Hey!

Well I dont have too much to write,
 because I talked to you all yesterday,
 but just wanted to tell you how fun it was to talk.
I know i didnt talk too much, it was just nice hearing
familiar voices and pretending like i was at home for
a day. Thanks for all the encouragement and support.
I love you all. Have a great week!

con amor, Elder Turley

4/27/2009

Hey everyone. Another quick week gone by. Only two more until Mothers day which is going to be awesome.

So right now we are really focusing in on Ofelia and her niece, Diana. They have progressed really rapidly. Of course the mission wouldnt be a challenge if we didnt have problems, so we found them this week. Apparantly Ofelia isnt married. Theyve been together 23 years but still havent sealed the deal. We are working out that one, but its gonna be a tough one to get settled. A lot of prayer and fasting should do the trick.
With Diana, we are planning on getting her baptized this next Sunday. Her mom says yes, but her dad says she needs to be really sure about it, so it kinda got her worried. The amazing thing is that she went to church without Ofelia on Sunday. Ofelia was sick when we went to píck them up, but Diana still went and stayed the whole three hours. After, when I asked her how it went, she said she loved it. Hopefully thats a good sign that we will go with the baptism this week, but who knows.
I almost ate it the other day just like dad. Theres this one street that people literally come out of there houses and stores to stare at us as we ride by. Its a down slope, so we can coast. Our new thing is to do really wierd stuff right in front of the people because there are literally at least 50 every time. One day, we had borrowed a guitar from one of the members and as we went down the slope I stood up on the bike and started playing and singing in front of everyone. It was so funny to watch them all stare at me like that. I took the turn at the bottom a little sloppy and ended up hitting a curb and ALMOST eating it. But it was definately worth it.

Well, thats it. Have a good week everyone and go swimming for me. Its extremely hot here.
Con amor, Elder Turley
P.S. Happy Birthday Bud. May 2nd, 1987

5/4/2009

Hey everyone. Happy to say Im still alive. The flu hasnt really come to the north, but Church was cancelled for everyone. Kinda a bummer.
Im kinda frustrated with the computor, so this wont be extremely long.
This week we really focused on a few investigators to try to help them make their commitments and get them baptized. We set a goal for 4 for this Sunday, but the way things have gone, Ill be happy if we get 2. It wouldnt be a mission if there werent challenges.
We were surprised by the investigators that we thought would be easy in easy out baptisms. We have been battling with them since last Tuesday.
Our new investigators Juana and Luis have progressed so quickley that we arent really sure what else to teach. They started the book of Mormon like 4 days ago and are already in 1 Nephi 20. We plan to get them baptized this Sunday, and it should be an interesting one, as they dont want to get baptized in the Font. We found a cool spot with natural wáter up in the mountains, so it should be an awesome baptism.
This next Monday will be 5 months in Parras for me. Time has flown by, and I hope I can squeeze one more change out of this city. I really do love it here, and am so excited to come back after the mission.

Nat, I already took the picture, but i forgot my camera, so ill get it to you next week.

Well everyone have a great week. I love you all and look forward to calling next sunday! Mom keep your cell on you all day saturday, so we can make plans.

Con amor, Elder Turley

Wipe Out

Brandon,

I ate it on my road bike today. I got pushed off of Decker into a big Sumac tree going about 30 mph. I had time to plan and rolled over my front bars and took the brunt of the crash on my bike upside down. Miraculously, I wasn’t hurt and my bike escaped unscathed. I got up with 15 FF’ers standing around me thinking I was totally munched..I mounted my bike, straightened by seat up, made sure my tires had air and that my wheels were in true and took off down the hill while yelling to my team to get on their bikes and quite standing around. Attached is the picture of the tree I demolished. All I can say is that I believe my life (and bike!) were preserved because of your faithful and devoted missionary service. I can’t thank you enough.

Love, Dad

4/20/2009

Well what can I say for this week.

We finally managed to get Ofelia to Church. After about a month and a half of her saying she would go but never really comitting. We got her. She stayed for an hour with one of her nieces and then had to head back to the house. She said she really liked it though.
The members decided to sing better than they ever had before with the hymns, so she commented that she really enjoyed that. I guess it also helped that I was practically belting everyone. I really enjoy teaching Ofelia and shes really coming along. The goal we have all made for her baptism is the third of May, right in between some birthdays.
Only two more sundays to go!

Unfortunately, with all the others, i cant be as excited. Berenice decided to disapear randomly. It might be her mom, a hardcore Testigo. We do have Edain, her friend on our side, so we should be able to buckle down and push through whatever problems Berenice has.

Something amazing might happen this saturday. We will find out later in the afternoon today but, The Branch is having a temple excursion, and they are really lacking some endowed Priesthood to help out. Today our Branch President is talking with President Clark to see if Elder Knowles and I can go. Im trying not to get my hopes up, but I miss going to the temple so much. It also means we get to go to Monterrey for a day. Pretty exciting, but youll all have to wait until next monday to find out how it goes.

Felicidades Aunt Leslie. The only problem is that I still havent seen the guy yet. How do I know your not just lying and that he really does wear a mask too!

Thats all I got for you all. short, but sweet. Have a great week and enjoy the good life!


Con amor, Elder Turley

Another change in paradise

4-13-2009

I was planning on leaving today. In fact. I had packed a lot sunday
afternoon, because I thought I was going to
get transfered, but no. I get at least another 6 weeks here in Parras. To be
honest Im thrilled. There
are so many great people here, and we have a lot of great investigators.

This week was nuts! So many people from Monterrey and other parts of mexico
came in to ruin Parras for a week.
All everyone did was drink and party and yell at the missionaries. We didnt
have  alot of success this week.
For example. The Priesthood session of conference had an asistence of 4
people. 2 of which were missionaries.
One was the Branch President and the other, the Young Mens President. I was
really disapointed, but we will
keep pushing on. I actually had a really great experience with this one
investigator Berenice.

We had set up an appointment with her and Edain, another investigator. We
went over to Edains house, but Edain
had to go for a few minutes to pick up a friend. We sat on the porch and
talked with Berenice, who is a Jehovas
Witness about Jesus and how he was the God of the Old Testament. It was
actually really easy to show her, and
she was really receptive. Once Edain came back we all went into the house,
but Edain decided to leave. Fortunately
her brother and mom came in and started playing the guitar with Elder
Knowles. He did really well to start a
discussion about the Prophet with those two, while Berenice and I chatted
about Jesus. We talked about my favorite
part of the atonement. Comfort. I shared with her how i first got a
testimony of Christ, and that led into a
discussion about if we have him as a base in our lives, and build a
relationship. We can learn so much more and
recieve so many answers through prayer. After that, we talked about how she
had recieved an answer that the Church
was true, and so her and I read a bit out of the Bible just to reassure her
that she had recieved an answer. Then
the discussion went to how once we recieve an answer, we need to act on it
quickley before we start to forget, and
we talked about baptism, set a goal for us to achieve, and that was that.
Textbook Preach My Gospel right there,
but honestly prolly one of the most memorable lessons I will have had in
Parras. I love just sitting down with
an investigator, and, when the circumstances are right, having a one on one,
deep discussion about things that
matter in this life and the next. Im glad I get another 6 weeks to achieve
the goal that we set together that
night.

Well theres my spiritual story. As for easter, my companion and I forgot
about it until we were sitting watching
a conference session at church. We ate dinner with the Fuantos, chicharron.
Its pig, but not the good part. I
ate the whole thing. I think youll all be surprised by the time I get back
at what I can get down my throat.

Anyways. I love life, I can speak spanish, and Ill keep chugging along. Im a
4th of the way through the mission,
and the time has flown by so quickly.

Aunt Leslie and Aunt Laurie thanks for sending the emails. I love you!

Have a great week, and I cant wait to read more next week!

Con amor, Elder Turley

4/6/2009

Hello everyone. Another week down.
You were all so blessed to be able to go to conference. Our branch didnt have the budget so we have to wait until the District sends the videos. Unfortunately transfers are next Monday, and ive got a bad feeling that im heading out. I hope not, but its not my will. Its good to see though that ive earned the confidence of the ward, and I noticed today as we had an activity with the youth, that people turn to me for what to do. Im the junior companion but everyone asks me what we should do. It feels good to have earned that, but its kind of a bummer that ill have to go at some point and start over again. Thats just the way things are huh.
This week is known as the Semana Santa. Apparantly a bunch of Americans come to Parras during the week just to drink and be sinners. Its funny they do it the week of the death and resurrection of the Lord. Also some guys lose a bunch of wait and carry a cross all the way to the top of the mountain and hang on it like Jesus did. Its pretty nuts how gung ho they go for it here. The only problem is that they do it for the wrong reasons.
We have started talking with some Jehovas Witnesses. Its pretty fun and challenging at the same time. Its good though because im building my knowlege of the Bible a whole lot. The other day we sat down, and they assaulted us with scriptures to try to prove that Jesus wasnt Jehova, but we held our ground everytime. In the end I think they left surprised at how much we knew. They didnt want to set up another appointment, but thats because they knew they were wrong.
We are having some good success with a couple of the young men and we hope to get them ordained this Sunday. We will see what happens, but things are looking good in that aspect.
Also our investigator Ofelia is progressing really well. She has a strong desire to keep learning and can now say some really sincere prayers from the heart. Thats prolly my favorite thing in the mission, to teach someone how to pray and communicate with Heavenly Father. The first time she did it, she had no idea what she was doing. Now she can pray like a pro and its so fun to watch her grow and grow. That right there feels as good as a baptism. We also set a baptism date for her for the end of April. Eventhough I might not be there, im really excited for her.
Well thats all I got for you. I hope you all had a great week. I only heard from very few, so im not quite sure, but have another great week everyone. Aunt Leslie and Jonny are more faithful than everyone else except mom and kimmy.
Kimmy just kiss Joey this weekend. Ive always wanted to but never had the nerves and ive always regretted it.
Con amor, Elder Turley