Dear family and friends,
This past week has been a good one! This upcoming week we have 4 baptisms and I am sooooooo excited! Tatay Tanedo, Nicko and Joshua Haro, and Rolando Organista will all be baptized on may 19. It's going to be a great day. They are all very prepared to be baptised. Besides these four investigators we have a lot of other investigators. The problem is most of them aren't progressing or are having a difficult time following commitments. One of these investigators is named Arturo Lenuza. He is awesome and pays a lot of attention during the lessons and has great comments. The problem right now is I think he is being more converted to us(Elder Pioquinto and I) rather than the gospel. He has expressed his concern that when we leave he doesn't know if he'll have the desire to go to church. Right now our focus with him is helping him gain a stronger testimony in the gospel and find effective fellowshippers in the ward to give him support. This past saturday there were Jubilee Celebrations all around the Philippines celebrating the 50 year aniversery of missionary work in the Philippines. President Puzey encouraged us all to attend. It was a great experience to go to the Tarlac Stake Jubilee and watch the primary, youth and young adults participate in cultural songs, dances, clothes, special numbers and watch some slide shows about the growth of the church in the Philippines since the first missionaries started their work. It was an awesome experience. Throughout the Jubilee thought about lucky I am to be here among these great wonderful people continuing the great work of the Lord here in the Philippines. I also had a very strong feeling about how great my responsibility as a missionary is here. I have seen how much of a difference the missionaries make here. In my area where there isn't a big church foundation the members look to the missionaries for everything. It has been very humbling to see how much of an impact we make and makes you realize that members and nonmembers see everything you do (so everything you do needs to me in done in obedience and diligence to the Lord)
This past week I had an exchange with one of our zone leaders which was a great experience. It was great to see another missionary's style of teaching and get good feedback about how I can improve as a missionary. One thing I learned was the importance of asking questions in effective teaching. For me I find my self talking too much and teaching too little. Talking isn't teaching. As we ask effective questions it helps investigators think about the principles we teach and find answers to their questions. It also helps me as a missionary be able to better discern their needs, concerns and understanding. I still have a lot of progression to make with my teaching skills but I have seen some great things happen as I have tried to teach more and talk less.
This past week I recieved a letter from Elder Tomasi which was great!! Elder Tomasi has to be one of the greatest people ever! He didn't have a church email when he came so his new email is eldertomasi@gmail.com. If any of you have a spare minute or two to drop him an email I'm sure it would mean a lot to him. In his letter he expressed his gratitude for all the support he recieved from all you while we were in the mtc. He is doing great!
This week is the 4 month mark of my mission..... It's crazy how fast these four months have gone by. It makes me realize how much I need to make everyday count.
Mahal Kita
Elder Leishman
Fight the Fight of Faith
Showing posts with label Elder Tomasi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elder Tomasi. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
We Have 2 Ears and One Mouth for a Reason
Dear family and friends,
It's hard to believe that I am writing my 6th email from the MTC and that in three short weeks I will be on my way to the Philippines! The time flies here! The weeks go by faster than I ever thought they would. This past week my district taught at the TRC for the first time in 100% Tagalog. I don't think I have ever studied as hard as I did in the days preceding the TRC. I was a little nervous going about teaching but it went really well. When I walked into my assigned room I was pleased to see that I would be teaching Ty Foster again. It really has been awesome being able to teach someone you know. Elder Tomasi and I taught the entire first lesson with about 10-12 words of taglish between the two of us. I was amazing with how well we did. It really helped me gain a stronger testimony of our ability as missionaries to do amazing things if we are working hard and living worthy of the spirit. However there was one thing that we did terrible at during our teaching and that was listening. focusing on what I was going to say in Tagalog I know that during the entire lesson I was We have 2 ears and one mouth for a reason. Listening to your investigators is sooooo important. Without really listening to the investigator you cannot teach to their needs. In contrast to the TRC, on friday we taught our progressive investigator John a lesson about faith and exercising it through prayer. I tried so hard to listen to John and have him repeat something if I didn't understand it. I also had a prayer in my heart whenever Elder Tomasi was teaching. The difference was amazing. The spirit was strong, the Tagalog words came to my mouth and we were able to really teach to John's needs like we had not done before. It's such a great experience to teach and feel the spirit. I cannot wait to see what it's like to teach the gospel to a real investigator.
Elder Tomasi is doing great! I am so blessed to ahve him as my kasama. I really do learn important things from him everyday. Since day one at the mtc I have had a feeling that a lot of my important learning at the MTC would have a lot to do with my companionship with Elder Tomasi. I know that this is true and I know that we are companions for a reason. Again thank you to all who have sent him a letter. Letters mean more to him than any package or gift could so thank you so much.
On a slightly random note, about a week ago I had gained almost 10 lbs since I had entered the mtc.... gotta love the mtc food! But however I am currently on my way back down and am only 5-6 lbs above where I came in. Just thought I would share that fun fact with you.
Yesterday at the Sunday night fireside, Steven B Allen (the director of the missionary department?) gave us a great talk about how the turbulance and trials and how they are here to help us grow stronger. I know that every missionary experiences a least a little turbulance at the mtc. I know I have. There have been many times where I have felt discouraged about the language and feelings of inadequacy about being a missionary and being able to help be the companion Elder Tomasi needs. However I have learned that after these feelings leave I feel more able to do the things that the Lord wants me to do. The only way to grow stronger and become a faithful servant of the lord is to experience some trials and turbulance in your life. I know that the lord will do what's best for us if we trust in him.
Well my time is almost up! If anyone has any questions for me don't be afraid to write. Things are great here. I love being a missionary.
Love
Elder Leishman
Ps. our zone gets 2 new districts on wed. I'm so excited!
It's hard to believe that I am writing my 6th email from the MTC and that in three short weeks I will be on my way to the Philippines! The time flies here! The weeks go by faster than I ever thought they would. This past week my district taught at the TRC for the first time in 100% Tagalog. I don't think I have ever studied as hard as I did in the days preceding the TRC. I was a little nervous going about teaching but it went really well. When I walked into my assigned room I was pleased to see that I would be teaching Ty Foster again. It really has been awesome being able to teach someone you know. Elder Tomasi and I taught the entire first lesson with about 10-12 words of taglish between the two of us. I was amazing with how well we did. It really helped me gain a stronger testimony of our ability as missionaries to do amazing things if we are working hard and living worthy of the spirit. However there was one thing that we did terrible at during our teaching and that was listening. focusing on what I was going to say in Tagalog I know that during the entire lesson I was We have 2 ears and one mouth for a reason. Listening to your investigators is sooooo important. Without really listening to the investigator you cannot teach to their needs. In contrast to the TRC, on friday we taught our progressive investigator John a lesson about faith and exercising it through prayer. I tried so hard to listen to John and have him repeat something if I didn't understand it. I also had a prayer in my heart whenever Elder Tomasi was teaching. The difference was amazing. The spirit was strong, the Tagalog words came to my mouth and we were able to really teach to John's needs like we had not done before. It's such a great experience to teach and feel the spirit. I cannot wait to see what it's like to teach the gospel to a real investigator.
Elder Tomasi is doing great! I am so blessed to ahve him as my kasama. I really do learn important things from him everyday. Since day one at the mtc I have had a feeling that a lot of my important learning at the MTC would have a lot to do with my companionship with Elder Tomasi. I know that this is true and I know that we are companions for a reason. Again thank you to all who have sent him a letter. Letters mean more to him than any package or gift could so thank you so much.
On a slightly random note, about a week ago I had gained almost 10 lbs since I had entered the mtc.... gotta love the mtc food! But however I am currently on my way back down and am only 5-6 lbs above where I came in. Just thought I would share that fun fact with you.
Yesterday at the Sunday night fireside, Steven B Allen (the director of the missionary department?) gave us a great talk about how the turbulance and trials and how they are here to help us grow stronger. I know that every missionary experiences a least a little turbulance at the mtc. I know I have. There have been many times where I have felt discouraged about the language and feelings of inadequacy about being a missionary and being able to help be the companion Elder Tomasi needs. However I have learned that after these feelings leave I feel more able to do the things that the Lord wants me to do. The only way to grow stronger and become a faithful servant of the lord is to experience some trials and turbulance in your life. I know that the lord will do what's best for us if we trust in him.
Well my time is almost up! If anyone has any questions for me don't be afraid to write. Things are great here. I love being a missionary.
Love
Elder Leishman
Ps. our zone gets 2 new districts on wed. I'm so excited!
Monday, February 21, 2011
MTC Week 5 already?
Goodbye photo with Joe and Elder Tyson Green
We can't believe Elder Leishman has gone for over a month. Time isn't quite flying, but it is coming along nicely! Here's the latest. We love the Monday emails!
Dear family and friends,
It has been a great week at the mtc! I first need to say thank you for valentines and letters. They put many smiles on my face to say the least! So like everyweek so far at the mtc, this past week has been a week of learning. I think that the most important thing that I learned came from the tuesday night devotional. Kevin W. Pearson of the 70 spoke to us and what he told us what just what I needed to hear. For the week leading up to the devotional I really had been feeling like there was something missing in my missionary work. Elder Pearson words helped me find what I was missing through the spirit. Elder Pearson started out his talk by really putting us in our place a little bit. The first thing I thought of was "wow. This is like a spiritual smack in face." It really was. He told us that most of us are boys that are acting like missionaries. We havn't yet become missionaries. He focused on how we could become disciples of Christ. This comes through exact obedience, faith and hard work. The thing that stood out to me the most was exact obedience. Before this fireside I thought myself to be an obedient missionary, but while he talked I realized all the little things I don't do. The thing that I was missing was exact obedience. After this talk I made a promise to myself to be exactly obedient for my entire mission and to never be a missionary that my mission president would ever worry about. I learned that in many ways I havn't become a missionary yet, I am only a boy acting like a missionary. I learned that becoming a disciple of Chirst and the missionary I want to be I need to stop focusing on myself and start looking for ways to serve and love others. I also learned that I choose whether or not I become that missionary. I think I am finally starting to understand the phrase " if it is to be it is up to me". No matter our circumstances we choose our attitude and what we do. We really can do anything with faith, obedience and the help of the lord. On the subject of obedience, I love Alma 57. What a great story of obedience and the blessings that come from it.
This past week at the TRC I walked into to the language task to see Ty Foster standing in my assigned room. Talk about a small world! It was awesome being able to teach someone I knew in Tagalog. I could tell that Ty was getting a kick out of my poor Tagalog but who wouldn't. We also taught our last lesson in English last week. From here on it's all Tagalog! I'll admit it's not amazing teaching but we can do it. It's hard to belive that after four and 1/2 weeks we are teaching in all Tagalog. In fact everything is in Tagalog now: Our teachers speak Tagalog, we read PMG and the scripture in Tagalog in class, we teach in Tagalog and we are supposed to SYL(speak your language) as much as possible. Lots of Tagalog but we need all of the Tagalog we can get.
Thank you to everyone who sent else Tomasi and not or a card or package. It really means so much to him! Seeing him receive letters is on of the best parts of my day. I know the love and the support means so much to him. Elder Tomasi is an amazing person. I am so blessed to have him as Kasama ko.
Mahal kita
Elder Leishman
Dear family and friends,
It has been a great week at the mtc! I first need to say thank you for valentines and letters. They put many smiles on my face to say the least! So like everyweek so far at the mtc, this past week has been a week of learning. I think that the most important thing that I learned came from the tuesday night devotional. Kevin W. Pearson of the 70 spoke to us and what he told us what just what I needed to hear. For the week leading up to the devotional I really had been feeling like there was something missing in my missionary work. Elder Pearson words helped me find what I was missing through the spirit. Elder Pearson started out his talk by really putting us in our place a little bit. The first thing I thought of was "wow. This is like a spiritual smack in face." It really was. He told us that most of us are boys that are acting like missionaries. We havn't yet become missionaries. He focused on how we could become disciples of Christ. This comes through exact obedience, faith and hard work. The thing that stood out to me the most was exact obedience. Before this fireside I thought myself to be an obedient missionary, but while he talked I realized all the little things I don't do. The thing that I was missing was exact obedience. After this talk I made a promise to myself to be exactly obedient for my entire mission and to never be a missionary that my mission president would ever worry about. I learned that in many ways I havn't become a missionary yet, I am only a boy acting like a missionary. I learned that becoming a disciple of Chirst and the missionary I want to be I need to stop focusing on myself and start looking for ways to serve and love others. I also learned that I choose whether or not I become that missionary. I think I am finally starting to understand the phrase " if it is to be it is up to me". No matter our circumstances we choose our attitude and what we do. We really can do anything with faith, obedience and the help of the lord. On the subject of obedience, I love Alma 57. What a great story of obedience and the blessings that come from it.
This past week at the TRC I walked into to the language task to see Ty Foster standing in my assigned room. Talk about a small world! It was awesome being able to teach someone I knew in Tagalog. I could tell that Ty was getting a kick out of my poor Tagalog but who wouldn't. We also taught our last lesson in English last week. From here on it's all Tagalog! I'll admit it's not amazing teaching but we can do it. It's hard to belive that after four and 1/2 weeks we are teaching in all Tagalog. In fact everything is in Tagalog now: Our teachers speak Tagalog, we read PMG and the scripture in Tagalog in class, we teach in Tagalog and we are supposed to SYL(speak your language) as much as possible. Lots of Tagalog but we need all of the Tagalog we can get.
Thank you to everyone who sent else Tomasi and not or a card or package. It really means so much to him! Seeing him receive letters is on of the best parts of my day. I know the love and the support means so much to him. Elder Tomasi is an amazing person. I am so blessed to have him as Kasama ko.
Mahal kita
Elder Leishman
Saturday, February 19, 2011
A Little Sarcasm for the Weekend
From Elder Matthew Howard Clegg:
I have seen Joe a lot and he seems to be doing very well. He and his companion look like brothers! It's absolutely crazy! They are built the exact same, same skin tone, and most surprising is they both have the exact same voice. Despite the fact that he has found his twin, he looks good and is as chipper as ever!
Thanks, Matt.
I have seen Joe a lot and he seems to be doing very well. He and his companion look like brothers! It's absolutely crazy! They are built the exact same, same skin tone, and most surprising is they both have the exact same voice. Despite the fact that he has found his twin, he looks good and is as chipper as ever!
Thanks, Matt.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Business as Usual
Today was a great day for us because we got a letter from Elder Joe, Elder Tomasi, and from cousin Rach. And a quick note from Elder Holmgren Monday too! It is amazing how much a letter does to make us all happy. Elder Joe's letter was our first "mom and dad, I need this and this" kind of letter, so he must be adjusting. Here are a couple of quick words (you'll notice the common theme of loving letters... great minds think alike):
Thank you so much for the letters. They mean a lot. It really makes my day everytime I get a note. I am glad to hear that everything is going well. I hope you know how much I love you! I pray for every one of you every day (sa Tagolog of course)!
From Elder Tomasi:
Last week is a very happy week for me but on last Saturday I heard that my sister die on last week. I was crying and feel poring because that I love my family and I respect and love my sister. I know they don't wanna let me to be there son but I love a lots to them. Thanks for all your help and kindness for me. I'm very happy to come to this church and everyone friendly to me. I don't have something to give for your kindness and be example and helpful to me. Your son is a very good companion to me and I love a lot to him. He knows my love because I want him to be happy and I do what we want me to do.
What a sweetheart. We all love him... send him mail! His address was included two posts ago :)
Happy Wednesday!
Thank you so much for the letters. They mean a lot. It really makes my day everytime I get a note. I am glad to hear that everything is going well. I hope you know how much I love you! I pray for every one of you every day (sa Tagolog of course)!
From Elder Tomasi:
Last week is a very happy week for me but on last Saturday I heard that my sister die on last week. I was crying and feel poring because that I love my family and I respect and love my sister. I know they don't wanna let me to be there son but I love a lots to them. Thanks for all your help and kindness for me. I'm very happy to come to this church and everyone friendly to me. I don't have something to give for your kindness and be example and helpful to me. Your son is a very good companion to me and I love a lot to him. He knows my love because I want him to be happy and I do what we want me to do.
What a sweetheart. We all love him... send him mail! His address was included two posts ago :)
Happy Wednesday!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentines Day!
(Valentine love poem by Joe)
We received a wonderful letter today from Elder Leishman, but it was heart wrenching. Here is what he had to say:
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day! This past week was another great week at the MTC. It still continues to amaze me just how much we do in a week. Things move so fast that when I get back to the residence hall at night, I have to look at my planner to remember everything I did that day. The first thing I need to say is thank you to everyone who sent Elder Tomasi a note or package. It really means a lot to him. He reads and rereads every letter many times and treats them like they are a treasure. Elder Tomasi is doing pretty well right now, but the past few days have been really rough for him. On Saturday morning at breakfast, one of the Tongan Elders he know from Tonga came and told Elder Tomasi that the night before he received a letter from his family telling him to tell Elder Tomasi that his10 year old sister had passed away. It was very difficult to see someone like Elder Tomasi get news like this. Elder Tomasi serves everyone around him in every way he can, he works very hard to be a good missionary, and is one of the greatest people I have ever met. The news hit him hard as it would anyone. It was especially hard not coming from his own family. His family still hasn’t communicated with him since he has come here regardless of the letters he has sent to them. It really did break my heart to see him so sad and devastated. I wanted to help him but I didn’t know the best thing I should do. I think I prayed more that day than I ever have in my life and my prayers were all for Elder Tomasi and his family. I did my best to comfort him, keep him busy, and share my testimony with him. Later that night about 10 Tongan and Samoan elders came while we were studying and gave Elder Tomasi some money to send to his family. These elders gave Elder Tomasi incredible words of testimony about his mission and the plan of salvation. They told him things so perfect and encouraging that I know couldn’t have been said without the spirit. This display of support, brotherhood, and love was a very spiritual experience that taught me a lot. It helped me gain a stronger testimony of God’s plan and eternal family and taught me that we all are our brother’s keeper and it is our responsibility to comfort those in need of comfort and to pick-up those who have fallen down. Later that night I think we had at least 25 Tongans and Samoans in our room. We definitely missed the 10:30 lights out rule, but I’m pretty sure the Lord was ok with it. Elder Tomasi doesn’t want to make a huge deal out of this but a little note would mean a lot to him. A few of you have asked what he would like as far as a package is concerned – the truth is he is a human vacuum. I don’t think I have met anyone who can eat as much as him and he isn’t picky about anything. Elder Tomasi is the best!!
One experience this past week that really stands out to me happened at the TRC. Missionaries go to the TRC one a week to have a role play with an investigator. You have a task at the beginning where you either contact them or just talk to them in your language for 15 minutes, then after a quick planning session, you teach them a lesson. The rooms are supposed to look like a like a living room but there are cameras and microphones so your teachers can observe your teaching. This past week at the TRC, Elder Tomasi and I taught lesson two or the Plan of Salvation. For the first while we were teaching, I didn’t think thoughts like I wish Elder Tomasi would have said this or why didn’t he say that and I put 100% of my focus into listening to the investigator and what Elder Tomasi was saying. The Spirit was so strong. Elder Tomasi and I both said things that neither of us had thought of before and I know it was promptings from the Spirit. The best part of this was being able to tell that our investigator was feeling the spirit too. She was trying to hold back tears. It was an amazing experience and I learned something important from it. I learned that when you have feelings of frustration or contention with your companion, the spirit won’t be there. It really taught me how to have the spirit with you constantly; you need to avoid feelings of frustration and anger. You need to love those around you to have the spirit at its strongest.
Every day I learn just how important obedience and hard work are. They make all the difference. I love the MTC and I can´t wait to get to the Philippines. This week the older district left and my desire to go teach the people in the Philippines grew tremendously.
We are grateful Joe is loving the MTC and his sweet companion. Keep Elder Tomasi in your prayers! Send him letters and packages! Let's give him lots of love :)
His address is in the previous post.
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day! This past week was another great week at the MTC. It still continues to amaze me just how much we do in a week. Things move so fast that when I get back to the residence hall at night, I have to look at my planner to remember everything I did that day. The first thing I need to say is thank you to everyone who sent Elder Tomasi a note or package. It really means a lot to him. He reads and rereads every letter many times and treats them like they are a treasure. Elder Tomasi is doing pretty well right now, but the past few days have been really rough for him. On Saturday morning at breakfast, one of the Tongan Elders he know from Tonga came and told Elder Tomasi that the night before he received a letter from his family telling him to tell Elder Tomasi that his10 year old sister had passed away. It was very difficult to see someone like Elder Tomasi get news like this. Elder Tomasi serves everyone around him in every way he can, he works very hard to be a good missionary, and is one of the greatest people I have ever met. The news hit him hard as it would anyone. It was especially hard not coming from his own family. His family still hasn’t communicated with him since he has come here regardless of the letters he has sent to them. It really did break my heart to see him so sad and devastated. I wanted to help him but I didn’t know the best thing I should do. I think I prayed more that day than I ever have in my life and my prayers were all for Elder Tomasi and his family. I did my best to comfort him, keep him busy, and share my testimony with him. Later that night about 10 Tongan and Samoan elders came while we were studying and gave Elder Tomasi some money to send to his family. These elders gave Elder Tomasi incredible words of testimony about his mission and the plan of salvation. They told him things so perfect and encouraging that I know couldn’t have been said without the spirit. This display of support, brotherhood, and love was a very spiritual experience that taught me a lot. It helped me gain a stronger testimony of God’s plan and eternal family and taught me that we all are our brother’s keeper and it is our responsibility to comfort those in need of comfort and to pick-up those who have fallen down. Later that night I think we had at least 25 Tongans and Samoans in our room. We definitely missed the 10:30 lights out rule, but I’m pretty sure the Lord was ok with it. Elder Tomasi doesn’t want to make a huge deal out of this but a little note would mean a lot to him. A few of you have asked what he would like as far as a package is concerned – the truth is he is a human vacuum. I don’t think I have met anyone who can eat as much as him and he isn’t picky about anything. Elder Tomasi is the best!!
One experience this past week that really stands out to me happened at the TRC. Missionaries go to the TRC one a week to have a role play with an investigator. You have a task at the beginning where you either contact them or just talk to them in your language for 15 minutes, then after a quick planning session, you teach them a lesson. The rooms are supposed to look like a like a living room but there are cameras and microphones so your teachers can observe your teaching. This past week at the TRC, Elder Tomasi and I taught lesson two or the Plan of Salvation. For the first while we were teaching, I didn’t think thoughts like I wish Elder Tomasi would have said this or why didn’t he say that and I put 100% of my focus into listening to the investigator and what Elder Tomasi was saying. The Spirit was so strong. Elder Tomasi and I both said things that neither of us had thought of before and I know it was promptings from the Spirit. The best part of this was being able to tell that our investigator was feeling the spirit too. She was trying to hold back tears. It was an amazing experience and I learned something important from it. I learned that when you have feelings of frustration or contention with your companion, the spirit won’t be there. It really taught me how to have the spirit with you constantly; you need to avoid feelings of frustration and anger. You need to love those around you to have the spirit at its strongest.
Every day I learn just how important obedience and hard work are. They make all the difference. I love the MTC and I can´t wait to get to the Philippines. This week the older district left and my desire to go teach the people in the Philippines grew tremendously.
We are grateful Joe is loving the MTC and his sweet companion. Keep Elder Tomasi in your prayers! Send him letters and packages! Let's give him lots of love :)
His address is in the previous post.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Best Week So Far
Every Monday, I try to go to yoga. Now I am finding myself in downdog, looking at the clock, and wondering if I have received an email yet! Time to get my concentration back. Here are a few words from this week's letter:
This past week has been my best week at the mtc so far. The tagalog is coming slowly and with a lot of hard work and my knowlege of gospel of Jesus Christ is increasing. Some of the important things that I have learned this past week from class, study and meetings have about dilligence and obedience. First speaking of dilligence. dilligence is essential every day of your mission. I have learned that there is no time for coasting in any aspect of your mission. To be the best missionary you can be you always need to be working on improving yourself. One way that I have learned this is from Tagalog and teaching. Right when you start to get comfortable with a part of the language or with a certain lesson there is going to be a curveball thrown at you to make you humble and realize how much you need to work to improve. The second thing that I have learned a lot about is obedience. Obedience to rules will make or break a missionary. There are some little rules that might not make sense but they are there for a reason. It makes me really sad to see a large number of elder's break the "little, or unimportant rules". Every rule is important and as we follow them we will be blessed. One way that I have learned this is through quiet time at night. Every night 10:15 is quiet time. A lot of elder's disregard this rule, but as I have been trying to follow it I have been able to have thoughts of inspiration on impressions from the spirit as I write in my journal, read a letter or just sit and think. If I hadn't had been trying to follow the rules I wouldn't have been able to recieve these thoughts from the spirit.
The longer I am in the mtc the more i am begining to realize how much I am learning from my companionship with Elder Tomasi. I feel that we are companions for a reason and we both have many things learn from one another. A day doesn't go by that I am not amazed that Elder Tomasi is on a mission. He has only been a member of the church for a year, most of his family hates him for joining the church and going on a mission. Still he has an incredible testimony and works hard to always serve and love others. It has made me realize what's important and how blessed I am to have the family that I have. A fun fact about elder Tomasi - He boxed in the olympics in China! I love Elder Tomasi.
Speaking of Elder Tomasi, He needs mail really bad! If any of you could send him a little note I know it would mean the world to him! This week a letter to him is more important than a letter to me. Well my time is almost up. I will write you another letter and send it today with some pictures, some fun stories, and with some good tagalog phrases. I wish I could write you more than one time a week.
I love you, Mahal Kita
Elder Leishman
Elder Tomasi
MTC Mailbox #148
PHI-ANG 0321
This past week has been my best week at the mtc so far. The tagalog is coming slowly and with a lot of hard work and my knowlege of gospel of Jesus Christ is increasing. Some of the important things that I have learned this past week from class, study and meetings have about dilligence and obedience. First speaking of dilligence. dilligence is essential every day of your mission. I have learned that there is no time for coasting in any aspect of your mission. To be the best missionary you can be you always need to be working on improving yourself. One way that I have learned this is from Tagalog and teaching. Right when you start to get comfortable with a part of the language or with a certain lesson there is going to be a curveball thrown at you to make you humble and realize how much you need to work to improve. The second thing that I have learned a lot about is obedience. Obedience to rules will make or break a missionary. There are some little rules that might not make sense but they are there for a reason. It makes me really sad to see a large number of elder's break the "little, or unimportant rules". Every rule is important and as we follow them we will be blessed. One way that I have learned this is through quiet time at night. Every night 10:15 is quiet time. A lot of elder's disregard this rule, but as I have been trying to follow it I have been able to have thoughts of inspiration on impressions from the spirit as I write in my journal, read a letter or just sit and think. If I hadn't had been trying to follow the rules I wouldn't have been able to recieve these thoughts from the spirit.
The longer I am in the mtc the more i am begining to realize how much I am learning from my companionship with Elder Tomasi. I feel that we are companions for a reason and we both have many things learn from one another. A day doesn't go by that I am not amazed that Elder Tomasi is on a mission. He has only been a member of the church for a year, most of his family hates him for joining the church and going on a mission. Still he has an incredible testimony and works hard to always serve and love others. It has made me realize what's important and how blessed I am to have the family that I have. A fun fact about elder Tomasi - He boxed in the olympics in China! I love Elder Tomasi.
Speaking of Elder Tomasi, He needs mail really bad! If any of you could send him a little note I know it would mean the world to him! This week a letter to him is more important than a letter to me. Well my time is almost up. I will write you another letter and send it today with some pictures, some fun stories, and with some good tagalog phrases. I wish I could write you more than one time a week.
I love you, Mahal Kita
Elder Leishman
Elder Tomasi
MTC Mailbox #148
PHI-ANG 0321
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