Next time will be from Cape Verde!!!

Oi! I can't believe this is our last Friday in the MTC! And probably our busiest because we have so many things to do to get ready to go, so I am apologizing that this will be shorter.

Thank you soooo much for the package!! Such a nice surprise with all the treats in it and I loved the binder with the collage on it!! And thank you sister cousin for your yummy brownies ;)
But this last week went really well! On Saturday we got to skype people in Brazil for TRC (teaching resource center) so it was way sweet! The last two weeks we get to skype native speakers so it is fun and good practice.
I can't remember if I said this but when we came in the MTC we were given the challenge to reread the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks. Well I'm a slow reader as is Sister Biggs. :) After getting "a bit" behind both of us have been waking up at 5:30 am every day this week in order to catch up. It was hard but both of us finished today in the Celestial room of the temple! Sis. Willey and Sis. Nelson rocked it and finished in the Celestial room last week! It has been such a great experience rereading the Book of Mormon. So many things are coming out that I had never noticed before especially with missionary applications. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and was prepared for our day. I have really noticed a difference when I start my scripture study with a prayer and a question in mind. We all can gain personal revelation through the Book of Mormon and it is such a blessing!
On Sunday we practiced with the choir for this coming Sunday. Beforehand Sis. Willey made a pros and cons list so we could decide whether or not to do it. Haha I'll attach a picture. I'll that Ryan Eggot is on the pros list because he is a really good conductor and conducts sometimes! Haha all the reasons though are pretty funny. We had a devotional with Stephen Allen? the director of the missionary department. He shared with us a bunch of the old church commercials from like the 70's and 80's and it was hilarious! Haha I was loving all the groovy clothes. It just made me want to go to the D.I. and go shopping. Really though he shared a great message and always does a great job of teaching just what we need. On Sunday we had Sis. Marriot from the Young Womens general presidency speak in Relief Society. It was so good!
Okay something I forgot to put for two weeks! ALICIA HALE if you are reading this- I wish you a very happy and very late birthday! I don't have your address or email so you should email me!
Tuesday we walked to the Marriott center again for devotional. The speaker was Elder Gay of the Seventy. And once again we had an amazing devotional. We especially liked it because he was a mission president in the Ghana, Accra mission. He spent about half his talk talking about Africa and we were getting so excited! He taught about how they were baptizing so many people but had a really low retention rate like 20%. The next year they focused on teaching and training the members especially the ward leaders and retention went up to 80% and their baptisms went from 2,700 to 3,300. He taught about the huge difference that ward members make with missionary work. I don't know if we have any missionaries in Eagle Mountain right now but that would be awesome to get involved with them and maybe give them a referral! Especially for Tim-Tim to go on splits with them would be great to give him a taste of missionary work. When we walk to the Marriott center mom I feel like I'm in a parade so when people wave I wave back and say "OOh I love a parade!" haha!Also this reminds me- I think Happy Birthday to my grandma? Is it today? I can't ever remember. But have a happy birthday Grandma I love you! And make Grandpa buy you dinner!
Wednesday we got to host the new missionaries and help them as they arrive at the MTC. I hosted two sisters and it was fun but weird to think that was me 6 weeks ago! We all got to wear little hosts stickers and I sent of picture. Also on Wednesday Sis. Willey and I were asked to teach in the New Missionary Teaching experience that the new arrivals have on their first night. It was fun we got to wear microphones and teach the investigator for the first little bit and then the new missionaries take over for the lesson!
Thursday (yesterday) we had In-Field Orientation! It was really good and they make it more of a hands on/interactive experience. We walked over to the chapel by the stadium so both campus' could do orientation at the same time. Okay funny story- when we were walking back to the MTC this little old avo (grandma) opens her window of her house and starts throwing out granola bars and candy onto her lawn! Once again I felt like I was in a parade! Haha she was really nice and just smiled and waved to us as she threw food out of her window.
A few quick things-
-Sister Willey is playing the special musical number for the MTC Relief Society on Sunday. Yay!!
-We have created a name for the french fries they serve in the cafeteria ... unsatisfries. Due to how unsatisfying they are.
-Found out from travel office that we only take one 70 lbs. bag and a back pack. So I am going to give my smaller bag to the post office and they work with company called Post Mark in Orem and they will call you when you can pick up my bag! I think Monday or Tuesday?

I can't wait to talk to you on Monday and I love you all so much!! Thanks for the prayers and the mail/packages!

Com amor,
Sister Turner

The pros & cons of singing

I frequently threaten to drop Sis. Nelson's
gnome out the window

New Missionary Host Wednesday

Cape Verde on this globe statue but you can't really
 see our tiny thumb tack sized island ...

Last time at the Provo Temple before leaving for CV!

Week 4 or 5 maybe?

Oi! Oi! Oi!

First things first- that package was so great!! Thank you sooo much!! Hahaha I was dying at the stuff in there! Especially the kitty mask and the string we were having so much fun! I showed the other district and Sis Bradford asked me if my mom was as funny as me and said no she is way funnier!! Seriously though thank you so much for sending the stuff I needed, and the treats and that cool hydration towel, all of it was so great!! :)
So this week FLEW by like all the others! We only have one more full week after this one. We only have 10 more days here and get our travel plans in a couple days! On Tuesday ... or Thursday? Eu nao sei. (I don't know) Either way it is crazy to think we will be in Africa in like 11 or 12 days!!
Sunday was so busy because I had meetings and training but it was good! We were well represented in sacrament meeting with Sister Biggs giving an awesome talk (in Portuguese!) and Sister Willey played "How great the wisdom and the love" in sacrament with her cello and it was amazing. She auditioned yesterday and will hopefully be playing at the MTC devotional next week, so we'll see! The MTC is buying a cello for the West Campus missionaries to use and President Nally's wife, Sister Nally ,asked Sister Willey to try out the cellos they were looking so they can know which one is best. The last couple days we have been spending some time in Sister Nally's office so that is fun and I do enjoy listening to Sister Willey play.
On Tuesday we had our devotional at the Marriot Center so that was cool. We saw all the news stations filming us walking so maybe you saw me in the massive line of people! The speaker was Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy. He gave a talk in conference a couple years ago "You stupid cow"? I don't know if you remember it but it was really good and his wife actually retold us that story from her youth so that was neat. He taught us about how in this life we can serve God with no regrets. The keys to serving in any capacity whether it be a missionary, a parent, a general authority were 1. Understand who you are, 2. You have been given gifts and talents (D&C 46) 3. Understand the sacredness of your call whatever it may be, 4. Understand and observe the law of obedience, 5. Understand your purpose. It was a great talk and it is always so special to get the hear powerful testimonies of these men who are witnesses of Jesus Christ.
On Wednesday us sisters did a ALL PORTUGUESE DAY. It was hard! But also really good. We wore little signs that said "Eu nao falo ingles" which just means I don't speak English. I made these cute little signs and Sister Biggs manage to destroy 3 of them in one 12 hour period! Haha I eventually stopped making new ones. Yeah all day it was Portuguese with just a couple little breaks. What was really good was that by the end of the day I was thinking in Portuguese! Not thinking in English and then translating, but thinking in Portuguese. It was weird. My brain was exhausted. Really it is amazing to think about how much we have learned in such a short period of time. We have great teachers (the Spirit, Bro. Pinho, Sis. Ricks) and are really blessed.
Haha yesterday in gym I managed to get hit in the face with the volleyball Twice in the same play. Needless to say it was pretty funny. Other funny things this week I manage to hit Sister Nelson in the head with a mini dictionary. (It was hilarious.) As she puts I spent the rest of the day groveling for her forgiveness. We were talking about things that distract us and Sis. Willey said "you know how you sisters like me to whistle in my head?" and I said What?? you can whistle in your head! Haha oh gravy. Sis. Nelson spilled her water at lunch and dinner the other day, our "sister sloth" was not so graceful as usual this week! Also she is doing something silly in our temple picture! I love going up to the temple it is always so pretty I had to send a picture! Our elders in our district think they are going to die in Mozambique. They have to take malaria pills everyday with they get out there! Whenever there are treats in our class Elder Houston our district leader says "Ooo piece of candy!" haha I think Kade says that?! After accidentally calling me "Sis. Webb" when we were teaching Bro. Pinho now, as a joke, he will sometimes call me Sis. Webb and Sis. Webb told me the other day he called her Sis. Turner. haha it is especially funny since we knew each other before! Oh man and I can't forget when Sis. Nelsloth uses her gangster talk from Ephraim, Utah and says things like "we be reading our scriptures yo". haha these girls are crazy, we have fun!
Next week will be cool because on Wednesday our district gets to be hosts and pick up new missionaries! Also on Sunday the 23rd is that big meeting at the Marriott center which is going to be amazing. How is everyone doing?? How is the shop and has Kenz talked to you about wedding flowers? She wrote me and said she is engaged! Is Tim-Tim liking the gardens and mowing the lawn? ;) What about Kade and his new job? I wrote him back but didn't get a letter yet! Did Dad love the new Star Trek? Yesterday we could smell smoke really bad outside and could tell there was a fire. I hope it wasn't bad and everyone is okay. I'm out of email time today but I love you sooo much, and I am so grateful for all the prayers I know God is answering them and I am being helped and strengthened. Like I said, Eu amo voces!! I love you all!!

-Sis. Turner
p.s. Mom THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing the blog, it will be so nice to have that when I get back! The other Sisters mom's are looking at the blog and think it is awesome! I LOVE YOU!!

All Portuguese Day

Sis. Biggs and I 

Sis. Nelson doing something silly in our temple picture! 

P day at the Temple !

Me & Sis. Willey on p day at the Temple

Silly Cat playing with string!!! BAAAHAHAHA!!!

Week 3! 

Oi familia e amigos! Tudo bem? Tudo bem!

Thank you soooo much for the package yesterday! It was such a nice surprise!
Oh my goodness 3 1/2 weeks have already passed in the MTC! I can't believe it is already p-day again, we actually have a joke that it is perpetually Wednesday here in the MTC... everyday is Wednesday. But this week was good! It went by so fast, we are going to be in Africa in just over 2 weeks!
So this week: on Sunday we had a devotional with Ted Gibbons? He told us the story of Williard Richards (from his perspective .. like first person) & his close associations with the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was a really unique devotional and was really good. Then on Sunday nights they show movies & this week we watched Legacy. It is a kind of cheesy movie about the early saints but it was funny.
On Monday I saw my good friend Jessica Kudlacek who was my visiting teaching companion in my freshman ward! It was so fun to see her! She is going to Alabama, English speaking so she won't be here much longer.
The sisters in my district joke that 'Sister Turner knows everyone!' But I really don't. I just have a lot of friends here and I remember people well. However, it was rather funny on Tuesday when I figured out that we are related to one of the couples in the MTC presidency! For Tuesdays devotional Sister Willey & I sat on the stand because I was giving the closing prayer (which went well I think, I didn't say anything in Portuguese!). After the devotional I asked Sis. Roach if her & her husband were related to a Grandma Olsen who's maiden name was Roach and lived to be 103, she said Ruth? who was from Spanish Fork? Yes that's her!! Haha turns out Grandma Olsen was an Aunt of her husband's Richard Roach! I talked to him & said my Mom grew up (practically raised) with Grandma Olsen & he said he lived somewhat near by there too. Small world huh?! Also that devotional was really interesting. Tad R. Callister of the Seventy came & talked about how the church that Jesus established in the New Testament is like a blue print & how modern day church matches it. He shared tons of scriptures solely from the New Testament that show that we follow the same pattern of organization, doctrines, & ordinances (even baby blessings!) that Jesus established while on the Earth. It was really neat especially because one of our "investigators" really believes the Bible but not the Book of Mormon so it was great to see how much our church is the same to what is in the Bible.
Speaking of teaching, we are teaching lessons everyday in Portuguese to our two "investigators". It is crazy to think we have only been here 3 weeks and can communicate in Portuguese! The MTC is a really neat place because we are set apart as missionaries, & live on set apart dedicated ground & are given this time to be instructed by the Lord's servants before we go out into the field & back into the world.
Speaking of going out into the world- there is going to be some devotional or something at the Marriott center in a few weeks that we get to go to! .. Kind of. There will be an MTC choir there, so we are going to join. :) I forgot to tell you we sang in the choir our first week here, and it was fun. Sis. Willey got to get her cello, so she will be playing in our branch sacrament these next two Sundays and hopefully at devotional sometime too! She loves being able to play & I enjoy getting to listen to some music! Plus she is amazing so it's really nice.
Oh yeah! Almost 950 missionaries came in this week! Just to the main campus not counting those who reported to the West Campus (Raintree/Yview). It was crazy on Wednesday!
Sister Biggs and I had a pull up contest... I only did one. She does a lovely job of telling everyone that I can do 14 pullups. This is a lie. Haha it has just become a joke because I tell everyone she can curl 50 lbs. During district gym time we usually play volleyball, which I love! haha except at the beginning I forgot that I wasn't wearing knee pads and kept trying to dive... so I burned my knees! Then being so smart like two days later I dived again and ripped the scabs off! haha I felt so dumb but it was pretty funny. Sometimes when we can't play volleyball we will do temporary companion exchanges. Sis. Willey and Sis. Nelson will go and ride bikes in the weight room, and Sis. Biggs and I go running outside around the MTC & then lift some weights! I love exercise time it is great for getting energy out!
Haha I almost forgot something important- I got a calling! I am the new Sister Training Leader for Branch 54! It is kind of like being a girl zone leader except I am over the sisters in our branch and not the elders. I will be the STL for the next 3 weeks that I am here! Technically I start tonight or tomorrow because Sis. Moser who is it now doesn't leave until Saturday at 4:30 am but I am excited for this extra opportunity to serve and really excited to get to know all the sisters in our branch! :)
Wow this was really long, I think I am typing faster today! Well that is all for today, I would love to hear how everyone is doing! I love you all so so so much and pray for you like I know you are for me!
*mom* - I am writing you a letter today so watch for it! Love you!

Com amor, Sister Turner

Me being blind with Sister Biggs glasses on!

Sis. Biggs & I. Please note the sweet drawing
of Joseph Smith on the chalk board. Sis. Nelsoth (Nelson)
is an illustration major at BYU & is amazing! Haha she
 loves to say 'o geresao iniqua!' which roughly translate to
"o ye wicked generation!" haha she cracks me up.

Sisters going to CV  

Elders & Sisters going to CV

Soo much praying in the MTC!
JK!!!  JK!!!
It was from Volleyball!