"If any man serve me....

...let him follow me." John 12:26

It seriously blows my mind how fast time is going by. It is already week 6 in the transfers and I will find out Sunday if I will stay in 3cerritos or go to a new area.

This week we were able to watch the worldwide missionary broadcast, and Wow! There are a lot of changes, but I know they are inspired and will help us focus more on our missionary objective, teach repentance and baptize converts.

Right now our closest investigator to baptism is Luz. She LOVES the church and has attended twice and goes to our noche de hogar activity every week. All of her family are Jehovah Witnesses, but she says she has a lot of special feeling in the church of Jesus Christ. She will be baptized on Feb 11th.

We had an amazing spiritual lesson with a new investigator, Ana. She gave us praise after we explained what we do as missionaries. She couldn't believe that we are willing to put everything in our life on hold to dedicate 18 months to serving the Lord. My response to her was simple. I told her, "once you hear our message, you will understand why we are here." I was thinking about how the Lord called his apostles. Without hesitating, they dropped their nets and followed Him. I love this, and I think everyone can apply this in their lives. The Lord has said that he needs TRUE DISCIPLES and has asked that we follow him. But are we willing to "drop our nets"? Do we love the Savior more than the things of this world? I have been pondering this question this past week, especially after our District Meeting. Our District leader asked us, "do you love your mission? If the Savior asked you to serve 18 more months, would you be willing?" The mission is hard and by far the hardest thing I have done in my life, but it is so worth it. To be able to represent my Savior and preach His gospel is an honor and a privilege.

Bueno, now for the crazy stuff....my dog bite is healing nicely. I only have a little mark now. And I turned 20 this past week. It is a birthday I will never forget. My companion made me breakfast and some members made me brownies. So I am a very happy girl! I was amazed by the kindness of the members. They really tried to make birthday special...and it WAS!

Thank you everyone who emailed me birthday wishes!

The church is true! Read your scriptures! Pray always! Go to the temple! Don't forget to fast this Sunday!

Love,
Hermana Norman

Study time...my war wound!

Had to show my mama that its all good!

My district

Hermana Bohorquez

Birthday morning!!! I am 20!

love these kids

Isn't this the sweetest thing!!! For me?

 

Truly humbling to see those who don't have much give to me, to make me feel special.

 

Antonela and Luciana

My favorite, Hermana Quintana! I love her! She always says I am the perfect daughter she never had!

They even decorated for me!

Turning 20 was the best EVER!!! Will never forget my Argentina birthday!

Thank the Lord our God....in ALL things!

Ah, la mision....full of moments that I will never forget.

This past Tuesday was an exciting one for my companion and I. Long story short, a German Shepherd attacked me as we were walking in the street. This dog got a hold of my arm and didn't let go until its owner came out and grabbed it. I looked at my arm, it was bleeding and immediately I thought, "my dad's going to kill me!" My second thought was, "where is my planner? I need my planner!" Because when the dog attacked me, I dropped my agenda (planner), and as a missionary, your planner is your LIFE! Third thought, "OW!" and final thought, "Wait! Did this just really happen? Was I just attacked by a dog in Argentina?" And by this time my companion was freaking out, calling the Mission Mom.
Bueno, fast forward a couple hours. I went to the doctors, got a shot and antibiotics and have to go get my wound cleaned out every day for a week. It honestly isn't that bad, it could have been worse.

But a few lessons were learned:
1) I should have listened to my parents and carried my dog spray. However, there probably wouldn't have been enough time to spray the dog. In the end, my parents are always right. jajaja
2) I am now a little scared to walk the streets, but I know that the Lord is by my side and I have so many praying for me, so that helps too. Thank you for all the prayers.

Bueno. The rest of the week has been good. It has been extremely hot, but the heat is helping us. When we knock on people's doors and they see us dying from the heat and sweating to death, they feel bad for us and let us in. We have found a lot of new investigators, but the challenge is getting them to attend church on Sunday morning. Please pray for Paula y Virginia y Familia Cuellas.

This week Friday is also my 20th birthday! I feel so old. Seems like yesterday I was turning 12 and going into Young Womens. The idea of a mission seemed so far away....and now, Here I Am! And I couldn't be happier with where I am. Thank you to everyone who has helped me in the past 20 years get to where I am today.
I am so lucky and so blessed!

I know the Church is true. I KNOW it and as I bear testimony of it everyday, the Spirit confirms it time and time again.

Have an amazing week and watch out for crazy dogs! jajaja

Love,
Hermana Norman

At Drs getting looked at

little bandage

have to get wound cleaned out daily

Service at a member's house

pday fun at San Lorenzo

Con todas las Hermanas en Salta

"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing...

and all things shall work together for your good”

(D&C 90:24)

I won't lie...this week has been HARD, but a good one. I know with every challenge that I face, that I am growing and learning more and more. Although I had moments of discouragement, I am thankful that I had moments where the Spirit testified that this is where I am supposed to be. 

We have been teaching 14 new contacts. 1 of them attended church with us! That made my week! "And if it be but one soul...." kept entering my mind!

We found another inactive family with 8 children. Three of them have been baptized and they expressed a desire to come back to church and for their other children to learn. I loved them from the moment I met them! I have a lot of hope for them, but sadness that I probably won't be around to see them enter the waters of baptism. 

Not a lot of time this week...I tried answering personal emails that were sent to me. Thank you to all who take the time to show me love and support. I really do appreciate it. If I can't get to every single one....I'm sorry. It stresses me out because I would love to answer you all personally. You deserve that much! But know I love each of you. 

Shout out to my Dad for his birthday this week...I love you Dad! You are the best!

Could you ask for anything more? You just wanted pics of me, si?

Que tengas una buena semana!

Con Amor,

Hermana Norman

Noche de Hogar with the youth

Our barbeque with the Elders today

“Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled....

saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” D&C 33:8-10

Hola Friends and Family

Don`t have much time to write today... but wanted to share a really cool experience during splits with Hermana Hill this week. 

We were looking for an inactive member`s home. We found it and when we knocked on the door, they weren`t home. Hermana Hill said that there is obviously a reason why we are here... so let`s talk with their neighbors.  We knocked at their neighbor´s door, and we met the nicest family! Golden Investigators!  They told us how they were in need of spiritual help and guidance.. and then we happened to show up at their door!  This strengthened my testimony that there really are people waiting for us, and that everywhere we go, we need to talk with EVERYONE! 

The lesson was filled with the spirit, and we left feeling really good! We were positive that they would show up to church... but they didn`t.  This is probably one of the hardest parts about the mission. I KNOW that they felt the spirit during the lesson.. but the hardest thing is getting them to feel the spirit when we aren`t there.  Because true conversion occurs when we aren`t around.

Some changes have been made in our mission. We now only have personal study on Pdays, so that frees us up to get our personal things done. We also do our daily planning in the morning instead of at night. So many changes happening, but it is for the better. We have interviews tomorrow with Presidente and zone conference! Yay! 

Thank you all for the love and support.  Have an amazing week!

Hermana Norman

Gift exchange at our Christmas party

Got mate?

My zone at our Christmas devotional with Presidente

FELIZ ANO NUEVO!

Dec 31st 2016...my journal entry!

Wow- the last day of 2016! This year has flown by. I can't believe that at this time last year, I was finishing up my mission papers, and now, look at me! I'm a missionary in Salta Argentina! Looking back at this past year, I have learned A LOT. I have changed...for the better. Some of the things that I have learned

1) I am SO blessed. Why? Because I have the gospel and because I have an amazing family. I am so grateful to have a testimony of this restored gospel. To know that I am a daughter of God, that I have a purpose, and that even though I am going to face trials, I know I can overcome them with the help of my Savior. I have come to know and truly appreciate the tender mercies of the atonement. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend 7 months of this past year dedicated to serving my Heavenly Father. I have witnessed so many miracles in the short time that I have been in Argentina. The mission truly is the best! I have learned to forget myself and my problems and devote myself to doing His will. There truly is no greater joy than to share the gospel. To watch how the gospel can bring hope, peace, love and joy into people's lives. But the most amazing thing about the mission? As I have helped and watched people become converted unto Christ and His gospel, I have become converted. My love for my Savior and His gospel has deepened. I am happier! I know that my happiness comes from knowing who I am, what my purpose is and where I want to go. I am so grateful that I have 2017 to keep sharing this happiness.

2) I have realized in the mission how much I love my family. I have been blessed with the best when it comes to families. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and of course my siblings and parents. I wish I knew how I could thank my parents for all that they have done for me....words just aren't enough. I'm so grateful for their examples, for their sacrifices and for their unconditional love  and support. I love you family!

I used to hate New Year´s because it was a time that I set goals that I never completed.. like lose weight, be more organized, and things like that. But in the mission I have realized how important it is to set goals. EVERY DAY we are setting goals... like how many people we want to teach... but these aren`t just numbers.. they reflect our desires.  Behind those numbers are PEOPLE, sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and I have noticed as I have set higher goals I have been able to accomplish more... the Lord truly does help when we have righteous goals.

One goal I have for 2017, is I want to come to KNOW my Savior.  I have made specific goals that will help me grown closer to HIM.  By the end of my mission I want to be able to say with no doubts that not only do I know about my Savior, but I KNOW him. 

We are having a little rough patch in my area right now.. we are focusing on finding people... So we spend a lot of time looking for referrals or working with families that aren`t all members. Each day I pray that I will be able to find and recognize the people that are waiting for the gospel.

I am so ready and so excited for 2017. I know that it is going to be a year full of memories, good and bad. But I know that it is during those hard times when we truly come to rely on the Lord. I am grateful for the trials that I have gone through because it has made me that much stronger. Oh, and today we spent New Years Eve in Limache, the area that my companion was in before. We ate SO MUCH! Also, I finally received my Christmas package from my Mom! Hermana Hill, Hermana Mejia and my compa Hermana Bohorquez all got pajamas from mi madre! They were so happy and grateful. I couldn't help get a little emotional as I read letters from family and all the notes from the ward members! Thank you so much! Thank you for your prayers and your love and support! Thank you to my Gma and Gpa Ho Ching for the gift card! WooHoo!

I hope that 2017, we can all set goals. Goals that will push us to be a little better temporally and spirtiually. I know that if they are righteous goals, with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can accomplish them!

Oh, and fun fact, for new years, everyone sets off fireworks at midnight. We went to the top of our apartment building and watched and it was AMAZING! SO MANY!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! FELIZ ANO NUEVO!

Con amor,
Hermana Norman

Christmas PJs...a tradition at home that mi madre couldn't let me go without. Muchos gracias...

Cause I don't hike enough...right!

Repping my Ho Ching family! Love you all!

Hermana Mejia and I

We did this little trip a few weeks ago...new compas, so went again. Me, Mejia, Bohorquez and Hill

New Years Eve dinner

Me and my compa, Hermana Bohorquez

Here's to another awesome year! CHEERS!