Bibles and baptisms

One way I know that the world has entered the last days is that it is currently 49 degrees and raining here in the east. Last year, it was probably about 18 degrees and snowing, and everything was covered in white. Last winter was very harsh, and then this one is super mild -- I think nature is trying to do some kind of interesting balancing act.

This weekend Ashton Quinones was baptized by his father and confirmed by the bishop, which was a wonderful experience. He has some good support, and now we need to help the whole family stay fully active. He is a smart kid, and I have enjoyed working with him.

One part of our work is something called media referrals. This is when people go to our website Mormon.org and request something, such as free scriptures, DVDs, or an actual missionary visit. We then go meet these people, deliver the requested item if that be the case, and try to share more about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We get these requests from the website via text with their information. Sometimes the person or address doesn't exist, and other times it's used by others as a prank (though recently in our mission some guy referred his brother as a joke, and this brother ended up getting baptized, so it isn't all bad). Other times it is all legit, and we have seen that most of the time we get requests, people have ordered their free copy of the Holy Bible. When we go and try to deliver it we also share with them the Book of Mormon, as both records of scripture testify that Jesus is the Christ, but often people are only interested in the Bible itself. It's a bit annoying when people play the system, but we keep praying that some of these people will actually want to learn more about our specific message.

Love,

Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York Mission
American Sign Language

Mild winter

Elder Arines and Elder Turner

It has been a rather mild winter here in the east. As many of you have heard, a giant storm walloped the east coast, especially dumping on NYC around two feet. Here where I am in Newburgh, we got only the edges of it which dropped maybe two or three inches, which was still enough to coat the countryside in glorious white.

We got to help some people shovel out, and I got to try my snow driving. The fun part is that I'm from AZ, and my companion is from the Philippines and can't drive, so it was kind of wild. Not to mention that our brakes need work done. Luckily, the Lord was watching out for us, and we didn't die or crash or anything. That was all Saturday and the weather has increased somewhat again and almost all of the snow is already gone. Oddly enough, I'm very accustomed to colder weather now. I know this winter isn't as bad as the last, but I'm definitely better adapted to lower temperatures than I was back home. Utah winter will be fun next year.

One of the people we helped shovel out was an investigator, and she came to church Sunday and really enjoyed it. One of the things I love most about the ward is that they are super open and willing to befriend newcomers. Ashton, our kid investigator, will be baptized on Saturday by his dad, so we are looking forward to that. The rest of his family is semi-active, so we are hoping that as we work with Ashton that he will encourage the rest of his family to come more.

As for membership here, I'm super happy that Richard Perkowski, the older guy I personally baptized, is fully active, works with the Cub scouts, and is working towards the higher priesthood. Aiden, the son of another member, is less-active, as is his dad. We are working to get them back. Samuel Porter was baptized just after I got here last year and struggled with working on Sundays, and his prayers have finally been answered, so he comes regularly now. 

Otherwise, we continue to knock doors and meet again with people we are finding. It's sometimes cold, late, and not as fruitful as we would like, but we continue on.

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

No, I'm not apostate

Yes, I am emailing y'all on a day other an my normal p-day, but no, I'm not breaking any rules. There was a worldwide missionary broadcast yesterday, so our p-day was moved to Thursday this week. It was really good, except during the last speaker the fire alarms in our building went off and were super annoying and you couldn't really focus on the talk. There wasn't any danger, just the system was a bit busted.

The past week of working two areas in a trio has been super busy and fulfilling. We found and taught a lot, and I got to be on West Point a lot, which is a beautiful area. Yesterday, Elder L'Esperance finally got his new companion, and so Elder Arines (pronounced Ah-Ray-nez) and I are still together and can focus our full attention on Newburgh once more. A kid investigator that was baptized just before I came got confirmed this Sunday, but it was sad when he called us that night saying that his less-active mother won't allow him to come to church anymore. His ride was a little late dropping him at home, and she took offense, though I sense a larger problem behind it. We will try to get him back. We have another kid of a semi-active family we are preparing for baptism who is progressing well, and will be baptized on Jan 30. We also have a lot of people that have been recently found that we now need to follow up with and help come closer to Christ.

I love being back here in Newburgh, and the work is good. We don't have the sisters here anymore, so it's just the two of us covering all the English and ASL work in eastern Orange County. We live in the former sisters' pad in New Windsor and drive their car, a '13 Chevy Cruze. Though, the miles on it are high for a mission car, and we are getting a new vehicle at the end of February.

I've only had two areas on my mission, and I've now been in both twice. I know there is more waiting for me here that I might have missed the first time, so I am glad God has given me another chance to accomplish here.

Thanks to all of you,

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

Bonus: he sent this picture to his siblings, along with the message below.

Mission Wars VII - The Spirit Awakens: Not so long ago in a mission far, far away, a called missionary has arisen. With his sword of the Spirit, he goes forth to eliminate sin and upkeep righteousness throughout the mission. May the Spirit be with you!

The no-letter week

(Written by Vikki)

It finally happened after more than a year and a half. No letter from Ryan this week. (So it wasn't just you). I know they had a worldwide missionary broadcast this morning, and I believe it was transfers too. It probably made for a very busy day. We'll see if we get anything before next Wednesday!

The land northward

The first real snow of winter here in New York finally came last night! Some it it has stuck, giving color to the otherwise bleak countryside that is in the dead of winter.

This weekend, Elder Jeffery R. Holland visited our mission as he was here in NYC. He was a very inspiring speaker, and even very humorous and witty. Of course, we got some of his characteristic authoritative shouting. All in all, it was a neat experience.

Elder West has been doing well so far, and I got to spend some time with him on a split. In just the few days he was with Elder Bell beforehand, I can already see the positive impact he has had on Elder West. Their new place in the Bronx is with some other elders and is frankly kind of ghetto, but it's the Bronx.

In a mess of events and other stuff that is really too complicated to discuss fully, I have been transferred a little bit early. Real transfers are next week. I am back upstate in the area I so love -- Newburgh, NY. I am currently in a trio with Elders Arines and L'Esperance, this because Elder L'Esperance's companion had to fill in for another missionary several weeks ago, and we are like this until the cycle turns next week. So, we are currently working in both the Newburgh and West Point areas, and there is much to be done.

I was informed about coming back upstate with very little notice and had some conflicting feelings about it, but I am happy to be here again. When I was here before, we worked with sister missionaries as well, but now we are the only ones, so all the work for the eastern half of Orange County, NY (where Orange County Choppers are really from) is in our hands. The fun part is that I'm the only American-native-English speaker: Elder Arines is from the Philippines and speaks Tagalog and Elder L'Esperance is from Canada and speaks French. They both have good English,  but sometimes sound slightly broken. But, the cool thing is that we can proselyte in four languages!

Until next time,

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

The Wintry Day

It's actually felt like winter the past few days. Below-freezing temperatures once more, and things are a little more normal. Bundling up nice and warm, though no snow yet still.

Elder West came to us from the MTC yesterday, and with four ASL elders again, we split our area. Elders Bell and West are focusing in East Manhattan and East Bronx, and now actually live in the Bronx. Elder Shepherd and I are here in the west, still in the same apartment.

It's gonna be a little different without the other ASL elders here. Now, Costco is less effective, though Elder Shepherd and I are still gonna go every few weeks or so. We are getting a Costco card together, which includes two actual cards, so I will have one when I get home that I can use in Utah for a while. I'll just get all the food I need for a year in one trip there :) However, shopping at the local grocer today was super fast.

Hopefully this all makes the work go better, and things are already starting to improve. Still have a long ways to go, but hopefully it will work out.

Still have time to make things better!

Love you all,

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

Holiday time photos from December

Pictures sent home by Ryan, taken in December 2015

Ryan's caption: "Jesus is the Light"

Christmastime in New York (clockwise from top left): The Church's #ASaviorIsBorn campaign on a taxi outside the Harlem chapel, decor in West Harlem, lights in Ryan's apartment, and an origami Nativity

Ryan with two of the sister missionaries who came into the mission the same time he did. They went home last week (sisters serve for 18 months).

Christmas cookies Ryan and his companions made for members

When the deaf lack an adapted doorbell ...