Finding Ideas

Dear All,

Some finding ideas Sister Mayfield and I are using:

- English class for Spanish-speakers.  The Elders in our ward will be doing a lot better with this since they are the ones that speak Spanish.  We got to put up a few fliers this week.

- Putting up fliers for a free Bible.  That is how we found a few investigators.  They wanted a free Bible, so they found mormon.org.  And, we figure a lot of people here want Bibles, so we are going to advertise it a little more.

- We need to do better at asking for referrals.

- We tract a lot.

This is a picture of part of our neighborhood.  It was during the few warm hours we had this week.

The Lord loves us.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Adventures of Small Towns in North Carolina

Once upon a time, there were two Sister Missionaries.  They served in North Carolina.  They were from the west, so sometimes the couldn't understand the people they were talking to.  But, that is besides the point.  One day, they decided to go walking down the street.  So they did.  They walked and put cards in doors.  They walked and talked to a man or woman or couple whom they passed.  They walked and enjoyed the sun.  And then, the unthinkable happened: a dog.  There was a dog.  How could there be a dog?  Without a leash?  It was big.  And, so was the other dog that was standing by it.  Then, the black one started barking and running towards the Sister Missionaries.  Then the other dog started barking and running towards the Sisters.  So, one of the missionaries decided that they were going to cut through some backyards.  So they did.  The End.

I didn't know what to write this week.  Sister Mayfield says that when you don't know what to write, just write stories about the dogs chasing us.  Sister Mayfield is terrified of dogs.  She starts hyperventilating whenever she sees one not on a leash.  She got attacked when she was a child.  Also, I actually don't know what week this was.  We only get chased by dogs every day.

Oh! We got to go to the Blue and Gold Banquet on Saturday.  They had really tasty cupcakes.

I love you.  Have a terrific week.  "I know the Lord provides a way."

Go with God,
Sister Turley

Gratitude

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a little taxing.  My spiritual tank was running a little low.  As I was studying for an investigator, I was reading on page 73 in Preach My Gospel.  It was the commandment to pray often.  It says that as we pray sincerely, we will be able to see God's influence in our lives.  So, I wrote down a bunch of ways that I have seen God's influence. Then, a few days later, I was reading in Ether 3.  Jesus Christ showed Himself to the brother of Jared.  Verse 18 says, "and all this, that this man might know that he was God."  Christ was willing to do so much to prove to one man that he was God.  So, I pondered what He was willing to do for me.  I wrote down a bunch of blessings that have shown me that God is there.  I realized amongst all this that I need to be more grateful.  As I am grateful, I am able to fill my spiritual tank.  I am able to handle the pressures of life.

Blessings/ God's Influence in my Life

  Scriptures      Hastening the Work    Love for Companions

Love for Family       Family    Faith     Endurance

    Ability to Learn     Patriarchal Blessing    Dancing

Second Chances    Infinity Chances     Ability to Learn

    And so on and so forth . . .

I would love to hear some things that you have been blessed with in the last year.  I love you.  I am thankful that I have been blessed to have all of you in my life.  I hope you are doing well.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Gift of Tongues

Dear Family and Friends,

Honestly!  I don't know what to write.  I am a missionary.  I actually didn't do too much tracting this week.  We did a lot of painting jobs for the member that we live with.  We got a few referrals from mormon.org.  We contacted them.

Oh wait, I have a fun story.  We had a referral from mormon.org named Gail.  We went to her house not knowing anything because our phone is weird and doesn't send or receive complete messages.  (So, we have to send our district leader our goals and actual numbers about three times every week.)  Anyways, we didn't know much about her, so we went to the door.  She came to the door and motioned that she couldn't hear.  So I signed to her, " YOU KNOW SIGN?"  She replied, "YES I DEAF."  So, I asked her about mormon.org and if she had seen it.  She said that she didn't.  I asked her if she had any friends that are Mormon.  She said no, and that she has her own church.  Unfortunately, my ASL is really not great, so I didn't know how to bear my testimony too well.  I said that we believe in Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon is a little like the Bible.  We believe the Book of Mormon.  I asked if she wanted to read the Book of Mormon, but she said no.  But, I feel that what I said was not sufficient to help her feel the truth.  My ASL was not good enough to help her.  So, Sister Mayfield and I have thought that we should go over and see if she will teach us some ASL.  Maybe that will get us in.  We haven't gone back yet.  We will see.  

I hope all are doing well.  I love you.  

Go with God,

Sister Turley

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