Endure to the End 12/11

Dear Family and Friends,

This is such an exciting time here in Angeles mission. This past week all of the District leaders and Zone leaders in the mission had a meeting about the new plans for our mission and the plans of the Area 70 for strengthening the church in the Philippines. Our new focus is Enduring to End. There is a very large percentage of less active members in the Philippines area and now we as missionaries are working on Rescuing our less active members. Not just rescuing them now we will teach them until they go to the temple. We are doing the same thing with our recent converts. This now means that we will be teaching our recent converts for a year after their baptims and teaching less active as long as it takes till they go to the temple. Without the temple we cannot gain exaltation. That is what the all want. Not just salvation but exaltation. We now have new key indicators and they are awesome. It is hard to explain all of these changes but just know that I am very, very, very excited. This work is about building eternal families and through the revelation of the area 70 and President Martino we will now be doing a better job that. I am just excited.

This past week was a hard week of work. Elder Casilac and I worked so hard, but we had a lot of things fall apart. We had so many appointments fall through and had some investigators tell us they didn't want to be taught. However miracles still happened. We talked to everyone we could and found some amazing people and less active members. One of the less active member families we found has 2 college age children who aren't members and we are planning to teach them tonight. One of the important things I have learned over the past few weeks is the importance of trials and difficultly. Without trials we can't grow. Through difficult circumstances we get to reach down and find out who we really are. My mission isn't easy but it is so amazing! I can't explain it words. I just love being a missionary.

This morning I finished the Book of Mormon again and I tested Moroni's promise again and received a witness of the truthfulness of hte Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth and it is a source of joy, knowledge and revelation. It is also so crucial in all of our lives. If all members read the book of Mormon everyday we would avoid so many problems. I know that it is true and that it changes lives. I know that if we read it everyday, we will feel the love of God and the spirit in our lives more abundantly and things will just be better.

Here is a little funny story for you from this past week. As Elder Casilac and I were walking one night a group of about 15 children ages 5-11 were caroling. They were singing "we wish you a merry christmas". When they saw us they started singing louder and the leader of the group sang "We wish you Amerikano" Which means american. They all started laughing and singing "we wish you amerikano" and It was so funny. Elder Casilac and I couldn't stop laughing. It probablly would have been better if you were there but I enjoyed it.

I love my Savior and his Gospel and I love being a missionary

mahal ko kayo

Love Elder Leishman

mga p.s. - Next week I'll send pictures.

P.s. I am sending you a Christmas package but you won't get it before Christmas.... sorry!!!

p.p.s. I just got some news about Burgos and 8 of my old investigators there have been baptized which brings we great joy!