Christmas Week

Hi Guys

 I hope you have all had a nice Christmas.

This week has been tough with being away from home and everything; Christmas was hard without the family around. It’s been my hardest week so far

Monday was good we got to email home. We also got to go to Gladiator arena which is a full size basketball court, with nets and everything, and the bonus is it’s free.

Tuesday was a good day, we didn't get to teach many lessons but we did get invited over to Carletonville's branch president’s house. We played some cricket with his 2 sons so that was fun. Then we went into their house and ate  Christmas dinner, but it was nothing like a Christmas dinner at home, there was just meat and bread rolls. Where is the stuffing, spuds, veggies? Etc. but it was nice to spend time with them but it trunked me out :)

Tuesday night we all slept at Carletonville's flat which was fun.

On Wednesday we opened presents, and then we headed down to roodeport for the Christmas Missionary talent show. We then headed back home, we all skyped home (which was wonderful but at the same time very hard to see everyone) and just hung out so it was a good day :)

Thursday was a good day we hardly got any lessons but it was ok, we had a couple of good visits.

Friday we had zone meeting which was all about driving safe and trying harder to get more people to teach. Afterwards we went to snowy lane so that was fun there were around 20 missionaries there. Then one of the assistants came with us Elder Davidson, he is a cool missionary.

We had some good lessons. We taught one of our guys who is on date for January, we taught him the law of chastity, he doesn’t have any problems with any of it so that's was good we also saw the Monnela family and taught about trials, it was a good lesson.

Saturday was spent all day trackting and finding new people to teach. We also saw Abraham the man with no legs and we taught him about the word of wisdom and he doesn’t have any problems with it so that was really good.

Church on Sunday was good we got fed 2 times and we saw Tshidi and Vuo and their family, we watched the restoration dvd the long one, they loved it.

This week has been difficult with everyone being away for Christmas but we have tried to make the best of it, hopefully this next week will be better.

Thank you all so much for your emails. I love you all, hope you had a Merry Christmas and best wish to you all for the coming year. Remember keep the letter going to the missionaries we really do appreciate them

Love Elder Turney xxx

Being in charge is not easy

Hey Guys

This week has been a good week. On Tuesday we went to Johannesburg and I got my new companion. His name is Elder Kolditz, he is from Indiana USA, and he seems like a cool guy. He talks a lot about Guns which is strange for me as I have never had anything to do with Guns and don’t know anything about them.

So this week we have been doing a lot of Less Active work which is good because they were a lot in greater khutsong where me and my companions work but then the branch moved down to khutsong 2's area and so about 120 people went less active so we are doing lots of work to try and bring them back..

We came across a guy names Simon who hadn't been to church in 8 years and when he went less active the missionaries stopped visiting. But he said he will be coming next week so hopefully he does, we also found a lady called Olge who comes when she can but work interferes and hasn't received a visit from the missionaries in 8 years also so we are visiting her regularly.

Also our investigators are looking promising, we have Abraham the man with no legs and also Tony who we see regularly, there both powerful, hopefully they will make it.

Me and my companion have come up with a new way or working here. Our area is split up into extensions, so we are going through the whole of our member list and putting it into extensions so one day we will work in extension 1 the next day in extension 3, so hopefully we will teach a lot more and find a lot more people, hopefully.

Hopefully next week I will have  more to write. We also have an investigator Sister Violet, she know the book of Mormon is true and our church is the only true church on the face of the earth but won’t leave her current church because she is comfortable there, but were working with her. Hopefully she will one day join our church.

We are also working with a less active Sister Christina, she wants her daughter to be baptized but hasn't come back to church to show here the example, so we are working with her to get her to come back.so that she can set the right example for her daughter, it helps the children when their parents are doing as they should be.

So remember those of you who are parents out there set the example let your children see you living the Gospel

This week has been slightly stressful because I am running things I’m trying to guide my companion instead of me being guided by him.

But I’m relying on heavenly father and the Holy Ghost to help

We are off to do some shopping after emails then we are going to a member’s house to make some which is a African bread which will be great, I hope have a great  week everyone.

Remember writing to a missionary is not just for Christmas it’s for two years ha ha    :) :)

I love you and miss you all ,take care keep strong

Love Elder Turney

Senior Companion Scary thought putting me in charge

Hi Guys

Thanks so much again for all you emails.

This week had been really good with lots of work. We are doing lots of finding but also lots of Less active work, We have been working a lot with the Mata family who haven't been to church in 3 years and we found out this week why that is. They have read some anti-Mormon stuff on the internet, also when one of the girls was at college she was told that our church is devil worshipers I wonder where people get that from because  we worship God . So I don't know how we can worship devils. But either way we are trying to work with them because they have a lot of questions. The girl who heard we were devil worshipers came to church on Sunday which was a great start

Also we are working with the Chongoe family and they haven't been to church in 2 years, there reason is just laziness which is a fair excuse but the mother and her 2 sons also came to church on Sunday, the father got called into work on an emergency but hopefully he will be there this Sunday.

We are also working with the Lodriques and the father came to church on Sunday as well which is awesome, and we are hoping he is back for good.

We are working with a girl called Julia who Is less active and she was there on Sunday which was great the spirit really worked hard to get so many of our people to church this week,. Along with all of these positive stories there are also negatives and that’s less active families saying there coming back but not showing up, but were working with them, and we will keep trying.

So on Saturday we got the news that my companion Elder Stephens is being transferred which I was not happy about but the lord knows what he is doing and obviously he is needed somewhere else but my new companion is American also so that should be fun.

Also this week I saw someone get robbed at knife point as we were getting dropped off by a member who is a police officer and he just drives on like nothing is happening, which shows how corrupt the police force over here are.

With my companion going I am now going to be in charge of my first area, as this area has just been opened up by Elder Stephen’s and I so my companion knows nothing  about the area or people, I am excited but also a little scared at the same time. It should be good though.

We also came across this father led family on Saturday and they seem really interested in the gospel which is positive. I'm really loving the people here and don't want to leave but next transfer isn't till February 4th so I have a long time left. Thanks again guys for all your emails. Remember a missionary’s favourite thing is real mail.

 Love Elder Turney

Lightening Strikes

Hi Guys

So this week has been really busy, with lots of work getting done, and were doing a lot more trackting, and we are also doing a lot of work with the less active people trying to help them find their way back to the Gospel. I hope your all doing your part in your own wards

So on Sunday Michael who was baptized last week was confirmed this week, and then we had another baptism this Sunday a guy by the name of William, which was really good. He is a nice Guy.

We also put a couple of people on date for baptism. So the work is certainly moving forward and hearts are been softened, by the spirit.

On Thursday as its thanksgiving and we have 2 American Elders  in our district  we were going to go to spur and eat unlimited ribs and wings for R115 but they were really busy so we got 2 large triple decker pizzas and 2 large filla pizzas, 5 2L bottles of pop, 4 big bags of cheese curls and 4 dairy milk chocolate bars and just pigged out, it was really awesome.

Something really cool about this place is, it has the best lightning storms in the world, and it really does. Me and Elder Stephens nearly died, the lighting struck our car while we were standing right next to it, but luckily we didn't get hit. There is always some excitement out here but you have to see these storms to believe them we have never had lightening like this in England not sure why we get so much here not sure if its weather or location or both that play a part, but you would love it provided you don’t get struck by it.

So one of the people who we have on date for Baptism is Brother Abraham, we met him recently for the first time, he has no legs because of a car accident but he does not let it get him down. We met him on Wednesday and he said he wants to come to church and on Sunday he did, which was really cool, (because a lot of people say they will come and they don’t show up) and he loved it which is great, always worrying as a missionary when people come for the first time  because you never know how they will take it three hours of church is a lot for people to take at first.

We saw Brother Abraham after church on Sunday and we taught him about the restoration and that’s when we put him on date, another guy were seeing is a guy called tony, he seems like a really cool guy, we have taught him the  restoration and we put him on date for January 26th so hopefully he will make it.

I’m really enjoying mission life and am now realizing why I’m here and what my purpose is.

Thanks guys for all your emails,

I love you guys and I miss you,

Remember Missionaries Love REAL LETTERS so get mailing J

Love elder Turney

New Companion Elder Stephens and First Temple Visit

Hey guys

Once again thanks for all your emails they really help a lot and it’s nice to hear from you all, but don’t forget a Missionary’s favorite thing is actual mail, so find a missionary and write to them regularly it can get lonely out here on a mission especially in strange lands, even thought were busy we miss you all.

So this week has been really busy, because I and my new companion Elder Stephens are opening up a new area, there are lots of contacting and door knocking, but we have had lots of success.

We came across a man who lives in the township among the poor people, but he is stinking rich, he has just brought a mine for 80 million rand, but he helps everyone , he is very charitable, he will give people 1000 rand  without even asking why, he is a very nice guy

 We also went into a house where they have a church behind their house and we taught them and they seem very interested in what we have to teach so hopefully we will be able to teach them everything.

 And the 2 girls who stay there as soon as they heard we were from America and England, they went crazy and wanted our autographs, so that was interesting.

 We are doing a lot of less active work here which is good but everyone says yeah I will 100% be there Sunday but no one turns up : Like I said we are doing a lot of track ting but not much success.

This Friday gone (22 Nov) we got to go to the Johannesburg Temple and did a session which was a wonderful experience, we got to see the new film, it is such a beautiful temple on the outside and inside is also very beautiful. I really hope I get to go again sometime.

Also on Sunday we had a baptism and we have another one scheduled for next Sunday, so that's really good:

 The area I'm in is really nice and the people are really nice too, there is a lady called sister Motingoe's and whenever you turn up she will feed u which is so kind of her.

We are having a lot more DA's which I am really grateful for I did not expect the people here to do that for us and it is good, as it saves us money. Even though the people are so poor they are so generous and kind

Also there are a lot of branch missionaries so we always have someone with us.

I really love my mission and I love where I am serving,

 I now know why it’s called the best 2 years.

Love you Guys 

Elder Turney

TRANSFER WEEK NEW AREA NEW COMPANION finished my 12 weeks training

Hi guys,

This week I got transferred. J

I’m now in Khutsong with Elder Stephens from Utah, he is a really nice guy.

So this week’s letter will just be telling you about the area because this week has been hectic and not a lot of actual teaching done. So like I said I’m in khutsong with Elder Stephens. It’s a really nice area. It’s still classed as a township

We have a chapel here with 170 people attend each week but it’s only a branch and not a ward because nobody pays tithing which is interesting.

So they are only used to having 2 missionaries but they split this area which is why it’s been hectic now. So now they have 4 Elders covering this ward. The other 2 elders here are Elder Mnamata and Elder Kairu.

So they have the area near the chapel and we have the area called greater khutsong.

2 weeks ago they had to finish church early because people were being burned on the side of the streets near the Church, so bishop sent everyone home to protect them. So it was very dangerous but now it’s relatively safe, hopefully J

 So the people here in khutsong are really nice there are loads of branch missionaries so there is always someone to take with us when we’re teaching

We share a car with the other khutsong elders but neither of them drive, so me and Elder Stephen’s have the care everyday apart from Wednesday when the Carltonville Elders get the car.

My teacher brother Marman from the mtc came to our ward this week, which was really nice to see him.

Sorry this week has only been a short one but like I said we have been really busy and it has been very hectic with splitting the area so not much work been done but hopefully next week will be longer. 

Thanks guys for all your emails it really does means a lot, but what we missionaries really love are Letters. Hint hint J I really appreciate all your support. Have a great week till next time

Love you guys

Elder Turney

The Picture above with the guy is not my new companion he was a member from my last ward, hopefully mum should receive my memory card soon with more pictures on

Finally New Pictures

Hey Guys,

This week has been really good,

I'm going to change things up this week instead of writing a daily description and just say all the things we did and the people we taught.

So the week started and we went to a church owned farm and did 2 hours of service for the missionary couple there, it was really fun. After the service we had a Braai or a BBQ for u guys.

 It was really nice, after the Braai we had a Family Home Evening with the missionary couple and their 2 sons, it was really nice we all shared what we loved about President Monson.

After the Family Home Evening we did a 4km hike up the mountains behind their place. It was really nice and we came across a British fort, which is now taken over by Baboons.

At the top of the mountain we saw all of the Hartbeespoort Dam, it was so beautiful.

In last week’s email I mentioned that president had wrote to salt lake because the mission was becoming very dangerous so on Wednesday we had 2 guys from salt lake come and talk to us about safety in the mission field.

They went on to tell us what to do if we were caught in the middle of a kidnapping situation and also they said if you’re in the middle of a shooting and your companion gets shot you should just run, your safety is paramount. (That seems strange to me that you would want to leave someone behind) it was interesting to hear all that, not sure if we should be worried or not, but I know my Heavenly Father is watching over us all, so I won’t worry.

It was a really good conference. afterwards we went to shallow waters it’s a Chinese and sushi place but I didn't eat. After shallow waters we went to go pick up our car that had been fixed and get the sunny side 2's car which we had been using temporarily, serviced.

We had some really good lessons this week were teaching some really cool people. we’re continuing to see Willamina  whose is the lady with the little girl sat one the bed she is really nice. I'm going to really miss her. We are continuing to see Petunia a daughter of a lady in the ward who is on date for Baptism on December 8th, she is getting really excited and so are we.

We are continuing to see less actives and recent converts. All of  which are making good progress. On Sundays we have to get up at 6am cause we have ward council at 7am, it kills me but I enjoy it, the ward here is really nice and the people in Mabopane are really nice.

I get called Malungu a lot which means white boy.

I'm getting transferred tomorrow to a new area, which is exciting, I'm looking forward to a fresh start in a new area.

I'm really enjoying mission life,

I love the people here there so nice, and it’s a beautiful country.

Thanks guys for all your emails, they means a lot

If you could as a Christmas gift send a card with a letter in it that would mean the world we don’t get a lot of real mail as nearly everyone emails and we can’t print them off so, if you would like to do something for me or any other missionary you know please send letters

Love you guys 

Elder Turney 

Apostles visit the Mission. Elder and Sister Bednar

Hey Guys  

Sorry for the late email but we went to a church property in the mountains, we did some service then we had a braai (South African for BBQ) followed by a Family Home Evening then we hiked up the mountains where I saw some Baboons 

So this week has been another good one.

Monday was awesome as always. We got to email home, which I always enjoy then after emailing we went to a local mall and were there for quite a long time, but it was fun. After the mall we went shopping for food which I also enjoy.

Tuesday was an ok day I guess. So our first was with Jackie but she wasn't there so we saw Amanda instead. After Amanda we drove 45 minutes to see this guy called Moses, he is a sweet guy he seems really interested. After Moses we went and saw Zianda and Vucy, but Vucy had to leave to go to work so it was just us and zianda, she cooked us spaghetti bolognese , it was lush. We taught her from Joseph Smith's testimony, which she really liked :).

Wednesday was not so good, we got our haircut at Brian’s in Soshanguve, and we were there will 5.30. So we only got to see Wilhelmina and we think we might be losing her :(  It’s sad, she just loves us going and praying for her. After her we saw Petunia, she is a daughter of a lady in the ward and she wants to be baptised which is really cool.

Thursday was awesome as we got to meet and here from Elder Bednar. So we left the flat at like 8.30 to go and get the car valeted and then we went to McDonald’s. We then left to go see Elder Bednar. We got there about 11.30 and got 1 hour to socialize. I saw everyone from this mission in my group which was cool. At 12.30 we were sat down and waited until 1.30 when they finally came in. There was also Elder Cook and his wife, Elder Reber and Sister Reber the MTC president and also President Omer (our mission president) and his wife.

So Elder and Sister Cook and Sister Bednar bore there testimonies. Then Elder Bednar spoke and he said that were not going to do things the way u guys think. We were given 3 of his talks to study and prepare because he may pick on us to share what we had learnt, but he didn't do that. What he did is basically said to everyone, what have u learnt and people stood up and shared what they had learnt and he spoke with each person about the things they learnt.

There were some really good things said, they recorded it so hopefully we will get a copy of it. The second half was a Question and Answer session and so people stood up and asked him questions. It was a really great conference. There was a lot of amazing stuff said, it was an awesome experience, and we saw an apostle of the lord Jesus Christ.

After seeing Elder Bednar we went to Panarottis and I ate 15 slices of pizza which was a bad idea because that night I threw up which was not nice.

Friday was good our first was with Nicholas. We just answer questions on stuff he reads. Next we saw Tlogi, he is a cool kid we shared about when we ask in faith we need to act otherwise we won’t get results. Next we saw Patience and she is on date for Baptism this Sunday but we are going to have to move it till December 8th. Then we saw Tidi, he is a sweet guy I think he will join the church, last time we gave him a pamphlet and he read the whole thing and read the intro of the book of Mormon.

Saturday was a poor day we didn’t see hardly any one we only saw a guy called Solly. So it was a rubbish day

Sunday was good, church was good as always. After church we saw Wilhelmina again, then we had lunch and we got fed by this really pretty girl in our ward the food was lush. Then we went to see Petunia who we saw on Wednesday and we don’t think she will be getting baptised but we need to speak to her on Sunday, but if she can’t that’s gona suck. She was our last appointment of the day

 We have been told that the mission here in Johannesburg is becoming so dangerous that President Omer has contacted Church headquarters and asked for help. So Salt Lake is sending people here to train the missionaries in security and safety. We are having a training session I think this week with someone.

                                                                            

 I'm really enjoying mission life, I get home sick every now and again, but I'm working on getting rid of it. I love the people here there so nice and genuine. The area I'm in which is Mabopane is really nice there are a lot of people to teach and we have 600 members on record but only 140 turn up each week.

I'm now seeing why people say this is the best 2 years. My trainer gets transferred next Tuesday so I may possibly be training but won’t find out till Saturday.

Thank your guys for all your support

I appreciate the emails I get each week.

Love you guys

Elder Turney 

A week in the Life of an LDS Missionary

Date: October 28th 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hey guys,

This week has been good.

Monday was good as always we got to email which I love. After emailing we went to the mall,

followed by going to the chapel and played volleyball which I love.

Then we went food shopping and I got lots of food.

Tuesday we went on exchanges. I was with elder Rako in Soshanguve.

Our first was with a guy called Charles who hears voices so that’s interesting. Afterwards we saw Norman who’s a member he owns a Truck Shop in Soshanguve. Afterwards we saw Brian whose also a member, he is a barber.

Wednesday was back to normal.

Our first was with Nicholas a member. Then we saw a lady called Ellen she is an investigator, she is really nice, very promising. After Ellen we then saw Regomoditsee, she is also an investigator.  Then we saw Patience she is an investigator also, she is on date for baptism on November 10th which is exciting I hope she makes it. 

Thursday is our Ga Rankuwa day, our first appointment was with ghopolong, he is recent convert, he is a cool kid. Then we planned to see nelly but she was still at work, so we tried a few more but none were home, so we went to our last which was with Zianda, Vusy and Komo. Zianda is the less active return sister missionary I was telling your about, she is now back at church, we just have to work on Vusy her husband.

Friday we were on splits with the zone leaders. I was with Elder Day here in Mabopane.

We had like 6 appointments but all but 1 cancelled so we went street contacting for the whole day and came across 15 new people, a few very contend able for baptism, we then rang the Soshanguve Elders to see when they are finished and found out that Elder Dalton had hit a hidden boulder and only cracked casing under car, and the cam belt snapped and we think the valves are bust also, so we don’t have a car for a while, but we now have Sunnyside 2’s car till ours is fixed. So we went a stayed at bishops house till the zone leaders picked us all up.

Saturday was meant to be our car day but we didn’t have it because Dalton broke it, so it was hot and long. Our first was with Lindy, which is one of the people we tracked into on Friday. Next we saw Regomoditsee, she is someone we tracked into. Then we saw Ntombi a recent convert of about 6 months I think, then we saw my favourite person here in mabopane, Wilhamina the elderly lady she is still hanging on.

Sunday was good; we had 5 investigators at church which was awesome. Church was good.

We had a lunch appointment at the relief society presidents, we also saw Boipelo and his mum., we saw sister Sesians daughter and put her on date for baptism on December 8th. 

Also some very exciting News I heard we have a General Authority coming to speak to us this week Elder Bednar which should be great I have never met a General Authority in person before

Sorry for the short day descriptions.

Love and Miss you All

Elder Turney