...And in this corner......The Spirit of Invitation

Well this week was apparently really slow, but it didn't feel that way at all. We are doing tons better at talking to everyone. We really worked hard.  The numbers just didn't show it.

We were able to teach our less active member. Shelby is doing great! She really has a strong desire to go to the temple, which I am so stoked for! She came to church again the other day which was awesome because we get along with her so well. We are trying to work with her to help get her husband, Brian, baptized. He says he agrees with all of the church's teachings. The only thing he has a problem with is Joseph Smith (which is really the problem the entire world has). We are hoping he will truly pray about it and seek for that answer. Easier said then done...I guess.

On Friday we had a lesson with Meuoy. We were able to bring Brother Rogers with us. We taught Meuoy about how following the commandments can really help people feel good and enjoy the happiness that God wants us to have in our lives. It was definitely one of those lessons that I can't remember anything that was said, because we were just being guided by the spirit. The only part I remember was when we extended the baptismal invitation. Meuoy just replied with a "Lets do it!" That's when the whirlwind of the spirit just came from a corner of the room and flood all four of us. It was so sick! He will be preparing for his baptism which will be held on the 24th of September.  The other cool thing was even Brother Rogers remembered how awesome it was to feel the spirit that strongly.

Elder Perkins B-day was this week on August 27th, so obviously we ate at the Galloway's because they are amazing.

On Sunday, Meuoy was able to come to church for the first time, which is a step in the right direction. We are carrying our way onward....son! I am looking forward to seeing Meuoy at church more and more. I definitely can't wait for his baptism.

Alright well that was our week have a good one everybody.

Elder R.K. Northrup

A funny video Elder Northrup sent!

Apostle Dave, Amber Valentine, and other weird things

Well this week we have been doing super crummy. Our super solid potential Tina dropped us on Tuesday because her husband doesn't like it when she talks with us. What a punk! 

Then we went down in the valley part of our area and tried to meet with one of our less actives. Well instead we met this guy named apostle Dave. He told us, "to repent every one of you." Which obviously I am already doing that. Then we talked to him which was very Bizarre, because then he told us to go knock on this house that he thinks this guy might be hiding bodies in. So obviously we totally went and did just that. Then that's where the story ends. Later we just left to go back up the massive hill. Once we got to just about our apartment I got smashed in the side by some dork's truck (thank you very little!) So now my bike has to go through the shop again. Which means we are back on the shoelace express. 

We also went on exchanges this week Elder Sumsion came to Garrison Crk with me. We did so much talking to people that we were late for most of our appointments that I had planned for.  However, we did meet this lady named Mary Jasmine. I think she is going to be a really solid investigator. Well that's what I thought, until Satan decided to be a "colorful vocabulary" and create some lame situations for her family. So we are either dropped as of right now or we just can't see her for a couple weeks. Hopefully it is the latter. We also taught Ruben. He still wants to be a Prophet so he can change the Word of Wisdom. We might be dropping him soon. We were also able to send a lot of Spanish Missionary Referrals, which is always a good thing. Then the exchange ended.

Then we went to contact one of our referrals after dinner. Well it turns out that he isn't a referral at all. It was just his ex-girlfriend trying to get back at him. Which totally means we now need to rebuke her. We asked the lady that told us all of this information if the ex-girlfriends name is Amber Valentine. She just started laughing and said it wasn't, that that was just the girl's screen name. I was kinda laughing at how ridiculous people are sometimes after that little chat.

That was basis of our whole week we weren't able to teach any of our investigators which is always sad, but we will pro-veil! Love you all.

Elder R.K. Northrup

Elder Northrup's 1st Steak on his mission... and apparently Elder Perkin's 4th!

Thanks Brother Ramsey for the Steak!  So very kind!

The new "World Olympic Record"

This week has been pretty great. Way better then last week. For starts we taught 7 other lessons this week that's dang good for us.

We started off the week with finding a new investigator named Deshauna. Yes, she is black. She sounded super interested we shared the Restoration video with her found on discover.mormon.org. Then she talked about how she thought it was so confusing that there are so many churches today. We then explained more in depth about how Joseph Smith had that same question. Low and behold NEW INVESTIGATOR. Can I get a Woop, Woop. We scheduled an appointment with her on Thursday at 4:00.

Thursday came around and well, it was kind of a lame day. Even though we had prepared super well for all of our appointments. All of the appointments with Investigators fell through. Totally a "What the crap" moment. Sad slow day.

Well the next day we went on exchanges with the Skyway B Elders. I went with Elder Cardin to Skyway and Elder Sumsion went with Elder Perkins to Garrison Creek. That was a pretty interesting/annoying exchange. The first door we knock on went like this:

Missionaries:Hello, we are going around sharing about how families can live together forever. Not only in this life, but in the next life as well!

Lady: You know I have a very personal relationship with my God that I don't really like to share. I also think it is very stupid that you are going around trying to sell spiritual relationship like a couple of toothbrush salesmen. (Door slam)

Me:(Thank you, for insulting me!)

Sadly, I was a lot a bit ticked off at that lady. I need really give people more charity. I am still working on that. I am not perfect yet. I wish though.

Once we got back from exchanges we found out how well Elder Perkins and Elder Sumsion had been blessed. So I made sure and did a couple Woops! They had found a kid of 16ish that prayed and was commited on the spot for baptism...he will be entering the Kingdom of God in the ward above us though. 

They also taught Ruben and tried helping him to recognize when the spirit is speaking to him. Great lesson! 

Later we went and visited Shelby and Brian. They are awesome still. Pray for Brian that he will be softened enough to want to listen to what blessings the gospel contains.

On Sunday we were able to see Tina. We set up for a lesson on Tuesday at 6pm. We are hoping that the spirit will be very strong and help her have a feeling of happiness. Then we went and had Dinner with the Ayoso's. That family is awesome. Plus they make amazing food. Gotta love'em.

At the end of the week. We scored the World Olympic teaching Record for the most other lessons taught in the Garrison Creek area. Woop, Woop!

Thats been our fun filled week. The Gospel is true and super amazing.

Elder R.K. Northrup

The Humidity is Killing Them.

Got this video and photos from Brother Ramsey.  (Elder Northrup is acting out what his companion is sharing.  Cracks me up.)

Slow sluggish week

Elder Northrup went to dinner with the Rosengren's.  The Rosengren family we knew in Wisconsin happens to be the brother's family.  They came to dinner as well.  Not sure if Reggie remembered them, but here is a picture of them, reunited.

"WORD"

This week was super lame 

We weren't able to teach very much because our investigators are sick. On top of that we have gone through a lot of crap when knocking on doors. Oh well its their choice if they want salvation or not, sadly they are choosing the wrong choice right now. 

We have received a lot of swear words and the word 'Belligerent' which means to wage war against. Yeah finding has been really dumb lately. 

We were able to teach Meuoy and Ruben this week. Ruben is progressing slowly but seems to be understanding more now. Meuoy has a different roadblock he has trouble retaining information that he reads because he is so focused on trying to read it. So to try and fix the problem we have order some childrens book of Mormons. Which we feel will help him comprehend better what we are talking to him about.

We had a good chat with Dee on her doorstep. She seems like she is still interested in learning but she is slowly getting better from her sickness. We plan on teaching her some time this weekend. She would be such an awesome member. Pray for her exceedingly!

We are almost completely done with doing member inspires with the entire ward council and their coucilors. It will be interesting what will think of doing when we finish those. 

Well sorry that this weeks email is so short. Sadly not much happened this week.

Love all of you. 

Elder R.K. Northrup

These pictures were sent to me by Elder Northrup's ward mission leader.  He told me that Kyle (the guy in the salmon polo) made this Jedi Holocron for Reggie (because he is a nerd like that!)  Neither Elder Perkins and Brother Ramsey can't quite figure out or understand Reggie's nerdiness, but they accept him for who he is.  He is pretty happy about this RARE Holocron.

 This is the machine the holocron was made in.

 This is currently Elder Northrup's "wheels"

 But this is the "sick ride" he would like to have upon his return.  (Just not in blue!)

Of Great Potential

This week we have done a lot of teaching. Not really with our investigators because two of them were sick, but with our members and random contacts we have met on the street. We have seen the fruits of talking to everyone.

We have been doing a lot of apartment contacting in the Indigo Springs apt. complex. Which has been pretty awesome!  We were able to talk to a really friendly "I don't believe in God" person. Her name was Miranda. She told us that she didn't believe in things unless their where visual/physical facts to back it up. Which basically means that she need some science to back it up. I asked her if she had ever seen "Thor: The Dark World?" (Because I am a movie guy and that's how I roll!) She said "not recently". Which I replied with "well one of the characters in the movie explains that "Magic is just a science that we don't understand." Which I then tied into how with God we probably won't see him, but that does not mean he isn't their watching over us. We just have to exercise enough faith for him to bless us with the feelings of his presence.  Which she seemed to grasp at that point. We invited her to pray and to truly seek the feelings that God can send us, and will send us if we truly desire to feel them.

Later in the week we went back their to talk to more people because their are always people outside. This time we met Brenda. She is Hispanic and just recently started a family. She seemed very interested in what we had to say, because she asked many questions. We taught her the Restoration and asked if she would be willing to learn more. She accepted the offer. We are very excited for her because she seems like she could be a solid investigator. We weren't able to set up a date to come because she was going on vacation soon. 

Now we visited Sammie.  She is from one of the countries in Africa....can't remember which one. She is super awesome. She has such a powerful testimony and is such an awesome member. The feeling in the room when we shared with her a small video was so strong and on top of that, when she bore her testimony that feeling intensified. It was just awesome to be able to listen to her. We are going to be visiting her every Thursday now.

We did a member lesson with the Lambert's. While we were there he gave us an idea that could explode the missionary efforts in this area if it works. Pray for this idea. It is called Operation: White Harvest.

Later this week we apparently made someone a little upset because we were in their apartment complex....so obviously Satan got a hold on her.  What an idiot he is.  She started yelling at us that we can't solicite in the area. Which we aren't doing because the proper term is called proselyting, so take that lady. She then told us that she would tell management if we didn't leave right then. Which we weren't going to do so we just hid at the Welch's apartment for a bit while everything blew over. The Welch's are so fun. They are just newly wed and still have the same humor that people in college have so we get along with them great.

We taught Ruben this week and he is finally getting it that he needs to read the Book of Mormon on his own for him to get an answer that these things are true. So Whooop!

Then yesterday we went the Price's.  They are a part member couple. We are really getting to know them and bond with them. They are really starting to like us. Plus the upside is the non-member is coming out of his shell a lot more now that we have a pretty good relationship with them. We pray that he will want to be baptized in the future at some point.

Well that all that happened this week, yeah I know not much but is still a work in progress. Love all you guys.

Elder R.K. Northrup