Going home

This week has been a mission changing one. I won't go into a lot of detail due to the personal type of information I recieved in the situation. This week on Wednesday was a hard day. Sister Whitney and I were both a little torn up about a not so great experience we had. Sister Whitney took it super hard. Somethings happened... We ended up at the mission home. Sister Whitney decided to go home that day. She was on a plane early the next morning. I had to pack up all my stuff in the apartment in 40 minutes (I have never packed so fast in my life). To my surprise President looked at my and said "You're going to Eatonville." Eatonville! My home! I am now in a trio with Sister Williams and Sister Tippits. Both who I love so so much! We are triple covering. So I take care of Elk Plain and also help with Eatonville/Rainier wards.

You never really realize how much someone means to you until they are gone. I miss Sister Whitney so much. I loved working with her. Please keep her in your prayers. It has been amazing to come home and see everyone from Eatonville again! I get to be by my "parents" Brother and Sister Olson which is the best. Everyone was excited to see me and it felt good to have that love and support at this time. Last night I got to see Bonnie and Nolan! They are both doing so well and Nolan is working on going to the temple. And Surprise! I get to teach his son! We had a great lesson with Nolan Jr. and I got to invite him to be baptized and he accepted. I feel so much joy to be apart of their family creating a multi-generational family of faith. Their testimonies are so strong! Another AMAZING blessing! I got to go on a split with Lexie! Elk Plain and Eatonville have church at the same time so she was my companion for the day. It was such a blessing to be able to serve with the very girl that a year ago I helped enter the waters of baptism. She has such a clear vision and deep understanding of the gospel. My Eatonville converts are literally matter more to me than anything else in my life. I will look back on their baptisms and hold on to the joy I felt forever.

Kyle is doing very well! He is starting his trucking job, so he will be gone a lot more,but has decided to stop smoking! His kids are learning so much as well. It is great to see how much peace he is recieving from the gospel. He is so willing to act on the truth he recieves! I will continue to update you all as he progresses!

Naancy is also amazing! We got to team teach her with a chinese elder and his companion. It was really cool to see her desire to find out if the gospel is true. Her pastor told her not to meet with us, but she said that she felt something and wanted to read the Book of Mormon to find out for herself! Such great faith!:)

Man! Missions are the hardest, coolest, most rewarding, most spiritual, tiring experience ever. Some days I come home and just lay on the floor and cry.... Mostly just this week because of all the changes haha. Yet, everyday I can get up and keep going because I am not carried by my own strength. It is the strength of Jesus Christ that gets me through all of this. I don't do anything without His divine help. He makes up for the difference. What really stood out to me from the woman's session this weekend was Sister Stephens talk about how the atonement makes up for our mistakes, the result of other's mistakes on us, and inequalities in life. He felt it all. Overcame it all. I know that He lives.

Your Sister in Christ,

Sister Northrup