"Amazing man ... Great little lesson!" (Sam)

Hello!!

   Wow the weeks are flying by! Its going too fast! I have to slow this down somehow. Its great to hear from each of you - I love the updates and I´m happy to hear you´re all well. I´m doing great here, a little sunburnt from soccer this morning but doing very well!

   This past week has been great. Sunday, we had an attendance at our english branch of 30 people! Which is 150% of what we usually have. Being stationed here along the most sunny/vacationy spots in this part of the world, we get quite a few families and people that end up coming to our ward on Sundays because they´re away from their home ward. There is a large, (100 people weekly) Spanish ward here but all of the vacationers come to our branch because English is a more commonly spoken language than Spanish throughout the rest of Europe. This last Sunday we had a visiting family of 4 from Finland and a visiting family of 5 from Sweden. We have several members here from the Philipines and a member here from Egypt as well.. kind of a fun group. :) After church we all went over the missionary couple´s apartment for the ´´munch and mingle´´ that we have once a month.. name chosen by our members from england obviously. :)

   On wednesday we went out to visit a family in the Spanish ward that are basically the housekeepers of this reeeally nice house owned by a very wealthy man from eastern europe. They invited us out to the big house to ´help with some cleaning´ (and we honestly thought we were going to clean with them) but then they ended up just purposefully finishing early and just giving us a tour of the house and lunch..... haha SCORE. :) They told us that this guy has houses in about 8 countries in europe so when he´s not in spain they spend a good amount of time in the house......... Haha :D DOUBLE SCORE!

   After that we visited a recent convert of the APs (they had planned to visit and ran out of  time) . This guy lives (or lived I guess) in the coolest little town. Look it up on google images.. its called Benahavis. I would live there if I came back to live in Spain... so anyways, he used to live there but he has very very little money and he had to leave his house, so he found this torn down old shack of a restaurant... and he´s living in it now.. :)  And the man is SO happy and content! I love it! We had decided before hand that we would teach about tithing and when we pulled into the town he flags us down from his car and has us follow him aaaaall the way up the mountain to his little broken down shack... and we just looked at each other and said...... ´´diezmo ¿no?...´´ :) ´´tithing, right?´´.... so we go in and begin teaching--- go in, not really in.... we walked through the front gate where had several old chairs set up.. and we sat there and caught up a bit.  We had the first prayer and mentioned our topic and began teaching a little and he cut us off and said, can I go grab something..? and he runs inside and comes back out with this metal can with a slit cut in the top side big enough to fit a coin in... and he says.. ´´whenever I can, I run down to this parking lot down in the city and I traffic the people and cars that are parking and sometimes they give me a little tip. When I come home, I thank the Lord for what he has given me and I always put a tenth of what I earn in this can, feel it.´´.. and he passes it over to me.. It was surprisingly heavy and I passed it over to Elder Butler.. so anyways, I learned a coool lesson that day. Or better said, I was reminded of a cool lesson that day... Having a lot or having a little doesn´t necesarily make you happy or sad, what makes you happy or sad is your outlook on what you have or don´t have. Amazing man. Great little lesson.

   Everything else this week has been boring office stuff... :) Paying rent for all the pisos in the mission, ordering new cell phones for the new misisonaries that are coming, paying bills, renting tons of new pisos, car breaking down twice, missionaries cell phones and credit cards getting lost, stolen, or broken... you know, the works. :) 

I do get to speak tomorrow in the English branch! I gave my testimony at the start of the month and had only brought my Spanish scriptures, I got up there thinking about a scripture I wanted to share, and thinking I´d just be able to translate it quick or think of the English version of it.. and I looked down at the scripture and said....... basically nothing.... cuz I couldn´t translate it into MY OWN LANGUAGE....... haha so i´m sittin there struggling and a big arm reaches over my shoulder and sets a big english ´´quad´´ down in front of me with the scripture open... :) Thanks branch presidency!... haha so anyways, we´ll see how this talk goes tomorrow. The topic the branch president gave me was ´´The Atonement and Missionary Work´´................................ The most open, broad topic EVER. hahah We´ll see!

   Hey I gotta go, Love You! Thanks for everything! Keep the people/marriage/mission updates coming!! I thought the world back home was gonna stop when I left but I was wrong!! :) Keep me informed! BYE!

-Élder Norton

ps: how much time do Sam Johnson and Will Montgomery have in the mission? They´ll totally be serving at the same time right?? I WANT TO ROOM WITH THOSE TO GUYS AFTER THE MISH! THEY ARE THE BEST!

Watch as the Savior teaches about the Widow's Mite

Mark 12:41–44

"Choose to have a good week!" ( Hilary )

Beautiful Hermanas!

We didn't hear from Hilary this week but thanks to a couple of friends of hers I have these excerpts to share. 

The first is a little bit of an email from Sister Ghent, her mission president's wife:

Hello Sister Norton,

I just saw Hermana Norton this afternoon and she looked beautiful and is a mighty missionary.  President Ghent gave Hermana Norton the additional assignment of being a sister leader in the mission, so currently she is in a trio and being trained in that assignment.  Hermana Cantos, who is also wonderful, will be Hermana Norton´s companion when Hermana Cooper returns home this Tuesday.  As a sister leader Hermana Norton will attend the Mission Leadership Council meetings, travel and train the other hermanas in the mission.  This Saturday the mission will be divided, the Quito mission and the Quito North mission.  Hermana Norton will be in the Quito mission and President Richardson will be her new mission president.  We have great confidence in Hermana Norton.  She is so thoughtful too.  For Mothers Day she wrote me a beautiful note which meant a lot to me.  We will miss Hermana Norton, she is petite, yet she possess a mighty spirit which lights up a room.  She will continue to do great work for the Lord!

The second excerpt is what Hilary sent to a friend

My assignment consists of doing divisions with each companionship of sister missionaries to help them for a day and train them in what they might need. We help out with any problems and answers questions that the sisters have. It is a very broad assignment, me explico? Anyway, it's super cool and super fun and super exhausting and I love it.

Hermanas Harris and Norton

Ofelia Pusuqui is my new sector and my companion's names are Hermana Cooper (from Texas) and Hermana Cantos (from  Ecuador). They are so great! We are having so much fun. They are really sweet. This sector is literally the middle of the world. It is really hot in the day and really cold at night! Sam Harris started her mission here! Everyone talks about her, I love it! Hermana Harris had to go home sick a little while ago. I hope she is doing well. If you run into her tell her I love her!

Okay, we have an investigator who will be baptized soon who was living with the father of her daughter, but they aren't married. This is a huge problem everywhere.  Anyway, she wants to be baptized (he's already a member) so the other day we explained the law of chastity and the following day we visited them and he was living in a different house on that same property. They are great and both really want to keep the commandments. Saturday we were going to have a baptism, but it fell through. The font was full and everything. That is one of the most dreaded mission experiences and I thought I would make it through without that. R was going to be baptized but there was a whole bunch of opposition suddenly from her daughter and she called us saying she wouldn't be able to be baptized and that she was sick, etc... So sad! I hope we can help her out this week because she had already had her interviews with the district leader and with our mission president's counselor and everything and she was so sure! Pray for her! The good thing was that yesterday we did have a confirmation of a kid who got baptized with his mom and then hadn't ever gotten confirmed. It was like five weeks later, but hey! He had a huge change of heart and is really doing good now!

Be happy! Choose to have a good week!

Hermana Norton

"We went to England today!" and photos! (Sam)

Hey good to hear from you all!

   The week has been great. Getting a lot done, finished up renting several new apartments, changing apartments of several companionships, and we actually have been getting out to teach a little more recently. Its a LOT harder than I thought it would be to not just sit in the office all day and be busy. Its hard to explain but you get so caught up in things here that you could honestly be here from 10 to 10 every day. The truth is that you probabaly wouldn´t be effective or efficient all that time..... but there are quite a few things that constantly need fixing or changing. So anyways, we have been trying to find a good balance between office time and proselyting. It feels a little better.

   We went to England today!.... yeah... for real ............ Actually GIBRALTAR ... which is controlled by the UK :)

 i´ll attach photos. MONOS POR TODOS LADOS!

Hey we didn´t give ourselves enough time to write... :( 

Love you guys!!!

"A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men." (Hilary)

The Candyman and philosopher Willie Wonka

Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing so well! I miss you all very much, but will be seeing you very soon, and don't want to miss a minute of what I am doing right now. Yesterday we went to Miguel and Evelyn's and her brother opened his mission call. He is going to IDAHO. Ha! How cool!!! Anyway, we did a little family home evening and it was so special and helped me to remember that what I am doing is so special and that I have to enjoy every second because it is what I have been waiting for all my life (and what I will reflect on in the future).

Okay, so the bad news is... I TOTALLY forgot about wishing Dad a happy father's day and Mitch a happy birthday (and McKenzie a happy birthday). I am the worst. I feel so awful and I owe you all apologies (sp?).

The good news is... yesterday were transfers and although I didn't want to leave Calderon because I love it so much and have had the most amazing time in this sector, I have a new calling! A few months ago President assigned a couple sisters to be "leader hermanas" here and one is going home in two weeks and I am taking her place! WHAT? I know, right? So I will be in a trio for the next couple weeks with Hermana Cooper and Hermana Cantos. I am still with Hermana Valera (and we just picked up her new companion, Hermana Quizhpe) right now but in like thirty minutes I will head to my new sector, o sea, Ofelia. It is actually really close, just one zone away. I am bummed to leave Calderon and nervous about my new assignment, but overall, super excited to have new responsibilities and super humbled to be trusted in this calling.

We have had a crazy week. Wednesday we had a conference and it went really well. It was cool and they asked us to participate a bit and I felt like it turned out okay and I really learned a lot. Thursday we had to be in the offices at 6 am to renew my visa. I was there with Hermana Giles and Elder Clinger though, which was way fun to catch up with those two! They're so great. It was a long day. Throughout the week my companion had been dealing with a stomach sickness (it happens to all of us here in Calderon and this is a nicer sector! I am not sure what the deal is.) and Saturday she just couldn't work at all. Luckily she is getting much better now. But the rest of the week was normal and great.
Found a couple new investigators and families and things are going okay in the obra.

Things were good with the Hermana Valera. We only had less than three weeks together, but it was fun. I think we both learned quite a bit and now President is trusting her to train! I hope things turn out for her. We spent a lot of time laughing together; I want to marry someone that likes to laugh. Sometimes when we're walking together we sing and rap. "A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men." (Name that movie.)

Okay, Dad, know that I love you with all my heart! I am sending letters soon, I hope! Thanks for everything!

Hermana Norton

There are some really great lines in the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl 

and naturally Hilary would remember one that is very thought provoking. 

I, on the other hand, can only recall the really weird lines ... for example:

Veruca Salt: 

Snozzberries? Who ever heard of a snozzberry?

Sam Beauregarde: 

I've got a blueberry for a daughter...

"Fun crazy successful week! Very fun. Very CRAZY. Very successful. :) " (Sam)

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don't much care where.

The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.

                  ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland



Hello Family and Friends

   Fun crazy successful week! Very fun. Very CRAZY. Very successful. :)

Like I mentioned last week (i think) this week was gonna be really crazy with all the missionaries coming. This was the first week of the transfer so at the start of the week 14 new missionaries came from Madrid to Malaga and were here for several days doing a bunch of different things like meeting their trainers receiving trainings and orientations and doing Spain residency stuff.. and that was headed up by Elder Butler and myself and one other missionary in the office. His name is Elder Castillo and he and his wife are here serving as a missionary couple. SO AWESOME. Mom and Dad, I hope you seriously plan on serving one day. YOU GUYS WOULD BE SO AWESOME HERE. So that was really fun to be able to finally see and live through a transfer week in the office. Elder Butler and Elder Berrett talked a lot about it and each day and how it would go and bla bla but I didn´t really catch everything they would say so it was nice to see how it all works. The down side is that we have HAD to miss all of morning studies the last like... well the whole last week because of one thing or another here in the office. It's kinda hard cuz part of you feels super disobedient and then you realize the importance and the need for what you are doing. Its obviously a different life here in the office but President taught me a really interesting lesson a while back.

   When I was being picked up from my last area (Aljarafe-Sevilla), I came to Malaga right after a conference with President and the APs so we all drove back to Malaga in the same car. The ENTIRE car ride back, President Deere was sitting in the passenger seat reading his english scriptures aloud... Sometimes we were listening to try to hear and focus on the chapter but it was like a 2 and a half hour drive and a lot of the time President would just be reading outloud and none of us would even be listening... haha it was a really interesting lesson. He wasn´t reading cuz ´´he didn´t have time in the morning´´. It may have been a thought in his head but it wasn´t the main reason. He wasn´t reading ´´cuz there were missionaries in the car´´... we were just coming from a 4 hour long conference, he wouldn´t keep preaching to us... The reason he was reading was because he really understands the passage in 2 Nephi 32:3.  FEAST it says in english, in Spanish it uses deleitaos, or delight yourselves upon the words of Christ, because the words of Christ will tell you ALL things what ye should do. Each one of us has different goals or drives in life... President Deere´s is teach and guide the missionaries in the Spain Málaga Mission. He KNOWS that as he feasts (with real intent Moroni 10:4), those words will tell him what to tell us. They will tell him what to teach us. They will tell him what to advise us to do.

   The invitation... I can´t believe those words are coming out on my email home to friends and family... is not just ´´read more´´...

 The invitation is to feast with a purpose. 

The famous line from Alice in Wonderland... (I'm paraphrasing) 

"If you don´t know where you want to go, 

it doesn´t matter which road you take"...

MAS O MENOS. :P

   Anyways, I love you all! Kind of a cool quick lesson... something the Lord wanted to teach me. Maybe you can get something out of it as well.

¡Hasta la próxima! Love you!

Élder Norton

Financiero

Misión España Málaga

La Iglesia de Jesucristo

Happy Father's Day!!!

Enjoy a CELEBRATION of Fathers HERE

"... he kept the Sabbath and later in the evening felt an impression that something was going to happen ..." (Hilary)

Dear Family

The week went well. We saw a miracle this week that really boosted our animos (spirits) and we are excited to keep working.

M A was baptized Saturday. His original baptism date was last Saturday and a few days before his baptism he explained that he didn't feel ready and that he wanted to run a test. He was having a hard time keeping the Sabbath, so last Sunday he did everything in his power and obeyed completely, waiting for a specific blessing in return. When he explained to us he wanted a specific blessing, I remember explaining to him that he needed to keep in mind that when he would be baptized, he would receive many blessings. That Heavenly Father had given him many answers and that sometimes we have to take the first step, having faith. It wasn't that I didn't believe that Heavenly COULD bless him with a job, it was just that I wasn't sure if that was Heavenly Father's plan or will and I didn't want him to push off baptism waiting for blessings he might receive after exercising his faith and being baptized. Well, I didn't want to pressure him so we told him we would push off his baptism. Sunday came and went and he kept the Sabbath and later in the evening felt an impression that something was going to happen Wednesday. Wednesday he was called about a job. We visited him Thursday and he was sure and convinced that he needed to be baptized and that Heavenly Father had been listening to his prayers. It was really amazing. He still has a lot to learn, but since I met him, I have seen an incredible difference in his humility and obedience and faith.

Hermana V is doing really well. She has been struggling with tooth pain since she got here, and it gets to the point where she won't talk during lessons or contacting. Today we saw a dentist and they pulled the tooth. I am hoping she'll be willing and able to work now.

We are at a point where we are searching for new investigators because those who were going to progress are now baptized and those who weren't we are letting go of. We have been praying and asking for references and haven't received many, but we will continue to ask and pray for them. And to be able to find the people that Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

Okay, the Hermana that is going to be in Utah is named P. Montoya-Romero. She feeds us Sundays and Tuesdays. Her husband is in the stake presidency and they are THE GREATEST. Anyway, she is so great and I really care about them so much. I will give you her email address so you can get in touch.  I haven't tried on the new skirt yet, but it looks super great!! I think I would like another like that if you can find one. For the most part I don't need anything else. I am getting rid of a lot. I am going to see what I can send to you with her. You can ask her if she'll have time to eat with you or you can just get her something nice... I don't know. I will think of what it could be.

Well, I know the other day I told you I would be home the first week of November. I am not sure anymore. At that point that was the truth, but now they are saying they are going to be changing things. I am so so sorry. Please continue with your plans and I will let you know as soon as possible when I will be home. This week we should be seeing some changes, so I will keep you updated. 

Okay, I have to go for now. I love you all! Thanks for everything!

Hermana Norton

Listed below are a few thoughts from others about the blessings of keeping 

the Sabbath Day holy

Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life? - Personal Stories Angela Dawn answered...

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy has been a blessing to my life. Before joining the church, we would swim in our back yard pool every Sunday. We are taught instead to spend time with our families in prayer, scripture study, journal writing, visiting the sick, singing hymns, listening to uplifting music, resting, and attending all of our Sunday meetings. Watching TV or going shopping is not keeping the sabbath holy. It is one of the ten commandments I feel is forgotten the most due to its construed meaning. It was hard for us to keep the sabbath holy because we loved swimming every Sunday evening - it was a family ritual. We decided it was important to obey all the commandments, not just the ones that were the easiest. I am so grateful we did because one Sunday evening, a car was driven in our pool along with the fence. It could have killed us or caused serious harm to the members of our family. I have a testimony of keeping the sabbath holy and know the commandments truly help us. I believe that as we trust in the Lord, we will not feel deprived of anything!

mormon.org/stories/saviors-teachings

How has attending Church services helped you? - Personal Stories

 Kalia answered...

Church services refresh my week and my life. I find that I am able to focus more on all that I have to accomplish, and remember the purpose behind it all, when I begin each week by attending the three meetings held each Sunday by the church. The central focus of our worship services is our Savior. I am grateful for our Sacrament Meeting, where we have the opportunity to partake of the Bread and Water in rememberance of Christ's atoning sacrfice and where members of the congregation are called upon in advance to give talks on different Gospel topics. I have come to understand for myself, and gain a testimony of God's great wisdom in provide us the Sabbath day. A day to rest from OUR labors (not His labors), to rejuvenate ourselves with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to feel strengthened by the faith of those around us. I know that, just as God has said "the Sabbath day was made for man, not man for the Sabbath". I have gained so many blessings from honoring the Sabbath Day. My testimony has grown and I have been strengthened. Every time!!

 Amber answered...

Attending Church and partaking the sacrament each week strengthens me and gives me a new resolve to do better the following week. I am so grateful for the Sabbath! Without the Sabbath and the sacrament, I feel I would get so worn and overwhelmed with life. Going to church and observing the Sabbath help me to gain a greater perspective of why I'm here, where I am in life, and what I need to be doing to be happy to return to my Father in Heaven.

 Josh answered...

Attending Church services has helped me to truly appreciate the commandment of honoring the Sabbath. From learning more about the scriptures, to being able to actively participate in learning and teaching, and to strengthen my faith in the Savior have helped me appreciate the need for a "sabbath" day where we intentionally set aside the concerns that we deal with from day to day and have the opportunity to be in a spiritual context to help us better deal with those concerns and to honor a commandment that has plenty of promises associated with it. The world disregards the Sabbath and I am grateful to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where this commandment is reinforced and attending Church services is a glorious part of helping me live this commandment.

 Jess answered...

Sundays are my favorite days. Let me tell you why. I love the Sabbath because I get to go to Church, partake of the sacrament, and renew covenants and promises that I made with God. I also get to feel of His love and His Spirit when I am at Church. In a way, it lets me "recharge my batteries" for the week. It hasn't always been easy to put the Lord first, especially on the Sabbath. I am in a field of study that often would require me to work on Sundays, although I am still in school. I made the decision to tell my instructors and professors of my beliefs and ask if I could have Sundays off to worship and come closer to Christ. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, and required more courage than I think I had. Although many of my peers and instructors think that I have "limited" myself because of this decision. But because of that decision, my life has been so blessed because I can do those things that are not only important to me, but to Heavenly Father. I have seen a difference in my life because I observe the Sabbath and do my best to keep it holy, and attend Church services. I am uplifted and enlightened, I get to serve others as well as teach and learn from them.

mormon.org/stories/attending-church-services

                                                                                                                                                         


            

"I have my personal computer/desk... I have like 10 of those wire baskets... I have an ELECTRIC STAPLER... Its the real deal." (Sam)

WEIRDEST WEEKS OF MY MISSION

baptism goal for the month?

   Hello family and friends! Thanks for reading and writing! I love the updates I receive from you guys.

Don´t worry about last week on saturday! It gave me a little extra time to write an email all in spanish. :) It was actually harder than I thought it would be.. but I have to get used to it now.. seeing that its what I do here in the office. A lot of what I've been doing these last couple of ´´weird weeks´´ has been communicating with landlords and companies that are the mediators between the ´´renter´´ (me) and the dueños or landlords. So a looot of phone calls and a looot of emails. All in spanish... all about a stinkin 11 page apartment contract..... :) haha Its veery different than what I was doing two and a half weeks ago.

   Several days ago, we received the ´´transfers´´ from President............................... the BIG FAMOUS TRANSFERS. hah and we in the office received it right when he finished it so we could make the mission travel plans and the new phone lists, etc. Anyways, its been really weird and crazy around here because we HAVE to get some of these things done... like by deadlines is what I mean. So its less ... "go out... and find people... and teach.... and try to baptize monthly..."  but its more like..."ok here´s the transfer information that no one knows about yet.  By saturday midday the travel plans need to be done. By Monday morning all the mission tickets have to be bought. On tuesday, 17 new missionaries will arrive and will meet their trainers and after need to reach their designated areas by midday the next day... and etc..." haha its different. The responsibilities are completely different. I was talking with one of the other office elders a day or two ago and we were talking about how it is honestly like a full time job... hah... I have my personal computer/desk... I have like 10 of those wire baskets... I have an ELECTRIC STAPLER... Its the real deal. :D

   So wednesday started off kinda rough. At 4am we left to take Elder M to the airport........ yeah. My first ´´hijo´´ in the mission. He's been having sporadic health/heart emergencies and he had to be sent home. :\  It was nice to be able to give him one last hug in the airport and hand him a little letter I wrote him and picture of when we met at the mission home. He´s content with what he has done in his mission thus far. Which is important. I just hope he´s alright.

   Anyways, this last week and I think this following week will be the longest and hardest of my mission thus far. O.O... the week before transfer day and the week after transfer day. PRAY FOR US PORFAVOR. hah not to mention that President already gave me the list of the 7 new apartments I need to rent for next transfer. :)

   Although I know it sounds like i´m complaining a lot, know that I am pumped for this and excited !! Talking about it is how I show i´m looking forward to it! I honestly feel so so... useful! or needed! or... trusted! I don´t mean to boast but I´m just happy to be here and happy to give my work and energy. Missionary work on the street can get you down quickly if you are rejected by those you put your hand out to.. but being here i choose what I do and what I do is helpful. :)

I love you all! Thanks for everything again! CHALENGE FOR YOU. Go listen to President Hollands talk, ´´Safety for the Soul´´. We have it playing right now here in the office and its is amazing me. Elder Holland testifies with incredible power. It is each of our responsibility to KNOW with the same surety and testify with the same energy of heart. ´´lift where YOU stand´´

-Élder Norton

Go HERE for Elder Holland's talk 

"I hope I am never the Hilary I was before my mission." (Hilary)

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing so well!

We have had a good week. It was a bummer to see Hermana Rodriguez go because we had a lot of cool experiences together here in this sector. I learned a lot during my time with her and more than anything I really enjoyed it. But things are going really well with my new companion, Hermana Valera. She is fun and I have tried to help her out in little ways so that the two of us can keep progressing. She has a great spirit and positivity.

Today was a super fun p-day. We went to Cotopaxi (I think the highest Volcano in our mission) as a zone. It was a super difficult hike and it was extremely COLD, but we made it helping each other along the way. I found myself pulling my poor companion who just wasn't going to make it. When I got tired, other missionaries pulled her. It was super steep. Anyway, we couldn't make it to the VERY TOP because that takes like seven hours, but we made it really far and it was so cool! We really made it as a group and I was reminded that life should be like that. I was reading the other day in the Liahona that the  ordinances that lead us to the Exaltation are things we do with others, o sea, with our family members. I have learned a lot during the mission about service and working with others. I am really grateful I am here. I think I am learning to be more patient and loving and humble in my relationships with others. I hope I am never the Hilary I was before my mission. Elder Holland says in one talk, we should never be the same person we were before the mission. Even if we were great, that was a "young great," he says. I love that!

Okay, M A was not baptized Saturday, but he will be THIS coming Saturday. He is doing really well, he was just feeling pressured on the date. Anyway, he has a lot of changes in his life and is growing in his faith. J and A and Y and G are all doing really well.

The other day we did divisions with two sisters who just got called to a new calling here in our mission, "leader sisters" or something like that. I don't know, there isn't really a title. Anyway, their responsibility is to do divisions with every companionship every transfer and see how we are doing and how we can improve and all that. It went well and it was super fun! I will send a picture with Hermana Cooper. It was cool.

Did I mention last week that a couple weeks ago Hermana Rodriguez got bit by a dog? It was crazy.

Tell Mitch and Adam that I love them!

Dad, tell everyone that is receiving their calls and preparing to go out to serve that I say congratulations and work hard. I wish them the best. These are the greatest opportunities ever. The best two years, to be completely cliche and sappy.

Okay, July 5 mas o menos a family we eat lunch with a couple times a week will be in Eagle Mountain. They are THE GREATEST. I literally feel like they are my parents/best friends here in Calderon. Anyway, Hermana Paola Montoya Romero offered to take something to you and bring something back for me. Just as a heads up. SHe will be emailing you. She knows a bit of English. ANyway, I hope you can meet and do something nice for her. I can't express how much they have done for me.

I love you!

Hermana Norton