11/26

I finally graduated from the CCM haha. I'm so excited to be in Texas. Just barely got to the mission home and were still getting situated. I'm so happy to be back in the states, It's so nice. I'll be able to call you all on Thanksgiving so expect me some time that day. I love you all.

Dear Brother and Sister Portlock,         

Elder Portlock has arrived safely at the Texas San Antonio Mission and has already been busy with many activities.  The afternoon began with a walk around the beautiful San Antonio Texas temple grounds followed by training from mission leaders.  Later the new elders and sisters enjoyed a delicious Texas barbecue dinner and famous Blue Bell ice cream. The evening was capped off by a visit to the Alamo where he "crossed the line” and gave away Books of Mormon.  The missionaries have received training to get them off to a good start in TSAM and mission life.  Tomorrow they will continue training, meet their new companions and travel to their first teaching area.

Thank you so much for all your support and willingness to prepare Elder Portlock to serve Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have attached a picture of Elder Portlock with President and Sister Tveten.

Sincerely,

Sister Ann Allen

Referral Secretary

Texas San Antonio Mission

404 E Ramsey Rd. Suite #105

San Antonio, TX 78216

Ph: 210-349-3268

November 21, 2019

Mission Email for week 6.

Hey family and friends. I'm getting ready for my first transfer so today is really busy with packing, cleaning, and getting all my flight stuff. 

This week has been really good and went so fast. I can't believe that I'm pretty much done with the CCM. 

There wasn't much interesting stuff that happened this week. We really just had class, taught lessons, and studied the Spanish language a lot.

We had promix again and that was on Saturday. I had a Latino companion all day, we taught lessons and I didn't speak like any English that day. That was really cool. I feel like I have definitely gotten better at Spanish within the 6 weeks I have been here and I know that the gift of tongues is real. 

We did another service project on Monday for the CCM and we went around and helped pick up trash, rake the leaves and grass and stuff. It was really fun and cool because there was like missionaries all around helping and we got done really fast. 

It wasn't too hot this week until last night. I felt like I was sweating all night haha. 

On Tuesday our CCM President Olsen talked to us and we talked about the new missionary handbook that came out. It's really cool and has a lot of good stuff for us. We also talked about Sundays how we can better keep the Sabbath day holy. We can keep the Sabbath day holy by listening to uplifting music centered around Christ, read and study the scriptures, watch appropriate movies, spend time with family and play games and etc... President Olsen also talked about the Sabbath being a delight.  Make it a good day for everyone to enjoy and keep it spiritual. 

The rest of the week was just classes and teaching. I'm grateful for my Savior and all he does for me. He blesses me, my family and friends around me. I'm thankful for my time in the CCM. I've learned so much and I'm excited for Texas. Next time I email yall I'll be in San Antonio. I hope you all have a good week and stay safe. Do your best to come closer to our Heavenly Father by reading and praying about the scriptures and serving others. I know you'll be happier and better if you do that. 

I love and miss you all.

These pictures are of my district and the Latino district we had promix with, my promix company companion, my district doing a selfie and pictures. We also got our teachers in the pictures to. My casa roommate companions, me and my companion, and another picture of the temple that was really cool. 

November 14, 2019

Hey friends and family, I made it through another week in the mission and have had so much fun. This week on Tuesday we had Elder Soares come and talk to us. We got to broadcast to all the MTC's. Elder and Sister Soares talked to us about 3 powerful words (Faith, Work, Obedience) if we implement those words in our lives we will be happy and be able to go through any trial. They also said that each morning we have an opportunity to change and become a better person. He mentioned that every Thursday the prophet and the 12 apostles get together and pray for all the missionaries and that we are at the top of their list when we pray. As missionaries we are very blessed and it's really cool to know that people pray for us a lot to help other people. We are literal representatives of Jesus Christ. We wear his name over our hearts everyday. He also said that having obedience everyday builds us armor and protects us as we go through life. Something I really liked that he said is "I don't like wishing good luck, that makes you have to depend on luck. I will wish you success because that depends solely on you" I liked that a lot because while I'm my mission, my success will depend on how obedient I am and how much I put into it. 

This week was also really cool because I got to teach actual people who are members of the church. It was really fun and a good experience for me. The food is starting to get old here because they pretty much serve the same stuff all the time. So I can't wait to get out in the field. Just two weeks left in the CCM. 

This week we also did something called "promix". We switched companions for a whole day with a Latino missionary and I had the chance to talk Spanish like all day and that was so fun. It helped me get better in the language and stuff. I struggled a little because he didn't know any English but It was all good. 

We also as a district got to go around and say something that we learned from our parents. I talked about my dad first and I said that my dad has always been there. He has taught so much in my life through The Boy Scouts and has taught me to be organized, communication and how to be a leader. He has implemented in my life that Decisions Determine our Destiny. I'm always thinking about it and trying to apply that whenever I do something. My dad has helped me become the person I am today and I am very grateful and love him.

My mom has also been there for me and helped me through many things. She has taken me on many vacations and taught me how to be clean, kind and organized. She has helped me get everything that I needed for school and my mission and is always supportive of me. I love my mom a lot and I'm grateful for everything she does for me and my family. 

This week my district had the chance to bear testimony to each other and that was really cool. The Spirit was so strong and everyone had fun with that. 

I just wanted to let everyone know that our Heavenly Father loves you. He knows you and your struggles. If you come unto him he will bless you in your life. If you stay obedient and have faith, your life will be better and you will be more happy. If you see any opportunity to serve someone, do it. Because when you're serving them you're also serving the Lord. Read and study the scriptures everyday because it will teach you very important things that you can use everyday. If you read it you will gain a testimony of it and know for yourself that Jesus is the Christ and this is his church. 

I can't wait to talk to you all again next week. I love and miss you all. 

Here are some pictures from today:

There were lots of designs that were cool. A picture of angel Moroni holding the golden plates and the horn. I guess that there's only 5 temples that have that which is kinda cool and unique. A picture of the tienda where you can by ties and really cool things. Around Mexico City there are a lot of police holding guns out and stuff. It's kinda scary but it's also really cool. And my last picture was just me getting a selfie in front of the temple haha. 

November 7, 2019

Hola friends and family. This week has been really fun and cool. We got to have a fun Halloween, On Friday I noticed that my district leader was having a hard day and I asked him what was wrong.  He hadn't been getting a lot of sleep because of his pillow. I was prompted to give him mine because I had a really nice pillow and ever since I did  he's been doing a lot better and has been more effective. I know that if you follow the promptings of the spirit you can help other people and make a difference. 

On Sunday it was Fast Sunday for us so we fasted for a full 24 hours. It was really hard at first because we don't drink water or eat food but after that I just felt really good and happy. When the fast ended we had a big meal. I think that was the first time I completely fasted without any water haha. 

This week I felt kinda sick on Monday and Tuesday because of the food. It made my stomach hurt a lot and I had to use the bathroom a lot also haha. After I took medicine I got better. 

On Tuesday it was really cool because we got to listen to a broadcast from the Provo MTC devotional and the really cool part of that was Elder and Sister Uchtdorf came and talked. They talked to us about mission work and our purposes. They told us that we are the ones that have control over our thoughts, feelings, and actions. If we do our best even if we're not perfect, our Heavenly Father still loves us and it's okay if we aren't perfect. We can impact many people's lives and be the modern day miracles. They also told us that our actions can be a testimony to others. That was about it for the devotional but it was really cool and fun. When we sang "Called To Serve" the spirit was so strong and it grew my testimony a little, and I have no doubt that our Heavenly Father lives and this is the true church. 

For the rest of the week it was pretty normal for us. We just had language classes and practiced teaching. My Spanish was really bad this week but it's getting better. I don't have any pictures for this week but maybe next week. I'm thankful for all of you guys, you're awesome. I'll talk to y'all next week.

I love and miss you all.

October 31, 2019

Extending our callings:

Hey family and friends, Feliz Halloween.  I'm so happy to get to email again. This week has been very fun and I've learned a lot. I felt the spirit so much this week.

On this last Sunday I gave a talk on conversion and I talked about my pioneer ancestors coming across the ocean on the Mayflower and also crossing the plains to come to Utah. They all had lots of trials but their testimony and conversion grew so much from that.

On Tuesday we had another devotional and the 2nd counselor of the CCM and his wife talked to us about "Extending our callings". That's why I named this email that. They gave their testimony to us that if we do our best and serve with strength and power, we will have a successful mission. It was a really cool devotional.

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to give a short lesson about following our callings. I talked about Alma and Amulek in the scriptures.  (Alma chapter 8).  Alma was discouraged from trying to preach to the people of Ammoniha and was leaving to go back home when an angel came to him and told him that he had been faithful to his calling and that he needed to go back. He ended up going back and found a person named Amulek. He and Amulek were blessed for following the commandments of the lord and ended up teaching the people. I love those chapter in the scriptures because if we always trust In the Lord we will be blessed and happy and will help others.

The lesson I gave ended up being really good and spiritual, everyone was feeling the spirit and we all just talked about how we felt and how we can follow our calling.

This week has been really rainy and tons of thunderstorms and lightning. It's been really fun to hear it.  I got to go to the Mexico City Temple today and I thought that was really cool. We got to see Mexico a little more and the culture is really cool and different. We saw dogs in the street, and lots of people dressed up kinda haha. It reminded me of the movie Coco.  We got lots of pictures and I bought some really cool sock ties. I'll send some pictures later. My Spanish is coming slowly but eventually I'll be speaking better. I'm very grateful for the Lord and what he does for me.  I'm so blessed and I know that he loves me. I love you all and will talk to you all next week.

These are some of this week's pictures:  We went to the temple, saw dogs around Mexico, saw a big spider on our service day, we saw lots of colorful homes and buildings, and my district.