Nate's In the Hospital

No letter this week.  Nate's mission president called today to let us know he is in the hospital. His sickness from last week is salmonella and he's been getting IV antibiotics since yesterday. Feeing better today and hoping to get out tomorrow. Please remember him in your prayers and hopefully the chronicles of Nate returns next week. Love you all. 

Nate's Dad

And Today This Came From Nate

well,the best part is that they continue this week! We just got on really quick on our way home to let you all know that I didn't die! :) Igot out of the hospital today and the problem is under control. I will not be writing much because I need to go lay low in the house, but just know that I am doing well, I got the package with my shoes (it was half opened though....) and the president will be giving you guys a call tonight to let you know what went down! Love ya lots!!! Take care of yourselves!!! :)

Love Elder Norr

Sick Week

Ok, well this week was going pretty sweet up until I decided to get sick... We were just gettin down to work just helpin people learn about the gospel with lots of appointments and everything prepared and I was ready to find some new investigators. We ate with an INCREDIBLE sister who made us some rockin' mole and we were just having a great day; I really don't know what happened, but it just tanked and I ended up getting sick for a couple of days so that kinda stopped us up a bit, but we are going to hit it hard this week!

Other than that, I had a talk in church, but I was sick for long enough that I never really found the time to take the time necessary to prepare it... I was just sitting there in sacrament meeting with an idea just praying that God would let me share a short message with a simple spirit that would touch the hearts of the people. I got up there, and I talked about a talk from the last general conference called "your four minutes" by Bishop Gary B. Stevenson. This talk really gets to me because it talks abotu olympic skeleton racing where all the years of training and preparation are going to add up to 4 runs of less than 1 minute! It makes the comparison to life and how short it is try to win eternal like with god and with our family. I can't explain too much because then you wouldn't have to read it.... THEREFORE..... READ IT!  It's on page 84 of the ensign if it makes it easier. The talk turned out good and I hope they give me another chance to talk in a couple weeks when I am feeling better! :)

Not much to say this week, but this next week? WHOO! You better believe it! It's GONNA BE GREAT!!!!!!!

I guess I'll just leave you guys with my testimony then:

I really do know without a doubt in my mind that this church is true, The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that it is the only true church of God on the entire face of this lovely earth! I know that the book of Mormon is true and that by reading it, we will grow closer to God and become more familiar with the spirit day by day! I know that God lets us have trials so that we may learn to CHOOSE to want to do what is right! I know that only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and temple ordinances that we can be with our families forever! I love you all!( That too I testify to be true :)

Have a great week!

Love Elder Norr

Xochitenco (sotchi-tenko) The promised land!‏

Hey there how we doin? This week has been a little stressful but at the same time sweet!!!!!!! First off, we had to go take pictures with everyone on monday and then I hd to pack everything. We get to changes and I just find a ton of buddies and we start to talk it up about the olden days (6 months ago) haha We here President stutznegger in the back part of the gym hitting the table with so much enthusiasm as he talks to the elders that are going to train about how they can do this great work and help these new elders! First off, The new president is INCREDIBLE! I truly do love him so much! They asked me to play the piano in the changes. That was pretty cool. My companion?..... WHITE DUDE!! SAY WHAY????? That's right, me and my buddy elder Harper from rexburg idaho are workin xochitenco! He's a great guy and he has a really great testimony. Neither one of us knows the area and our area is pretty huge this time, but we do our best to follow the spirit and talk to lots of people! :) Elder Harper has had a pretty rough mission up til now because all of his other companions have pretty much been disobedient and put him down, but I'm am so grateful to have him! :) The president came out to talk to the missionaries before we went to our areas and he grabbed harper and I and asked how we were doing and if we were excited. he started in spanish, but then just busts into English: "we can do this! Can't ya just feel it?!?! Life is GOOD! LIVE IT!!!" he is such an incredible man and his wife loves us so much!

My area: Xochitenco 3 aka Promised land! 

Population: who knows!

People ready for the gospel: TONS

Members: Incredible! 

I just feel so great in this area! it's not even in Neza, it's in a town called chimalhuacan! The air is clean the streets are wide, and the weather is great!!! It reminds me of a type of st. george version Mexico and I really feel so comfortable here. I just love to work here!!!!

This week we have just been working hard. We have been contacting lots of people, but the addreses are so hard here... They are by street, apple, and lot number. You can be looking for street achiote apple 7 lot 15 when you see apple 6 and the nexxt house is apple 546 lot 94.. The people are ready fro the gospel, but it is harder to find people, so we try to know more doors...

I think that's about it. We have some great people. OOH! MIRACLE! We got a call from this girl that has been going to church for the last couple weeks and we had an appointment with her, but she wasn't home... The next day, we are walking on the street, and we get a call... from her!! Her name is Marlen. She called: Elder! When can you come to my House?

me: we'll come over right now

Her: ok, what do I need to do to get baptized? i really want to know! It's urgent!

me: ummmm............................................ we'll be over there in a second to talk about it!

We get there and talk a bit. then she just says: " I want to be baptized before the 27th!" ummm....... ok. She hastn' recieved any of the lessons yet, but she has come to church like 5 times. She told us on sunday that she wants to get baptized THIS SATURDAY!!! Not sure what to think honestly... We are going to pass by her everyday this week and see how she progresses, but she is going to get baptized in these next couple or weeks!

I testify that the church is true. And it is the ONLY true church on the face of this beautiful earth. I testify of the words of my President! LIFE IS GOOD!!!! LIVE IT!!! I testify that because of Jesus Christ we can be strengthened in our weaknesses and be able to become strong. Trust in the spirit! I testify that God knows more than any of us do. I was reading this week in the first chapters of Nefi. I just love how faithful Nefi is in keeping the commandments of the Lord. Even after everything that happens to him and his family, he trusts in the lord and is willing to act. I testify that this week is going to be a good one!! I love you all and hope the best for you!!!!

Love Elder Norr

4th of July! Adios Maravillas! new President!!!‏ 11 Months Out!!!

Well hello there handsomes! :) (that's usually how I say hi to the other missionaries) Translation: "Eh, que pasó guapos?"

So, just to start things off, WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT! He is SO AWESOME!!!!! he and his wife have such a great testimony of the gospel. half the mission was gathered in the stake center where we have changes and we were just chillin there when suddenly.... What?! a smiling older white lady walks into the chapel saying a ton of awesome things about us in english?! I believe that would be the president's wife! :) Then this super smily white guy walks in saying a bunch of great stuff in english too???? That would be our PRESIDENTE!!!!!! President and Sister Stutznegger (just try to say it right) They come by  and one by one shake the missionaries hands and aksing their names and where they were from. When president got to me he asked me my name and where I was from... Obviously one of the best cities in the world! LAS VEGAS!!!! Then he went to give me a hug, a mexican hug. They are still great hugs, but they are on the right side instead of the left. I asked him if I could give him an american hug? He said yes!!! That would be a firsst in 11 months!!! WOW! I have 11 MONTHS!!!!! No! That's almost half......

So, the new president is great, but he got here with pneumonia..... nasty stuff, but he is doing a lot better and we are hoping to have in the changes tomorrow!

Speaking of changes.... I have them.... with my luggage... That means that I am leaving my zone. It's kinda weird only having 2 areas with almost a year int he mission, but i have loved maravillas! The people have been so great to me and I am going to miss them lots, but I am also excited for a new area. I am going to miss my son Elder Cuscagua a ton! We have grown so close and things have been so great for the last couple months! but, he is going to be a dad!!!!!! LOve this guy! We're going to get pics of my OTHER GRANDKID THIS NEXT WEEK!

So, being this week the 4th of July, I began singing the starspangles banner at about 10 at night walking around in the US world cup jersey that I FINALLY found after a year in mexico with my hand on my heart! Great moment! Other than that, we didn't do anything too special....

Recap of Maraviallas! Here are some of the moments that I have never told you guys and I won't mention too much about them.

-Danced salsa with a drunk dude in the middle of the street because he wouldn't let us go in peace..

-Got super inflamed intestines and had to take special meds. 

-Found great people to baptize: Raymundo, Concepcion, Jacobo, Jorge, Carolina, and Daniel.

-Got robbed for my 8 dollar watch and 30 pesos... my first sunday....

-found out who I am

-almost died because of stress

and some other great stuff!

don't really have much more to say other than that I am excited for a change! I love hearing your testimonies and I know that mine is truly growing tons and tons! I know this church is true, and I hope that someday you will all be able to meet the great people that I have grown to love here in mexico. Maybe not in this life, but hey , that is wat's so great about the plan of salvation! Things may be hard, but life goes on. The question is "will we?" I love you all lots and wish for your safety and happiness. I hope you can all learn more about the gospel and the blessins that we each recieve every day from God!

Hope I don't forget anything! I hvaen't gotten packages. I lost my sweet sweater today because My comp and I accidentally left our sweaters in the soccer field... Chafa, but other than that things are good! I am more or less healthy and my conversion is becomeing stronger! Please keep strengthening yours!!!!! I love you all!

Elder Nathan Norr

Well, another week gone...‏

I can't believe that another week is already gone! the time goes by soo fast! This week was great, but we had a couple of issues too.

To start off, it has been cloud (but I'm talkin cloudy, like the sun isn't visible all day) almost every day this week. The bad part: when the sun randomly bursts out of the clouds to beat down on us, it is HOT and HUMID!!! yuck! But I love the rain! Even though i am currently sick with a cold...

So we have a new president this week, and I am pretty sure things are going to change here in the Mexico city SE Mission! He has already approved soccer and has decided that he wants to do a Mission World Cup here in 3 weeks! he is a white guy from california and he is a dentist! he seem pretty chill from what the assistants have told me!

So, this next week we find out if we are going to have changes where I leave :( or if Elder Cuscagua and I are going to be together for another 6 weeks! I'm not sure how to feel... I love this area, but I also like to mix things up.

Just letting you guyss know, Mexico is officially out of the world cup.... :/ sad day man... We were in priesthood/relief Society when we heard a scream that pretty much shook the city: Mexico scored against Holand (the team I think will win the world cup). Then when church ends we walk out onto the sidewalk because every 10 feet on the street there is a tv with the game going and people walking around in Mexico jerseys and we find that Mexico and Holand are tied in the 88th minute. The ref puts 6 minutes extra and mexico ends up losing because of a penalty kick... Sad day in Mexico...

We have been in kind of a tough spot these last few weeks with finding new people to teach. We try to do 15 contacts everyday, but the people have been a little rough lately... We talk to people and the people who accept us aren't from our ward, but at least we are helping them find the gospel! :) We found this awesome couple a few weeks ago named pablo and Elena. Pablo is a less active member, but Elena isn't a member. Turns out that Elena has been reading the book of mormon (she was in moroni the last time we saww her) and she loves it! She wants to be baptized, but they didn't know where to go to church. Umm.. Hello! Sad part: lives in the other ward... Why am I writing this? Because yesterday we were going to an appointment in the other ward to help out the elders there and we ran into pablo and elena again.. Guess what!!?!?!?! THEY MOVED INTO OUR WARD!!! We have an appointment with them tonight a little after 7! SUPER EXCITED!!!!

Things have been going great being myself lately! I am lots happier and I am finding it a lot easier to love the people!

TIME ALERT: There isn't enough! I almost have 11 months already and I still feel so young, but then I look at the beard I have when I get up and I realize I've changed a bit haha But seriously I almost feel the same even though I have changed lots! I feel like more than anything, I am growing stronger in my testimony of the principles of the Gospel and the importance of learning and ssearching fro the truth. I am learning more than ever what the spirit feels like and how it communicates with me! I really do love the mission!

Up until now I have enjoyed my mission, but I feel like My companion and I can do more. I don't want to have regrets! I want to work hard and enjoy each day for what it is: a blessing from God to help us learn and grow. I know this church is true and I know that thi week is going to be better! I testify that God lives, and that he knows that plan and what' best for each and every one of us! I know the book of mormon is true and that anyone can read it, ponder it, and ask god to recieve a testimony from the Spirit that it is truue! I know that I am here in Mexico for a reason! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Lots of Love from mexico!!!!!

Love Elder Norr