"Thank you for letting me play such a small part in such an incredible work!"

So we have a little rap that we sing and it goes like this......  "So much to do and so little time uh.  o much to do and so little time ya. So much to do that I don't know what to do!!!! "    That's the best I can do to describe my life. haha

 

   Sounds like state was a blast! Congrats to the boys on a mighty fine season!

 

Dad you asked me about a couple things so I will address them to begin. I have really enjoyed my first few weeks with Elder Eaton! He is 26 so a little older than me, it's kind of like serving with Ben or David. Cool huh? We have a good time together. We don't drop by the mission office, they call us and have us go over. We are having a huge influx of missionaries in the next couple of months so we have been going  like crazy moving furniture into apartments and figuring out where to put them all! It's kind of funny because we have a huge transfer van with a trailer, and the senior couple Elder who is in charge of all vehicles refuses to drive it with the trailer on. He calls us once or twice a week and has me drive it all around ABQ with furniture in the trailer. President told him I wouldn't mind, and I don't! It's not like driving a truck and trailer on the farm, but it's still pretty fun.

 

The Thompsons, who I have mentioned before, all came to church yesterday! The dad has investigated the church for 26 years and they have the two adopted kids Audrey and John. We had a really good lesson with them yesterday as well, they are an amazing family!

 

We had a very cool experience this last week. A member of the ward called us and told us to go give a blessing to a part member family who we have never met. The girlfriend of the non member was going into surgery the next day for her knee. We sat down on the couch to get to know them a little before the blessing and the spirit just came like a rush of wind and said, "Teach them about baptism and invite him to be baptized!" I was thinking, I don't even know these people and we've been here for two minutes! I looked at Elder Eaton and he was looking at me, I knew he was getting the same impressions. So we went with it. It was a short and powerful lesson and we invited him to be baptized. He said he would. They need to get married and that's really the only hang up they've had in the past. I love following the spirit.

 

Also this week we had dinner with another part member family we are teaching. The wife is not a member. Midway through dinner she says "Oh ya, I've quit smoking." I about choked on whatever i was eating! She comes to church every week but hasn't wanted to give up smoking. It was so great to hear her say that! We set a baptism date with her for March 16!

 

Saturday night as we were leaving our last appointment and as I was backing Elder Eaton out  I looked up into the beautiful ABQ night sky and simply said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for letting me play a small part in such an incredible work." I can't describe the feeling I felt. It's like trying to describe what milk tastes like to somebody who has never had it before. It's.... amazing?? I love it.

 

Well my time is short I could go on and on. But today has a good meaning... MARCH 4th everybody!!!

 

Love, Elder Turnbow

 

Ps. Here is a deep thought for the day...   Life is what if's divided by time.

Moments You Live For...

DC13, Baby!!!!!!  Diatrict Champs!  SO cool, congrats fellas! I am pumped for you!

    

      Well week two in Academy Heights was a good one for sure. I never really know what to tell you all when I sit down to write. Emails just don't do it justice that's all I can say.  This zone is pretty great! The ABQ stake is a power house for sure, they have high expectations. For the past couple of months things have been a little slower so it's time to change that. Yesterday we had our monthly meeting with the stake and mission presidency and they said we are in the calm before the storm, but that the calm has been long enough! It's time for the storm! Stress levels are high for me and Elder Eaton...haha... and we are excited!

 

      We got some news this week! As you know President and Sister Miller go home at the end of June, we found out Friday that our new mission president is going to be President Steven J and Sister Joni K. MILLER! ! How crazy is that?  I don't even want to think about President Miller going home, he has done amazing things for this mission and I love him to death.  It'll be exciting though to say the least to have a new President.

 

   We have ten companionships in our zone right now, but that is due to change this next transfer. There are 29 new missionaries coming out, and none going home!

 

Elder Eaton and I had a good week! The Lord has blessed us to work with many great people right now who are very close. I will share one experience that was very exciting. On Saturday night we met and taught Aubrey! She referred herself through mormon.org. She is 21 and a softball coach for one of the high schools here in ABQ. She told us that she has many Mormon friends, and when they grew up and got married they just seemed happy. She told us she feels like she is missing something, and was kind of jealous of her friends. She is awesome! We had a great lesson answering her questions, and talked about everything you can imagine.  As we shared with her scriptures in 1 Peter about the spirit world her reaction was "This is in the bible!? Why doesn't anybody talk about this!? It makes so much sense!" The entire lesson was full of Ah Ha moments. I love teaching for the Ah HA moments! She text us the next morning and told us she stayed up until 3 reading the Book of Mormon! We are teaching her again this week and I can't wait! After this lesson though we will most likely be handing her off to the UNM singles branch elders, which is kinda a bummer, but that's how it goes!

 

Right now we are also working with a part member family the Thompsons. The dad is not a member and they have recently adopted two kids Audrey and John who are baptism age. The Dad has been meeting with missionaries for over 26 years! He's seen missionary work change from set lessons to PMG. With the adoption of the two kids though and other life experiences, his heart has seemed to change. We have had two great lessons with them and feel really good about what's to come.

 

We had a very powerful lesson with Jazmine this week, she is 17 and agnostic. She is the girlfriend of a member. It was one of those lessons where it is 110 percent done by the spirit. As we bore testimony of the love of God and prayer the spirit filled the room, and she felt it. Those are the moments you live for as a missionary. It was one of the most powerful lessons I have been a part of on my mission.

 

We had zone conference this week! I love zone conference it's always great. The theme for our mission lately has been "Become a Master Teacher" At zone conference Elder Eaton and I had to do a role play teaching as master teachers. Never did I think I would be able to do that! I still have so so much I want to improve on though. It went really well and I learned a lot.

 

Well those are just some of the highlights of the week, we are working hard and living in the moment. Have a great week and good luck at state!!!!!!

 

Love, Elder Turnbow

 

Why I Love Dove Chocolate

Hi!

 

 Wow! Between reading about the basketball games and Ben's email about his mission and Mom's first class, my heart was pumping! I love you all, thank you for sharing such awesome experiences. I am almost glad we are emailing today so that I could find out the boys won last night! Good luck tonight!!

    My new area is Academy Heights! I am back in the ABQ zone! Me and Elder Weston served together in this zone last summer. It is a great place to be! I am very excited to be here to say the least. My new companion is Elder Eaton! He grew up in Seattle Washington but Lived in Logan for a few years after high school. he is six foot five, my second companion in a row who is taller than me. haha

    So first I must say this... I never thought I could go into a Deseret Book store and get just as excited as if it were a Nike outlet. We went yesterday for Pday and there are many things in there for missionaries. So cool. I spent a little money ;)

    Our zone is smaller than my last zone so a little less stress on us, but we have a lot of missionaries in the zone! We only cover one stake though so that means a few less meetings. The temple is in our zone! We have already went and walked around the grounds with an investigator and we are doing that tonight as well! The mission office, and home is in our zone too so they keep us very very busy.

      We are super pressed for time today so this will be short. I will share with you one of many miracles we were blessed to be a part of this week. Wednesday we tracted into a young man named Blaine. We taught him Thursday, Friday, set a date with him Saturday, and he came to church on Sunday! He comes from a very rough background in and out of foster homes his whole life. he is 17. It has been so incredible to see the spirit enter into him and change his entire countenance. The gospel does change lives.

       

Some say that a mission is like walking through a field of roses. While walking through you only feel the thorns, but looking back all's you can see are the roses. It is true in many ways, but I believe you can deal with the thorns, and always see the roses! The north valley ward meets in the same ward that the academy heights does. Sunday I saw the Ortiz family, Bryan Baker, and Catherine Christensen! Call me a baby if you will but it was hard to hold back tears. On Saturday Ted Ortiz baptized their 8 year old son, on Sunday he was ordained an elder, and confirmed him. There aren't words sufficient in the English vocabulary to describe the feelings of seeing this. I cannot wait for them to go to the temple as a family!  Bryan is doing amazing! his wife had their boy and she is living in California. Bryan is here for fighting, but he is moving back to Cali after this season. He fights tomorrow in SLC if you can find it on TV! He and his wife are preparing to go to the temple! Catherine is doing great as well; the members say she hasn't missed a week! It hurts when you hear of people you taught that fall away a little after, but seeing all of them on Sunday was just incredible.

Wednesday Morning I ate a Dove chocolate and the little message on the inside wrapper said, "You are exactly where you are supposed to be."  Oh how true that is!

 

Serving a mission is a very sacred experience, I love it.

 

Love you all very much!

 

Elder Turnbow!

 

PS. Guess what!? Elder Weston took my place in my last area! He and Elder Ashworth say my new basketball shoes are nice. Haha sadly I won't get them until March at our next zone leader meeting. That's OK though, thank you for sending them, Mom!

A Spring to My Step

Hello There,

     

We had Zone Leader Council this last week and President Miller gave us some very exciting news! Right now we have 164 missionaries in our mission, by the end of June it is going to be almost 250! Can you say amazing!? We have already seen miracles start to happen. This next transfer our zone is splitting. It will no longer be the Rio Rancho Santa Fe zone, they will both be their own! The Lord is hastening his work and we can all feel it. If there was ever a time to be part of such an amazing work it is now, you can feel the urgency to spread the gospel, and it has added a spring to my step. There are not words enough to describe the feelings that we are all feeling as representatives of Jesus Christ. We went to Santa Fe yesterday with President Miller and Sego for our last SMCM there, the stake presidency is excited to be their own zone. As we were driving home the sunset was incredible, and from the freeway I had a perfect view of Santa Fe, it was bitter sweet not knowing the next time I would be back. I love that place.

 

So Saturday night we got the news, I am getting transferred. I was not expecting it! I thought for sure Elder Ashworth and I would stay together for at least another one! I have been here for 6 months though, and it has been good for me. I have done a lot of growing and changing in this area. I am sad I will not be here to work with the awesome people we are teaching!

 

Keith and Krysha

I said goodbye to Keith and Krysha yesterday after church, and also Margie Teyshia and Jim. It's hard to say goodbye! It's amazing how much you come to love the people you serve and teach. I wonder if it feels at all like Christ felt giving the great intercessory prayer. All's you want for the people you teach is to stay strong! Today is my last day here, transfers are bright and early tomorrow. I am sad to leave, but excited to start a new chapter in my mission in a new area.

 

Margie, Teyshia, and Jim

We had a good lesson this week with Vickie Davis. As Elder Holland would say she is kind of broken right now, but God loves broken things right? I had a very strong impression come to me in our lesson. We were answering questions and teaching the restoration to her again and it was going fairly well, but something wasn't quite right. It was then that just like a news flash  a part of my setting apart blessing from President Waldron came flooding back into memory when he said "Be bold, be yourself, you will be successful." The next chance I got I told her I was going to be bold with her, and I was. I can't really remember what I said, but it seemed to work. She has a big hold up with praying, ever since she left the Jehova's Witness and Elder Ashworth invited her to pray and ask if God was there and loved her. Her response was "But what if he doesn't answer me?"  I then promised her he would answer. Her response "That's a bold promise, can you back it up?" We both said yes. The spirit confirmed the promise, and she said she would do it.  She is going to be an incredible member of the church. It is only a matter of time with her! She is the one who stopped me and Elder Johnson while we were knocking an apartment complex. I love being a missionary.

 

Well next week I will let you know where the Lord has called me to serve. I love reading your emails each week, they mean a lot to me! I have served around missionaries who have little if no family support, and my heart goes out to them. I hope you all know how lucky we really are.  I love you all!

 

Elder Turnbow

 

I am happy and still loving every second!

Dear Family,

    

       Right after bowling last Monday I could not wait to get back here again to email you... I bowled a 130 something my first game, but a 217 my second game! I marked on every frame and bowled 4 strikes in a row. When I get home I will forever bowl in a shirt and tie, it's good luck!

Proof!

       So this week was super crazy! (Not much is new) Tuesday we went on exchanges with the AP's and I went with Elder Hanks (one of my heroes) to UNM. It was an awesome experience to be on campus all day. Believe it or not but it's actually been cold here the past couple of days, so that morning the branch set up a hot chocolate stand with free hot chocolate and mormon.org cards and everything. We were trying to let everyone know of an activity the singles branch put on called meet the Mormons. It was a blast! Being on campus all day I kept looking for basketball players and athletes, pretty sure I found some. It was neat to be contacting people around my age all day, we had some good success too!

 

        Friday we got a random call from the mission office after district meeting, and the next thing ya know we are in the transfer van heading up to Espanola with beds and housing things. The area split last transfer but the Elders are just barely now getting a place to live in their area so we had to go help them out. It didn't bother me any because I love the drive up there and it's a way scenic place. I love it up there!

 

        Maria who we are teaching is still doing really well, right now we are working to help her quit smoking. She has already gone from almost a pack a day to only 4 a day. She is really starting to get excited about everything and it's fun to see. Aiden is doing great, and he brought a friend to church yesterday! We have moved his baptism date to the end of February because of stake conference coming up and he needs a little more experience with church, but he is awesome.

 

            For the first time in my life I will say this, yesterday the Superbowl was annoying! We had a lot of missionaries text us and say things like "What are we supposed to plan for those hours? Nobody is going to let us in!" To which we would respond "do missionary work!" haha it was amusing. We had a rough couple of hours, but we did finally get let in with a family we could teach so it made it all worth it!

 

            I don't know if I have ever mentioned Mary Hazlett or not, but she came to church yesterday for the first time! Her significant other, and daughter came as well. Mary is the kind who "Really Loves God" She is hilarious and I love her to death. During sacrament I was a little nervous she'd get up and bare her testimony, especially when we went up there. She can't open her eyes without using her hands, so she takes the verse in Corinthians that says for we walk by faith, not sight very seriously. She's hilarious.

 

            I loved hearing about the temple experiences with Em, and of course the ball games last week. Life is good!

 

           Things are going well, I am happy, and still loving every second!

 

      Until next time, Elder Turnbow

YE are the light of the world

Hey!

 

      Man, you are all super lucky you were able to be with Elder Holland this last week! That's awesome! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and impressions on it. I could feel the power of his talks just from reading what you all had to say about it.

 

(A member just walked into the library and gave all of us missionaries here emailing our own package of Oreos. I love Oreos!)

 

         Not too much to report on because it was just a few days ago that we emailed home, but things are still going well! We've recently been teaching a less active member who was a convert at 20 and then fell away pretty much right after that. For the last 13 years he had been taking care of his mom until she passed away. As he sat in Sacrament meeting he broke down and began to cry. He leaned over and said, "My life wouldn't be such a mess if I had never left the church." It was a moment of great realization for him, but he is on the right path now and that's what matters! I couldn't help but have many other names come into my mind that I wish would come to that realization. It was last General Conference when Neil L Andersen said. "Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view." How true that is!!

 

We had a couple really good lessons the past two days with Maria Burnheimer and Chris Hernandez. This is not the same Maria with the first vision experience. This Maria is doing awesome! She told us last lesson that she got her answer about the Book of Mormon, so we asked her what her answer was and she laughed and said "Well you wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't a good answer!" We taught her the Word of Wisdom that night and it went great. She smokes, but committed to stop! We are planning on having her baptism in February. Chris Hernandez is somebody I have been working with since pretty much day one in this area, he is one of those people you know you were sent to an area for. He is so close!!! Man!!! haha Brother Montgomery is awesome fellowship for him, and Chris' wife is a member and they have two young kids. He has said he will quit drinking after the super bowl. He has been reading and praying, but he is very non committal.

 

So I have been doing a really cool study lately on Light. I started with John 8:12, and then Mathew 5:14-16  In John Christ is declaring himself as the light of the word, and in Mathew he says YE are the light of the world. It has been a really cool study. If anybody wants a neat study, go with it!

 

Well today we are going bowling for a bit so I'll have to let ya know how I do next week! Also Mom, thanks for the letter in the mail this week! I loved the quotes.

 

Enjoy the snow for me! Lots of Love,

 

Elder Turnbow

When things like that happen, it makes me want to try even harder!

Hey there!

 

   Sorry it is Thursday and we are just now emailing home, the library was closed on Monday and we have been crazy busy the past couple of days. Monday we went up to Santa Fe for PDay and then went on exchanges with the Espanola Elders, I came back to Rio Rancho and Elder Ashworth went there. Tuesday we went back and then did exchanges with the Santa Fe Elders. This time I stayed in Santa Fe with Elder Eaquinto, my MTC companion!! So not only was I back in my first area, but I was back with my very first companion! It was a blast and a half. Him and his companion white washed in due to some things so they don't know too much about Santa Fe yet and are trying to find people to teach. A lot of the day I took Elder Eaquinto around to people we used to teach there and different people they could work with. I was able to meet up with a few people I used to teach, including David Sullenberger the scientist PhD guy. He is still not baptized, and not progressing too well, but it was fun to see him and we had a good lesson. Hopefully he gets back on it. We went out to eat with Kenny Wilkens while we were there! Oh man, he's doing great! I can't believe how happy it makes me to see him as strong as ever. He is working to go to the temple here in a few months. Mike and Savanna and Laureen and Maureen were all out of town so I was unable to see them, but they are doing well! It was so cool to be back up there and in my old stomping grounds! As we drove down the different streets, I could picture perfectly Elder Willden and I, or Elder Webb, walking the sidewalks and knocking on doors.

Elder Turnbow and MTC companion Elder Eaquinto
Back together for two days in Santa Fe

 

    Mom, you asked about Aiden's baptism date. It is for Feb. 2, but he was out of town last week and unable to make it to church, and they have family coming in this week so he is unsure about this week too. He is still doing really well and excited, but we will probably have to push his date back a little bit. It's fun to teach him; he is as smart as a whip! Speaking of teaching (It's what we do :) ) I had an opportunity to look over the new curriculum for seminary and Sunday school and man, it is almost exactly how we are trained to teach. Teaching like the Savior taught.  Really cool, I wish I had that in Sunday school. Take advantage of it, Fat and Pickle.

 

So now on to Maria because you asked about her too.  While we were on exchanges with Espanola, Elder Humphries and went to teach her and her sister Virginia. We also had Dallin with us who is Dylan's age. She still had lots of questions about the apostasy, trinity, and Eucharist, and evidence of the Book of Mormon, and we were able to handle it well, and I thought we were answering every question clearly and using scriptures, but it wouldn't satisfy her. We finally got to the restoration and I told the Joseph Smith story and did the first vision. As a missionary you get pretty in tune with the spirit and when it is there or not there.  Well, as I recited the first vision slowly, the spirit was definitely there, no doubt at all. I knew she could feel it to by her eye contact and body language. After I finished, Elder Humphries asked her how she felt, and after she gave an answer that didn't describe her feelings, he asked again, just like we are trained to do. What she said I couldn't believe.  She said that she didn't feel anything or have any emotional difference. My heart sunk a little with despair. After that her sister chirped in with a question and we tried to get it back but it wasn't happening.

As we left that lesson I wasn't quite sure what to think, Dallin was fired up! haha He reminded me of me as a new missionary. He said things like "How could she not feel it!?  Man I was feeling it!!" It was one of those times like PMG says that you will be saddened when you know investigators have spiritual experiences but don't accept them. Or something like that. It is a super super tough thing to take. I wanted to say I know you felt it, and I know you are feeling it! I was reminded of Elder Holland's talk the Atonement and the Missionary.  You all know me though, and when things like that happen it makes me want to try even harder. I have a lot of faith in her and her sister, it will happen! Dylan - you should find time to go out teaching with the Elders in your stake, it would be a great experience for you.

 

Frank - Just because I am gone doesn't mean you can get all suicidal on me now! I am glad you are ok buddy. Try to save some fun for me ya? Between tractors, dump trucks, and recreational vehicles, me and you have chalked up quite a few accidents!

 

It sounds like Matt and Dylan are playing well, I love hearing about the games. Thanks for the money to buy some basketball shoes, I will go find a new cheap pair hopefully this coming Monday. Dylan sent me a picture of the last duck/goose hunt of the year, looked like a blast! I am also glad that your class went well Dad, I know you are an amazing teacher. Mom - Good luck with your calling as well! That should be a lot of fun. Train them well!

 

Thanks for all the prayers, and love, it is much needed. Take care now ya'll!

 

Love, Elder Turnbow