Week 81 (You Know Me... The FormAt)

Hey all! I just wanted to write quickly about faith. The more I'm out here the more I understand why faith is the first principle and ordinance of the gospel. As it says in Ether, we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith. Sometimes I think that in having faith we let it pitter out a little too soon. A trial comes, we see it through, hoping for the answer to follow, and then it doesn't. And we figure that it wasn't meant to be, or it wasn't meant to happen. When instead I think many times, it is just a greater trial than we understood. The Lord was just expecting us to hold out a little longer and have hope a little brighter. The Lord will always follow through with His promises. It is not for us to decide when or how He will keep us word but to just believe and wait, all the while doing our part to make it happen. This week will be fun, we get to go to a Sealing of a family from Tempe that I got to know and that Elder Ries baptized. They are way neat. Lots of people are popping up that are looking for the truth and it is exciting. Even though I have a car, I love riding my bike, especially in the city. There are tons of people to talk to and tons of smells of food from the restaurants. I love how our senses take us back to such specific moments. Last Sunday we got to see the Temple Dedication of the Gila Valley Temple. It is very pretty. I look forward to the progression of the Gilbert and Phoenix Temples as well. Take care! Thanks for your letters of support!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 80 (Oh, Think Twice... Copeland)

Good Afternoon! Today I find myself in the Mesa Community Library because The MCC (Mesa Community College) where we normally go is closed until May 31st. This will be transfer 2 in Mesa Arizona and it will be a short one. Do to the coming in of the new President, this transfer is cut to 5 weeks. Everything will happen, just a little faster. Due to my tardiness in e-mailing, you might see that there was a transfer in my companionship. Elder Stroh, for his last transfer, went to Maricopa to be a District Leader there. He was torn. Happy to go but sad to leave. My new companion is Elder Ries. He is from Boise on the Meridian edge. If you remember from a long time ago, he was one of the four missionaries in my MTC room. He was companions with Elder Nielsen while I was companions with Elder Scott. He has been lots of places doing lots of good things so it will be exciting to serve with him. The branch here is really close and so it was hard for them to see him go. Speaking of which, I don't think I mentioned this last week, but the branch on Sunday was changed to a ward. Our former branch mission leader was called to be the Bishop. His name is Bishop Merino from El Salvador. There is a lot more diversity in this ward than in other areas that I have served. Perhaps the one to equal it would be Queen Creek. This next transfer there will be a lot of work to do. The biggest task will be finding. We need lots of new people to teach. I am excited to be able to put my faith in the Lord as we work and He provides a way. Faith and a positive outlook are keys to making this work move along; as well as anything in life. You have to believe things are going to happen and work like it too. I know that the Lord will always bless us as we strive our best for what is right. It may be hard, and even sometimes unappealing, but our love for the Lord and our Heavenly Father can pull us through. 100% of the time. Take care and good luck with finals or whatever else you have to do! This weekend we will be watching the dedication of the Gila Valley Temple! Bye!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 79 (Try Again... Keane)

Every 6 Weeks in missions around the world there is a certain that comes to all known as transfers. To some it may mean another 6 weeks stay in the same place to see what more they can do, for others it may mean new places, new people and new challenges and for all it means another chance that we have to give our all to the Lord as we seek to fulfill our purpose by bringing others unto Christ; another chance to try again. As time has gone by, I have been thinking more and more of how central the Atonement of Jesus Christ is in our lives. I have always known it, but I have been able to see more and more, why. The more I look for it the more I see a need for a chance to try again. Jesus Christ offers us that chance daily as we simply turn to the Lord in humble prayer, ask forgiveness, resolving to be better and stronger than before. Then, on Sunday we partake of the sacrament worthily to renew our baptismal covenants with our Father in Heaven and determine to endure to the end. This cleansing and refreshing of our efforts to do good is not something that should be delayed, nor sporadic; but daily and sincerely done. Waiting to let the Atonement work in our lives is like waiting to relieve the weight of sin. If put off too long, we break, unable to handle the burden of a price already paid. Our Savior took that burden upon Himself so that we might not have to do it alone. As we go unto Him, it is promised that He will make our burdens light. Daily use of this gift leaves our spirits feeling light, full of joy and happy. I have felt this power work in my life. I know it is real. I pray that each of us can work to better understand how this gift plays such a crucial role in our daily lives. Take care and enjoy the weather!

-Elder LaPorte =)

p.s. This last Sunday Blanca and her son, Anthony were baptized and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a wonderful experience for all present. She is from Guatemala which is pretty cool. We have a few people that plan on being baptized this weekend along with a Mother's Day breakfast, A Temple Sealing and a wedding of one of the people being baptized. It will be a busy and exciting Saturday ;)

Week 78 (Here's To the Crazy Ones... @pple)

Well hello to all! Here I am reporting for week 5 of my stay here in MEsa, AZ. So far, so good. Things are looking really up for the end of this transfer. It is quite amazing to see how many hearts are ready here and how quickly they come. The Lord is preparing His children to receive the gospel. This 6 week period is looking to be the best that we have had yet. The month of May is looking to be the same. Earlier today we went to the temple. I was grateful that I was able to go there and try and understand some things that the Lord has in store for me if I do what is right. Tomorrow we get to have interviews with President Craig. It is kind of bitter-sweet as I contemplate the reality that he will be going soon. This will be one of two more interviews that I have with that man. I have grown to love him and appreciate all that he has taught me as a missionary but more-so, as a son of God. His wisdom is great, and his love and devotion to the Lord and others is greater. I plan to welcome with whole heart the new Mission President that comes along, I just don't know what it will be like. The longer that I am out here, the more the Spirit tells me more precisely what it is that I need to do and become before I get home. The hardest thing to do, but the greatest thing to work for is a heart completely devoted to the Lord. A heart that looks past personal needs and seeks always first, the spiritual priorities of God. I am still working on it, and always will be, but I know that I will never regret it. In my efforts to do so out here on this mission, I have learned more of myself, and more of my Heavenly Father and Savior than I ever thought possible. I will forever be grateful for the blessing that it is to know the Lord as we serve Him. It is a relationship that I can develop all my life. I have no doubt that God is real and that He is mindful of us. I know that He has created this world so that happiness would come through pure obedience to His laws. I know that Jesus Christ gave His life for those moments when we fall short of what God asks of us. I know that we can live with Them again. I am excited to know it even better, and hope that all of you experience the same. Prayer, scripture study and going to church; simple, but key. ByE! Happy Mothers day to all, present and future!

-Elder LaPorte =)

p.s. Happy Birthday to Mr. & Mrs. Barnes on the 7th and 8th =D