Week 46 (No Other One...=w=)

Hi there!
Wow, well just a few weeks before Conference! I am VERY excited for that! I didn't get to write much last week and I apologize. I am in transfer #4 in Maricopa and defying the odds. Hehe, not really. It is just that all of the members that I was going. Elder Villlasenor went off to my old area of Queen Creek to join Elder Ries who came out with me. I was talking to Elder Ries and it sounds like the new members there are doing great. My new companion hails from Florida. His name is Elder Bradshaw. He is a very kind, very pure young missionary. He has very sincere desires to serve the Lord and develop his abilities in Spanish. Miracles are already coming about this transfer. On Sunday, we started teaching someone named Paloma, and yesterday, she committed to be baptized. I am excited to see what the next 4 1/2 weeks bring. Some other exciting stuff is that a lot of our good missionary-minded members are coming back from their vacations. It will be exciting to see what friends they can introduce to the gospel! All in all, things are looking great for this transfer. Tomorrow is Zone Conference and friday I get to have one of my good friends Elder Lee join us for the evening. I am excited. Next week will be the Temple so there are just great things in store. I hope all of you are doing well, and stretching yourselves to be what Heavenly Father has planned for you. Make space and priorities for Him in your life and you will be forever blessed. Thanks so much for all of your love and support! Until next week!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 45

Hey, no time to talk! gotta go! i'm in Maricopa again. I have a new companion. I'll say more later. Bye!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 44 (Boys of Summer)

Hello!
Well, I do not have much time today because the internet has been a little slower than usual, BUT I would quickly like to say hi! Last week we had a Baptism in Ajo! It was really a great moment in Cedar's life. This week we will be having a baptism in Maricopa for Monica. She will be getting baptized this weekend and her Mother should be following soon after. I am so excited for them because they are very ready. Next week are transfers, so I will be finding out if my stay here continues on to 6 months or if I move on to a new place. The work moves on always. One thing that I have learned is how the Lord can bless you precisely when he chooses. It is humbling to see that you have no control as to what goes on. All you can do is give all that you've got and pray that things happen. And they will, but on His time. I am grateful to be a servant of the Lord. When I sit back and think about that fact that I give all day, every day, to him, I find myself being happy and content because I know there is nothing better. I am so grateful to be able to give this time to my Heavenly Father and Savior. I hope that all is well with each of you and that you are always putting the right things in priority. Put Him first, and the rest follows. Take Care!!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 43 (It's Obvious...Circa)

Hello from Maricopa! Just 2 weeks until transfers and 1 and a half weeks until I find out what happens to me! It is funny how fast time goes. This transfer has FLOWN by! Hehe. Lots of exciting things are happening. This Friday we will be having a baptism for a wonderful person named Cedar. He lives in Ajo and he is very ready! We have had a lot of wonderful help from our Stake President and the Ward Mission Leader. I love seeing members in action. Every time it leaves me more and more resolved to be the same when I get home. What greater joy than helping bring souls unto Jesus Christ. I finished the Book of Mormon last Thursday which was great for me. I read slowly but I love every minute of it. My thirst for the scriptures grows daily. For that, I am grateful for Personal Study time in the morning. Elder Holland says that if we want to know what kind of day we will have...just look at what happens from 7-10 a.m. These moments are so crucial to prepare us spiritually for the day. I know that it can be the same in our every-day lives. We need to find a time for us that works in which we can give time to satisfy our spiritual needs. President Craig talked not too long ago about recharging ourselves Spiritually, Physically, Mentally and Emotionally. I know that these needs are very real and we cannot neglect any one of them. I am grateful for inspired leaders that are here to help me grow. They truly speak what I need to hear to be able to continue forward, building the Kingdom of God. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love this gospel and all of you for your support. Take care of yourself in all of these aspects so that you can become what your Heavenly Father knows you can be. Until next week!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 42 (Hold On, There's a Hole In My Heart... Format)

Hi!
Well, another good week in Maricopa! It seems like our continual efforts to reap and sew are paying off. Two people have committed themselves to better their lives and be baptized. I am thrilled that the Lord has privilaged me to be able to see this moment of success. Also, the branch has been getting stronger too. Families that have not been able to come as often are being blessed with the time and opportunity to come. They are feeling joy and the blessings that come from keeping their covenants that they have made with Heavenly Father. We went to the Temple today. It was SO great! I was looking forward to it more than usual. I met two Elders from the Phoenix Mission that knew Sister Eustice, so I told them to tell her hi. Tomorrow we get to have interviews with President Craig which I am also very excited for. A lot of things will be happening these last few weeks of the transfer and I am jazzed. Our areas, our districts and our zone are being greatly blessed. I love this work and the way that the Lord so mercifully and lovingly rewards us for our diligent faithful efforts. I have no doubt that this is His work. I hope each of you take the time to share the testimony that you have with someone else. Take care and thanks so much for all of your love and support!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 41 (Don't Know Why I Didn't Come... N.j.)

HeLLo! Hehe, I think that I start all of my e-mails with that. I am not sure though. I guess I like the phrase. Speaking of phrases, I am really messing those up now-a-days. I mix-match them or just completely butcher them. Hehe, it is kind of funny. Kind of not. Hehe. Anyways, another week has gone by and temperatures are suprisingly cool right now. But I heard that it was just for a few days. One of our investigators, Juan Carlos will be getting baptized this weekend. He has been a LONG time in coming, going through lots of missionaries. He just popped up on the radar as of late and decided that it was something he was ready for. Also, I think that I forgot to mention the baptism of a sweet 10 year-old girl named Salma. She was baptized on her birthday and she is from the Gila Bend Branch. She was a joy to teach. When we asked her to read and pray, the answer that she got from her Heavenly Father was direct and clear. With the help of faithful church leaders I know that she will be able to achieve all that her Heavenly Father has planned for her. Today I will be talking about Hermano Banuelos. He is the Elder's Quorum President and is a faithful servant in the Lord's Kingdom. He is nearing his 70's but always willing to help. His diabetes keeps him pretty limited in what he eats, but he sneaks a few things here and there. We ask him for rides from time to time, but always there is a risk involved. In Arizona, the sun shines. And it is bright. So, Hno. Banuelos wears his sun glasses so as to not be blinded by the light. As a result, he still has trouble seeing a few other necessary things such as street lights and what not because he is without his glasses. Haha. The first time we learned this, it was a great surprise as he did a U-turn in front of one of the very rare no U-turn signs (not sarcasm) and then turned a left onto the freeway on-ramp when the protected left arrow was red. To say the least, we were grateful to arrive home safely. I love Hno. Banuelos for his dedicated service in always wanting to help us in whatever he can. He is a professional Mariachi singer with his own CD's and he still keeps a good sense of humor. I met him my first day here and have been grateful ever since. School is back in for Maricopa and I am sure that it is starting for many of you. Best of luck and never forget the blessing that it is to learn a little more of what our Heavenly Father has to teach us. Take care and best of luck this next week!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 40 (You're My Best Friend...qu)

Hello!
Hehe, well another week gone by! This week was definitely less occupied with monsoons like other weeks have been. Temperatures are still high, but I like it. Water has never had so much beauty. I do not have much time this week, but I will quickly tell of a cute couple in my branch. The Schellenburg's. I do not know why they have that last name because they are definitely Mexican, but that is alright. A phrase to describe them would be Brady Bunch. Brother Schellenburg brings 8 children from a previous marriage and Sister Schellenburg, 4. They feed us every tuesday and are very fun to be around. They are always acting like little children around one another. It is fun to see. It was at the Schellenburg house that I called home for Mother's Day. Brother Schellenburg likes to tease his wife and she reacts very quickly. They were made for each other. They are always willing to help and have a great love for their Heavenly Father and Savior. Meeting so many people and seeing their dedication to the Lord and to our Heavenly Father strengthens my testimony and increases my gratitude daily. With firm testimonies planted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this work will go forth as Joseph Smith said, "Boldly, nobly and independent..." The Lord's hand is in our lives each day. We just have to ask for it, and then recognize it. I love this work and I love my life. Until next week!

-Elder LaPorte =)