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| Elder Turner with President and Sister Baldwin |
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Elder Turner's 1st Letter from the "Field"
Hello Mother and all :)
Well this is day 5 in the field and im happy to be writing you all. I, from here on out will be emailing on Mondays so maybe you could just have an Elder Turner email reading time for family home evening :)
Wow!! this week is has been crazy and i cant believe im almost done with my first week in the field. My companion assures me that the time will only go by faster the farther i get into the mission. My companion and trainer is Elder Hatch and he is from Plain City Utah. This is his last 6 weeks of his mission, so i have been blessed with a trainer who really knows the ropes here, not to mention he has been working in the mission office for the past 6 months as an Assitant to the President. He is amazing and i learn so much from him each day.
So the moment we have all been waiting for, to know Elder Turners location!! My area is called San Cristóbal in the stake of Mariscal Zone 8. We are opening this area as the first Elders for about 5 years. The Sisters moved because they thought that is was dangerous but Elder Hatch was shocked to see that this area is the safest area he has ever been in on his mission. Every house here has a fence about 10ft tall with razor wire around the top and to enter the communities you have to get thru security. I feel pretty dang safe to be honest!! Safer than being at home considering the house has razor wire all the way around.
We've spent alot of these first days getting to know the ward leaders and gain the trust of the ward memebers because that is how the work is going to get done here. Its difficult to contact in this area because of the security and also because everyone here drives so we are really counting on the ward to support us and help us out. The ward is pretty big, yesterday there were 180 people at church and one of the families the sisters we're teaching made it too!! it was so awesome to see them there and when we called to see if they were coming to church they were already getting ready. We visited them after church and they are a super pilas family. (pilas is a word here that means great so if i ever say a family is pilas, it means they are great) We commited them to pray for a baptismal date of Nov 7th and we will see how they progress.
The work here is amazing and the people are amazing to too. I love the blessing i have to serve the Lord each and everyday with every ounce of energy i have. Its crazy how tough it can be to work with all you can physically and spiritually but the blessings are abounding!!
A little info:
Mondays are district meetings and after we write emails
Tuesdays are Pday
Everyday is a blessing
Serve the Lord with all your hear might mind and strength
Elder Turner
Well this is day 5 in the field and im happy to be writing you all. I, from here on out will be emailing on Mondays so maybe you could just have an Elder Turner email reading time for family home evening :)
Wow!! this week is has been crazy and i cant believe im almost done with my first week in the field. My companion assures me that the time will only go by faster the farther i get into the mission. My companion and trainer is Elder Hatch and he is from Plain City Utah. This is his last 6 weeks of his mission, so i have been blessed with a trainer who really knows the ropes here, not to mention he has been working in the mission office for the past 6 months as an Assitant to the President. He is amazing and i learn so much from him each day.
So the moment we have all been waiting for, to know Elder Turners location!! My area is called San Cristóbal in the stake of Mariscal Zone 8. We are opening this area as the first Elders for about 5 years. The Sisters moved because they thought that is was dangerous but Elder Hatch was shocked to see that this area is the safest area he has ever been in on his mission. Every house here has a fence about 10ft tall with razor wire around the top and to enter the communities you have to get thru security. I feel pretty dang safe to be honest!! Safer than being at home considering the house has razor wire all the way around.
We've spent alot of these first days getting to know the ward leaders and gain the trust of the ward memebers because that is how the work is going to get done here. Its difficult to contact in this area because of the security and also because everyone here drives so we are really counting on the ward to support us and help us out. The ward is pretty big, yesterday there were 180 people at church and one of the families the sisters we're teaching made it too!! it was so awesome to see them there and when we called to see if they were coming to church they were already getting ready. We visited them after church and they are a super pilas family. (pilas is a word here that means great so if i ever say a family is pilas, it means they are great) We commited them to pray for a baptismal date of Nov 7th and we will see how they progress.
The work here is amazing and the people are amazing to too. I love the blessing i have to serve the Lord each and everyday with every ounce of energy i have. Its crazy how tough it can be to work with all you can physically and spiritually but the blessings are abounding!!
A little info:
Mondays are district meetings and after we write emails
Tuesdays are Pday
Everyday is a blessing
Serve the Lord with all your hear might mind and strength
Elder Turner
Monday, October 18, 2010
Elder Turner leaves the CCM to start preaching in Guatemala City!
Mom and all,
Thank you for the love :) I get to write today before i get out to the field tomorrow so here it is. I will be in the mission home tomorrow around 9 am and i wont find out who my trainer is until wednesday. im thinking tomorrow will be alot of training but im not sure, we have to bring a 24 hour bag cuz we wont see our luggage til wednesday.
Grandma Turner, i was curious if your brothers name was Craig? my mission President at the MTC shared a journal entry of his and he mentioned an Elder Ririe. i asked him where he was from and he said California. He was serving in Argentina not sure what years. President Stiemle is my mission presidents name. Lemme know what you find out, Thank you.
So just a little of my life here in the CCM (MTC). Nothing has really changed for me, but every day gets better because everyday i learn a little more and the Spirit edifies me more. I grow everyday because the Lord loves me and i recognize Him in my life. So each Sunday we are to prepare a talk because for Sacrament meeting they call the speakers at random, and this Sunday was my turn. I spoke on the importance of listening. We need to realize that if we listen to those who are speaking with a real desire to understand them, the Spirit will speak thru us and help to meet any needs that the investigator might have. PMG teaches to not be afraid of silence and that is so true because that is how we can hear the sweet whisperings of the Holy Spirit. For some reason, the podium was broken this Sunday and was stuck all the way up so i was blessed to be able to hide my nerves behind the podium. Everyone was laughing at the beginning of my talk because i said the Lord has blessed me with the broken podium to hide.
Mom im thinking that the dear Elders will be better rather than emails as far as friends and siblings go because i really just dont have much time. please let people know.
Thank you for all of your help and love and support and prayers. I truly feel them.
LOVE
Elder Turner
Thank you for the love :) I get to write today before i get out to the field tomorrow so here it is. I will be in the mission home tomorrow around 9 am and i wont find out who my trainer is until wednesday. im thinking tomorrow will be alot of training but im not sure, we have to bring a 24 hour bag cuz we wont see our luggage til wednesday.
Grandma Turner, i was curious if your brothers name was Craig? my mission President at the MTC shared a journal entry of his and he mentioned an Elder Ririe. i asked him where he was from and he said California. He was serving in Argentina not sure what years. President Stiemle is my mission presidents name. Lemme know what you find out, Thank you.
So just a little of my life here in the CCM (MTC). Nothing has really changed for me, but every day gets better because everyday i learn a little more and the Spirit edifies me more. I grow everyday because the Lord loves me and i recognize Him in my life. So each Sunday we are to prepare a talk because for Sacrament meeting they call the speakers at random, and this Sunday was my turn. I spoke on the importance of listening. We need to realize that if we listen to those who are speaking with a real desire to understand them, the Spirit will speak thru us and help to meet any needs that the investigator might have. PMG teaches to not be afraid of silence and that is so true because that is how we can hear the sweet whisperings of the Holy Spirit. For some reason, the podium was broken this Sunday and was stuck all the way up so i was blessed to be able to hide my nerves behind the podium. Everyone was laughing at the beginning of my talk because i said the Lord has blessed me with the broken podium to hide.
Mom im thinking that the dear Elders will be better rather than emails as far as friends and siblings go because i really just dont have much time. please let people know.
Thank you for all of your help and love and support and prayers. I truly feel them.
LOVE
Elder Turner
Friday, October 15, 2010
Time in the CCM is coming to a close...
Elder Turner is leaving the CCM (Missionary Training Center) this week...he will officially be "in the field" sharing the gospel with the people of Guatemala. We are excited for him to begin this next part of his adventure!!
Mom updates Elder Turner:
Hey Kasey,
We missed you last weekend at Brooklyn's baptism but are so proud of you and the work you will do to bring many people into the waters of baptism. It is such a blessing to be able to share that knowledge with people. There are many that are kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it.
Grandma Turner flew in on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday. It was nice to have her here. The Baptism was really nice. There were 3 other kids from the stake that were baptized as well. I got to give the talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost. They only do one talk now since the wards split off for the baptisms. The Olmsteads, Wells, Br. Gallagher, Aunt Robin and GG and their families and Deb and kids were there. Then we had a little luncheon afterwards at the house. It was really nice.
The kids are on fall break this week. Kort is up in Utah with Brig and the girls have been at Cam's. It's nice to have a break from the school routine.
Can't wait to hear what you've been up to.
Love,
Mom
Elder Turner writes:
Hello all,
The work is going great ands yes i only have 6 days left in the CCM!! finally!! it has been such an amazing experience, but let me tell you i am ready to get to the real deal. Brooklyn im so proud of you and so happy for the decision you made. Its so great to have the gift of the Holy Ghost with you forever now. im jealous i missed it but i know it was great. I hope all the kids are having fun and being safe. they are always in my prayers. Im so grateful for the family and all you have done for me.
My 2 cents of conference.... I loved It!!!! I found out that the very first talk by president monson was not off of the teleprompter and that talk moved up to my second favorite talk. he spoke about missionaries and it was very genuine. I also loved the talk given by Elder Holland of course. Elder Holland is amazing and everytime i hear his words it livens me up.
Yesterday, Tuesday, there was a CCM devotional and Elder Martino of the 70 came. it was a really good devotional and the coolest part for me was that the scripture that he chose to base his talk on was Alma 26.22, my mission scripture. I feel like i have just been coming alive in these past few days because of the spirit i have been able to feel.
This monday my companion, Elder Santos and I went to the parque central to proselyte. It was one of the best experiences i have had so far, but ive been out for 2 months so im not sure if i can categorize best experiences and more, im so old :) The parque was the test for me to see how much being in a latino district helped and im glad to say it really has. My campanion was really shy because this was his first time at the parque so i got to help him out a little. We take these crazy city busses that look like they are gonna fall apart, and actually sometimes they will just die in the middle of the road (its happened twice). By the time we got off the 15 min bus i had already talked with 3 people and had given them all pamphlets of the restoration. If you are willing to open your mouth and talk with people the Lord will fill your mouth and i can testify of the truth of that. once we got to the parque its was even more fun. we just walked and talked with everyone. the people are so great and are willing to listen. the last man that me and my companion talked to was Josue and before we were even done bearing our testimony he asked when and where church was. it was awesome and the Lord is preparing his children.
The next time you get a letter from me, i will be in the field :) if you could just look up the address to the mission home in City Central that would be great because i dont have it now.
I LOVE you all thank you for everything,
Elder Turner
Mom updates Elder Turner:
Hey Kasey,
We missed you last weekend at Brooklyn's baptism but are so proud of you and the work you will do to bring many people into the waters of baptism. It is such a blessing to be able to share that knowledge with people. There are many that are kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it.
Grandma Turner flew in on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday. It was nice to have her here. The Baptism was really nice. There were 3 other kids from the stake that were baptized as well. I got to give the talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost. They only do one talk now since the wards split off for the baptisms. The Olmsteads, Wells, Br. Gallagher, Aunt Robin and GG and their families and Deb and kids were there. Then we had a little luncheon afterwards at the house. It was really nice.
The kids are on fall break this week. Kort is up in Utah with Brig and the girls have been at Cam's. It's nice to have a break from the school routine.
Can't wait to hear what you've been up to.
Love,
Mom
Elder Turner writes:
Hello all,
The work is going great ands yes i only have 6 days left in the CCM!! finally!! it has been such an amazing experience, but let me tell you i am ready to get to the real deal. Brooklyn im so proud of you and so happy for the decision you made. Its so great to have the gift of the Holy Ghost with you forever now. im jealous i missed it but i know it was great. I hope all the kids are having fun and being safe. they are always in my prayers. Im so grateful for the family and all you have done for me.
My 2 cents of conference.... I loved It!!!! I found out that the very first talk by president monson was not off of the teleprompter and that talk moved up to my second favorite talk. he spoke about missionaries and it was very genuine. I also loved the talk given by Elder Holland of course. Elder Holland is amazing and everytime i hear his words it livens me up.
Yesterday, Tuesday, there was a CCM devotional and Elder Martino of the 70 came. it was a really good devotional and the coolest part for me was that the scripture that he chose to base his talk on was Alma 26.22, my mission scripture. I feel like i have just been coming alive in these past few days because of the spirit i have been able to feel.
This monday my companion, Elder Santos and I went to the parque central to proselyte. It was one of the best experiences i have had so far, but ive been out for 2 months so im not sure if i can categorize best experiences and more, im so old :) The parque was the test for me to see how much being in a latino district helped and im glad to say it really has. My campanion was really shy because this was his first time at the parque so i got to help him out a little. We take these crazy city busses that look like they are gonna fall apart, and actually sometimes they will just die in the middle of the road (its happened twice). By the time we got off the 15 min bus i had already talked with 3 people and had given them all pamphlets of the restoration. If you are willing to open your mouth and talk with people the Lord will fill your mouth and i can testify of the truth of that. once we got to the parque its was even more fun. we just walked and talked with everyone. the people are so great and are willing to listen. the last man that me and my companion talked to was Josue and before we were even done bearing our testimony he asked when and where church was. it was awesome and the Lord is preparing his children.
The next time you get a letter from me, i will be in the field :) if you could just look up the address to the mission home in City Central that would be great because i dont have it now.
I LOVE you all thank you for everything,
Elder Turner
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Way Back When, In the Provo MTC
So Elder Turner shared this experience he had in the Provo MTC about a month ago, and I never wrote it in on here. He wanted me to share with everyone and I totally spaced it until I was reading his letter again! Here it is:
"On Tuesday the 31st (of August), my trio had a TRC, a teaching experience with an "investigator." Upon finishing, the man told us that we were going to be great missionaries. He said he felt the Spirit and the genuine love we had for him. He told us that he taught German AP and Spanish AP at Mountain View High School in Utah and is now retired, but shared with us that we reminded him of his top AP students. It was a great compliment. I love knowing and feeling the power of the Spirit."
What a cool experience with the power of the Spirit! It truly inspires us to share what Heavenly Father would have us share, and it teaches us that we can love even those we view as strangers because Heavenly Father loves all of His children. When we are instruments in the hands of the Lord, the Spirit can connect us to others on a deeper level, and helps us discern truth and righteousness in any situation we are in. Love you bro! Keep up the great work!
"On Tuesday the 31st (of August), my trio had a TRC, a teaching experience with an "investigator." Upon finishing, the man told us that we were going to be great missionaries. He said he felt the Spirit and the genuine love we had for him. He told us that he taught German AP and Spanish AP at Mountain View High School in Utah and is now retired, but shared with us that we reminded him of his top AP students. It was a great compliment. I love knowing and feeling the power of the Spirit."
What a cool experience with the power of the Spirit! It truly inspires us to share what Heavenly Father would have us share, and it teaches us that we can love even those we view as strangers because Heavenly Father loves all of His children. When we are instruments in the hands of the Lord, the Spirit can connect us to others on a deeper level, and helps us discern truth and righteousness in any situation we are in. Love you bro! Keep up the great work!
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