Monday, September 9, 2013

9 September 2013 Struggles are a blessing.

That's so cool that Eric Black was able to finish the TM in that time! I am very jealous of him. In fact I issue a challenge of when I get back we will do one together, if there is one at that time somewhere close. I wanted to do one really bad before my mission but I had nose surgery which took me from that as well as a marathon that I trained for. But I'm OK with that because I was in the best shape of my life when I was training for those. I miss that shape now since I have gained 25 pounds and look like a round  blue umpa lumpa. More like red because of the sun.

Also Mom you asked what pet peeves I have and I would say for me is lack of effort. It drives me crazy when I see people not trying in things significant or not just doing your best in everything. That's why I am glad that the Lord has given me so many struggles to humble me and those around us. It helps us get on the same level so we can rise together.

Had a lesson this week with a man named Ned Rowen who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a little over a year ago and now teaches a class at church for those that are new members or visiting. He often shares the things of his past and this week he talked about his past on drinking, smoking, drug use and other vices. As he talked about it, it seemed as if those things had no magnitude because they have no part in him now and who he is. He simply wants to share that with others to warn them of the difficulties that may come and the struggles one might have not with just their health but with those around him. Some of these things are direct reasons for losing loved ones and pain untold. It is a miracle that he is still here to share this stuff with us and I am so glad that he is here to share it with us. He has taken himself from one end of the spectrum to the other and told us that it is impossible to do it with out the Lords help. I love him.

I went to In 'n Out for the first time the other day. It was alright, nothing better than what I can whip up at Culvers! Yea yea!

There was an Elders Quorum BBQ this past Saturday which turned into a much larger BBQ for the whole ward. We talked to a lady there and had one of the most wonderful talks of my whole mission because of the honesty that was shared. We have been going by their home asking if their kids could help us out by letting us teach them the missionary lessons and give them an opportunity to ask questions that they get at school or just questions that they have and we try our best to answer them. Some are pretty tough too. Each time we have talked to them they are unsure and want to get back to us. Never do. So we asked her again and she explained something that was behind the scene. The kids testimonies are struggling and aren't sure which direction they want to go and if they like going to church at all. Both parents have been wondering what to do and how to help them understand what they believe and do, but aren't having the best of success. That is when we started to go over there asking if they would like to help us out. The thing is neither my companion or I really had a prompting to go there, we just did and it was an answer to a prayer. The answer however came from not us but those that are around the family that care so much for them and have been praying for them.

We met with a Lady named Glenda this week at church to show her around and let her get a feel for the building before she came on Sunday. She has learned little by little about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and explained lots of reasons why she is interested and some questions that she has about doctrine and such. She is a very special lady. When she was learning more about the Mormons in the last place she lived there was a lot of opposition to her even talking to "Mormons". Her husband used to make jokes that it was in the papers because she got letters from people of all churches telling her tons of...different points of view. Anyway after showing her around we had a lesson about staying of the path of righteousness relating to Lehi's dream. The Spirit was so thick in the church you could cut it with a knife.

I am so thankful for my inadequacies that force me to rely on the Lord to make up for that which I can't and allow him to use me for a better tool in spreading the Gospel. I testify that it can't be done without the Spirit and is worthless to do without it. Pray for it.

Love Elder Leonhardt

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