Week #47

Hello everyone

A girl named Adriana made it to church yesterday and I think she really liked it. We are going to visit here tomorrow and I pray that she felt a beautiful spirit there and wants to go next week! Not much else but we keep working with faith. I know that God has a plan for each and everyone on this earth and I´m working hard to share that plan with the people here in Tapana. I have never been able to doubt this church and know that Jesus Christ leads it and by following his example we will return to live with our Heavenly Father. 

Keep praying for us! thanks for all you do

Elder Leslie

a kid named Marcos

church

David checking the beans at an investigators house who wasn´t home haha

Pastel de Galletas (cookie desert) yum!

Week #46

Hey everyone,

This week we had our first conference with the new president, President Juan Gabriel Cardenas. It was very powerful and I´m very excited to be working under him. He brings a sense of serious authority but at the same of genuine sense of love for us. His family situation is a different than the last president because he has a 12 year old son and 15 year-old daughter. He is a bit younger, but I have full confidence in him. And, yes of course at the end of the conference I got 2 packages! and 4 letters! Thank you so much Aunt Mary, Dad, Mom, and Elder Kyle Brown!

Today we just got back from a zone activity where we played soccer (of course) in basically what looks like a plane hanger. But i´m pretty sure it´s used for transporting mangos or something. Who knows? I do know that it was a blast and after we went to the church to eat Tlayudas (basically quesadillas). 

This week I go forward with faith, knowing that my hard work will pay off. Pray for us to have success and reach our goals this week. Thanks for all your prayers thus far. I can seriously feel and recognize the blessings. 

Until next week,
Elder Leslie

Awesome companionship

 

Bubbush loves Rachel

   

                                              

card from mom 

Elder Ortiz!

First Conference with President Cardenas

Just 2 packages no big deal

Love this CD!

that´s what im talkin about

The goods

typical breakfast

Yes.

Week #45

Hey,

Well, my second transfer here in Tapana ended yesterday and I have decided to go for thirds. I´m hoping that I can be an instrument in the Lord´s hands and help some inactive husbands regain their testimonies and lead their families in righteousness. Everyday, I beg the my Heavenly Fathers guidance so I can do his will and be a powerful influence in bringing people unto Christ and feeding his sheep. 

We don´t really too many investigators right now so pray for us to find those truely prepared and willing to accept God´s plan. Not too exciting but, I know that we´ll have some great success soon! Hope all is well with everyone back home and that you read your scripures daily. :-)

Regards

Elder Leslie

ps its just started to rain. I like the rain because it cools things down, but don´t like getting wet. :-( haha 

Week #44

Hey guys,

This week we invited someone named Tito to be baptized and....he accepted! His baptismal date is for the 23rd of July and I´m really excited for him. He came to church yesterday and seemed to like it, so hopefully he goes next week and makes this wonderful change in his life to come unto Christ. He´s the only person with a baptismal date right now, but don´t worry I plan on finding another this week! :-)

Right now I´m praying a lot for Oscar Lopez, Oscar Roblez, and husband of Sister Paty (forgot his name). All three are fathers of members in the ward that are haven´t quite accepted the gospel yet. One actually is a member but doesn´t want to go to church. I know that if all three can make a change in their life (repent) and come unto Christ that they will be powerful leaders in the home and in the branch. Sometimes all we can do is sit back and pray they choose the right. 

I´m doing pretty well here and am still doing my best to develop an increased love for everyone and to be a more powerful tool in my Heavenly Father´s hands. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Regards

Elder Leslie

a hilarious ward activity for fathers day in the branch in Chahuites (while on splits)

dirt

Zone Leader Elder Rosas (on splits)

A member gave us a ride to a family´s house out in the sticks

This railroad picture is dedicated to Mr. Brent K. Leslie

cool tree 

4 baby cows muching on grass

Gabriel!

flowers for the branch conference last week

kid in the ward, David

after a long rain the river grew crazy big

Elder Diaz

Week #43

Woops,

 

Yeah so i dont have time to write. I really should write this weekly letter first because after writing you all back individually i kinda forgot this one. Just know that I´m doing great and that a family of 8 came to church yesterday! Right now we are looking for a house for them so they can live here in Tapana because they are living in a ranch like 45min out of town.

 

Love ya´ll

 

Elder Leslie

Week #42

Dear reader,

 

  We´re not doin too bad here in Tapana. None of our investiagors with baptismal dates went to church but I still have faith in them to excersise and make the right decision next week. Right now we have 4 with a baptimal date the 2nd of July and I´m really excited for them! (I´m even more excited because there is spanish/english remixes bumping from a computer nearby and I secretely am loving it. When I get back im going to get some much spanish music!....obviously that includes Shakira. haha)  Anyways... We gonna work even harder this week to teach with power and clarity so that our investigators understand the importance of going to church. It´s a commandment that brings so many rich blessings. Trust us missionaries, we know.

 

  It´s a bit sad, but yes President Velasco heads out this week. He was awesome and I will miss his wife´s strong personality. She always motivated me and told me I have so much potential. Each week I feel stronger and I will never stop growing. One day, I will summit the mountain of my potential and launch off into heaven, hand-in-hand with my eternal companion. Just thinking about all this makes me want to be a strong and reliable tool in my Heavenly Father´s hands. Day by day, I keep studying, understanding, teaching, and putting into practice all the doctrine of Christ and only want to do His will.

 

Humbly

 

Elder Leslie

 

IMG_3947, 3948, 3950 - A listen to the Holy Ghost while blindfolded activity. haha That´s Gabriel and to give his talk haha.

Other pics of scenary, gecko, and Pres. and Sis Velasco.

MMTG_01 - The entire Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission. I´m in the back right with a yellow/black tie.

Week #41

Hello everyone,

Today we had a multi-zone conference and it was the very last with our powerful President and Sister Velasco.  I sure will miss them both (especially Sister Velasco´s strong personality haha) and am extremely grateful for everything they have down for me personally and for the whole mission Tuxtla Gutierrez. In July, we are privileged to be receiveing President Juan Gabriel Cardenas in his place. It´s sad to see them go, but exciting to see what new ideas President Cardenas will bring. 

What am I bringing to Tapana? Well, Saturday Mario got baptized! It was a very special day for him and I felt a very special spirit as I had the opportunity to baptize him and confer him the Aaronic Priesthood in the office of Priest the following day. Kinda of a sad turn out though... we had 3 members and 4 investigators. 1 member was a kid we brought with us and the 4 investigators we invited... so yeah Tapana needs the missionaries, but with a super ward mission leader, Gabriel, we are having a noticeable increased measure of success. For example, yesterday we had 52 people attend church! That is a great turn out and if we can achieve 70 they will build a church here! I keep working and keep ing praying that the people here will make their own correct decisions and follow Christ. We can only invite them to come unto Christ, but ultimately it´s their choice to accept the invitation and follow Him. I think that´s why serving a mission (and other callings in the church) can bring so much joy... because we get to see children of God taking the initiative to achieve salvation. 

We have 3 new investigators with baptismal dates: Pedro, Oscar, and Jose.  Pray for them to follow the spirit and choose the right. All three will be a great help in this branch! 

Well, just know that we´re doing great and working hard. I´m happy for the opportunity I have to suffer in this heat, so that my Heavenly Father can build me into the man of my potential. I cannot and will not be the young kid you knew and loved before the mission. I will return stronger only to continue growing. I will keep progressing my whole life because there is so much to learn and only so many years in this life to learn it. I love my Heavenly Father and will one day return to live with him again. 

Love 

Elder Leslie

Photos

IMG_3915 beautiful

IMG_3918 delicious!

IMG_3921 Mario Alberto Alvarez Martinez´s Baptism!

IMG_3923 Gabriel directing the baptismal service

IMG_3925 the baptismal font and Gabriel

IMG_3927 Elder Sanchez is from the North and pretty awesome 

IMG_3928 Elder Diaz with the president and his wife

IMG_3929 Goodbye Pres. and Sis Velasco!

IMG_3932 Elder Ingersoll, me, Elder Sanchez (Elder Ingersol lived in my house in Tapachula)

IMG_3934 Zone of Chahuites

IMG_3943 hahaha Elders Mora and Ortiz eating cookies on the bus...pretty funny together