One Year

Guess what, squad? I made it one year!! Hooray!

This was an interesting week to say the least. In the middle of the week, Elder Porter woke up vomiting in the bathroom. I awoke to the sound of Jurassic Park in the bathroom. I was so scared I was going to get sick, I stayed as far away from Elder Porter as possible while he slept and recovered because I have one of the worst immune systems in the world. I was sure to explain that to Elder Porter so he wouldn't be offended. He managed to recover in just twenty-four hours. While he was unconscious, I studied the Book of Mormon and made a lot of ground in my studies. I'm in 4 Nephi now.

Elder Winegar and I having fun on the whiteboard before district meeting.

We've been having a great time drawing on the whiteboard!

Zone training was excellent. During the trainings, I realized just how badly I need to exercise charity for those whom we are teaching, no matter their status in the church. The pure love of Christ is a very real thing, and it is indeed extremely mandatory in teaching as the Savior has taught. In practicing throughout the week, I have seen more powerful lessons as I search my heart for the love I have and the love the Savior has for my brothers and sisters.

Here is what the new zone looks like after transfers. Shout-out to Sister Jarbi Joyner whom I graduated with (go Bobcats)!



Elder Porter's birthday was the 7th of January. Elder Winegar and I set a plan in motion to throw a surprise birthday party for him. it was difficult to devise and put in action without Elder Porter's knowledge, but we did it! Elder Porter was surprised! The surprise came with a gift, lots of confetti, party favors and a few chocolate cakes!

Candles for Elder Porter! 

                                               Elder Porter beginning to dig into his cake!  

Posing with Elder Porter and the nerf gun he received as a gift, as well as our mustache party favors.

I love this area! I am so grateful to be a missionary. In this one year I have learned so much about myself, the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and my Savior! Thank you all for your undying love and support! Let's have another great year! I love you!

My Tiger!

Another great week in Kansas!

I might have mentioned a zoo in Great Bend before, but I have finally seen my tiger! His name is Sunny and he came super close, so I managed some decent photographs. I thought I would share them with you!

Elder Porter and I have been teaching a woman Elder Christensen and I met a few weeks ago. She came straight to the church one week and said, "I want to be baptized." This woman has a colorful past. In tears, she told us how her fiance died in her arms and admitted her long history of methamphetamine abuse. We met this sister at church when we introduced ourselves to her several weeks ago when she told us of her desire to be baptized. Of course that caught us off guard. Unfortunately, some circumstances do not allow her to live the law of chastity in this moment in time, however she had resolved to refrain from sleeping with her boyfriend. We've committed her to begin to find a way she can live separate. We are doing all we can to help her. I've learned a lot in the two lessons we have taught her and in studying for those sacred opportunities. The Lord will bless us immediately if we live His commandments! When we fail to realize it, we are not looking hard enough.



Sounds like quite a few of you are experiencing the crazy weather. We are too! Ever heard of an ice storm? That's what we have in Kansas! Take a look!

A beautiful shot by Elder Porter

Trees saggin' from the iced branches

... and then they break off. 

That is the weirdest thing! Elder Porter and I are walking around and we hear a rumbling crack sound, then all of a sudden a huge branch falls from above and shatters in pieces behind us. "Judas, dude! We were just standing there!" So not only is there ice everywhere, but it rains tree branches too. Good thing we don't have any redwoods in Kansas. That would really put a damper on my day!



There is no other place I would rather be than Great Bend, Kansas! I am so grateful for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to never again be taken from off the face of the Earth! Never be ashamed you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Make it known to everyone you are following Him. Never stop enduring to the end to return with honor in our forever families!



Love you all! Thank you for your love, prayers, emails, and support! May you be blessed for all you do for me!

ONE YEAR!

Guess what, squad? I made it one year!! Hooray! 

This was an interesting week to say the least. In the middle of the week, Elder Porter woke up vomiting in the bathroom. I awoke to the sound of Jurassic Park in the bathroom. I was so scared I was going to get sick, I stayed as far away from Elder Porter as possible while he slept and recovered because I have one of the worst immune systems in the world. I was sure to explain that to Elder Porter so he wouldn't be offended. He managed to recover in just twenty-four hours. While he was unconscious, I studied the Book of Mormon and made a lot of ground in my studies. I'm in 4 Nephi now.

Elder Winegar and I having fun on the whiteboard before district meeting.

We've been having a great time drawing on the whiteboard!



Zone training was excellent. During the trainings, I realized just how badly I need to exercise charity for those whom we are teaching, no matter their status in the church. The pure love of Christ is a very real thing, and it is indeed extremely mandatory in teaching as the Savior has taught. In practicing throughout the week, I have seen more powerful lessons as I search my heart for the love I have and the love the Savior has for my brothers and sisters.

Here is what the new zone looks like after transfers. Shout-out to Sister Jarbi Joyner whom I graduated with (go Bobcats)!



Elder Porter's birthday was the 7th of January. Elder Winegar and I set a plan in motion to throw a surprise birthday party for him. it was difficult to devise and put in action without Elder Porter's knowledge, but we did it! Elder Porter was surprised! The surprise came with a gift, lots of confetti, party favors and a few chocolate cakes!

Candles for Elder Porter! 

Posing with Elder Porter and the nerf gun he received as a gift, as well as our mustache party favors.

Elder Porter beginning to dig into his cake!  

I love this area! I am so grateful to be a missionary. In this one year I have learned so much about myself, the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and my Savior! Thank you all for your undying love and support! Let's have another great year! I love you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMAL!

"MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMAL! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!"




I absolutely LOVE Christmas!! What a great end to the year, and a fantastic new beginning! Thank you 2016!



Here are some Christmas experiences:

We went to an investigators home right before Christmas, helping them clean up their home a little bit. Classic Elder LaMont, service by cleaning house. We saw their tree and the few presents around it. The following day, we decide we would buy them some Christmas presents.

Elder Christensen and I got some presents for each other. He gifted me some dollar-store gems that I like to throw at him, and a few decks of cards because he taught me how fun Solitaire is. Elder Christensen received from me numerous red solo cups, ping-pong balls, and two liters of Coke. Here's a picture of him opening his present:

All of us enjoyed our Christmas. We appreciated each others' company and had the most chill Christmas holiday.

Of course, I had a wonderful opportunity to video chat with my family. It was so wonderful to see their faces and hear their voices. We are all so blessed with the wonderful technology we have!

Transfers came and I am staying in Great Bend! Yes! However, Elder Christensen has left me to go to Junction City! Elder Porter has come with Elder Winegar's new companion, Elder Boyer. We are some crazy kids, but we've been having a lot of fun. Elder Porter is very into music of all kinds. So far, he has demonstrated skill in guitar and harmonica. Elder Porter also tells me he can play the piano. Awesome!



We want for Nikki Freemeyer to be baptized on the fourteenth. She went to church in Colorado on Christmas after attending sacrament in our ward the week before. Nikki will need to come to church one more time before she can be baptized. This week we will be calling members to put together her baptismal program. Unfortunately our ward mission leader is MIA for about six weeks (the entire time I've been in Great Bend) for some family business in Texas. Things will get interesting, but we can do it because we are serving the Lord. We will definitely need His divine help. Prayers on Nikki's behalf as well as the softening the hearts of the members are appreciated!

Here's a picture of Elder Porter and I

Dorky Elder Winegar taking a picture of himself while taking a picture of Elder Porter and myself

Selfie with Elder Boyer and Elder Winegar photobombing it

Now you've seen Elder Boyer, I have a story. Keep in mind, Elder Boyer is 300 lbs and 6'5" so we are talking a Goliath of a man. The four of us went to the Schied's house all the way in St. John. This is the wonderful family that fed us on Thanksgiving and they have this cute chihuahua named Zorro! Now we have finished eating dinner, we are enjoying everyone's company. Someone tells a funny story, we laugh, and there's a few moments of silence. Out of nowhere, the table turns nearly forty-five degrees and Elder Boyer is flipping out. All the dishes clatter on the table, a vulgar word comes from somewhere, and Elder Boyer muffles a, "Holy-!" When the dust settles, the table is on all four legs, Elder Boyer explains. Elder Boyer had his legs spread and his hands in his lap. When he looks down he sees the furry face of Zorro, and that made him jump. Because Elder Boyer has thunder thighs, the table nearly capsizes. Elder Boyer the Goliath was scared by the Zorro the chihuahua.

"I was! I was terrified by that little dog, I'm not gonna lie."

-- Elder Boyer after I read him that story

He's a good sport. I sure love my mission. Serving the Lord over this Christmas season is bar none an unforgettable experience. What a wonderful blessing. Thank you all for your prayers for the people of this great heartland of America! I love you guys!