10-31-11

Hey everyone! 
Happy Halloween!!! This last week was crazy!!! East Saint Louis is starting to get less scarey now that I am getting used to it. We just know where and what to avoid now. It is really funny because there is a rumor going around that some people think we are the FBI or Police undercover. So no wonder they do not mess with us... hahaha I laughed so hard when I heard that. One of the guys we are teaching told us that he had some friends ask about us. He knows everyone in this city so we get in on a lot of people. So Saturday we taught the first lesson to a guy who showed up to church with a friend. We didn't even have to give him the Baptismal challenge. He said after the lesson he wants to be Baptized. We now have 4 baptismal dates. 3 for this sunday and one for the sunday after. I am pretty excited. There is a whole other family that shows up to church who are not members. We are thinking we might be able to get them at least a few of them Baptized also. We are so blessed to have all these investigators. They almost found us. So we are very excited for this next few weeks. This last week we had a zone pday monday. That was awesome to see some friends there from the mtc. My zone leaders are awesome. I have started to become good friends with them. I look up to them a lot. I have also gotten to know that assistants pretty well because we have seen them a lot in the last week. Plus one of them served in this area so we talk a lot about it. But since my Trainer is good friends with one of them, they came out together, we have some special privileges. Like they give us rides and what not because we do not have a car. Tuesday we had a training meeting so we got to go back to St. Louis. It is nice being back on that side of the river where everything is so much nicer and safer. Wednesday we had to have exchanges because my Trainer had to go to another training meeting so Elder Wardle who has only been out one more transfer then me got put together for the day. We had to be here in East ST. Louis though instead of going to his area. It was a good day though. We found one person that day who is a potential. Saturday night was the chili cook off. We had many non members there. Actually probably more nonmembers then members... But hey that is a good thing for us! The family who is being baptized this week came. There names are Ray, Angel and Nania. Please pray for them that they will go through with it! It was a little weird because this other lady and baby was with them. Once I saw that babies face I knew that was Ray's baby and his babies Momma... Ray and his wife have only been married for a few months. But it was super duper awkward that his Babies Momma was with them. It really got weird when his wife held the baby. But hey that takes a lot of courage for Angel to not hate that lady or baby. But still why would a married man bring his babies momma with him to such an event. Its good that he cares for the baby though and takes care of her. But this is just one little taste of what goes on in the city. The people we deal with have so many different problems and things. It is like Jerry Springer but REAL. But that is why we try to help all these people and love them and share the gospel with them. But after knowing the situations people are in here it is truly become evident why it is such a bad place. But We love the people anyways. They are very humble and more accepting to the Gospel. Sunday my Trainer was asked to go Baptize someone back in Troy Missouri so we go to go to the Baptism out there. Some people from Hazelwood came and picked us up and toke us out there. My trainer was real close with them when he served in their area. On the way back they took us to their house and fed us:) We have special permission to go to their house again tonight because our area is so unsafe. Even though we live in Belville and it is way better then East STL. But our choice was either get out of our area or stay in our apartment the whole night. We are not even allowed to go to a members house in our area tonight. So we will be over on the other side of the river for the third time in a week. But I am loving the Mission a lot. I am so blessed to be out here. Miracles happen everyday and just helps build my testimony stronger and stronger. You all mean so much to me. I love you all! I sent out a few letters to some of you so I hope they got to you!!! or will get to you! Have a safe Halloween and do not do anything stupid!!!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
Serving in Zion
Ps. I am still debating about the Cardinals, If I will become a fan or not even though they won the World Series... ;)