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

a double rainbow

Dear Home,

I will try and call Christmas day morning but the way my companions are I don't know if he'll let me. Thank you for editing my letters I no speackish elglisth good ;) Some of the paper chain ones are a little extreme, you have to remember that I have a bubble that I can't go outside of. Its so awesome that you still get to see the little ones and have a great time with as well as they do with you. I really miss being able to hold little kids and play with them.

This week has been a really weird week. We had transfers this past Tuesday and I am not supposed to be moved around because I am still being trained so for another 5 weeks I am to stay in this area but we were called to attend the meeting anyways. The reason we were called to come was because the other elder that we live with is without a companion and has been coming out with us for the entire week before. He isn't getting a new companion either and instead is companion-less for the next 6 weeks. We are kind of/not in a tri companionship. Our mission president just told the 3 of us to make it work. Its not so bad covering 4 wards and an area that contains around 100,000 people or more because we have a car now! At least for this transfer. I am now being trained by two missionaries, neither have been out longer than 7 months.

We had an amazing lesson this past Saturday. Actually it was more like the whole day. It started off really bad because our alarm didn't go off at 6 am so we woke up at 640ish, didn't have a lot of time to exercise so just got ready for the day. Feeling disobedient, I exited the shower and my companion Elder Wardle said that another elder is having a baptismal service for Ally Crestler and I needed to do the "Half time show" with him. Just present a spiritual talk in front of people.

Being down I wanted to say no but the situation was forced upon me because I am the trainee. I had to get ready quickly and I was off. While presenting I felt as if my mind was completely blank but for some reason I kept talking. As I prayed for help before this the Lord had answered my prayer and helped me speak. He filled my mouth with spiritual words and guided me through my situation.

The service was great and Ally has a wicked strong testimony. Afterwards my companions had a lesson to go to with a lady named Brittany. I love her kids btw. We sent up the room that we were going to be meeting with her in and waited for her to come. And waited. And waited. The fellow shipping members came and a recent convert came to watch after her kids but she didn't come. We called, no answer. Called again from a different phone and she answered and told us that she went to the wrong building. Finally got to the building with us and we were able to teach her about the Holy Ghost. Her kids were being taken care of and making snow globes, awesome. The fellow members that were with us were converts and one was baptized 6 months ago and they both talked about how they feel God's presence with them and how they have received answers. She explained that the day before the missionaries came to her doorstep she had a total break down and asked God what church to join and what to do with her family. The next day in the morning the missionaries knocked on her door. I have never felt the spirit more strongly than that day in that room. When we walked out after the lesson there was a double Rainbow in the sky, IT NEVER RAINS HERE it was meant to be.

I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Love Elder Leonhardt

Mesa Temple Lights

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Dear Home,

This past week was hard emotionally my companions as well for me. There were many ups and downs. First off the little Tongan man in some of my pictures was done with his mission and had to go home because it was time and his visa was almost done. He was a very nice, humbled man and has had a rough past. He has no family to really go home to, only a 90 yr old grandfather who might not be around for much longer because of health, no job, not sure if he will go to school because there isn't much for schooling there. He raised himself pretty much from age 13 till now. He would like to stay in the U.S. Everyone in our mission wants him to come back to America but he doesn't have the money to and it takes 3-4 days of travel just to get home. I miss him already and worry about what next he will do with his life. The Plan of Salvation however does bring joy into me because I know that I will see him again and next time life will be much better.

I was able to go down to the Mesa Temple lights and music performance. There are literally hundreds of thousands of lights there and the sights are just absolutely amazing! You can feel the Spirit of Christmas there so strongly. Oh and there were missionaries everywhere, which was awesome. My companion and I went down with a church family, the father and one of the sons isn't a member. The fathers name is Daniel Ruiz and is a BOSS! He is a very nice man, not a mean bone in him and already has a strong testimony of the gospel. He has plans of being baptized before the year is over as long as he and his 'wife' get married before then. Sister Toledo, the wife, was thinking about how wonderful all the missionaries looked and after a small video of the birth of Christ she went up to a Sister missionary and told her that she and I look a like and she should be my wife and that her companion looks like my companion and they should get married. Oooooouu yeah that was awkward. I talked to her afterwards that missionaries are held at a higher standard and emotional lust or love to another isn't advised. We laughed about it but it was still weird.

So I wanted to share something that I have been thinking about a lot. So in the book of Revelation it states that their is not to be anymore added to this book. When the Bible was formed they placed the book of Revelations at the back but in reality that wouldn't be in chronological order so it throws you off a little bit. The Bible was formed by man, such as the King James Version, therefore books were left out. Where are those other books and do we know everything about Jesus Christ and his teachings? Will we ever get those books back. God loves everyone and Jesus met with more than just the people in Israel so where are the writings of those who met him then? Helaman 3:35 and others. The gospel we have here is all we need at this time but when will we be ready for the rest?

I love you all and have a Merry Christmas

the bike.

Talk to a missionary.

Thank you for the sweaters, they fit and thank Collette for sending one as well and thank you both for the stamps they came just in time. I am going to try and make a video for you and save it on my gmail account and then you can go on and take it off of there, probably next Tuesday or so. I can't think of anything that I really need other than regular t shirts/long sleeves or shorts that I could wear, I don't really need them but I only have two sets.

Dear Home,

This week was a good one. In one of the wards that I serve in they had a Christmas party with tons of food, literally they backed up a dump truck full of food and just dumped it on the floor. Food fight and food slip 'n slide all day, just kidding I wish. There was a lot of good food though and the little kids ages 2-12 or so did a reenactment of the nativity and it was very cute. I miss playing with little kids and holding them, that's probably the hardest part of this job. I miss playing with my nieces and nephew. Anyways on with how my life is soon going to be over soon since the Mayan Calendar is done on Dec 21. I was able to teach the lesson of the Plan of Salvation to a family of 4 kids, parents Brittany and Mario around 30 and kids all under 8. Everyone has questions about where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. This knowledge gives me a lot of comfort and is one of the things about the Gospel that I hold dearest. It has effected my life seeing friends and family members pass away and I have helped that same comfort come into others life as well. Brittany and Mario have a large desire to be good parents and give their kids that guidance that they will need, this helped them have some of that comfort as a parent to think of God not only as a God but as our Loving Heavenly Father who only wants us to grow and progress in life. I was also able to teach this same message to a 60 yr old lady named Gladys. She lost 11 family members with in the past 3 years, not just distant relatives but kids, husband, brothers and sisters, parents and such. She wants to know the purpose of her life and why she is still here. Our goal as missionaries is not to convert everyone but to share the messages of Jesus Christ and bring that joy into peoples lives. One of the members from the church came with us and and the two of them hit it off, my companion and I didn't talk for the first 15 mins we were there, we knew we made a good choice in inviting her to come. Gladys is doing better and is going to see a lot more members of her family this month. I was also able to have a meal with a ward family named the Potters and they invited their nephew over named Josh who is 30 and with in the past 10 years lost both of his parents and now lives on his own. We talked a little about this and he wanted to learn more. He had a native American background, Cherokee I believe, and how the believes of them and the "Mormon" faith believe. Also a cool thing to look up if you have the time. I was informed that they had found Israelite blood in the Indians that live in Ohio, some of them that is, and some of them their names translate in to plate keepers, was not found by anyone of the church. My companion and I ran into a man that had read some work about the Mormon Church that was not published by the church, anti, and explained some weird conceptions about the church and our believes. If you want to know about a church read something that is the foundation of the church, The Book of Mormon and the Bible. Talk to a missionary. Talk to someone who is active in the church because some that are kicked out are soar and don't understand the purpose of why, those still active know their wrong and fix it, that's why they are still active. Its just like if you wanted to know something about the Catholic faith you would go the the Pope or a Priest not someone that was once baptized as a baby and never went to the church. I love you all and hope that the Holiday session goes well.

Love Elder Leonhardt