Happy Independence Day week! Next to
Christmas, this is my second favorite holiday as we put a focus on
honoring and show appreciation for all of those that have helped this
chosen country to become free.
Now is the time to look back throughout
the history of America and think of the many things that we can be
grateful for that this country has offered. I can remember the famous
Independence Day movie with Will Smith and the uniting feeling of a
nation coming together to make a stand. We too can experience that
united feeling as we put aside out differences and emphasize the good
and common between us all. Many times I associate being a good American
with being a good Christian but that doesn't always work now days as
America is a melting pot of many different kinds of people. But even
then we can put that aside and find cause to rejoice together.
Yesterday was the last day with
President R. Scott Taylor and Sister Cheryl Taylor and today is the
first with our new mission president, President Griffin and Sister
Griffin. The transition was completed this morning and now we are all
kind of waiting for further guidance and instruction from them on
situations such as meetings. It was sad thinking about the Taylors
leaving but it is just as exciting to have the Griffins here. They
look like very nice people and we are getting the chance to meet with
them this Wednesday for interviews. Wish me luck!
So ever since we had parts from our
bike stolen we have been having continual bike troubles. We got some
replacement parts from someone and they are holding us over for the
time being. Every other day we are pulled to the side with another
popped tire and having to carry the bike from where ever we are home.
Luckily it hasn't been all that far.
This week we started teaching this 14
year old named Sam who is the boyfriend of someone who was recently
baptized. They had a movie night and showed "Prophet of the
Restoration" with a neighbor, Kris, and Sam. Afterwards they
asked to meet with us. We talked with them and answered the questions
they had and invited them to be baptized and they accepted. When
talking with Sam he wanted to know more about the Book of Mormon and
how to have the spirit in his life more. He comes from a rough past
growing up in a care home for the first 9 years of his life and then
ever since he has been jumping from home to home of family members and others. He
doesn't have much of anyone as support or to receive mentoring from
other than his mom who it seems like the situation there isn't the
most stable. He was sincere in asking what blessings we have seen in
our life as we have read the Book of Mormon. He is excited to read
and pray more because he knows it is going to help him overcome the
pains of his past.
After Sam's we went to Mindy Weller's
home to see how the reading about the Holy Ghost and prayer has been
going. We invited her previously to pray daily and read in the index
about prayer throughout the Bible and other scriptures. Her
feelings from the last time we came were kind of on the guilt side
and feeling like she was a bad person but now when we came by again
the place was different. She showed us her "prayer rock"
that she puts on her pillow to remind her to pray before bed. The
home felt warm and filled with the spirit. As she was
explaining the differences she was seeing in her life from praying
and reading it was a testimony builder in the power of those two.
Have a great week ya'll and enjoy the
day of Independence! Go America!!
Love Elder Leonhardt
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