You know you are in New Mexico when...

WOW! What a week!

 

So I was very aware of the opening day of the deer hunt since it was something I have looked forward to my whole life, and I know that the opening day of the pheasant hunt is Saturday, and that it is better than Christmas day, -Pres Waldron-  BUT! All that can take a back seat to seeing one you have come to love enter the waters of baptism. Keith was baptized Saturday! It was super crazy how it all went down! Thursday morning we still weren't sure if we were going to have a baptism. Friday was his two week mark of no smoking, but this weekend was also stake conference. We prayed long and hard about it and the spirit confirmed it to us, baptism Keith Saturday. It was clear as day. So we talked to our ward mission leader and bishop, and after long talks, we were planning for a baptism! Then yesterday was stake conference and the bishop told us not to confirm him til next Sunday, but the stake president came up to see Keith and after talking to him briefly told us to get that man the Holy Ghost! Our stake president is a stud.

 

The baptism was awesome. Right before he went down into the water with Brother Montgomery I had the most incredible feeling come over me. The only way I can describe it is the feeling I would get before a big football or basketball game, or right before the gun sounded to start a race. It was that feeling but magnified by 100! It was a feeling that I needed to have.  Keith had some family come and he got emotional talking about his family and wishing they would all follow him, but he was on fire this weekend and I have never seen him so happy. You talk about a man who has come a long ways and has had a change of heart. It's him. I believe it was Brigham Young who said something like this "I believe it's a greater miracle to see a man's heart changed, than to raise a man from the dead." That's all we need to say about Keith. Amazing day!

 

Yesterday we went up to Santa Fe with President Miller again for an SMCM with the stake presidency. It went well and was fun to be with President. Mom you were asking about our zone boundaries.... We cover the Rio Rancho and Santa Fe Stake. So all of Rio Rancho and then our zone goes north up to as far north as the mission goes. So right next to Colorado. The farthest north we have missionaries right now though is Taos. It's the biggest zone geographically speaking. there are 14 sets of missionaries, 3 sets of sisters, and 3 sets of couples too.  We just got a new missionary from the temple square mission and she's from London! I have only talked to her on the phone but her accent is super strong! Thought Grandpa and Grandma might like that.

 

This week was also awesome teaching wise. We set a goal last week to teach 15 lessons to investigators with a member present, and thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord we were able to teach 16! It was sweet.

 

Awesome to hear that West Side took down Aberdeen! I will be sure to talk to Elder Foster this week... He's from Aberdeen. haha

 

Thanks for all the letters and support, I love you all mucho!

 

Elder Turnbow

 

PS. You know you are in New Mexico when at stake conference a speaker will talk in English and then repeat it in Spanish  :)

 

PPS You know that big puzzle that me Aubrie and Courtney put together? (Mainly those two) Well that was this last week in ABQ!

 

Have a great week!