Taichung Time
Nah, I'll talk about some of the funner stuff really quick!
On
Monday, I finally got a chance to get a haircut! My hair was getting
pretty long, so I finally got it cut down to a normal length and now
it's looking pretty good. Monday was the worst day of the week... well,
second to worst. We went out to lunch as an office crew to celebrate the
D's last Monday as Taiwan Taichung Missionaries... they are the couple missionaries that
came on island a week before me and received training at the same time
that I did. They've been loved by every single missionary here in the
mission, but they will be missed most by those in the office right now.
We all had a chance to sit in a circle and share our feelings for the
D's... there wasn't a dry eye there!
At night, we went to visit a part-member family to
do a Family Home Evening with them. We took Sister B with us.
It ended up being one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission.
Her husband is not a member, and she is so worried that he will never
get baptized. The husband attends church weekly, but doesn't stay for
the 3rd hour because he doesn't feel too comfortable. I felt that I
should share the story of Grandpa Noll's conversion with her. I told her
how incredible it was to read the e-mail when dad told me grandpa
wanted to be baptized. I told her how happy I was when I saw those
pictures, and then I showed her the picture of dad and grandpa in their
baptismal clothes and this sister just burst into tears. We promised her
that God is aware of ALL of His children, no matter whether they've
been baptized or not, and that He has plans for each and every one of
us. We will be going over for a Family Home Evening from now on each and
every Monday. I wish I could explain those feelings more accurately,
but there just is no way to do so!
Tuesday, we stayed in the office doing a ton of
stuff until the afternoon, and then we went to visit a member and had
dinner with her. She is a cute, little, old lady who just loves
missionaries and we wanted a chance to uplift her a little bit. Her
husband is also a non-member, but he isn't very keen on the church in
general, let alone missionaries! She sometimes struggles with his
opposition to the church so it's nice to go over and watch her relax and
laugh for a little while.
On Wednesday, we partied pretty hard over to the
Zhongxing zone! My old home! It was so nice to see some of those old
faces of the missionaries that I used to serve with. It really feels
like you're going home when you go back and visit one of your old areas.
It's interesting the way that works. I live in a place so different
from the place I used to call home, and yet this place is as much a home
and family to me as the ones back in America. Of course, NOTHING can
replace the feelings I've developed with my blood family in the states,
but it's as if God has added hundreds of people and places into that
family and I'll be able to see eternity with all of them as well.
Thursday was a fun day for sure. It was President
B's Birthday!!! Elder L and I helped set up for the Mission
Leadership Council, we went over and helped some sister missionaries
move out of their old apartment and into a new one, and then we went
over and partied with President! We had dinner at this delicious place
with some awesome Chinese food.This place had some of the most delicious
food ever! You'd be surprised at the fact that I thoroughly enjoy
eating peppers and onions and eggplant and all kinds of weirdo veggies
now. After dinner was over, we ended up at the B's house for
some cake and singing. Sister B made an incredible chocolate
cake, and we all had a great time talking and laughing together.
The day ended up being the worst day of the week
because the D's said goodbye to us that night. Eyes were all red
and none of us really had much to say! We just shook hands (I gave
Elder D a pretty big hug) and then had to part ways! It was
pretty hard!
After the goodbye, we hopped in the car and drove
down to Tainan... I got some pretty good use out of those sunflower
seeds that you sent! They kept me awake as I drove throughout the night,
so THANK YOU!!!
Friday was spent in the very southern part of the
mission. We spent the day in Tainan, Gaoxiong and Pingdong! I really
hope that President will move me down to Pingdong once my time is done
here in the office!
That was the week! I just want to share really
quickly about what it means to endure to the end. An example of enduring
to the end in my life is my little brother Jessi. He sent me an email
today that said: "My
right leg is kinda getting destroyed...my shins and my knees...but
without pain we wouldn't know happiness!! Haha! So I just gotta train
through and tough it out." I've heard many people talk about my brother
and tell me that he is just "naturally talented," that he doesn't have
to work as hard as other people to get where he is. They may have heard
when he shattered his entire knee, and they may have visited when he was
bedridden for over a month. But they didn't watch as he killed himself
daily in the weight room, they didn't see him as he sprinted miles and
miles in order to regain strength in his leg. They didn't notice the
trust and effort he put into studying the word of God and the absolute
love he developed for for his Heavenly Father. I did. He is my forever
example of what it means to PUSH through hard times. Were he to be a
pioneer, he wouldn't have walked beside the cart. He wouldn't have
pushed or pulled it. He would have put the cart on his back and carried
it to the Salt Lake Valley. Brothers and Sisters, to "endure" is a verb.
Be active in all that you do, be active in loving others and enduring
to the end.
love you guys! have an awesome week!
Elder Noll
No comments:
Post a Comment