Week 34 (I'm gonna send a little rain your way...)

Hello!
Well, another week gone by in Maricopa. I do not know if I mentioned it, but I am typing from the new Library. They opened it about 2 and a half weeks ago. Before it was in a double-wide trailer. It is nicely air-conditioned here. We are going to toast when we go back outside. haha. Anyways, this week has been good! There always seem to be blessings that come from the beginning of transfers. People that I had never met once last transfer, opened their doors. We have been able to find out a lot more about a lot of people. The success is still in the premature stages but it will come. The branches that we cover need a lot of help and motivation. That is one of the focuses that we have. It kind of goes back to a story in The Book of Mormon that I read where Moroni and Helaman were trying hard to protect the Nephite borders from the Lamanites but they were not having much support. Moroni writes to Pahoran, the chief judge, asking him to do something about the lack of help, or else Moroni would march to the heart of the land and do it himself. Moroni shows us here that before we can properly defend ourselves from the attacks from without, we need to fortify ourselves within and make sure that we are strong and prepared. Reading scriptures, praying and going to church will help us fortify ourselves so that we might be ready for what comes from without. I love this work. I love what we can become in this life when we put our trust and faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Have a great week and Happy Belated Father's Day to all!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 33 (You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere...)

Hello Maricopa!
Hehe, I'm here for round two and glad to do it. My companion, Elder Maldonado was transferred to Queen Creek. Now I am serving with Elder Villa-Senor. He is from Texas and is a native spanish speaker. I have been blessed with those. There is a lot of work to be done in these little branches and I am excited to do it. I don't have much time, but just remember the worth and potential that each of us have to be great. Repentance is the key to progression. We need to seek forgiveness and also remember to give it; to others and ourselves. The Lord is leading this work and my love grows for my Savior every day. Until next week!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 32 (Friendly Plug...)

Dear Single Friends,
I am pleased to announce the faithful and valiant return of Elder Peter Hillyard. He has honorably and diligently given two years in the service of the Lord. He know returns a new MAN with character and tact. He has great qualities:
Funny
Handsome
Well-mannered
Tidy
Smart
Single
Returned Missionary
and Single
I recommend him with pleasure. If you wish to contact him, his address is as follows:
(I will give you the address next week. i forgot his card @ home. thanks!)

Sincerely,
-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 31 (You're like Jordans on a Saturday...)

HEy there! Well, what an eventful week it has been! Last Thursday, I was able to meet with my mission president, President Craig. That was really nice to be able to talk to him and learn from him. On Saturday in the morning we got to go meet Elder Richard G. Scott in Gilbert. What a special opportunity that was. I can't really describe it, it was just great. He bore a very powerful testimony and gave us tons of great advice. I admire him for his love for the Lord and His work. Later that day, I got to go back to Queen Creek for the Baptism of 4 investigators that I taught and I got to baptize one of them. It was Lorena and Carlos, Gustavo and his daughter Madelina. I baptized Madelina. Hopefully Gustavo's wife follows soon. It was a suprise to all of us that I was able to make it. I was so grateful for the chance that I had. Today I got to go to the Temple and I loved it as always. I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to see people's lives' change and become happier. I love this work and I love the Lord. Keep being true to what you know is right and thanks for the support!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 30 (No One... A.K.)

Whew! Well another week gone bye and it feels like I just started the last one. This transfer is half way over and I feel like it just began. I guess that's a good thing. It will be interesting to see what will happen to all of my friends out here next transfer because more than half of our Zone Leaders and one of our Assistants will be going home this transfer. There will be big changes. Big changes are already happening here in the Arizona Tempe Mission. The work is going forward in a way that it never has before here in Arizona. The people are prepared are ready for the truth. I think that the economic slump has played a big part of it. Arizona, or atleast in our area of Arizona, has been hit pretty hard by it. The members are always excited to help and very dedicated to moving the work along. Our little branch is doing well. The members are very kind and do what they can to help as well. Their faith is strong and their love for the Gospel, pure. I get the chance to ride my bike here a lot which I like. We get to talk more people and get more exercise. As mentioned last week, the Wal-Mart has been very exciting. We are going after this. Tomorrow we will have interviews with President Craig. I'm looking forward to it. Some days here it is hard to feel like you are doing much good, but I know that as we give it our all each day, the Lord uses our efforts to make something good happen. I love this work and the chance that I have to show my love to my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope all of you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend! I know the people here did! Hehe. ByE!

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 29 (Lying awake at night, a-all night...)

Welcome Wal-Mart Superstore! Today in the town of Maricopa, we had the Grand-opening of Super Wal-Mart. Everyone has been waiting anxiously for this day which would mean the end of the "Fry's Market" and "Basha's" tyranny. We can now shop in peace, having low prices for all. The high school band attended the grand opening to help arouse the festivities. I, personally, am very excited as well. In other news, the weather has been strangely cloudy/ drizzly as of late, leaving us with some slightly humid days. (Keep in mind, it's all relative. This place normally has near 0 humidity.) Also, some dust storms have come, which I had never seen before which left me thinking that some formidable mass of gases that spanned the horizon were approaching at a rapid pace. It was quite an amazing sight to see. One time, while we were out teaching in the desert, we got caught in one. Hehe, admittedly, it was quite exciting. The temperatures continue to rise and have almost passed record temperatures for this time of year. Our spirits are also rising as we continue pressing forward in this great work. Riding bikes is actually quite nice, despite the temperatures. We have been having a lot of posotive responses from people that we have been contacting this week. It has been pretty exciting. My testimony continues to grow of lots of things, but this week I would like to speak of my love of the scriptures that is growing. The more I read, the more I want to read. When all is said and done, and study time is over, I find myself wanting more time. Always, when you go to read the scriptures with a prayer in your heart and the desire to seek answers, you will find what you need when you read. When I am trying to find answers that will help to better answer the questions of those that I teach, I find what I need when I read. Reading the scriptures invites the Spirit and fills us with the strength that we need to endure the trials of the day. There is an unseen protection that comes when we fortify ourselves each day with prayer and scripture study. The scriptures are the words of God. They are here to bless us. All we have to do is take the time to read them. I love this work! I love how I am growing and how I am able to help others grow! There is nothing else like this! Take care, and always put Heavenly Father's will first in your life. When you give priorities to His desires, He will do the same for you.

-Elder LaPorte =)

Week 28 (Good Morning Sun...)

Hey! Welcome to Maricopa, ARizona! That is where I currently am. It is kind of small but I like it. We cover a small branch of about 30 people and our area goes all the way down to the border. The temperatures are rising but I guess that is expected. We have a Wal-Mart opening on the 20th and we're excited because we can be freed from the tyranny of Fry's and Basha's. Everything is SO expensive there, but they're the only places to shop. Not for long! haha. I am looking forward to being able to serve here. There is a lot of work to be done here, so it will keep us busy. My companion's name is Elder Maldonado. He's from Maryland. My birthday was great fun and so was the Mother's Day phone call. It is a unique experience to be on your mission during your birthday, serving the Lord. I look forward to the next one I have. Coming here, I thought I would not like it because of the slowness of the work here. Because when things got slow in Queen Creek and you had nobody to teach, you felt like junk. You felt useless. However, coming here, I have found it quite the opposite. I am excited for the chance to be able to give my best every day and make some good things happen here. Whether I see the fruits of my labors here or not, I know I will be moving the work along and making a difference. Two people from my last area will be getting baptized this weekend; a Mother and her daughter, Aracely and Citlaly. Hopefully I can go back for that. This work is great if you give it your all no matter what. Challenges always come in our lives. The important thing is not that we get them, but how we handle them. With faith in God that we can overcome, nothing is impossible. This life is a time to grow. Every moment can make us a better person. All we have to do, is take a quick step back and try to see what God is making out of us. I love this life, this work and these people. I hope that all of your Mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day!! Until next time ;)

-Elder LaPorte =)