Universe Juice

Dear All,

Well, I meant to share a great thing that I found last week, but I forgot my Restoration pamphlet at home.  Bummer.  That is how I work.  I am often heard saying, "I am probably the most unprepared missionary you will ever meet."  I forget everything.  I don't know how well it will go as I get older; I am afraid that I am going to forget my name when I reach 38.  I'm going downhill fast. Fast, I tell ya.  Anyways, the Restoration is great.  Sister Boucher and I use it a lot.  It has been our main lesson the last few weeks.  We will get to planning and say, "What shall we teach the Smith family? The Restoration!"  So, that is what we do.  We teach the Restoration.  And, we use the Book of Mormon.

I am sorry for no letter last week.  Our haircuts took 3 hours, which we were not planning at all.  So, I had ten minutes to write to President Bernhisel and look at some things and log off.  We have quite the adventures here in Dunn.  We have established a very high turnover rate.  We find about 4-5 investigators per week and have 5 different ones the next.  We are learning how to "sizzle socks," in the words of Elder Holland, so that we will have more return appointments that don't fall through.  Retention rate will be improving soon.

I love all y'all.  Hope you are doing well.  Keep moving forward.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

P.S.  This week, I have thought a lot about the movie "Kung Fu Panda."  I think about the part where the other kung fu warriors are telling Po that the dragon warrior can live off of the energy of the universe and a single drop of dew.  I love when he says, "I don't think my body knows it is the dragon warrior yet.  I am going to need a lot more universe juice."  I love it because we just want to do the work, but are stomachs sometimes start growling.  So, we have to eat.  I don't think my body knows it is a messenger from God yet.

The Power of Members

Dear Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

Well, the work was about the same this week.  We found people and they dropped us and repeat.  This is missionary work.  Luckily, we are working with the members more.  Sometimes, members don't know how much power they have.  I certainly did not before I came on my mission.  I know now that members are the finders.  Missionaries just don't find very well.  For some reason, people don't want to listen to us when just knock on their door.  But they are more interested when they have friends that figuratively say, "Hey my two friends can teach you about why I am so happy.  And more than that, they can teach you to find that same happiness."  I know that working with members makes the work happen.  I love the work.  But, I love working with members more.

Thanks for all you do,
Sister Turley

Because of Him

And this was the letter from last week.  Sorry, it has been an interesting ride.  Literally, I hit at least 20 potholes a day.

Dear Anyone who Reads this Blog,

This week was a really good one.  Last Monday, we received a letter from the Director of Media in the Missionary Department about special Easter Media.  We were given the video "Because of Him" to share.  This video is fantastic.  I don't think I can count the number of times that Sister Boucher and I watched it this week.  This is one of the many amazing things about being a Facebook missionary.  I am still trying to figure it out, but luckily the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect all at once.  As long as we are progressing.  But, the video has helped us a lot this week.  We found a new investigator by using it.  We share the video and are able to ask others what they think of it.  I was able to use #BecauseofHim this week on Facebook.  It really took off.  There are so many great things if you go to this hashtag on Facebook.  I was really excited when I got to see all of the members' testimonies on this site.  It was phenomenal.  I love being a missionary.  I love being able to see the affect that technology has on missionary work.

Now we are just waiting on our tablets.  Some Elders ask President when they are coming every time they get the chance.  I thought it would be March, but that didn't happen.  Technology makes the work explode.

I love all y'all.  It was fun to read of your Easter stories.  Easter is a great time of year.  We got to contact referrals.  We were able to have dinner with the Ginn family and share "Because of Him.'  Afterwards, Sister Boucher and I helped the Ginn family learn how to do FamilySearch Indexing.  It was a fun Easter week.  I loved it.  I love the holidays.  People seem to be more accepting.  Have a wonderful week.

Go with God,
Sister Turley

Ten Virgins

Sorry, this is the letter from two weeks ago.

Hey All Y'all,

This week is a lot better than last week (at least today is).  Anyways, sorry I am a bum and write bad stuff.  This week improved because I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 63, and it was meant just for me.  It talks about the will of God.  Sister Boucher and I have quite a few discussions about the will of God.  Our views are very different.  Sister Boucher sees it as the will of God is always that the best thing will happen.  For example, if we don't have baptisms, it is because someone chooses to not follow the will of God.  Which, I guess this is true.  But, I have the point of view sometimes that some people are not going to choose to be baptized, so He has placed missionaries there who can handle not having baptisms, and won't give up (completely- okay last week was pretty bad).  I haven't given up yet!  Anyways, I think it is about obedience.  I am doing what the Lord would have me do.  I know that if I do all that He asks me to, I will be able to bless the lives of others.

Also, in Chapter 63, it talks about the ten virgins.  How they will not be prepared to come see Christ at the second coming, in fact, they will be destroyed. "And in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire." (63:54) I just have been thinking a lot about less active members.  There have been quite a few that have said that they know the church is true and that they will come back soon.  I am afraid this is not how it works.  The day of repentance is now.  We are to come back to church now.  If we wait, we will be swept and burnt.  I don't want that to happen, so that is why I am trying to actively use the Atonement.  I am going to repent this week.  I am sorry.  I love all of you.  Please forgive me.  Strength is not my strong point.  So, have a wonderful week.  Just know that I am doing better. Sorry to send such a grievous note last week.  I love you.

Go with God,
Sister Turley

Members and Missionaries: What's the Difference?

Answer: Missionaries wear Sunday clothes every day.

Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday was regional stake conference.  It was all about hastening the work, in some form or another.  So, Sister Mayfield and I have been talking about how to get more on the same page as the members.  This is going to be a great month.  Our Stake has the goal of 228 baptisms for the year of 2014.  That means 12 baptisms per companionship this year.  We are extremely excited to get this rolling.  That means we have to find people to teach.  We are going to have to work with the members every second of every day.  We can do this!

Also, I got a call on Saturday from President Bernhisel.  He asked if I would accept the challenge calling of Sister Leader.  I accepted.  I guess I didn't mess up enough last time.  We'll see how it goes this next transfer.  It should be rather interesting.

I hope you are doing well.  Sounds like it has been a fun time.  Lots of fun.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

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.