Sometimes there just isn't time...

So today we were able to take a trip up the tram to overlook Salta. It was fun and it was nice to have the four of us together.

I really don't have much time to write, but just wanted everyone to know I am alive and doing well. I was able to do splits this week with Hermana Meija in her area Vicente Sola. We had a full day of rejection and kept going. We ended the day with a wonder discussion with a family that have such a desire to learn more. The father is very knowledgable in the Bible and had a hard time accepting anything other than what was in its beautiful pages. We could only bear our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and how it works hand in hand with the Bible. Doesn't take away from it, but compliments it. It acts as a second witness of Jesus Christ and His ministries. I am not going to water it down, but it was a very powerful moment. We invited them to pray to find out for themselves if what we were saying was true. We let the Spirit be the teacher and converter.

I am so thankful for my testimony of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the knowledge of the gospel that I have been blessed with. I can't help but want to share it with everyone I come in contact with. It truly breaks my heart when people refuse or reject this gospel. If only they knew the blessings and eternal progress that comes from it. I LOVE the people of Argentina! I feel a responsibility to be his arm in this missionary work, to help my brother and sisters here to hear this wonderful gospel and have the opportunity to partake in it for themselves.

I challenge everyone who reads this to participate in the initiative to Ilumina el Mundo, Light the World, this Christmas season. Please make Christ the center of focus at this time. Take time to watch this short video and download the calendar to light the world in 25 ways over 25 days. Video  Calendar

To my cousin, Beav: congrats on your engagement to Brin. Sad to miss occassions like this, but know that I am happy for you and wish you the best.

To my sister, Harmoni Te'o: Yay for missions! You will be awesome and love every minute of it!

I love you all and thanks for the support, prayers and love!

Till next week,
Hermana Norman

my area is the only area in my entire mission with a Mickey D's! It is expensive too.

Getting ready for Pday

Me and Hermana Alvarez

standing at the top

Hermana Mejia (Nicaragua) and Hermana Martins (Brazil) with us!

Riding the tram to overlook Salta

A time to be Thankful....November 28th

Last week my Mom and Dad were on a cruise with friends and so wasn't able to update my blog. I sent pics and a short email to them. It was a difficult and one of the most emotional ones I have had yet. We had a baptism planned,, as you all know. But an hour before the baptism he said that he didnt want to be baptized. We obviously were confused because he was So ready. So we rushed over to his house to talk to him, and it was like he was a completely different person.  Like Satan had gotten a hold of his heart...he ended up not getting baptized...so thank you Mom for the M&Ms you sent in this last package. My comp and I ate them as we cried and were sad by this change in our friend.

This week we had a little roadtrip to another Province to do paperwork (legal stuff) for my companion.  It was a 5 hour bus ride there and back... it was actually a lot of fun.  It was during Thanksgiving... so while you were all enjoying pie, I was on a bus. jajaja but I am glad to hear that my family had a good Thanksgiving.  Looked like a lot of fun! 

Happiness is...

Me and my new companion, Hermana Alvarez

So I love my new area!  It is so different, but change is always good. (: 

If everything works out, we are going to have a baptism this Saturday.His name is Brian, he is 17 years old, and he has a really hard life. His family has a lot of problems, but he has found hope through the Book of Mormon, he LOVES it.  There is so much power in this book.  It truly can change lives! But I` m beyond excited.  

We are also teaching another man. He is Korean and doesn't speak much Spanish or English. It is a challenge to teach him because of the language barrier.  But yet, we know he is getting something out of it all, because he keeps saying, "I can feel it. I know it is good." Everyone speaks the language of the Spirit. 

We also have another family that we are teaching. They are the nicest people ever! Yet looking at them, people may be a little scared. They have a rough life being in and out of jail. Their appearance may not be one that we consider "friendly". But I tell you, don't judge a book by its cover. If we had, we would have missed out on knowing such amazing people. 

My companion and I were able to sing a musical number at a baptism this past Saturday, and it was so special.  It was a good reminder of what the goal is... to help people come unto Christ by entering into the waters of baptism!

I am so happy.  I love my new companion, she is hilarious and we are constantly laughing. We live with two other Hermanas in our apartment and we all get along so well. We can talk about spiritual things, work hard and still have such a good time together. 

I. AM. SO. HAPPY.

I am ready to work hard and ver milagros.

I hope that everyone can enjoy Thanksgiving, and that we can all give thanks for all the blessings that we have! 

Love you all!

Con amor,

Hermana Norman

Welcome to my new apartment....our front door

our kitchen

A tad bit of an upgrade from my last apt

Our celebratory pancakes...18 months, 2 at 13 months and me at 5 months in the mission field

Change is good....

So I knew with my transfer happening, that I wouldn't have much time to email. So I wrote things down as the week went on. I wanted to remember my last days in Ciudad de Nieva. 

So I am transferred and I am in........

SALTA!

How cool is that! I am in the city and will be in the same area as my Mission President and family. It will be such a change from where I was. I miss everyone already. I cried....a lot! A piece of my heart will always be there. But I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me here in Salta.

This is a pic from a while ago, but my new comp is the one that is 2nd from the left

My new companion is Hermana Alvarez. She is Columbian from Calgary, Canada. She and I are "sisters" in the mission field as we both had the same trainer, Hermana Melo.

Keep the faith, be strong and firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ and keep praying! I am so thankful for change as it keeps challenging me to be better and to do better. Can't get too comfortable! I love my Savior and Redeemer. I love this gospel. I love you all!

Till next week....
Con Amor,
Hermana Norman

How do I leave?

WOW!!

5 months dedicated to serving my Savior. The hardest yet most rewarding 5 months of my life!  This is my last week here in my first area. I can´t believe how attached I have become to the members here and to the people I am teaching.  We are currently teaching a mother and son. They will be baptized at the end of this month, after I am transferred.  When we were talking about their baptism with them, the Mom, Rosa, started crying when she found out that I would not be able to attend their baptism.  She thanked me for finding her, and for teaching her how she can have true happiness in this life and for the eternities.  I am so grateful that I could meet all these amazing people, and that I could be a tool in the hand of the Lord to help remind them of their divine potential.  I am going to miss Jujuy!!

Many have asked me if they celebrate Halloween. They do not celebrate Halloween here but they have Dia de las almas.. where they make an offering to and put their pictures of their loved ones who have died all over. Different, but fun to see the different cultural celebrations.

I love the food here... and strangely enough, I haven´t had to eat mayo. The Lord knows me, and knows what I can handle jajaja.  But we are fed soooooo much. The other day someone asked if my companion was pregnant right after we ate lunch. Needless to say, we are working out harder in the mornings now jajaja

I am learning to cook so much. I can make pancakes (without bisquick!) and rice with milk--I love this! I know you are all proud of me!

D.O.G.S.

There are dogs everywhere! One actually tried to attack me this week, but with my ninja like reflexes, I kicked it away! Yep! I did that! 

Funny thing is that one day a dog followed us for about a mile. My companion and I tried to run and hide from it and it just kept finding us! We were literally playing hide and seek with a dog! We finally dodged into a small store and had a nice chat about the gospel with the store owner and then the dog was never to be seen again!

I finally got to go to the doctor and get my arms checked out. They are not sure if it is an allergic reaction or bed bugs. They drew some blood and I should get the results tomorrow. Meanwhile, my bedding is all wrapped in plastic bags....

Something that I have learned this week:  we choose and we determine how we can react to situations.  Even when we have a hard day in the mission, I can choose to remain positive and happy and have faith that Heavenly Father is preparing someone for us.  We can choose to be annoyed with someone who is different than us, or we can choose to love them and look for the good in them.  Everyone is a child of God. We can always choose to be happy, and we should be happy! We have the fulness of the gospel!!

My invitation to all is to 

Not Judge. Just Love.

I am so grateful for every day, and for the small miracles I witness every day, I hope that everyone can have an amazing week, and look for the tender mercies of the Lord every day!

Thank you for the love and support!

With love,

Hermana Norman

Waiting for Carolina

I am becoming quite the chef! 

Look mama!

What my planner looks like

one of our investigator's dogs....always looks dead! So strange!

My beautiful Jujuy