November 15,2010

Hey!,
(sign)
Uh. it has been a crazy week. We got 33 lessons, 2 new investigators, 3 referrals, and Ian got baptized! i don't think i could wish for much more! haha.Ian's baptism was nice. We didn't baptize him the normal way because of his stoke he has balance problems so he knelt down and was baptized forward. He held on to the side of the font the first time because its a habit so he doesn't fall etc so i had to baptize him twice. haha. It was nice though. The spirit was very strong and Ian was very happy. I'm planning on coming back up in November when they go through the temple.
I also got to attend his confirmation! it was amazing! i loved it. I saw so many familiar faces in Midnapore. Everyone was surprised to see me there haha. Yes i saw the Stewards. There awesome haha. I got a photo with Bro. Steward to send to Ben haha.

I can't believe Jace is home! What a fast 2 years. I bet he has an Southern Accent haha. That'd be awesome to have. haha What a stud.


I don't really need/want anything for Christmas. I have everything i need....

We got a self-referral this week! Luke and Jordan, they both attend a Christian College here and are interested in learning more about the "Mormons". We brought a Recent Convert with us, Jessie, and it a killer lesson. Luke is more in tune with the spirit and is more open. Jordan i think has read more anti, and was more questionable of things.

We have 3 lessons set through members to teach non-members, so hopefully we'll get 3 new investigators. One of them, Jacklyn, had a dream when she was 18 after her father died, that there are 3 kingdoms in heaven and that we lived with God before here and that we came here for a purpose and then we return back to live with him! haha We're totally teaching her the Plan of Salvation on Thursday! I'm so excited! I wouldn't be surprised if she got baptized soon!

Anyways we changed a guy's tire last week when i went on exchanges with some of my district. Elder Pugmire and i saw a guy that was trying to change his tire, but his jack was upside down so i knew he needed assistance so we went over in our suits and changed his tire! haha it only took us 10 minutes. it was awesome! haha We gave him a pass-along card and got his address and we're taking a book of Mormon to him in Arabic! Its cool.
Yesterday i already set up 34 lessons for this week! it'll be good!
Well i don't have much else to say. Keep me in your prayers and Jacklyn, Zac, E. Truman, Luke, Jordan, Bridgette, and Kira in your prayers too!`

Love, Elder Norman

November 1,2010

Hey, things are going good. I can't believe it is already Monday again. Time is just going by way to fast. This past week we did a lot. We mainly taught members. We don't have any investigators right now :( hopefully we get some here soon though. 1 year ago when we went to the zoo, Elder Hendershot was my companion at the time and we went with Chris Scott (a recent convert). We met one of her friends from there, Chris McClure. Well when i got transferred here he is in my ward! he got baptized 1 year ago and still remembered everything we talked about at the zoo because he couldn' t believe we didn't drink coffee so then he took the lessons! its amazing to see how he was 1 year ago and then now, trying to share the gospel with everyone he meets! it is amazing how the gospel can transform us if we let it.

There is a lot of work to be done in this area. It has been a bit tough trying to get things into shape. My comp. doesn't really get along with me it seems. He likes to zone me out so it hard to get through sometimes. oh well. He's been out 5 months so what do you expect. After 16 months you tend to get along with everyone no matter who they are. He'll figure it out at some point in his mission that life is tough sometimes. I've got lost of inspiration on some things that will help us find lots of people. Its exciting. We are going to try and get 33 lessons this week! quite the goal but i know we can make it.

Halloween up here was alright. We didn't do to much because we had to be inside by 6pm. We were invited over to Tamara, Jena, Anne, and Diana's for dinner. They made us Cafe Rio! it was good but not the same. Elder Truman got some black paper and cut 3 circles out and put them on his shirt and was a 3 hole punched Elder Truman. We also got to carve pumpkins. It was fun.

I'll talk to you next week!

Love, Elder Norman

10/25/2010

Hey! how's it going?

Things in Calgary are great! i'm excited to be here again. Edworthy Park YSA is awesome. its fun that is for sure. We're over a whole stake. It covers all of downtown Calgary and a bunch of outskirt areas bordering downtown. Its funny going from a city of 10,000 to a city of 1 million. all overnight hahaha. Quite an experience.

My companion, Elder Truman is a sweet kid. I'm so lucky haha. He is from Las Vegas. He has been out about 4 months. Serving in a YSA ward is really different than i thought i'd be like, but its good.

Ian is getting baptized on November 13th! i'm so excited to be there!

We set a goal to baptize 3 people this transfer so please keep this in your prayers! we had a baptism last Saturday! her name is Kati! she has been meeting with missionaries for 3 weeks! Golden Contact! We will be teaching her sister this week hopefully! it'd be nice.

Well, thanks so much for everything. I hope all of you will write me!

Love you!,
Elder Norman

Elder Chet Norman
7044 Farrell Road SE
Calgary, AB T2H 0T2
Canada

I'm getting transferred!!!

HEY!
sorry i don't have much time to email. things are good. Happy b-day mak!

we got 24 lessons! woohoo thanks for your prayers.

Well i'm gettting transfered to the Calgary South Zone again! for the 3rd time! Woohoo. i'll be in the same zone that the Knights live in!

I am now a District Leader. It'll be interesting. I"m excited though! sorry i don't have time but thanks for everythign!

LOve you!
Elder Norman

Elder Chet Norman
7044 Farrell Rd Se
Calgary, AB T2H 0T2

HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! 10/11/10

HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!

How are things? It was quite the week. It was pretty quite and slow but we managed.

Last Wednesday it was pretty cool. I've been thinking about the training that Elder Gulbrandsen and Elder Meyers (assistants) gave us about talking to everyone and we were leaving the church after making some photocopies and near where our truck was parked there was a young man named Curtis sitting on a rock. As i saw him my first impression was to talk to him, so i did. I asked him if he knew anything about our church at all? and he said, no but taht he is looking for a Youth group to join! i told him we had one and he was pretty excited to go. We called him today and told him that its on Tuesday and 6 and they're playing capture the flag! he seem excited so hopefully we can begin teaching him really soon. Sandy has been sick so we haven't been able to meet with her.

We had about 55 people at church yesterday. It was nice. David and Sister Wilson had us over for thanksgiving dinner. it was awesome! wow turkey is amazing haha.

We did alot of service this week. We volunteered at Salvation Army thrift shop, Kootenay Christian Fellowship Soup Kitchen, split wood for Norman (our investigator), for the Astles, and for the Stroms. It is very exhausting! ahh. it's nice to have a break. haha I prefer teaching than service but sometimes that's what it takes.

We set a goal to get 22 lessons this week. We only got 15 this past week so we're working hard to get it. It quite challenging and discouraging at times being in a small branch of 20 or so active familes getting them involved in missionary work. Many of them don't try very hard to share the gospel which is quite sad. I'd think if someone really cared about someone else they'd share the gospel but often we pre-determine that someone isn't interested thus not even wasting a breathe. Share the gospel! its so easy you can even just send a Mormon Message!

This week will be great i'm sure!

Love, Elder Norman

October 5th 2010

Hey,
How are things? Well this past week has been very full of driving and meetings ha ha. Elder Bleazard, Elder Peterson, Elder Hass, Elder Stapley, and I went to Lethbridge for a 3 day leadership training meeting. It was great. The MTC has just started a new curriculum, which we were trained on. It was very helpful and gave me a lot of insight for our investigators. I couldn't wait to get back to Nelson after having driven 14 hours both ways. It takes a lot out of you. We had interviews yesterday in Cranbrook so we drove in Sunday after conference and got back last night. I really enjoyed Interviews. I was able to talk to President Archibald about some of our "Eternal" investigators and what we could do to address there concerns.
The night we got back from Lethbridge, while we were planning i heard a loud noise. Sounded like a girl yelling so i opened the window to our apartment and hear a pack of coyotes so i talked back to them for about 3-4 minutes. It was pretty cool.
I'm glad to hear the Knights are doing good. I can't believe they want to wait for me to get transferred back to Calgary so i can baptize Ian. ha ha, i really wonder what made him decide to get baptized? However I'm grateful that he is wanting to be baptized and receive the blessings he needs. They're awesome.
Nelson is still the same. We haven't been able to teach Sandy for the last bit. I hope she hasn't turned cold on us. We are meeting with her tomorrow so pray that things will go well. All our other investigators pretty much dropped us. :( Things are tough but we're going to do all we can plus some more to find those the lord has prepared!
Conference was amazing! i really enjoyed it. It was cool to see Elder Zivic since i got to meet with him at Mission Tour 2 weeks ago and also Elder Jensen and Elder Bednar when we met them last year. It seems that it is more and more exciting each time! It is like going to a candy shop ha ha.
Elder Dodge and I saw to bears hanging out in a tree off the highway i got some photos I'll send to you.
Love yoU!
Elder Norman!

p.s. don't send any mail to the nelson BC address. Send all mail to the Mission Office

7 September 2010‏

HEY!!! It has been a busy week! We were able to reach 21 lessons this week. i couldn't believe it. We got home on Sunday to total our numbers and we had 21. It was quite a blessing. We decided to do some tracting here in Nelson. I felt like there are some people that need to hear the Gospel that the members don't know. We found a total of 20 potential investigators and placed 6 book of Mormon's! It was awesome! We also tracted into some Anti's that produced some anti literature and placed on cars during sacrament one Sunday. We just played dumb and it wasn't a problem. If there is anyone i think is more miserable on this earth it is those that put consertive effort against Jesus Christ's church.
We felt prompted to take a 2 hour trip North up to the top of our area to Nakusp, BC. We only had time to visit with one Less-active up there and we picked up her husband and daughter as investigators! we are going to make a trip up there and teach them some more. He told her not to go through the temple but to wait for him!!! We'll probably baptize him soon if things work out like planned.
I played the piano in Priesthood on Sunday. It felt good to be able to play and have people sing to it. Heavenly Father has really blessed me with the talent to play. I really enjoy it now. Hopefully i can play something at my homecoming.
We tracted into a lady, Tao that saw us at the market earlier and we gave her a book of Mormon and are teaching her now.
We taught Sandy this week! She has been prepared! She loved the idea of temples and the Articles of Faith. She wouldn't give us a straight answer about her reading the book of Mormon but from what I've seen and heard her ask, she's read everything thing that we have given her to read. We challenged her to baptism and she said, I'm not saying Yes, but i want to learn a lot more before i am.
Well i got to go. we have to drive into Creston to trade vehicles so they have the truck for transfers!
Love you! thanks for the support!
Please keep Sandy, Tao, and David Yaworski in your prayers!
Love, Elder Norman
Elder Chet Norman
12-1691 HWY 3A
Nelson, BC V1L 6J8
Canada

Elder Norman 30 August 2010‏

Dear Fam,
This week was amazing!!! we had alot of miracles again!
This lady named Sandy Seamore works at the soup kitchen we volunteer at. We took her on a church tour and our Branch Mission Leader & his wife came too. It was a very spiritual experience for her and us. The spirit was very strong and we invited her to be baptized. She said no. we asked why and she said she doesn't know enough to know if it is Christ's church or mans so we bore our testimony and then she said she'd get baptized if she came to know it was Christ's church. We went over there this morning and took a member with us and we had an amazing lesson! She briefly visited with missionaries before and they gave her some serious miss conceptions that she has been trying to deal with. Her son and daughter were both murdered and when she talked to the other missionaires one of them said it happened because she wasn't a good person. I about jumped off the wall when i heard that! We resolved them and helped her understand that she's not a bad person for what happened to her daughter and son. She told us she wants us to come back so we are next Monday morning!!! Please keep Sandy Seamore in your prayers!!!!!!
We taught Jena (pres. Bowden referral) and she learned alot! We spent the whole time helping her understand Heavenly Father, and the creation and we didn't make it to teach her about Jesus Christ but that is the next thing on our visit. She doesn't have any religious background whatsoever. It was alot for her to take in. We are most definately going to be inviting her to baptism at our next appointment! She is prepared by the Lord to hear and be open to the gospel!
We went by our Branch President's house on Friday and seven-day challenged them. A bit about him is that he isn't missionary minded. kinda funny i know. They accepted and he is going to invite his friend to meet with us and his wife is going to do the same! We also addressed the program that Elder Perry has presented. Talking to the other aux. leaders he shot it down because its designed for a "ward " not a branch. We approached it and did it in a way that we weren't pushy just telling him a bit about it giving him the pinwheel paper. We asked what he thought and he shared his insights. We told him it won't be easy to put it into effect but we are here to help him just do that. To make it work and happen. He felt alot more confident about that and is going to use it now! I thought it was a very successful visit!
Things are going very good. Elder Dodge and I are getting along very good. The work is building up and the members are becoming more missionary minded giving us referrals and all. We are trying to help them reach out and contacting them verses us doing it for them. But i guess it takes one step at a time.
On Saturday we went to a market and set up a table with Sis. Sannes (branch missionary) and we had book of Mormons all set up. It was a neat experience. We gave one book of Mormon away but we had 5 or 6 negitive people but they're just missing out on the blessings. One guy got all in our face about how Joseph Smith couldn't have been a prophet and gotten those records! Another lady said that we pratice poligamy. i told her that we don't and she still didn't want to listen. I told her, "Your judgement is only as good as your information. According to your information your judgement is correct. However if you had more information your judgement might change." After i said that she didn't say anything and just walked off.... oh well. haha
P-day is on Tuesday next week cause of transfers just heads up so you got an extra day.
Love, Elder [Chet] Norman

5 July 2010 Elder Norman!!!

Hey, 4th of july was alright. didn't really do anything. Just the usual except we did drive from Nelson, BC to Creston because we have Interviews today, and zone conference tomorrow so after p-day today we are driving to cranbrook for all of that! its about a 3 hour drive total. we drove to creston last night and stayed the night there. We saw a Karibu as we were going through Kootenay Pass clear up in the mountains. it ran across the road. It was cool. So far i have seen Deer, Elk, Karibu, Skunk, and Coyote. it cool.

The area is good. we got a baptism on the 24th still. David is really excited. he has already invited his whole family. We got 1 lesson w/some members and there friend on thursday, So hopefully something will come of that. The branch is doing about the same except we had 2 investigators to church which was good. David is still planning on getting baptized on the 24th. He has already invited his entire family and we haven't even set a time for it yet. Its pretty funny haha. He very excited none the less. The Family reunion sounds like fun. I'll be there next year... that is very wierd to think about haha.

Oh the Stewards... they're awesome aren't they. I think they're the #1 family i miss the most from that area. they were always alot of fun to be around. Thats good Ben made it there. Oh he said thank you very much for sending the treats and the package. He said it made his day. Thanks! Yeah, we will have to plan a trip to come up to Calgary after my mission... if we wait 1 year ben will be home so we can come back then. Figure out some dates and talk to mom about it. we should plan for like a 1 or 2 to visit all my converts up here.

Yes i did burn a Shirt. I did it in my last area. we did it at the Lockings and Joseph Brownlee (ben's cousin) came over too. haha it was alot of fun. I'll send photo as soon as i get the adapter for next week.

Take care!,
Love Elder Norman

p.s. write me!!!
(address good from June 15th to July 22)
Elder Chet Norman
12-1691 HWY 3A
Nelson, BC V1L 6J8
Canada

28 June 2010‏

Hey! how is it going? good i hope! things here are good. I'm getting used to the area now. it's not too bad. I spoke in Church Yesterday. it was good actaully. I didn't mind. It was on missionary work. haha.
So we have got alot of new potential contacts from visiting less-actives and former investigators.
We had 2 non-members to church yesterday. they aren't investigators yet until yesterday! After we spoke one of them came up to us and asked us to come over today and teach him so we did! woohoo! The other one, David, came to Gospel Principles and i was teaching it this week. It was on Christ's Church in Former Times. As we discussed the topic went to baptism 2 times. i turned it away from it. I got the impression to ask him to be baptized on July 24th and so the topic got back on it and i asked him and he said yes! it was awesome. So i bore my testimony to him and he got teary eyed. the spirit was very strong. We will mostlikely have 2 baptisms this transfer. The other guy, Max, we taught today and he is reading the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Gospel Principles Manual! no doubt he'll get baptized! whoo hoo! its alot of fun, very diffrent area though. Its very exciting. Best part about David's yesterday is his Member Girlfriend that was there, when i asked him she told us after she was thinking oh no! and he said yes, and i watched her mouth literally drop! haha it was hilarious!
Well not much else to report on this week!
Love you! Write me!
-Elder Norman
Here is little taste of what i see everyday in my new area:
1- Barn up 20k from our home.
2- Kootenay Lake!
3- Welcome to BC!!!
4- Me and Elder Laubman
5- The Sunrise @ 4:30am

June 24th, 2010

So as of today, Chet has been out one year!! :) the count down begins...

6-21-2010‏

Hey, Things are good. The new area is full of crazy people!!! My Comp is Elder Laubman. He is from Ontario. Really nice guy. He has been out for 6 months. The past few days since i've been here i've jsut sat back and watched to see how he is running things here. I definately see a few things that will be changed. Best things about it is i'm senior comp so prettymuch i can get my way if i approach it right. :) I don't really like serving here. I feel like i'm camping more than anything. haha. It's not fun being a missionary here. There is alot of work to be done. We're in a small branch of around 30-40 active members. My goal before i leave is to get it to a ward size, so around 125 active members, so we will see what happens. We are speaking in sacrament this sunday! i got to prep a talk on how to find the Elect people. If you have any info i can use email it to be asap.!
Get this, i played piano in Priesthood opening exercises. I messed up on a few small parts. I got really nervous. Its hard playing while people are singing, but it sounds like this will be my new calling for a while. they seemed to enjoy it vs. acapella. haha
Here is a crazy thing. The sun comes up at 4:30am! i can't sleep hardly when it comes up.
I'm jealous that you got to go to lunch with the Stewards. that's no fair. haha they are so hilarious! i love them alot. They have been like a second family to me.
Oh HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
I don't see a problem with people sending my mail to the Nelson address, as long as they put a date (valid from 20 June - 26 July) i think that'd be best so i don't get lost mail. which i won't get cause i'd be lost haha.
Anywho. thats about all i have for this week. i hope i can last out here. there's alot of work to be done.
Love, Elder Norman

My new mailing address in BC

Here is my mailing address in BC.

Elder Chet Norman
12-1691 HWY 3A
Nelson, BC V1L 6J8
Canada

well ttyl.

Love ya. CHET

HELLO FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA 16 June 2010‏

Hello from BC!!!

How is it going? its good here. It has been raining all day since we travelled here. We met in Calgary at 8:30am and drove to Ft. Macloud and then drove from Ft. Mac to Cranbrook then from Cranbrook to Nelson. It was about 10 1/2 hours in a car/van/truck. between all of them hahaha it was quite the trip.
Yesterday the Gugyelka's didn't want to sleep and Joseph Brownlee (ben's cousin) came over and while we packed they played games. We didn't get to bed until 4am! it was crazy... but alot of fun.
It is very very very very very very very very green out here and very very very very very very very very small compared to what i'm used to. I'm just not a small town hick hahaha at least not yet. haha Oh and we have to speak on Sunday in the Branch.
We had a baptism last Saturday! it was awesome! the spirit was very strong there and his dad came too! it was amazing!
Well i don't know what else to say... i'm still in shock mode from leaving Sundance/Midnapore and coming here to Nelson. I'll really miss it alot. i loved that area like home. Over here it is completely different plus there is humidity here. But our apartment overlooks Kootenay Lake. its nice. well i don't have much else to say.... thanks for everything!
I'll ttyl. Love You!
Elder Norman
sorry i can't send pictures this week. my adapter isn't working its broken. i'll get a new one and send it to you next week.
p.s. tell the stewards hello and thanks for everything and that i appreciate them.

chet's getting transferred.. to nelson, bc

Hi eveyone,
Elder Norman is being transfered this week. He is going to Nelson, BC. I googled it and it looks like an awesome place, up in the mountains. Its over on the other side of the rockies from Calgary. 387 miles from Calgary. He is not sure if he will get a letter out this week. When he does i will forward it. He said he is excited to go, but sad to leave the area he is in. At least i think that is what the smiley face and frowny face means. There must be someone in Nelson waiting to hear about the gospel from Elder Norman. Thanks for all your support. Brother Brad

June 9,2010

Hey! how's it going? good i hope.
This week has flown by.
Ok so P-day next week is on the 15th of June because of Transfers.

IMPORTANT: P-DAYS ARE NO LONGER ON WEDNESDAYS AFTER THE 20TH. THEY ARE NOW ON MONDAY'S. SO THE FIRST P-DAY THAT STARTS ON MONDAY IS JUNE 21ST.

We did alot of service this week. We decided to go and make lunch for the Stewards after they fed us the day before because Ben leaving on his mission. It is a blast going over to there house because Elder LaFond and I try talking with an English Accent like they have and it funny hahaha. good times. Well Ben Steward is gone! We took some of our nametags and printed a label on them one that said, Elder Steward, and Elder Classic B (his nickname i gave him long story) he wore them when he left. :( haha it was alot of fun to have him around. He came with us to alot of appointments which was alot of fun. It is really wierd to have him gone now. We talked to him almost every day. Yesterday i picked up the phone and called him and it went to his voicemail and i didn't realize that i was calling him so i decided to leave him a message. It was funny. I do it without even thinking of it now. Now i'm trying to break the habit.
On Sunday we had 7 Investigators to sacrament meeting. it was really neat. We ended up having to teach gospel principles because our WML wasn't able to. It was on honesty and it went very good. We had nothing prepared but the Stewards helped us out which helped a ton.
Laura Knight's basement is really nice. We finished drywalling it the other day. it looks great! i can't believe how quick it came together. She says when we come up to visit we can stay there!
On Sunday we visited a LA/PM family and her daughter Madaline isn't a member that we have been trying to teach the last 6 months and have been successful. We brought with us a YM named Joseph Brownlee (ben's cousin) and in the lesson he bore his testimony. We used object lessons and she easily understood what we were teaching. She told us she knows' the church is true. it was awesome! We asked her to be baptized and she said maybe but she told us she would pray for a date. We talked to her yesterday and she said she is thinking of July 5th. it was very neat to hear. I don't know what the lord has planned for me wither i will be here still or not, but i am very moved by the opportunity i got to see her decide that she wants to make a covenant with Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. I just hope the Lord has more people prepared in this area that is ready to hear Elder Norman and the message i have to share. I love this area so much and wouldn't trade it for anything. The poeple care so much about us and are trying there very best to find those missionary opportunities. The people in this area have made a huge difference in my life and have a special place in my heart. Another testimony builder was when we dropped in Seminary for a minute Joseph was there and it was his turn for the devotional. In his devotional he share what happened in this appointment and use the object lesson that i did and applied it to all of there lives. It was really cool to see that i have made a difference in someone's life and how much of a blessing it is to be a missionary. Brother Cartier (seminary teacher) asked the question to everyone, "if i could give you one thing whatever it is, what would it be?" My answer was: to be a missionary all day and serve those i love, and be able to fly at home and see my loved ones there too.
Well i don't have much else. Things are as great as every!
Love you!
Elder Norman

june 2, 2010

Hey! how is it going? good i hope.
We have a baptism coming up on the 12th of June. His name is Matt Alexander. he is way nice. We did some service for this lady in our ward, Dana, at her dog grooming shop and asked if we could meet with her and her boyfriend (matt) and said yes. They have been reading the book of mormon together and stuff and he told us when we very first taught him that he knew the book of mormon was true and that it is god's word. It was very cool. Then we asked him to be baptized on June 12th and he said "actually, i'd love to"! it was amazing. the spirit was very strong and he could tell.
P-day will be alot of fun today. Up here every little community has it's own lake. Laura Knight is having a little BBQ for all of us and we are going to the lake! (no swimming though :( hahaha) we are playing sand volleyball, basketball etc. it is going to be alot of fun. Matt & Dana are coming too. Oh and Ben Steward is also. He is going to the MTC on the 9th. I've become very good friends with him. He's a great kid. We have planned that me and him and his cousin Joseph are going to go to BYU together. It'll be alot of fun.
We had a Stake Conference broadcast from Vancouver, BC by Elder Uchtdorf & Elder Ballard. It was a different meeting because they pretty much babbled on sharing stories etc about how grandad's do. it was funny, but good.
Zone conference was yesterday! it was amazing! it was on the Atonement. i learned so much. We did a bunch of Roleplays on how to liken the atonement unto our investigators. i was able to find out alot of ways to help our investigators. President Archibald spoke to us and really helped me gain a stronger understanding about the Atonement.
Here is a poem i made up the other day when i wrote in the Gugyelka's book that missionaries write in that have lived there.
Its TItled:
Elder Norman the Mormon
Once there was a mormon named Elder Norman.
He was the most fairest missionary of them all.
Tall and slender with his good looks,
He taught alot out of his books.
He taught with power endowed from on high,
So the Spirit could touch all that walked by.
He helped them feel of there Saviour's love,
And they made a covenant with there Lord above.
He overcame all sorts of strife,
Because success was his way of life.
Love you!,
Elder Norman

Bday wishes to Chet...

Hey Chet's bday is coming up on this monday May 17th, if you would like to send him a birthday wish, please email them to mandy_lou1@hotmail.com by sunday. A family up in Canada is having a birthday party for Chet on monday and was hoping to get some emails from friends and family to give to him on his bday. Thanks so much- chet's sis

12 May 2010‏

Hey, how are things? good i hope, I don't have alot to say since i talked to you on sunday. Yesterday we planned on stopping by a Former Investigator that has previously ignored missionaries and wasn't interested. I wasn't too sure if we should go by but we decided to anyways. She answered the door and we asked if we could come by sometime and teach her more about our church and she said she'd like it and we are planning on going over tonight! it was not what i was expecting at all! hahaha. Well i hope all is well.
Love you!
Elder Norman

here are some picture... thought i would share:
The seminary class that got Elder Lafond & I and our birthday cake.
I made Rice Crispies on Elder LaFond's birthday. They were good!
Stewards & Devin (left of me, family friend w/blonde hair)
Laura Knight's Basement done excepted painted.

4 May 2010‏

Hey! May the 4th be with you! Happy Star Wars Day!!! hahaha jk,
Things are going good. I get to stay in Sundance & Midnapore again! WoO HOo. I love it in Calgary South. It isn't as cold as the rest of the city. Yesterday we went to Seminary and they had got us a cake for Mine & Elder LaFond's b-day (his is on the 7th and mine is on the 17th). it was a tiger icecream cake! it was tasty! THings have been very busy. We have been trying to find people to teach through the members. Cool Experience. On sunday in both wards, people got up and bore testimonies of missionary work and how we have been challengeing members to find people. The members love us! our dinner calendar has to be signed up 2 months in advance to get in. Crazy eh? haha
Well i don't have much more time but i hope all is well and i love you!
Sorry no pictures this week, i forgot my memory card.
Love, Elder Norman talk to you on sunday! happy mothers day!
p.s. please write, and i will write you back!

28 April 2010‏

Hey! how are thigns going? good i hope. It has been a very busy week.On Thursday we had our weekly planning and i had the impression to call this Less Active guy that we went by 2 months ago and wasn't interested. I tried to call him but he wasn't home so i tried again at 9pm. He answered and was glad to hear from us. He told me that today (that day i called) he had decided he wanted to come back to church and that himself and his daughter need god in their lives. He said he was hoping that we would call him because he didn't want to come alone and then we called. How awesome is that! I thought it was cool. His wife used to be an investigator but the other missionaries scared her off but she's coming around now and his son and daughter aren't members so we got 3 new investigators! sweet eh? oh then we contacted another less-active and her 2 daughters aren't members and she wants them to get baptized and she is starting to come back. We did some service for a less-active a few days ago and stopped by and shared a message and invited her to church and she said she'd come! how cool! it was really neat to find them.
Cathie Queen got baptized last Saturday! it was awesome. the spirit was so strong there. her son baptized & confirmed her. it was cool.
On Sunday we had 8 lessons! it was a crazy day. we literally ran from place to place all day from 8am to 9:30pm! it was very tiring, but it was fun. The primary in Sundance ward had a party and they invited us to come! it was fun. They had us speak for 10 minutes about service. it was fun.
Well i don't have much else to say. THings are very busy here and it's alot of fun! take care and talk to you soon! Love you! love you!!!!!
Love, Elder Norman

the truck that i got a photo with its the one off of Transformer 2 from what i'm told. A member in one of our wards owns it! haha its huge

21 April 2010‏

HEY! how's it be in good ol' Dixie? Things are just booming up here. I have alot to tell this week! Last Wednesday we taught seminary from 6:30am to 2:30pm! it was a very long day! We had 6 classes and a total of 200 or so kids that we taught that day. it was alot of work!
We visited a less-active lady named Sis. Mickler on Monday and it was a very good lesson! Sis. Mickler's non-member daughters were there. We were teaching them about the Plan of Salvation and Sis. Mickler said that her kids weren't baptized and then she turned to them and asked them if they wanted to be baptized! it was awesome. They are going to let us know tonight! its very exciting. I can't wait.
Laura Knight found someone for us to teach. It was Ian's Occupational Therapist, (aka nurse is what Laura calls her) it is really funny hahaha. Her name is Linda. At first when we chatted with her she practically was bashing with us and stuff and she set a return appointment with us to have dinner and then a lesson. We went in thinking it would be a total gong-show and bible bashing fest but it wasnt' that at all. It was actually very enjoyable. We just casually talked and shared opinions on our beliefs etc. It was very neat. This Sunday we have an appointment to meet with her again and she chose the topics False Prophets, Apostasy, and Children of God. I can't wait until Sunday :)
Yesterday we went to a members home for dinner that we challenged them to find someone for us to teach in 7 days and they had their neighbor over for dinner and we taught him and he said that we got him very interested in the book of Mormon and we gave him one in french that we had with us. It was awesome! we are meeting with them again next week.!
Our stake brought this exhibit called Reflections of Christ and had it on display for 4 days! we got to help set it up and everything. it was really neat. we had over 1500 people come through it. It was amazing. www.reflectionsofchrist.org or www.anothertestament.com it was an amazing display. You should have President Henderson see it on the website and think about it. It is based out of Mesa AZ. I met the cousin of the photographer. wow is all i have to say.
2 weeks ago we went to some other churches in our area and invited them to reflections of Christ and one of the Youth pastors came and said he'd come to our event if we came to his so we did and he came to ours! it was very cool seeing him come to ours. His was very weird. it was like walking into a coffee shop and no feeling of love or anything. It was weird, then this girl tried bible bashing with us and we used the bible to disprove her and then gave her a book of Mormon and i challenged her to disprove it haha it was funny. So she took one and we'll be meeting with her on next Sunday.
Brad Chernenko's (investigator) Daughter Danica got baptized last Saturday. I could tell it was a hit home for him. The spirit defiantly was there.
well it has been a very full week and we got about 25 lessons which is very good for our small area.
I hope everyone at home is doing great! Love you!,Elder Norman

31 March 2010

Hey! Sounds like everyone is doing very good. Things here lately have been crazy. So John and Ben Fairbanks came with us out on splits 3 times this past week. it was alot of fun. They both have told me that we are good teachers and that they're working on findng someone for us to teach. I'm excited.
We had dinner at this non member family the Heynen's. She is United and he is Catholic. After dinner we had a "lesson" and by what they were asking etc, they studdied up on their anti literature. It was annoying but we pretty much destroyed all of their questions etc. I hate anti because it doesn't do any good and its not that hard to disprove alot of it. More of a block than anything.
We went to the Cardston Temple! it was the first time i've gone in 9 1/2 months! it was great! It is a really beautiful temple. The seminary teacher, Brother Cartier took us and 4 other missionaries that haven't gone. It was alot of fun!
I have a couple of miraculous stories to tell you:
Tom and Joan Macpherson we have been teaching for quite some time and are wanting to move to Vancover Island and would be gone for 6 weeks. We went over around noon on Friday to see them and see what we could do for them. Tom wasn't feeling good and his left ear was red and puffed up a little bit and wasn't feeling like himself. I decided before we left that we would ask him if he would like a blessing. He said, usually i would say know, but i think it will help. He asked me to give him the blessing which i gladly did. Before we gave him the blessing we told him about it and that it works by our faith and by our Heavenly Fathers will. After we gave him the blessing we put some tires in the back of his van so he could take them in to be changed. Later that night i was writing in my journal and i had the impression that Tom would get sick so that he couldn't go on his trip so we could teach him and that he could get baptized.
Then next day we went on splits in the morning to go teach Kathy Queen (getting baptized on April 24th!) and i told Elder LaFond that him and Brother Banfield should go check on him while myself and John Fairbanks went to teach Kathy. When we met back up at John's house and they told us that they went to see Tom and he could hardly get up and the swelling went from his ear across his whole head. So they helped him into Brother Banfield's car and took him to the emergency room. They ended up taking him to the hosptial and he had an infection in his ear caused by ear wax that had to have happened by scratching his ear! insaine eh?! I couldn't believe it when i heard it!
THEN today when we were in the temple, in the middle of the session Brandon and Zeffie came to mind and i had the impression to put their name in the temple. So before we left i put their name on the prayer roll. then we just got back and went to emails and i just found out about their little baby's problems! So i hope they are doing good.
Well it has been quite the week. Hope all is well!
Love you,
Elder Norman

23 March 2010

23 March 2010 Tuesday,
It was a very week. I didn’t get transferred this time so I was very enthused about that.
On Sunday two brothers, Ben and John Fairbanks, just returned home from their missions. They both gave their home coming talks at the same time. It was really cool. It was a great meeting too. It made me think what it is going to be like when I get home. I can’t even imagine it. After Sunday School, I saw Ben in the hall and he came up to us and i went to shake his hand and he grab me then my companion and gave us a big hug haha it was kind of funny I thought then he asked for our number because he wants to come out with us on splits this week haha.
The Kapcsus’ are coming down on Friday i believe. They’re going to bring down a package. Brother Kapcsus likes to go do mountain biking and I think I’ve talked him into taking his bike down with them when they get to Saint George. I told them that dad would take him on a ride to some places and gave him your phone number.
Oh and we’ve got to know a lot of the youth in this ward through Seminary and visiting their families and last night a family gave us each a tie just in case we got transferred. haha it was really cool.
I really love this area and love the people I am serving. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that we are able to obtain the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through it. I know President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God. I know that we all and be cleansed of any mistake we have and will ever make in life as we turn to Jesus Christ and allow his sacrifice for us become real. I am grateful to be a servant called of God to go forth among my brothers and sisters and help them know why they are here and where they are going. There is no other way to become more and closer to our savior than to do what he did, serving those he was around. I love this gospel with all my heart.
I hope and pray your safe and that you are having a great day!
Love you! Elder Norman

on march 10...

We had a spagettii cookoff with Laura and Ian Knight. It was alot of fun. Laura went all out and printed a judging manual and certificates and all. It was alot of fun. We decided we both won. haha The food was really good too! our recipe from home was tasty and the garlic spread turned out pretty good i'd say.

routine hair...

the pictures explain it all...

cleanest cars baby...

Our Zone won the Car Award for the Cleanest Cars! haha it was sweet. we all got pizza from Pizza Hut. It was very tasty.

"Road Trip" from Calgary to Lethbridge

We got to go on a "Road Trip" from Calgary to Lethbridge last Saturday to meet with Elder Bednar. It was a really good experience. He has perfect hair just like he does on T.V. at General Conference. haha He shared alot of story's about different things i dont' have enough time to type them all but yeah. It was awesome. I got to shake his hand and i also made a comment during his 3 hour discussion with us. It was really cool. He ended off of my comment so that goes to show how good it was hahaha :)

Feb. 24th

Hello for Calgary EH!!?!?!?!?! how are thing going? Things are very good! We have set a baptismal date for March 27th. So here is the great story:
On January 25th, Elder Miller & I we went on splits with the Young Men. I went with a young man named Bennett Gustufson. We didn't have any set appointments for that night so we went and visited Laura and Ian Knight. We had a very good lesson and talked about prayer and why we have it and the importance of it.
Afterwards I decided it would be good to go and tract this one street. The first door we knocked on, a young girl answered and we ended up leaving a Book of Mormon for her parents and asked if we could return and said we could another day. Then we continued on and the next 3 doors we knocked on they yelled at us and slammed the Door in our faces before we could say a word. Finished the whole street with no success. Then I decided to visit this pm family nearby. We went over and tried there house and no luck. We went back to the car and I said, "we should say a prayer" so I said it and told Heavenly Father to let us find someone to talk to by us seeing the next person. After I looked up the street and saw a guy walking in the distance. So we jumped out of the car and walked towards him. He said he wasn't interested. I saw a few lighted house ahead so I said we'll go check them out then head back to the church. We started to walk up there and a van pulled out and drove by and opened its side door and 2 kids threw eggs at us. One was close to me but I dodged it. haha good times. Finally we got to the house and they were getting ready to leave town but said to come back in a few weeks. So we started back to the car and I glanced over and saw a lady sitting on a couch on the phone next to the house we went to so I said lets try this one then we'll go back. So we headed to the door and knocked and the lady answered, her name Colleen McGill and come to find out that her dad is a member and she has talked to missionaries before. I asked if we could come back another time which she agreed.

The next couple of weeks we have been trying by her and each time she never was home. Then on the February 20th, Elder LaFond and I were at a Less-Active members house and we were trying to teach him a lesson, then I got the prompting that we needed to go to her house right at that very moment. We quickly left and went to her house. We pulled up and went to the door. We knocked and sat there for a few seconds, then she answered the door! She invited us in and we met her 4 year old son, Adam. He was really funny. We talked for sometime and she told us that her Father and Step-Mother joined the Church 15 years ago and has been a very active member. She also told us about herself. I asked if she had enough time that we could share a message/lesson with her and she agreed. We then began teaching her about the Holy Ghost then about the Restoration and then watched the Restoration DVD. Afterwards I asked her if she felt the spirit and she agreed, then I continued to tell her why she felt that way and asked her if she would be baptized on March 27th. She looked really surprised and said, “Oh, wow. that’s really soon, yeah I’ll prepare for that date” The spirit was very strong and she was very happy when we left. The next day she left with her Mom to go to Edmonton for a shopping trip. We have a lesson set with her for tomorrow night. I am very excited to go over and teach her again. How about that for a story though? Its pretty cool to find someone and teach them and help them prepare to be baptized.
Well that’s about all i have for this week! Hope everything is going great!
Love, Elder Norman

pictures

Handi Bus that ran over a stop sign and got stuck on the cement holder.

Joseph Smith pose that we tryed to do hahaha crazy missionaries eh?

13 January 2010 Well it has been a interesting week i’d say. We got 21 lessons this last week. Most of the with members because we only have 2 investigators. We had interviews this week and cleaned the car.... well i cleaned the car and my comp watched me. Elder Lambert said i did a good job on it. I hope we’ll win the car award. I named our 08’ Ford Focus, Helen. Helen was very shiny. The last missionaries didn’t take care of it at all so i had alot of work to do. We went to the Ian & Laura Knights this week. Ian is our investigator and Laura was baptized 2 months ago. We go over and do service for them twice a week and teach them a lesson twice a week. She is always happy so i enjoy going over. We’re helping them paint there office and renovate there kitchen. Its alot of work but i enjoy it! The area i am in now is very rural. Lots of really nice nice houses. Out of the 50 houses i have been to in the last week, only 1 of them had a tv that was smaller than a 42”. We got this sweet dvd called by small and simple things that we have been going around the ward getting them excited about missionary work. Its really cool.ALl the snow is melting! its very nice. We had a chinook starting last saturday and is supposed to go until monday so its been about +12. Its so nice! i’m going to suffer when i get home i’m afraid..... huge temperature difference. Well i need to get going. Thanks for all the support. I love you so sos soososososso much! Hope things are going well for you! Love, Elder Norman

6 January 2010
Hey!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! i can’t believe its already 2010! It came so fast!I’m in Sundance/ Mindapore wards now. We go to church from 9 until 4 on Sundays. its very long but they’re great wards. It a young-middle aged family ward so i feel at home. My new companion, Elder Miller, is from Rugby, England. He is really funny and makes the work go fast and fun. It totally changes the aspect on missionary work. It is great! Oh and i can talk w/an english accent now! haha i’m getting pretty good. It is so funny, everyone that i tell where i’m from always says, oh this is probably very cold for you isn’t it.... YES IT IS!!! ahhhhahahahahaha it was -20 this morning. its crazy stuff. I can’t believe i’ll have been out for 7 months on the 24th. Time flys by so fast its incredible.Well i got to run. I hope all is well and thanks for all your love, support, and prayers! LOVE,Elder Norman