Dear Mom
We had a great week here, I'm sorry to hear that people are sick.
That's cool that you have seen the Shaw's blog but try and find the
Bonemorts blog, that will be more about this side of the mission. The
Shaw's are not here very often and I'm not ever going to be in the
Marshall's. But actually you remember my MTC comp, Elder Green, he is now
in the Marshall's and will probably finish from over there, he is an AP.
Like I said we have had a great week, we had a baptism which was
probably the highlight and we also had quite a few people at church
which was really cool. But we do need to work on finding people. We had
a person move and haven't found anyone new for a little while. Elder
Hosler has been really cool to work with, I hope we are together for a
while.
How has conference been? I am really excited about next week to
listen to it. Elder Hosler's dad told him Pres. Monson mentioned the
Marshall Islands. I'm sure everyone will ask about it, it's funny how
many people still think I'm in the Marshall Islands, any letter or card I
get from ward members they ask how the Marshalls are even grandma
Starkey in the birthday card I just got from her. If people ask just
let them know I'm in Kiribati. It's just funny.
I can't really think of anything else too interesting, If you or
anyone has any questions about Kiribati let me know. It will give me
something to write about. Love you heaps.
Elder Norton
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
3/25/12
Dear Mom
Tell Sam I feel sorry for his suffering, hopefully he will be over
that soon. Have none of the other kids had the chicken pox yet either?
I actually just got another box this week, the one you sent at my
birthday. Thank you very much, me and Elder Hosler actually used stuff
from the Christmas boxes for dinner a couple nights, we made PIZZA!
That was really fun we also used those microwave dinners. It was pretty
lucky that I was in this house, it's one of the only ones with a
microwave.
Have you had a chance to check out those blogs yet? I'm just
curious. It's crazy to think that conference is coming up again. We
were talking to a guy in our branch who works in the translation
office and he said they have gotten all the talks except the prophets.
I'm really exited to get to listen to conference again, I always love
it. One crazy thought that just hit me, this will be my last conference
here in Kiribati, weird.
Could you do me a favor and give me grandma Richardson's email. I
will try and write a letter to her next week as well but I would like
her email if she has one. Call me a missionary but we need to get her
baptized. I was actually thinking about her the other day, you said the
missionaries gave her a blessing, is she taking lessons currently?
Tell her I love her and I hope she gets doing better and I will be
praying for her. Everyone else in the family doing alright?
Well I am doing great and I hope everyone else is as well. I
think that's about it from me, talk to you next week.
- Elder Norton
Tell Sam I feel sorry for his suffering, hopefully he will be over
that soon. Have none of the other kids had the chicken pox yet either?
I actually just got another box this week, the one you sent at my
birthday. Thank you very much, me and Elder Hosler actually used stuff
from the Christmas boxes for dinner a couple nights, we made PIZZA!
That was really fun we also used those microwave dinners. It was pretty
lucky that I was in this house, it's one of the only ones with a
microwave.
Have you had a chance to check out those blogs yet? I'm just
curious. It's crazy to think that conference is coming up again. We
were talking to a guy in our branch who works in the translation
office and he said they have gotten all the talks except the prophets.
I'm really exited to get to listen to conference again, I always love
it. One crazy thought that just hit me, this will be my last conference
here in Kiribati, weird.
Could you do me a favor and give me grandma Richardson's email. I
will try and write a letter to her next week as well but I would like
her email if she has one. Call me a missionary but we need to get her
baptized. I was actually thinking about her the other day, you said the
missionaries gave her a blessing, is she taking lessons currently?
Tell her I love her and I hope she gets doing better and I will be
praying for her. Everyone else in the family doing alright?
Well I am doing great and I hope everyone else is as well. I
think that's about it from me, talk to you next week.
- Elder Norton
3/18/12
Dear Mom
Its really great to hear from you too. I didn't exactly get in trouble after April's letter but it was the first thing he said when he saw me. He said that he had gotten an email from my sister and i told him i had already heard and written back and that was it. Things are going great in my new old area, we actually had branch conference yesterday as well, it was pretty good. I am actually really excited to be back in Temaiku. There are four elders here again so it just got split when I came. Because of that we don't have tons of people but we have worked hard and we have found a few new people to teach this week. My companion is awesome he is a hard worker and really wants to be obedient. One thing I want to tell you before I forget is that I just found out that the Shaw's have a blog its called "the best three years" and also a senior couple here in Kiribati has one. I don't know what it's called but that one would be all about Kiribati so you would probably like that one. Their name is Bonemort I'm not sure on the spelling. So definitely check those out.
As for stuff you could send I just today got the boxes you sent at Christmas. I got two from you and one from Emily, if there is anything you sent after Christmas it has not come yet. But some stuff I would like are some deodorant and a calendar. That's all I can think of at the moment, both those things you can't really get here. But thank you for all the Christmas stuff, we had Christmas in March. Tell grandma Starkey thanks for the shirts, I had needed them because I gave a couple away in Butaritari, but I think those and the ones have should last me. If I don't get an email off to Emily tell her thanks a ton as well.
So you are going to have a chicken coop, that's pretty cool, out in Butaritari and here a little you see chickens running all over the place and you find out that roosters don't just crow in the morning they crow whenever they feel like. That's cool that you are working on self sufficiency. One question, in one of your old emails you said grandma Richardson was in the hospital, is she doing all right now? Let her and everyone else know I love them. Well I think that's all for now if you have any questions let me know.
Love ya all
Love Elder Norton
Its really great to hear from you too. I didn't exactly get in trouble after April's letter but it was the first thing he said when he saw me. He said that he had gotten an email from my sister and i told him i had already heard and written back and that was it. Things are going great in my new old area, we actually had branch conference yesterday as well, it was pretty good. I am actually really excited to be back in Temaiku. There are four elders here again so it just got split when I came. Because of that we don't have tons of people but we have worked hard and we have found a few new people to teach this week. My companion is awesome he is a hard worker and really wants to be obedient. One thing I want to tell you before I forget is that I just found out that the Shaw's have a blog its called "the best three years" and also a senior couple here in Kiribati has one. I don't know what it's called but that one would be all about Kiribati so you would probably like that one. Their name is Bonemort I'm not sure on the spelling. So definitely check those out.
As for stuff you could send I just today got the boxes you sent at Christmas. I got two from you and one from Emily, if there is anything you sent after Christmas it has not come yet. But some stuff I would like are some deodorant and a calendar. That's all I can think of at the moment, both those things you can't really get here. But thank you for all the Christmas stuff, we had Christmas in March. Tell grandma Starkey thanks for the shirts, I had needed them because I gave a couple away in Butaritari, but I think those and the ones have should last me. If I don't get an email off to Emily tell her thanks a ton as well.
So you are going to have a chicken coop, that's pretty cool, out in Butaritari and here a little you see chickens running all over the place and you find out that roosters don't just crow in the morning they crow whenever they feel like. That's cool that you are working on self sufficiency. One question, in one of your old emails you said grandma Richardson was in the hospital, is she doing all right now? Let her and everyone else know I love them. Well I think that's all for now if you have any questions let me know.
Love ya all
Love Elder Norton
3/11/12
Mauri te utu ae moan te boboto iaon te aonaba,
(hello the best looking family in the world)
Mom, I need to start off with a huge apology. I was horrible about
writing letters out in butaritari. I'm so sorry if you worried but for
some reason I had a really hard time getting a letter out. I got one
letter from you in January that was from November. It's just so slow out
there. But as you apparently already know I just got back to Tarawa on
Thursday, I haven't seen the mission president yet but I'm sure he will
have something to say to me after April's email but I deserve it for
not trying harder.
But yea I am back on Tarawa and the funny part is I am also back in
Temaiku my first area. My companion is a new elder I will be training
named Elder Hosler. He is from Blanding Utah. I'm actually really
excited to be back in Temaiku. It's a good area and this time around I
can actually speak to the people here. Butaritari was really good but
also really challenging. The work was pretty slow, but there are lots
of really great people and it is beautiful. I read through all the
emails people have been sending, it seems like a lot has happened. I was
excited to hear about Lucy's birth (but she was supposed to be born on
the 11th) I hope she is doing great. And tell Sarah congrats on her
decision to be baptised. I would like to send everyone an email but
the internet was being really slow and I had to do an online survey
for missionaries that took a little while. So let everyone know that I
love them and appreciate everything they have done for me. As for
stuff I need I don't really know right now because the zone leaders
haven't gotten me my other bags or the packages that have been waiting
here so if you could wait till next week I will look at that stuff and
see if there is anything I might need. And the last thing happy
belated birthday to everyone especially to you mom. I love you so much
and I'm so glad you are my mom thank for your prayers. I heard a song
from one of my comps Cd's about a mom praying for her son on his
mission it reminded me of you, so just thank you for being my mom.
Well I think that's it for this week I'm really excited to hear from
you all next week. I love you all heaps.
(hello the best looking family in the world)
Mom, I need to start off with a huge apology. I was horrible about
writing letters out in butaritari. I'm so sorry if you worried but for
some reason I had a really hard time getting a letter out. I got one
letter from you in January that was from November. It's just so slow out
there. But as you apparently already know I just got back to Tarawa on
Thursday, I haven't seen the mission president yet but I'm sure he will
have something to say to me after April's email but I deserve it for
not trying harder.
But yea I am back on Tarawa and the funny part is I am also back in
Temaiku my first area. My companion is a new elder I will be training
named Elder Hosler. He is from Blanding Utah. I'm actually really
excited to be back in Temaiku. It's a good area and this time around I
can actually speak to the people here. Butaritari was really good but
also really challenging. The work was pretty slow, but there are lots
of really great people and it is beautiful. I read through all the
emails people have been sending, it seems like a lot has happened. I was
excited to hear about Lucy's birth (but she was supposed to be born on
the 11th) I hope she is doing great. And tell Sarah congrats on her
decision to be baptised. I would like to send everyone an email but
the internet was being really slow and I had to do an online survey
for missionaries that took a little while. So let everyone know that I
love them and appreciate everything they have done for me. As for
stuff I need I don't really know right now because the zone leaders
haven't gotten me my other bags or the packages that have been waiting
here so if you could wait till next week I will look at that stuff and
see if there is anything I might need. And the last thing happy
belated birthday to everyone especially to you mom. I love you so much
and I'm so glad you are my mom thank for your prayers. I heard a song
from one of my comps Cd's about a mom praying for her son on his
mission it reminded me of you, so just thank you for being my mom.
Well I think that's it for this week I'm really excited to hear from
you all next week. I love you all heaps.
12/28/11
Hey Mum
Just gonna send a quick email. I am going back out to Butaritari tomorrow so I wanted to let you know how great it was to see you all at Christmas time. And also you asked if there is anything I could use, really that extra camera battery and also a couple packages of aaa batteries would be nice. That's all I can think of for like a birthday box if you send something. That's really it, I'm doing good and I'm really excited to get back out to Butaritari. I sent a box of stuff today so that should get there eventually, there is a letter explaining what's in it.
Well I think that's about it, love you mum tell everyone hi for me.
Love Elder Norton
Just gonna send a quick email. I am going back out to Butaritari tomorrow so I wanted to let you know how great it was to see you all at Christmas time. And also you asked if there is anything I could use, really that extra camera battery and also a couple packages of aaa batteries would be nice. That's all I can think of for like a birthday box if you send something. That's really it, I'm doing good and I'm really excited to get back out to Butaritari. I sent a box of stuff today so that should get there eventually, there is a letter explaining what's in it.
Well I think that's about it, love you mum tell everyone hi for me.
Love Elder Norton
11/2/11
Dear Mum
Thanks for telling everyone, I got emails from Emily, Erica, and
April. I will be leaving tomorrow and working with one of the elders
there for a couple weeks and then Elder Foast who just came today will
come out to Butaritari as well. So yes my new companion has come I
just won't be really working with him for a little while. I don't think
I will be able to email so I will try to get letters out every week
but you know how slow that can be so the next time you hear from me
could be at Christmas time. As far as I know we are for sure coming in
for Christmas. You don't need to hurry the box you will send, it doesn't usually
take too long.
I am really exited to go out again. I know a bit about it, Elder
Rameka actually served there so I have known about it for a while and
have always kind of hoped I could work there. So don't worry about me I
will be fine. I will write and I will see you all at Christmas.
I love you heaps mom.
Love Spencer.
Thanks for telling everyone, I got emails from Emily, Erica, and
April. I will be leaving tomorrow and working with one of the elders
there for a couple weeks and then Elder Foast who just came today will
come out to Butaritari as well. So yes my new companion has come I
just won't be really working with him for a little while. I don't think
I will be able to email so I will try to get letters out every week
but you know how slow that can be so the next time you hear from me
could be at Christmas time. As far as I know we are for sure coming in
for Christmas. You don't need to hurry the box you will send, it doesn't usually
take too long.
I am really exited to go out again. I know a bit about it, Elder
Rameka actually served there so I have known about it for a while and
have always kind of hoped I could work there. So don't worry about me I
will be fine. I will write and I will see you all at Christmas.
I love you heaps mom.
Love Spencer.
11/1/11
Dear mom
Hey just a quick email right now, I just wanted to let you know there has been a change in plans from the last time I emailed you. Turns out I am going to be sent to outies again. Butaritari is the name of the island I will be working on. I hope to be able to write again tomorrow so if you see this write me back before then and tell the rest of the family to as well.
That's it for right now i will write again tomorrow.
Love you,
Love Elder Norton
Hey just a quick email right now, I just wanted to let you know there has been a change in plans from the last time I emailed you. Turns out I am going to be sent to outies again. Butaritari is the name of the island I will be working on. I hope to be able to write again tomorrow so if you see this write me back before then and tell the rest of the family to as well.
That's it for right now i will write again tomorrow.
Love you,
Love Elder Norton
10/30/11
Dear Mum
Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good. Tell dad not to drive
himself so hard, he needs to keep himself healthy. I hope you guys took
some pictures of the pumpkin carving. I enjoyed seeing the ones of last
years. Wow, that's so weird to think that it has been two Halloweens now,
time definitely goes fast. Emily already said she would send pictures
of her kids, but tell Erica to as well. I really want to see Eliza's
costume.
My companion has not come yet, he hasn't gotten his visa yet so he
flew to the Marshall Islands first. They tell me he is coming this
Thursday we will see if he actually does. But I will be transferred
within a few days, I will be working in Betio. As for a Christmas box
I really can't think of anything in particular I'll try and think about
it more.
That's it from me, love you mum.
Elder Norton
PS I dont think your cellphone has a self destruct button, don't worry
so much.
Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good. Tell dad not to drive
himself so hard, he needs to keep himself healthy. I hope you guys took
some pictures of the pumpkin carving. I enjoyed seeing the ones of last
years. Wow, that's so weird to think that it has been two Halloweens now,
time definitely goes fast. Emily already said she would send pictures
of her kids, but tell Erica to as well. I really want to see Eliza's
costume.
My companion has not come yet, he hasn't gotten his visa yet so he
flew to the Marshall Islands first. They tell me he is coming this
Thursday we will see if he actually does. But I will be transferred
within a few days, I will be working in Betio. As for a Christmas box
I really can't think of anything in particular I'll try and think about
it more.
That's it from me, love you mum.
Elder Norton
PS I dont think your cellphone has a self destruct button, don't worry
so much.
10/23/11
Dear mum
Wow I'm probably gonna come home and you'll be more up with the times
then I will be, I'm impressed. Well not much exciting stuff has happened this
week. I'm still working with a stake missionary but now it's a different
guy, his name is John and he will work with me until I get an official
comp. I should get a comp on Thursday. I'm actually gonna be training. I
have mixed feelings about training, I feel kinda bad for my future son.
I'm not the best at this language and I have no idea how teach it to
someone else. But I guess I don't have much choice in the matter and
there are some cool things about training I hear.
I got April's package this week, tell her thanks for me, I don't
think i will have time to email her as well. Let me know how Adi is
doing next week. One random question I thought iI had already asked,
what mission is Burlington in?
Well I can't think of much else to say right now so I guess that's
it. Love you heaps!
Love Elder Norton
Wow I'm probably gonna come home and you'll be more up with the times
then I will be, I'm impressed. Well not much exciting stuff has happened this
week. I'm still working with a stake missionary but now it's a different
guy, his name is John and he will work with me until I get an official
comp. I should get a comp on Thursday. I'm actually gonna be training. I
have mixed feelings about training, I feel kinda bad for my future son.
I'm not the best at this language and I have no idea how teach it to
someone else. But I guess I don't have much choice in the matter and
there are some cool things about training I hear.
I got April's package this week, tell her thanks for me, I don't
think i will have time to email her as well. Let me know how Adi is
doing next week. One random question I thought iI had already asked,
what mission is Burlington in?
Well I can't think of much else to say right now so I guess that's
it. Love you heaps!
Love Elder Norton
Monday, October 17, 2011
10/16/11
Dear Mum,
Sorry this will be super short but the first two places we tried to do emails the Internet was down, and on our way home we stoped to check in a little place and we finally where able to get on, but its kind of late now I just didn't want you to worry. I am still working with a stake missionary its actually the same guy Karebwa, its actually been really good he is really fun to work with.
One thing I want to tell you is ,if you remember Taate the lady from Bairiki who was supposed get baptized but then her husband was upset. Well I dont know if I told you but a few weeks after I left she got baptized. We went to Bairiki today and I was able to visit her for a few minutes. It was really nice to talk with her, she told me her husband has softened up a lot after she got baptized. Just thought I would let you know.
Tell everyone hi for me.Love you heaps.
Elder Norton
Sorry this will be super short but the first two places we tried to do emails the Internet was down, and on our way home we stoped to check in a little place and we finally where able to get on, but its kind of late now I just didn't want you to worry. I am still working with a stake missionary its actually the same guy Karebwa, its actually been really good he is really fun to work with.
One thing I want to tell you is ,if you remember Taate the lady from Bairiki who was supposed get baptized but then her husband was upset. Well I dont know if I told you but a few weeks after I left she got baptized. We went to Bairiki today and I was able to visit her for a few minutes. It was really nice to talk with her, she told me her husband has softened up a lot after she got baptized. Just thought I would let you know.
Tell everyone hi for me.Love you heaps.
Elder Norton
10/9/11
Dear Mum,
Things are going pretty good, it's been pretty interesting as well, if you remember Elder Pearson he just got called to be an AP and went to the Marshall's. The problem is no one came to replace him so we where missing a missionary, so Elder Flynn went to Buota with Elder Tiree and I didn't have a comp for a few days. Right now I am working with a stake missionary named Karebwa. He has received his mission call to south Africa but won't be leaving for a while so he will be working with me for a while as long as he is free, if he is busy I will find someone else. It's a little weird but Karebwa is cool.
Conference was awesome but I only ended up having one investigator come and some recent converts and a less active. But conference was so good, I always feel so good about life afterwards.
I will think of some things I might want in a box the only thing I know of right now is a jump rope. I think that's about it for now I'm about out of time.love you heaps.
Love, Elder Norton
Things are going pretty good, it's been pretty interesting as well, if you remember Elder Pearson he just got called to be an AP and went to the Marshall's. The problem is no one came to replace him so we where missing a missionary, so Elder Flynn went to Buota with Elder Tiree and I didn't have a comp for a few days. Right now I am working with a stake missionary named Karebwa. He has received his mission call to south Africa but won't be leaving for a while so he will be working with me for a while as long as he is free, if he is busy I will find someone else. It's a little weird but Karebwa is cool.
Conference was awesome but I only ended up having one investigator come and some recent converts and a less active. But conference was so good, I always feel so good about life afterwards.
I will think of some things I might want in a box the only thing I know of right now is a jump rope. I think that's about it for now I'm about out of time.love you heaps.
Love, Elder Norton
10/2/11
Dear Mom,
I'm glad you all enjoyed conference, I hope the rest of it went just as well. This will be quick. To answer your question no we don't have a microwave, there is only one house that I know of that has a microwave. I'm about out of time so sorry this is so short but my companion is waiting. I'm doing fine nothing much to report. Tell everyone that I love them.
Elder Norton
I'm glad you all enjoyed conference, I hope the rest of it went just as well. This will be quick. To answer your question no we don't have a microwave, there is only one house that I know of that has a microwave. I'm about out of time so sorry this is so short but my companion is waiting. I'm doing fine nothing much to report. Tell everyone that I love them.
Elder Norton
9/25/11
Dear mum,
I'm definitely not as sure as you seem to be, that I will do fine as district leader but I guess we will see. This week has had ups and downs but the ups where really good. We had a baptism this week that went pretty good (remind me to send a picture next week). We baptized Roruamwa (the daughter of the couple I told you about last week)and then Kaain a twelve year old boy. We where going to have another person Nei Meekati but as she put it she crashed with the month (or"that time" of the month). She did come and watch though and should be baptized next week. That was the best thing to happen this week that I can think of.One random question what mission is Burlington in. I ask because a guy in my branch just got his call to serve in the
Des Moines, Iowa mission, I told him if it was in his mission he needed to go baptize my Grandma. I thought that it was pretty cool that someone from little Kiribati got there call to Iowa. The two stakes here do pump out quite a few missionaries. In our branch we have two that just left , two who have there calls, and two who are waiting for their calls to come, and those are just the ones I know personally. There are a few others out who I don't know.Well I think that's about it from me I hope everything goes well with all of you.
Love, Elder Norton
I'm definitely not as sure as you seem to be, that I will do fine as district leader but I guess we will see. This week has had ups and downs but the ups where really good. We had a baptism this week that went pretty good (remind me to send a picture next week). We baptized Roruamwa (the daughter of the couple I told you about last week)and then Kaain a twelve year old boy. We where going to have another person Nei Meekati but as she put it she crashed with the month (or"that time" of the month). She did come and watch though and should be baptized next week. That was the best thing to happen this week that I can think of.One random question what mission is Burlington in. I ask because a guy in my branch just got his call to serve in the
Des Moines, Iowa mission, I told him if it was in his mission he needed to go baptize my Grandma. I thought that it was pretty cool that someone from little Kiribati got there call to Iowa. The two stakes here do pump out quite a few missionaries. In our branch we have two that just left , two who have there calls, and two who are waiting for their calls to come, and those are just the ones I know personally. There are a few others out who I don't know.Well I think that's about it from me I hope everything goes well with all of you.
Love, Elder Norton
9/18/11
Dear mom,
I'm doing fine here, my area is great. We haven't been doing as much teaching as I would like, this past week we seemed to have a lot of appointments fall thorough, but we did get some new people this week.We had one really cool lesson with a couple last week, it was our first lesson and we taught the plan of salvation it went really well. They understood everything really well, but then at the end of the lesson Elder Flynn had them read a couple verses from Moroni 8 the husband(Tekautu) started reading and then couldn't finish because he started crying his wife finished it. Afterward he explained that they had just had a two year old child pass away last year. It was really cool, they said they finally felt peace. They knew where their child was and that they wanted to work hard to end up in the same place. The bad part was that Tekautu was about to leave to work on a ship and has now left. We are going to keep teaching his wife. His daughter has been taking the lessons for a while and should get baptized this week.
I feel bad about Brother Rollins they sent me a Christmas card and I never sent anything back, tell Sister Rollins I said hello. How are the Arruda's, does dad still home teach them? Its good to hear that Oli came to the ward party.
Tell Mattie I'm not sure if Christina will email or send letters, they asked for your address so i'm not sure.
Well I don't really have much else to say from my end. I did just get called as the new district leader, and I'm really not looking forward to it. I would say I don't know why they called me but in this mission its pretty much if you are white you will probably be in leadership, its just pretty small out here there's not much to choose from. I hope everyone is doing good love ya all.
Love, Elder Norton
I'm doing fine here, my area is great. We haven't been doing as much teaching as I would like, this past week we seemed to have a lot of appointments fall thorough, but we did get some new people this week.We had one really cool lesson with a couple last week, it was our first lesson and we taught the plan of salvation it went really well. They understood everything really well, but then at the end of the lesson Elder Flynn had them read a couple verses from Moroni 8 the husband(Tekautu) started reading and then couldn't finish because he started crying his wife finished it. Afterward he explained that they had just had a two year old child pass away last year. It was really cool, they said they finally felt peace. They knew where their child was and that they wanted to work hard to end up in the same place. The bad part was that Tekautu was about to leave to work on a ship and has now left. We are going to keep teaching his wife. His daughter has been taking the lessons for a while and should get baptized this week.
I feel bad about Brother Rollins they sent me a Christmas card and I never sent anything back, tell Sister Rollins I said hello. How are the Arruda's, does dad still home teach them? Its good to hear that Oli came to the ward party.
Tell Mattie I'm not sure if Christina will email or send letters, they asked for your address so i'm not sure.
Well I don't really have much else to say from my end. I did just get called as the new district leader, and I'm really not looking forward to it. I would say I don't know why they called me but in this mission its pretty much if you are white you will probably be in leadership, its just pretty small out here there's not much to choose from. I hope everyone is doing good love ya all.
Love, Elder Norton
9/11/11
Mauri Tamau, and au utu nikabeni. (Dad and all the fam)
Its good to hear from you Dad, sound's like things are going alright back home. I'm doing fine this could be really short. I'm in a little Internet place packed with little kids playing games (and tons watching). Anyway the Internet is slow and the power here has been really bad lately ,it just went out a few minutes ago and probably will again. It has been raining constantly for two days maybe that has something to do with it.Let Mattie know that Christina got the stuff she sent.
I'm doing fine don't worry about me, it has been harder being the senior comp mostly just because of who I am with. His last couple companions where good with whatever, rules really didn't mater at all, and that's not how I feel. so that creates problems, I don't think I'm going to really change his mind about things I really don't know what to do about it. The problem is now I'm the one responsible. But I know I just need to change be more blunt and patient.(a lot easier said than done)
Sorry for that really I'm fine ,we have some great people, Elder Flynn is a good missionary. I love you all I hope things go well for everyone.
Love, Elder Norton
Its good to hear from you Dad, sound's like things are going alright back home. I'm doing fine this could be really short. I'm in a little Internet place packed with little kids playing games (and tons watching). Anyway the Internet is slow and the power here has been really bad lately ,it just went out a few minutes ago and probably will again. It has been raining constantly for two days maybe that has something to do with it.Let Mattie know that Christina got the stuff she sent.
I'm doing fine don't worry about me, it has been harder being the senior comp mostly just because of who I am with. His last couple companions where good with whatever, rules really didn't mater at all, and that's not how I feel. so that creates problems, I don't think I'm going to really change his mind about things I really don't know what to do about it. The problem is now I'm the one responsible. But I know I just need to change be more blunt and patient.(a lot easier said than done)
Sorry for that really I'm fine ,we have some great people, Elder Flynn is a good missionary. I love you all I hope things go well for everyone.
Love, Elder Norton
9/4/11
Dear Mum,
I am doing well, we had a pretty slow week which kinda stunk. We just didn't get many lessons at all. But we will do better this week.One thing that happened this past week was zone conference which was really good. It was good to see President Shaw again and we had some awesome trainings from the Shaw's and others they focused a lot on obedience, which our side of the mission seems to struggle with quite a lot. It was a really good zone conference and we had a really great lunch, the senior couples did it. They had hot dogs with potato salad, and ice cream for desert. It was so good, they usually do something good for zone conference lunch but that was my favorite so far.As for my area its a pretty cool area to work in there are some really awesome people here. We do need to find more people to teach though. It is a really big area, really spread out partiality because we have the airport right in the middle of it. It's definitely different then any other airport you will probably see not just because its super small but this is Kiribati and no one really cares about much so you can just chill out on the runway any time you want to. We walk up and down it to get to lessons, people drive down it, that picture is of a super nice plane. It lands and then just sits there completely unattended(that's Elder Flynn beside it). I love Kiribati, its so random. As for my companion things are different he doesn't really care about rules much. We will see how things go.I hope everything goes well with your get together, I guess the one is probably over. I did get that box you sent thanks a ton sorry I forgot to tell you it came. I cant think of anything else I need besides the stuff I told April, I'm doing good with clothes I don't think I will really need replacements of anything through the rest of my time (and if anyone sends ties tell them just send cheap ones).
Well I think that's about it for now, not much exiting to say. I hope everything is going good with everyone. Love you all!
Love, Elder Norton
I am doing well, we had a pretty slow week which kinda stunk. We just didn't get many lessons at all. But we will do better this week.One thing that happened this past week was zone conference which was really good. It was good to see President Shaw again and we had some awesome trainings from the Shaw's and others they focused a lot on obedience, which our side of the mission seems to struggle with quite a lot. It was a really good zone conference and we had a really great lunch, the senior couples did it. They had hot dogs with potato salad, and ice cream for desert. It was so good, they usually do something good for zone conference lunch but that was my favorite so far.As for my area its a pretty cool area to work in there are some really awesome people here. We do need to find more people to teach though. It is a really big area, really spread out partiality because we have the airport right in the middle of it. It's definitely different then any other airport you will probably see not just because its super small but this is Kiribati and no one really cares about much so you can just chill out on the runway any time you want to. We walk up and down it to get to lessons, people drive down it, that picture is of a super nice plane. It lands and then just sits there completely unattended(that's Elder Flynn beside it). I love Kiribati, its so random. As for my companion things are different he doesn't really care about rules much. We will see how things go.I hope everything goes well with your get together, I guess the one is probably over. I did get that box you sent thanks a ton sorry I forgot to tell you it came. I cant think of anything else I need besides the stuff I told April, I'm doing good with clothes I don't think I will really need replacements of anything through the rest of my time (and if anyone sends ties tell them just send cheap ones).
Well I think that's about it for now, not much exiting to say. I hope everything is going good with everyone. Love you all!
Love, Elder Norton
8/28/11
Dear Mum,
It's been an interesting week, getting whitewashed into an area isn't to fun. It is the same branch as Buota but I really only knew the members in my area not so much in Bonriki, so we have tried to get to know the members in our area while trying to find the people we are supposed to be teaching. There have been a few rough days. Mostly because I'm supposed to be leading out since Elder Flynn has only been out five months. I have to do more speaking then I'm used to ( I'm hardly the best at the language) and I seem to be failing a bit lately. I'm just really not cut out to be a leader. But oh well complaining won't change anything. It hasn't been all bad working here this is a pretty good branch, and we have some of the coolest strongest members in our area (and our branch just won everything in the stake singing competition) so I'm sure everything will be just fine. I just need to get used to things.
One interesting thing happened yesterday is here in Kiribati they have big gatherings or party's called botaki's. They have them for things like 1st& 21st birthdays, deaths, and some other weird ones. So yesterday at the end of church everyone got invited to the death botaki at the branch presidents house. So we had to go there was no way out of it. It was fine, mostly we just sang with the ward for the family and watched them bury the body. She was catholic and so was most of her family but her brother is a member of the branch so it was good to support him. The problem was that it took all day, so we didn't teach any lessons. But a few of the people we were supposed to teach were at the botaki as well. It was just interesting. It was the longest one I have been in but its really important in the culture and I didn't know how to get out of it.
Well I think that's about it for now I hope everything is going good, let everyone know that I love them.
Love, Elder Norton
It's been an interesting week, getting whitewashed into an area isn't to fun. It is the same branch as Buota but I really only knew the members in my area not so much in Bonriki, so we have tried to get to know the members in our area while trying to find the people we are supposed to be teaching. There have been a few rough days. Mostly because I'm supposed to be leading out since Elder Flynn has only been out five months. I have to do more speaking then I'm used to ( I'm hardly the best at the language) and I seem to be failing a bit lately. I'm just really not cut out to be a leader. But oh well complaining won't change anything. It hasn't been all bad working here this is a pretty good branch, and we have some of the coolest strongest members in our area (and our branch just won everything in the stake singing competition) so I'm sure everything will be just fine. I just need to get used to things.
One interesting thing happened yesterday is here in Kiribati they have big gatherings or party's called botaki's. They have them for things like 1st& 21st birthdays, deaths, and some other weird ones. So yesterday at the end of church everyone got invited to the death botaki at the branch presidents house. So we had to go there was no way out of it. It was fine, mostly we just sang with the ward for the family and watched them bury the body. She was catholic and so was most of her family but her brother is a member of the branch so it was good to support him. The problem was that it took all day, so we didn't teach any lessons. But a few of the people we were supposed to teach were at the botaki as well. It was just interesting. It was the longest one I have been in but its really important in the culture and I didn't know how to get out of it.
Well I think that's about it for now I hope everything is going good, let everyone know that I love them.
Love, Elder Norton
8/21/11
Dear Mum,
I'm sorry this may be short but I don't have as much time as I thought I would. So I finally got transferred on Thursday I am in Bonriki with Elder Flynn from Boise Idaho, he actually used to live in Mountain Home what are the chances eh. He has been out for 5 months so I am senior. It's the first time for me (I went a whole year as a junior comp) and I really don't like it. It's been kind of a rough couple of days because we got whitewashed into our area so neither of us know the area. It's the same branch as Buota but I don't even know many of the members in our area, so that's been hard. I have found that I am not really a leader I really don't enjoy having to make most all the decisions. Well hopefully I will get used to it. Its always hard leaving an area that you had gotten used to, I haven't heard what happened with Taate but there were supposed to be 4 people baptized in bairiki the week I left. It really stinks not being able to see that, but that's the way it goes.
Well I don't have much time left so I think that's about it for this week. I love you all.
Love, Elder Norton
P.S are you guys moving posibaly?
I'm sorry this may be short but I don't have as much time as I thought I would. So I finally got transferred on Thursday I am in Bonriki with Elder Flynn from Boise Idaho, he actually used to live in Mountain Home what are the chances eh. He has been out for 5 months so I am senior. It's the first time for me (I went a whole year as a junior comp) and I really don't like it. It's been kind of a rough couple of days because we got whitewashed into our area so neither of us know the area. It's the same branch as Buota but I don't even know many of the members in our area, so that's been hard. I have found that I am not really a leader I really don't enjoy having to make most all the decisions. Well hopefully I will get used to it. Its always hard leaving an area that you had gotten used to, I haven't heard what happened with Taate but there were supposed to be 4 people baptized in bairiki the week I left. It really stinks not being able to see that, but that's the way it goes.
Well I don't have much time left so I think that's about it for this week. I love you all.
Love, Elder Norton
P.S are you guys moving posibaly?
8/14/11
Mauri au utu,
This week started off OK and ended up pretty rough. First off I am still in Bairiki with Elder Lowery, we are just waiting for the new Elders coming from America. They Finally got there visas but their flight had already been changed to go to the Marshall Island first. So we don't really know for sure when they are coming, when they come one will stop in Christmas and my companion will come from there. Then as for Taate well that's really sad, she didn't get baptised this week. We talked to her on Thursday and she said that her husband still wanted her to go to church in the KPC first, sorry that's confusing. Her husband is really strong in the protestant church here but as we visited them he softened up a lot. At first he wouldn't let her come to church, then he said she could go to church in the Mormon Church if she went to the KPC first, so she always came to Sunday school and Sacrament meetings. He said that she could get baptized if she wanted, but they have an adopted daughter who is training to become a Minister in Fiji, because of that he felt he couldn't listen till they let her know. He wanted Taate to keep going to church with him. Well when she told us Thursday we didn't know if that would be a problem, so we talked to the Zone Leaders before the interview and they felt like she should wait. That didn't seem like a big deal. We talked with her and she said she would write her daughter and let her know she was going to be baptized. We felt like things were still OK, she would just wait a week or to until the Zone leaders could ask President Shaw. I was sad because she is one of the most ready people I have ever taught. The real kick in the gut came on Saturday when we went to visit her, she told us that when she told Botara her husband that she couldn't get baptised because she couldn't go to all of church he her told well that's Gods plan that you shouldn't go to the Mormon church and that she couldn't attend church anymore. She told us he has gone back to being really strict with her. She even said she picked up her Book Of Mormon to read on Friday and he got all mad at her and said you can't get baptised so whats the point of you reading in that book, so she can't even read know. We had a good talk with her and told her not to give up but she seemed pretty hopeless about it all so we gave her a blessing of comfort, that was good. She already has a strong testimony of the Priesthood because Pearson and I gave her a blessing once when she was sick and she told us it helped her, so I hope she felt comforted. Hopefully things will all work out we have been praying really hard to know what to do and I'm still not really sure, but I know it will work out.
So anyway it wasn't all bad this week, we should have a few people getting baptized this Saturday so that should be good. The lady in the picture is one that will get baptized this week her name is Mireta, her husband was less active before but they have been coming lately, so definitely some good stuff is happening. Well I don't know of much else that happened this week. That's cool that mMattie got a letter from Wana shes cool. I gave Her your address but I didn't know if she would write so I asked Christina as well.
Well I love you all thanks for the emails p-days have been a lot more enjoyable lately. So I will talk to ya all next week.
Love, Elder Norton
This week started off OK and ended up pretty rough. First off I am still in Bairiki with Elder Lowery, we are just waiting for the new Elders coming from America. They Finally got there visas but their flight had already been changed to go to the Marshall Island first. So we don't really know for sure when they are coming, when they come one will stop in Christmas and my companion will come from there. Then as for Taate well that's really sad, she didn't get baptised this week. We talked to her on Thursday and she said that her husband still wanted her to go to church in the KPC first, sorry that's confusing. Her husband is really strong in the protestant church here but as we visited them he softened up a lot. At first he wouldn't let her come to church, then he said she could go to church in the Mormon Church if she went to the KPC first, so she always came to Sunday school and Sacrament meetings. He said that she could get baptized if she wanted, but they have an adopted daughter who is training to become a Minister in Fiji, because of that he felt he couldn't listen till they let her know. He wanted Taate to keep going to church with him. Well when she told us Thursday we didn't know if that would be a problem, so we talked to the Zone Leaders before the interview and they felt like she should wait. That didn't seem like a big deal. We talked with her and she said she would write her daughter and let her know she was going to be baptized. We felt like things were still OK, she would just wait a week or to until the Zone leaders could ask President Shaw. I was sad because she is one of the most ready people I have ever taught. The real kick in the gut came on Saturday when we went to visit her, she told us that when she told Botara her husband that she couldn't get baptised because she couldn't go to all of church he her told well that's Gods plan that you shouldn't go to the Mormon church and that she couldn't attend church anymore. She told us he has gone back to being really strict with her. She even said she picked up her Book Of Mormon to read on Friday and he got all mad at her and said you can't get baptised so whats the point of you reading in that book, so she can't even read know. We had a good talk with her and told her not to give up but she seemed pretty hopeless about it all so we gave her a blessing of comfort, that was good. She already has a strong testimony of the Priesthood because Pearson and I gave her a blessing once when she was sick and she told us it helped her, so I hope she felt comforted. Hopefully things will all work out we have been praying really hard to know what to do and I'm still not really sure, but I know it will work out.
So anyway it wasn't all bad this week, we should have a few people getting baptized this Saturday so that should be good. The lady in the picture is one that will get baptized this week her name is Mireta, her husband was less active before but they have been coming lately, so definitely some good stuff is happening. Well I don't know of much else that happened this week. That's cool that mMattie got a letter from Wana shes cool. I gave Her your address but I didn't know if she would write so I asked Christina as well.
Well I love you all thanks for the emails p-days have been a lot more enjoyable lately. So I will talk to ya all next week.
Love, Elder Norton
8/7/11
Dear Fam,
I'm doing good. I didn't get transferred yet, the new Elders haven't had problems with their visas so I didn't leave but Elder Pearson did get made zone leader.The Elder that he replaced is my companion here until the new guys come. His name is Elder Lowery and he is from Canada, eh (actually he doesn't say that). He is an interesting guy lets just say that. I will definitely be transferring. I will be going to Bonriki which is actually the same branch as buota. So I will have worked in all three areas in that district ,temaiku, buota, and bonriki. My new comps name will be Elder Flinn, I think he is from Idaho.He is on Christmas Island right now so when the new Elders come one of them will stop there and he will come here with the other three. It could be this week or the week after I don't know for sure.
Other than that nothing really exiting is happening here right now I hope everything is going good back there. I actually got an email from Tressa that was cool. I hope I don't miss any emails, we email a little bit earlier than we had before. I really can't think of much to write right now. Let everyone know that I love them ,till next week I guess, Tiabo.
Love Elder Norton
PS this is just the bathroom in the bairiki house its pretty small.
* Sorry I have not been able to get the pictures on yet.
I'm doing good. I didn't get transferred yet, the new Elders haven't had problems with their visas so I didn't leave but Elder Pearson did get made zone leader.The Elder that he replaced is my companion here until the new guys come. His name is Elder Lowery and he is from Canada, eh (actually he doesn't say that). He is an interesting guy lets just say that. I will definitely be transferring. I will be going to Bonriki which is actually the same branch as buota. So I will have worked in all three areas in that district ,temaiku, buota, and bonriki. My new comps name will be Elder Flinn, I think he is from Idaho.He is on Christmas Island right now so when the new Elders come one of them will stop there and he will come here with the other three. It could be this week or the week after I don't know for sure.
Other than that nothing really exiting is happening here right now I hope everything is going good back there. I actually got an email from Tressa that was cool. I hope I don't miss any emails, we email a little bit earlier than we had before. I really can't think of much to write right now. Let everyone know that I love them ,till next week I guess, Tiabo.
Love Elder Norton
PS this is just the bathroom in the bairiki house its pretty small.
* Sorry I have not been able to get the pictures on yet.
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