Gaining a testimony is like running up a downward escalator

Hey everyone! Wow! It has been an insane week! So I have multiple experiences to share! First off I will explain the subject for this email. "Gaining a testimony is like running up a downward escalator" I love this so much! It is so true!!! When building our testimonies we have to be moving up.. because there is no standing still. If you stop moving you get pulled downward. It takes tons of effort and sacrifice to continue to progress and learn. It is worth it though;) We learned that at our amazing stake conference this week.

So last week I asked you all to pray for Nolan and wow did that work! He has been struggling with the new policies made to the church and said he needed some time to work through it. However, late monday night he shot us a text and I almost cried when I saw it. He told us that he had stayed up all night the night before studying and praying and wanted to be baptized on that THURSDAY!!! He wanted to be baptized in 4 days!!! Well this wasn't actually possible because he is gone for work all week and hadn't had all the lessons bust still! He is scheduled to be baptized on December 12th and I honestly could not think of a better Christmas present. He is so diligent and wants to follow the Savior! Thank you so much for your prayers I know it helped!!

Next amazing thing is concerning Lexie! She is getting baptized this coming Friday and to prepare for baptism we have recieved permission from the First Presidency to take our investigators to the new discovery center in Belluvue. This is a huge thing because we have to leave the mission boundries to do so! We went and it was the coolest experience ever!! We got to take pictures of what we might look like back then and read facts about the time we were born. We got to make video diaries and look at pictures of our ancestors and where they were from! It was spectacular. Lexie had so much fun! The best part though was that we got to walk around the temple grounds afterwards. The spirit is so strong and that was Lexie's first time seeing a temple. She said it was so beautiful and she can't wait to be married in the temple. We told her about doing baptisms for the dead and she is already setting up a time to go after she is baptized.

I know that this gospel is true brothers and sisters. With all of my heart and soul! I love it! It is the best thing in the entire world! It has brought me more happiness, joy, hope, and peace than I could of had without it. My Savior is my best friend! I have seen so many changes in myself just in the short time I have been here and I can't wait to keep changing so that I can become more like Him. I never realized the impact that sharing the gospel has on other people. It is something I cannot describe and I will never stop doing it. We have something that other people NEED!!! This is salvation!! I invite you all to be member missionaries. Support your local missionaries by finding people for them to teach, then let them teach lessons in your home. You are all amazing and I love you all! Have a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Sister Northrup