Hola Family and Friends,
Here in Ecuador Thanksgiving is not celebrated. So on the day of Thanksgiving we didn't do any celebrating. However, my companion and I did give lots of thanks.
The day of Thanksgiving we were teaching a recent convert family from Colombia, and we were asking if there was anyone we could share this message with. This was towards the end of the lesson. The spirit was so strong. Just then their neighbor that lives in the same building walked by and they invited her to listen. She accepted. She will be baptized the 13 of December, and is strong as a rock in her testimony. The other reason we gave thanks that day was we found a less active family in the same building. The missionaries have tried to talk with this family for months now. They are a family from Italy and speak fluent Spanish as well. They now are teaching us how to speak Italian, and we also are teaching them and they will be rescued the day 22 of December.
What a glorious work this is! How marvellous to see the tender mercies of our dear Lord and Savior. When you don´t think that there is any hope, I want you to think back on all the evidences that there is a Father in Heaven. A dear friend of mine said that before they go to bed, they reflect on all the blessing they saw that day. It helps them to be more positive and delightful. (Full of delight :))
This past week I also became very aware of how life can be full of different kinds of struggles for people-- situations of morality, situations of reality, situations of fatility, and deep sadness.
We may not have all the answers, or solutions, BUT, we do have the tools to help us find the answers and solutions!
I would like to share a scripture about these unwanted and unfortunate situations. Alma 7: 11- 13 says,
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations fo every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."
Whoever you are, you are not alone. My dear family and friends, I testify of the living Savior, even Jesus Christ. He has felt the things you are feeling.
Something that my mission president taught me is in verse 13. "Now the Spirit knoweth ALL things" -- which means Jesus COULD have been taught by the spirit and could have lived without facing problems, but because he was born of a mortal mother and a immortal father he had to learn by experience in order to help others.
Sometimes we just have to experience the things we are experiencing in order to really learn what we are meant to learn. And most of all we experience things so that we learn how to help others. This I do testify in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love you,
Elder Hall
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