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 

Safari

Date: September 30, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hey Guys

So this week was pretty cool. we are having some good things happen in our area. the awesome family that we are teaching didn't come to church on Sunday! devastated. The last 2 times they said they were coming and then something legitimate comes up that makes them miss it, but as far as we know this week, they didn't have such an excuse. we weren't able to see them and ask them why but we will see.

That's the worst things about missionary work is people not coming to church! its probably the most frustrating thing and it seems to be a problem for missionaries all around the world. I don't understand why its so hard? especially how some people live so close! but I don't let it get me down. 

We had 2 investigators at church on Sunday, so things are not going too badly. We are having a few less actives come back and people bringing their friends to church so the members are helping out a lot.

I think Mabopane is one of the most organized units of the church I've ever seen. people home teach like crazy! one guy told us this week they have 30 families they are assigned to home teach! that's insane! and they go and see them all! we only have like 3 or 4 at home and still complain at times, everyone just does what they are supposed to, 

We had a cool street contacting experience on Sunday. we were just walking and we asked a guy for directions. he told us where we needed to go and then we started talking. he told us how he always saw our church and that he always wanted to go there but he is super shy and doesn't like being around a lot of people.

So we invited him and he said he would come this coming Sunday. we talked about the book of Mormon with him and 2 of his friends, we literally talked to them for over an hour just on the side of the road. tracking and contacting people here is really easy, everyone loves talking about God and the bible. the only negative with that is that there are 1000 churches in every area you go, and they are all false and teach people stupid things, so that when they hear the truth, they reject it because they think their church is right. this guy was genuine though and realised that what most churches are false. so were looking forward to teaching him. its a relief to know that people truly understand the bible and what it teaches so when they hear the book of Mormon, they realise its the same.

But yeah the greatest pday ever today!!!  we touched elephants! it was so crazy, I was so scared they were going to charge me. it was so much fun.

True African elephants in the wild! doesn't get much better. and at the same place we played with lion cubs again. these ones were awesome too! they bit me  and jumped all over me again. just a great p day.

Thanks again for all the emails

Love

Elder Turney xxx

Another Baptism

Date: September 23, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

€‹Hey guys 

This week has been really good, I'm getting used to the people and the culture change. Some things about my area, Taxis honk there horn when driving to pick up fares and just stop wherever they want and put on there hazards so that's really annoying.

Our chapel is write near a ZCC ( Zion's Christ Church) chapel, which is interesting. The area is huge and we walk one day and drive the next. I've been driving loads which I love, its a automatic which I dislike very much but am grateful we get a car. 

My companion is really nice he is from Australia. so last Monday we  went and spent 3 hours at a mall, which was boring. I wanted to play sports and my zone leader didn't we did an exchange. we then went and played sports, we played football which was nice, I enjoyed it. after sports we went shopping, its crazy everything is so expensive then I remember the exchange rate is like R15 to 1 pound so I just remember that. 

So throughout the week we have bee teaching some good lessons. there this one family, the mum is called Dineo and the dad is called Daniel they have 4 kids. 

So we go tracking on some street and come across her brother standing in there door way, we introduce ourself and he welcomes us in and we start teaching him, then Dineo walks in and says "guys its been so long". me and Elder McKim look at each other puzzled, she says "do you not remember me" and were like "no", she says "2 years ago you guys painted my house", were like "were pretty new to the area" she is like "ah OK, well I haven't seen missionaries for 2 years" so we start teaching her, then after a couple of lessons her kids join and  we leave them all a book of Mormon and come back 2 days later and there all there reading them so obviously little kids they have tones of questions, there a sweet family I think they will all join the church and become a powerful family.

 There is this other lady called Wilhamina, she's about 70 years old, she has a strong faith of Jesus Christ and knows he is true, she is not a member and we have only started teaching her a week ago but everything she says is doctrinally correct, she's a really kind lady but she is weak and suffers from a lot of pains, but she wants to come to church.

 This week has been really good, the food here is really nice, there is a thing called pap which I love, ask a friend who comes from South Africa and they will tell you what it is. also there sausages here are a lot nicer then the ones at home there like 10 times meatier then ones at home. 

I'm really enjoying the time spent here. 

I'm grateful for the short time I have to serve the lord. 

I'm grateful for all the emails you  guys are sending and the support you give me.

look forward  to hear from you all next week

Love 

Elder Turney 

New Area New Companion

Date: September 09, 2013 

Area: Mabopane 

Companion: Elder K McKim

Hey guys,

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. Unfortunately I have not yet received any cards or presents.

I am now in a new area called Mabopane, its a township, and my new companion is Elder Mckim, from Adelaide Australia, he seems like a cool guy. 

On Tuesday which is when we did the transfers, we went to Romans pizza for lunch and it was really nice, then we drove to our flat and on the way we went shopping so I could get a few things. Everything seems so expensive but the exchange rate is at 13 rand to the pound.

We went back to the flats and I unpacked  on Wednesday we were in our area, it seems really nice the people are so nice.

We have been teaching some good lessons. Thursday to Sunday was pretty much the same, we've had some good lessons the people are so nice, there so accepting of the gospel. 

Sunday was nice I bore my testimony in fast and testimony meeting.

The people in my district are cool there names are Elder Dalton from Utah and Elder Tew from Utah haha.

My home sickness is going away but is still there but its healing.

I'd like to bear my testimony that I know the church is true, I know that Joseph Smith did see Jesus Christ and heavenly father. I know the Jesus Christ died for us. I know that we can be with our families for all time and all eternity, and I'm grateful that I get to be with my family for Âll time and all eternity and I look forward to living in the celestial kingdom. I love the church and I love my Heavenly Father. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Thank you guys once again for the birthday wishes and can't wait to tell you all about my stories when 

I return home with honour, 

love your guys,

take care 

love Elder Turney