May 25, 2013

Hola again! :) How is everyone doing?? It is super strange to start to hear about kids getting their calls and everyone getting geared up for graduation! That was one fast year for me! Super big shout out to Bronson Ashman for getting his call to the worlds best mission!!! So pumped to see another Springville-Maple-ite! 

 

Let´s see...how did this week go for me...?

OBVIOUSLY AWESOME!

 

We had a reunion as an entire mission which was INCREDIBLE.

 

Can you guess who I sat by?? Elder Jakey Johnson! What a stud. I think we were a little more mature this time...a little ;) It is so funny to see the dude...we are so far from home and sweating nonstop in the armpit of the earth...but we are so far away from home and sweating nonstop in the armpit of the earth together. Kinda weird to talk to your number one homie in Spanish. I definitely did not imagine that happening when we were little demons...

 

Blue Gatorade just barely got here to Ecuador this past week! But it is only a limited time offer </3 So Elder S and I bought like 30 to last us a little while! The Kit-Kat got here recently as well...so maybe we are slowly but surely escaping the armpit! ;)

 

On Friday I had an intercambio with the Leaders of the Zone. I was with Elder C the whole day and we ended up having a Family Night with about 30 people there that night. It was so neat! There were tons of investigators and less actives there for the activity. We started out with a hymn, prayer...and then Elder C welcomed everyone to the activity and said,

"Thank you all for coming to the Family Night tonight...we hope that you all can learn from Elder Noll and his following message."

I guess that kind of caught me off guard...haha! He didn't tell me anything! But I ended up giving the lesson and all seemed to go well!

 

There is the COOLEST family here in Panorama! The G family...they got baptized about a year ago and are preparing to be sealed this month! They have 3 boys...and they are all studs! My favorite is J! He is a 10 year old slayer! I think I like him so much because he reminds me so much of my stud of a little brother, Alec. Every time I see J he runs up to me and gives me the biggest hug with the biggest smile on his face...and for a moment...I am holding my best friend, my hero, and my little brother in my arms even though I am thousands of miles away from him...I am so grateful for tender mercies like that. Little tender mercies like J that the Lord blesses us with every day.

Let us be more open and receptive to the tender mercies around us!

 

We had an activity in another ward in our zone called an "invasion". We gathered up as many members as we possibly could and we all went out and delivered church magazines to everyone we possibly could, to gain more investigators and find more people to share this perfect restored gospel with! It ended up being awesome! We had a huge turn out and everyone was so happy to work in the Lord's vineyard! We even played a little bit of basketball after! It was kinda funny too...an Hermana from another ward came RUNNING up to me and Elder S and she had completely lost her marbles. She was breathing super heavy and was SO SO stressed out. She was talking one thousand miles and hour and told us that she had lost her little boy. We asked her what he was wearing and where was the last place she saw him and her response came out like this...

"adslfkjasdlghoehryoaewñfnñsgh225134o613465o1435ñlkj"

That is about all I got out of it at least.

Then she said..."sorry...I talk French when I am stressed out."

So there was my daily Elder Nadauld reminder! Miss you homes! Keep killin' it!

We ended up finding her little boy though...don't worry!

 

So I was hit really hard last Monday with a lesson that my amazing mother taught me...she started out with asking me two questions...

¿How do we keep going when our hearts are as weary as out shoes are worn out? ¿Where can we find validation when our hard-work and our plans result in empty houses and endless walking?

I would like to apply this a little more to all of you at home...

 

How do YOU keep going when your heart is weary? Where can you find validation?

 

Doctrine and Covenants teaches us:

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing..."

So how do we keep going when we are weary? We STOP being weary. The footnote explains "weary" in this sense means "laziness". When our hearts are worn out, from whatever it may be, BE NOT LAZY IN SELF-SACRIFICE. 

 

Positive, selfless, relentless, and Christlike service will deliver a weary heart out of the darkest of places. When we are weary...we keep working. When we are tired...we keep trudging. When we feel beat...we keep fighting.

 

"...for ye are laying a foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

 

Your struggles, difficulties, and reasons as to why your heart is weary are the foundation of a GREAT WORK. Out of these "small things" will come that which is great. That which is glorified. Perhaps your validation will not come soon...the validation that what you are enduring is the foundation of a great work...but as children of the Almighty-God, we TRUST and we TOLERATE...that is what is going to earn "that which is great". 

 

We are not in this world without purpose...God is going to work on us a little a lot a bit! My mom says,"His plans are so much bigger than our minds can comprehend". His plans will lead you to "that which is great". So AGAIN...TRUST in His plan for you...and TOLERATE everything that is helping you get to the highest degree of glory that exists...even when you are weary.

 

Now for the missionaries...I do not know if any of you will read this but I was very touched and enlightened by what my mom said to finish her message to me last week...

 

"Maybe, on those days of discouragement, finding empty houses, or being refused for the buzillionth time, the purpose of your circumstance and the success in Heavenly Fathers eyes is NOT that you accomplished your plans- but, despite every cancellation, missed opportunity, and slammed door, you kept walking and your patience grew - even just the tiniest bit."

 

We are here, Elders and Sister Missionaries, to help God in fulfilling His purpose of "bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". We are here to help others. But remember, MORE THAN ANYTHING, that God placed you in YOUR mission...in YOUR time...to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of YOU. YOU ARE HERE TO GROW! 

 

Keep walking...rejoice in showing faith and exercising patience...glory in obedience.

"The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind."

The scripture does not say he requires someone who gets it all done...rather...someone who is WILLING to get it all done.

 

Now to ALL...

BE WILLING. Become who you were meant to be through the light of our Savior and trusting in His plan. 

I love you humans so dang much! Keep being beautiful people! Have a great week!

Elder Noll

feeding the Elder

"Me dying in a poncho with Piggy" - sick with Dengue trying to sleep it off

the zebra-squite that probably gave me dengue

Me and Elder Jakey :)

 

May 18, 2015

Hey All!

Another super duper busy crazy day so I don't have tons of time!

Let´s get to it!

Hmmm...

Actually I don't even know where to start.

 

On Wednesday we had our annual interviews with President in the morning and we had a Zone Conference in the afternoon. I woke up on Wednesday feeling a little off...then it just seemed to get worse throughout the day...by the time we went back to the Zone Conference...I WAS FREEZING! I I was cold for the first time in 9 months! Haha! I was so cold we went back to the house before heading off to the Zone Conference to get a poncho made of Llama fur. 

Walking in the conference was quite the sight I am sure...everyone got a pretty good laugh. 

The words of President Riggins: "Quien es este loco?" (Who is this crazy?) Haha!

So I ended up coming down with something called Dengue...we have the same thing in the US but it is called West Nile Virus. Those darn Zeebra-Squits at it again! Haha!

But HEY! I survived! And I guess it is a lot harder to get it a second time so that's good, right?!

But that took up quite a bit of our week, sadly :/ 

 

Sunday was a miracle though!

   We have been working so so so hard with so many people to get them to church and they have not budged an inch...not even a centimeter! We have taught and taught and taught and they just don't want to grasp the importance of going to church and participating of the sacrament. 

   On Sunday we were really nervous because we had not had the chance to visit the majority of our investigators because I had been sick...and if they didn't come with us teaching them every day the chances were even less if we didn't see them at all throughout the week...or so we thought.

   We prayed and prayed and prayed on Sunday morning and when we showed to the chapel we ended up having

1) One of the better attendances the ward has had in a while.

2) TONS of Less Actives 

3) Many Investigators

How is that possible!?! I was so taken back and humbled for that which the Lord gave us. It really made me think too.

In reality, The Lord has all power to do all things. I was reminded of who this work belongs to and who it is that governs it. The Lord is All Powerful, Knowing, Doing, and Everlasting. 

 

So we can learn some valuable lessons from good ol' West Nile Virus! ;)

 

For lack of time...I am skipping to the message!

   I love the example of Alma the older in the Book of Mormon. He is so faithful and obedient...ALWAYS. But one of my favorite lessons from him is his example of ´´how to repent´´. Alma and his people have finally arrived somewhere where they can settle for a short time and the people are desirous of a King. They are desirous of Alma to be that King. He HUMBLES himself and tells them that there should be no King. Then he RECOGNIZES that ´´he fell in the trap of the wicked King Noah´´ and that he did ´´many abominable things´´. These two steps are crucial. The repentance process begins with HUMBLY RECOGNIZING that which we have done. When we HUMBLY RECOGNIZE we WILLINGLY ACCEPT.

´´Nevertheless, after much tribulation, The Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me and instrument in His hands...´´

The next thing Alma does is cry. In fact...he CRIES. When we come unto repentance we must feel true agony and regret in regards to that which we have done. Then The Lord needs to hear your voice. Your prayer. Your ´´apology´´. Our apology shows Him we have un-waivering faith in the Atonement of His son, Jesus Christ, and that we believe in the miracle of forgiveness...and that is needed. The AGONY and the APOLOGY.

´´After much tribulation´´ is something that is hard for us to wrap our minds around. Presidente Riggins taught us something that really put it into perspective for me...´´The Lord can take away guilt, pain, and struggle. He can free us from misery and sin...but we WILL NOT take away the consequences of that which we have done.´´

That is the tribulation. There are consequences to all things and we have to fight them. We must FIGHT and OVERCOME.

Finally, after cries and prayers, humility, and much tribulation...The Lord makes Alma an instrument in His hands. The Lord won´t accept a normal you...because you are not normal. He will not accept an average you...because you are not average. Nor will He accept you to be the same person you were before you fell into transgression...because you are meant to progress. As we fully repent we bury our personal weapons and BECOME a weapon in The Lord's hands. We leave our sins for eternity and become ´´sanctified by the Holy Spirit and bring forth works...´´

WE BURY and we BECOME.

I testify that as we live these principles and this process of repentance everyday we will become sanctified and purified.

More than anything, I testify that it is only in and through Jesus Christ that this is possible. That it is through His divine Atonement, infinite love, forgiving power, and merciful heart that sinners like you and I can be received in a throne beyond capacity of description.

Put aside where you have been, where you are, and what you have done...

 IT DOES NOT MATTER.

 

All that matters now is this:

HUMBLY RECOGNIZE.

FIGHT AND OVERCOME

BURY AND BECOME.

 

Don't focus on "I am currently"...because what you ARE is in the world. 

Focus on "I can become" a child of God and a carefully crafted soul made by an Eternal King who leaps like none other. 

And carefully crafted souls only leap forward!

Elder Noll

May 11, 2015

Hey Hey!

   How is everyone?! Hopefully everyone had an incredible week! Especially you incredible Mothers! What has been going on? What's new? 

   Things here are pretty chill! Nothing too out of the ordinary! I will be pretty short because my fam bam got all the details last night and I don't have a whole lot of time today because we scheduled an earlier appointment!

   On Tuesday Elder S had a dentist appointment...I sure hope I never have to go to the dentist here! Haha! We heard all the tools drop in the other room...and I am sure they are the same ones she used on him...sanitary right?? ;)

   We got to do a service project for some members which went okay! I got to use a machete! So I went to town on some tall grass with a sword! It was a good time...other than the ants...and the mud...and the smell...and the blisters on my hand! Haha! It really was a good time and I feel so blessed with the chance we had to help out such an amazing family!

   We ate some beans the other day...I forgot to tell my fam this! And they were filled with little black things...after eating a few I started to get curious as to what they were. So we took a closer look and they ended up having wings...and legs...and a head! There were little critters kicking it in our beans...so we just called it good with those! 

   We got to give a Counselor in the Bishopric a blessing...so grateful for the opportunity...It is so incredible to see God's hand and power work through His servants. As soon as we finished the blessing he got super animated and hyper...he went off to shower and then headed out with his family for a Mothers Day reunion with other family members! It was as if he took a 5 hour instant energy! But we know that what he really took was a spirit pill...I love those pills! And we are blessed with them for time and all eternity! All we have to do is call upon God the Eternal Father and ask permission to take one...and He ALWAYS says yes!

   So that was basically this past week in a nut shell!

   I am loving every second here! There is no place I would rather be! There is nothing that I would rather be doing. There is no better place for anyone to be than on The Lord's errand. Don't miss out!

Well...

   Because it was Mothers Day yesterday I would like to focus on the importance of Motherhood. For those of you who are in my homeward back in the ville...I am sure you all heard the letter written from me to my mom but I am going to use some of the same thoughts if that is okay! :)

The Old Testament explains to us that "a wise man maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother".

   How blessed are we to have mothers who are willing to take upon themselves our foolishness...our doubts...our weakness...and our struggles??

   Doesn't that sound similar to the role of our Savior?

   The calling to be a mother is the calling to stand as an example and representative of Jesus Christ. It is the calling to do just a fraction of what Christ did...and a fraction of what Christ did is still something that the human brain cannot comprehend.

   Our mothers are with us every single step of the way. Through despair into triumph...just as our Savior is carrying us every step of the way through darkness into glory. I do not know if there is a more Christlike calling than that of a Mother. 

To my own mother...

   I can't read John's account of the crucifixion of our Savior without thinking of you. Here we have our Savior, who has taken upon Himself the sins, pains, and doubts of eternity. He has been crowned with thorns, mocked, and spitten upon. He has been whipped, denied, and borne the very cross that He has been nailed upon...

and who is it that stands by Him?

   "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother."

As I think of the small amount of agony that I have had to feel in my 18 years of life...as I think of the feather of a "cross" that I have had to bare...there is no doubt in my mind that the scriptural account of my sufferings would be the same as John's...

   "Now there stood by the "cross" of Elder Noll...through his trials, his fears, his weaknesses, and his pains...his mother."

   I will never be capable of expressing my love and appreciation for you, Mom.

   Thank you for standing by my "cross". And in most cases...taking it from me and putting it upon yourself. Thank you for your love. It is the closest thing to Heaven that I have ever felt. You are a ministering Angel in my life and the lives of many others..directly sent from God...and your brightness and divine love defy any description that I, nor anyone, could ever give.

Have I told you that I love you yet?? ;)

   Let us all take the time to appreciate our mothers. They carry one of the most sacred callings upon the face of the earth and in the Heavens. They will bring you to salvation. Their love is what will bring us forward on the morning of the first resurrection...their love is without end...there is no love more powerful or endless than a mothers, aside from God, the Eternal Father.

Felíz Dia de Madres!

Gracias por todo lo que hacen!

Por todo lo que son!

Por todo lo que sacrifican y dan!

Les quiero MUCHO!

Elder Noll

Mother's Day Skype!

May 4, 2015

Hola Hola! 

How is everyone doing?! :) 

I hope you are all doing so good...too good!

   This week was another great one... as usual! Other than the fact that we couldn't move out of our awful house yet...

Hopefully we end up getting out tonight...but who knows?

   There are some crazy mosquitoes infiltrating our home...they are for sure from another planet...they have little jingly antler thingies and are twice the size of the ones in the states...and they are striped. I just call them Zebra-Squits...man they are the worst! Super aggressive too...but hopefully our hospitality for them has made life a little easier on those poor dudes ;)

   Then we found millions little worms in our shower...slithering around...we think they are parasites but not exactly sure. Maybe I will slip some of them in my companions drink and see how he does the next few days to be sure ;)

   Oh dear...this ones gives me the heebie jeebies...we were planning at night and the biggest rat I have ever seen crawled right down our window and into the gutter. I just about lost it! But I then quickly composed myself when I thought about what my dad would have done and my fear and disgust changed into laughter...it just took me a little while to fall asleep that´s all! Haha!

Tuesday morning was sweet!

   I was just doing exercise and I was in between sets so I was stretching a little bit...and I heard things from a distance start to rumble and what not. Then I felt the ground start to shake a little...I just thought it was the typical day of the banana truck passing by but then things started to get a little out of control...and then everything started to shake pretty hard! 

I SURVIVED AN EARTHQUAKE!

My first! Yay! 

   As soon as I realized it was an earthquake I kinda panicked a little! I went and took cover under the only table we have in the house...it has 3 legs and is made of plastic but it was better than nothing. Luckily it didn't last too long and nothing too crazy went down. I didn't tell anyone I took cover under a plastic table so let's just keep that on the down low! ;)

   We did an invasion the other day where we go to another sector of the zone to help other missionaries get more investigators. We also paired up with a member so that we could double the contacts...I was paired up with some stud who just got back from his mission. It's not every day you get to say you were companions with David Archuleta's companion!! David Archuleta trained him! It was neat! He said his first 12 weeks he never sang so much in his life...but I guess that was just kinda something cool!

   Hmmmm....something really amazing happened this past week.

   So we are really struggling here in Panarama. We have almost NOBODY to teach. We are working really hard with the members to hook us up with references but nobody really has anybody for us either. People are not receptive here...it is kinda tough! In other words...I might understand 1% of a fraction of what my number one homie is going through over there in France. Special Shout out to Elder Nadauld!! Keep working hard! Love you dude!

    But we went through the whole week with this struggle...and come Saturday we had NOBODY to come to church. Everyone we tried to commit to come said no, they couldn't, they didn't want to, or just told us to never come back to teach them again...we were really bumbed...

   That night I prayed that we could have at least one investigator at church...I had already been fasting and I was fasting for the same purpose...and come the next morning we had two that came to church! Along with 5 menos activos (less actives)! I was so humbled and so taken back with gratitude for our Savior. I asked Him for one and He gave us 2...plus 5 more less actives! I know that the power of prayer and the power of fast are real. The Lord is so willing to give us what we ask for...He is so willing to double what we ask Him for...all we have to do is ask! 

   So that basically sums up this week...if I had to narrow it down to one word it would be AMAZING!

   The Lord has many "great works" today in this state of the dispensation of the fulness of times. Doctrine and Covenants 138:48 explains one of these great works so well.

"Foreshadowing the great works to be done in the temple of The Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times...the sealing of the children to their parents..."

   

   I would like to share my testimony that I know that families are forever. I am eternally grateful for divine power and authority to bind a family together for the fulness of time and on. I take so much comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father has a plan that is centered around the family. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father was loving enough to place me in such an incredible family on this earth. Without them I am weak. Without them I am nothing. Without them I can become nothing...but with them I can become everything.

I love how this verse finishes...

"...lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted away at His coming."

   It would be better for the entire earth to be smitten with a curse and utterly destroyed than to not have the sealing of children to parent or husband to wife.

That's how important it is!

   I testify that you are you, at this time, at this place, in this moment, with these difficulties and with this family for a sacred purpose.

   Your spouse is the one who helps you inherit God's glory. Your children are the ones who give you a taste of what God's glory is like as they help you learn, grow, and become more like our Savior.

   That old guy, who talks to you about your grades who you call dad, is here as your earthly father to help you progress to stand before you Heavenly Father without spot and without blemish; ready to enter into the highest degree of glory.

   The beautiful woman, who you think asks you way to many questions who you call mom, gave birth to your body so you could live together, struggle together, triumph together, and come forth on the morning of the first resurrection as perfected beings together.

   Your siblings are here to teach you sacrifice. Our Savior sacrificed His entire life for all of us as His brothers and sisters. What are we willing to do for ours? After all, sacrifice is a required attribute to enter the Kingdom of God.

WE CANNOT MAKE IT TO GOD´S KINGDOM WITHOUT OUR FAMILY.

   We were placed here within our families  for this short time to help us grow and be placed in God's Kingdom for eternity.

ACCEPT YOUR FATHERS ADVICE: 

   Thank you for everything dad. I would be lost physically and spiritually without you. I am truly grateful and humbled by your love for me and your desire for me to succeed in this life and the life to come. More than anything I am humbled by your love for our Heavenly Father. Thank you.

TALK TO YOUR MOM: 

   She needs to know how to help you come forth on that beautiful morning as a perfected being. Thank you for asking me questions and showing me that you cared, mom. I will give you more than an "okay" today :)

My day has been GREAT so far! :) I got up to do some exercise which went really well! I didn't eat breakfast because we don't have a fridge and we can't keep things outside of the fridge or the Zeebra-Squits will get it...if not them, then the rats! Haha! I showered while trying to avoid the parasites at all costs! Then I had a great study! And now I am thinking about how lucky I am to have you as a mother. And how lucky I am to have you by my side every step of the way as we reach our potential together as a mother and as a son. I love you mom. And Happy Mothers Day! See you Sunday! :)

   Shout out to Ryan, Mckenna, and Alec! Thank you guys for your examples and sacrifices for me! I hope someday I can give back in some form and in some way. 

   I testify that the family is ordained of God because we can't reach our potential or throne without them.

I testify that the sealing powers of Heaven have been restored to the earth today so that we can enter The Lord's house, His sacred Temple, to do ordinances through God's power to allow us to reach The Lord's home, His holy and perfected throne.

Of this I testify of in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love, Elder Noll

Some kind of bug is eating Elder Noll!!

A weight set from back in the days of cavemen :)

He can always spot the buses...

American food??? Makes mom happy to see him eating!!

April 27, 2015

HEY ALL! 

I am doing so so so good here in Ecuador! 

   A few little changes here and there! On Monday night we got a call from the President informing me of my changes! So I packed my bags Monday night and headed to Guayaquil at 4:30 in the morning! Just a little early!

I was kinda sad...Empalme was such an amazing sector...but I guess DURAN is where I am needed now.

I am in Duran, Panarama...about 20 minutes outside of Guayaquil...and it is awesome! It is a little less "Tarzan" than my two other sectors...but the house is bad news bears! haha!

So the house didn't have power for four days straight...then finally it came on, but the owners of the apartment put the electric voltage at 350 when it should have been at 150...talk about a pillar of light! We were blinded! Then things started blowing up left and right!

The fridge...gone! Exploded.

The microwave...gone! Exploded.

I thought we were done with the explosions until I was ironing my shirt...then again! Explosion! 

haha!

It was quite funny but we ended up having to find another house and we are moving down the street later tonight.

   I still have the mystery marks on my arms...and it moved to my eye! But they are slowly but surely getting better...SO WE GOOD!

My new companion is Elder S out of Murray, Utah.

He is DOPE! Such a stud. He finishes his mission this July and wants to be a pilot in the Air Force just like me! We are super alike!

   I don´t have tons of time today, so I will sum up all the cool stuff and then get to the most important part!

I saw Elder Johnson! He is doing great! So good to see that dude! We met up in Guayaquil and got to talk for a sec before departing our separate ways.

   One of the members here loves to play the guitar...and he has a piano too! So we had a pretty good jam "sesh" together. Ed Sheeran, One Direction...but we finished with I Know That My Redeemer Lives! It was such a good time!

   When we were looking for a house one night we came across a deserted day care center that was up for sale...so we decided to check it out...

The power didn't work...there were paintings of children all over the wall...it had been deserted for over 10 years...and all we had was the light from out extremely outdated telephone...I thought I stepped myself into a horror movie...but we made it out alive!

   Sorry for the briefness of today...I promise next week will be better!

   I have been thinking tons about what you all are in need of and for some reason two punks just keep running through my mind...Laman & Lemuel.

Let´s reflect a little on their life for a second...

they complain when their father leads them away from harms way and delivers them out of a city that was going to be destroyed, they murmur when they are entrusted to retrieve a sacred record from King Laban, they are upset with The Lord even after he "makes their meat sweet, that they need not cook it" and "lights the way in the wilderness and prepares the way."

I think we could all ask ourselves some questions to find out whether or not we are a modern day Laman or Lemuel.

Do I complain when I have to give up something for The Lord?

Do I murmur when The Lord trusts me to be His hands?

Am I upset when things get hard?

If the answer to any one of these questions is yes...vamanos mejorando! (Let´s get better!)

   It is a commandment to "be strong and of a good courage, to be not afraid and neither dismayed."

Be strong! Give the Lord some muscle! He is going to give you more but He has to know that you are willing to put your trust in Him first... after all, "you receive to witness (no light, strength, testimony, deliverance, NOTHING) until after the trial of your faith."

If you tell yourself you are too weak for a task Satan just won. Do not say "it's just me", "it's too hard", or "I can't do it", because you are denying the Almighty God in whom you trusted and accepted before you came to this world and trusting the father of lies in whom you denied and have already defeated once.

God is the creator of your body and your soul...if you don't trust in yourself you don't trust in your Heavenly Father...you can do all things...all things are possible through your hands through our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ...YOU WERE CREATED BY THE HAND OF A KING.

Are we murmuring?

When we murmur "the devil laughs and his angels rejoice". When we smile and laugh the devil crumbles and his angels cry.

BE OF GOOD CHEER!

If we could just focus eternally on our existence for a small moment...

How long do we have here on earth?

Forever in the past and forever into the future makes this life nothing. On an eternal timeline you were born a second ago...you grew up and got married half a second ago...and you are going to have children and die in this very moment. 

How do you want to spend your second? This precious second that our Heavenly Father has given to us.

Spend it smiling. Spend it laughing.

"Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in Heaven."

In summary Brothers and Sisters...

DON'T BE A LAMAN OR LEMUEL.

Don't trust in Satan.

Do not murmur or permit Satan and his angels to laugh.

Be the reason that they fall. Be the reason that they fail.

Do not eat, drink, and be merry of the world.

Instead...Eat, drink, and be merry The Lord's way.

Receive your reward in Heaven by being like Nephi.

SMILE! REJOICE!

Smile and rejoice for this small second that you have...you are dying right now according eternities time watch...

How are you going to spend it?

With so much love you can´t even handle,

Elder Noll

April 20, 2015

¿COMO ESTAN, Americanites!?

I am sure everyone is really good as the weather starts to get warmer and warmer each day...but I highly doubt it is as hot as it is here! Haha!

 

I can´t remember if I told you guys but April is the rainy season in Ecuador...it rains all through the night and up until the morning...at about 11ish the rain stops and the sun comes out. It comes out so hard! That Ecuadorian sun don´t play games! We get cooked! Haha!

Way too much fun!

 

Another car story...we were in a taxi and the same deal passed again...

he took a corner WAAAAYYY to sharp and the door swung open and I was pinned up against the door that flung open...nearly lost my life again...

I am going to stick to walking now ;)

 

An experience a little interesting to say the least...

We were teaching a Hermana...and she is super super tough! Like a miracle if she let´s us come into her house...but she has so much potential so we just can´t give up on here...anyway...she went into the kitchen to go finish frying the bananas and we were sitting on the couch...I could only see her head because the counter was covering her body...suddenly her head strait up disappears...like magic...not long after I heard a huge crash and a scream!

We rushed over to the kitchen and the Hermana literally fell through the floor. I thought she died! We ran out side to see where she fell to but by the time we got out there she had already crawled out of the dungeon from whence she fell...with spatula in hand...running to make sure her bananas didn´t burn...pretty impressive right!? ;) I guess she landed on her feet and everything....

It took me every fiber of my soul not to laugh...but we are going to help her out with rebuilding her kitchen.

Other than those two stories...not a whole lot of craziness has been passing!

 

We are finding the most incredible people!

We found one woman...she is so awesome!!! We taught her ONCE...she went to church the next day...and is already pretty far along in the Book of Mormon! We are so excited and feel so blessed to have found her. It is so amazing how our Heavenly Father is preparing so many to hear the true and restored gospel...it is just up to us to find them and save them.

 

There is another woman...who gave me so much fear when I first met her! Just a stern, grumpy, banana selling, mean lady (bless her heart). We tried to teach her one time but she completely rejected us and told us never to come back. The other day we passed by her little store and she told us to stop and come over. A little hesitantly we went over. She told us that she was sorry and that she wants to learn more. She wants to change. And that she had a dream in the which she saw her deceased parents in a state of happiness...everything was white...and she saw a tree with fruit. Her parents were begging her to partake of the fruit and be happy like they were. She didn´t know what the fruit was...what the tree meant...or why they were all so happy...but it sounds a heck of a lot like a dream that a Book of Mormon prophet had. We shared Lehi´s vision of the tree of life with her and she instantly BEAMED! Needless to say...she is pretty excited for our next visit. ANOTHER miracle from our loving Heavenly Father.

 

Hmmm...what else?

I got attacked from some type of creature...some bug...idk really. But it destroyed my arms. It started out as just little mosquito bites but has turned into flesh wounds! As if it is eating my skin or something...it itches really bad. But life itches sometimes! ;) Just something we gotta deal with, right?!

 

Ate another chicken foot!

 

I became a seamstress...I sewed most of my white shirts by hand because they are really big now...I felt pretty good about myself! ;)

 

That pretty much sums up this week!

Listos por lo mas chevere parte de la semana?

How can we have peace with God?

´´Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God...´´

How are we justified by faith?

´´...through Jesus Christ:´´

How are we justified through faith in The Lord?

´´By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.´´

We are justified by faith in and of our Savior Jesus Christ.

It is only in and through Him that we have access to faith.

But how do we rejoice? When does the peace come? How do we access the faith?

´´...and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.´´

I am here today to testify that peace, joy, success, and love don´t come easy. Tribulation is a required prerequisite.

So let´s brake down these verses a little...

GLORY IN TRIBULATION: How on earth could we ever do that? Why would we do that? To glory in tribulation is to face your tribulation; Don´t fear it, don´t shy from it, don´t avoid it! Whether is be physical, mental, or spiritual, our Heavenly Father is trying to teach you something to help you become a better you. Every trial we will ever face in this life is God lovingly and carefully helping us become the God that we were meant to be. Glory in God´s way of glorifying you!

TRIBULATION WORKETH PATIENCE: The majority of our trials don´t just come and go. Heavenly Father did not sent His Son to earth just for a brief moment...He sent our Savior here 33 years. 33 years to be ridiculed, judged, denied, bruised, beaten, and killed...a 33 year trial and tribulation with a divine purpose: to save the children of men and to live again so that we might live again. Our loving Heavenly Father always has and always have a purpose behind every difficult thing that we go through. What ever difficulty you are facing...there is a divine purpose behind it...

Our Heavenly Father would NEVER give you a test if you didn´t have the capacity to achieve a high score. The high score will come! Just have patience until then.

We will obtain experience...through experience hope will come...and when you have hope, the love of God will penetrate your heart...it will steal your heart.

There is no better blessing in this life than to let Him who created your heart steal it back.

Let our Heavenly Father steal your heart.

I will close up with one last verse...

´´For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.´´

Notice the phrase...IN DUE TIME.

When you are without strength, without confidence, and feel without purpose...TRIUMPH IN TRIAL. We all need to pay our time...that´s a given...but in due time...you are promised to be delivered from your struggles. In due time the love of God will be shed abroad. In due time you will be relieved. In due time you will be lifted. But during this due time...access your faith.

 

My amazing mother sent me an amazing quote...

´´He is not waiting to love you until after you have overcome your weaknesses. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles.´´

Access your faith in Christ though hope. Through patience. Through leaning on Him that knows you and feels you...Him who descended from a glorious thrown to a garden and a cross. Him who descended from the presence of our Heavenly Father to the presence of murderers and sinners...Him who descended below all ungodliness to give us ungodly people a chance to overcome our ungodliness and become a God.

Let thy soul be still...

Elder Noll

April 13, 2015

HOLA HOLA! 

   Sending tons and tons of love here from Ecuador! 

I hope everyone had an incredible week just like I did! Filled with adventure, new experiences, and The Lord's loving hand!

 

   One night we had a Family Home Evening with the First Counselor in the Stake Presidency...it was a blast! His little girl just turned 2! She is adorable...I say that about every single little girl here...but it is most true with this one! Haha! Too cute! And her favorite song is by Ed Sheeran! A little odd...but they set up a microphone and played the song on the Karaoke Version and I sang it for her! Haha! She was loving it! It was super fun. 

 

   We ran into a guy from New Jersey...he spoke English really well...we started sharing a message with him in English and I ALMOST couldn't do it...Haha! WAAAAYYYY too weird to not do it in Spanish. Looks like I might need a translator to come home with me in a year and a half! ;)

 

   Man some days out here are tough! The other day we tried to visit EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of our investigators and menos activos (less actives) and not a SINGLE ONE was there...

most discouraging thing ever! 

But we kept trudging along...at the end of the day we had done almost nothing...

but the miracle of missionary work is that there is always tomorrow...the miracle of life is that there is always tomorrow! So we got on our knees...planned for the next day...and kept on keepin' on! And of course all turned out well! The Lord is so mindful of us...sometimes all it takes is to ask. Sometimes all it takes is to feel a bad day, a little bit of pain, or a little failure, to be brought to success, peace, and glory.

 

   We had to take a taxi to lunch one day and on the way there we nearly were killed twice. 

The first time we were flying...clearly speeding...and he didn't see the MASSIVE speed bump ahead...I think we could have cleared 15 diesels with the air we caught...and as my head drilled the top of the car I think I lost all memory of my first 8 months in the mission! Haha

Then not too shortly after...we saw a big ol` thingy in the road...as we got closer and closer we noticed it was moving...it was covering the entire road...it was a snake! The biggest snake I have ever seen in my entire existence. Man that sucker got torn to shreds though...we were going too fast to stop and we couldn't swerve around the thing because it was covering the whole entire road...so snake guts got all over everywhere...and some poor dude is probably going to go eat his banana now and get a little snake savor in there! ;)

 

And then another car experience...

the bishop was taking us home from a visit out where he lives...but we had Elder B and I, the other two Elders in our Sector, the Bishop`s two daughters, son, and another member...all piled in his 4 person car! I had a window seat...and when Bishop made a turn on the Highway the Hermano who was laying across us accidentally caught the door handle with his foot and the car door swung open...with me nearly flying out the car to my death! Luckily I had about 5 different ties flopping in the wind to grab to save me from falling...

Hmmm...

 

   April is the rainy season...it is raining TONS! But it gets super hot in the afternoons...I love it!

 

   Our house is being invaded by ant-spiders. I am not exactly sure what exactly they are...but there are millions! You can feel them crawling in and out of your ears and nose when you sleep and you kinda just learn to drink the little buggers after they get in your water...but other than that WE GOOD!

 

   We had to cross a darker area of our sector late at night on our way home...and one dude we passed told us to hurry home because the guy behind us had a knife...that sure made us kick it in gear! Haha! 

Then we ran into a super drunk guy...luckily he was drunk as could be or else his attempted robbery might have succeeded! But he failed and we got away safe and sound.

 

   The work is moving along well...it is not easy...but it isn`t supposed to be! 

 

   Thank you for all of your constant prayers...your thoughts...your everything!

I am so blessed to have all of you in my life!

 

   Please pray for the people here! They need all the blessings that they can get...physical and spiritual! 

Not just here but everywhere in the world...all the way from Empalme, Ecuador to St Raphael, France...

 

well...here we are...

   I know I am a little behind in the department and as an 18 year old boy I do not know a whole lot about marriage but I do know that it is of God, I do know why, and I know, though I cannot fully comprehend, what we can receive though marriage.

I love in Matt. when Christ gives ´´the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven´´ to Peter. The Lord then explains...´´whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven...´´ 

What an incredible promise and blessing The Lord has given us. If we are truly worthy to enter the temple, we have the capacity, with the Lord´s power and authority, to bind a husband and wife together for time and all eternity. To bind and never separate a family for a forever long and never-ending state of happiness.

And the perfectness of this gospel allows those who are not worthy...TO GET WORTHY! Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all are subject to the same blessings and privileges. You too have the capacity to achieve this never-ending state of happiness with those who you love the most.

BUT THE LORD`S WAY IS THE ONLY WAY.

We learn that ´´if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by The Lord nor by His word,...their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead...´´

´´Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife...that the earth might answer the end of its creation;...according to his creation before the world was made.

Every single on of us was foreordained to take a son or daughter of God by the hand in the temple and covenant and be sealed to them for time and all eternity. We were created for the very purpose! The earth cannon answer its creation without this kind of marriage. A man cannot fulfill his destiny without a daughter of God and a Temple. A woman cannot achieve her potential without a Son of God and the binding power and ordinances of the Priesthood.

I cannot think of better promises or blessings that the ones that come from obeying this commandment of marriage...

´´Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; for they shall be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.´´

THAT is your purpose, Brothers and Sisters! You were foreordained, created, sent to earth, and brought to existence to become a God.

To become everlasting with power without end. 

To be above all.

To give angels someone to be subject unto.

So don´t look for the perfect one...look for the one who makes the perfect you! Who will help you become the God or Goddess that you are to become.

I am so grateful for my parents who have shown me the way and the example. 

And I am forever in debt to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with the chance to be sealed to one of His beautiful daughters. Though I am far from perfect...how blessed I feel to become closer to perfect through the help of an angel of Zion and the Atonement of our Savior...and with that angel...to become God´s together. What a blessing it will be to help a daughter of God become perfected, though she will already be close, thought the blessings of the Temple and marriage directed by the Almighty God.

Live up to your potential!

And help that one live up to theirs!

Love you all so much!

Elder Noll