Monday, January 25, 2015

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a great week. We had a pretty solid week full of lessons and inspirational training. This past Wednesday, there was a World Wide Mission training from Salt Lake City that we got to watch and learn from. There was some powerful lessons taught and it really made me reflect on missionary work. I took some pretty sweet notes so I'm excited to apply it to the work going on in Fayetteville.

Elder Greenwood and I are now getting into the swing of things and we are able to teach off of each other really really so we've got to have some amazing lessons lately. The training talked a lot about having the Spirit with you at all times.  We have been praying for the Spirit a lot more often during the day and we have been able to see a difference. We have also been praying for new people to teach and asking the Spirit to identify those people to us. The other day we had to get our car worked on so we decided to go out and talk to whoever we could find. We talked to quite a few people and some of them took a Book of Mormon and we gave out pass along cards as well. When we got our car back,  we were driving and we noticed a guy pulled of to the side of the street. We both had the prompting to help him. We helped him get his car running and he told us that the LDS church members have helped him out so much the past week as he has been preparing to move to Fayetteville. He wants to see us again so we got his number and we are hoping to teach him sometime!

This proves that people notice everything that we do. If members hadn't reached out to this guy and helped him, his heart might not have been ready to except the missionaries into his life. We only see a small portion of the influence we actually have on others. We never know the impact our habits as members of the church will have on certain individuals. Always be an example and always follow the spirit. Blessings will come and we are promised that.

I love you all and I hope everyone has a blessed week! Keep the Faith and keep pressing forward!

Love, Elder Leavitt

For some reason, Elder Greenwood thought this would be a good idea!

Our zone and Pres. Loveland moved a homeless shelter

Sums up Arkansas in one sentence 

Monday, January 18, 2016

Hey There!

So this past week I said goodbye to my old Comp and hello to the new one. Elder Greenwood is really great. He is definitely going to help out this area a lot and he is going to be a great companion. We have already taught a couple lessons together and he knows a lot and is ready to learn more. I'm excited for the new transfer. For some reason we thought it would be a good idea to go out this morning on a bike ride for our exercise. When we came out side, there was about a half inch of snow on the ground and I don't know why that didn't stop us but I got to experience the first real snow in Arkansas by just about sliding face first into it this morning.

This week we got to have a pretty serious talk with Michael and he told us that he has to put the baptism on hold. His brother is really sick and so he doesn't want to plan anything so that he can be with him. He knows that baptism is something he needs and wants to do but it's just hard for him right now. Jo is getting things all figured out this week so we are hoping to schedule a date with him later this week.

We went and visit Anthony and Norma this past week and it was their daughters birthday. Among all the craziness, Norma came up to us and said that she wants to start reading the Book of Mormon with us because she wants to understand it.  That is a huge step for her.  We are hoping that that will motivate Anthony as well.

I hope you all are doing well and I know that as you are going throughout your day with your attitude focused on what you can do for someone else, then God will put those opportunities in your path. As a missionary, it is vital that we have this mind set. Every member is a missionary so keep the faith you have and move forward looking for service opportunities. I love you all and I hope you all have a blessed week!

Love, Elder Leavitt

Burning of the tie ceremony for 6 months of service

Cereal Party at a members home.

Feeling like a Rebel

Monday, January 11, 2016

Hey everyone I hope you all had a great week. We received our transfer calls this past Saturday and it was sad to find out that Elder Anderson is going to be leaving. He is going up to Springfield Missouri. It's been a great couple of transfers with him and I'm now getting a new comp this week named Elder Greenwood. He hasn't been out long so I'm senior comp. Our District leader's area is getting shotgunned ( Missionary term we use which means both elders leave the area and two new people come in) with sisters so I've been assigned as the district leader so we will see how well this all plays out.

We finally got to see Michael this past week and the adversary has been really working on him these past couple of weeks. His next baptismal date is up in the air right now but we will continue to work with him and pray for him. Jo is in the same situation so we will see how these next couple of days and visits go.

The Weather is starting to get a bit colder now. It snowed the other day which was something new to me. I guess it's about time that I invest in a coat. I hope you all have been enjoying the new year and thanks for all the emails and support. I have been able to see the Lord's hand in my life recently and I pray that all of you can see his loving guidance as well. Love you all and have a blessed week.

Love, Elder Leavitt

Monday, January 4, 2016

This past week was a rough one to get through. Elder Anderson ended up getting really sick with the flu and was bed ridden for a couple of days. We had to do a lot of exchanging with the other elders so that we could get some lessons in. Right after he got over it, I caught what he had! I was only sick for a day but it was not an enjoyable one. The other day President Loveland's parents came into town and they all were in Fayetteville on Saturday. They invited us and some other elders to lunch. It was cool  to sit down with the President and his parents and just talk about what's been going on with life. He is a farmer too. He's really funny and tells a bunch of old guy stories so it was a good time.

On Tuesday we got a text from Michael saying that he wasn't ready to be baptized this week. We were sad to hear that and we tried to see him last week but we couldn't set an appointment up with him. We don't know what's up at this point. We are hoping all is well with him and we are hoping to see him soon. On a brighter note, we visited Jo this past week and he has been cigarette free for the past 2 and 1/2 weeks. He called us up and was really excited about it. He said that he has been so busy lately that he has just forgotten about smoking. What a blessing that has been! We are meeting with him and setting up his baptism so I hope I'm not jinxing it.

This is the best time of year to reflect on our weaknesses ( even though we don't want to sometimes) and strive this next year to improve on them. I know that if we spiritually reflect on what we need to change and strengthen in our lives this next year, we can receive personal revelation that will bless our lives forever not just for a year. Love you all and I hope 2016 is a good one for everyone.

Love, Elder Leavitt

 

Go Razorbacks!