my other blog

thanks to everyone who followed this blog while i was serving a mission.  i'm still writing at mikelledionne.blogspot.com.

find me here...

hi everyone.  it's been a while.  i'm still alive, although i wasn't too sure about it for a few weeks there.  i'm back writing on my other blog now.  it's things of much less importance, but i'm trying to make it the same.  that's the biggest challenge i'm finding right now.  when i left malaysia, i was like this ----------- and then it was like this____________and now it's more like this..............(see what i did there?  it's a little bit higher).  but the outlook is on the up.  i'm finding things to make everything feel right again.  trying to not be a stranger in my own life.

tamat lah

Surprise!  I just couldn't miss writing about this awesome week we've had. 

We’re in Bintulu now and there's nothing else to do in this town for pday, so email it is!  I think I’m kind of in a twilight zone right now.  It all started setting in on Monday.  I cried a lot.  I think the part that's killing me is just leaving our investigators and the members here.  I’m so scared I’ll never see some of them again.  On Monday we were teaching the plan of salvation to Acha's family, the part that's not yet baptized and I just started crying when we were talking about the spirit world.  They weren't sure if relationships from this life would be remembered in the next, like we wouldn't recognize each other.  I bawled like a baby as I told them that's the one thing that's bringing me comfort when I think about the possibility of never seeing them again, I know that we will meet again after this life and that we'll still be brothers and sisters.  I mean it too.  I trust in that. 

I saw the last baptism of my mission last Friday.  Jong, Shoony, and Josie were baptized that night and it was flawless.  But first, contrast it to the baptism the night before to see just how smooth it ran.  Thursday night was Chris, Amanda, Shalinna, and Kapi's baptism.  We got the water heater going two hours before, right on time, then started filling the font on time...but the stupid part was we left to early to notice that the electric plug or whatever you call it wasn't closing.  So the font wasn't filled.  And it wouldn't fill because the water just kept going down the drain that wouldn't close.  So we got crafty and made our own plug out of plastic and a rock.  Success.  Then the problem was no one was on time.  But I guess that worked well with the whole empty font situation.  The baptism had to be pushed back about 45 minutes, and we were fretting the whole time, watching the water level slowly rise.  It doesn't sound to stressful I guess, but it was.  So Friday night we were smart early on and got the plastic stopper in on time.  The font was full on time.  The baptismal candidates were on time.  They bore beautiful and doctrinally sound testimonies.  The spirit was strong lah.  It was the perfect baptism to end on for sure.  Plus, that day I was buying an apom for dinner from a street cart we always pass.  The lady that sells them has been contacted by countless missionaries and is usually pretty cold towards us.  This day she started talking to us.  She told us that she's friends with sister Acha, and she wants to come to church.  What?!  So we're going to visit her next week…or I guess Sister Parker and her new companion will.  I keep forgetting that I won't be at the appointments we’re scheduling now.  Weird.

Yesterday was one of those days where the Lord just takes apart your plans and puts them back together the way He wants them.  We went for an appointment with Emma and she wasn't home, but her housemate was and we ended up talking to her for a while and got her as a new investigator.  That opened up a big chunk in our schedule because we were in the outer limit of our area, so it seemed out of the way and our next appointment was going to be close by, but we felt like we should go back to Tabuan Dayak, the area near the church where we are basically every day.  We got to the church and didn't really know what we were doing, so we started going around to confirm some appointments for later in the evening.  On the way, we remembered Endaya and Nika, two less-active members we met almost two weeks ago, and went over to see them.  Only Endaya was home but she invited us in and while talking we found out that only her husband was a member, she hasn't been baptized yet, even though she wanted to a few years ago before they moved back to their village.  So we invited her to start learning again and to be baptized and she said yes!  It was awesome, she was so excited!

 

Then we went to our appointment with Suzilin.  We were nervous that she doesn't understand the need to be baptized again, but before we could even teach restoration again, she told us she needs to be baptized the right way and put herself on date! 

Ok I’m out of time, sorry!  What a great way to leave my mission! I love you all!  See you soon!

Sister Norton
HFI

Sunset in the jungle ... perfect picture to end with ♥

it's official

... almost.  This will be her last email to us.  She has zone conference next week and the following Tuesday ... well, we've received her flight itinerary and in exactly two weeks we will be standing at the bottom of "that" elevator at the Salt Lake airport!  I get so excited ... I get all teary eyed.  Really.  What an incredible experience it has been for Mikelle.  Lots and lots of good stuff ... really good stuff!  Heck, great stuff! Incredible stuff!  And I can't wait to hear all about it!  


Which brings to mind, Mikelle's sacrament meeting report will be at our ward, the Forest Bend Ward, at 7784 South 2000 East (Highland Drive), on Sunday, August 12th at 9:00 a.m. Come early to get a good seat :)  And please stop by our home for some chit chat and a bite to eat afterwards (7674 S Caballero Drive) ... she'll be so excited to see you!  

And can I just say one thing about my incredible husband for just a minute here please?  During both Dax and Mikelle's missions he has sent them the most incredible letters and weekly emails.  Seriously. I think my husband should write a book of letters for parents who would like a little help in that area.  He always seems to say just the right thing or share just the perfect experience or scripture that they needed to hear at that particular time while serving the Lord ... to lift them up and keep them going.  Everyone of them (well, ok, almost every one of them) has been just what they needed at that time. I am so grateful for such a wonderfully inspired husband who has always honored his priesthood and been an incredible example to our children and to me.  

I will share with you the ending to all of his letters and emails because I think it is so sweet and perfect ~  

"Remember to report for work every morning on your knees and ask Heavenly Father what He would have you do.  Then listen real close and the miracles will start!"   -- 

Thank you for your prayers for all of our incredible missionaries out there serving the Lord around the world.  

Please continue :)

xoxo ~ Chris 

bye bye cinta

So this is it.  The last email you get from Malaysia.  Next week we have no pday because it's zone conference and then my next pday after that will be in the land of endless pdays....I’m tripping out just a little bit, yes.

First, I’m an awful daughter and didn't say it last week, but HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY, MOMMY AND DADDY!!  I promise I didn't forget it, I just didn't process that when I emailed about it this week, it would already be too late.  One week at a time is how my brain is working these days.  

Things are amazing with the work right now, of course just in time for me to leave it soon.  Chris, Amanda, Shalinna, and Kapi are getting baptized on Thursday night and then Jong, Shoony, and Josie on Friday night.  Jong put her friend on date to be baptized for us basically.  Acha's husband has also started learning with everyone else at the house and asked to be baptized with the next batch on 1 September.  Richmond cut his hair to a decent length. All the seminary and institute aged ones came to class this past week. Kapeli just got married and his new wife who doesn't have a religion yet wants to begin following Christ and be baptized with him and the rest of the family.  Josie's fiancé is also coming to church and wants to be baptized with the group on 1 September.  Chris helped us teach his cousins, dang the kid needs to go on a mission!!  Pretty much things just couldn't be any better.

We had Women's Conference for Relief Society last weekend and they were talking about which kinds of rice were healthiest; I caught myself practically taking notes then realized I’m going back to a life where I don't really eat rice....that threw me for a loop.   

The elders keep asking me how "dead" I am and remarking at how surprised they are that I seem to be very much alive still.  Of course lah, I’m not wasting my time at the end of the best year and a half of my life. I’m trying to tie-up loose ends and figure out what it is that I’ve really learned here, that's a goal I made at the beginning of the mission, learn something from every companion, every area. Here, it's been a lesson about how good for us our struggles are meant to be.  I’ve always known that blessings come from God, but I’m learning more that trials do too. They're hand-picked for us, pretty much like a personal trainer handing you a 20lb weight once the 10lb isn't enough anymore.  I’ve learned a lot from Nephi who probably had a little bit of whining cross his mind while his brothers were moaning, but had the self-control to keep it in and show his faith.  I’ve been moaning and trying to bide my time, get through the hard stuff, but missing my lesson.  I like how Brigham Young put it:

"There is not a single condition of life or one hour's experience but what is beneficial to all those who make it their study and aim to improve upon the experience they gain."  

I hope to do that always.  Not just now, but with every challenge that pops up once I get home too.  

I am excited to see you all when I get home!  I love you so much and am so grateful for the support you've given me over the past year and a half. Thank you!

See you soon!

Sayang Daripada,

Sister Norton

HFI

So much to be grateful for in Kuching!

Thank you.  Good night.

awak tak datang ke rumah saya? apa hal??

Malaysian kids have such attitude.

Not a full week since last Wednesday, but a good week!  We switched pday to today so we could go to the Sarawak Cultural Village with a visiting senior couple from Hong Kong.  It was way cool.  There were traditional houses for all the different tribes that you could walk through, and then a show showcasing all their native dances and all that.  I felt pretty cool knowing which dance belonged to who because I’ve got friends in the church here who can dance them.  Towards the end of the show, this guy comes out on the stage in traditional warrior clothes (basically a loin cloth with a pelt on his back and a peacock feather on his head) and does his dance and blows a dart gun and all that.  He was looking around the audience from the stage and I got a little nervous noticing that he kept looking at me.  Sure enough, he jumps off the stage and comes over to get me to go up on the stage with him.  So...I went up of course.  Then he had me try to use the dart gun also, missed the first time, dang.  So then he lead me across the stage by my hand....you can just imagine how loud the 10 elders watching were at that point.  So uncomfortable!  I have definitely been a missionary for a while.  It was hilarious.  I’ll try to send a picture and get the video from one of the elders.  Anyway, I hit the target in the end!  Hey, remember how I’m on a mission?  No hand-holding business yah. 

We taught Eva’s parents for the first time together this past week. She was just baptized with Acha's family, and her mom was learning, but her dad hadn't really been open yet.  Well he's open now…and wants to get baptized with his wife on 1 September.

Jong and Shony are still doing awesome.  They came to a branch activity on Friday night (bowling) and Jong was even teaching another one of our investigators in Sunday School yesterday.  And Shony?  Went from 20 sticks to ZERO in two days.  HE DID IT!!  So the baptism is still on for next week.  He was so proud of himself.  

Chris quit smoking too!  And all of the second crew from Acha's family is still on for their baptism next week also.  

We started the recent convert lessons with Acha and her family and Acha told us she wants to let every one know about the church, she wants to serve a mission with her husband later too…and so does Chris!  Not too late, he's just barely 19.  Best.

We had some cool experiences being led by the spirit this week.  We had an unexpected opening in our schedule one day and our back up plans were to visit a few less-active members in the neighbourhood where we were working that day.  We wanted to go see Valerie and then take her with us to go see Sylvia.  So, we went to Valerie's house and it turned out Sylvia was already there pretty much waiting for us.  Then, we were walking to a member's house for dinner last night but we were early so we were taking our time and seeing if there were any people to talk to along the way.  We passed some shacks on the side of the road and some guys who seemed a little less-than-sober started calling out to us.  Now don't worry, usually I am much smarter than this, but I turned to Sister Parker and told her we should go talk to them and see who lived in this group of shacks.  Bad-a-bing!  A family who's already members but haven't been to church in over four years!  They haven't been to the new church building literally just down the street from them, so we invited them and they said they'd come!  No one knew they were there because they lived in a different part of town when they were baptized and then moved without transferring their records. So...now we can at least do all we can to make them feel welcome in Stampin Branch.  Plus one of the girls is recently married and her husband isn't a member yet.  Love the potential there. Then one more:  the spirit led someone straight to us.  Mida walked into church yesterday, thinking it was an Anglican church (herself being anglican).  We explained what it actually was and she decided to stay for the service.  Turns out she knows Acha who was just baptized, they used to be best friends but haven't seen each other since she moved to KL almost 20 years ago!  So, now she wants to know more about the church and we're meeting her on Thursday. Crazy how the Lord keeps track of us.

I hope you all have a great week, I love you!

Tiga minggu lagi,

Sister Norton

HFI

jangan merokok!

It's our week of helping people quit smoking apparently.  Sony started with a pack a day (20 sticks he says...) and yesterday only smoked 5!  We called this morning to tell him not to smoke and he hadn't had one yet and it was already 11!  Then we got an sms an hour later saying he still hadn't smoked one!  He was so excited about it.  He and Jong are doing great, they're going to make it for the 28th :)  Then Chris, one of the members of Acha's family (her nephew-getting baptized on the 28th also) was smoking 5-10 a day and when I called him about an hour ago (4 in the afternoon) he hadn't smoked any!  Anyone else want to quit smoking???  We’re glad to help :)

Other members of Acha's family are still doing great, still excited for their baptism.  It’s just the word of wisdom push week so it's a hurdle for a few of them, but I know they can do it.  Chris, Amanda, and Shalinna were all working on Sundays so they've missed the past few weeks of church and we told them they should try to find different jobs that don't work on Sunday.  They quit their jobs! Without even having a new one yet!  I was kind of shocked when Chris told me that...asked him why he quit, and he said, "Sister, you told me to quit so I could come to church if I want to get baptized, so I quit!"  I was floored.  I think they're doing ok on their faith if they could take that step.  I’ll be praying that they can find other work now that they've done what they need to to keep the sabbath day holy. Your prayers are welcome as well.

That's about it.  I guess I only have a few more times to email kamu orang. I’ll try to get something good in one of these times.  I love you!  I hope you're having a nice time in that dry heat.  I had to wring out my hair after walking in the monsoon today.  

Sayangi,

Sister Norton

HFI!

Beautiful sunset in Kuching!