Independence Week -- (plus June pictures!)

Fireworks all over the city this past weekend, though we didn't see very many. I'm sure at least a few were illegal, but we heard them nonetheless. To honor our nation's birthday, I memorized the whole national anthem, which is a beautiful work of music and art. I'm glad it is included in our hymn books. It was hard to find anyone home that night.

Sunday was again miraculous. A less-active had called us a couple times over the past month saying that she and her boyfriend (who has been taught many times before) were finally working out some problems and were going to come to church. While they didn't show up the weeks they said they would, they surprised us this last Sunday. He is super ready to progress again and has a baptismal date of July 24. That's after I leave, but I'm stoked nonetheless. Another deaf couple came as well unprovoked and showed much interest. The husband was actually baptized years ago, but because his baptismal record lacked the right signatures, it never officialized into a member record. We had started helping him prepare to be officially baptized again, but then he moved to Albany. He is showing a lot of interest in preparing again, and he and his wife said they would want to attend our branch in NYC coming from Albany every week, so the other elders are now working with them. He had a baptismal date for July 17, and his wife recently accepted a more soft invitation for August 7. I know the work will be good even after I leave.

Love you all!

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language

Ryan got to visit the Freedom Tower and the 9-11 Memorial

MTC roommates reunited as NYNY South ASL missionary Elder Clair (gray suit) and former Elder Crockett (white shirt) attended the branch together

Captioned: Weekly planning stares

Two views of the Bronx: one with Ryan, one at sunset

Postcard-worthy shot of the East River and Brooklyn

With branch members, at a BBQ restaurant