The city is definitely ready for the holiday season. Coats and Christmas and candy is everywhere, though not a whole lot of caroling yet. Parts of the city are really lighting up, and I hope to see some of the famous Christmas sights in NYC. Our apartment is ready, as on Friday we set up our tree that can't stand on its own and broke out the Christmas music. 'Tis the most wonderful time of the year indeed.
Thanksgiving was wonderful, as we went to both the branch Thanksgiving dinner in the afternoon and then to a member's home that evening. Then we went to yet another member's home to choose from 18 kinds of pie! My stomach was very satisfied by the end of it all.
Elder Aston is our new district leader, and is an amazing elder. He is only two months younger mission-wise than my companion, and is a fearless contacter. I really enjoy having him back here in the program, and we click pretty well (though he clicks even better with Elder Holloway, which scares me).
In terms of service, most of it comes from other missionaries. The people in the branch don't really do a whole lot of service stuff, so we put it out there to the other missionaries that if they want some extra hands in their projects, we are more than happy to help. Some have taken us up on it, and it is always fun. Especially when on Saturday we moved a family and the two of us had to take two 12-ft two-by-fours up 18 flights of very tight stairs because they wouldn't fit in the elevator. Like I said, always fun!
The Church has launched an awesome Christmas initiative to help the world focus back on the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is entitled "He is the Gift, "referring to the fact that Christ was God's gift to all mankind. All sorts of advertising and media influence has gone into this, especially here in NYC. We have new pass-along cards, ads on taxi tops, and even two video boards and a giant billboard IN TIMES SQUARE to spread the true joy of the Christmas season.
I would invite each and every one of you to go to Christmas.mormon.org and watch the 3-minute video that is the focus of this initiative. Also, you can share this with your friends and family with #SharetheGift, as many already have. Join the thousands, if not millions, of people sharing the gift of the Savior this Christmas season! I can personally testify that if we turn our hearts towards the Savior, act upon what we learn about Him, and share what we have found with others, that our lives will have more joy. May you feel His love and my love this time of the year and always!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The gift of two years
It's the season for thanksgiving! The nice part is that we are actually getting fed tomorrow (our dinner appointments are few and far between)! Also, it is supposed to snow today, though it is currently raining outside. Rain and snow all day. Fun!
I'm starting this email at transfer meeting. Elder Filoso is going up to the city of Newburgh, and Elder Aston, the ASL elder currently up in Newburgh, is coming back to the city. So, today is very busy with getting Filoso out and Aston in. Elder Fotheringham and I are still companions for his next cycle, making me his longest companion. So, my work in the Deaf Branch will continue ever onward for likely at least three more cycles.
We had a freak warm day on Monday. It got up to 66 degrees! I didn't wear a jacket at all, and even felt a tad warm. All you Arizonans are still probably shivering as you read this. But, it's back down into the 30's today, so the universe is in order once more. Regardless, I am adjusting to the weather fairly nicely, though the others keep making jokes about me being from Arizona. I just fire back in the summertime when they are complaining about the heat.
Nothing else of particular importance happened this week. We tried contacting some less-actives with little success, and had a good time in church. Apparently there was a giant mob of protesters right outside our apartment around midnight last night, but only my companion woke up because of the screaming and shouting. I slept right through it. We hear about other civil unrest demonstrations and problems around the city, but seldom see any of them.
As I think about Thanksgiving tomorrow, I reflect on my mission thus far. I am so thankful that I am out here in NYC serving the Lord. I have learned quite a lot about His gospel, about the goodness of the church, and about myself and who I am. I know that I am a son of God, as we are all children of our Heavenly Father. Think of Him during this time of gratitude, and draw joy from the happiness He brings all of us. Also, pig out on all the turkey and ham and ESPECIALLY the pumpkin pie!
... (later, in a separate e-mail) ...
Just finished part one of transfer meeting, and came outside to sleet. It may have snowed a bit while I was in the Inwood chapel, as there is ice and snow on most of the parked cars. Otherwise, today, is a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow.
It's now about 1:45, and I have been in legit snow! White and icy, it descends from the sky. The snowflakes are of all sizes, though I can never see their shape. Elder Fotheringham tells me it gets gross after about a day after snowing, but in the moment it is cool to see. Also pretty wet.
The city is really starting to light up even more for the Christmas season, and I look forward to seeing all the sights. I will get good pictures. Other than that, I think that's about all. Though this shouldn't be much of a problem, stay warm!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
I'm starting this email at transfer meeting. Elder Filoso is going up to the city of Newburgh, and Elder Aston, the ASL elder currently up in Newburgh, is coming back to the city. So, today is very busy with getting Filoso out and Aston in. Elder Fotheringham and I are still companions for his next cycle, making me his longest companion. So, my work in the Deaf Branch will continue ever onward for likely at least three more cycles.
We had a freak warm day on Monday. It got up to 66 degrees! I didn't wear a jacket at all, and even felt a tad warm. All you Arizonans are still probably shivering as you read this. But, it's back down into the 30's today, so the universe is in order once more. Regardless, I am adjusting to the weather fairly nicely, though the others keep making jokes about me being from Arizona. I just fire back in the summertime when they are complaining about the heat.
Nothing else of particular importance happened this week. We tried contacting some less-actives with little success, and had a good time in church. Apparently there was a giant mob of protesters right outside our apartment around midnight last night, but only my companion woke up because of the screaming and shouting. I slept right through it. We hear about other civil unrest demonstrations and problems around the city, but seldom see any of them.
As I think about Thanksgiving tomorrow, I reflect on my mission thus far. I am so thankful that I am out here in NYC serving the Lord. I have learned quite a lot about His gospel, about the goodness of the church, and about myself and who I am. I know that I am a son of God, as we are all children of our Heavenly Father. Think of Him during this time of gratitude, and draw joy from the happiness He brings all of us. Also, pig out on all the turkey and ham and ESPECIALLY the pumpkin pie!
... (later, in a separate e-mail) ...
Just finished part one of transfer meeting, and came outside to sleet. It may have snowed a bit while I was in the Inwood chapel, as there is ice and snow on most of the parked cars. Otherwise, today, is a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow.
It's now about 1:45, and I have been in legit snow! White and icy, it descends from the sky. The snowflakes are of all sizes, though I can never see their shape. Elder Fotheringham tells me it gets gross after about a day after snowing, but in the moment it is cool to see. Also pretty wet.
The city is really starting to light up even more for the Christmas season, and I look forward to seeing all the sights. I will get good pictures. Other than that, I think that's about all. Though this shouldn't be much of a problem, stay warm!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Setting in
Ryan (top left, in hat) at a zone activity talking to New Yorkers on the street
Christmas stuff is starting to spring up around the city! There are some light fixtures on a few stretches, and even some trees in store windows and areas. Union Square has a bunch of shops that are set up there every year at this time, and it is cool to see them get set up. Vendors of all sorts of things sell their wares, and the square is always packed from what my companion tells me.
This week's highlight was definitely Sunday again. The other two ASL elders, Elders Holloway and Filoso, who live with my companion and I and work in the same branch and geographic area, had three baptisms. A deaf mother and her two hearing daughters, ages 13 and 11, entered the waters of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. What's more is that our recent convert, Ariel, who was just baptized just over a month ago, performed the baptisms! We also had a record 82 people in Sacrament meeting, the main meeting of the church block.
We still have our JW investigator with a baptismal date of the 30th of this month, and his girlfriend that we have been teaching with him has finally accepted the invitation to be baptized, though we don't have a date for her yet. We are still also focusing our efforts a lot on members who don't come to church as often or that haven't come in a long time. We are still seeing small miracles with them, but still need to exercise a lot of patience.
The work is still going forward, and I am loving every bit of it. I enjoy getting your emails and letters, and hope all is well for you. Stay warm!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The night is come
Hello once again! With daylight savings and winter fast approaching, nighttime is now a lot earlier. It's already completely dark at 5:30! However, the city lights create this weird glow on the rim of the night sky. In the city that never sleeps, there is always street and building lights on, and people walking and driving all the same.
Had an awesome zone conference yesterday. All of the missionaries serving in Manhattan gathered together at the temple chapel and received instruction from our mission president. We had to wake up at 5:30 to go over early to set up, but it was well worth it. One of the things he talked about was how we personally know our Savior. It is amazing to see how Christ has touched all of our lives, and how we have each come to know Him better. President Morgan also answered a lot of our questions regarding mission rules and doctrine, which was very helpful and cleared up a lot of confusion.
It is still steadily getting colder, and all the New Yorkers know it. Almost everyone has on some sort of jacket or coat nowadays. On one day when it was only slightly cold, the other ASL elders were ridiculed by a few people for not having any sort of coat on, even though they were fine without it. New Yorkers really are wimps when it comes to cold weather. According to the forecast, it is supposed to to snow next Tuesday, so that should be fun. I may get to see my first snowfall (as I remember nothing of the first two years of my life in Ohio).
Other than that, the work goes steady and onwards. Some awesome things are happening in the branch, and we look forward with brightness of hope. Stay happy and warm!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Had an awesome zone conference yesterday. All of the missionaries serving in Manhattan gathered together at the temple chapel and received instruction from our mission president. We had to wake up at 5:30 to go over early to set up, but it was well worth it. One of the things he talked about was how we personally know our Savior. It is amazing to see how Christ has touched all of our lives, and how we have each come to know Him better. President Morgan also answered a lot of our questions regarding mission rules and doctrine, which was very helpful and cleared up a lot of confusion.
It is still steadily getting colder, and all the New Yorkers know it. Almost everyone has on some sort of jacket or coat nowadays. On one day when it was only slightly cold, the other ASL elders were ridiculed by a few people for not having any sort of coat on, even though they were fine without it. New Yorkers really are wimps when it comes to cold weather. According to the forecast, it is supposed to to snow next Tuesday, so that should be fun. I may get to see my first snowfall (as I remember nothing of the first two years of my life in Ohio).
Other than that, the work goes steady and onwards. Some awesome things are happening in the branch, and we look forward with brightness of hope. Stay happy and warm!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Monday, November 10, 2014
Surprise snail mail
Dear family,
I haven't sent a physical letter to you in a while, so I decided to send one now! I love hearing about what's going on at home in your letters and emails, and I hope my communications home make you happy. I miss Arizona winter weather, and I know I will a lot more in the near future. It should start snowing at the end of the month here, which I am both excited and not for. I will get pictures.
Speaking of pictures, if there are specific ones you want of things here in New York City (Manhattan and Bronx, that is). I can't guarantee I will get them soon, but I will try my best.
I eat a lot of NY style pizza, averaging about six slices a week. That is because we usually go for it twice a week, and I typically get three each time. At a dollar a slice, pizza is definitely a staple to a missionary's diet. And, it never gets old!
Well, that's about all I can think of right now. See my emails for additional stuff about my mission and about New York. Also see (picture below) for a basic diagram of the church building on 65th Street. It's the Manhattan Temple, Family History Center, Distribution Center, and a church building all in one!
-- the temple part has its own elevator that passes the main church building part
-- there is another elevator that does the non-temple parts
-- on Sundays, certain doors inside and outside the temple lobby are opened and closed so that the elevator can be used for church, so both elevators are running. However, it can't go up into the temple when that happens
Hope you are still enjoying life in Arizona. I'll be back before you know it.
Love,
Elder Ryan Turner
Saturday, November 8, 2014
The October photos are here!
Pictures from Ryan's memory card, taken in October 2014
It's finally sweater weather!
Of course my saber-loving son found the sword display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pizza eating in Union Square. Based solely on the number of photos with pizza in them somewhere, I think it's their staple food.
His 3-month mark treat (Oreo ice cream)
The caption he sent says "cooking level at three months." I think it's a quesadilla, but it could also be an omelet?
Elder Turner and Elder Fotheringham contemplate Central Park (and are probably glad they don't have to rake all the leaves)
2 Nephi 12:3: "Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord"
ASL elders in the Central Park Conservatory on a rainy afternoon
The mission president took selfies with each district after interviews
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Power of the priesthood
Tis November already! Weather is cooling down, and Sunday was especially cold here in the city. We were required to be inside our apartments by 6 pm on Halloween to avoid the crazies, and we played games and ate food together. It was a fun night. We went to Central Park last week, which is its own piece of serenity in the middle of the world's third largest city. It can't quite compare to the Manhattan Temple, but it is mostly quiet and cool nonetheless. The trees are changing color all over the city, which is remarkable to see.
There are several experiences I am going to share this week that have really strengthened my testimony of priesthood power. For those of you who aren't as familiar with the term "priesthood," I will now explain it. The Priesthood is the literal power of God given to worthy men for the benefit of others. By its authority, functions of the church are managed, and ordinances such as baptism and the Sacrament are performed. It can also be used to give blessings of healing and comfort for all who desire it, according to their faith. In all, the priesthood is used solely to help other people and to run the church and perform the ordinances thereof.
I had the privilege to participate in giving several priesthood blessings this week and seeing miracles happen. The first was on Sunday, when we gave a blessing to one of our investigators, who has had stomach problems for a long time. Then, on Monday morning, she called one of the members who helped us teach her, and said that for the first time in a long time, she woke up with no pain whatsoever. She apparently described it as having stars in her stomach, and a feeling of relief and joy. Yesterday, we gave another healing blessing to a member's daughter, who has also had stomach problems that the doctors are slow in finding for the last week. They texted us this morning that she was feeling a lot better. We also gave a blessing to Elder Holloway last night to help the pain in his neck subside, and he is doing much better today.
I have a firm belief in the reality of miracles and of the power of the priesthood. I know that God will aid us as long as we have faith, and through His power given to worthy priesthood holders we can be comforted and healed. I hope to see more miracles like this as I continue to serve the people of New York. I am privileged to be serving Him at this time and that I can help ours come closer to Christ.
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Things are still going in the branch. Our recent convert now has the Aaronic priesthood and a temple recommend, and is coming to branch baptisms at the temple on Friday! We have two more investigators with baptismal dates -- the woman I will mention below, and the Jehovah's Witness mentioned in the a letter from two weeks ago. Other than that, our investigator pool is kind of shot, so we are trying to find new people.
I had the privilege to participate in giving several priesthood blessings this week and seeing miracles happen. The first was on Sunday, when we gave a blessing to one of our investigators, who has had stomach problems for a long time. Then, on Monday morning, she called one of the members who helped us teach her, and said that for the first time in a long time, she woke up with no pain whatsoever. She apparently described it as having stars in her stomach, and a feeling of relief and joy. Yesterday, we gave another healing blessing to a member's daughter, who has also had stomach problems that the doctors are slow in finding for the last week. They texted us this morning that she was feeling a lot better. We also gave a blessing to Elder Holloway last night to help the pain in his neck subside, and he is doing much better today.
I have a firm belief in the reality of miracles and of the power of the priesthood. I know that God will aid us as long as we have faith, and through His power given to worthy priesthood holders we can be comforted and healed. I hope to see more miracles like this as I continue to serve the people of New York. I am privileged to be serving Him at this time and that I can help ours come closer to Christ.
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
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