This has been a fantastic two weeks! A woman who introduced herself to the Elders (unheard of) on the subway is being baptized this Saturday. She is an attorney who is looking for a better life, and has been on line researching the church. She stopped smoking completely within 4 days of learning of the Word of Wisdom. She asked me to speak at her baptism so that will be a great opportunity to feel the Spirit.

 

Also, we just got home from teaching our tutor whom I have told you about. Tonight he agreed to be baptized!! He said he feels so peaceful when he reads the Book of Mormon. He said he is so surprised he is feeling this way about a religion. He said he wasn’t really looking for something new when he agreed to take the lessons. He became familiar with the Elders from teaching us at the Branch and liked them. He had a little curiosity about us agreed to listen. The feelings he felt were so peaceful he decided to continue to let us teach him. The first night we met with him he agreed to say his first prayer ever and he gave two prayers during the lesson!! As a result of his two prayers he has found a job and he also told us that for the first time in seven years his family did not struggle with paying the mortgage this month.

Prayer is so powerful and the Lord has poured out sweet blessings on this young man. He said a prayer this evening and it was just thanking Heavenly Father for all he has,…just a prayer of gratitude in which he told the Lord “thank you and I don’t need anything, I just want to say thank you”. He is so sweet and sincere!

 

We have the unique opportunity here to talk to Muslims and try to understand their culture and religion. Many questions come up when they find we are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. All of the missionaries have been asked to get a “clean copy” (not previously marked) of the Book of Mormon, and begin reading with the intention to be able to respond to concerns from these wonderful people. If you have the inclination to read the Book of Mormon with new eyes, you may want to get a new, inexpensive copy of the Book of Mormon and begin reading. It is a powerful experience. I’ve learned things I had not known before, and I feel the truthfulness of that book in a feeling of confidence and peace as I read!

 

Two of our Elders from Ankara and two from Istanbul went home last week and we received 4 new ones. One is an Elder Clark from Woodland Hills who will be in Ankara! I have not met him but I look forward to it. We don’t recognize his name. Another of the Elders came in from Bulgaria and is scrambling to pick up Turkish in a hurry. For about a day or two there will be someone who doesn’t know as much Turkish as Elder Ercanbrack and me!!  Oh yes, Terry and I have been asked to teach Gospel Doctrine, and I’m playing the piano this Saturday for the baptism and for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I’m so serious when I ask you to say prayers for me!

 

We hope all the Fathers had a great Father’s day.  Skyping on Sunday was so much fun!

Take care of your wonderful selves and keep us posted on what you are up to.

 

Love,

Sister and Elder Ercanbrack