Changes and constants

Spring is FINALLY here! All the snow has melted completely, and the weather is such that we can actually do outside stuff for P-day. My new companion wants to do a lot here. Today we are going to the Woodbury Commons, the largest outlet mall in the nation, only a half hour drive from here. We should have a good time this cycle. I am looking forward to it.

I strongly hinted to Ryan that I wanted a picture of him and his new companion

Speaking of my new companion, he is an awesome missionary. His name is Elder Bradley Richards from Idaho, and he isn't too far from going home either. The interesting part is that he goes back home the same time I am supposed to leave Newburgh to go back to the city, so I think I am changing areas either this next cycle or in two more. We shall see. Interestingly enough, he was one of my zone leaders back in Manhattan for nearly six months, so we already have a good relationship. We were even companions for a day on a split at the beginning of my mission! I know that he and I will work well together, and I'm even teaching him ASL per his request.

We had an awesome baptism this most recent Saturday for Aiden Harrison, our 10-yr-old investigator. His father -- who has recently been reactivated in the church after some years of not coming -- baptized Aiden, and his grandfather confirmed him a member of the church and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost. The work continues to roll forth here in Newburgh, and even our mission president said that the work here -- both English and Spanish -- is the most prolific in the mission. I am glad to be serving here at this time.

I hope everyone enjoyed General Conference this past weekend. If you missed it, you can read or view it at lds.org. There were many inspiring addresses given, which I hope everyone can glean something good from. I personally will be reviewing them in the next little while.

Stay awesome!

Elder Ryan Turner

New York New York North Mission

American Sign Language

No April fools this year

So far today there have been several April Fool's jokes going around the mission. However, none of what I have and will say is a joke.

Members feed us all sorts of stuff for dinner when we are over. Last week, we had a traditional Russian beet soup, as the father is a native Latvian. There is a Honduran family that has made us some really good Honduran food on a couple of occasions, and some make just about everything. I haven't really found a main thing we get fed -- just a good amount of meat.

In terms of P-day activities, like as mentioned, I haven't done a whole lot up here. Once it warms up, we will probably do more outdoor activities. At least I always have time to e-mail.

Transfers are drawing near, and depending on everyone else today, I may not get a chance to email more. Enjoy the 93-degree weather.

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language

Almost there ...

I'm almost there in every sense.......except that of going home. That doesn't happen for quite a while yet. Spring should be coming soon, as the snow is continuing to slowly melt. We had another flurry on Friday, but it all melted away the next day. Friday also just had to be the day I spent a considerable amount of time tracting. Also, transfers are in a week, and I will hopefully get an English companion for the first time!

Elder Filoso is a week from going home, and it is a bit of a struggle to keep him distracted from that fact. He is currently at the temple with our mission president, and I am up here in Poughkeepsie with another missionary for most of today. Both our companions are at the temple, as they both go home together, so we are together until they return. I will work hard this next week to keep my "dying" companion from losing focus. It will be good.

We officially scheduled a baptismal date for our 10-year-old investigator, Aiden. His father is coming back to church after many years, and we have been teaching Aiden. The baptism will actually happen just before General Conference in a week, as family is coming to town for him. It should be a good experience, and Elder Filoso is even going to Facetime in to see the service, as he will be back in Utah.

Otherwise, the work continues to progress. I really enjoy working up here, and am eager for more good change to happen here in Newburgh. Missionary work is definitely worth the sacrifice. 

Elder Ryan Turner

New York New York North Mission

American Sign Language

It's beginning to look a lot less like Christmas!

For the first three weeks I have been here in Newburgh, the terrain has been nothing but white snow and dead trees, with the occasional evergreen. Over this past week, things have been getting a bit warmer, and the snow is melting! The land is changing from white to green, and I know that spring will be just beautiful.

I didn't really get too much snow driving practice, as my companion did most of the driving at those points. If I am upstate for whatever weird reason next year, I will be sure to get more in. I feel that my ASL has improved tremendously, and have even had several deaf people praise it. It has been nice having another ASL companion this cycle to ease me into managing the ASL affairs here, and I feel confident to take over should I need -- which is likely to happen in two weeks. I am doing alright in my personal goals, and we have a solid teaching pool.

Elder Filoso goes home in just two weeks, and it is getting harder and harder to keep him focused. We still are doing good work, but he is reminded daily of how close he is to being done. Hopefully my next companion isn't this close to going home.

As for the ASL program, the state of affairs is this. When I came to Newburgh, Elder Filoso's last companion, Elder Hill, actually took my spot in the city ASL program. He was called English, but then changed to ASL when he came to the city. This means that there are still two companionships. Also, we have heard about a new ASL elder coming to the mission in mid-April, and Elder Crockett is hopefully coming back in the next month or two. This means that we could have three companionships in the city, which hasn't happened since my trainer was very young in the mission. We'll see what happens, as for now I am outside that game.

Well ... can't think of much else to write. So, I think I will end it here. If you have questions, feel free to email me.

Elder Ryan Turner

New York New York North Mission

American Sign Language

February photos

Photos from Ryan's memory card taken in February 2015

The missionaries made a return visit to see more of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It appears Ryan found the musical instrument section, including the French horns.

Captioned: "That's not snow ..."

Ryan rejoined his former ASL roommate Elder Filoso in Newburgh. Elder Filoso goes home at the next transfer, in less than a month.

Snow and ice in the Newburgh area

The elders' car "Mahana," with and without snow

8 months and marching forth

On Monday, I hit eight months on my mission, making that an effective one-third of said mission. I have done so much, and I still have a lot to do, so I press forward. Nothing will hinder or stop me.

The weather is finally turning warmer, now in the 40's on most days. The snow is ever so slightly melting. I think the snowstorms for the season have ended, and so spring will hopefully come soon!

Things here in Newburgh continue. The Spanish elders have found a couple of English people for us as they have tracted, which is a boost to our teaching pool. We are teaching other investigators and newer members. It really helps when we have a member with us teaching, as they add their insight and witness to what we say. These members also help the people we teach and invite to church feel more comfortable and have a friend to go with.

We've actually done a bit of standard tracting up here. We've actually found some slightly interested people from it, and given them copies of the Book of Mormon. There have also been others who flat out told us they weren't interested, and when we offered a card or something, they told us to keep it as they would just throw it out. Amazing to see people's reaction to the gospel. It's also fun to correct misconceptions about us.

My New York driving skills have been getting better, as I have been doing most of the driving. Skinny eastern roads and mountains have been getting less scary. I successfully avoided a deer that ran right in front the of car as I was going 40mph, and also a car turning out onto the road without looking. I am very thankful for my quick reflexes, else our Ford would have some damage because of forces outside my control. Deer and New Yorkers are crazy when it comes to the road!

I hope you are all doing well and looking forward to spring. I personally sick of all the snow. All you in Arizona ... you have nothing to complain about. You enjoy summer in the coming month.

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

Baptism, snow, sleet, oh wow!

It has been a very cold and snowy week here in Newburgh, NY. We have had several storms this past week, and my companion and I have been "grounded" at a couple of points, which means that the weather is too bad for us to drive in. Last night the snow turned to sleet, which made the roads really not fun to drive in. But, we and our car are doing fine, as I've been letting my companion do the driving in the snow. That's just not a skill I picked up living in Arizona.

Left to right: Elder Filoso, Samuel, member who baptized him, Elder Turner

We had a baptism on Saturday for Samuel Porter! This is someone Elder Filoso found and taught, and I got to see the man baptized. I really didn't teach Sam, but I am glad to see him accept the gospel and show God that he is willing to follow Him. It was a small meeting, but a very spiritual experience.

There is work enough for the two of us. We are now working with another investigator named Richard, who has recently accepted a baptismal date for the 28th of this month. He is working through some drug problems, but he has a few awesome members helping him through it. Hopefully all goes well with him. We have a few others we are working with as well in various phases of progression.

I am doing fine, though I have to watch my weight. Having a car and members feeding us leaves a large opportunity to gain if one is not careful. I have been in the 160's my whole mission thus far, so I am doing well. Come summer I'm sure we will be outside a bit more. All there is to do now outside is shovel cars and the church.

Hope you all are doing well, and remember that God loves each and every one of you individually.

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