Point of no return

I am doing great here in Argentina.  I am actually loving it.  The language is slowly getting better, and I am feeling more and more confident.  We had interviews with Presidente Chaparro this past week, and it went really well. He told me that I need to stop using my inability to speak the language as an excuse to not talk with people in the streets, because he told me that I can speak the language well enough to talk with everyone.  This was something that I needed to hear because it´s true.  Street contacting is my weak spot right now.   But I´m working on it!

This past Wednesday was a major turning point in my mission.  It was hot, and nobody wanted to receive us in their homes. Our investigators said they were busy, members of the ward weren´t home, and we walked for 4 hours straight... 
I´m not going to lie, at one point I thought ¨what in the world am I doing?¨ But then I realized that if I continued with a doubtful attitude nothing was going to get better.  So I said a quick prayer in my heart, and prayed that we would find someone to teach.  As we were walking, we passed a young girl holding her baby sitting on a cinder block in front of her humble home.  We stopped to talk with her, she told us she is a member but hasn´t been active for many years, and that she would love to talk with us. So sitting on cinderblocks, in the street, we had one of the most spiritual lessons.  She is 19, has a 2 year old baby, and lives alone with her sister.  She has a hard life, but we were able to promise her that if she went back to church she would be able to feel the presence of the Savior in her life, and receive strength to bear the burdens that she has.  

IT.WAS.AMAZING.

...and during the lesson I had a moment to thank my Heavenly Father for guiding us to find someone who was lost and in need of the light that the gospel brings.

This is the last week before transfers. Hermana Melo goes home this next week. I am going to miss her, but so thankful for all that she has taught me. I am nervous to receive my new companion and to take charge of this area, since I am the one who has been here. But I can do hard things.

I knew that the mission was going to be hard, but I didn´t know how hard. But I read a conference talk that explained that the mission is supposed to be hard because salvation is not a cheap experience! I am sooooo grateful for all the amazing and spiritual experiences I am having, and thank you all for your love and prayers.

This week is General Conference, and I hope everone will take time to watch and listen to the words of our prophets!  

Con amor,

Hermana Norman

To love them....

in front of the church

So this week was crazy.

First of all, a dog attacked me and bit me.  Yes, I survived, don´t worry.  But thank goodness I was wearing my slacks so I just had bruises and a little scratch on my leg.  

We didn´t have the baptism this past week.  The day before the baptism we had another talk with Jazmin´s mom, and she decided that she would not allow Jazmin to be baptized.  We were devastated, Jazmin was in tears, and it was extremely hard.  It is definitely true that you grow to love your investigators because it truly broke my heart knowing that Jazmin wouldn´t be able to be baptized the next day.  But I have faith, and we are going to continue to work with Yazmin and her mom...

We had divisiones this past week.. I can´t think of the word in english.  Companion exchanges? I don´t know.  But I was sooooooooooo nervous because I had to stay in my area, and my companion went to another area.  I was nervous because I doubted that I knew my area well enough and that I could lead the dicussions with the investigators.. but I did it! I definitely learned that I need to have more confidence in myself and in the Lord. Sometimes I need to remind myself that the Lord has put his trust in me to be a representative of Him in Argentina, and I can have His help and guidance as I do His work.  

I LOVE Argentina, and I love the people here.  It definitely is true that we serve those we love, but it also works the other way around, we come to love those we serve.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I get to spend every moment thinking about how I can serve others, I have never been happier. 

Love you all!

Hermana Norman

Yummy pie with recent convert, Lucas, his mom and or new investigator Gisela

our apartment buidling

Hermana Melo and I

Our pday today was to Dique La Cienaga

Riding a bike again....its been so long! My legs and backside could tell!

WE CAN...

The weeks are seriously flying by.  I can´t believe that it is PDay already!

This week was amazing.  Last week, we didn´t get the numbers we were hoping for, and we made goals to find more new investigators this week.  We went into this week with a better attitude, that WE CAN find the people who need the gospel.  And guess what?! We found two new families who want to be baptized, such a huge blessing and miracle.  But I realized how important it is that I have faith that Heavenly Father will place the people who need the gospel in our path, we just have to do our part and actively seek and talk with everyone that crosses our path. 

We will be having a baptism this Saturday! Her name is Yazmin, she is 16, and she has such a powerful testimony already! Her life is extremely hard, and it has been amazing to see how the gospel has helped her.  So excited and grateful that I am able to play a small part in her conversion.

In the mission, I have grown to love the scriptures.  I look forward to my personal study every day.  This week I read Ether 6.  I challenge everyone to read this chapter, and think about how it applies to our trials.  I love verses 5-8, and how it says that the wind did never cease to blow TOWARDS the promised land.  I know that at times we might want the Lord to calm the seas but without them, we might not reach whatever promised land he is leading us to.  Remember that calm seas don´t carry barges to the promised land-- stormy seas do.  

I can look back on all the trials I have gone through in my life, and I can now say that I am grateful for them!  I am who I am today because of what I´ve been through.  I´ve learned to rely on my Savior, and find hope and peace through the atonement.

Speaking of stormy seas....this is what I call the stairs of death. 

Our area is split up into three sections: upper. middle and lower. Each section is separated by 150 steps. We have to climb these up and down, up and down all day, every day! KILLER! You'd think that doing this PLUS all the walking we do would keep me skinny....nooooo! Still gaining weight, eating one meal a day (well two, we do have a little breakfast).  That tells you how good the food is here! So I just thought I´d let you all know that fruit is considered a dessert here.  So yeah I´m basically dying... haha just kidding. But seriously, they say okay now we will have dessert, and then they bring out a bowl with oranges and bananas. hahahahahaha

Their favorite dessert is canned peaches, and sometimes with dulce de leche.  OKAY I LOVE DULCE DE LECHE.  But yeah, just thought I'd  put that out there. My beloved brownies and ice cream are no where to be found here.

I hope you all have an amazing week, thank you for the love and prayers!  

With love,

Hermana Norman

A lady wasn't feeling well one day

So I got to put my EMT skills to use. I was the only person who knew how to check her blood pressure.

My district

With Lucas and his family before his baptism a couple weeks ago

My favorite sound....running water in the baptismal font

Happiness is....

Always got to know where this is....

Hermana Melo had 2 months left (now she only has about a month left)

Capilla Abierta...cant remember how to say it in English

Jerseys our zone had made...Lo M.A.S. (the Mission Argentina Salta)

My zone

Love these sisters!

Outing to Purmamarca today....google it. It is so beautiful!

Argentina doesn't speak the same Spanish as in Spain. They say they speak Spanish Castellano not espanol.

Appreciate the little things....

This week was really good! It is freezing here in Jujuy!  Everyone be grateful for heaters....because we don´t have that here!  Our apartment is all cinder block and tile and so it is like an icebox. Being in the 20s is no bueno. I sleep in my trusty sleeping bag that Mom insisted that I bring. Luckily, I have a Dad who knew what to look for to keep me warm at nights. When we do our studies, we are in our hats, gloves, scarves and coats. Its THAT cold! 

But we have been working with an inactive member, his name is Fabio, he is 21, and he has been inactive for 11 years.  He smokes and drinks daily.. but since we have been meeting with him he has stopped drinking, and he is down to one cigarette every other day!  This is a miracle, because he has been trying to quit drinking for so long!  I know that it´s because of the atonement, that he can overcome this trial and addiction in his life. However,  this week none of our investigators came to church because it was so cold... :(

We just finished playing soccer with our zone. I got hit in the face and I have a swollen eye to show for it. LOL....I can hear my family now, "at least it wasn't your nose this time!" 

But I am safe. I am happy. I am fed (I need more hunger, as the food is soooo good here! Gaining weight is inevitable), and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my mission.

So grateful for my Savior, and for the opportunity to be a representative of Him.  I love serving him everyday. 

Also Thank you so much Uncle Vaga, Aunty Tina and their kids for the hand written letters! I loved having something to read! It meant the world to me! THANK YOU! 

Also, saw the pics of the weddings this past weekend, Kaohi and Becca, you both looked GORGEOUS.  Thank you Becca for sending me an invitation, I got it yesterday!! Sealed for time and all eternity in the house of the Lord! What a blessing!

This week I am so appreciative of the life I have. For the home my parents raised me in. The opportunity to have the gospel everywhere in Utah. For my family and friends that loved me and were great examples to me. For the opportunity to serve a mission. 

Don´t have much time left to write. All my time is usually taken by writing my Mission President in Spanish...such a hard thing for me to do. I hope as time goes on, it gets easier and faster. 

Thank you for your love and prayers!

With much love,

Hermana Norman

The infamous tag pics

We are well fed by the members here. The people are so supportive and helpful.

Our zone activity last week was going to a park called Tilcara