"No Greater Joy in Life" (Hilary)

Dear Everyone,

I love you all so much. It is such a blessing to hear from you all so often. What a blessing that P-day is weekly, right? I think the leaders of the church must understand how important it is that we have this time to communicate with our loved ones. I think I was trying to be strong at the beginning but I am getting to that point where I am willing to recognize how weak I am. I need the support and love from all of you. I would not be able to do this if I didn't know that there was a giant group of people back at home praying for me and sending me words of encouragement. You are all the greatest!!!

Okay, so it is funny because we have a pretty decent sized companionship, right? Four people. About two or three days of the week Sister Bastidas and I are doing divisions, and the other days we are in meetings and picking up sisters here and dropping them off there and training them, so it isn't like we're getting so much done but today President sent us another sister. Had you ever heard of a companionship of five missionaries? Neither had I. She has been having a lot of problems with obedience and I think it is kind of a last chance thing. She is a really sweet girl and I have been working one on one with her a lot this week. I can imagine the sadness and frustration she is feeling. I really care about her and I am hoping she can get things cleaned up so she can serve her full 18 months. 

Saturday C and J were baptized. The two had different schedules so we had to do two baptismal services. They were two of the greatest, most spiritual baptismal services I had attended. C is incredible. Her whole family showed up and afterward she shared the sweetest testimony. Needless to say, half of us were crying the whole time. I admit that a couple times the thought has crossed my mind that my contribution hasn't been as great as it could be if I weren't struggling with health issues. I have wondered if the Lord is pleased with my work performance or if someone else should be here right now in my place. But I know with all my heart that I needed to be here at this time to meet and work with C. I feel like she was one of my best friends in the premortal life (excuse me for being so sappy) and I am so sooooo grateful to my Heavenly Father for letting me meet and work with her. J is amazing. He is an 11 year old kid who has been attending church for about a month with his neighbors. He is a rock. He, his sister, and his mom were going to get baptized the fifth, but his mom and sister backed out. He got baptized alone Saturday and has been an amazing example to his family. Obviously his parents are supporting his decision and during the baptism the whole family realized that they also need to make the step. They realized what a courageous example their son was giving them. I hope they will choose to be baptized soon. They have a really special family.

I have been enjoying my mission a lot lately and the other day I had a really neat experience with a less active sister. She has a great family. She has commited a lot of mistakes in her past and has a really sad family life, but just wants to do what is right. She is very, very humble. They hardly ever eat and her 17-year-old daughter had a tumor removed from behind her eye about two months ago and they just have had trial after trial. We have been helping them a lot and I have just grown to love their sweet family. Anyway, N, the mom, has her weaknesses and the other day she was feeling so sad and frustrated for not being a better mom. She was just kind of giving up and she and I were crying and I realized how important it is for me to be able to find these people in the afterlife. I care about them so much and just want them to fight and give their all -- for selfish and unselfish reasons. I care so much about all of them. 

"There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the Lord's work" 

 Elder Ballard

Okay, about the shoes, I think I am okay. I mean, my shoes look awful but I am a missionary, that is to be expected, right? I will be ok.

About a month ago a friend (Joe.. remember him Kenz? from the spiral jetty??) sent me the talk by Elder Corbridge about the fourth missionary. It has been so inspiring for me. Elder Corbridge teaches that many "obedient" and "successful" missionaries serve with all their might and strength but withhold their heart and mind. That called my attention. I reflected on how  I might be committing the same mistake. He later explained that if we surrendor ourselves completely to the Lord, He will make out of us so much more than we could ever make out of ourselves. And we will be eternally happier. I am working hard on leaning on the Lord. Giving Him my whole self. It is a challenge, but as Elder Corbridge explains, I know it is the only smart way to serve a mission. He explains that we have to do all this with a sincere heart or we will not change or progress (D&C 58:29, Moroni 7:6). I love that thought. I am so grateful to know that my Heavenly Father is willing to let me make mistakes and try to improve. I am learning more and more each day of my weaknesses and depending on Him more and more.

Mom, I am doing the same challenge with the book of Mormon and it is great. You should mark certain things in certain colors. That little copy of the BOM will become really really important to you. I love mine and I am going to save it forever. Dad, hope the halloween dance goes well! Are you healing? I would love to go to Cali in December! Let me know!

Mom, quick question, can you call BYU and see what kind of info you can get? When I should sign up for classes, my password and everything... THNX

Okay, I love you all.

Hermana Norton writing from rainy Quito

"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, I'll be what You want me to be" (Sam)

Most productive week of my life.

Hello!

Wow, incredible week this week! Really.. I have honestly been seeing the Lord´s hand and the talents he has given me working together in preparation for this transfer. That may sound boastful but hear me out! :D So last transfer, as you will remember, it was a group of 37 missionaries that came in.......... which is the largest group of new missionaries the mission has ever seen. EVERYTHING was crazy. Preparation was not just normal preparation.. it was preparation times three....... just because of the mass numbers. What President ended up doing was instead of spreading ourselves too thin when that big group of missionaries came, he decided to form quite a few trios of missionaries to compensate for the high influx of missionaries and then the outflux of missionaries that will be happening this transfer and the next. That actually relieved some stress off of me because instead of creating more two somes and needing more apartments, three somes were made.

This transfer, those trios are all separating, and we have a group of 12 coming in.. and what early on seemed like a relatively normal transfer for the things I´m in charge of, has expanded and hit all at one time. Last transfer I was given quite of few (probably 7 of the 15) of the areas that were going to open up about 9 weeks in advance so that I could start renting the apartments early on. Then I received the other areas as the transfer got closer.. that also relieved a little pressure. This transfer, we all expected things to be a lot more simple.. hah but as I explained.. about two weeks ago, President realized how many areas would have to be open due to the trios changing to duos and whatnot............. so basically what I´m saying is.. that within the last 2 or 3 weeks, I have had to do almost exactly what I did in about 9 weeks last transfer.. that is, rent 14 apartments..................................

Now... go back up to the top of my email and read that first line........... I wasn´t boasting.... I´m just stating what I´m seeing. :) I just hit 3 and a half transfers here and I´m realizing that The Lord Prepares Who He Calls. I really have seen everything come together reeally really miraculously this week. Almost every day this week has been full of effective consistent work. I get home aaaabsolutely exhausted.. :) but from the time I get up till the time I walk in our apartment at night, I´m doing something productive. IT FEELS GREAT.

Its interesting the things that the mission teaches you. I have learned a lot of things here.. but one that has really jumped out at me lately is that the more you require of someone, the more they will give. The bigger ´´the shoes you have to fill´´ are, the more you will fill them. I´m excited for a lot of things in my life head of me, but one thing I´m really excited for is hard, effective work. Whether it be at school, at work, at church, at home, wherever.. I understand hard effective work.

I hear elder Crosland went by and visited!... :D thats cool! He said you weren´t home mom. I can not believe he is home. I can´t believe it. Elder Jeremy Jensen is finishing in a couple of weeks and I think elders harding and harris go home the first couple weeks of november. Elder Harris broke his right arm and might have to have surgery. :///

President called me last week while in a meeting at the mission home with the APs. They were finalizing transfers and the changes that were going to happen and he needed to ask me about how I felt about staying in the office a little longer. I think it had something to do with the january transfer that was moved up several weeks to fall before Christmas. Because of the change it falls right in the middle of the transfer and he was wondering if I would be willing to stay not only to the november transfer but till the middle of december. I told him I would and I think that means I´ll be here till like the 17th of december. Happy to be where the Lord needs me!

I did get your letter and I´m glad you got my SD card. Empty it off onto the computer if you can and send it back in the package. :) Thanks! I actually do have a couple requests before you close it. Mint or double stuff OREOS :D. Cool, upbeat, or musical CDs that missionaries could listen to. Maybe a christmas one or two.. If you could look up some of these names you might find something good... Kalai, pianoguys, vocal point, eclipse.. or whatever else you think I might like. :D we have some music here but it gets old.... and especially the christmas stuff we have. Might as well ask for it now and get into the Christmas spirit early! :P Thanks!

Just one more thing! I love seeing pictures of you guys! And stuff you do or things you see or the family or the house. Like dads arm for example.. no surgery or anything right? Those would´ve been cool pictures. :)

I love you all! Thanks for your prayers! Keep praying for the missionaries but pray that you too can find missionary opportunities. I hear somewhere recently that most members DON´T pray for personal missionary opportunities because they are scared they will recieve one! Ha! D&C 100: 1-8

 Therefore, verily I say unto you,

lift up your voices unto this people; 

speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts,

 and you shall not be confounded before men;

 For it shall be given you in the very hour,

 yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

  But a commandment I give unto you,

that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare

 in my name, in solemnity of heart,

in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

 And I give unto you this promise,

that inasmuch as ye do this

the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record

unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

LOVES

Élder Norton

Mom, we as a mission have just started the Book of Mormon again. President has challenged us to read it before Christmas and I´m doing what you´re doing. The only thing I am highlighting this time is the ´´happenings´´ the places, actions, and storylines.. to get the same overview that you were talking about. If you haven´t grabbed a new blank BoM to read I challenge you to. Its soo much better than reading in the scriptures that already have markings and notes, cuz it makes you pay attention. :) your choice but i´m sure the missionaries at home would have an extra blank copy lying around.... :D

"Today the voice of the Good Shepherd is my voice." (Hilary)

Okay, so great to hear from EVERYONE! I love you all and it means the world to me to hear from you. You don't know how much I look forward to it. I don't think about it until Sunday night (just not to get distracted and all) but then all Monday it is at the front of my mind: TALKING TO FAM AND FRIENDS. I love you all so much.

Our baptism that was supposed to happen Saturday fell through, but we are working more with the members to help this family of investigators and we are also working to strengthen their testimony even more. They are a great family and I know they will get to the baptismal waters. C and M both had their baptismal interviews yesterday. The two are doing really well and both enjoyed conference. I have always felt that conference is such a help to investigators. Last Friday Sister Tarax and I visited C and had mentioned that we had bought notebooks to take notes in during conference. We really tried to convey to her our excitement. She showed up Sunday with her own notebook and took notes through the whole session. She is one of the people that has sincerely been searching for answers and said the other day she received her answer and knows that this is the true church and that she needs to be baptized. She is amazing and it has been such a happy blessing to be able to meet her and work with her. She is so cute, the other day we were talking about the Book of Mormon and she was just like, "I truly believe in this book. THe other day A (her BRILLIANT seven year old son) showed me something on Google about the twelve tribes and I made the connection. Why wouldn't God communicate with all His children?" They have the greatest little family. Next week I will send pictures. She is originally from the Galapagos and says when we come back she is taking us there to show us around.

Transfers were yesterday/today, but all is well and I am going to be able to finish here in Quito! No changes for me! Hallelujah! I am really grateful to continue in this assignment. I know there is so much I can do better and I have many weaknesses, but I liked what President Uchtdorf said. "I know I am not as Christlike as I should be, but I am earnestly striving!!"

Speaking of General Conference, what a great weekend. Each session was so great and there were many messages that I needed. More importantly, there were many excellent messages that I know were of great help and relevance (spelling?) to our investigators. I especially appreciated the message by Elder Terence M. Vinson and the story about the little boy trying to move a large rock. His father watches for a while, and finally decides to approach his son. "You need to use all your strength to move a rock this size." "I have used all my strength!" the little boy said. "No, because you haven't used mine." I loved that story and the analogy. I feel like I need to turn to the Lord more and trust in His strength. I also really loved what Elder Ballard said, "Today the voice of the Good Shepherd is my voice." What a powerful talk. I was well reminded of my duty here as a missionary and I am grateful for the time the Lord has given me to serve. Elder Holland's talk was really special for me... I just cried and cried. It was a good cry. I left conference just feeling so spiritually full! You know?? While at the same time wanting more! 

It was funny because there are so many North Americans in Quito that we had our own room during conference and got to listen in English! I loved it. It was just a room full of really white people with light colored hair and sooo many little kids that were way loud and one sister walked in and was like, "Hooray for English!!" Which totally expressed what we were all feeling. 

It was also so nice to hear that in every prayer we (as missionaries) were prayed for. As those prayers were offered I literally felt the weight on my/our shoulders made lighter. So many members don't realize the differences they can make by helping in the simplest ways. Okay, we don't have any time. I love you all! I am going to write a little more, but sending this email first.

Sister Norton

"Find a problem, teach a principle, extend a direct and clear commitment, testify of the principle, and promise God´s blessings" (Sam)

HELLO!!  ¡Nos queda muy poco tiempo! ¡Ya va a empezar la conferencia!

We´re all in the office right now.. technically its our P-day so we´re here doing emails and whatnot, just waiting for the conference to start. Sorry to interrupt right when its gonna start!!

Things are great! Elder Butler is training his new comp Elder Crapo. He´s from arizona, he´s got about a year in the mission and is really quick to learn and smart. We had a huge problem occur in the office about 3 days ago..... OUR 400 GB EXTERNAL HARD-DRIVE HAD A ELECTRICAL SURGE GO THROUGH IT FROM A LIGHT BULB GOING OUT and ITS FRIED........Everything...... every document that this mission has had or used or sent or saved over the last like 40 years.......... fried! so we´re trying to get that fixed.... we´re thinking a guy here in the ward is gonna be able to save some of it. 

Me in some shoes some awesome members from
my last area sent to me. :D they really love me!

CONFERENCE HAS STARTED. I´ll write more during the break. LOVE YOU!

Élder Norton

WOW fantastic conference! We are watching it here in the office and its amazing what the church has done. You go to LDS.org, click on the first thing you see, and the prophet of the worlds starts speaking to you. You need to change the language?.. right above the screen they have a drop-down bar with tons of languages. We were listening to it in english in the office and I put in one ear phone of spanish just to listen and after about one talk I took it out cuz I didn´t like listening to them both.. your brain tries to hard to process both of them.. hah then I put it one American Sign Language and I remembered how much I love sign language! Honestly, I probably recognized a tenth of the signs that were used but the thing about sign language is that it is literally has to do more with movement, space, and body language than even the real signs, and it actually helped me a ton! I continue to realize that I am a very very visual person, and even someone explaining what I´m hearing in signs and body language helps me to stay focused and understand it more. I would really love to pick that back up when I get home. I feel that it would come back quickly.

My favorite two talks were first, Elder Bednar's! WOW. The last two talks he has given he has started them like this......... today, i want to talk about the importance of The Law of Chastity... or ... today, I´d like to direct my comments about Tithing. He is in all meanings of the word, a great missionary. Its so interesting to watch how the general authorities teach.. because they teach the same things and the same ways we are told to teach. For example if you were to go back and listen to Elder Bednars talk, he is direct and clear. He teaches God´s commandments, commends and supports you when you obey, teaches, supports, and calls to repentance those that don´t, and then right after invites them to make that change and promises blessings. That is the method they teach us and that is taught in preach my gospel. Find a problem, teach a principle, extend a direct and clear commitment, testify of the principle, and promise God´s blessings. BOOM. BAPTISM.

Another reason I really enjoyed his talk was because I am obviously working currently with the church´s money. I see whats happening, why its happening, and what could possible happen in the future. I have seen the $ numbers go uuuup in our mission alone! And by a significant about. We have actually had to make several ´´one-time´´s to our current budgets, and changes to other limits on accounts we have and use.. I will be honest, I have thought on more than one occasion, ´´woah.. I wonder if the church was expecting such big numbers and big changes... I wonder if the church is prepared for what will come... I wonder why that´s why we´ve been hearing more about the law of tithing lately...´´ hah but Elder Bednar´s words were clear... ´´ The church does not spend more than it receives.´´ ´´It sets aside a certain amount for unexpected expenses.´´ ´´The church teaches its members to set aside food, fuel, and money for... The church simply follows the same teachings.´´........... dudas contestadas....... questions answered.

My other favorite was President Uchdorf´s talk right at the end. I think it was just because I have met a lot of people throughout my time here.. and I still have every single face that i´ve met in my mind... and I worry a lot for them! Each and every one of them! Being a member is not easy! Its not! Its actually a lot harder out of utah, and out of the states. Spain is as much catholic as utah is mormon!! Put yourself in the shoes of a member of some other church there in utah.. would it be hard for you to keep your faith?? Or harder yet, change to a different faith!.. so needless to say, we worry about our converts that are new and fragile, our investigators that may not have reached the waters of baptism yet, the active and less active members that we have poured our hearts out to, and the many many others that are currently out on the streets clueless to the fact the God´s prophets are speaking. We are all fighting for the same thing. None of us is perfect. ´´We are all hypocrites´´ as President Uchdort says :). I just love some of his last words, ´´Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.´´ ´´...if ye have faith, ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.´´

Everythings going well here. We are happy and working hard. Elder butler is talking with A and S right now. They do attend the same branch we work in. The APs here in fuengirola and a trio of hermanas here in fuengirola work with the spanish ward. We the office elders and the castillos (the missionary couple ) we work with the enlish international branch. :D We´ve lost contact with M. She is out of resources, out of work, and really worried about her son. Luckily, the members that started to really fellowship her when we started teaching her have offered their apartment here in a close-by city for her to live in. They visit spain from Wales several times a year and while they´re not here they were more than willing to let M stay there. Fantastic members living the law of consecration with members and non members included. M just needs to be a member!! I wish she had just that little be more faith needed instead of holding back wanting to get more knowledge first. The blessings of heaven as we heard to today from elder Bendar would be opened up upon her. Pray for her!

Elder Crapo just figured out that his great great great uncle married Margaret Oldham Crapo... my great great great grandmother. (I think thats right) So yes, we are technically related but by marriage. :)

Mom, your whole paragraph on the whole iPad thing... I´ve had the exact same thoughts. I wonder if it will even get to many countries outside of the states. I know it will reach some but almost all south and central american missions I don´t think it will get to them.. and if it does it will be an ´´apartment only´´ thing.. or maybe a ´´with members only´´ thing.. not sure. I hoped that they would be implemented into this mission while I was here cuz I´m in charge of the mission cell phones so I would be in charge of the mission iPads too.. hah but it doesn´t look like it´ll happen during my time. We´ll see!

I love you all! And I´m really excited for this next time we´ll get to skype cuz there will be one more missing piece i´ll be able to see! HERMANA NORTON. :D I sent her a postcard the other day. Sometimes we exchange emails too. Its fun cuz we understand each others spanish but every once and a while I have to ask Elder Góchez, the AP here from el salvador about some of the terms and stuff she uses. hahahahah :D soooo great! AHH!

I love you all again! See you soon!

Élder Norton

click HERE for enlightenment

Missionary Portraits

Today during General Conference Caden and Branson 

colored pictures of Aunt Hilary and Uncle Sam

"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

"ready to apply everything I know and give it all to the Lord" (Sam)

Sam's post this week is a letter he wrote to his big brother Mitch

Mitch, Thanks for always writing. It means a lot to me.

Things are great great! My companion, Elder Butler, just received his replacement a couple days ago so we´ll be a trio till the end of the transfer. He´s kinda ready to go... haha he´s loved it but as you know, the office drains you and he´s ready to get back to the street. We honestly have felt very useful here. the Elder in a married couple thats here in the office put it really simply and I like what he said... he was like... "the Lord needs people who will give EVERYTHING.. and then when they´ve been squeezed dry from working non stop and giving their all, they get switched out and the Lord calls new people in." My comp has been like that. He´s awesome.. he´s an idaho farm boy that would probably rather look up tractors all day on google than any kind of supercar... and he´d probably rather spend an entire day fixing up a tractor than even driving a supercar... so needless to say, being the mission secretary at a desk all day has been hard for him... but he´s done it, and done it well. And still really pushed for proselyting efforts every day. He´s done well here. 

Your ward sounds crazy! Recently I´ve had a weird desire to go see other states and visit places.. maybe you guys could show me around NJ or tell me where some cool stuff is. I will come visit you some day!

I love the pic mom put on the nortonmissionary blog of the boys and sienna. You have beautiful kids. They´re gonna be so big when I get back!

I love you man! Thanks for the emails! I am loving my mission! We FINALLY baptized again! Such a great blessing. And TODAY i hit 18 months. I´m pumped for these last 6 months cuz I´m at my prime here in the office and in about a transfer and a little I´ll be back on the street, ready to apply everything I know and give it all to the Lord. Pray for us! Please! Pray to help us be obedient so we can have the spirit.

Thanks, love you. Tell your fam I love them.

Élder Norton
Financiero
La Misión España Málaga
La Iglesia de Jesucristo S.U.D.