"our investigators are progressing" and ... photos!

Sam's district dining room ... Elder Jones, A.P.'s ... and bedroom.

Um, is it just me, or is this place waaay too nice to be a missionary apartment? joanna

Hello family and friends!

I hope all is well back in the states! WOW. This past week was absolutely amazing. Absolutely crazy. Elder Jones and I did our numbers last night and he said that this last week may have been the best week he has had his whole mission.. Hah so we´re gonna do our best to keep it up! Keep praying for us! :) Here are our numbers for this week...

Investigators with fechas bautismales...5 a couple of our people dropped us.. :/

Investigators that attended church... 4 woot!!

Lessons taught with members present... 6... btw 4 of those were in one day.. haha boo yaa

other lessons taught this week..... 19. WOW.

Investigators progressing... 3... esta bien..

Less active and recent convert lessons... 2

Active member lessons... 3

New Investigators...... 16.... BOOM.

Honestly, I wish I could have a little camera on my should every day so I could better explain everything that's going on here. Like, this week was suuper awesome but the numbers don´t even capture all of it. It was just awesome! People didn´t cancel on us much, our investigators that are progressing are coming to conclusions and spiritual experiences on their own without our help... Ahhh its just great.

Some updates.. P., doing better than ever. I don´t know if I said this in my last email but we came to one of our visits with her and she told us that she was cleaning her house and whenever she would get tired, she would sit down, read the Book of Mormon, and pray on her knees. We gave her this little prayer card that she uses to help her and she saw on the picture, the people kneeling down so she just decided to do the same... she told us that every time she read and prayed, she received strength to keep cleaning... and then she showed us the bruises on her knees....... hah... the faith of some people. WOW. We have another kid named R, he's like 18 and he´s got the best heart. He lives with his mom and his sister and when we first started meeting with him he told us that he already prays. We asked him what he prays from and he told us mostly just his mom and family. his mom works suuper suuper long day from early early in the morning till way late at night and he says that she´s always dead exhausted. He prays for her and more or less takes care of his sister. He even helped her build/built this house project with an electrically powered windmill in the front for her sister. He´s awesome. He´s come to church the last to weeks in a row and he's on his way! We´ll keep working!

Anyways, Elder Jones and I are getting along soo well! Honestly! His personality and mine just mesh so well. We are both just pretty chill with whatever but not to the point where we can´t make decisions. We are both just 100% open and then we just talk till we reach a verdict. That right there is something I love in people. When people express their opinions but are willing to talk and listen and aren´t offended when we don´t end up going through with their idea. Anyways, we are getting so much done and setting goals that crazy.

And yes, the Ex-word EW-S200 Casio is that translator thing. If you can´t find it for anything cheaper than that I think I´ll buy it here. I actually haven´t touched any of my money yet. ps.. Hilary probably wont be able to find it out there. Whenever you can, just buy it and send it to her. she will be glad. promise.

Anyways, I gotta go but I love everyone! Dad, I hope Fathers Day was great! Sorry I never sent you anything! Expect something in the mail! :) I got the letter from Clay. Thank you much. BOUT TIME I heard from him.. :) just kidding. Others that have written me, Thank you! Expect letters back! They are coming.

HEY. The work of the lord is great. The church is true. And your testimony grows when you share it! See you in a couple years! -Elder Norton

Happy Father's Day to my favorite Dads

"Apparently I've been talking in my sleep a lot and more than once in Spanish. So, I guess I'm pretty cool." (Hilary's new email)

How is everyone? I'm doing so good. My day was an eight and then I got to read all your emails and it became an eleven. I love you all so much. Thanks for writing. DAD. Happy Father's day! I'm sorry I missed it! I sent you a letter. SO, anticipate that. I included one to Adam and Sam too. I'm out of stamps though. From the CCM we can drop off letters in the pouch thing with US stamps. But if we are sending them with another stamp, we have to go to a post office on a P-day and we haven't had the chance to do that yet. So, I have a few letters written and just waiting.

OKAY. On to the week in review. I think I'll go backwards; that will be easier for me. Today was our three weeks in the CCM mark and the CCM President and his wife took us out to the center of Lima. We got to tour the city a little, see some sites, hit up a museum and do some shopping. I got a really neat leather bag to carry my stuff in, really good quality and I talked em down to a good price, so that felt good! Lima is so cool! The driving is crazy. And it´s so cool to see all the old buildings. After, Pres. Cardon took us to Pizza Hut. We were in heaven. I mean. Pizza Hut on any old day in Utah would be nothing/gross. But here it is a nicer restaurant and American food was much appreciated. This morning, before our Lima tour we were able to do a temple session. I love the Lima temple.

Yesterday morning my sweet companion Hermana Masquez left to Cuzco. I miss her already. I wish she could have been my companion for all of my mission. These next three weeks I don't get a Latina companion... So :( All those other missionaries that just left are so important to me. I miss them all. I feel like they´re my best friends. Also, my current district is so great. We have a really great group of guys. We have a lot of fun and I'm learning so much from them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCH. LOVE YOU.

The people here sing so loudly and I love it. Also, they think we're so great at singing. It's hilarious. They just want us to sing all the time. Our North American district sang prelude music in sacrament and then the opening hymn was just so loud because I think they were just so excited to be singing. It's absolutely a way of worship for them; it's so heartfelt. I love these people. The other day there was an earthquake. Pretty small, but I've never experienced one before, so way cool. A couple weeks ago we had an earthquake drill because apparently soon there will be a huge one here that will kill 50,000. :( Sometimes when I'm talking with Latinas and I don't understand something they say, I feel like the old lady on Emma. They will turn to me and say the words so slowly and loudly, "ANGEL, MOTHER." It's hilarious.

Apparently I've been talking in my sleep a lot and more than once in Spanish. So. I guess I'm pretty cool. I love you! Thank you for sending me Sam's email. I can't believe how much success he's having! He's amazing. I loved the story about P. I can't print stuff here, but I will print everything when I can. I love you Mom. I miss you everyday. The only times I've ever missed my phone is when I wish I could text or call you and just talk. Dad told me about your new car. I CANT BELIEVE IT! I'M SO JEALOUS. Can I have it when I get home?? I loved reading about you and Adam hanging out so much. I love you two so much. Okay, Dear Elder me! I love you all. Hermana Norton

*** This post includes a pre-mission photo of Hil asleep in a dorm. This girl can sleep anywhere and regularly talks in her sleep. It's a great combination! ***joanna

"Her name is Pepa. She is fantastic."

Hello! Everything is great! The work here is going SO WELL! Just from last week alone we had... 8 people with baptismal fechas 3 people in church on sunday 20 total lessons taught 2 progressing investigators 14 received references 13 new investigators and in the course of the week we got either a phone number or address out of 105 people!! Those are called futures. Obviously, all of those people and investigators don´t all turn into baptisms but the important thing is that we are working hard and talking to everyone. Honestly, our duty is to just talk and contact and do our best to find people. We present ourselves and our message as best as we can to as many people as we can and we work with those that accept it.. even if its just a little.. :) Yes, I have had at least 3 doors slammed in my face already haha but do I walk away laughing? Yes. haha this is the work of The Lord. We represent Christ and people accept or reject. We are simple the conduits.
 STORY. We have been traveling a ton. Multiple missionaries have told me that my first week and a half to two weeks in the mission are the craziest they have ever heard... COOL :) but anyways, we were traveling again the other day, we had to go all the way back up to Madrid to get my residency card and then all the way back to Huercal in one day.... haha so we got back really late.. so we´re walking back to our piso and there is this little frail looking lady sitting over on this bench thing so what do we do? Obvio, we go and contact her. She started of verrry very quiet and reserved but as we showed that we only wanted to help her she started to open up. Turns out she lives alone, her husband has died, her family has all moved out and never contact her. Her neighbors always tell her how ugly and worthless she is and she has actually lost a lot of weight because what they are saying is effecting her mentally as well as physically.. I guess she stopped eating for a while and dropped a lot of weight almost dangerously quick.. anyways, we found her and she was just at the depths of despair and we shared a lot about God and how he loves her and how she has a purpose on earth and she ate it up. We told her about Joseph Smith and shared that Christ's church that was on the earth at His time is restored through Joseph Smith. Well anyways, we set up a cita or visit with her for the very next day and it went soooo well! And then she came to an awesome activity that night... this was Saturday... and then members picked her up for church and she loved it and then they took her back home after and then we visited her last night and she is eating everything up!! She has terrible terrible problems breathing and walking far cuz her heart rate shoots up way quick and she runs out of breath. So last night, when we went over, we offered to give her a blessing and she gladly accepted. Our first visit, we set a baptismal date for the 30th of this month and I think she is going to be more than ready! I´m so excited. Her name is P. She is fantastic. Anyways, that's my story.
Like I said, we have like 7 other baptismal fechas or dates and we are working with each of them. If only they were all as awesome as P. :) Anyways, all is well. I´m gonna try to send some pictures home this time. I have an sd card with a bunch of pictures, I´ll send it home too. I love everyone! JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH. -Elder Norton ps. AHH look up the ´´ EW-S200 Casio´´ Elder Pedersen, has one and he loves it. Supposedly I can get one here but it's way more expensive here. Will you PLEASE buy one for me and send it to me when you can? Annnd as soon as Hilary can get packages, send one to her too. Missionaries that have had them say they wish they would´ve gotten it day one cuz they use it everyday... allll they way till the end of their missions. Por Favor! :) Love you again! Hasta ver!

"Hermana Masquez was one of my best friends in Heaven" (Hilary's 3rd email from Peru MTC)

¡Hola todos!

Sorry I didn´t sign off in my last email. The computers just kick you off so I just sent it with a few seconds left because I was so worried it wouldn´t send. I have a lot to say! Thanks for all the emails! It was so nice to hear from MITTTTCCCHHHHHHHH. And I loved the pictures. Send more por favor! I was bummed to read about Adam´s game, but at the same time, I´m so proud that he is just killing it in baseball. You´re awesome Adam! I love you. I have letters for each of you, but they don´t pick up the mail here often, so it might not be there for a while. So just incase... Happy birthday big brother! I love you!

Okay, so last Wed and today, we got to go into the city to the temple. Such cool experiences. The city is crazy. I love it here. After we visit the temple we can do a little shopping. I purchased some rad ties for mis hermanos y mi padre. So. Once I can send those, I will. About mailing things. Could you send those small things in an envelope maybe? I have more things to send home too. But that might have to wait until later. Um, I was also wondering if you would be able to send me (once I'm in Ecuador and I can receive packages) my Jesus the Christ and Miracle of Forgiveness, the jump drive with the music, and maybe Lectures on Faith? I don´t own that one, but I would really like to read it!

Okay, Saturday we went proselyting! They bussed us all out to the sketchiest part of town and had us teach the less-actives and then contact. SO COOL. I feel like I´m doing okay with my Spanish, but then I got out into the real world and realized I am SO LOST. I have a lot of work to do. But the experience was so cool and by the end I felt like I could just stay out there all day and talk to everyone. I´m excited for Ecuador.

My companions have only continued to be sick since last Wednesday. They didn't go out Saturday because they were feeling ill. Also, Monday, my Latina companion was told by the dr. here that she couldn't go out due to an illness, SO. I´ve spent a lot of time in the bedroom doing my own personal study while a comp is snoozing. It´s nice though, I like personal study. I just hope they all get better. Especially Hna. Masquez.

So my English scriptures are starting to fall apart. I´m thinking about trying to order more. Bigger too. I wish I could receive packages here! I got a couple Dear Elders the other day. One from Cam, one from Zach Alder, one from Paul Parks. It's sooo good to hear from friends.

Thank you for the advice. We're about at week six, so if I can do this then I think I'm good.

The other day our teacher was talking about how important it is to just focus on the missionary purpose (invite others to come until Christ through the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ ..... etc etc etc) and I was thinking about how important this is not only with investigators but in companionships. Right now, I can be working on my relationships within my companionships and helping my comps come closer to Christ. And I know, when I focus on this, Heavenly Father will help everything else to fall into place.

I think Hna. Masquez was one of my best friends in heaven. I'm so sad to think about how in about a week she'll leave and I won't get to see her again. She's so great to teach with and I respect her more and more every day. Plus she's hilarious. We have so much fun.

Oh, I have memorized a whole bunch of scriptures in Spanish! First vision, Moroni 10;4-5, etc.

I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE. Everyday Heavenly Father gives me tender mercies. I see His hand in my life everyday. I´m so happy to be out here doing this. It just feels right.

Okay, write me more people. I love you all!

SAM I LOVE YOU!! I HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU! YOU ROCK!! Talk to every person you see. I just know that you're going to be/are s

Huércal-Overa, Spain (Sam's first email from the field)

Wow wow wow!

Hello!! I love all the emails! Love them. If I don´t answer all of them don´t fret! I will do my best.

Ok, so where to start???

c/ Silvestre Martinez de Haro Nº21, 2ªB

  04600 Huércal-Overa (Almería)

             España

That's the new mailing address.  Huércal-Overa is tiny. We can walk from one side to the other in like... 30 mins.. haha and width wise in like 8. We have a branch here of like 20ish I think. They are awesome. Yesterday was obviously Sunday and it was great. We´ve had two member citas or visits in the 3 days we´ve been here and the food is waaay good. Thus far.. :) I´m getting a lot more used to sea food. No prob. :) Anyhooo if you did the math, I´ve been here for 3 days but we left Madrid Wednesday right. STORY TIME.

So here's the deal. All the missionaries serving in Russia, Ukraine, and Italy left Monday or Tuesday, and then all the missionaries serving in Barcelona and Madrid left Tuesday but the Málaga missionaries stayed till midday Wednesday before we shipped out and it was honestly the longest like day and a half.. haha esta bien.. but anyways, we took a 4ish hour train ride from Madrid to Málaga where President and Hra. Clegg picked us up.. and that is where the picture of the four Malaga missionaries with them is from (the one on the mission blog)... and then we went to the mission home and had a little orientation, interviews with president, and got our comps. Elder Jones is the MAN btw. :) He´s great and we get along really well. We then had this awesome meal and then went out on the streets down in the city and contacted for about 2 and a half hours. Pretty good stuff. Then we went back and slept at the mission home that night. The next morning, we all went to the major train station in Malaga and shipped out to our areas... everyone.... but me and E. Jones.. haha :) He is just over a year into his mish and he had to go present his passport at some government building in Ciudad Real.. So we got on a 3 hour train ride to Ciudad Real to take care of that. We got there just to find out that everything.... EVERYTHING... was closed. It was some local holiday there i guess. A holiday for Don Quijote De La Mancha.. :L hahah so anyways, we called the elders in the city close by (cuz the missionaries in Ciudad real are hermanas) to see if we could sleep at their place for the night and just go to Ciudad real the next day.. we then found out that they were actually coming to Ciudad real for the ward/branch get together thing with the misioneras in Ciudad real. So we went to that and we was dunked head first into basically 100% Spanish. Awesome. HARD. Awesome. :) After, we traveled back to the train station, went to Puertollano with those two elders and dropped our stuff off at their place and then contacted for the last.... 3 hours of the night. (btw, the schedule for our mission is 7:30 to 11:30.. so we get back every night around 10:15 or 10:30... so then we just zonked out for the night. The next morning, we got up bright and early and traveled again, to Ciudad real and walked for.. like 30 minutes to the government building for E. Jones to present his passport.. and then we ended up just missing the earlier train that we were going to take to Malaga so we contacted for.. like 2 hours in Ciudad real till the other train came. We hopped on that one to head back to Malaga to pick up my 2 big bags that we stored in a locker thing there (btw, everywhere we´ve been traveling and walking and stuff I was just wheeling that little suitcase around with me....... Bahaha.. worst thing ever. :) So we traveled that 3 hours back to Malaga to get those, (we grabbed some quick McDonalds... :)) and then we got right on a 5ish hour bus right tooooooo Almería where we met the missionaries there at like.. 10:20 and we went back to their place to sleep that night. Totally Zonked out dead again. :) Sooo awesome. Anyways, so the next morning, we got up at the crack of dawn, packed up and moved out again (Saturday morning... we´ve been traveling since midday Wednesday when I left the mtc... :D) and we got on a 2 hour bus ride out to our cute little nowhere land HUÉRCAL-OVERA!!! HONESTLY, felt so good just to get here and BE IN MY AREA... There had been so much anticipation building up from the second we left the CCM in madrid till that moment on the bus pulling into Huércal Overa.. I was way pumped. so anyways.. by this time, its like.. 10ish and we get in our piso.. or apartmento.. they call em pisos here.. and we´re totally dead.. but we get up  head over to this eating cita with this member family that had been set up and it was awesome. Soo so great to get a nice welcome to what is now my HOME BABY! So we do that and leave a little message, and started heading back to the piso and then whoo drives by??? THE TRAVELING AP´S BABY. Haha we are like one of the only missions that have 4 APs at one time. We have two that are at the mission home and office, and then two that have a car a then honestly, drive all over the mission and stay with companionship after companionship for 3 to 5 days each and help train and teach and then their on their way. So honestly, I had not had like 6 hours in the field when they drive by us walking home and whatnot. So anyways, the rest of that night, we did these exchanges with these APs and went all over HUÉRCAL-OVER and we rocked it. AND E PEDERSEN IS A BOSS. He is actually.... haha.. don´t hate on him.. he's soo cool... he was actually the starting quarter back at lone peak and graduated the year before me. He is.... como se explica.. he is 100 percent lone peak. 100 percent quarterback.. in every sense of the word... AND.. best part.. 100 percent missionary. The most likable, personable, tactful, intuitive, clever, awesome guy ever. Honestly, he can walk up to someone, and within 15 seconds, he will be writing down their number, and address. NOT EXAGGERATING (sp?) We got 17 futures (future investigators) in 2 hours. He´s a boss. I felt pretty useless cuz I can´t yet spit the words out fast enough.. haha people on the street tienen mucha brisa.. Hah but esta bien. ´useless´ in a... I want to be able to do that and get better at it... kind of sense of the word. Not like... useless like I have zero confidence. Anyways! You understand. So that was Saturday night. Yesterday, Sunday, we had church and whatnot and then E Pedersen and I went out again and contacted and had a couples lessons and stuff. We pounded it out again. I´m learning soo much its sweet. Today is P DAY btw. Mondays are pday. Today and tomorrow, I will be with the other AP for contacting and stuff. His name is Elder White and he's hilarious. They are both soo good at Spanish. Anyways.. I was a little worried to have the APs with us my first couple days cuz I hazzz zero idea whats going on and how to do anything! BUUUT. I am actually soo glad it happened this way cuz I have already learned soo soo much from them I´m pumped. 

   Anyways, my times like up so I gotta head but know that all is well! I like the food! Our piso is actually nice. We each have our own beds, a nice kitchen, fridge, a washer for our clothes, everything here we just line dry but A washer is good enough for me!! Hah and.. yeah. Everything's great! My next letter i´ll send my SD card home. I have a bunch of awesome picks. Love you guys!! Keep me updated on everything that you have been. I LOVE hearing it! Bye!

-Elder Norton

Sam's out in the mission field!

“For verily, verily, I say unto you that ye are called to lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel ...

“For behold, the field is white already to harvest;

 and it is the eleventh hour, and the last time that I shall call laborers into my vineyard.” 

(D&C 33:2–3.)

city street decorated for the Holidays