Week 65 (Stop This Train... J.M.)

Hi there! What a craaZy week! Hehe, first off, days go by ridiculously fast. I clearly remember exactly what I did LASt Wed. because it seems like yesterday. Nowadays, the only time when it seems to go slow is when there is a change like a transfer. And slow is not even in comparrison to what it used to be. Slow is still WAY FAST!! Too fast. It kind've gives me a little bit of an insight into what life will be like and how important it is to savour every moment. One of the things that I am really grateful for is the fact that I have kept a journal. Because of the fact that what happened yesterday feels like what happened 2 months ago and a year ago, I am glad that I have a journal to go back to so that I can see what made each day special. Daily and thoughtful writing will result in memories forever charished and thus be efforts never regretted. I know that the Lord is shaping me. Trying to make me something better. A close companionship with the Spirit is the key to becoming what we need to. Sometimes it takes time. A process of assessing feelings and then the possibilities of what they might mean. The Lord wants us to search, and to do so with faith and diligence. It is not known how long until desired answers are had, but simply that in doing so we learn to more fully depend on him. I know the Lord loves me. I know that he will never abandon me. I am grateful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost to help me understand the feelings in my heart and the Lord's will for me. I know that it is something for all of us to have. Seek it and use it. Thank you for all of your support!

-Elder LaPorte =)

p.s. a quick recap of this last week...we had some crazy snow storms this past week that have been coming to us from So. CAl. it was way fun. It made it even more adventurous because until MOnday, we had a HUGE 3-way crack that spanned the whole windshield. Haha, that was a constant item in our prayers as we attempted to work in the slush and snow. We were supposed to get it repaired last week, but they didn't have the necessary parts. Haha, anyways, all is well. ByE!

Week 64 (Semi-Charmed... T.E.B.)

Hi all! I only have a quick moment this week, so here is some info about where I am now. My companion's name is Elder Knhaphus. (pronounced ka-nap-us) He is from Holiday, UT a suburb of SAlt Lake. He has been out 20 months. he's way nice. my guess is that i will either be here for 6 months to send him home and pass off the area to another guy, or I'll go down in 3 months to take a spot in Mesa. It is the only place where there will be a spanish opening for me. We live in a guest house of the stake Patriarch by a lil pond. We cover 4 wards and drive a mini-van. We go to the Snowflake temple up here and our Zone covers from clay springs to ST.Johns/Eager. Every lunch I get a free meal except for Sundays and Tuesdays. MOnday is Papa John's wednesday, quiznos, thursday is a ward mission leader named brother Tryon (pronounced try on this shirt), friday a local restaurant called grumpy jake's, saturday is dairy queen. So ya, that with a mixture of meals every night from members, i'm gonna have to watch myself. hehe. It is weird doing english work but there are a lot of good people here and I am excited to serve in this area at this time. I love all of you! I'll write more later! We have a baptism of a cool girl named Chastity this saturday. Bye!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 62 (So This Is the New Year... DcfC)

Hey! Happy New Year! I hope it was full of great love and hope for things to come. Surprisingly, on New Years and Christmas we were still expected to stay out until the normal 9 o'clock. While riding our bikes around 8:30 New Years Eve, we happened to contact someone on the street who turned out to be a referral that we were looking for. They turned out to be a family of 5. We stopped in for a quick visit and set up a time to come back. The Lord has been blessing us with situations like this lately. A lot of people that are solid and dedicated to knowing the truth are coming into our paths. I am really excited for what the next transfer holds for whoever stays. This new year is a great time to grow and improve and rededicate ourselves Spiritually, Mentally and Physically. It is always possible to improve and progress through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If we center our hope and our focus in Him, joy and progress will be had on all other fronts. I love this work. I love to work. And I love this precious time to serve. Thanks for all of the love and support!

-Elder LaPorte =)