At
the beginning of the week, we had SO MUCH planned. We were so excited
to carry out the plan this week and help all the people whom we had set
up with. We had two baptisms planned for Saturday and Sunday night, we
had members set up to come with us to almost every lesson, and we had
many activities planned out for our investigators and friends. By
Wednesday night, almost every plan for the week had cancelled on us.
Something came up in everyone's schedule that made it impossible to come
and meet with us. Even the baptisms on Saturday and Sunday were BOTH
cancelled because of different circumstances. To put it simply, Elder
P and I were extremely disappointed.
We
were working harder than ever before, yet we were only having a
fraction of the amount of success that we were having earlier in the
transfer. What was going on? Why were we not getting the results which
we righteously desired?
I
went on an exchange over to Donghai on Friday and Saturday to spend
some time with Elder W. He's a great missionary. Still pretty new
on island, just hit his year mark as a missionary and he's as full as
fire as you could possibly be. The plan for Friday night was pretty
simple. Contact for 3 hours straight. Seeing as that's what Elder P
and I had been doing for the past 3 days, I'm ashamed to admit that I
was a little less than excited to go out and do that for another 3
hours. Elder W and I started contacting and my spirits were raised
with the joy that comes with sharing the Gospel. I stopped worrying
about how many people I talked to and how many of them rejected me and I
started worrying about the quality of my contacting. I made a goal to
let the Spirit guide every contact so that I could influence every
person that I came across in a personal manner. Not an easy thing to do!
After doing this for 3 hours, we were getting ready to go back for the
night. I went to contact somebody walking on the street and just got the
hand that says, "No, I don't want to talk to you..." So I turned away
and saw somebody who was walking by and had just witnessed my
embarrassing rejection. I knew that I had to talk to him. We connected
right away and I ended up sharing a heart-felt testimony with him about
how this message was prepared especially for him and that all he had to
do was accept the invitation. He told me that he didn't have time that
night, but he wanted to meet first thing the next morning.
I
can honestly say that that lesson is the most spiritual lesson that
I've had on my mission up to this point. Wow. I've never met somebody
looking for truth more earnestly than this man! The first thing he said
after we showed him the chapel and sat down with him went something like
this: "Last night, right before you talked to me, I was thinking about
what my purpose in life is. This question has bothered me more and more
over the past year, and I'm to the point where I can hardly handle it
now! I was so surprised to see you there when I was thinking about these
things... can you answer this question for me?" I felt a little like
Alma when he's preaching to the Zoramites and they continue to deny and
reject him until one day he hears a voice humbly pleading for his
teachings from behind him. He immediately turns and teaches them. That
lesson was incredible. I felt like the Lord truly used me as a tool in
His hands as He welcomed this man, His beloved child, back into His
arms. It was by far one of the most remarkable experiences I've ever
witnessed.
Once
I got back to my area, my faith had not only been recharged, but it's
like it had been energized by a bolt of lightening! We finished out the
week as strong as we have every week. I'm proud to say that I'm even
more exhausted this week than I was last week, but I still have a fire
burning in my heart telling me that it's not time to quit yet.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
These
words, written so long ago by the Prophet Nephi, ring true and touch my
heart today. What depths of grief have I visited as I've been here, but
oh, what heights of joy has the Lord so lovingly let me experience.
I
love you all. Thank you for your prayers and constant guidance and
examples. You all mean a lot to me! Know that you're in my prayers!
Love, Elder Noll (Sr.)
p.s. Pray that Elder Noll Jr. doesn't run into any more visitors in his shower... (in reference to a giant cricket that attacked Jessi in the shower at the MTC)