Monday, March 28, 2011
3.28.2011
So some big news that I know the family is going to get a kick out of (especially Brian and Cami). Salt Lake has issued that all missionaries now have text messages (at least in out mission) haha We have 800 a day so I don't think I'll be going over but who knows haha. When I heard it I didn't think much about it but I thought you guys would enjoy hearing that I get to text again.
So this past week was a good one. Not too much happened but we have good things lining up. We met with the Marinos again this week but once again the Dad was at the hospital. Its kinda funny becuase President calls us all the time now asking for updates on them. He absolutley loves that family and its fun to be able to teach them. They aren't progressing as fast as some other investigators (i've been teaching them for 6 months) but thats ok. They need to go at a slower pace. We are hopefully going out there tonight. We haven't confirmed with them but our Bishop is coming as well so it should be great.
Last night we had a fireside and there is a missionary who just came to our mission in the middle of last week. He was going to Japan but had some health issues so got sent here after 3 months in the MTC. I was talking to him last night and I said the only Japanese Phrase I remember "Nihamgo Tamimasen" and he gave me this weird look and was like "you don't eat Japanese" haha It made me laugh.
Sorry this one is a bit shorter but because its spring break, there are a ton of people at the library and the computers are in short supply so I gotta let the other Elders get a shot. Love ya.
Elder Turner
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
3.21.2011
So not too much happened this week. We had alot of ups and downs. Our Baptisimal date dropped us yesterday becuase "being a mormon is just too hard". That was pretty diappointing but he'll come back. He always does. This isn't the first time he's dropped missionaries and it probably won't be the last.
The Marinos are doing good. The mom was on 1 Nephi 7 last time we were there and this past week she was on Alma 7. It was great. It took 6 months to get her to Alma 7 than one week to get her to Alma 7. She read that all in one day and the kids were begging for breakfast but she just wanted to keep reading haha. Unfortunately she hasn't been reading every day but she does like the book of Mormon and gets drawn in. The dad hasn't been meeting with us for a while and always has excuses for church but I think if the rest of the family want to join he would be supportive and eventually come around. We're meeting with them tonight but the dad won't be there again. His buddy was out snowmobilling and while he was out his wife and 2 kids (6 and 9) were in a head on collision. All survived but the little girl is paralyzed from the chest down and the other two have problems. He's been helping him out at the hospital. Sad story i know. We're definately keeping his friends family in our prayers.
So we found a great new investigator this past week named Michael. I was on exchange and my comp and another missionary were tracting and tracted into a guy who had just asked for missionaries on Mormon.org the day before so he thought they were there for that. We taught him yesterday and he is great and is gonna get baptized I just know it. I'll keep you posted on him.
The Olsens (my family up here) are moving back to Spanish Fork this week so its sad to see them go. We're helping them move on tuesday so yeah that kinda stinks but they said when I'm at BYU I need to come over for Sunday Supper. haha
Things are picking up for us. We have a ton of appointments this week and we are meeting with a Recent Converts/Less Active which is great cause we have only seen them like 3 times since their baptism. I'm excited for that appointment.
This past week Elder Hall had the Flu for two days so we weren't able to work those days. We went on Exchange for our appointments that we had though. Unfortunately for us one of those days was Sunday so I took him to Church and one of the Elders from the previous ward (he left priesthood early and his comp went into a trio with the other two in that ward) went and sat in the car with Elder Hall. I went with the other two Elders in our ward and the Elder who sat in the car with Elder Hall and his comp took him out tracting and left him in the car while they tracted (with presidents approval of course) haha. It was so complicated but it all worked out.
Well not much else to report on. Do you want me to keep all my winter gear or donate it to the mission. I have a big coat, winter boots, gloves, hat, ear muffs, etc. So I'll keep whatever you want me too. Just let me know soon.
Love,
Elder Turner
Monday, March 14, 2011
3.14.2011
I hope everybody had a great week. Mine was good but could've been better. The Marinos were sick for our appointment so they had to cancel. We are going out there this week so all should be good.
So the day of the earthquake a ton of people called me cause in some people's minds Japan and China are the same thing but they were worried about you guys being in what they thought was Japan. I got to thinking about it though and I was like "uh Dad does alot of business in Japan and I didn't get a letter from Mom and she usually tells me where Dad is going, I hope he's ok" So I called the mission President and he said he would call and find out but I didn't have your number and the only number I could find was Brian and Cami's which I guess Destiny now has I don't know. But mom can you A. Send me your home phone # and B. call give it to Sister Poulton (not Paulson) so that they have it on record. That would be fantastic but I am glad to hear that Dad was not in Japan. He had tried calling all weekend and finally got ahold of them on Sunday.
This week has been busy though. We've been trying to help someone quit smoking and they are so stubborn. I get so frustrated but I guess I've never really had an addiction like that so I don't fully understand. I just think "if you want to quit, don't buy ciggarettes!!!" It seems like an easy fix to me but I guess it's harder than that. We have been super busy which is nice cause life goes alot better when your busy. I suppose I'm always busy but lessons seem to make the day seem busier than tracting.
Elder Hall and I are staying together by the way. I'm super excited to stay. That means I would have been in this area for 7.5 months which is really exciting. That rarely happens. It might have helped that I asked President Paulson to stay and so did Bishop haha but still it's done by revelation. I had General Conference in this ward 6 months ago and now I'll have my second. I'm super excited for General Conference as well. We don't have to wear suits after that which I love.
So we had a wicked blizzard the other day and it was scary. I had to drive and we took a back road (not a good idea) and i was in a white out for like a minute but it was super scary and I couldn't see at all. Luckily there was no accidents and we were fine. It was just the scariest thing I have ever driven in. Elder hall didn't help either haha.
This week though it is going to be warm. The forecast is in the positives all week. Its great. It's like +1 C today and i'm walking around in a suit coat. They are expecting massive flooding this year. In 1997 they had the flood of the century and they expect this year to be worse. Not much we can do about it I guess. We are on the bottom floor of the apartment building so I'm expecting to go swimming. It's gonna be fun cause I've never experianced something like this. We'll see what happens haha.
Well not much else to write. Hope all is well and don't work yourselves too hard.
Love,
Elder Turner
Thursday, March 10, 2011
3.7.2011
Big News:
1. The Marinos came to church!!!! I was so excited to see them at church and they loved it. Unfortunately the dad got tied up with helping a friend move but the rest of the family loved it. It was so great to see them there and I was definitely ecstatic.
2. We unformered a young man who wanted to be baptized. He is getting baptized on April 9, 2011. He has been investigating for over a year and I've taught him a few times with Elder McCleave, and Elder Mitton. We've taught him everyday last week and we are really helping him out. He is going through a tough time and really wants God so he's definitely been humbled.
3. President and Sister Paulson came to an appointment with us to the Marinos and President and his wife absolutley adore that family. They said it was the best people they have ever taught on thier mission. I was talking to Sister Marino during the lesson about church and she mentioned to me that she wanted to wait till the end of the lesson to tell me but that they set aside time this Sunday just for church. President and Sister Paulson came to our Ward this Sunday (he was there 2 weeks ago) just because they were coming and President and Sister Paulson have been emailing them and calling them to see how they are doing. The ward was really excited to see them as well.
4. We found a few people this week and it went really well. We are excited to start meeting more with some of these people.
5. We are helping some less actives come back to church and on Sunday a few of them came. I love when Less actives come back because they are always so nervous but realize that people are just happy to see them. Some say things like "What will people think if I come back?" but I can honestly say that the only thing people think is that it is so great to see them there.
I'm a little nervous about transfers coming up next thursday (not this thursday). On Friday we find out if we stay or go and I really want to stay. Usually you don't stay in an area longer than 6 months which is how long I've been here. I talked to President on the Phone about the Marinos last night and I mentioned that I wanted to stay in the area. He asked me how long I've been there and I said 6 months and he said "well, We've kept missionaries in areas for 9 months sometimes, we'll have to see" haha I really hope I get to stay but Whatever happens is whats suppose to happen.
Well not much else to write. Sorry if my past letters sounded like I was a Debbie Downer. I don't mean to be. It's so much easier to be happy when good things are happening but I gotta learn to be happy irregardless. I'm already doing better with that. For Example, no one in my family wrote me but I'm still happy haha Love ya all
Love,
Elder Turner


