This last week was a great week. I'm a proud to say that I am a servant of the Lord here in Guatemala. I know that this is His work and that I am an instrument in His hands. I have been so blessed to see this week three more of God's children enter into the waters of baptism, two of which were converts and the other counts as a ward baptism. We were able to help a man that has been receiving the missionaries off and on for more than 5 years to be baptized on Saturday. What joy that was to see that the fruits of so many efforts was finally able to open the door and begin down the path that leads to eternal life. Also we had been teaching a young girl whose mother is a member and she was baptized this Saturday along with her little sister. I got to baptize the man and the little girl. Oh and by the way me and my companion are getting along a lot better :)
The Lord has blessed us with agency. We are all free to chose how we will react and who we will follow. I am so grateful to know that you have taught me the gospel and have shown me the path I should take and that you allowed for me to choose for myself what path to follow.
Thank you all for your love and support.
Elder Turner
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
My birthday was great and I was so happy that I could spend the entire day in the service of the Lord. I know that the Lord blessed me so much. I was able to spend the day with Elder Forbush, my companion from the MTC because my companion had to interview people for baptisms. We had a great day and found a family to teach. :) We also went to eat dinner with the family of the cook who called you (Mom) this past week. They are such a great family and they support us as missionaries so much. We are working with some of their family to get them to be baptized. The food was great. Simple but great :) When you are a missionary, everything is delicious. I also got a hug "from Dad" that one of the sons gave me :)
Thank you so much for going to the temple for me mom. I felt the blessings as this week passed by. The temple is such a blessing and you are right, mother, that we are so blessed to have a temple so close to our house. There is only one temple right now in Guatemala that serves for most of Central America. There are people that travel for days to get to the temple and the people that live in the area I'm serving travel 2 hours to get to the temple. It's a sacrifice here but the people do it. Make sure that you take advantage of having a temple so close.
That's so great to hear that the stake was blessed to have the presence of a general authority. The authorities that help the church function properly are men called of God to do His work and His will. If we focus on the basics, we will always find success. Prayer is essential in our everyday life. If we don't pray, we are being disobedient, because God has commanded us to pray. It's a blessing to have commandments because the Lord blesses us if we obey them.
I want to let you all know that Satan is real. He has power and he uses it in many ways. Satan is very smart and he tries very hard to put stumbling blocks in our path no matter what it may be. He tries hard to get us down by allowing us to think that we are not good enough or that we are not worthy. I know that Satan is working hard to destroy the lives of many people including and especially those children of God who have made covenants or those children who are searching for the truth. Satan doesn't need to work hard on those who are in the bars drinking or those who are addicted to drugs because he has already got them. Satan is working very hard to bring down the righteous because he knows that once Zion is established he will be bound. We are working right now to establish Zion and establishing Zion is the last great revelation that needs to be accomplished before the Lord comes. Stay faithful and do not let Satan get a hold of you. Be strong and fight him with all of your strength and energy. If you have fallen there is a way out. Repentance is the way and Jesus Christ has prepared it through His sufferings so that we can all become the children of God that Christ knows we can become.
I love you all,
Elder Turner
Thank you so much for going to the temple for me mom. I felt the blessings as this week passed by. The temple is such a blessing and you are right, mother, that we are so blessed to have a temple so close to our house. There is only one temple right now in Guatemala that serves for most of Central America. There are people that travel for days to get to the temple and the people that live in the area I'm serving travel 2 hours to get to the temple. It's a sacrifice here but the people do it. Make sure that you take advantage of having a temple so close.
That's so great to hear that the stake was blessed to have the presence of a general authority. The authorities that help the church function properly are men called of God to do His work and His will. If we focus on the basics, we will always find success. Prayer is essential in our everyday life. If we don't pray, we are being disobedient, because God has commanded us to pray. It's a blessing to have commandments because the Lord blesses us if we obey them.
I want to let you all know that Satan is real. He has power and he uses it in many ways. Satan is very smart and he tries very hard to put stumbling blocks in our path no matter what it may be. He tries hard to get us down by allowing us to think that we are not good enough or that we are not worthy. I know that Satan is working hard to destroy the lives of many people including and especially those children of God who have made covenants or those children who are searching for the truth. Satan doesn't need to work hard on those who are in the bars drinking or those who are addicted to drugs because he has already got them. Satan is working very hard to bring down the righteous because he knows that once Zion is established he will be bound. We are working right now to establish Zion and establishing Zion is the last great revelation that needs to be accomplished before the Lord comes. Stay faithful and do not let Satan get a hold of you. Be strong and fight him with all of your strength and energy. If you have fallen there is a way out. Repentance is the way and Jesus Christ has prepared it through His sufferings so that we can all become the children of God that Christ knows we can become.
I love you all,
Elder Turner
Thursday, February 17, 2011
I can't express in words the joy I receive from reading the letters you send each week! It's amazing how it can lift one's spirit being able to communicate with those you love the most. I woke up Sunday morning and had a little prayer in my heart that Mackenzy would feel me and the joy that I had that it was her Birthday yesterday. I had written in my agenda that it was her birthday so that I wouldn't get thru that day and forget about it. That is insane that she is 11 already! :) Time is flying!
That's amazing that Corona finished wrestling how they finished, but with the loss of the 3 starters that were ranked, it was a big blow. I'm sad that I missed this season and that I still have one more to miss, but it's better for everyone that way. It will help the boys to learn the way I did. I wish I could have been there to help them out, but if they can figure it out on their own they will be stronger and they will understand better why Dad is so hard on them sometimes. I'm so grateful for all of the challenges that I had with wrestling and the struggle I had to understand why my father is the way he is because now that I'm in the mission I am able to apply what I have learned over these short (almost) 20 years. I'm so grateful that I wrestled and that I finished every single year. I will never regret wrestling. It's a man's sport.
That's so great to hear that you are going to be starting a new job mother. I know that the Lord is blessing you and the family with this new opportunity for work. The Lord knows all things and He blesses us with the things that we need so that we can grow not only physically but spiritually also. The Lord will support and sustain you in your new work if you remember to ask for His help. The key is asking. Just because the Lord knows what we need doesn't mean that He is always going to give it to us right away. We must be humble and show our spiritual strength by asking the Lord for the things we need. I'm so grateful to be on my mission and to have humbling experiences that teach me to rely on my Lord and Savior each and every day.
This week I will be turning 20 and will be done with 1/4 of my mission. That is weird and kinda sad to me to think that 1/4 of my mission is over with and I will never be able to get it back. I've learned a lot up to this point and plan on continuing to learn so much more. The mission has been such a blessing in my life and i wouldn't trade it for the world. The Lord is refining me. He is holding me in the fire and watching me carefully so that He can make me into the absolute best that I can be. I know that the Lord is doing the same with each and every one of you too. He is holding you in the refiner's fire of life and watching you carefully. He wants us all to become the best and most pure that we can become but only we can allow Him to do so because we have agency. Think before you act. Think of the eternal consequences before you make a decision and if you desire to be with Heavenly Father and feel that He will accept the decision you make, then you are making the right decision.
I love you all and I am so grateful for the love and support that you unceasingly send my way. The Lord is watching you and knows your needs. He will bless you if you are humble and faithful.
Love,
Elder Turner
That's amazing that Corona finished wrestling how they finished, but with the loss of the 3 starters that were ranked, it was a big blow. I'm sad that I missed this season and that I still have one more to miss, but it's better for everyone that way. It will help the boys to learn the way I did. I wish I could have been there to help them out, but if they can figure it out on their own they will be stronger and they will understand better why Dad is so hard on them sometimes. I'm so grateful for all of the challenges that I had with wrestling and the struggle I had to understand why my father is the way he is because now that I'm in the mission I am able to apply what I have learned over these short (almost) 20 years. I'm so grateful that I wrestled and that I finished every single year. I will never regret wrestling. It's a man's sport.
That's so great to hear that you are going to be starting a new job mother. I know that the Lord is blessing you and the family with this new opportunity for work. The Lord knows all things and He blesses us with the things that we need so that we can grow not only physically but spiritually also. The Lord will support and sustain you in your new work if you remember to ask for His help. The key is asking. Just because the Lord knows what we need doesn't mean that He is always going to give it to us right away. We must be humble and show our spiritual strength by asking the Lord for the things we need. I'm so grateful to be on my mission and to have humbling experiences that teach me to rely on my Lord and Savior each and every day.
This week I will be turning 20 and will be done with 1/4 of my mission. That is weird and kinda sad to me to think that 1/4 of my mission is over with and I will never be able to get it back. I've learned a lot up to this point and plan on continuing to learn so much more. The mission has been such a blessing in my life and i wouldn't trade it for the world. The Lord is refining me. He is holding me in the fire and watching me carefully so that He can make me into the absolute best that I can be. I know that the Lord is doing the same with each and every one of you too. He is holding you in the refiner's fire of life and watching you carefully. He wants us all to become the best and most pure that we can become but only we can allow Him to do so because we have agency. Think before you act. Think of the eternal consequences before you make a decision and if you desire to be with Heavenly Father and feel that He will accept the decision you make, then you are making the right decision.
I love you all and I am so grateful for the love and support that you unceasingly send my way. The Lord is watching you and knows your needs. He will bless you if you are humble and faithful.
Love,
Elder Turner
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Do it better because that's what you deserve
I'm glad that my package came! :) I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to get my B-day package until March or so because today we had interviews and that's the last time I'll see President for the next 2 weeks at least :/ It's a bummer but that's how the mail works coming from the mission office. I'll make sure that it all gets its good use when the package arrives though even if it's late. :)
Well that's a bummer to hear that the boys are done with wrestling. I can't believe that I actually missed a wrestling season and that for sure I'm going to miss one more. Wrestling for me truly has been one of those things that you don't realize how much it means to you until you really can't have it. My aggressiveness has been withheld as far as wrestling goes for this season, but I can promise you that I'm finding ways to be "aggressive" with the work of the Lord. :) Kort and Zack let this season eat at you for a bit. Think about what you accomplished and the challenges you had. Now take those thoughts and learn from this season. You now have something to measure yourself for this upcoming year. I'm not talking just about wrestling, but about everything you do. Do it better. Do it better because that's what you deserve.
We must always have our sights on the future and take into perspective the decisions we make now or we will fall short and yield ourselves to the one who desires our captivity and misery like himself.
Wow that's crazy to think that the Super Bowl has passed but it's good to hear that the Packers took care of business. I miss good old American football. Futbol here is different but I'm starting to catch on to the fever a little bit. I actually bought some street soccer shoes because we play almost every pday. It's fun and a nice way to trim down this belly that I've gained.
Mom I love your faith. The Lord has always provided for His children as long as they do what is right. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and He will continue to bless His children and provide a way for them to escape temptation. A scripture that I have really come to love is D&C 29:34. The Lord blesses us by giving us commandments. All commandments have a spiritual base. We must learn to be obedient now so that when we get to heaven we will be obedient there also.
Well the work is still progressing and I am proud to be apart of it. Stay strong and true.
Elder Turner
Well that's a bummer to hear that the boys are done with wrestling. I can't believe that I actually missed a wrestling season and that for sure I'm going to miss one more. Wrestling for me truly has been one of those things that you don't realize how much it means to you until you really can't have it. My aggressiveness has been withheld as far as wrestling goes for this season, but I can promise you that I'm finding ways to be "aggressive" with the work of the Lord. :) Kort and Zack let this season eat at you for a bit. Think about what you accomplished and the challenges you had. Now take those thoughts and learn from this season. You now have something to measure yourself for this upcoming year. I'm not talking just about wrestling, but about everything you do. Do it better. Do it better because that's what you deserve.
We must always have our sights on the future and take into perspective the decisions we make now or we will fall short and yield ourselves to the one who desires our captivity and misery like himself.
Wow that's crazy to think that the Super Bowl has passed but it's good to hear that the Packers took care of business. I miss good old American football. Futbol here is different but I'm starting to catch on to the fever a little bit. I actually bought some street soccer shoes because we play almost every pday. It's fun and a nice way to trim down this belly that I've gained.
Mom I love your faith. The Lord has always provided for His children as long as they do what is right. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and He will continue to bless His children and provide a way for them to escape temptation. A scripture that I have really come to love is D&C 29:34. The Lord blesses us by giving us commandments. All commandments have a spiritual base. We must learn to be obedient now so that when we get to heaven we will be obedient there also.
Well the work is still progressing and I am proud to be apart of it. Stay strong and true.
Elder Turner
Monday, January 31, 2011
Never Lose The Faith Because Of What You Don't Know
This week I got the package that you sent me for Christmas. Finally!! The pens came just in time as I ran out of ink in my last pen. The candy was great and the little toys and stuff too. Thank you so much for all of the Love and support that you have given me in these past months. Getting packages and letters really helps lift my, already lifted, spirit :) I love you all so much! I also got the package from Chloe too. Thank you all.
Thank you for sending out my birthday package too. I'll start praying for it now :) I'll be waiting for it. Thank you Chloe for sending the jump rope. Thank you for supporting her in the gospel. I know that the relationship that you have with her now will really help because these were my rough years and I imagine that they are rough for all. Keep inviting her over to spend time and support her please. I got another letter from Kort this week. Thank you Kort. I wrote back and will probably get to sending it tomorrow so keep your eye out these next two weeks for a little package.
KORT and ZACK: THIS IS IT!!! THESE LAST TWO WEEKS ARE NEVER GOING TO BE GIVEN TO YOU AGAIN!! DON'T LET YOURSELF DOWN BY NOT GIVING IT YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST.
This week was great with the two baptisms we had. The two boys that were baptized were happy kids, but after they received the Holy Ghost on Sunday, I could tell an even greater happiness was in them. I know that the baptism must be done by the proper authority or it is not valid. I know that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints exists this authority, restored by John the Baptist. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord loves us so much to restore His power and authority, the Priesthood, to the earth so that we can minister the ordinances of salvation. I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and that this church is Christ's church and that He guides it today. Never lose the faith because of what you don't know. Keep the faith because you trust in God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
¡Segid adelante con firmeza en Cristo! [Press forward with steadfastness in Christ!]
I love you all,
Elder Turner
Thank you for sending out my birthday package too. I'll start praying for it now :) I'll be waiting for it. Thank you Chloe for sending the jump rope. Thank you for supporting her in the gospel. I know that the relationship that you have with her now will really help because these were my rough years and I imagine that they are rough for all. Keep inviting her over to spend time and support her please. I got another letter from Kort this week. Thank you Kort. I wrote back and will probably get to sending it tomorrow so keep your eye out these next two weeks for a little package.
KORT and ZACK: THIS IS IT!!! THESE LAST TWO WEEKS ARE NEVER GOING TO BE GIVEN TO YOU AGAIN!! DON'T LET YOURSELF DOWN BY NOT GIVING IT YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST.
This week was great with the two baptisms we had. The two boys that were baptized were happy kids, but after they received the Holy Ghost on Sunday, I could tell an even greater happiness was in them. I know that the baptism must be done by the proper authority or it is not valid. I know that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints exists this authority, restored by John the Baptist. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord loves us so much to restore His power and authority, the Priesthood, to the earth so that we can minister the ordinances of salvation. I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and that this church is Christ's church and that He guides it today. Never lose the faith because of what you don't know. Keep the faith because you trust in God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
¡Segid adelante con firmeza en Cristo! [Press forward with steadfastness in Christ!]
I love you all,
Elder Turner
Monday, January 24, 2011
Hello this week! It's hard to change companions when you begin to get comfortable, but that's why the Lord changed my companion. I was getting complacent and content when I shouldn't have. I know that with my new companion The Lord will help me learn in ways i haven't learned before. It's nice to know that the Lord does all things for the benefit of His children. I'm blessed to have humbling experiences that teach me and help me to become a better missionary and a better person.
This week, Thursday, The mission was blessed to have the presence of Elder Ballard. He came to the capital, and I am in the mountains, but as a zone, we rented a bus and went 2 hours from our area to the capital to hear him. It was great to have another apostle of the Lord speak to me on my mission. I came to realize, while Elder Ballard was talking, that i need to be more direct when i talk to people. I have to lose all fears and preach exactly what I know, and what the Lord has called me to preach.
It's great to hear that everything with great Gma Bench went well and that you were able to enjoy your time in ID and UT. It's good to hear that you caught the family history bug mom :) something that i would like to do is family history, because there is a part in my patriarchal blessing of family history work and temple work for my ancestors. It would be great to know some history of our family too and how my ancestors joined the church. It's great to be here in Guatemala helping people begin the blessings of the gospel for generations to come. This Saturday my companion and I have a baptism for too young men age 13 and 12. I'm so excited to be able to help them enter the gate and begin their path back to our Heavenly Father.
Man that's frustrating to hear that the boys are having a tough time. It's great to hear that Zack was able to close the gap with the kid from Dobson. That's how you end up beating the kid, little by little you gotta get in his head. Kort don't let down, you are coming into the most important part of the season. Keep your head up and finish strong. Finish strong for yourself. You both worked hard before the season so that when the end of the season came you could leave all that work out on the mat. Let that work show.
The work is continuing strong and The Lord is blessing us here in our area. I know that if you will continue to do the work of the Lord no matter where you are, He will bless you. I love you all so much. Thank you for your supprt and for all the letters i have recieved!! You are great.
Elder Turner
This week, Thursday, The mission was blessed to have the presence of Elder Ballard. He came to the capital, and I am in the mountains, but as a zone, we rented a bus and went 2 hours from our area to the capital to hear him. It was great to have another apostle of the Lord speak to me on my mission. I came to realize, while Elder Ballard was talking, that i need to be more direct when i talk to people. I have to lose all fears and preach exactly what I know, and what the Lord has called me to preach.
It's great to hear that everything with great Gma Bench went well and that you were able to enjoy your time in ID and UT. It's good to hear that you caught the family history bug mom :) something that i would like to do is family history, because there is a part in my patriarchal blessing of family history work and temple work for my ancestors. It would be great to know some history of our family too and how my ancestors joined the church. It's great to be here in Guatemala helping people begin the blessings of the gospel for generations to come. This Saturday my companion and I have a baptism for too young men age 13 and 12. I'm so excited to be able to help them enter the gate and begin their path back to our Heavenly Father.
Man that's frustrating to hear that the boys are having a tough time. It's great to hear that Zack was able to close the gap with the kid from Dobson. That's how you end up beating the kid, little by little you gotta get in his head. Kort don't let down, you are coming into the most important part of the season. Keep your head up and finish strong. Finish strong for yourself. You both worked hard before the season so that when the end of the season came you could leave all that work out on the mat. Let that work show.
The work is continuing strong and The Lord is blessing us here in our area. I know that if you will continue to do the work of the Lord no matter where you are, He will bless you. I love you all so much. Thank you for your supprt and for all the letters i have recieved!! You are great.
Elder Turner
Monday, January 17, 2011
Thank you so much for writing me and supporting me in this endeavor. I know that with out your support and love i wouldn't be able to do this. Thank you mom for raising me in the gospel of Jesus Christ and showing me the way that Jesus Christ established. It's interesting how many people here are accepting because they would "never reject the word of God" but when it comes to following the only way that Jesus Christ showed us to follow, it becomes difficult. People feel that if they have accepted Jesus in their heart that they will be saved, but that's not what Jesus Christ taught. He taught faith, which faith is accion, accion (haha what a great spanish-speaking missionary already! spanish...english...it's all the same to him!!) that brings us to repentance. Thats what the gospel is. Repentance brings us to have a desire to change and that change comes thru baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost and then enduring to the end. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings true happiness to all those who search with a willing heart. I am so grateful that the Lord thru His prophet has called me to preach His gospel to the people here in Guatemala. I know that the Lord is blessing me and you also thru our obedience to His call.
This week i got a new companion. My old companion had been in the area 7 and a half months and was burned out of the area. My new companion has a fire and desire to work and we are doing a lot here. I'm still in Patzicia. My new companion is Elder Diaz from Chicimula Guatemala and he has a year in the mission. This change he just went up as District Leader. It's interesting to be with another new companion because i was just starting to really get along with my other companion and then we had changes. It reminds me of what my trainer told me, "just when you start to feel comfortable things change". I'm really having to work with this companion to get along with him because we are very different, but i learned something in my last change with Elder Calona that when you pray for your companion in all things, the Lord will help you become friends. I know that i just need to be humble and rely on the Lord and He will help me.
In my area we are doing a little of reactivating and working with investigators. We have a lot of families who are inactive with children who are older than 8 and so we teach them as investigators. We are teaching two young boys who have a baptismal date for the 29 of this months and they will both be priesthood holders. It's great to see progress in families because that's what the gospel is all about, families.
It started to warm up a little bit for about 2 weeks but now it's cold again and the wind has been blowing like crazy. One of the members told me that it has been snowing in the states and that cold air is blowing down to here.
It's good to hear thats Kort's nose is getting better and that it wasn't as bad as you might have expected. It's getting to the last part of the season and i'm sure that the boys are starting to wear out. That's sad because it's not over yet. We can't give up when the time gets close. We must go all the way to the end. Even though we feel beat up and bruised and worn out like we can't take it anymore, remember that there is someone who knows EXACTLY how you feel. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered everything so that we might humble ourselves before Him and ask for His help and that He might know how to help us. Alma 7:11-12
I had the opportunity this past week to share with an investigator that i had recently lost my great grandma but that for me it was so relieving to know that i would be able to see her again because of the power and blessings of the temples. It's so great to know that our Father in Heaven has created a plan so perfect that no matter what might happen in this life, if we remain faithful, we will be able to be with our families again. I love the gospel :)
Elder Turner
This week i got a new companion. My old companion had been in the area 7 and a half months and was burned out of the area. My new companion has a fire and desire to work and we are doing a lot here. I'm still in Patzicia. My new companion is Elder Diaz from Chicimula Guatemala and he has a year in the mission. This change he just went up as District Leader. It's interesting to be with another new companion because i was just starting to really get along with my other companion and then we had changes. It reminds me of what my trainer told me, "just when you start to feel comfortable things change". I'm really having to work with this companion to get along with him because we are very different, but i learned something in my last change with Elder Calona that when you pray for your companion in all things, the Lord will help you become friends. I know that i just need to be humble and rely on the Lord and He will help me.
In my area we are doing a little of reactivating and working with investigators. We have a lot of families who are inactive with children who are older than 8 and so we teach them as investigators. We are teaching two young boys who have a baptismal date for the 29 of this months and they will both be priesthood holders. It's great to see progress in families because that's what the gospel is all about, families.
It started to warm up a little bit for about 2 weeks but now it's cold again and the wind has been blowing like crazy. One of the members told me that it has been snowing in the states and that cold air is blowing down to here.
It's good to hear thats Kort's nose is getting better and that it wasn't as bad as you might have expected. It's getting to the last part of the season and i'm sure that the boys are starting to wear out. That's sad because it's not over yet. We can't give up when the time gets close. We must go all the way to the end. Even though we feel beat up and bruised and worn out like we can't take it anymore, remember that there is someone who knows EXACTLY how you feel. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered everything so that we might humble ourselves before Him and ask for His help and that He might know how to help us. Alma 7:11-12
I had the opportunity this past week to share with an investigator that i had recently lost my great grandma but that for me it was so relieving to know that i would be able to see her again because of the power and blessings of the temples. It's so great to know that our Father in Heaven has created a plan so perfect that no matter what might happen in this life, if we remain faithful, we will be able to be with our families again. I love the gospel :)
Elder Turner
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