Week 4 MTC

Ok, so this week was pretty exciting! We got rid of our last district earlier this week, and we had a total of 10 people in our entire zone for a couple days, but it's still really good! You're never going to believe this, but we got ANOTHER APOSTLE to come talk to us. This time... Neil L. Anderson! He gave an awesome talk in which he talked about Love and Sacrifice. There was an incredible spirit, and he shook hands too! He was practically glowing as he spoke and then floated around to shake people's hands. I was soooo close to shaking his hand, but we were still only like 15 or 20 feet away from him! The thing I liked most was his quote that "we sacrifice for the things we love, and we love the things that we sacrifice for", but it was interesting because after, when we had our district devotional review, our incredible district president Tyler told us that the original meaning of sacrifice is to give in order to make something more holy. I thought that was incredible because although i love you all sooooo  much, I also love this mission that I am sacrificing for, but at the same time, it's not really a sacrifice because it will be one of the greatest blessings in my life, and I hope you guys are all doing great as well! :)

We speak a lot of spanish now, and even though we could do it all the time if we needed too, we just prefer to speak english. The lessons are doing pretty well, but sometimes it's hard to get synced up with Elder Lund on what the Spirit is telling both of us; however, even though we may struggle, the glory is in the struggle, and i know that we will grow to become better teachers and missionaries! I find that if I don't worry about what I'm going to say, but just focus on loving this son or daughter of god, and truly try to understand what they are saying, I am able to express myself freely, and I am a true believer in the gift of tongues!

Everyone has been sick, and it is SO ANNOYING! I'm even sick (shock) but I know that we will all get better... eventually. We are have been growing a lot closer as our district, and sometimes its hard for us to focus on study time when we enjoy talking to each other so much, but we find some way to do it, and we also find ways to help one another feel the spirit.

FIESTA TIME! Elder Criddle's parents sent him a big ole package that said "you're half way through the MTC, time for the FIESTA" and inside were dozens of small straw sombreros and fake mustaches, as well as maracas! We Latined it up and took lots of pictures as we danced around the hallways and brushed our fake mustaches. We also just said a lot of random Nacho Libre quotes and laughed for a long time! :)

I'm running into the pahrumpians here, and each time I see them, neither one of us ever has our camera! but I did get to see james witten right before he left and we got a pictures, but i think it'll be different than you guys expect because the person who took the pictures on my camera only got one of us looking, and it's not a normal one ;) but I still just love going to the temple! We are going to take a great picture this sunday while we're there, so next week you guys will get a really good picture!

The weather here has been FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the last like 4 days, it has just been dark, overcast with light rain ALL DAY, and I couldn't get enough! I wish i could just bottle up that type of weather and save it for a sunny day! It POURED on us on our way back from Elder Anderson's devotional! McWhorter and I's suits were soaked clear through, and it was a lot like when we went to lagoon over the fourth of july! Water was just being retained in my hair and it like a river was going down the curbs.

Well, I guess you're wondering why you are gettting this email on thursday instead of friday... I've already told you guys that everyone else has went to Vegas to get their visa, and guess what? Now, it's MY TURN! I go on Friday, and I'm going to have to go to the consulate to get my visa. I'm not supposed to tell you where I'll be staying the rest of the day, but I'm nervous that I'm going to see lots of people that I know... It's kinda going to feel like I'm coming home, but at the same time, I've only been gone for a few weeks.... Hope you know mom, dad, and Maddy that I will be closer than normal on friday, and I'll be thinking about you guys! :)

This week hasn't been incredibly exciting, but I hope you guys enjoyed reading this! I love reading the letters and Dearelders that I get, and I try to respond to them. That package by the way? SALVATION! I've been needing fig newtons FOREVER! Could you just put my subs in the next package? haha and Nat, I FINALLY got your book of all the pictures of us, and it is AWESOME! I love looking through it, and I usually do everyday! I hope I keep getting to hear about your lives and I hope you know I look forward to reading your emails every p-day! LOVE YOU GUYS MORE THAN ANYTHING! The church is most definitely true, and If we put our trust in the lord and allow ourselves to have more faith than fear, we can fight, and win, the battles that need to be won in our lives, and we will have joy! :)  D&C 6:36! "Doubt not. Fear not."

LOVE YOU GUYS!
Elder Nathan Norr (Nate) :)

 This was us at the temple! The sisters are in my zone, and the guy rockin the sunglasses is our branch first counselor, Brother Talanoa!

  Here are the pictures of James and I as well as the temple picture! Oh, and the reason I'm smelling the tree is because is SMELLS LIKE CREAM SODA!

These are just some of my companions and I. The guy that I'm soaked standing next to is Elder McWhorter. he's waiting on his visa to go to Madrid! he's a really great guy, and he's already grown to be a really good friend of mine!

Week 3 MTC

Well, my companion LOVES to write HUGE, LONG emails, so i guess i'm going to have a little bit of time to type this weeks letter. So this week in Elder's Editorial by Nathan Norr will feature some rather random events, as well as an update to my extremely planned and weight-gaining life... Ummmmm.... to start out the week. My companion left me! Just woke up on Monday morning around 3:30 a.m and left me!!! :( can you believe that??? Just because he had to fly down to get his visa from las vegas! The nerve of some people! :) haha but I found out that our entire district has to eventually fly down there to the Mexican Consolate to get our visas from Vegas, so it will be pretty cool to get to see home again. I keep laughing because all the elders get back and they are freaking out telling us how they feel like a boss the second the walk into the airport; they seem to forget that I'm from there, and they keep trying to explain the different billboards and posters that talk about the beatles, or the Jabbawokees.  I hope you guys liked my pictures and were able to correctly identify my district brethren. Also on Monday, I got to be Elder Ferguson's companion, and I didn't realize some of the problems that he went through. He's really quiet, but a couple days around me and he'll be accidentally calling the sisters chicas :) haha 

It has been overcast all week up here, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I will just stand out there and get wet and look up at the sky. It feels great to just hear the rumble of the thunder and look up to see the sky shred itself apart as a lightning is flashing everywhere. Sadly, most of the time it clears out by afternoon, and I don't get it all day... :/ But the weather isn't hot (which is absolutely amazing) it's only been around 90 during the days, but actually because of the clouds, it's really like high 70's and i hope that it never stops. I just hope it POURS in Mexico city! I just want to get drenched! The only problem is that Elder ferguson got a cold about a week ago, and it's hitting me... :( my nose is stuffed and my stomach is starting to be a little meh. But what's good is that up until this point my stomach has actually done really well with the food. I think i do well when I can only eat at certain times of the day.

Speaking of eating, i'm actually really pounding it down! I've already gained 6 POUNDS as of monday 5 days ago! My goal is 180 by the time I leave. Haha totally kidding! I wouldn't mind getting up to 145 or 150 though. the food here isn't bad, but it's not like home cooking at all. sometimes its better than others, but either way, i eat as much of it as i can because when night time comes, my stomach just hollows out and I'm left to wither away until morning. Plus, EZRA LIED TO ME! THERE IS NO CHEESE SLICES!!!!!! How is a hungry man supposed to make low-quality grilled cheeses on the community iron without sliced cheese????? Answer: he can't :/ usually i grab a couple bananas after dinner and i'll eat those. i've probably eaten like 2 dozen bananas by now (not kidding).

We are playing a lot of sports because we have gym time everyday but sunday. Elder lund and i, as well as the rest of our district have started the 1000 CRUNCH CHALLENGE. 1000 Crunches per night for 1 month. It really hurts, but it will be worth it... eventually. We are lifting a lot, not that anyone would be able to tell if they saw me. When one of our substitute spanish teachers told me that i reminded him of one of his companions, i asked him how. He said is the way i act, look, and my manurisms. I then said that is? he responded with white, tall, anorexic and funny with a great spirit... i'm going to take that as a compliment though  because spiritually I feel like The Rock :) haha

On tuesday, we heard a devotional at the Marriott center from Elder maynes from the presidency of the seventy, and he gave an incredible talk on how we can remain focused and driven to continue our purpose as missionaries. Also, his wife said a great quote that immediately made me think of my mom, mainly because it was this: "Be the type of missionary that your mother thinks you are" and that hit me deep because I know my mom expects me to be the best missionary out there, and I'm going to work my butt off... well, what little amount of butt i have :D haha also after the devotional there was the quote that "if you want to baptize a few people, talk to a few people. if you want to baptize everyone, talk to everyone" and i'm sooooooooooo looking forward to speaking the all the people of mexico who are willing to listen to my white accent.

we went to the temple today, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GOING TO THE TEMPLE

wow. that scared the @$%# out of me! i accidentally pressed the tab button, and it erased my draft of the long email i sent you guys, but luckily it sent it to you :) as I was saying, I absolutely LOVE GOING TO THE TEMPLE

AGAIN. it almost did it again. this is hard.... :/ anyways, for the THIRD TIME, the temple is great! there is always such an incredible spirit, and the new movie is absolutely amazing! the acting is so well done!  This is going to sound weird, but i love seeing old people holding hands down the hallway, or smooching at the MTC because everytime i see it, it reminds of you guys mom and dad. not because you guys are old, but because of the love you guys have for each other and our family. Also, i love seeing couples in the celestial room because it just brings so much love and spirit into the room, and they probably think i'm weird cause i look at them and smile, but it's because it reminds me of all of you guys that are married. the temple truly is a place where we can feel the peace and love that should be felt, and it is such an incredible way to start out the day, not to mention it's been raining all day! best p-day ever!!!!!!

In other news, CRIDDLE'S PARENTS SENT US A NERF HOOP! We ball it up every night, and even though the hoop is only like 8 1/2 feet off the ground, people are getting dunked on and laughing. We have a great time at night. all of the guys are just going between our 2 rooms hanging out and talking. we don't really have time to write letters, but there is more time during the week then there is on p-day, so addresses are my best friends. also, i've gotten the dear elder's that you guys have sent, and even though it isn't quite like a written letter, it's still really good to hear from you guys! Ohp! one more thing before i end. my companions are in love with the disney songs, and they belt out "strangers like me" and "you'll be in my heart" from Tarzan as well as "under the sea" and "I'll make a man out of you". i've started to rap the songs that I used to listen too, but i'll freestyle about the mtc. I'm actually terrible, but my companions don't seem to mind too much.

Ok, this is the last thing I am going to say: Thank you guys for all the stuff that you guys have sent, I love reading letters, and getting stuff. Nat, i never got the book, so i don't know about that... but just letting you guys know, I can get pictures, so if you guys want to send me pictures of what's going on, i can look at them and see how you guys are doing! :) Also, mom and dad, everybody has NORMAL clothes. could you guys please send me a normal shirt (definitely the yoda one) and a pair of cargo shorts (tan please) i love you guys more than anything, and MOM; I'm proud that you "beat the snake to dead" haha it made my day to read that email from you guys. hope you guys are all doing great, and I hope you guys know, again, that I LOVE YOU GUYS TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I'll send you guys some pictures of us later! The church is true, the gospel has been restored through joseph smith, and we have an incredible living prophet who leads and guides us. please, listen to him! Life may be hard sometimes, but in order to accomplish hard goals, we must do hard things! LOVE YOU GUYS... AGAIN! :) 

"There's no growth in the comfort zone, and there's no comfort in the growth zone" THE LORD LOVES YOU!

Love,

Elder Nathan Norr! 

 Oh how I love the rain

 The one where we have a weird face is because My companion (right) has a face we call the snapchat face, and we all think it's different. So we took one together to see how close we were.

 The guy is Brother Call, and the sister is Sister ayala. They're our teachers!

Week 2 MTC

Ok then! This week was an AWESOME week! I have had soo many spiritual experiences and we have been learning to use the language sooooooooooooooo much. Actually, sometimes it feels like a little too much; we have class for 8 hours a day, and language study for another 2 or 3.... :/ at the end of the night, my mind can barely process english, but I can't just speak spanish because... well, I don't know that much spanish :) haha But, funny story, one of the elders in my district, Elder Durrant, sleeps on the bunk above me, and he said that a couple nights ago I was sleep talking REALLY BADLY.... except I was sleep talking in SPANISH!!! :D haha I thought that was awesome!

Last Sunday we went to a devotional at the marriott center at BYU and we had an Incredible talk from Richard G. Scott, and because we know the executive secretary to the MTC president, he put us right on the very first ROW! I could see the wrinkles on his face we were that close! He gave an AMAZING talk on how we can communicate with god and how much God wants us to talk to him so that he can comfort us and give us direction. Also, a quote that really stuck out to me was that "if we want to reach goals never before accomplished, we must be willing to do things never done before" That was such a strong motivation for me to continue to push my scripture and language study so that I can be a good missionary! :) also, at the end of his talk, he gave us a blessing, and I quote " I give you an apostolic blessing that ye shall all receive the gift of tongues on your language and in your lessons". It was so incredible. he also told all of us that he loved us, and the rest of the general authorities loved us 3 times!!!!!!!!!! 

Next is the gym, apparently its not allowed to be athletic or competitive, so we've started keeping score in fun rather than score, but of course, you always want to be the team that has had a little bit more fun ;) And that hasn't really stopped us from being competitive. Soccer has been getting pretty crazy, and most of us have been tripped, bumped, thrown, and course there are those pansy guys who flop... :P but even though we are competitive, we are building great relationships and growing ever closer!

Our first investigator discussion was last saturday with "Maria" and we were already nervous going into it because we had to do the entire thing in spanish! But to top it all off, she was clinically depressed and suicidal, and that's all she talked about the whole lesson. I couldn't help but feel a little down for the rest of the night; however, we later found out that she is actually our teacher and she is a very kind, incredibly spiritual person. Sadly, her and her twin sister are going back to guatemala til january and last night was her first, last, and only lesson with us. She taught so well, and the spirit was so strong! I wish she could stay to be our teacher... 

Funny thing as comic relief to my last paragraph, we found out that our name tags double as KAZOOS!!!!!!!!! It's awesome, you just put your mouth on the side and blow and it sounds just like a kazoo! We are working on a dubstep/ mo-tab remix of a lot of different songs that we can get all our district to be in on, and we'll probably record a small clip when we get really good! :)

We went to the temple this morning and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE NEW MOVIE!!!! The acting was sooooo much better, and it was so much ( i don't want to say better) but it was a lot better quality of shooting and acting. Satan did an incredible job (as terrible and sketchy as that sounds) and after the movie, we got to eat at the temple cafeteria. it was actually really good! I had a waffle, and when I asked for texas toast, they pulled out a bag of texas toast and put two uncooked pieces of bread on my plate. Not was I was expecting.... But overall, i love the temple! We get to walk it and take pictures every sunday, and we get to go to a session every friday morning!

I know this really doesn't have to do with me, but it is a crazy story that my branch president (president tyler) told to us. he was drafted after having four unsuccessful attempts at trying to find a wife, and he was stationed in N.C. In his branch, there was a sister missionary that he would SOMETIMES say hi to in passing. He started to have these feelings, not just physical, but spiritual too about her, and he knew that that was not allowed. he talked to his branch president (bishop) and he got transferred to a new fort, but he was still in the same zone. Later, the Mission president asked if he would play the organ at the zone conference. he of course said yes and went. As soon as she showed up to the meeting, he said he didn't play a correct note haha he was his bishop go out of sacrament meeting (in the middle of sacrament meeting) and come back. The bishop stayed for another few minutes, looked at him, and left... That week, he was asked to come see the bishop on saturday at 1. he said yes, and when he arrived, the bishop was outside his office and told him that the sister missionary was inside, and he had told her ALL of the feelings that President Tyler was feeling about her!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have flipped. he then told President Tyler that she expressed the same feelings, but told no one. After introducing them (they had maybe talked for 5 minutes over the last 3 months) he explained that he had talked to the mission president, and that arrangements were being made for the sister to be released from her mission because the branch and mission president knew it was the lords will that they got married immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOA!  They got married and sealed a week later, and 2 weeks after that, he was sent to the highest casualty unit in the vietnam war.  Crazy right.

Ok, that's enough new stuff :) Mom, my cars name is "HOWARD", not harold :P but that is absolutely incredible what the guy paid  dollars for him! That is such a tremendous blessing! The lord works in special ways! :) Hopefully i can find another car that is good when i get home. I'm thinking it has got to look like a LOUIS. Louis is definitely my kinda car :) haha You guys are great, and I hope you guys are all doing FANTASTIC. I know that the lord blesses us according to our needs, but also according to HIS timing :) Be patient, and everything will work out! Oh, and BTW, for everyone who gets this, you guys can just go to dearelder.com and write me letters that will get to me the same day that you guys type them! All you have to do is put in my info: Elder Nathan Norr, Mexico mexico city southeast, Sep 16. I do enjoy getting handwritten letters if you guys prefer that too :) I love you all, and hope you are all doing great. My pictures should be right above this email :) Til Next week! 


-Nate

 Elder Cline

Elder Ferguson

 Elder Durrant

 Elder Gregg

 Elder Knighton

 Elder Criddle

 Elder Blggs