"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

"I love this gospel ... It is the most beautiful thing." (Hilary)

"There are feet to steady, 

hands to grasp,

minds to encourage,

hearts to inspire,

and souls to save."

"Willing and Worthy to Serve" – President Thomas S. Monson

Have you seen this? Click the link below to watch

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&start=61&end=72&order=alpha#2012-01-008-rescued-by-christ

QUÈ TAL. ESPERO QUE TODO BIEN. LES AMO DEMASIADO.

Okay, everything is so good here in the mission! I am happy as ever. Hermana Ellis is the greatest companion. I have never felt the spirit so strongly in the mission. I think because we are working so hard and feeling so humbled (by the fact that we are two gringas), the spirit is really with us in every moment. I haven't cried many times on my mission (go figure), but we have had a couple really cool lessons this past week when I was not able to hold back tears. 

I feel so strongly about what we share. I love this gospel. I love what it has done for my family and my friends and me. It is the most beautiful thing. Heavenly Father has really blessed me in so many ways, but one thing I am so grateful for is that He helps us feel His love for His children that we meet.

Well, I am a little sick right now. Since Saturday I have just been feeling really awful. I spoke with the nurse today and she took me to get some medications .... So I hope I get better! Mostly just because being sick is so frustrating during the mission. At home, you can rest. But on the mission, the last thing you want to do is rest! We have a lot of investigators that are progressing and I just feel so anxious to get out and help them! Also, the mission nurse just told me that Hermana D. is in the hospital to get her appendix out!!! Please pray for her!

So Calderòn is great. We share the ward with a pair of elders because it is really big geographically and there are a lot of people. The elders are great. We are having a lot of success here as a zone and I just feel so excited to be a part of this work.

Well, I can't think of much else to say, and I am going to write a couple more emails. We have a conference at 4:30 and we don't have any idea of why. I will let you all know next week! Thanks for writing! I love you! Keep praying! (Don't forget me and my investigators please!)

Hermana Norton

"We had explained everything we could and then just left it in the Lord's hands, and He worked things out. He always does, right?" (Hilary)

Um ... no thanks

Well, GOOD NEWS!

This last transfer was shorter than usual, because of some timing with the MTCs and all the new missionaries and I don't know. So, yesterday were transfers and ... although Hermana D had already had three transfers in Ibarra (and she had literally already packed everything but her sheets and her clothes for the following day and she had said goodbye to everyone and everything), I WAS TRANSFERED TO QUITO TO BE COMPANIONS WITH HERMANA ELLIS. Yes, you read right!  I had had such a hard time for a couple weeks. I have been working so hard to be a good, humble, loving companion. I have been working on being the person that lets things go and keeps moving forward with a good attitude. I felt like I had done my part and fallen to pieces a few times just praying for the strength to move on. Of course, Heavenly Father always blessed me with what I needed. I had to keep reminding myself that He wouldn't give me these tests if I couldn't make it through them. It was a great learning experience and I feel like I am becoming a different person.

2 of the 3 amigas ... together again!

Well, now I am in C. Quito. Hermana Ellis says that the members are so great. As we started arriving to the area in the bus, I just became overwhelmed with a feeling that there are people here who need this. Looking at all the houses I just thought "we are going to have a good change". So. I am going to keep striving to do everything I need to do to be the missionary this area needs and the companion that Hermana Ellis deserves! She is the greatest and I feel like I am dreaming a little bit. I am having a hard time comprehending that we get to just be companions and have so much fun doing this awesome work! It was funny - when my zone leaders told me who I would be companions with, they were like, "The assistants told us to tell you 'No pajama parties.'" I just laughed. Tras muchas aflicciones vienen muchas bendiciones.

Well, thank you all so much for everything you wrote. Tell Sister Jaccard thank you so much for the email. I really appreciated what she shared. And it is true. The mission wouldn't be the mission without the hard times! I love you all and I pray for you daily as well. And I want you all to know, I have felt your prayers this week more than ever.

I didn't hear about the new missions, but they did tell us that our mission is being split. How weird! I might finish in a different mission than some of my companions or President and Sister Ghent. They're so great! We will have to see what happens!

Well, not yesterday, but the other Sunday was elections day in Ecuador, so we weren't allowed to leave. We could only attend church and then we had to stay in the house. I spent a lot of time reading my notes from talks and my study journal from the MTC. It was really cool and gave me a new desire to work. I was so excited. I love this work.

The other Thursday we had a training from President Ghent, Sister Ghent, and the assistants. It was really good. Super powerful. It wasn't a super èxitoso week in the mission numbers-wise, but I felt like numbers can't show all the we were able to learn and do. It was really cool.

I have been really worried about F. lately. When I left he wasn't attending church because he was working to pay off his mom's debts. A few times I have seen the sisters there in Imbabura in trainings and interviews and things and they can't find him. The newer sisters there don't know him, so I think they don't feel the drive to search for him as much as I would. I dream a lot about the people I have gotten to know here in the mission and just wake up worried about them! I want the best for them. Please pray for the people here in Ecuador.

The other day we went to the market to do our grocery shopping and there was a kid standing on the corner with a group of goats, selling goat milk. Hermana D was so excited. She ran over and he pulled out a plastic cup and just milked the goat right there in the middle of the street and she just drank it straight up. It was bizarre.

I wanted to include a little miracle that we were able to see the other week. Like I said a couple weeks ago, A2 had a really tough experience and was convinced she would not return to the church for a while. Right after her baptism. It was so sad. I just felt like a huge failure. I knew there were things I probably could have done better and I just felt horrible. Well, we spent the week just praying and praying for her and that Heavenly Father would change her heart. And He did. She was so convinced that she wouldn't return for a while, but a few days later she told us that she realized she needed to return. It was really cool. We had explained to her everything we could and then just left it in the Lord's hands, and He worked things out. He always does, right? And something I love that Elder Eyring taught in his October conference talk was that, even when the Lord's timing isn't the same as ours, it should be enough for us, because we know that He has our best interest in mind.

Well, that is all for now. I love you all!

Hermana Norton

"they have thrown water balloons at us and flour and sprayed us with foam" (Hilary)

Monday already?! It is so hard to believe. (A Colombian is skyping next to me. I LOVE their accents. Ibarra is full of Colombians because we are so far north.)

I loved getting Sam's emails. Reading them fills me with enthusiasm for this work. He must be an incredible missionary. I wish I could just watch him work sometimes. I'm sure he is a great example.

I am so glad that the two of you are enjoying your callings so much. I love thinking about how focused we all are right now on what is REALLY important. THIS is how life should always be. Even though we are all so far away, we are all happy because our lives are full.

No one had told me that you bought a motorhome! Wow. I want to see a picture. That should be fun. 

 Tell Adam hi, I know he is so strong and doing so well. I admire him so much. Probably more than anyone.

And funny to hear about the deer dying in the backyard.. I mean, that is not funny, but more just bizarre. I guess my point is keep writing me the little random things. I like to read them.

Hermana D and I loved the Valentine´s Day package, thank you SO MUCH. THAT BOOK is absolutely the greatest ever. It made me cry, along with your sweet letters. Thank you so much, Mom.

Well, right now we are in the middle of "CARNAVAL," which is a holiday that everyone in Ecuador plays where they throw water balloons, eggs, flour, and paint at each other. But it is not like a party thing. It is literally anyone on the street. So as we are walking down the sidewalk they have thrown water balloons at us and flour and sprayed us with foam. So we are only allowed to leave in these four days if we have a planned appointment. We can't contact or go visiting or anything like that. So we're bored (I HAVE ATTACHED EVIDENCE OF THE BOREDOM).

So something really cool about Hermana D is that she requires a lot from the people we teach. I have learned a lot from her in that sense.

A2, who was baptized the other week, was offended by something the other day and now doesn't want to return the church. We have been working on teaching her about forgiveness and the personal nature of the salvation. Hermana D and I have been working on reminding her what she loses when she chooses not to attend church. I feel like had her conversion been deeper, this wouldn't have had such an effect on her. Obviously we are partially to blame. We are working really hard to help her return. It has been a humbling experience. I feel horrible. But something I was thinking about the other day was the story of Aldora Landrum Yarn. I love how converted she was that even though she was the only member in  the whole STATE, she stayed firm. It didn't matter what everyone else said or did. I want to share the story with A2 the next time we see her and help her to become strong like Aldora. Sometimes, when my companions share their stories of how they are one of the few members in their family or something, I feel lessened. But these past couple days I have been reading all the family history stories and I am so impressed. I love my heritage and I am so grateful for all they have done.

Well, for the moment that is it. I love you all! Keep writing!

Hermana Norton

"... or the girl with the carrot hair! ... What color are the carrots here in Ecuador? " (Hilary)

"Hey Carrots! ... Carrots!"

Dear Family,

Happy Monday! I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Thanks for writing, everyone! I love hearing from you all! It is so vital to my sanity. Jaja. But seriously. I got goosebumps reading about Wes. Tell him I say congrats! That is such a cool story! Thanks, Mom, for the thought you shared. Today I needed to hear that. Something that is funny is I have shared that thought with many in lessons, but forget sometimes to apply things like that to myself. So, thanks. 

Mitch, how did the move go? Are you all settled? I can't believe how quickly that all happened. I am praying for your family. I hope you are all doing well.

Well, the other Monday, Hermana D. was crying after we wrote home. She later told me that her brother and sister are inactive. Hermana D. is the seventh of ten children. Of the twelve in her family, four are members, neither of which are her parents. It is hard for her, but her mom has been a good support, even though she is not a member of the Church. Well, we have been praying extra for her family and she wrote them and they said they are going to start going to church again. But a few times during the week the thought crossed my mind of how tough it must be to have inactive family members, or worse, family members that are not members of your same religion. I can't imagine how tough that would be. I am grateful for the circumstances in which I live.

Funny Story: Wherever we are, there are always, always men calling, talking, and whistling at us. It is something you become accustomed to in the first week of your mission. Well, often they try to say things in English or make comments about my hair, etc. The other day, a man made a comment about "la chica con el pelo de sanahoria" ... or the girl with the carrot hair!!!!!!!!!!!! JAJA. I laughed so hard. 1. What? What color are the carrots here in Ecuador? 2. I just felt like it was a scene that came straight out of Anne of Green Gables. I couldn't wait to tell you, Mom.

Sunday we had a baptism before the sacrament meeting. It was of A2 and P., the mom and sister of Ax It went really well! And I am so happy for their family because they are soon going to ALL be members. That's where the greatest joy is. I am attaching a couple pictures.

Today I bought some shoes. They are great. Yesterday was a really hard, long day, but a little retail therapy was just the fix. (Some things will never change.) (Although a LOT of me has changed.)

Well, one of our investigators, E, isn't progressing much, but I just want to mention how much I love her. It is cool how this all works out; the connections we make with these people are what Heavenly Father had planned. Anyway, she and I have become good friends and I want so badly for her to accept the gospel. She is one of the investigators that I feel like I know I was sent to (and not any other sister missionary) for a reason.

Well, that's all for the moment. I love you all. Please keep writing and reading and praying.

H.H.N.

Hilary mentioned the book "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery... we LOVE that story and I think I've watched the PBS version of it more than any other movie. (save the PBS version of Pride and Prejudice) If Anne Shirley were a real girl I just know we would've been "kindred spirits"!                   joanna

Great Quotes from "Anne of Green Gables"

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” 

*******

“Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.” 

*******

“It's not what the world holds for you. It's what you bring to it.” 

*******

“It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.” 

*******

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

*******

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” 

*******

“I've done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by 'the joy of strife'. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” 

*******

“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn't talk? If you say so I'll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to it, although it's difficult.” 

"It was hilarious ... later that day we were ... just crying because we were laughing so hard" (Hilary)

Family,

Well, another week came and gone. Where does all the time go? I hope after the mission I feel really satisfied in the eighteen months I spent serving, because at the end of the day, sometimes I feel like I have hardly scratched the surface of all there is to do.

I haven't finished reading everything that you all wrote me yet, but I just want to say thanks. Thank you so much for writing. Sometimes I get a little sentimental (sp?) when I write ya'll on Monday... I just can't really express my gratitude for you guys.

Well, we had an extremely eventful week.

Yesterday were transfers, but thankfully, we're both staying. Hooray! I love Hermana D. She is hilarious. She has an attitude and it is really funny. The other day she was telling me about how she calls her sister's boyfriend her "keychain" because he is smaller than her. JAJAJA.

I KNOW that President Ghent receives revelation for his missionaries and for the mission. I know that what he says is what God wants him to say and what we need to know and do. Interviews were Friday. They went well. We traveled to Otavalo for ours, so I was able to see Hermana Marca (LOVE HER) and some other missionaries there. That was cool. We played a memorized scriptures game and I won. And they bought us a really tastey lunch that included green salad (something we hardly ever get) ! Yum.

Wednesday I fell as we were crossing a big, busy street. I literally fell flat, lying down on my face. I was all scratched up (legs, hands, face) and so sore the next day. It was hilarious. Hermana D and I later that day were telling A1 about what happened and just crying because we were laughing so hard.

Speaking of A1, she was baptized Saturday! It was a really cool baptism and she is just so amazing. I am going to attach a picture. Or two or three. Her baptizm was scheduled to start at four. We were all waiting and waiting and waiting and dying of anticipation. She has had a bit of opposition come from her family and they were the only ones answering the phone calls and just were saying, "Oh, she's not going to be able to go." Finally, we said a prayer as a zone and two elders offered to take a taxi to go look for her. They returned after about forty seconds and she had just been entering the chapel. It was really cool. Obviously she had been traveling beforehand to get to the chapel, but it was just neat - the timing. God, knowing we were going to say that prayer, sent her so that she arrived just afterward. We are so dependent on Him.

We have been working with the mom of Ax.and she has been really off and on. Some days she is so excited to be baptized. Others she won't attend church. She had her interview and we were planning on her being baptized Saturday but Thursday she asked us to come talk to her at her work. She told us she wouldn't be baptized and showed us this book that she found and told us about this video she saw - all anti-mormon stuff. I felt so bad. She was so concerned. She had a thousand questions that I think maybe had just been building up. Anyway, we worked through a few of them Thursday and Saturday we went back with our zone leaders. The lesson we had so amazing. The spirit was so strong and they knew exactly how to address her questions. We learned so much from them and their examples. At the end of the lesson, A2 told us again that she wants to be baptized. It was one of those moments were the spirit testified to her heart, and that triggers the conversion. Afterward she was so comforted and she really understood. She is a skeptic, but she has learned to recognize what comes from God. She will be a strong member if she keeps progressing.

Well, that is all for now. I pray that we can all keep growing. I am so grateful for Christ's in God's plan and I don't want to be in vain. I want to change and I want to reach my potential. Keep growing. Keep changing little by little to become who God needs you to be!

Hermana Norton

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY

"... 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