Thanksgiving 2016

I received this picture in a text from the bishop of the ward Liam is serving in, just as we were sitting down for our own Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm so thankful that Liam, and the other missionaries serving with him, were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with a family.  The holidays are hard! I'm missing Liam a lot and I hope he has a wonderful Christmas season.  I am just so grateful for members out there that take such good care of the missionaries. 💕

November 21, 2016

Hello everybody, 

This week wasn't too exciting. Last P day was our zone sport P day. We played volleyball, dodgeball, scatterball, and umpa, of course. Then we had FHE with the Strowmatts at the Erickson's house. The Ericksons are a super awesome family that invite us over a lot and go on splits with us a lot.  On Wednesday, Elder Croft came here on exchanges with me. We didn't really teach that many people, but that's just how missionary work goes sometimes. Thursday, we went to the Strowmatt's for dinner. The lesson went really well. We have to push back the baptism until December 10 because they will be busy with some other stuff on the 3rd. On Saturday, we went to the Swift Creek ward in Colonial Heights which is by Richmond. We went there because Elder Neuman baptized someone there. Well, first, he found a family a long time ago tracting. There was a couple and 2 sons. The couple wasn't married. So on Saturday, they got married at the church. Then right after that, the mom and the sons got baptized. So that was pretty unusual. Also on Saturday was transfer calls. Elder Neuman and I are staying here in Massaponax. My good friend Sister Erickson is getting transferred though, which makes me a little sad. Hopefully I see her again in the future. But anyways, that was my week. I hope everyone is enjoying the snow back home. I'm enjoying the few days that we have 70 degree weather, but not the days that have 40 degree weather. As always, I love and miss you all so much!

-Elder Turner

November 14, 2016

Hey guys! This week was fun. So, like I said last week, Elder Wilkinson left for Gayton and now I am here with Elder Rowdy Neuman. Elder Neuman has been out for 18 months. He is a convert. He was baptized about 2 and 1/2 years ago. He is from the Tri-Cities area of Washington state. He is 23 years old. His age is closer to the Strowmatts than it is to mine. That's super weird to think about. 

On Tuesday, we had dinner with the Strowmatts. Then we had an awesome lesson with them and set Elisabeth and Annalee on date for December 3! I'm pretty sure both will happen! 

On Wednesday, I was riding my bike down a steep hill that had a ton of wet leaves on it. And yes, I did crash and rip a hole in my suit pants. Oops. But I didn't get hurt at all, which is a total miracle. 

On Thursday, we had zone conference. We learned how we could work with the ward council better. We also learned that we shouldn't put in tracting just to fill time, but to be more creative and find better ways to find people. Then, I went on an exchange with Elder Grimaud in Fredericksburg. We didn't do that much. We taught a guy named Doug that they have seen everyday for the past couple weeks. 

On Friday, we went to Gayton because one of Elder Neuman's investigators was getting baptized. So I got to see Elder Wilkinson again. 

On Saturday, I went on another exchange with Elder Kohler. We went to another baptism in the Rappahanock YSA branch. We brought Denecia (the mom) and Annalee Strowmatt to that and she is super excited to get baptized! 

On Sunday, we had the primary program. And Everett and Annalee Strowmatt participated in it! I love them to death!! 

Anyways, I hope y'all have a good time under the sound of a Trump. Love and miss you all!!

November 7, 2016

Halloween in Fredricksburg with his zone

Note from mom - please excuse Liam's wording on the "stupid rules". It's just his 18 year oldness showing.  At least he has a good attitude about obeying rules.  He's a good boy. 

Hey guys! This week was just an average week. Nothing too exciting. Last P day was really fun! We had zone P day and we all played sports together. They tried to get everyone to dress up in a costume, but some of us didn't. I bought some awesome new Stance socks. On Tuesday, Sister Christensen from the ward (she grew up in Orem) gave me a haircut, but she accidentally cut one part super short. Haha oops. Oh well, I'm not out here to impress anyone. On Wednesday, I went on exchanges with Elder Kohler on the other half of Massaponax. We went to play basketball with the ward that night and Brother Strowmatt came to it!! The Strowmatts are progressing really well. They fed Elders Wilkinson and Morris that night. Elisabeth, the foster daughter, said that she really wants to go to young women's, so we will have to start having dinner with them on Tuesdays or Thursdays. On Thurday, I bought fabric to make a tie. I hope it turns out well. I'll show you guys it when I finish making it, but I can't wait to see what it looks like. I won't say what it is, so it'll be a surprise, but I'm sure all of you have seen this painting before. On Friday, we had zone meeting at 7 pm, which was awesome cause there's nothig to do at nights that are productive. I was way happy until they got to the policy changes. We can no longer workout at gyms, even if they are in our apartment complex or even if we have a bench in the apartment. We can't lift any weights anymore. We can't hangout with the other Massaponax elders after 9 or during meals we have at the apartment. We can't own any instruments. These are the stupidest rules I have ever heard of, but since they come from God, I will obey them. I know that a lot of times, we may be constrained by rules that we don't know why are there, but they are always there for a purpose. So if the prophet ever tells us to do something or to not do something, we should follow what he says, because it comes from God. We need to follow the prophet no matter what, even if we think it is the stupidest rule we have ever heard of. I know we will be blessed for doing so. On Saturday, I went on an exchange with Elder Cox up in Fredericksburg. I accidentally popped Elder Grimaud's bike tire, so we had to walk. A lot. We walked about 12 miles that day, some of it through a forest, some of it through a college campus, some of it through downtown Fredericksburg, and some through the Fredericksburg battlefield. It was an adventure. We went to Chipotle for lunch. Then before we could pay, the lady in front of us in line paid for us. That was such an awesome little miracle! Yesterday, the Strowmatts came to church again! Brother Strowmatt introduced himself in priesthood and said "Hi, I'm Jason Strowmatt. I have lived in Fredericksburg for about a year, and I am starting to come back to church now." It is so awesome that he has told eveyone that he is coming back to church again. And he fits perfectly into the ward! Since it was Fast Sunday, I was feeling pretty hungry, so I looked to see who we had signed up for dinner that night. But then I saw that no one had signed up. So I prayed and asked for someone to offer us dinner that night. Later in the day, Brother Erickson texted us and asked if we had plans for dinner. We said no. So then he offered to have us over for dinner. That was another awesome little miracle! And then late last night while I was in bed, President Smith called us. Elder Wilkinson is being transferred this evening and I will be staying here in Massaponax with Elder Newman. We'll see how this goes. Anyways, I hope you guys can see the little miracles that happen in your lives! And don't be afraid to pray for even the littlest things. I hope everything is going well back home or wherever you guys are! I love and miss you all so much!