October 28, 2013

Lieber Familie,

This week is going to be short. Last P-day I took my companions down to Postsdam and today we are headed to the Berlinerdom. We had another exchange this week. Ha it was interesting..we'll just say that it is not a coincidence that Sis Ahrenholtz, Hansen and I are together. I am so grateful for both of them! Friday was Sis Hansen's 20 birthday!

Thank you grandma and grandpa Turner for the package! It was just what I wanted :)

Good luck Wiz! Love you so much! E-mail me!

 

I'll write more next week.

Love and miss you!

Sister Turner

More of Potsdam

 

P-day in Potsdam- soooo pretty in the fall!

October 21, 2013

Lieber Familie,

What a crazy week! I put Sis Lartey on a train and picked up my two new companions Sis Ahrenholtz and Sis Hansen. And on Thursday I went on exchange to Cottbus with one of the Sister Training Leaders. Haha so after one and a half days in Berlin my companions had to navigate their way around the biggest city in the country. They did great! We are still getting used to this whole dritt thing, but I love these sisters. We get along really well and we are learning to teach together. Before they came I was terrified! Haha my leaders gave me some advice and each gave me a spitzname: Elder Hansen (AP) called me the Alpha dog, Elder Beck (DL) called me the Princess of Lankwitz and Präsident Kosak called me The Big Cheese. Haha.

We have a lot of great plans for this week and I am really excited. Leading Lankwitz for this first little bit has taught me that I know more than I thought I did. I have not been able to rely on Sis Lartey, so now I know a little better what I do and do not know. We have only gotten lost a few times.. Amazingly my German has gotten a lot better this week. I have felt my faith grow this week as I have had to stretch. I know I can't do this on my own and I am finally trusting the Lord to take over believing in the promise that when you open your mouth, it will be filled. Growing is uncomfortable, but I am grateful for it.

Yesterday the Hausch family was confirmed. They were glowing after and the spirit was so strong. Sch. Hausch bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon in Sunday school. I have learned so much from her and her daughters. They have such strong, sincere testimonies.

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It brings me so much comfort and strength. I love 1Nephi 21:15-16 Christ says ''will I not forget thee...Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.'' He knows and loves us personally. Because of the price Christ paid, we all have the opportunity to grow, to change, to become better. You are never alone and you are not forgotten.

Please keep sending me pictures of the babies. I hope you had a great time on your trip and good luck getting Lindsey ready these last few weeks!

I love and miss you!!

Sister Turner

 

 The sisters after zone training:  Sisters Lartey, Dunlap, Clark, Norton, Schrade, me

 My favorite park. Can you believe we found this in Berlin?!

 

Our attempt at self timer...the camera fell last second Sisters Hansen, me, Ahrenholtz

 There's a sad sort of clanging from the clocks in the halls and the bells in the steeples too, and up in the nursery an absurd little bird is popping out to say coo koo.... Distrikt picture

 Zerbster Str 42

 Gonna miss my trainer

 The Dritt picking up my new companions at HauptBahnhof

Peacock Island castle

 Tauschv(exchange) in Cottbus:  So cold the trees need sweaters

 Comp study

 

Taufe taufe!

October 14, 2013

Lieber Familie!

THERE WILL BE MIRACLES WHEN YOU BELIEVE

Oh my goodness, we'll see if I can get through this email without crying.. We have been working so hard with the Hausch family and praying with all our hearts and we have seen and are seeing miracles. On Sunday all three were baptized!! The spirit was so overwhelming. I am so blessed to be able to work with this family. They daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves them so much. I'm at a loss of words, it was just so amazing. Prayers have been answered and through Christ all things are possible.

Another transfer has come and gone. I will be staying in Lankwitz, but Sis Lartey will be transfered to Leipzig with Sis Rasmussen (one of the sisters from my group in the MTC). I will be receiving not one, but two new companions. (And by new I mean new to the area not the mission field.) It's going to be very different doing everything in 3's instead of 2's.  Sis Lartey and I have been moving everything around in the apartment making it ''dritt'' appropriate. Sad to see Sis Lartey go.. Especially because I will be leading the companionship for the first little bit.

Sorry this letter is so short, we are so emotionally and spiritually exhausted. It has been an amazing week. Oh what up, almost forgot that we had a joint teach with Pres Kosak! I have the best Mission President!

Love you all!!

Sister Turner

October 7, 2013

Lieber Familie

Oh my goodness, I LOVE General Conference!! We weren't able to see the last session, but we did get to see the Relief Society broadcast!

General Conference was so wonderful and so needed. I have been struggling the past few weeks  with a lot of discouragement and doubt. I loved what Pres Uchtdorf said: ''Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.'' Of course I am not perfect over night, but I can feel the power of the atonement bringing me up little by little. I have been realizing that my self doubt is not just ''self'' doubt. It is not recognizing and using the help that is always extended toward me, the atonement. Of course I'm scared to talk to strangers in a language that I still can not speak. Frustrated and sad, sometimes holding back feelings or promptings of the Spirit. ''I can't speak German, I don't understand what people are saying to me, I'm not a good teacher, I'm not smart enough, funny enough, etc.'' The words of the prophets gave me so much comfort and hope. Reminding me that I am not alone and to believe in miracles. Pray with all my might, do all that I can in faith and hope knowing this is God's work and He won't let it fail. He won't let me fail. I love my Savior and I am so grateful for His eternal, atoning sacrifice. I have faith that He can make weak things become strong. But it begins with a desire and letting that desire work within you. Why I am here? Because I know what Jesus Christ has done for me. I want everyone to be able to feel that change and redeeming love. I challenge all of you to think about what the atonement means to you, and then to invite someone to come closer to Christ. ''Live by faith, hold to hope and show charity one to another'' -Elder Holland

This weekend Frau Hausch will be baptized! We are so excited and we are still working with and praying for the family. Michelle and Romy are not sure about being baptized with their mother. I am fighting so hard for the this family that the devil does not want baptized. My heart breaks when I hear what they go through. They need the blessing that come with baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Please remember them in your prayers this week.

Wiz! I can't believe you leave in three weeks! How are you feeling? You are going to be so amazing! I am so proud of you!

Sha, I love hearing about your work with the Sister missionaries! And little Ritos.

I love the pictures!! I love the picture of JD on Brad's back and you can see Merri peeking through.  JD definitely has his momma's beautiful eyes!

Mom and Dad have so much fun on your trip!

I love you all so much!! Have a great week!

-Sister Turner