Week #33 - Blizzard 2K16

Well, this week has been interesting to say the least. I honestly
can't even remember what happened before Friday at 12 noon. Once it
hit that time on Friday, we weren't allowed to drive because of the
massive winter storm that hit, then a little while after that we were
allowed to go out. We had to stay in our apartment complex. Holy cow
it's been a long weekend. It sure gave me a lot of time to sit down
and think about my mission and where I want to go and some of the
things I want to do. This weekend was good for personal growth and
cleaning the apartment haha. My apartment is spotless. But, I have
been able to study a lot this past weekend and also clean up our area
book and phone contacts. I called a whole bunch of people and most of
them didn't answer. But the few people I talked too, I was able to
have a good conversation with. I remember before the storm hit I was
working on trying to reach my 1000 door goal. The couple days before
the storm hit I was right on track but now that we haven't been able
to proselytize as much, I'm in a little hole. I'll have to do a little
extra tracking this week to make up for it! I'm pretty excited.

Oh and I guess we had a transfer since the last time I emailed home.
I'm staying in the Wakefield ward with elder Merrill again. I love the
Wakefield ward and all the members. The members really love the
missionaries here and give us a lot of support. I'm excited to serve
along side them for another transfer.

Last week, during the storm, I finished the Book of Mormon. I love the
ending of the Book of Mormon. It really hits home with me every time I
read the last few chapters. I love moron is promise at the end and I
find myself takin that promise everyday I study. I ask Heavenly Father
to strengthen my testimony of the book and help me continue to have to
power to share it with everyone. I'm so grateful for the Book of
Mormon and its second witness of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone has a good week!

Much love,
Elder Leishman

During the blizzard

30+ inches of snow

Elder Simpson and I during the Blizzard

Since we were confined to our apartment complex we worked out twice a day.

Transfer Meeting with my district

Transfer Meeting

Week #32 - Transfer week baby!!

Well, this week is transfer week! I'm pretty sure I am staying here in
the Wakefield ward. I'm not sure what's going to happen with my
companion though. He's been here for 3 transfers so we will have to
see. I'm pretty excited for this upcoming transfer. I set a goal for
this next transfer to knock on 1000 doors in 6 weeks. I did the math
and it comes down to about 24 doors a day, which is pretty manageable.
I'm sure excited to start and I can't wait to see all the people I'll
meet from it!

This past week has been a really good one. On Saturday, I went on an
exchange with one of the Assistants to the President, Elder Jones. It
was awesome. We worked our butts off that day and got a ton done and
met a ton of great people. Elder Jones and I were able to have some
great cov ersatz one throughout the day while we were walking around
and what not. We have been really good friends for most of my mission
and it was nice to get to spend the day working with him. I really
learned a lot!

On Sunday night, we had our New and Returning Member Fireside. My
recent convert, Mike, spoke at this one. It was AWESOME! It was the
first time I'd seen Mike since his confirmation back at the end of
October! Mike went up there and told a sincere story and bore a
powerful testimony. He talked about how much change the gospel has
wrought inside of him. He bore a simple, sincere testimony about the
gospel and the cleansing power of the Atonement. I'm really glad I got
to hear him speak and to see him again. I'm happy that he is still
going strong in the church and trying his best to share the gospel
with his friends and his family! In his talk he talked about how we
are like family now and we have a bond that will last a life time. I'm
really glad I have a friend like Mike!

This week I've been able to do a lot of personal growth as well as try
and grow our area. Our area doesn't have a ton of investigators but we
have a lot of less active members that we are working with. I've been
able to really study the scriptures hard and further my knowledge of
God and the Savior more than I ever have in my life. I've been able to
truly access the power of the atonement and share its goodness with
everyone. I'm really happy for what this next week and next transfer
have in store! I hope you guys have a good week! I love and miss you
guys!

Peace and Blessings,
Elder Leishman

Elder Leishman with his good friend Mike that he refers to in his letter.  Lifelong friends.

Week #31

This week has been pretty good! It was a great week key indicator wise
and we taught a lot of lessons. Not many to our investigators but we
taught a lot to some less actives in our ward. We have been working
hard on trying to activate some of the families that haven't been
going to church. Most of the ones we are working with are super
excited about meeting with us and express sincere desires to come back
to church. It's such a blessing seeing people so happy about the
gospel.

In my study this week I finished 3 and 4 Nephi and Christ's ministry
to the people in the Americas. It was so great to read about all the
miracles he performed and how established his church and gave them
authority to baptized just like the disciples in ancient Jerusalem.
That was hands down one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. I
feel like I could study those chapters of the Book of Mormon for the
rest of my life and I would be set.

I'm really excited for the upcoming week. We have a lot of good stuff
going on and we are going to be meeting with a lot of people. I don't
really have time to write a lot today as we are going into DC but I
will write more next week! Have a great day and a great week! God
Bless!

Elder Leishman

Week #30 - Happy New Year!

This week has been good! It was really nice to ring in the New Year as
a missionary. Being a missionary at the new year provides you with a
chance to set some sweet goals. The goals I have set for myself I feel
will push me but are also very achievable. I'm really excited for what
2016 has to bring.

On New Year's Eve, we got together as a zone and were able to watch
The Best Two Years and Ephriams Rescue. It was really nice to relax
for a little bit and just watch a movie. I hadn't watched a movie in
what felt like forever. The zone I'm in right now has a lot of really
fun missionaries in it, so it was fun to hang out with them.

In my study recently I have been reading about Jesus Christ and his
appearance to the people in the Book of Mormon. It just makes so much
sense that Jesus wouldn't forsake his other people around the world. I
love how he instituted all the things he did in Jerusalem, in the
Americas! I've been able to really strengthen my testimony of the Book
of Mormon lately with the study of Joseph Smith and also the savior,
Jesus Christ. I know for sure that the Book of Mormon is true and all
I want to do is share it.

Sorry I haven't written or replied a lot lately, I've been super busy
and not had a lot of time and had a lot on my mind. I appreciate every
single one of you though and everything you do for me. I love you
guys!

Keep on keepin on!

Elder Leishman