This upcoming Saturday is the day of transfer calls. It is going to be interesting to see what happens with our tripanionshiop. We know we will be put back down to two missionaries like normal because we will be back down to the amount of missionaries we are supposed to have. We are trying to guess what will happen here. But it was an awesome week this week not just because of the mission conference and going to the Cardinals baseball game. It was awesome because of the work. We had another week of getting more investigators. We picked up 4 this past week. So it brings our teaching pool up to 23 people. When we got here about a month ago we only had 3 to start out with. So it has been a great turn around. Still working hard to find the elect and get people baptized here.
Monday was an awesome day. We went to New Salem where a lot of the the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration Movie that is showed in the Joseph Smith Building in Temple Square was shot. It was cool being in the same rooms and places and stuff. That night we had an appointment with the Collins. They are an awesome family. The lesson went well. The kids were asking some of the greatest questions ever. They are truly seeking. We had the soft baptismal commitment but we did not get a date though yet. That night we switched with the zone leaders to do an exchange with them. They like do exchanges with everyone in the zone. It went very well though.
Tuesday we went to go contact a referal that was given from a lady from Tennese who is a member and wanted us to see her family here in springfield. We saw her sister and her husband and her daughter. We were able to teach a little right there and pick them up as new investigators to go back and seem them on Friday. We switched back with the zone leaders and we were able to go contact a referal we recieved from Church HQ's. We were able to teach him and set a return appointment which is going to be tonight actually. We picked up all 4 that day which was awesome to start the week off!
Wednesday we had District meeting and since we were riding down with out DL and his comp to St. Louis the next day for the Mission Conference they decided to have blitz in our area that day. Which helped a lot because we had many appointments for that day. First we had to drive out to Taylorsville because we had an appointment with a referal from a member. It went well actually. We will have to wait till we get the exact return appointment till we can count it as a new investigator. They were going out of town for a couple weeks so that is why we did not set one up yet. Right after that appointment we recieved a Referal from an investigator in the next ward over. Which was awesome because the Investigator lived out there in Taylorsville. We were able to go contact her and set up an appointment for the next week. Right after that we had to rush back to Springfield for another appointment with Erskine. It went well. We did not get the Baptismal Date though yet...
Thursday morning we left to drive down to St. Louis for the Conference. We first went to the Baseball Game. And if you watched we were up in the Nosebleed seats in right field. It was fun hanging out with all the other missionaries who had not seen in a while. When it got to the 5 inning Elder Markarian who is going home next week and I went to go see some members who are in the ward where he is serving in right now. The members were in a nice Box Suite so we got to spend a few innings in There. It was awesome. If you saw the foul Ball that was hit in the 6th inning that landed in one of those suites that was the suite we were in. I was 3 ft away from the guy who got hit in the head with a ball after bounceing off a seat. The guy was ok! so no worries. After the game we all headed to forest park. That is where we had dinner catered to us. After dinner we had a talent show. Me and my two comps and the ZLs and our DL and his comp all did a number. We performed two songs In the Jungle and Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam. They made everyone do a church song if they did a song like that. It was awesome. Me and three others were rocking out on the Uke's we had someone on the bongos who we borrowed from an investigator and a guy on the marracas and a rain stick. And someone on the didgeridoo. It was way awesome. We had fun. That night we had to travel to Rockwoods appartment to sleep there for the night.
Friday we all went to the Chesterfield building for the Conference part. We had three speakers. Dr. Anderson, Dr. Olsen, and Menlow Smith who is also known as the guy who invented the Pixy Stick and used to Own Willy Wonka candy. He is a member. Dr. Olsen was probably my favorite speaker. He talked about the message is not going to be as effective unless you have the messenger. As missionaries we are messengers not preachers. I loved how he said that. I got to know Dr. Olsen in my last area because his office was in our last area and we referred a lady to us who we taught with him being at the first lesson with us. It was awesome. We then Drove back to Springfield and had our appiontment with Shannon and her family that night which went very well. The Spirit was felt very strongly.
Saturday was intersting befcause we had a couple appointments fall through but we were able to go see a bunch of people and went by our investigators places trying to get them to come to church the next day. We also had weekly planning that day.
Sunday was awesome. We had one of the Collins being able to make it to church. That is 4 sundays in a row that we have had at least one investigator at church. We have been averaging 2 about every sunday but we only had one this time mostly because everyone was either out of town or working. It is sad because Kelly and her Family can not come to church for a few weeks because she works every sunday during church. That night we had an appointment with my 5th cousins the Walsh's. We will be going back next week and they will have my 4th cousin and 3rd cousin there so I can meet them. They are also non members who live in our area. So I am excited to maybe get the chance to start teaching them! It was awesome.
Today we will just be hanging with other missionarys and some members playing some sports. Tonight we have an appointment with a Less active and a investigator. You all rock! Please write me! No one really writes anymore. It is sad. Well anyways Jesus still loves you. Have an awesome week!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
7-23-12
This was an awesome week this week. We had a great week of Miracles and making some sweet connections with people here in Springfield. In the last week I have found out that I have Distant Relatives in the ward here and that a lady in the ward was in the ward my Dad grew up in Orange, California. She knows my whole family. At one point we were both in the same ward for a little bit. Kinda funny and interesting. Also another family in the ward who is from Oklahoma and knows one of my friends from BYUI very well. But even better yet we have gained 7 new investigaotrs. It was awesome. We are know teaching two big families which has been something I have been praying for a while now. It was an awesome week.
Last Monday We had zone Pday so we went bowling as a zone. It was fun. Bownling is one of my favorite things to do as a missionary. That night we had our dinner appointment then we had an appointment with a part member family where is found out we were distant relatives as we were discussing ancestors and stuff. And then also found out that the Grandma who lives with them who is not related to me but is friends with my Grandmother and was in the same ward my Dad grew up in. It was an awesome day.
Tuesday morning we had an appointment with Carol. It went pretty well. We committed her to coming to church. She loves Family History so she has already gotten hooked up the Family History place for that.
Wednesday was awesome because we had many appointments that day. We had an appointment to with Erskine who we committed to Baptism but we could not get a date to be set yet. But he had the commitment of coming to church. We were able to contact a new referal we recieved for a family. Media Referal from Church HQ's! That night we had our appointment with the Valero Family. It went much better then the last one we had with them.
Thursday was our appointment with the Collins family. We had to keep it short but it was really cool because that day we gained 5 of our 7 new investigators that we got this week:) Yesssssssssss. That was one highlight of the week. I have never really had the oppuritunity to teach families since I have been here. I love it. That night we had dinner with the Hine family. That is when I found out they know my friend Lizzie from BYUI.
Friday was full of trying to go by and see people such as formers, potentials, and by PM/LA's. We got in contact with some. We decided to try to tract for a hour or so. We try not to tract because it is not as effective as working with members to find people to teach which we have been able to do here so far. We were able to have a couple LA lessons that day.
Saturday We went to the temple with a member. It was awesome to be able to go to the temple. It really helped out a lot. Everything is just so clear there. I always feel the Spirit very strong there. It is the best place to recieve revelation. That took up most of our day pretty much. We were able to go remind some people about church when we got back happening the next day then we had a dinner appointment with a Part/member family. It went very well!
Sunday was just awesome where everything came together. Both Erskine and Carol came to church!!!!!! It was amazing. They both really liked it also. The Valeros were not there because they were out of town. It was amazing though. It was also really cool because we got to also speak in sacrament meeting. It went really well. The main thing I spoke about was the ward inviting there nonmember friends to speak meet with us an come to church. It went well because right after the meeting we recieved some referals! I was very happy about that. That day after church we had to contact a referal out in Taylorville and saw some less actives. We contacted it and we also recieved another one when we were there. It was awesome. So we had a great week this week.
Today we will be going and seeing this little town thing up in New Salem which is in the next ward over. That is where they shot part of the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration (the movie showed in the Joseph Smith building at Temple Square). It will be cool see all of that and such. This week we will be having a super activity with the whole mission. On the Thursday we will all be in attendance of the Cardinal vs. Dodger game. So watch the game to see us on TV! and then friday we will have a conference meeting. So it will be exciting! Have a great week! Invite people to listen to the missionaries!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Last Monday We had zone Pday so we went bowling as a zone. It was fun. Bownling is one of my favorite things to do as a missionary. That night we had our dinner appointment then we had an appointment with a part member family where is found out we were distant relatives as we were discussing ancestors and stuff. And then also found out that the Grandma who lives with them who is not related to me but is friends with my Grandmother and was in the same ward my Dad grew up in. It was an awesome day.
Tuesday morning we had an appointment with Carol. It went pretty well. We committed her to coming to church. She loves Family History so she has already gotten hooked up the Family History place for that.
Wednesday was awesome because we had many appointments that day. We had an appointment to with Erskine who we committed to Baptism but we could not get a date to be set yet. But he had the commitment of coming to church. We were able to contact a new referal we recieved for a family. Media Referal from Church HQ's! That night we had our appointment with the Valero Family. It went much better then the last one we had with them.
Thursday was our appointment with the Collins family. We had to keep it short but it was really cool because that day we gained 5 of our 7 new investigators that we got this week:) Yesssssssssss. That was one highlight of the week. I have never really had the oppuritunity to teach families since I have been here. I love it. That night we had dinner with the Hine family. That is when I found out they know my friend Lizzie from BYUI.
Friday was full of trying to go by and see people such as formers, potentials, and by PM/LA's. We got in contact with some. We decided to try to tract for a hour or so. We try not to tract because it is not as effective as working with members to find people to teach which we have been able to do here so far. We were able to have a couple LA lessons that day.
Saturday We went to the temple with a member. It was awesome to be able to go to the temple. It really helped out a lot. Everything is just so clear there. I always feel the Spirit very strong there. It is the best place to recieve revelation. That took up most of our day pretty much. We were able to go remind some people about church when we got back happening the next day then we had a dinner appointment with a Part/member family. It went very well!
Sunday was just awesome where everything came together. Both Erskine and Carol came to church!!!!!! It was amazing. They both really liked it also. The Valeros were not there because they were out of town. It was amazing though. It was also really cool because we got to also speak in sacrament meeting. It went really well. The main thing I spoke about was the ward inviting there nonmember friends to speak meet with us an come to church. It went well because right after the meeting we recieved some referals! I was very happy about that. That day after church we had to contact a referal out in Taylorville and saw some less actives. We contacted it and we also recieved another one when we were there. It was awesome. So we had a great week this week.
Today we will be going and seeing this little town thing up in New Salem which is in the next ward over. That is where they shot part of the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration (the movie showed in the Joseph Smith building at Temple Square). It will be cool see all of that and such. This week we will be having a super activity with the whole mission. On the Thursday we will all be in attendance of the Cardinal vs. Dodger game. So watch the game to see us on TV! and then friday we will have a conference meeting. So it will be exciting! Have a great week! Invite people to listen to the missionaries!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Monday, July 16, 2012
7-16-12
Yet another week here in the Land of Lincoln. The weather was much better this week then last week that is for sure. Beginning of the week started great the middle not so great but then the end was awesome. But we got 6 new investigators! So here is the summary of the week.
Monday was good. We went and saw Lincolns tomb. That was interesting and we saw other Lincoln stuff because that is all they have here to do. haha That night we started exchanges so I went up with Elder Thacker that night to Petersburg. Population of like 2500 people or something of that sort. Way small place. It was crazy how small it is. We went out contacting that night because the appointments they had fell through.
Tuesday we had one appointment that we went too. The other one fell through. We taught this lady who was very interesting. One of the first things she asked was what is my stance on Gay Marriage. I told her what we teach in the church about families and what the stance on it was. We got into a little bit of a debate but I told her what was up. It was a very long lesson though. While I was up in Petersburg My comps gained a new investigator, Carol.
Wednesday was awesome I loved it. It was full of appointments. And gaining new investigators. Two the day to be exact! We had a lot of stuff going on in Chatham that day a small town outside of Springfield. We went looking for Pm/la's for a good chunk of the day. In search for a la family we gained a new investigator this lady named Margo. We taught a lesson on the doorstep and prayed with her and set the next appointment up for Saturday. Which ended up falling through... Then as we got a hold of a part member family we gained a daughter as an investigator who goes to school at SIUE and is home for the summer. It was cool because as we were walking to a part members place one of the people in our ward selling security for the summer drove by picked us up and took us to the place which was more then a mile away. IT was a small miracle that day. That night we had dinner and a appointment with the Franklins another part member family who we are teaching the husband.
Thursday was a way hard day. We had District Meeting which was awesome but then when we went to our appointments after they all fell through. One of them being with Maranda a former investigator that we have. That stunk. We went tracting in the richest area we could find. They were all jerks to us... Except for this guy from Turkey who we may have the chance of teaching.
Friday was much better. We had a less active appointment which went well. The member knows they need to come back and stuff it just has been hard trying to get him to go. His Mom goes every Sunday though. That night we stopped by the appartment around 8:15 to grab the our Ukes and go contacting around our appartment complex because many people are outside and it would be awesome to get more investigators there. We ended up talking to this lady who was a friend of someone who lives there. We taught her outside and prayed with her but we could not get the return appointment though...
Saturday was another hard day. All appointments fell through again. Many people out here are flaky. Really Flaky. It stinks because no one like committing. Or they will commit and back out. We went and took a member with us to teach Margo and her husband but then no one was home when we went to the door. She did not answer her cellphone. So we split and went out trying to contact our Pm's. And did a lot of tracting. They day was not very productive.
Sunday at church we had the Valeros come!!! They were our other new investigators. We are only counting the parents and the oldest daughter right now to be investigators. Before church we had coordination and then Ward Council which went very well actually. The ward is starting to trust us more now that the past two Sundays we had investigators come to church. That night we had dinner at a family which is partly active. The less active son left though which stunk. Then that night we had an appointment with the Valeros which was very interesting at that. The Dad is a member of the unification church. They are a very interesting church. They believe that Every church is right or something weird. Like they believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. But there was much light coming from the Mother and the daughter. The father will have to be humbled to accept that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords Kingdom on the Earth today. Not this Unification Church.
Today we are going to go bowl as a zone. I love Bowling. Well everyone have a great week!!! Feel free to write me a letter! I would love to hear from you all, because I don't really get mail anymore. So Please write!!!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Monday was good. We went and saw Lincolns tomb. That was interesting and we saw other Lincoln stuff because that is all they have here to do. haha That night we started exchanges so I went up with Elder Thacker that night to Petersburg. Population of like 2500 people or something of that sort. Way small place. It was crazy how small it is. We went out contacting that night because the appointments they had fell through.
Tuesday we had one appointment that we went too. The other one fell through. We taught this lady who was very interesting. One of the first things she asked was what is my stance on Gay Marriage. I told her what we teach in the church about families and what the stance on it was. We got into a little bit of a debate but I told her what was up. It was a very long lesson though. While I was up in Petersburg My comps gained a new investigator, Carol.
Wednesday was awesome I loved it. It was full of appointments. And gaining new investigators. Two the day to be exact! We had a lot of stuff going on in Chatham that day a small town outside of Springfield. We went looking for Pm/la's for a good chunk of the day. In search for a la family we gained a new investigator this lady named Margo. We taught a lesson on the doorstep and prayed with her and set the next appointment up for Saturday. Which ended up falling through... Then as we got a hold of a part member family we gained a daughter as an investigator who goes to school at SIUE and is home for the summer. It was cool because as we were walking to a part members place one of the people in our ward selling security for the summer drove by picked us up and took us to the place which was more then a mile away. IT was a small miracle that day. That night we had dinner and a appointment with the Franklins another part member family who we are teaching the husband.
Thursday was a way hard day. We had District Meeting which was awesome but then when we went to our appointments after they all fell through. One of them being with Maranda a former investigator that we have. That stunk. We went tracting in the richest area we could find. They were all jerks to us... Except for this guy from Turkey who we may have the chance of teaching.
Friday was much better. We had a less active appointment which went well. The member knows they need to come back and stuff it just has been hard trying to get him to go. His Mom goes every Sunday though. That night we stopped by the appartment around 8:15 to grab the our Ukes and go contacting around our appartment complex because many people are outside and it would be awesome to get more investigators there. We ended up talking to this lady who was a friend of someone who lives there. We taught her outside and prayed with her but we could not get the return appointment though...
Saturday was another hard day. All appointments fell through again. Many people out here are flaky. Really Flaky. It stinks because no one like committing. Or they will commit and back out. We went and took a member with us to teach Margo and her husband but then no one was home when we went to the door. She did not answer her cellphone. So we split and went out trying to contact our Pm's. And did a lot of tracting. They day was not very productive.
Sunday at church we had the Valeros come!!! They were our other new investigators. We are only counting the parents and the oldest daughter right now to be investigators. Before church we had coordination and then Ward Council which went very well actually. The ward is starting to trust us more now that the past two Sundays we had investigators come to church. That night we had dinner at a family which is partly active. The less active son left though which stunk. Then that night we had an appointment with the Valeros which was very interesting at that. The Dad is a member of the unification church. They are a very interesting church. They believe that Every church is right or something weird. Like they believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. But there was much light coming from the Mother and the daughter. The father will have to be humbled to accept that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords Kingdom on the Earth today. Not this Unification Church.
Today we are going to go bowl as a zone. I love Bowling. Well everyone have a great week!!! Feel free to write me a letter! I would love to hear from you all, because I don't really get mail anymore. So Please write!!!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Friday, July 13, 2012
7-9-12
This week was full of very many interesting things happening. Many very funny things. Being in a tri is very fun. I really love it actually. We have been working together really well and it is way nice to be able to do splits because we only have to find one priesthood holder that one us has to go with. And we have many members who are in support of going out with us to do missionary work. This ward is interesting. Many of them want to do missionary work but do not know how to. So we have been helping them with it. The Bishop has asked us to speak in a couple weeks so it will be a great oppurtunity for us.
Monday we went downtown to where the Capital is and stuff. We went inside the old Capital Building. It is kinda cool because there is some Joseph Smith History here in Springfield. Joseph Smith made a few trips there. It was cool to be inside the same exact building where is was a few times if I am not mistaken. On various instances such as when he fled from Missouri and when he had to get the Charter for Nauvoo and stuff. They had a Original Corner Stone from the Nauvoo Temple here not to long ago when they rented it for a bit for a display. I had a ancestor lay down a corner stone for that Temple and the Kirtland Temple. So I wonder if that was the one he lay down. That night we went with a member to go teach Jake one of our investigators. The appointment went great. We got a soft baptismal commitment from him. He is from East St. Louis so I was excited when he told me that because I served there.
Tuesday we had an appointment with Brenda. We took one of the couples who are here for the summer selling security with us. It did not start off very well. But then ended really good though. We had to fix a few things at first. But we got the Spirit there and we were able to teach. It went awesome. That day we went around looking for oppuritunites for service. We found a retirment/assisted living place. We are going to be setting up a scripture study class there and then we will be doing music time with them on some other day of the week. Elder Banks plays the Uke and Piano. We are all three bad singers but it is still fun:) That night while we went music tracting. This house was having a party and they invited us to come in a sing and play for everyone there. So we did. It was really cool actually to sing a couple hymns to them. We are now welcome back anytime to talk to them.
Wednesday was interesting. We were given the day off by our mission President. We went to a ward party that day where one of our investigators was supposed to come but she did not. Then we hung out with a few different members after that. That is what we were told to do. Then we had a dinner appointment with the Phillips. After talking for a bit and asking where we are from I found out that Sis. Phillips is from Fallbrook. We knew of one person in common who was a member. It was really cool though. That night we went to the Firework Show at the Capital Building with B-Robb the best member missionary ever. It was cool because we were allowed to stay out till 10:30 that night. Our Mission President rocks.
Thursday We had D-Meet. We have a senior couple in our District so that is inetersting. I like it. They are from colorado. My District Leader is Elder Thacker who was my very first one when I was in EStL. It is awesome. We did not have as a succesful day as we hped because we went out trying to find all these Less actives and Part members who have not been contacted in a very long time. But we did recieve a refreral for someone to go and teach and we were able to see them and talk for a little bit. That night we went to dinner with a member to a pizza place. After talking to the lady serving us a little about that church she gave us her info and so hopefully we will start teaching her very soon.
Friday we did a lot of searching for people again. because we need to contact all the people. We have been good about getting referals here. That night we went and played basketball with a bunch of youth in the ward. They were 5 members there and 12 nonmembers there. It was way awesome. This is turning into a regular thing for us. Hopefully we can baptize some of these guys. That night we got a call from this guy Elder Hacking met at a resturant who was a server. His name is Ming. He told us that he wants to come to church but he cant because he is working but that he wants his kids to go.
Saturday we got to go on some exchanges for a few hours. There was DLZLC and There are three DLs in our zone so everyone in our companionship got somebody for that because they dlzlc was at the building in our area. I took a brand new greeny with me. We drove around Chatham contacting all the part members there. We had some success. A bunch of them have the Last name of Turner so that was interesting.
Sunday morning we went and met Ming and his kids with the member who was going to take his three kids to church. That morning we also learned as we were driving there that they barely live outside our area.... Oh well. They still came to our ward that day with our member because it was already set up. One is 15 the other is 11 and the youngest 9. They are from Vietnam or China or something like that. There father has a heavy accent. During church I asked them if they normally went to church before and they said yes but they could not go since they had moved here from Iowa a few months ago because there dad always works on Sunday. I asked them what church they went to back in Iowa. They Said the KINGDOM HALL. There father thought we were Jehovah's witnesses... He still had no clue that we were LDS. We are mistaken for being J-dubs all the time. The Father probably found out that night that there kids did not go to the Kingdom Hall that day for church and that they were in a LDS church. I thought it was the funniest thing ever. It was pretty awesome.
I hope you all had a great 4th of July! Feel free to write me! Because not very many people do anymore... Just saying... Love you all!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
Monday we went downtown to where the Capital is and stuff. We went inside the old Capital Building. It is kinda cool because there is some Joseph Smith History here in Springfield. Joseph Smith made a few trips there. It was cool to be inside the same exact building where is was a few times if I am not mistaken. On various instances such as when he fled from Missouri and when he had to get the Charter for Nauvoo and stuff. They had a Original Corner Stone from the Nauvoo Temple here not to long ago when they rented it for a bit for a display. I had a ancestor lay down a corner stone for that Temple and the Kirtland Temple. So I wonder if that was the one he lay down. That night we went with a member to go teach Jake one of our investigators. The appointment went great. We got a soft baptismal commitment from him. He is from East St. Louis so I was excited when he told me that because I served there.
Tuesday we had an appointment with Brenda. We took one of the couples who are here for the summer selling security with us. It did not start off very well. But then ended really good though. We had to fix a few things at first. But we got the Spirit there and we were able to teach. It went awesome. That day we went around looking for oppuritunites for service. We found a retirment/assisted living place. We are going to be setting up a scripture study class there and then we will be doing music time with them on some other day of the week. Elder Banks plays the Uke and Piano. We are all three bad singers but it is still fun:) That night while we went music tracting. This house was having a party and they invited us to come in a sing and play for everyone there. So we did. It was really cool actually to sing a couple hymns to them. We are now welcome back anytime to talk to them.
Wednesday was interesting. We were given the day off by our mission President. We went to a ward party that day where one of our investigators was supposed to come but she did not. Then we hung out with a few different members after that. That is what we were told to do. Then we had a dinner appointment with the Phillips. After talking for a bit and asking where we are from I found out that Sis. Phillips is from Fallbrook. We knew of one person in common who was a member. It was really cool though. That night we went to the Firework Show at the Capital Building with B-Robb the best member missionary ever. It was cool because we were allowed to stay out till 10:30 that night. Our Mission President rocks.
Thursday We had D-Meet. We have a senior couple in our District so that is inetersting. I like it. They are from colorado. My District Leader is Elder Thacker who was my very first one when I was in EStL. It is awesome. We did not have as a succesful day as we hped because we went out trying to find all these Less actives and Part members who have not been contacted in a very long time. But we did recieve a refreral for someone to go and teach and we were able to see them and talk for a little bit. That night we went to dinner with a member to a pizza place. After talking to the lady serving us a little about that church she gave us her info and so hopefully we will start teaching her very soon.
Friday we did a lot of searching for people again. because we need to contact all the people. We have been good about getting referals here. That night we went and played basketball with a bunch of youth in the ward. They were 5 members there and 12 nonmembers there. It was way awesome. This is turning into a regular thing for us. Hopefully we can baptize some of these guys. That night we got a call from this guy Elder Hacking met at a resturant who was a server. His name is Ming. He told us that he wants to come to church but he cant because he is working but that he wants his kids to go.
Saturday we got to go on some exchanges for a few hours. There was DLZLC and There are three DLs in our zone so everyone in our companionship got somebody for that because they dlzlc was at the building in our area. I took a brand new greeny with me. We drove around Chatham contacting all the part members there. We had some success. A bunch of them have the Last name of Turner so that was interesting.
Sunday morning we went and met Ming and his kids with the member who was going to take his three kids to church. That morning we also learned as we were driving there that they barely live outside our area.... Oh well. They still came to our ward that day with our member because it was already set up. One is 15 the other is 11 and the youngest 9. They are from Vietnam or China or something like that. There father has a heavy accent. During church I asked them if they normally went to church before and they said yes but they could not go since they had moved here from Iowa a few months ago because there dad always works on Sunday. I asked them what church they went to back in Iowa. They Said the KINGDOM HALL. There father thought we were Jehovah's witnesses... He still had no clue that we were LDS. We are mistaken for being J-dubs all the time. The Father probably found out that night that there kids did not go to the Kingdom Hall that day for church and that they were in a LDS church. I thought it was the funniest thing ever. It was pretty awesome.
I hope you all had a great 4th of July! Feel free to write me! Because not very many people do anymore... Just saying... Love you all!
Love,
Elder Derek Turner
*Serving in Zion*
7-2-12
Hello everyone. Yes I am now here in Springfield, IL. The capital of Illinois, I am a couple hours away from Navou. This is where the Simpsons is based off of. Our church building is right next to the lake with the powerplant. It is so flat here............. I Miss the Hills in Missouri:( It stinks... oh well. This is a great place full of a lot of work to be done here. I came to another area that has hardly any work going on here. We have a couple investigators that were from the last compaionship. But we have been able to gain a few since we got here Wednesday!
Monday we had our appointment with Tiffene, It was awesome. The appointment went for way to long. over 2 hours. She talks a lot and so did the member we took. haha That day we spent going by members so That I could say goodbye and also saying goodbye to Investigators. It was good. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone. I will really miss the Fenton Ward. They were the best. Especially from leaving that place where I put a ton of work into. The area was flipped from where it was when I got there. I take that place as my Pride and Joy now. Well I take ESTL as that also. There both my babies. haha I had to also spend a lot of the day packing....
Tuesday I got to teach Charlie and Pete for the last time. It was good:) I went to say goodbye to a couple of other investigators and less actives to say goodbye. Nicki the one we baptized had us over for dinner that night. That was nice to do. After we had dinner we went to Del Mar Gardens where we do service at to go to this Firework show. They had a big party thing before like they do at all firework shows. It was sweet because a ton of members were there and we were with investigators. It was cool being at a firework show for my last night there.
Wednesday we went to Transfer meeting where I met my two new companions Elders Banks and Hacking. Banks has been out for 6 months more then I have. And Hacking came out a few transfers after me. They are awesome. I love being in a tripanionship! It is a ton of fun. I did not think I would like it at all but I really love it. There are 10 tripanionships in the mission right now because we have a big overload of missionaries. We had 16 come out this transfer and only 4 go home. But next transfer we have a ton going home. Our appartment is huge so it is easy having three of us all in there. We have the coolest Ward Missionary B-Robb. He is a convert of a few years and he does so much for us. If you talk to him you would think he had been a member for a very long time.
Thursday we had a miracle happen. We recieved a Media Referal. It did not turn out as well as we wanted it but it gave us something to do besides trying to find formers, part members, and tracting. We had to walk everywhere because the car was out of miles already for the month. I was not happy about that at all. But oh well we still got to teach people about the gospel.
Friday was awesome. We gained two new investigators. One of them is a part member. We had a dinner appoinment at a part members and we taught ther first lesson and now are going back in a couple weeks to do the second lesson. And for dinner too! That day we went to also see some less actives and such. B-Robb took us around. That night we decided to introduce ourselves to all our nieghbors. So we knocked on all the doors in part of our complex. We gained a new investigator off it actually! Lizzie and soon we will pick up her sister also. They are later 20's. We gained a few potentials. It is awesome.
Saturday we walked 6 miles. It was terrible. We had B-Robb take us to some part members and such. We got a hold of some less actives. Some of them went ok. haha Just trying to get a feel for this place still. We got in for some lessons to teach.
Sunday was awesome. We went tracting before church. We ended up talking to this man for a long time. He said the only reason he heard was out because he is voting for Romney. Kinda funny. Our Ward is ok size I guess. We have some cool people in the ward. It is weird because I have to start a bunch of new friendships. I am excited for it though getting to know a bunch of more people. All of our ward missionaries in the ward are all people who are here just for the summer selling security. It is a bunch of young couples who go to BYU, or BYU-I or BYU-H. We had dinner at one of the young couples appartment which is actually right next to ours. It is in the complex right across from ours. Basically a almost a stones throw. It is sweet. Another couple came over too who are also ward missionaries. The two young couples were cool. One couple the Morris's are from Camarillo, CA. They know Chelsea Hunter who is a friend from BYU-I I found out from them that she got married since I have been gone. It was really funny to hear about that haha. I was cracking up. The appartment that we had dinner is at is also the headquaters for the security thing. So a bunch of the security salesman were hanging around. They are all mostly members. We actually got to teach a lesson to one of their friends that went really well actually. It was surpirsing. We have not gotten the return appointment yet. It was funny cause one of the other salesman knows a family that i know from my home stake the curtis's. well he told me they moved to San Jose just recently. I hung out with Caitlan Curtis a little up at school. So it was funny that we had the connection.
Today we are going out with some other missionaries and a member to the downtown where the Captial is and checking out some of that stuff. Happy 4th of July everyone!!! Be careful with Fireworks. Please!
Monday we had our appointment with Tiffene, It was awesome. The appointment went for way to long. over 2 hours. She talks a lot and so did the member we took. haha That day we spent going by members so That I could say goodbye and also saying goodbye to Investigators. It was good. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone. I will really miss the Fenton Ward. They were the best. Especially from leaving that place where I put a ton of work into. The area was flipped from where it was when I got there. I take that place as my Pride and Joy now. Well I take ESTL as that also. There both my babies. haha I had to also spend a lot of the day packing....
Tuesday I got to teach Charlie and Pete for the last time. It was good:) I went to say goodbye to a couple of other investigators and less actives to say goodbye. Nicki the one we baptized had us over for dinner that night. That was nice to do. After we had dinner we went to Del Mar Gardens where we do service at to go to this Firework show. They had a big party thing before like they do at all firework shows. It was sweet because a ton of members were there and we were with investigators. It was cool being at a firework show for my last night there.
Wednesday we went to Transfer meeting where I met my two new companions Elders Banks and Hacking. Banks has been out for 6 months more then I have. And Hacking came out a few transfers after me. They are awesome. I love being in a tripanionship! It is a ton of fun. I did not think I would like it at all but I really love it. There are 10 tripanionships in the mission right now because we have a big overload of missionaries. We had 16 come out this transfer and only 4 go home. But next transfer we have a ton going home. Our appartment is huge so it is easy having three of us all in there. We have the coolest Ward Missionary B-Robb. He is a convert of a few years and he does so much for us. If you talk to him you would think he had been a member for a very long time.
Thursday we had a miracle happen. We recieved a Media Referal. It did not turn out as well as we wanted it but it gave us something to do besides trying to find formers, part members, and tracting. We had to walk everywhere because the car was out of miles already for the month. I was not happy about that at all. But oh well we still got to teach people about the gospel.
Friday was awesome. We gained two new investigators. One of them is a part member. We had a dinner appoinment at a part members and we taught ther first lesson and now are going back in a couple weeks to do the second lesson. And for dinner too! That day we went to also see some less actives and such. B-Robb took us around. That night we decided to introduce ourselves to all our nieghbors. So we knocked on all the doors in part of our complex. We gained a new investigator off it actually! Lizzie and soon we will pick up her sister also. They are later 20's. We gained a few potentials. It is awesome.
Saturday we walked 6 miles. It was terrible. We had B-Robb take us to some part members and such. We got a hold of some less actives. Some of them went ok. haha Just trying to get a feel for this place still. We got in for some lessons to teach.
Sunday was awesome. We went tracting before church. We ended up talking to this man for a long time. He said the only reason he heard was out because he is voting for Romney. Kinda funny. Our Ward is ok size I guess. We have some cool people in the ward. It is weird because I have to start a bunch of new friendships. I am excited for it though getting to know a bunch of more people. All of our ward missionaries in the ward are all people who are here just for the summer selling security. It is a bunch of young couples who go to BYU, or BYU-I or BYU-H. We had dinner at one of the young couples appartment which is actually right next to ours. It is in the complex right across from ours. Basically a almost a stones throw. It is sweet. Another couple came over too who are also ward missionaries. The two young couples were cool. One couple the Morris's are from Camarillo, CA. They know Chelsea Hunter who is a friend from BYU-I I found out from them that she got married since I have been gone. It was really funny to hear about that haha. I was cracking up. The appartment that we had dinner is at is also the headquaters for the security thing. So a bunch of the security salesman were hanging around. They are all mostly members. We actually got to teach a lesson to one of their friends that went really well actually. It was surpirsing. We have not gotten the return appointment yet. It was funny cause one of the other salesman knows a family that i know from my home stake the curtis's. well he told me they moved to San Jose just recently. I hung out with Caitlan Curtis a little up at school. So it was funny that we had the connection.
Today we are going out with some other missionaries and a member to the downtown where the Captial is and checking out some of that stuff. Happy 4th of July everyone!!! Be careful with Fireworks. Please!
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