Cinnamon Rice Milk, Just Drink It!

Nothing like a piece of wood for Breakfast.................................yeah that is sugarcane

This week has been good not many things happened though so its probably going to be pretty short.

We went on exchanges with the Spanish Elders again. I went with an Elder to the Spanish Branch. Not to be rude or anything but I have never been on a more boring exchange and I know that's probably just my attitude about it. Honestly though this elder barely says a word when he talks to people. I would ask a question about him and he would spend about 5 minutes thinking about what to say and then he would give me an answer of 5 words or less. On the other side of things I did discover this new drink it is called rachutta or something close to that. It's like a cinnamon rice milk, its super good. I totally recommend it, so JUST DRINK IT! 

On Sunday our recent convert Brother Jeon received his patriarchal blessing. I thought that was so cool that he was getting that sacred blessing. 

The other thing that happen Sunday was we got a call from a member that had served in Elder Jeong home ward. The cool thing was he was calling us because he had found a korean referral for us that had already gone to church 4 times. He also told us that he was going to have us start teaching the lesson to her. I was just thinking in my mind was, "I like that!" We are going to be heading over to that members house this week to discuss further details on how we are going to teach her.

The other thing we are doing this week is asking President for permission to do Sports proselyting. Why are we asking you might say. We are asking because Elder Jeong was telling me that in Korea they did basketball proselyting and it was super successful. They were able to teach and baptize about 15 people. The Korean culture is all about having fun activities and it is a resource we want to start implementing into our missionary work.

Sorry for the short email, but hey that doesn't mean the church isn't true, it just means that missionary work is hard work!

Elder R.K. Northrup

Elder Jeong and I at the "FIRST COMING"

Referral's are strong in this Branch

This week has been incredible! It has been amazing to feel and hear the blessing of the gift of tongues. I have been really excited about how much I have learned since I arrived. The Korean Branch is such a great learning experience for me. Elder Jeong has taught so much on language and Korean traditions. It has really just made a difference since we are both learning a language, we kinda understand where each other is coming from when we are teaching each other about our foreign languages and cultures.

First off, we got a new car! It is flippin' awesome. It is a 2016 Toyota Corrola. I love the way it looks and how smooth it drives. Overall a pretty nice car. 

We went to Seattle again on Saturday.  We ate at every members house because that what Koreans... do they just feed you.....even if your full, and it is disrespectful if you don't eat . That is why Elder Ha, (an Elder who had served in the Korean Branch previously) said and I  quote, "If your full, eat it. If your full, eat it. If your full, Just Eat it." Which is definitely why I am getting so tongtong which means chubby in Korean. Anyways what I was going to tell you guys is we ate at a Korean Restaurant with one of our members. Gross! They cut apart a dead Octopus right in front of my face, I was just frozen with whatever I was feeling in that moment. I would not eat that soup. It was okay though, because luckily I had ordered a different Korean dish because otherwise I would not of been able to keep up my chubbiness.

We got to speak in church this week. Elder Jeong didn't prepare anything and just winged it. Which is basically the life of a missionary. Meaning his talk in church was super good. He talked about how when he was younger he didn't know what church he should go too. Even though he was being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he wasn't sure if it was the place for him. Eventually, after he had attended the other churches in South Korea, his conclusion was that those churches didn't have any spirit feeling. As Elder Jeong would put it.

We have been praying for our district that the people that they have committed for baptism will stay on track. The amazing thing is, as we have been working hard, praying for others in our zone we have been blessed with so many referrals. Just the other day we received a call from a non-member who wanted to learn English and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His name is Brother Five-star. We taught him at our church building and we committed him to baptism. He rejected but he told us that he would get baptized if his English becomes as good as mine. Which is kinda lame reason to get baptized especially because his English is already super good. I definitely have no idea what I am going to teach him.

We also, as you probably already know, met another referral. Her name is Yensoon we helped her with an interview at DI today. She is really awesome, and we will be setting up an appointment for next week. It is going to be great. I have faith that through the power of the spirit she will repent and be baptized. 

Anyways, this week I have learned that the power of prayer coupled with effort gains results. The results that we receive are blessings from God. I know that through continued charity for others, prayer, and action will bring more Korean people to repentance and baptism into the Korean Branch, and more people in general. It is God's promise.
I love you all.

Elder R.K. Northrup

Elder Jeong and I. As you can tell I am more round then the last time you saw me.

Sister Cho text!

Got this text message last night. My heart is full of gratitude for this sweet sister and for my boy who is serving the Lord.

Hi. Sister Northrup,

I am sister Cho at the Korean Branch..

Elder Northrup is with us for early dinner.

I am going to send his picture..

You must be miss him.

Elder Northrup has a beautiful smile and he has a very good mind. He is working hard...

Never a Dull Moment

​The Cha family along with Brother Weisemiller

Well, this week has been good and frustrating and so funny. 

We were able to go on exchanges this week with the Spanish Elders. It was a blast. I had the privilege to go on the exchange with Elder Richards. He is kinda having a tough time just because his new companion is kinda rude to him. Even to the point that he told Elder Richards that his Spanish sucks. Which I thought was kind of lame of him. Anyways the exchange went great. Elder Richards is a nerd on Star Wars like many of my good friends. Which means he is apart of the true and everlasting fans of the correct sci-fi movie. On more important matters, we were able to teach two law of chastity lessons, and testify of how great it is to have a patriarchal blessing. I learned from Elder Richards on that exchange to be bold and to testify. I also learned that Elder Richards has an amazing testimony.

On Saturday for morning workout, we went and played Jokgu.  It is basically tennis and soccer put together to make a sport.  It is pretty fun and interesting.  I am not very good at it though.

Later in the day, we headed to Bellevue/Seattle. That place is pretty cool but I extremely hate the traffic that is in that city. It is the worst. I knew there was a reason we lived in Utah and the traffic is definitely one of those reasons. Anyways we went up to Seattle to teach one of our recent converts English. His English is already pretty good but we are now just fine tuning his skills. He is such a good guy. He is turning in his papers this July. His name is Brother Jeon. He is going to be an awesome missionary. 

We also got to eat for free in Seattle at this Thai restaurant that one of our branch members owns. They are super awesome, especially because we got to eat for free.  After eating we went and gave a spiritual thought to our Branch President, President Kong. He is super awesome and he is a fluent English speaker. Plus, he studied at BYU so that is a definite bonus. We shared the scripture in Alma 32:39 and I related to how people that go to other churches may have spiritual experiences there in that moment, but in the long run those experience are going to become barren and non-existent. Which is one of the reasons that our church is set apart from all of the churches. We have the gift of having the spirit with us always and we are able to feel that spirit in every situation that is a good situation.

Now for a funny story about my companion. One of the nights we were planning, he got up and ran to the bathroom and then I just see him a couple seconds later with his shorts over his front and him telling me that he pooped his pants. I was just dying at that point. I was rolling on the ground. It is definitely never a dull moment with my companion Elder Jeong. I love him tons.

Oh and by the way my Korean is really coming along. A lot of the members have told me that my pronunciation is super good. Then they ask me if I have ever lived or been to Korea before because of how good it is. Well, all of the credit goes to God for blessing me with the Gift of Tongues and to those of whom are praying for me to have that Gift. Thank you.

Have an awesome week.

Elder R. K. Northrup

Blue milk from Star Wars

The Transfer-mation

Well as you all know by now, I am now in the Korean Branch of the mission. I am going to be able to cover 3 mission areas now. Tacoma, Federal Way, and Seattle. It is going to be so much fun.

We went to Tacoma the other day and shared a small message to some of the members of the Branch. We sang hymns and fun things like that. The spirit that the Koreans bring is just so amazing. They then shared there testimonies and it was flippin' incredible.

Later in the week we taught Lee Yung Hee. He is one of our progressing investigators and has just come to church last week. We taught English and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I really like teaching the Korean people. I say my thoughts in English and then Elder Jeong translates them. I really like it that way because I am able to have the spirit whisper what things are really needing to be said while Elder Jeong translates. It is just so incredible the spirit that is present.

My Korean language skills have improved. It has been so awesome. I can say so many things now. Here are the things I can say in Korean.

by my faith and my priesthood

how are you

I am full

thank you

I am hungry

how are you

condemn me not

super, delicious

That about how fluent I am in the Korean language.

On Saturday we also went and did some Korean cultural things. They celebrate New Years around the end of January and the beginning of February. They have some very interesting food and treats, but it was all good in the end. We also played some Korean traditional games and they were pretty fun. I will have to show you how to play it someday. It is kinda like connect four but on a larger scale. It is super awesome.

On Sunday, the 2nd Counselor of the Branch Presidency had me go up and bear my testimony. It was super awesome to tell them that I am excited to be serving around you guys in the Korean Branch and I look forward to be working closely with you guys to bring souls unto Christ. It was a pretty great week.

Well I know this church is true. Otherwise I would not have learned so much about the Korean language in just one week. I am continuing to pray for the gift of tongues and I thank you all for your support.

Elder R.K. Northrup

Elder Jeong is the one next to me and Elder Kim and then Brother Jeon from the branch!

Ward Mission Plan.... GO!

I had to Ninja clean the Microwave because the floor had just recently been mopped

This week has been a little rough and not much has happened. Which means it is probably going to be a short email.

This week we have been making an emphasis on teaching our members that they can also do missionary work. Which most members seem to think that only members who have name tags on can do it. This is more wrong then having to do math homework during Summer break. Members of the earth... You are, in my opinion, way more important than the missionaries in a multitude of ways. Now hike up your pants and do it. 

Anyways there is my 2 cents on member missionary work. We were able to teach 5 member lessons this week. Our last one I think brought the most fruit. We were at the Sutton Jr. household and we showed them the video called, "Faith in the Work of Salvation." Before we even said anything afterward about what we as regular members can do, they went off on how they need to invite their friend who has been asking questions about the church. Then as we were talking, they just invited him right then and there over the phone. I was just totally pulling a determined baby face, and saying yes, yes, this is exactly what we need to be doing. Dash Point now has a day where they are going to teach the first lesson to this friend of the Sutton Jr. VICTORY! It is the best when the members finally understand that the success of getting someone baptized isn't in them getting baptized, but in them actually giving them an invitation to act.

Anyways sorry that it was so short. Here is the news about transfers. Drum roll ..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

........................I am going to the Korean Branch. Extensive fist pumping! I now get to try and learn a language. Plus I am going to be with one of my favorite Elders. Elder Jeong. We are in a tri-panionship with Elder Kim.

Well thats all for this week. I hope you had an awesome week as well.

Elder R.K. Northrup

Me and Brother Dunn

Brother Paton and I

Me arm wrestling Brother Phipps......19 time World Wrestling Champion

​The Travers and me. One of the best families ever.

me and the Mauia family

Ricardo and Gabriella and Elder Northrup

The Liders and Elder Northrup and Elder Moon

  Federal Way Zone - January 2016