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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

My Porter

In my post yesterday, I mentioned my son, Porter is on a mission for our church.



 He left August 18, 2010 and he won't return until August of 2012.
(For those of you who don't want to do the math, that's still 10 months away...)

His mission is a two year commitment.

I'm so proud of him.What he's doing isn't easy.

But...
I miss him like crazy.

Porter is kind, generous, compassionate.



He has a fun sense of humor, a huge heart, the ability to love unconditionally,

...and a great laugh.

We get letters and emails from Porter every week and we get to talk (Skype if we're lucky) to him twice a year - on Mother's Day and Christmas Day.

That's all the communication we get. And I understand why.
The church wants missionaries to focus on what they are there to do.
I get it.

But...
There is a hole in my heart because he's not here.



A mission requires sacrifice - for all involved.
Porter is sacrificing 2 years of his life to serve the Lord.
We are sacrificing 2 years with him so he can serve the Lord.
And it's worth it.

Every day he's out there he is learning and growing.
I can't begin to explain the exponential growth that he has gone through in the past 14 months.

He's learned to trust the Lord.
To follow the promptings of the Spirit - to follow where it guides.
He's learned to put his needs aside and be concerned about the needs of his fellow man.



He's gained confidence in himself. He is learning to be a leader.
But most importantly, he's learned the true JOY you feel when sharing the gospel.

Sacrifice is giving up something of great value...




...for something of far greater value.

Thank you Porter for giving these two years of your life to your Savior.
I know He will accept your sacrifice.




I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise they name, O Lord: for it is good.
Psalms 54:6

linking up with lovelinks

13 comments:

  1. I can't even imagine how difficult this must be for you.

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  2. It's almost like you're trying to torture me...I miss him so much.

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  3. Porter is a special young man and he is doing a great job. We love him and pray for him, his safety and his happiness, each day.

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  4. new follower from the blog hop! :)

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  5. Letting our children go out into the world is so hard! His faith and confidence will be so strengthened...as will yours :)

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  6. What great strength your family has! You did such a wonderful job with your voice in expressing how proud of your son you are, and rightfully so!

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  7. Incredible.  I can't deal with being apart from my sons for even a weekend, let alone 2 years. 

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  8. You must be so proud. And miss him like crazy.

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  9. Lovely that he is able to go and serve this way and that he will and has touched many families lives on his mission. I can't imagine what it must be like as his mama to have him gone but it sounds as if you are accepting it with grace and faith. Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope you will all be together soon!

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  10. It has been so much harder to let him go than I thought it would be! I can't wait to talk to him on Sunday!

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  11. I was okay until his 1 year mark. Now I just want him back!  :)

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  12. I really do miss him. Talking to him on Sunday will help a lot!

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  13. Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!

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