(Inspirational Story at the Bottom)
I am almost done with being in the MTC! I should hopefully get my flight planstomorrow and leave not this monday but next monday (Jan 13th I believe)! Yay! Its crazy to think how fast time has flown by. So yesterday we got all of our new Philippines Missionaries in our Zone. Elder Powell and I are the Zone leaders so us and the Sister Leaders had a get to know you meeting with the whole zone last night and it was cool. Everyone looks so young but I can tell that they are going to be a great group! We have 6 new elders and 7 new sisters. They are all learning Cebuano and going to Cebu and Cebu E. for their missions. Our Languages are similar but also different. I guess that Hiligaynon is harder than Cebuano which in my head does not make sense. haha. But, I will end up learning to speak Cebuano as well when I get out in the mission field depending on my area. I hope that I am able to become somewhat fluent in Tagalog too. So we will see! Last P-Day after I emailed I was able to go to the temple with some of the Elders and Sisters from my old Zone and we cleaned the Provo Temple because its been in construction for a while (It opens Jan 6th!). But, it was so neat because when there is not as many people in the temple or on certain floors I was able to feel the spirit even stronger. There were truly angels walking past me. But after we were done cleaning, we were given a little tour. It was probably one of the best days I have had as a missionary and in the MTC. Its hard to be a Zone Leader now. Its so much more responsibility but, I know I can do it this next week and a half. If you wanna know anything just ask me! I'm always up for being written too. I can testify of so many things but I wanna share one of my favorite songs and seems to be a lot of Polynesians favorite songs too. "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." Except I am going to type it out in Ilonggo. Its such a heart touching and inspirational song. I just love it!
Dios mangin sa imo, paalam (beginning line)
(Verses)
1. Iyang laygay ubayan ka. Upod sa karnero niya.
2. Sa imo nga panglakaton. Hakson ka sang iya butkon.
3. Tindog hayahay sang gugma. Ang kamatayon lupiga.
(Chorus)
Dios mangin sa imo, paalam. Paalam, paalam, tubtob kay Jesus nga tiilan, paalam, paalam, Dios mangin sa imo, paalam.
I know that this Gospel is true and I testify that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we can live with him and our Heavenly Father again. I know that God has called teachers, apostles, and Prophets for us to be able to keep the commandments and learn life lessons. I am so grateful for my teachers that I have, Brother Hong, Bother Speiser, and Sister Tamang, because I know that they are here for a reason and it is through our Heavenly Father. I have been taught so much and could not have learned these things anywhere else. I have firm testimony of the power of prayer and I know that if you pray sincerely and have faith all things will be answered even if it takes time. I can testify of that because of the Gift of Tongues. Without the Lords help I would not be able to speak how much I can in a language I didn't even know how to pronounce things in 5 weeks ago. I know that we are on this Earth for a reason and that we are in the families we are in for so many reasons. I know that God called me to serve in the Negros of the Philippines to serve in the Bacolod Mission speaking what could be 3 different languages for a reason. I know that I am supposed to meet even just one person there that I can bring to the Gospel.
There is a story about an Elder who served in I believe the Puerto Rico mission. He had a dream before he got his mission call that he was in the Pre-Existence and he was with another guy who was his best friend. While there they received their calls of where in the world they were going to be born and what families they will be sent too. This Elder received his call and it said, "you will be born in a family with the truthfulness of the Gospel and will know what it means to be loved. You will be born in America" His best friend then received his call and it said, "you will go through many trials and hardships in your life. You will be born in a family without the truthfulness of the Gospel. You will be sent born in Puerto Rico." This Elder's friend said, "come find me and teach my of the truthfulness." This Elder when he woke up knew that all of what he dreamed was real and a vision from Heavenly Father. He knew that he was going to serve his mission in Puerto Rico, and he knew that he was going to find his best friend and teach him of the truth. He talked about this in his farewell and then 1 year later on his mission he sent a picture to his family saying, "I have found my best friend" with him and that man his best friend from the Pre-Existence with him in white before he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I know this story to be true and I know this Gospel to be true. I know that when you read this story that you truly felt that it was true. These are the stories that we as missionaries are able to have. I can't wait till I find my best friend in the Philippines and am able to show him the light and truth. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you all and, "God be with you till we meet again!"
- Elder Turley
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