June 22nd through June 28th

 June 22^nd through June 28^th: Ok, some of you may have already realized that we held back some of the things that were happening to us.  We apologize for not sharing in real time the amazing events of the last 6 weeks.  For example, over a month ago, President Atkinson mentioned that he would like me to train Elder Ray (one of the other missionaries here) to do the things that I am doing, so that when I left there would be someone here to cover all the bases for the new temple president.  That got mom and I thinking that there might be a possibility for us to serve another mission in Tijuana.  The Tijuana temple will be dedicated in Dec. of this year and we thought it would be really fun to help set up and get a new temple running.  So we asked President Atkinson how he would feel about releasing us early, in order for us to be able to spend a few months at home before we left for a new mission in Tijuana.  He agreed that it would be exciting to be part of a new temple opening and agreed to let us leave on the 14^th of August, if we had a new call to go to Tijuana.  So we called our Bishop in Bountiful and asked him to get a new set of missionary papers going.  We hurried and got our physical and dental exams done and we got our papers submitted to him in just over a week. We had a telephone interview with him and the stake president and the papers got submitted on the 29^th of May.  Monday, June 8^th, after we had finished dinner and a movie with the Rays and the Roesberrys, I sat down at the computer and saw this email. 

Dear Brother and Sister Norman,

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf would like to have a confidential video conference with the two of you.  He could be available tomorrow (Tuesday, June 9) at approximately 11:00 am Salt Lake time.  I don’t know whether you are assigned to be in the temple at that time.  Would you please respond to this email or call our office at 801-240-???? so we can arrange an appointment?  Either Jennifer Southern or I could speak with you.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Also, please confirm your mobile and cell phone numbers.  I was not able to leave a message at either number that was given to us.

We were in complete shock.  We could not believe what we were 

reading and we were trying to figure out what it could mean.  We went to talk to President Atkinson and asked him for permission to miss presidency meeting the next day. So Tuesday morning, we called his secretary and she said that it was all set up and that one of the technicians from the church would contact us to set up a secure link.  We had a 20 minute interview with President Uchtdorf and he extended to us the call to serve as the President and Matron of the Guatemala City, Guatemala Temple.  

                           Guatemala City Temple

He said some very nice things about us, indicating that we are loved by the Savior and that He knows us.  We, of course, accepted.  He counseled us to not tell anyone until it was published in the Church News. We feel humbled and honored to have received this incredible assignment.  We have decided to come home on the 21^th of July, in time to celebrate the 24^th with our children and grandchildren.  It will be a great time to share this wonderful blessing that has come to our family and to prepare to leave for 3 years on Oct. 31^st. Monday, June 22^nd,  We went over to the temple in the morning and helped with a session.  The members from the Amapolas ward that came to clean the temple had requested a session before they started cleaning. After we got done at the temple, we went out to San Bartolo Coyotepec to buy a few last pieces of black clay pottery.  We had a nice time and we had lunch there in San Bartolo with the Rays, Roesberrys, and the Penas.  We have been going crazy not being able to tell anyone about our new assignment.  We did get all of our information in to the temple department, so we think the announcement will be this coming Saturday. 

Monday's group of shoppers.

Mom bought a nativity from this shop.

The man that made the nativity.  At least he said he made them.

President Pena parked right in front of a no parking sign.  Everything is just a suggestion here.

Lunch at the Barro Negro restaurant. 

Shopping and lunch finished, we are headed home.

Tuesday we did not have presidency meeting so we had lunch together.

Lunch Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday after the morning shift we went with Laura and Luis Perez and their two children to a birthday party for the husband of one of Laura’s nieces.  It was in a small town just north of Tule.  We were there for a few hours.  It was interesting.  I think the pictures will give you a flavor of the afternoon.  

Some of the extended family cooking for the birthday party guests.  They probably made 100 empanadas.

More work on the empanadas.

They had all the chickens and turkeys penned up for the party.

The goats were very noisy.

Mom and Laura

L to R Mom, Juan (the birthday boy),  Guadalupe (his wife), Laura, Lucero, (Laura and Luis' daughter) and Luis.

The church in this small town.  Juan and Guadalupe got married in this church.

Thursday we had 2 buses. Friday we had 6 buses, all from the same stake, Tezontepec.  We had a very busy day.  Saturday This was the announcement that was published in the Church News.

John Badger Norman, 63, Bountiful 16th Ward, Bountiful Utah Heights Stake, called as president of the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, succeeding President William A. Burk. President Norman’s wife, Christine Cornwall Norman, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Patricia S. Burk. He serves as a volunteer assistant recorder and sealer in the Oaxaca Mexico Temple and as a senior couple missionary. He has served as second counselor in the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple presidency, bishop, branch president, high councilor and temple ordinance worker. A retired businessman, he was born in Murray, Utah, to Edgar Carl and Elizabeth Badger Norman.

Sister Norman serves with her husband as a senior couple missionary at the Oaxaca Mexico Temple. She has served as assistant to the matron of the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, Sunday School teacher and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Salt Lake City to Glenn Hill and Shirley Westover Cornwall.

We immediately sent emails to our children and siblings and we are excited to share this on the blog.  We had a busy day with 10 buses, 8 arriving before 7am and 2 at noon.  It was another morning of me playing temple tetras, meaning that I spent the morning figuring out how to get everyone in the temple.  There was a great Spirit in the temple.  I received a phone call about noon from one of the counselors in the stake presidency from Tezontepec, the stake that had been at the temple on Friday.  He indicated that one of their buses had been in an accident on the way home during the night and that many of those on the bus had to be taken to the hospital, but that only 6 remained in the hospital.  He wanted me to put the names of those injured on the prayer roll.  I felt honored to take their names down and then copy them onto the prayer roll.  It is the first time we have had an accident with anyone coming to the temple.  We were all saddened by this news. In the evening, we were able to speak to the current temple president in Guatemala. It was so good to finally speak with him and he answered so many of our questions.  We will be living in a 5 bedroom house.  So anyone who wants to visit, we will have room to put you up.  

This is Omar and Sarai.  I played cupid and got them together.  She is one or our secretaries and he is a temple worker, both returned missionaries.

Sunday we spoke in the Fortin ward.  Mom did a great job.  She spoke for 20 minutes without notes.  We then also taught the 3^rd hour of classes.  We felt good about our talks and the class.  It was good practice for Guatemala.  Our kids have been great and very supportive.  By the time we get home from Guatemala in November of 2018 we will have missed 8 out of 9 Christmases. They have sacrificed a great deal in order for us to be able to serve.  Thanks kids and grandkids.  We love you so much and can’t wait to be with you in 3 weeks.