Heartbreak and Obedience

So this week was pretty crazy. A lot of stuff has happened in this sector. 

So on Tuesday we got a visit from the Assistants. Elders Heno and Pou were transferred to Papeete 1. They replaced the Sisters that were there and now Elder Heno is the director of the visitors center at the temple. He's the First elder to be in charge of it. So now its only Elder Isabell and I here in the ward. This week will be spent contacting all the investigators of the other elders.

 3 crazy things happenned this week (some good and some heartbreaking) I'll go through all of them. 

SO on Thursday, we were at Taaroa and Berties (our investigators) house doing a lesson with one of their neighbors. There was this lady, from Morris Island, who was there and was leaving to return home. She had stayed 3 years in Tahiti and the neighborhood was throwing a party for her. She came and sat by us while were talking to Taaroa and Bertie's neighbor, And all of a sudden she exploded. She was telling us how we try to sell bibles and take from the poor and how we preach but we don't bring food or money for the investigators. For about half an hour she ranted about why God doesn't exist and why we are wrong. It was quite interesting. We tried reasoning with her but it was impossible because as it turns out she was "taero roa" which means super super drunk! Pretty much everyone heard her and we had no idea how to stop her. Eventually she stopped and left. We decided to finish the lesson, but I wanted to try and bring the spirit back if possible. I decided to sing a song before leaving. So together we all sung, and Loudly too I might add, " I am a Child of God". She almost lost it again but luckily someone stopped her. 

We have 2 investigators named Taaroa and Bertie. I've talked about this couple a lot! They have been going so strong. We've been waiting for a birth certificate so they can get married but something happened yesterday. I got a call around 7 from Taaroa telling me he wasn't coming to church. Then about 30 minutes later he called me again and told me that He and Bertie had had a huge argument and that they are no longer together. He then told me to cancel the marriage and the baptisms. I was stunned. I had no idea what had happened. I told our Bishop and he told me to go visit them after church. All through church I was worried about them. After church We stop at their house to check up on them. We discover that Taaroa took all his things and left...like completely. Bertie was really sad. We tried comforting her and she told us that she hasn't lost her faith in the Savior and that she is going to be baptized alone if she has too. I was really proud of her. We are hoping to maybe talk to Taaroa this week but he has completely disappeared. We're praying we can find him. I know that Satan will do everything in his power to prevent God's children from moving forward. Satan doesn't want us to change our hearts and lives. He doesn't want us to be happy. And he especially doesn't want us to get baptized. Please pray for Taaroa and Bertie.

So something positive that happened was with the Moux family. They have been taught for about 10 months now. I've talked about them a lot too. They're the ones who have a son on a mission, but they're not members. They both have a testimony but they want to wait to get married on april 6 and no one can convince the husband otherwise (remember how I told you that Tahitians have this strong belief in "special dates"? April 6th is their sons bday and they think it'll be more special if they wait to get married and baptized on that date)!!! SO thursday we went over there and we talked for a bit. While we were talking to them I got a call from the stake President. He wanted to join us. The Moux's said yes so the stake president drove over. We started talking about marriage and I had an idea about what I should say. I prayed for guidance and started talking. I don't think I've ever born a more sincere or powerful testimony. I told them that being obedient is good, but it isn't effective if our intent behind our obedience is wrong. I told them that by waiting to be baptized on April 6th, they're showing that they want to obey, but on their terms. God doesn't want our obedience if He doesn't have our hearts. And I told them that by choosing to be baptized now, they'll be showing their love and appreciation for the gift of the Atonement and Jesus Christ. The Spirit was really strong and they agreed to be baptized and married on the 10th of November! I was so happy!! And The ward was super happy too!!

Anyways thats about It!!! I love you all!! Have a good week!!!!

Love,

Elder Porter

Pictures from our pday to the island of Moorea

View from the ferry of us pulling out of the Harbor.

Heading towards Moorea.

Me and Elder Isabell on the ferry, heading towards Moorea.

Our district heading towards Moorea.

Our Zone, with the mountain of Moorea in the background.

Scenic view of Moorea.

Pic of the water bungalows in Moorea! Have I mentioned I live in PARADISE?!?!?!

Birthday party and interviews

I don't have a lot of time because Elder Isabell and my zone are taking a ferry over to the island of Moorea today for P-day, but I'll give a quick rundown of the week.



Tuesday: we had zone conference with Elder Haleck of the seventy. I also got to have a personal interview with him. It was great.
Wednesday: We had a lot of lessons and there was a big FHE that night and we found a lot of new investigators.
Thursday: We worked really hard, so hard in fact that Elder Isabell got sick.
Also a miracle happened in our lesson with the Moux family. The father did a trust fall  exercise, with my old comp Elder Heno,  and when he did he felt as if someone held him as he fell, he said he floated down and he felt the spirit very strongly.
Friday was cool: Elder Isabell was bed ridden so Elder Heno and I did a split. Then we had movie night at the chapel where we watched "Meet the Mormons".
Saturday: I turned 20 years old! There was a big sporting activity that we couldnt go to. I was pretty much home the entire day. Then the other elders bought me a super good cake for my birthday (after they had trapped me in my room and slapped shaving cream on my face and chest), good times. After the cake we went to a bday party for me, thrown by our two investigators, Taaroa and Bertie. There were balloons and everything. I got the biggest flower necklace I've ever seen. Then we ate really good food, they sang, and I blew out the candles on another birthday cake. Then they gave me a tahitian skirt and a candle for presents. It was awesome!!!!

That's about it. I love you all. Have a great week.

Love, Elder Porter

Me and Elder Heno at my bday party!

Me and our investigator, Bertie.

20 years old!

Hey everyone! Hows it goin!! So this week was pretty cool. We worked really hard this week and we saw it all pay off. We have two investigators that are going to finally get baptized in 2 or 3 weeks. We also found a couple new investigators who are super interested in the gospel. 

We did a service project last week helping a non member family build a house. We spent most of the 4 hours tearing down the old roof and taking nails out of old wood boards. Elder Isabell definitely got a mysterious cut so we're hoping it doesn't get infected with tetanus. The project was really cool and we all got a pretty nice tan out of it. 

This weekend was also stake conference. We had a couple investigators come and they really felt the Spirit. The Moux couple, who are investigators,  were invited to eat with the stake president and also the area seventy who presided at the meeting. That was a very special experience for them. 

I had an experience the other day where I acted completely unlike myself. Most people who know me know that I'm sometimes shy and I don't really like accepting help from strangers or making someone go out of their to help me. However, the other day elder Isabell and I were walking to the hospital because Elder Isabell hadn't got his bike yet. A man drove up in a car and asked us if we were going far. The hospital is only like a 5 min walk so normally I would have said no,but thanks anyways, however,  something pushed me to accept the offer. We got in his car and we talked for bit. He was really nice and we exchanged numbers so I'm hoping it turns out to be a cool reference. And an example for me to always follow the promptings of the spirit, even if it takes me out of my comfort zone.

Anyways, I'm turning 20 this Saturday which seems crazy to me (and my mom)! Time has gone by so fast. I will no longer be in my teens!!  I'm very grateful for the chance I have to serve here in Tahiti. Its been an awesome first year and I hope the second is even better. I love you all!!! have a great week!!!

Love,
Elder Porter

Pictures:
1. View at Venus Beach (right outside our zone)
2. This is Elder Bonet...a zone leader of Mahina...and one of my favorite elders here...with a very old lighthouse in the background
3. Me and Elder Isabell chilling on pday...

4. We were at a members house and he had this training mask so we all tried it on...it makes me look like Bane!!

Conference

Hey everybody! So this week was awesome. I have a son! His name is Elder Isabell and he's from Arkansas. He's brand new. I get to be his first companion. He's awesome. This week was slow, lesson wise, due to the area being split, getting a brand new elder, and conference. We had two investigators finish reading the Book of Mormon. It's crazy. They understand it so well. 

I highly enjoyed General Conference! It was awesome. Of course I loved Elder Hollands talk about mothers. That talk made just about every Elder cry. To my mom I'd like to say....

you are the best mother ever. I love you so much! You are the best example for me and I always want to make you proud!

I also liked the talk by Larry R Lawrence about "What lack I yet?". That talk really touched me. I also liked the invitation to Ponderize. I think this is such a cool idea. Me and my parents and the rest of my family are going to start doing this. They already chose their scripture verses for the week.

My investigators that were suppose to get baptized on Friday couldn't, due to administrative issues. It was hard and sad, but it'll all work out I'm sure.

I don't have too much to say but just know that I love you all and I'm grateful for all the support and prayers I receive. Have a good week!!!

I didn't have access to a computer today. I'm using someone's phone to email right now so I can't send any pics. 

Love,

Elder Porter