Saying Goodbye to the Presidente

Hey Mom,                                      June 16, 2014                                                   

This week was a slow one, we had a mission conference in Angol this past friday and all the missionaries who are in our mission went. It was a going away conference for Presidente Martinez.  I’m sure going to miss him a lot. He is really a great guy and a man of God for sure.  But it was cool to be able to say goodbye to him and a lot of other missionaries who are leaving this week. Elder Voyles and Elder Precourt both leave.  So the only comps I have left in the mission are my comp right now and my comp from the MTC, Elder Barlow. It was really cool to be able to speak to all of those guys again. Elder Wallace, Elder Clark etc..

Speaking of Elder Wallace, Guess who is going to be my new District leader???? That’s right, ELDER WALLACE.  He is getting transfered to my zone and he is going to be my district leader. We were pretty excited when we found that out. 

As far as my comp goes I think he is doing better. I think he is getting used to some things and doing a good job. I could do a lot better as far as training him.  I need to work on that.

We were blessed to be able to have people in church again this week. We had seven investigators in church and it was cool to see them in church. Ruth, Pablo, and Oscar were there as well and Pablo is a go for this Saturday. I really hope that everything works out so that he will be able to get baptized this Saturday. It would be great if his mom would be able to get baptized as well but im not sure if she will be able to.  We talked to her about it and she is going to try and live the gospel. She is actually a really humble lady. 

Thanks for all of your prayers for them. I’m sure that they are working and that they are heard.

As far as I go I think I am doing alright. I know that I can do a better job in some areas but its just a matter of stepping up and doing them. Learning how to run a sector is a process I think. But like dad tells me, you have to focus on the process, and the rest will take care of itself.

I think of you guys a lot and it is a great motivator. To think about my family and then it gets me going sometimes. Keep the prayers coming, and I will keep sending them your way!  I know He lives. I know He loves us, and I know we will live with Him someday!

I love you mom! Have a good week! 

Elder Noel!

My new companion

My new "kid" Elder Fuimaono from Hawaii

sunset in Canete

Beautiful!

Hey Mom,                                       June 9, 2014                                                    

 How are ya! Thanks for the email and everything! I really appreciate it!

This week was alright. As far as the work goes here its going okay. I feel like we could be doing alot better.  We did have 5 people in church which is actually a pretty good number. We are hoping to see some baptisms here hopefully this week or the next. We are teaching this family who I found with Elder Precourt. They are progressing well and have a baptismal date for the 21st. The problem is that the mom isn’t married and lives with her boyfriend. But Pablo is solid. He is 15 and is marking in the Book of Mormon already. So I feel like he should get baptized for sure.

Training is a little harder than I thought. But he is a good kid. I find myself wanting to do everything for him. I need to just let him go I guess.

For your talk, just tell the ward I love them. And that love is the best thing a person can acquire in my opinion. I think that learning how to love is very hard.  That’s why it is the best gift you can have. If it was easy to acquire true charity then we wouldn’t have so many wars, etc...  I heard a quote the other day that, “the trials we face give us an opportunity to learn how to love”.

I never thought that love was a learning process. When I heard that quote it kinda made me think that it is something that we can all acquire. Corinthians chapter 13 is a great chapter on charity. My comp is cold haha. Here it is cold and rainy, almost every day!

How is everything for you? I hope that it is all going well and that you are ENJOYING your summer. Just remember that while you guys are swimming. I am walking in the rain.  Haha.

Tell Dad this for Father’s Day.  Dad has acquired and gained the pure love of Christ.  When dad was first called bishop I thought oh great. Now I’m going to be Peter Priesthood. Well a year or so past and I found out that even though having a dad that was a bishop was hard, that it was a blessing. Not because he was in charge and not because we get more blessings, but because I learned to trust and confide in Dad. I really leaned on him a lot. At home and in my mission especially. I cannot explain how many times a day I ask myself, what would my dad do? How would my dad react? etc.. To have parents like you guys is truly the greatest blessing I think that I can count in my life. I love my dad.

I love you a ton and have a great week! 

Elder Noel

TESTIMONY

Hey Mom,                                                                                     

 How are ya!

Love is the key to the gospel. There is no greater thing on this earth than true charity. Like it says in Corinthians that I could have faith to move mountains, but if we don’t have charity than we are nothing.

This week we had some investigators come to church! And they loved it! They have a baptismal date for the 21 of June.  A mom, and 2 sons. One is 15 and  the other is 8. In total the family is 5, but the dad doesn’t like it. His dad is a pastor. The only problem is they are not married! But we will be working on it!!

This week in church was testimony meeting. I learned this week how powerful a testimony can be! SHARE YOUR TESTIMONIES. They are powerful and can touch the hearts of the people! 

My comp is doing good! He is not used to the cold but it’s coming along haha. He actually is doing a really good job. Except this week I noticed that I haven’t been letting him speak as much. This is a mistake. I have been trying to control the lessons too much. I will be working on that! But he is a great guy! I love him!

But I love you guys! Love you mom!

Your the best! Elder Noel!