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15 April 2013 When Prompted, ACT

Dear Home,

This week was transfer week and a number of close Elders left. One is almost done with his mission and now I don't know where he went because I didn't get to go to the meeting but I wish him the best. The other went to a Zone/Area where in the beginning of June will be cut off from this mission and be switched to another mission which made me sad because I may never see him again and he's only been here for a little longer than me. It then made me think that when I am done training in my area I will most likely be transferred into a different area and have the chance to be placed into the Area that is being cut off before it happens so I could be switching Missions too. The mission I would be switched to, not sure if its happening, would be the Tempe mission. Its where the missionaries are a little different, they where their missionary tag on the other side of their coats and they are the only mission that does that, not sure why but we "normal" missionaries can always tell a Tempe missionary from another.

Taught Cierra again this past week and we talked about the conversion story of Alma the younger and how we can find the answer to our own personal prayer. At the end she started to bare her testimony about the gospel and how she has been feeling the Holy Ghost influence her life, she didn't even know she was doing it. She told us about how she felt prompted to do something good in school the other day. She explained: "There was a girl in one of my classes who had never really talked much or had many friends and sat in the back of the class room. One day she came into class with lots of makeup on and a really funky looking hat and I knew that she was going to be made fun of by other students. She looked like she was trying hard to my herself look nice but the hat has definitely going to get her some rude commence. So i felt that I should get up and tell her to take it off and explain than she didn't want people to make fun of her, she got up and did so. As I talked with her and warned her about the hat she took it off and smiled happily that she was so willing to warn her about that and as I think back I don't really remember EVER seeing her smile." Why Cierra had that prompting I don't know but it was definitely the Holy Ghost inviting her to act. It makes me personally feel so good when I get to see others put the gospel to the test and see the fruit from it. What is stopping you?

One of the wards that we are covering had a fundraiser for the young women and we went by to help and to talk with the members. We got volunteered for one of the activities, luckily not the PIE n' the EYE, oh it was Willy Wonka themed. I'll try and send a picture next week. We gave rides on this homemade cart thing modeling the chocolate river ride and as I was carting a number of kids around a bunch of missionaries drove by and stopped to take pictures of me on a unicycle pushing a cart. Pretty fun.

With everyone that we have had the privilege of speaking with we have been asking if we could do service for them and now this week we have 5 service projects, so excited. I LOVE SERVICE. Anyways the work is going great and I love being able to go out each day seeing the wonderful people of The AZ. God bless us all

Love Elder Leonhardt

9 April 2013 Easter and Acts of Service

Dear Home,

I want to thank all of those who so graciously send packages to me and candy for Easter, it was all delicious. In fact so good that I gained 15 pounds from the candy this past week. No joke I have finally gained weight and 15 pounds of it! it was the greatest day when I found that out, I was at first thinking that the workouts that I have been doing each morning were working but then took another look and thought that the lack of the workout and the quantity of food being eaten was probably the real reason but its my story so I'm going to tell you the "positive side" of it. My arms are now massive. I actually have no idea what big arms are like, I've always had small ones.

Yesterday has a very weird day. As we left the house there was a dust storm outside and very hard to ride in on the bikes without your eyes being filled with sand and dust from the air. Soon everything had dust on it and the winds just kept blowing. to add to that later in the day it started to rain and everything that had dust on it soon became muddy and that included us and our clothes and car sitting at home. We have allot of stuff to clean today. Mormon Car wash - We take $5 donations.

Lately we have been trying to ask everyone for acts of service that we could do and at first we weren't getting any takers but now we are getting it from everyone. We have to schedule service projects and ask people to come help us because there is so much work to do which is great, but difficult because everyone wants to do it the same day at the same time.. Have have to been in 3 different places at the same time helping 3 groups of people move and excavate. It really is a blessing though because its been our goal to get many people involved with service and out of their homes to assist those around them with physical needs and in return the one being helped receives a joy that is hard to find in other situations other than in service being done for yourself. We want to get a couple community service projects going so that people can get out from the solitary confinement of their home and meet people while exercising a little. I truly love doing service. This all was started by a motive given to us by some of the other missionaries, for those that know Zone Leaders - assigned missionaries over a group of missionaries, to talk WITH people rather than TO people. We have had the most interesting conversions with people including one high schooler who was on her way to a fashion show. Talked to her about her likes and what not and lead us to talking about families being held together just like how a fashion club runs and how families can be together forever after death. She was interested and wants us to talk with her whole family sometime. In an hour we only got to talk to 4 people because everyone we talked to we were able to hold great conversations with. So I'm going to extend the same commitment I have taken in. Will you talk with someone you have never talked to before and talk to them about the things they are interested in for more than 15 mins and become their friend. Then try to see what parts of their life need the gospel.

I love you all and hope all is precious to you.

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April 1, 2013

Dear Home,

What a wonderful way to end a wonderful week. My companions dad in Idaho ordered Pizza for us and unexpectantly had it delivered to the home where we live but at the time the delivery boy showed up to the house we weren't there and the owners of the house were very startled with why there was a random pizza boy at their doorstep saying that they ordered pizza and wings. He asked the kid who it was for and in reply it was for a Brent and was already payed for. The owners had no idea what was going on and neither did the pizza boy so they both walked away and thought who was the crazy one. Both ended up calling us but neither left messages and we were in a members home talking about the work. Once we got out we noticed that we had 5 missed calls. Quickly calling them back the owners answered and said that a pizza boy came back and with a probing question asked if we ordered pizza on Sunday. He then let us know that he decided that he should go outside to the pizza boy and except the food for some reason, which we were happy to hear about because this is the second time he has tried to send us a pizza. it was good. So if anyone feels inclined to follow suite...I wont be mad :)

As I mentioned last week about the commitment I have made about writing in my journal each night about the witness of the Lords hand in the works around me, it has really opened my eyes to all the wonderful things that have been encompassing me. I received word from a lady who's daughter is looking into the church and she relayed the message, though sad, that her mom had died and that Amanda, the daughter, was asked to say the prayer at the funeral. She did with tears in her eyes and it was a very emotional experience  for all but she said to her mom that she wouldn't have been able to say that prayer if it had not been for my companion and I getting her to say the prayer at the end of each lesson we had with her. It made me think to myself that even though she might not be looking into the church as strongly right now the principles she has learned have helped her already and will continue to do so as she keeps up with them.

Last week I talked about the trail of FAITH that we had about the lack of the Spirit and the constant rejection, the whole trial lasted about 5 days but was then over. Though it was no fun, many questions were answered and actions corrected. I have refocused myself on how to be more converted to the Lord and being able to be a witness of the divinity of his work in all places. Not only did I receive answers about protecting ones faith but I also learned that it is not necessary for someone to turn sour when going through something like that. We must always stand with out head held high and endure the hardships that we as believers will always go through. It is best stated in John chapters surrounding 17 to the end of his writings. Jesus talks about those that follow him will be tried again and again because what they believe in is not of this world and because it is not of the world the world will hate it. Same with those that follow they soon become not of the world and because they are not caught up in worldly things they will be hated by the world but to remember that the time here on earth will be but a sort time and that our infliction will soon pass and we will be in the eternities where the only pains that we will have will be self inflicted, where if we don't want to suffer we wont. All things WILL get better. As I look back to the time that I was going through this famine it looks very short but while in the middle of it it seemed much different. I have now tried to look at things the way God looks at us. In terms of forever rather than terms of yesterday and today. I would encourage all to try and do the same. Not an easy task but a rewarding one none the less.

I love you all and hope the very best for you and those around you. Hurrah for Israel!

Love Elder Leonhardt 

Brett Chapman left for Cuba   

March 25, 2013

Dear Home,

Yippy for posterity! Glad to see the next generation is doing well (except for the whole boy to girl ratio) Ozzie will have to hold up the fort for now. I love all of my nieces and nephews!

Well this week was definitely the hardest one I have had since I've gotten out here. We haven't been able to find anyone to teach and lessons have fallen through. That was the easier part of the week though, it didn't get bad till friday. I let my companion plan the whole day by himself and he picked a street to tract on(knock doors). First door had a funny sign posted on it that read, "No solicitors, we are poor. We found Jesus. We can do yard-work on our own. Seriously unless you are selling thin mints GO AWAY" I took a picture of it and went to the next door. Knocked and a lady answered. We asked if we could say a prayer with the family or offer service of any kind. That was the beginning and we didn't leave for another 30 mins. She said she was a Christian but I don't know if I could agree. She tried to bible bash with us on satanic things and cursed us and wouldn't stop taring down every religion on earth, saying Satan is in control of everything and so on and so forth. I had never seen someone so set on disproving everything and finding the bad/non-truth in this world, it was in more than one way said to see that they could have no happiness in their life because of what they have set their focus on. The attitude of the whole situation was so bad that the spirit had left from the beginning and I have been struggling to feel the spirit since that incident. To throw lemon juice on the cut for the next 3 days not a single person on the street would talk with us or even except a free invitation to the Easter pageant or even letting us know who could use any kind of service. Its been rough. I can say that the only good things that I can recount that have occurred to me are first the The birth of Quin and the Chapman family. We were able to baptize 3 of the kids, the daughters. I got to baptize Alondra who is the middle one in the picture. That's not the only time that they have helped me. As the days have been bad I would randomly run into them here and there, with their big smiles and welcoming attitudes instead of me blessing their lives through the gospel they are now blessing mine through living the gospel. I love them very much. At the baptism the father, nonmember Brett, devoted himself in front of two of his work buddies that while he was gone on a mission for the air force he was going to read the Book of Mormon everyday. I have faith that he will keep his word. The baptism went well and the girls loved the experience, they are now doing Family Home Evening together and striving to help each other and asking lots of questions. Oh yeah Rosa gave the closing prayer and it was so heart felt. She got a little emotional but was so happy to see that her daughters want to follow in her footsteps.

I am now taking a deep breath and remembering the happy moments of my life. I have made a promise that before I lay down for bed I am going to write in my journal an experience in which I have seen the Hand of the Lord. It has helped me to stay positive and look for the bright rather than the dim. I would encourage you as well to try it out, i know that it can help you close your day on a better note and feel better after the trials you have as well to wake up and strive to see the Glory of God lift you and your Burdens. I love you all and hope that the small, peace filled, happy moments will be cherished.

Love Elder Leonhardt  

Drive by shooting

18 March 2013

Dear Home,

BEN IS BACK! SO I hope that you remember the man that I have written so much about previously, Ben Ledesma. We haven't seen him in over 2 months now and as we were riding by we saw him outside his house and stopped by to talk with him. He was thrown back from the last conversation that we had about being baptized and that it would take awhile for him to get there but that it was possible. He had been thinking a lot about that and said he wasn't sure about the whole baptizing thing at that time because be was still involved with the drug life. He confessed everything to us and said in the end that he has missed the feelings that he had while meeting with us and misses going to church to feel the spirit. He wants to start up again and do what he can but can't give up parts of the job because that is the only way that he is able to provide for his family. He doesn't know what to do other than that he needs more of the Spirit in his life. I am so excited to be teaching him again! I have really learned how to love that man.

Up until my meeting with Ben I had been feeling very "out of the game" with talking with people and motivation to do things because I felt that the miracles I had been seeing before weren't being made present to me anymore. I couldn't see the Hand of God in the works around me and started to get a little down. I know God is working behind the curtain but, why does the curtain have to be so thick. Can't it be a little more transparent? I have found that my focus has changed from what it was before to what it is now and that is because I am training someone and the focus isn't for me to see the miracles but for my companion to witness them so he can be fired up to do more work and to see the fire in him should be all the witness I should need. Its tough but I will work through it.

As well as the weather... People down here are telling us that this is going to be the hottest summer yet. Worst than last year, which broke records. It should be in the 100's in another week or two and thats not even the worst part. Soon it won't even get below 100 at night. They say that for about 100 days or more straight it will be over 110 during the day and over 100 at night where the heat will just radiate up from the ground. Happy days. I can't wait for the trail of my faith :)

During the winter down here I think people are much nicer. I hadn't really had any problems with anyone and I haven't had to worry about people doing anything towards us either but now things are starting to change. The heat is getting to them. I got shot at by a drive by. One of the rounds grazed me and left a pretty bad mark. Luckily all that happened with my finger was swelling, it should heal soon. What was hurt even worst that I'm not sure will heal correctly is, my spirit. The air soft hurt but the disrespect cut me even deeper. I am thinking about carrying eggs with me in self defense but then again if they break in the bag the joke would be on me so its still a thought in progress. It really isn't that bad though.

I hope All is well. Enjoy Spring break!!!

Love Elder Leonhardt

I received word that Mark Kowalke is coming down to Phoenix for spring break and the area that he would most likely be in is less than 5 miles from me. I can see the baseball fields from the edge of my area. It is kind of weird to think about contact from the outside world. Also to hear that Matt and a close Elder to me his father, which we have grown to be very good friends, are working together in the same ward on his brothers. I most likely met him before I met his son whom I am serving with now. Small world.