Well, the day has finally come.
This afternoon I will be back in my beloved Arizona, thus concluding my two-year mission.
I have loved my time serving as a full-time missionary in the New York New York North Mission. I have seen change in my life and drawn closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him, and I love the gospel and message I have borne. Though I will no longer wear the fancy name tag, I will still be an example of what I have represented.
For those of you who would like to stay in touch, my regular email is ryanturner1996@yahoo.com. This "myLDSmail" email will likely get deactivated within maybe a few weeks or so, and I'm only going to keep checking it for maybe another week. Please correspond to my normal email.
Love you all, and see a few of you soon.
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Independence Week -- (plus June pictures!)
Fireworks all over the city this past weekend, though we didn't see very many. I'm sure at least a few were illegal, but we heard them nonetheless. To honor our nation's birthday, I memorized the whole national anthem, which is a beautiful work of music and art. I'm glad it is included in our hymn books. It was hard to find anyone home that night.
Sunday was again miraculous. A less-active had called us a couple times over the past month saying that she and her boyfriend (who has been taught many times before) were finally working out some problems and were going to come to church. While they didn't show up the weeks they said they would, they surprised us this last Sunday. He is super ready to progress again and has a baptismal date of July 24. That's after I leave, but I'm stoked nonetheless. Another deaf couple came as well unprovoked and showed much interest. The husband was actually baptized years ago, but because his baptismal record lacked the right signatures, it never officialized into a member record. We had started helping him prepare to be officially baptized again, but then he moved to Albany. He is showing a lot of interest in preparing again, and he and his wife said they would want to attend our branch in NYC coming from Albany every week, so the other elders are now working with them. He had a baptismal date for July 17, and his wife recently accepted a more soft invitation for August 7. I know the work will be good even after I leave.
Love you all!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Sunday was again miraculous. A less-active had called us a couple times over the past month saying that she and her boyfriend (who has been taught many times before) were finally working out some problems and were going to come to church. While they didn't show up the weeks they said they would, they surprised us this last Sunday. He is super ready to progress again and has a baptismal date of July 24. That's after I leave, but I'm stoked nonetheless. Another deaf couple came as well unprovoked and showed much interest. The husband was actually baptized years ago, but because his baptismal record lacked the right signatures, it never officialized into a member record. We had started helping him prepare to be officially baptized again, but then he moved to Albany. He is showing a lot of interest in preparing again, and he and his wife said they would want to attend our branch in NYC coming from Albany every week, so the other elders are now working with them. He had a baptismal date for July 17, and his wife recently accepted a more soft invitation for August 7. I know the work will be good even after I leave.
Love you all!
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Ryan got to visit the Freedom Tower and the 9-11 Memorial
MTC roommates reunited as NYNY South ASL missionary Elder Clair (gray suit) and former Elder Crockett (white shirt) attended the branch together
Captioned: Weekly planning stares
Two views of the Bronx: one with Ryan, one at sunset
Postcard-worthy shot of the East River and Brooklyn
With branch members, at a BBQ restaurant
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
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
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
Sunday, June 26, 2016
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
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
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
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
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
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
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
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
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
Elder Ryan Turner
New York New York North Mission
American Sign Language
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)