Elder Turley's Missionary Blog: Week 1 of the MTC

Kamusta ka pamili kag friends!

Sorry I could not email last week. Because it was my first week I did not have a P-Day to email. Everything at the MTC is going great! I do have to admit it is kind of boring because we are in class all day doing language study for Hiligaynon(Ilonggo), but its cool and I can't wait to get to Bacolod and be out and about in the field already. My second day we already started teaching an "investigator" in Ilonggo. It was insane but we just know the basics so far. Its crazy to think that what I've learned already, and can use is how much you would learn in like 7 weeks of a language college class. The hardest part about the language is the conjugation and remembering the verbs so far. When they talk it is like talking like Yoda; "Make great what know you in life," or something like that. My language teacher is Sister Tamang and she's awesome and she served her mission in Bacolod! My companions name is Elder Powell and the other Elders in my Room are Elder Jones and Elder Morgan. Me and Elder Powell are going to Bacolod and Elder Jones and Morgan are going to Iloilo which is the island kind of North-West from Bacolod (Negros Occidental). Our sisters are Sister Snow, Sister Judd, and Sister Tiroba. Sister Judd and Snow are going to Bacolod, and Sister Trioba is going to Iloilo (Its cool because she is from Kitipas which is a poor island in the South Pacific so she doesn't speak much English and she is shy but she has a strong hard and a strong testimony of the Gospel. The MTC is very interesting because of how many Elders and Sisters there are here. A ton of weird and funny stories but a ton of very spiritual touching moments. I do admit I love my residence. There are tons of Polynesians on my floor and Elders from New Zealand and Australia going to the Philippines to serve. They always do the Haka every night and I got to learn a little bit of it. Haha. I love Polynesians! They are so fun! On Tuesday we had a Devotional. I got to sing in the choir (The First Noel "variation of movements") and Elder Quinton Cook spoke to us (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and his wife spoke also. Their message was great. Sister Cook talked about how we as missionaries need to be like the star of David and be a Star shining brightly as a guide to the truthfulness of the Gospel and to Jesus Christ. Elder Cook talked about how the missionary callings work and how missionaries are called for certain reasons. They are called to certain missions because they either need to meet one person, they need to be directed by that certain mission president to learn something, and etc. He talked about a lot like being Shepherds unto sheep, but that was just something brief. But anyways that's all I can think of for right now!

I love you all and have a great week. Because its December and Christmas time, think of Christ throughout your days and all that he has done for us! Kabalo ako nga matuod simbahan kag ang libro ni mormon. Kabalo ako nga mapinalonggaon JesuChristo. Halong!

Love, Elder Erik Turley

Elder Powell and I in front of the Provo Temple.