11.15.2010

Hey Mommy,

I know you are probably super busy or at the least just forgot. Don't worry about it. Things here are going really well. Elder Mitton and I are having a ton of fun. We get along really well and we both just want to go out and work so much so I don't have to fight him at all. Definately a relief. The other day we were at the grocery store and we walked down the ethnic aisle and we found a ton of Japanese Stuff so we bought it. We got Yakults, those mushroom chocolates, the pokeys and koala bears. Ha it was pretty fun to reminise. We were just hoping for Pocari Sweat, Yaki Soba, and Calpis but I guess you take what you can get.

This past week was a fantastic week. We worked really hard and found a ton of success. Kathryn came to church this past week with her entire family (total of 9 people) and we also had another investigator come named Ryan. It was really great to see them there and I really think they enjoyed themselves. Kathryn had a huge smile on her face because she had her whole family there, something she has wanted for a while. Next week is the Primary program and the kids were practicing for that so maybe next week they will come to see that. That would be really great.

Things are going well here. Elder Mitton got his cristmas Package and we found a Christmas tree so we put up our christmas tree and we are getting into the Christmas spirit. We did take pictures but Elder Mitton was smart and brought his card reader so that he can send pictures home but I forgot. Maybe I'll have him send me them. We'll see.

Well not much else to say. I love you and hope you had a great week and don't worry about not writing me, we didn't have too much time today anyway.

Love,
Elder Turner

11.8.2010

So some pretty big news. We got our transfer calls this past week and Elder McCleave is being transferred to my first area agnes (now called Stafford cause they moved the apartment). Our areas are called by the street we live on. We're the Munroe Elders for example. Anyway, my new companion is the one and only Elder Mitton. haha. President called and told me I was getting him and said I heard somewhere that you know him from Japan. I didn't even know that until after we planned transfers. It was pretty funny and I'm excited to serve with him. I'll drop Elder McCleave off on Thursday and pick up Elder Mitton.

As for the area we had a fairly good week. We were super busy and the work is really starting to progress. The ward now has really good missionaries and so the members are starting to build trust with the missionaries. This ward had some bad missionaries in the past which kinda halted the missionary work but they are starting to trust us again. A couple weeks ago we got a refferal from a member and yesterday we got another one so things are picking up. The refferal from the member a couple weeks ago is going really well. They live about 45 min away but on tuesday they are coming in and having a lesson at the church. The are the Marino family and they are really great people.

This winter has been so nice. Today was 13 C (55 F) and we played football outside. It has been quite warm which is unheard of for WINTERpeg, ManiSNOWba (you would not believe how many people we talk to that use that joke, it wasn't funny the first time and still isn't funny) The great thing about that saying is if it is a cold day people say WINTERpeg but if it is a windy day it suddenly changes to WINDYpeg. The people here are so clever. I'm hoping the weather will be like this all winter but people tell me not to hold my breath.

I told Sister Olsen to call you Cami so that she can see if you want her to bring anything up. I don't know when she'll do it but expect a call. They are great and she is planning on dropping off a letter with a check in it that I need deposited. You might also get to meet all my neices and my nephew as well.

Well not much else to write. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

Love,
Elder Turner

11.1.2010

Helllllllloooooo Turner Family.

Happy Halloween!!! Last night we weren't allowed to proselyte after 5 so we ended up going to a members house for supper and had a fun time. We had a nice quiet Halloween. It is pretty funny to see up here though, everybody plans their costumes around their winter gear. This week we had the years first snow fall so everybody has been talking about that. It went away that day (which rarely happens) but there isn't snow anymore. The weather is now just kinda chill. And yes mom, Canada does celebrate Halloween. They celebrate Christmas too. November 11 is Remembrance day which is another holiday in the states but Remembrance day is about remembering fallen war heroes.

This past week we had a really good week. We went out to that refferal who lives about 45 min away and had a pretty good lesson with them. We are going again this week. We also got to go to a baptism on Saturday for somebody in the other ward but it went really well. It was a fillipeano baptism (filipeanos are my favorite people ever by the way) which means that instead of the normal baptism deserts we got a full coarse meal and food to take home. haha they love food, they love missionaries, and it is a win win situation for me.

Also on Saturday we got to go over to The Rodriguez's/Silks and carve pumpkins and watch "The Best Two Years". It was a really fun night. That movie was funny before but it is really funny when you realize that is really how a mission is. It was a great night.

Before I forget, Sister Olsen (my Second cousins wife) is going down to Utah than Las Vegas I think this week or so. She asked if there was anything I wanted her to bring home to you guys and I think I just might give her the check to give to you but other than that I don't have anything else to send. She than asked if there was anything she could bring back up. I thought about my Christmas package soon. I know it would be a hassle to get it ready quickly but it would save you alot of money from having to send it up. I'll have her call you and you can make that decision I guess.

Well Transfer calls are this Sunday. Crazy to think this transfer is gone already. My mission is just zooming past and it isn't a good thing. I love it out here. At least now I'll get to go home and have a brand new Nephew/Neice. haha remember when I thought the pregnancy test was instant. I was pretty grossed out. haha well I love you all.

Elder Turner

Oh and no, I have no idea what is happening with the elections. I know Canada just had theirs though but I don't even know the results of that.

10.25.2010

Hello Everybody,

This week was a fairly good week. Not too much happened but it is still been pretty good. We did go out to teach that member's friend. Turns out they live about 45 min. away so the member took us out there. After the long drive there we discovered that his friend wasn't home. Kinda a bummer and the member was really embarrassed. I hate getting lunched when we bring members along but I've never been lunched when a member brings us along (Lunched that the person missed the appointment, I thought I should clarify) That member called us today and said that he got caught up the other day and didn't get home till late so we are going out there again this week. It should go through this time.

This past week was stake conference and everybody we invited didn't necessarily want to travel to the stake center so we didn't have anybody come. We also had a Masters Fireside last night and Bro. Rodriguez and Kelsey Silk showed up (from the baptism) and another one of our investigators named Kathryn. We're hopefully going to be setting a baptism date with Kathryn. She is super ready for it, she just needs to take care of a few things before hand. The zone has 30 baptisms set before December which is huge because it's not something that usually happens. The mission is starting to pick up quite a bit so that is really great.

I'm doing good. Elder McCleve and I are getting along great and we are having alot of fun. The weather has been suprisingly good, especially for this time of year but they are expecting snow this weekend. Not the best news but we'll take it. It's gonna come sooner or later. Well Sorry there isn't too much else to talk about. I'll try and have more exciting things next time. Oh, The Rodriguez's are having us over this week for supper, pumpkin carving, and to watch "The Best Two Years" (President gave us permission). It will be pretty fun.

Love,

Elder Turner

10.18.2010

Wow so much happened this week. I'm constantly tired but I guess that just means I've been working hard. The baptism was amazing and the spirit was really strong. We went to the church to fill up the font and for some reason the hot water here in Winnipeg comes out like dark brown so it looked disgusting. haha we told the girls that becuase they wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized we were trying to recreate the Jordan River.

Needless to say they weren't impressed. haha Bishop luckily had bought some pool die and so we put that in

there and so the water was like a deep blue. Looked kinda funny but better than brown I suppose. We didn't think too many people would show up but we set up a ton of chairs in the Relief Socity room. Well that filled up pretty quickly and during the first talk we had to set up more chairs and I had to sit out in the hall. As I was in the hall more people kept coming and they had to stay in the hall. Luckily everybody piled in to see the baptism and than we moved it to the chapel afterwards. After that everything went smoothly. The girls were so great and they just beemed. The younger one had to get dunked twice and after the first time when she found out she had to get dunked again she said "Are you Kidding Me??" pretty loudly. Everyone Laughed. They were also pretty happy/ honored that President Paulson and his wife came to see it. All in all it was a very long but extrememly good day.

At the baptism a member told us that he had been talking to his friends and they agreed to have us meet them so we are going to go visit this family with the member on thursday. We are pretty excited because member refferals are great. I don't think members realize that Tracting isn't the most effective thing and the best way to do missionary work is through the members. This particular member once went tracting with the Elders before I came and was like "Oh so tracting doesn't always produce people to teach". Maybe we should take members tracting more often. haha I don't think that would go over very well.

Jayden is adorable for sure and he's going to be even cuter when he gets a real puppy for Christ

mas. I just wish I could be there to see his face when he opens the present.

Sounds like everything is going good back at home. We should be having alot of good things happen this upcoming week and we are pretty excited about it. Sorry I don't have too much to say but the baptism really was the highlight. I'll try to send pictures today but if I don't get to it I'll send them next week. Love Ya

Elder Turner

10.13.2010

So something really strange and unexpected happened this week. We were eating at a Filipeano Member's house this past week and his daughter and her 4 kids live there as well. They just moved up from Utah and the husband has to still work there and travel back and forth but he was there this past week as well. I introduced myself to him and he asked me how many elder Turner's there were out and I said just 1.He than said "Oh, you're my cousin" haha His name is Matthew Olsen. He is the Grandson of Grandpa Turners sister. They told me that even though I'm a distant uncle to the kids in Filipeano culture, I'm still at the same standing as an actual uncle. They call me Elder Tito (which is Uncle in Tagolog). I thought that was pretty funny and the last thing I expected was to run into relatives. They tahn invited us over for Thanksgiving on Sunday so I got to spend time with my new neices and nephew. haha.

This past week was really good. We had another Thanksgiving meal on Monday so I've been stuffed for a while. Oh sorry this is being written on Wednesday, Monday was thanksgiving so everything was closed, Tuesday was Zone Conference so we had no time to write. We have to head out to Interviews with the President soon after this. Zone Conference was really good. We had a General Authority come out and talk to us, Elder Sybrowski (?), and it was really good. The whole time I thought they looked really familiar but than I realized as his wife gave her conversion story that they spoke to us while we were in the MTC and she told the same story. They were both really good and we will hopefully start to improve as a mission. I think we all have kind of inherited a sense that our mission is not as successful as others and so its ok when we don't have much to show for it. I guess "whether you think you can or you can't, you're right" really makes sense in this case. We kinda needed a wake up call I guess you could say.

No mom I'm not sick, yes you loaded me up with tons of different medicine before I left and I still have quite a bit left. I've lent out more than I've used myself so don't worry about me.

That is so exciting that Casey is going to serve a mission. She'll do really great. Let her know that I've been meaning to write but I don't write many letters anymore. I've probably sent 2 in the last 6 months. But don't get me wrong I love mail so keep sending it. Just give me time to respond.

I want to make this really clear. Canada is not too much different from the United States. Canadian Thanksgiving is the same exact thing just on a different day. It is also actually for a different reason. Theres is because some guy tried to find a northwest passage by boat and failed but when they got home they had a feast of thankgiving that no one died on the journey and that they returned safely home.

We're gearing up for the Silk Girls baptisms this upcoming week. It will be on Saturday. I'm pretty excited for them and they are ready. I'll let you know how everything goes with that. It is tough planning a baptism exactly the way they want it and than having to ask members to participate. I guess if I baptized more often I would be use to it. haha

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,
Elder Turner

10.4.2010

Well this past week has been pretty great. How could you be mad when General Conference is shown. It was really weird for me though becuase you only get 4 General Conference's on you mission and that was my third. Time goes by really quickly. Conference was great though. My favorite talks were Patrick Keaton in the Priensthood Session and my favorite speaker always is Dieter F. Uctdorf in both the Saturday Morning Session and the Priesthood session. The one in the morning was probably my favorite talk of the conference. Last week Elder McCleave and I bought a tube of Cinnamon Rolls and had them Sunday Morning so I'm keeping the tradition alive, even if they aren't as good as yours. We had 4 people come to church The Rodriguez girls (whom are getting baptized October 16th) came to all four sessions but went to the other chapel becuase she wanted to see some friends and Catherine and her Common-Law came for the last session. It was really interesting becuase she has 7 kids and always struggles to raise them and she is trying to quit smoking. They came about 30-45 min late but two of the talks that they heard which she really enjoyed was about raising kids (especially teenagers) and quiting addictions. Definately spoken straight for her.

Elder McCleve and I get along really great. He is hilarious and we just have tons of fun together. He's a great missionary too so that helps. I love having a truck. It is the greatest thing ever. Unfortunately we have to keep track of our K's which takes alot of the fun out of it. I'm not sure if that is in every mission but I think we have had missionaries here who have driven to Alberta, Ontario, and about 10 years ago, Utah. Yeah they took pictures in front of their house and drove back. They should have just stayed there becuase they got sent home that following week. Sometimes missionaries are just stupid.

Haha I'm glad you liked the pictures of Balut. It didn't taste bad just the thought/texture were gross. I probably won't do it again. Between sessions of Conference we went to Olive Garden for their never ending pasta bowl and I ordered the Parmeson Alfredo Portebella (knowing full well that portabella was a mushroom). It wasn't bad. I figured I've never really had it and Ive had balut...how bad could it be.

I hadn't heard that Evan got his mission call. That is so great. He'll do great, he'll be able to help alot of his investigators personally with problems they get. I sometimes wish I had a companion who was less-active or a convert just to be able to help our investigators personally. I know Evan wasn't either of those but it is the same effect.

Well I am overjoyed today, especially for Evan. I'm so happy I was able to write today and find that out. Next week we will be emailing later becuase next monday is Thanksgiving (Canada). I love you all and are constantly praying for you success as I know you are as well.

Love, Elder Turner