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| this photo was taken October 2011 |
Hilary and her beautiful grandmother, Bonnie,
share Halloween as their birthday.
We love you both and hope all your wishes come true!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
"Remember that water doesn´t boil until it reaches 100´ Celsius"(Sam)
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| Every door will be knocked! |
I feel like my emails are getting lamer and lamer every time I write. I don´t feel bad if you (friend or family member) have no desire to read these....... :) Just send me a written letter and I will have something specific and fun to write to you. I promise!
Anyways, things are great. We have found several new investigators and several less actives that we have been visiting and helping come back to church. Biiiig big bummer yesterday though.. none of the three less active families or investigators that we are working with came to church..................... Bummmer. That and a lot of other things that i´m learning and seeing here in the mish make me think a lot about the will of the Lord. I won´t be able to explain all of my thoughts... but I´m going to try. ..... One of the biggest surprises for me as a missionary.. and I hate to burst the bubble of many still at home but I have a point I want to make....... Just as putting on a white shirt every Sunday and highlighting the scriptures you hear in church doesn´t necessarily make you a faithful member, putting on a name tag and walking around in the street for 10 hours a day doesn´t necessarily make you a faithful missionary. Faith. Faithfulness. BEING Faithful comes from something much deeper. Much... more fundamental. OBEDIENCE and being submissive to The WILL of the Father. There is a BIG difference between doing something because everyone is doing it or because everyone tells you its right, and doing something because you have counseled with Heavenly Father and you know it's HIS will.
I am seeing others ...... lose focus on the work. Lose desire to work, to find, to help, to serve. I am making it sound worse than it is.. but right now, I am seeing a very clear line between doing something because the Lord wants it to happen, and doing something for Any other reason. please OBEY MORE. We have so, so, so many opportunities for blessings. So many opportunities to show our Father that we trust him and will, until the end of our days on this earth. Let's show him that we have power over the natural man. We have power over Satan and that we are going to use the very agency he tried to take away from us, to follow Christ and be obedient to the Father.
Anyways.. I rant sometimes. Just ponder that. Remember that water doesn´t boil until it reaches 100´ Celsius. Likewise, we are not being obedient until we are 100% obedient. Never miss a prompting ... and do what Jesus would do.
Watch this and pay attention to the will of the Lord and the will of the Father
click here
ADMO. Doctrina y Convenios 115:5............ levántate y brilla, para que tu luz sea un estandarte a las naciones. Te Quiero! También... The next time you send a letter, will you make photocopies of George Winston´s ´´Sandman´´ piano song from that george winston book we have? I think its in there. I think. THANKS KID.
The work here is great. Really quick cuz I´m out of time... This one new investigator that we found is from Brazil and lives with 4 other Brazilians. One of which is his wife. THEY´RE ACTUALLY MARRIED. YESSS. We´ve met with him twice and he told us his wife wanted to meet with us too. We challenged him to be baptized and he said... of course of course! If I know, of course I would be baptized!... and then when we asked if we could read a specific part to read in the BOM he told us he wanted to read it all....... so we´ll see how that goes. :) His name is P. and we´re excited.
That's basically the update. Lots of other little things here and there.. lots and lots of people yelling who knows what at you through the.... timbre... I don´t know how to say that in English.. its like the doorbell but there's a speaker so you can talk back and forth. Every apartment is like that... so anyways, just a couple days ago we were knocking doors and we hit the timbre of this one lady and she more or less hung up on us yelling and then went and advised her neighbor right before we hit the timbre of that one... so she answered us yelling and spitting out profanities....... :D hahaahhaah soo funny.. We just walked away saying under our breath... YA VEREIS......... :P (you'll see)
Hey! I got that little package! Thank you! So fun to get little packages now and then.
Anyways, that's all for now. I love you all! Push a little harder! If it wasn´t hard, it wouldn´t be worth it!
-Elder Norton
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
"I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Hilary) and photos
Hope all is well! Hope you are loving this October. What is it like in Utah right now? Otavalo is super... well a lot like Utah. The afternoons are hot and sunny, and the nights and mornings are suuuper chilly and rainy. I love it here. An average day in the zone Imbabura would be... Get out of bed at 6:30 and "exercise" (which may include running, yoga, conditioning, or, if we are feeling particularly tired, sitting on the floor and stretching for thirty minutes). By about 7 am we are actually awake, showering, making breakfast, all that. From 8-10 we have our personal and companionship studies and if we don't have to leave, we study the language. Lunch is with a member and generally consists of rice, chicken, vegetables, rice, maybe beans, always soup, rice, juice... and rice. And aside from all that, we are walking around (or riding a bus) to each and every corner and pueblo here in Imbabura, Ecuador, sharing, serving, teaching, contacting, and bringing sheep back to the fold. Like I mentioned, our area is very large and we are currently visiting a lot of people that live far, far from the city. I have never had a strong stomach, so the bus rides can get a little unpleasant. I remember the other day feeling like I was on a 25 minute long Indiana Jones ride after eating chicken feet (you hold it like a popsicle and chew off the ... whatever you would call the stuff that is on the bone/tendon) for lunch. It was super lovely. Good thing I am doing the greatest thing ever or else this might get hard.
Okay, to answer some questions/respond to some statements. Mitch, don't feel bad. Just write. You may not think that what happens is super interesting, but I promise it is. I love reading about your baby girl's grain-of-rice-sized toenails. Promise. (It sounds like sarcasm, but it isn't.) Dad, how was Germany? I hope you are still traveling when I get back so I can join you... :) I look forward to daddy-daughter time when I get back. And thanks for always writing. I know your schedule is super exhausting, but I don't think you know how much it means to me to hear from you. Mom, I got the package from LaVella (tell her thank you so much) and I love it all. I love the clothes and although before I said I don't need more clothes, I had been wanting a sweater and skirt just like the ones you sent. And I have been reading the pumpkin books nightly (homesick?! Of course not...). I love you so much and I am so blessed to have you as my mom. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
J P is not the other little boy named J that had a baptismal date. J P's mother is a member and his father is not. J and C (that nicknamed me Princess) are children of F. She has five children and is a single mom. F's children are amazing and really, really want to do what is right. F is great, but is holding her children back because she won't change. It is so sad to see. We had to stop visiting them because we were spending a lot of time with them and not getting anywhere. Her kids love her so much and want to be baptized as a family, and won't be baptized without her. We have had a few talks with her where we've said (CASUALLY PARAPHRASING) "Listen, you need to do your part... You realize all your children need you to make this decision. etc etc" Nothing is working. She has been working with missionaries since October of 2010. She has had previous baptisms that she did not show up to. It is super super sad to talk about or think about or see. Like I said a while ago, I have really been able to get a glimpse of what our Heavenly Father might be feeling. I want so badly for them to accept this and move forward I often find myself crying over them. We have seen F and her kids a few times since we stopped visiting them and it is the hardest thing for me. The other day we found J and his twin sister walking home from school and talked to them for a few minutes. He told me his family is now receiving visits from members of the Catholic church and they're attending there. That was a really tough day.
It is a good thing we do this work in pairs because I know I wouldn't be able to do this alone - see Ecclesiastes 4
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Hermana Marca does a great job of lifting me up when I am falling and I try to do that for her in return. I found a quote that I like that explains what has helped when I am really down.
"The Holy Ghost satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that spirit, my soul is satisfied." Eliza R. Snow
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| Hermanas Marca and Norton and 4 elders attending an Otavalo Festival |
Heavenly Father is perfecting me bit by bit. It is sometimes painful (I mean, that's why they call it a refiner's fire, right?) but I just have to keep remembering that He knows me and He has a purpose in all this and if I am going to be His representative, I need to be better. He is bettering me in these trials.
Okay, today Hermana Marca and I were studying patience and reading in Mosiah and Alma. We stopped as we read Alma 26:1 and 2
... behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed ... that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?
and listed all the blessings that we have seen and felt and received (rather than focusing on what hasn't been working out). It was really a great exercise to focus on all that we have been given here in the mission. I am so eternally grateful for what I have been able to experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity and privilege and the conversion it has brought me. "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."
Something else I am so grateful for is THE INCREDIBLE BIRTHDAY GIFT that is the daily letters from all the incredible people in my life. I will never forget it. I am working on replying, but it is going to be a process. Hermana Marca says she wants to do the same with her children on their missions... And of course I plan to do it with mine.
Okay, this email has no direction, purpose or organization and I apologize. It feels more like a relaxed conversation with the family. As I am looking back on it, I sound like a huge downer! But just know that I LOVE what I am doing and I am gaining a stronger testimony of Christ's atonement every day.
Oh, forgot to mention, Fernando (their most recent baptism) was recently called as a counselor in the Sunday School presidency and blessed the sacrament yesterday! I felt like a proud mom yesterday in that moment.
I LOVE YOU ALL. Be good. Read your scriptures and pray every day. AND DON'T MISS A SINGLE SUNDAY. Do your part and everything will work out for your good. Blessed be the name of our God.
H. Norton
Monday, October 22, 2012
"I can work hard but without His guidence I am nothing" (Sam) and PHOTOS!
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| R, Elder Nunez, D, Elder Norton |
Goood Morning!
Happy Monday and start of the new week. The best day of the week cuz we have 7 whole days to be productive and serve before the week ends. Or as one guy that doesn´t like mondays said, "monday is the best day cuz its the furthest day from next monday".... :) Ok!
Things are great here. The wards here in Málaga are treating us too well. Tooo much food! Since there are 2 companionships now in our ward, they re-asked for people to make food for the missionaries.. so a bunch of people were like "yeah! we´d love to help!" So we have eating appointments everyday and a couple of days we have 2......... ¡me voy a engordar! :( hah just kidding.
Yes, we, the four of us, are still all sleeping in the same room... its not too bad. We have AC so thats fine.. the problem is showering cuz we only have one bathroom and only a certain amount of hot water... haha so the first 2 and a half showers get hot water... We´re working on it. :)
Elder Núñez´s comp is named Matt Phillips.. from SLC area.. Went to cottonwood heights. E. Núñez and E. Phillips are teaching M, Do and R. We had to do a lot of splitting of the area and members and less actives and stuff so we don´t get to visit them.. :\ its a bummer. We´ve seen each other on the streets a couple times and everythings fine. Do and R have come SO far. So far. When E. Núñez and his old comp met them they had zero faith. They had lost all of their faith. Now, they have such desires to serve and help. Do told Elder Núñez that he wants to help with the cleaning of the church! Future calling maybe! And AHH listen to this.. the Sunday after their baptism they came to the church for their confirmations.. cuz thats how you do it in the field, and we walked in with them and the first thing R said was... "ok so where are the little slips of paper to pay tithing.. i´m ready to give!" :D Sooo great! They immediately accepted it as a commandment from God and R was almost in tears when we mentioned ´´voluntary offerings´´ that are used for the poor. So anyways, they're great. M is a lot quieter. She´s very willing to learn but she´s hard to read and get info out of.. so E. Núñez and Phillips haven´t been able to figure out why she didn´t want to get baptized yet..... :\ We´ll see.
Our numbers have been down lately and they´re dragging my spirits down with them... Haha naa, its fine but we´re hitting a lot of walls right now so we´ve been working a LOT with the less actives. Its great cuz we´ve found several who were happy and willing to have us come by. We´re still in the beginning stages so we´ll see what happens.. but we´re crossing our fingers and praying hard that we can say what Heavenly Father wants us to say.. or find out what is holding them back from coming to church. My testimony is continually growing of how our loving Heavenly Father really knows us. We each have stories, difficulties, struggles, fears, problems... If we are in tune enough with the Spirit, we will get help... in fact, the help may come in the form of helping others with their struggles. God often answers the prayers of another through our genuine selfless service. Give more service. Christ gave HIS LIFE. We can give a little more.
Mx is good. He´s hard to find to have a lesson with.. but he´s good. They pulled his tooth out like the day after we talked to him so its all good now.. the problem is the family is having some struggles and we can't go to their house.. so we have to teach him in other places.. and he lives in this little city outside of Málaga so we have to travel to get there.. anyways, its a work in progress. ONE DAY though
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You didn´t tell me you wrote P! I´m so happy to hear that! She had heard about the flooding in malaga a little while back and she was worried so she called us with the missionaries phone in Huércal-Overa.. haha so we talked on the phone for a minute. She´s great, just happy to hear my voice. I was happy to hear hers too!.. I miss the awesome Huércal-Overa people. BTW, they had to change the building they have church in cuz the one they were in was too small. :) There were 11 people baptized in 2 transfers.... HA! Their total number went from like.. 27ish to almost 40! Wooop!
Hah! The pictures... ok real quick...
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| On the way to a member's wedding |
The "red ties" wedding? Just some newer member's wedding held at the church.........
The swim pool was at this awesome house of these brazilian members that live way, way away from the city. We ate there one day and we just about died. Their house is amazing
Crrrrreepy bear (found by the trash).... Haha no comment.
(pictured in a recent post)
The grapes were all growing in this indoor garden area of María´s house in Huércal-Overa.. So cool! I want to grow grape vines when I get home.
#4!!!! ? Haha, no idea.. Elder Núñez loves the number four... its just a ´´tick´´ of his... kind of like adam and dirt.... Not sure why ... he just likes it. :)
WOW. Parker is home. WOWOWOW. So weird. And I almost have 7 months in the MISSION. Ahhhhhh. Weird. Well... I guess I just gotta keep workin hard. :) I don´t want to waste any time doing nothing.Pray with me that our Father guides our steps and our words. I can work hard but without His guidance I am nothing. Anyways, I gotta go! I love you all!
Don´t take anything for granted. We are SOO blessed. Count (some of) your blessings today. You won´t be able to count them all but try. BYE!
Love you again!
-Elder Norton
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Scary bats and bats that wear Converse
Sam recently mailed us his SD card from his camera and there were some great photos on it, along with a few random shots that he'll write to us about to explain ... like these:
So, since it's October .... Halloween is near ... and we're talking about bats, I thought I'd add this:
not sure how Sam would feel about me posting this ... so lets not tell him :) joanna
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| Elder Jones |
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| Sam as Batman - age 2 1/2 |
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The Worth of Souls is Great - J. P. was baptised! (Hilary)
Saturday we had a baptism with a little boy named J. P. He is so adorable and loves to learn about the gospel. We'll ring their doorbell and he look over the balcony of their apartment on the top floor and yell to us, "Estoy listo para escuchar la palabra de Dios! Suban no mas!"
("I'm ready to hear the word of God! please come on up")
Mom, I hope you're able to take the Spanish class! How cool would that be! I love hearing about all the cool things you are doing. Your temple calling, your knitting class (my companion and I are knitting mittens right now!! Keep going and don't give up! Have Cassidy help you. Invite her over for a night to knit and watch a movie or something.), your piano lessons, and everything. I love you and hope you are enjoying it all.
And I can't believe the missionaries are going to live with you!!!! WOWOWOWOWOWOW. For how long ? That is so, so neat. I can't wait to be able to help out the missionaries there and on BYU campus (when I get back and have finished my own mission).
Okay, the letters I have been opening every morning have been so inspiring, Mom. I don't know how it worked out this way, but literally every letter has a quote or piece of advice that is exactly what I am needing. It is really amazing and so helpful every morning, Mom. I love you so much and I am so grateful for everything you do.
Okay, really cool to hear that Sam was able to help someone by getting them asea... I didn't get the whole story but I'm putting bits and pieces together. I wish he and I could communicate more often. I keep thinking, 'Once we get into the flow of things in the mission, I am sure we will be able to write more.' But we're in 6 months and it is not letting up. P-days are so short. But I have a letter for him. I will send it this week. I love that kid so much. I wish we were in the same mission. He's teaching Ecuadorians too! Why doesn't he just migrate down here?
Okay, here is part of what I wrote to President:
This last week has been really great. We are slowly seeing a difference we have been working so hard for. Here is the update on the work.
M. has attended church multiple times and is very humble and willing to do what God asks of her. She lives a 60 minute walk plus a 20 minute busride from the church. This has been a challenge for us and for her. But I have really recognized the worth of each soul as we have ALL been sacrificing to make this work. No matter how big the sacrifice, her reward will be 100 times more.
D. is really interested and has a lot of questions. We did divisions Saturday and attended a baptism so he could familiarize himself because he is a little hesitant. He doesn't like the idea of making commitments (this is something I have found with many investigators) but we are working on helping him to recognize that it will be more than worth it. Yesterday he attended church and really enjoyed it.
We put a baptismal date with R. this morning (It was her only free time in the near future so we took a little bit of p-day). She is really excited. The challenge might be that her parents are another faith and I think she doesn't believe they will be of approval. But I have faith that things will work out. We are working on getting her a few hermanadoras (she already has a few member friends) to help her along so she doesn't feel alone.
We have been working a lot with the inactive members here in our wards, specifically in Cotama. There are very very many. Almost every day we contact into someone who has been baptized and fallen away from the church. We are working with a couple families who are really striving to make a difference and better themselves. We are helping one family prepare for the temple and the other attended church yesterday for the first time in months. It is so cool to see the difference; it is so apparent. I have been working on helping them notice the great difference in their lives when they are centered around the gospel.
We have had a few hard moments recently but a friend of mine shared with me the quote by Elder Holland about why missionary work is so hard. He says something along the lines of it not being cheap because salvation isn't cheap. We'll have to suffer a little to understand and appreciate Christ's sacrifice for us (one of this week's letters from Cam). Also, the talk by President Monson about the abundant life. "Mañana volveré a intentarlo." It's really tough, but I love what we're doing because it is so important.
Okay, to answer a few questions, the Q&A papers are with the stuff S. Hess has. None of my companions have spoken English, and I feel good about my Spanish. It always is a little bit worse Thursdays when we leave the district meeting because I have become good friends with an Elder here from SLC and I am in a bad habit of talking to him in English! Although it is nice to have a friend, maybe it will be good when we have transfers and I am back to all Spanish. The shoes fit great, I will work on a list of what I want/need for Christmas. THANK YOU :)
AHHH, too fast! My time is basically up. But tell everyone I love them! Is Mitch still alive? I miss him so much. Tell Abby and Caitlin and V that I need to hear from them and tell all the neighbors I say hi and pray for them often. Tell Justin's kids I love them and tell Uncle Ty's family that I love them. Dad and Mom: don't ever be concerned about writing too much. Love you.
Hermana Norton
Monday, October 15, 2012
You would be acting against your purpose not to obey these simple commandments. (Sam)
Not too much happened this last week.. but what did happen was great! Do. and his wife R. were baptized this past saturday! So exciting! The lady that lives with them, M, wants to take a little more time. We´re still working with her and we are expecting next saturday or the next. Mx. had a really bad tooth infection and we had to postpone his baptism.. :( Its ok.. he´s ready to take upon himself the covenants but he will keep learning and he will be baptized soon.
That is by far the best feeling on the mission. Pulling out the long sleeve white shirt, the white pants, finding that pair of white socks, and tying on a completely white tie. :) THATS OUR PURPOSE! Whooo!
The spliting of our area has been pretty rough!.. My new comp is awesome. He´s from California and he is very smart. He knows soo many words in spanish. Even little random words.. basically he knows em all. ....... long story edited ... So anyways.. its been kinda rough ... and our numbers are down ... but We´re good. I have things that the Lord needs me to learn and maybe its the same with Elder Lyman. We´re working hard and if we match our will with the will of the Lord, we don´t have to worry. Sorry if that was a little heavy! :) Things are great.. the mission is just full of ups and downs. Gotta keep working through em!
Last night, Elder Lyman and I and another companionship in the other ward, traveled to Fuengirola, the neighboring city and we visited this senior couple of missionaries, Elder and Hermana Spainhower... and they made us dinner. :) And it was like a huge breath of home. Honestly, we ate enchiladas that reminded me of moms... they weren´t as good but they reminded me of yours, and we had these other burrito things, and we had this apple crummble stuff and vanilla ice cream..... ahhh so good! and then we walked out onto the back balcony and they look out right over this golf course............................. I JUST ABOUT DIED. I want to play soo bad! :) .......i hope you guys are practicing........... imma come home an beat you! But their window is right over the tee box of the dog leg right par four.... I wanted to grab my hybrid and go hit a nice little fade up onto the green.. :).... We´ll see! A sister missionary here in Malaga, hermana Latendri, and I are trying to organize a pday where a bunch of us go hit the range. So.... another thing to pray for I guess!......... O.o.. :) just kidding.
I helped our bishop the other day with a song that he wrote. He wanted to put it down onto sheet music and so we set up an appointment to meet at the church and he sang the song to me and I found it on the piano and wrote it down on some blank sheet music. :) Kinda fun. He was super appreciative and wants me to help him with another one soon.
Anyways, our times up.. lemme see if there were any specific questions you had..... Oh, i´m glad you got the letter! Sorry for the one pager to mom and dad and the 25 pager to Adam. I promise I love you all equally :) I just email you guys every week and Adam almost never. haha anyways, send me the card whenever. The one i´m using now still has a lot of room so we´re good.
Thank you for that spiritual thought. Loved that story!
I love you! Ask everyone to write me letters! I love letters! And tell everyone you see that Sam says hi... cuz if I were there I would tell them hi... :)
Love you all! Read more!.... actually STUDY more! Pray more... actually talk with your heavenly father more! And never miss a church meeting or activity. ITS THE REASON WE´RE ON THE EARTH. You would be acting against your purpose not to obey these simple commandments.
BYE!
-Elder Norton
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I received a little piece of revelation that I have been searching for for months (Hilary)
Okay, hey all! Hope this letter finds you happy and healthy! What a great weekend, right? And today also has been so nice. Life is really good.
Okay, first of all, girls can leave at nineteen!!!!! Just like Mom said, the minute President Monson made that announcement, I knew it was a divinely influenced decision. I immediately thought of A . And next, all the C. girls. I am going to write a couple letters and send them home for you to deliver to these girls, Mom, I am so happy that these blessings and this opportunity is going to be so much more available to so many girls. What an incredible blessing this will be. Wow.
Okay, so conference in general was so amazing. Below is what I wrote to President Ghent.
All is going so well here. What a great weekend. I love conference and especially listening as a missionary, from a totally different aspect.
I am so so grateful to be companions with Hermana Marca and we are working really hard right now. We haven´t seen immediate results to our efforts, but we have been doing our best to continue working with faith that God will keep His part of the promises He gives us. He will bless us and we will see the fruits of our labors. Near the end of this week we felt like, although our lessons weren't perfect, we had really strived to do all we could to bring the Gospel to our investigators. We decided to fast and leave it up the Lord. Sunday morning we met an investigator who sincerely has the desire to be baptized and realized that God will always answer our prayers in HIS own way.
It was really neat listening to conference with a few investigators in mind and also being able to feel the Spirit so strongly. There were a few moments when I received impressions and answers of ways I can help the people I am teaching. I am so grateful for our prophets and the leaders of our church and how intune they are with our needs.
A few of my favorite messages were from Larry Echo Hawk on the Book of Mormon, from Robert C. Gay on integrity and repentance, from Scott D. Whiting, from Elder Eyring, and, of course, from Elder Holland. A few thoughts I gained from this weekend.
"The Lord knows the level of our efforts." Scott D. Whiting
"His time should be enough for us knowing that He wants for us only the best. ... The Lord's delay often seem long... but they are always calculated to bless." Elder Eyring
"Love God and remain clean." Elder Holland
"He is aware of our needs and will help us if we call on Him." President Thomas S. Monson
One thing that is so interesting to me about conference is that although the messages are generally on topics we are familiar with, they will touch our hearts in new ways. Something else I learned this weekend also is that as I promise people the answers to their prayers, I need to remember this promise applies to me as well. God knows me better than I realize and He has my best interest in mind, as well as the best interest of each person here in Ecuador.
So this morning I received a little piece of revelation that I have been searching for for months. It came so unexpectedly as I was applying my mascara and the minute it came, all my mascara washed off. It was a really special moment and when I think about it I want to cry again. It was really comforting and empowering and I just want to re-testify that God knows us all so personally and sees the future and is guiding us in every way.
Mom, I don't know if I can express to you how much this birthday gift is meaning to me. So many of these letters have included EXACTLY what I have needed to hear this week. I don't know if all who wrote me realized what a blessing this would be for me. Thank you times a million Mom. I love you and am so amazed by all you do for me. All I know is this is the best gift I have ever received and November 1st will be a lonely morning.
Dad, How incredible are these experiences you are having right now? I am amazed. How cool that you were able to answer so many of her questions and be prepared to be exactly what she needed. Elder Holland always teaches of how we should return home from the mission, but never leave the mission field (something along those lines). Your missionary efforts, Dad, have gone so much farther than Chicago, Illinois.
Oh, funny story! The other day a man chewed us out for not knowing Quichua... I'm sorry; it hasn't made it on the priority list since I still am learning Spanish and I am worrying about the salvation of these people here! :)
Well. I have more to say, but I have to go soon so I'll finish up here.
I love you all! Thank you for everything.
Hermana Norton
Love God and remain clean!
Monday, October 8, 2012
ELDER HOLLAND ROCKS! (Sam)
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| Elder Holland speaking to the press about missionary age change announcement |
Wow! Conference was awesome! Soo many questions answered! Don´t you just love the spirit?
Its great to hear from everyone! I love getting your emails and whatnot. Updates, info, questions, everything. Life is so great! ´´So much to be grateful for´´.
So my new comp´s name is Elder Lyman. He´s from Riverside California and he has 22 months in the mish. So in our missionary terms.. he´s going to die here in Málaga. :) I´m gonna ´´kill´´ him. Haha so i´ll be here in Málaga this transfer and then the next as well. I´ll probably be here till after Christmas. Which is good cuz I don´t want to have to move right before Christmas and not know anyone. Málaga rocks. The members here are THE BEST.
WOW. Wasn´t conference just awesome??? So, so powerful. I know we´re not supposed to choose favorites or anything but........ ELDER HOLLAND ROCKS. Woww.. they announced that he was going to speak and I got goosebumps.. :) he didn´t even have to speak and I had goosebumps! Then he blew my face off with his talk. Wow. "Do.. You.. LOVE.. ME?" So much meaning!
Well things are awesome here. We have 4 in our piso now. We only have one bathroom and everyone sleeps in our room cuz there´s AC.. its un poco chungo... that means.. like.. its a little sketchy. Anyways, everythings nice so I can´t complain! We have 5 fechas right now. D and Ro, the couple... M, the lady that lives with them... Mx, the argentine guy... and a Nigerian named N that we was a reference from a recent convert. We´re working with his wife as well. We want them to be baptized together. We´ll see!
My comp has finished on the computer and is ready to goo...... so I have to go. But I love you! I´m soo so excited about the new announcement about the missionary age! So cool! Mom, do you remember exactly 1 year ago, the morning session on saturday, I slept through the first 15 minutes of saturday morning conference and when I came up you were like.."you missed it! They just announced that you can go when you're 18!" And I almost died??? You remember that? I lost it when I heard it was real!! :) Mom, don´t ever doubt that you can receive personal revelation! :)
I love you all!! Please keep me updated on the world. I love, love updates on random interesting things... your lives, stocks, sports, byu, earthquakes, technology, elections todo!!!! ADIOS.
-Elder Norton
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard" (Hilary)
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| It arrived on September 29th! A personal birthday/missionary message for each day of her birthday month!!! |
Dear everyone,
Happy October!! Do
something awesome today in honor of the greatest month of the year. I
love you all. I hope you all know that life is so good. Realize that,
okay? Sometimes we get so caught up in the little things that we forget
how blessed we are. If you think life is good, keep thinking that way.
If you don't, refer to the quote at the bottom of this email.
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| Thanks to everyone who participated! |
So, not too much happened this week. We haven't had
too much success, but we are working on finding our flaws and weak spots
and improving there. My companion is great. She is so sweet and has
taken really good care of me this week because I have been super super
sick. Mom, remember that one time that I was so sick and Dr. Seamons
said that some of his nurses had been sick with the same thing and they
explained it as if they felt like they were hit by a truck...? That is
exactly how I felt Saturday and Sunday. Saturday my companion was able
to go out and teach and I stayed with some members, but yesterday we
were basically stuck in the house all day after church. I literally
could not lift my head or walk or talk or eat without a lot of pain. My
companion has been super helpful. Friday President Ghent and Hermana
Ghent and Hermana Hess were here in Otavalo and he gave me a blessing. I
am definitely getting better now. And the elders in our zone have been
so concerned. This afternoon they knocked on our door with a handfull of
balloons and this box of a whole bunch of chocolates and confetti and
random stuff like that. They were like, "Get better! Be careful! Don't
work if you shouldn't! Take care of yourself!" That was so so sweet.
These guys are so great.
Here is part of my letter to President from this week.
Saturday
and Sunday I was super sick, and was not able to go out and teach.
Hermana Marca and I were able to find members to do splits with us so
that she could accomplish something Saturday, but Sunday we were both
stuck in the house. We didn't have the weekend that we were hoping to
have and numbers-wise it wasn't so great. But I finally feel like I am
getting better and I am really ready to be able to work. I have already
learned a lot from Hermana Marca. She is loving and caring and willing
to do whatever she needs to to get this work moving. She has a lot of
enthusiasm and I am really grateful to be working with her.
At
the moment we don't have any investigator with a baptismal date, but we
are working on that. We have a few who weren't able to attend church
yesterday because they were traveling and we are going to put more
baptismal dates this week. That is one thing that I have learned the
importance of. I remember before the mission I wondered why people
always talked about "numbers." I remember thinking that I wasn't going
to put so much focus on the numbers, so much as just helping the people
here. But early in my mission I realized why the baptisms are so
important. We're not just helping people here, but we're helping them to
make saving covenants. That is why there is nothing more important. There will be nothing more important that
they do, than to be baptized.
I know there was more I wanted to say, but
can't think of it now, and we're out of time. I love you all.
Hope all is well. Thanks again for everything.
H. Norton
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the Gospel. There is opposition in all things (2 Nephi 2:11), everywhere,
for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We
have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with
His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence,
and joy OR we can go it some other way, any other way, whatever other
way, and go it alone - without His support, without His power, without
guidance ... in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask,
which way is easier?" - Elder Lawrence C. Corbridge
Yeah, life is hard sometimes. But I can't imagine how much harder it would be without the gospel.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Happy Monday from ESPAÑA! (Sam)
Happy Monday from ESPAÑA!
Wow. Things could not be better! So much going on in the mission its crazy! I think I may have mentioned it last week but I can´t remember so I´m gonna say it again. The transfer ended yesterday and this transfer Elder Núñez and I are getting new comps.......!!!!!!! Wow! Its crazy! We´re both staying in our area and we´re both getting new comps! We´re gonna have four elders in our piso. I´M PUMPED. My new comp is named Elder Lyman and he gets here tomorrow so I still don´t know him. We haven´t completely decided what we are going to do but we´re thinking about splitting the area exactly in two and then just going to work... then again, Elder Lyman and I may end up working in a pueblo just outside of Málaga thats called Torre Molinos.. ooorrrrr we may just not split anything and just work together in one big area. We haven´t decided yet and I don´t think we will until we´re with the newbies that are coming. We´ll see!
We haven´t talked or visited Mx since last week............. and he didn´t come to chruch....... :( but he told us in the middle of the week that he was sick so we´re thinking thats why. No worries. That guy read all of 1st Nephi after the first visit that we had with him and by the third he was done with 2nd Nephi.... . Its only a matter of time ..... :D. He lives a ways away and its kinda hard for us to visit him cuz we don´t have a car.. thats another reason my comp and I might just travel out there every day.. We´ll see. Do., R, and M are awesome!! They had a poor experience in church and then didn´t end up coming this week but they are progressing and learning and growing soo much. They have kids and were worried that their kids were going to be making too much noise in church and then when they got there, they sat in the back and all the other little kids and the whole ward was making more noise than they expected (just cuz its a ward full of mormons.. sorry.. we have a lot of kids..) and they couldn´t hear much of anything... :\ but they were super cool about it. E. Núñez and I knew they hadn´t really enjoyed church so we were going to just let the topic settle and not talk about it but basically right when we got there they opened the conversation up and were like.. hey! we´re gonna be honest.. we didn't really enjoy church.... there was too much noise! Haha... We´ll see. I have seen that people come to a point where the gospel begins to fill wholes and challenges in their lives.. so much so that there is little to nothing that can take them away from it. They see and feel and come to know the necessity of it in their lives and it only becomes a matter of time before they choose baptism. Not to say that Elder Núñez and I are going to let up, just saying that they are doing well, seeing the importance, learning, and keeping their commitments. The baptismal fechas for Mx, Do, R, and M are all for the 13th of Oct and everything's looking good.
Mom, to answer your questions... Everyone is safe and well in the mission. It rained for a day and half where we are and...... not anymore. :) Yeah there´s been some flooding in Spain but nothing for us. P-day was great. We (Elders Núñez, triana, geest, bailey, jones, pallas, forrest, neira, and I) went on a hike with a girl in one of the Málaga wards thats thinking about a mission. Kinda cool. I was telling her about Hil.. and how she didn´t know if she was gonna serve and that she´s out there baptizing the world right now.. :) We came back to Málaga and found M in the street and started talking. All is well. The ward(s) are are awesome! We´re serving in the 2nd ward but the 1st ward attends our building as well and so we meet both wards. A lot of the members that pertenecen............. are in our boundries... go to the other ward.... I don´t know why.. but we´re trying to get it all figured out.. We eat at our bishops house every other saturday. He's awesome. He loves music and he asked me to help him put this song that he made up onto sheet music. Service hours! :) We´ll see how that goes! Tell Sister Erekson thanks again. REALLY, she´s awesome. The youth here are awesome! Most/basically all are from barrio 1 buts its ok. I play piano in Priesthood and I am growing to love the piano more and more. I took it for granted at home. I love to just sit down and play now. btw, next package, I would love a copy of ´´waterfall´´ and ´´all of me´´ from the jon schmit book. Thanks. We don´t teach lessons during church hours like we did in HO.. I kinda liked that cuz we could teach to our investigators needs.. but no problem. Anyways.. thats all for now. I have letters for the fam that I haven´t sent yet. THE MISH IS CRAZY. Sorry. Ask people to write me! :D Thats all from me!
Love you all! BYE.
-Elder Norton
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