A Trip to the Cap

Hey guys, sorry this letter is so late, but hey, better late than getting a phone call saying I'm in the hospital right? Haha everything's fine but I had to go to the capital today. I don't think I told you guys this but my tooth just starting kind of decaying and a big chunk of it fell off a couple weeks ago. So today I had to leave at 4:30 in the morning to go to the cap and be there at my appointment by 9. Then I had to wait around for a while at the mission office and had to translate for some Latino elders at the "doctor's" (gynecolegist's) office since he doesn't know ANY Spanish.  But anyways, I didn't have any time in the capital to use internet and I just got back here in Taktik around...7:00. Going in a bus from the cap to Coban is not a very fun ride. There are so many turns you can't even hardly stay in your seat, much less sleep. So I am very tired. But my tooth is fixed so that's good.

Ok, before I say anything else I'm really glad that Grandma is ok! I was really worried when I read all that stuff about her going to the hospital. I hope that you're ok Grandma and I'll be praying for you to get back to normal health. And I also I'm not sure exaclty what day it was but I know that Grandma's birthday was this past week so I also wanted to wish you a happy birthday Grandma! Thanks for being a great Grandma and for always keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I'll always keep you in my prayers too!

Sounds like you guys had a great trip other than that. I'm jealous! Those pictures of Bryce Canyon are awesome. I've never been there but we'll have to go sometime when I get back. And I'm jealous you guys got to see Michelle too! I miss seeing her! But anyways thanks for the pictures too. You guys all look good and happy. Is the trampoline place in St. George? Sounds/ looks awesome! How come as soon as I leave you guys do all the fun stuff? haha just kidding. But seriously. Also I'm glad you guys like the Larsen family. Haha it makes me laugh that you guys both said that Tayler is really quiet because he's totally not. You guys probably overwhelmed the poor guy a little bit. But no I haven't gotten any emails from him at all and I didn't have his email to send him anything. So send him my real email and tell him to write me. Anyways, speaking of trips I was thinking this past week about whether or not you guys should come to pick me up. Well I'm pretty set on the fact that if not everyone can come than I would rather do something else because I want to see everybody all at the same time.  As for travel and accomadations there wouldn't be any problem really I don't think. We could figure everything out for sure. If you guys did all come to pick me up I would want to just maybe drive through my area in the Capital that I was in, and then go to Coban and visit Taktik and everything, then to Tukuru, Senahu and maybe go one day up to Yalijux and go on a little hike there or something. And then I would want to go to El Estor to visit Lago Isabal and spend just a little bit of time there and then to Rio dulce. After Rio dulce we could go to Peten and visit Flores and then Tikal, or maybe another set of ruins that I hear are better than Tikal. And this past week I was talking to a lady in our branch about Belize and she was telling me how amazing it was and how beautiful it is and how much stuff there is to do there and everything. Most people there speak or at least understand English AND there are people there that speak Q'eqchi' and English! (I am looking for a wife there. =P ) So if we wanted we could go from Peten and cross over to Belize and spend a few days there just chilling out. Because there's really not a TON of stuff to do in the areas that I've been in. We'd probably go to a cool place in Coban called Se'muq Champe and then spend maybe a day to visit Yalijux and Senahu, and then go and spend a day in Rio Dulce, a day in Peten, and the rest in Belize. Maybe like 3 days there or something. I think that would be really fun. Didn't you guys go to Belize on your cruise a while ago? I can't remember. But there's all sorts of awesome stuff to do there. But like I said if the whole family couldn't come then I'd rather just fly home and go on a road trip or something with you guys at home. Really I just want to see all of you guys at once and just have some time to relax and hang out. Cause if not, I'd rather come back the next year or something and do all of that. So think about it. We still have a lot of time to plan.

Anyways, this week was pretty good. We were able to put a baptismal date with Miguel for the 27th of August! We were really happy with that. We found a few new Poqomchi' families that we are starting to teach that seem like they could be some really great possiblities. Yesterday we had a really neat lesson with a really big Poqomchi' family. I only taught a little bit in Poqom since the kids all knew Spanish. They asked me what the Book of Mormon was and so I explained to them like you would to a bunch of kids and they were all just gathered around me listening and it was just so cool! They don't go to any church and the dad gets drunk sometimes, so we are going to really try to help them because I already love them! And they are helping me to learn Poqom. In other news, today I got the "Principles of the Gospel" book in Poqomchi' and it's awesome. I'm excited to read it and use it to help me teach and learn. Learning is going pretty well. I haven't been able to study nearly as much as I would like to this week because we did divisions with my DL.

Anyways, now for some quick shoutouts-

Dad- wow seminary sounds like it will be a big class this year. Hopefully they will all come! I never really understood the Old Testament too much because I think I just read the stories that thought "wow this is SO weird." and I didn't really get all that I should have out of it. So be sure to send me insights/ revelations that you get this year while you are teaching. I think that I will try to write Michelle a letter sometime soon. I really love her and she's super fun to be with.  Thanks for the email dad, Love you!

Mom- I'm glad you loved the Larsen family haha. They seem like really fun people. We'll have to visit them sometime when I get back. I told Tayler before I left that he should come with you guys to pick me up haha. Yeah he was always talking about Poqomchi' and knew a lot of words in poqom. I'll have to send him some books in Poqom or something. OH! and I got your package this last week and loved it. Thank you! I have been using the back brace and it has helped a little bit. Although it makes it a bit hard to breathe haha. But it works as a reminder to keep my posture straight. And thanks for sending me another package. You are the best mom ever! And thanks for asking about that talk. Too bad it's not transcribed. I'll try to maybe get a copy of it from someone in the office...it's so good! Love you mom!

Alright, well time is up. Love you guys and I'm glad you guys got home safely and that everyone is good. Keep doing what's right and always remember that you're all in my prayers!


Love you! Until next week,

Elder Norton

Some beautiful Guatemalan fabric.