August 26, 2013

Lieber Familie,

I am sooooo excited for Christmas!!!!!!! Yesterday morning Sis Lartey and I were baking a cake at 6:30 for our Gemeide Essen (ward lunch) and we were playing and singing Christmas music the whole time.

This week has been very interesting.  On Tuesday at the end of our appointment with one of our progressing investigators she asked if we were excited for this Saturday. Of course!.... Is it your birthday?.... No, my baptism!   Ha, wha???

On my first day here (5 weeks ago) we had challenged her to be baptized, but it was never firm. She had dropped our last 2 appointments and hadn't been to church in a few weeks. She told us she really wants to be baptized though. On Thursday we met with her and her family. The Spirit was so strong! Wish I had time to explain but it sufficeth me to say that it was awesome! We have a baptismal date set and we will continue meeting with her and her family!

Cam: we have a member of our ward who just got back from serving in Alberta. So funny, he reminds me of you, and looks like your cousin Clayton.

BTW we learned not to cheap out when buying chicken. Enjoy the pictures....;)

So ZLs Elder Atkinson cut Elder Taylor's hair last week and I will be fixing it today.. Haha

Looks like y'all had so much fun at Lake Powell. I can't believe how big the boys are getting! Jack is so tall! Also thank you for the picture of the boys with the recipes Janae!

Also if anyone sends me packages (not guilt tripping at all, I'm just giving suggestions) We can't buy brown sugar, peanut butter, vanilla extract, recess peanut butter cups, handsanitizer, brownie or cake mixes... I mostly miss peanut butter.

 Dad I need your pie recipes, especially apple, please :)  I tried making the pancakes this week, but we don't have a blender for the egg whites, we don't even have a whisk...so I used a fork and worked with all my might...haha they kinda worked out..hahaha.

So excited for Lindsey and Adam! When does Adam report?

Love you all so much!!

-Sister Turner

August 19, 2013

Lieber Familie,

You know you are a missionary in Berlin when you hear a bus or bahn and immediately start running.

I love Sundays! They are like this magical day that just wipes my memory of all the frustrating stuff that happened during the week. Actually I'm struggling to remember anything that happened this week.

On Friday we decided to go to a part of our area we have never been to in hopes of finding people to teach. We went to a dorf, village, town, (whatever you want to call it) outside Berlin. We didn't have a any luck and we felt like we were wasting time. We went to the bahn stop to wait for the RE. We found a little girl, about Jack's age, named Nora. She was sobbing because her older brother had gotten on the wrong train and accidentally left her by herself. She didn't know where to go or even where she was. We tried to help as best we could and finally decided to pray. We taught her how to pray and told her that anytime, anywhere she can pray to Heavenly Father, especially when she is alone or afraid. Long story short, we waited with her for about an hour and then a family friend came to the rescue and then her dad a few minutes after that. We have had other experiences this week where we didn't know why we were where we where (say that 5 times fast) but we were put exactly where we needed to be. In an MTC devotional Elder Bednar said, or promised, "If you are a good boy or a good girl, obey the commandments and honor your covenants, your steps will be guided, your utterence will be inspired, you will be at the right place at the right time, and you cannot go amiss."

The other day after daily planning, Sis Lartey just started laughing and said "I love being a trainer" Thinking she was being sarcastic I asked her why. She said that because I was new and didn't know what high or low goals were, we set some pretty high goals. She didn't think we would reach them, "But," she said "you come in with all this faith and bam we reached every goal 4 weeks in row!" We have been working so hard, and we really have been so blessed to have investigators almost fall into our laps.

I love this gospel so much and I am so grateful to share it with people all day everyday!

Love you all! Thank you for the letter and picture Cade! I love it!

Headed to the Berlinerdome now ;)

-Sister Turner

August 12, 2013

Lieber Familie,

I feel like every week is a bit of a roller coaster. Sis Lartey and I made our plans and goals for the week, we prayed about it and got to work. P-day we did a little bit of sight seeing, I'll send pictures. On Tuesday all of our appointments fell through except for our appointment with Frau Lach. And she told us she is no longer interested in learning more. All of our back up plans were falling through as well, it was hot, we walked over 12 miles (normally average 5-8), we were exhausted, but we were still smiling! We looked at each other, "Why are we smiling???? Today has been so hard!" I am not exactly sure, but I can definitely feel the Lord strengthening me. Missionary work is so hard, but it is so fun! Wednesday Zone training was great! One thing I learned that I want to apply in helping members become more involved in missionary work is asking them to think about their own conversion. What does the gospel mean to you? Now why are you not telling everyone you know about it? What keeps us from sharing the gospel with others? Being a missionary has got me so excited to be a better member when I'm back home.

On Thursday we saw miracles! We reached our goal of 3 new investigators for the week in one day! Including a man named Zing. We gave him a pass along card and he kept asking questions. He finally invited us into his shop and we taught him for about 40 minutes. We set up another appointment for this week and he is very excited to learn more. On Friday we met with Conny. We met up at a park, cutest park I have ever seen! Seriously, straight out of a fairytale book and planted in the middle of Berlin! I have also decided that I will be proposed to there. Anywhoo Conny is amazing! Right now we are helping her strengthen her relationship with Heavenly Father. We taught her how to pray. It was such a sweet experience (sweet as in tender not SuH-Weet). I know Heavenly Father loves His children so much!

The German language is still incredibly frustrating.... I understand most of what is said at church, and I understand most of what other missionaries say...and that is about it..... I'm not letting it get me down, but it is really hard not understanding what is going on around me. However I am getting pretty good at reading facial expressions and body language, and sarcasm does not translate well.

So this whole fearless bug/spider killing machine thing has gone down the  drain. There are spiders and other weird bugs everywhere! On Tuesday Sis L and I found one that looked like a slug but it had a blue stinger thing. We put it in a cup and it started freaking out and it was strong. We took a few pictures so I might send those later.

We have been doing a lot of running this week and most of that was not for MorgenSport (but when we do run in the morning we run through some amazing places, there are so many random little parks, bridges, ponds, random man-made hills or mounds)....We have had to run to catch so many buses and bahns. Hahaha I wish you could understand how funny this really is. Haha we went to one bus stop, looked at the schedule thought we had missed the bus so we kept watching. I told Sis L I would NOT be running if that bus did come. After a minute, or two, or three, Sis Lartey turns around, sees the bus and yells "oh shizzz" I yelled "Im gonna kill you" Hahah we were laughing so hard we could barely run, we got on the bus sweaty and exhausted, the poeple on the bus may or may not have been laughing at us.... And to all who are concerned, we don't normally yell at each, haha you just had to be there.

On Sunday we had dinner with the Lehmann family. They are so sweet, three little kids. Bruder Lehmann is one of the councelors in the Bishopric. Sachel is the oldest and he is about 4. At church he runs over, grabs my hands, looks up and yells, "Du bist ein Baby" He also thinks my name is Sis Turtle. Haha so cute. Oh and yesterday I played the organ in sacrament meeting. Ha that was interesting. Remember how I taught myself how to play the organ two years ago at the funeral in Teasdale? Well that was the last time I played before yesterday. I may or may not need some more practice...

I miss Jack, Sam, Cade and JD so much! I miss the rest of you too, but mostly those 4 ;) oh and baby Nick! Janae I want to see pictures! Are Sam and Jack soooo excited??

Thank you for all the recipes! Dad can you also send some pie recipes? You learned how to make them on the mish right? Hopefully I can learn to cook and bake in the next 16 months, BTW today is my 2 month mark.

Love you all!!

-Sis Turner

August 5, 2013

Lieber Familie,

 

Ah, where to begin? Throughout the week I think of things I want to write and then when P-day rolls around I forget what I wanted to say. First I'll tell you about some ''little/big" blessings. Four years ago when I was an exchange student in Meißen, I had the worst jetlag. In the middle of the day I would be falling asleep and in the middle of the night I would be wide awake. I don't know how, but I have been so blessed to not have that so we can keep working hard all day. Also I really really really disliked mineral(sparkling) water. I was worried about drinking it at appointments. I was surprised with my first glass here I didn't have a problem and now I even like it. Also (this one reminds me of Sha) my comp is deathly afraid of spiders, and so am I. But somehow I have turned into a fearless bug/spider killing machine. However, I still do not handle snakes very well. Sha, the spiders here are really ugly, but kinda cool, there was one outside our apartment for a few days on a huge web and it hand striped legs.

 

On Wednesday Sis Lartey discovered that her wallet was missing. This literally has everything she needs in it. I was pretty sure it was dropped on the bus the night before. We searched everywhere but couldn't find it. I was worried but I felt that we would find it. We had to find it, we needed it, we're missionaries and Heavenly Father was going to help us. We prayed so many times. On Thursday after Elder Back DL called and said her wallet was at the Bus Depot Lost and found in Dahlem. We went to our next appointment and after we were running to catch the bahn so we could make it before 6 when they closed. We got to the bahn stop just as the train we needed arrived, so we literally ran up the stairs almost slipped on the wet ground around the corner, skirst might have been flying over our heads and the doors closed in our faces. Haha I can't wait to see a replay of that in heaven. We barely missed it and then had to wait for 15 min for the next train...We sat and I started to laugh, ha did that really just happen?? We barely made it to the lost and found on time and we got Sis Lartey's wallet and guess what! EVERYTHING was still in it!! EVERYTHING! We are so blessed!!

 

We had been working hard all week, but a lot of appointments fell through, one investigator who had a baptismal date has dropped off we haven't been able to contact him at all this week, and we weren't even close with our goals. We had been praying and working hard, it has been so hot and we were tired (by the way Dad, I have so much more appreciation for all you do, thank you for working so hard everyday and not complaining). In one devotional in the MTC we were told to develop or work to have the faith to see miracles. I felt that we were putting in the effort, so I began to pray for that specifically. To have the faith for us to see miracles. Ask and ye shall receive. On Saturday afternoon our prayers were answered, we received a referral for a family that we met with and have another appointment for tonight! So excited! Again, it's not about the numbers, but we have been seeing very specific miracles because of specific goals, sincere prayers and hard work. Heavenly Father loves His children so much.

 

Oh hahaha so some missionaries accidentally leave their wallets on buses, well on Friday I accidentally left my companion on the bus....Hahaha we got to our stop, the person in front of me was having a hard time, so I helped them off, turned around to see my comp bent over picking up the cards she had dropped, she looks up in shock to see the doors shut and me waving as she is still on the bus driving away! Hahaha so I walked to the next bus stop, I'm pretty sure I could hear Chariots of Fire playing from the sky as everything went into slow mo as we were reunited. Hahaha I am still laughing about it.

 

Sunday is my favorite! I love meeting with the Gemeinde! They had we play the piano for primary which I loved for two reasons, one of which is that they speak simply enough that I understand most of what they are saying. I love the young women in the ward, they are so sweet. It was really cool hearing everyone's testimonies. The spirit was so strong. After we had lunch with Schwester Gamelin and Schwester Schulte,man these sisters know how to cook, I have never been so full and then they gave a ton of left overs which is awesome because we never have time to make dinner.

I love you all! Sorry I don't have time to respond to everyone, I'll try to send pictures soon.

Have a great week!

 

-Sister Turner

July 29, 2013

Lieber Familie,

 

Ha I am struggling slightly with this German keyboard... Oh by the way I made it to Germany!!! Ha longest day of my liiiiifffffffffffe would be an understatement. by the time I finally went to bed on Wednesday night I had been up for about 33 hours. The flight was great, no problems and it was so fun talking to all of you! By the time we got to the mission home everytime I sat down I almost, or did, fall asleep. Pres Kosak is amazing!! Wish I could explain better but you'll just have to trust me. We went out finding right by the church. Oh my goodness, at that moment I was seriously considering why on earth was I here trying to speak a language I don't know, sharing a message people don't want to hear. I was tired and stressed, trying so hard to smile and just wanting to curl up in a ball and cry. I got your letter when we went back to the church. The first thing I read was the last paragraph all I saw was YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS. That night I did a lot of praying and I finally got to sleep. Everything skyrocketed after that! I met my new companion Sis Lartey from Orem,UT. Small world huh? She went to Mtn View, but that's ok ;) We are serving in Lankwitz. Our apartment is about a 4 min walk from the mission home so send all mail and packages there. I can pick them up almost whenever. Oh and always send packages to the mission home. When I'm not so close to the mission home the ZLs bring all packages to Zone Conference and Training, so every 4ish weeks I'll get my packages.

 

Berlin is on fire!! I cannot begin to tell you how many miracles I have seen! The MTC was awesome, but I hate it in comparison to how much I LOOOOVE Germany!! I can feel how much Heavenly Father loves His children. Thursday We met with an investigator named Franciose. She is from Rwanda but lives here with her husband and daughter named Sarah. She has been meeting with the missionaries for a bit. Part way through the lesson my comp leans over and says you should give her the baptismal challenge. She accepted, but she is worried that she won't be perfect.. We still have more to teach but she loves Christ so much. I love seeing the excitement the investigators show when they feel the spirit. Friday we had a distrikt meeting and set some big goals. The leaders told Sis Lartey and I not to worry about numbers this week because I was brand new and we're just getting into the swing of things, but guess what!!!! Miracles are happening, by the end of the week we reached and surpassed goals. We are preparing two investigators for baptism, we have 3 new investigators and we reached our other goals. I know it's not about numbers, but I also know that when you pray for specific goals and then work for them, miracles will happen. Sis Lartey kept telling me: this doesn't happen Sis Turner, we haven't seen numbers like this. Last night the Zone Leader called to tell us how excited he was about the work we have been doing. I know this only possible through Christ because I still can't speak the language. Haha On Saturday we got on the Bahn and we were a little separated I sat down by and man and smiled. He was staring at my name tag, I was too scared to talk to him by myself so I was avoiding eye contact. Ha he was pretty much begging me to say something, so I said oh you noticed my name tag? I'm a missionary. He said ya, smiling looking and me to say more. I gave him a card and told him about eternal families and told him how excited I am that I can live with my family after this life. I asked him if he wanted to learn more and excitedly he said yes! In a "well duh" sorta way. I said great and went to grab my planner to take down his info. He kept smiling looking at me like keep going. I was like, ha wait right now?? My comp then came over and helped me out. We were able to set an appointment and then realized this man, Juma, kept riding the Bahn past his stop so he could keep talking with us. Oh I'm so excited!! I'll tell you more about our other investigators later. Ha I still am laughing at how awkward I was and how Juma almost had to twist my arm to get me to talk.

 

Sunday I got to meet the Lankwitz Gemeinde sp? They had me play for Relief Society because they only have three people in the whole ward who can play. They asked if I can play Hymn #80 I say absolutely and I jump up to the piano and realize it is a German Hymn that I have never heard of, haha I was praying the whole time that I was playing it the way it was supposed to sound. In my interview with Pres Kosak the first day he told he how excited he was that I can play the piano and violin and organ kinda, and that the ward would really need me. Nervously I said ok, but I'll need a heads up and I'll need to practice etc. Pres Kosak said, Sis Turner relax, it's for the Lord not for you, everything will be ok. And it is! Miracles are happening in Lankwitz!

 

Oh I need to tell you about the Ruetz family! They are in the ward, the dad is our Stake Pres. We had lunch with them on Sunday, haha hamburgers and ice water, we felt so American! They are one of the best families I have ever met! Their daughter Leah 17 and Fleur 13 are the sweetest girls and their sons Finn 9 and Goin 2. Little Goin (pronounced John) is the cutest little thing! I love hearing little chubby cheek babies speak in German. Seriously the cutest!!

 

Ok so Sis Lartey is the bomb! Ha I love her so much!! We have a problem though, we never have enough time to talk (believe it or not, ha even though we are already glued at the hip, that's not enough time) so going to bed on time is a little difficult. We're getting better though. I know that companionships are truly inspired!

 

So when I was in Germany 4 years ago it never really got too warm, I must be somewhere else because we are melting here! Hahaha I have never sweat so much in my life! The past few days have been around 35-37 degrees C. And our bedroom is 27 degrees, in the MTC our bedroom was usually 17. I don't know what that translates to in F, but trust me, it's warm. Ha I promise to never complain about AC again. Sis Covey, Bru Ott and Bru Brogden: I am so sorry for complaining about freezing in class. I have now been humbled. It's really not too bad, I'm just always sweating which is definitely new for me.

 

The apartment we live in is so nice! I'll send pictures later.

I hope this letter makes sense and the spelling/grammar ain't too bad ;)

I know that the Lord loves His children everywhere! I have so many amazing experiences I wish I had time to share. Missionary work is fantastic!! I love it! Wiz I am so excited for you!! Will you please write your testimony and send it to me?

Oh it's raining right now!! I love the rain!!

Gotta go! Love you all!

 

-Sister Turner