July 2, 2014 "Independence Fun, Rain, New Mission President"

This week was great with the 4th of July and rain storms, cooler weather and going on an exchange with my 2nd companion Elder Empey. Things almost couldn't get any better!

Thursday evening after we had an appointment ending at 9pm we walked outside and it started to rain. The last time it rained here was probably at least 2 months ago, I could be wrong but it seems like it has been forever since it rained. We were so overfilled with joy that we decided to ride around in the rain talking to people till we had to go in at 9:30pm. It was amazing and we got soaked! We live in an apartment complex where there are a lot of people from India so we got to talk with them, say a few prayers with them and learn a little bit of their language. So far I still only know one word, language isn't exactly my cup of tea.

This is the beginning of the last week Elder Wardle, my first companion, has on his mission along with many other missionaries that I respect and love. It's a interesting feeling to know that almost your whole mission you have been around these people and now they are being shipped off. They must feel even weirder. I am glad to have gotten to know a number of them and to cultivate friendships that will last and will be waiting for me when I am done.

We had our first interviews with President Griffin Wednesday. President and Sister Griffin are awesome people, nervous but dealing with it way better than I was at the beginning of my mission. They shared with us a little about their past and the family, businesses and what not. We are all excited to be here with them and to learn from them. He paid me a nice complement and then said he wanted to teach the mission 3 things which I was excited to learn about. 1.) Time Management 2.) Planning 3.) Teaching doctrine effectively. So hopefully I can learn as much as possible!

This week I went on an exchange with Elder Empey into his area and he has only been there for 5 weeks, the same amount of time I have been in my area. It was a great day as we hustled around and saw a lot of people. Taught a lot of interesting people but the one that stuck out to me the most was the Honnanno family, I think that's how you spell their name. The father is from Bethlehem and is Greek Orthodox. What was also awesome was that he did sculpturing from olive wood and has done many religious sculptures. He has even done ones of people in the Book of Mormon such as Lehi, Moroni, Nephi and others.

On the 4th of July we were directed to be in during the evening from 6pm through the night so we used this time to relax and have fun, which we did. We first started off by playing monopoly as an apartment and played for almost the whole evening. Midway we decided to do something else as well, we put this Masque stuff on our face that was left by former missionaries. So you know how, I think all women probably have. There are those people that put on the green facial stuff and then when someone comes to the door they get all embarrassed. Yup that was us. We all put it on and took funny pictures with it. The. We ordered pizza and well you guessed it, they arrived while the masque was still on and I was the one to go answer the door. I got some funny looks to say the least. All in all it was a great evening and we had a lot of good memories, no fireworks unfortunately.

Hope you all had a Great Independence Day! Love you all!

Love Elder Leonhardt

 

 

June 30, 2014 "I Love Independence Day"

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

June 27 2014 "Farewell letter from President and Sister Taylor"

Dear parents of the Arizona Phoenix Mission missionaries -

As we conclude our three-year assignment in the Arizona Phoenix Mission, we acknowledge our honor and joy in working closely with your missionary — watching the sacrifices and service as well as the personal growth and successes. We've been blessed to work with nearly 650 missionaries from all over the world who have come to the APM, arriving with excitement, fears, anxieties, apprehensions and uncertainties and then leaving with greater faith, understanding, commitment and testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ.

We have stressed learning, teaching and applying the doctrine of Christ, which is the foundation of "The Missionary Purpose" — ask your missionary upon returning home to diagram the central aspect of the Atonement and how it leads to faith, repentance, baptism/ordinances, the ongoing gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

We've also emphasized obedience to principles - your missionary has heard repeatedly statements such as "We want obedience for you, not from you" and "You are as happy as you are obedient." We've underscored true successes of a missionary (see pages 10-11 of "Preach My Gospel") — not simply baptisms, statistics, leadership responsibilities or area assignments. No, "the mission is not a corporate ladder," and "it doesn't matter where you serve, but how you serve."

We are excited President and Sister Griffin will lead the Arizona Phoenix Mission to greater heights, helping to hasten the work of salvation in this choice area and at a time when the Phoenix Arizona Temple is nearing completion and dedication. Your missionary will love serving with the Griffins - we are certain of this.

We've recently taught the APM missionarys about "substance" and "style" - first, how substance are the principles, policies and directives that don't change (the gospel, the scriptures, "Preach My Gospel," the handbooks, the daily schedule, the meetings, the organization). And second, how "style" is a unique way of carrying forth the substance, based on the traits, characteristics, abilities and personalities of different individuals.

An example: Substance is a mission president interviewing missionaries once a quarter. Style is where the missionary is interviewed and for how long. The Taylors' style was to bring the zone together for a 4-hour training meeting and have President Taylor pull missionaries out during the meeting for interviews; other mission presidents drive from meetinghouse to meetinghouse to meet with smaller groups of missionaries.

We will continue to provide our APM 2011-2014 blog — azphxmission.blogspot.com — for the next 2-3 years. Newer posts may just be visits from returned missionaries, reunions and the like. But we'll keep the posts and the photo galleries available for returned missionaries and current missionaries and their families to download text or photos from Sister Taylor's postings over the past three years.

Sister Griffin has expressed an interest in providing a blog - please be understanding of the demands on a new mission president and wife. Our first year, we had our son Braden here as our photographer. A mission blog, while welcomed by a missionary's family, is not a "substance" thing but a "style" thing. Please be patient with that and other mission matters as the Griffins begin their transition. We remember what that first month (first year!) was like.  Do not expect or ask them about a blog.

A critical reminder for parents and family — the Arizona Phoenix Mission is an online proselyting mission, one of fewer than 30 such missions in the world. With iPads equipped with digital planners and area books, our missionaries use emails, texts, Facebook posts and messages and Skype video conferencing in their proselyting efforts. PROSELYTING is the key word - the Arizona Phoenix Mission isn't simply an online mission, with missionaries communicating frequently and over the various mediums with family and friends.

Missionaries communicate with family/friends only through their myldsmail.net account on P-days — if your missionary is struggling to be obedient to this directive, you can be encouraging and supportive. Also, family and friends should not use Facebook, Skype, texts, calls or off-cycle emails to communicate any information to their missionary - including deaths in the family or other emergencies. You can work with the mission office staff (623-334-3823) or the mission president, whose cell number is on the office answering machine for evening and weekend needs. There's no reason to inappropriately use Facebook, emails, calls or texts — please help your missionary be obedient.

We look forward to staying in touch with your missionary in the coming years. We tell them that we are their cheerleaders for life.

With our love, appreciation and admiration for both you and your missionary,

President and Sister Taylor

New Address

20808 N. 27th Ave apt 1009 Phoenix Arizona 85027

June 23, 2014 "New Mission President"

June 24, 2014

So I am not sure what I am going to do for a bike because I don't want to spend a lot of money for a bike that I am only going to use for 4 more months so I am going to see if I can find someone to bum a bike off of for a little while.

Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the summer as much as I am!! In our apartment complex they just remodeled the office and now they are serving lemonade and cucumber water. One of the ladies gave a pretty good sales pitch for it. So all summer long I should be able to get so cool refreshing liquids.

This is the last week we are with President and Sister Taylor and next week Thursday President and Sister Griffin will be here. We got our last email from the Taylor's and were able to hear of their love that they shared with us continually. One of the last principles he taught us was preparing the path for others to take their place. He is working really hard to get everyone prepared for whatever changes may occur and rules changing and policy. It makes me reflect on the area that I have had to leave and someone else was coming in to take my place. It is hard sometimes to try and not be that missionary who people get to attached to because it makes it hard for the next missionaries that come in.

Thursday after dinner we had some appointments that took about 20 mins to bike to so right after dinner we had to get biking quick to get there on time. Elder Murdock and I were having a great gospel conversation when we came around a corner on a dirt path and there was a BMX jump. My companion said hold on and started biking faster towards the jump. He went up ^ and came down and crashed. He was covered with dirt. He ended up hurting his arm but no hospital.

So things are still going well over here. Hope it's going well over there!

Love Elder Leonhardt

June 16, 2014 "Solutions for the rough patches in life"

Well I finally get a little break in the work to write home to you all! I love it here, but don't worry I love you all as well! This week I had an interesting learning that is more for the future but it is

an exciting one that I can't wait to apply. Scripture study and prayer with the spouse. You may say wow that's pretty cool to learn or you may say that I am weird and ask what the heck are you learning down there in Arizona. Yes I know that I am only 20 and that this kind of thinking is way out in the future but I learned it from an older couple we went to visit this week. The husband was Ron and the wife is Linda. Ron just found out a day earlier that he has cancer again and got pretty devastated about it. It lead to an argument with him and his wife and now he expresses that he thinks they are going to separate. It was really sad to hear about and I don't know all that was going on but the spirit taught me that yes there are rough patches in all relationships and some can't really be prevented but they can be overcome. Daily scripture study and prayer with a spouse helps unify and strengthen each side of the relationship and helps each other express thoughts and concerns in a loving manner where the goal is to come closer to God. In that atmosphere I feel ALL can be accomplished. But that is why I have to wait because I don't know much about that kind of relationship so I will put it in the back out my mind to bring up in the future.

We helped this family called the Hamblin's move out of their home and put their stuff in the neighbors garage as they were being evicted. They were given 3 hours to get all of their stuff out and clean the place. With those demands they became angry and soon cops pulled up and this big commotion started. I feel it first started with the family wanting to live outside of their means which brought debt. That lead to trying to cover up mistakes in the easy form which would seem all nice and daisy like at the beginning but late would bite you in the butt. I thought of it in a different way. When we live the commandments that God instructs us in it helps us learn and be prepared for future endeavors as well and we have his promised blessings too. When we don't keep the commandments we often try to cover the problems with self-doubt, justifying, pride or other types of avenues. But it doesn't take care of the issue. When justice comes and debt is demanded everything starts coming down. As it may seem hard at times, keeping the commandments helps prevents troubles down the road.

This is probably a weird email to you all but here is another life lesson I had learned this week. There is a family of recently baptized members of the church that are from Deli India. They have a son that

is 2 yrs old and has autism. In India their child would be looked down upon and thought of as explained to me "below livestock and unfit for society." Here in America we feel otherwise for the most part. Their son is awesome, happy, loud, loving, and wanting to be on the go. It helped me understand that though there may be an imperfection in the child and he may not be completely there, he is at least their son and here in earth for a specific and special purpose. He is young and has so much more in front of him and not to limit an individual right at the beginning.

On Saturday one of the missionaries that I live with got sick and needed to stay home for part of the day so my companion and their companion went out and I stayed at home while Elder Barrus slept. So I got to catch up with journal writing and cleaning of the house. It was great.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday! Thanks Dad for all that you do and the love you show towards me. You are a magnificent example to me and I love you!

Love Elder Leonhardt

                                              Elder Barrus, Elder Empey, Elder Murdock
                                       Backsides of  Elder Wainwright, Elder Lower, Elder James

June 9 2014 "New Area....not the best welcoming committee"

June 9 2014

Hey so I have a little bit of a predicament and I'll explain it more later but in short I got a lot of my bike stolen and either need to pay $200 for the parts, a member down here is able to help find the

cheapest, or just borrow a bike till the end. The thing I am debating is if I should pay or not because I would like to use a bike when I am at school.

Haha well I just got into a new area, new to me, and I have been having way to many exciting things happen. This will be a fun email to write.

I got into the new area on Wednesday and on Friday and Saturday there were 2 baptisms in the area, yeah that's how hard I work. Just kidding that was the joke at church. One of the leaders that we work with a lot wanted to meet with us after one of the baptisms to get to know me and bring me up to date on things. He is going through the Air Force for his dental and with his military studies he was relating a lot of things to June 6th 1944 which I believe was D-Day. Those that were baptized were James Mondella and Noah Karch. James is a 50's year old man and has been meeting with the past missionaries for awhile and Noah is a 17 year old who started meeting with missionaries soon after

he saw the change in his mom and sister from joining the Gospel.

Ok so since we have been here in the area we have been pretty busy but that's nothing new to me because the past 20 months have been busy. Thursday night we were having to go out to make some visits with a member and so he drove and we locked our bikes up with a U-lock out behind the building so it wasn't right next to the street. We were planning to go back to the building the next morning so we decided we could leave them there and they should be safe since the other missionaries had done it before. The next day when we were in the building there were some youth that come up to us and asked if we got our bikes stolen. That raises a bunch of red flags for me. We said no but went with him to go see if the bikes stolen were ours, praying it wasn't. Yup they were ours. They didn't get all of the bike just the wheels, bike seats, and lights, then took our helmets and hide them but we found them later. So all that was left was the frame. To add salt to the wound there was another set of missionaries that left their bikes there over night and the same thing happened to them that night and one of the missionaries just got out here Wednesday. After we had a laugh about it we tried to make calls so we could borrow a bike till these were fixed. When we went to take the frames, no longer bikes, to someone's house that would fix them up for us we found out that the thieves had messed with the U-locks and we couldn't get one of them off. We had to use a grinder to cut through it. Boy was this week fun!

It's nice to be in a new area but it's weird having only been in the last area for 6 weeks. This area is unlike most of the areas I have been in because it seems like there is a lot to do that hasn't been

done for quite some time. I am excited because that kind of gives me the green light to work as hard as possible and not have to worry whether someone had already done that.

I have been thinking a lot and reflecting on all that I have accomplished and done and who I have become and I continue to see a lot more than what I was looking for. I have a companion that is newer to the mission field and has expressed a couple times that he doesn't know much. When I hear these things the constant thought that goes through my mind is, yes you do you know a lot more than you think. I myself have thought that “I can't really do something” or “I don't know the right answer” but have learned 2 things about that. One: If you think long enough and pray about it you can figure it out. Two: If you don't know that is ok. We are spirit children of the master problem fixer and most wise individual ever, God, and he has a lot of trust in us and believes we can overcome obstacles. We don't need to know everything but we should try to do our best. After doing all you can do it is important to look back on the trail you have gone down and see the memories and monuments you have built and remember all the positives you have done.

Love Elder Caleb Leonhardt