March 23, 2015

What's good? Not a whole lot going on here in good ol' Ecuador besides awesomeness! Haha!

How is everyone doing? How is the weather? How are your families? Any fun plans for Easter? Spring Break?

 

   I don't have a whole lot of time today...we are going to Guayaquil in a little bit. We have a Zone Conference with President tomorrow and get to go to the temple so we are making the long bus travel tonight.

 

This week was yet again filled with greatness!

    Monday night was really cool. We are teaching an incredible family! They are so diligent in reading the scriptures, having family prayer, and going to church...they just really struggle with accepting baptism. We brought along "The Lamb of God" to show them... and the difference it made in their lives was incredible! It was so neat to see them increase their testimony and love for our Savior and what He did for us. The madre said "You know...they can make all the movies in the world but no film, word, or picture could every come close to what Christ suffered and how much he loves all of us."

How true!

 

Tuesday was sad...but funny too...

   We had a visit with an investigator and we were calling him and calling him...knocking on his door...yelling...

finally...
I just looked through the window and pushed the curtain aside (they don't have glass windows here in Ecuador really...just holes in the wall so it is easy to look through the windows ;) and there he was...hiding </3 :( He couldn't see me but I could see him...that little punk! Hiding under the table...we waited a minute to make him think we were gone...then yelled...

HERMANO!!!!!!!

He got so startled! He jumped from off the ground and wacked his head so hard on the table! Man did I get a good laugh from that one! He did let us in though...I guess he was "looking for something" ...but we still got to teach him and it went really well! Just keep in mind that when you hide from the white dudes in shirts and ties you are going to wack your head! ;)

 

   Wednesday...got the call late at night again...CAMBIOS. Idk what is up with me and emergency cambios... but I had another one. Elder M headed out to Bababojo and I got a new companion. Elder B...but don't be mistaken like I was...he is white ;) hah. He is from Arizona. He is an awesome Elder!

Small details of the week...

Made the other elders in the other house clean their house. I almost passed away into the spirit world when I walked in...thanks for teaching me to be clean mother!

 

ate chicken toe soup...crunchy...

 

so proud of myself because before my mission I only had to shave 2 or 3 times a week...in the MTC I graduated to every other day...but now...I have to do it every single day! I'm a MAN! ;)

 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

This scripture literally tells us that there is no greater love than that of our Savior through the laying down of His life...completely knowingly and 100% willingly. This scripture literally tells us that there is absolutely no greater love than the love that Jesus Christ has for you. There is not enough time to put into words or thoughts what He has done for us...there is not a language on this earth that is capable of expressing His love for YOU...personally and individually.

"His soul began to be exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death."

His perfect soul was suffering for our very own mistakes. He was suffering beyond our comprehension...and the scriptures teach us that "He went a little further."

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not give up and he will not give up on you. He will always go a little further to save your sinning souls and broken hearts. He will always go a little further to show you His love.

His is Atonement is not over. It has no end.

When Christ had completed His Atonement on earth and was crucified...and had ascended up into the presence of our Heavenly Father..."one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side."

To me ,this tells us that His sufferings are not over. He suffers with us...day, by day, by day.

So hold your head high and glory in the fact that you have the Savior of the universe who is walking with you every step of the way and is taking a spear to His side every single day...all for YOU.

In your moments of doubt and struggle...grief and pain...when your soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto what you feel like is death...take a knee. Kneel in your Gethsemane and literally feel your Savior's loving arms around you.

I PROMISE THEY ARE THERE.

Keep on trudging SPRINGVILLEITES! UTAHINS! AMERICANS!

Keep on trudging Brothers and Sisters...Children of God!

I am not exactly sure who I am speaking to and I am not totally sure why...

But I am 100% sure that YOU have a God who loves YOU.

YOU have a Savior that will and can deliver you from all weakness and pain.

And lastly...

IT WILL PASS!

You are simply in a brief moment of difficulty. Bare it well. Bare it with faith.

THERE IS A REASON.

The earth is your training to become a God.

There is NO OTHER WAY to become what you were DESTINED TO BECOME if you don't have to feel A LITTLE of what Christ felt.

You got it!

Elder Noll