March 31

Dear Family,

This week we had interviews with President. The first thing President says when I walk in is, "so I hear you're terrified of going home!" ha ha. Yup. Maybe just a little. I forget what the real world is like. I have loved being a missionary, but I know the things I have learned I now must apply to the rest of my life! I am so grateful for the lessons and hardships and good times my mission has brought. It's made me a better person for sure!

The women's conference was amazing! We had about 20 girls all go together from the ward. Six of those were recent converts! It was so neat for them to see the sisterhood of the church and the power that comes from women!

We went on exchanges this week, my very last one as a Sister Training Leader. We went to Regal Park, my first area! Oh how things have changed so much! The work is hastening!

C. was baptized! I am so proud of her! Another friend of mine for eternity! Her confirmation blessing was very detailed, and she is going to go far in life! She will be graduating in May and moving for graduate school. She is so happy to know the church will be wherever she goes! It was a special day for sure!

Another tender mercy was that right after her baptism there was another one for another ward. The F. family, a less active family I worked with for 6 months in Regal Park is now in the new ward, fully active, and their 17-year old nephew was getting baptized! Tears filled my eyes when I saw them and they told me the great news! It was such a tender mercy to see them before I went home!

We are teaching D. She is awesome! We contacted her on campus and she brushed us off and wanted nothing to do with us. The very next day we ran into her brother who was waiting for her. When she came out and saw us she apologized for the previous day, and told us she was just having a bad day. We met with her and she told us she is so lost in life, she didn't see or understand why baptism would be important so later that week we gave her a very spiritual church tour! When she walked into the chapel she began to cry and told us she felt like God was wrapping his arms around her and giving her a big hug! She accepted baptism for the 19th! I'm sad that I won't be here for it :( But I am so happy for her!

Love ya'll! See ya next week!

Sister Turner

March 24

Dear Family,

Well as much as the students probably aren't happy about it, I am so glad spring break is over! ha ha. Even though it was pretty dead, we still worked hard and saw some tender mercies this week!

We had zone training this week, and we instructed the church tour again. Its been so neat to hear all the miracle stories of missionaries across the mission using our church tour idea! So cool! 

We went on exchanges this week to Plainview. It was fun to be in a small town again for a day!

I sang in church yesterday for the first time on my whole mission! C.came to church; she is getting baptized Saturday. She has come leaps and bounds! In Relief Society she commented on how grateful she was for us, and that she is a very stubborn person and wasn't looking for anything, but she was so grateful that we didn't give up on her because she didn't realize what she was missing! Tears filled her eyes, and so of course I got emotional too! The love that I have for these people is indescribable!

The highlight of the week though was definitely A.'s baptism!! Exactly a month ago Ganesh was baptized, and Saturday he baptized her! It was a beautiful day! After she came up out of the water she clapped her hands and yelled "yay!' The whole room couldn't help but laugh with joy! It reminds me of the scripture Mosiah 18:11  "And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed; This is the desire of our hearts." 

She is so strong, her family isn't speaking to her because of her decision...But she knows its true and was willing to sacrifice. Her blessing was incredible and because of her example, one day they will come around! These people that are willing to forsake everything for the gospel just increase my testimony of it more and more! I know this is the truth. I know this brings greater joy than anything else!

The work truly is hastening! This ward last year had 8 total baptisms. And this Saturday, Crystal will make the 8th one this year already! So exciting! 

I am SO excited for General Conference in two weeks! May we all go with an open heart and mind, and with questions in mind so we can receive the revelation God would want us to! Love you all!

Sister Turner

March 17

Dear Family,

This week we are focusing on having the faith to find. It's spring break, so campus is pretty dead. We have zone training this upcoming week and are going on exchanges with sisters from Plainview, which is about an hour away, so luckily we will still have some things to keep us busy. 

A. is still set for her baptism this Saturday, when she gets back into town. Ganesh is going to baptize her! They are getting baptized exactly a month apart from each other! So cool!

C. is doing really well! Her baptism is scheduled in 2 weeks. She told us about a dream she had a year ago. She dreamed she died, and she got a second chance, and they told her the things she did in this life would determine which destiny she would get in the next life. So when we taught the Plan of Salvation to her (this was about a month ago) she said it really rang true to her! That's when everything with her started to change. She said she normally never remembers dreams, so she took that as a sign. She is progressing really well, and I am so happy for her! She just didn't know where to find the truth, and now that she has found it she is happier than ever. 

We have a lot of other people with lots of potential, but we are waiting for them to come back from Spring Break. We are working with a lot of less actives who are making leaps of progress! Its so exciting and rewarding to be a small part in their lives.

Just as my setting apart blessing said, "I will make friends for a lifetime", and I definitely have seen that. They will be eternal friends. 

We had a Haboob (a dust storm) this week! It was pretty intense! Those are always fun... ha ha. 

I have been continuing to study the Atonement a lot this week. It seriously is changing my outlook on so many things!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Turner

Sister Turner and Sister Barlow with the office missionaries, The Turners and the Barlows! Small world!



Texas Pride

March 10

Dear Family,

The church tour I got to give at MLC was an incredible experience! I had missionaries telling me after the spirit was as strong as it is in the temple, which was a huge complement! I was so honored that President Augustin asked me to do that. 

M's baptism was great! President and Sister Augustin got to come to support us! M went to church down in Midland this weekend where her family is from, and she said already her family is softening, and she can see how the gospel will spread in her family starting with her! She was one of those who was so prepared and ready; we just had to take a little effort to find her.

A member who was in her Spanish class referred us to her. He told us her boyfriend was LDS and that she took the lessons from missionaries 2 years ago in high school, but because she was under 18 her mom never let her get baptized. He asked us if we could give him a card so she would have our number. We never heard back though, so we knew we needed to take it to the next step. We texted the member and asked if we could run into them after class on campus and he could just let us know when they were getting out. We introduced ourselves to her and now 2 weeks later she is a member of the Church! The Lord puts people into our paths who are so prepared. All it takes is a little effort on our part.

Teaching at M.'s baptism

M.'s baptism

This week we had another experience like that! We were teaching a lesson in the library when this random guy came up to us and asked us where he could get one of the Restoration pamphlets we had sitting there on the table. We told him we could give him one, which we did and also included our card. We were in the middle of a lesson though, so we couldn't do much more than that.  So after the lesson we knew we had to find this guy! We looked all over the library and finally found him! We asked him for his number and set up an appointment with him, and yesterday we got to teach him! His name is A. He is from central Africa and is SO prepared. He is looking to put God closer in his life, and is trying to make his priorities right. When we asked him if he would read and pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, he replied. "It would be a pleasure!" Again the Lord truly just places people in our path, if we just take that little effort to find them!

A is still set for baptism for the 22nd. She is progressing leaps and bounds! This week she came to know that she has a Savior and that the Book of Mormon is true. She told her mom of her decision to be baptized who is devout in the Hindu faith. Her mom wasn't too happy about it, but A. said she is going to go ahead with it anyway! These young adults truly strengthen my faith! She even fasted yesterday that her family would soften. Ganesh will have the opportunity to baptize her and he passed the sacrament yesterday at church :)

C is set for baptism for the 29th as well. She knows its true. The only hold up with her is she only works on the weekends and its her only way of income. She can only go to the first hour of church in the family ward, but she comes to all the activities and has the fellowship in the YSA ward. So we are just trying to figure out which ward would be best for her to get baptized in. 

We found another investigator this week, M. He told us at the end of the lesson we motivated him to read the Book of Mormon! He dated a girl 2 years ago who was LDS and used to go to church with her and her family sometimes and already had a Book of Mormon, so some seeds have already been planted for him too. 

This week I have been studying a lot on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's something we can't ever truly comprehend, but wow has my relationship with my Savior been strengthened since I have been out on my mission. I have seen people change and come clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it's something we need to use daily! It's why everything is the way it is, because of the Atonement of Jesus Chirst.

My companion and I were talking about the Book of Mormon in studies today. That book truly has a new meaning to me, a new light! I am addicted to it! ha. I cannot believe there are people out there who haven't even read it. They are missing out! I just have this fire of wanting to share it with everyone so they can experience the joy that I have!

Love you all!

Sister Turner

March 3

Dear Family,

So this week we got an unknown phone call. And guess who it was!? Kirk Henderson, the wide receiver for BYU. He called us telling us about a friend of his who plays ball here at Tech University. He wants us to start working with him. We have had multiple people from out of state in the past couple weeks call us with referrals. It's so neat to see how the work truly is hastening and how people are getting INVOLVED. If anything, that is the one thing I have really learned on my mission! We must get involved, we must be proactive, we must fulfill our callings. The work is hastening, so we might as well be a part of it!

M. should be getting baptized this Saturday! Please keep her in your prayers, the only thing that may be holding her back is her parents...She is amazing though. She has such a light about her already, and she knows it's the right thing to do.

G. received the priesthood on Sunday and I got to sit in when he got it! It was such an incredible experience! His best friend is preparing for baptism, and he will have the opportunity to baptize her, so its all just really exciting! I love seeing how just one person can make the difference for many!

Sister Barlow, my companion is awesome! We make a good team. We are trying to give our all and work really hard. We got 11 new investigators this week, a couple of those seem really solid, so we are excited! We had 3 investigators at church, and we are just trying to talk to as many people as possible.

The weather is really starting to get to me. Saturday it was 89 degrees, and then yesterday it reached a high of 23 degrees. This back and forth stuff is killing me. ha ha. But somehow I still stay happy even though I hate the cold. I must be a missionary! ;)

I will be teaching at MLC again this Friday. I will be giving the group of Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders a church tour role play. We start exchanges this week as well. So we are staying super super busy!

I have glimpses throughout the day of holding back tears...It's hard for me to know I have to face the real world again very soon. I will never forget the experiences of my mission. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to serve, to be so consumed of the spirit and the gospel on a regular basis. I know I will miss that. I know this gospel is true.

I love each and every one of you!

Sister Turner

February 24

Dear Family,

Wow what an incredible week! Probably one of the most amazing weeks I have had thus far on my mission. G. was baptized! Thank you for all the prayers! He truly is going to be a leader for his people. After his baptism he came up to me and Sister Soules, and said one day there will be a temple in Nepal!

We had an amazing opportunity this week to teach Ganesh in President and Sister Augustin's home. One of the coolest, most spiritual experiences, yet very intimidating to have them there at the same time! ha ha.

Well transfer news came in. I will be staying here in College Park for my last transfer. My companion Sister Soules is being transferred to a family ward in Lubbock so I will still get to see her. We both are still STL's and we will be training our companions who will be STLS for the first time. Sister Barlow is my companion, and she is [AWESOME]. She is a super hard worker, so its going to be a great transfer!!

I feel so honored to have had this opportunity to serve the Lord full time, and be a representative of Jesus Christ. I would be lying if I said it was all easy, but the trials I have gone through and the things I have learned have made me a better person, and I know its just preparing me for future life.

We are working with so many great people right now! The Lord's work truly is hastening! Whether ya'll want to be a part of it or not, it really is hastening! I have seen it right before my own eyes this past year and a half. 

Love you all and have a great week!

Sister Turner

All of us.
A. on the right is his best friend who we are also teaching!

G.'s baptism

February 17

Dear Family,

Wow the Lord's work is hastening! This week on Wednesday we had 7 member present lessons!! My head was going to explode with all the spiritual experiences we had that day! [Our investigator] G. is so close! As long as everything goes according to plan he should be getting baptized this Saturday! I can't remember if I have told ya'll too much about him, but he is from Nepal, and comes from a Hindu background. Its been so neat to see his progression, and to find Christ!

It was 89 degrees the other day. ha ha. Texas weather is so bipolar. 

I had the opportunity to teach Zone Training, that was awesome! President heard of some of the ideas I came up with for more affective church tours, and wants me to teach at MLC again (Missionary Leadership training). I thought my time teaching there was done.. .ha ha guess not. I always get so nervous teaching to the leaders of the mission cause they are all so incredible!

We have two more exchanges to do this week with sisters. It has kept us extremely busy! Transfer calls are this weekend...It will be interesting to see what happens.

We had church this Sunday at a new time and a new building due to the ward changes! Our meeting is now right after Regal Park ward, so it was so great to see many old faces! :)

Lately I have grown a strong testimony of daily scripture study. It truly makes a difference!
Sorry not too much to say this week! Love and miss you all!
Sister Turner

Nepali night! Best food ever!

February 10

Dear Family,

Our investigator G. had a pretty cool spiritual experience this week! The other day he asked us if we could send him more chapters from the Book of Mormon to read. We had a really busy day so we never got back to him. So he decided to pray about it. The spirit told him to read a speech.. he didn't know what speeches were in the BOM but he felt impressed he needed to read it. So he searched and found King Benjamins Sermon. Later the next day we left a note on his door and felt impressed to leave him the Mosiah Chapters for King Benjamins sermon! He was amazed we left him the same chapters that he felt impressed to read from his prayer. The spirit works in the coolest ways! Especially when we follow his promptings!

So we got a new car! After MLC (missionary leadership council) All the Zone leaders were informed they were getting brand new trucks! It was like Christmas! They were all parked out in a row in the parking lot. Then we were informed we were getting a new car too!! A new MOM VAN! ha ha. Sister Augustin laughed as we drove away and told us that was our future... as soccer moms ;) ha ha.

We went on 2 exchanges this week. One with Sister Tooley my old companion, so that was fun to see her! It was bike day and we woke up to a surprise... SNOW. So that was fun! ha ha.

The work is hastening and the Gospel here in Lubbock is spreading! Yesterday we had ward Conference and President Shumway( the stake president) talked about his vision again. "The vision of the vine" The vision he had years ago that there would one day be two stakes in Lubbock. And that soon will be a reality! Yesterday a new ward was created and 3 other ward boundaries were changed! These are exciting times!

The church is true my friends. My mission has really opened my eyes and taught me whats really important in life. I just hope I can truly find a balance when I get home! 

Love you all!

Sister Turner

Bike day in the snow

Sister Training leaders at MLC (so many of us now! :)

One of my favorite senior couples, the Kelly's, on their last day

February 3

Dear Family,

Wow the Lord truly is blessing us. This week we were CRAZY BUSY. So busy that we literally were running from appointment to appointment. I think the Lord...is blessing me with keeping me very busy so I don't think about home.

We had Zone Conference this week! It was incredible. It was sad because it was my very last one. The instruction given and the spirit there always pumps me up! I was involved in a role play and I was the "member present" as the missionaries taught an investigator. It really hit me that soon that truly would be my role. That I no longer would be the full time missionary, and no longer the teacher, but the fellowshipper and friend. It broke my heart to know my journey here can't stay forever, but I am so grateful for my incredible experiences that I have had, and honestly my mission has made me know how to be the best member missionary, because before I honestly just had no clue.

This weekend we took one of our investigators to a baptism. Little did I know the baptism was someone in Regal Park!!! I got to see all my recent converts and the members! It was such a tender mercy! The ward and the missionary work has just sky rocketed since I left! The man who got baptized married his wife a little over 18 years ago, when they were newly weds she joined the church but he never really wanted to be a part of it. It took him 18 years before joining her in the Lords Kingdom! I was in shock when I saw him because when we would go over there to teach his family, he was always nice but never interested. It just shows its all in the Lord's timing! T., an investigator I taught a year ago, who I had one of the most amazing spiritual experiences with giving her achurch tour was there too! The sisters just started teaching her again! So I just was overjoyed! Of course seeing Sandy was the biggest blessing though! She plans on going through the temple very soon, and it is just a blessing I get to be a part of that experience with her!

I just feel the Lord is truly showing me and pouring down blessings of all the hard work I have done over the course of my mission! F, one of the people I knocked into a year ago that we contacted, went missing in action for like 2 weeks. I was so sad, but last night he called! And he said he was so sorry he hasn't gotten back to us, but just a lot has been going on, we told him  how Heavenly Father loves him and is so aware of him, or he wouldn't have led us to him! He told us thankyou and said he is so grateful he hadn't completely given up yet. We are meeting with him this week. :) I am SO excited!

...

I love you all so much!! The church is SO true. I have witnessed miracle after miracle after miracle. I think I need to write a book of them all! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Turner