Nothing of spectacular note this week, as the work is still a bit slow. We did go two days ago to a building in Northeast Bronx that is teeming with deaf people, doing less-active and former investigator lookups. It is an hour-and-a-half subway/bus trip from our apartment, and we crossed pretty much the entire length of the Bronx to do so. Didn't have a lot of success, but don't they say that one must find "joy in the journey"?
For July 4th, the branch didn't do anything, but we had a Hawaii party this most recent Saturday. We even got a less-active member to go to that and then to church on Sunday! Those branch parties are really the only deaf events we go to, though we may consider asking for approval to go to more, as we now have a deaf elder. There are more in the NY South mission, as they have a fairly prominent deaf school.
Elder Shepherd and I have had a few small quarrels, but we are doing well together for the most part. The other two ASL elders have been struggling a lot with one another, which has added a unique feel to the program. They have been slowly progressing, which is a good sign. I hope that the two of us don't get like that.
One thing I learned upstate in Newburgh that I am still applying here and teaching my companion is how to be persistent. While tracting or doing lookups, missionaries often get shut down when people say things like "I'm Catholic", "I'm too busy", or any other number of subpar excuses. I have been learning to not accept that, but to continue to ask questions and share our message. I have seen hearts soften as we continue to teach and testify at the doorstep. Especially with less-active members, it is important to express your concern for them and for the Lord's desire to come back into the fold they chose to join before. They don't always accept, but at least we have fulfilled our purpose.
Love you all!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Half and half
Well....it seems that my mission is halfway through now. One year gone, and another full of adventure left. It's odd to know that I've cleared the hump.
We attended a Yankees game on Friday because the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was performing pregame. It was an awesome show, and the game was alright. We left just before 9, and I heard that the game lasted until around 1 a.m. with 12 innings due to a tie. The Yankees pulled through and eventually won, which was good for us New Yorkers!
For the most part, Elder Shepherd and I are getting along well. He didn't really enjoy his time with his last companion, who happens to still live here, so I have been a delight to him. I am responsible for continuing his training here in the field, which Elder Holloway started, which is a big task. I hope my accumulated missionary wisdom is enough.
With the recent passing of Elder Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we were encouraged by our mission resident to re-read his last General Conference talk. The last paragraphs are all his powerful witness and testimony of the Atonement. It was his final mark on the Church and mankind in this life. I invite you all to read it and feel its power.
Until next time,
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language
We attended a Yankees game on Friday because the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was performing pregame. It was an awesome show, and the game was alright. We left just before 9, and I heard that the game lasted until around 1 a.m. with 12 innings due to a tie. The Yankees pulled through and eventually won, which was good for us New Yorkers!
For the most part, Elder Shepherd and I are getting along well. He didn't really enjoy his time with his last companion, who happens to still live here, so I have been a delight to him. I am responsible for continuing his training here in the field, which Elder Holloway started, which is a big task. I hope my accumulated missionary wisdom is enough.
With the recent passing of Elder Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we were encouraged by our mission resident to re-read his last General Conference talk. The last paragraphs are all his powerful witness and testimony of the Atonement. It was his final mark on the Church and mankind in this life. I invite you all to read it and feel its power.
Until next time,
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
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
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
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
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
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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
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
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
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 MissionWednesday, June 10, 2015
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
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
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