WEM Weekly--S. Turley

Dear President Bonham,

That is exciting that Megan got her mission call to Washington! But... Everett is the best. Sorry.

Mike got baptized on Saturday! It was an awesome service. It was a Wedding/Baptism/Party. The Spirit was so strong and I know that the Guzman family will continue to grow in the Gospel and be strong in the faith. Mike felt the Spirit really strong after the baptism, and when he was asked how he felt, he said, "Happier. And, I don't know how to explain it." And then he cried. It was so tender and I know he will remember that exerience.

We will definitely be trying to talk to as many people as possible this next week to try and replenish our teaching pool. Our elevator is still skinny. We are really trying to separate those who have a desire to progress and those who are just along for the ride. It is easy to end up with ten non-progressing investigators if you do not keep up with them on their commitments and church attendance. We are trying to rekindle some flames, and if not, move on to others that we can spark into a roaring fire.

One of our new contacting techniques is to ask people to take our picture. It is a great tool! Most people are more than willing to take a picture and then it allows us to start a conversation with them. We have had some really cool experiences where we have been able to talk with people that normally would have ignored us. I like this method because it shows more that we are still normal-ish people even though we wear a scary black tag. We have been able to have longer conversations with these people and although some are still not interested, most of them have said something to the effect of, "Oh, I didn't know that! That is nice to know!"

We will be hitting the pavement to find new investigators and reach standards this week. We are doing well, and I love Sister Cunningham. She kind of reminds me of the other Sister Turley. We constantly talk about ways to improve and find more people and help our investigators have more spiritually uplifting experiences. Also, last night we built a fort in our living room.

In my study this week I have reflected a lot on diligence. I studied Jacob chapter five and Enos and finished the book of John in the new testament. I have learned that true joy comes from acting diligently on the things you have been commanded to do and consistently seeking for other things you can do to remember and serve the Lord. From Jacob I learned that we need to work hard in the more "physical/temporal" part of missionary work--finding, teaching, baptizing. From Enos, I learned that we need to work more diligently in pleading for the Lord's assistance. And from John, The Acts and Jarom, I have learned that we need to work hard to have faith and be humble to really listen to the Holy Ghost to obtain power and revelation for ourselves and others. "After that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). Which is my ultimate goal.

Love you all lots!
Sister Turley

Guzman Family

Picture of the Day from Sunday :)

           

New Transfer in the WEM--S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

My new companion is Sister Cunningham. She is from Alabama and does not have an accent. She has been out as long as Elder Bloomfield and is definitely one of the best missionaries I know. We are having WAY too much fun together. We laugh all the time and work hard all the time, too. I have high hopes for great things this transfer! We have been riding our bikes all over the town this week. And there are lots and lots of hills and I am super sore. Also, we have been dubbed the "running sisters" in the mission and we are training to participate in our ward's 5K this Saturday. We ran two miles last Saturday, which is probably more than I have run at one time on my whole mission. It felt so good!

It was sad and also a relief to hear about Grandma Payne's passing. I saw Elder Bloomfield at transfers on Tuesday (he is now in Arlington) and we talked about the family situation for a little while. And we decided that hard things happen, but it's ok, and we will make it. I am grateful to know that we are an eternal family!

We were able to find two new investigators and quite a few potentials. Unfortunately, I think most of them might be YSA. But, it is their hard time of year to find, so I guess that is ok. We will share.

The Guzmans are preparing to be married and baptized on Saturday, June 28th. They are really excited! One thing that really impresses me is that they have already been making changes in their lives to bring their lives into closer harmony with the teachings of the Savior, before we even came into the picture. They are so prepared. Sister Cunningham and I can't get over the fact. They have also made some great friends in the ward, so we know that they will not get lost. I am so grateful for the ward's efforts on their part.

We had a great stake cottage meeting last night. It was very spirit-filled and the testimonies were so sincere. I loved it, and our investigator, Randi loved it as well. She is getting so close to baptism. She is 71 years old and her late husband was a member. She just has some concerns with the word of wisdom (she uses coffee for it's medicinal purposes) and one of her friends thinks that Randi will not go to heaven if she is Mormon and she wants Randi there with her. But, I think those concerns will resolve themselves as she continues to learn more and gets a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. I am not too worried. She loves the church and loves what she is learning. :)

I have been studying chapter 2 in Preach My Gospel this week and I am learning how important it is to learn by the spirit and also use the spirit in finding. That is one of our companionship goals, especially while we are tracting. We have to have the divine spirit to do this divine work.

Love ya lots!
Have a great week!
Sister Turley

Baptisms!--S. Turley in the WEM

Dear Family and Friends,

I can't believe that I forgot to put this in my letter last week: DOMINICK GOT BAPTIZED!!!!! On June 7th, to be exact. I was able to go back to Mt. Vernon for the occasion, since it was within six weeks of my being transferred. Janette was also baptized and Vickie is being baptized on June 21st. It is SOOOOO good to see it all pay off! Especially after working so closely with this awesome family for six months. Dominick has made so many great and really hard changes in his life. He and Alejandra are huge examples to me of trusting in the Lord and moving forward with faith, even when it seems impossible. I am so excited to come back to Washington next year for their sealing! It is going to be so special!

Also, this week is transfers and I am staying in the View Ridge Ward. However, both of my companions are being transferred which should be interesting. It will be rather quiet around these parts. I wonder if it will still be a three-pack or if we will go back down to two.

This week was a rather interesting week. We did not spend a whole lot of time in our area with doctors appointments and other appointments, but the Lord definitely magnified our time and we were able to reach standards again this week. Round 2 reaching standards!!!

Also, four our of five Aguirres got baptized and confirmed this weekend. It was definitely a battle getting them there, but they did it! A few hours before they were scheduled to have the interview, the mom left a message saying that she needed to cancel the baptism and then would not answer the phone. So, we promptly went over to her house and tried to talk to her. She would not let us in and wouldn't talk to us either. Shortly afterward, the dad showed up with the kids. He ended up bringing them to the interview and signing their permission slips. He had previously told us that he needed more time to prepare to be baptized, so it meant a lot that he was willing to help his kids progress in the Gospel. The mom showed up to the baptism and wanted to be baptized again, so our district leader hurried in to do her interview. It all worked out, thankfully, in the midst of constant pressure from the adversary. He will not leave us alone. Their confirmations in Sacrament meeting yesterday were truly inspiring. I think it was beneficial to open our eyes to see the potential that they have and how much our Heavenly Father really loves them. It has been a lot of stress getting them to this point, but it is just because they have wonderful things in store for them. They won this battle!

The Guzman family is still progressing rapidly. They are as hungry as ever for the word of God and they love the Gospel. They went ring shopping yesterday and they are planning to get married in the next few weeks! We are thinking of moving the baptism up to the 28th of June, because no one will be in town July 5th. They are ready. And, the bishop really wants to throw a big party. We have decided that the Lord keeps sending us people that need to be married because the Bishop has a talent for throwing parties and they will be more than taken care of in his hands.

In my studies this week, I read a really great chapter for the Aguirres. It was 2 Nephi 32. It was great instruction on HOW to endure to the end. This is my paraphrase: "I feel like you still have questions about what to do after you are baptized. Well...you should read the scriptures, listen to the Holy Ghost and pray. Keep these commandments, and you will know what to do." I had never noticed that this chapter was instructions on what to do post-baptism. I am grateful that we continue to learn as we study the scriptures and can gain more insights on how to live our lives.

Love you lots!
Sister Turley

Dominick and Janette baptism

The Aguirre kids

Everthing in Everett-S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was pretty good. A little slow in the finding area, unfortunately, but you can't win them all.

The Guzman family is really progressing. They are just eating up everything we share with them. We invited the husband to be baptized and he accepted! Last time we met with them, we asked them about reading in the Book of Mormon. And the wife said, "Well...we are only on chapter nine..." We were elated! They have been studying and praying together, which is wonderful. They also do all the questions in the back of the pamphlets (without us even inviting them to do so) and write down tons of questions for us to answer in the next lessons. It is so fun to teach them! Now we just need to help them get married. That is our next order of business.

We let a few investigators go this week because they were not showing any desire to learn or progress. It's hard when that happens, but at the same time, it is kind of relieving. Then we have more time to work with those (like the Guzmans) who desire to improve their lives and come unto Christ.

We were able to do some good service for some members of the ward and that was really good for me. It's really good for me to work with my hands. It relieves stress. I think that is why I picked Medical Lab Science to study because I will get to work with my hands all the time! Last Monday, our mission president referred us to a recent convert who was moving into our ward and asked us to help her out. We didn't understand that it was that day,though... and by the time we were able to get out of lessons and things, she was already done moving. However, she sent us a text message this morning that said that her mother would like to learn more about the church!

The New Testament is just choc-full of gems that help me in my every situation. I love the scriptures! I was reading in John chapter 15 this week, and I read verse two and it really rang true. It reads: "and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." I love that when we bear fruit (righteousness) we continue to be purged (cleaned, refined--maybe in the refiner's fire) in order to produce more and become better. I had the thought that when we have trials, it is often a sign that we are doing the right thing.

Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Turley

PS--Forever thank you to everyone who helped to make Sister Connor's bday special. I appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!

On the Road Again in the WEM--S. Turley

Dear Family and Friends,

Sometimes we break the handbook rules and sing the Willie Nelson version of the Subject Line when we mount our bikes...

Things are going SOOOOO much better in our companionship! I am so grateful. Sister Sorensen and I fasted on the day that Sister Connor came to Everett and I can see the blessings of our sacrifice. Because it was a sacrifice to fast and still ride all over town on our bikes! We are smiling and laughing now and I am endlessly grateful that the Savior has helped us on this front. I know it is the result of many prayers. Thanks to everyone that has helped in every way!

Thomas dropped us and then picked us up again. We "bore down in pure testimony" in our lesson with him yesterday. It was pretty amazing. I don't think I have ever been as bold as I was in that lesson in truly sharing "pure testimony." I felt the Spirit so strong. It was thrilling! I hope that he was open to it and will contemplate the truths that we shared with him. 

We found two new investigators this week (and I met standards for the first time in my mission!--4 member friend present lessons, 2 on-date for baptism, 2 at sacrament meeting, 2 new investigators). We are really excited about the Guzman family. They are a part member family and they are really excited about learning. I am not sure that the wife has ever really been active, but she just soaks up everything that we say. The husband has also been really humbled and this is going to be the perfect time for him to accept the Gospel. It makes me think of Alma's experience in Alma 32 where realized that there were humbled, prepared people for him to teach. This is what we have been looking for! I am also grateful that they are not coming to the church looking for financial aid. That seems to be a plague in our area. Two sets of missionaries gave us their names to go visit them, so we saw how ready they are to hear the Gospel. 

Funny Story--so in the last little while, I have had two dreams about getting transferred to the San Juan islands and another about getting transferred to a little part of Hawaii that was sectioned out to our mission. The best part of the Hawaii dream was when I asked President about meetings and conferences and such, and he said that the mission would fly us back for Zone Conferences and General Authorities, but for district meetings, we would probably just have to skype. Is there something happening in the islands that I need to know about? :)

This week in my studies I really enjoyed reading in the New Testament about the story of Lazarus. The timing was perfect as I was pondering on the Plan of Salvation and Maria's recent passing. My most favorite observation was the fact that Jesus really loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He had a real, human relationship with them outside of being their Savior. What stood out most with that knowledge was that he allowed Lazarus to die. Granted, Christ raised him from the dead, but he still let him pass away. I was grateful for that assurance that even (and I might say, especially) those he loves have to suffer death and it's consequences. I also loved that the passing of Lazarus was for a purpose. For the purpose of building the kingdom of God. No righteous person leaves just because. It is for the purpose of building the kingdom of God--to strengthen testimony here, to share the Gospel on the other side, etc. I am thankful for that.

Thanks for all you do!

Love,

Sister Turley