Photos of July

Pictures from Ryan's memory card, taken in July 2015

The huge Mormon Tabernacle Choir is dwarfed by the field at Yankee Stadium

Ryan and Elder Shepherd at the Yankees game

Apparently, this means "halfway there" in American Sign Language -- Ryan hit his one-year mark on July 9

I don't think there's been a memory card sent home without at least one turtle, real or museum

New York City sights, clockwise from left: Empire State Building, Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx tunnel graffiti

And then there were three!

Transfers recently finished, and we said goodbye to Elder Hill. He is going upstate to work with the office elders, who help the more physical side of things in the mission; like delivering mail, moving things, getting supplies, etc. That leaves only three of us here in the ASL program, which means we are all companions now. Elder Holloway has joined Elder Shepherd and I. Elder Holloway and I haven't been companions for almost a year, and I know we will do good work together. We've both grown a lot since then.

Now with only one companionship in the program, I suspect things are going to get a little more difficult. The good thing is that both our areas haven't been doing so hot, so combining the work should give us more to do. But, now there is only one companionship in this mission to support the branch. Also, tasks that two typically shared -- example: one (companionship) goes food shopping while the other cleans on P-day -- the three of us have to do together. It should be interesting seeing how things move forward.

I will have more on how the three of us are working together next week!

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

The native New Yorkers

I feel as if I am becoming one myself! Nearly a year in this state has allowed some of my mannerisms to adapt to local culture. For example, crowd-weaving is a normal part of my day, and being the only white person on the train is no longer awkward.

As I mentioned some time ago, this is the city of everything. So many things I had never thought of before are evident everywhere. One element that I love is the small-scale economics that are on the subway and the street. On the subways you get young men who carry wholesale-sized boxes of snacks bound together by plastic wrap. They always ask to pardon the interruption, and then go on to list off their name-brand snacks, typically explaining they are doing this to raise money in a good way and keep off the streets. There are also Chinese salesmen numbers 1, 2, and 3 (numbered by my trainer) that roam the subways selling pirated movies and DVDs. In the summertime, the cry of "Ice-cold water! One dollar! One dollar!" can be heard on nearly every street corner.

It is also unique to see the theme of instant gratification. With a city operating on the New-York-Minute, there isn't much time for waiting or patience. I have seen many ads for home-delivered goods and services, and the dollar-slice joints and bodegas (corner stores) offer fast and cheap food on the go. Rarely have I seen a price that isn't rounded (even with tax), as giving change or receiving it seems too big a hassle.

The New Yorkers themselves are a fun lot as well. Street and subway performers liven up the atmosphere, and many are quite good at what they do. Yesterday, an old man playing a march-style beat on his guitar followed us through a park. There is here and there the person collecting signatures or donations or opinions for whatever cause they represent, which as missionaries we really can't become involved with, as what we do and say is representing the church.

As for the beggars of New York, we haven't been given any clear-cut counsel from on high, but generally missionaries accept the standard that the money we have is the Lord's to be used for benefiting us and us only. There have only been a couple times where people tried to use the Jesus guilt-trip, normally they just try to be humble and pitiful. If we have extra food and we see one, we sometimes give him some. Money is a bad idea because you never know which beggars are actually professional panhandlers or will use the money to feed their drug addiction. Thus, food is the safest option.

Hope y'all are doing well with the heat (Except Elder Miller (Ryan's friend Jesse, serving his mission in Brazil), who is experiencing Southern Hemisphere winter)!

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

July heat and humidity

Ryan's Uncle Scott (Tom's brother) and Aunt Tara were in NYC last week. They took Ryan and his companion to lunch and texted me a picture! 

It has been quite warm and humid this past week. I have been sweating a lot more than usual. One time when I looked, NYC was hotter than Mesa, AZ for a little bit! The temperature I can get over, it's just the humidity that kills.

Church attendance was pretty good this Sunday. A beloved member that moved a while back visited, which drew a few more than normal. We also had a missionary farewell for a deaf young woman from the branch going to Salt Lake City West, and her hearing family came. They aren't members, and have a lot of concerns with her leaving, and the sisters are trying to resolve them. I am confident that the Lord will provide in this matter.

The work was slightly better this week, as we meet with a few people we haven't seen in a while. But, things are still a bit slow, which means a lot of trying to find old potentials and less-actives. I am getting to see more of the city that way. For some weird reason, walking through the sketchy parts of Manhattan and the Bronx doesn't phase me, and yet Midtown is completely out of my comfort zone. I'm used to going up large government-run apartment buildings for low-income people known as "projects," but facing a doorman in a nice, lower Manhattan building is not up my alley. One could say my view of viewing the city is different than most. But, I love it all the same.

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

New mission president

Ryan with his new mission president, Pres. Smith, and the president's wife

Just another week in the city

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

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