Miracles do continue!

Well, things have been a little tough around here in Xochitenco, but we're still going. I read a quote by President Henry B. Eyring “So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home. Everything that we go through in life is for a reason. We are really having some tough challenges here in this ward, but it is simply another test that the lord lets us have to help us learn to stay faithful during times of trial. I don't want to sound like I am perfect, because I got pretty frustrated yesterday, but God really does continue to bless us; in big ways, just as often as small. So a recent convert that has not been able to come to church in a long time came to chruch on sunday. Her daughter Esmeralda was giving a talk, but they didn't come alone. They brought her other daughter Jazmin and her husband Alfredo (both nonmembers) they want to be better. They have had some tough trials and now want to talk to the missionaries! we have an appointment on thursday in the night, and I am super stoked about it! The talks were so great and I feel that through the youth that spoke, God also had a special message for me!

So, we found Rafael, and we gave him a book of mormon. He's really straight-forward with us, and told us that it would take him some time, but he was going to start reading it and then he was going to let us know what he thought!

we can do more! I think that is something that everyone, ESPECIALLY ME, can apply. We can do more because the Lord has promised us that through him, and by our faith, that we "will have the power to do all things according to the will of the lord". This is a church of progress. I love it! I love the challenges (probably jinxing myself with this)! I love to work in the lord's vineyard! I love the lord! I would like to invite/ ask you all to include our investigators in your prayers. we leave cards with our investigators names on them and I would like to leave their names with you all as well! Rafael Luna, Dalila, Jazmin, and Alfredo. I know that there really is power in prayer! 

I hope you all have a great week! Love ya lots!

Elder Norr

this is our area, it's kinda small huh?

this is my awesome comp Elder Clarke!

Us hanging at a member house to drop of clothes! (she always gives us juice boxes)

 We found and made Mac N Cheese! Wasn't really worth it.... haha

 The old Juan Escutia Crew at the mission conference!

 Eating tortas de Tomal (tomale sub) with members on P-day! So delicious! We need tomales in the states!

 Just chilling here eating a big piece of deep fried big skin!

This is pan de muerto (bread of the dead) it is only made for a couple weeks of the year to commemorate the day of the dead (november 1st and 2nd) and it is delicious!

I think that's all the photos for this week... It won't send anymore. I will have to send the deep fried pig skin picture next week! Love you guys!

miracle in xochitenco

This has been a good week. we got to do some different stuff. to start the week off, we had interviews with the president on wednesday, we found a new investigator on friday, and we had a mission conference on saturday.

things were pretty calm. elder clarke is just full of energy. he is so funny. he saw this cat on the side walk and starts tip toeing and then tells me to get ready. i was like "what is my companion doing?", then Elder Clarke takes off trying to catch this cat i can't help but laugh when Elder Clarke and I are out in the streets :)

I just love our president and his wife. they just love the lord so much and want us to come more unto christ. In our mission conference, the president had told everyone to bring all there contraband items (ipods, ipads, iphones, movies, cds, books, fireworks, etc.) and promised that they would not have problems for just this time. He stood before us, and he explained "what I say is the will of God; and I do not excuse myself. I will probably say some hard words, that I do not excuse myself." He then proceeded to give an incredible talk about repentance and the importance of being worthy, faithful representatives of christ. then sister Stutz, not knowing spanish, got up and gave her talk in spanish that explained the relationship between faith and obedience. I just loved it. they love us so much, and you just feel it as they talk to you, as they shake their hand. I'm so grateful for the chance to serve in this mission :)

So, we were walking up a long street looking for an address of a new investigator. We couldn't seem to find it, but we passed by the home of a man that we had supposedly missed a couple of days before. I said to Elder Clarke "hey, lets just see if this guy is home." we knocked on the door, and he came out, opened the door, told us to come in, and then as we walked in he said "I thought you guys weren't going to come.". we then sat down as he told us he didn't know anything about our religion. we then talked for the next 2 hours as we explained the restoration and answered his questions. we invited him to church, and he told us directly "I go to church to change. If I go to into a church and come out feeling the same, i don't go back. but, I'll see if i can go this week." Ok... So sunday morning I sent out a couple of messages inviting nonmembers to come to church with us. about 45 minutes into sacrament meeting, i look and that man, rafael Luna, walks into teh sacrament hall. I go shake his hand an we sit down. Long story short, he stays for the second hour (gospel principles. the lesson on sunday was the restoration of the true church of christ) and then has to go, but before he goes, he tells me "I think i am going to be here with you guys next week." YYYYEEEESSsSSSS! We have an appointment with him on wednesday and I'm really excited to talk to him again. 

other than that, I'm pretty healthy. I gained 5 pounds. No, I don't have a foot fungus for those that saw the pictures last week. It rained early and I was walking around in titanics all day. the dye from my socks rubbed off on my feet. 
I love the gospel. I love the savior. It's very important that we learn how to look at ourselves and ask god "lord, is it I?" The book of mormon is true and there is no other book like it in this world. God Lives, This is his church. Please, search for a testimony because it is the only sure thing thatwill keep you safe in this world of constantly changing values and standards. God loves you. remember that. understand the atonement. Love those around you!

love Elder Norr

crazy week...

ok, so this is going to be a quick one. So, highlights: Almost got robbed...again. but they were drunk, so this time we just dipped. 

second: i didn't see noah, but I was worried we were in for a rough one. It rained so hard. We had to goback home to change,and that was 4days ago, my shoes still aren't dry... 

third: We found 3 new investigators! they are awesome,but information will be withheld for now.

Fourth: My kid isn't coming.... He hurt his knee in the MTC and has been released so he can get surgery probably... :/

Fifth: I'm staying with elder clark! he's a champ!

Sixth: Saw a 75 year old man named ignacio break into his own home. He's just a small skinnyman, but he locked his house from the inside by accident. So he grabs a hammer and busts out one of his door windows that is filled by thick cardboard. then,he jumps up grabs the frame of the door and ninja swings in through a hole thatisprobably 15x 12 inches. Itwas sweet!!!!

so, Idon't really have much to say this time, but I hope you all know that i love you. I read areally interesting talk yesterday from the may 2013 conference. It talked about a man who served in the war in vietnam and was taken prisoner. he did not talk to his family for 2 years, and they didn't know if he was still alive. finally, he was able to send a message of 25 words or less. I am going to do my best to write this next message in 25words....

Live the Gospel. Study the scriptures. go to the temple. Live and love like Christ. Never Settle. Families are forever. remember I LOVE YOU!

Elder Norr :)

YOLO district!!!!

Hmmmm.... I think I have an idea haha

this is me 2 months without getting a haircut...it's worse than I thought....

 this is my candy bar!

everything you see is a small part of the ward(not sure this is what he meant to send)

PURE POWA!‏ 14 Months Out

ok, well this is probably going to be the shortest email I ever written in my mission, but it is going to be awesome,and i hope you guys can feel thespirit!

So, sad news.... My schedule to give birth has been pushed back til next week... apparently he hurt his knee in the mtc (kinda ironic) but he'll be great for me then! haha I am currently with Elder Clarke, he is from Latin Ut, and he isawesome! this week has just been PURE POWA!!!!! we are eating healthy, and we have already found 3 new investigators!!!!!!!1 they are great. First off, Isela. we taught herthe first time and she was just like "in theend, we are all going to believe what we want to".Soiwaspretty  bummed, but we got a return visit, and she had changed! we explained the book of mormon, and we invited her to read and to pray again, and thistime she just asked "how will God let me know?" well, we explained a little bit, andthen we just promised her "you will know". AWESOME!!!!!

Other than that, I am healthy, everything isgoing well, I love you all lots.

Something important and then we have to bounce. I realized something: every time we have struggles, we don't have to return to square one and doubt the church. I'm done with that junk.This church is true. I know it, God knows it, and if you ask, you too shall know it! the atonement makes possible repentance unto the cleaning of our souls. I would love to write more,but the keyboard iskinda wigging out. I love you all andhope you have an excellent week!

Chao!

Elder Norr

week 6‏

HMMMM...... Are we really in october already? dang.... The time really does just go by soo quickly... I can't believe that this week with Elder Harper is already gone. Things have been pretty rough in xochitenco. We are trying to work hard, but our investigators for some reason keep disappearing and we haven't been able to teach them as often as we would like, but we keep working because that's why we are here! 

This week was pretty good, but it was hot! it is staying up in the 80s but with the humidity and the lack of protection due to all the pollution, it gets pretty hot. We have mainly just been trying to swing by with less actives and help them come back to the gospel that they once loved. It's crazy down here in our ward. Our ward directory is 52 pages long and if all the members were active, our ward could be it's own stake, but so many of them have fallen away and it's hard to find them again. But this week is going to be great!

Yes, we do have changes this cycle therefore "los guapos" will no longer be with each other (elder harper and I) haha but I know that this is part of the lords plan to help us be better. 

This week in the training meeting, president told us some awesome stuff. I just love him and his wife and the love that they have for us! The sister doesn't speak hardly any spanish and I always see her go straight up to the latino elders and, in spanish, ask "hola elder, como està?" (how are you) and then i watch as they respond in normal spanish as she obviously works very hard to try to understand a small chunk. When I asked her if she needed help, she said "nope, I'm getting a little bit." She really is such a great lady and she has such a great testimony of the gospel!

Sad news. My kid will not be getting here for another 2 weeks, so tomorrow in the changes I am going to get a temporary companion for a couple weeks until my AMERICAN SON gets here! I am pretty nervous to have to teach spanish, but it is going to be great! I am really excited for whoever it may be!

I think that might be it! I am so excited for the General conference so that we may here the voice of the Lord through his beloved prophet and other leaders of the church! I am so grateful to have this gospel in my life, and even though we are imperfect, because of the atonement of our savior jesus Christ, we may be be made better and cleaner amidst all the filth and iniquity that surrounds us. I lvoe the lord, this is his church, and this is his work. If you don't know when the conference will be, I invite you to look at "lds.org" or ask the missionaries, and I invite you all to invite one friend or neighbor (preferable nonmember) to watch it with you! Hope you guys have an awesome week!

Love Elder Norr :)