Monday, September 26, 2011
Well my week was a good week and I am feeling a lot better than the last. My companion and I worked hard this week striving to surpass our goals that we put for the week and we were worn out, but I know that the Lord rejuvenates our bodies as we work hard to bring His children back to Him.
That's crazy to hear about the changes happening there at Sureño. I can't imagine what it would have been like to go to school with a uniform but I am sure that it will be a good change because if we want to prepare for the future, to have a better future, we have to begin with the kids. It might be a bit more rigorous, but to improve the results, the expectations must also improve. I have really gained a testimony of the importance of goals and setting realistic yet high goals so that we can stretch ourselves to reach higher. It's interesting that they will be implementing uniforms, because here in Guatemala every school uses uniforms, from preschool to high school and so I have gotten used to seeing kids who wear their uniforms everyday to school.
We haven't heard much of anything here about Mormon.org and I am assuming for the same reason you mentioned, not that many people here have their own computers. If you want to use a computer, you have to go to an internet cafe and so it isn't as easy as just being in your house and going to the computer and pulling up the internet. I think that it is a great idea that the Church is going more public and trying to help people understand and know who we really are.
This week I had an experience knocking doors where we were able to clear up some confusion that a lady had about the church. We were knocking doors in a place called Alotenango searching for a few references that we had received and at one of the doors a lady answered and so we asked her if she knew the people we were looking for and after going back to ask her husband she came back and showed us in the direction we needed. We mentioned to her that we were looking for this family to share a message about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we would like to share it with her. She went to ask her husband if we could share the message, and she came back and told us no thanks. We were persistent and asked if she would just allow us a few short minutes and again she said no. We asked her why and she told us that she had heard things about us and that she didn't want to hear the message. We persisted and although reluctant she let us in. We followed her to the back yard and there we saw her husband, a very stern looking man who seemed upset that we were in his house, so I quickly walked over to him and offered to help him clean up the weeds that he was pulling. He said no thanks, but we asked him to join us for a few minutes and he said ok. He sat down and crossed his arms showing absolutely no interest. We shared with them a 15 min lesson of the Restoration and finished the lesson sharing about the Book of Mormon. We asked some questions to see if they understood and asked if they had any questions or comments for us. The husband who had sat down with no desire to listen to us said "Wow. I had no idea that you believed in Jesus Christ. I thought you adored Joseph Smith but you don't adore him at all, he is just God's chosen servant. I know that you bring a message from God because you didn't tell us what we are doing wrong or what to believe, you just want us to ask God if it is true." It was a great experience for me, and a testimony strengthener to know that when we share the truth by the power and authority that God has given us, we can truly get rid of confusion and bring the light into the lives of many.
Right now my companion and I are working with a sister who is preparing for baptism, her name is Claudia. She came to church yesterday and she mentioned to us that she is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and that she is praying everyday to know if the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God is responding to her petitions and that she is very close to recognizing her answer.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ´s church that He has restored through His prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I love it with all I am. I know that God loves me and that He is my Father. I know that Christ lives and that he is my Savior who has redeemed me from my lost and fallen state. I love the Gospel. There is nothing better. :)
Well I am equally excited for General Conference this weekend and I know that the Lord will have many great things to tell me and to tell you through His beloved and chosen servants. ¡Aprovechela! I can't believe that this is my 3rd of 4 Conferences. Time is cruising!
Love,
Elder Kasey Marshall Turner
That's crazy to hear about the changes happening there at Sureño. I can't imagine what it would have been like to go to school with a uniform but I am sure that it will be a good change because if we want to prepare for the future, to have a better future, we have to begin with the kids. It might be a bit more rigorous, but to improve the results, the expectations must also improve. I have really gained a testimony of the importance of goals and setting realistic yet high goals so that we can stretch ourselves to reach higher. It's interesting that they will be implementing uniforms, because here in Guatemala every school uses uniforms, from preschool to high school and so I have gotten used to seeing kids who wear their uniforms everyday to school.
We haven't heard much of anything here about Mormon.org and I am assuming for the same reason you mentioned, not that many people here have their own computers. If you want to use a computer, you have to go to an internet cafe and so it isn't as easy as just being in your house and going to the computer and pulling up the internet. I think that it is a great idea that the Church is going more public and trying to help people understand and know who we really are.
This week I had an experience knocking doors where we were able to clear up some confusion that a lady had about the church. We were knocking doors in a place called Alotenango searching for a few references that we had received and at one of the doors a lady answered and so we asked her if she knew the people we were looking for and after going back to ask her husband she came back and showed us in the direction we needed. We mentioned to her that we were looking for this family to share a message about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we would like to share it with her. She went to ask her husband if we could share the message, and she came back and told us no thanks. We were persistent and asked if she would just allow us a few short minutes and again she said no. We asked her why and she told us that she had heard things about us and that she didn't want to hear the message. We persisted and although reluctant she let us in. We followed her to the back yard and there we saw her husband, a very stern looking man who seemed upset that we were in his house, so I quickly walked over to him and offered to help him clean up the weeds that he was pulling. He said no thanks, but we asked him to join us for a few minutes and he said ok. He sat down and crossed his arms showing absolutely no interest. We shared with them a 15 min lesson of the Restoration and finished the lesson sharing about the Book of Mormon. We asked some questions to see if they understood and asked if they had any questions or comments for us. The husband who had sat down with no desire to listen to us said "Wow. I had no idea that you believed in Jesus Christ. I thought you adored Joseph Smith but you don't adore him at all, he is just God's chosen servant. I know that you bring a message from God because you didn't tell us what we are doing wrong or what to believe, you just want us to ask God if it is true." It was a great experience for me, and a testimony strengthener to know that when we share the truth by the power and authority that God has given us, we can truly get rid of confusion and bring the light into the lives of many.
Right now my companion and I are working with a sister who is preparing for baptism, her name is Claudia. She came to church yesterday and she mentioned to us that she is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and that she is praying everyday to know if the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God is responding to her petitions and that she is very close to recognizing her answer.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ´s church that He has restored through His prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I love it with all I am. I know that God loves me and that He is my Father. I know that Christ lives and that he is my Savior who has redeemed me from my lost and fallen state. I love the Gospel. There is nothing better. :)
Well I am equally excited for General Conference this weekend and I know that the Lord will have many great things to tell me and to tell you through His beloved and chosen servants. ¡Aprovechela! I can't believe that this is my 3rd of 4 Conferences. Time is cruising!
Love,
Elder Kasey Marshall Turner
Thursday, September 22, 2011
9.19.11
This week was.....interesting. But everything is good and I know that the Lord loves me. I got pretty sick on Friday and Saturday and basically didn't leave the house. I think I ate something that didn't sit well and that's what made me sick. The good news is that I am up and working and I have sufficient energy to do all that the Lord asks of me. On Friday night I got a call from the Zone Leaders that the President was going to come work with us on Saturday afternoon. I got a little worried because I was super sick and I didn't want to have to tell President that I was sick, but it turned out the President wasn't able to make it because he got stuck in the capital with some baptism. I am pretty sure that is how the Lord answered my prayers. I have been trying to put in practice the things that I learned in my training meeting, but I know that I need to do better.
We didn't have a ton of working time this week cause I got sick, but this week will be better and I will strive to do better because I know it's what the Lord expects of me. In Ciudad Vieja there aren't that many people who speak english, but I am about 15 minutes away from Antigua Guatemala and there are tons of Gringos (white people) who are visiting as tourists and they speak English. I try to stay away from them because the majority of them are weird hippie people who like to joke about you and I prefer not to waste my time. That's just how I feel. Plus it's gotten a little harder to express myself in English without using Spanish words. My companion is adjusting great and I am doing all I can to teach him and to love him. I want more than anything for him to learn the importance of obedience and so I am striving to be as exact as I can. I know he doesn't like it sometimes, but I know it's what the Lord expects of me.
That's so great that Dad has work because right now times are hard, not only in the states, but all around the world. It's a blessing to have a job with the way the world is now because there are a lot of people who resort to stealing and other types of iniquity because they can't think of what else to do. It's sad, but it's the truth of things. There are a lot of people here that are trying to get out of that lifestyle so they sell just about anything and everything they have to make a bit of money. It's a hard life, but like you said mom, blessings come from following the counsels of the prophets. Speaking of, the Conference is coming up and I can't wait! My goal is from a year from now attend conference in the conference center.
I pray that the boys will keep up the desire and work hard this up coming wrestling season. I miss wrestling and I know that it helped shape me into a "man". It helped me get over the little bumps and bruises and not worry about little things. Although I do regret not listening to Dad sooner. When I decided to take his advice my high school career was coming to an end and I had missed my shot. I know it's hard to admit it sometimes, but the truth is that Dad was right. You have to listen to him now before it's too late.
I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives because it changed mine and has changed about 14 million other people's lives.
Thank you for all of your love and support. You all mean so much to me. True to the Faith.
Love,
Elder Turner
This week was.....interesting. But everything is good and I know that the Lord loves me. I got pretty sick on Friday and Saturday and basically didn't leave the house. I think I ate something that didn't sit well and that's what made me sick. The good news is that I am up and working and I have sufficient energy to do all that the Lord asks of me. On Friday night I got a call from the Zone Leaders that the President was going to come work with us on Saturday afternoon. I got a little worried because I was super sick and I didn't want to have to tell President that I was sick, but it turned out the President wasn't able to make it because he got stuck in the capital with some baptism. I am pretty sure that is how the Lord answered my prayers. I have been trying to put in practice the things that I learned in my training meeting, but I know that I need to do better.
We didn't have a ton of working time this week cause I got sick, but this week will be better and I will strive to do better because I know it's what the Lord expects of me. In Ciudad Vieja there aren't that many people who speak english, but I am about 15 minutes away from Antigua Guatemala and there are tons of Gringos (white people) who are visiting as tourists and they speak English. I try to stay away from them because the majority of them are weird hippie people who like to joke about you and I prefer not to waste my time. That's just how I feel. Plus it's gotten a little harder to express myself in English without using Spanish words. My companion is adjusting great and I am doing all I can to teach him and to love him. I want more than anything for him to learn the importance of obedience and so I am striving to be as exact as I can. I know he doesn't like it sometimes, but I know it's what the Lord expects of me.
That's so great that Dad has work because right now times are hard, not only in the states, but all around the world. It's a blessing to have a job with the way the world is now because there are a lot of people who resort to stealing and other types of iniquity because they can't think of what else to do. It's sad, but it's the truth of things. There are a lot of people here that are trying to get out of that lifestyle so they sell just about anything and everything they have to make a bit of money. It's a hard life, but like you said mom, blessings come from following the counsels of the prophets. Speaking of, the Conference is coming up and I can't wait! My goal is from a year from now attend conference in the conference center.
I pray that the boys will keep up the desire and work hard this up coming wrestling season. I miss wrestling and I know that it helped shape me into a "man". It helped me get over the little bumps and bruises and not worry about little things. Although I do regret not listening to Dad sooner. When I decided to take his advice my high school career was coming to an end and I had missed my shot. I know it's hard to admit it sometimes, but the truth is that Dad was right. You have to listen to him now before it's too late.
I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives because it changed mine and has changed about 14 million other people's lives.
Thank you for all of your love and support. You all mean so much to me. True to the Faith.
Love,
Elder Turner
Saturday, September 17, 2011
9.12.11
Every Monday is looked forward to to be able to read the emails and to see how life is back at home. This week was an interesting week to say the least. I only had one full day in my area and with that being said, it might be understandable when I say that only 2 investigators came to church when normally we have quite a bit more than that. On Thursday morning I had to go to the capital which is about 2 and a half hours away in bus and my companion stayed with 2 other missionaries. I went with the companions of the missionaries who stayed with my companion and we were in the capital from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon when we arrived back to my area, Ciudad Vieja, at 6pm. In the capital I participated in a meeting with President Brough and received instructions and inspiration on how to better the missionary work in my area and how to be a better companion. A lot of the teaching in the mission has changed, as far as how to teach better, and that was a lot of the instruction given in the meeting Thursday and Friday. It was a spiritual meeting and I learned a lot. I am grateful to be serving in this day and time when the Lord has provided so many tools to help the missionary work go forth with more power and authority. I know that the Lord has called me to be a representative of Him here in this mission and I am striving each day to be better because that's what I am here for. I know that tough times might pass, but in reality they aren't that tough if we put in practice the Christlike attribute of Hope as you mentioned. Hope is a lifesaver and it really helps when there are challenges in the mission. I know that the Lord loves me and He wants me to succeed and so He prepares me with the way to do so, His Spirit.
Elder Davis and Elder Deering were good missionaries. I never really knew them, but I know that they served well. Yes it is true that Elder Hatch is married, he got married on May 13th and I'm not sure if he has a kid on the way yet, but if I know him the least bit, I would say that he does. He was a great missionary and loved what he was doing as a servant of the Lord. I am striving to take all of the good things that he taught me and put them to use knowing that I have the blessing to be one of the most remembered companions my companion will ever have. I want to be for my companion what Elder Hatch was for me. I look up to him a lot and I know that he has a testimony of the truthfulness of this work and that is why he strived to be the best he could be. I know that the Lord expects a lot of me and I know that I have a lot of repenting to do each and everyday, but because the Lord Jesus Christ suffered for me, I can be forgiven of the mistakes that I make.
One of the things I have to be better at is contacting/talking to people on the bus. I don't really know why, but I have never really been a fan of talking to people on the bus, but this week I had a great experience with talking on the bus. On Friday, on the way back from that meeting I had, I decided to talk to the man sitting next to me and I shared with him a short message of the Restoration. He told me that it would be fine if we passed by his house on Sunday and so I put the appointment with him. Sunday came around and it was time to go to the appointment I put with the man I contacted but I wasn't feeling too excited to go, because it was a little ways away, about 20 min walking fast, and I' didn't want to go all the way there and find out that he wasnt there (because yesterday was elections and a lot of people were outside). We went and to my surprise he was there. We taught him the message of the Restoration and he and his wife had a lot of positive questions. I know that the Lord provides the way if we are faithful and do as He asks. We challenged them to be baptized and they said that if they know the message is true and the Book of Mormon is true, they will accept the invitation.
D&C 60:2-3
Love,
Elder Turner
Every Monday is looked forward to to be able to read the emails and to see how life is back at home. This week was an interesting week to say the least. I only had one full day in my area and with that being said, it might be understandable when I say that only 2 investigators came to church when normally we have quite a bit more than that. On Thursday morning I had to go to the capital which is about 2 and a half hours away in bus and my companion stayed with 2 other missionaries. I went with the companions of the missionaries who stayed with my companion and we were in the capital from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon when we arrived back to my area, Ciudad Vieja, at 6pm. In the capital I participated in a meeting with President Brough and received instructions and inspiration on how to better the missionary work in my area and how to be a better companion. A lot of the teaching in the mission has changed, as far as how to teach better, and that was a lot of the instruction given in the meeting Thursday and Friday. It was a spiritual meeting and I learned a lot. I am grateful to be serving in this day and time when the Lord has provided so many tools to help the missionary work go forth with more power and authority. I know that the Lord has called me to be a representative of Him here in this mission and I am striving each day to be better because that's what I am here for. I know that tough times might pass, but in reality they aren't that tough if we put in practice the Christlike attribute of Hope as you mentioned. Hope is a lifesaver and it really helps when there are challenges in the mission. I know that the Lord loves me and He wants me to succeed and so He prepares me with the way to do so, His Spirit.
Elder Davis and Elder Deering were good missionaries. I never really knew them, but I know that they served well. Yes it is true that Elder Hatch is married, he got married on May 13th and I'm not sure if he has a kid on the way yet, but if I know him the least bit, I would say that he does. He was a great missionary and loved what he was doing as a servant of the Lord. I am striving to take all of the good things that he taught me and put them to use knowing that I have the blessing to be one of the most remembered companions my companion will ever have. I want to be for my companion what Elder Hatch was for me. I look up to him a lot and I know that he has a testimony of the truthfulness of this work and that is why he strived to be the best he could be. I know that the Lord expects a lot of me and I know that I have a lot of repenting to do each and everyday, but because the Lord Jesus Christ suffered for me, I can be forgiven of the mistakes that I make.
One of the things I have to be better at is contacting/talking to people on the bus. I don't really know why, but I have never really been a fan of talking to people on the bus, but this week I had a great experience with talking on the bus. On Friday, on the way back from that meeting I had, I decided to talk to the man sitting next to me and I shared with him a short message of the Restoration. He told me that it would be fine if we passed by his house on Sunday and so I put the appointment with him. Sunday came around and it was time to go to the appointment I put with the man I contacted but I wasn't feeling too excited to go, because it was a little ways away, about 20 min walking fast, and I' didn't want to go all the way there and find out that he wasnt there (because yesterday was elections and a lot of people were outside). We went and to my surprise he was there. We taught him the message of the Restoration and he and his wife had a lot of positive questions. I know that the Lord provides the way if we are faithful and do as He asks. We challenged them to be baptized and they said that if they know the message is true and the Book of Mormon is true, they will accept the invitation.
D&C 60:2-3
Love,
Elder Turner
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I understand that there is much to do around the house and someone has to keep the kids going or the work will never get done. I miss being able to help around the house, I really do because I know that even if it wasn't expressed, it meant a lot to you. But I guess right now I'm not helpiong around the house rather I'm helping around the world. It is such a blessing and a privilege to be here in Guatemala and to be able to bless the lives of God's children in this part of the world. I'm far from home but I feel your love each and every day and I know that you are ok because you are living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for sharing that quote on repentance. It helped me reflect on my personal study from this morning which was focused on faith and hope. If we truly have faith, we know that Christ suffered for us and we can have hope that although we are not perfect His suffering will allow us to enter into the presence of our Father again. I'm so grateful for the Atonement because were it not for the Atonement I wouldn't be here on my mission. I was thinking the other day that if I am going to be asking people to commit to repentance, I need to be repenting everyday. It is the same with any commitment I might ask someone to make, I must be living it first to be able to ask others to do the same.
Yesterday I finished for the 2nd time the Book of Mormon in Spanish and as I finished the last few chapters in Moroni, the desire to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true filled my heart and so I knelt down and asked. What a blessing it is to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that we have the fullness of the gospel restored unto the earth. I am so grateful that God loves us enough to be able to allow the Book of Mormon to come forth in our day and time to add another solid witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of mankind. I love the Book of Mormon. There is no other book greater than the Book of Mormon on the face of the earth. I would ask all who read this letter to read the Book of Mormon and then ask God if it is true, even if you have already done so, so that you can know for yourself that it is true. After having done that in the morning before church, I was filled with the Spirit so strong and wanted nothing more than to assure everyone that I talked to that day knew what I believe.
Yesterday we had a contact with a man in the street who was a Jehovah's Witness and we began sharing the message of the Restoration with him right there on the spot. He politely said no thanks that he was busy and didn't have time for us to share the message, and by this time we had arrived to the doorstep of his house. We persisted and he began to tell us that he was Jehovah's Witness and that he was in the correct church and that he didn't have time. I told the man "thank you for your sincerity, but the message we have isn't just to share the word of God, but to share with you the truth. This message will make the difference between whether or not you will obtain salvation." His facial expression quickly changed. We were all silent for about 30 seconds and he responded "never before have I talked to or known a missionary like you." We walked away as he declined the message again. I was hurt because I did all I could and he still rejected. I was happy at the same time because I did everything I could. I am not ashamed of this gospel.
Have a great week :) I love you all.
Love,
Elder Turner
Yesterday I finished for the 2nd time the Book of Mormon in Spanish and as I finished the last few chapters in Moroni, the desire to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true filled my heart and so I knelt down and asked. What a blessing it is to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that we have the fullness of the gospel restored unto the earth. I am so grateful that God loves us enough to be able to allow the Book of Mormon to come forth in our day and time to add another solid witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of mankind. I love the Book of Mormon. There is no other book greater than the Book of Mormon on the face of the earth. I would ask all who read this letter to read the Book of Mormon and then ask God if it is true, even if you have already done so, so that you can know for yourself that it is true. After having done that in the morning before church, I was filled with the Spirit so strong and wanted nothing more than to assure everyone that I talked to that day knew what I believe.
Yesterday we had a contact with a man in the street who was a Jehovah's Witness and we began sharing the message of the Restoration with him right there on the spot. He politely said no thanks that he was busy and didn't have time for us to share the message, and by this time we had arrived to the doorstep of his house. We persisted and he began to tell us that he was Jehovah's Witness and that he was in the correct church and that he didn't have time. I told the man "thank you for your sincerity, but the message we have isn't just to share the word of God, but to share with you the truth. This message will make the difference between whether or not you will obtain salvation." His facial expression quickly changed. We were all silent for about 30 seconds and he responded "never before have I talked to or known a missionary like you." We walked away as he declined the message again. I was hurt because I did all I could and he still rejected. I was happy at the same time because I did everything I could. I am not ashamed of this gospel.
Have a great week :) I love you all.
Love,
Elder Turner
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