Elder Turn-willbeneedinganapintwoyears-bow

Elder Turnbow, Elder Webb, and their greatest fan, Cousin Emmy

I have never been so tired, happy, exhausted, thrilled, and excited in my life like I am right now. The end.

 

Yesterday was Memorial Day and the library was closed so we didn't email. We went up to LAS VEGAS! Las Vegas, New Mexico of course. It is a beautiful place. We went hiking to an incredible reservoir clear in the backwoods. No way to get there by truck and we were with a kid who knows the area so we were able to make it. There were no trails, just us and the mountain. Really made me feel like I was climbing all sorts of mountains back home with my bros and friends. While we were hiking I was on the lookout for wildlife, never saw any, but I saw deer sign, elk sign, and bear sign! First I didn't think so but I saw more and more, so I asked the guy we were with and yup where we were was a bear infested area! So cool! He showed us some pictures they had taken of bear and deer. Man I wanted to see one, oh well. So I think my Memorial Day was better than yours... haha just needed Rick's beans to top it off!

 

Ok want to hear some awesome news?? We have a baptism tonight. yup, tonight. 6 30 to be exact. MIKE BENALLY! Remember we had to tell him 3 weeks ago that he couldn't get baptized because he relapsed with the Word of Wisdom? And that he was going camping last weekend with his family and it would be way hard for him to live it. Well we decided to have a special fast for him and the day he was supposed to be leaving to go camping he called us up and told us that he and his wife decided not to go and he asked if he could get baptized on the 29, today! It's been a very, very crazy week. He told his family that he was getting baptized and they all pretty much disowned him besides his 2 brothers, and it's been rough. But he's been receiving answers to prayers left and right, and I am now a firm believer in revelation through church attendance and dreams! He told us about these dreams that he's been having and they are coming true. Dreams about his family hating him and all sorts of things. It's incredible. So yeah, tonight is his baptism and he has asked me if I would baptize him. Wow, I am touched and honored to do it. We had an awesome lesson last night with both Mike and Savannah, and Ken Wilkens was there too. Ken is getting baptized Saturday by the way!! Another incredible thing. That's why we are so busy and so tired. haha

 

 

Elder Turnbow and Mike Benally
(Thanks for the pic, Jen!)

 

The Lord knows what he is doing, end of story. I can't even imagine not coming here and not getting to know all these incredible people that we have been blessed with to teach. Mike touched my heart last night when he was sharing his conversion story with Ken. He was saying how he knew about the Mormons, and had had previous missionaries teach him, but he didn't really care. He went on to say that for some reason I was maybe different. We just have so much in common and we hit it off from the get go talking about basketball and farming. We've played one on one a few times too. He just really touched me when he shared that with me, it reconfirmed to me that I am supposed to be here, in New Mexico, and in Santa Fe.

 

Everything is going great here, most importantly, the Green Chili is still good! haha Oh ya, FRANK!! Surgery?  Nice man! I'm sure glad you were able to tough it out while I was home so we could do all that playing together. We all know why you have only NOW decided to get it fixed though, it's because it's pipe moving time, and you will have to take time off to recover! Yup, I know you, probably better than Christine, but don't let her know that.

 

Well, we have to get going.  We have people to teach this afternoon and it takes 3 hours to fill the font so we'll be there for a while. Wouldn't want it any other way though that's for sure! I'm glad you all had an awesome Memorial Day and I am glad to hear that the bball tourney was good as well. Work hard this summer Dylan and Matt. Remember, practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent! Love you guys!

 

Elder Turnwillbeneedinganapintwoyearsbow   (I just had to steal that from my main man Elder Lenky)

Baptism!

Laureen Lomahaptewa was baptized Saturday! It was way awesome. Best day on the mission so far! Really words can't describe what it was like, but all you returned missionaries know what I'm talking about.  It was just an experience I will never ever ever... ever... forget! So it was kinda tradition that whenever Elder Webb and I would get done teaching her, we would sing for her, so she asked us to sing at the baptism and we sang Lead Kindly Light. One of my favorites!

 

 

 

Congrats with state track, Dylan! 3rd is great, and I am super glad you got a medal! Sounds like you tagged that deer pretty good, Dad! That was funny to read about. KYLER!!! If you read this email man, I am so excited for you! Be pumped my friend, because it's the best!  It's hard too, but worth it!

 

Oh and yes, we saw the eclipse.  It's funny that you used welding helmets because I told Elder Webb that's what we needed! Instead we just ruined our retinas!

 

 

So once again Laureen is baptized, and it was incredible. Mike came to her baptism and that got him pretty excited. He is staying strong with the Word of Wisdom. His biggest test will be when he goes camping with his family for Memorial Day weekend, but he's committed now! I know he can do it. Kenny Wilkens is still as awesome as ever! He came to church again Sunday and is still on date to get baptized June 2nd. He's a stud.

 

Well, I am going to make this email short so I can try and send a few pics home too. Have a great week! Love ya'll!

 

 

PS. After we leave the library we are going fishing with Mike! Well we're gonna watch him fish anyway. But still I'm pretty excited! Hopefully we can resist the temptation and not jump in the water right? :)

 

Drink some milk for me and have fun moving pipe!!!

I love it, and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Skyping you all last night was awesome! You all look good and I'm glad you are all still goofy as ever! Thanks for bringing Gunner and Maverick into the house too, that made it perfect! And no talking about track farming and hunting did not make me trunky, that is impossible! Sure I really miss it and I miss you all a ton, but not enough to get trunky over it ;)

 

Well like I said last night, we are going to have a baptism on Saturday! Laureen Lomahaptewa will be getting baptized. Mike was supposed to get baptized this Saturday too, but he had a relapse with the Word of Wisdom so we had to push his date back to June 2. Honestly telling him that he couldn't get baptized Saturday was the hardest thing I've had to do on my mission so far. It was tough. I think it will either be really good for him or really bad. I really think it will make him want it even more now though. He was really disappointed in himself and he felt like he let everybody down, but he knows we love him and won't give up!

 

I know I talked a little bit about Ken Wilkens last night but I'll fill you in a little more. Elder Willden and I tracted into him almost 2 months ago I believe, and we've been teaching him once a week since then. He's been to church a couple times and he came yesterday. After church we went to see him and had a really good lesson with him. I asked him where he thinks he is with baptism, and in return he asked me where I thought he was. I told him I think he's pretty darn close. We talked for a min and then set a date with him for the 26! Only two weeks away! He's awesome, and he wants to take us golfing some P-Day. So who knows, maybe ole Rudy will get to work on his game!

 

Also David Sullenberger was at church again yesterday and he just continues to love it. He went and bought himself LDS versions of the scriptures and new clothes to wear to church! He is so super close to baptism!

 

 Oh ya! Saturday morning we were able to dig a ditch for a man named Antony, it was a blast! It felt awesome to use a shovel and pick ax for a few hours. He is also way good at wood work, he has an SKS that he took the stock off of and hand carved a new stock for it. It was legit.

 

Tell all the boys congrats on districts and good luck at state for me, and tell all my friends hi! Also if you see Josh tell him congrats on getting engaged! Well have a great week!

 

Elder Turnbow (#14)

 

P.S.  

So last night before we ended you wanted me to bear my testimony and I never really did, so I thought I would write it out for you even though it won't have as much meaning.

 

I really don't know where to start, I know everybody always says this in their testimony, but now it just has new meaning to me. I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS TRUE. I do, I really know that. The Church of Jesus Christ is really the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the earth today. How lucky are we to be a part of it? I know Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was a prophet, and he translated the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon, I love everything about it. It is my most prized and precious possesion. The book is true.

 

Jesus Christ is my savior and the savior of the world. The atonement is real, he suffered for us! All of us, all of God;s children. I can't imagine the love he has for us. It's because of the atonement that we can be made clean to enter the kingdom of heaven. If we do all we can, Jesus Christ will be our advocate and plead our case to the Father. He lives, and he will come again. Everytime I read 3 Nephi I wish so bad to have been there. To hear the words 'Behold I am Jesus Christ!"     .... He is the Messiah.

 

Missionary work is incredible, the work that we are privileged to do is the best. It's the best calling in the church! I gladly accept this calling from a prophet of God to serve the people in New Mexico for two years. I love it, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Another Busy Week in Santa Fe!

Hello Family

   Tell all the boys good luck at districts for me! Tell Dylan to run his butt off. Seriously though Dylan, give it your all man! Congrats on the new boy Angela and David! Sounds like he's a big fella.

It was another busy week in Santa Fe! We were a little worried with Mike and getting him prepared for baptism on the 19th, but when we asked him how he felt about it he said. "Bring it on!" During the lesson with him I thought of an anology and used it. I compared him getting ready for baptism to a basketball game. (What else right?) Anyway to make it short, I told him that he is now in the fourth quarter with a lead, but that his opponent is Satan, and he never gives up. The fourth quarter is the time to shine and build the lead. Then I went on to quote some good ole Remember the Titans. He loved it. If I didn't say this before, Mike is a big basketball player, and we've connected from the start. He's Navajo and very athletic and has some crazy stories that beat out Coach Mo's too. We are now doing a 100 day Book of Mormon challenge with him and his wife Savannah, should be fun! Laureen is still progressing towards the 26 as well. She and Maureen fed us dinner this week and we then had a really good discussion with them.

An awesome lesson this week though was with David Sullenberger! (The genius guy) At the very beginning he right away started to go too deep, so somehow without getting him angry we told him he's not ready for that yet and we need to keep it simple. We compared it to him having all his PHD's and what not, but somewhere along that road he had to start from the beginning. So we had a really spiritual lesson with him, and it ended with him crying and giving us both huge hugs! So sweet! He's not a small guy either. Then he was at church yesterday too! He is so ready for this and he just loves it.

Oh ya! I was going to tell you about another family we have been teaching. The Godfreys. Elder Willden and I found them because Frank Godfrey is a less acitve and so is his brother, but Frank's Wife isn't a member. We would normally see them once a week and just share a message with them, but not pressure her into taking the lessons. Well last week Elder Webb and I saw them and shared a message, and towards the end of the message I just plain asked her if she wanted us to teach her the lessons, and she said sure! So we went back later last week and taught her the restoration and it went really well!

The reason why I wanted to tell you about this family is becasue... wait for it... They are big into hunting!! For reals, They are like my second family now. When we walk in Judith (the wife) always says, the kids are here! Frank was leaving for a week long turkey hunt the day after we taught them, so I'm excited to see how it went when we meet with them again this week. They even let me play with their turkey calls last time and they were impressed with my gobble! So Brady, I haven't lost it yet! Speaking of which, has Dylan or Matt or anybody killed a tom yet?

Have a great week and go Pirates! Love Ya'll!

Elder Turnbow