Grateful

Before I get into the week, I just want to say how grateful I am for my family and friends. I have thought a lot about yall the past week!! Getting into the holiday season brings back memories of Thanksgiving with the Fam and relatives. Chillin out with friends on the weekends. And most importantly watching Star Wars Rogue One last year. HAHA! I am grateful for all yall, but I am most grateful to be a missionary our Master Jesus Christ. This last week I have thought a lot about being a missionary, and how this is the only time that I get to be a 'all in' missionary. I get to spend the next 2 years only thinking about others, something that I will never get to experience again. I also have the next 2 years to be working the hardest ever. And I am grateful for that!!

Usually I bring my journal to the library every week because there is no way I can possibly remember everything that has happened with my memory...but I forgot it. So I guess we will see how this goes!

On Tuesday (I think) we decided to go around raking peoples yard instead of trying to just preach to them. So we got rakes and went right to work. Unfortunately the neighborhood that we chose wasn't the best one for this type of service. Everyone paid somebody to do their lawn care so they just kinda brushed us off. 

It was funny. We knocked on this one door and a man answered. Elder Lusko asked him how he was doing and he said, "I was doing good until I saw you guys." At first we thought he was joking until we saw that his face didn't move. So I kinda just said "well we would love to fix that for you by raking up your leaves." He just smiled and said he had someone that would do it for him. It is so funny with people sometimes, you never can tell what type of reaction you'll get knocking on a door. After walking away I was just laughing but when I looked at Elder Lusko he was just stunned. HAHA he can take things pretty personally some times!!! HAHA

On Thursday we had interviews with Pres. again, which was super weird. It has already been another transfer. Time just doesn't make sense....

I think the most important thing that happened this week was the test of faith that was given to us from our Father in Heaven. So usually it's pretty dangerous to be knocking on doors late at night anyway (sorry mom) but now that it is getting darker earlier, it makes it much much worse. 

So on Thursday we went tracting down a kinda crumby neighborhood at about 7, except it is pitch black outside. And within 30 minutes we found 4 new potential investigators. This was one of the most incredible things that had ever happened. Then the next day we did the same thing and we found 4 more within about an hour. Now to whoever doesn't think that is impressive, let me tell you that the Lord literally provided that for us. I have absolutely no doubt about that! 

Probably the funniest thing that happens when you knock doors at night is when the person opens the door and is relieved because they thought it was some creeper dude. Then you can always hear them put down whatever firearm they had in their hands on the nearest table. HAHA! I always think that is so funny!! 

We got a text from Steven Pollock last week which was great. He kinda went off the grid for almost two week so we didn't know what happened to him. It turns out that he had to go to the Hospital. If all yall could pray for him that would be splendid. 

We are still teaching Taosai and Elijah. They are progressing a ton, and I am so excited for them. So yesterday, Ron their dad, came to church. He is actually against the church and considers himself a non-member but he was there. One of our fellow-shippers was talking to him, and he told us that it seems like Ron wants to come back to church but feels like he would be judged if he actually did so. Please pray for him! 

 

So earlier this week we had heard the there was a Buddhist/Hindu temple super close to our apartment. We obviously had no idea because the tree's here block everything. So on Saturday we had a bunch of appointments fall through, but there wasn't enough time to do anything else (besides tracting which we did for a few hours) so we just took a little trip down to the Buddhist Temple thingy. When we found it we got out of the car and stood in front of it taking pictures. In the visitors building a little tiny asian man came out and started to stare for a full ten seconds. Sooo, we stared back. He then went inside, we heard him mutter some chinese, then we were surrounded by a bunch of asians. I guess they got excited to see two white boy Mormon missionaries standing in front of their temple. Maybe they felt it was their duty to convert us. One of the monks was just standing on the deck smirking at us. He must've though, "HAHA I got em'." LOL try again sometime!!! 

 We were actually able to go inside without paying an offering to the Buddha, which was nice. There was a lot of stuff in the one room so I asked the asian man what it all meant, but he couldn't really explain it. He said, "It's just really confusing, I can't explain it. You know what you need to do is look up a youtube video about it because it is too confusing for me to explain." HAHA! Talk about a blind faith/culture. When I asked him about these mini flag pole things he said that they were for the prayers to Budha. He said, "since you two didn't pay and offering to the Buddha, you can pray to him and that will be your offering." Ya, we got out of there as quickly as we could. I wasn't about to worship an idol. 

There is also a 7 headed dragon out in front of the Temple and when I asked about it he said that it protects the monk. And if any of you are familiar with Revelations, you know that the 7 headed dragon is Satan. So I guess good ol' lucy is in control of that place. AH well, I respect the culture and it was interesting, even though there was a bit of a weird feeling within. 

Another great thing that happened was we went to the Shaffers for dinner again...the master chef. He made us 30 somethin' dollar steaks and it was the most beautiful thing my mortal eyes have ever behold. I actually took a picture of it before my mouth began the massacre of a lifetime. 

 Anyway, that was my week. 

Scripture:

Alma 48:

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

Let us be like unto Moroni. He is the man!! Amen!

Love yall!! Have a great Thanksgiving!! 

Elder Northrup