Christmas

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and week! This will probably be a short email because not too much happened this week. At the beginning of the week I started feeling alittle under the weather and by Christmas I was full-on sick. It was funny, when I walked into a meeting on Christmas morning, one of the Elders asked "Sister Turner, what did santa leave you for christmas" and I answered in my broken voice "Pnuemonia!" haha because that is what it felt like. I had a fever and every symptom of the flu plus a pnuemonia cough. I ended up sleeping half the day Christmas eve but luckily before that we go to go to a lunch appointment with our recent convert family and they were so sweet! they had set up a Christmas raffle and we had alot of fun with that even though i was basically dying inside haha 

On December 26 I skyped home and it was so great! I have the best family and i love them and miss them a lot. It was great to talk. After the skype, I had another rest day at the request of the mission presidents wife and I requested a blessing for my sickness and also my back which has been hurting a lot more lately(but don't yall worry. Faith!) It was so sweet because our ZL's came to give me a blessing and as they were leaving my companion says "are you in a hurry?" and they say no and then she asks them to go get my medicine for me. They were more than happy to do it but I was kind of bummed because I wanted to go to the store and try to OYM there (because it is really boring to be on bedrest!) but I finally let them get it for us and since people are extra nice to sick sister missionaries on Christmas, we not only got medicine but also lemon lime Gatorade(my favorite!) and dinner from jollybee! woohoo Our Zone leaders rock. 

The next day I was determined to work and we had a really great day and were able to talk to and teach lots of people(or maybe it just seemed like lots compared to the 0 the two days before haha) One woman we are teaching lives in the Elder's area but we have specific permission to teach her because of her situation. Anyways, what happened was as we were sitting outside her house teaching her, The elder who gave me the blessing the day before and our ward mission leader (who were on splits) walk around the corner and it was so awkward because poor Elder was so shocked to see me there 1)working when i was supposed to be resting and 2)in HIS area that he just stood there shocked and then I guess I looked really sick still so our ward mission leader, Kenneth who I'm friends with goes "Sister Turner! Are you okay? You don't look too good!" and like leans over to check my forehead temperature with his hand. And all of this is in the middle of our lesson. I'm trying to reel it all in by telling Elder "Hey, we have permission to be here i will talk to you later and explain everything" but he still won't leave! haha then our investigator Ruby goes and says to them "Doesn't sister Turner look great? When she got here she was a little chubby but now she looks great! Like a princess! Don't you think so Elder! " SO YEAH THAT HAPPENED. It was so embarrassing haha but also hilarious. 

The only other thing that happened this week was we went to the "thinking cup" which is my favorite resturant. It's a library cafe and they play Taylor swift music and have the only alfredo pasta I have been able to find in the philippines so far. It's the best. I'll include pictures.

Anyways, Sorry this week is kind of short. I hope this week I am 100% healthy and able to work so I will have lots of miracles and experiences to share next week. Love you all have a great week!:)

I'm dreaming of a wet,wet Filipino Christmas...

Malagayang Pasko!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow it's so weird that Christmas is in just a few days. It honestly feels like I am living in an eternal summer here haha This past week was really great though because we had lots of Christmas fun to help get us in the spirit of Christmas. Last Wednesday we had our mission wide Christmas conference which included a talent show that every zone of missionaries performed in. Our zone rocked it and i'm going to try and get a copy of the video for posterity! Then on Friday we had a zone training where we did a white elephant gift exchange with all the missionaries. I was really struggling trying to think of what to get for my gift because it had to be something an elder or a sister could use and I wanted to make it good in case it was the only gift they got this Christmas so I ended up making a "Bad day care package". I put a teddy bear (for a hug) , a package of hershey kisses (for a kiss) and a notebook with my favorite encouraging scripture verses and quotes (for a nice chat). It was totally a hit and we played the game where you can steal gifts people have already opened and my gift was stolen a couple times so i think that's a sign i did a good job picking my gift! (or people just wanted some chocolate haha) 

Then Saturday morning was the baptism for the family I have been teaching from the beginning of my mission basically. They are so special to me! I understand now how missionaries say they really love the people they serve and teach. It is so true. Sister Vi and I wanted to do something special for them since they are so special to us and we decided to sing the song "when i am baptized" which is one of my favorite hymns. It was kind of a big deal because it was the first time I have sang in public (solo) since the mrs. santa clause incident way back in the 5th grade. I was really nervous but I was grateful to have that opportunity to do that for them. The spirit was so strong. I was literally so happy for them I can't even explain it. Like the best Christmas present ever that this family I loved was choosing to come unto the savior by being baptized. After they had changed, I went to check on Mierna and Grace and I gave them both a hug and the spirit was so strong. I don't think I will ever forget it. When I hugged mierna she just started crying and said thank you. It really took me aback because I realized that I really hadn't done anything. I really was just the instrument and the Lord did it all. I'm so grateful I got to be his instrument in helping this family find the truth. Afterwards, they all bore their testimonies and Mierna, the grandmother started to bawl as she talked and just said "I know that I belong to the true church of Jesus Christ now." The bishop spoke and said it was one of the most spiritual baptisms he had been to. I'm so grateful I was able to be there for them. I love them, they are so strong! Grace is 20 and wants to serve a mission as soon as she hits her one year mark! Her faith really encourages me to be better!:)

After the baptism we went to a Legazpi stake talent show for all the wards. Our Mission president lives in our stake so he requested us missionaries to perform. We sang a "Far far away on Judea's Plains" and then threw in a verse in bicol(the language of my region of the Philippines) and everyone was so surprised/ happy about it. haha I promise you I have spent more time on a stage performing this past week than all the previous times of my life. We got to stay and watch the rest of the performances and they were all so cute! All the Filipinos I meet are so talented and the show was definitely star packed. 

Then this morning I became an official missionary because i went and played basketball in the church parking lot on pday with all the Elders. So I can mark that off my bucket list. It was actually really fun and one of the AP's was charitable enough to become my coach for the morning and he taught me how to shoot! Then my Zone Leader came over and we had a competition of who could get more shots in and the loser had to buy the other ice cream. I ended up getting free salted caramel ice cream from 7-11 for breakfast so I think it was a pretty successful morning! haha 

I'm so excited for Christmas and to Skype my family in just a few days! I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember the real reason for this season: The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! I am so grateful to be able to be a missionary for this Christmas season and tell the world about the best Christmas present ever given. When our heavenly Father gave his son Jesus Christ to us so that we could return to live with him again one day. I know that life can get so busy and sometimes we can forget to make time for the savior in our lives, but this Christmas, I invite you to really think of the gift you can give back to our savior. Whether it being your time to serve your fellow man, your church attendance, reading his word through the scriptures, etc. Really ponder and thin about what you could give the Lord in this upcoming year. I am doing this too and am really excited to try and improve myself in this upcoming year. 

Thank you all for the love and support and I really do hope you have a wonderful Christmas! 

Sister Turner:)

Merry Christmas! Here's some pictures! Thanksgiving and balut, 7-11 ice cream with our member present after working, Sister Vi, members, opening my package from the primary back home, ward Christmas party pig they let us cut for dinner.

Hand Caught In The Cookie Jar...

Hello Everyone!

I have lots to say and not lots of time today so I'm going to test out my word per minutes typing ability haha. I think I will just share two really cool experiences I had this week. 

So on Tuesday we went to go visit this cute little 89 year old nanay less active and when we got to her house the neighbors said she had been taken to the hospital so we dropped all our plans to go to the next town over to check on our nanay at the hospital because we really felt like we needed to go to her right then. When we get there we go to the front desk to try to find her with only her last name. haha the great thing about the Philippines is they will give anyone information no matter how confidential. We walk up and they saw our name tags and the guy goes "oh. are you here to see the two american elders with dangae fever?" tapos he gives us their room number along with our nanay's information. So  of course we decide o go check on the elders and see who it is hidden in this Filipino hospital. (Probably not a good idea) We didn't realize it was a bad idea until we had already knocked on their door and then decided to turn back but when we turned around the AP's were coming down the hall towards us. I think I probably have never looked so guilty before. Even though I wasn't doing anything wrong really, I just felt like a kid who got caught with their hand in the candy jar haha Because it is weird that we were at the hospital door of these two elders who were supposed to be there secretly. But it all worked out and it was perfect timing because the AP's ended up giving our nanay a blessing and it totally made her day. (Also the elders who were sick I actually did know them haha but they are doing just fine now). It was a col experience because I really felt we were doing our job as representatives of Jesus Christ as we followed the spirit and were able to help who really needed help in the moment they needed it. 

We also had our ward Christmas party this week which I was in charge of doing a children's game for 60 primary kids. It was the most terrifying thing I think I have done so far on my mission. There was a microphone, 60 kids wanting candy, me speaking broken Tagalog and trying to explain red rover. It was rough. haha plus the 300 people in our ward were watching it all go down. But I am so grateful because my zone leader Elder Cameron totally saved me and helped me reel in all these crazy kids. I owe him big time. So grateful seriously haha But just in case you were wondering, Red Rover is not a good game for Filipino children because they will beat each other up but they actually have a fun time with duck duck goose. 

Oh also we had a lot of stressful complications with our baptisms but all is good now and they are set to be baptized next Saturday at 11am. I am so excited for their family! It is Mierna, Grace and Ian. They are so great. I am grateful that I have been able to teach them from the very beginning and see how the gospel has really changed their lives:) 

Sorry so much happened this week but I am out of time. I'll write better/more next week! Love you all!

Ingat!

Sister Turner:)

Don't Worry!

Okay everyone... Big news! I AM ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

So no big deal but I totally lived through a super typhoon as a missionary in the Philippines. So that's cool. oh man. The last few days have been crazy but don't worry I am just fine. Typhoon Ruby didn't hit my area all that bad and the worst part of the storm was probably the fact that we weren't allowed to go out and work and I was SO BORED.I am incapable of being lazy now. Like seriously.I just want to work and be busy all the time.

 It was cool though because on Sunday we got to go next door to our neighbor's for sacrament meeting. The dad is the CES coordinator and was authorized to have a sacrament meeting in his home. They had gathered together all the plastic cups they could find (in all different sizes) and used bread and water that they blessed and then used for the sacrament. The spirit was so strong and it was way cool because I felt like i was in the early days of the church back when there was only 20 members haha. Then we had some spiritual thoughts and then they served us lunch. Our neighbors,the Manahan's are the best. They have 5 boys and they always joke that they have adopted the sister missionaries as their daughters.  :) We had some nice special treatment during the storm though because my area is right by the mission office and home so the AP's delivered yummy home made meals from the mission president's wife to us. 

It was so weird because the "bagyo" was over us for about 24 hours but last night was the worst part of it. The rain was coming down so hard the sky was just white and there was zero visibility. Tapos, the wind was right above us and so loud that it made the whistling/screeching sound like tornado's do in the movies. We really were so blessed because our house and our lives were fine. I am not sure how my area is because we haven't really gone out yet but I got several texts from our investigators and members saying that their homes and  families were safe. I just want to thank everyone for all the prayers and fasts directed towards me and my beloved people here in the Philippines! I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and hears and answers our prayers and that he really protected us from this storm. 

I hope that you all continue to stay safe and know that I love you and pray for all of you always. 

Mahal na mahal ko kayo! Ingat kayo palagi. 

Sister Turner:) 

Surprise! An Early Email

Hello Everyone!

I am emailing on Saturday because we have been advised to email today because later today a major super typhoon is supposed to hit us. I don't know if you have heard about it or if they are talking about it on world wide news but they say it is supposed to be as big as Yolanda, which was the biggest tsunami storm to ever hit the Philippines. Right now the typhoon "Ruby" is 40 provinces wide and headed in my direction! haha Don't you worry though. My apartment is very safe and we should be fine there. It's so safe in fact that we currently have 15 evacuated sisters from other parts of the mission staying with us. So it's like a big slumber party with lots of saltine crackers haha We have been told to have 7 days worth of food and water and have everything ready for emergency evacuation if need be. I am mostly just sending this email to assure you that I will be just fine but we do expect some pretty big repercussions from this storm so we may not have power for up to a month, meaning I might not be able to email or communicate for that amount of time. I'm sure my mission president will keep my family informed and if there is a way of communication still up after the storm and maybe I will even be able to call home! woohoo silver lining!

 It's so crazy because everyone is running around trying to prepare for this storm and church services have even been canceled for the prolonged future and we are setting up all church buildings as safe spots for evacuees so we will also evacuate there if our apartment becomes unsafe. I don't want you to worry about me because I know that Heavenly Father is with me and I will be safe. I know everything is in the Lord's all knowing hands. Please pray for all the people of the Philippines because there are many who are unable to have safe shelters or be well prepared due to their poverty and various situations and I am worried for them. I pray the Lord will protect these wonderful people that I love. 

This week I got a new companion, Sister Vi from Tonga! She is pretty awesome. I feel like I will be able to learn a lot from her and really become a better missionary and I am excited for the next six weeks. This week we got to teach Mierna and Grace and Ian and they are literally so prepared and awesome. They were supposed to be baptized this upcoming Saturday but everything is being delayed because of the bagyo! I hope they don't have to wait to much longer because they are so excited. Also an update on Lolido: He is still going strong. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and wants to be baptized. He moved to another town for work but says he wants to come back so I can teach and baptize him here since Sister Mccoard and I were the ones to find him and start teaching him. I thought that was really sweet but the best part is that he wants to be baptized in the first place! We really are so blessed here. One of the first things I said to my new kasama was "Sister. You just got transferred into the best area of this mission! You just wait and see!" and it's so true. There are so many choices spirits here ready to accept the gospel and the coolest thing is that when Sister Mccoard and I opened this area there wasn't anyone yet but with the Lord's help we were able to find this wonderful people and share with the the truth they had been searching for. I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father is allowing me to be a part of his great work here in Daraga. 

I love you all, you are the best!

Sister Turner:)

A Very Filipino Thanksgiving:)

Hello Hello Hello!! First of all thank you so much for all the love and support you've all been sending me! Also shout out to my family for eating thanksgiving rice in my honor! My thanksgiving was actually a pretty good one. We had a district meeting where we talked about being grateful and how to serve our area better. Tapos, the sisters all went out to eat lunch and had a great time laughing and went around saying all the things we were grateful for. Just like home! It was cute:) Then for our thanksgiving dinner we made french toast(which actually tastes good wherever you are in the world apparently so woohoo) and BALUT. Balut is the traditional Filipino delicacy. You can Google it for more info but basically it is a boiled egg but it has a half formed chick with feathers and brain and beak. That was HILARIOUS to see each other try. Definitely a once in a mission thing i'm thinking. I don't know if I can send videos on my email but if not, I've got a really funny video to show you in 14 months! haha 

Also I got mail yesterday!!! It was a padded envelope from my ward back home!! It had cute notes from the kids who I used to babysit and sweet notes from the relief society and some cute treats. I cannot even tell you how happy it made me! It was a super surreal moment because I remember making those care packages for missionaries and now I AM THE MISSIONARY!!! so weird and surreal. I am so blessed and thank you so much! 

So This week was just very surreal because I am done with training now! Tomorrow Sister Mccoard will be transferring and I will get a new companion and lead this area. We spent all day yesterday trying to teach as many of our investigators and visit everyone she wanted to before leaving. We took a bunch of pictures with them which i will send probably next week because the computer is being weird. I'm really sad Sister M is leaving. I love her so much and was hoping we could stay together for Christmas! Actually one of the Ap's told us we were supposed to stay together another 6 weeks but something happened in the mission here they needed to separate a companionship so we ended up getting split. I am sad but I know that ultimately everything is part of the Lord's plan and I am excited to have my first "real" companion where I am a normal and 100% official missionary. We have a family getting baptized on Dec. 13 and I am so excited for them! I'll send you more on all our amazing investigators next week hopefully!

December is the rainy season here in Phili and it definitely hasn't disappointed. I had a really cool missionary slash life moment Saturday night because we had been punted all day (where no one is home/all our appointments fall through) and it started raining SO HARD. For like 3 hours straight and the roads were completely empty and we literally were wading through like 6 inches of water and deeper in some places and i'm just like trying to hold my skirt and umbrella and scriptures (I NEED A WATERPROOF SCRIPTURE CASE) and it was so crazy and dark and insane and all I could think is "This is SO COOL! I am a missionary in the Philippines "swimming" through gross water to go teach people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. IT IS THE BEST! 

The Lord blesses me so much every single day. One of the ways he blesses me is by giving me weaknesses because those weaknesses force me to rely on him and when I rely on him I really do become strong. I feel his love in my life often and know I am where I am supposed to be. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Let Heavenly Father and our savior Jesus Christ help you with the things you may be struggling with. You can become strong and feel their love no matter what may be happening.

I am praying for you always,

Sister Turner:)