Thoughts turn into Actions

Its been an awesome week here in the GAM!!! Carrollton is a fun time!!

Last Pday we played Spikeball on Campus with a bunch of college kids!! We make some good friends on Campus that eventually turn into people being taught!! The Lord is GOOD!! :)

Tuesday we had Zone Conference!! It is always a good time there, got to see a lot of good friends again!! The rest of the day we spent following up with peeps and preparing for our ZLC (Zone Leadership Council) with the District Leaders and STL's in the Zone. 

I guess a big plus was there was a Stop Sign just lying near another stop sign so we were like, "what the heck," and just grabbed it!! It is now hanging on our wall in the study room, we are very proud!!

We did have a dinner with a guy named Gerald who is YSA age and wanted to learn more about the Church. To make a long story short he doesn't have a great past with Church's so when we got to him he just about had it, but decided to give us a chance!! YEET!!

Wednesday we had our ZLC and it went very very well!! Right after we had an exchange with the Hiram 1 Elders in our Area!! We had 5 appointments scheduled in between 1-5pm and 3 of them went through so that was a huge plus! 

Thursday we got to do a ton of finding on Campus at UWG!! It is incredible to see how ready the young peeps are for the Gospel, It is super easy to relate with them!! There are always some that think you are a target and want to bash, but there are also a ton of people that are just sincerely seeking to know the truth!

Friday was flippin awesome!! In the morning we had a guy named Shammah meet with us!! When we went outside and sat down with him he immediately said, "I would like to start off the meeting with asking yall a few questions and saying a prayer." It was at this moment that we knew....he was a basher!! The thing was he wasn't even a good basher, he was a wannabe basher! He had no idea what he was talking about, and when he knew had had lost he would respond with, "I don't agree with that at all." It was pretty funny to watch, but we will probs drop him the next time we see him because the "Field is WHITE already to harvest." 

During the later hours of the day we had a church tour with Gerald, we also brought a recent convert with us named Jake May!! Gerald was really open to the spirit and was pretty stoked on coming to Church on Sunday (which he did, SPOILER ALERT). 

We then had dinner with a guy named John who we have been working with for a while, then we took a nice long drive over to Fayetteville again for exchanges!!

Saturday, like I said, was exchange day with the APES and it was a great day!! We had a lot of success but the best part was going to the Ward Carnival to help set up and all that fun jazz!! All the ward members were like, "WAIT WHAAAT ARE YOU DOING HEEERE!?!" Some even thought I was still in the area since it had only been a week or so since I was in the Area!! It was good to see everyone all at once!! 

Sunday was a Funday as always!! I love Sacrament meeting, it is just really tiring with the 6 hour block instead of 3!! But heck, more blessings coming our way!! The YSA Branch is so much fun too, there are some really good peeps there!! Gerald loved every second of Church, he even said "this was the first time that I have ever felt God's love for me." All the YSA's were really kind and loving towards him, he really felt at home! We will probably invite him to be baptized this week!!! EXCITING STUFF FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!

And that brings us to the now...

Spiritual Thought for the Week

Yesterday in Elders Quorum we had a great discussion about Ministering, and some asked the question, How do you know if you are fulfilling your ministering duty? I got thinking about the scripture in Mosiah about watching our "Thoughts, Words and Deeds." It occurred to me that we always talk about how 'bad thoughts will turn into bad actions' but we never look at it in the opposite way! When we have good thoughts and intentions for those we minister to (whether as a missionary or as a member missionary) we will be able to receive Revelation to know the correct actions to best help them in challenges that they face. We also must rely on the Lord and "Always Remember Him" that we may have the Holy Ghost as our Constant Companion!! 

Don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense but I'm finna send it off anyway :)

Love yall

Elder Northrup

"On the Road Again"

Elder Burton, the man!

Well, I am being transferred so that should be a good time!! Usually you find out on Wednesday at Transfer meeting where you will be going and all that, but Pres. Clayton just took us into a room and told us this time. I will be serving as a Zone Leader in Carrollton, still stressing but super excited to serve at the same time!!

Last Monday we went to the Aquarium and that's why I didn't really say anything on the mass email...

Tuesday we had an awesome District Counsel, I am sad to be leaving such a great District! I love all the missionaries so much, its been a fast transfer for sure!!

We actually had exchanges the same day with the Zone Leaders so that was a full decent time!! I went with the always funny Elder Boyer and we had a great time!! The same night the Priests had an activity to go out on splits with us so we had some fun with them as well!! 

Wednesday we moved another family out, and it basically took all day but we felt good after it all!! We had a lesson at Jason's house again, we are meeting with him way more frequently now!! We talked for a little bit about Baptism, and he said that he would be baptized when he felt it was right! He truly understands that baptism is a promise to God, so I am very proud of the steps that he is taking!!

Thursday I had the best exchange ever with the TT Elder Burton!! He was so fun to serve with!! We did a ton of finding and taught a lot of unplanned lessons!! It was so good to have someone that was super enthusiastic about working and having fun with it as well!! TheLord truly blessed us with many people that day!! Hopefully there will be much progression in the future!! :)

Homemade Pizza with the Lesters

Friday we had a great dinner with the Lesters, then had another incredible lesson with Jason! Bro. Lester came with us and bore powerful testimony of the Gospel (being a convert in the past), it was so sweet!!

Saturday was one of the greatest days of the mission!! Ella St. Onge, someone that the Apes and us have been working with in a part member family got Baptized! For a very long time their dad, Barry just didn't want anything to do with the Church but he finally opened up!! In Fact, Ella's little brother will be getting baptized in September and Barry even talked about being baptized as well!! It was a happy time for their family, that is for sure!! 

Ella St. Onge who go Ba

Sister St. Onge, Ella, Chris and me

Steve, Bernadette & Dominic Chafardon (card shop Steve)

The Apes told me I was being transferred earlier than usual, so we went out to dinner with Card Shop Steve and his family!! It was really sad to say goodbye to all of them but I got a pic and I will never forget them!!

As we were riding back home from the dinner, I was having mixed feelings!! Excitement for a change, but also such a love for the Fayetteville area and Ward. I learned so much and I will miss this place a lot!!

Elder Rankin, Tina, Gloria, Jason, Sister and Elder Lloyd and yours truly

Sunday was great as always!! Jason, Tina and Gloria came again!! They enjoyed the service and made a lot of new friends!! I am going to miss them tons as well when its time to depart!! I am definitely going to their baptisms though, what an exciting time to be a missionary for the true Church of Jesus Christ Restored on the Earth!! It is a privilege as always!!

Farewell my friends, I go onto a better place :)

Elder Northrup

Pics below of Member of the Fayetteville Ward...

The Allred Clan

Bishop Stanton and his family & Heber

Brother Aquirre

The Waldorf Clan - Sister Waldorf, Sophia, Samantha, Kaylee, Emma and Tilman is next to me.

Keillor, Elder N, Brother Hullinger + little sneakyWaldorf

Falcon Stadium and Aquarium

Another "Sunday Smiles" pic from Sister Lester!

Sorry for the late email and for not being able to email many of you back personally. We have been busy today and we are going back to it in a bit...

Last Pday we had an awesome time doing a tour through the Falcons Stadium with the Conyers zone. I actually had one of my most spiritual and enlightening experiences while we were there. We were all standing around talking, looking at the field when I saw a security guard just a couple paces away. I don't even remember making the mental decision to go talk to him, it just happened. He had a "vote Jesus" pin on his hat and I was commenting on it. Within a few minutes I starting talking to him about what we do as missionaries, and explained the Book of Mormon. He was stoked on it and said that he was trying to find a church since he moved from New York. I gave him a hug, got his phone number, and said I would talk to him soon. His name is Dwayne Jones, please pray for the good man! What I learned from that was the Lord can work through anyone to bring about his work and his glory, even someone weak and simple as me. I don't remember much of what was said, but I do remember the spirit that was felt :) The church is straight true!!

Tuesday we had a great District Council with a full 15 people there (usually we have maybe 8-10). There was an extra pair of ZL's, a senior couple, and a priest from our ward. 

We took the priest out for a grand day of missionary work and then he took us to the Temple to do baptisms with one of Elder Rankin's recent converts. Good time!

Wednesday we moved a family out so that took pretty much the entire day. When night came around we went and followed up with peeps, all of which weren't home. Instead we got talking to the grandparents of one of our investigators for quite a while! Good time!

Thursday night was cool! We were following up with some potentials and we hit up a guy named Wyatt Martin. He opened the door and stepped out with a big smile on his face as he greeted us. He said that enjoyed talking to Elders in the past and that he would like us back to talk with him and his fam. Good time!

I am just going to have to skip to Sunday because i have just a few minutes to tell thus experience. 

After Church we had dinner and when we got home we got a call from the sisters saying they would like a blessing. S. Bekmezian was having a serious migraine so we got a ride with a member and met them at the Church. Before I go on I need to say that I have been wanting to gain a greater testimony of the priesthood. I gave the blessing and all was well. That night while I was taking reports from the Sisters they said that I had talked about the Brother of Jared in the blessing to her. That was something that she had been studying before, and that it was a perfect blessing of comfort to her as well! I told them that I had wanted a gain a greater testimony if the priesthood, it was definitely an answer to a prayer in my heart!! GOD IS SO GOOD, He knows what each of is need at every moment of our lives. What a loving Heavenly Father we have that looks over us and cares about the things we care about!! 

Anyway, I have 2 minutes to send this! Love y'all a ton!!

Elder Northrup