Sundays Are Special Days

They truly are indeed. Mainly because we have the privilege of being clean again through the sacrament, and we are also edified by the Spirit and by fellowshipping with the saints.

This particular Sunday we were in various meetings from 10:30 a.m. til 8:30 at night (I'm sure bishops and stake presidents still have it worse). Two of these were a stake priesthood leadership meeting and a general stake priesthood meeting, which we interpreted for both. Missionaries don't attend the leadership meeting otherwise, so I have been grateful for the many chances I have had for two years to be in those meetings and hear wonderful counsel from stake and area leaders. Hopefully it will be of benefit in the years and callings to come.

Also during the course of the day, one recent convert from Brooklyn who is preparing for the temple was interviewed, sustained, and ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood. I interpreted his interview, and he asked my companion to ordain him, as Elder Holloway played a great part in finding him. It was truly special to witness, and I'm glad I have seen it. I won't be around to see him enter the temple, but happy nonetheless.

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

The Missionary Quiz -- Final Exam

I couldn't let Ryan's mission end without one more missionary quiz. To see the past quizzes, see here and here. All of Ryan's answers are in red.

1. Not including ASL, what pre-mission experience/skill was most valuable to you on your mission? Organization

2. My views on New York-style pizza …

A. I’ll never eat it in AZ. It can’t be duplicated.

B. Let’s find the best place locally!

C. Can we get Chinese?

3. Started mission at 160 lbs., current weight about 172 lbs.

Started mission at 6 feet 1 inches, current height 6 feet 2 inches.

4. I will miss most about NYC: Living there for free

5. I will miss least about NYC: Project buildings

6. Something Pres. Morgan always said: "I love you so much!"

7. Something Pres. Smith always says: "Wonderful" and "... to able to ..."

8. Goofiest feature of the Harlem apartment: Elder Holloway

9. Member you’ll miss seeing and why: Talvin Staton -- he has the largest and most enduring conversion fire of all time

10. Polar Pop or Slurpee? 

11. I’d come back to New York City (multiple choices allowed):

A. To live

B. On an internship

C. As a tourist

D. For a layover

12. Quality you admire most in your companion: testimony of Jesus Christ

13. Number of ties I am bringing home: about 27 (still need to decide)

14. Favorite NY landmark and why: Freedom Tower -- it's defiant, massive, patriotic, and awesome

15. Favorite neighborhood and why: Upper West Side -- it feels well-off and family-friendly

16. I wish I had known decent Spanish before my mission.

17. What in NYC is most like Arizona? The "Arizona" drinks in bodegas

18. Appointment I need most imminently when I get home:

A. Optometrist

B. Doctor

C. Dentist

D. Dating service

E. Ear doctor

Summer sweat

We are now entering the worst part of the summer here in NYC, and from other reports I've heard, so it is for all you back in Arizona. Though here it only gets to 90, humidity rates get close to 90%. On a split with my zone leader Monday we walked around West Harlem for quite a bit, and we were both getting super sweaty.

In good news, we finally got a new branch mission leader after not having one for about 18 months, and there has been much rejoicing. Our branch president has filled the role so far, and now he can finally delegate it to another. Our branch also has several men preparing to be endowed next month, which should bring our branch greater strength. Good things happening.

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

Sundays can be awesome

And such it was with is Sunday. Branch attendance was a bit higher than usually, and one part-member couple we have been working with came to Sacrament meeting after we hadn't been able to contact them for a week! We had a really good lesson with another part-active family, and they came to church as well (well, all except their two oldest kids who have been avoiding any contact with us. We have been focusing on the mother and two youngest daughters).

Another fun miracle was that halfway through Sacrament meeting one of the bishopric members from the other (hearing) ward brought up someone who had just showed up, and my companion took him to to sit with the elders' quorum president. The guy turned out to be a hearing ASL interpreter from Texas who is living in New Jersey for a couple months. He said he looked online for a deaf church to attend, and ours was the one that showed up first. He signed the whole time and even commented on my voice interpreting skills, as I typically do that for Sacrament meeting. He says he will be back next week, and we are hoping to teach him more about this church he has found.

Stay cool out there in the west. (Elder Miller, stay warm there in Brazil :)

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

Feeding the Spirit

Hello everyone once more! While the work this week has been somewhat lackluster, we had an amazing opportunity yesterday to be spiritually fed and edified. Elder Randall K. Bennett from the First Quorum of the Seventy is visiting different parts of our mission this week, and many of the missionaries here in Manhattan, including us, got to be with him for a good part of yesterday. He is a truly remarkable speaker that can teach with the Spirit, and having served in France at my age and as a mission president in Russia, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience. It has really helped me stay on track and focused for the time I have left, and Elder Holloway and I have discussed some new goals and plans to execute for our area. Things should get a little bit better.

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

May photos

Photos taken in May and sent home by Ryan

Ryan's trainer, Elder Fotheringham, visited NYC and stopped in to see the missionaries

South Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge

Of course Ryan found the turtles in Morningside Park near their apartment

"Random organ in the Bronx"

Ryan with Elder Bell, the missionary he trained last fall

June -- my favorite month

Hello all.

Some of you have been asking what my setup is for my final transfer. What has happened with me is .......... that I am staying with Elder Holloway in the same area. Thus, I'm finishing how I started -- with my MTC companion and probably closest friend here. My trainee, Elder Bell, has been transferred upstate to the Yorktown Ward with a Spanish companion covering mostly Spanish with a little bit of English and ASL work. He'll also help with ASL translation for the two deaf members up there just like I did in Newburgh. Elder Hill has returned to the ASL program and is with Elder West, and I am the district leader for the four of us for the next six weeks.

My roommate and former companion Elder Arines is training a new elder, Elder Ropati, a Samoan from California, and he seems like a cool guy. Otherwise, not a whole lot of other exciting stuff this week except that I and my companion taught both priesthood class and gospel doctrine last-minute, and I also interpreted for a high counselor with pretty complex speech and concepts. Always fun.

We are on our way to visit the 9/11 memorial museum, which I've heard is amazing. Still figuring out what to do the other days, but I'm sure we will figure out something.

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

p.s. For all of you who are thinking about sending me birthday wishes/packages, might I ask that you refrain on the whole sending packages bit? Because of my fast-approaching departure. I am limited on bag space and weight. Cards/money -- whatever can fit in a normal envelope is definitely appreciated, and if you badly want to send me a package, please send it to my home address in July. Thank you for all of your support so far these past two years! (Ryan's 20th birthday is June 11 if you want to send him a card to the address in the right sidebar)