Wednesday, July 19, 2017

I don't really know how to begin with all of this.

It seems almost impossible for me to sum up my feelings that I have towards the past two years of my life. The emotions I have right now are everywhere as I reflect on everyday I've been blessed with the opportunity to wear the Savior's name on my chest and more importantly on my heart. I've witnessed people reject the Gospel as well as accept it. I've seen people turn away from Christ as well as turn to Him. I've been persecuted for what I've come to know is true as well as welcomed in to the lives of brothers and sisters. This Gospel is life changing! That's something I can't deny. My testimony is simple. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. He is apart of our lives more than we can even imagine. I know that life is going to get hard in the future. There is still so much in front of me and so many more trials I need to go through. My life circumstances may change but I pray my relationship with Christ never will. I pray that I will always remember the experiences that the Lord has blessed me with on my mission. I've changed while over here in Arkansas and now it's time to apply the changes to my life. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm not perfect yet and I never will be in this life but this life is a time for us to change and become like our Father in Heaven. He has a wonderful plan for each and everyone of us and it all starts when we recognize that we are His Children and one day we can live with Him again. This work will continue onward. My work will continue onward through Christ. I'm ready for the tasks that the Lord has for me.

Thanks to everyone that has supported me out here on my mission. I could make a pretty big list of people that I would like to thank but the most important is my family. The support I have received from home has motivated me to be a more worthy servant. What a blessing that has been to me. I love you guys and hope to see everyone soon! All is Well!

Love,
Elder Leavitt

Monday, July 10, 2017

Hope everyone had a good American day!

We were able to have a great 4th of July. President and Sister Loveland invited all the missionaries around this area to breakfast in the morning so that started off the day great. Then all the afternoon was mostly just normal missionary teaching and finding until evening time. We got to have dinner with our Ward Mission Leader and his family and then a second dinner with one of our members later that evening. At the end of our night, our WML invited us back for fireworks in their HUGE backyard which was super fun. The best part was that is started pouring rain so we just stood outside and watched everyone light fireworks while it rained haha! We got to use some sparklers and some snaps so it was pretty lit.

Theres a couple of things that we are excited about! Angelina is such a stellar member. We saw her a couple of times this past week and she is so happy to be a member of the church. The day after her baptism, she went to work and told everyone that she just got baptized and that they needed to meet with us. She is living with her cousin and now, after the baptism, her cousin is interested in learning more so we are starting to work with her as well.

We've been pretty pumped about the work that has been going on here. We have been teaching a couple of people that we tracted in to. They are looking promising so we are hoping all goes well with them! Next week is going to be transfer week so I won't be emailing until next Wednesday. Stay tuned for the final weekly next week!

Love,
Elder Leavitt

When weekly planning is too lit

New contacting approach where we ask people to take our picture. Haha we got a return appointment! Please ignore the fact that we both have the Book of Mormon upside down and backwards.

My best friend Taro

Some of our members just got a pet alien

Companionship

Happy 4th

Monday, July 3, 2017

We had a ton going on this week!

A couple of highlights of the week was going on more exchanges! We went with the Elders over in Bentonville that are serving in my old area there. They set up a dinner so I got to see Jorge, the solid recent convert I got to help baptize while I was over there! It was so good to see him and he is still going really strong (picture below)

This was a really good week for finding for us. We got a lot of new investigators that we started teaching this week which is always fun. We got to teach quite a few first lessons to some people. We started teaching some kids of a less active lady in our ward. The lady use to be super stand off-ish to the elders but now that she is coming back to church and wants her kids to be baptized, she has been the coolest.

Our friend Angelina got baptized yesterday and it was such a great service. We have been teaching her for a couple of months now and she has been loving the church. We found her when I was out tracting during exchanges and she was knocking on the door of an apartment next to the one we were knocking on so we just started talking to her. Just from that simple act, and some commitment on her part along the way, she is now ready to start her journey as a member of God's church. Missionary work is the best.

All is well here. Got some good pictures for you this week. We had an investigator invite us to their daughters birthday so we made a quick appearance to say we were there. Love ya!

Love,
Elder Leavitt

Sister Blackwell and I reppin MV!

Angelina's baptism!!

My Boi Jorge

Let's play 'Find Elder Leavitt among the Islanders'.

Island food

An authentic necklace they gave us