the king of fruits

The durian. I've now tried it twice. It was a little more bearable this time...but I'm still not a fan. All the elders got a nice video of me whining while trying to eat it, so I'm sure that will end up in a zone conference soon.

We're still in Penang! Both of us. Some big transfers happened, and we were the only sisters in the mission that were untouched, so we must have some big work that still needs to be done. Plus a Chinese New Year to be celebrate in "The Pearl of the Orient." I might die if I hear any more Chinese New Year music though.

D is still doing well, she was at church on Sunday, and still getting ready for her baptism at the beginning of February.

We met with A&D again. We hadn't seen them since about the end of October or November. He's the one that knows about the church because his dad was a "Mormon missionary" in Jakarta. It was an awesome lesson. I can't believe how much easier it was to understand the language this time versus the first lesson. We'll see them again this week and hopefully do a better job of explaining the Priesthood authority that is in this church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Right now they say that they'll just go to whatever church is late enough in the day for them to get their kids awake...

We had five teaching appointments lined up for Saturday and had confirmed them the day before...all but one fell through. And the one that we did meet with was a first and last appointment, as her parents forbid us from coming back. Apuh.

We do have some great families we're teaching now though. M&P are still awesome. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation on Sunday. They're a Hindu family and they asked us to bring them a picture of Christ, so we gave that to them on Sunday also. Yesterday morning we got an SMS saying, "Good morning sisters. I already put frame for Jesus. We are praying with Jesus. Family is very happy." So that was good to wake up to :) We invited them to be baptized and they accepted, but had a hard time picking a date, so we'll work on that this next time. I love them!

This past week I've been in the first five chapters of the Book of Mormon, paying close attention to the differences between Nephi and his brothers, Laman and Lemuel. It never ceases to amaze me that Laman and Lemuel saw an angel of the Lord, were rebuked by him, and immediately after started murmuring and doubting the Lord's ability to help them do what He had asked. But I've noticed that I've been maybe doing a bit of that here in Penang. "Everything is so hard." So? I know the Lord was aware of the challenges that lay ahead of us when Sister Wilkes and I were put here. He still asked us to try though. So I need to quit my murmuring. Bah always to easy to say.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you!

Sister Norton

HFI

I'm acquiring a taste for durian ...

... as long as it's chased down with pizza.

My neighborhood :)