Two Baptisms and Lots of Finding!

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been a great one! We had two baptisms which were wonderful. Jonathan and Joshua were baptized and confirmed members the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What a glorious thing. In our branch right now we have a very active branch mission leader who made a program, contacted and the members and even arranged for a musical number. It was pretty nice to not have to worry about those things. The baptismal service was great and my favorite part was hearing the testimonies of Jonathan and Joshua. Jonathan talked about how for his whole life he has gone to church was there was always something missing. He said that the first time he attended church here he felt something different and he found what he was missing. Even though Joshua is young he still has a strong testimony too.

This past week we had appointment after appointment fall through. However we didn't get discouraged we just tried to find new people to teach. Through our efforts this past week we found 11 new investigators! That's a lot of new investigators for one week. We found all of them in different ways. It helped strengthen my testimony that God prepares his children to hear and accept his Gospel. I just really pray that they will all continue to listen, to keep commitments and to come unto Christ.

This past week I have a great experience. One night during nightly planning we felt like we should visit a less active member. She is a mother of 5 children and we had taught a couple of her children but had never actually taught her. When we went to her house we had no idea what we were going to teach. I started to ask her some questions and I listened for the spirit to know her needs. I shared a verse from 3 Nephi and then she opened up to us. She has been inactive for years because she committed a sin and didn't know how to repent to how to go to the Lord for comfort. It turns out that this sin has been a heavy burden in her life a long time. Elder Burog and I were then able to teach a powerful lesson about the atonement and about repentance. The spirit was so strong. We taught purely to this sister's needs and the Holy Ghost gave us the words to say. We were able to give this sister a hope that she hasn't had for years. That's one the beauties of the Gospel. It gives us hope. During this experience I can say that I honestly felt like an instrument of the Lord.

I also had the opportunity to go to the mission home this past week for zone leaders council. It was a wonderful day and a half. I learned so much more about the mission and how everything works and I was able to get a fuller vision of missionary work. We talked about a lot of things at this conference but one of the things that really impacted me was the assistants workshop about leadership. I realized that I need to be a leader not a manager. It's not about managing numbers and people, but about inspiring hearts and making a difference. The way to lead is by example. Through thoughts, words and deeds. I learned about the importance of love. Without love a leader is nothing.

I really love being a misisonary. I say this every week but it's so true. I just love the Gospel. I love the Savior. I love the wonderful Filipino people. It's all about love.

Mahal ko kayo.

Love Elder Leishman

Conference in the Philippines

Dear Family and friends,

This past weekend has been wonderful! It was also very, very busy. The highlight of the week definitely had to be general conference! Wow, it was good. I was blessed to be able to head into Tarlac to attend all sessions and to be spiritually fed (and also physically fed, with a trip to 7-11 in between sessions on saturday. If your wondering my first slurpee in the Philippines was masarap!). General conference has taken on a new meaning to me here in the mission. I get so much more out conference and better understand the purpose for it. I feel like there were things said that were just for me. One of my favorite moments was singing "We thank the O God for a Prophet" as the rest hymn in the sunday morning session. The spirit was so strong as the overflowing Tarlac stake center was filled with the words of that wonderful hymn. I felt the spirit very strongly and my testimony was strengthened that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet of God on the Earth today. I don't know where to begin with my favorite talks this conference but I loved the many references to missionary work. Throughout the conference I felt so blessed to be a missionary involved with the wonderful work of God. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk about how in comparison to the Universe and God we are nothing, but to God we are so important. I have seen the hand of the Lord in my individual live and in the individual lives of others. He knows us, and we are so important to him. I think one of my favorite talks however was by Elder Christoferson about repentance. I loved how he said the invitation to repent is an invitation of love and now repentance is an invitation to change. Repentance brings us peace and joy into our lives. It's not a pleasant process but brings our will closer to that of will of our father. This talked helped me realize my role better in inviting people to repent and come unto Christ because I love them. It also helped me realize the things I need to do to change, repent of to become a better missionary.

This past week the work was good as well. It has been busy with 5 trips into tarlac for various meetings but great things have happened. Brother Adonis had his interview and will be baptized this upcoming week!!! I couldn't be more excited. His family is thrilled as well. They now have a goal as a family to be sealed in the temple. Helping to build eternal families is one of the greatest blessings of being a missionary! Yesterday we taught a recent convert and he told us that the Book of Mormon is our best guide. He shared an experience with us that he had had with the BOM. One day he was really angry and he saw his Book of Mormon and decided to read it. As he read his anger left and he forgot the source of his anger. He told us that hte Book of Mormon has brought peace into his life and has given him answers to his problems. The Book of Mormon is always there for all of us. The blessing of the Book of Mormon are uncountable and I know without a doubt that it is true.

Next week is transfers so my p-day will be on Wednesday. I don't know where I'll be next week but I'm trying to make the very most out of my time in Burgos. I love it there and the people so much. I have loved my companionship with Elder Tating and I'm sad that the 12 week program is almost over. 12 weeks go by amazingly fast.

As far as the pictures go the first is of me in a ricefield. It's not quite ready to be harvested but it's close. Right now it's harvest season and the people are very busy harvesting their rice! It's been really fun to watch the whole cycle.

The second picture is of my zone yesterday after conference. You just got to love Tarlac Zone!

Well the work is good. I love being a misisonary and I love the Lord. I love the Philippino people.

Mahal ko kayo

Love Elder Leishman