2.14.2011

Howdy Y'all,

Happy Valentines Day. I kinda forgot that it was Valentines day which is probably a good thing becuase that means that I don't have anyone that I would need to know it for.

This Past week was pretty good. We're not teaching as much as we would like to but every minute we aren't out teaching were finding. We tracted for 19 hours this past week. They have been having us keep track of our proslyting hours to help us be more affective. I'm always tired and its hard work but it is definately worth it.

The Marino's didn't come to church. I don't know what else to say.

We are continuing to work hard though. Yesterday was Ward Conference and it was really good. We have such a great stake presidency and they taught pretty much all of church. President Baronins (second Counselor) was my Bishop in my very first ward here so It was good to see him.

The weather here has been super great. Today it is about -2 and yesterday it got in the positives. This warm weather is supose to last until thursday. I was kinda hoping for the end of winter but everybody tells me not to hold my breath.

Well not much else to write, the work is moving along and all is well here in Winnipeg. This area is starting to pick up so we'll just have to keep moving it along.

Love,

Elder Turner

2.7.2011

Hello Turner Family!!!

This past week was...good. I honestly don't have much to say. My companion and I are completely different but I guess we're not always going to be with people in life that are exactly like us so I guess I better just get use to it.

Our Bishop called us last night and was telling us about the Super Bowl. He was making fun of me because he saw the pictures of me eating Balut on Facebook. Louisa Olsen (My second Cousin) put them on facebook and Bishop said he almost threw up. haha I love our bishop. He's the best.

So I am super excited about having another nephew. Ha I knew it was a boy. I'm not usually allowed to know the potential names of the newborn because Kevin and I made fun of the last ones so much but Cami's mom sent me an email on accident saying the possible new name haha. Take that Cami! but I won't say it just to spite Kevin.

The Marino's weren't able to come to church on Sunday. Don't know why but after a while it gets though. I'm trying to be hopeful. I guess they just need more time. I get pretty frustrated lately. I just want them to do the things that will help them but I guess they don't see it that way. Hopefully we will be teaching them this week.

Sorry there isn't much to talk about today. I guess it just wasn't the best week I've had on my mission. Hope everybody is feeling better and keep up with the member-missionary work. It simply is the best way. The marino's are the result of member missionary work. And this guy is spanish which is great because they are very spiritually sensitive people. haha just ask Kevin.

Love,
Elder Turner

1.31.2011

So the big news: Transfers...I'm staying. haha We were all kinda shocked but I'm staying in the area which means I get to keep up with the members, investigators (Especially the Marinos) and I get to sing that stupid song in choir. Elder Mitton is going to an outlining area called Brandon and I'll be excepting Elder Hall. He's from St. George (i think) and I'm a little worried about it. He loves playing magic and spent most of his time by himself so he is a little socially awkward but we'll see how it goes. I was in Henderson area for 6 months and now I'll be in Munroe for 6 months, different wards but same building, which means I will have served in the London Chapel for a full year. Man! that is half of my mission but I'm excited to stay. This will probably be my last here.

So the Marinos weren't able to make it to church this week which was a real bummer because they havent' made it yet and they were for sure coming. They called us about 30 min prior and let us know that the dad really wanted to come but was out snowmobiling that morning from an overnight trip and was going really fast in order to make it out here and got a ton frost bite. The temp that morning in all of winnipeg was -46 C. They live kinda out in the country so it was probably colder and he was going fast. They are planning on coming next week and I'm trying to keep the faith but lately its been kinda difficult. I want them to come so bad because I know they'll love it. It just seems like everything is against them coming. We should be meeting with them this week and hopefully setting a date with them again. Pray for them.

Our talks yesterday went really well. Celeste (i'm not sure if I told you about her) spoke as well before us. She is a Recent Convert of about 2 months. She did great but was super nervous. By the way she doesn't know how to cook so I gave her all the recipes you guys gave me so she can learn and I gave her your number and email in case she had questions or wanted more recipes. Hope you don't mind. She is super great. I spoke on The importance of Preach My Gospel in our personal study (as members) and importance of Member missionary work and Elder Mitton talked on Learning and following the promptings of the spirit (especially in Member missionary work). The 5th sunday is what they call "Missionary Sunday" so everything was focused on missionary work. It was fun.

Oh forgot to mention. the other area in the ward is opening again so there will again be a devision. Pres. Paulson went to a Mission President Seminar and they talked about how they don't want so many outlining areas so they are closing quite a few and bringing them into the cities. There is actually going to be a tri-panionship with one of them being Elder Higginson (My MTC Companion). I haven't seen him since the start of my mission.

Mom, I know when and how to do my work. I went to BYU Hawaii!!! There are far more distractions there and How many F's, D's, or C's did I get? None. Don't worry about me.

Well not much else. I hope all is well and I hope everybody is in good health. Elder Mitton was throwing up last week. haha it was gross.

Love,
Elder Turner

1.23.2011

So, this week has been very busy. Fortunatley for me, I love being busy. We found quite alot of people this week to teach and we are really excited about them. Things are going really well which is kinda gives me mixed feelings becuse transfers are next week (we find out this friday) and before I kinda was ready to go but now I'm not so sure. We'll see though. Transfers are always an exciting time.

We were able to meet with the Marinos again and it was great. We invited them to be baptized and they expressed feelings that they wanted to make sure they would be committed to it so they want to start with littlier things first. We invited them to a church tour this wednesday and they will be coming. We are very excited about it. We gave every member of the family and called it thier "Blessing Jars". If they read they get a jewel if they pray they get a jewel, if they do each of those for a week they get a bigger jewel. If they have us over they all get a jewel. If they come to church they get a sea shell. The kids are really excited about doing it and the parents are catching the fire. We had a problem with them not really keeping their committments. We called them the other day and she said that every day the girls wake up and ask to say a prayer and to read. We are really excited to see them to start progressing. They are a super great family.

Not too much else to report on this week. Sorry. Elder Mitton and I have to give talks next week in church which could be the last week for one of us. I really love this ward (best of my mission) so it would be sad to go.

Mom, Justin said that they would figure out housing and all that. If Kevin can room with Matt than I can room with my buds. I know when to do my work and I'll be fine. Whether we room together or not we'll still be with eachother all the time so I'll save more time by not traveling (time that could be spent studying). Can't argue with that. haha Tony and J get home pretty soon. That is crazy to think about. I heard you tried to get President Paulson to release me on the 4th. That is ridiculous. I told him it would be fine if I went two days before school started. I guess he decided to give me a week (prob. because of you haha).

Well, Love ya all,
Elder Turner

1.17.2011

Mom, By the way you're too old to use LOL...just a side note

So this past week was a great week. Everything seems to be getting better here in the Canada Winnipeg Mission. We had a ton of appointments and that makes me happy because I love teaching. We also got alot of finding in last week and found some really great people. I'm excited to start teaching them.

As for the choir performance, it isn't until Feb. 20th or so. Transfers are on the 3rd and I'm pretty sure I'm leaving this transfer so I won't actually have to perform it. I'm actually really happy about that. It sounds good but it is just weird.

Alot of our investigators are just kinda floating around. Not too many are progressing. We're still working with them but alot of them require time and patience. Definately patience is something I've improved on since my mission. It's kinda required here.

The weather has been extremely cold this week. Yesterday we were out tracting in -34C. That is just too cold for me haha. Being on my mission has taught me never to complain about Las Vegas Winters again. I truely miss the heat.

Well not too much else to write about. We're working hard and keeping the area on a steady incline. The whole mission is improving which is great to see. Every area in our zone found at least 1 new investigator which has never happened for at least two years. Everyone is working really hard and its good to see. Oh and i got the family letter.

So we were teaching an appointment and the member we brought along told us it was his birthday on Saturday and invited us to stop by for some cake. He said it was an open house party and to come around 5. Well we did and that is when it went downhill haha. We knocked on the door and his wife answered and was dressed really weird (Spandex and a long sweater and weird 80's hair). We were the only ones there when this man and his wife. both dressed in weird 80's clothes. We had no idea what was going on. Than a few members of the church started showing up dressed in 80's clothes as well and come to find out they were having an 80's themed party. Weird but than they had 7 adults there and us and they needed 8 to play some murder mystery game but we can't play games like that so we ruined their game...woops. Than we had to leave (or wanted to) after about 30 min and they were playing some game so we told them we were leaving and they stopped the games and made everyone go to the kitchen to cut the cake and give us a piece. We left right after. That was honestly the weirdest meal appointment I've ever been too. Elder Mitton and I just kept giving eachother discerning looks cause we didn't know what was happening the entire night. haha Thought you'd like to hear that story.

well I love you all. Have a great week.

Love,
Elder Turner

1.10.2011

So this week was ok. We taught alot of people this past one which is good but not any real progress. We were finally able to meet with the Marinos which was great but they have stuff planned every weekend this month so they won't be to make it to church this month...great. They are such a great family and they know they need the gospel so bad. We're just going to have to go slow with them, thats ok though. The ones that take a long time are usually the best members.

Our ward just got a new missionary food coordinator. Well some people call her the Missionary Food Nazi haha I guess she had the calling before and people got offended which I don't know how but anyway we have supper everyday this week which is unheard of in this mission. It is pretty nice to see that the ward is really supporting us. Personally if it was either teaching them or eating with them Id rather teach but we're slowly making progress with the ward. They are literally one of the best wards in the mission and they are really starting to trust us. (The hole didn't ruin our trust haha). On that note the hole is fixed so you can stop worrying.

Side note: We're in the choir and the song we are singing for our next performance is "If you could Hie to Kolob"

Not too much else happened this week. We keep moving on and good things will happen. We had Elder Terrence Smith of the Seventy come talk to us and we learned a ton. It really helps us keep our focus when stuff like that happens.

Well not too much else to say. Love ya all and hope you have a great week.

Love,
Elder Turner...eh

1.3.2011

The first is of our district the other is of the two missionaries that were in our ward but are now going to the Regina (Elder Ziegler, the taller one, and Elder Dunn, the tall but not as tall one) and the last picture is of a hole that Elder Dunn and I put into the wall of the church because we were horse playing (I'm not even going to sugar coat it) I'll let you know if I have to pay anything to fix it. haha love ya.

One is of a house in our area that is crazyily decorted (there is even music playing outside of it) the other is of Kelsey and Hailey on Christmas day and the last is me exercising. Believe me, I'm pedaling. It really confused my brain cause the top half of me wanted to sleep but my legs were exercising.

So first off, I want everyone to know that it was not my fault about the hole. I was picked up and put through the wall. Whether i was horse playing prior to the picking up is another story. We talked to the building manager and he didn't really care. He said it would be an easy fix, just cut it out from stud to stud and put another piece in. He said "No Cost, don't worry about it" but I said if there is any cost to let me know. I'll also ask him again this week. He made fun of me quite a bit though haha. Our bishop also had a hay day with it and still continues to make fun of me. On Sunday i was moving a chair during class to the front of the room and he said "be carefull not to hit anyone...or the walls" haha I just laughed. Everybody was pretty cool with it. Only the Bishop and the building mananger knows it was us so I didn't get ragged on too much. And mom, now the parents can say "Don't fool around in the church, do you remember what happened to Elder Turner" Everybody is an example, some what to do and what not to do.

Thank the G-units for the presents and I will still send them a thank you card. I still need Grandpa Turner's address. I don't have it so that christmas card is just sitting on my desk. At least now I can add the Thank you part to it.

The weather here has been soooooooooo cold. haha I don't know how Kevin got Frostbite at -10. That is nothing. I'm actually wearing a very light coat (if a coat at all) at -10. It has been in the -30's here lately and it can be really miserable to tract sometimes. Luckily we taught quite a bit last week so we weren't outside very often.

Oh yeah and the reason I'm writing today is because the libraries were all closed yesterday for the New Year holiday. just an FYI

About my coming home date, I don't know the exact date. I believe my release date is Sept. 3 but I might have to go home a bit early to make it for school. I was just thinking a week. You can call the office and get that date though. I know that they know it.

This past week was alot better for us. Alot of things are starting to align and the work is getting a bit easier in the area. One of my favorite people to teach now is a recent Convert of a month that was just prepared. Her name is Celeste and she is so great. She was in the other area but now that we cover both areas we get to teach her. Her husband was killed in a car accident in August so she was going through a rough time. We taught her 5 year old (Patrick) last night about the Plan of Salvation because he is starting to ask questions about his dad. He is the cutest and most fun kid ever. haha They are a great family.

Welll not to much else to write I hope all goes well for everybody and hope you had a great New Year.

Love,
Elder Turner