Another Year Come and Gone

Members love us.... I guess

Well, its New Years Eve. So that's pretty sweet I guess!! Every week these emails get harder and harder to write. I feel like every letter I write is the same so if yall see that as well, throw down on me and tell me to change things up a bit!!

It was a good time talking to the fam on Tuesday! Besides that we weren't able to do a whole lot....we sent out some texts to our most bestest members in the ward and to the people that we have been working with!! YAY!!!

Family Photo 2018

To some more interesting news, Elder Statham broke his face biking this week! He ran into a trash can because he was looking at his phone and flipped off the side of his bike. Don't text and ride chillens!! We didn't think it was very serious until that night when he upchucked and got told by the mission nurse to go to the ER!! WHOOHOO, 1am Emergency Room parties for the Win!!! He had a minor concussion and has been staying inside to recover for the last 3 or 4 days!! 

Emergency Room at 12AM

So, the other Elders and I have been taking 'shifts' so to speak for the last few days. Its been interesting proselyting for a few hours, then going back to the apt to switch and doing a few more hours just to switch again! But its also been super fun at the same time!! Its been super hard to find people to teach but there have been a few nice people that we have met, so no complaints there!! 

Elder Ford

Northrup and Isaksen with a statue of Christ just off the highway

Georgia Life in December

I like this quote by President Eyring (I will attach the picture). I am grateful to know that all of the experiences that we have in life, good and bad, will be for our benefit and will eventually lead us to "higher ground" when we follow the path that the Savior has layed before us!! 

I love yall, 

HAPPY 2019!!!!!!!!

Elder Northrup

It's the Holiday Season

The District at the Ward Christmas Party

Stratham, Mason and me

LOL

Holidays can be the best and the worst for a missionary. It is so fun to spread the Joy of Christmas, but at the same time not many people actually care enough to listen. It was a harder week because of the many hours tracting and not finding a whole lot of success. 

But overall its been a fun time here in the GAM!! I am excited to get back to teaching lots of people in the coming weeks, it will just have to take some patience on my part for now! 

I will tell one story that happened this week because it was so darn hilarious. We took Mason out to a lesson with a lady named Ellen. On the way back we saw this bro in the middle of the road wave his hand every which way, so we slowed down and put the truck in park about 50 ft in front of him. Mason rolled down the windows and asked if he needed help and before we knew what was happening the bro ran and leaped into the back of his Ford Ranger, and told us to drive to a gas station. While we were driving there we drove past a group of other dudes walking on the side of the rode, and while passing them he yelled out something them waving his arms in the air. They yelled back "what the heck are you doing?" When we arrived at the BP the dude jumped out with no reaction on his face...he was probably hammered. Not really sure what happened there, it wasn't the craziest thing ever but it was just funny...I got a pic of the dude as well

The story of the bro jumping into the back of the truck

So instead of giving a weekly update because everyday was pretty much the same, I will tell yall what I am thankful for from my mission!! WHOOO!

I am thankful for Gospel that changes lives. I am grateful for Recent Converts and their Drive to share the Gospel with EVERYONE!! I am Grateful for the countless Prayers and loving support from my Family back home and friends spread throughout the World! I am grateful for the influence of the Holy Ghost, the direction that it gives to find those that are prepared to receive the Gospel. I am grateful for Modern Day Prophets and Temples; both of which will help us endure to the end as we listen and follow the counsel given. I have a lot that I am thankful for, most importantly being Jesus Christs humble birth in a lowly manger. What an example he is to each of us as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords spending his first earthly moments in a dark and damp cave. I have reflected much on the meekness of Jesus the Christ, I hope we all will not only during this Christmas season but throughout the next year!!

love yall, Merry Christmas!!

Elder Northrup

The House of the Lord

Well Brethren and Sisteren!! It's been quite the week here in the GAM!! It feels like just yesterday I was emailing all yall and here we are!! Craziness!!

Last Pday was pretty chill!! We just played good ol' Monopoly because it was cold outside. Yay!

Tuesday was 'THE BEST DAY EVER!!' It was our Temple Zone Conference day!! I really wanted to focus on the spirit that I would feel because it was going to be the last time I would go until I get home from my Mission. Most likely at least!! It was probably the most spirit filled session I've ever been in, besides the first time that I went through! I have a more abiding testimony of the Plan of Salvation and a deeper appreciation for Jesus Christ!! That being said, I also have a whole lot more questions than before, but I know that I felt the witness of the spirit as I pondered Moroni's promise in my heart throughout the session. When I got done with the session I went to go change when a Temple worker asked if we were able to do Sealings as Missionaries. Elder Statham and I were able to participate in the sealing of sons to their parents for 40 different people. The Sister that brought the names to the Temple said that she has brought those same names to the Temple for many months now, but there were never enough brethren to participate in time. She was so thankful that we were there to help her with those Ordinances. It was quite special for myself as well, it was the first time that I have participated in Proxy Sealings, the Lord has promised us countless blessings. I know that the Temple is the Lord's House, what a blessing to have more than 160 spread across the Globe!

Anyway, off that vent. 

Overall, this week has been pretty slow because Campus was closing down for the Christmas break!! It has been so fun being around younger people and seeing the love that they have for the Gospel...but I guess I can wait a few weeks and have a greater focus on finding families anyway!! We met with Mason and Catrina a couple times! The first time was on Wednesday, Elder Isaksen and I were back together for an exchange actually! It was good to have the OG's back in town for the day! While we were meeting with them, Catrina started saying stuff like, "I don't know about this ____ at my baptism." We didn't want to push her just yet so we met with her again the following Thursday and invited her to be baptized! She is on Date for January 12th and Mason will be baptizing her!! SUPER EXCITING!!!

But anywho, that was the week. We met some pretty cool people this week, seeing some miracles even around the Christmas Season!! 

Love yall

Elder Northrup

Elder Northrup, a couple peeps going home (Elders Boyer and Hunter) and Elder Braun

Elder Neibergal

District pic

Our Crazy Funny District

Mama Lester (Mission Mom)

Yep

Spiritual Thought Sticky Note

The OG's back in town

Beef Sticks from Sister Crow's mom

Elder Boyer

Small Family Tree (son, me son, brother (Elder Boyak trained by Elder Lusko)

Rippling Waters

Its been quite the week!

I'm tired so I don't think I am going to go super into detail for this email! 

girl named Trinity Northrup (pretty darn exciting if ya ask me)

Monday through Friday we did a lot of finding and follow ups!! We met some pretty awesome people while tabling, had a lesson with a Basher and a Hindu bro, and had some great dinners with members of the Carrollton Ward. 

Light the World Tabling

Throughout the week Mason knew that Satan would be doing all he could to distract him from being baptized, so he teamed up with us a lot for lessons and did all he could to keep himself on a spiritual high. It worked in the end and he was baptized Saturday!! His mom, step mom, sister and grandmother all came to the Baptismal Service as well! They looked very surprised throughout the whole meeting, I think they thought we were supposed to be very cultish. 

When I baptized Mason it was one of the most spiritual moments of the mission. It has been amazing to see him progress from when we met him a few months ago (rogue anti basher dude), to disciple of Christ! He is continually happy about his decision and it seems like the ward is becoming more and more missionary minded as we continue bringing people to the Church!

Anywhoooo, this has been quite the week! Lots of good, some bad and ugly, but overall it has been incredibly rewarding!! I know because of Mason's stalwart example of sacrifice and loyalty, Catrina isn't far behind him!! They are both amazing!!

I love this Gospel!! What a wonderful time to be a missionary for Jesus Christ; what an even better time to be a member of the Lord's True and living Church!! Hope you guys are having a grand time sharing this beautiful Gospel!!

Love yall

Elder Northrup

                     

Numbers aren't Success

WOW!!! This has probably been one of the more successful weeks of my mission!! The Lord has truly been blessing us!!! But lets start at the beginning...

Last Pday we went to the Ghetto Rec Center again, this time there was a bunch of people smokin weed so I kinda felt like I got a second hand high from that, but it was a character building experience!! After Pday we had an appointment with a part member family but the appointment fell through. So we were suddenly flooded with a bunch of time and didn't know where to spend it! So, of course, we sought the Lords counsel. We ended up going to a particular street, finding one really cool lady that was willing to let us (strangers) in at 8pm because it was cold. And we also helped a couple ladies move in a truck load of furniture. It just shows that God is willing and ready to help us find those people that are ready if we really seek His counsel over our own. 

On Tuesday we did a Church tour with Isaiah to help him be more comfortable with the building, people, culture, etc. We had Nathan Seawell and Mason there to help us teach. It actually went really well because he ended up coming to Church yesterday. So, moral of the story is, if you are having trouble with bringing people to Church, do a Chapel tour! It has worked more times than I would like to count!!

Wednesday was pretty sweet!! We had a lesson with a lady that we had found previously who's name was Ellen. We brought Bro Mills with us....it turned into an 'aight' lesson. It was hard to help her stay focused on the Gospel instead of Ancient Aliens...LOL

"But wait, there's more..." We got a referral for a free Bible that lived over in the Ghetto part of Carrollton! It actually went really well because the family that requested the Bible actually invited us in and we got to teach them for a bit. Usually when we get a request for something they don't let us come in and they don't let us say anything either, all they want is what they requested (which is cool too). But they said that we could continue to meet with them and tell them more about the Church! YEET!!

That night we met with Mason and Catrina!! This was the first time that Catrina didn't have any questions or concerns, but instead just wanted to learn and grow closer to Jesus Christ!! Cool lesson!!

On Thursday we were supposed to meet with a guy named Ian but he slept in and forgot about us!! But while we were waiting we got a text from Mason saying that sometime that day he would like to meet in person and discuss something!! So we went to Chick-Fil-A on campus and talked for a bit! At first it was casual but when we asked why he wanted to meet up he said that he put a lot of thought and prayer into his decision to be Baptized and felt like it was his time now. I almost couldn't help myself from jumping out of my chair!! I had the biggest smile on my face throughout the day!! Later that night we got a text from him saying that he would have work off this upcoming Saturday (December 1st) and wanted to be baptized then!! We told him that we liked his enthusiasm but that we needed to prepare and plan, and get the ZL's for the interview and all that jazz! He seemed fine with pushing it back to this Saturday the 8th!!! We are all very excited!!!!!!

Friday we had New Missionary Training for all the greenies in the morning to afternoon!! It was basically everything that we had previously learned at Zone Conference and nothing that the greenies should actually know about!! So I kinda felt like it was a big waste, but oh well! It's in the past now!!

We did have a lot of Success right when we got back from that meeting!! We met with a kid named Josh before he ships off back to Nigeria!! Hopefully I will be able to see him when he comes back next semester!! We had a second lesson that day but she never showed up, we had a teamup and everything!! So we decided since our teamup is shipping out for her mission in about a month we would go do some contacting on Campus. IT WAS SOOOO EFFECTIVE!!! We met a lot of really great people!!

This is turning into a really long email so I will try to fly through the rest of the week for all yalls!!

Saturday we were biking in the pouring rain for a while. But because God is good he stopped it for the last few hours of the day even though it said that it would rain hard all day long! That same night we went Caroling and found some good success! No return appointments or anything, but just a lot of really happy families!!

Now, we are finally at Sunday!! Mason, Catrina, and Isaiah came to Church!! As I have looked back at the rest of my mission I am pretty sure that is the most people I have had at Church in one day!! Now I know all yall South America Missionaries must be laughing pretty hard at that, but hey, I was sooooo happy!!!

We had a meeting during Church with Mason and Catrina to get everything ready for the Baptism! He asked me to perform the Baptism and Elder Isaksen to perform the Confirmation of the Holy Ghost!! This will be the first time that one of the people that I personally have found and taught has asked me to baptize them, so that was definitely a special experience that I will never forget!!

Sunday night we went to a Baptist Church and had a real good time!! It was definitely different but awesome nonetheless!! Basically the whole Church welcomed us even when they knew who we were!! We felt really like these people wanted us to be here...I wish that people that we bring to Church always felt the same way!! (Mic drop) lol

Something that I have realized over the last few weeks is that numbers don't mean a thing!! Of course they are important so we can have measurable goals and plans for finding, teaching and baptizing! But having high numbers doesn't necessarily count you on the roll of 'Successful Missionary.' Instead Success is measured by your commitment to find, teach and Baptize (quoted from the Apostles in PMG). Success is determined by your commitment to be an 'ALL IN' Consecrated Missionary!! 

Even this week we have rolled high numbers in the books, but in the end it doesn't mean jack squat!! What really matters is how committed you are to following the Savior!! That includes but is not limited to...sharing His Gospel with those you come in contact with (hint: it doesn't mean you have to slap a Book of Mormon in everyone's face). Seeing others as they may become. Ministering to others, not because of assignment, but because of pure Charity. And the list can go on and on and on!!

Anywho, I have become quite the 'Ranter' or 'Venter' or whatever you wanna call it!! 

Love yall

Elder Northrup