Grounded Three Days Battling Infection

Hola family and friends,

This week was a kind of a boring week. I left a lot of information out last week. I ended up with a pretty nasty and strong infection in my throat the past Sunday. Because everything was closed here and the infection was transforming pretty quick, I ended up in the ER here in Cruz Azul. Due to this infection I was not allowed to work as much as I would have liked this week. The Dr. put me on house arrest pretty much until Thursday. So it was a long and boring week. On Thursday when we left time started to speed up again. The brightside of all of this? Well, I am down about 50 pounds. Yay! So for the 3 and a half days we worked this is what happened:

We taught Hermana Isaura. She was very excited for her baptism which will take place on Saturday at 5. (Well we hope). She called us yesterday just bawling and telling us how the ex wife of Hermano Marco (Isaura just got married last Monday to this member) came over and was creating problems so she does not know if she should continue on with this. We gave her a lot of chapters to read in the Book of Mormon and told her how Satan does not want this for her and so he will do everything in his power to stop it. And she said that she knows but it is just hard. So please keep her in your prayers. 

Hermano Eliseo left on this trip with his church group... so we did not get a chance to talk with him this week. So we will have to see how things are with him this coming week. 

Well our other investigator, Hermana Gabriela can not be baptized because she is living with a member (who is not active) and he is married to another woman and he has a child so.. it creates some problems for them to get married. We will have to see how long it takes for the divorce process. I think that the biggest problems here with baptism are- people are not married or have problems with the word of wisdom! Always, always, always we have investigators with these problems. But then again, Satan does not want this for them so we will make it hard for us.

Hermano Ramon, well, this week he said he was done drinking for good. He has made it one week now!! Hopefully he can be strong to his promise and refrain from alcohol so he can be baptized the 16th of August. He could also use a lot of prayers.

The President came to our house on Wednesday to see how I was doing and how he could help and he brought my package! Yay! Thank you so much for everything! Especially the socks. The ones I have been using.. well.. you can tell that they have 9 months of use.. Basically they have giant holes and it is pretty funny. My companion and I enjoyed the treats too. and, the garments are the perfect size. It felt so weird to not have garments falling down for a day. The shoes are a little squishy, but I will have to make them work. So, thank you.

On Saturday, our primary kids had an activity with us. It was called "Misionero por un día" or "Missionary for a day". We got split into groups. I was with the Bishop's wife and a girl named Estefany. We left and worked like we normally do. The kids got to see what it was like to be a missionary for the day. They seemed to really like it, and the older kids were really excited about serving a mission in the future after. So I would call it a success. We also got a lot of referrals. So that is always good.

My spiritual thought for the week comes from D&C 123:17. We need to choose to have a positive attitude, always doing the best that we can. Because when we really put our best effort into the things we are doing (especially the spiritual aspect of things) that is how we are going to earn our salvation. We all have a part in this sacred work. It is not possible without members. I know that we ALL have friends, neighbors, co-workers that are not members. Why do we not open our mouths? Why do we need pass a referral to the missionaries? Are we scared? Are we embarrassed about our beliefs? We need to part our part into this sacred work. Because, one day we will be held accountable. I also testify that there are more blessings than we can see and that we can possibly think for bringing our brothers and sisters unto Christ. I have seen it in my own life with the special experience that I was able to be part of with my friend before my mission. To end- a quote by President Hinckley. "When I say do your best, I mean your very best. You are capable of so much more."

I love ya all, and I pray for each one of you. I hope you have a great week and that you will do your part in this sacred work. Until next week- Hermana Turek

Hermana Isaura Got Baptized

Hola, Hola.

How are you? What is new? This post will not be very long because we had to go to a kinda sucky internet place today.. :(

Hermana Isaura was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. She is so special. I have already been invited to come back in a year to go through the temple with them. :) The spirit was SO strong at her baptism, and a lot of people attended. So we were pretty happy. 

Hermano Ramon is still staying strong. He has a baptismal date for the 16th of August. On Wednesday, he even put his baptismal date on the calendar in their house and put a huge circle around it. He also has a lot of signs in his house to help him not drink. Keep praying for him.

Hermano Eliseo is being difficult now. He is having a hard time understanding the authority and why our church has it and his does not. Dad, can you please send me your line of authority? That could help us a lot. 

Hermana Gabriela finally came to church yesterday and liked it a lot. So, that is progress. We hope that she will continue to have the desire to learn and grow. 

Hermano Octavio (remember him?) came to the baptism on Saturday. I think he felt the spirit big time because yesterday he asked when he could be baptized. He is ready now. And basically he can be baptized when he wants. So, that is a miracle. We have an appointment with him tonight to put the date. :)

Mom, I wrote a letter to the activity day girls after Sis. Beecroft sent me a letter from them, but I sent it to her so she must have forwarded it to Tanya. :)

Things here are the same. Hot and dry right now. But things are good. We had exchanges this week and our leaders were impressed with my progress so that is good. I do not think that I have very much more to report on. I hope you have a fantastic week. 

Con mucho amor- Hna. Turek

Juanita Gets Married and Baptized

Hola Hola! Cómo está? pues, This week was a busy one.

Juanita and Ramon got married on Thursday at the presidencia which is like the court house for you guys. Then on Friday, she had her interview and was baptized Saturday morning and confirmed yesterday. So we were pretty busy with them this week. Ramon is the next one to be baptized. He has not drank for a week.. but who knows about yesterday with Mexico playing and well.. not winning. Our asistance at church was 80.. normally it is 105. Hahaha. Everyone stayed at home to watch the world cup. It is huge here!

So, on Friday my companion was playing with my camera while I was showering. I got out of the shower and she told me that she accidently deleted ALL (over 800 pics) my pictures. So.. I lost EVERY SINGLE picture from my mission.. (Yeah I am pretty sad). It took a lot of self control not to flip out at her. But the phrase "Do not let a problem to solve become more important than a person to be loved." kept running through my head.. So.. if anyone (Kyle) knows how to get all my pics back.. I would love it. And it would make my whole life. 

I got my package on Wednesday. It had everything in it. :) Thank you!! My feet thank you too! They are happy to have shoes. The weather here is like the best! It is hurricane season here in Mexico so it has rained every single day. Like we get drenched. But the temp. is perfect with the rain! Not too hot and not too cold!

President Call left on Saturday and we now have President Titensor. I do not know him yet, but we are going to have interviews with him on Saturday. We had interviews with President Call on Wednesday and in my interview he told me how much I have changed and how he has seen miracles come about with me. I went from this little missionary who struggled and struggled and struggled some more and how I am now this gem starting to glow. It made me think ha-ha. I have changed so much. I am not the same person I was when I left eight months ago. I am thankful I have this opportunity to serve. It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and the trials I have faced have been very difficult but I am becoming the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. This week I was reading in Helaman 10:4-5 and I thought it applied to me pretty well. :) (I am close to finishing the Book of Mormon and el Libro de Mormón!!)

I think that is all for this week! I love you and pray for you. I hope you have a great and SAFE 4th of July!  Hasta luego- Hna. Turek

Juanita and Ramon Getting Married

Hola hola!! Como está? 

Pues, this week we got everything as far as paperwork done for Juanita´s and Ramon´s wedding. Here, it is a longggg process! You have to go get a bunch of tests done and It is a lot of paperwork. Well on Wednesday, we took them to Tula to get their blood tests done and Ramon passed out Haha, it was interesting because we were their "family" there so they turned him over to us and he was in and out for about 20 minutes. It was quite the adventure. But, now everything is ready and they will be getting married on Thursday at 3:00 :) Then on Saturday at 12:00 ,Juanita is getting baptized and on Sunday she will be confirmed. We actually reached our goals this month! Two baptisms! :) 

I do not have much to report this week, as we were busy with all the wedding stuff. We are working hard, doing a lot of walking.. all day long. And.. sadly, my shoes died this week. I do not have black shoes anymore. So I am hoping to get my package this week, and I am praying that my shoes did not get stolen. I need them. Haha.

 I love you and hope all is well! Until next week- Hna Turek

I'm the Senior Comp now

hola hola! como está? bien bien? This week was a crazy one! On Tuesday, we had transfers. We had to go to Cuautitlan Izcalli to drop off Hna. Gonzalez and to pick up the other Hna. Gonzalez. It was an adventure. I was slightly nervous for the return, because we went in bus and I was worried I would get lost on the return.. but everything was good. :) On Thursday, we changed houses!! That was also an adventure. The only people that came to help us were the Bishop, Hno. Jared, and for the first time ever our district leader and his comp. decided they could help us. What a miracle!!! On Friday, we had a zone conference. I spent most of the time in the bathroom throwing up my stomach acid. What a great time that was! I do not understand why I get sick so easily here.. :(

Yesterday, Maricela was confirmed a member of the church! Woot! She had a huge smile on her face the whole time. It is funny how people are saved for the right time. I do not remember if I told you this or not, but we were the fourth set of missionaries to teach her. She has set a really good example for Ramon and Juanita. They are planning on getting married right now.. but Ramon still needs to stop drinking. Please pray for him. 

Things as Senior companion are stressful. Haha. Everything depends on you, and you are the one to get in trouble when things go bad.. but luckily nothing has gone bad yet. My zone leaders and distirct leader have been really good with me. I think they new I was quite nervous to be Sr. comp. But all has been well so far.

My new companion is Hna. Gonzalez. She is from Nicaragua. She has been a member for 4 years. Her conversion story is crazy. The Elders paid her to be baptized and she has not been very active. Right now, her family is not active at all. But I know that she will be a example for them. 

I think that is all the exciting news I have for this week. Please send prayers our way. We can always use them. Con mucho, mucho amor- Hna Turek

Mari Gets Baptized

Hello!! How are you all? How was the week? Sorry about last week. It was just a bad week all in all. But, this week was much better.

Maricela was baptized yesterday! It was quite the experience. But, I was happy to be part of it. She can not walk very well, so she had a lot of fear that she was going to fall in the font and drown, so she was crying. But everything turned out to be good. 

My Companion is getting transfered tomorrow... :( We are really sad. We have become best friends here and it is so hard to say goodbye. However, we have plans to visit each other after the mission. She is going to Cuautitlan Izcalli. I am staying in the area as senior companion. My new comp. only has 6 weeks in the mission. I am TERRIFIED!!!!! I am kinda mad haha. But.. I know that everything will be good.

We are having hurricanes here. The weather is SO crazy! It hails all the time and the hail is the size of golf balls and the storms come out of no where, so yeah.. we always get caught in down pours, strong strong winds and hail. No fun.

This week was quite a busy week. We had a missionary actitivy on Friday in our ward. We had a talent show. We sang a hymn in a rock version.. hahahaha... I am pretty sure our Bishop did not like it, but the rest of our ward did. We dressed as men in black.. but women because we were in our skirts. It was a pretty good night and we recieved referrals because of it!! Woot!! Then on Saturday, Mari had her interview. We were honestly thinking she would not pass because she has memory problems and 15 mins before her interview she did not remember ANYTHING!!! But, the spirit must have helped her because she passed with flying colors. Then on Saturday night, our zone sang at a single adult thing. Hahahaha.. it was rather awkward to be there as a missionary with all these poeple flirting and yeah. After, we all felt very weird. But we sang We´ll bring the world his truth and we also recieved a lot of referrals too. Then on Sunday, Mari was baptized. So it was quite the week.

I think that is all that I have for this week. I hope you have an excellent week! Please send extra prayers my way this week. I think I may need them. I love you and pray for you. 

Until next week- Hna. Turek

Great Week

Hello my dears!

How are you? How is life as a normal person? What is new in Sunny St. Geezy? Gah, how I miss that place. Yet there is so much that I love here.

This is the week!! Ahh! Are you nervous June? I am SO sad I can not be there, but I will be there in spirit. 

This week was a GREAT week!! We taught a lot and we have 5 progressing investigators. I do not know if we will have baptisms this week on Saturday. We are praying really hard and hoping for a miracle. So please please please put Ocatvio and Andres in your prayers this week. Don Ramon, Maricela, and Juanita have been coming to church and have been keeping all their compromisos. They have only been coming to the church for sacrament, but yesterday they said they wanted to stay for the whole thing once sacrament was over. We were really impressed because they had a thing to go to in the Catholic church and they did not go.  Progress!! Poco a poco. 

I think this week everything went really good. Oh! We have been having crazy storms here everyday!! We get soaked everyday. And this week we had crazy, huge, hail. This was a first for Hidalgo. It was history. 

Today, we went to the pyramids again! Haha, that is the good thing about having them in your zone. :) One thing today we learned and noticed is that they had a baptismal font!! How crazy!! It makes you think a lot. 

I do not think I have very much to tell you about, but enjoy the pics. :) 

I love ya and hope you have an excellent week!! Please pray extra hard for me on Saturday. It is going to be a hard day, but I am so excited for June.