Time in Guayaquil
Did it work?
How is everyone?! Hopefully SO, SO good! :)
Let's just jump right into it, yeah?
I
started the week off by getting offered a fruit smoothie...people here
in Ecuador are so giving and loving to us missionaries...not to mention
it was a MANGO smoothie...pretty sweet, right? I took the first sip and
nearly lost it...I have NO IDEA what they put in there or what was in
the glass before they poured the smoothie in there...ah geesh...that was
bad news bears. And the worst part is that the sweet worker lady sat
with us at the table while we drank them so we were forced to finish. I
think I will be able to throw down whatever, whenever, and however when I
am back in the states! Haha! So I guess my testimony is not the only
thing getting stronger out here! ;)
We went to one of my
favorite families on Monday night and had a family night with them which
is always a blast! They have the 3 cutest little girls! The youngest is
always crawling all over me...haha...love her to death! And she is
obsessed with coloring...but she had no paper...so I went home that
night with blue ink all over both of my arms! Definitely a worth while
sacrifice when it is for any one of these kids here.
One of
our investigators was really sad that he didn't have a white shirt and
tie...good thing us missionaries have quite a few of those! ;) So we
hooked him up...it was so cool to see him walk in the chapel on Sunday
with a huge smile on his face wearing a white shirt and tie...doing
everything he could possibly do follow in the footsteps of our Savior.
It was especially humbling to see him get baptized and receive the Holy
Ghost...he was brought to tears...as was I. We gave him a little picture
of Jesus Christ with His hands extended to the multitude when He
visited the Americas...our convert took the photo ever so gently and
held it to his heart and wept as he bore his amazing testimony. I
can't explain the changes that are occurring in my life...I can't explain
the light that this Gospel can bring to others lives...that this Gospel
can bring to your life if you let it. It is just unreal.
Elder
D is the biggest stud ever! It is so awesome to be working with
him. He is one funny dude...he has some of the most LEGENDARY stories!
He is super into boxing which is tight...I can't imagine all 4 feet of
him punching another dude but I am just not going to mess with him. I
still make him get up to go to the gym with me. Haha! His first day he
nearly passed away...he is kind of accustomed to it by now though.
Saturday
was great! I thought it was going to be really really bad when our
investigator didn't show up to his own baptism...I guess that is kind of
crucial when it comes to baptisms...you know...having someone to
baptize?? But he did end up showing up! :)
It is still just
Elder D and I living in the house...it is kind of lonely with just
the two of us...but all is good in the hood! We are still working hard
with the family who lives below us. Hermana J has somewhere around
60 years and Hermano E probably has 65ish but Hermano E
isn't a member. The missionaries have been teaching him for over 26
years! NUTS! We are working super hard with him though because we love
their family so much. They are so incredible and loving. We love them so
much that all we want for them is to be dressed in white and sealed
together for time and all eternity. I think I love them so much because
they remind me so much of my own grandparents. And I have full faith
that the outcome of Hermana J and Hermano E will be the same
as my grandparents. That outcome is the temple. That outcome is eternity.
Happiness. I know it'll happen!
President is super strict
with wanting the North Americans to teach the native companions English. It is kinda fun
actually! I am helping Elder D with the mission objective and...a
few other things...haha. As of now he can say ''Invite others to come
unto Christ by helping them receive'', ''I am a DIRECTIONER'', and
''what's cooking good looking?'' haha! We decided to have a little fun
while studying language.
So that was basically this past week in a nutshell!
This weeks message starts with some questions:
Why on earth was the prophet
Lehi commanded to leave his home/possessions and take his family into
the depths of the wilderness? Wouldn't that be kinda hard?
Why was Nephi, who was EXACTLY obedient to The Lord's commandments, still held bound and afflicted by his brothers?
Why was Abinadi put to death when he was dedicating his life to The Lord?
These are just 3 examples in the beginning stories of the Book of Mormon of bad things that happened to good people.
Joseph
Smith dedicated his life to our Savior and to bring forth the Book of
Mormon but was still tarred and feathered and lost child after child.
Why would The Lord allow such things to happen to such good people? To people who were giving everything to Him?
Obviously as a young and inexperienced boy I don't have all of the answers...but the scriptures sure do!
ACTS
14:22- As hard as it is to realize and comprehend...we pass through
trial and tribulation to bring ourselves closer our Heavenly Father. We
pass through these hard things because we can not enter the Kingdom of
God without them. The Kingdom of God is for the best of the best and we
can only become the best through overcoming the worst.
1: Afflictions are your boarding pass to Eternal Glory.
Hosea
5:15- The Lord knows that if He takes everything and leaves us with
''nothing'' we will have no choice to progression save it be through
seeking and trusting in Him. In a sense He tears us down so that He can
heal us...and He only wants to heal us because His medicine outdoes all
others and makes us stronger in every aspect of our lives through it. He
can't, however, heal someone who is not in need of mending...a strong
heart must be broken first. A firm testimony must be tested. A healthy
body must endure difficulty. A King or Queen, which is essentially what
we are and what we will become, starts at the bottom before they are
raised to the thrown to reign in glory.
2: The Lord's healing power takes a wounded soul and makes it stronger.
Doctrine
and Covenants 88:6- This is just another testimony that those who fall
are lifted higher. When we fall or when we are hurt...it is time for us
to understand something. And that something that we are going to
understand is going to help someone else. Our Savior suffered every
possible pain for us...that He might know and understand us PERFECTLY.
If we are truly striving to be like Him we will strive to overcome and
learn from our afflictions for the well being of others. Christ asked
why too. He had pain too. He asked our Heavenly Father if there was any
other way. But there wasn't. And there is not another way for you
either. Keep your head up. Endure it well. Endure with faith. Endure
with a heart that is ready to rush the the rescue of someone else.
Because when you overcome your struggle, your doubt, and your
grief...because it will pass...you will be prepared to help someone when
they are experiencing a similar situation and a similar struggle.
3: You are preparing to help someone else. You are becoming more like your Savior.
Take
comfort when you are passing through the whirlwinds and tribulations of
life. Challenges and affliction are a sure sign that the Almighty God
of the Universe has trust in YOU and that He knows that YOU are STRONG
enough to ENDURE.
STAND TALL!
I find myself
touching on this subject almost every single week...the love that our
Heavenly Father has for you...but it is something that I always feel
deeply in my heart and something that I love to share.
Romans
8:38-39- Brothers and Sisters, the love that God has for YOU outdoes
all life and all death. The power of His love overpowers all things in
the present and all things to come. Nothing that this life brings can
separate you from this love. Your insecurities, fears, and your doubts
don't stand a chance against the love that our God has for you
individually. Your weakness, pains, and struggles literally can not
survive the power of His love. His love is inseparable and everlasting.
How is this kind of love even possible?
Only in and through
our older brother, Jesus Christ, who descended below all things. I
testify that this kind of love is possible through the Atonement of
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the Universe.
He truly did face all pain, struggle, and more...so that He could know and succor you perfectly.
And
where He is now is your destiny and your foreordination. Get there!
It is going to be tough...but we can do hard things...especially when
God the Father and the creator of the universe are right by our side
each and every step of the way.
Keep moving forward. Keep becoming more and more like our Savior.
Every
tear, every doubt, every drop of blood, and every pain is preparing you
for what God has in store for your soul. And what He has in store is a
whole lot more than you or I can offer in this life. It is a whole lot
more than anyone can offer.
Elder Noll
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| Jessi and Elder DeLeon, his new companion - still in Ventanas |
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