loaves and fishes

It's been another tough week in Penang, but I'm starting to really see that the miracles end up canceling out the trials every week here. I've been trying to get through the New Testament by the end of the year, and the other day I was reading about the story in Luke of Christ feeding the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two small fishes. I know I've heard this story in its different accounts recorded in the four gospels many times in my life and it's always been a reminder of the remarkable power the Saviour held, but I had never paid much attention to what his disciples must have thought when he proposed that seemingly impossible idea. I can imagine that they looked at that small ration with eyes seeing only what it amounted to in that moment, five barley loaves and two small fishes. That would never be enough for the 5,000 men and who knows how many women and children who were in the company. They only saw an insufficiency. Christ took them and before turning them into enough, He gave thanks to His Father, then he blessed them and brake them. He never saw just five loaves and two fishes. He saw them in baskets, enough to feed the 5,000 with some to spare. I learned two things from this when I imagined being one of the disciples there who doubted that all could be filled. First I felt a slight rebuke and the Lord's words entered into my mind, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" There's a big difference in the Lord's perspective, and I am positive He wants us to see it His way. See things not as they are, but for what they can become. Then second, I realized that He showed His gratitude before even waiting to see if it reached that potential. So, that's what I'm trying to do now. Penang might not be much now. But it's definitely more than it was when we got here. We've seen miracles. And if they're happening now, I think I'll just apply a little bit of Newtonian logic and say they're going to keep happening if we don't decrease our faith or works. And if I look at Penang for what it can become, I just want to cry and thank my Father in Heaven for this beautiful island He's sent me to, with some of His choicest children. All is well.

On that note, I want to just remind my family and friends and all of you who have been supporting me throughout this time how thankful I am for you. I love you all! I am blessed to have all of you in my life and I need all of you. I know my family is getting together right now for Thanksgiving and also to celebrate my Grandpa's 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Grandpa Stoney! I miss you and send so much love your way! But I'm still glad I'm here and hope that doesn't sound harsh :) One Thanksgiving away isn't anything for the work I'm getting to take part in. I'm grateful to be here. And I'm grateful for my parents who didn't say too much of how they miss me, and I'm sure they do ;) They're incredible examples to me of serving the Lord. I'm realizing more and more out here what a rare situation I'm in, to have two loving parents, who showed me how to follow Jesus Christ through word and through example, who love me, and who want me to serve Him. I love both of you to pieces, forever, and too much!

I guess I have to add a bit of why this has been such a great week. We can start with the phone call we just got from J on the ferry ride this morning. She was just calling to say hi and let us know she's into Jacob now in the Book of Mormon. She was just getting a chance to read more then because her baby was taking a nap. She's doing well and excited for her baptism on 24 December. This last week was her first time going to church and she toughed it out through two hours of district conference where she didn't understand much and had to settle for me translating into Malay what she couldn't understand. But she's still looking forward to church this Sunday. I know it's nothing we've done, so I think it's safe to say there's a power in the Book of Mormon that is drawing her to Christ's true church. And that mormon.org is an inspired missionary tool! She spends hours on it each week.

At district conference, we met a new sister in our Branch. She was baptized almost seven months ago while visiting her sister in the UK. We've been praying for a member of the church to help us teach our investigators, especially those coming from a Hindu background. There you go, she used to be Hindu :) She ran up to us and was so excited to meet her first sister missionaries (she thought they could only be boys...psh) and immediately asked when she could follow us and help us teach. I love her.

HF told us she's too lazy to read the Book of Mormon last week, but she had read what we asked her to when we met on Monday! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and invited her to be baptized. You should have seen her eyes as we talked about the feeling you get after you're baptized and she said yes, she wanted it. But she's nervous it's too soon. So, we'll just keep praying that she will feel at ease about it.

M is a mom that we met in the elevator of our building. She's Christian but her husband is not. We weren't sure that anything would ever come of it when we asked her if we could bring over a Book of Mormon and share a little about it. When we got there, she started pouring out her heart and telling us that she's not sure if God cares about her, because she's so sinful and constantly not measuring up. So we started talking about the Atonement. As we were testifying of His love for her, a thought came into my mind, "She hasn't ever been baptized. Ask her to be baptized." I shrugged it off because she said she became Christian when she was 17 and I was sure that meant she was baptized. So we taught her about the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. The same thought came into my head again as we invited her to pray to know that the things we were teaching were true. So, I gave in and asked her to be baptized. She smiled and didn't say anything so I asked her if she'd ever been baptized and she said no, she never had. So we asked if it was something she wanted and she said yes, but she's not sure if her husband will ever allow it. It was such a neat experience. We're praying for her and her husband's heart to be softened. I'm sure there will be more to follow :)

And we've got another Nigerian friend! P was on the same day as M. I didn't take him very seriously, because we've had a few experiences with guys trying to meet with us and not wanting to learn at all. So we sat down to talk and told him we help people prepare to be baptized. It didn't scare him off at all, and he agreed he would if he feels that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet. Also a Christian that's never been baptized. I love how blunt he is. He told us, "Too many Christians don't pray in their churches. If you don't pray in your church, I won't go." So we're excited about him too.

F is back! He got in a fight with his cousin and his phone was stolen. He came up to us as we were eating dinner at a cafe and just sat down at the table and said he'd been looking for us. So, we continue with him. We thought he was gone for good.

Finally, my baby girl (Sister Wilkes) had her first Ramly burger last night. For those of you not familiar with this wonderful Malaysian phenomenon, it's a burger wrapped in egg with chili sauce and some other sauce I'm not sure of...then put on a bun with mayo, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. You buy them at stands on the side of the street that move around and you never know when you'll be able to find them again in the area we live. And they're what I dream about some nights. She had a struggle with the spice, but I'm sure it will grow on her. Proud mama here.

I love you all and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sister Norton

HFI

p.s. S&I: Masih baca ini? Semalam saya ada jumpa dengan lelaki yang mengingatkan saya tentang kamu! Dia ada beberapa fikiran yang sama dengan kamu mengenai agama. Tapi tak boleh kongsi injil ini dengan dia...sedihnya! Saya sangat rindu kamu!! Harap semua baik dengan kamu. Jaga diri ok? Masih tahu Bapa kita melandungi kamu. Dia menyayangi mu!