Life is a Mission - WA'RANIN

With my new Q'eqchi' hymnbook my Aunt Julie and the Q'eqchi' Choir brought to me.  

Bags packed and ready to go.

Well guys, this is the last time that I will write to you as Elder Norton. 

It's hard to describe how I feel at this point. I feel sort of like I don't have any other life apart from here in Guatemala - kind of like my whole life was just a dream before now. It might be partly because I am really getting a true vision of what really matters in life. My perspective and my attitude have changed a lot about a lot of things. But really I think that being here on a mission more than anything has taught me about this life. I really have felt that the mission is a large typification of life in general. We leave our Heavenly Parents to come to a foreign place where we have to adapt, where we face and overcome new challenges, where we can grow spiritually, and where we sometimes have to suffer. We have limited communication with our Heavenly Father. We have specific things that we were sent here to do in this life. We have to learn how to trust in the Spirit of the Lord to guide us in order to complete those things. We cry, we suffer, we get sick, we get homesick, we want to be able to live a good life and finish out strong, but it's hard. Yet we keep pushing and praying and trusting that this is what we need and that the Lord will bless us. We make sacrifices, humble ourselves, and see miracles. We keep climbing mountain after mountain after mountain to find what the Lord wants us to do in life. Before we really even are aware of it, time passes us by and we realize that our life is coming to a close. There's still a lot of things we want to do- a lot more people to love, more places to see, more work to be done, more progress to be made. But time keeps moving on. It has to come to an end because there was a beginning. And yet this life, this mission, is just the beginning of eternal prgoress and happiness that we will have if we finish out stong and stay on the path. There are a lot of temptations, problems, tragedies, fights, companionship inventories, families that fall apart, friends that fall, members that get offended, people that don't progress like you want them to. But the most important thing is not to get off the path- not to quit. You keep going until every last ounce of strength is used, until the last breath. 

And then you go home. And then everything in the mission becomes the dream. Like you never even left. But you did and you can't ever forget that you did because you aren't the same anymore and you never will be. And then you keep progressing and learning and moving forward. 

And all of that is possible because the Savior Jesus Christ completed His mission. He faced it all and overcame it all, all by himself. And he faced all of our missions all by himself so that we don't have to walk alone in life. If there's anything I've learned on my mission or up to this point in my life, it's that Christ is our Savior. He has already paid the price for our sins. He did that because he wants more than anything else that we can change and become enough like Him to live with Him again. I know that He lives. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves each and every one of His children. He sees what no one else can. He knows where each tiny wooden house is scattered in the mountains and trees. He knows, understands, and answers each prayer uttered and whispered in Q'eqchi', Spanish, English, or whatever other language, or the ones not even uttered at all. He is a God of miracles. He provides miracles to those that believe Him. He has perfect purpose in every single minor detail of life. I know that this Church is His true Church because it is the only church on the face of the earth that is perfect- formed by His and Christ's hands. More importantly I know it is His true church because I have felt the influence of His Spirit time and time again establishing in my heart the the truthfulness of the restoration of the Gospel. By that same Spirit I have come to know that God has called once again living prophets on the earth to guide us. I know that Joseph Smith was the first of those prophets to be called in this last era. I also know that Thomas Monson is His living prophet and His only true representative on the face of the earth at this time. I know the work that I've dedicated my life to for these past two years is the very work of that Living God and that it is the most important work happening under heaven. I believe all of these things with all my heart. I feel that they are right and true. 

Nannaw rik'in x'anchalil li wam naq yo'yo aj Kolol qe. Tz'aqal yaal li paab'al nokopaab'ank wi' ut nannaw naq li Kristo nab'eresink re. Ka'ajwi' nannaw xb'aan naq xnaq sa' lin ch'ool. Kik'ehe chi awmank ut chi siipo'k sa' lin ch'ool jun iyaj. Us ex injunkab'lal, oxej tinwulaq aran eerik'in wi'chik. WA'RANIN!!!!!!!!!!! (I'll be right there.)

Love you all more than you know and I'm SO excited to see you all and hug you all again the day after the day after tomorrow. Get ready. See you all soon.

Love,

Elder Norton

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!

Well guys my time is quickly coming to an end here in Guatemala.


Before I let myself get ridiculously baggy let me just give an overview of the week:Tuesday I was on divisions with Elder Rodríguez in Saqsuha' and we had a good time. He's a great elder and a good friend. He cooked me every meal we ate and was super nice. I learned a lot with him. I learned a little bit in my studies on Wednesday morning about things I need to improve. Wednesday we had district meeting and we talked about having the spirit. It didn't really turn out how I thought it would to be honest, but it was still a good meeting. After that E. Salazar and I came back to Saqsuha'.  We talked for a while throughout the day, just small talk, and we worked together. Then that night we got caught in a HUGE rainstorm. We were about 30 minutes away from the house walking and it started pouring after we had walked like 2 minutes. It was already dark so we decided to just keep going. It was a little bit nerve-wracking for someone who about a year ago fell into a river in similar circumstances but it turned out to be fun as we pretty much grabbed each other by the hand when lightning struck close haha. It was fun. 

Thursday we went to La Tinta to get all of Domingo and Rosa's paperwork figured out and then came back and worked for a while in the center. Friday we cleaned the house to prepare for a house inspection to be given by Elder and Sister Spradlin (the missionary couple in Senahu) which took us all morning. After that we kept working with our investigators with a baptismal date and went to a little place by bus to teach a family (who by the way ended up coming to church yesterday for the first time! Woo!) and then went back. Saturday the Spradlins came and inspected the house. They didn't chew us out too much. After that we went to church to help them translate to do geneology work with the Q'eqchi'. Not too many people showed up but just enough to help some people out and get some names ready to take to the temple. Then we went and had a few appointments with our fechas and a couple other people. Yesterday we went to Palomar after church which was, as always, very tiring for my comp. I didn't hardly feel it at all. Then we came back and taught our fechas again. So as you can probably all see, most of the work we are doing right now is just getting our investigators ready for their baptism this Friday. I'm VERY excited to marry and baptize another part member couple. 

Today we went to Tukuru to have our pday which was fun. First I saw my convert, Alma. She is doing well and told me she is really active right now in church and has a calling which made me really happy. I guess she had gone through some hard times and wasn't going very much to church. Then we played some soccer there with a few of my converts and with some of the other youth that I knew in Tukuru. They are all doing well and are still active at church.  After that Elder Dilworth and I went to go and say goodbye to a few families (E. Dilworth came to Tukuru in my place when I left and was there for 7 and a half months so we knew a lot of the same families.) I got to see a couple of people that I didn't see in the district conference in Saqsuha 3 months ago. And I got to see my convert, Brenda, who, from what I've heard, has been fairly inactive with her family. It was good to see her family because I really love her mom and dad a lot. They are great people. The dad is still active but the mom says her leg hurts too much to go and Brenda is going to go to a police acadamy to be a police officer where she won't be able to go to church for 6 months...but I encouraged her to keep trying to go to church and told her that I would pray for her. It was good but kind of sad to have the reality hit me that next week I won't be here anymore...But the excitement of being home again outweighs the sadness! I am ready and excited for another phase of life. 

ON TO THE BAGGY!
hahaha I really can't even describe how baggy I am right now thinking about the fact that next week I will be home. Next week we'll start our vacation. There's still a little bit of time before I'll see you all again, but when you think about it it's really nothing at all. It's NEXT WEEK! It seems to weird to be true. But it is!

Questions that I have before I forget:1) Mom, what ever happened with me supposedly going to speak at the post office lady's church? I've been thinking about that lately and I think it would be a great opportunity and would like you to find out what you can and let me know what you find out please? :)2) Speaking of speaking, am I going to have an assigned topic for my homecoming talk or do I pick my own topic?3) I think it might be good to go to the Chiropractor too...walking up and down mountains with a mildy heavy backpack, alyways having to slouch to get into people's houses, and sleeping on cruddy beds for 2 years hasn't been the best on my back.

Ok I think those are most of the important questions. Here are some comments:-I'm SUPER excited for our vacation. Hope dad doesn't fall in Fall River (or me for that matter. haha just kidding.) -haha I can't even remember what the whole "those were elk" thing was about. -I'm also VERY excited about my phone. It will be good to be able to leave my number with some people. So If anyone starts calling and asking for me and they are Q'eqchi' just say "mawa'o laj Elder Norton. Toj maji' nachal arin." haha and it will be good. And don't worry about distributing my number to single girls in the ward. I'll take care of that. -Horseback ride to a steak dinner and back sounds awesome.-About the massage:  an hour long massage sounds heavenly. -Yes definintely much better to have just the fam at the airport. I just didn't know how the airport scene normally goes. -As for the open house Saturday: I think that's fine. I don't know if any high school friends could come..you'd have to invite everyone now.  But for church friends definitely yeah. And yes to Mark, Jordan, and my combined open house the 12th. That will be cool. What day does Jordan leave exactly? I really want to hang out with him before he goes.-About money, sorry if I'm spending a lot dad but there are a few more things that I want to get as recuerdos for the fam from Guate so I might use whatever money is left over for that. I also have to print out a lot of photos still to give to people which is a little bit expensive. But I'll let you know next week when I write about anything else.

ALRIGHT well folks, this will most likely be the last time that I really write all that much. If I say too much next week I won't have much to tell you when I see you. All I know is that I will see you all NEXT WEEK!!

Love you all tons,Elder Norton

Q'ajk We / Ojik Wehin Pan Nupaat

With Elders Dilworth, Salazar, and Snow

In the jungle with Elder Dilworth.

Well guys. I have to honestly say that this week using internet has been the most baggy I have ever been in my whole mission. I just can't wait to be home. I love being a missionary. I love the work here. I love the Q'eqchi' people. I love helping people get married and baptized. But I am ready to come home and be with all of you again. It will for sure be hard to leave and will be a huge change for me, but I am ready for it. I can't wait to get home to be with my family again and be with friends and keep living out my life.

Ok sorry had to let a little bit of bagginess out. It was really exciting for me that you guys went to go hang out with Twoody and his fam. It's funny that you guys surprised him and didn't tell him you were going to visit. Sounds like you had fun together. His family is great and I'm excited to hang out with them again and with Twoody soon. When I saw the pic of Twoody that you guys sent I just thought "That will be me soon."

Anyways. Things here are going well, at least with the investigators. Last week I did a division with Elder Dilworth which was really baggy. He got sick so we couldn't go out and work for a day and we ended up just talking about everything that's going to happen when we get home and everything. We got pretty dang baggy. I'm doing divisions right now with other missionaries just to get some good hard work in. This week I'll go to Panzos to do another baptismal interview so this week will probably fly by. Next week we'll be getting ready for Rosa and Oscar's baptisms and Rosa and Domingo's marriage. Everything is going well with them and they have been coming to church every week. We had some new investigators also come to church yesterday that are more references from members. So things are going well here. The bad news of the week is that I didn't get permission from Pres. Watts to go to do a division to Tukuru to see my converts before I leave. But it's ok, I understand. This past week we worked a lot with members and investigators that speak Poqomchi' so I've been learning a little bit more. (q'ajk we = "I'm about to return" in q'eqchi' / ojik wehin pan nupaat= "I'm about to go to my house" in poqomchi'.) So that's been fun too. Everyone here knows I'm leaving soon which sometimes makes it hard because everyone always says stuff like "You have no more time left in your mission."

Today we went up to Se'nawuq' (Senahu) to play soccer with everyone. It was pretty fun but I hurt my big toe (and you all know how I am about toe injuries...). I'm sitting here using internet with Elder Snow and Elder Dilworth as well which always makes Mondays fun and pretty baggy haha.

Ok well I have some important things I want to mention before I forget:

1)This one's for Matt (mom make sure he reads it and that he responds for next week.) What was it like getting released/ coming home from the mish? Let me know how it was for you and how you felt.

2) I was thinking that it would be super great one of my first days back to get a really nice full body massage. 2 years of walking around with heavy books up and down mountains has really made my tib'el pretty ra if you know what I mean. So figure that out for me will you? I would like that a lot. (We laughed at this one.  We're not sure what his tib'el is, but we think it is his back.  Luckily for him there is a massage place right around the corner!)

3) Will I be going to see a doctor when I get home to check me out and make sure I don't have any weird diseases that I will have brought back from Guate? Just a question.

4) Did you guys buy me a phone yet? If so, what is the number? If not I would like if you could to get me one soon so that I can leave my number with my converts and member families and stuff.

5) Is it just going to be you guys that pick me up from the airport or will you invite other people? I don't know how this whole airport scene thing works but anything would be fine for me. (Oh, we've got plans for the airport, including a surprise visit from his friend Taylor Woodward, aka. Twoody!!!!  We can't wait!)

Ok here are some quick personal comments:

Matt- man you are looking pretty studly in all of the pictures that mom sent! The first one that mom sent really surprised me! Have you been working out? I guess you are making sure to look good for Kili, eh? It could also be that you are wearing my clothes in pretty much all of your pics haha. Don't worry that's good. They look good on you. What did you think of Twoody? Great guy right? It will be fun rooming with him. Love you and see you soon bro. Can't wait to hang out. SOON!

Jack- Hey bud thanks for writing! You look great in all of the pictures. You're like me only better looking, more athletic and cool. Sounds like you had fun at the lacrosse camp. Sounds tiring though. It's easy to see though that you are going to be a ladies man. That's a good thing but you have to remember the mission first, then the girls :) But how's your injury doing? Hope it feels better. Sounds like a fun hike! Yeah I probably wouldn't have had a very hard time hiking up since I'm so used to it by now. But we'll have to go hiking maybe when you come out to BYU for spring break. It won't be long until you'll be hearing me give my homecoming talk. Can't wait to see you either bro. I love you and I've really missed you tons these 2 years. Can't wait to see you soon.

Kinzie- YOU BETTER NOT HAVE KISSED ANY BOYS AT EFY. Hola :) Ok anyways I hope you had fun there. Sounds like a good time. But really I will break those boys arms if they try to go after you. You are looking good in the pics too :) You are stinking getting old!! My only question for you is since when have you been using those big black glasses? Stylish. Ok well you freak I will be seeing you so very soon so you better be waiting for me you little freak. Love you!!!!

Dad- WOO!! I'm really glad and relieved to hear that your case settled. Sounds like those other guys were real jerks. But I'm really glad that we'll have a lot more time now to hang out and that you won't be stressed out about anything else really. EXCITING!! The Lord worked it out I think so that we could have this time together. It will be awesome to go on vacation together. Where do you think we'll go? I can't wait!!! Ok, well thanks for all of the advice dad. I'll try to study a little more the sections in D&C that talk about how to deal with my problem. I know that the Lord puts people that are weak in the Spirit with those that are stronger so that they can become stronger. So thanks. Pray for me and I'll pray for you too. Love you tons dad and thanks for everything. I can't wait to see you soon.

Mom- I WILL HUG YOU IN (a little more than) TWO WEEKS! :) Ok just had to say that. :) Anyways thanks for the email. And thanks for all the pics. You all look great. I'm excited to hang out with the gang again. I'm super excited that you guys went to hang out with Twoody. He said you guys are really funny haha. He wrote me. Can't wait to be his roommate with Matt. Anyways sounds like you guys had a blast at Utah. haha yeah I bet I would probably not have too hard of a time hiking now. We'll have to go sometime to see! Ok. I will look for your Guat nativity set but I might not be able to find it. I'll look for it though. Love you mom, can't wait to see you!

OK! Well, I don't have any time left to write. So, Love you all tons. Don't get too baggy but next week will probably be the last time that I really write you guys anything. The next week after that will be pretty much game over. Love you all tons!!!!

Love,
Elder Norton

Last Zone Conference and Second to Last Visit to Coban

Hey Guys!

I write to you all today from Coban which is a heck of a lot cooler (temperature wise) than the Polochik. It's great! We came down for a combined district activity with the zone leaders, my district and the Tukuru/ Tinta district. We just ate McDonalds and played some soccer with the Coban zone. It was fun but I kind of wished we hadn't played since we can play any p-day anywhere else. So I didn't get to go shopping for recuerdos and in the pacas. The good news is that in 3 weeks I'll be back in Coban for a whole day before I go to the cap. Then it will all be over.

I honestly can't wait to get home. This week was a good and somewhat bad week. The greatest thing ever is that we put a baptismal date with ROSA which means she and her husband, Domingo are getting married this month. We had a good talk with them and put the goal and they said that they want to do it. Rosa said that she wants me to baptize her which is special for me because I started teaching her and everything, and I've worked really hard with that family since I came to Saqsuha'. So I'm super excited. We also had a great (and last) zone conference with President Watts. He chewed us out just a little bit about not losing the Lord's time and posed the question to us "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me." There were some good things that I needed to hear to help me finish the mission strong and there were a lot of things that my companion needed to get chewed out for a little bit. But I'm still going strong and working hard with our investigators to get them ready for baptism. Please pray for Domingo and Rosa so that they'll be able to get married. Please also pray for Oscar.

Other than that things are all going well. I'm just finishing strong. Well I'm going to have to cut it a little short today because we have to get going back to our areas. I just love and appreciate you guys all a ton and can't hardly wait to see you all again. Love you all tons! 3 MORE WEEKS!

Elder Norton

One More Month - Don't Die Before I Get Home!!!

Hello to all!

Ok. I think maybe I might have gotten a small taste of what you all felt when I fell in the river a year ago. It's not very fun to get news about accidents from far away!!!!! haha. It's typical of the Norton family to have it all happen on the same day I guess. I still think that in some hospitals they have a "NORTON" plaque in one of the rooms. But I'm really glad to hear that my brothers are "not dead yet". Come on guys don't go getting all beat up right before I get home!! 

Anyways...THE FLIGHT PLANS ARE IN. I probably knew them before you guys because I got told by Elder Snow who got told by Elder Nelson the AP. I have to say that I got pretty dang baggy when I heard that. Elder Snow couldn't remember what time I got in though to KC. I just heard we'd all be getting into Atlanta around 11:00 or so. The elders from SLC will leave around 2ish I think and the rest of us will wait around a little longer. Poor Elder Dilworth though has to wait until about 8:30 for his flight. He gets to Minneapolis around 10:45 and then has to make another flight to Montana where he'll touch down at 11:56 PM if all goes to plan. so I'm glad that I'll be getting in in the evening on Thursday. The flight plans make everything seem all the more real but it still hasn't really hit me yet that I'm leaving. I know that I am leaving and I can feel it coming but I don't quite feel it yet. All I can say is that one month is not a long time at all.

This week the marraige and baptism went all according to plan and Juana was confirmed a member of the Church yesterday. Friday, Elder Snow came and did a division with me in Saqsuha' to do the interview. It was a super fun division and we even found a new family of investigators that look really promising. We were getting ready for bed when we heard 2 rounds of gunshots that sounded like they were being shot right next to our house. (I found out the next day that apparently it was some drunk guys fighting and that they just shot the pistol in the air. Nobody got killed.) Anyways we didn't sleep for a while because of the gunshots and just talked about baggy stuff. It was on our divisions that he told me about the flight plans and all that jazz. I don't really want to start counting days but...it's not that hard to figure out how many days are in July. And it's not very hard to multiply the amount of weeks I have left in my weekly planner by 7...But the point is that I'm still determined to work hard. I still have at least one more family that I want to get married and baptize the wife. This week we also found 3 other young women that could be possibilities for baptism, most likely after I'm already gone. 2 of them are the yougner sisters of Oscar who we are going to baptize hopefully this month, and the other is their neighbor whose parents are inactive members. We are hoping to start teaching Oscar's family as a family this week and see if we can make some progress with his parents. Their kids are coming to church now. Maybe that will be the key. 

In other news, one of my investigators from Salama, Hermano Lopez, is getting baptized this Saturday with his wife and daughter. He is one of the neatest investigators I have ever had so I'm really happy that he is getting baptized. Elder Lemus is still in Salama and will be baptizing him which is cool. I wish I could go and see it but it would almost definitely be way too far away. I also got permission from my ZLs to go on a division to Tukuru to visit my converts and the members to say goodbye. I haven't been back to Tukuru since almost 2 years so it will be good to be there. But I've seen almost all of my converts from there at the district conference that happened a couple of months ago. It will be good to see everyone though. I'll probably go on that division within the next couple of weeks. 

Today we came to good old El Estor and played some soccer and we are going to buy some little "recuerdos" (souveneirs (sp?)) and some other stuff. I'm ordering some things and buying some cool stuff to take home with me. So that's why I took a lot of money out this week. (sorry dad...) But I took it out to buy everything that I'm going to buy before I got home. I'll be sure to bring you all something cool from Guatemala. Alright here are some quick personal comments:

Jack- WHAT THE HECK!!!!! Dude! I can't believe you got injured like that!!! Well I guess it could have been worse but I cringed with pain just looking at the blood spots in the pics mom sent me. When I read the subject title "pictures of Jack in the hospital" I about fell out of my seat! Be careful man!!! You have to make sure you are all better and back to normal by the time I get home so we can hang out without problems. So you are still going to lacrosse camp then? You're a tough kid though. Glad to hear you're ok. Tell mom to buy you something tasty for me. Love you buddy. Be sure to take it easy and write me to let you know how are you doing! Love you!

Matt- WHAT THE HECK!!!!!! Dude! I can't believe you passed out in your work truck!!! So I get these pictures of Jack, and then the first thing mom explains is that the hospital called and said you were in the hospital for a car accident. I thought to myself "oh man, Matt got in a car accident and Jack was with him!" Haha but that really stinks. I'm just glad you're ok and that the car was the only thing that got hurt. What did your work say? Well anyways I'm glad you're ok. Don't going dying on me now right before I get home! You have to be in top condition to chill out at BYU together!!! What are your classes looking like for next semester?? Are you going to be busy with a lot of classes? I'm sure you'll have a lot to do but I'm just excited to hang out and live together!! That's something I look forward to the most when I get home. Well drink lots of water, don't go passing out on me anymore, and tell mom to buy you something tasty for me. Take care bro. Love you.

Alrighty folks my time is up. I'll write to you all again next week where once again we'll all get baggy and think about the day when I get home to spend time with you guys. I love you all tons and thanks for everything you do for me. Can't wait to see you CHI SEEB'!

Nekexinra,
Elder Norton

If Noah's Flood Came Back On the Earth, I'd Be Done With My Mission Before it Stopped Raining!

Hey Guys!

Well. I have to say that it's pretty hard not to get baggy with Elder Snow and Elder Dilworth here with me. It also is a VERY VERY baggy thing for me that Twoody is already coming home. I can't believe that. That just makes me feel even more that it's almost time for me to come home. Mark's home. Now Twoody's home. Next up is me.

BUT, I'm working hard still with my companion. We got everything worked out for Juana and Oscar's wedding and it will be this Friday at 10:00 AM. The baptism will then be at 10:00 on Saturday. It's pretty exciting because she has been waiting to get baptized for a long time, so we're super excited for her. Oscar(the groom)'s mom has been a little bit pouty because they aren't going to do any big party or anything, but we told her not to be so materialistic (in a nice way). It is actually very impressive how they are getting married without anything when the culture here pretty much demands those things to be accepted by other people. They will probably get a lot of "bad reputation" from friends and family, but their hearts are set on doing what's right and keeping the commandments. They are really forming their foundation upon the rock of Christ. So I have confidence that they will be a strong couple and be able to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary.

We are also working hard still with the other Oscar, who is doing well but is having a hard time understanding a lot of things. But he came to church again this Sunday so he's doing well. We went with a bunch of members yesterday to visit Domingo and Rosa and to just kind of give them a little bit of support. They were happy that we went with the branch president and everything. They are saying right now that they have plans to get married in July, so I'm hoping to see Rosa get baptized before I leave.

Other than that the work keeps moving on faster than ever. Yesterday my companion was sitting on the floor in an investigators house when a big rat came running out at him across the room. (my comp has a BIG fobia of rats) So my companion yelled and dove for safety while the rat ran and weasled his way into Juana (our fecha)'s corte (pretty much her "dress" you could say). She stood up and started dancing and jumping to get the rat out and after a couple seconds the poor little creature flew out and ran outside. It was a pretty funny experience haha.

Ok, well not too much else to say about the week. Here's some shoutouts.

Dad- Hey dad! First of all Happy Father's day!!! Sorry I didn't mention anything to you last week but for some reason I was thinking last week that it wouldn't be until this week. But you know that I love you and that you are the best dad I could ever ask for. Thanks for all you've taught me and for being one of my best friends. I know I can always count on you. I'm excited for the stuff we're going to do when I get back. Thanks for the update on the NBA. I was rooting for the Thunder but I will applaud LeBron for his playoff ring. Right now there are a lot of soccer games going on for some preliminary World Cup stuff. Actually, the USA played Guate a couple of weeks ago and they tied 1 to 1. They are matched up in groups of 4 and 2 will go on to compete in another round of games to be participants in the World Cup. USA is the leading team in their group of 4 so it was good for Guate to tie up with them I guess. I'll have to get you into soccer more when I get back. It's fun to watch!! Yeah. It's hard sometimes. But I'm ready for it. I'm going to give it everything I've got with these people these last few weeks, but I'm ready to go back to the blessed USA. Being with these people is sometimes very tiring. It requires a lot of patience and love because they are so childlike. Anyways thanks again dad for all your advice and counsel. It's been some of the most important things for me in my whole mission and I really appreciate it. Love you dad. Thanks for everything.

Mom- Last thing I heard about the Q'eqchi' choir, they won't be coming to Sacsuha anymore to do a concert. That's what the senior couple in Senahu told me at least. They said that they will just be doing a concert in Teleman on Sunday. But I guess President Watts wants it to be a big thing which means we'll probably all be doing there and bringing investigators and members. I'm just excited to get a new hymnbook!! So, you'll have to ask aunt Julie about the deets right now and let me know next week. Either way I will maybe be able to spend a little bit of time with Julie. That's awesome about Jonny finishing his training and everything. I'm not too informed about what a military policeman does but it sounds cool. Kind of surprising that he'll be going to Germany. Will they be learning German or what? Any idea how long they'll be there? Anyways sounds cool. It's really sad about Cody. I wish there was something we could do, but I guess like you said, the Lord will make what he wants to happen, happen. I'm praying for him and I'll be sure to include him in my prayers and my fast next Sunday. Anyways I have to go for now but thanks for all you do mom. Love you!! :)

Alrighty well another week is gone. Tell Twoody I expect him to write me while I'm still here and he's home. Love you all tons and I'll see you soon.

Love,

Elder Norton

The Last Change

Well,

Today I begin my last change in my mission. I'm staying in Saqsuha' with E. Salazar so no changes for me. In fact there was only one change in the whole zone which means Elder Dilworth and  Elder Snow will also be dying in their same areas with the same companions. It's really just a weird thing to think about. One more daily planner. 6 more weeks. That means that I will have had


6 areas:  
3 Q'eqchi' 
2 all Spanish 
1 Spanish and Poqomchi'


12 companions:  
2 North Americans 
4 from El Salvador 
2 from Guatemala 
1 from Honduras 
1 from Nicaragua 
1 from Peru 
1 from Chile

Anyways enough of that. The point is that, yes, I'm a little bit baggy.

But I've still got a lot of ganas (desires) to work hard and finish strong. I've still got a lot to teach my companion and we've got some baptisms planned for these next couple of months. We taught the same lesson about the marriage of Adam and Eve with Oscar and Juana (our eternal investigators) and they accepted a date to get married. It was AWESOME. Oscar's mom is kind of being a stinker though and trying to takchi'ink (give bad counsel to) him by telling him not to do it until he has more money. But he's really determined to get married so I'm not worried. This Wednesday Juana is going to get her paperwork all figured out and we are going to go and give all of their paperwork to the municipality so that the week of the 30th they can get married and Juana can get baptized. WOO! We also found a reference of a pilas ex missionary in our branch. It's his 17 year old brother in law named Oscar Ixim (just a funny little fact that Ixim means corn.) . We put a baptismal date with him at our first appointment and he came to church this last week and loved it. We're pretty excited. We're going to see if we can work it out so that he gets baptized in July sometime.

Anways things are just going really well. I'm still working hard and focused but it's just really surreal to me about coming home so soon.

About vacation, I could really care less about where we go or what we do. If we don't have time cause of dad's trial I'll be fine just chilling at home with you guys and going to do fun stuff in KS, So Whatever!

Quickly I just wanted to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!! to Kinzie :) I know you're not at home yet to read this but just know I'm thinking about you and I already have a little present for you for when I get back :)

Ok guys sorry it's a little short today but times up. Love you all tons and I'll write you all next week more!!!! Love you!!!

Elder Norton