Everything is in--- SLOW MOTION!!!!

Well this area is still dry and well this is definitely a new test of my patience! 

Most of this week was a lot of really sad news with a few good things. Gloria basically dropped us.  The reason is Satan and his evil tools! Thanks for nothing! This week is probably going to be a pretty bland email. 

We did all we could to find people this week and we were able to get a few potentials. Their names are Mike and Isaiah please pray everyone that they will meet with us. We have really good feelings for both of them.

This week we also had our Halloween party and Elder Delp and I got to be judges for the Chili Cook off. That was super fun! The funny thing was when the 5 of us where judging we all agreed that a certain chili was super good but then everyone besides me decide that the one we agreed on should not be the winner! So that was an interesting decision in the end. 

On Saturday we were able to teach Bryer Jordan her last Recent Convert lesson and now she is home free! Plus, we also we found out that we are eating at the Jordan's on Thanksgiving. It is going to be superb. Why, because Bro. Jordan is an awesome cook! 

Sunday was good. I saw one of my old seminary teachers at the Mietus's house so that was kinda fun. We also got the sacrament which is always a delight! Ata wouldn't answer his door which is kinda upsetting. Keep praying for him.

Other than that not much else happened. Love all of you guys and pray for you daily.

Elder R.K. Northrup

FINALLY!!!!

This week has been quite eventful. A lot has happen and it has been really Glorious!

I would like to announce my new companion Elder Delp. He is from Tallahassee, Florida. He was a semi-professional pod-caster before the mish. He is a complete nerd, which means we get along great. Plus, his joy for missionary work is awesome! It has been a pleasure to train him thus far.

Elder Delp and Me... don't look at the hair.

Anyways, to welcome Elder Delp to the area. The Millers fed him a Green Dinner. He actually had no idea about the joke until we pointed it out to him. It was totally funny.

On Thursday we had New Missionary Training, which was great. I had a ton of fun and learned quite a bit about how to become a great trainer. I am loving every minute of it. It has seriously been such a blast.

On Friday we did weekly planning because we weren't able to Thursday. Then we did a lot of missionary work. While we were finding that day we ran into a African American guy with a thick accent. Everytime we tried to teach him about the Gospel he would cut us off with, "Wrong, my understanding...." then tell us what he thought. It was pretty funny. Now we use that line all of the time. For example, Elder Delp asked me what my favorite flavor of Shasta was? In the middle of my answer, he says, "Wrong, my understanding..." We got a good kick out of that.

Then on Saturday morning we got to meet with the General Authorities. We met with Bishop Waddell, Elder Call, Elder Clayton, and Elder Rasband. I will just tell you how I felt during the meeting... IT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE ELDER NORTHRUP CRY!!!! That's how awesome it was. I was filled with so much information. I was enjoying every minute of it. I totally wished I could give each of them a big hug. Apparently, that was like Illegal or something along those lines. I will have to send you a picture of the notes I took next week. 

Afterward we went on a blitz with our Zone Leaders. It was a great blitz. I went with Elder Saydyk and Elder Delp went with Elder Covington. On my side we didn't achieve much success in the sense that nobody we talked to was interested. However, Elder Delp and Elder Covington were able to find a lady named Gloria and taught her the Restoration and invited her to be baptized. She accepted the invitation. Can I get whoop whoop!

Sunday was just average. However, is always good to feel your burdens lifted after partaking of the Sacrament.

Then we went had a lesson with Nadia and David. Well, instead David taught us. He is incredible. He drilled into me how DEEPLY important Charity/love are. I literally was taking notes the whole time. I am going to be doing a lot more to improve my prayers.

Well, I love all of you!

Elder R.K. Northrup 

No Elder, I am your Father!

Federal Way Zone

Well this week was good with a side of what the crap just happened?

The week had been going kinda slow until we got to Thursday. We finished weekly planning and then we went on blitz with the Assistants. Elder Nelson came with me which was cool because I got to be with him for his last few proselyting hours. He was a great missionary. He taught me a lot in that couple hours. 

During the blitz Elder Nelson and I where able to find two new investigators one through talking to people and another through a referral. The lessons we had with them on the spot were incredible, completely spirit filled. It was really a joy to get to know Elder Nelson and have him share with me some of his experiences. I also learned from him that nobody is perfect but, as we strive to be righteous then we are perfect. I thought that was really profound and I will be doing my best to live by that principle as much as possible.

Well, we went to go teach our new investigators later that week and they both just blew up in our faces. We were both like "what the crap!" Well, the first one told us that they were just not ready for the gospel because our expectation are too high for them. We testified of the truth of the message we have and gave them a Plan of Salvation pamphlet.

The next one was way crazier because she was living in a Motel room and was kinda just there to get financial aid. The problem was our Bishop was out of town that weekend. We did all that we could in that moment and paid for one more night at the Motel but we couldn't do anything else besides that. I felt so bad that I couldn't do anymore than teach her the gospel. I mean that is all I have been called to do. We sadly had to drop her as well until she becomes more financially sound. That was a big stress on the ole' mind. 

So once again we are back to our single investigator.

Now for the news that you have all been waiting for.

Elder Lewis has been transfered to the Eastern side of the mission. 

.........Ladies and Gentleman I will be training a brand spanking new missionary. Yes, I will be his Father. Thus the title of the email.

Well, I love you all and have a great week.

Elder R.K. Northrup

I (Elder N's Mom) received this picture via text tonight from Sis. Mietus.  She let us know that Elder Northrup is training Elder Delp from Tallahassee Florida.  (I also noticed he got his hair buzzed.  He wanted to hide it from us because he thinks it looks terrible.  I think he looks so much more like his dad.)  I also think he looks so HAPPY!  

He definitely is growing into a man! 

Faster than a ROCK

Well we have finally made some headway. So I am going to say Hip-hip hooray!

This week has been pretty great. We were able to get our goal for Recent Converts/Less Active lessons. However the lame side of this is Tony decided to take a vacation with the family and not tell us. Totally had small panic attack....my thoughts were like, "You can't leave, we haven't helped you quite smoking yet." Oh well he will be back soon. 

On the other side of things. We have totally gotten to see Norah a couple times this week which was awesome because she was able to come back to church the other day. So heck to the yeah. The problem with her though is she just quit her job at the DI which was her only source of income and so we are now praying for a miracle. The other family that needs prayers are Nadia and David, so please bless them as well.

We were also able to go give this Less Active member in the hospital a blessing and that was an awesome experience. We got there and got to know her a little bit. She is actually in a different stake entirely. Which was kinda interesting. We were able to give her the blessing and wish her the best and then we left. I always have a good feeling of being able to exercise this sacred priesthood that God has given it us. It is such an honor to be able to hold it. 

This week we were having a pretty okay Saturday. Well we came to a point in the day where we couldn't think of anything else to do. We decided together that we should head down to Chateau Rainier and see if we could maybe catch Ata. We hadn't seen him in about a month and we were strongly trying to get a hold of him. When we got down there and knocked on their door, nobody answered......................for a long time. Then the door opened and we were welcomed in and got to chat with Ata and Vangy and Michael. We also read out of the book of Mormon, and invited Ata to read the second chapter of 1 Nephi. He totally accepted. We now have our investigator back which was super exciting.

Well that was all that happened that week. I love you all. Read the scriptures always.

Elder R.K. Northrup

Conference Weekend

Well, this week we're still not making much headway. 

We weren't able to find anyone new, but the goal that we have set is to hand out, to every person that we see, something from the church's resources. That way we have more of a chance of getting people to act on something.

In the middle of this week, Elder Lewis got sick and we were told to stay inside and get some rest. So I went and started doing a more in-depth update of the Area book. I did a lot of cleaning out old investigators and called a couple potentials. Low and Behold we got a new investigator ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... For the Arizona missionaries. Which was great and super lame at the same time because she would have been a solid investigator. So I only did half a fist pump. 

Luckily, Elder Lewis start feeling better around Thursday, so we went contacting in the Hylebos Wetlands park. We didn't find very many people, but we did take some cool pictures while we were there. After contacting we went and did service with the Mietus's and we talk to Sister Mietus about having adventures. Which was a pretty fun conversation. 

We then went and saw Tony and Bryer on Friday.  They are both doing well. We had Dinner at Bryer's house and I got to eat my second stake ever on my mission. It was pleasing to the stomach and was enjoyed throughout all the land. Afterward we went to Tony's and we are on the continued slow process of quitting his smoking addiction.

Then Conference was the entire day for us on Saturday. I loved Elder Holland's talk on being a great Hometeacher. It has inspired me to be a great one after my mission. I also loved Elder Oaks' talk because of how awesome it was on how members can do missionary work. Those were my favorite ones this time around. None the less it was a great time of listening to the apostolic messages.

We also had my pants get ripped down the middle during conference and our apartment was flooded during the Sunday morning session.  A pipe broke above us.  Luckily nothing got ruined... So those were some fun experiences.

Love you all.

Elder R.K. Northrup