Pictures of the Holidays

Good ol' Matthew

December 23, 2014

Hey!!!

This week was incredible. Last week was VERY hard, but this week was very rewarding. It was still hard! But we saw so many miracles. We found a family of 5, a family of 4, 2 friends of some youth here, and two sisters from Russia. All in one week. The Lord was very merciful this week and it was so relieving. Now we're going to do everything we can to keep them. We've been really really blessed. This week was also our Christmas Conference (I'll send pictures), interviews with President, and zone training. Busy week! This one will be too, I hope.

Anthem is really a great place. Yes, lots of rich people, but so many good people too. This last week we were asked to be a part of a family's scavenger hunt and so the people at the party would have to find out where we were and come and take a "Selfie" with us. But when they came to find us, they brought us stacks of presents. I was really surprised, but felt so thankful. It was so nice of them to think of us and go out of their way for us. This ward is excellent. It's pretty small, but it's got variety all around. Well balanced between old people and little kids. Got a decent amount of youth. What I love about this ward is that those who are active are really converted. The majority of them don't go through the motions, but are willing to lift extra if they need to. It's a good ward for sure. There's lots of doctors offices around, dentists, orthodontics, real estate offices, and law offices. We have (get this) a private airport that's also in our area. We live in one of two apartment complexes, which is where we're able to talk to the most amount of people. I'm making some good friends here, too. 

Being a zone leader is good! In interviews, President Snow told me that the most important thing about the mission is the missionaries. He said God can get baptisms when He wants too. But He allows us to participate because we need to learn to be the leaders of the Church someday. So he said that as leaders, we have to go before them to provide them a safe environment to progress, experiment, and learn for themselves. It helped me shape my focus for who I want to be. I want to be someone who provides people opportunity to reach their potential. He's a wise man! I would say the hardest part is dealing with all the little minor details of day to day leadership while still juggling the bigger picture stuff AND the work in my own area. But I really love being a Zone Leader. It's fun :) 

I'm happy and healthy. Enjoying every day as best I can. Trying not to worry too much. I'm getting much better at that. Please tell Amanda I'm so so happy for her. She looks happy :) That's so good to see. 

Love you guys! 

Elder Norton 

These are pictures of a group of some of my close friends on the mission. We all served together in Paradise and now we're all back together again in the same zone. :) Also, I got to see President Snow- ho- ho! 

A compilation of emails from the last update-

November 10, 2014

Hey everyone! Greetings from the Anthem Stake in Henderson! 

Anthem is most well known for being really rich. Holy cow. It's SUPER rich. I'm sending a few pictures of the houses. One is just a random house. The white one is Mike Tyson's. Yup. Mike Tyson lives in my area. I want to go knock on his door but the last time missionaries did that, he didn't really like it. And it's one of those communities that has guards at the gate and stuff. CRAZY. 

My new companion is Elder Lopez, from Uruguay. Well, he was born in Uruguay. He came out on his mission from Salt Lake. He's a great guy and we're already laughing a lot. Some genius put a ping pong table in our apartment..... I'd like to shake his hand. What a great way to unwind after planning! 

This last week we had Elder Bradley D. Foster from the Seventy come. He gave us some wonderful instruction on working with members and being a part of every aspect of Hastening the Work of the Lord. I love being a minister. It's such a great calling to have. I love teaching people about the Savior and seeing them develop their own love for him. It truly brings light into their eyes. Elder Foster's message mainly consisted of two related principles: God loves you. And He answers your prayers. I can testify that's true. I can testify that I've heard His voice and felt His love. He answers prayers. My goal is to work on knowing what to pray for! What a wonderful promise. I know that's the same for you too! God loves you and He answers your prayers! Love you all! Take care!  

 November 17, 2014

The Lord is definitely not forgetting about us. I can feel it. This area is known to be really hard. It's not as hard as everyone thinks. You just have to be smart about it. For example, we have an old folk's home with a lot of people in it but we can't proselyte in there. So we're going to go into it and teach all the old people how to do family history :) A little more long term, but it will sure be worth it. I love the talk on "the Fourth Missionary." Incredibly inspiring. I don't have my own copy, so if you have a chance, I'd love one! Thank you. 

I love you lots. Don't worry about me out here. The Church is home for me. And so when I'm working for the Church, I'm pretty much just working from home ;) Not a bad gig. Love you tons!!!!! Hugs and kisses!
Elder Norton 

November 24, 2014

This week was pretty good. We worked hard and saw blessings. As always! But this week was especially good because I got to go back to Hacienda ward for a baptism! His name is Kane Owens. I may have talked a little bit about him before, but I'll tell the story again anyway. 

One day, Elder Borden was on exchanges and was walking around our apartment complex. He street contacted a man and asked if he was interested in the gospel. The man said he wasn't, so Elder Borden asked who else he knew that might be interested. The man pointed to an apartment and said "I think they have something to do with the Mormons." So Elder Borden knocked on the door and Monica Farmer opened the door. Elder Borden and Monica grew up in the same ward! They had no idea the other was there. Monica was actually at her friends house. But a few weeks later, she and her boyfriend Kane moved into the same apartment complex that we lived in! They had just happened to meet. Kane had been "investigating" the church for two years. He had actually gone to a ward campout in Hawaii and had met Elder Borden there before Elder Borden's mission. They were going to school at UNLV. So Elder Borden and Monica set up a time for us to come visit and catch up a bit. On our first visit, Kane said "yeah, I've been wanting to get baptized! Where have you guys been?" It was pretty much smooth sailing from there! He already had a testimony of so many things. The biggest challenge though, was the living situation. They were living together but weren't married and so it was preventing him from getting baptized. This was a big trial of faith. They didn't have another place to move out to and at 20 and 19 years old, marriage was a big commitment. I got transferred out while we were still teaching him. But a few weeks ago, I saw Elder Borden at a meeting and asked how Kane was. He smiled really big and told me that the night before, they had gotten married! After a lot of prayer, they had decided to do it! It was a small ceremony. The Bishop, the elders, and the couple. What an act of faith!! I was so happy when I heard it. This last Saturday, Kane was baptized by Elder Borden. He gave an awesome testimony afterward. What a happy story! I love this gospel!!!
Love you Mom!
Elder Norton

P.S. Guess what? Monica, Kane, and Elder Borden just found ANOTHER friend from high school who is living in that same apartment complex!! He's also going to get baptized. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL! The Lord's timing is incredible!

Kane is the one with the lei on. The guy in the gray suit coat is the friend from high school

December 8, 2014-

How could God not be real? He is so real. I love inspiration. I love vision and hope. I love hard, sweaty work. And I'm really glad to hear that you're receiving inspiration for your family. :) That makes me so so happy. Not sure why, but I think it's because it means my family is rooted deeply in the gospel. How lucky are we to know about these things! 

Haven't gotten the CDs yet. But I probably will soon. Saturday night we had a ward Christmas dinner. It was amazingly spiritual. Also ridiculously fancy for a ward dinner (it was catered, with a menu. Suit jackets required. Oh, Anthem.) But it was very spiritual. the Bishop's brother came down and talked about the condescension of God. We had amazing musical numbers. During "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" on a cello and piano, I felt the Spirit so strongly and the inspiration I got was about you guys! I know what I want to send you all for Christmas. I'll send it as soon as I can. And I may or may not have completely bawled thinking of you guys together on Christmas morning.... :) Only one more away. Thank you for your emails! It's lifted my day a lot. I love you so so much.

Elder Matt