Being a Disciple of Christ

This was my update from last week that just didn't make it to my blog until now.

Hey Missionaries,

Sorry I didn't get a letter out last week.  Monday kind of came and left without me knowing.  I gave my Homecoming talk today, so I thought I would share some notes from it with you.  I never really write down my talks. I just write down some scriptures and some experiences that I might want to mention, so I don't have anything that is specific.

I shared some thoughts from Elder Rasband's talk "The Joyful Burden of Discipleship."  I read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 (I call it the angel verse).  After reading that, I shared an experience from my first area, Wilmington.  I was teaching a man who had had a friend commit suicide that week.  We got to teach the Plan of Salvation, and I shared that my mom could possibly be an angel teaching his friend.  I know that angels surround us as we do the work of the Lord.

I read parts of Alma 26.  And then I shared some miracles that I had written down from my mission:

1/15/14  We set up a return appointment with Stephanie.

4/4/14  We gave a Book of Mormon to Tadarrius.

7/6/14  We got to talk with Rose Price.

9/15/14  Shykelah called us back.

10/25/14 We invited Jacqueline to church.

 I hope you are all doing well.  Keep up the good work. Thanks for all you do.

Go with God,

Cami Turley

Retaking ALP

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, I am getting transferred. I am being transferred to Arizona. Can you believe it?  18 months has come and gone. 

So, I wanted to share something that I have thought.  In Elementary school, I was in the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP).  I would miss a few hours of my regular class to go learn in a special class with fewer students.  In junior high school and high school, it was known as 'honors.'  But, the kids in the honors classes tended to care more about school and learning.

On my mission, I have found that my gospel learning and loving has been more dense than before.  I drew a graph once that looked like this to describe it.  X is time.  Y is learning and loving.  The red box is my mission.  The acceleration is much greater than the time before it.  (I don't really think my learning is going to level out like the graph shows, but I wanted to show that there is/has been a difference.)  

As I drew this, I realized that a mission is an accelerated learning program.  ALP!  I am in ALP again.  And, I have found that I am kind of in my ALP/honors bubble.  There are more people that care about learning and loving Jesus Christ.  They want to learn.  It has been fun.  I love being around people who also want to do this.  They want to live the gospel.  It is so great to go to missionary meetings because there is such a wonderful spirit.  Everyone loves each other and wants to help each other.  I am truly going to miss this.  I love being a missionary.  I love being a gospel tutor.  I really get to teach people on an individual basis.  It is so fun.

Thanks for all of the help that you have given.  I am thankful that I have such great support.  I am grateful for a such a wonderful gift to give to others.  I am thankful for this Christmas season.  Christmas seriously is the best--people are thinking about Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for my Savior.  I am thankful for his sacrifice, that we may live again, that we can become more than what we currently are.  I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It is the true church.  I am thankful that I get to continue to share my testimony.  I love you.  I hope you are all doing well.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Atonement and Obedience

Dear Family,

I have come to know on my mission that I cannot change in one day.  I simply have weaknesses that I must live with and work on for years and years and years and years and maybe a lot more years.  So, I have learned--especially in the past two weeks--that what is required of me is to be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And as I do so, the Atonement will have a part in my life.  Jesus Christ can heal me.  It will be slow in my eyes and get frustrated that I am not changing, but without a doubt, I am slowly being changed.

I have also learned that this means that I will be a stumbling block for others in the process.  I will be their trial that helps them change.  I hate this fact, but 'tis truth.  I may not necessarily be doing anything that is rude, low, or malicious, but I will still be a stumbling block.  I have weaknesses, and I make mistakes.  Others are going to have to live with choices that I have made and will make.  They may not like what I do.  So, they will have to make choices based on mine and learn lessons that are in store for them.  This is the uncomfortable and unpleasant truth of mortality: we are weak.

Luckily, God will let us be perfect in the end if we are obedient to His commandments and rely on the Atonement.

"In a world where sorrow

Ever will be known,

Where are found the needy

And the sad and lone,

How much joy and comfort

You can all bestow,

If you scatter sunshine

Ev'rywhere you go.

Scatter the smiles and sunshine all along your way.

Cheer and bless and brighten Ev'ry passing day."

(Scatter Sunshine, LDS Hymnal #230)

We may have weaknesses but we can still scatter sunshine.  Smile--it's good for the soul.

I love all of you.  I want to apologize for being a hurdle sometimes.  I want to thank you for loving me still.  I am thankful that I have a family that is so kind and generous and patient.  I know that the Lord loves you.  I am so thankful for the Atonement.  I am thankful that I can be more than what I currently am.  I am thankful for infinite chances.  I am thankful for commandments.  I love being a missionary.  I love the people of North Carolina.  And, I love my companion even if she doesn't think I do.  I pray for her and her family every night.  I know that God is watching over them.  He loves them and wants them to be happy.  Keep moving forward, for forward is the best and smartest way to go.  I love you (LOTS). 

Go with God,

Sister Turley

I was a missionary this week.

Dear Blog Readers (You really don't have to read if you don't want to.),

What do you want to know about?

I think I have said pretty much everything that I can think of.  I can officially stop writing letters.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

p.s.  We are trying to find people to teach. 

The Book That Changes My Life

Dear Family,

​I got to finish reading the Book of Mormon again this week.  It was a great experience.  My mission president, President Bernhisel, invites us to write our testimony before reading and after.  So, I wrote my testimony.  I just wanted to share that with you this week.

I want to reiterate the words of Joseph Smith from the Introduction: "a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."  This is the the Book of Mormon.  And the statement doesn't take away from the fact that the Bible is the word of God.  The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both scripture.

I am happier than I have ever been in my life.  And that could be because I am a missionary and share the gospel every day.  But, I know that reading the Book of Mormon has helped immensely with that.  As I have read, I have come to understand my Savior, Jesus Christ, better.  I have learned more about His Atonement and what it means to me.  I love Alma 36 because it truly shows the affects of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in one man's life. "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me. . . "  "And oh, what joy, and marvelous light I did behold"

I have learned from the book of Ether that I can see God.  I can have faith to see Him.  God wants us to know Him.  Jesus Christ showed Himself to the Brother of Jared "and all this, that this man might know that he was God."  Jesus Christ promised in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  Alma 30:44 says, "all things denote there is a God" and "do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

My eyes have been opened as I have read the Book of Mormon.  I can see God in my life more.  And God is the source of happiness.  Because I see Him, I am happy.  The Book of Mormon has allowed that to happen.  The Book of Mormon is truly God's word.  It truly brings me closer to Him.

I look forward to reading the Book more and coming even closer to Christ.  Below is the invitation and promise from Moroni.  Ask God.  He will tell you the truth.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

A Day in the Life of a Missionary

Dear Family,

Prepare for a story.  Sit down.  Relax.  This is going to be good.  Here is what I wrote in my journal about Tuesday.  I was on exchanges in Durham 1st ward.  Here goes.

On Tuesday, Sister Loftis and I woke up and did the normal morning routine.  Then Facebook and lunch.  Then we went to a woman's home to help her sort through clothes.  So, we went in service clothing. Then we were supposed to have a lesson with one of her neighbors, who I will call Kay.  I needed to use the bathroom, and Sister Loftis and I both needed to change back into proselyting clothes. I asked Sister Loftis if Kay's would be an okay place to change and use the bathroom.  Sister Loftis did not think so.  But, we decided to change in Kay's house anyways.  So, we took our clothes (in our backpacks) into Kay's house.  Here I will describe Kay's house: old, falling apart, stained brown and gray/black, lots of cobwebs, burnt bed from cigarettes, more brown marks, little pieces of who knows what on the floor, open boxes and wrappers of food, and more.  So, we changed in Kay's bedroom, but I kept my backpack between my knees so it wouldn't touch the ground. Oh, I forgot to mention that it reeked with cigarette smoke.  Poor Sister Kay also appeared worn down: greasy and matted hair, gray jacket with maybe throw up on the elbow, other spots of something on her jacket, brown and chipped teeth, brown stuff on her fingers (poop?), poop and pee on her pants, untrimmed nails, and a few other things.

Oh, and did I mention that the woman we were sorting clothes for had bedbugs?

After Kay, we went to the car.  And by this time, my bladder was about to burst.  Sister Loftis was going through her bag to find the car keys.  She didn't find them, so she looked in her backpack: nothing. So, she searched in her other bag.  So, I started walking around trying not to wet myself.  We both looked in the car to see if the keys were inside, but that proved futile.  Then, Sister Loftis resumed searching her purse.  Then, I did the unthinkable.  I peed my skirt!

Just kidding, I asked Sister Loftis about the member of the ward that lived across the street.  (Sister Loftis had mentioned her in Kay's house.)  I asked if her bathroom would be nicer than Kay's.  Turns out it was.  The member let us in and let me use her bathroom.  I was mighty close to wetting my skirt though.  The member, Sister Larson, chatted with us for a little bit.  We told her what we had done so far that day.  And explained why we had T-shirts on with our skirts (because we didn't feel comfortable in Kay's house and with the window's open).  Then Sister Larson helped us find our key.  She made Sister Loftis dump out the contents of her bags.  When we didn't find it, we went back to where the car was parked by Kay's apartment.  We traced our steps looking for the key. Then a man asked us what were looking for.  We told him.  Then he yelled to the members of his crew (who were destroying things in the apartment right next to Kay's) that he knew who the key belonged to.  So, they tossed him the key, and we got on our way.

We went to go contact a referral.  As were walking to the apartment, a twitchy, red-haired woman came up to us.  She asked us for money.  We , as politely as we could, declined.  And she continued to ask, but we still declined

Then she let us be.  We got to contact the referral.  It was a family, so the Durham 1st sisters have three new investigators.  We talked mostly  about the Book of Mormon.  We set up a return appointment and left.  When Sister Loftis and I got to the car, Sister Loftis couldn't find the phone.  So, we were once again digging through bags.  We were laughing pretty hard.  The twitchy woman came to us again.  She told us she had heard quite a bit of laughter.  She proceeded to tell us about a woman who feeds homeless people in the park.  Then she asked us for a dollar.  Once again, we declined.  We tried to tell her that as missionaries, we are not allowed to give money.  She told us that she already saw the dollar, so she was trying to convince us that it was our obligation to give it to her since she already saw it.  We just stood there.  Then she stomped her foot and blurted, "Ah hell (pronounced hay-yull), at least I tried!"  She gave us hugs and walked away.  That was disturbing.  We quickly got in the car and drove away.  We parked at Duke gardens to search once more for the phone.  Luckily, it was in Sister Loftis's bag.

We then drove to an assisted living home to help a woman in the ward sort papers. Her name is Sister S.  Sister Loftis was cleaning out a drawer, and I got to put different papers into a binder.  Sister S once gave me an envelope that had literally nothing on it.  It was supposed to be to send in a magazine subscription.  So, I handed it to Sister Loftis secretly, and she secretly threw it away.

Then Sister Loftis pulled out some toe nail clippers that had brown chunks on it.  Brown and orange chunks.  Sister S exclaimed, "Oh give me!  I've been looking for those!"  Then she grabbed them, saw there was something on them, and handed them back to Sister Loftis to throw away.  Sister Loftis promptly disposed of them.  When we were done and walking back to the car, Sister Loftis asked, "What was on those?!"  All I could reply was that there was a lot of yellow and orange and brown stuff in that drawer.

Then we went to our teaching appointment with the Gaskins.  Then we went to our dinner appointment.  We got ice cream!  Then we hurried home because it was time to exchange back.  And that, my friends, is a day in the life of a missionary.

How did you like it?

I am staying in Durham until December, so I'm looking forward to more adventures.  Being on a mission really opens eyes.  I am so glad that I get to share the message of the Restoration and the Atonement.  It will change to world, one little heart at a time.  I know that we all have work to do.  It may go slow sometimes, but it is work.  The Lord gets it done in His time.  Thanks for all of your support.  Keep moving forward.  I also want to say that I am thankful for hard times because it has really helped me find the good things even if they are small.  I am thankful that I know how to laugh.  I think it bugs my companion sometimes that I laugh so much, but I'd rather laugh that be grumpy all the time.  I am thankful for laughs.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

P.S.

This may not be what my story was about, but we do get to do some of this.  We get to do food orders every other Wednesday.  We get to help people get food when they cannot provide for themselves.

Once upon a time, I ate a hot dog.

Dear Family,

What should I write? 

Well, I was a missionary this week.  I got to try to find some people.  I taught at zone conference about not forgetting any ingredients in your cookies. It had to do with being consecrated missionaries.  When we are consecrated, we aren't missing any ingredients. (It was Sister Judd's epiphany.)  I got to watch "Meet the Mormons."  It was fantastic.

And, our investigator, Sara, came to church.

And we dug in the dirt a lot.  We helped people plant stuff a lot.  And, we cleaned people's houses.  We were in pants a lot this week.  Quite a relief.

And, I am still a missionary.  Always will be.

Oh!  I read about Alma the Younger today.  He was a terrible man.  But, he felt God's love.  He also felt awful bitterness.  I am so thankful that I have the Atonement in my life.  Because of Christ, I get to become more than what I am.  I love the Savior.  (My favorite about Alma the Younger is Alma 36.)

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Christmas music heals the soul.

Dear Family,

Most of my past and present companions don't like Christmas music unless it is Christmas.  So, I have't gotten to listen this year.  But, I finally just played some this week.  It was the best.  Let me repeat: it was the best.  I told Sister Judd that I usually start hearing Christmas music in July, so I have had 3 months of deprivation.  (I especially had to turn it on because the weather is becoming Christmas-like. It has been about 65 degrees the last few mornings when I have woken up.)  My companions have told me it gets them too excited for Christmas.  Then I think, Don't you want to be excited for Christmas? It's when we celebrate Christ's birth.  Plus, shouldn't we celebrate His life and birth all the time anyways?  I have to say that Christmas music is so wonderful.

I am so thankful that I got to watch General Conference this weekend.  It was a spiritual uplift that I desperately needed.

To comment on the area, the work, we are really trying hard to find people to teach.  We still have three reliable members that come out with us multiple times a week, but we are doing our best to meet more members and invite them to come with us.

It's almost Christmas!

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Meetings!

Dear Family,

Well, it is officially the start of meeting month.  I decided to buy a bag of jolly ranchers last Monday to help me get through.  Here is the agenda:

September 26 -- Combined Mission Leadership Council

September 27 -- General Women's Meeting

October 1 -- Zone Training

October 4 -- General Conference

October 5 -- General Conference

October 10 -- Zone Conference (and hopefully watching Meet the Mormons)

October 18 -- Stake Conference

October 19 -- Stake Conference

October 31 -- Mission Leadership Council

I don't think I forgot anything, but there is a high probability that I did.  (I forget everything.) 

I threw up this week. . . in the church building.  I felt amazing after it was out of my system.  I did have to wash my clothes in the bathroom sink though.  It was all over me.  Then, I ran down the hall --yes, I ran in the church--to help Sister Judd clean it up.  I was so sad that I messed up the church and that Sister Judd had to clean it up.  So, I tried to help as much as I could.  Then, I knelt to help out and realized I had forgotten to get the mess off of my shoes.  So, I got it on my skirt again.  So, I had to wash up, again.  But, we got it cleared up.  And then we had coordination meeting.  A few days after, we went to the church and could still smell it.  And on Sunday the smell was gone, but the carpet was a little bit lighter in that area.  I ruined the church.  I am quite upset.  I left nastiness in the building.

Other than that, our week was rather uneventful.  I mean, it was Sister Judd's birthday.  Maybe next year will be better.  I feel bad that I was her companion for her birthday.  I am terrible at being a fantastic birthday happy whatever it is that helps someone have a great birthday.  I didn't know what to do. I was going to hang up a sign, but then the people who check our apartments decided to come that day.  So, there wasn't a sign.  And, I am the worst--I didn't get her anything. We went to the first two meetings listed above.  The first was interesting.  I learned a few things that might help our investigator who doesn't believe that Jesus Christ is her Savior.  Then, I learned a lot about covenants and the temple in the Women's Meeting.  We need to be prepared when we enter and make promises to our God.

I hope you are doing well.  I am so thankful to be a missionary, even though I have so much I need to improve on.  I have hope that this week will make me a better missionary.  Diligence: I need to work on this one.  Happy September!

Go with God,

Sister Turley

I think that I don't have a lot to say this week. I hope you are well.

Dear Everyone,

Two words: rough. week.

Sometimes the Lord lets us struggle.  And it's irritating.  We could not come up with back up plans.  We sat for minutes during daily planning just trying to think of people.  And we would go through all of our potential investigators, former investigators, less active members, etc.  We struggled to pick people to see.  And, this was the week for back ups.  Almost all of our appointments decided not to show.  So, we ran out of back ups and had to just think on the spot of where to go.

On the bright side, during studies this week I thought about honesty.  God is the source of all truth.  He will not lie to us.  It is not in His nature to lie.  So, during my studies I just thought about a phrase that is cliche for women, and this was my reply: "I dare you to ask God if that dress makes you look fat."  And now, I probably will be punished for making light of this subject.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

Instant Gratification--I like it when I get it.

Dear Family,

I was pleasantly surprised with an email from Sister Boucher this morning.  She is still in Dunn with Sister Olive, who she trained.  But, I was so thankful for the note that she sent:

"You will never guess who got baptized this weekend :)))

I hope I follow you to Durham. You plant good seeds." 

It followed with a picture of a boy before his baptism.  The boy baptized is Emanuel.  His mom is a less active member that I had the privilege of teaching.  She was actually visit taught by Dorinda, Grandma Hunt's sister-in-law, a few years ago.  I am so thankful that I get to be a gardener.  I don't get much harvest, but I am thankful to hear when others do.

It was great gratification to me to get this email.  I am a little narcissistic--that's why I shared it.

Oh yeah!  I have a new companion.  Sister Doty successfully arrived in Nevada last week.  So, Sister Judd is here in Durham.  We are already making plans for our being split next transfer.  It isn't because we don't like each other.  It just is that we have talked a lot about what we have hoped to have happen on our missions.  Our predictions involve her training in Durham, and I will open South Boston.  She hasn't trained yet, and she has 3 transfers left. And, I really really really want to go to South Boston.  I know I could do the work of the Lord.  I could plant some really good seeds.  But, I will do what the Lord asks of me.  I don't know what the future has in store, but I know it has to work out.

I wanted to share something that I read in my studies this week.

Moses 7:48  And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?

I found a lot of similarities to myself in this scripture.  The hardest part about being a missionary is seeing all of my weaknesses.  I am tired of making mistakes.  I see the pain that I put people (mostly companions) through, and I hate it.  I know that is a strong word, but I have strong feelings towards this.  When I am discouraged, it is because I have made so many mistakes.  I realize that I need to fix the problems that I have caused between another person and me, and I end up making it worse.  I get tired of being unintelligent and annoying and rude.  I have been like this for 21 years.  That is too long.  I end up crying to my Heavenly Father wondering why I have to have so many faults and weaknesses.  Why do I have to keep making these mistakes?  Why am I so contentious?  As I read this scripture, I thought about the Earth being put into a fallen state because of the fall of Adam.  It is a curse of the earth to have weaknesses.  It is going to take a really long time (in mortal terms) to be free of my weaknesses and, forgive my language, stupidities.  I cannot wait for the day that I finally become like Christ and am perfect.  This is the hardest part about being a missionary.  I constantly see my weaknesses, and I don't have instant gratification for trying to improve.  It is slow and painful.  But, it is necessary.  I will eventually be a better person.  I am really going to love that day.

On a better note, I really am happy.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is changing my life for good.  The Atonement is real and changes my heart.  The Atonement comforts, strengthens, stretches, and perfects us.  It allows us to be people that we would not otherwise be able to be.  It allows us to make positive changes in the world.  It allows miracles to happen according to our faith.  It is the glue that holds our lives together.  I love the Atonement.  And, I love learning about it.  I am so thankful for the Savior.  I love that He loves me.  I love that He loves my family.  I love my family.  I love Jesus Christ.  I love a lot of things, like oreos.  I love to open mail from family that talk about all the miracles that are happening in their life.  I love to hear about what others are learning.  I am so thankful to be a missionary.  I am thankful that I am changing even though I have a really really really hard time seeing it.  I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  "I know who I am.  I know God's plan.  I'll follow Him in faith." (children's song)  I love all of you.  I love North Carolina.  I love planting seeds.  It's dirty work, but allows others to reap.  It blesses the kingdom of God.  And now, that I have said all of this, my closing testimony, I think I can pass away.  Just kidding!  I probably shouldn't put that, but I have a morbid sense of humor.  Let's see who reads all the way and actually gets to this part.  If I were reading this, I would probably just skim and miss it.  This letter is way too long.  I will probably have two sentences next week.  I love you.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

P.S. Sorry it is so long.  I can just rant sometimes.

Weeding (And Still Planting)

Dear Family,

Guess what!  We actually finished weekly planning on Thursday this week.  It was a miracle.  We usually have to spend a few hours on days other than Thursday to finish.  I was so thankful.  That meant that we had more time to tract.  I think that we are going to do more tracting this next transfer.  We got to find some good potentials.  We also got to find people who were not interested and we are weeding out from the area book the potentials who have moved.  Weeding takes some time, but it will sure help other missionaries who come to the area.  It also gives us the opportunity to plant more seeds.  It is all part of this garden/vineyard we are taking care of.

(This is just a picture from last year.  I thought I would share it due to the planting thoughts.)

It has been an interesting week.  It was Sister Doty's last week in North Carolina, so every member that we talked to would ask her about it.  It was quite the experience.  I somewhat memorized her response.  We think it is hilarious when people ask us how long we have been out on our missions.  I will respond that I have been out for 14 months.  Then members will usually say something about me leaving soon.  Then they ask Sister Doty.  She responds, "18 months."  Then the members just are taken aback.  They say, "Oh! You're already gone!"  It is really funny to hear their responses. 

This week I finally had chicken and waffles.  I also had grits.  They were pretty good.

Well, here is to a new transfer.  Let's see what adventures we can find.

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Atonement is Exciting

Dear Family,

Our ward mission leader has an earring.  Funny and alarming at the same time.  He calls my companion Sister Duty, or Sister Dirt, or Sister . . . well he has a lot of names for her.  My favorite is Duty.  I don't really have a nickname.  Last time he just called me the girl in the green shirt.  That was nice.

Sister Doty and I taught at mission leadership council this week.  That was quite the event.  I thought that would never happen.  One of the sisters in our zone likes to call me Sister Leader Turley.  I don't really like that.  I think I just would like to be called Sister Turley.

We have slugs in our apartment.  We tossed out three this week.  We haven't seen any more since Tuesday evening, so I hope it is over.  Sister Doty makes me pick up all of them.

I read about the Atonement in Mosiah 16 yesterday.  It is really great.  That is the chapter that we will be teaching on Wednesday in our Book of Mormon class.  Lari said in her email that she watched "Because of Him."  I have been thinking that I want to watch that video on Wednesday in class because I love it so much.  I can't even count how many times I have watched it.  The very first day, Easter, Sister Boucher and I found a new investigator by watching it with him.

I don't know what else to write.  Emmettito is in the MTC!  Tres Turley misionarios!

Go with God,

Sister Turley

What Just Happened?!

Dear Family,

All our investigators didn't want to meet with us this week.  Half of them dropped us.  Well, that pretty much sums it up.

Sister Doty also wanted me to tell you that I found the Elder version of myself.  His name is Elder Johnson.  (He's the third Elder Johnson I have served with.) He's in the picture below.  But, here are a few reasons why Sister Doty thinks Elder Johnson and I are alike.  We both answer questions very concisely.  One- to two-word answers.  Also our prayers.  Here are a few examples.

Mine:  "And we're thankful that we got to see Sister Michael.  And Sister Yeates.  And . . . everyone else that Sister Doty already said."  (I was praying at the end of Daily planning and ended up saying what Sister Doty had said at the beginning of planning.)

Elder Johnson's: "And please bless the Sisters that they will know how to help Isabelle progress.  And please help her be baptized . . . if she isn't already baptized."  (We forgot to tell him she was an investigator when he was accounting with us.)

Mostly just the odd realizations in the middle of our prayers are the similarities.

Left to Right: Elder Lewis, Elder Evans, Elder Johnson, Elder Hardy, Sister Turley, Sister Doty, Sister Graff, Sister Seely

​

Go with God,

Sister Turley

The Side Effects of Being a Missionary

Dear Family,

There are a lot of things that happen when you are a missionary.  A lot.

First, we get bad tan lines.  Sorry, the picture might be a little disturbing, but I had to share my scary feet with everyone.  The tan gets worse on the weeks without the car.

Second, I got attacked by fire ants.  Hence the little red dots on the right foot.  The picture wouldn't have been as bad if I took the picture at the beginning of the week.  We were riding our bikes on Thursday, and we stopped at a red light.  The light turned green, and as soon as I lifted my foot to pedal, my foot itched.  I looked down and had ants all over my foot up to mid -calf.  So, I pulled to the side, hopped off my bike, pulled my shoes off and started whacking my shoes on the ground.  It was so itchy!

Third, we often draw the plan of salvation.  It is so wonderful to know that there is actually purpose to this life.  I don't know what I would do if I didn't have goals.  Which is number 4: we make goals always.  We always have a plan for what we are doing next.  And, if we don't have a plan, we soon come up with one.  We have direction in our life.  We have something to work towards.

Fifth, we learn the scriptures very well.  We are constantly comparing scriptures to ourselves.  This week was 1 Nephi 16.  In the chapter, Laman and Lemuel and parts of Ishmael's family "humble themselves" four times.  I was getting really annoyed when I was reading it.  I was thinking, you just did that!  But, I thought about many people in my life that do that (including myself).  It is a lot easier to be patient with people when you love them.  I haven't yet developed a love for Laman and Lemuel, but I love so many people out here and at home that humble themselves constantly.  They make mistakes and have to repent frequently.  Love is so important in the work of God.  Love makes the work so much easier; we have so much greater desire to see people progress.  I am so thankful for the wonderful example of my loving Heavenly Father and my family here on this earth.  I love all of you.  Thank you.

Go with God,

Sister Turley