November 25, 2013

The Big Cheese is staying in Lankwitz for another transfer and Sis Arhenholtz will be ''opening'' Lankwitz Sisters 2 and training Sister Miesbauer. Or in other words all four of us will be staying in Lankwitz. This week was a little crazy having five of us in one apartment, but we survived and we are back down to four sisters, ha we literally had to run to get Sister Fordham on her train on time, but we schaffed it (got a little bit of Denglish going on).  Sister Miesbauer is from Austria and is waiting on her visa before heading to the Provo MTC. It is great having a native German speaker in our apartment she has helped me so much and guess what! She likes to run!! We went running this morning and she is excited to get up with me a few times a week. I'm so grateful for that because running has really helped me relieve a bit of stress. The language is getting a little better.. Dad I love your story about the dog. Haha I feel like that sometimes.

I love the pictures! Haha and Snicolas, ah what a cutie!!

Today I read in 3 Nephi about the birth of Christ and the signs in America. I'M SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS! (My companions might be tired of me playing Christmas music all the time) I loved that as the Nephites prepared for battle against the Lamanites they first ''cried'' unto the Lord. Then they prepared, repented and continued to pray. They did all they could and the Lord strengthened and protected His people. In 3 Nephi 4:31-33 they sang praises and their hearts were swollen because of the great goodness of God! It made me realize that I need to show Heavenly Father more gratitude for the blessings I receive. Perfect timing for Thanksgiving. The Germans don't exactly celebrate the Piligrims arriving in America, but not to worry, we will celebrate! We have schnittzel, potatoes (for mashed potatoes (not as good as dad's..)) and stuffing!!! Haha we're pretty excited. Oh and we are headed to Tempelhofferfeld after emails for the Berlin Turkey Bowl. I hope you all have fun in St George! Tell Cam to take pictures four wheeling. Also you might need to do a Turkey Trot in memory of me and Adam. And yes please play with water on the tablecloths! Ha maybe not a whole pitcher this time though.. ;) Hey Brad, remember when you tried to crash an airplane into me?? Haha your story made me laugh mom, thank you.

Thank you so much for the prayers. This Sunday the ward fasted together for one of our investigators. We are all still praying and waiting. On Saturday we went to a baptism for a little boy in another ward. The spirit was so strong. This little boy's mother was baptized my second week here and it was amazing watching them as a family come closer to Christ.

I'll try to send pictures next week.

Love and miss you all!!

-Sister Turner

November 18, 2013

Lieber Famile!

First thank you so much for the package!! I got the Reliv on Monday and the package on Tuesday. They might have come sooner, but I don't go to the office everyday to check. Also I am super spoiled living by the office, most missionaries can only get their mail and packages from the office once every 6 weeks. Really though, thank you so much for everything you sent! I know it must have taken a lot of time.

This week has been a little crazy adjusting to having 4 sisters in the apartment and today we picked up another sister. She is a visa waiter headed to Salt Lake. Ha ah! 5 sisters in Lankwitz, we'll see what happens this weekend with transfer calls.

Thank you for the advice. I have been super stressed this week. We work hard and have fun, but sometimes it is hard to keep things in perspective. One thing Elder Beck DL shared at district meeting was that when you are out finding, if you aren't having fun, then you are doing it wrong. We are missionaries and we are supposed to be dignified, but it is also important to enjoy what we are doing and have fun. Ok so funny things that happenend this week: Sis Hansen and I were in a lesson with some new members, the mother had made a cake. She told us it was practice for her daughter's birthday in January. The cake was good, not the most amazing cake, but we were very appreciative. Sis H and I were talking with the mom when I hear the youngest daughter who is 8 ask her sister if missionaries have memorized things to say when they don't actually like the food. Haha I couldn't help but laugh. Later in the week we were on our way to the bus and we talked with some little girls, they could tell we weren't Deutscher. We told them we are missionaries from America. One little girl was so excited and started counting in English 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, NINETEEEEN!! So cute! Last Monday I took the sisters up to the BrandenburgerTor to take pictures. We got there and saw a protest. We didn't stick around to see what was going on, all we heard was a group of people chanting Obama, Obama, shame on you. Kinda scary.

On Sunday we had dinner with the Pumipiyap Family. Panu made us Mexian food and it was amazing!!!! Ah, Mexian food twice in one week!

The baptism did not go through this week, but the ward will be fasting for him and his family this Sunday.

This week I prepared the hymn I would play on Sunday, right before I felt like I should change the last hymn. I was nervous about changing because I hadn't practiced it. The sacrament meeting was so amazing and the spirit was very strong. Afterward the High Councilman came up and asked who picked out the hymns. I did. Well actually the Spirit. He said it was perfect and that he had felt inspired earlier to change what he had to say that day. Both his talk and the hymn went so well, we knew it was inspired.

Sorry this is kinda all over the place.

I love you all!!

-Sister Turner

November 11, 2013

Lieber Familie,

Thank you everyone for your emails this week. They have really strengthened and helped me. Really though, your faith and positive attitudes have helped me keep a bigger perspective. I'm thinking of the song from The Prince of Egypt right now Look At Your Life Through Heaven's Eyes.

That is so cool that Lindsey got to see Adam and Carson! I love the pictures! Haha and I relived my MTC experience hearing about Lindsey's. I didn't have a bug killing contest..gross, Ha but I am killing spiders left and right here and somehow we still find bees in our apartment on occasion. I thought it would be cold enough that they would be dead now..na ja.

Yesterday we ate dinner with Elder and Sister Beesley, they made us Cafe Rio, oh I miss Mexian food. Ha it is very hard to come by here.

This week the dritt was split up. On Thursday we picked up a ''mini missionary'' who is working with Sis Ahrenholtz and I am now working with Sis Hansen. Sis Fordham is from the states, but calls Hannover home. She will be here til the end of the transfer (2 weeks). It has been an adjustment getting used to 4 sisters in our apartment...

I love this quote from Elder Ballard! :"Brothers and sisters, fear will be replaced with faith and confidence when members and the full-time missionaries kneel in prayer and ask the Lord to bless them with missionary opportunities. Then, we must demonstrate our faith and watch for opportunities to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ to our Heavenly Father’s children, and surely those opportunities will come. These opportunities will never require a forced or a contrived response. They will flow as a natural result of our love for our brothers and sisters. Just be positive, and those whom you speak with will feel your love. They will never forget that feeling, though the timing may not be right for them to embrace the gospel. That too may change in the future when their circumstances change."   Missionary work is hard. It is hard sharing something that means so much to you, something you value and love with all your heart and have it be rejected. I have faith that this gospel is true and that the Lord truly is in charge. This week I have struggled wondering if my efforts are making a difference. When we act in love and faith our efforts are not wasted. I feel strength from you all at home. I love hearing the missionary work you are doing. I am so grateful for your examples!

Love and miss you!!

-Sister Turner

November 4, 2013

Mom and Dad,

How are the empty nesters doing?? Holy Cow! Lindsey is a missionary! That's so crazy! What is her email and mission home address?

I love the pictures of the boys!! Baby Nick is so sweet, I can't wait to meet him! Jack and Sam are getting sooo big! And Cade is a little heart stopper in that suit, haha. Sha, you need to teach him to say, Big Cheese ;)

Things are going well here. Starting to get a little colder but no snow, at least not yet. The 31st was Reformation Day, Präs. Kosak's 50th and Mission Tour! It was fun seeing Sis. Lartey again. We got to hear from Elder Kearon and Elder Fingerle of the 70. That was amazing!

Haha I loved the first line of the letter from Präsident Kosak this week:
"This week was rougher than rough", is one expression used by missionaries. Let me use another one by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Don't miss the joy!"

Missionary work is hard, but we have so much fun!

This week we have been teaching a lot about temples. Sch Hausch and her daughter are so excited to take family names to the temple! A few days after we taught them about temples for the first time, Sch Hausch had already hung up a picture of the Freiberg temple! Seeing their excitement and joy helps me. I miss having a temple so close, I really took it for granted. So many members make big sacrifices to go to the temple and I had at least 6 less than an hour away. There is a safety and blessings that come from going to the temple.

Haha all week I think of things I want to share in the email, but by the time Monday rolls around I can't even remember what I ate for breakfast. Oh botha.

Love you!!

Sister Turner