moment of being here. The people, the culture, the language, everything. I love being a missionary. I know that this is the true way to eternal happiness. Always trust in god’s plan. He knows so much more than we do. Amo voces!!!

Sister Porter

July 20th, 2015                

HORSES, COWS, & CHICKENS....OH MY!

Tão, first off, last week the computer shut off in the middle of me typing so I didnt get to read or respond to a lot of things, but thank you all who wrote me an email or letter! I always print them out & read them on P-days -they mean so much. It is so hard in the mission to respond, but always know that I read, appreciate, & love every email I receive, so thank you!!! Thank you tons for your emails. I can't wait to read them. Health- Tiamina is not a disease! haha it is an allergy. Sister P. said that it is in flour, peanuts, milk, oil, etc. but she didnt say I have it for sure. I haven't been saying anything about my health because I honestly still don't know what's wrong. I have headaches constantly whether I eat fruit all day or not. The doctor just said I have Enxaqueca which is a constant headache that doesn't go away unless you take meds and he gave me medicine. I really don't know what to do because I constantly have headaches and I'm constantly in pain. I take medicine every night but it doesn't do much. I'm taking it for 4 months and the doctor said it will work slowly.  The medicine here isn't very strong. I used to take the Advil I brought from home and it worked great, but I don't have any more. So I bought Ibrofen at the store. So mom, I don't know what to do. I still have headaches, but I just work through the pain every day. Sounds sad, but it's true. There are some days I feel better than others but I am trying everything I possibly can. Advice and help would be nice!I am in love with São Gabriel still. The people are so sweet and such cowboys. People just ride their horses around all day and wear their funny gaúcho clothes. I love this country! I love walking to lessons with horses, cows and chickens in the middle of the street and seeing people just sitting outside drinking chimarrão and talking to their neighbors. This cutlure is awesome! The people here kiss eachother on 2 cheeks....kinda different. and I still have to tell the men that they can't kiss a sister missionary. Kinda awkard still, but necessary.This week was great, we had so many amazing experiences!!  We are teaching so many people. Our investigators are golden. We have so many families that need to get married, baptized and sealed in the temple. It was so amazing this week teaching about the Plan of Salvation and the power of temples. We are so lucky as latter day saints to have the knowledge that we are going to live again and that we can live with our families forever!! Que Legal! We taught a family about the temple this week and they immediately said they will be baptized and know that the church is true. We regualary meet with a recent convert, N. and  I love seeing how the gospel literally changes lives. I love seeing the light that comes into the eyes of people as they gain a love for the scriptures. She gets so excited every time we read the scriptures with her and loves singing hymns with us.This gospel is joy and happiness! There is no greater joy than being a missionary.  I love bearing my testimony every day in every hour. This is his work. God is the same yesterday today and forever. He is continuing his work here on earth and still speaks to us! I love him. I love this gospel. Keep praying and keep trying!! Te amo!!!

Sister Porter

  

SAO GABRIEL & THE WHITE CASTLE

Oi Todos!! I am in São Gabriel!!! And lemme tell ya, I am in LOVE with this place! I am in a dream. everyone has chickens, cows, horses, pigs, and dogs. I was dying on the bus ride here staring at the rolling hills and cute little houses. I am in such a small little city. The people are so humble, have hardly anything, and are so accepting of us missionaries. We are so blessed here. We have a Ramo (district) instead of a Ward and the members treat us so special. We have a house. literally a house. Just the 2 of us. 3 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms. The best appartment in the mission and the weather here is amazing. I couldn't be more happy! My companion is a dream come true! Seriously prayers have been answered. This week was literally a miracle. Milagres em cada lugar (miracles everywhere). Seriously. This week was insane!! When you put 2 American sister missionaries together that want to work hard, love teaching people, want to talk to everyone about the gospel, and have the same vision....man...miracles!

My second day here we got hungry, so we stopped to eat something on a bench in the front of a house in the street. A lady came out and asked us what we were doing, was fine with us sitting there, but then returned later and invited us in her house because it was sprinkling outside. (hehe we were more than happy that someone actually invited US in for once!). But as we were talking to her about where we were from, she got a shocked look on her face. She began to tell us that the night before she had a dream that she was in the United States and saw a White castle with a woman clothed in all White that made her feel really calm. We couldnt believe it. My companion pulled out a picture of the St. George temple and she freaked out and said "That's the place! That's the castle I saw!" Ahhh! The spirit was so Strong as we bore our testimonies and explained more about eternal families and temples. Miracle. It was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father knew that us American sisters needed to find her that day and that we are together for a special purpose. We don't speak the language perfect still, but the spirit is guiding our work.  A funny thing that happened this week was that we got locked out of our house. We tried everything. Clapping the door of the neighbors, calling the elders, breaking in, everything. Nothing worked but my companion is always happy and up for an andventure, so what did we do? We climbed two walls. Ya, in our skirts, with cars driving by, with our bags. everything. It was sooo funny!

I'm loving this time with her. It is very rare to have two Americans together in our mission so I know this time won't last long but man, this week was one of the best weeks of my entire mission. We worked so much and helped so many people! Our moto is "vamos trabalhar até o pó!" (we will work to the dust). The elders were so suprised with our numbers this week. They literally asked us how we taught so many people. We had 8 investigators attend sacrament meeting. It was awesome. I'm in heaven!

Heavenly Father knows us so well. The mission has taught me so many things and these past couple months have changed my life forever. I know this is His work. I love you all!!!

Sister Porter

LAST WEEK IN SANTA MARIA / TRANSFER

Guess what happened this week?! So much. Hospital, trabalho (work), and TRANSFERS!! Ahhh!! Crazy. But I will make things short and sweet.

Tuesday- We had lunch with a member, like usual (oh btw we Always eat with the elders....strange...but ya) and my stomach and head hurt SO BAD afterwards. I prayed so hard afterwards and guess who called us? Sister P. (Presidentes wife) miracle. She said she has been looking up my symptoms online and has found what I have. An allergy called "tiamina". It is found in milk, sausage, bread, oily foods, etc. Man! I cannot express how thankful I am for Sister P. She is the only person that would listen/believe in me and isn't giving up on me. She found my allergy! Que bênção! (translate~ what a blessing!)

Thursday- Sister P. told me to stop eating a ton of diferente things...um ya I was dying of starvation eating fruit all day and my headaches continued. So we went to the head doctor to see what's up. Sister P. was so funny telling the man, "This young woman is a sister missionary who has headaches constantly. I know she doesn't have depression and she speaks this language well. I know it has to be something more than an emotional problem. Doctor, she needs to stay in this mission. so do whatever you need to do." I about died with gratitude. He knew immediately what my problem was. Enxaqueca. (migrane that never goes away). He said that some one in my family genetically passed enxaqueca to me and that I got it this early in my life because of allergies to food, stress, lack of sleep, working without stopping, and many other things. It is awful. It is a dizzy, pounding pain that doesn't go away. But, he said with time it should go away if I take the medicine he gave me and take things slower. He gave me meds and I have been feeling SOO much better!!! I feel sooo blessed that Heavenly Father answered my prayers!! I felt so loved and special the whole day as Sister P. accompanied my companion and I. When I thanked her, she just said, "Oh Sister Porter, you have no need to thank me. You have so much you need to do still in this country. You will be a powerful missionary. I know it." I couldn't feel more grateful for my mom here in the mission. She is such an example to me and I can actually understand her haha! Accomplishment! (she talks super fast Portuguese)

Friday-TRANSFER CALLS! Ahhh! Sister Souza and I have BOTH been transfered out of our área. Our área is too dangerous for sisters, so elders will be taking over. :( SO SAD. I have been transfered to serve in São Gabriel with Sister Hansen! She is an Americana and is from Utah. She has been out for about 1 year and I'm SO excited to be working with her. I've heard she is super happy all of the time and that she speaks Portuguese really well. I cant wait!! Also another answer to prayer. I will be traveling to São Gabriel tomorrow morning.

I will miss Santa Maria so much. Saying goodbye was so hard. Yesterday EVERYONE bore their testimony during sacrament meeting and it was so sad having to say goodbye to the members. 

Because there was no time, I bore my testimony in Relief Society and it broke my heart seeing so many wonderful women that I love so much. This is the best mission in the world. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love you all!!! Tchao :)

Sister Porter

Minha companheira. Eu amo ela muito.(My companion. I love her)

We love C. -our future missionary.

The Elders

M.-leaving on his mission to Bolivia this week

Bishop and his cute Family-changed my life

My gaúcha boots that a member gave me. I'm in love and they are so warm.

FORGET MYSELF.......BUT NOT COMPLETELY

Oi oi oi! Thank you so much mom for the package!! 

My companion cried....a ton...you have no idea how much that meant to her.  

J.and B., thank you so much for your letters! I hope to be the kind of missionary you are.

Funny things about Brazil:

-The elders talked to a woman about her baptism in the Evangelica Igreja and she said that they didn't have any water, so they used Guarana.....soda...hahaha

- It is way awkward with the culture of kissing cheeks because the men don't understand that us sisters can't.....yes......men try....and I freak out every time.

- My companion is always telling me that the dogs here literally bite people and sometimes kill. Ya, kinda thought that was silly. But we were walking to an appointment and my companion says "Sister! Coacher!  (dog)" and I thought psssh yeah right,..he wont do anything. Ummm ya he started charging at us!! I was dying! So ya a dog tried to attack us.

-I don't know if I ever talked about this, but we do not knock on doors, we clap.

Wow. I don't even know where to begin on what happened this week.

On Monday, sooo many doctors were calling me to find out what's wrong. They were investigating the cause of my sickness. I felt really grateful that people really care so much about missionaries. I learned sooo much this week through this struggle of being sick on the mission. If you know me well, you would know that this mission means everything to me and that I am here to sincerely work my hardest. Being sick, not able to focus because of migraines, feeling like I'm going to pass out in the street, and being in constant pain is not the funnest thing as a missionary who wants to work. This has seriously been the hardest thing ever. But, I was reading in Mosiah, and of course Heavenly Father told me what to do. He is so good to me. Mosiah 4:27. I read this scripture during personal study and almost started laughing because it was so funny how immediate He answered my questions. It talks all about not running faster than we have strength. I learned that stopping to take care of ourselves is a necessary. Even though I want to work, work, and work, my body has limits. Working through a sickness was not a good idea. But I took rests and learned from this experience that I can forget myself and go to work without completely forgetting myself haha. But what really was the highlight of my week was interviews with Presidente P.. Wow. Changed my life. He told me so many things that blew my mind. I believe he will be an apostle someday. The spirit beams out of his face. He told me so directly that he knows how I feel, knows what this time means to me, knows what kind of a missionary I will be, that my Portuguese is a miracle, that he can see the gift of tongues moving really fast in me, and told me that this trial of being sick will make me so much stronger. He gave me a blessing, but half way through, he started speaking English. The spirit was so powerful and was exactly what I needed to hear. The priesthood is real. He also gave me a hug. Which I thought wasn't allowed haha but gave me so much comfort. I learned so much from him.

This week we worked a lot with less active members who haven't come to church in years. We visited a man named M., and he was so happy we came to visit him, it was so touching. He said he judged the church when he became inactive because no one came to visit him, but said he repented when we visited him. The entire lesson the spirit was so strong. I literally could hear His voice whispering sentences and words to say in my mind. It was crazy. I have no doubt that the gift of tongues is real. I feel the spirit literally speaking through me every day. It is the most amazing feeling.

Saturday was Festa Junina!!! Brazil celebrates Festa Junina every year around June/July. 

It is so fun!! They all dress up like cowboys, dance, eat, and celebrate their culture. I was dying at how fun it was! 


Brazil is seriously the perfect place for me. I love the members here and the culture is awesome. But the best part about the Festa, was that we had 1 investigator, 7 less actives, and received 1 more investigator. Amazing. 

This week was a miracle. I still am getting over my illness, but feel sooo much better. I had the flu and major migraines and they never stop. But my companion and Sister P. are amazing and have been helping me so much. I feel so blessed.

This mission is amazing. I want to live here forever with these people. They have touched my life in ways I never thought possible. I will never be the same. I know this is the church of Jesus Christ. He is real. He loves you and is aware of you. He knows what things you need to go through. Stay Strong!!! Eu amo voces com tudo meu coracao!! Beijos!! (translate: I love you with all my heart!! Kisses!!)

Sister Porter

Threw away my flashcards from the Missionary Training Center...hahah

Eu e minha companheira (translation: Me and my companion)

M. B.(pesquisador) e seus netos (M. B. and her grandchildren)

Festa Junina na capela (translation: Saints Feast in the chapel)

 

 

DON'T EVER PASS BY

My view every morning

DON'T EVER PASS BY

This mission continues to be the absolute best. I LOVE Brazil. I am truly meant to be here. Sure the mission has its ups and downs, but I wouldn't want to be in any other place on Earth. This week was not the funnest. I have been really sick all week and tried to figure out what was wrong with me. This week was so hard on me. Wanting to work and teach, but not being physically able to is the hardest thing ever. But I have learned a lot and the Doctors here are amazing. So I will be alright. No worries mommy, I will be ok ;)

But this week we had an amazing lesson with a less active member, M. He has been out of the church for awhile and we felt we needed to visit him. He was so happy that we came. He told us that he thought the church forgot about him because no one came to visit him when he left and the missionaries would always pass by him without saying anything. This taught me that as missionaries we really do need to talk to everyone, because who knows who is sincerely searching. He will for sure come back to church. I am so grateful for the spirit because the only reason why people want to return to the church is because they cannot deny the spirit of Peace they feel in the church.

A ton of things happen in a week and I can hardly remember what happened yesterday. The life of a missionary is crazy. But it is amazing. This week wasn't the most productive with me being really sick, but I know that this is a time that the Lord is testing me. He Always allows us to have difficulties to make us stronger and to help us become what he wants us to be. I am so grateful for the trials I have in my life. This mission has already changed me forever. The people, the culture, the church here, everything!! And it is all possible through Christ. Some of the people here I truly feel I met them before this life and I cannot imagine my life without knowing them or meeting them here. Their example has touched my heart and changed me forever. Sometimes it is hard when I cannot fully express my love for them with words. But my Heavenly Father always helps me. I have never felt so close to him or my Savior. The gift of tongues is REAL. I literally cannot speak to these people without the spirit. The power of the spirit is the real life changer. I feel so honored and blessed to have this time to be an instrument in Gods hands here in Brazil. I am so grateful for this time I have to give my all to my Hero and Master, Jesus Christ. I know this is HIS work! I love you all and hope you continue to remember him Always. Beijos!

Sister Alena Porter

I made my Grandmas coconut cookies for my companions year mark!! SO yummy!

The elders came over to fix my bed...it was so funny.

I took a picture of the typical meat I eat everyday for my daddy. hahah I cried with joy! (pork, steak, chicken, sausage)

SPLITS, SICKNESS, SPIRIT & STRENGTH

Olá minha família e amigos! Eu amo vocês muito :) Muito Obrigada pelas muitas cartas (google translate ~ Hello my family and friends ! I love you very much :) Thanks for the many letters) .I will try to reply to all of you when I can. Okie? Dont even know where to start. This week I learned a ton.

First off, can I just say that this mission is absolutely perfect? I seriously have a firm testimony that Heavenly Father literally calls his children to the exact place he knows they will serve the best. I truly feel like Brazilians are my people. I absolutely love everything about Brazil. I feel so blessed.

We had divisions with the sister training leaders this week and I got the Brazilian..yay :) She doesn't speak English at all and has a very thick Northern Brazil accent. So I was kinda worried what would happen with us being that I am new. But I suprisingly understood and talked to her the entire day. And man, it was an amazing day! I learned so much from her! It was hilarious teaching her English during my language study. Brazilians have a hard time with "th" and "K" at the end of words haha. We made many contacts in the street and the lessons were so amazing. The spirit was so Strong all day. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. She is the perfect example of teaching and working with love.

Our investigator, J. is praying for a baptismal date and told us she is fasting to know which day. and we didnt teach her about fasting....she learned it from church! I love how the ready and willing people are willing to do anything to know the truth. truly amazing.

We taught M. again and she told us she likes how we arent pushy with her about the gospel. We continue to meet with her and hope she will commit to baptism soon. She gave us cake and cookies and told us that they didnt have milk....um ya they had milk in them....so guess who was sick the next day? Yep. me. I recieved a blessing from a member in the ward. The spirit was so strong and I felt so grateful for the priesthood. I had to stay home, drink this nasty cha boldo tea, and rest. It was awful. I dont know why, but the milk here I seriously cannot eat or else I get wayyy sick. I am so much better now though. I just cant eat anything with milk for the rest of my mission and make sure the people know.

Sister G. was sick one day, so Sister V. came in a trio with us. It was so much fun. But then my companion got the same sickness, then Sister V. got the same sickness, and then I got the same sickness!!! Ahh it was crazy! but we are all better now. Blessings of serving in Brazil ;)

We had so many wonderful lessons this week. The spirit is so amazing. I wish I could tell all that happens in the week, but it's not possible. This is seriously the most amazing time to be a missionary. I have been thinking so much about everything in my life that has led up to this moment and I cannot deny that Heavenly Father has a part in every moment. He literally prepares his children for what he wants them to be. I was born to be a missionary. I have never been happier in my entire life. I feel so immensly blessed to be serving my máster here in Brazil. I know that the spirit is real and that the priesthood is literally power given to us from God. I know my Savior lives!! Continue to attend the temple, pray, and read your scriptures. I love you all!!! tchao :) Sister Porter                                                 

Investigators home....and I love her dog

 Lunch with my cute friend

THE OTHER SIDE OF EARTH ~ 

IT'S THE BEST!

Oi minha família!

First off, can I just say that I am in love with Brazil? Seriously, this is the best mission ever. The best culture ever, and the best people ever. Everything here is so diferente (seriously, I am on the other side of planet Earth), but is so wonderful. The people here are so loving and are truly special to me.

This week was full of miracles and hard times.

Bad:

-Thursday was a Holiday. No one wanted to listen to us and everyone had something going on. Horrible.

-J. and M.are investigators. We visited them and M's mom was there. She is an inactive member and basically hates the church. She bashed on our beliefs and told us she found the truth in her new Faith, the Evantista church....haha One day she will see

-Fights in the streets and scary people

-Our investigator is constantly drunk when we go to visit him. it is heartbreaking

 Good:

-We taught a strong Catholic about the Restoration and Book of Mórmon. My Portuguese was better than normal, it was amazing. She testified of the gift of tongues and told us that she could feel the spirit when I spoke....um crazy! Miracle.

-J. - Amazing lessons, said she will be baptized, she is continuing to pray and attend church. We are hoping she will be baptized soon.  Just waiting on an answer from God. She made me bread without milk and gave me a dress from Spain. She is like a mom to me.

-Wednesday~ My companion was not feeling well and we were asked to speak at a baptism about the Restoration. I literally taught the whole Restoration to a crowd of people.  Words just flowed out of my mouth and the spirit was so strong. I was so amazed at how much I could say. I was freaking out with my Portuguese, but Heavenly Father is Always helping me. So many ward members came up to me and told me they were touched and were emotional. I couldn't believe it, with the spirit all things are possible.

-S.- we had so many amazing lessons with her, but this week was diferente. I asked her a question that the spirit placed in my mind and we found her doubts. I am starting to recognize how the spirit is speaking to me in Portuguese. It is an amazing feeling. I testified to her of the power in the Book of Mórmon, how much the gospel means to me, and why we are here as missionaries to help her. The spirit was so strong. She asked my age and was so shocked. She told my companion, "Wow, she suffers a lot doesn't she". Yes, yes I do! This language, this mission, this everything is not easy haha. but people see how much of my heart, strength, and soul go into helping them understand our message. It was an amazing experience.

I couldnt feel more grateful for this time in my life. I feel my Saviors love during the hard times and the good. Last night I had a special experience. I literally could feel my Savior right beside me. And I cannot deny it. It was such a calm, peaceful presence. He is REAL. he is Always with us. Even when we don't see Him. I know that this is His work, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it. I love you all!!! tchao :)

Sister Porter

Sister G. & I in a skirt that an investigator gave my companion hahahaha

The little primary kids write notes for us during church. I am "Sister Potter". haha Everyone loves Harry Potter

We forgot umbrelas and got SOAKED one day. Literally. I had to change my clothes completely

Lunch at the G. home with our favorite girl C. :)

Zone conference with my favorite sisters

Sister G. (Northern Brazil) and Sister V.(Salta, Argentina)