I AM SO HAPPY!!!

😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

SOLANGE WAS BAPTIZED!!!
It was such a special day. So many miracles were witnessed to help this special girl get baptized.

In our lesson this past Tuesday, we asked Solange how she was feeling. She said that she felt really good and that she wanted to be baptized this week before she had to be admitted in the hospital again. So we got everything ready so that she could be baptized Friday afternoon. She was so excited and so nervous, she had a huge smile the whole night. Seeing her in all white standing in the baptismal font; my heart was so full. She looked like a small angel and after being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost, she glowed! She told us, "I'm not scared anymore. I know Heavenly Father is always watching over my family and I. She is amazing! So strong and so full of faith and hope. Today she starts another round of chemo therapy. 10 days in the hospital.

PLEASE KEEP THIS SWEET GIRL IN YOUR PRAYERS.

Hermana Daldegan and I are working hard to find new people and to help everyone obtain a testimony of the church. Fernanda will be baptized this Saturday. Please pray that she can be strong enough to resist the temptation to smoke.

This past Tuesday we had a meeting/council with Presidente Orquera for all the leaders of the mission. This was my last one! So at the end, all those who are ending their mission had to bear their testimony. It was a very unreal feeling, I feel like I'm still in denial, not wanting to believe that this is my last transfer. But as I bore my testimony, I realized how different my testimony is compared to where it was when I first started the mission. Yes, I believed all the same things, but now I feel like there is a confirmation and I have so much more confidence in what I know to be TRUE! My testimony has truly become a part of who I am, something I treasure!

I'm literally trying to talk to as many Argentines as I can and to just always share my testimony.

When the creepy old men whistle at us, we smile, and give them an invitation to church and share a quick testimony.

When someone's dog tries to attack us, we talk to the owner.

When we go get ice cream (often), we talk with the ice cream guy.

There are just so many opportunities to serve and share the gospel. It's sad because sometimes we get too caught up in the busyness of our lives and we miss small opportunities to help someone in need. I invite everyone to take a moment and to take a step back from the craziness of our lives, and find someone or do something kind for someone else.

We found Luciana this past week, and she told us that after our first visit, her life changed completely. It was as if she had a new light and hope in life. The gospel and light of Christ truly changes lives!

In one of our lessons, a man came and interrupted holding an empty bag. The man started whispering with our investigator and all I heard was "but its heavy". And I was thinking, "oh my, what is happening?" Then he goes out to the back of the house and about 10 minutes later, he comes back into the house, with the something large and heavy inside the bag. He hurries past us and leaves but left an awful smell. I casually ask, "jaja, what was that?" And she says, "Our dead dog." My companion said my face was priceless, when she told us. jajaja But that's not all. Then the little daughter walks in and the mom starts picking out lice! I casually pulled my hair back and finished the lesson. But hey, they are interested in being baptized!

Also, the Familia Miraglio had an accident this past week. But first, this is the family that treats us like their daughters. They are always taking care of us. I love them SO MUCH! But anyway, Roberto (the dad) and their son, Lucas, were on a motorcycle when they crashed into a dog. They were going 90 km/hr, I don't know how fast that is in mph, but they went flying. Luckily they were bothering helmets, and they only suffered minor cuts and bruises. Roberto says that he knows that the Lord protected them because he said that they obviously destroyed their clothes from skidding on the road. But he said because he went to the temple, his covenants protected him. Pretty amazing. Im so glad that they are okay.

Yesterday was our stake conference. Good stuff. Two girls opened their mission calls during the conference in front of everyone! Brought back many good memories. Xerox is a member in our ward and she will be serving in Chile, Concepcion!

But this past week has been really good. We did splits with some Hermanas in our zone, and it is always fun working with other missionaries.

Tomorrow is Halloween!! Everyone enjoy it. They don't celebrate it here. Eat lots of candy for me.

Remember 2 Nephi 2:25:

"We are, that we might have joy"💗

Be kind to Everyone!

Con Amor,

Hermana Norman

Hermana Daldegan and ME!! She is a rock and helps me to be strong!

Best mission in the world!

YUMMY

This angel was baptized 10/27/17

Love this special girl

 

Solange with the unicorn and CTR bracelet from my family 

Video for my family: Solange says Gracias!

Chile here she comes! 

Best choice anyone can make is to serve a mission!

Pero, bueno!

Hola!
First, I have a new companion! Her name is Hermana Daldegan. She is from Floresta, Brazil. She's gorgeous like all my other Brazillian companions. She is super fun and likes to work hard. She has 9 months in the mission. So it's nice  because she isn't "trunky" at all! I'm super happy to spend my last transfer with her.

Thos week was a little crazy. We spent Monday and Tuesday in Salta going to lots of doctor appointments. They weren't able to find the problem, but I will be getting some test results back tomorrow! On Wednesday we came back to Santiago, and it took 8 hours. I was super anxious to get out and work and I worried because we had lost a day of work while in Salta. But the Lord knows are intentions and really helped us this week. We found lots of new people. People that were literally waiting for this message!

We also saw Solange again, and wow! I love this little girl. She is so strong. She will be baptized soon before she has to do another round of chemotherapy.

Fernanda is getting closer and closer. She is slowly stopping smoking. She still needs lots of prayers!

All of our other investigators are still struggling with church attendance. This past Sunday was elections and so EVERYTHING was closed. There wasn't any buses or taxis, so it was hard for a lot of people to go.  Pero, bueno. Patience.

We had a lot of spiritual moments this week...

-we taught an atheist, and it was honestly a very powerful lesson. She felt like her life had no purpose and it was incredible to testify that we do have a purpose and that there is a God who loves us more than we can imagine.

-we found a single mom with 4 kids that is without work and that was looking for divine help. She told us that the night before she had prayed for the first time asking God for a sign to show that he is aware of her and her family. When we showed up outside her house, she almost started crying, and said that God sent two of His messengers to answer her prayer. This moment was special because it was another confirmation that the Spirit truly is guiding our footsteps and God does direct His work.
Such a blessing to play a part 💓

Thank you for all the love and prayers, and remember to be kind to EVERYONE!

💖/ Hermana Norman

Meet my new companion, Hermana Daldegan

Miracles

This week was absolutely crazy.
It was Hermana Simmons last week, so we were working extra hard! Jk, we always work hard 😇
But we had the biggest miracle happen. We have an eternal investigator, her name is Joselyn. She is 18 and all of her family are members. She goes to church every now and then, just to be with family.
We didn't visit her frequently because she wasn't progressing. Then a couple weeks ago, we felt the impression to go visit her and we told her straight up that she needed to pray to see if she needed to be baptized. She sai she would, but she just kept putting it off, so we stopped visiting her again.
AGAIN, we felt an impression one day to visit her, as we were sitting at their table, she walked in and said, "Oh, wow, the hermanas are here. I received my answer, and I want to be baptized." I think our jaws hit the floor!
She wanted to be baptized as soon as possible because she knew and had known for a long time that the church was true. And so....
She was baptized this last Saturday. She looked stunning in all white, and was glowing after being baptized. The water was cold, but she said she felt warm inside! Pretty amazing, right?

But it was a lot of craziness leading up to this moment.

Friday, at 7 in the morning, we had to travel to Salta so that Hermana Simmons could have her last dinner and interview with Presidente Orquera. We got to Salta around 3 and Hermana Simmons went to the mission office and I went with Hermana Mannewitz!! It was so good to see her again. We went to the Doctors....more info later.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in the doctors, and we had plans to take a bus back to our area at 2 in the morning so that we could make it in time for the baptism. But the bus was full! So we had to stay the night and I had none of my stuff with me, so I just slept in my dress. It was awful. The next morning, we caught a bus at 9:30, we didn't get to Santiago until 6:15. Yup! Almost 9 hours. The baptism started at 6 so we were flying to the church. But we made it! And everything worked out!

Sunday, lots of emotions. Obviously, I am very sad that Hermana Simmons is leaving me, but I'm very excited for her too. Shes off to her next mission...marriage! jaja!

As for our other investigators...attending church is still a struggle, "something" always comes up.
Fernanda doesn't cease to amaze me, she is soaking everything up. She goes to church every Sunday! Just praying that she stops smoking.

I am currently in Salta again...I am here for a couple days to do some medical tests. Don't worry, I am fine, but prayers would be greatly appreciated. I still have constant headaches, dizziness and fatigue. They say I still have an ear infection too AND now I have been throwing up for a week. Hate going to the doctors as I feel I am wasting time here.

I am going in to my last transfer....and I can't believe it! I was able to talk to my old companion Hermana Bohorquez this past week, and we were just laughing so hard till we cried sharing mission stories. Then it hit me that the mission really is FULL of amazing moments!
SO MANY GOOD TIMES 💓

Thank you for the love and prayers and...Forget not to be Happy today!

Con Amor,
Hermana Norman

Our miracle....Joselyn

Fernanda...shes amazing

Last asado with Hermana Simmons

And this is WHY I do this!

Did you know?

-That when Argentina's soccer team plays, everyone and their dog has to watch the game? They even bring out their TVs and set up chairs outside because it is so hot inside their homes

-That this is my companion, Hermana Simmons' last week in the mission 🙁

-People have no shame here. A member told us we should probably stop eating or else we won't be able to fit in the door when we get home...jaja!

-We saw a guy fall on his motorcycle. He was okay

-Santiago is basically the Sahara desert. Windy, hot and sandy! I was trying to testify to a woman in the street, and there was so much dirt flying into my eyeballs, so I just finished with my eyes squinted so much that she asked, "Umm, are you praying or something?"

-Fernanda is so close to being baptized. She just needs to stop smoking. Pray for her.

-Solange is still in the hospital. We haven't been able to see her this whole week. She isn't responding well to the chemo 😦

-Sadness is when the majority of our investigators don't show up to church. This is still the hardness commitment for our investigators. It is a sacrifice because our chapel is 30-35 minutes away on bus, but I know that when people re truly converted and have a desire to show their love for God through their obedience, then they will show up 😊

-I completely lost it in a lesson with Benjamin and his family. A HUGE bug flew in and it was coming right for me. I couldn't contain my fear this time. I screamed and tried dodging it and running. Good thing we are super close to Ben and his family. They just laughed at me!

-We had interviews with President Orquera. Good man! He has actually helped me a lot. He has helped me better understand and access the Gace of God especially as a missionary. I really enjoyed talking with him.

-I received my last package from home!! AHHHH...cookies from Mom were definitely needed, and I even shared because yeah, I'm a changed woman!

-I got the stomache flu or something like that. Who knows...but it was funny because we started our fast Saturday after lunch, and in my prayer I asked for strength to keep working hard and for health. As I said "Amen", I ran to the bathroom, and yeah. Not fun! Heavenly Father is really testing my faith--But, I fasted anyway and went out to work anyway! No time to lose!

-I finished the Book of Mormon again this last week. My testimony is strengthened every time I read this amazing book. I invite everyone to follow our prophets counsel and to read the Book of Mormon daily!

-Hope everyone has an amazing week. Thank you for the love and support!!

Be kind to EVERYONE

💗Hermana Norman

Happiness is Mom's cookies

I love this place!

Sweet 16!

Yesterday was my "sweet 16"!
16 months in the mission! Best 16 months of my life!

I got to spend it in the best way possible, listening to General Conference!

It was an amazing, spiritually uplifting weekend. Many prayers and questions were answered as we gathered here in Santiago Argentina to listen to the words of our leaders.

One talk that I really loved was by President Uchtdorf in the Saturday Morning session. He talked about why we should turn to the Lord. He said that not only will our life be better but God will use us to make the lives of OTHERS better too!
God knows we are imperfect but he uses us anyway to bring about His eternal purposes.

This week, I felt very inadequate, especially in my calling to serve as an Hermana Leader. We did splits twice this week, and I just felt very overwhelmed and stressed, and that maybe there was some else more qualified to serve as a leader.  But after watching conference, I realized that God is fully aware of my imperfections, but if I am willing, and put in the effort, He will use me. After all, we are the pencil, he is the author. Grateful that God asks us to do hard things so that we can trust in Him and become better.

Everything is great here in Santiago!

Fernanda received a clear answer that the church is true and wants to be baptized. She struggles with a tobacco addiction. So we are working with her and using the promise of the Book of Mormon to help her overcome this addiction.

Familia Vasquezcura. They also have been reading and praying and are progressing! When we taught them the Restoration, it was very powerful when we shared Joseph Smith's first vision. Jenny, the Mom, said that she too had always had the question of what church is true! She said that as she sat in our church she received the confirmation that this truly is Christ's true church.

Ricardo, Benjamin and Solange are progressing in the Lord's time!

Wednesday night, it rained and it was cold! No one opened their doors to us We were on splits too and the Hermana said maybe we should just go home. We would only be home 15 minutes early. but I think this was a test of our faith and our obedience We kept knocking doors, and of course after receiving A LOT of rejection, a family let us in. It would have been easy to have just gone home, but when we show God that we really are willing to do whatever it takes he will lend us and guide us to those that will receive us, OR we  can feel confident in knowing that if we follow the counsel, "I'll go where you want me to go", even if it leads to rejection that God is testing us!

Random things that make me smile:
-while I was running in the morning, an old man told me I looked like I was going to die! He told me to run slower...thanks old man!

-our power went out DURING our prayer. We opened our eyes and we were in the dark!

-I killed 4 spiders this week. More than I have in my whole lifetime!

-I got a severe ear infection 😦

-our Bishop is a black belt

-they put sweet corn on their pizzas

-when we were sleeping we heard a random explosion and then an alarm system go off. Did I get out of bed? NOPE! We still don't know what happened!

-I have a new obsession with jello

-they found the guy that has been stealing from the Elders that live right next to us! They got most of their stuff back!

-I 💗Argentina!!!

Con Amor,
Hermana Norman