Snow -- The Devil's Advocate

Dear All,

Well, it snowed this week.  No one knows how to drive in it or has salt ready, so the lessons that we did have planned were cancelled.  We were also supposed to have a district meeting which was postponed and later turned into a zone conference call.  They didn't want us driving much with the snow.  That did not stop Sister Mayfield and me.  Oh! We also decided to get some McFlurrys.  The employees were surprised that people were getting ice cream when it was cold and snowy.

Well, we got a new investigator today.  I love her.  She is fantastic.  Her name is Monica, and we have been giving service at her consignment shop for a while.  We go over on Fridays every week.  She has come to church twice.  We just talked about the Book of Mormon today and how it can help us come closer to Christ.  And guess what?!  She has a snatcher van.  She is so snatchin' that even the car was snatched.  Just kidding, but she did get it from a business for cheap so on the side it reads, "Terminal Use Only."  It is so great.  We had a great discussion about snatcher vans.  She is elect.  I cannot wait for her to have a calling and everyone will love her.

I love all y'all.  (Sister Cherise Turley asked me if I have a southern accent.  Sometimes I do.  It doesn't help that I talked weird before I came out here.)  I hope you are all doing well.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Work and the Atonement

Dear Whoever reads my Blog  (I hope someone does),

I don't know what to write.  Lots of the times I feel that I need to share some fantastic discovery I made about the Gospel.  Or some great news about investigators preparing for baptism.  Or some miracle that was completely out of the blue.  But, to tell you the truth I don't have a lot of those.  The Lord doesn't work that way with me.  He works kind of like the light and the fog that Elder Bednar talks about.  (http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#patterns-of-light-spirit-of-revelation)  At about time 1:20.

This week, we had members at lessons.  We don't have any baptismal dates, but I can see the Spirit working in the lives of the members and investigators.  I see that the gospel really is what brings us happiness.  And, not just that.  We have to work.  Work brings happiness.  It is being able to say at the end of the day that you have done all that you can do.  Work and the Atonement.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Faith! I am Starting to Understand.

Dear Family and Friends,

What is faith?  Well, I don't really know.  But, I am starting to figure it out.  Here is what I wrote to my Mission President today:

This week was rather interesting. Sister Mayfield and I read the LTMM on Tuesday together. It bothered me, and I tried to figure out why. On Thursday, I finally understood that I felt that the LTMM was telling me that my faith was shown through numbers (Nephi only had to try three times before he got the Brass plates). In the seven months in Wilmington, I had the opportunity to teach one person that was baptized, and she had already been taught sufficiently. Also, since being in Dunn, the work has been a little slow. I felt awful that I did not have any faith and that it was affecting the work. Then, Sister Mayfield and I had a good, long discussion about faith. Conclusion: Faith does not depend on numbers. I have faith, and it feels really good. We went tracting and no one wanted to talk to us, but that does not mean that we don't have faith. We will continue to work hard for the salvation of others. We love the work! We have hope.

The LTMM is the letter the President sends to all of the missionaries every week.  He talked about unshakable faith and how Nephi had to be tested before he would get the Brass plates.  So, if you feel that your faith is being tested, it is.  If you feel that there is no end to the testing, there isn't.  But don't worry, the tests will not all be the same.  One test will eventually end, and the next one will begin.  I want to thank Grandma Hunt for her letter this week.  I really needed to be reminded that part of our task is to endure to the end.  One Elder (Elder Williams who finished his mission a few transfers ago) was a great Zone Leader.  He liked to call it "Enjoying to the End."  Let us all enjoy to the end.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

P.S. I said there would be pictures.

We had ice in our driveway.  It was fun crunching it every time we drove over it.

Dunn and Burning Clothes

Dear Family and Friends,

So, for the last two weeks of December, I told Sarah that if Sister Billings and I didn't find 10 new investigators, she could burn half of my clothes.  I am happy to say that we found 1 new investigator.  We got to share a Book of Mormon with two people, and got a return appointment with one.  I don't know how lessons with the new investigator are going because I got transferred.  But, we found a new investigator, and now half of my clothes will be burned.  I am so excited.

Here in Dunn, we have a lot of appointments.  I am thoroughly happy since I only had a few lessons my last transfer.  Sister Mayfield says it is a little slow right now, so it is going to be so fun coming up!  I am so glad I get to share the gospel now.  I hope y'all are doing well.  This week had a few sick days for Sister Mayfield and me.

Next week, I will have pictures.  Yay!

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Sister Turley in Dunn. What?

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, this week was transferred.  I finally got transferred.  Crazy, I know.  Who would have thought?  Okay, Heavenly Father knew.  I am now in the Dunn ward.  It is great.  Missionary work in this ward is fantastic.  The members are so eager to help.  Our vision for the Dunn area is to have two wards.  We are going to work hard this transfer.  My new companion is Sister Mayfield.  I still need to get a picture of Sister Billings to you.  But, I do have one.  Sister Mayfield and I still need to get a picture together.  Sister Mayfield is from Maricopa, Arizona.  She went to Hamilton.  She was in the same English class as Megan.  Weird.

This week was rather interesting for scripture study.  I was in Mosiah.  And, Sister Mayfield and I were trying to figure out how old Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah were in comparison.  We realized that Ammon was about 60 years old when he was smiting the arms off of the Lamanites.  Well, that ruins all of the videos and pictures.  He had gray hair and such.  And, I was just thinking about all of these awkard videos we could make based off of the scriptures.  Anyways, the scriptures do not tell us about how everyone is connected very well.  You have to read the Book of Mormon a thousand times to know about how everyone is related.  Good thing that is the goal!

I love you.  I am having a great start to 2014.  Have a wonderful week.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Keep on Keepin' on

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, I talked to my family on Christmas.  Apparently my aunt doesn't like that I don't write very much.  I guess this letter won't make her any happier.  It has been a hectic day.  I got to give my companion a trim in the back of her hair.  That was nerve-racking.  Yep.  Next, I am being transferred tomorrow, so I have been packing.  It is so hard to keep everything in two suitcases.  All I know is that I won't need anymore toothpaste or deodorant sent to me for the rest of my mission (and hand sanitizer and chapstick and floss  AND SUGAR).  Next, Sister Billings and I got to go to a blood drive that was being held at the stake center.  We had to lock up.  Then, we rushed ( I may have sped) to the Wilmington 1st Sisters.  We are now emailing.  Fun, fun, fun.  That's about it.  I will send some Christmas pictures next week.  (maybe)

Go with God,

Sister Turley

P.S.  Sister Billings is cracking up as she watches me write this.  I love all y'all.

Christmas Adam Miracle

Dear Family,

Merry Christmas Adam!

I have a miracle story.  In the Wilmington 2nd ward, we have a less active man named Brother George.  (Okay, that isn't his last name, but I will use it here in this story.)  I met Brother George one time before with Sister Budge (I think).  We had a nice chat with him on his porch the first time we met him.  And he asked us if the church was sending sisters now to get him.  He also told us that he knew that he needed to come back to church and explained that he has gone through periods of activity and inactivity.

This week, Sister Billings and I were riding our bikes in a neighborhood, trying to find potential investigators and less active members.  We were heading to a potential investigator's home, but I yelled at Sister Billings (we have to yell to be heard when riding bikes) that we should turn around. I just thought we should go visit Brother George.  So, we knocked on his door.  He invited us in.  His wife was there but did not participate.  She is also less active but wants nothing to do with the church.  We were able to share 2 Nephi 19:6 with Brother George.  We then discussed the roles of the Saviour.  Before we left, he told us that we was about to give up hope again.  But, we were able to invite the Spirit into his life again.

The Zone Leaders said that they stopped by the next day, and Brother George said that it must be a sign that both sets of missionaries stopped by his home.  I love Brother George.  He may seem a little gruff at first, but he is so gentle.  He is funny, and he has a lot of love.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

First Transfer Training Meeting

Dear All,

The highlight of this week was the 1st transfer training meeting.  Each new missionary and their trainer gets to go to this meeting.  So, this was my third transfer in a row going to it.  I also went to this meeting when I was out for my first transfer.  And, they say the same thing every time.  I knew what stories they were going to share, what role plays we would do, what scriptures we would read, and others.  So, at the beginning I was thinking about what the theme was of the meeting.  I decided that the theme was "Book of Mormon and Holy Ghost."  I have been trying to apply what I have heard for the four times that I have been to this meeting.  Then, it finally struck me that I was putting in an honest effort to use the Book of Mormon in contacting and lessons (there is always room for improvement, but that is besides the point), but I realized that I need to work a lot harder with inviting the Spirit.

So, this week, I have been working on inviting and recognizing the Spirit.  My studies this week have focused on prayer and faith.  My prayers have been more sincere this week.  I am trying to invite the spirit more.  

Below is a picture of the package I received from Grandma Hunt this week.  It is hard to see, but it is triangular.  I got it at the 1st transfer training.  I think the mission office knows that the mission president will see me about every week, so they just hold all of my packages and wait until my next meeting to have the president give it to me.  But, one of the assistants to the president, Elder Pollard, picked it up and asked me if I had received a bazooka.  I told him, "No, it is a giant Toblerone."  He asked me, "Really?!"  Then I responded that I didn't know.  At first I thought it was from Lari, and so I mentioned that she probably knew where to find one though.  And, yes I am in my pajamas in the picture (scandalous).

Thanks for all of the support.  I am sorry that my letters are so awful.  Thanks for all of the packages.  My roommate sure loves them too.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Book of Mormon

Dear World,

The Book of Mormon is true.  Just read it.  Just pray sincerely.  Just thank Heavenly Father for the knowledge.  And then, share it with someone else.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

One Picture

I thought I would send a picture this week.  I love this giant pine cone.

Light and Dark

Dear Family and Friends,

A few random notes:  I am working on enthusiasm.  Some things in this letter may look sarcastic, but I am just fantastically happy.  Without happiness and enthusiasm, the work is dull and pointless, and nobody will want to hear what we have to say.  Also, we had no car this week because we are now sharing the car with the Spanish-speaking Elders.  Okay, those were my random notes.

Well, I think you all know that this week held Thanksgiving day.  I tracted.  YES!!!  I love it!  Well, that was my Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful to be a missionary.

Right now, one of the biggest struggles is darkness.  Winter is my fourth favorite season.  It is cold. It is dark.  It is cold and dark.  So, I think it makes my top 4 list.  Sister missionaries have to be indoors by the time it is dark, so at 4:30 PM.  When we tract for our whole mission, that is a struggle.  We can't knock on doors or street contact for 4 1/2 hours of the day.  We do our best to get appointments during those hours, but many times we end up having to stay in our apartment.  The darkness keeps us inside.

Today, in my personal study, I was in Doctrine and Covenants 10.  Verses 58-70 talk a lot about the character of Christ.  Jesus Christ is light.  He says, "I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not."  Based on this,  I know that I need to work harder.  I can do it.  Sister Billings and I are going to find ten new investigators this month.  We are going to have two baptisms this month.  We are going to talk with everyone.  We will do our very best, our very very very very very very very best.  We love the people of North Carolina!  We are here to save them and let them know that they can turn to the light.  The darkness cannot stop us.  The darkness cannot stop investigators.  The Light will lead us to victory.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Oh, the Holidays!

Dear Family and Friends,

I thought I would share a fun story with you.  Sister Billings, my new companion waiting to go to Australia, and I were driving to our dinner appointment a few nights ago.  There is a street named St. Nicholas Drive in the neighborhood that we were in, and we eventually crossed it as well.  Here is the conversation we had after we passed it.

Me:  We just passed over St. Nicholas Drive.

Sister Billings:  Okay? (as in why are you telling me this?)

Me: I thought I would let you know that we just ran over Santa.

Sister Billings and I just started laughing.

Well, there goes Christmas.  The Grinch doesn't have to steal it this year.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, here is a list of what I am thankful for, especially being on a mission:

- going to church every week

- Heavenly Father's patience

- a car

- other missionaries that inspire to do better

- laughing

- people who read the Book of Mormon

- when words come out of my mouth when contacting

- support of my wonderful family

- and more and more

Thank you.  I love all y'all.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

I'm not lost. (Although some people here think I am.)

Dear Family and Friends,

I know.  I didn't write last week.  [insert maniacal laughter here  (if that so pleases you)]  Let me explain why.

On November 5, my district had interviews with President Bernhisel.  One of his first questions was if I felt I was more adaptable than when I first came on my mission.  I replied that I feel I adapt pretty well, even before my mission.  Then, he interviewed me.  Then, he told me that Sister Frampton's visa had arrived.  That is exciting!  But, the Norway Oslo Mission's transfers were in one week.  So, she would be leaving on Monday.

So, we traveled to Raleigh on November 11.  Raleigh is almost 2 1/2 hours from Wilmington, depending on who is driving as it always goes.  So, we spent the day traveling.  We dropped Sister Frampton off at the mission office, and the mission office sisters were going to drop her off at the airport.  I also got the chance to change my home address and ward while I was there.  Then, I traveled home.  My companions for the next few hours were a mother and daughter from the Wilmington wards.  The daughter is in the YSA branch, and the mother is in the ward I am serving in.  That was fun.  I love the Lynches.

Then, I met the Wilmington 1st sisters.  We got my suitcase and my food and headed to the Zone Leaders' apartment.  We had to get a foam pad from them that I could sleep on.  Then, we went to the Wilmington 1st sisters' apartment.

On Tuesday, November 12, we had a mission tour where Elder Baxter talked to us.  The meeting was in Fayetteville, which is about two hours away from Wilmington.  So, we spent the day traveling and also sitting on our bottoms listening to a seventy tell us how to find people to teach.  Needless to say, I was very excited when we got to do some exercising in the morning.  I was so thankful that I got to stretch.

Wednesday, we did transfers with the Sister Leaders.  So, we got to travel for an hour to Holly Ridge to pick up the Sister Leader and drop off Sister Likovich, one of the Wilmington 1st sisters.  Then, we headed back to Wilmington.  Then, we had to switch back the next morning as well.

Then Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were fairly normal days.  Sunday, we went to 5 hours of church and also had a few other meetings.  Then, we had a church tour with one of my (Wilmington 2nd's) investigators.  And, today is Preparation day, so I am actually sending a letter.

Tomorrow is transfer day.  I get to travel to Raleigh again.  I get another companion.  I set a personal record this transfer for companions per transfer.  I only had four: Sister Budge, Sister Frampton, Sister Doty, and Sister Likovich.  I am starting my 5th transfer tomorrow, and I have already had six companions.  Tomorrow I get another visa-waiter.  The ward members joke that I am going to be in the Wilmington 2nd ward for my entire mission.  The Lord must have a work for me to do.

I know this church is true.  I know that life changes quickly.  I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet.  I know that Savior lives.  I know that through the Atonement we can change our lives.  This is a gospel of forgiveness.  This is a gospel in enduring with smiles on our faces.  I love all y'all.  I hope you are doing well.  Heavenly Father loves all y'all too.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

It's almost Christmas! . . . I mean, Halloween.

Sorry, this is the email from last week  --Sister Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

Welp, I got a new companion this week.  I know, it wasn't transfers this week; my other companion went home on Medical Release.  And, I am on a roll: having a change in companionship every transfer.  Yet, I am still in the same area.  I don't think that will change next transfer either.  My new companion is Sister Frampton.  She is waiting for her visa. She will be heading to Norway.  We don't know when it will come, but I am guessing it is coming sometime at the end of this transfer.  She has been in North Carolina for a week, so I am training again.  And, I get an hour of language study every day.  I get to hear a lot of prayers in Norwegian.  I am sure I will come out of this companionship with a few Norwegian phrases stuck in my head.  I already have a few.

I have to say, Sister Frampton is my most motivated companion so far.  I love it.  She actually takes action and plans and invites herself over to have lessons.  She is willing to keep working during the entire day.  I love it.  I am so excited for this transfer.  I have a lot of hope for this transfer.

On Saturday, the Wilmington 2nd ward had their Halloween Party.  So, we first got some service in by helping the Relief Society President get hot dogs ready.  Sister Frampton, the brother we were working with (Brother N), and I had a pretty good system.  I would open the buns, Sister Frampton would hold the buns while Brother N put the hot dogs in the buns, and then Sister Frampton would close them and set them in the trays.  We got to do this for a few hundred hot dogs.  I didn't end up eating any hot dogs, but I had some chili that was made for the chili cook-off.

After dinner was trunk-or-treat.  We had a fantastic turnout.  Sister Frampton and I talked to so many less active members and nonmembers.  I got to talk to a girl named Savannah.  She is not a member, but she has been coming to church for a while now.  She went to Youth Conference this summer, and she is going to seminary now.  She comes to church and seminary with the Stake President's daughter.  I got to talk to her, and then I talked with the Stake President's wife.  I feel that we might be getting a new investigator sometime soon.

Sunday was the Primary Program.  And, the women with callings in Primary have been working for weeks to get children to invite their friends to come see what they do in Primary/church.  There were a few families that came that I had never seen before.  Sister Frampton and I split up to meet different people.  She got quite a few more appointments than me, but I will work on that.  I am constantly working on being more bold.  I have a lot of work to do in that area.

Sister Frampton and I had an interesting conversation about God last night.  A question that I posed was, "Because God cannot lie, isn't that limiting God?"  The conclusion that I have come to in my mind is that because God also has agency, just like all of His children, He does have a choice to lie or to tell the truth.  But, because He chooses to tell the truth, He shows how much power He has.  He is able to create more and give more because He chooses to tell the truth.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland states, "The Father's course was one of agency and choice--the freedom to err but ultimately the freedom to succeed."  This comes from his talk in the September 2013 Ensign.I read it this week, and it is great.  Will you all read it again this week? 

Apparently, I had a lot more to say this week than last.  I love all y'all.  I hope you have a fantastic week.   Doctrine and Covenants 100:1.  I know that God is doing this for me, but I don't exactly understand how He is doing it and planning on doing this.  Life comes, but the Lord knows about it a lot more than we do.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Cemeteries and No Soliciting

Dear Family and Friends,

I thought I would send some pictures.  Yay. So exciting.

This picture is of Sister Frampton and me.  We took this picture on October 28 (last Monday, and also Sister Frampton's birthday).  We got to go to the beach with the other Sisters, who are serving in the Wilmington 1st ward.

This was a less active week.  We saw a lot of less active members this week.  We are here to reactivate.  We have been getting better at having visiting teachers come with us.  We are hoping to find more and more this week as well.  We will keep on keepin' on.  (That is a phrase that people like out here.)

Okay, this is one last picture.  I took this picture when Sister Budge was still my companion.  It looks like we won't be going into that neighborhood much anymore.  I don't know if I have said this already, but I am going to say it again: every neighborhood is a 'no soliciting' neighborhood. 

Sorry I don't have more to write.  I am working, I promise.

Go with God,

Sister Turley