this week was a large shocker for me.

January 22, 2013

Dear Home,

I am not moving this transfer and will be staying in the same area for at least another 6 weeks so feel free to send messages this way for awhile longer. The letters are coming, tell those in the ward that sent me letters that they should be coming soonish, some I have written and just not sent and some I still need to write, not much time to do writing.

Well this week was a large shocker for me. We were able to teach many lessons with people which was great but there is much more so I'm just going to start off with the biggest one thats on my mind. So this man named Ben that we have been teaching for sometime now opened up a little more to us and told us some stuff that I definitely did not want to hear but had to know. The gang that he said he has been apart of was the Mexican Mafia and he was pretty high up. He made them lots of money in his past and because of his stroke he has been uninvolved in the action for the disability he has. He can't move his left arm and his left leg is still very weak with little motor works.

But once you're in a gang its sometimes hard to get out once you know that you don't want to do it anymore. He doesn't want to be involved anymore. They want him back and when he gets better and can do stuff they are going to come for him to get back in, but he doesn't want to. He is a changed man. They have already shown interest in getting him back in. The day they come and ask him are you IN or OUT he has prepared to say No. Its BLOOD in and BLOOD out. Meaning my most favorite person to teach right now and most spiritually inclined person I know has a death date. To be honest I am scared for him. I love this man very much and want what's best for him and I know that the Gospel is exactly that. Since he has been meeting with us he has turned his and his family's life around. And some thug is going to take this opportunity away from him. Not ok by me. I would, if I got the chance to, step in front of a bullet for him. Sorry mom but I would.

We have been able to sit down with this family named the Chapman's which is kind of cool how we came in contact with her again. So on an exchange with another missionary we went to this door of a person that used to be interested in the church, a place that my companion stopped his efforts on meeting with them because he had never been able to meet her. A young man opened the door and let us in to say a prayer with him. His father spoke only Spanish so at the end I referred the Spanish missionaries to that house.

When they showed up and lady named Rosa was there and agreed to meet with them. They taught a lesson and she decided to get baptized on the 9th of Feb. She wants her family to be taught to in English. So they referred her back to us. We met with her and found out that she has been taught by missionaries for the past 1 1/2 years but not recently.

She has been remarried to the actual Jason Born. This guy is a BEAST. He knows like 5 languages including Iran, Arab, and another middle east one. Oh and does tons of hand to hand best of the best combat and works in the mental devision of the Air Force .

He is also very interested in the church because he works with a couple that have challenged him to read to Book of Mormon. Rose is way more interested in the church now as well and when we asked her about being baptized she said it WILL happen on the 9th. I love teaching them.

They have a punk 15 yr old too that I have made it my goal to break him and be more receptive to us and his parents. Sorry mom and dad if I was ever like that when I was young. Not sorry to my siblings because that was my way of testing you to see how you would react, most of you failed...but I'll give you a second chance ;)

Oh and Rosa apparently has sold her soul to the Devil in blood and paper and claims to be possessed by demons but she is still cool to teach. I don't believe she is but its a cool story.

I have started to see how this life style as a missionary should somehow be transfered over to when I get home because there is so much goodness and blessings from this, not that I am going to live perfectly like this forever but the spiritual aspect needs to be a large part of it. Always strive to do missionary work. I have learned a lot about members and how terrible they are because of their lack of work. We are full time teachers, members are Full Time FINDERS. Help out the missionaries in your area.

Much Love for 70 and above, Elder Leonhardt

Elder Wardle's blog

elderharrisonwardle.blogspot.com

You can see more pictures of Caleb and learn more about Caleb through what his companion writes home to his mom. Caleb could be transferred this week. He is through with his training.

God delivered.

14 January 2013

 Tell the family hi for me and that I love them very much and can wait to see them soon. And yes I mean I can wait ;)

To answer your questions my favorite place that has a lot of meaning to me is at the top of the hill near our former house where the retirement home now lays. Before that was built I used to run up there everyday, climb up this large Oak tree that is still there and look over the valley towards Devils Lake. I thought about life a lot and all that I may go through. It brought peace to my soul. It was also a meeting place for my friends so that we could think of stupid stuff to do, you know secret combinations. I love being in nature and I have been able to confine that love of a place internally so that where ever I go that is Home. Now I don't get home sick, sorry. Our home will be in Heaven and meet up there soon.

Other questions to answer: I write at a library and about that laptop thing absolutely not happening and I don't know who or for what reason anyone would have need to bring it, nothing good would come from it.

Its good that you can look at that embarrassing moment as a moment to learn. Always have that mentality and no one can take down what you know. We are here on this earth to learn, so be taught. No shame or regrets if thats all that you do is learn, put off the Natural man and go to work. Its interesting that you mentioned that because we just ran into a situation like that, kind of.

Oh and I will work on a letter that will help you with your new form of teaching. Anyways so we had one of the 70 come down and told us that we can go to the temple with our recent converts after they are baptized because for those that do it turns out to be a 99% activation rate which is what we are looking for. We want converts not people that have just a testimony. So in a trio we cover 4 wards and in the ward of the missionary that we took in, its not on paper that we are companions. He is solo and just with us. We began teaching Violeta, that young lady we baptized and were with her the whole way and because of that we thought that we could go to the temple with her but we can't. Some of the Elders were frustrated with that and argued this with the Zone Leaders. We had a meeting with them and all were able to talk freely about the situation. Contention arose and the situation wasn't handled in the best manner. I was reluctant to share some of my wisdom in counseling as you know I am pretty good with it. Shared some knowledge that ended up being over there heads and now have a nickname of Shakespeare. Oh well he was a good guy, kind of. I miss being able to counsel people and helping people out with whatever they need, as a missionary I'm not allowed to do so. It is a great gift I have and I want to use it but possibly at this time I am to understand more about it or learn how to go about counseling before I can do it again after the mission. Its hard but people need to understand that everything we say is important and will have an impact on someone whether in our presence or not. But words aren't the most important thing shared but rather the attitude that is carried with it and the posture we have. You may not know it but when you are on the other side of a phone call the posture you are in matters. I would invite you to see why.

We are not only people on this earth but we are from the decedent of a God. He created us. We are his children. The more one learns to understand that the more it will have on someones image.

In one of the wards that I cover we have 0 investigators to the Church and its in the ward that has been doing the best in fellowshipping and greatest group of people, but no work. They deserve it and for their efforts they have now been rewarded. We got in contact with a man named Micheal. He is a cowboy from South New Jersey and is a architect for health care buildings. Other missionaries have been teaching him and he lives in our boundaries so he finally got to us and is totally ready for baptism. Super strong testimony and loves coming to church, God delivered.

Along with my favorite man Ben, we taught him about the Word of Wisdom meaning to refrain from Coffee, Harmful drugs, Alcohol, Tea, and Tobacco. He smoked over a pack a day and is now down to one or two a day. And because of the family that he comes from where there is a lot of drugs, alcohol and smoking and tea and coffee he has been talking to them about it in an open manner and a lot of his family is following his lead without even talking with us. His family as well is asking him all the time if they can pray and he will in the middle of watching a movie or sometimes stop and ask the kids if they want to pray and they do. He tells everyone that its now an addiction. I love him so much, he's great.

We also have a family, Brittany Rowland, Mario, and her kids, They have been going with out AC or heat and its been getting below freezing down here and they are very miserable and sick. I feel so bad for them and have done a blitz to find someone that can help them for no cost or something. We found someone that can and we hope that its not getting to late. I love their family very much and hate seeing them suffer. They have very little and are young parents with little work now because the place that Mario was working won't pay him and now won't work him so he can't really afford to provide for his family. She told us once that with the 4 kids and dad and grandpa living in one house they had only 4 muffins and that's all to eat. the oldest went without eating to the kids could. How could anyone let anyone suffer like that. Ask and I will do all that I can but somethings people won't ask so we must find. I love you all and hope all is well!

Love Elder Leonhardt

Meet Violeta.

Violeta Caballaro. Baptized this past Saturday and confirmed yesterday, Sunday. Single mother at age 24 and baby is 6 months. Special Ed. teacher, and significant other left her. Super strong daughter of God and obedient to keeping commitments.

I know that the Atonement is very real.

Jan 7, 2013

Dear Home,

Wow so the first 5 days of this week were pretty slow because people were still recuperating after the holiday's but we were still some how able to teach the same number of lessons, God prepares a way (1 Nephi 3:7). But Saturday and Sunday it really picked up. We first baptized Violeta and had a very nice spiritual experience with that. She is a very strong lady for all that she goes through and has been/ still is excited to use the Atonement of Jesus Christ more fully in her everyday life. Oh and her daughter is very cute, wish I could hold kids!

We also taught this man named Ben a couple times. He is a 50 yr old Mexican who had a stroke about a month or two ago and his left arm and leg don't work every good. He went to Federal Prison for 12 yrs for the taking a life and has had a very rough life. Wife divorced him and she has been trying to take his kids away from him even though she has a couple drug addictions. His mother is taking care of them all. He has been coming to church for the past couple weeks and we talked with him on Saturday and he explained what he has been feeling every time we meet and talk about the scriptures. This is what he said, "I feel like I'm floating like i could fly away right now. I feel so good that I want to cry, I've never felt like this before." Even though he has a long ways to go he is the strongest person ever for making the decision to give his kids a better life.

You know what this isn't even half of it. Before we met Ben. Before I got here, missionaries found his son Mitch on the side of the road walking and was going to teach him and his "girl". For two months they tried, couldn't meet with him. Then me and my companion tried and again couldn't. One night we walked into him and his family after trying his door again and giving up. We said a prayer with him and tried meeting again. Didn't go through. Saw his "girl" on the side of the street a couple weeks later and she said they broke up and he was living with his Grandma. We went there and got to meet Mitch. Ben walked out to have a smoke and saw us. Decided to sit down and listen to us, he was into it more than Mitch. That was the day he got out of the hospital from having his stroke. We couldn't meet with Mitch because Ben wasn't ready yet. God is in the works all around us.

While we were at church for our 3rd sacrament meeting in a row a man and his daughter came up to us and asked if we would come over and teach him and his daughter. We went over that night. He opened up right away. His name is John Johnson, cowboy kind of John Wayne guy. He is living at his ex wifes parents house and had everything taken away from him. Family have been killed and lost. All he has is his 7 yr old daughter. He told us that he was baptized when he was 12, left the church when he was about 15 or so, got addicted to drugs for 20 yrs, son was killed in Afghanistan recently and they sent him the pics of the scene and everything while he was alone he opened them. He tried to call everyone he knew and no one answered, called 911 and they helped him. A week before his son died he told us that they talked on the phone and at the beginning his son sounded concerned, asked him what was going on, said some kids died and couldn't talk about it. at the end said, " Dad those kids that died....I killed them, they were using them as shields and strapping bombs to them and having them run at us, I had to. Dad am I going to Hell?" He looked right at me with tears in his eyes and asked me, "Is my son going to Hell?" This man at the lowest of his lows doesn't know what to do or think. I wanted to cry in his behalf, He told us that we should take him outside and just beat him, all just beat him tell he can't move.

I know that his son is not going to Hell. I know that John is going to be a great father as he follows the example of Jesus Christ. God will help us all. I know that the Atonement is very real and Ben can be cleansed of his sins and all the things he has done in his life. If you have any questions about this write me. I love you all and have a wonderful New Years!!

Sincerely Elder Leonhardt

Meet Ines Tintu.

Dear Home,

This is Ines Tintu from Argentina. She is currently the most amazing person near me. She reminds me a lot of the Fern's the way she talks and acts. She was being taught the gospel for about a month or two before she was baptized this past Saturday the 29th. So about her background before the baptism. She was married along time ago till her husband died and now has been living on her own for some time now. Has one daughter who lives in Mexico and doesn't see her very much. Has a sister that lives near by though who are also members of the church. She very recently has just stopped chemo in her fight against breast cancer but that doesn't phase her sense of humor or spirit. Her knowledge of the gospel was so great before we started the lessons where she convinced herself that it is true and know all the commandments and about revelation, if you want to know something ask God. She was very easy to teach.

When we got to the day of her baptism she was nervous and a little scared about getting into the water. She showed up to the church a hour and 30 mins early so she wouldn't be late, almost before we got there. We talked to her more about how she wouldn't be held under the water and she doesn't need to know how to swim and addressed any other concerns that she had. Her family came. When it came to the time of her to perform the actual baptism I can remember it clearly in my mind. She wanted to wear her bandanna into the fount but decided not to and walked down in in front of everyone bald. Showing to everyone who see was and that she needed not any cover up or to hind from anything. This was her time to be with God and make this covenant with her. No one else mattered at this time. The words were said and she went under the water completely. Then arose straightway out of the water and with a heavenly glow about her. She began to cry with tears of joy for she has been made clean. As she went to go change a companion and I talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how we all can partake of it and be cleansed of out sin through Jesus Christ and feel happiness in our lowest times. We barred testimony about the gospel and in walked Ines. Immediately she said to those that were there, "Thank you everybody, I HAVE A NEW BODY!" in her Argentinian ascent. Some other talks were given and people welcomed her into the family. More tears were shed.

The picture of me with her was taken this morning as we helped her move out of her apartment because she couldn't afford it and had to move somewhere else, luckily someone from church found here one near by. I love her. She is a very strong lady.

That same day we also taught a lesson with Brittany Rowland who is an investigator to the church. We had a young couple her age there as well. We talked about the Atonement and how to look forward in life when we are having a hard time, there are good things to come. She opened up and explained everything to us and the members took her in about her situation. She is a mother of 4 kids, 24 yr old and with a significant other but not a husband because they can't afford marriage but that they both really want to. We also explained the Word of Wisdom meaning to refrain from Coffee, Harmful drugs, Alcohol, Tea, and Tobacco. CHATT. She understands it and said Yes to following that commandment.

This past week we had a lesson with a lady named Violeta Cabieto? I think. She is half Mexican half Native American. 23 years old and has a baby girl of 6 months, no male helping her out. She is a Special Education teacher for grades 4-7 and has tons of patience for that job. When we met with her we taught the Law of Chastity with an older couple there with us. When we asked her how living this commandment could help someone in there life she answered, "I don't know I broke it." We explained it and suddenly she broke down. Crying and telling us that this is something that she has been persecuted a lot for because of her situation and people look down upon her and are very rude in many ways. It got very emotional. We explained that its ok because Jesus Christ went through this exact pain for you so that he can help you in this time of your life. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind can be cleaned and baptism is how we can use it and be cleansed. She understands that she is now setting the example for her daughter and began to exclaim how happy she is that she is being baptized soon because all the wrong she has done will be washed away and that she is being given a second fresh start. She is being baptized this coming Saturday.

I love being a missionary being able to bring people happiness and joy into their life. All of those who read the scriptures everyday, pray everyday, and go to church every week and live the gospel in between Sundays will have an over abundance of joy in their life. I can promise that. I love you all and may God be with you!

Love Elder Leonhardt

The Spirit of Christmas is AMAZING!!!

December 24 2012

I want to thank you and all that have sent me cards for the holidays, I love the drawings and messages that the younger ones have done! I truly do love all of you and am so thankful for all the love you have for me, if you still have any.

Dear Home,

The Spirit of Christmas is AMAZING!!! I love how everyone loves everyone, it needs to be like this everyday of the year.

Its wonderful that Jesus Christ was born into this world to show us the path to return unto our Heavenly Father and also that he died for you and me that we may be saved; but I think that it is even more special that he lives to day to be our companion through all that we go through. Jesus Christ during the Atonement went below man so that he can lift us from our feet.

We had a Christmas Conference with half our mission, about 80 missionaries, and sang tons of Christmas songs and talked about the true meaning of it. We talked about the Atonement more and learned about the wise men that came to Jesus as a child. I encourage you to read Luke 2 closely about the birth of Christ. It doesn't say three nor that they arrived the day he was born or who they are. Its very interesting.

I want to thank everyone for the gifts you have sent me and continue to send me, I can feel the love you have for me. But gifts are not what I want. I want to hear/see the words on paper of how you are doing. Letters are one of the most treasured thing that missionaries can receive while here because you know that whoever wrote it loves you, they took time out of their day to sit down and talk to me; thank you.

President Thomas S Monson said something I really like. "Someone who gives money gives much, one who gives time gives more, and one who gives their life gives all." Gifts are great but time spent is greater and those memories that are made won't deteriorate over time but only have a lasting effect upon you. So what can you do besides gift giving to someone for Christmas?

I was able to sit down and talk with a couple people this past week and talk with them about Gospel Principles. One being about the Restoration of the Lord's Church. We were talking with a lady named Stephany and her son who is 8 named Cruz. She has been to many churches such as the Catholic Church, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Christian churches. Her father joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 2 years ago. She had a lot of questions about what her dad was doing. We talked with her and she loved and understood what she knew about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that she had learned in the Bible. She really has a desire to come closer with God and wants it to be a part of her family. We invited her to come to church this past Sunday and she said yes. She didn't come and told us over the phone that she didn't want to be disloyal to another church. My companions and I were heart broken because she was so interested. We met with her that night and asked her about what happened and she discussed that she didn't know what to do. We told her to pray and shared a spiritual message with her. She will talk to her dad a little more and then to us.

Oh by the way there is this Christmas song that I heard someone sing that I really really liked. I think its something like "Do you have room" or something like that. I don't know the title but its now my favorite.

Have a Merry Christmas and may you feel the Spirit of the Lord in this time of year.

Sincerely in Love, Elder Leonhardt

Mom I will call you at 10 Christmas morning so hopefully everyone will be up and awake. Love you