The Journey Begins.....in 1 day!!!

Hey everybody! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your normal everyday lives. This past week has felt so long! I feel like i have already been gone for like 2 months! I leave for beautiful Washington tomorrow and I am sooooo excited! I am a little nervous as well but I know everything will be okay. This week has been full of learning and growth for me. My testimony pretty much doubles in strength each day!! It is pretty much the best thing ever. I wouldn't trade the spirit for anything thats for sure. We have been studying the Book of Mormon a lot and can i just say IT REALLY IS THE TRUEST BOOK ON EARTH!!!!! I love reading it. So remember Mike from last week? Well... Me and my companion got to teach him twice more this week and guess what??!! He committed to baptism! Yay right?! He is so awesome and when we teach him the spirit is so strong its like you are drowning in it! It was such a great experience to commit someone to be baptized for the first time. The things that are happening here are stories that i will cherish forever. Feelings as well. The Lord is so aware of each of us. He loves his children dearly and would do anything to bring them back into his presence. Never ever ever forget that! We had an orientation called in-field this week and talked so much about member and missionary relationship. Members are what make this work possible brothers and sisters. I testify of that. I invite all of you to get involved in helping the missionaries in any way possible. Go out with them, give them referrals, share the gospel with friends/family... Do something besides feed them haha! I know that sounds weird... and feeding them is helpful... but the Lord has asked us to bring souls unto him. That can only be done if you are missionaries everyday of your life. I know it is hard and scary but it is so worth it. Jesus Christ is depending on us all to participate in the gathering of his people. I love my Savior and have realized more deeply what the atonement means for each of us. He gave everything... every single little teeny tiny bit of himself..... so that we can gain eternal life. The gospel makes us all so happy. So why don't we share? It blesses lives. People are waiting for you.... have been prepared by the Lord so that you can share his message with them and make them more happy than anything else in this world can! So just do it! Hahaha I have learned that this sacrifice we make to help others is so small compared to what He did for us.

On a lighter note, I have a funny story for you all! So we were in a devotional singing songs before the actually meeting started and the lady leading had one of those sticks to lead with. Well... haha in the middle she was whipping that thing around too vigorously i suppose cause it went flying out of her hand and smacked the microphone!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA i seriously was crying i was laughing so hard. Best part was she couldnt find it for like 5 minutes so she was crawling around on the stage looking for it hahaha. Wow it was a great experience. Also, the Elders in our district are hilarious, and one day came in and recounted their experience in their room the night before. (Warning: its kind of gross) So two elders took a jar a few days earlier and both apparently farted in it and saved for those days.... ya they are weird haha. But then after awhile they attacked one of the other elders held him down and released their fart in his face. While he was just telling us the story he looked like her was gonna puke hahahaha! He said it rancid!! I died it was so funny! That is just one of the many hilarious inside jokes we now have.... Elders keep fart jars:)

Well I am almost out of time, but I love you all so much! This gospel is true! Never forget it. Heavenly Father loves you all so very much and wants you to find the joy in life he has in store for you. Pray always. Be faithful. Be believing. Have faith in Christ. Share the message with happiness with everyone you can. Don't take any day for granted. And most of all, express to your friends and family your love for them. Don't ever assume they know. They should hear it from you everyday! Have a wonderful week!!!

Love <3 Sister Northrup