Week 84 - I love this place!!!

Well. I feel like you probably get tired of me saying this, but it has been another incredible week down here! I honestly have the coolest job in the world. The church is true folks.

The district, with recent converts Taylor Baumbach and Diana Valbuena.

Just wanted to write real quick this week and let you know that I am doing the best I can to serve the lord down here. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary and for all the support I have and do receive. I love you guys! 

I have seen the gospel change many lives. Including mine own. I love it. :D

Oh btw, here is a nice little picture of the new apartments that we live in:

Anyways though. Gotta run. We are taking a trip to Old Town Spring, so we can get some souveneirs and such :) I love this place!

Hope you all have an incredible week. You deserve it. I love you guys, and will see you in a few short weeks!

Here are a few more delightful videos for your personal enjoyment:

P-day morning jams

Ramen. It's what's for dinner!

Week 80 - only four more transfers :(

Just a short letter this week. I only have 4 transfers left, and I don't have time to waste writing letters! I hope everyone is doing well back home though ;)

Here is a picture with one of my favorite families from the ward: the Otas. They cook us delicious japanese food on saturdays! And it just so happens that they are good friends with the Dee Fuhirman (I have no idea how to spell that) and his family that used to live in melba. So when I told them that I was from melba they were quite excited to see that I knew them!  

This week has been full of miracles. At home and here in the mission. Life is incredible when the gospel is in your life :) my only regret is that it took me this long to figure that out.

Also, the church has put together a pretty awesome series of bible videos that are great for learning and teaching. If you haven't at least watched them I encourage you to do it.

Go share the gospel! there are people waiting!

I love you guys, have a great week!

Week 79 - Lots of Pictures. A baptism, Temple week, and a really big sandwich.

Life is well. I cannot express how incredible this week has been. Between the baptism of Tuck, going to the temple, the new investigators we have found this week, and the size of the quadruple decker sandwich I watched my companion eat, I am just speechless.

Haha. no seriously though it was huge. Look:

Elder Mortimer eating a huge sandwich!

But more importantly, life is well. The mission goes well. There is no where else I would rather be then here. I know for the first time in my life that I am where god needs me to be :) 

Pictures from temple week!

Super excited about the new temple video!

these are the days

The District

Leavitt and Mortimer with recent converts Maria Valbuena and Taylor Bumbach!

Yes my tie is backwards. My bad

Baptism pictures of recent convert Charlie "Tuck" Grider.

It was my companion, Elder Mortimer's first baptism, so I was super happy for him!

Tuck is such a champ!

I was a little scared to be standing so close to a sister, so I panicked.

Sad to think I'll be back in six months. It's scary to think about. 

BUT, I know the lord will take care of me.

Thank you for all that you do. I love you guys.

The church is true. It changes lives.

If you don't know it, find out.

If you already know, don't forget.

Have an incredible week! Go find the people God has for you to find this week. I know they are out there!

Week 76 - Miracles Abound

It has been another incredible week in Texas. Mortimer and I have been doing work!

 

I'll get some pictures of us up next week, we have been having an incredible time.

 

 

 

This week we began teaching a man named tuck, who has single-handedly changed my understanding of the gospel. He is by far the most prepared investigator I have ever taught. Which is saying A LOT.

 

simply said, we contacted him through the street, and within the first three minutes of teaching him he was crying. All he could say was "I've been waiting for you for a long time".

 

The spirit has a way of changing us;  in a way that I don't fully understand of comprehend. But it is powerful. Even incredible.

 

I love my mission. and I wish I had more time, dedication, and umph to write longer and more detailed letters and recounts of my adventures on the mission, but I just simply do not. have it in me.

 

Just know that the Gospel is true. That miracles happen.

That Jesus Christ is our savior.

That God is our father and that he loves us.

 

That is my simple testimony.

 

 

:D

 

 

 

 

So this P-day I did something kind of fun. We found an old first act guitar in the dumpster while we were taking out our trash, so I took it, cleaned it up, sanded it down, and painted it real nice. Next p-day I'll see if I can find some strings for it and see how it sounds!

 

 

Klein Oak and Spring Creek elders, before Elder Wilkes went home:

 

Have an incredible week. I love you all

Week 73 - Fourth of July!

We had an Incredible Fourth of July. Here are a few videos that say it all:

Elder Pongi. Straight from Tonga:

Awesome Flaming Sword Battle (definitely scriptural application).




Missionary work has finally begun to get into full swing around here. We are working with a huge pool of people that I am way excited to see every day. The mission life is so awesome!

I love it.

John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear"

Since the beginning of my mission, I have come to the realization, that probably the strongest way that we can love someone, is through missionary work.

As members of the church we know and understand the most important and powerful message in the world. That god lives. The Jesus Christ is our savior. And that the blessings of the Gospel have been restored. What more important message is there than that?

It is our responsibility to find those that don't know it! Love them enough to do some missionary work!

Have a great week, I love you guys.

Expect more letters and post soon. I only have a few more short weeks out here.

Week 70 - These Are The Days

It has been another incredible week. I truly love my mission.

Being gone for such a long time has made me realize a lot of things. One specifically which I hope to be able to explain through my letter today.

It is quite simple. I am happy. Truly happy. Not surviving. Not going through motions. Not doing what I'm told. Not pressing through in hopes that one day it will get better.

For the first time in my life, I am fully and finally happy; and my testimony of this small gospel principle has transformed from being a principle taken on faith, into a principle that I will for now and always know:

Obedience to the Gospel will in somehow, someway, provide a foundation upon which you will be happy.


With that being said, I do not fully understand how or why it works, my testimony is only that does.

I have seen it in my life; I have seen it in countless others. It is a true principle.

It does not always come in our time. It will not always be able to be seen in the parent moment.

But Someday, I know that we will be able to look back and understand why, how, and what the reasons were for god putting us through the circumstances, blessings, and hardships that we go through. There are lessons everywhere around us, if we listen.

We have to stop asking why and how, and instead trust that God knows what is best for us. Trust that he loves us. Trust that he will provide a way. Trust that everything we go through is for our good.

I share testimony that God is in the details of our life. He is the great compensator. His gospel is the fire upon which we can be refined... No man is farther away from being prepared to meet god than I am, but even I have made leaps since I have came to this understanding: Trust Him.

Trust that he will keep the hundreds of promises he made. Trust that he will "pour out a blessing so big that you cannot receive it". Trust that you will "run and not be weary and walk and not be faint". Trust that you will "find, receive, and the door will be opened". Trust that "the lord giveth no commandment without providing a way for them to accomplish it".

Trust that he loves us. He wants the best for us. That all things are for our good.

You will be happy.

That is my testimony to you.

God lives.

:)


Love,
Elder Leavitt


Here are a few pics:

 Just me and the district before everyone got transferred.

Have a great week! I love you guys!

Week 68 - Ketchup, Sidewalk Chalk, and more hot weather!

 

It's been another incredible week in Spring. I cannot say enough how much I love my mission. I am having the time of my life.

 

I've decided since I don't have the patience or attention span to write long letters or keep a good journal, I am just going to start video taping everything I do and everything that happens to me as a missionary.

 

I came to this realization on Friday as we were biking near down Stuebner Airline road:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so here comes the greatest mission story of all time. Me and my new companion are riding down the shoulder of a very busy highway, the infamous 2920, if anyone knows the road in Spring Texas....

 

Anyways though, I see a ketchup packet coming up on the road and I just think to myself, "hmmm I guess I'll run over this and see what happens" HAHAHAHAHAH

 

so I run over it on my bike and the flipping hilarious happens. It ends up exploding and shooting ketchup all over my companion and his new white shirt / face/ HAHAHAHAH

 

Oh it was great. and he was so mad... <-- haha I could use a lot more inappropriate words to describe how he felt:)

 

 

 

yes. It was great. and it was definitely a success.

 

Alright, one more video: something we found at our apartment last night, after p-day:

 

 

 

 

 

So yes. I am having an incredible mission. I love it here in Spring.

My testimony of the savior grows every day.

 

The church is true.

 

"we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ"

-2 Nephi 25:26

 

I love you guys! Have an incredible week.

Please pray for miracles in Spring Texas! We will find them!

 

"Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom, and as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive. And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;"

-D&C 29