Time in Guayaquil
What a week! On Monday and Tuesday everyone in our house was
super sick. We can not figure out what it was though! We think it has
something to do with the millions of mystery bugs flying around the
house...just a guess though!? I will let you all know after further
investigation! :)
So, we ended up going to Quevedo again for
another conference which was awesome! It is so good to hear from
Presidente Riggins...he is such an incredible man! And seeing your #1
homie since Kindergarten is always a plus! Elder J is still doing
great! Still a stud! Still a goof and I am still better looking...but he
is doing great!
Good grief...I was on a split with the Ward
Mission Leader and walking in the middle of the street was a HUGE man.
Absolutely GIGANTIC...and I guess he was so big that the dude on the
motorcycle did not see him! This giant got DRILLED by the motorcycle
from behind and went FLYING. I thought he was dead. NO LIES. After
causing a shock-wave after hitting the ground he bounced right back up
and just strutted his stuff off. What on earth does he put in his rice?
So that was quite the visual experience!
On Wednesday night
there was a big soccer game...we were walking back to the house and
passing a restaurant right when Barcelona (a team from Ecuador) scored.
Everyone in the streets and in the restaurant...and everywhere
really...went absolutely nuts! Throwing tables and flipping chairs! They
take things pretty seriously here! Haha! We made it out of the rush and
I felt a little tickle on my arm...when I looked down there was a huge
cockroach crawling on my arm. I tried to swipe it off but it eventually
made it up onto my shirt, up to my neck, and DOWN MY COLLAR! I lost it!
Luckily it crawled right back out and I eventually smacked it
off...Unluckily...I think I peed a little...those things are scary.
The
other day Elder P and I taught a guy from the 666. I was really
timid at first...but we should NEVER judge. This man was INCREDIBLE! He
was the nicest and most receptive guy ever! He already has a testimony
of Joseph Smith! How cool!?
Ah man...I woke up the other day
with painted nails...PINK! Haha! Freaking Elder P! I couldn't
scratch it off so I had to go ask around for nail polish remover...you
can imagine the looks I got when they saw me with my pink nails...I am
going to get him back though! Don't worry! ;)
We got to do
service again! I was kind of back in the football days! I was on top of
the roof and the Hermanos below would chuck the bricks from below up to
me and I had to catch them and put them in place. So that was a good
time. I got to throw a couple up too...lets just say I should stick with
Receiver!
We had a super fun family night with a super cool
family with all 4 of the Elders in our house. When we were on our way
home Elder P snuck up behind me, un-tucked my shirt, and then took
off down the middle of the street...such a punk! But I went after him.
Gringo VS Gringo...We were getting all sorts of stares! Haha! I
eventually caught him...I could not do a whole lot so I just un-tucked
his shirt too...hahah. Then we bought a role of toilet paper and played
football on the way back to the house. People from Guatemala should
probs stick to soccer! Haha! But it was super fun and super funny!
That was pretty much this week!
The
mission had cambios...I honestly can't remember the word in
English...but I am going to kick it with Elder G for a little
longer! We are pumped to still be working together!
This
weeks message is on our obligation to sacrifice...and boy is it hard!
How can we possible be expected to "straightway leave our nets, and
follow Him." or to "offer up our whole souls unto him"? Brothers and
Sisters, I believe it is pretty simple. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has
and ALWAYS will require sacrifice. In the history of the church some
pretty incredible people have been asked to do some pretty incredible
things. Incredible things that require incredible sacrifice. Let's take a
massive hike into the wilderness with murmuring brothers and as soon
as we make it to our destination let's turn around and put our life on
the line to obey the Lord...pretty tough right? Without hesitation though ... Nephi proceeds forward and sacrifices. Joseph Smith gave
everything to this church. Eventually his life. He was tarred and
feathered, beaten and scourged...and it was all for our Savior. I am
sure at many times "their hearts were depressed, and they were about to
turn back." -Alma 26:27. However...continue on in this verse and "The
Lord comforted them" and "promised success". I know that The Lord
will guarantee you the same promise if we sacrifice our all for Him.
Your depressed heart can turn into a successful one with The Lord.
Don't fear sacrifice! Look for it! Desire it! We LEARN as we DO. We can
not progress as spiritual children of God without exercising our
spirits and our willingness to follow our Redeemer.
Presidente shared this awesome quote with us in the conference the other day...it translates to...
´´Vision without action is a waste of time. Action without vision is a sleep. The two together work miracles.´´
ACT,
Brothers and Sisters. Sacrifice. Sacrifice with a vision and with a
purpose. When asked to sacrifice 2 years or 1 1/2 years to save souls
accept it gladly and willingly! We should feel honored that our Heavenly
Father trusts us with so great a call. Sacrifice everything you have
for your family, your friends, and for others. Sacrifice everything you
have for everything but yourself. More than anything...sacrifice your
soul to this Gospel and to our Savior...because he sacrificed his
entire soul and every ounce of spiritual, physical, and emotional pain
for you.
Take a moment to enter Gethsemane...watch as your
brother cries out to our Father in Heaven in pain for you. Watch His
trembling hands clench as He endures your excruciating pains, deepest
fears, and natural imperfections. Watch as His white robe turns to red
after bleeding from every poor. Watch as He is ridiculed, beaten, and
spit upon...and crucified. Watch as He begs our Heavenly Father to
forgive those who have afflicted Him, Now after watching your Savior do
this for you...what are you willing to do for Him?
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep;
if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become
thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements
combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
To
sacrifice is to struggle. To sacrifice is to willingly endure
challenges because you love. To sacrifice is to become more like Jesus
Christ. And at times we are going to feel cast into a pit with fierce
winds against us...but it is for an eternal purpose. When we are forced
to endure a fraction of what our Savior had to endure or have to suffer a
fraction of the physical or mental pain that Jesus Christ had to
feel...endure it well.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
I
testify that the Son of Man did indeed descend below them all and did,
in fact, atone for us all. There is nothing greater than His love...His
example...or His light. After all that He has done for you, me, and
mankind...it is our sacred obligation...and a privilege...to give it
ALL back to Him. All that is in our power. Devote your heart and soul to
this truth and to this faith. Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice!
The more you give the more you will get!
Love you all!
Have a stellar week! And stay safe during the Holiday season!
Elder Noll
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