I am so happy because i get to stay in Patzicia. I love this city and I love the people that I have gotten to know. This is my 5th change there, so at the end of this change I will have been in Patzicia about 7 months. You might find it odd that I am so happy to be in Patzi again, but I did get a companion change and that has helped a lot. My new companion is Elder Corbett and he is from West Jordan, Utah. He has 18 months in the mission and just came out of the office as financial secretary. He is the new district leader and is a great missionary. He is super obedient and that makes working with him so much easier. I feel that being with him has taken a weight off my shoulders wondering if I will have to deal with disobedience.

Thank you so much for sending that package. I am super excited for it and I will be waiting for it. Hopefully it will be here by the time we have interviews next week so that they will bring it from the office. I know that you put a lot into those packages and I appreciate them with all my heart. I know that it is a blessing to have a mother and family so loving to send me packages from home. :) I got Brooklyn's letter along with Kortland's but I have not had time to write either of them back because I have been working super hard, but I promise that tomorrow I will write them back and try to get them sent by next Monday at the latest.

That's great to hear that Grandma and Grandpa got there safely and that you were able to celebrate with some of the family in AZ doing the Bench usual with tacos :) I hope you ate one for me :) Holy cow!! I didn't realize that Mack is going to Aprende but I guess that is what happens when you're so far from home, you lose track of time. The kids are growning up so fast I can't believe Kort is going to be a junior in High School. I can remember those days and they feel like just the other week but then I look back and realize that I have been in Guatemala for 9 months. Wow. That is such great news to hear that the house and property continues to progress. I know that the Lord is thinking of you always and He knows your needs and desires. Don't doubt in Him and He will bless you as you pray to Him in faith and are obedient to His commandments. Thank you for helping out the missionary work in the home ward, the Lord is blessing you for that also because you are a part in His work and His glory. Don't hesitate to open your mouth and share the gospel with those you know and with those you meet. This week we contacted like crazy, probably more than a hundred people in 3 days and not one of them accepted a visit, but I know that I am doing what I should be doing. I know that The Book of Mormon is true and because I know that the Book of Mormon is true, I know also that Joseph Smith was God's revelator and prophet in these last days, and I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Kingdom of God here on the earth.

I love you all. Do the right. Be faithful in these the last days because Christ will be back very soon.

Elder Turner

This week was an interesting week, and I'm glad to say that it was much better than the week previous. My companion was able to be a bit happier and we were able to get some work done. I didn't have emergency changes but we will find out tonight if I am going to have changes, whether I stay or I leave. I have a feeling that I will stay in the area another change and that my companion will be leaving because of all the things that have happened, I don't think that the mission president will leave him in an area where the temptations are too strong to break the rules. It really has been frustrating to be with a companion for 4 and a half months whose concept of obedience is that the Spirit can lead you to break the rules because the Spirit told Nephi to kill Laban. That's a big thing here, that a lot of missionaries feel that the Spirit can lead you to do things that don't seem right, but if the Spirit tells you to do so it's ok. I love that scripture in D&C 82:10 because I know that it is true, the Lord is bound when we do what he says, but when we are disobedient there is no promise.

That's great to hear that you are have so many blessings with the crops and with the animals. The Lord sees that you are doing your part to save and to use what He has given you so He is kepping his promise to bless you as you live wisely and follow the Word of Wisdom. The Lord will bless you and you will continue to receive the food you need as you are obedient to all the commandments. Something I miss is some good corn on the cob so when that corn is ready, be sure to enjoy it for me :) When Grandma and Grandpa Bench come, let them know that I love them and that I'm sorry I never send them emails but they are in my prayers and I love them so much. 10 days and the school year is over!! That is so crazy. 2 days and I've been out 9 months. What has happened with the time!? I'm probably going to be mentioning the time all of the time because it's just crazy how fast time is going by. This past p-day we got permission to watch The Best Two Years and so we relaxed and watched it as a zone. I had never seen it before, but it is a pretty funny and as I watched it, I felt like the new missionary who gets into the field all fired up to work and makes a fool of himself but doesn't care because he just wants to share the gospel. It's great, you have got to see it.

I hope that all is going well at home and that you all are safe. I love you and I know that the Lord loves you too. I know that the Church is true and that it was restored by the power of God. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to be the Prophet who would open this last dispensation. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church with the power of God and I know that the Book of Mormon was translated by that power. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that like the Bible, it testifies of Jesus Christ. I know that we can become perfect because Jesus has commanded us and like it says in 1 Ne 3:7 we do not recieve a commandment without the Lord preparing the way for it to be done. We can be perfect. Let us be Perfect.

Love with prayers and faith,
Elder Turner

It was so great to talk to you all this week and to hear your voices. I am so greatful that you are my mother and I hope that all of your prayers are answered as you do what the Lord asks you. I know that the Lord is pleased with you and how you are raising us kids. Be patient with the boys and they will grow out of it . I went thru a phase for a while also where I wanted to go into the marines, but it passed like all the other phases do :) If he really has a desire to go to the Marines, like you said mom the time to do so is after the mission. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to serve and eventually you will lose it if you don't take it. That is so great to hear that he is getting better and that he will be able to take this step in his life to be ordained a priest. That's great to hear about the property and the house, that everything is coming together and construction is going to begin. Keep me updated on how it is coming along. Are you going to take family pictures this summer? It would be great to have recent pictures of the family.

As far as the package goes, some treats would be great :) Load that sucker up with some peanut M&Ms :) amd some red hots, and any other candies that you and dad and the family like so that when i eat them they remind me of you :) if you can, get some letters in there too. I'm super excited for the package and I'll be waiting for it in a few weeks.

Things with my companion are a bit better but still on a rough edge. Thank you for your support and prayers for the both of us, we really need it. It's super hard to do the work of the Lord without the Spirit and in fact it's useless because the people will not be truly converted if the spirit isn't with us. I'm striving to do the work of the Lord and to make Him proud. This week to come will be an interesting one and I pray that I will be able to be as effective as I can.

Thank you for all of your support and love.
Love, Elder Turner

Mom, you are so valiant. I love you and appreciate the love that you have for me and for all of us kids. If it wasn't for your love and charity towards us children I know that I wouldnt be here on the mission. Thank you for allowing me to exercise my agency and to make the decisions I made. I have learned from them. I know that my Heavenly Father is pleased that you and Dad have fought so hard with us and that you have taught us the right ways. Be strong with Kortland. He is lost in a world where Satan has great power. Satan has been around much longer than us and he knows how to pull us down. We are the "elite" of Heavenly Fathers children and that is why we have come at the time that we have come. We must always strive to strengthen our armor as we go out to battle each and every day. Prayer is our Shield and the Scriptures are our sword and they must be prepared everyday. Strengthen your shield and armor by daily prayer. Sharpen your sword by reading the Scriptures and the Lord will be your strength and He will sustain you in the daily battles.

Wow!! I can't believe that school is almost over. What is just as crazy is that summer vacation is the only thing that seperates me from being out on the mission for a year. I dont know how, but i think time is going by faster each day. It's nice though to know that hard work is what makes the days feel like seconds. The Kids are all growing up and I dont know what I'm going to do when I hear that the cousins are getting their mission calls. I miss all of the cousins and aunts and uncles. Let them know that I love them and that they are in my prayers.

So Mothers day is Sunday. I was thinking about calling at night so that i could just finish the day talking to you. I was thinking of calling about 8pm my time, so 7 pm your time. I figured that that would assure that all are home. I will be calling from the same number that i called on Christmas. I hope all can be there so i can talk to everyone, especially Kort and Zack. About the shoes, depositing money would probably work the best and I have heard from other missionaries that they sell some good quality shoes here I just have to shop at the right place. I am going to take my shoes to a repair store and see if they can sew the holes up. I will do my best to wear them as long as I can.

So this week I got a package from Elder Hatch, something simple, but that he had promised me. It was a poster of the first vision 16x20 inches. I laminated it and put a bunch of pictures of Jesus Christ on the other side and that is what I have been using to contact now. It is great because people wonder what it is and so it opens up a conversation right away. I love testifying of Joseph Smith because I know that he was called of God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that he had a sincere desire to know the truth and that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and answered his question. I know that anyone who has a sincere desire to know the truth can know by praying to God with a sincere heart with a desire to follow the answer they recieve.

I love you all so much. Don't forget I will be calling Sunday night at 7 pm Arizona time.
One last question, can you send me the recipe for Ire Cooking (crepes) ?

Love Elder Turner

Well the first thing I have to do is ask forgiveness for not wishing you a happy birthday last week mom. I am sorry and I swear that I remembered it was your birthday, but not until after I got off the internet. I love you so much mother and I hope that you had a wonderful birthday. I was thinking and praying for you like always :)

Well this past week was Semana Santa, Holy Week. The entire week is celebrated here by what is called processions. I explained a bit of this to dad last week. But so that all know a bit better I will explain in this email. A procession is when the people get together, the Catholics mainly, and they make a "carpet" in the street with flowers and sawdust and pines needles and stuff like that. The people or members of the Catholic Church then pay to carry a big thing that is basically a parade float without wheels. By carrying this float, the sins are forgiven of those who are carrying, or so they believe. The people pay a big sum of money to participate and carry this float, up to 100 quetzales. Can you imagine giving 100 dollars to have your sins forgiven? The people truly believe that a remission of sins comes from carrying this float. You might be able to find something on YouTube about it by searching Semana Santa Proseciones. It's quite crazy too because no one works Thursday thru Sunday.

Wow that is so crazy to hear about the ward news! Ashley and Adam are both serving? I had no idea at all but that is so amazing to hear! I read that and got the biggest smile to hear that Adam is going to serve. I know that the Lord will bless him so much as he has now taken the decision to serve his Father in Heaven. Tell him that I'm super proud of him and that I am super happy for his righteous decisions. And Sam is entering Wednesday!? The ward is going to be so blessed to have so many missionaries serving. If you get a chance, tell Sam that I say hi and that the one thing I recommend is to choose from this moment forward to be exactly obedient.

I'm jealous to hear that you all spent time together this week, but I know that I will have my chance when I get back. I had a dream the other night that I was home, and I asked you mother why I was home and you told me that I had finished my mission. I started crying and then I woke up. It was more of a nightmare than a dream. I love serving a mission so much and I know that it is the absolute best decision that I could have ever made in my life. I have experienced so much in this short time that has changed me for the eternities.

As I was reading the part about the Easter Bunny bringing chickens I though it was a joke but you really do have chickens. I'll chime in with Kya by saying I hope that the Arizona heat isn't making you all go crazy!! Well just so you know, you can feel a bit closer to me with the chickens because it is a normal Guatemalan thing to have chickens. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see chickens. That is very intelligent to be more self reliant and to have a way to provide some more food into the household. The Lord will surely bless you as you try to save money and be intelligent in the things you buy. I am proud to have a mother who has taught me to be thrifty with my money because I have learned how to spend my money wisely here in the mission so that I will have a bit left over at the end of ever month to put away into an emergency fund. You are a super great mother :)

I am assuming that I will be calling from the same phone for mothers day, but is Mothers' Day the Sunday the 8th or when because here it is Tuesday the 10th? I will do the smae thing I did for Christmas and call you because I'm sure it is cheaper and it seemed to work out well. I do have to ask a favor, that when we talk that we don't talk for more than 40 min because I need to be more obedient and with your help it will be easier to obey.

I love you all so much.

Love Elder Turner

This week was a good week and I feel privileged to be able to write you today. In my part this also might be a short letter but I pray you will understand. I love you all and I know that the Lord is with you trying to help you down the path that leads to eternal life. I had a great week this week, probably the best week that I have had with my companion because we were finally able to sit down and talk about our differences. I explained to him some of the things that dad had mentioned to me on the topic of obedience such as, if the spirit tells you that it is ok to break a mission rule, then it is not the spirit of the Lord. He seemed to understand and I felt great that we were able to talk. One of the most important things that we must also recognize is to be humble so that the Lord and His spirit can truly work thru us. I know that if we truly have a desire to be obedient, the Lord will sustain us and help us to overcome whatever challenge we might face.

This week was a blessing to me and I know that it was what the Lord knew I needed to help me become more like Him. This week I was informed that one of our recent converts who had fallen into a past habit of alcohol was able to stop drinking after a long spree of 3 weeks straight of drinking and he also made it to church. I was not able to see because he now lives in different ward boundaries due to the reorganization of the stake. I know that the Lord is willing to forgive us and help us if we but just find the desire within to say no. We need to learn to tell the enemy, the father of lies, NO. The word no will make us stronger in times of temptation.


Thank you for all of your love and support. My prayers are with you.
Elder Turner