April 7, 2014


Dear Family,

Dad!  That looks awesome!!  Seriously so cool!  You are so talented and thoughtful.  I'm glad to hear that Grandma is taking care of you or making sure that you are taken care of :)  Mom, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!  I love the pictures.  It looks warm.

The first part of our week was warm, and then it got rainy.  Last P-day we went and played on the beach at the Elbe with our district and later the rest of the zone came and we played soccer and American football.  It was a lot of fun.  I sent pictures from it.  Ha, Sister Dunlap doesn't like sand.  She was very content sitting on a rock taking pictures and I just wanted to run and roll barefoot in the sand.  We are very different, but we love each other and work very well with each other.

Unfortunately I was not able to see very much of conference.  I'm hoping I'll be able to see it later, or I will get to read it next month when we get the Liahona.  But what I did get to see was amazing!! Saturday we watched the Women’s broadcast at a member’s home in English.  The Internet crashed and we were not able to finish it.  We got to finish it in German at the stake center in Wartenau and then watched the Saturday morning sessions live.  Then had to run home to be back on time.  We did have an investigator come that night.  We talked to him about what we watched.  We have taught him everything.  In his head he believes the Book of Mormon is true.  Logically he believes that Thomson S Monson is a prophet of God.  But he won't pray to know it's true because ''it just makes sense.''  He believes the church is true, but he isn't willing to do more than read in the scriptures and occasionally come to church.  How do we help him desire to do something; to take the steps to follow Christ, repent and be baptized?

We brought Carlos to watch General Conference on Sunday.  We wanted him to be able to understand so we watched it in Italian.  2 hours of talks was not his favorite thing for a 12 year old, but he learned a lot and remembered the stories he heard.  Speaking of Carlos, this Sunday he is going to be baptized!!  We are so excited!!

Earlier this week I was on Tausch (exchange) with Sis Jardine in Bergedorf.  First, I love exchanges, not to get away from my comp, because my comp is great, but because I love getting to work with other sisters.  I love our STLs!!  This tausch taught me that Heavenly Father loves me, and He understands my struggles.  He gave me loving guidance and reminders to be better.  

Tausch miracle: we met two men that were interested in getting a Book of Mormon and coming to church.  They were a little concerned because the church in Bergedorf is a little far away.  We asked where they live and turns out that they live in my area!  Haha, I had to go to Bergedorf to find some people in our area interested in the Gospel.  Every time I have been in Bergedorf we have found people who live in Altona.  Sister Jardine said that only happens when I am there.  So cool!  It is another testimony for me that Heavenly Father is completely aware of where I am and what I am doing, even if I am in another area for just 24 hours.  ''Heavenly Father, I am grateful you are always there.''  

Sister Jardine used to run cross-country at Cedar High so we went running together.  I loved it!  Their apartment is quite a ways out of the city and there are a lot of big trees.  I felt like I was in the mountains, without the mountains.  We got to go running on some of those trails.  It was great and very needed for both of us.  

Sometimes I have moments where I suddenly realize that I am in Germany, like when Sister Jardine and I had our tausch pow wow/evaluation while eating ice cream by a pond and a castle.  I am so blessed.  So blessed that I get to live here for 18 months and help others come to Christ!  Sometimes I forget how cool that is and how important this calling is.  I am honored to be here working with so many blessed daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father.  

This week I have thought a lot about Laman & Lemuel and Nephi.  God asked them all to do hard and discouraging things.  Laman and Lemuel complained ''because they knew not the dealings of God who created them.''  They didn't understand, so what they were asked to do didn't make sense.  It was hard. But Nephi trusted and then sincerely prayed to understand.  He exercised his faith and the Lord enlarged his perspective and understanding.  He trusted, believed and he was blessed.  

The Lord asks us to do hard things.  When we try to do it alone it will be hard and likely impossible, but with God, all things are possible.  I am grateful for this Gospel.  I know that President Monson has been called of God and I know that as we faithfully follow the commandments of God we will be guided and blessed with peace and joy in this life and in the life to come.  Pray for and believe in miracles!

Thank you so much for your love and support.  I can feel your prayers strengthen me.  I hope you have a wonderful week!

All my love
-Sister Turner

No comments:

Post a Comment