Oct. 18, 2010

Hello! We had a great week this last week. Sister Fear and Sister Goff, two traveling sisters came to stay with us on friday night and we went on splits saturday and found 8 new investigators, taught 11 lessons, and contacted 24 people in 4 hours! It was pretty awesome. We went to a neighborhood that Sis Cosper and I were in during the first week and found 4 of them just in that neighborhood. So we have a bunch of return appointments that we have no idea how we are going to get to on time because we don't have a car this week and haven't found any rides yet. It will work out, but it is crazy. We also got a phone call from the Conary's, a family that we taught last monday night. They had been taught for 5 months about 2 years ago but wanted evidence of the book of mormon and the sisters dropped them. So we went back and tried to teach them, but they still were too focused on having the eveidence and basically we told them that until they could read the book of mormon and pray sincerely to know it is true, they would never know the truth. So we told them we'd love to come back but only if they thought it would be worth their time to learn. Well, we thought that was it but they called us on Saturday and told us they wanted us to come back! Now we just have to figure out what is the most important thing we want to focus on teaching. We were thinking about doing a lesson on faith but we don't know yet. Then yesterday we got to go to the Gladys Knight Fireside. We weren't sure we were going to be able to but last minute someone said they could come! I am so glad we did because it was awesome. I have to admit I have never cared much for her music, but getting to know her on a more personal level was very cool. She basically told everyone there, which there was a TON of non members there, that they WILL eventually come to know the truth. She had all of the missionaries stand up in the audience and told us how much she loved us and that it was because of the missionaries sacrifices that brought her the greatest happiness and she told everyone to let us in their door! Haha, it was really cool. She is a very funny lady and already has a huge influence on the people here in the South. It was really cool to hear about her conversion story. Her choir was really good too! She actually sang alot of southern baptist songs, ones that most people out here are familiar with and had everyone clapping but also had a few reverent songs to introduce our hymns. It actually felt more weird to some of the members than anyone else, haha. It was a really cool way to bring all kinds of people together though, it was awesome! I also got to see Jana! The funny lady in Cookeville that got baptized back in April! I ran up to her and gave her a big hug and she just started crying. I didn't realize how much I'd come to love these people out here. Even the ones who give me a hard time! Actually the ones who do give us a hard time I seem to have a greater appreciation for. Probably because I worked hard on them! But it was a great experience!

Do they already have the conference cd's for October? The ones you sent last time were the April conference.. so i just wanted to make sure you weren't sending them twice, haha. Thats okay you didn't send any mail.. I think I was being tested because I haven't gotten ANY mail at all in the last 2 weeks. I was a little discouraged about it last week but its fine now! Sister Cosper has had a dream every night for the last few nights that I get mail, and then in real life it doesn't come, haha. I was wondering, I don't know what kind of long sleeved or warmer clothes I have in the closet, but can you send me some if I have anything? Maybe another jacket and any other clothes there are? Or if you see anything that you think I would like, send it. Its not too cold yet, actually it has been nice during the day and cooler at night but I know the cold is coming! I could use some scarves and gloves and beanies too cuz I only have like one pair. You don't have to send all of it, just send me whatever and I can buy more if I need it out here. Luckily there are stores around! :) Oh, in the big box of shoes I have, I think the boots I bought are in it and it would be good to have those too!

 

Well, I am having lots of fun here in Clarksville! It is a good area, I am getting more and more used to it now. Here are a few pics!

First one: Me and some of the sisters at transfer meeting! Sister Fear, Sister Green and Sister Blackham!

Second: Our sister missionary shadows!

Third and fourth: Pretty fall leaves!

 

5th and 6th: I found my name! I knew there was a reason I was supposed to be in Clarksville! ;)

7th: Sister Cosper and I at Creosha's house with her little sister and her friend.

This picture did not come through in her email.

8th: Me and Creosha!

9th: Sister Cosper and I!

Well I hope you all have a great week! i MISS YOU AND i LOVE YOU! It is always good to hear from you! I am going to send my other card so you can load the pics onto a cd soon, and then you can send it back. Thank you for all you do! Tell everyone I love them! Share the gospel!

Love always,

Sister Turner

Oct. 11, 2010

Hello!
My first week in Clarksville was pretty good! Basically everyone I talk to is either in the military or their spouse is in the military. There are so many good people here though. I am in the 2nd ward, and I met Matt's sister! She came up to me and introduced herself, haha. She was pretty excited! People come and go in this ward so fast it is almost crazy. We didn't have tha car last week and so we had to try and get around on foot. We were a little too nervous to ride bikes yet because the road by our house is hilly and curvy, people drive fast, there is no shoulder on the road, and there are ditches on both sides. I don't know, I guess we felt safer walking? My companion is Sister Cosper, she is from the Salt Lake area. She actually thinks she might know Brittany. She was looking at our family picture and said she looked familiar, and realized that she probably saw Britt at Utah State going to photography. I guess her classes were a floor above the photography room. She is pretty awesome! It is kinda weird being the oldest, realizing I am supposed to be the one who knows what to do! It has been good though. We met a lot of the members this last week, and people we didn't even know gave us rides every so often so it hasn't been too bad. I don't know what it will be like when it gets cold and dark earlier! Last night we had dinner at the Aliki's house. She is from New Zealand and her husband is from Samoa but they lived in Hawaii. They are a way good family! We went finding a couple of the days and both times we seemed to have found the ones who just want to debate.. We first ran into a minister of a non-denominational church who tried to tell us we didn't know the history of the church and that the mormon religion was "the most dangerous plot to lead people astray" he had ever researched. We tried to politely tell him to have a good day and we'd be on our way. We tried to shake his hand and he wouldn't even do that, he was pretty upset I guess. Then as we were walking down the street he pulled over in his car and apologized but mentioned he would still give his blood to change our beliefs. Then yesterday we talked to a pastor who was pentecostal, and told us she didn't need a prophet because she could know what God wants her to do for herself and that she held the same power that the preisthood hold. I am not sure why we found those two to talk to out of all the people here, but Sister Aliki mentioned it was a way to build our own testimonies of the gospel. So I thought that was a good way to look at it! One thing that is kind of hard about his ward is that there are SO MANY children, little ones, who are so cute and I can't hold them! So sacrament meeting is pretty loud, haha. I am excited to serve here though, I think it will be a great place to be. I feel like i have already gained a greater appreciation for those in the military. Their families give up so much for our freedom!

Anyway, things are good. We have the car this week! So we are going to use it to try and figure out our area as best as we can and to see people who live further away. Well we don't have as much time to e-mail today because we are going over to a family's house for lunch and games. There are quite a few missionaries in this area so we get to do fun stuff together! This morning we all went to the church to play basketball for exercise. There are some great elders in this area! Our district leader has 7 baptism dates! Sis Cosper and I have some catching up to do!

I love you all, I hope you are all doing well!

Love always
Sister Turner

October 4, 2010

Well, I am getting transferred! I am a little sad to be leaving Portland. I have loved serving here! But president Hutchings called us on Saturday morning before conferece and talked to Sister Blackham first, and told her she would be training! So I knew I was leaving at that point. Then he talked to me and said I was headed for Clarksville, the military town with Sister Cosper! We will be whitewashing the area, and I will be greenie busting Sis Cosper. She has been out for two transfers but she has had the same companion, so that will be interesting! It is also an area that has only a part time car, so I will probably be using my bike! Just as it is starting to get cold..! Which reminds me, I think I am going to be needing some warmer winter clothes. I've heard it gets pretty cold out here. I did get to watch all of conference. it was really good! The theme seemed to be the priesthood and prophet/leadership. Which is interesting because that is one thing that a lot of people out here struggle to understand. They think there are lots of prophets on the earth today! Anyway, so I am kinda sad to be leaving because there is so much happening here in Portland in October. Deborah and Barry are getting married, and she is getting baptized. And one of our other investigators we just commited to pray about a day to be baptized. Then there is the Gladys Knight fireside that we were going to be at all 3 shows to help out. Now I get to go to a new area where neither one of us knows much about, and figure out who is going to Gladys Knight and all of that fun stuff. Although when President Hutchings called and told me I felt very strongly that Clarksville is where I am supposed to be. Which I haven't felt that strong about a transfer yet! I'll probably spend Christmas there too! So that is the update on transfers! Sis Blackham is pretty excited to train I think! A little nervous too because you never know what they will be like! It has really cooled down this past week. Last night it got down to the mid 30's and today I think the high is 60 something.

Well i am glad that you guys had fun at the cabin. I bet it was really nice up there!  I can't really think of much else to say. I feel scatterbrained with everything I need to do before transfers tomorrow. I will have to send more pictures later I guess. I am not sure why they didn't get sent in the last letter.

Anyway, I love you all so much. Keep having fun!

Love always
Sister Turner

The first picture is of Sister Hathaway and her daughter Sarah. We had dinner over at their house every sunday! They are awesome!

Wilson road!

Me, out on a random country road, pondering deep thoughts...

The next few pictures are our district pictures! Names of the first picture from left to right: Elder Wall (zone leader) holding Elder Walker, Elder Marsden (zone leader), Sister Blackham, Elder Marsh (District leader), me, Elder Lang, Elder & Sister Negus, and Elder Furin. We had a fun district!

Sister Blackham and I taking pictures!

September 27, 2010

Hello!
We are on the last week of the transfer and everything is going pretty well. We got to go to the relief society broadcast on saturday, and I thought about mom watching it in St G the same time I was. It was a good meeting, we had one of our investigators there with us. We went out with one of the members in the ward to visit some less active members and sort of got a new investigator from it! One of the ladies' husband is not a member and has already had the discussions and agreed to take them again. But he works a lot and is super busy, so we may not get to teach him often. We had a pretty cool experience with a girl we had formerly met a few weeks ago and she turned the Book of Mormon down. Well we were talking to a lady outside of her apartment, and Amber came out and listened to us. She asked us several questions about polygamy, and if we use the bible, and if we believe we are the true church. By the end of it she basically asked US for a book of mormon! So we came back a couple days later to teach her again, and her brother came out with her this time. He openly told us he was homosexual and had questions about how our church believed. It turned out to be a really good discussion though, and he told us how he feels guilty about his feelings and doesn't want to feel that way. So we talked about the atonement and being able to overcome through the Savior. We left him with an article that Sis Blackham just happened to read a couple days earlier about homosexuality in the ensign. The more I come to know other people and their struggles, the more I realize how infinite the atonement is. We are so hard on ourselves, myself included, that sometimes it leads to despair rather than hope. So the more I see the good in others, even though they struggle with things, the more compassion I have toward them. We are all God's children, and what we all really need is to love and help each other overcome.

Well I love all of you!
Thank you for everything you do for me!

Love
Sister Turner

September 20, 2010

That is exciting for Jake! Tell him congrats and good luck for me. He'll just love the MTC.. haha for two months he'll be there!    (Jake is Crystal's cousin who recieved his mission call to the Germany Berlin Mission.)
We have had a good week. We have been working with the same people. Bobby, Barry and Deborah, and Mindi. Barry and Deborah both came to church this sunday again! If Barry quits smoking and comes to church one more time, he can be baptized too! MIndi and her husband were also at church, and I think Mindi will be baptized pretty soon. We haven't set a date yet but I am guessing it will be the middle of October, possibly the same day as Deborah's baptism. Bobby didn't come to church again. We are really struggling to get him there every week. We had some members come with us to teach him the other night and it turned out really well because it just so happened that the lady who came had also been a biker in the past, so she could relate to him. He told us how he is worried about taking a step into the dark because of some of the things that have happened in his past with other church preachers. He also mentioned he hasn't been able to forgive himself for the things he has done in his past. So, we found out a few more reasons that he is struggling to get an answer. He really is a good guy though, and I don't know why he thinks he isn't worthy to have the full blessings. We went to a Freewill Baptist bible study the other night, where Bobby attends and it was pretty interesting. The preacher does bible "mythbusters." That night he was talking about whether or not cremation is a sin. I don't know where they come up with these random things to talk about, but he actually used an article that was written by a professor at BYU to show them what we believed. He was actually very respectful to our beliefs! He started out by saying that it doesn't matter how good of a life you lived, if you are cremated, you will be sent to hell for it. But by the end of his sermon, he was saying that nowhere in the bible does it say cremation is a sin. No wonder the people out here are so confused! Even their own pastors don't know how to make up their minds! I am so grateful to have a prophet, and to have grown up in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I have realized that most people believe in only half of the plan of salvation. They see the earth, and they interpret the spirit world as heaven and hell, but they are missing the big picture. I think the plan of salvation is my favorite lesson to teach because they get introduced to the whole plan! It really is a wonderful plan that our Heavenly Father developed for us.
This next week is the Relief Society broadcast, which I am excited for. It is amazing how much I love it when the ward has activities, haha. We don't get to go to them very often, so when we do, we get pretty excited. I am also excited for General Conference! Today we are having a zone p-day in Madison! We are going to play volleyball and basketball, so that should be fun! Well, I guess that is all for today.

I love all of you! Have a good week!

Love
Sister Turner

September 13, 2010

Yep, another week has gone by and here I am half way through another transfer! We did have a very busy week. Things have started to pick up a bit more for us. It is a blessing! We had a ward activity last saturday, and we had 2 less active/part member families there! That we have been working with! It was exciting to see the blessings of all the hard work we have been doing. I can't remember if I already told you or not, but one of the less active members we found, Brent Evans, is one of our miracles for the week. Him and his wife have been living in Portland for awhile now, and we decided to try and see them. Come to find out they were home, and that his wife is not a member. They agreed to let us teach them the discussions and we invited them to come to the ward party. They came! Last night we had the first discussion, and it went really well. They are definately prepared for the gospel! Mindi said that she would be willing to get baptized once she comes to know it is true for herself! No hesitation at all. Which makes me slightly nervous because that doesn't happen very often at all. They would have been at church but she didn't know that she didn't have to wear a dress to come to church... We also got a wedding date set with Barry and Deborah finally! October 15th, and then Deborah will be baptized the following week on the 23rd. Bobby is still doing pretty well, but we are having a hard time getting him to come to our church. That is one of the hardest things to do, especially when they like going to their church. He seems to be doing well otherwise though! As for me, I think all this hard work is catching up with me. I am so tired! I barely make it through my prayers at night, and then I close my eyes and two seconds later the alarm goes off. That is how it feels anyway! I may need to sleep for a week straight when I get home.. ;)

I think I vaguely remember the Wades, the name sounds familiar but not their faces. That is neat though! The leaves here are just barely barely starting to change color and I am getting so excited for the fall! I got the conference talks you sent me! Thank you, they come in handy!

Btw, Cody's year mark is on the 16th! He'll be on the downhill slope soon! He is still in Knoxville and Elder Maxwell is his companion! He is feeling kind of discouraged right now, so keep him in your prayers too.

One thing I have realized in my studies this past week is how as children of God, we are like little children to him. I have been studying the atonement/repentance/becoming like a child and realized how similar the relationship between us and God is similar to a little kid and their parents. Children rely on their parents for everything. Food, clothes, love, knowledge, everything! A lot of times, the only thing the child has to offer his parents is love and to try to do what their parents tell them. They couldn't go out into the world and figure it out themselves! They need their parents to teach them what to do first! It is the same way in the gospel. We can't do anything without the Lord's help, or the things we do without him are worthless! Sometimes all we can give him is love, and a willing heart to try to do as He asks us to. We can't save ourselves through our own actions, we need the Savior to help us and any effort we make in the right direction is good! I've realized that through most of my life I have tried to save myself by overcoming my weaknesses on my own first, and then the Lord will take care of the rest. But it doesn't work that way, we need His help right now! Thank goodness for the gospel, and knowing that we don't have to be perfect. I am grateful to know that the Savior is there to help us through our trials, not after them!

Thank you for all that you do for me. I appreciate the words of encouragement! I love you all! Have a good week!

Love
Sister Turner

Sept. 7, 2010

Wow the e-mail is being very annoying today! I will be starting this over for a 3rd time now!
Well, we've had a busy and good last week. The weather has finally cooled down a bit for us! We have been doing more walking outside,trying to find new investigators. Bobby is doing well, we drew a plan of salvation on the sidewalk with chalk the other day. That was a lot of fun, and so far he likes what we have taught him. He is still praying about getting baptized and we will be seeing him tonight so hopefully he will have an answer for us. We decided to go contact a couple less active members and ended up finding a young guy and his wife, who is not a member and they have agreed to let us come over and teach the lessons! It was interesting because he said that none of the missionaries had been over before. That is probably the biggest task for the Portland area, because there are a lot of less active members here. Most of them are very nice and welcoming. We have also been teaching an older couple, the wife is a member, but they attend the First Baptist church. But she has opened up to us more and has started to ask more questions about the church. She was baptized when she was younger, but got older and started to doubt and go to other churches. They love us to come over though, and I think the spirit is starting to work on her. So, things are going well here! 
I am getting real excited for fall weather. It is right around the corner!  One funny story of the week: Every thursday we go over to Richland Assisted and paint fingernails and talk to the elderly women there. One of the ladies I was talking to kept asking if Sis Blackham was my daughter about every 2 minutes. Haha, it made me laugh! Especially since Sis Blackham is older than me by a year! :) 

On Saturday we got to go down to Franklin for a baptism of one of Sis Blackham's old investigators. That was a lot of fun, because we got to see the sisters serving there. I got to talk to my trainer! SisterWinder! Who now only has about 4 months left of her mission. I am where she was when she trained me! It was crazy to realize that! She had already trained someone before me too!

Well I guess thats all I have for today. I love you all so much though, and I miss you! Tell everyone hello from me!

Love,Sister Turner

I have been wanting to send grandma and grandpa Wilson something, butI don't have their address.