"I found the answer to every "why" question..." (Hilary)

Hi everyone! Sounds like you all had a great week! I love hearing from you! Thanks for writing.

Okay, reading about Dad's accident makes me so sad. I think I have always had this idea or mentality that my dad was invincible (sp?). I hope he is doing okay. Be careful Dad! 

This week I got to do divisions with Hermana D. I Love her. She is passing through a lot of trials right now. I care about her a lot and pray for her so much. I am sending a picture.

Also, one of the families that we eat lunch with is pretty well off. They have a lady that works for them and she is the one that cooks lunch and we always talk with her. I began teaching her a little with Sister Ca and I gave her a book of Mormon and told her where the church is in where she lives (Santa Ana, my first area) and Saturday she got baptized! She is great! I love knowing that we can help doing the smallest things. I wish I could have gone to her baptism, but that area is outside of our mission now. (It is in "mission ecuador quito" and I am in "mission ecuador quito norte")

I mentioned C. H. (the investigator) last week, and how she had showed up to church and explained to us that she had felt the need to attend. We visited her during the week, she accepted the baptismal invitation and felt the spirit really strong. She also explained that since the Gospel Principles class last Sunday (in which we spoke about Joseph Smith) she had been asking to know the truth in her prayers every day throughout the week. She is very prepared and so excited. Yesterday she loved the class in Relief Society about Family History work and asked us how she could start indexing and attending the classes. She also asked if she could pay her tithing yesterday. We feel really blessed to have met her and to be able to have a small part and offer a hand through this path she is taking to come closer to Christ.

This week I had a few humbling moments. Also, I haven't been feeling well and I think everything together is really helping me to reflect and work on recognizing what Heavenly Father expects of me at this time and what He wants me to be learning. I know there is so much I need to learn and develop in this time I have left. I am working hard and trying to reach my potential. Sometimes things are overwhelming and I know the adversary does all he can to discourage us and confuse our investigators. But I know these are the experiences and trials that Heavenly Father wants me to pass through to learn what I need to learn and become who I need to become. I love the Gospel and I am so grateful for the peace and eternal perspective it provides me with.

I liked this part from President Uchtdorf's message of the Liahona from last month.

President Brigham Young put it this way:

 “All intelligent beings who are crowned with crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives must pass through every ordeal appointed for intelligent beings to pass through, to gain their glory and exaltation. Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered … to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. … Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.”

I found the answer to every "why" question. In Alma 24... "because he loveth our souls." It was a nice little reminder. We had a couple really great experiences in the work this week that also helped me to remember that Heavenly Father's love is personalized and infinite.

Well, I had written down all the things I wanted to write about, but I simply forgot the list (I say that about every week, huh?) Thanks for the "fear not little flock" scripture. I love that one.

Okay, I am going to send this. Love you all. ENJOY CONFERENCE WEEKEND. Women, didn't you love Relief Society conference? How fun to see Linds there. Were you able to pass her the postcard I had sent? I love you all!

Hermana Norton

"...a shout out to my earthly dad. I am convinced he is the greatest of them all!" (Hilary)

We have very little time to write today! I have been in the offices and picking up missionaries and dropping off others all day and now there isn't much time to write, I apologize! But the week has been great and lots is going on!

Well, Hermana Cantos has seen her last days with a missionary badge. Tomorrow she'll be released! I have really enjoyed my time with her and I am seriously going to miss her. She has been a great example to me and I have loved serving with her. I hope to be able to visit her in the future!!! I love her!!

I received two new companions: Hermana Bastidas (Ecuador) and Hermana Galdame (Argentina). Hermana Bastidas is the new Hermana Leader (with me) and Hermana Galdame jokes that she is our "secretary".... Haha!

The transfers are all crazy because we are trying to change our transfers calendar so it's not the same as the mission Quito so that the offices (same building, different floors) aren't crazy full on transfers day. So this transfer ends in two weeks, and until then we are a threesome. The two are super great. We are going to have a lot of fun. I am excited. 

C. A. is doing really well. Had an interview with President this week and it went well. He is telling everyone about his baptism that will happen in a couple weeks when a member gets ordained as a... presbitero. (I don't remember what that is in English.) C. C. (the C. that came from NY and was really struggling) is doing well. He has to have an interview with President as well this week, and is actually running into some opposition, but we are doing what we can to help him. We found a couple other new investigators this week that are great. O., for example, was a taxi driver we contacted a couple weeks ago. We don't usually give our number to many, but I felt like I should write it down on a little hand out card and give it to him and Wednesday he called. He said he really wanted to get together and he accepted a baptismal date. It was neat. I don't know what will happen in the future. I hope this is his time and I know that he will accept the gospel, but I just was really impressed with how everything played out. Few taxistas turn into investigators. COOL. It was really interesting what he said when we met him. "Things have worked out for me and I have been happy, but their has been one problem: I am not doing things the Lord's way. I know I need to come closer to Him."

I read a talk this week that I really liked. I think it was Elder Bednar talking about tender mercies. After studying I was meditating in some of the tender mercies I have seen in my life recently. I was filled with gratitude as I pondered in all the blessings I receive from the Lord. He is so aware of us and is so willing to bless us. I know that He cares about the littlest things - He is detail-oriented! And even with little things that shouldn't matter in the long run, He is willing to bless us and help us and provide us comfort. He is so loving.

a Daddy-Daughter Date in 1997

Speaking of dads, I just wanted to make a shout out to my earthly dad. I am convinced he is the greatest of them all. I love you so much, Dad and I want you to know how grateful I am for you. Sometimes I think about how much I love you and I just wish I could give you a giant hug and express my thanks. So, through the computer, I am sending my hug. I love you and mom so, so much. Thanks for all you do.

A couple of scriptures I have been pondering this week... D&C 11:8... Moses 1:39 "MY work" + D&C 11:20 "YOUR work." We should be participating in both, right? It is interesting that the scripture in Moses is so well known, but not the similar scripture in D&C 11. Interesting. I like it a lot. The Lord only asks of us to strive to be obedient. And then He blesses us and blesses us and blesses us (Mosiah 2:20-24).

Okay, I am going to see if I can write a couple more emails. I love you all! Hagan lo justo!

Hermana Norton

"... then they started to try to take the mic from me." (Hilary)

Hi everyone! Thanks for writing!

Sean McClellan is in Ecuador in one of my old sectors
and ran into a family that knows me...
Sent me this picture this morning. hahaha

So fun to hear from you all! It has been a crazy week. And it flew by. I can hardly believe it. I hope I get to finish my mission here! There is a lot of potential in this sector and I am really enjoying the challenges as well. C A is a friend of a member here. He has been attending church for a couple weeks now and is really interested. He has absorbed everything and is very believing. Yesterday in Gospel Principles we taught about the church in ancient times and the church in these days. He understood well and was determined to later offer his own prayer to know if it was all true. E is doing well. He is a reference from a less active family. He is progressing and completing his commitments and has actually been a strong pillar for this family. He attends church and studies and really has the desire to do what is right. D is the boyfriend of a less active member. He is in the process of getting divorced so that he can marry his girlfriend (the member he is living with). We've spoken with them about obedience, chastity, the temple, and also many of the lessons to help reforce her testimony and build his. Yesterday D expressed to us his desire to be baptized. He is doing his part to get things worked out with his divorce and said that he wants to get married as soon as possible. He began as an apathetic investigator, but is actually studying and praying and attending church and little by little seeing the blessings of the Lord. He also really connected with the story of Joseph Smith.

This week we couldn't do divisions because I got sick again. But I am feeling much better and the mission nurse is aware and helping me. Today we dropped off little notes we wrote to all the sisters in our areas. The other day we were talking about what we wanted to do with our assignment: not just the basic, but all we are able to do (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17).

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; 

and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, 

to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I had a really interesting dream the other day that I decided I want to share. Dreams never really make that much sense, so just bear with me. I guess I was asked to plan a ward activity here in Quito and I decided I wanted the theme to be the restoration/Joseph Smith. I had it all planned and a lot of people showed up and it was going really well but something turned wrong and some members started showing another church video which was not what I had planned. I was trying to exercise patience so I just let them do their thing, knowing that at least I would be able to close by sharing my testimony. But the video just went on and on and everyone started leaving because they were bored. I finally stood up at front and started to bear my testimony about Joseph Smith and nobody listened. They were all putting the chairs away and then they started to try to take the mic from me. It was so weird (I am laughing to myself as I type this) but they were not letting me share my testimony. I felt so strongly that I needed to testify of the importance of the restoration and the validity of Joseph Smith. Anyway, that is how the dream ended, they were like following me through the chapel and I was anxiously trying to bear my testimony in the mic. WEIRD. What does that all mean? HAHA. Since that day I have been doing my best to always testify of Joseph Smith. I really do know he was a prophet called of God to restore the church! I just wanted to share it because I remembered what was happening to me before the mission. I remember that article I was writing and all the research I had to do for it and how the adversary took advantage of the situation and really shook my testimony. I know today that everything is okay though. I am glad I have been able to strengthen my testimony and have these experiences.

Another funny story. My companion has accumulated a lot of things here in the mission and yesterday she called the assistants to ask for permission to drop off a package in a bus station (Quitumbe) just outside of the limits of our mission. The bus would take it to the station in her home town and her family would pick it up. The assistants gave us permission. Today we went to Quitumbe and it was a long trip. I didn't have any money because our dueña had just passed by the apartment to ask for the money for the light and water and I literally gave her all I had left. Hermana Cantos had almost twenty dollars and was paying for the bus (which is 25 cents) until I could get to a money machine and pull out personal money. Well, in the bus on the way to Quitumbe someone robbed Hermana Cantos without us knowing. We got to the station, couldn't send the package, didn't have any money to get back to our mission, and while we were waiting trying to figure out what to do, I realized I couldn't even go to the bathroom! The bathroom entrance fee is 15 cents and we literally did not have anything. I called the secretaries (secretly wishing that Sam were my mission secretary at that moment) and we all just laughed. We took a taxi to the offices and they paid for it. The good thing is we had permission, so it was just a funny incident. But my poor companion! Her $20 and her cedula (ID type of thing) and everything : Needless to say it has been a long day.

Well, Hermana C is finishing her mission soon, as you know, and she is doing a good job of really reflecting on what she has learned and also taking advantage of every second left. I have learned a lot from her. She lives with her inactive siblings and stepdad, who is sick. Her mom passed away years ago. She was a source of support for her family and siblings before the mission, but had the desire to serve a mission. She worried about leaving her family, but took the step. The Lord has been watching over them during her whole mission. Last week she received an email from a sibling saying that they had attended church that Sunday for the first time since she has been gone. It has been such a beautiful blessing for her. I feel so grateful to be her companion and learn from her. I have been very blessed during my life and feel like the mission is helping me so much to put things into perspective. I will never forget these experiences. 

Hermana Norton

"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