Time in Guayaquil
I am doing so so good! It has been an incredible week!
Wednesday was a little interesting...
I
HAD MY FIRST CAMBIO! I am not exactly sure what they use in
English...my first change? Not sure...but after our studies in the
morning I got a call from the assistants informing me that we had
emergency changes and that I needed to pack my bags and be in Guayaquil
as soon as possible. YIKES. I was kinda freaking out. And so sad...I did
not want to leave Ventanas...AT ALL. But you gotta do what you gotta
do. So Elder G and I lost our minds a bit and packed everything up
and headed out in about 30 minutes...I forgot so many things...my towel,
protein shaker, and even my plaque for my suit. I might need those!
Haha!
But we made it down to Guayaquil and talked to President
for a bit...So, when Elder G left, I
was assigned to serve in Kennedy, Guayaquil. Right in the middle of the
big city. By that time it was about 8ish so my new companion
(Elder G, California) and I went and taught an English class... then
headed to the house and unpacked my bags and what not. THEN...we get a
call when I am all settled in telling me that I have changes...AGAIN!
And that I need to be in the office at 11 the next morning!
So
I pack up...AGAIN...haha...and then we headed to the office at 11 the
next morning to wait for further instruction. President told me that my
new companion would be there soon...so there I waited! Finally the door
opens and in walks Elder P and Elder D! Our Ventanas homies
who we shared a house with! So, the final result of the whole thing is
that Elder G went home. Elder P is now with Elder G in
Guayaquil. And Elder D and I made our way back to Ventanas to
re-unpack my stuff! Haha! So, now it is just me and D! He is such a
stud! He is actually from my same group...he went to the Columbia MTC
and was the first Elder I saw at the Air Port...I helped him translate
an English letter from a friend the first time I saw him...we slept in
the same temple hotel room our first night in Ecuador...both got
assigned to Ventanas...the same house...and now we are companions!
Pretty legit I´d say! ;)
I can not even express how hard I
prayed that night I was in Guayaquil. I knew that the Lord had work for
me to do in Ventanas still. We had progressing families and people that I
knew were ready for me and me ready for them. I got on my knees and
BEGGED the Lord to let me return and finish the work there that was
going so well. And look where I am now...The Lord is so merciful and so
understanding. He knows every want, need, and desire. He is so mindful
of our souls and our spirits. If you truly want something or desire
something...ask Him! I am so grateful to be here in Ventanas still...I
absolutely LOVE it here. Elder D and I are working hard! Harder
than ever before! There used to be 4 Elders in our sector but now, with
the changes it is just us two so we have twice the families. But hey!
Busy is BETTER! Especially when you are busy in the work of The Lord!
It
was really touching to say bye to people in Ventanas. People who I have
not known for that long but who I feel so close to. Definitely shed
some tears and quite a few members and investigators shed some tears
when I told them I was leaving. I love how close the Gospel of Jesus
Christ can bring two people together. Apart from the sadness from
saying goodbye...the happiness I felt when I saw them again after
returning was unreal! I love the people here so much! They are the most
caring and amazing people! Let's just say that church on Sunday was a
whole lot of hand hugging because I am not allowed to give out real
hugs...haha!
Had a little dinner with Hermana K
again...she is always giving us dinner! It has become a weekly
tradition! I got to cook the meet again...and use some type of spray
stuff as a blow torch to bring out my inner fire within which is always
a good time! It was probably the most "rebelsome" thing I have done in
the past five months - besides wearing the same church shirt twice in a
week...
Yesterday morning we got up SUPER, SUPER early...we
have the early morning church now so we have to get up even earlier to
go pass for all of our investigators. The problem was that when we got
up it was POURING: UNREAL amounts of rain. The streets were flooded
pretty badly...so Elder D and I got on our knees and prayed that
we would have a successful turn out at church. That those who we are
teaching would make their way to The Lord's house. That we could find
new people to teach...
we made it to church without stopping
for anyone...and we didn't have to. The majority of our investigators
were there...tons of less actives...and we got two amazing references!
Once again...The Lord answers a prayer...like He always does. But He
can't answer to nothing...PRAY! ASK! I promise you will receive! :) The
Lord promises that you will receive!
AHHHH...what else can I tell you about my awesome life!!!??
Spanish
is getting better and better every day as I pray harder and harder for
the gift of tongues. Many times I don't even know what I am saying to
people...but when the Spirit is working nothing else matters...no other
words are important. It is the neatest thing to feel the Holy Ghost work
through you to touch someone else. It is something indescribably
perfect...something that I hope nobody gives up the chance to do!
Things
here are just awesome...but I want to know what is up in the ville?
What is up with life in Utah! Someone - help a brotha' out!
I hope all is well and hope you all know that each of you are in my prayers!
"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the Kingdom of God."
I
have read this scripture HUNDREDS of times but it never really hit me
until I got out here on my mission. What really matters in this life? Is
it the sick new car? Or is it giving someone who is walking home from
school a ride? Is it the new iphone 6? Or is it calling someone without a
friend to hang out on a Saturday night? Is it trying to be rich in
popularity and worldly possessions over being rich in spirit? The list
could go on forever...
and as hard as it is...no matter the
choice, who is involved, or what is at stake; SEEK YE FOR THE KINGDOM OF
GOD. Be rich in spirit!
Nothing is more attractive to me in a
girl than when she carries the same attributes that our Savior once
carried and still carries. And the only thing that a beautiful daughter
of God should be seeking for in a man is someone who she can see someday
holding a little newborn infant in his arms and giving them a name and a
blessing under the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood and being a
worthy holder of that Priesthood. Being rich in spirit is so, so much
more valuable than having temporal things, having a temporal mind, and a
temporal heart.
You have an eternal soul. An eternal
purpose. And an eternal destiny. Doesn't it just make sense that you put
all things in an eternal perspective? The things in this life are so temporal...but the results of being rich in spirit are so eternal.
We know that God's Kingdom is glorious above our comprehension and more.
"For no man hath seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God."
As
human beings, we LITERALLY cannot withstand the glory that God has and
that His Kingdom is made up of. That is being rich. That is what we
should seek after. Someone whose "brightness and glory defy all
description" should give us hope as to what we can become and where we
want to go. And we are not going to become what we were foreordained to
become or end up where we were destined to go if we are more worried
about the things of this world than we are about seeking for God's
Kingdom and doing whatever it takes to get there.
It has taken
me 18 years and a trip to Ecuador to realize that I don't need a warm
shower, air conditioning, or a carpeted home to be happy. The church is
still true here. The Spirit still pierces. And Jesus Christ is still my
Savior. The majority of people here are so poor...yet some of the most
rich people I know. Rich in their spirits. And that is what really
counts!
Nothing else in all of existence matters besides the
Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it's teachings along
with the Eternal Family. As you come to realize this and live this
principle, I testify in the name of our Savior, whose church this is,
that you will be more happy and blessed than you can possible imagine.
Every doubt, worry, stress, or fear will be replaced with a surety, courage, peace, and love.
You will start reigning in the cash...the cash that actually matters!
Love you all so much! Have an amazing week!
Elder Noll
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