Letter yes! (Week 35) — Called to Serve in Cuiaba

Hey you guys I am actually like so freaking stoked this week it was one of the best weeks ever. I am sorry about my recent letters I know they were a little bit lame I was just kind of emotionally charbroiled. But I’m back homies!

So I am not even going to lie I am one of the happiest, if not THE happiest missionary in all of the lands. I don’t know if you guys have heard yet but my mom, yes, the reddest of heads, and the loveliest of Lynda’s sent me a package, and inside this specific package I discovered Chick-fil-A sauce. Upon the sight of such celestial nectar my companion and I decided we need to buy some form of chicken. As we entered the super market we found chicken nuggets, and then scurried back home to stimulate our taste buds. I have never been so influenced by a sauce in my entire life. After the first 27 nuggets ran out, we decided we must go back and buy more, so we went back and bought roughly 8 more boxes of chicken nuggets. I would like to dedicate this email to the most special lady in my life, my mom. Mother I love you very much, and not only because you send me sauce. <3

With all the sauce festivities and taste buds becoming taste buddies, we also were able to do some missionary work. Tiago’s baptism didn’t work out this week because he was not able to find time off of work, but we were able to have a super special lesson with him on Thursday. He and I talked a lot and he just told me how much he has noticed that, even though his life is so much more difficult and he has so many more things stressing him out, he feels like he has more love in his family. He feels like he has more peace and comfort in his life and he feels like he is just happier. He then went on to tell us how grateful he is for our work and how much he admires what we do. He starts talking to me directly and just goes, "you have no idea the influence that you are making for good in the lives of people. I know it is hard for you guys to see the outcome and the benefit in people’s lives because you are always moving, but I want to tell you that I notice the difference." I was so touched by his words and it really helped me truly realize why I’m out here. It’s super cool to have baptisms and all that jim jam, but to see the changes and the little joys that this gospel brings into people’s lives is really why I’m out here. Helping them encounter lasting love in something that has true structure and base, even the gospel of Jesus Christ, is what just warms my little heart. I love this gospel so much and I am so grateful for people like Tiago that teach me more than I could ever teach them. It is really interesting for me to see that the more I immerse myself in this gospel and focus on others, the more I see myself being taught and blessed by the Savior through those same people. It’s the most beautifully and perfectly organized thing in the world. I love this gospel and I love being a missionary of Jesus. Nothing is better than that. I also gave Tiago a Chick-fil-A sauce packet hahaha.

One of the raddest things happened this week... Elder Stevenson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to visit our mission and gave a devotional to us. The sweet spirit that he brought really touched my heart, and I knew in that moment that we have modern day Apostles and a living Prophet. Even though we only got to watch the devotional through the TV I felt incredibly grateful for all that he told us. The thing that struck me most that I would like to share with you guys is this… Elder Stevenson told us we MUST STAY EXCITED and HAPPY in our lives, because when we become discouraged our faith weakens. He literally used those exact words. An Apostle of Jesus Christ. Dude, that is freaking crazy. In our difficulties we are not meant to feel discouraged and sad all the time, God isn’t planning your difficulties to discourage you and weaken your faith and make you feel like a deuce, in fact He plans quite the opposite. He gave his Only Begotten and Perfect Son to this MESSED UP world to take upon Himself all of our pains and afflictions. He has planned for you to have a perfect Counselor and a perfect friend in your hard times, and I promise you as a missionary of the only true and living gospel on this earth that Jesus Christ will comfort you, will love you, and will help you to KNOW that everything will be okay. I beg you to come to Him.

Along with that I would just like to close with my testimony. Guys, this week I have felt my Savior’s influence incredibly strongly. I just want to tell you guys that I know that He lives. That He loves you… you in specific. You! That he literally felt physically what you feel. It’s not a freaking imaginary thing... it’s incredibly REAL. He knows exactly how you feel. Jesus Christ is our literal older brother, and He loves you. I know that my Savior lives.

I love you guys so much <3

Elder Porter

I caught a lizard and named it Carlton and he stayed on my shirt for 15 minutes studying with me.