Elder Jonathan Turley: November 24, 2014

Hello family --

How are y'all doing?

This week went by super, super quickly, mainly because Monday was p-day, then Tuesday we had Zone Meeting/Interviews ... So by the time there was any time left for missionary work it was Wednesday and it went by so so quickly. It's crazy to think that November is almost gone and that December is almost here.

But this week was really cool and we had a lot going for us. Anna is getting close to her date for baptism, so this week, we spent a lot of our time preparing her to get baptized this upcoming Saturday, and that made things going super quickly.

Anna is super smart and super excited/ready to be baptized. It is really incredible to see her progression because honestly, when I first started visiting her, it seemed like a long shot. I was basically teaching her to help her feel happy. There have been a lot of Elders before me who had tried to help her get to church, but it was pretty impossible for her. However, at the beginning of this month, I found her and asked her if she wanted to be baptized. Then I testified to her, that if we pray and our desires are pure, that God will do the rest. And now it is really a miracle. Anna's Grandmother, who has been inactive for the past year, is now coming to church and she is bringing Anna with her. Yesterday after church, I reminded Anna that her date to be baptized is this Saturday, and I asked if she was sure she wanted to get baptized. Anna responded with a firm "yes" with a crazy ton of happiness in her eyes. So this week we have a baptism, and it was a long shot but it is really all in the time of the Lord. I was in this area at this time to help Anna grow and to hopefully be able to bring her into the baptismal covenant which she so wants.

It is honestly people like Anna that make it all worth it to leave my family for two years and serve a mission, and make it fun to be a missionary. I am not gonna lie, at times it is kind of hard to be a missionary because as you all know, my priorities before my mission were pretty much Taco Bell and video games. But now I can see that I've changed a lot and that I have changed my priorities a ton. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't love Taco Bell or video games anymore, but right now -- at this point in my life -- I am content to be a missionary.

Another cool thing that happened this Sunday was that we had another investigator come to church named Daminga -- she and her daughter came -- her daughter is menos activo (less active). Daminga has always had problems with her work and getting time off, but today she came and it was super cool. :)

This week is gonna go by super quickly because we have a lot to look forward to, like the baptism, and all of that fun stuff. :)

Anyway, I love you, and I am super stoked to have y'all in my family. You are all really important to me, and I know that I chose you guys because y'all are really cool "peeps" and have all affected my life in so many ways. I appreciate y'all so much. You are the best and I am so grateful for all of you. :)

Love Elder Turley

1. Who are your investigators? Right now we have Anna Aquino -- she is about to get baptized. We are also working with Pablina.

2. What was your most awesome moment of the week? When we asked Anna if she wanted to get baptized this next Saturday and she said "yes, without a doubt." It was super awesome.

3. What was the funniest moment you had this week? When Elder Singer used the wrong sock on the wrong foot. (Must be an inside joke).

4. What was the most spiritual moment you have this week? Preparing Anna for baptism has been super spiritual ;)

5. What was the weather like this week? Do you have any weather stories? Nope, I don't have any weather stories.

6. Do you have any golden investigators? Anna

7. How is Anna doing? She is doing well, she is set to get baptized this Saturday.

8. Are your baptisms still on for the end of the month? I will have one this Saturday.

9. Who is your favorite person from this week and why? Probably Anna because she is just so ready to get baptized.
10. What is the weirdest food you ate this week? I drank beet juice.

A school activity just outside of Jon's Apartment!