"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah."

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:8

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

ONE WEEK TO GO!

1 week to go! It's hard to believe that it's almost time for me to leave. The rest of the summer felt like it was going really slow, but now things are speeding up! My family went on vacation the past week to Kirtland and upstate New York where we were able to see a ton of church historic sights. We spent a day touring the sights and the temple in Kirtland and then spent another day in New York and went to the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah and everything up there. I thought it was really cool to be able to see in person all of the places that I will be testifying of to the people in Guatemala. I felt the spirit very strongly while I was there and it has made me very excited for my mission! It's funny how many people I run into that have some connection to Guatemala in some way or another. When we were touring the Newell K.Whitney store in Kirtland, a man on the tour with us started talking about Guatemala, so of course my mom and I both turned around and said "Did you just say 'Guatemala'??" He told us he served in Guatemala, and what's more that he served in the North mission! He told me to be prepared to eat lots of beans and that the Spanish they teach in the MTC isn't what I'll speak in the field.

Other than that I'm just making a few last preparations and getting everything taken care of before I leave next week. I think we've bought every possible thing that I might need in Guatemala and maybe more. I give my farewell talk in church on Sunday with my best friend who is going to the Philippines the next week.  I get set apart as a missionary that night, and we leave early Monday morning. I really can't wait! This will be the last post that I actually write. From now on my dear mother will be keeping this blog and posting my letters and pictures that I send home. She is going to post my mission addresses as soon as she gets them. Thanks to everyone for all of your support! Te veo en dos anos! (see you in 2 years!)

-Elder Norton

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

21 Days Left!!

Things are really starting to wind down for me now! I leave for New York for vacation with my family on Friday and won't get back until Saturday the 17th. After that I will have one more week at home. My farewell talk will be on the Sunday the 25th, and I leave for the Missionary Training Center on Monday the 26th. I've been spending my time recently buying things for my mission and getting everything all ready. We put in a big order to Missionary Mall to get my suitcase and boots and a few other things and have been stocking up my extensive first aid kit. Right now I feel ok about Spanish. I can understand Spanish pretty well and can generally understand what I read in El Libro de Mormon (although it takes a really long time to read out loud for pronunciation, then to read in my head and translate and then read the english version to make sure.) All in all things are going well and I'm starting to get excited as well as sad about leaving my family and friends. But I know these will be the best two years of my life and I can't wait! 21 days and counting!

-Elder Norton