THE NEW ME

Last Pday was an interesting one to say the least!! After we got done emailing we found out that Elder Frandsen had an infection in his mouth from the Surgery he had the week previous. He thought that Anti-Biotics were sort of an optional thing so he never mentioned picking them up. We found out real quick that he needed to get some asap before things actually got serious. So ya, that's basically what we did.

That night we had a lesson with Jason (Chinese Guy) and we brought brother Pugmire along so he could communicate with him. It was actually really really awesome! We mostly just got to know him for a bit, then we taught about the Book of Mormon and part of the Restoration. Over and over again he mentioned that he wanted to have better english, so at the end of the lesson we promised him that if he read the Book of Mormon in english as well as chinese, his own english would improve. He thought that was pretty cool. We are going back over tonight, please keep him in your prayers!

Wednesday we had Temple Zone Conference! I got to see a lot of my old bud's from my last area so that was a tender mercy. But the best thing of course was the Endowment Session. I was so grateful to be in that sacred House again, it is my favorite place to be by far!! The best part was being able to walk into the Celestial room and seeing missionaries lining the walls with Pres. and Sister Foote greeting everyone!! Just so y'all know, I have the best Mission President and wife in the history of Ever. They care so deeply for everyone, I was so blessed to have them in my life for this short time. 

That night we were following up with some potentials in a Trailer Park when we saw some kids playing bball. We decided to go play with them and they trashed us. But at the end we gave out two Book of Mormons so that was a success!

So, super cool miracle that happened this week! Some Elders in Peachtree City called us and told us that they found someone that wanted to hear the Gospel that lived here in Fayetteville! We contacted him and it turned out that he had talked to the missionaries once before and was now reading the Book of Mormon intensely. Elder Frandsen and I taught bible study on Thursday about Acts 13-15 and that was a blast. The spirit was felt so strong and at the end Antonio bore his testimony about what he felt. MIRACLES!!

On Friday he called us later in the night time and thanked us for everything. He said that the night he got home from bible study he was talking to his dad and his friends and they all said he 'looked different.' He of course said he felt different after going to bible study, so now all of his friends want to come to bible study!! Like whaaaat?? His dad who has had Kidney Cancer for years, started to read the Book of Mormon and then the next day there was no sign of any form of Cancer in his Kidney's. He was freaked out about it but he wants to learn more as well. Overall, this was all a miracle from the Lord's hand, please pray for Antonio and his friends and dad!!

Yesterday I was supposed to give a talk in Sacrament meeting but the Bishopric forgot to assign a youth speaker so another kid took my spot instead. 

After church me and Elder Ashcraft went on a mini exchange and taught a family in a members home. Well, we mostly just sat and a little message but the fam does actually want the lessons. SO SO COOL!

Now to the Title. I realized this week that I am a pretty prideful person. I didn't need any sort of trial or hardship to tell me that (this time), but I have done a lot of inward reflection instead. I know how important it is to be humble, but sometimes I get caught up in myself. 

I was listening to a talk about Humility and one of the things that stuck out to me was when he said, "humility is keeping in mind your constant need/dependence for God." That sounds like a simple statement but it impacted me deeply. 

I realized that when we had a great lesson, or talked to someone successfully on the street, or whatever I would always tell myself good job!! You are a great missionary!! You did it all yourself. But now I know how much more powerful it is to give the Glory to God. I've noticed that as I have done so the spirit has been able to work through me to the point where my own words aren't coming out of my mouth!! That has been a really cool realization!!

I pray that I can all show my dependence for God through constant and meaningful prayer. What a blessing it is to make the necessary U-turn back to God!!

Love y'all!! Happy Spring, especially for all y'all Utahns!!

Elder Northrup

The Spirit of Discernment:

Whelp, Last pday was super weird! We all decided (The AP's and us) that we just wanted to have a rest day and take a nap, but that didn't end up happening. Our van tire blew out so we had to get that fixed, then we ate at an overpriced pizza joint where our waitress was trying to flirt with us, so that was interesting! By the time we got back to our apartment it was already 5PM so we got to have a 30 minute nap! Better than nothing I guess!! HAHA

On Tuesday the AP's and all the Zone Leaders got to go hike Kenesaw Mountain for MLC, so we got the van. HIP HIP HORRAH!! 

Thursday we went on Exchanges with the TT's again!! It was such a good time!! We were able to find a few people to have lessons with later!! The worst part of it was when we were following up with peep's in the Area Book I was trying to find the house number while I was biking and something not so good happened! You see, there was this mailbox that was poking out farther than all the other mailboxes, so I uh!! I tried to swerve out of the way but as I did so I also squeezed the brakes and fell on the frame of my bike, where the sun don't shine if ya know what I mean!! I had to take a few minutes after that experience.....THE MORAL OF THE STORY ISSSSSS!! Don't build your mailbox 10 ft from the curb!! HAHA just kidding, probably don't ride/drive and be on the phone too I guess!

That night we had dinner with the Okonkwo's! He actually invited his best friend from Lehi Utah to come have dinner as well! I didn't know the guy personally, but we had mutual friends so that was pretty cool!!

Friday, Elder Frandsen was having some pretty bad teeth problems all week so we went to a Dentist from our ward to see what was up! It turns out that he had a Root Canal so I got the privilege of watching him on laughing gas for almost 5 hours. So that was a good time!!

Saturday, Elder Frandsen was still having teeth problems so we did a three way exchange with the AP's, Twin Oaks ZL's and me!! It was actually a really good time!!

In the Afternoon I went with Elder Wagoner to the only ghetto in all of Fayetteville to followup with some potentials and we had a lot of success out of it! We taught the Resto for the first time (in Fayetteville) on the doorstep. That felt good!

Elder Wagoner

Wagoner Street

 Later that night I went with his comp Elder Finnley! We taught a lesson to a recent potential and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever been in!! It was incredible!! We started out just trying to get to know him and as we did so the Spirit let us know what we needed to talk about. We for some reason started to just talk about Modern Day Prophets and kinda skipped everything else. He expressed his desire at the end to learn for himself if there were truly modern day prophets. That was pretty cool to use the spirit to discern Isaiah's thoughts to teach to his needs!! Being a missionary is awesome!

We also went to dinner at the Nelson's house and it was literally the best dinner I have ever had on my mission!! We had crab, shrimp, crawfish, and Alligator!! It was so flippin awesome!!! After that Brother Nelson let us see he Porshe and we got to rev up the engine and all that!! So Cool soo cool!!

Sunday I had a bit of a spiritual awakening if you will! I have been studying Ministering ever since the last General Conference and while I was doing so I realized something so crucial!

Jesus Christ, the Minister of everyone still took the time to listen, even though there are many times that the scriptures say He "knew the thoughts of others." That alone shows me how important listening truly is, and not just with our ears but with our very soul! 

There is a quote from Elder Holland in PMG that says, “More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects disguised as a baptismal statistic. They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more. … If we listen with love, we won’t need to wonder what to say. It will be given to us—by the Spirit and by our friends”  

I personally felt the spirit witness to me the importance of ministering to our friends! I feel the importance of making these things known to the inhabitants of the Earth, and I hope all yall have the same desire! One of my favorite quotes from my mission president is "If you live the Gospel, if you love the Gospel, you WILL share the Gospel."

Love yall!! Go back and listen to Conference! So many Gems in those talks!

Elder Northrup

ACTING

Coolio!! I am a little late on the whole emailing thing so this will maybe probably hopefully be short...

Last Pday we was chilling in Chick-Fil-a trying to plan out the rest of our day when we got smacked down by a bible basher for 2.5 hours. I am not going to go into too many details, all I'm gonna say is it was not fun at all. In the end he felt like a jerk so he gave us $200 in Chick-fil-a free food cards. That was pretty weird but I'm not bout to complain.

Tuesday we went to the most ghetto part of Fayetteville (not very big) to follow up with some potentials. When we were about to leave I got the distinct impression to tract this small street of houses. So we did, then we ran into a guy named Bo and his wife. We got talking about the Gospel for a straight hour. They had some really good questions including, "Where are the Books of Moses?" I was all like, whoa whoa whoa, we gots the answer right here. There were many more questions like this one, it was cool to be able to answer their questions and then give them a Book of Mormon. They are moving to Jonesboro here in a bit so we will refer them over to those Elders!!

Allergies are hitting hard!! I was pounded this week with sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and runny noses. The Pollen here is absolutely incredible, I've never seen it completely coat cars before. Anyway, I will send a picture of me cuz it is pretty funny!!

Friday we tracted a trailer park and found like 8 potentials. It was awesome, felt like the good ol times in Snellville/Centerville. One of which was a guy named Jason, he is from China. He came to Georgia about a year ago, and he actually speaks really good english. Anyway, we were able to get a mandarin Chinese Book of Mormon to him and his wife and we will be teaching him this upcoming Sunday!! I don't know why but I really really really really really really really hope this guy and his family gets into this Gospel. I feel so much love for them for some reason and I've only met them twice. But on top of that I feel there is a special connection with my good ol' cousin Grayson Thayne in Taiwan. I know why he loves those people so much!!

Saturday we finally got to do service again. We haven't had a lot of opportunities to serve here so being able to help others all day long was a dream come true!!

Sunday was fantastic!! In the morning a tree fell down on the road leading to the church building so one of the Members asked us Elders to come move it. I honestly don't know how we were able to do that, but we did. A lot of non-members saw us and thanked us for it. Hopefully they will open their doors to us in the future, ahha!!

In Priesthood meeting our Elders Quorum President gave a lesson on Ministering and it was jam packed with the spirit!! I love the idea of ministering so much, It was definitely inspired and needed for our day and our time!!

I have a testimony on acting on impressions from the Spirit. I know how important it is to listen and act on those promptings because then the Lord trusts us more with more inspiration and more revelation. It is quite incredible!! The gifts of the Spirit are seeeick!!

Love yall!! Have a happy Spring for all yall Utahn's going through the dead of Winter!! Har Har Har!!

Elder Northrup

^^SEEDS PLANTED^^SEEDS GROWN^^

Pretty dang goodly week!! The only lame things was the weather was being bipolar. One day this week it got upwards of 90 degree's, then the next day it was in the 40's. So lame, but other than that!!

Pday, we played ultimatum frisbay so that was a great time!! It was so hot, and I really felt the extra 25+ lbs that I gained since I've been out!! WHOOHOO!!

Tuesday was HOT HOT HOT!!! That's pretty much all I can say about that!!

Wednesday was arsome!! We wont to the one and only trailer park in the Fayetteville Area and found 5 potentials and followed up with an investigators who we are having a lesson with today!! 

Later that night we asked Terry if she would read Alma 32 with different commitments and things in mind. We found out later on that she had been reading with a member that lives in North/South Carolina!! President Foote has asked us just in the last few weeks to have members read with investigators and she was doing it on her own over skype!! That was cool!!

On Thursday Terry came to our Ward's bible study class!! It was awesome to see the Members reach out to her so easily!! She also talked about how she didn't feel the spirit when she was baptized, and she said she wanted the gift of the Holy Ghost!! She also also said she felt like the 'Mormons' were persecuted the same way that Jesus Christ was while he was here on Earth!! That was a "Whaaaat?" moment for me!! 

Saturday there was a baptism for a ysa named Melanie!! The spirit was very strong there and I always get pumped up just attending!!

Sunday was muy muy!! It was the 2nd time that I had a real sacrament meeting in the Fayetteville area because of all the Conferences that have been going on in the Stake!!

I got a message late last night from Jody Lee (the guy I was teaching that had all the trials in Centerville) saying 'Thank you for everything, my Baptism was wonderful!' I had mixed emotions because I was super happy he was baptized, but flippin Elder Braun didn't tell me anything!! I asked him last week, "how is Jody doing?" And the only response was, "He's doing good!!" There was no, "Oh ya he is getting baptized this Sunday" or anything, just totally silent about the whole thing. I called him up with the AP's permission and chastised him for not telling me!! What the actual poop!!!!!!

Anyway, I am still kinda salty from all of that but what'evs!! 

On a more spiritual note!!

It is an incredible feeling having the opportunity in this life to see how the seeds you've planted have blossomed and grown. Not everybody gets to look back and see that in their missions, so I am grateful that through it all, all the struggles and the joyous moments over these last 8 months, it was all leading to this moment. I am grateful that this is truly "my finest hour." (Wynston Churchill/Talmage Thayne)

Love yall!! Happy Spring!!

THE SPIRIT FEELS "SEHR GUT"

I can't describe the Spiritual Impressions the Holy Ghost has left on my heart just in the last week!! 

Last Pday we had a great time as always playing some Scatter ball and all that kinda jazz! Later that night we had the most incredible miracle that I have ever been a part of on my mission so far!! 

The Sisters in our District needed some help transferring their paper Area Book Records into the Online Records so we decided to do that when it got really dark. The first and only person we called was a lady named Terri!! Right when I said we were the LDS Missionaries she got super excited that we were calling! She went on to say that she had been thinking about us a lot over the last week or so (the last time she was taught was almost 2 years ago) and she knew that it was inspired of us from God to call her at that time. Her husband has basically been on his deathbed for weeks now so out of what she thought was her sheer conscience (the spirit) she decided to pick up the Book of Mormon and read it to her husband. She had the most overwhelming spirit come to her to witness that it was true. She also said that she always saw a light in the faces of every Mormon that she had ever met, that she knew it was because the church was true. I began to bear testimony that I knew we needed to call her for a reason and it was because she was prepared to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ into her life. She also said she knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter~Day Saints was the only true church on the earth and Jesus Christ was at the head of it!! I have never witnessed a miracle like this before. It impacted my whole frame and I even felt a glowing sensation as I listened to her bare testimony!! I am so grateful for that experience!! I pray that the will of God is aligned with her own, that she may come into the one true fold of Him who created us! Please Pray for Terri and her husband!!

On Wednesday we had a morning comp study with a bunch of missionaries in the Zone at the Mission Home with Pres. Foote!! We had a powerful meeting as we each bore testimony about the reality and power of Jesus Christ's infinite Atonement!! 

Later that night we teamed up with Pres. Foote to visit some less actives and progressing investigators!! It was a powerful and humbling time being with my mission president!! I heard the power in his words and also felt the love that he had for everyone that he met with!! One of our progressing investigators named Gregory doesn't speak much English, but speaks French fluently so because Pres. Foote went on his mission to France they were able to chat for a while!! It was pretty cool!!

Thursday we had Exchanges with the TT's in our zone!! It was probably one of my top days in the mission!! I felt spiritually and physically drained but I was so joyous by the end!! We had so much fun and worked so hard at the same time!! It was a great exchange!!

Saturday and Sunday was Legit!!!

We went over to the Meier's house to watch the first and second session of Conference because we were expecting Terri to come as well!! But she couldn't find anyone to watch her husband while she was away but she did watch it later that night!!

To me the most spiritual filled part of conference was at the beginning with the Solemn Assembly!! It was powerful to stand up, to sustain Pres. Nelson as the Prophet of the Church here in these latter days!! I began to weep knowing that the Lord is truly Hastening his work!! I am so grateful to be a part of it here on the front-lines!!

I was going to write down some of my favorite quotes from Conference but I left the notes at home!! My favorite talk by far was Elder Bednar's on Meekness!! Y'all could probably guess that already, he is the man!! I didn't even write one note from his talk because I was so into it!! But maybe next week I will be able to look at the talk and pick out bits and pieces!!

Love yall!!

Elder Northrup