June 15, 2015

What's good, team?!  Hopefully you are all winning over there in the United States! How is the summer going so far? Hopefully SO good with SO MANY fun things planned! More than anything...hoping that each and every one of you is feeling of the divine love from our Heavenly Father that He wants all of us to feel. I hope that He is touching your heart and that you are truly and humbly seeking His miracles and mercies.

This week, of course, was a great one! I feel like the Lord blesses me with a better week every week! And every week seems to get faster and faster which is a scary thought! But I am loving it here in Ecuador, Duran, Panorama!

Elder S and I made Salsa! We started talking about all of the things that our Mom's made at home that we love...and we came to the conclusion that we can't make any of it. We don't even have a oven (even if we did I would not know where to begin) but we decided to try salsa! That didn't work out too well...it was super foamy...like some type of Bubble Bath Mexican dish...however, we learned from our mistakes and made some pretty good salsa! Still missing THEE Tracy Noll's though... ;)

The door to our apartment doesn't reach to the ground so there is about an inch gap for all of the furry woodland creatures to come accompany us :) We captured a lizard in a bottle this week and boiled a toad! So I guess they are not furry and woodland...but it is always fun to guess what is going to be crawling around on our walls at night when we come home!

Hmm...I cut my finger on a coconut...

An Hermano in the ward got us a FORTY pound box of bananas...we WILL turn into Gorillas by the time those are gone.

I talked to Johnson on Friday...I called him to sing happy birthday! He was doing a service project. Cutting grass with a Machete. 19 doesn't get much better than that, does it?? Always good to talk to the dude! I think we are going to meet up next week...so stay tune for "Jessi and Jake: The Legacy Continues" next week! ;)

On Saturday we had the chance as a zone to meet up with all of the ward missionaries and go on splits to give out magazines and different things from the church. Me and my companion ended up finding the most amazing family. We did our little whistle at the door and the guy who came to the door was so insistent that we come in. I was't going to at first because the goal was to just pass out the magazines and set up an appointment for the other missionaries for another week. But, I felt as if we should go in. They turned out to be a less active family...they had a plethora of doubts and challenges. "P" and I were blessed with the opportunity to help resolve some of them. I was blessed to leave them with a prayer and I asked if we would be able to do it on our knees. The spirit that I felt was something that can't be put into words. There was not a dry eye in the room. I love how the spirit testifies and comforts. In the middle of an abandoned dirt field...in a wooden house with a cement floor...the Gospel is still true, the spirit still exists just as strong, and God is still our forever loving Father in Heaven.

Father's Day is this week, right?? I sure hope so! Because that is what I would like to touch on today in this weeks message!

I love when the sons of Mosiah experience a change of heart and desire of their father to permit them to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. I would assume that their father had quite the wrestle on deciding to allow them to go or not considering they had to "plead with their father many days". Finally, King Mosiah sets a legendary example...

"And King Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the word."

Following King Mosiah's prayer to the Lord, he is promised that "many shall believe on their words and have eternal life", that they will be "delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites", and that he should "let them go up".

Throughout the missions of these sons they are delivered many times from the hands of the Lamanites and bring many unto the truth and into eternal life...and I have a testimony that it all stems from the prayers of a father.

When Ammon saved the King's flock and is preserved, I believe that Mosiah had just said, "Amen". I believe that the imprisoned sons of Mosiah were "delievered, clothed, and fed" after their father had begged to his Father in Heaven to keep his sons safe. As a missionary and a son myself, I have felt of the blessings of a father's prayer. Every time I feel alone, rejected, or let down, the feelings are almost instantly replaced with comfort, a feeling of acceptance, and a feeling of love...and there is no doubt in my mind that those feelings come from a cry to our Father in Heaven by my father in Utah. Every time that I receive a blessing I see my dad getting off of his very own knees. Every time I feel the love of God I feel as if my dad just expressed his love to his Eternal Father.

The power that fathers hold truly is divine.

The love that a father can hold is truly sacred.

How blessed you are as Fathers to hold such divine and sacred power and love. How humbling it should be to be called by your Heavenly Father to protect, love and be an earthly father.

I tend to struggle when it comes to expressing my love for my own father. My gratitude. However, I would like to thank my dad. I love you dad! You have taught me how to work, how to grow, and how to love. Your example has taught me how to live. I grow to be more and more grateful for you each and every second. Happy Fathers day, dad.

I would now like to finish with the calling of the Father of us all. His love. His divine power. And His sacred role. I testify that there is no greater love under the Heavens nor above the countless number of universes than the endless and eternal love that Heavenly Father has for you ... personally and individually. We know from John that God "loves us to the end". Brothers and Sisters...there is no end. His love springs forth forever. He loved you enough to create an earth for you to have joy. He gave you a family that you might feel a portion of what His love feels like. He loved you enough to give you a Savior and Redeemer. He loves you enough to give you a way back to Him. He loves you perfectly. He loves you enough to leave His Celstial and Glorious Thrown to descend below all to be with you in your lowest moments so you can inherit His thrown as well. He is mindful of you. Mindful of your needs and desires...and will give you anything and everything that you need to obtain the highest degree of Celestial that you were foreordained to receive. His love defies all darkness. His compassion destroys all doubt. His mercy takes away all weakness. And His power takes away all despair.

Thank you so much for all that you Americans have done for me in my life. Especially you fathers! Especially my father!

God speed, Team!

Elder Noll

Jessi and his long hair obsession :)

Got the package full of goodies for him and Elder Johnson

You can only imagine what Jessi's caption was for this picture!

June 8, 2015

Hey Crew!

   How is everyone doing? How was the end of school? How are the first few days of summer going? Who is getting their mission calls? What are the plans for summer? Are there people alive in the United States? Haha! I hope all is well in all parts of the world! Because I sure know that things are good here!

 

   I guess I will start out with Monday night! We have such an amazing family who we were blessed with! One Sunday they just showed up to church. He is a less-active and his wife is a non-member. They just had a new born baby too! The cutest little dude! They honestly are a gift directly from Heaven. An answer to worn out knees. And a blessing to my heart and soul. We have been teaching them for about a month now and the wife is ready for Baptism this Saturday and the Husband is set to bless his baby in sacrament meeting this upcoming week! Such a tender mercy. We had a great lesson with the family and the mother of the husband as well. She is a returned missionary. I am not exactly sure how old she is...and I don't want to put my guess out in public because it might not be safe...but I am guessing she served a while ago. She is the sweetest lady though! I loved listening to her talk about her mission and how much she loved it! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE HAPPY BEFORE THE GOSPEL AND NOW THE GOSPEL IS IN THERE LIFE AND THEY ARE EVEN HAPPIER AND I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THEM AFTER SHE IS BAPTIZED BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HAPPIER AND THEN WHEN THEY GET SEALED THEY WILL BE HAPPIER AND I LOVE HAPPINESS AND MISSIONARY WORK IS AWESOME AND I LOVE IT AND HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I AM HAPPY YET?!?!?!

 

Anyways...

   Later on in the week I had another interchange with the assistants of the mission which went really well! We have some really helpful lists of unknown houses. So the assistant and I went around to all of the members and asked them if they could help us out with where some of these people lived. At the end of the day...after contacting...calling...walking...and sweating...we found a whopping TWO families. I felt as if I had lost the entire day. We went and visited the two families the following day though. And I was too quick to judge. The both of them are less-active families and they are both sealed! They told us that all they wanted was to feel wanted by the ward and feel accepted. It was all that was holding them back from coming back to church. The two families both came to church yesterday. Sometimes all it takes is a quick visit. All it takes is to show someone you care. It could change lives. Be sure to reach out to EVERYONE. You never know when your contacting...calling...walking...and sweating efforts are going to change a life.

 

   We have something called Fellowship Night which is really cool! This past week we played Basketball! And all the members had to bring an investigator or a less-active! So it was a great chance to find some of God's prepared children and gain the confidence of the members in the ward! I even got to ball it up...it took me back to the KOSS Krew days! But I didn't foul anyone...I played really nice :)

 

   They have a small restaurant in Panorama called "Shawarma". We had heard that it was really good. So we decided to hit it up one night before we headed in for the night. I decided I would play it safe and just go with a sandwich of meat. When they served me the plate I think they must not have seen the beetles crawling all over the bread and into the meat. But I felt so bad to not eat it! We had contacted the owner and set up a time to go back and visit their family...so I had to bare down. I got about half way done and then just told them that the sandwich was "too good that I have to take it home and finish it later". Haha! I threw that sucker away as soon as we got out of sight! So that was a bummer!

 

   Yesterday a family got locked out of their house and they called us to help them out. Long story short...I ended up having to climb a huge chain fence...hop over it...drop from pretty high up...fight off an over-loving and massive dog...then jump through the window...and open the door from the other side. Quite the adventure, right?!  

 

   So I guess those are the bigger events that went down this past week.

 

What else...???

   Not anything huge or crazy...I am just loving it out here. I am loving life! I have never been happier. Nothing in my life has ever compared to what my life is now. I am happy. SO happy.

 

   So I guess I will get on with the most important part of the week!!

 

   I know often times we feel distant from our Heavenly Father. Often times we feel as if He is not even there. I know in times of struggle it is hard to keep faith...it is hard to press on when you can't feel the presence of your God...or the presence of anyone for that matter.

   When the Savior was on the cross there were those who reviled Him and mocked Him, saying; "...save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Let Him now come down fromt the cross, and we will believe Him. Let God deliver Him now."

   I believe there were two reasons why the all-powerful and everlasting Savior of the world did not come down and deliver Himself, because He DID have the power to do so. Firstly, He wanted nothing more than to show His divine love for the children of men. His endless love for you. He wanted nothing more than to fulfill the Atonement to give you and I a way back home to our Heavenly Father. Secondly, our Savior had to exercise His faith. The people and temptations of the world told Him to come down...to fall...to doubt...but He had faith enough that He would be delivered and that His Father in Heaven would receive Him in His Kingdom.

 

   Are you listening to men...to Satan...and trying to deliver yourself from your cross? Are you giving into those who want you to fall? Are you listening to the doubts that won't deliver you?

 

 OR

 

   Are you exercising faith in Christ through enduring your cross while clenching to the faith you have as you wait patiently for God to deliver you as Christ did? Having faith in Christ means to endure...even when you feel as if your faith is "struggling". There is no such thing as weak faith or a small testimony. There is only such thing as a father of all lies who tells you that your faith is invalid and your testimony needs strengthening. Keep the faith!

 

   I love the question the Savior asks in the ninth chapter of Matthew."Believe ye that I am able to do this?"

 

   Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe He lives? Do you believe in His power? Do you believe that He can do this...deliver you?

 

   I KNOW He can, Brothers and Sisters. I KNOW He will. But He will do it in HIS time and according to HIS will and YOUR faith.

Christ's disciples are so astonished as to why Christ would go into Judea again when there were Jews who sought to stone Him. Jesus replies, "If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walketh in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in Him."

 

   Where are you walking? Are you doing everything you can to walk in the light? Do you fear the good because of the stones that will come your way?

 

   If you feel distant from your Father in Heaven you MUST walk in the day. In the light. In POSITIVITY. Focus on the light of this world and not on the darkness that comes of the world. Don't fear the stones of Satan. Satan's stones were targeted towards Jesus Christ...the PERFECT Son of God. Satan only throws stones at the strong...so keep being strong. Keep fighting off stones. In fact...catch the stones...and throw it at Satan's face. Right in between his eyes. 

 

   Keep walking in the light. Not only walk in the light...but BE the light. The light of Jesus Christ is immense. Brighter than we can possibly imagine or comprehend. His light defies ALL description even after giving every single one of God's children a portion of it. USE THE PORTION YOU HAVE.

You were blessed with the light of our Savior. The testimony and faith that you have is more than you think. You are more that you know.

 

"But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld His glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love."

 

   You have the same promise. The same capacity. To be redeemed from this hell that you think you are in. To be saved from all doubt and trial. To behold the glory of God. To be received in His Kingdom. To be loved more than you have ever thought possible...by the living God wrapping His arms around you as His child. His life. His only. 

Keep the faith!

Elder Noll

Hey Hey All!

   I have to be really super duper quick this week! So let´s hurry and get to it!

 

   This week was so great! So filled with miracles, laughs, and the spirit! What is better??

 

   Something kinda funny I guess...we are teaching a family in a gated community. We always enter through the gates with no problems but they recently started being a little more strict. They were requiring visa, passport, and license...and we had left all of the above in the house! We talked to them for a bit and they were going to make us make the hour walk back to the house to get our identification...but finally I said, "Look...I am white...and all I have is scriptures. May we please pass in?"

THAT DID IT! Haha!

 

   Then a similar experience happened the following day! We did a mini mtc as a stake. It was really cool! We had all of the youth come to the stake center and President Riggins was there - he talked a little bit about the mission and then the missionaries gave lessons and we did practices on how to contact. After all of the practicing was finished we headed out with our assigned youth companions and got to work! It was so cool to see the flock of Mormons on the roll! But we did find a guy seated on a park bench alone and we felt like we should talk to him. I guess you have to know the bad to know the good...because he wasn't feeling up to talking that day. He wouldn't even shake my hand! He said that nobody could help him...that he is lost without a cause...and that he doesn't like talking to people. I was heartbroken :/ He did not want to accept our message but he did accept to take a Liahona Magazine...we bore testimony of our Savior and of His Atonement...and who knows...sometimes in life the smallest words and actions make the biggest impact. I hope that this son of God can find that he has a loving Savior who CAN help...that he is FOUND and that ALL have a CAUSE...a PURPOSE...and that God wants nothing more than to talk to him. It is people like that him who we were sent here to save. To love. To succor. 

Reach out to all, Brothers and Sisters!

 

   The other day was really awesome! I ended up having an interchange with the Assistants! So Elder S went to another sector for a couple hours while I worked with those guys. They are two awesome dudes! Super powerful! It was really neat to work with them!

 

Sunday morning...haha.

We visited all of our investiagtors and less actives and ended up getting to the chapel around 8:50. We said hi and shook everyone's hands until about 8:59...and when I shook the Bishop's hand lastly...he informed me that I would be the first speaker because the assigned speaker didn't show up. So I had to hurry and throw something together! It turned out okay though! 

 

   I am honestly loving every second! 

 

   We wake up every morning to freshly cooked chocolate! There is a Chocolate Factory right behind our house...it smells super good and everything...but I won't tell you the details in how they make it or what they do with it...

All of you girls who just broke up with your boyfriend's wouldn't have anything to eat and all of you guys wouldn't have anything to win over the girl who just broke up with her boyfriend! So we will save the chocolate details for another time! haha!

   Hmmm...I helped carry jello for the Catholics. There was a HUGE Catholic party this past weekend. We went to visit one of our investigators and she was getting ready to leave and asked if we could help her carry some things. So we gladly said yes and we ended up carrying everything she had to the Catholic church so she could get her party on...

I am glad that we were able to help her out a bit...but more glad that because of it she has been a little more receptive to us and our message! 

 

   Those are kind of the details from this past week! 

 

   I was hit really hard with a very valuable lesson and experience this past week that I would love to share! We have been working with a certain family who got baptized in April of 2014. The required year mark of preparation for their temple sealing is up and now they just have to do it...

but something has been holding them back.

   I have had quite a few sleepless nights thinking about them, worrying about them, and wanting nothing more than for this beautiful family to make it to the temple. I was in a state of pain, affliction, and conflict for this family. And I had no idea how we could help them.

   Then a story came to mind. The story of Zeniff and a group of people who are traveling in the wilderness when they are hit pretty hard with affliction, fatigue, and hunger. As they are in this state of weakness "they were slow to remember the Lord their God." Then, I realized that I had been slow myself to remember my Lord and my God.

   In Jeremiah 29 the Lord says, "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me..."

So I decided to remember my Lord my God and get on my knees. I prayed to the Lord that He might take away my feelings of conflict and grief. More than anything I prayed that this family could make it to the divinely, eternal, and endless powered  sealing rooms of the temple in this life.

   The Lord promises us in the same chapter that "I will hearken unto you...and ye shall find me...and I will be found in you...and I will turn away your captivity."

 

   Brothers and Sisters, my "captivity was turned away". Though I could not see Him...I found Him...and I felt Him.

All there was left was for the Lord to fulfill His promise and "Hearken unto me."

 

   The following day we went to the house of this family and they were happier than I have ever seen them. They were so excited to tell us that they had talked and prayed...and had planned everything for their sealing. The exact date and time.

   The Lord had head my prayer and hearkened unto me. He answered my prayer and more.

 

   I testify that when we hearken to the Lord with all of our heart, The Lord will hearken unto us with all of his power. Sometimes all it takes is to ask.

   Often times God has his angels, blessings, and answers aimed directly towards us from the Heavens above but we never call upon Him to say, "fire" or to simply...ASK.

   Let us all take in how incredible it is to have the King of this world and countless others who is MORE than willing to hearken unto us. To listen to us. To love and to give to us.

I testify that the living Son of the living God is among you...waiting for you to find Him and waiting to bring you out of captivity.

Of this I testify of in the sacred name of the Beloved Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Noll

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!!