The heat is on!

Hello there!

      It was another very busy week here in the North Valley! Thanks for the pic of the dogs, Dad! Yes Matt, dogs refers to you too.

I would say nothing too exciting happened, but really lots of things did happen. We spent a lot of the week pounding pavement and riding our bikes. It's been hot too, if our temperature gauge is correct yesterday at 10 it was already 100 degrees! Woo yeah!!

Bryan Baker is still progressing a ton and is still set to be baptized on the 30th. He's the professional MMA fighter. He is a stud! He could destroy you. He has a huge fight coming up on July 20th in Florida so I want you to record it on tv and save it for me so I can watch it! He might have a few fights on youtube or something, you should try to look him up. Besides being amazing at pounding on people, he is amazing at accepting the gospel and doing all he can to gain a testimony. He reads and studies like crazy! He's so fun to teach because he just soaks it all up.

We did a couple of exchanges last week and I was able to go to a couple other areas with some different elders and that was fun! On one exchange with Elder Rudy we were tracting and every single person that talked to us just tried to bash! it really gets my blood flowin and it's hard to stay nice, but I'm working on that. The district is pretty great! The Elders are pretty awesome. There are a few dead areas that we are really trying to get going, and they have been making improvement!

For P-Day the whole zone got together and played sand volleyball in this way sweet building. It was legit!

Well, keep working hard back home and we'll keep working hard here! Thanks for all you do!

 Love,

Elder Turnbow

North Valley ABQ!

Hello there!

   Sorry it's Tuesday and I didn't email yesterday, but the libraries here are not open on Monday so we email on Tuesday. We might try to find a place to email though, so we still aren't sure what will go down.

 

   I am now serving in North Valley Albuquerque and Elder Weston is my companion! Elder Weston lives in Providence, Utah! I am sure that you know them, Dad and Frank. His mom is a Porter and the Coats and Lemmons are his cousins. They are farmers in Utah and own ground by Riverdale too. You know them? Needless to say we hit it off from the get go! We get along great! We know a TON of the same people. I even know his girlfriend! Yep, true story... she's even been in our home, and she's been in our car.. crazy huh? haha She was one of JD's lady friends from Mountain Crest at one point. So yeah, that was pretty funny when we figured all that out!

 

    Our first week together was good! Our area hasn't had a baptism in forever, but we are going to change that! We have two investigators with a baptism date right now. Bryan Baker is for June 30th, and he his way solid. He is a professional MMA fighter, and way good too! His wife is a member, and he is very accepting to the gospel and his testimony is really growing. He did bring up the black questions with the priesthood (he's black) but it went well and it didn't bother him.

 

   Our district is pretty sweet, we have 12 Elders all together, which includes the assistants and the zone leaders. No pressure on me to have a good district meeting, right? HA! The first one went well, and I am really excited to serve here with these Elders.

 

    Well it's been really hot here, over 100 every day this last week-- good stuff right there! Elder Weston and I bike a lot even though we have a car. So we show up to appointments very sweaty. Good work out! We live pretty close to the Rio Grande too so we went on a jog to the river one morning and that was sweet.

 

   Oh ya funny story... yesterday we had an unplanned activity cut into our pday. We got a call from the Spanish speaking sisters who live in the same apartments that we do, and they had run out of gas! So Elder Weston and I did a our act of service and went and saved the poor girls, I mean sisters. We pushed their truck to the side out of the way, and then left them there (it would be against rules to have them in our car) and we bought gas cans and filled them and then went and saved them. So for all you girls out there that drive.. If the light comes on that says low fuel, go fill up your vehicle!

 

     Well that's about all that I can think of right now. Tell Alex I'm super excited about his call!! He'll love it. Kyle goes into the MTC tomorrow? That's sweet! I hope that everything goes well for you back home with first crop and what not. The new truck looked sweet! Have a great week!

 

                                   Elder Turnbow!

Farewell, Santa Fe!



Mike's Baptism
May 29, 2012



What a way to end the transfer! Both Mike and Ken were baptized this week and confirmed yesterday. Man, it was just awesome! I can't even express to you the joy and love that I have for these guys.

It was just such a happy week! Both Mike and Ken are such miracles, and I am honored that I was able to get to know them and be with them all the way to baptism. Next step, Temple!  Elder Willden and I tracted into Kenny Wilkens my very first transfer! Now he's baptized! I know I am just rambling on, but gosh it's just so cool!



Kenny Wilken's Baptism with Elder Webb and Elder Turnbow
June 2, 2012



Yes, it is true, my time to leave Santa Fe has come. I got a call from President Miller on Thursday and he called me to be a district leader and told me also that I am getting transferred. We're driving down tonight and staying with a couple of Elders, and then tomorrow morning is transfers and that's when I'll find out where I'm going. I can't believe how hard it is getting ready to leave here. I'm flippin sad! I love it here! I didn't realize just how much I love this place and these people until I was told I was leaving. But,  I know why I was here, and I know that the Lord now needs me somewhere else, so I am excited to see where my next adventures start! All I can say is this place really set the stage for the rest of my mission, so I now expect nothing less! KTTR!




Elder Turnbow and the Rockwoods
Thanks, Aunt Jen!

  Well I am going to make this short so I can send some pictures and then go pack so we can play some basketball with Mike, Savanna, Laureen, Maureen, Ken, and all the amazing people here!

It sounds like things are going great at home and I am glad to hear that summer and farming are in full swing!

HACER LO JUSTO!  Love ya'll!
Elder Turnbow

 
 


Elder Webb, Elder Turnbow, and the Rockwoods
Last day in Santa Fe

 

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