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

Another Week in the Life of Elder Turney

Date: October 21st, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hey Guys 

This week was a good one.

First of all the weather is going crazy and the closer it gets to summer, the colder it gets. its raining and lightning like every other day as well. we had a really cool lightning storm the other day, we were in the flat and it was like BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM, repeatedly. it got to the point where every 1 or 2 seconds there was a lightning strike. it was really awesome, 

Monday was fun as always, got to email, followed by going to the mall for stuff. then after mall we went to the chapel to play sports. we played chair football, ghost in the graveyard and volleyball. and  played football.  after sports we went shopping for food which I always love.

Tuesday was a rubbish day we only got the one lesson in. it was with a girl called Nompendulo, she came to Church on Sunday, so we got her details, we went to find her house, we found the house she gave us the details to but, its was wrong.

The lady living there was looking for a church, she was lost in life so we said can we come and visit you and she was so happy to say yes,  we also committed her to church and she said yes and she would bring her 2 sons, her sister her mother and grandmother which is awesome. 

So mistakes don't happen for no reason, I have a testimony of that. eventually we found her right house, there was her, her mum and her brother and they all seemed interested in coming to church, which was awesome. 

we had other people to see but when we rang them they were busy. then we picked up Soshanguve elders and went to our Dinner Appointment. There's a family in Soshanguve branch who invited us for dinner to celebrate Elder Dalton's birthday, he is one of the Soshanguve elders. the dinner was really nice. I'm liking the food here, sort of.

Wednesday was a good day. Our first appointment was with Wilhamina, she is still quite ill, in a way I hope she goes soon, cause she is such a nice lady and the pains and weaknesses she is having she doesn't deserve to go through. 

We taught her about the 3 degrees of glory. after Wilhamina we saw a girl called Rafilway, she is a member she is 22, we normally teach her mum but her mum wasn't feeling too good today so we taught her instead. 

We taught her about faith. afterwards we went and saw our crazy family. we didn't teach them again, I'm

getting really annoyed with them now cause we haven't taught them a single lesson yet. 

After them we went and saw Ntombi, she is recent convert, we shared what we had studied that morning then watched a talk on repentance and baptism. Then we were picked up by Soshanguve Elders and went back to the flat and just chilled, then went to bed.

Thursday I was stuck in the flat with Elder Dalton cause he was feeling so Ill it was boring long day

Friday, Elder Dalton was ill again, but Elder McKim stayed with him today and me and Elder Rako went to our area. Our first was with a guy called Solly, a couple of weeks ago we helped him knock down a wall at his house and the new wall looks really good. we Taught him about the plan of salvation up until the spirit world. After Solly we taught a guy called Constar and I think it was his brother, we taught them about the atonement. then we saw the Ivon family and we taught them about temples and why we have them. After the Ivon family we taught KK and Saiter Gailee and taught them about tithing. afterwards we went back to the flat and went to bed

Saturday, Elder Dalton was ill again but Elder Rako stayed with him. So me and mckim went to the area. our first was with Wilhamina, she is up and walking which she struggled with before. we taught her about 2 Nephi 32:8-9. 

After Wilhamina we saw Monica, Vucy and Diana, Nompendulo's family. we introduced the book of Mormon to them and just shared with them about it. After wards we saw Patience, she was in this ward, then moved to a different ward but now is back. 

We put her on date for baptism on November 10th which is awesome. I cant wait that will be my third baptism in 2 months :D. then, Elder McKim needed to get some stuff on his iPod touch so we went to pick up the other elders, then went to McDonald's so he could get the stuff he needed, then went back to the flat and went to bed

Sunday was OK, it was raining a lot. a fair few people didn't come because of the weather. Our gospel principles teacher wasn't there so I had to teach and the lesson was on gospel principles. after church we had a lunch appointment but on the way we got stuck in mud and was there for about 30 minutes so that was fun. eventually we got out, the food was really nice. we then walked to our first appointment which was with Tlohi, we shared with him 2 nephi 32:8-9 about prayer. then Soshanguve  Elders called and said they were finished so they picked us up and took us to our last appointment, with Boipelo and his mum, we shared with them a scripture which we liked and I shared 2 nephi 32:8-9. then we went back to the flat, watched some films, then went to bed. 

Thanks guy for all your emails,

I really  appreciate the support. 

love you all 

Elder Turney  

Settling into Mission Life

Date: October 14, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hi Everyone

This week has been really good.

Monday was a cool day we played sports emailed. one of the games we play is called ghost its kind of like tag,it'€™s really fun, after sports we went and did shopping, which I always love, after shopping we went to the flat, ate food and relaxed, then went to bed.

Tuesday we had a good day, it was Elder Mckims birthday, so we found a football pitch and played sports there :), with some investigators that was a fun, we played it at the old abandoned stadium I told you about last week. The rest of the day was busy with appointments etc.

Wednesday I was stuck in the flat, I was feeling sick and  exhausted and I needed to rest in       order that it  did not get worse, so  it was a long day of just sleeping and relaxing, but I         needed it, I'm fine now.

Thursday was a really productive day, firstly we saw a guy called Nicholas, I think I have told you about him, but he is a cool guy, he is preparing to go through the temple very soon, which is really good, oh  he's a convert, but  he is a really cool guy. Afterwards we saw a recent convert called Ghopolong, he just got confirmed a couple of weeks ago, he is a really good kid, he loves the gospel.

Then we went and saw a Sister Nelly, she is a convert of only a few months but she knows so much about the church, she has a son I think he's like 5 he's really funny and full of energy, after Nelly we saw a Sister Zianda and her husband Vucy,

I think I told you about them last week, she is a returned sister missionary, she served in Durban, but has been less active for like 5 years but I'm glad we found her and she is now coming back to the church and wants to sort her life out and go through the temple again to see the new film, and they fed us Romans pizza, which was really nice. So Thursday was a really good day and a productive day :)

Friday was an OK day, we had zone meeting, from 11-1, after we went to Romans pizza, I love Romans, we then went to our area, we street contacted and talked to several people some of which would listen some not, Later we met with a kid called Tlohi, he is also a convert, he just got the priesthood a few weeks ago, he's a sweet kid, he was our last appointment, we got picked up by Soshanguve elders, we went back to the flat, ate then went to bed.

Saturday was a slow day. Our first appointment was a girl called Regomoditse, we met her   street contacting, she seems really keen about the church and religion. After her we saw a guy called Solly he is going through some stuff, he feels like god isn't  there, but were going to   continue to visit him and teach him about the gospel, he just needs to continue to pray. After Solly we saw our crazy family, Dineo and her kids, we haven'€™t really taught a lesson yet, which I'm  getting really annoyed about, we kind of taught a lesson this week, the mood is never right or something is stopping us from teaching them. Satan is real, but were not giving up on them, because there a sweet family and the gospel will really help them, so yes Satan is not going to  win. They were our last, we went back to the flat, relaxed ate then went to bed.

Sunday was an ok day we had church and Dineos kids came which is awesome. the ward are   really nice, anyway we had church, then we had to walk the kids home, then we had a lunch       appointment, the food was really nice. Afterwards the Soshanguve elders called and elder Dalton wasn't  feeling to good, so we went back to the flat and watched some movies, it was boring.   Would rather be out teaching


I'm getting used to mission life, I'm also getting used to the food, I'm loving it here. 

Hope all is well

Love

Elder Turney 

Transfer week no move for me

Date: October 07, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hi everyone

Monday was awesome we went to a place called Glen Afric, (check it out on the web) 

They have loads of  animals there. we got 30 minutes to play and interact and take pics with elephants which was really cool. then after that we got to have a look at some tigers, leopards, cheetahs, lions. we also got 10 minutes to play with 4 month old lion cubs which was awesome.

Afterwards we went to a Chinese restaurant, which I hardly ate anything. Then we went to a place called  Chameleon Village which is where they sell loads of Africa stuff and I got some cool stuff. then after that we went and emailed.

On Tuesday it was exchange, so in our district there is me and my comp and 2 other elders. our District leader was Elder Tew but he was transferred and made zone leader, so Elder Dalton his comp in our district got a new comp from Madagascar. 

Also my comp is now our district leader. so we went to the office to do the exchange. On the way back we stopped at Romans pizza, all elders do that at transfers, so there were a lot of elders in Romans. also Elder Rawnsley from Halifax in England went home. he was my first zone leader. after Romans we went shopping but they had hardly any food so we said we would come back tomorrow. we then went back to the flat for the new elder to unpack. 

On Wednesday it was an OK day, we saw a guy called Nicholas who is a recent convert, he is preparing to go to the temple which is really cool. after wards we saw this guy called nelson, who we met street contacting, he is a sweet guy, he seems really interested. after wards we went and saw Dineo and her family, there a sweet family, we met them street contacting, they seem really interested but the mum is always busy so we only really teach the kids but its hard teaching them. afterwards we went back to the flat ate and went to bed. 

On Thursday Elder Dalton was ill so my comp stayed with him and the new elder and I went out to do work. on the way to one of our areas Ga-Rankuwa we stopped by this huge abandoned stadium, it was awesome. then we went to our appointment, its with a recent convert, his name is Ghopolong, afterwards we went to our other appointment but she wasn't there so, we tried a few people in Mabopane.

We saw this lady called Wilhelmina, she is a really kind but quite ill we think she will pass soon. 

On Friday it was an OK day we saw only 2 people, we saw a kid who just got the priesthood, his name is Tlohi, he is a cool kid, so yeah Friday was a slow horrible day.

On Saturday we saw the Saturday morning session of general conference also the family with the mum who is always busy, the father and 4 kids came to it which was awesome.

 On Sunday we watched all the sessions they were showing, i really loved it there were some cool talks in there. also the kids who came to the Saturday session came to all of them on Sunday too. 

So this week has been a better week, still missing home, also I'm still trying to get used to the food. there is a few times I've said I'm not eating cause here they love sweet potato and pumpkin and I really don't like them, but there has  been a few meals I have loved. 

The people here are really nice,

 I'm loving my companionship.

 I  hope the is a  better email  mum. 

Love 

Elder Turney