My heart goes out to everyone in France and across the globe who have been affected by the recent tragedy. I don't know much about it as a missionary, but I know that what happened this week is absolutely horrendous and destructive... I pray that things will turn up. I pray that there will be safety and security soon again. I pray for my friends who are in Paris that they will remain unharmed. The world is a scary place and it breaks my heart. It makes me want to try to make it just a little bit better and brighter.
I don't have much time to email today, so I'm going to try and make this as quick as I can possibly can without leaving out the juicy details.
This week in DDM, we talked about how we need to be on fire as a mission! We need to be a burning flame! We were asked if we thought we were on fire. "Some days." The Bible Dictionary says that fire is "frequently the symbol of God's presence." Therefore, only "some days" we have the presence of God with us as missionaries. And that was a slap to the face. We are not being effective representatives of Jesus Christ if we're picking and choosing days to be on fire! We need to be engulfed in flames or caring for a tender candle light. We need to have that fire! That desire to serve needs to burn within us and cause us to change for the better and teach repentance and salvation! The fire is definitely burning in me now...
...And I can't wait to share that fire with my new trainee! Today is my first day as a real missionary! My 12 weeks of training are over, and President Mullen asked me to switch gears and train a Sister straight from the MTC! I meet her on Wednesday and until then, I'm going to be with Sister Cozzens in her new area in Riverside. I'm so grateful that I'll be with her for the next few days. Words cannot describe the joy I feel that I'm seen trustworthy enough to train a new missionary and to set her up for success! I'll tell you all about her next email. She's going to love Hemet!
I don't have much time to email today, so I'm going to try and make this as quick as I can possibly can without leaving out the juicy details.
This week in DDM, we talked about how we need to be on fire as a mission! We need to be a burning flame! We were asked if we thought we were on fire. "Some days." The Bible Dictionary says that fire is "frequently the symbol of God's presence." Therefore, only "some days" we have the presence of God with us as missionaries. And that was a slap to the face. We are not being effective representatives of Jesus Christ if we're picking and choosing days to be on fire! We need to be engulfed in flames or caring for a tender candle light. We need to have that fire! That desire to serve needs to burn within us and cause us to change for the better and teach repentance and salvation! The fire is definitely burning in me now...
...And I can't wait to share that fire with my new trainee! Today is my first day as a real missionary! My 12 weeks of training are over, and President Mullen asked me to switch gears and train a Sister straight from the MTC! I meet her on Wednesday and until then, I'm going to be with Sister Cozzens in her new area in Riverside. I'm so grateful that I'll be with her for the next few days. Words cannot describe the joy I feel that I'm seen trustworthy enough to train a new missionary and to set her up for success! I'll tell you all about her next email. She's going to love Hemet!
Tis the season for putting up Christmas decorations! We found a HUGE Christmas tree in our closet and set it up this week. It's been decorated with Dia de los Muertos sugar skull crafts so it's pretty legit. We're all so excited for Christmas and being able to talk to our families:) Though the Christmas Spirit has already touched the hearts of all the missionaries, I wish that same spirit of kindness and charity extended to the everyday people in Hemet. Definitely have met a couple of Scrooges this week. But no matter. Maybe the new Christmas video the Church made that's coming out November 29th will soften a few more hearts:) Get excited!! It's a good one! |
In summary, I love Christmas, and I'm honored that I'm able to train a Stripling Warrior. I can't even use words to describe how excited I am.
Lots of love to you and to all of France,
Sister Turner
Lots of love to you and to all of France,
Sister Turner