4.26.2011

Well we've definitely had better weeks that is for sure. Sorry I didn't write yesterday it was Easter Monday (another holiday up here). The libraries were all closed so we are emailing today.

Well our first baptisimal date, Sandy texted us and said she didn't want to meet anymore. So we kept texting her and trying to talk to her and she eventually said she wanted to come to church this sunday. She didn't come but texted us sunday saying she was sick and would contact us soon for a lesson. whew. We almost lost her and I was scared cause she is so great.

The day after Sandy dropped us, we had a lesson with our other baptisimal date Shauna. We texted her sister that morning to make sure it was still all ok and she responded saying that Shuana had been evicted and they were on their way to Erickson, MB for her to live. There aren't any missionaries there and it is a couple hours out of the city. Another disappointment.

Other than those two though it was still a good week. Our lesson with the Marino's went great. Bishop and his family came along and they loved eachother. They were setting up playdates and wanted to come to more lessons so I truly believe that Bishop and his family are going to be the key to their conversion. We actually met with them last night again but Bishops' family couldn't come. It was a good lesson and it was the first time in a while that the dad sat in but it was still good. Ended quick cause they had some uninvited visitors come over but other than that it was good.

I'm devastated cause I actually got transferred. It has been so hard to say goodbye to everyone especially the Marinos. Before our lesson yesterday they were all outside when we pulled up so for about 30 min we played tag and football with the kids. Everyone has been having us over for supper and wanting to say good bye. Serving in a ward for 7 1/2 months gets you really close to all the members there. I didn't think it would be this hard but it is really tough.

So I assume you're probably wondering where I am going. I'm on my way to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on Thursday. It is the second furtherest area in the mission. The farthest which is the Battlefords being about 1 hour from Prince Albert. On Thursday I'll start my 12 hour drive to Prince ALbert (PA for Short). My new companion is named Elder Liechty from Leighton, Utah. Elder Fackrell (my old comp) will be replacing me here in Munroe. Next week I'll not only write you in a different city but also a different Province.

Well not much else to say. The weather here is great. it is 20 C outside which is super nice. I'm happy winter is finally gone. From what we hear the flooding here is terrible. THe city has a flood way which splits the river in half and diverts it all the way around the city so we're good but I hear almost all the borders are closed and the city does have the threat of flooding, despite the floodway. I'll guess we'll wait and see.

Well I love you all. Have fun and hope you had a happy Easter.

Love,
Elder Turner

So the first one is of me and my truck. I love my truck so I'm sad to see it go. His name is "El Renegato" (Kevin should catch that refrence) the second one is me and the most frustrating Investigato ever haha ryan. The third is Me and the Heieie's (Bishop and his family) the fourth is Me at the Longitudinal ceter of Canada (I know its hard to see me) and the last is of another favorite family of mine, The Grosses.

4.18.2011

So this week was just simply grand. The work is ok but its going well if that makes any sense. This past Sunday was like the Jehovah Witness equvialent for easter so they have been hitting the pavement like crazy so everywhere we went people were getting angry and saying "You were just here and Hour ago!!" Like every street we went on said that. Haha we were still able to find people so it was good. The Marinos didn't happen last week but today for sure. Bishop and his whole family (he has two little girls) are coming with us so it should be a great lesson. It is on Tithing so that is a little sketchy but we'll see haha.

Sandy came to church yesterday and loved it. I don't know if I mentioned Sandy but she is dating a member who lives in a different ward and and he reffered us to her. She is set to be baptized on May 21st and she thought church was Awesome.

We got to go out to some members who live about an hour away on a farm. They are the grosses (you emailed her those recipes) and that was way fun. I got to rake and move logs and help with a pump and burn stuff and mess with their cows. It was all good fun. They are a great family. It's just too bad that they live so far away.

So we get our transfer calls this Friday. President's granddaughter is getting baptized on Friday so she is coming up so that he can be there and alot of his other famliy is coming. All the missionaries in Winnipeg (That's me!!) get to go so he'll probably just tell us there. I would assume I'm leaving cause I've been here for 7 1/2 months and you don't normally stay in an area for more than 6 months so logically I would leave but everytime you set a baptisimal date you call President and in the last two weeks we got to call him 3 times (I'll tell you about the third in the next paragraph) and each time he says "well Elder Turner, We'll have to keep you there 9 months to get these people baptized" So I guess we'll see what happens. I wouldn't mind staying, it's just a long time in one area. They might as well just send my records to this ward haha. If I stay though, Elder Hall is probably gone because he goes home after this next transfer and so that means that after the next transfer they will have to whitewash (take both missionaries out) or leave me there for 10 1/2 months. haha I guess I'll tell you next week what happens. Transfers are always so exciting. I just love change.

So this past week we finally got in contact with an investigator named Laurant. I might have mentioned him before but he is great. He is from Benine, Africa and he is an older gentleman who has some health problems so contacting him is impossible but he is super christian and excited to learn more about the restored gospel. He set a baptisimal date for May 21st. We also have two other investigators, Shauna and Sandy set for that date. It's gonna be a great day.

I don't have anything really else to say. I hope all is well at home and I'll talk to you next week. This next week is shaping up to be a good one so i'll be excited to email again.

Love,

Elder Turner

4.4.2011

Well another week has gone by but this week is totally different. We just got nourished with 10 hours of conference and don't have to wear suit coats anymore. haha I'm sitting in the library in a short sleave white shirt and no suit coat and loving life.

So conference was great. President Uchtdorf (always my favorite speaker) gave great talks (preiesthood and sunday morning). When Elder Hall was sick two weeks ago I read every President Uchtdorf talk in the Ensigns for like the past 5 years. He's great. Elder Bednar gave a great talk as well. Of course the news of the Winnipeg Temple was huge. Everyone was so excited. It was great to see. haha I was writing down the temples and President Monson said Fort Collins, CO and my thaught was oh Mandy is there and also my DL is from Denver so I was like thats nice. Than he said Meridian, ID and my thought was oh I have lots of friends from Meridian thats great. Than he said Winnipeg and the congregation gasped and froze and than some people started cheering and clapping. Everyone got emotional (lots of tears) and the spirit was so strong. Investigators were super impressed with the reaction to it. Some people came late and everyone rushes up to them to tell them the news. The land is over by our mission office. I guess they had bought the land like 10 years ago but when President Hinkley came to see it he didn't like it and at the announcement he turned to his counselors and said "What about Regina?" I guess everybody's heart was broken. Nobody knows if they will still use that land. I think a member died and gave the land to the church for the temple in his will. We're all pretty excited about it though. I'll definately come back up for the dedication.

Thanks for taking care of my classes Mom and kevin (especially mom). Tony just wrote me and he has 5 weeks left. That is too crazy. I still have forever left but its going by way too fast.

This week was pretty bad for us though. Not much to say. I'm just glad that we got to end it with conference. This next week we are having interviews and Zone Conference for the first time this year so that is exciting. They have changed it so that Zone Conferences are 4 X a year, so it kinda stinks.

Well not much else to write. I love you all and keep on keeping on.

Love,
Elder Turner

3.28.2011

I can't believe how fast the mission has been going lately. It seems like time just continues to go by and I just watch it happen. I'm working hard and time goes by faster haha maybe I should not work hard anymore and it will slow down...just kidding.

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

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

3.14.2011

Hello everybody at home,

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

3.7.2011

Well we had a great great week this week. It was so fantastic and I loved it so much. Our area just kinda exploded this past week and our hard work is starting to pay off.

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