"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

"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

"...plus, trying and failing is better than never daring to try." (Sam)

Hello there, and welcome to

THE OFFICE. :O

   Hey, I´m doing great! Today´s my third day here in the office and I´m really enjoying it. Its veery different.... pros and cons.. :) (really the only con is that we don´t get to do lots of missionary ´´street´´ work cuz we´re so busy here. The busy part is a pro. I like being busy. Anyways, yeah, the office is great. Elder Berrett is the old Financiero and he was ´´born´´ (his first area was...) in Aljarafe.. so its been fun to talk to him about people we both know and the area. When I got in the car with Elder Butler, the secretary, and Elder Barrett, we started driving away and Elder Barrett started counting down from 10.... 10, 9, 8, 7... and I was like... uhhhhhhhhh.... ¿qué estás haciendo?...... and when he got to zero he turned to me, handed me his cell phone and said, ´´You are now financiero. I am now the old financiero.´´ :) It was kind of a cool and scary feeling at the same time. hah he´s going to be with us for the last three weeks of this transfer to train me on how to do financiero stuff. Its gone really well thus far.

   I´m happy to hear about the temple work that you guys are doing. I went to the temple regularly but I want to make it a higher priority when I get home. Priorities priorities priorities! Keep them in line and in mind! Plus, you have nothing to lose with starting to learn family history! And don´t be scared that you won´t learn it! haha You will learn it. Plus trying and failing is better than never daring to try. YOU taught me that mom.

   Adam, work hard bud! And then be prudent with your money! I wish I would´ve saved more of what I earned when I was younger... just FYI. Obviously enjoy your hard earned cabbage but don´t go blow it all on POKEMON CARDS......... just kidding, I know you haven´t touch pokemon cards since you were 5 but you get what i´m sayin. :)

   I did not recieve the package.. :\ haha Its kind of a bummer how that keeps happening. I know you mom, you´re going to feel bad... DON´T FEEL BAD. haha there is no way you or anyone, including President Deere, could have foreseen the change. I´ll get it from the Elders there. They´ll be able to get it for me.

   I´m pretty sure you guys had already told me where Jake Robley had been called .. :) that's why when you mentioned it, Russia came to mind. Hah tell him congrats for me. Tell him ´´Book of Mormon AND Preach My Gospel´´ from sam.

   Thanks for the awesome thought mom. Really liked it. You always send little tips of advice. They´re great. Not to mention President Hollands talk. WOW. I saw it on the blog and watched it real quick. WOW. He is soo powerful. I love the way he teaches. I want to emulate my teaching to that of his.

Thank you! Love you all! Have a great week and don´t forget to drink your ovaltine.... :D

-Elder Norton

"Hmmmm i´m gonna keep pondering it." (Sam)

Hello! 

Happy Birthday Mama!! I´m glad you got my letter! :) I figured that just having sent you a letter for mother´s day and having just talked on skype, that you´d have heard enough of my words. :P I´m glad you enjoyed the letter.

While its on my mind, can you send me Elder Holland's talk from conference on a cd? and his talk from grandpa's funeral. Keep me updated on the mission calls from the ward and stake!  Dad! Tu eres un máquina! teach adam well! we´ll go play that fathers and sons tournament! :)   

Oh yeah.......... forgot to tell you guys...... President called me on friday................ O.o....... YEAH.

   We are in the middle of the transfer right now and he called me and asked me if I would be the mission financial clerk.... I leave wednesday for Fuengirola and will be working the mission office in the mornings with the mission secretary as my companion and the two APs in my district.. :D :D:D I´m really excited but tired of "despedidas" (goodbyes)... oh well.. thats the mission right? Elder Larios and Elder Vergara have got this place memorized and under control. I feel very good leaving it in their hands.

   My new address is just the mission office address. 

   Paseo Jesús Santos Reín #2, 3ºD-E

      29640 Fuengirola (Málaga)

                ESPAÑA

   Quick update... Things are great! The ward had great attendance this week including 4 investigators. Really great feeling and spirit there in the church. Its amazing how much investigators can progress in 3 short hours in the church. When we, the members, have true, pure desires to teach the doctrine and help the people, the spirit is felt and the investigators learn and progress. I´m excited to see what happens in this area in the next transfer or two.

   I don´t know if there is some message I have to learn or if there is some purpose behind all of this but I feel like a plant A LOT in my areas... and then just cuz of circumstances in the mission, I have to leave before I can really harvest. The truth is that it doesn´t really matter WHO harvests.... but I do wonder sometimes the reasons why i´m sent to help people FIND the path but that i´m not allowed to be there when they reach baptism... Hmmmm i´m gonna keep pondering it.

   I Love my mission! I am learning so much! Our awesome zone leaders put together a great zone meeting last wednesday and taught us to pray always! Literally! They gave us little stickers to put on our watches so that every time we look at our watch, we see a little sticker that says ORAR.

-Let God guide you. Let God teach you. Speak with Him always. Ask Him for answers and help in situations that you have never asked Him before. You will be surprised at how much He helps and how much closer you feel to Him.

I love you all! Thank you all for you support! See you all soon!

-Elder Samuel THE LAMANITE Norton

To listen to or read Elder Holland's talk

 "Lord, I Believe"

CLICK HERE

"Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever 

fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe."

"THANK YOU to every single one of you supporting the missionaries" (Sam)

Helllooo!

   Wow! What an amazing conference!!! I was SOAKING in every second of it! I filled like a thousand pages of notes in my notebook. The bummer is that with the time change, they don´t aire the Sunday afternoon session here in the capilla cuz it would start at 10 pm and end at 12-midnight....... :/// so we missed ELDER HOLLANDS TALK. Please please please send me a copy! Or even better, a copy of it on a CD. POR FAVOR.

   :) thanks mom. You always find the good things about me and my emails and teach me from my own letters. Thanks for what you said about me choosing to try the hard things. Often times I don´t really realize, but you always point out the good attributes in me and help me learn. I really enjoy translating. I love languages as well. I really really would like to learn at least one other language when I get home... and I don´t know how plausable this is but i would love to go live in france or germany or somewhere where they speak a language I don´t speak, just to go learn the langauge. I would love to learn french.

   I do play piano in the ward. Well I did. Elder Larios is basically mozart............ so when he got here we started switching off between the second counselor (the american that was out of town), elder Larios, and myself. I am little by little forgetting ALLL the other music I used to play. I´m gonna spend more time on the piano when I get home.

   FINALLY I HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT WILL MONTGOMERY. I have been wondering!! I wrote him a letter a while ago but I sent it to his house in georgia. They may not even live there anymore. Anyways, good for him. He´s so awesome. I spoke with him like one day for I went into the MTC. I was walking around some... like.. ´´Staples´´ I think it was.. buying pens and my backpack... and we talked on the phone. If you read this Will, WRITE ME A LETTER. :D....... plus will you teach me french when I get home???? :)

   Well, things are good here. I can get around fine in our area... but its tough cuz I don´t know PEOPLE..... Elder Blanch knew how to get around and he also could just be driving along and name 10 houses in any different town where less actives lived... or old investigators.. or members..... and I´m still kinda lost. We teach a lot of the same people as before but we are needing to branch out a little more to find more people and its difficult to do when you don´t know where anyone lives.. You can actually waste a lot more time than you think and a lot more GAS than you want looking for one family. :) We had a slower week.. we have been trying newer, different techniques for finding and they haven´t given fruit yet.. we´ll see!!

   I´m a little behind on writing people so I´m gonna close there. Sorry its been short, its whats on my mind. :)

   A couple things...... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to every single one of you supporting me/us as missionaries. This is a difficult thing. The words of support. The prayer every night, the letter in the mail, the faithful tithing for our materials, IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED. Thank you.

   Thats all! Love you!
-Elder Norton

WHAT E'RE THOU ART, ACT WELL THY PART (Hilary)

Hi family! Love you.

Okay, Conference was so great, right? We feel that way every six months. I love Conference as a missionary; it is a very different experience. We had a couple investigators who were able to attend. They really enjoyed and are really committed. They're progressing and it is so cool to see.

Okay, I loved the talks by Elder Holland, Elder Scott, Sister Dalton, Elder Perry, and also President Monson. I loved the talks about the restoration (sp?). I felt like the main themes were repentance, obedience, and focusing on the home. Anyway, I really loved President's talk because generally his talks are stories, but this time it was doctrinal and really cool. I love conference. What a privilege.                CLICK HERE to learn the secrets of this historic stone

Okay, we have been working with a lot of new people and it is so great. We have a few new investigators every day and we are really stepping it up. I love it. A few people I will quickly mention: G, M, Familia B, Familia G. Please pray for them! I don't have much time to write about all of them, but they are all great. 

Okay, so glad you met Stacia! She's literally the greatest! I miss her a lot, but know she is where Heavenly Father needs her to be. I was thinking about her as Sister Dalton spoke about the people who "acted well their part". Sister Ellis came to my mind. I know that Heavenly Father is pleased and grateful for all the she did. 

Hermana Rodriguez's family has visited the states a few times and she is showing me pictures of her in the Bean museum right now! (Hermana Norton used to work at the Monty L. Bean Museum on the Brigham Young University campus in Provo, Utah)

We got our water back about mid week! Don't worry! Thanks anyway. Please let me know when you get the package with the SD card.

Okay, I apologize, we don't have much time left! I hope you are all doing well! Please send me Sam's email!

<3 Hermana Norton

for Sister Dalton's message go HERE

"... a list of a few goals for 2013 and a few bad habits I can repent of then bury so I don't continue in my stupid sins." (Hilary)

Hilary & Sam on New Year's Eve 1999 - I love Hilary's handmade crown!

Good morning family! Hope you are all doing well! It is so fun to hear from you and I loved being able to talk Tuesday. It was so nice. I felt a little selfish afterward; we only talked about me. I am sorry and I hope you know that I am concerned with your well-being and pray for you all every day!

Something cool about Ibarra is that the Latins understand a lot more than the indigenous people. I don't mean that offensively, it's just that the indigenous people spend all day working in the fields, while the Latins have the opportunities to study and all that. Anyway, I have really enjoyed working with these people. I really love this message and I love sharing it.

Sundays are probably the hardest, longest, most stressful days of the week. Which is a bummer, but at the same time, I feel like I am really fighting to earn my salvation, so it kind of feels good too. Anyway, you won't be surprised if I come home with a head full of grey hairs and a couple ulcers.

We continue working with the M. family, and this week, Hermana Davila and I feel like we have been able to solve the issue that we had been working with. The other night, Hermana Davila invited them all to share their testimonies about the changes they've seen since they were introduced to the church. It was a really inspired invitation she made because I think it was the first time they were able to have such a spiritual moment and share their gratitude and love for each other. Hermano F. M. began to cry as he shared his gratitude for the help that the missionaries had offered him and his children. I was really able to recognize the desire of a parent that their children can have a better life. It gave us a glimpse of the intentions of his heart. It was a really cool experience.

I personally have been studying a lot about the conversion recently. (I have been studying a lot of the talks from this past conference and also a lot of the things that Dad put in the Norton Wisdom book.) I am grateful for the mission and all that I have learned here because I believe that beforehand I had a testimony but here my testimony is growing to become a conversion. I pray to be forgiven of my weaknesses and improve myself every day. It really is so beautiful that we can be forgiven and change. I love our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior.

I was reading yesterday about the Anti - Nephi - Lehies people and I love their conversion story. They are so humble and they understand so well. I love that they are so converted that they say that they don't want to dirty their swords again after being forgiven (it reminded of what Elder Holland said in his talk: "Then why are we here on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation?" Sometimes we keep committing the same sin - why do we do that?) I put together a list of a few goals I have for the 2013 and a few bad habits I can repent of and then bury so I don't continue in my stupid sins. I want to invite you all to do the same! Let's thank our great God that permits us to change and forgives and continues to love us after all we have done.

I love you all. Choose the right.

Hermana Norton

P.S. Are you guys having Family Home Evening? I think I didn't think it was very important before the mission, but if the Prophet wants us to do it, we absolutely have to do it. I don't want a Monday night to keep us from exaltacion.

P.S.S. If you get the chance, can someone send me the talk that talks about the "tactics" of Satan or whatever? There are like four Ds or something. I would like it in English and in Spanish. Thank you!

H-

Want to read or listen to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk that Hermana Norton referenced? One of THE best talks EVER! 
click HERE for the link

The Worth of Souls is Great - J. P. was baptised! (Hilary)

Hey friends, family, and loved ones! Thank you for your letters and prayers and support. I love you all. 

Saturday we had a baptism with a little boy named J. P. He is so adorable and loves to learn about the gospel. We'll ring their doorbell and he look over the balcony of their apartment on the top floor and yell to us, "Estoy listo para escuchar la palabra de Dios! Suban no mas!" 

("I'm ready to hear the word of God! please come on up")

Mom, I hope you're able to take the Spanish class! How cool would that be! I love hearing about all the cool things you are doing. Your temple calling, your knitting class (my companion and I are knitting mittens right now!! Keep going and don't give up! Have Cassidy help you. Invite her over for a night to knit and watch a movie or something.), your piano lessons, and everything. I love you and hope you are enjoying it all.

And I can't believe the missionaries are going to live with you!!!! WOWOWOWOWOWOW. For how long ? That is so, so neat. I can't wait to be able to help out the missionaries there and on BYU campus (when I get back and have finished my own mission).

Okay, the letters I have been opening every morning have been so inspiring, Mom. I don't know how it worked out this way, but literally every letter has a quote or piece of advice that is exactly what I am needing. It is really amazing and so helpful every morning, Mom. I love you so much and I am so grateful for everything you do.

Okay, really cool to hear that Sam was able to help someone by getting them asea... I didn't get the whole story but I'm putting bits and pieces together. I wish he and I could communicate more often. I keep thinking, 'Once we get into the flow of things in the mission, I am sure we will be able to write more.' But we're in 6 months and it is not letting up. P-days are so short. But I have a letter for him. I will send it this week. I love that kid so much. I wish we were in the same mission. He's teaching Ecuadorians too! Why doesn't he just migrate down here?

Okay, here is part of what I wrote to President:

This last week has been really great. We are slowly seeing a difference we have been working so hard for. Here is the update on the work.

M. has attended church multiple times and is very humble and willing to do what God asks of her. She lives a 60 minute walk plus a 20 minute busride from the church. This has been a challenge for us and for her. But I have really recognized the worth of each soul as we have ALL been sacrificing to make this work. No matter how big the sacrifice, her reward will be 100 times more.

D. is really interested and has a lot of questions. We did divisions Saturday and attended a baptism so he could familiarize himself because he is a little hesitant. He doesn't like the idea of making commitments (this is something I have found with many investigators) but we are working on helping him to recognize that it will be more than worth it. Yesterday he attended church and really enjoyed it.

We put a baptismal date with R. this morning (It was her only free time in the near future so we took a little bit of p-day). She is really excited. The challenge might be that her parents are another faith and I think she doesn't believe they will be of approval. But I have faith that things will work out. We are working on getting her a few hermanadoras (she already has a few member friends) to help her along so she doesn't feel alone.

We have been working a lot with the inactive members here in our wards, specifically in Cotama. There are very very many. Almost every day we contact into someone who has been baptized and fallen away from the church. We are working with a couple families who are really striving to make a difference and better themselves. We are helping one family prepare for the temple and the other attended church yesterday for the first time in months. It is so cool to see the difference; it is so apparent. I have been working on helping them notice the great difference in their lives when they are centered around the gospel.

We have had a few hard moments recently but a friend of mine shared with me the quote by Elder Holland about why missionary work is so hard. He says something along the lines of it not being cheap because salvation isn't cheap. We'll have to suffer a little to understand and appreciate Christ's sacrifice for us (one of this week's letters from Cam). Also, the talk by President Monson about the abundant life. "Mañana volveré a intentarlo." It's really tough, but I love what we're doing because it is so important.

Okay, to answer a few questions, the Q&A papers are with the stuff S. Hess has. None of my companions have spoken English, and I feel good about my Spanish. It always is a little bit worse Thursdays when we leave the district meeting because I have become good friends with an Elder here from SLC and I am in a bad habit of talking to him in English! Although it is nice to have a friend, maybe it will be good when we have transfers and I am back to all Spanish. The shoes fit great,  I will work on a list of what I want/need for Christmas. THANK YOU :)

AHHH, too fast! My time is basically up. But tell everyone I love them! Is Mitch still alive? I miss him so much. Tell Abby and Caitlin and V that I need to hear from them and tell all the neighbors I say hi and pray for them often. Tell Justin's kids I love them and tell Uncle Ty's family that I love them. Dad and Mom: don't ever be concerned about writing too much. Love you.

Hermana Norton