What could cause pins in a port to change from values I assign to them?
If you are using the port as an output, make sure that you configure it to be a digital port and not an analog port. Some port pins are multiplexed between the ports and other peripherals and may not be available as I/O if you are using those peripherals.
For more information on how to set up the ports correctly, check the datasheet for the device you are using.