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Subject: A true West Texas Conversions story done the Tongan way Author: Larry Norton [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 01:12:54 05/29/05 Sun Dear Brothers and Sisters, After reading through many of your posts, I see many of you are members of the church of Jesus christ of Latter day saints, Well the good news is I am too and now I am a very active one thanks to young man from Tonga. You see I live ion small West Texas town, you know the kind where gas is twenty cents too high, and your positive all the motel rooms have cochroachs. Well your probably right on that one. My story started four year ago when my health started to go downhill. It started with a hearnea, and from the lab work I found out I had diabetes. When I went back to work my mangers pulled a suprise review on me my first day back. During the review I had a my first full blown siezer my mangers refused to stop the review and went so far as to take apart my cube and move it to a managers offices away from all the other workers. Latter that afternoon one of the front desk ladies came back and notices that I slumped back into my chair with my eyes rolled back into my head. My managers brought me too all the while given me the seveth degree why I did not inform this had happened. My manager did take me to the hospital and dumped me at the front door of the hospital. I was lucky that my father had worked in the office and several of the other employees new my family and notified them that I was in trouble. my mom was able to get a hold of my uncle and he got me into hospital. I was diganosed with a conversion disorder and then spent the next four years fighting that dignosses as it was the worng dignoses. What I had was the early stages of Parkinsons. All of this made me very angry I was very bitter at god as at the time I was only 35 years old. I spent the next four fighting my health. The lord did bless me during this timme with a wonderfull wife one who supports me and does not murmer. She helped preppare me for the event that would change a gruff ruff old bear back into a saint. The event started simply enough with a new missionary he was a dark complected, dark haired young man who was quick to smile and a laugh that was mighty catching. But best of all he was stead fast and true to all the mission rules a fine example and a true son of heleman.. In our mission a missionary has to spend a certain amount of hours given service to those who need it. With my health we need it... This young man took it upon himself to mow are yard, trim our bushes and on p-day he even taught our dog to play frisbi, but not after I taught him that doggies are for playing not eat'n. The thing which touched me the most and changed my life happed in December I fell ill with a bad leg infection and almost lost my legs and my life. This young Elder gave me a blessing and i testify that I am here today and whole because of that young mans faith. But the most spiritual thing that has sealed my family to his family happened after he went home. I had just gotten out of the hospital I was not out a day when I fell and broke my leg I also dislocated my ankle. I was very week as I had been in the hospital for almost a month with my infection the pain was unbarbable. I did the only thing I could do because I was home alone as my dear wife was at school teaching her third grade class. There I was no one to help and to week to move. So I prayed I prayed liked I never prayed before and a kind heavenly father answed my prayers for I felt unseen hands on my body and they gave me strentgh to inch forward, so inch by aganizing inch I made it from the bedroom across the hall into our other bedroom and to the phone were I could dial 911. When the ambulance came the gurnee was to wide to get into the back bedroom and I was to big for the emt. So I had to lift myself on to the gurnee and once agian I felt those hands giving me strength. Later one night when I was in rehab I dreamed a dream and I learned who it was that had helped me in my hour of need. My young Missionary faher had passed away in 1996 and it was him who had helped me. Brothers and Sistors the scriptures speak of how much joy there will be when we met with our frinds and loved ones on the other side. Mere words can not descibe how true those scriptures are. Needless to say I have made a promise to my young friends father that i will look out for his family in Tonga. I am doing my best but I am discouraged. My wife and I have decieded one way we can help is to help this young man finish his schooling ........I have tried everything in my power to bring this to pass My wife and I have limeted incomes I am on disablity my wife is a school teacher. WE feel it so very important that this young man finish his high school education we realize that things are tough in Tonga that there is very little work but imagine supporting a family with no education. It is like haveing a millstone around his neck. I don't wish to make him dependent on us. I wish to give him the tool by which he can better himself and his family history teaches us that times will chance and that oppurtunties will rise. It is those who have the education who while be able to take full advante of the changes when those changes come. We need help If there is anyone who can help us in this cause please contact me we could advise, funding or just a few words of incouragement. I have written over three hundred emails on balf of this young man. His family in Tongan is in a tough situation his mother is ill and he is supporting four brother and sisters one who is getting ready to go on a mission. What a family, My friends friendship knows no race, it knows no color is simply is and its gods greatest gift to us could we not then band tother in the spirit of frindship and help this family. Thank you Brother Larry Norton A friend and adopted Tongan all our love [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]