The Gift of Silence

Today, I made a comment in class and shortly afterward remembered why I don't usually do that. 

"Long pause, no answer."

I think I really did hear the crickets chirping.  And, my teacher just stared at me for a little bit.  

It really reminded me of a quote that my dad is quite fond of.  It has been attributed to Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln, but the version that I remember hearing goes something like this, 

"It is better to stay silent and appear stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Thank you.  Thank you.

Hold your applause.

(I guess for forever.)

Winning a National Championship and Humility

This week was awesome!  But, it was also very humbling.

I have been in my ward since the end of April.  So, about 6 months, and YSA wards in Provo are usually pretty good at getting callings to all of the members within a few weeks.  I have been a visiting teaching, and that is it.  My prideful self thinks, "Why can't they see that I can do something?"  I wonder how I, with so much to offer, am left as a callingless unknown member of a ward.  But, humility is my lesson.  It is something I struggle with all of the time.  I think that I am an awesome person, but I need to be humble.

A few weeks ago, I also looked on my ward's Facebook group to see if we had any events that week.  I found that I had been deleted from the Facebook group. That was sad.

But, this week, my pride kicked in again.  I had the awesome opportunity of being in a quiz bowl at the 50th anniversary NRPA conference.  For those who don't know, the quiz bowl is jeopardy, and NRPA stands for National Recreation and Park Association.  I was on a team with three other Recreation Management students.  I was voted team captain by my other three teammates.  Six colleges competed in the quiz bowl: Univeristy of Utah, BYU, NC State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss.  There were two rounds.  The first round had two games with three schools in each game.  We were in the second game.  The second round would be the winners of the first two games.

In the first round, we weren't doing so well.  My buzzer didn't even work. There was one question in which I was the only person clicking in and they still weren't getting my signal, so my teammate clicked his buzzer so I could answer the question.  We also had it rough with the questions.  We answered quite a few wrong.  So, come final jeopardy, in which we can wager our points, we had 4800 and NC State had 9000.  My teammates said that we were going all the way because we were going to lose anyway if we didn't.  So we wagered 4800 points.  The category was Disney, so we felt fairly confident.

The question: "What is one of Disney's two newest cruise ships?"

What?!  I have no idea.  Neither of teammates knew either.  So, we each came up with an answer that could possibly be it.  I thought of Fantasia.  And, I really liked that answer.  I also had the marker.  I also felt really bad for liking my answer so much and wanting to write that down instead of my teammates.  I had a hard time deciding.  My two teammates also just looked to me as the team captain to make the decision.  So, I wrote down, "What is Fantasia?"

We were doomed.  We didn't know the answer.

The judges saw our answer and hesitated.  All the BYU professors were shouting, "It's Good! Just give it to them!"  To which the judges obliged. We got the 4800 points!  We were now at 9600.

I just yelled, "What?! Yes!"  I threw my arms in the air and could only think that this was impossible.  I later found out from our teammate who sat out for the round that our coach literally got on his knees and prayed.  Prayer works.  It really works.  We kept up the BYU "tradition" of a hail mary to win.

NC State, at 9000, had wagered 600 points.  They had also given an answer that the judges hesitated but eventually gave to them.

NC State: 9600
BYU: 9600

We tied.  So, for the second round, we both went in.  It was a three-school championship round.  We went up against NC State and Texas A&M.  We dominated.  We took most of the points.  At one point it was BYU at 15000 and the other two teams were in the negatives.  We lost a few points, and Texas A&M and NC State gained a few.  With two more questions left in the double jeopardy at 2000 points each, I realized that they couldn't win.  We had 13,600 and the other two teams were only in the one thousands or less.  The two questions were answered and we were in the final jeopardy.

We wagered 600 points.  NC State had 0 points and could not wager any points.  Texas A&M had 1000 points and wagered 999.  Neither of us got the answer right, so the final score was

NC State: 0
Texas A&M: 1
BYU: 13000

We dominated. To my dad, who's the Dominator now?!  You also now have a national champion as a daughter.

2015 NRPA Quiz Bowl Champions

That was a really great moment.  I couldn't help but smile for an hour.  That was some good therapeutic recreation.

When I came home, I was so proud of myself, which meant that I required some humility.  The first person who saw me when I came home, just out of the blue, told me, "You don't have any visiting teaching assignment."  Ouch.  After thinking that I am great and wondering why I don't have a calling, I was told that I am not even a visiting teacher.  Ouch.

Then, I read an email in which the TR club wished good luck to two of my team members.  My other teammate isn't a part of the club yet, so they didn't know to wish her good luck.  But, I have been a member of the club since January.  Ouch, again.  My thoughts were just, "How am I so invisible?"  Does nobody know that I am a national champion?  Just kidding, I didn't tell anyone except my two roommates who asked me about it.  And, Kit.  She got to come with her kids for a little bit.

Humility.  It stinks.  A lot.  But, it is something that keeps me grounded and reminded that I have a lot to work on.  I am thankful that I have humbling experiences, or else I would probably be a huge snob.  By the way, I am a national champion!

All in all, I had a pretty good week.  I won.  BYU won!  I am thankful for the power of prayer and the healing power of the temple.  I was able to go to the temple at the end of the week.  And, it was fantastic.  I just felt all of my sad feelings of being unloved and unnoticed wash away.  It doesn't matter what the world thinks of me.  It doesn't matter if a ton of people know me.  All that matters is that I have good standing in the eyes of God.  And going to the temple helps me realize that I have good standing in the eyes of God.  I know that He loves me and knows me.  I just need to remember that more often.

Thanks for all you.  Thank you for your support.  Have a wonderful September!

P.S. I got a visiting teaching assignment the day after I was told that I don't have one.

The YSA Creep

I have the fantastic opportunity (for the last 8 months) to work as early morning custodial.  I spend three hours Monday through Friday mornings cleaning bathrooms.  This is my reflection time.  I think a lot during those hours.  So, this poem came from some of my memories of being in a YSA ward.  I have only been in a YSA ward for three years, but I have a few words to say.  Beware the "poem" is unedited and not revised.  I didn't follow any guidelines.  I just wrote.  Also, the names used are not specific to the event.  Have fun!

The YSA Creep

When I was born, I was blessed with a gift.

It’s called a memory.

I remember people’s names.

But this gift also comes with a curse:

Invisibility

I remember people’s names in exchange for their inability to see me.

I go to an FHE for the entire ward.

I don’t like these much.

Because this happens:

A girl comes up to me to introduce herself.

I know her.

Anna

She is my roommate’s best friend and comes over all the time.

She says,

“I have never seen you before.  Are you new in the ward?”

I’ve been here for three months.

I see her but she obviously cannot see me. 

My roommates often ask me about the other members of the ward:

“What’s that girl’s name?  In the blue sweater?”

Eliza

“What’s Tanner’s last name?”

Turner

“And, who’s the guy with the American flag tie?”

Joseph

Don’t ask me how I know.

I’m just a creep.

I remember people and they don’t remember me.

My crush is standing next to me.

We have introduced ourselves to each other before.

Thrice

He turns to me.

He opens his mouth

“I don’t think we have met.  What’s your name?”

Crush extinguished.

He doesn’t know who I am but I know who he is. 

Thomas is sitting next to me in Sunday school today.

He reads his scriptures silently.

The teacher invites us to meet our neighbors.

Oh no!

Thomas gave a talk two months ago.

I still remember

The story of his dad twisting his ankle.

I’m a creep.

I try to forget.

Not happening.

I remember his story but he doesn’t know I am even sitting next to him.

Then one day,

I see Rachel.

But is it Rachel?

Her name cannot possibly be Rachel because that is her roommate’s name.

I forgot a name!

I say,

“Hi, I know we have met several times.  What is your name?”

Rachel

Oh, that was her name.

I guess I slightly remembered but she walks away before a conversation.

Now I’m in a new ward.

Fresh start.

I don’t see anyone that I know.

Wait.

Yes, there is Samantha from my ward two years ago.

I go to talk to her!

“Hi, I’m Samantha! What’s your name?”

I guess she doesn’t know we were in the same ward.

I introduce myself.

I’m the creep.

She doesn’t know who I am but I know a whole lot about her.

Maybe I should go back to a family ward.

There, I am not entirely expected to socialize.

It’s an idea.

The people who remember me are my family.

So, someone in the ward would know me.

That is where I know people and people know me.

My sister comes up to me.

She wears a very mischievous look upon her face.

She stands there.

She gawks.

“Excuse me, I should remember this, but what is your name?”

Seriously?

But, I know she knows.

She was blessed with the same gift that I was blessed with.

She has the same curse.

This is where I am understood and I understand her.

The Science of Playing

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity of visiting my family while on break from University.  I was able to visit with many aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, etc.  As I have reminisced those few weeks, I have great appreciation for my major.  As some of you know, I am majoring in Therapeutic Recreation.  The major involves psychology, biology, recreation, and events management.  Therapeutic Recreation allows for family and individuals to be strengthened socially, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically through recreation. 

A few of my cousins were fighting about an insignificant bump between themselves.  As they quarreled, I used our surroundings and equipment to produce a game.  They stopped fighting when the heard the word 'game.'  We played games for a while, and they kept peace.  Something else I have seen in the last few years is the growth of my brother.  He doesn't seem to talk much.  The ways I have been able to talk to him is by having foam sword fights with him, beating him in different video games, and rollerblading with him in the blistering Arizona heat.  I love the fact that recreation helps create environments for growth. The thing I love the most about my major is the connection it has to my religion.

In 1995, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a proclamation about families.  My favorite part of the proclamation (and the part that we study as Therapeutic Recreation students)  is as follows: "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."  Did you read that?!  Wholesome recreational activities!  That is what my major is about.  

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are also encouraged to have Family Home Evening.  Family Home Evening is one evening a week, usually Monday.  The purpose is to bring families together for gospel sharing and activities.  We are encouraged to have recreational activities because they invite the family to be together and increase unity.   To learn more about the purpose of family home evening, the website is as folllows:  https://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening/purpose?lang=eng

The family is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  All that we do on this Earth is to lead to better homes and families, which will be our joy in the eternities.  I am thankful for my awesome family.  They do a lot for me.  I am thankful that I have had and will have great moments with my family.  I am thankful that I will be able to see my family members who have passed on.  I am thankful for Christ for making it possible.

My Family 2009

Patient Urgency

In life, I have found that there is a concept that is somewhat paradoxical.  I call this concept Patient Urgency. I have had two specific experiences with this concept.

First, on my mission, I desperately wanted people to understand and be converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I felt the urgency to share the gospel.  I felt the necessity for people to accept the gospel.  But, I couldn't force it down their throats.  Conversion takes time.  I had to wait and be patient with the people I was teaching.  I had to be patient with myself.  Although I had to be patient, I still had to share the gospel and share the immediate need for the healing power of the Atonement.  We need it now, but we must also be patient.  This is patient urgency.

Now, I am in an awkward state.  Many ponderings and scriptures studies (and the most recent General Conference) and other such things have been pointing to the Lord's desire for me to get married and have a family. And some time soon.  I feel the urgency.  But honestly, it scares me.  I have many flaws, and I don't work well with others.  This also means that I would have to go on dates, which I am not currently doing.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.  I second-guess myself all the time.  If I don't get things done, that is why.  I don't have any confidence, my friends.  I don't know how to do things.  This is why I don't ask boys on dates.  Boys don't ask me for reasons I don't exactly know, but I have a few guesses.  It's probably because BYU is full of attractive, flirty, high-maintenance, blonde, short, classy, confident girls that distract the boys from my interesting, goat-shirt-wearing person.  Anyways, I feel the urgency, but I need to be patient.  I need to be patient with myself.  And, I just wish the urgent feeling would go away.  But, it won't. Seriously, I don't want to feel like this.   So, I guess I should just take some confidence pills.  At least I have more of a desire to get married than before my mission.  Before, I had almost absolutely no desire.  Now, I have about a 13% desire.

And now, you know the inner struggles of the person known as Cami.  You know you don't have to read my blog, right?  Have fun.  It's May!

Righteous Desires

Last Sunday, I had an interview with my Bishop to renew my temple recommend.  He told me to pray about being a Provo Temple Ordinance Worker.  So, I prayed about it.  I thought about it all week.  And, I decided that I was going to do it.  So, today I talked to my Bishop after Sacrament meeting.  He told me that he had been asked to put a hold on letting more people be ordinance workers.  So, I guess that isn't going to happen.

I was a little sad, but I guess the Lord needs me elsewhere.  There are times when we have righteous desires that don't come to fruition.  Sometimes, the Lord just needs something else to happen.  I actually experienced that a lot on my mission.  There were a lot of times when I desired something righteous.  Lots of times, those things didn't end up happening.  I wanted to see a lot of people enter the waters of baptism.  That just wasn't the Lord's plan for me.  I don't know what He needs of me, but I guess I will just have faith and keep obeying the commandments

Thanks for all you do.  Keep moving forward.  Have a wonderful week.

A great video to watch would be the one in the post below.

Being Consecrated When it is Rough

Today in church, the theme seemed to be enduring trials.  Many people bore testimony of how faith has helped them get through hard things.  Many spoke about how they have see God's tender mercies in their lives.  God loves you.  He knows what struggles you are having.  I hope that you all know that a consecrated missionary is not one that baptizes a lot.  That could happen, but the consecration is dedication.  Are you dedicated to your Lord?  Is your will His will?  Will you do the work no matter what happens?  This is what I learned as a missionary.  Faith, for me, was doing the work even though I had a spiritual blindfold on.  I had a hard time seeing, but I kept doing.  I know this is the work of the Lord.


This is a video that I truly love.  It has helped me in many times of trial and questioning.  I am thankful for the hard things.  Because they make me tough.  Don't pick a fight with this girl. Okay, seriously, I know that my Heavenly Father gives me what I need.  We are here to understand our true potential.

For more videos visit mormonchannel.org

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