Photos from June!

Photos sent home on Ryan's memory card from June 2015

With the help of a member, Ryan's district threw him a surprise birthday party

My son the rebel. The caption read:"I can stand where I want!"

An appropriate street to tract on

Photos with members in Newburgh before being transferred back to the city

Ryan got to see his trainer, Elder Fotheringham, one more time before Elder Fotheringham returned home

Ryan's new companion, Elder Shepard

A week back

I have somehow managed to survive a full week back in the deaf branch with a deaf companion!

Some I once knew serving here four months ago have changed a lot. There have been several baptisms of people I only saw in their first phases of progression, and a few less-actives have come back. Sadly, a couple others have weakened. But overall, I feel the branch is in better shape than I left it, which is the goal. I hope to see it grow even more over the next year.

Elder Shepard has been especially glad to get me as a companion. He and Elder Holloway, my MTC companion and his trainer, didn't get along the best from what they have told me. Elder Shepard was excited for a change, and for the most part, we have gotten along well. Though, having an actual deaf companion comes with its own challenges: I am signing and interpreting a LOT more than I ever have before. My skills should improve a lot.

It has been good to see a lot of the people I left, especially Ariel Chapman. He was my first baptism in the mission, and he has continued to grow in the gospel these past months. He gave a very powerful prayer at the end of church on Sunday, and I felt the Spirit as he did. There are other recent converts that have improved as well. Right now though, our area is a bit strained for investigators, but our goal is to change that.

Being in New York where the Church isn't as established as in the west, we have been mistaken for many other faiths. By far the most often, people think we are the Jehovah's Witnesses, as they are very established here and we apparently look quite a bit like them in our missionary attire. However, in this past week we were also mistaken for Seventh-Day Adventists, and even Muslims once! Why can't people actually read our tags?!

Love you all!

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language

Shocker transfers!

Yes, indeed this transfer today has completely changed my mission world. My companion, Elder Richards, is going home today, making this my second companion in a row I have been last companions with. My trainer, Elder Fotheringham, also departs today as well. Moreover, I am also leaving Newburgh, as my area is closing! This is happening all over the mission as numbers of missionaries are cut a bit. I really enjoyed the last four months of my mission serving in Newburgh.

Now, I am currently writing from the first place I emailed from my iPad -- Harlem, NY! That's right, I'm back in the main ASL program in the city, perhaps for the rest of my mission. My new companion is Elder Shepard, who is completely deaf! I am his second companion in the mission, and will continue his training. I suspect my ASL skills are going to improve even more as I am with him. From the short time I have been with him, I can already see he is a hard-core jokester.

Many feelings are running through my head as I am sitting here in the aftermath of what has happened. I would have loved to stay upstate a little longer, but it seems the Lord has other plans for me. Even in coming back to the place I now call home in NY, everything seems different. I am sure I will readjust to ASL and city life.

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language

My life in splits

First off, thank you for all your birthday wishes. I much appreciated them all. Being 19 doesn't really feel different. People still think I look 16. I'm just waiting for next birthday when I will only have four weeks left on my mission and people will realize that I came out super young. I also don't think there are any other things that now become legal for me to do or buy at this age.

As my companion is going home next week, there have been various end-of-mission events he has been doing recently. And, to save on vehicle miles and allow more work to get done, we have been doing splits with a couple other elders in the area who are going home, and I have been staying in my own area with their companions. I am currently with elders Paiz and Lyons as our companions are going to the Manhattan temple with President Morgan.

This past week has been a little rough in terms of the work, as we haven't really been able to meet with any of our main investigators. Tracting also hasn't been super effective for us lately as well. But, there are still a lot of good things happening with the members. Samuel Porter, who was baptized when I first got here to Newburgh (I wasn't involved in his investigator phase) has had his Catholic wife sit in on two of our lessons. Richard Perkowski is still building his faith and is preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.

Love you all,

Elder Ryan Turner

New York New York North Mission

American Sign Language

11 months and 19 years

It is truly amazing how life passes by as a missionary. Yesterday marked 11 months as a missionary, and tomorrow marks 19 years of life upon this earth. How very grateful I am for both!

I am currently in Elmsford, NY with Elder Smith. I have not been transferred here - both our companions are seeing a play in the city so we are doing a split here for the day. Nothing spectacular is planned for us, but it is cool to be here in Westchester County for a change.

The work has continued on, and we have some new people we have started teaching. So far, we have a couple of prospects to try to set a baptismal date with, but it has been difficult to stay in contact and have appointments happen. Their have been quite a few occasions recently when they have cancelled last-minute or flat-out not showed up. But, there have been other times when we have been able to meet, and those lessons have been really good. I always love it when I am able to testify of truth as I tract and teach.

Some people have asked me which I like better -- NYC or Newburgh. I love them both, and each has their own pros and cons. My time here in Newburgh will probably come to an end soon, so I am enjoying every moment of being upstate before I go back to the city for likely the rest of my mission.

Until next week,

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language

There MAY be some good pictures!

Pictures from Ryan's memory card, May 2015

Ryan's caption: "Good thing we aren't solicitors!"

The missionaries got a tour of West Point, including the beautiful cadet chapel

Ryan's district on the Metro North train on the way home from a special meeting with Elder Quentin L. Cook

Getting ready to Facetime-chat with the family on Mother's Day

Sleepy Hollow cemetery doesn't look very scary in the daytime

Ryan eating Oreo pudding from a mix we sent him

Elder Richards, Richard Perkowski, and Ryan at Bro. Perkowski's baptism, which Ryan performed

Ryan was excited to go into the city and play tourist for a day. There are so many parts of Central Park to explore. I wonder what treat he has in his bag?

Hey y'all!

Ran out of time again on a P-day! Everything here is great in New York, and I am loving it as usual. Hope you are all doing well!

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language