Chuvas!! (rain!!)

Familia!
It sounds like you guys have had some crazy weather this weekend in Utah- so have we!! This morning was I think some sort of tropical or African or some kind of CRAZY storm. Yesterday was sooooo wind (a struggle trying to keep control of my skirt haha) and then it rained all through the night and even when we got up at 6:30 it was still pouring. And kept pouring. And pouring and gusting winds. The roads were flooded and a mess so we couldn't leave the apartment to do our p-day stuff like shopping and email until after 11 am. It was crazy! But then it stopped and was fine. And it is not very hot today which is nice :) I sent a picture of when it was flooding the other day too during lunch before baptisms!

I do not even know where this week went! On Tuesday was our investigator Arlinda's 19th birthday. (Same day as Makenzie! Happy Birthday Kenz!) We had a family night there and that was fun. Funny thing- all the get togethers here have the EXACT SAME treats: cake (bolo), popcorn (pepocas), juice (sumo), and crackers (bolachas). And if it is a special event then they will have the pudding de leite, which I love. I think it might be like flan? But I think it is different because I didn't like flan very much when I tried it before. Anywho it was good and she is doing so good too! When I first saw her I didn't really think at all that she would want to be baptized She looked kind of intimidating because she has scars on her face from a car accident, has tattoos and had multiple piercings. But then we started talking to her and getting to know her and she is so awesome! Then we started teaching her, she felt the spirit, she prayed, she started living the commandments, and she followed her desire to follow Jesus Christ. She was baptized on Saturday and received the Holy Ghost and confirmed a member of the church on Sunday :) She is so great we love her!

Also this week irma Zelena was baptized Haha she is the tiny one who I look like a giant next too. Her children went out of town this week so they weren't baptized and her daughter didn't want to be baptized yet. So even though she was going through with this all on her own she still kept going! She is an awesome lady and really proved her faith to the Lord. It made me really think about how we react to difficulties we can choose to keep going and be strong and prove our faith to the Lord.

Sorry this wasn't much this week the power keeps going out and we have to go to other places to try to find internet! But I am excited for this last week of the transfer! The president will make calls on Sunday so we will know what is happening with our area. I am so grateful to be here and for the love, the prayers and the support!

Until next week,
Loooove Sister Turner

Another GREAT week!

I will just get right to it, lots of great things happened this week including the baptism of Pedro!

I am glad you guys got my letter! haha oops sorry Dad that you couldn't read it.. was it my handwriting or your eyes? haha it was my handwriting for sure because you are still so young!! :) The camping sounded & looked like a lot of fun! Haha and the pictures of Puddles (haha or should I say tubby?) were funny.

Sis. Llano went to Praia for training this week. I slept over at the sisters house which was a hoot being with Sister Alvarado and Sister Pitts, she just kills me and both nights I was there she was telling me to make crepes! Then during proselyting I did divisions with some members. Which means for the first time I was the trainer/senior companion! Like, make the decisions, start and lead the lessons all that stuff! ahh! BUT due to much prayer, faith, preparation (training), awesome investigators and most of all tender mercies of the Lord, it actually went pretty well! .. I think! I sent a picture I was with Irma Didju (who did my hair) who is the relief society president in our branch and she had gone and taught with the sisters and elders many times so she knew the ropes. Haha it also helped that she speaks creole, and that I can finally understand her Portuguese accent! We had a great time walking and teaching together!

Also we had this neat experience...so we went to teach irma Rosas (haha irma Rosa is old and pretty much has the bible memorized & she is funny) & she said we could come back and teach her in a little bit because she was busy. So we start walking over to where our investigator Andreia usually is. But I have to tell you first that all last week we were trying to find Pedro's dad to get him to sign his baptismal form so he could be baptized this week. WE COULD NOT FIND HIM... or sober. The two times we did see him he was too drunk to try to talk to about the baptism form. We would come after 7 pm when he is off work and never saw him. We even went there at 6:30 am once to try and catch him before work. Nothing. But we need him to sign the form! So anyway back to divisions- we are walking to Andreias' and its like 5:30 and I get this feeling we should go to Pedro's house right now and see if his dad will sign the form. Weird because it is 5:30 so he shouldn't even be there. But I decided we are going to follow this prompting and so we turned and went to his house. And irmao Manuel was there AND sober! AND he signed the baptism form! Miracle! Following the spirit is definitely the most effective way to do missionary work hands down! So all the other preparation went smooth with Pedro and we had a great baptism on Saturday! Elder Ralph who is from Florida baptized him and it was funny because they looked like they were brothers! It was sad that none of his family came to his baptism but he was so happy and excited he showed up to the church an hour early! Can I remind you he is only 12! He is awesome we love him.

Also another neat thing- we are teaching this couple Adi and Eloide that have a little baby. I think I have talked about them before but they are progressing and it is AMAZING. I remember the first time we tried to teach them about the Restauration almost 2 months ago with sister Graca. We were there for probably an hour and didn't even get past prophets because irmao Adi had so many doubts and questions. After many more visits and many spiritual experiences and Adi exercising his faith and keeping our invitations to pray, read the book of Mormon, and come to church ... yesterday in our lesson he said he feels that Joseph Smith was a prophet!! AHH!! I was so happy! He has come so far already I can't wait to see the continued progress as they prepare to get married and baptized hopefully in October! If I don't get transferred I will be so happy to see this all happen!

So much good things happened this week I don't have time to write them all! But yesterday our investigators irma Zelena her daughter Keury and another investigator Arlinda (the sister of Tuta) came to church! They had good experiences and as long as everything goes well this week they will be baptised next saturday!

And a mini market opened that has tons of american products! So moral of the story I had Skittle & Peanut M&M's for the first time since the MTC and oh man soooo good! Oh yeah one other thing. Sis. Llano's goal is to get fat so she is making 4 cakes and 2 ice creams this week ... hmm we'll see what happens!

It is still hot and beautiful here! I am so happy to be here right now doing the Lord's work trying to help His children. I am so grateful for this opportunity and for all the love and support I have! I love you all so much!!

Love-
Sister Turner

At the baptism of Pedro

 Pedro

 irma Lopes & I

2 month mark in the field!

Hello!!
Yep yesterday was my two month mark in the field! Crazy it has been two months since I saw you guys at the Marriot center! Yesterday/this week was full of miracles! Thank you so much for all your prayers, I know they are making a difference in the work here. :)
Yeah, yesterday guess how many investigators we had at church?? For I think a month we had not had ANY investigators coming to sacrament meeting. Yesterday there were 6!! SIX!! The family I mentioned last week, irma Zelena and her 3 kids Jovani, Deury, Keury all came to church, irmao Adi an investigator who we have been teaching since I was with Sister Graca last transfer came for the first time, and another investigator little Pedro came too! It was awesome!! After sacrament irmao Adi said he liked it and will come again next week! When investigators come to church they can feel the spirit, partake of the sacrament, get to know members, see how we worship every week and they can receive answers that this is the true church. Sim!
Also the conversion of the family of irma Zelena that we are seeing is a miracle too! Every time we go see them you can see how much happier they are, you can see they have a thirst to hear the word and have desires to follow. Heavenly Father blessed us this transfer with the opportunity to teach them, help them prepare for baptism, and hopefully become strong members of the church.
This weekend we were working SO HARD to help our investigator Lile prepare for baptism next week. We went to her house I think at least 100 times. And spent 2 hours on Saturday morning searching Belches to try and find her and I got sunburned. haha its a little late now but I am going to buy sun block today. Annnyyywho lets just say she isn't quite ready yet to be baptized which means we were not going to have a baptism again. It has been hard because every week this transfer something has happened and the baptisms we have had planned keep falling through. BUT then we keep working hard and the Lord blessed us and gave us a miracle! The Lord gave us a miracle and guided us to Pedro who we feel is ready to baptized this Saturday! He has been going to church with his aunt and uncle and has been taught by the missionaries before. He is 12 and is such a smart little guy, has so many good desires and has an infectious smile! We are so excited for him!
Also this week we had divisions! I was companions with Sis. Alvarado for two days this week. It was a good experience and I realized how much I have progressed in these first two months. From when I first got here and could barely speak portuguese or understand it, to this week with Sis. Alvarado where I was teaching and leading the whole lesson! (Praying a ton and trying the follow the spirit of course :) Haha in these moments I also realized how much more I have to work on and improve! It was good though and I am so grateful for how much the Lord has helped me progress thus far. Oh and the picture with me and sis. Alvarado ... she had a sore on her face and didn't want to go out alone and be the only one with a band-aid on her face. She insisted that even though I did not need a band-aid I must wear one too! Haha so I did. We both looked ridiculous with little band-aids on our faces but it was fine it was only for one day!
This morning we went to irma Didju's to get our hairs cut! I think she cut like an inch and a half ... but I am not really sure because I don't know how to say 'inch and a half' in portuguese. But after she cut it I told her she could 'pintiar' my hair or put braids in it, and then today I am like a real Cabo Verdiano!! Haha she did an awesome job!!
I keep forgetting to tell you that since the new rule about back packs I found a great Converse shoulder bag here in a boutique! I have been using it during proselyting and I can still use my back pack as my carry one for when we travel for transfers! Haha thanks Dad for the photos of you and Tim it looks beautiful there and like you are having a great time! And Tim-Tim I like your new sunglasses. I'm sorry you guys are still having car problems but Mom in your email when you said your horse would die I was laughing so much! And also about Grandpa and that lady who hit him, I can just see that in my head! haha!
Well just about out of time but I hope everyone is doing well and I am so grateful for all the prayers and support I know I have back home! I love you all so much and am looking forward to hearing from you next week!

Com muito amor MUITO,
Sister Turner

2 hrs on Saturday searching Belches,
I got sunburned

 I am like a real Cabo Verdiano!!

Stormy week in Fogo!

Boa tarde from Fogo!

I don't know where this week went! We are just teaching and working and the days are flying by so fast in this transfer. And it has been raining and windy crazy so much this week!! But today the weather is nice :)

Oh yeah and congrats to Brandon!! That is so awesome South Africa!! I am so excited for him and that we will have two Africa missionaries in the family!!

Mom do you remember when we saw on that show when they made cru?? When the fish gets cooked in the acid of lemon juice? I guess they eat that in the Philipines a lot and Sis. Llano made it this week and I sent a picture! It was surprisingly soo tastey! I will pay close attention next time so I can make it for you! :)

This week we had a great family night at Tuta's house! Tuta and Linda are recent converts and it was their mom Maria's birthday so we had family night/birthday party for irma Maria. Haha it turned out pretty funny... because we asked Tuta how old irma maria was turning and she said 54. So when we made cake we put a '54' on it in sprinkles. Yep we go there and she is turning 56. Oops! Haha at least we didn't put too big of a number! But yeah it was fine she was just happy we were there. So we are going to watch the film Finding Faith in Christ with their family who mostly are not members and with our other investigator Nelson. They have a TV and a DVD player which is rare to find in our area. So we start the film and a little bit into it the power goes out because it is raining so much. Sooo then we all shared the things we learned thus far in the film and finished the spiritual thought. And by the light of one oil lamp we sang happy birthday to irma maria and ate birthday cake. :) She was so happy and kept saying 'obrigada sisters, obrigada!' which is saying thank you. Like I said she was turning 56, she told us this was the first time she had a birthday party. I was so surprised! We were so grateful that we were there with them and we had a great time. :)

Also this weekend it was the District Conference for Fogo/Brava. So the sisters of Brava have been here with us and we had some awesome meetings! Elder Timothy J. Dyches of the Seventy came to Fogo to speak!! Members from all over the island of Fogo and Brava came to the Sao Filipe to attend the adult session Saturday night and the general session Sunday We got to here from Pres. and Sister Oliveira also which was great too! The temple was definitely a huge focus in the meetings and how temple worship needs to be one of our highest priorities. I miss going to the temple and I just think about how blessed we are to have so many temples around the world. The Lord really does want to bless His children through the covenants and ordinances of the temple. A group of around 100 Cabo Verdianos just got back from going to the temple in Recify. And when they bear their testimony or you even just talk to them you can see the difference in the joy the temple has brought them!

We did have another hard time this week though with church attendance... It is hard because we will work so hard during the week, and have great lessons and great experiences with them and then it comes to Sunday and nobody will come to church. But we are learning patience. Lots of patience. And also how we need to better help these people understand the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and partaking of the sacrament. And not being preguicas. (lazy)

I'll end with a good bit of news though. We found a family! Zelina has 3 kids- jovanni, Deori, Keori. Haha and I will keep guessing on how to spell their names until I find out what the spelling really is ... all the names here are so hard to spell! But any who they are a great little family who are new to Sao Filipe and they are humble and want to follow the Savior and be baptised! So we are going to keep teaching them and helping them become converted to the gospel and be baptised! This work really is amazing. It has its ups and downs but I know it is the Lord's work and I am so happy to be able to be apart of it!

I love you all so much and will write again next week!! Have a great week and remember to rely on the Lord in all things. I found this quote in my scriptures and it helped me a lot- 'Prayer is the secret to a happy and productive life.'

Looove,
Sister Turner

Bom dia!!

So the power didn't go out today so we get to email, that is always nice! Speaking of email- I could seriously sit here and type for days talking about everything and everyone here but we only have one hour to email including our weekly letter\report to President Oliveria. Also these computers are old, and I type slow. Mix those together and it's not good. I really want to tell you all everything but I just don't have time. :(

So this past week was week 1 of transfer 2. Transfers last 5 or 6 weeks depending on what President feels. And the Branch we are serving in is São Filipe 2, there is also São Filipe 1 and Congresso that are branches here in São Filipe. São Filipe used to be a ward before I was here but they split it into two branches so they can grow and become two wards eventually! Also that is great to hear that they have a patriarch now I didn't know! haha it is probably easier for you guys to find out about stuff in Cabo Verde than it is for me. Here on this Island we are a little bit isolated!

This first week with Sister Llano was great! We had a lot of powerful lessons. Like this couple Adi and Eloide. We taught Adi the word of wisdom and learned that he needs to quit smoking, drinking coffee, drinking alcohol and using drugs. Yeah just a few things. . . Last transfer Sis Graca and I were trying sooo hard to watch the Restauration film with them. We felt we should watch the film because we tried to teach the first lesson one time and didnt even get past prophets because Adi had so many questions and doubts! But everytime we would try and go there seriously Satan was working to try and prevent it from happening. Either the power would go out or Adi would leave or the DVD player would break or something. BUT FINALLY we got to watch it and it was SO POWERFUL! And the member we brought with us irmão Pai bore an inspired testimony. I felt strongly prompted to invite them to get married this month even though sister Llano and I hadn't talked about it. We are going to teach them again tomorrow and hopefully be preparing their marriage papers this week or next!

Also this week Sis Pitts got here safe and sound so we are happy about that! And yesterday we had a TWO HOUR lesson where we taught this less active couple Lucilinho and Tete and their two friends about the Law of Chastity. By the end of the two hours they had taken out 8 piercings in total! It was a struggle but it was awesome!!

We really need some prayers to help our investigators Menu, Lile, Andreia, Evandra, Rosa, Nene, Adi go to church. We need a miracle to happen to help these people prepare to be baptised. They can´t be baptised until they start going to church!

I love Reading your emails every week and I can't wait until next week! Sorry to hear about what happened with your foot and the car, I will send extra prayers!!
I love you all sooooo much!!! And I am already getting excited to talk to you guys on Christmas!

Love, Sister Turner

                         Here are some fotos from the past two weeks!

Power has been out!

Hi hi hi! I am in my second transfer!

Sooo sorry this is a day late! The power was out for 24 hours and so we weren't able to email on Monday. I am alive and I hope you all didn't worry too much! The power has been going out a lot actually so if my email ever doesn't come on monday it is SUPER high probability that the power was out and I will email as soon as possible.

Super lame news is that I don´t have my memory card with me to send pictures this week. Sad face :(

The last week of the transfer was good and went by super fast! Speaking of transfers ... I am staying in São Filipe 2 ! Haha I am happy because I like it here I don't want to leave yet! But Sis. Graça was transferred to the Island of Santo Antao so we were sad to see her leave yesterday. Sis. Llano got transferred from the area of São Filipe 1 to São Filipe 2 and is my new trainer! Haha it is fun because she has served here before and is just coming back again. And Sis. Alvarado is going to be training a sister coming from the MTC, and its one of the sisters I met before I left so that should be fun!

Mom kenz emailed me and sent me pictures of her flowers! They were gorgeous! She sent me a whole paragraph just going off about how much she loved them and how obsessed she was with them! Haha I wasn't surprised because I knew they would be awesome because you're a Rockstar!

This week we had a baptism! Deivon is 8 years old and the cutest little gentleman. When we would go teach him he would pull our chairs out for us and was always willing to say the prayer and start with `Deus` instead of `Pai Celestial´ it is so cute! He has 2 brothers and his sister Deborah are members too they are a funny family. I will send a picture next week!

Also we have 3 new investigators Lile, Andreia, and Patrique who we started teaching and working towards baptism with! There are awesome members in ramo 2 (our branch) who are willing to teach with us every single day, they are a big blessing.

I have so many things I am working on to improve and it is just one day at a time. Relying of the spirit and on the Lord is so important. I have been realizing how we need to be humble enough to rely on and recognize the Lord in all things. Studying in Preach my Gospel in the Christ-like attributes about humility has really helped me.

I hope Kade had a good birthday! Sister Graca and I looked at his picture and said Happy Birthday haha! I love you all so much and I really hope you are doing great and enjoying the blessings of the gospel! Until next week-

Com MUITO amor,
Sister Turner

Familia!

Can anyone else believe it is almost August?? Crazy! This is the last week of the transfer, so next Monday I will know if I have been transfered or not! But speaking of August, Kade I hope you have a great birthday this Sunday!! Love you! :)

This week we had zone conference! All the missionaries from Fogo and Brava came to our church in São Filipe for the conference. We got some training that was good and after some of us went to lunch at this restaurant called Afrikaans. It was fun we love seeing our sisters from Brava!

Haha guess what Tim-Tim?! I found Fiber 1 cereal!! Haha except here it is Fibre 1. Any who I bought it because I remembered how you always stressed the importance of fiber in the diet ;) It is okay but sis graca calls it bird food! And I figured out if I mix it with cocoa puffs it tastes better!

The picture of the kids washing clothes are irmã nela and irmão nene's kids. They have 5 kids so when it is time to do laundry all the kids help! They were doing so good and working hard! But I'm so glad we have a washer in our apartment!

Hmm also this week I got um pouco doente... sick. I don't know what it was probably a vírus because I just had a fever and some flu like symptoms. But I got a blessing (power of the Priesthood is awesome), drank lots of fluids, slept for the day, and was good to go the next! It was great!

On Saturday was Kaka and Livia's wedding! It was great, we sang Families can be together forever at the wedding. During lunch on Saturday we went to irmã Didjo's house so sister graca could get her hair done because she was a madrina. Well we took advantage of the straightner and sis. alvarado straightened my hair and did this cool fish tail braid! Irma didjo has a little salon in her house and so all the ladies for the wedding were getting their hair done there. Sandrini's hair looked so cool in the picture I sent! Also there is a picture of me and Tiago! His family are members and they help us a ton. He is one of my favorite kids! Everytime we come to their house he says 'sisters! senta!' haha which means sisters sit down. He is so cute!

We have this investigator Menu who has a sincere desire to change his life. It is so awesome to watch as people like Menu learn about God's commands and start living them! The Gospel is so true and if we just have Faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, repent, be batized, follow the holy ghost, and endure well to the end we will have lives of happiness here on the earth and eternal life. I love this gospel and this work.

I hope everyone is happy and doing well. I love you sooo much!

Com muito amor,
Sister Turner

Zone conference

Fiber 1 cereal!! 

Time to do laundry

Kaka and Livia's wedding

Dama de honra... Bridesmaids

Her hair looked so cool

 Me and Tiago! His family are members &
 they help us a ton. He is one of my favorite kids!

 Fish tail braid