September 30, 2013

Hello there!

What a week! We've been blessed with some great miracles and difficult trials. It's been a whirlwind of a week. One of the highlights of this week was definitely from a little boy. As we were biking through an area, he was playing with all his friends. Soccer or something, I don't remember really. As we went through, he told said: "Hey! Are you guys secret agents???" I felt so cool after that. Looking so official. Then it made me want to really take that to heart and become better at doing Secret Service. (see what I did there?) So I challenge you all to be Secret Service agents and do something for someone without letting them know who did it. I promise you'll feel the love of the Lord in your life. 

I'd like to talk about one experience we had this week. This was.... Friday? I think it was Friday. It had been a long day with not a lot of success. We had visited a few people, talked to a few more, but no one really wanted to talk to us or didn't have the time. We went to help our Bishop move from one neighborhood to the next (it's a long story) and then we went to visit a potential investigator. I had gotten a flat tire earlier that day so we were walking and getting rides from members. We went to visit someone who said they'd be interested in learning more. We got to the house but the person we talked to wasn't there and the other people there told us in no uncertain terms to leave. I felt pretty discouraged. This was at the end of the day and we had a good 20 minute walk back to our apartment. We decided to visit just one more house, a member of the Church, before we started back. When we got to this man's house, he invited us in and we visited with him for a bit. We asked if there was anything we could do for him and since most people say no when we ask that, we were surprised when he thought for a moment then said "Well, yes there is." He told us that his kids were struggling to find what was right in life. They didn't know which influences to listen to about right and wrong and had fallen off the path to God. He told us that he had been trying to help them for years but couldn't do it on his own. He asked us very humbly and sincerely to help him, to love his kids, get to know them, and to teach them true doctrine of God. We had never met him before, yet he trusted us with this because he knew who we represent and what we do. I was very humbled by that. On the walk home, I prayed the whole way. I poured out my heart to God that He would bless this man and his family and help us as missionaries to know how to help them. I prayed very hard for him and his kids. After I finished praying, I pondered for a few minutes. I was then taught this from the Holy Ghost: 

Many times we say "Thy will be done" as a message of passive resignation and a surrendering of what we feel might be right. I was taught that when I say "Thy will be done," it should be an active declaration of faith and movement. His will be done, yes. But I want to be a part of making His will be done here on earth. I want to do what He wants me to do to move His work along. No longer is it a submission of my will to His, but now an alignment of my will to His. I will pursue His will as my own, for I know that's how He will shape me and make me be who He sees me as. 

I love you all and pray for you always. May we keep in our minds and hearts to actively seek His will, then to do it. 

Elder Norton 

Aunt Carrol!

Matt got to see my Aunt Carrol in Las Vegas! He looks great!

1 Month

Hello all!

Well, as of last Saturday, I have officially been a missionary for a month. Crazy huh? It hasn't seemed like a month has it? More like a year.... This has been a super long month full of more growth than I ever imagined. Most people say it flies by. Perhaps it does, but I'm not going to let a single moment pass by me without soaking in what I can. This is the one time in my life that I get to dedicate everything in my life to God. What more can someone ask for?

This week has seen some interesting things such as:

Meeting a shirtless man from the Ivory Coast who told us he was an African Prince, singer, and dancer, who also told us about Jesus for like 30 minutes (he finally got around to understanding that we actually know who Jesus is...)

Teaching two different Chinese women at once, one of whom did not speak English like AT ALL. Thankfully we had a member of the Church there who could speak Chinese and could help us. It was super hard because I've never actually had to explain the concept of God before to someone who has never heard of such an idea. It really reaffirmed my faith that God is real and that He loves each of His children. 

Was asked if the Great Flood in the days of the Old Testament prophet Noah was a result of 30 foot tall giants in the land. (Don't really see how that would work.....)

And other things of missionary life. I'm getting used to this work now. I've really had to forget about myself and what I want and change my heart to that of what the Lord wants and how I can help his people. Changing your heart is difficult, impossible without the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But it's so worth it. I have no other desire than to do what the Lord wants me to do. That is my goal and my aim. Because I'm so very far from perfect, I fall down a lot. Every day, in fact. But as I make the effort to think more about the people I'm serving, the Lord raises my spirits and helps me to know that I'm doing right. This week I've been able to appreciate the tender mercies of the Lord. Things that I would other wise take for granted. Like food to eat, a place to rest, the opportunity to exercise, and probably the greatest gift I could ever have, the knowledge that my Heavenly Father loves me, watches over me, and answers my prayers. The knowledge that Jesus Christ is my Savior and suffered not only the penalty for my sins, but also every hard thing that I've ever gone through. He did that for me so that I would never have to be alone. I can't even begin to express that love I have for Him. That's why I'm out here. It's because I love the Lord. I know He lives. I know He is present in our lives if we seek for Him. I know that the message I have to share with people is the best way we can get closer to God in our lives. I know this and I can not deny it. Thank you all for your prayers and support. It blesses me more than you know. Keep moving onward. The Lord can direct your path, but you have to get moving first. Do your best to follow Him and you will see His hand. I love this Gospel. I testify as a representative of Him. 

All of my love, 

Elder Matt Norton

Week 5:

Hello world!

How are you all? 

It's been a good week, full of hard work and hot sun. And, for some strange reason, LOTS of rain. Well, for Vegas anyway. My companion and I got caught in the middle of a crazy rain storm and got SOAKED. We need new planners now. It was so fun.

Some things that happened this week:
We met someone who despises Jesus (poor guy, he probably doesn't even know who He is. How can you hate Jesus??) 

If you thought that radio towers disguised as pine trees was funny, a radio disguised as a palm tree is even more hilarious. It looks like Dr. Seuss tried to turn a tree into a Transformer. 

This week has been just more adjusting to missionary life. It's becoming much easier now as I get to know the people and the work. I realized this week just how slow the work can be. It requires lots of time to nurture relationships, build trust, and share testimonies. The ward here had me sing yesterday during sacrament meeting already! I let slip that I sing to the one person who was in charge of the music so they put me to work immediately. The song I sang was Lead Kindly Light, which is a hymn about trusting the Lord in all you do, even if you can't see the end result. "Lead Kindly light amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on! The night is dark and I am far from home, Lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet, I do not not ask to see the distant scene - one step enough for me." I can't see right now all the things in store for me. I don't know who I'll meet or where I'm to go. But I do know that even though I can't see, God can. All I need to do is be willing to walk and trust that he will guide me. I know that God answers prayers. I know that this is the work of the Lord. It's so amazing to me that I can promise someone that they can know God for themselves. I can see the love of God for each of these people and get to participate in their conversion towards the Lord. It's indescribable. I hope each of you know that I completely believe in what I'm doing. I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I know that this will bless people's lives. I hope you all get the chance to speak to the Lord and hear His voice. Learn of Him because He is the greatest source of peace and love. I'm learning so much here. 

Love and miss you all,

Elder Norton

Week 4

Dear family and friends,

Day 5:
My companion and I have been walking through the desert for days. We're completely out of food and have to rely on cacti for water. We've been stranded out here where the only covering from the sun is our ties which we use for scarves. We did meet a few enthusiastic people that we talked to, but they only turned out to be hallucinations from the desert heat..... We will survive....

Nope, I'm actually sitting in an air conditioned room right now! 

Hello everyone! This first week has been so crazy. I got here on Wednesday, after waking up at 3:00 in the morning, catching a bus, then a train, then another train, then a plane, then a car. We arrived in Vegas and it was HOT (surprise!) and we met our mission president and his wife, grabbed our luggage and ran out the door keeping our eyes fixed on the floor! (Vegas airport.....) Thus the adventure began!

After a brief orientation at the mission home, we went to meet our companions. Mine is Elder Lieb, from Texas. He's a great guy with a low, really quiet voice. Sometimes I have to pretend I heard what he said and nod and agree because it's really hard to hear him. But he's really great and helpful. Kinda a dork too haha. We get along just fine though! We went to work right away, visiting a few members and trying to start the work up. There's lots to be done. I'm on the very northern border of Henderson, next to Vegas. Our ward is called the South Valley Ranch Ward. It's pretty small, honestly, and everyone, I mean EVERYONE is the same. By that I mean that almost everyone in our ward is a young couple, recently married, with 1 or two kids and another one on the way, going to medical school here, with a little dog to complete the picture. It's almost cookie-cutter hilarious how that's the same with everyone. There's 4 or 5 gated communities that make up the community.

I'll tell you what, this week has been quite the change. I wasn't prepared for quite what it was and honestly it was a little scary at first. We're out biking every day (my lower body is SORE) and it's hot! The Lord has been so merciful to me though and we've had cloud cover and rain at different points in the day every day. I'm so grateful for that. 

I've spent SO much time this week praying. I've had to rely so much on the Lord because me as a 18 year old kid from Colorado can't do this by myself. I've poured my heart to Him so much and He has answered me with peace and miracles every single day. I have a firm testimony that He is always with us and that if we ask for it, the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion and help us feel that peace and love when we need it. I couldn't do this without it. I've thought a lot about a verse in the Book of Mormon. 1 Nephi 3:7 says "...I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which He commandeth them." This work requires a lot of faith. Most people don't want to listen to the message we have to share with them and it makes me so sad and often discouraged. It's taken a lot of my faith to just simply go out and work when the situation tells me that no one wants to listen. But I know that God makes the way possible so that we can accomplish the things he asks us to do. So I get out every day, put my head down, and work. I will go and do the things which he has asked me to because I know he will provide a way. I have a firm testimony of that. It takes faith and trials, but He will provide. Pray for the people here, that we can find those who need to hear our message. 

I love your emails. I'm so so sorry, I won't be able to respond to most of them. There's just no time. But I will write as many as I can. Please write me real letters too so I can have your snail mail addresses. God be with you! 

Elder Matt Norton

Nevada Las Vegas Mission

9270 S Maryland Pkwy

Las Vegas, NV 89123

Week 3- How to Write Matt

Dear Family,

What a privilege it is to serve the Lord as a missionary in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission!   I believe that you will see many blessings in your own life as you support and sustain your missionary.   We want to work together with you to help make the mission a focused experience for your missionary.   Here are some reminders:

MAIL – Missionaries are lifted and inspired by encouraging emails and letters from home.   Your missionary counts on hearing from you each week.   Include any good news from home.  Avoid writing about family concerns or problems.   Missionaries love packages.   Address your items with both the first AND last name; we have missionaries with the same last name.   Send all letters and packages to the mission office not directly to the missionary.  We deliver to every zone weekly.

Elder/Sister first and last name                                        To contact the mission president or our office staff

Nevada Las Vegas Mission                                            please email us at:      2013800@ldschurch.org

9270 South Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas, NV  89123

Please use US Postal Service for your mail.  We are not able to forward packages sent via FED EX or UPS.  We can however forward mail or packages that are sent by the United States Postal Service at no cost to your missionary if sent by Priority Mail or Flat rate boxes.  If sent Parcel Post there will be a small fee due upon pick up by your missionary, or they can be held with the FED EX and UPS boxes until the next round of Zone Conferences.

VISITS - “Visits from family members, friends and acquaintances are against church policy.  The impact of such visits may extend far beyond the visit itself, both before and after the visit and among other missionaries.  It can often take some time for missionaries to refocus on their callings and their work after such visits.”

Missionary Handbook, pg. 37.   Thank you for helping us live this rule.

Every year there are many people who visit Las Vegas.  Please respect this Church policy and consider the mission “off limits” while your missionary is here.  If you or friends and family come to Las Vegas for any reason, please do not try to arrange contact.

BEST HELP - Consider what YOU can do to be a missionary.  Invite your ward missionaries over for dinner or go to a lesson with the missionaries serving in your ward.   Find a family to have taught in your home.  You will find that your service will inspire your missionary here and you can share experiences in weekly emails.

PHONE CALLS - Missionaries may call their parents on Christmas and Mother’s day.   Take care that these calls do not pull their thoughts away from their service.  Keep them short (preferably no longer than 30 or 40 minutes).  Other than these calls, missionaries are not to call family members or friends unless they have permission from their mission president.  Missionary Handbook, pg. 37

MONEY – A mission provides an opportunity to live on a budget.   Every missionary is given the same monthly allowance which will meet their normal daily needs.   Occasionally a missionary may need to make an unusual purchase (bike, helmet, medicine, replacement clothing)  in these cases they may email you with a request for additional funds.    To help missionaries learn to live on a budget we ask that you do not provide access to excessive personal funds.  Equality contributes to greater companionship unity.  Keep excess funds to a minimum. 

Thank you for all that you do to inspire and motivate your missionary and to help them be focused on the work.

Sister Royal

Mission Secretary

NEVADA LAS VEGAS MISSION

Week 2

Hello world!

It's been another really busy week at the Missionary Training Center. I've spent LONG hours in the classroom trying to prepare for hitting the mission field tomorrow. Tomorrow!!!! WEIRD!!!!! I've loved my time here at the MTC but I'm so excited to go out and finally do what I have been looking forward to for my whole life. I can't believe it!

This week has been pretty normal. Learning, teaching, lots of volleyball, and all that other wonderful things. Thank you to all of you who have sent mail to me. I've loved getting notes from you and it's made my day. Hand-written letters are awesome because I get something to actually hold on to. Also, all my BYU friends, send me your addresses! I want to write you but I have no idea where you live! I'll have my sister post on my Facebook my new address for Las Vegas. I can't wait to hear from you all.

I've learned a lot this week. I've really been humbled as I think about the amazing work I get to be a part of. The missionary's purpose is to Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It's such a blessing to be able to invite others to Christ. I see God's hand in my life as I try my best to serve Him and serve others. It's going to be a big change in lifestyle starting tomorrow but I know that if I put my trust in Him, I'll be able to do it. The same goes for you. If you put your trust in Him and earnestly pray for help He will extend His hand and sustain you. I've developed a huge appreciation for the tender everyday mercies that He has granted me. I love you all and pray for you always. Go out of your way to help someone today!

Love,

Elder Norton II