Hi guys!!
It always felt like a long day away, but here it is, I leave to the field tomorrow at 11am! Although since the CCM is in my mission I won’t really have gone too far, but it will be so nice to see some new places and eat some good food. I can’t wait to get started, and even though my Spanish isn’t going to get me very far beyond introductions and food, I am so excited to bring the gospel to the people that live in Northwest Mexico City, in their own language.
This week has been final classes, language test, preparation meetings, and packing bags. It’s been sad to say bye to everyhone, like the Quicks, our amazing branch president and wife, and our incredible teachers Hermana Gutierrez and Hermano Guillaume. I could not have asked for better people to help me learn and grow both in Spanish and gospel knowledge while I have been here and I am so grateful for them all and all they have sacraficed for me. Saying bye to each of them was hard, and I am grateful that my mission surrounds the CCM so maybe we can go get tacos sometime! It was also sad to say bye to my hair, one of the Elder’s in our house gave me a haircut yesterday and MAN it’s pretty dang short! I like it though and it does feel nice to not really have to do anything to it.
This week was chock full of spiritual experiences and a lot of looking back on the time I have spent at the CCM and thinking of all the things I have learned and thinking about my purpose as a missionary.
One week ago in our Tuesday evening devotional, we listened to Elder Gong speak live in the Provo MTC and some things he said really stuck out to me. He talked a lot about the purpose of missionary work and our goals as missionaries. He emphasized that the purpose of our teaching and inviting isn’t to get people to come to church, or get baptized, or read the Book of Mormon (all of which are incredible things of course) but our goal is to invite them to come unto Christ, be cleansed by His Atonement, and live a higher and more joyful life. I love that. The Book of Mormon teaches us the same thing when Jacob teaches in 2nd Nephi 25 verses 23 and 26:
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”
That is the exact reason I decided to serve a mission. I decided to come here and talk, rejoice, preach and teach of Christ in hopes that I can teach some of our Heavenly Father’s children about the plan of happiness and the way to receive life, joy, and peace during this life and especially continuing after death.
During our directed study time on Sunday I read some amazing scripture that teaches this again. Some of you I am sure recognize this like you did the last ones. When the Lord calls Oliver Cowdrey to serve a mission in D&C 18, I read those verses as if He, the Lord, was speaking to me and giving me advice on how to serve a mission, and my purpose in being here. Here are some of my favorite verses:
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; for, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.”
“And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.”
“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”
“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!”
I love how these verses and they are exactly what I wanted to hear on Sunday. Exactly like Elder Gong taught, the purpose of missionaries and this Church and gospel is to bring the light, comfort, and joy, not to meet some quota or hit a target number. I am here to love and teach everyone I possibly can to find a better and happier path to eternal life through Jesus Christ. I can’t wait to get started doing this tomorrow.
One last thing. I finished the Book of Mormon again on Sunday morning, and reached my goal of finishing it again before leaving the MTC! I am certain and know without a doubt that this Book is true, that is was translated, and that it contains a fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The words and teachings of ancient prophets and of the Savior Himself are answers to many of lifes questions, and can and will provide guidance.
If you haven’t read the Book of Mormon, haven’t read it in awhile, or don’t know that it is true, I would urge you to try Moroni’s promise. In the final chapter of the entire Book of Mormon, his most important and final words are: (verses 3/4 and 5 in chapter 10 of Moroni)
“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
I promise that as you study the Book of Mormon with sincerity and real intent, that you will know that it IS true. Regardless of any issues or doubts or questions you may have with Church history or policy or whatever it may be, the Book of Mormon is true, and it’s teachings lead you back to Jesus Christ and to inherit eternal life through Him. The Holy Ghost will make this known unto you. I promise. Study it, and pray to know the truth of it, and you will know.
Well, that is about all I got for you! I am sad to say goodbye to the amazing people I have met here and extremely grateful for for everyone that has helped me grow while I have been here. I am so excited to head out the gates and into the city to teach and love the people here.
I am praying for you all, and I love and miss you so much! Thank you for all your emails and prayers for me, I feel so blessed to be here every single day and I know that this, the gathering of Israel, is the most important work in the world today.
Until next week, y con todo mi amor,
-Noah
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Pictures!
The greatest 2 teachers in the CCM:
