12.28.2009

Well after Kevin was the only one who didn't get me a christmas present, I guess in an unexpected turn of events he was the only one that remembered that I emailed on mondays. Whatever haha.

It was good to hear from everyone. My Christmas was actually alot of fun. We got to sleep in which I loved but I couldn't sleep past 7 am. At 9 am, all the missionaries got together and opened our presents. After that we did a white elephant and I ended up with a fake aquairium that runs on batteries. Than we played games. After that we went to a member's house, the Sheiss', and I talked to you guys. After that we went back to the church where we opened presents and had a Christmas dinner prepared by a member. It was lots of fun and the member had rented a huge blow up joust thing where you stand on a pedastool and try to knock each other off. Pretty much I did the best. haha but it was lots of fun. Than we played bored games till we had to go home.

Somebody got Bang! for Christmas so basically we played that all day. Also today our P-day activity was bored games so we played all day today. The other day when you asked me if I wanted anything else, I've decided I would like the game Bang!

So thank you everyone for the presents, it was very nice and I enjoy using all of it. I was looking at the socks that Santa gave me and I guess with the recession, Santa has turned to the Chinese black market. The packaging of the socks is all in Engrish. It is actually really funny.

Well not much else to write. I'm sure you guys are pretty busy getting the wedding in order and that's probably why you didn't write. Good luck tomorrow and I hope everything goes according to plan. Welcome to the family Mark. Cami, Brian, and Jayden congratulations on having a whole house to yourself again (I guess you have to wait till everyone else leaves). What is the honeymoon gonna be? Email me pictures of the wedding.

Love Elder Turner

And here are some pictures Paul sent. On Christmas day, the members that had all the missionaries over rented a giant blow up joust arena. This is just a picture of some of the action.

12.21.2009

Hey Everybody,

First off, Christmas...Merry Christmas. I just talked it over with my companion. I want you guys to call us at 2:30 pm. I'm sorry if that time doesn't work with Destiny's schedule but she gets to hear Marks voice 24/7 and only mine twice a year. I am not sure what time it would be there in Vegas. We are Central Time but without Daylight Savings time. If this helps I started this email at 1:30. If you don't call at 2:30, I'll be forced to call you and will have to pay for a long distance call so don't mess this up.

So in this spirit of Christmas I wanted to talk about what a member in the ward talked about yesterday that I liked. She talked about the Nativity and about the different people who "found" Jesus. The Shepherd's were in their fields doing their Job. They guarded the sacrificial sheep but when the angel came and told them of Christ they instantly left or being Obedient. The wise men were reading their scriptures and found out about the star and decided to seek him, and Simeon and Anna (A few days later) were fulfilling their calling in the temple and they found him. She mentioned that We can find Christ when we are obedient like the Shepherd's, studying the scriptures like the wise men, or fulfilling our callings such as Simeon and Anna. I thought that was a good way to look at it.

Well Christmas Eve this year a member in a different ward is having all the missionaries over from 5 till the end of the night. Elder Halliday and I bought Pies, and Martinellis for Christmas Eve so that we could celebrate a little. Than for Christmas we are allowed to sleep in so I was planning on sleeping till noon but the zone leaders decided it would be fun to get together at 9 and open presents together as a zone. Afterwards we will be opening White Elephant gifts. After that we will be doing service as a zone. it's not mandatory but President Paulson encourages it. I'm hoping we go to a soup kitchen. I think they are planning on doing service at the hospital though. That should be done by 2 pm. After that I'm going to speak to some people in my family for 40 min and than while Elder Halliday is speaking to his family I'm scheduling in a nap. Than at 5:00 pm another Member is having all of the missionaries over for a dinner. This member is also in the Mission Presidency. President Watson is his name. So that is pretty much my Christmas. It should be fun. I'm looking forward to sleeping in.

Now on with the Karen (pronounced quran) information. I asked you before if you could find a Karen (That is how it is really spelled) translator. Just wondering if there was any updates on that. Also when I was back in Winnipeg, a karen family gave me a Karen shirt which is like hand woven multicolored shirt which is the traditional dress over there. I loved it. Now here in Saskatoon a family gave me a Karen bag which is a hand woven multicolored purse-like bag that both the men and women use. I might be sending these home sometime because I don't want to ruin them. Lastly I don't know if you remember me talking about teaching a Karen woman by having a Thai guy take our words, translate it to Thai, and have her understand in Karen and about how difficult that was. Well I have had an even more difficult lesson. We are now teaching a blind Karen guy. He has a Braille machine and we quote bible verses to him spelling out every word so that he can Braille it on paper. Than he gets a family member to say that verse in Karen and he is slowly learning English that way. I think we got through one verse in the 45 min we were there. It was exhausting.

Well not much else to report. I'm looking forward to talking to you guys next week. Have a good couple days and I'll talk to you soon.

Love,
Elder Turner

12.14.2009

This week has been so boring. haha the entire week was good but we can't go outside if it is -40 C or colder so Saturday and Sunday were boring because we had to stay inside the whole day. Sunday we went to church but it was only an hour because there was about 10 people there and you can't leave the car's in the cold that long. Also at 3:00 on Sunday it warmed up to -39 C so we were able to go out and that lasted until 5:00 so we did get 2 hours of work done that day. It seems like today is going to be an "apartment" day. Luckily we are still able to do P-day stuff. I think on Saturday night it reached -49 C which is ridiculously cold. The forecast is saying by friday it should be about -8C which is really warm so thats good. hopefully the warm lasts.

Not too many good missionary stories for you today. I can tell you a story that happened in our district that was pretty amazing. A couple weeks ago a newlywed lady in her 20's in another ward had a dream where the name "James Rielly" came to her. Supposidly she dreamed about someone like this on her mission and she found the name and they taught and baptized this person. So anyway she has no idea who this guy is but looks him up in the phone book and he happens to be in our area. So we stopped by him and his wife said he was sleeping. We asked her if she knew any members of our church and she said yes, our daughter Brenda Rielly. We looked at our plans that night and we had actually planned on stopping by Brenda Rielly that night and we didn't make the connection when we planned that they were related. So when we stopped by Brenda and told her what happened, she laughed and said her dad would never be interested in the church so we were pretty disappointed. When we told her about the dream, she got all serious and said, maybe it's my nephew. His name is James Rielly also. So we got his information and gave it to the Elder's in charge. Supposidly he has been praying to know the truth, he does know quite a bit about the church but never joined. They started teaching him and even told him the story. He has loved everything they teach him and has been coming to church every week now. He is also bring his cousin which is really good. They are kinda the "mission miracle" and I'm glad to be a part of it, even if our contribution was to find the "bad" one.

So since we've been stuck in the apartment, it's been filled with updating our planners, updating the area book, reading the scriptures, taking naps, and reading lots and lots of Ensigns/New Eras (we have like every one since 1990) While I was reading one of them I came across an article about a woman playing piano in church. I looked at the author and it said April Moody. Wasn't that our babysitter? at the end of the article it says where she lives and it said orem Utah. The article was called "In turne with his will" in the Feb. 2006 Ensign. Look it up. I'm pretty sure that was April our babysitter.

Thanks for the package, I got it. I've been eating all the candy inside it. It's kinda crazy to have the presents out and then being stuck in the apartment just staring at them all day. I really wanna open them but don't worry, I'll wait till Christmas. I think there was a mistake though. I had presents from Santa, Presents from Mom and Dad, Presents from Destiny, a present from Brian, Cami and Jayden, but I think you forgot the one that Kevin was sending me. I couldn't find it anywhere but I'm sure Kevin wouldn't have forgotten me even though every year I at least gave him a big bag of Peanut M&M's. I'll be looking forward to it in the mail. haha just kidding i don't care. Kevin's my least favorite anyway, he can't get any lower on the list. Thanks dest for your wedding announcement. It looks really good. also thanks for the invitation to the sealing but I think I'm going to be busy that day.

Well thats about it. I feel like i'm forgetting something but I can't remember.

Love ya,
Elder Turner

12.7.09

Well this week has been compeletly different from last week. We got snow, we got wind, and we got super cold temperatures. This morning at 9:00 am it was - 40 C (which is also -40 F). If the weather is -40, we cannot go outside and proselite becuause it is too cold. We can still do P-day stuff though. By the time we left it warmed up to -38 C.

So I don't think I could say I have ever been this cold before. I was reading in the scriptures about Adam and Eve and about why they needed to eat the fruit. They now had opposition in all things. They could be happy because they have been sad. They could do good because they knew how to do bad. I think the reason Heavenly Father sent me here was for the same lesson. Now when I go home I can experiance warmth because I know cold. haha

Yesterday was the Christmas Devotional with the First Presidency. I don't know how many of you saw it but it was really good. I would recommend watching it online. I liked President Ucthdorf (?)'s talk. It was way good.

Also we usually get our transfer calls on tuesday but President Paulson changed it to Sunday Night this transfer. I am staying here with Elder Halliday. Actually in our who district, only the district leader Elder Gines (from Vegas) is leaving. So for the next 6 weeks I should be here in Saskatoon. This also means that I will continue to be walking/busing at least into January.

Even though it sounds like I'm eating alot, I've actually lost weight so no need to send me new pants. For our p-day activity, a member of the singles ward is feeding us a Christmas Dinner. I'm kinda excited for it because I love food. Easy stuff that we make quite often include Perogies (little potsticker looking things but stuffed with cheese and potatoes), Kraft Dinner (Mac & Cheese), and Sidekicks (Instant noodle things). Its all pretty good and its all pretty cheap so it is a double bonus.

I was gonna send you a picture of me today but we went to email in the university and they don't have a way that we can do it. The picture isn't the best of me but i don't have much on my camera. I was also going to send a video of Elder Halliday and I throwing a pot of boiling water off of the balcony this morning and watching it evaporate before it hit the ground but once again we can't upload them on these computers.

Well not much else to report. I hope the wedding plans are going good and I hope everbody is enjoying themselves. I'll talk to you next week.

Love Elder Turner

11.30.09

Hey everybody. How's it going? Yes Time is flying by for me. Even days go by fast. Everybody says that each transfer goes faster and faster. I can't believe in a week i'm done with me second one. It's true. This transfer went so much faster than the first.

On Thursday a family fed all of the missionaries in Saskatoon. It was so much food and it was so good. I had like three plates and they were still encouraging us to eat more. Afterwards they had us play this game where you put whipped cream in your hand and launch it up and try to catch it in your mouth. It was so much fun but kinda messy. All in all we had a really good American Thanksgiving.

Thanks for sending my Christmas package. I'm looking foward to seeing what I got. I kinda remembered something else that I desperately wanted but I realize its kinda late. I wanted a english to Kuran translator. An english to multiple languages would be great but it needs to have Kuran on it. I know i won't get it for christmas but if you can find one please send me one. BTW Kuran is a one of the 7 languages spoken in Bhurma, Not to be confused with Qu'ran, the muslim holy book. I'm not even sure how to spell kuran so double check on that.

Thanks for all the recipes you have sent me. I've made them all and they are all way good. I was making a "sidekick" while I was boiling milk. They are like ready made noodles. Also, I'm not going to say that I haven't taken the vitamins because I have, but I also rarely take them. Sorry.

Anyway, this week has been pretty amazing. We met this drunk girl on the street that was trying to avoid us. Apparently she was taught about 10 years ago but stopped when her brother moved. We set up an appointment for a few days later. We stopped by and had a really good first lesson. At the end we committed her to baptism and she accepted. She is set for February 27th. I knows it's kinda far but she has a long way to go.

Another appointment we had this week was with a man named Matthew Cloud and his girlfriend Malinda. He is a less active and she is not a member. We have been having such powerful lessons and he really wants to start coming back to church. She mentioned baptism so we set a date with Malinda on March 13. She is pregnant and wants to wait till after she had the baby. It might be kinda hard to get them married though because the baby isn't his. Hopefully they can work through this but they seem to be doing better. During our last lesson she was kinda hesitant to ask a question but after some encouragement she decided to ask. She asked us which was the greater sin: abortion or adoption. I was so happy she asked that because she said she has been struggling with that for a few months. She was at ease when we told her adoption wasn't a sin. We even gave her information on LDS adoption services and she is going to talk to the bishop.

Than this week we had an appointment with a man named Moesly who used to live in another area and was being taught by the missionaries. He moved in our area and the missionaries gave us his info. We stopped by had a really good lesson. He knows that the BOM is true and JS is a true prophet. We were going to set a baptisimal date with him but he doesn't know his work schedule. He will let us know on Wednesday when we met with him.

Lastly we had a dinner appointment with some members and we showed up 15 min early. (when you ride the bus, you don't choose when you arrive) So instead of going early we decided to track one house. I chose the street and the side of the street. I saw this house and felt promted to go there but didn't act on it because their TV was on, it was the grey bowl (The super bowl for Canadian Football, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were playing) so I thought they would get upset. Luckily, Elder Halliday said the exact same house. Their names were Paul and Grace and they have been taught by the missionaries before. They weren't ready than but now they want to continue the lessons.

Its kinda unfair whats been going on here. We are being so blessed and this doesn't happen very often. Its not fair because you try to serve a mission to repay God for all of the blessings he has given you and then he continues to bless you more. He makes it so that you can't repay him. I guess that is just how he works.

Even the weather is cooperating. I think the coldest it got here this week was -3 C which is about 27 F. We still don't have snow and people think this is going to last till Christmas. People have no idea what to do around here and its kinda funny. They haven't seen this weather for 20 years. Just one more of those blessings I guess.

I got a letter from the Valley Vista Ward Primary the other day. It was from a girl named Isabel. It was really funny. It was only two lines but I was cracking up as I read it. The first line was thanking me for serving a mission but the second line read "It must be really hard to be away from your family, sorry I brought it up but I don't know what to talk about." than she signed it "Thank you for your time, Isabel". Haha I think I write her a little note and tell her about missionary work or something. That letter though was so funny. I loved it.

Well I just spent like thirty min. writing this letter so I hope you enjoy it. It is one of my longer ones I think but a lot happened this week. Oh yeah we went bowling today for P-day as a zone and we played two games my goal was to get 100 points which rarely happens. The first game I bowled a 96 and the second I got exactly 100. Once again, I was blessed. haha I was so excited.

Oh and I didn't get a letter from Dad this week but what is his new company. I want to know what it is all about because obviously I've been left in the dark about this.

Well not much else to report on. Thank you for all that you do. It must be really hard to have me gone...Sorry to bring it up but I have nothing else to write about.

Thank you for your time,
Elder Turner

11.23.09

Haha the real thanksgiving is coming up. It's kinda weird because after Halloween, everybody puts up their Christmas Decorations so I've been in Christmas Mode for a while. There is a Canadian family who lived in Utah for 8 years so they are feeding all of the missionaries in Saskatoon a big Thanksgiving feast. I'm excited for it, I just love food.

So I've learned a few recent things. I've grown to love the bus (don't get me wrong, I'd take a car in a heartbeat). The people on it are just so interesting haha. We can't teach or anything but just observing people is fun. We meet people comparable to "Obama Man" (Brian, Cami, and Kevin will know what I'm talking about)

I've also learned that milk doesn't like to be boiled or if you would like to boil it, it requires constant supervision. Also, just because your supervising it, turning off the burner but not taking it off the stove still causes it to boil over. Yes, this has happened to me numerous times.

I've also learned that even though Everybody in the world told me Canada has cold winters, it doesn't make it true. We are still pretty warm. All I've been using lately is a suit coat and ear muffs (I bought some last week with my card)

Well not too much is going on here. We have a few progressing investigators which is good but none are too close to baptism. We have one lady, Neena, who is a single mom with a two year old that said she would be baptized when she knew it was true and then exclaimed that she knew it was true but now has been kinda shady and keeps "lunching" (ditching) our appointments. We're not quite sure what to do with her.

We are also teaching two different Quran (one of the territories in Bhurma) people. Teaching them is extremely difficult. Our first one speaks ok english but the other one we were teaching speaks nothing. We try reading the pamphlets with them to help them with thier English but yesterday we taugh Paebaw (Pay-Baaa) and we only read two paragraphs. We spoke English, her friend that only speaks Bhurmese and a little english, translated for us into Bhurmese, which Paebaw only knows very little of because she only speaks Quran and of course we don't have a Book of Mormon in any of these languages. I'm kinda wishing I had a similar experiance as Matt did with the gift of tongues. I'm jealous.

Thats way good that Brian, Cami, and Jayden are in Disneyworld. Everytime Cami talked about it she reminded me of a 6 year old going. She was way excited haha.

The Assistants to the president are coming up this week so they are bringing our mail. We get mail here about 2-3 a transfer (6 weeks) so whenever someone comes from Winnipeg everyone gets excited.

Today we were playing freeze tag for P-day activity and I was trying to unfreeze someone by sliding under their legs and burned myself pretty bad. I tore off alot of skin and have a huge blister on my wrist. Wasn't one of my best ideas. Elder Gines (from Las Vegas) might have broken his foot today playing Basketball so I've been giving him a piggy back ride everywhere. Haha I hope he's ok.

By the way, for Christmas I only get 30-40 min to talk to you guys. That is it. No more than 40 min so sorry but a rule is a rule. Supposedly and Elder once talked on the phone for like 3 hours and wasn't able to write home for 2 months.

Not much else to report. I'm excited to talk to you guys on Christmas. That will be good to hear from everyone. I've sent quite alot of letters out to people but the Canadian Mail service is often slow and so it might be awhile before you get it. Also if you send me anything and I don't respond for a while, just remember I only get mail 2-3 times every 6 weeks. Sorry.

Well I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all and hope you have a good week.

Love Elder Turner

11.16.2009

Sorry I don't have too much time to write. I was getting ready to write your letter and a girl here at the university needed help talking to her friend about the gospel so I stopped to talk to her. Now I only have about 15 minutes.

Hopefully I can get you a picture of just me but no promises. I'm loving this weather. It is the middle of November and it is still 11 c. It is way nice. They are planning on having this weather till Christmas. The people here have never seen this kind of weather before but I'm loving it. YEAH GLOBAL WARMING!!!

I'm starting to get better at staying awake. It's difficult but I've been reading a lot of Ensigns. I found a whole box of ensigns that are way old so I read all the "Latter-day voices" or miracle stories of people. They are way corny and make me laugh but I like them and they keep me awake. I occasionally read the articles too.

A few more things for my Christmas package. Those gel clicky pens I think they are called G2 or something. Preferably Black. You know which ones I'm talking about. Also i want cologne. The kind I use is called Adidas Moves.

Can I get your address and Chinese phone number? That lady is still asking me about it. She is way nice and wants to meet you when she goes over there.

Also mom, After reading all of these "latter day voices" I read a lot of conversion stories. I realized I don't know yours. What happened, how'd you meet them, how did you know it was true, what were your feelings? I want to know everything especially the miracles you noticed.

Well not much more to report things are going good. I have good stories but time is running out so I gotta go. Love you all and have a great week. I'll tell you more stories next week.