Skin n Bones

Hello everyone that gets this. Im not really sure how far it goes.

First off, FELICIDADES to Natalie! You can thank me
when I get home. 

I hope you all had a great valentines day. We were blessed
 with a lot of work that day. And We needed it. This week
 has been really difficult. Usually, if we are low in numbers,
we can just go knocking, and teach a fair amount, but this
week, no way. We worked hard, and hardley had anything
 to show for it. Luckily, on Saturday, we got to teach a
bunch of people. No baptisms yet. I remember when I
was in the MTC and people told me that Mexico Baptizes
like crazy. I think every other mission gets over 2000 a year,
but ours is just trying to get to 1000. Its a good challenge, and I
 think im up for that. Im almost at the point where i can just talk
 in Spanish. I still have some work to do, but im almost there. 

We have interviews this week, and its crazy to think there are
 only 2 weeks left in this Transfer. Im pretty sure Im going to
stay in Parras for at least one more transfer, before they give
me the boot. Im loving it here. Its starting to get a Little greener
. Unfortunately, its also starting to get a lot hotter. Unlike you all,
 we dont get rain in Mexico. 

Well, my companion was a downer, and he didnt want to go
to the circus. We missed our chance. We do get to go to mutual
with the Young men every week. In Zone Conference, President
Clark asked us to focus more on getting the Young Men and
Young Women into church, and reactivating the less actives.
I dont mind, because we get to play baseball.  I think next
week we are going to play dodgeball with them. This past
Saturday was pretty cool, because two nonmembers showed
 up to play some baseball. They had a great time, and they
want to come back next Saturday. 

I played 3 hymns in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Pretty
crazy. I screwed up a bunch, but im progressing Little by Little. 

I might have my first baptism this next Sunday. We have
been teaching the Sister of the Branch President for
sometime, and this past week we set a baptismal date
with her. I really hope it Works out, because I dont want
 to leave Parras without doing SOMETHING.

I think thats it. Nothing really exciting. Trying to get our
 investigators to progress more, but thats that battle right
now. I love you all, and have an amazing week.

Mom I should get the package tomorrow at interviews.
Thanks again.

Kimmy picked the ball back up.

Thanks for all the letters. Im praying for you all, and I
hope your doing the same for me.

I found out that right after I shaved my head, President
Clark changed his mind. So im not supposed to have
a shaved head. I cut it to a three and it feels great!

Con amor, Elder Turley

it's a novel

2-2-09

So ill start out by saying im a Little beaner boy now. Dont worry its not offensive here. Where should I begin. Maybe at the tragedy?

Thursday night. We went over to the house of the Fuantos Family. The two parents cant be members yet because of the whole marriage situation, but they are more active than most the members in the area. Im pretty sure the husband is going to be Branch President one day. Anyways, we went over to their house, to do some góspel discussion and eat some good ol beans and tortillas, like always. Dinner was good. Laura Fuantos knows me by now, and shes amazing. They always joke about how i dont like spicy food, but she makes stuff that I like now. Anyways, we did some góspel talk, and when we were heading out, we noticed the bikes were gone. It broke my heart. Literally. I admit I was a bit spoiled to have bikes, but i mean its me we are talking about. We got a ride home, and still havent found the bikes yet. We prolly will buy new ones this week. They are an expensive 400 pesos. Thats about 35 dollars, maybe less.

The next day, we did our walking. We walked all the way to the top of Parras, to visit a progressing investigator, but she wasnt there. In fact none of our investigators were there. We decided to do the unthinkable, we ventured into the land of Desolation. Thats what I call it anyways, because there are 2 or 3 houses, and its not considered a rancho or a colonia. We traveled through dry river beds, and packs of wild dogs, and finally made it to one of the houses, to find… no one home. We continued our journey to the second house. No one. As we walked to the third house, which was about 2 miles from the edge of the city, we found a man picking up metal from an abandoned house. Clearly this was our golden lesson of desolation. Not really. We taught the guy, but he was a Little off in the head. The fact that he was picking up metal should have told us. He was nice enough, but I dont think we will have any route with that. As we were walking back, we found another man, in the 1st house. We taught him, and invited him to church, but he didnt seem very interested. As we made our way to the third house, accross the dry river bed, we got lost. We made the decisión to follow the river bed, and see if there were other houses, needless to say we walked a lot further than we had to. It was beautiful, but we didnt find anyone else. And that was my experience in desolation. I dont really have a strong desire to go back, but you gotta try at least once.

This week was a Little hard for us. Saturday after la comida, my foot started killing me. Like if i had twisted my ankle or something. I managed to hobble back to the house, but i couldnt walk for the rest of the night. The wierd part is that my foot doesnt look any different, i just couldnt put pressure on it. The next day, I forced myself to work, until I couldnt take it any longer. We went back to the house at 2 PM, and ended up studying for the rest of the day. I read all the conference talks from october, and actually learned a lot. I learned to, take the bad moments, and love them. So ive been trying to do that since. My foot wasnt better the next morning, as we made our 20 minute walk to church. We got a ride home, and then Roel, an 18 year old picked us up and took us to his house. We figured that even though I couldnt walk very much, I could help some of the members with English and stuff like that. Roel s mom made me put my foot in the hottest wáter in the world. All it did was burn. My foot felt worse and worse, and I decided just to put it up, and not worry about it. I didnt know this, but apparantly everyone watches the superbowl here, so Roel watched it, and maybe I looked once or twice.

Last night, Elder De La Cruz talked about it. We decided we may have been too comfortable here, and so heavenly father was giving us a chance to humble ourselves so that we could work harder. I woke up this morning, and I can actually put pressure on my foot, so things will be getting better and better each day. No amazing stories this week about the work. We started off really well, but kinda got slowed down with some roadblocks. Im sure I will have something for you next week.

Questions


It would be a dream come true if they put 4 missionaries in Parras. We could focus more on certain investigators, and areas. Also, we could all team up and get the Members to start working. The Branch President is trying, but nothing seems to motívate them.


Nat

I just finished studying Octobers conference. There are a lot of really amazing talks, with some really good advice. If you look at that versus May 2007, its interesting how different they are. It feels like somethings going down soon.

At 2PM we go to a members house and they make us la comida. It lasts for an hour and after that, we usually work til 9 or 930. Sometimes we go to the Fuantos house, because we can teach, and Hermana Fuantos makes us dinner, so its a doublé plus.

I dont get hit on. Sometimes they say stuff. And my companion will catch it, and tell me later. Other times they whistle, and I usually will turn and say “Que dices?” really manly.
And sometimes I do like it….



So thats it. Im living life. Learning. Struggling. And loving. I read something in a talk given by President Monson, the other day. His talk is called FInding Joy in the Journey. And it really makes you reflect yourself, and how you treat others. I could quote alot of stuff, but Ill quote one thing right now.

“We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.”

That made me think a lot. Especially all the times I came home from school and didnt want to talk. Or the millions of times I yelled at kimmy.

I want you all to know I love you, and that I didnt say it enough. Im not sure why that hits me so powerful, but I dont want to look back and regret. Haha, it sounds like Im dying.

Anyways, Kimmy, thanks for all the times when I was grumpy, that you would look at me and smile, and giggle, until I had to smile and laugh too. I love you.

Jonny. Thats all I have to say. You know it all.

I love you all, and all the support you give me. I think about your examples, when Im having a rough moment, and it keeps me pushing through. I know this is the Lords work, and Im trying to better myself everyday.

Have an amazing week everyone!

Con mucho amor, Elder Turley