5-29-12

This week was the best I have had since I have been here in Fenton. Oh Yeah! Probably because Nicki entered into the waters of Baptism! With another investigator, Tiffene with a Baptismal date in a few weeks:) sorry for emailing a day late but all the Libraries were closed yesterday... SO we had to do it today.

     Last Monday we went to the Zoo. We went because it was free:) haha It was fun. It is cool to see animals. We saw a lot of members there who would come up and talk to us. Everytime we go to a place like that there are a bunch of members.

     Tuesday was good. We went to a bunch of part members and actually got to meet up with them. It was good. We actually got one of our less actives to take us by Nicki's to check up on her to keep in good contact with her the week before her baptism. It was cool. Our less active loved being there with us theaching a lesson. He has not been active in over 30 years or something like that.

     Wednesday was exchanges, I took elder Texiara with me here in Fenton and my comp went to Arnold with Harris. Texiara is a brand new greenie. So it is fun to take him around. Especially to appointments. Just because they get nervous and tense up. But he doesnt tense up to much. haha We had an appointment with Nicki and that the Bishop came to with us. Then Nicki was Interview for Baptism by our District leader Elder Harris. She passed! haha

    Thursday we saw one of our investigators we have not seen in a very long time. We dropped her that day. Oh well. She was not keeping commitments. We got to see on of our part members. It was nice to see them. We have been making a huge progress with the non member wife to where we think tshe might come to church soon with her husband if her husband gets active again. That night we finally had a coordination meeting with the ward mission leader.

     Friday we had d-meet with the assistants and zls. It was nice. It was our first one we have had this transfer yet. It was cool seeing Elder Ditto who I used to see all the time. We have been able to start to get many member present lessons every week. Which we got to teach Heikes mom and show her the Restoration video in German so she can understand better. haha IT was really cool because the Spirit is always the same.

    Saturday was the day of my brothers wedding and the Baptism!!! Early that morning we went to the Stake Center to clean out the font and fill it up:) Nicki's Baptism went so well. It was great. I played the Ukele and sang along with my Comp and another member "When I am Baptized" in the childrens songbook. It went great:) Then Nicki was Baptized by one of our Members who has fellowshipped her. Which is great. Because us misisonaries come and go but the members stay. The service was Beautiful. We did it in the Chapel which is always better. Many people showed up for the service. That night at a dinner appointment with a member they had a non member friend there. We asked if we could teach them the first lesson. They acceppted and they were picked up as a new investigator.

      Sunday at church Nicki was Confirmed. When she was being comfirmed the spirit was so strong there. It was such a sacred moment that I will never forget. She really let this change her life. She will go on to do great things. Because she has really learned a lot and will continue to progress. She has had the perfect conversion story if you ask me espically being in utah last week. haha That day we went and taught Pete and Charlie. We are probably going to drop the both of them soon. They have not made much progress. Yesterday was Memorial day of course. We did service for a less active in the morning and then we went the ward bbq. It was fun to hang out with people in the ward espcially when we can never really. After that we went and to play bball with a bunch of missionaries. IT was fun. Yes.

    I hope everybody had a great week! I love you all.

Love,

Elder Derek Turner

*Serving in Zion*

5-21-12

Well the first week of the new transfer is over already. It is way awesome though. My boy finally has a transfer under his belt and is much more experienced. He has been out in the fields for close to 2 months so he gets a feel for what is going on now. It is way awesome though because the work is starting to pick up here now. We have 2 baptismal dates right now for Nicki who is going to be Baptized this Saturday! And Tiffene for June 16th. Preparations for Nicki's Baptism are going well. We got it all set it up. Elder Besendorfer my Greenie and I are going to be performing a musical number. I have learned how to play the Ukulele this last week during Lunch time and stuff so we are both going to sing and I am going to play "When I am Baptized" fromt the childrens songbook. He has a Uk so I will be playing his. haha It should go well I think :) The Uk is a nice easy instrument so I have no problem playing it and also with Playing Base Guitar back in the day in Middle school Jazz band helps.

       Monday way awesome. That morning we had Breakfast with a a bunch of missionaries. The ward gave us a bunch of Breakfast food leftover froma brunch. So we took it to another missionaries appartment and we all ate it:) yum. That night we had a dinner and a lesson with Nicki at the Keetch's. It went so well. She is so ready for this.

       Tuesday We had District meeting then went to the Temple as a district after. It was so nice to go to the Temple and be able to have all the worries of the world lifted off for a bit. I love going there. It is such an amazing place. Especially for feeling the Spirit and being able to recieve revelation. I love it. It is such a blessing to have one so close to us here in St. Louis. We did not get much work done that day which we kinda figured. But we got a referal that day from a member that was very nice.

        Wednesday was a good day. We had out lesson with Tiffene that afternoon. We went with Brother Baker to it. It went very well. She is growing fast in the gospel but not as fast as Nicki. But Nicki is so golden compared to anyone else I have taught. So We ended up reading the Book of Mormon with Tiffene. She was not quite ready for the 3rd lesson yet. Well it did not reel right for that moment. She needed something else at that time. We have been starting to work with a guy named Webster whose wife was taught by the missionaries a long time ago. Hopefully we get to start teaching her soon. She seems to like us.

         Thursday was an awesome day. We had our appointment with a Less active Heike. Her Mother is here visiting from Germany. She speaks a decent amount of english at least to where she can get the just of what we are saying and we can get what she is trying to say. It was cool because she went right to asking questions. Then we remembered we had a Book of Mormon in the trunk of our car that was in some random language. We ran outside to grab it and it ended up being a German Book of Mormon. It was a miracle. We had no clue who put that copy in there and why. But we know why now. it was meant for her. We invited her to church and she came with her daughter:) That night we had a dinner with a Part Memeber family that we have been working with very hard. The lesson was going awesome with the Non member wife until the Husband started talking about ailiens... He ruined the Spirit there. 

          Friday we got in contact and saw many lessactives/partmembers that the ward refered to us and told us to go see. It is so nice with the Ward wanting to work with us so much now especially with Two Baptismal dates. I love it. We also found a good potential who lives in a home where a member used to live:)  We got to plan the Baptism that day. That was fun to do. I love planing them. Best planning a missionary can do.

           Saturday We had our appointment with Charlie. It was also mission Bike day. So we had to walk everywhere that day... So it took forever to get everywhere and we got rides with members so we could get to our further away appointments. That was nice.  It was cool because Charlie had a friend visiting him so we got to teach him and his friend. To bad his friend lives outside of our area though....

           Sunday was cool with Heikes mom coming to church. Tiffene could not come becasue of her son... Long story. Nicki is in Utah so she was not there. It was cool because she has spent the whole past week there having fun going to temple square, byu baseball games, visiting all the temples and seeing everything there is to see in Utah. It was very interesting because Tony her bf father  is having double Bipass suregey while Nicki is being baptized. So Tony is going to be down with his dad in Mississippi during Nickis baptism. SHe wants him there buit she knows she can not postphone it a week. it just shows that she is diong this for herself and the right reasons. I hope everyone is doing great. I love being out here on a misison. It is such a blessing to me. I have grown so much out here and started to grow up and change. I have seen how far I have come in the past 8 months. Well I hit 8 months a week from today but it is so weird. Things go by way to fast. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Derek Turner

*Serving in Zion*

P.s. Who still reads these?

5-14-12

Hello everyone! What an awesome week full of great things and also getting to skype and talk with my family. Hence why if you saw me on Skype yesterday it was because I was talking to my family.

      Monday We went to the City Museum. My companion loved it there because it was his first time. We went there as a zone. It was way awesome though. We did a lot of fun things. One of the funnest things there is the Hamster Wheel. Then we all went to the famous Ted Drewes also. After that we went to dinner whith a member to Red Robin. Then after that we had a first lesson with Tiffenne. She was a member referal from a chiropractic Bro. Olsen who is in the Chesterfield Ward. His office is in are area and he referals many people to missionaries. So we taught her that night with him at his office. He went way well. We set a return appoinment for wednesday.

      Tuesday we had D-meet. It was good. Usually is always good because Elder Bassett is the best. It was a hard day in the fact we were going around everywhere trying to find part members and checking on potentials. We had scripture study that night. One person came to it. Blah. Oh well Better try next week.

       Wednesday was my favorite day by far. We had are return appointment with Tiffenne. We took Bro. Knackstedt with us to it. We taught the second lesson. We set a baptismal date with her for June 16th! So now we have two people with Baptismal dates. The other is Nicke who we also taught that night. She is learning everything so fast and is gaining a testimony. Her mother does not approve of her being baptized but she does not care. It is hard for her but she does have the faith to get through it. We are excited for her to be baptized on may 26th. I can not wait for it! Plus it is sweet because my Brother is getting married that day too! The lessons always go well with her!

       Thursday was another day of trying to find new investigators because we droppped 6 people in the past week or so. Part of the sifting process. So we went out to a bunch of places. Finally got a hold of a former. She does not want us to teach her. Oh well. It happens everyday. haha   

        Friday was good because we saw some part members. One of them who the non member wife was taught by sister missionaries 20 something years ago. We are trying to start teaching her again. That night after a less-active lesson we went to some church we were invited to for there Healing and Delievarnce service. So much priestcraft. We got up and left. It was so weird but also bad because of the priest craft.

          Saturday we went to a Baptism with Nicke so she can see what it is like. She was so very relieved when she found out that she gets to hold her nose when she goes under. She was actually very worried about that. So that is all good now. Her concerns have been very easy to solve. She is the Golden Investigator. We tried to go see some more people. We got to Teach Charlie and some other investigators later in the day.

           Sunday was the day. Mothers Day. I swear it was just Christmas and I talked to my family. Nicke came to church so that was great. She loved it. After church we saw some investigators and we took a bunch of investigators cookies and Mothers day cards. That was cool. Then we went to a members place so that we could call and skype our familes. That was so cool to be able to see everyones faces via Skype. It was a good recharge to the batteries. I am so glad they are doing so well. We ate dinner after at that same members place. It was a great day. Today we are just going to hang with other missionaries and then we have a dinner appointment that Nicke is coming to and we are teaching a lesson after. Way awesome.

     Anyways I hope all you Mothers had a great mothers day!!! Keep your foundation on Christ. The wise Man builds his house upoun a rock and the foolish man builds his house upon the sand. Christ is our Rock. Take advantage of his Atontment and his teachings. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Derek Turner

*Serving in Zion*

5-7-12

Hello good day, it is another beautiful day here in Missouri. Well It really is not. It is raining today. Oh well. Well this is an update for all of you on how this week has gone. I forgot that Mother's day was this week until I saw the Email from my parents saying hey we can not wait to talk to you this week! I am excited! I felt like it was yesterday that I talked to my family on Christmas.

   Monday we went to the Science Museum with a group of missionaries. It was fun and interesting. We met members from different places like Utah and Washington who were there visiting family. It is funny how small of a world it is sometimes. Especially in the Mormon World.

   Tuesday we had district meeting. We started our Exchanges right after district meeting. So I had Elder Fagar with me here in Fenton and My comp went with Elder Bassett the DL down in Hillsboro. It was cool to go on because Elder Fagar is awesome. We had our Scriputre Study Class that night, and only one person came.... OH well. Just does not work how ESTL did.

    Wednesday after service we switched and I went down to Hillsboro with Elder Bassett and My comp stayed up here with Elder Fagar. It was cool to go work in someone elses area. It is nice to get a break from your own area. We did a lot of walking looking for potentials and such. We had an appoitment with this lady from Modesto California. It was cool to hear that she was from California. We had a dinner appointment at a recent converts place. After talking to the Family they asked where I was from and I said Temecual California and the Mom started Freaking out. She was like I am from there!!! I graduated From Temecula Valley High school in 1991!!! I was like no way!!! I asked why the heck did you come to Missiouri? haha she laughed about it. It was funny we both graduated from the same High School. She just graduated before I was born... It was cool because we knew many people in common. Mostly Teachers who were still at TVHS when I was there. Like Nolen. haha She was not a member in High School. But just kinda cool. It is cool how many connections to people out here I have found.

     Thursday We spent the whole day tracking out Part members down in house springs. We knocked on a door where the family actually moved but now we are going to have an appointment with the Family we knocked into. I love how the Lord works in such mysterious ways.

       Friday we spent the whole day giong around everywhere because we dropped 6 investigators this past week. It is just time to find more people. We gained one new investigator that day from a ptoetnial we were working with. We showed up at a Less active members randomly hoping they would feed us dinner because we did not have an appointment that night for dinner. It worked. So we got a dinner that night.

      Saturday we did a blitz on our area with the ZL's. They do it with every compaionship in the Zone once a transfer. So I went out with Elder White one of the Zone Leaders. I sent my comp with Elders WIlliams to go to all our teaching appointments so that My comp could get more practice and Elder White and I went out looking for people and checking potentials and such. We found another new investigator that day. It was nice because we were able to get so much done.

    Sunday was awesome. Nicke came to church with Her bf Tony again to our ward. She really enjoyed it. The ward is really excited about her and her Baptism. They have been doing an awesome job with Fellowshipping her. Some members are actually kinda fighting over who gets to have her at there house with us for teaching appointments... I love it. We tought her yesterday a couple hours after church with Brother Baker. We taught the 3 lesson and the Law of Chasity. Most people find it very awkward to teach the Law of Chasity and dodge around it not explaining things fully. I have gotten very good at teaching it espcially after being in East St. Louis. haha We also set up her Baptismal Calender. She is still scheduled for may 26th. The weekend before she is baptized she will be in Utah touring Temple Square and other stuff!!! I am so excited for her to do that. I just noticed that is the same day My Brother is getting married. SO it is kinda cool while my brother is being Sealed I will be doing Nickes baptism. Well I think her Boyfriend will perfrom the Ordinace. I kinda hope he does becauseit would be cool espcially if they get married:)

     Today we have zone Pday. We are all going to City Muesum again. Then tonight we have an appointment with a Member referal at a members place. This is going to be very exciting!!! Hopefully this person will be picked up as a new investigator!!! Thakn you all so much for those who still write me! Which is not very many people anymore. I still love you all. Just Remember Jesus Loves you!!!

Love,

Elder Derek Turner

*Serving in Zion*