Monday, August 24, 2015

Well everyone, I have made it three months here in Oakland and I have yet to get shot or join the Crips. So, I would consider my time here so far a pretty big success. I still have a few days left so maybe I shouldn't speak too soon.

This week we had a little good bye meeting/party at the Visitors Center for me and the two other sisters from Temple Square that are going back with me. We were all able to bear our testimonies and shed a few tears. I really am grateful that I was able to go back to the VC even on my outbound. I was definitely born to be a VC sister. I love it so much! It was also sad saying goodbye to a lot of people at church yesterday. I taught the Gospel Principles class and let everyone know that I was leaving at the end. Many people came up to me and said that they would miss me and that they loved me so that made me feel good :) The Hayward 1st ward will always have a special place in my heart for sure. 

On Friday, we were teaching Michael at the park when I noticed this guy come and sit at a picnic table behind us. Immediately after we sat down, the spirit told me to get up and go over to talk to him. Nobody hates awkward encounters like that more than me so I tried my best to brush it off. The spirit was relentless though and I could not even focus on what we were teaching Michael. After about 10 minutes I could not ignore the prompting anymore so I got up right in the middle of the lesson and went over to talk to him. His name is Alejandro and he was so happy that I came and talked to him. He said earlier that day he had been thinking about his purpose here on Earth. I told him that we have the answers and set up a time to meet with him next saturday. I am not sure what will become of it but I am definitely happy that I followed the promptings of the spirit. The Lord can use us if we are willing. While I was talking to him, S. Tshibola continued to teach Michael and set a baptismal date for September 26th. Sooo it was a great day! I am so grateful for the spirit :)

This Thursday I will hit my year mark. What the what?! I feel like I should be a better person than I am by now but I know that I have changed a lot. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for his atonement that allows me to purify myself every day. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know this church is the same organization that Jesus Christ established when he was on earth. I know he will come again! I can't wait to return to Temple Square it really is my favorite place on earth. I love my mission and I love all of you. 

-Love,

Sister Leavitt

 

Wow, I love the Tagilala family!

Weekly planning vibes

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

HELLO ONE, HELLO ALL!

It has been another swell week here in the Golden State of Cali. 

This week was swell because we were able to put one of our investigators, Tony, on date for baptism for September 10th. No, I will not be here but it is still a blessing to be able to teach him and to see him progress. He is the most golden of our resent investigators. 

Another miracle happened this week. We sort of dropped our investigator Michael because he was smoking like a chimney and had no intentions of stopping. BUT, this week I went on exchanges with my Sister Training Leader, Sister Knight, and we stopped by to see how he was doing.  He said he missed seeing us and he has cut down to half a pack a day (a true miracle.) We taught him a short lesson and then at the end Sister Knight asked if he would be baptized and he said "yeah I probably will" which is a HUGE improvement. So, yes she has a gift and miracles happen on exchanges.

We have an investigator who lives on Cal State East Bay campus, like the actual campus not in an apartment. AKA shes homeless. Her name is Mary and she has been coming to church every week since I got here. We teach her every Sunday after church. We have seen little to no progression because this sweet African American lady is absolutely CONVINCED that the holy spirit dun came upon her and she dun baptized herself in the bay and that she dun not need to be baptized again. We have tried everything but the woman is CONVICED. If you have any suggestions on how we can help this soul please let me know asap!

I am so grateful for my time here in this mission and I can't believe I only have about a week left here! I wouldn't have chosen to serve anywhere else, for sure. It has been awesome! I am way pumped to get back to the square though and see some of my good friends. I love you fam and be lookin for a surprise comin to you sooooon :) bye now!

Love,

Sister Leavitt 

 

Random proselyting selfie. Yes, that is a giant mirror and various appliances on the side of the road!

Our district in San Francisco after zone training meetings on Friday.

Yes, I am very white!

Family pic in our Hayward zone T's

 

Monday, August 10, 2015

Hey peeps!
The last weeks here are flying by. The Oakland temple was closed for a couple of weeks because they put in a reflection pool in front of it. It reopened a couple of days  ago. The VC has been really busy. I am super grateful for that.

Today we spent all morning doing service for an old woman who broke her hip named Sister Stokes. Let me paint a picture for you of what her house looks like. In front of her house she has about 4 prune trees that are overgrown and massive.  There are rotten prunes just everywhere you look and the smell is as horrible as you can imagine. I was unintentionally making prune jelly with my shoes just walking into her house. The inside of the house could put a hoarder to shame. Anyways, you get the point. I dont want to be too harsh. We decided to start in the kitchen. Her son said "okay ladies, lets get to work" and handed us 4 rags and a bucket of soapy water. In that moment I felt that God had handed me a perfect slice of trial pie. Even though my gag reflexes were not cooperating with me, I rolled up my sleeves and we scrubbed every nook and cranny of that kitchen until it was clean...or much MUCH cleaner than it was. I love my mission because it has given me opportunities to do things that I never would have done before. I am grateful for my Savior who is a perfect example of service and charity. I know that if Christ was on the earth today we would be found in those circumstances offering service and relief to those in need. 

Love and miss you all,

Sister Leavitt

 

 

 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hey yall.

This week has been pretty crazy in the ghetto of Hayward :) The Lord is continually blessing the missionaries with protection though and I am so grateful for that. I had an interview with President Frandsen on Wednesday and it felt a little bit like he was drafting me to the military but thats okay. He's a spiritual giant and a good guy. 

Something nuts happened. We have been teaching our investigator Michael for about 6 weeks now. He is the one with the WOW problem who almost died coughing up a lung right in front of us. Anyways, he lives in like a crazy house...I dont know how to explain it nicely. It is a house of like 10 individuals with mental disorders. There is a Tongan family that runs the place. I was talking to the owner lady on Tuesday for a while and after she told me her last name I realized she had the same last name as my recent convert Mary. So long story short, Marys family runs that house and Mary actually used to work there but she moved to Oakland. We plan to convert the whole family:) They agreed to meet with us. We will teach them the restoration tomorrow :) The Lord is mindful of all His children. I love being a missionary. It has taught me so much. The church is true!

Love and miss you all,

Sister Leavitt

 

 

 

Monday, July 27, 2015

Hello Family!

It has been another great week in Hayward! Yes there was an earthquake in the middle of the night. I think it was Wednesday? I thought it was the second coming for sure and then I was a little disappointed when it wasn't. I have been going to play tennis in the mornings for exercise and I get my trash kicked by my Congolese companion erdayy. 

Our investigators are doing about the same. We had a special fast yesterday with hopes and prayers for a baptism this transfer. We are praying that our investigators will get their butts in gear and stop smoking weed like a chimney :( All 3 of our progressing investigators have that problem. 

This week we found a new investigator named Mercy. We actually met her in the parking lot of our apartment complex. When we saw her she was a bawling mess. So we approached her and asked her what was wrong. She explained that she recently lost her only daughter and child to a heart disease just about a month ago. She agreed to have us come back to teach her. On Saturday we brought a sweet member with us and had a powerful lesson on the Plan of Salvation. She agreed to come to church sunday but when we went to get her yesterday morning she was having a bad time so she didn't come. She says she will this week so we hope so. I know that God answers every ones prayers and loves his children so much.

I am grateful for this opportunity that I have to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It has strengthened me as an individual in so many ways. Have a fantabulous week!

Love, Sister Leavitt

I love my bigger little brother :)

 

 

Monday, July 20, 2015

Hi!!!

I'm good too! I was on a bit of an emotional roller coaster myself on Wednesday thinking about Austin! It's unbelievable to me how they let such a young lad into the missionary training center. I am super proud of him though and I know he is very prepared. He's probably AP of the MTC by now. That's crazy you had to go back like 11 months later and drop off another child! At least you have a couple year break from that fun until Linds ;)

Anyways, my week was a good one. We are keepin busy between our area and the VC. I enjoy the vc here but sometimes miss the big scale of T2. Hayward 1st is the best though I am really loving it here. We had 2 investigators at church yesterday Rosa and Michael. Rosa is from El Salvador and she is living with her cousin Paola who is a less active member in the ward. We met her while visiting less actives my first week here. Those two have become our good friends and they are both really progressing in the gospel. We plan to invite Rosa to be baptized tonight! The other investigator is Michael. He has been to church four times now an is progressing pretty well. A few days ago we invited him to be baptized and he gave us a nah because he has some problems with the word of wisdom. We made a plan for him and we asked if he would fast with us and we are still waiting for his answer. Yesterday, after church, we went to stop by and check how he was doing. Well, he was smoking in the back yard and when he found out we were there he panicked big time and tried to smoke it really fast. I think he inhaled something or broke a lung! He came out to greet us a huge sweaty coughing mess. He was trying to act natural but it was just not working. I was honestly concerned for his life. Anyways, we rebuked him in a loving way and said we would be back. Soo we will go back today and hopefully we will not have to witness an episode like that again.

I don't know if I told you but I have been driving the whole time I've been in Hayward. Pray for me. California drivers show no mercy on you whatsoever and they are just all downright mean! My companion and I have become really familiar with the phrase "God....your children...." 

Yes, Elder Gubler is from hurricane so he's probably related to Lisa! I would ask him but he got transferred!

We are staying busy here and fasting and praying for a baptismal date soon. We know The Lord will bless us :) I'm grateful for all of your prayers. Love you!

Love, 

Sister Leav

 

A kind Samoan member gave us all this food :0

I love Sister Tshibola!

 

Monday, July 13, 2013

This letter will be short because there is a crotchety geezer with minimal teeth waiting to use this computer in the Hayward Public Library.

Basically, All is well.

On Saturday we had transfer calls and Sister Tshibola and I are staying together in Hayward and we are still called to VC! Can you believe it? My whole mission I will have only 3 full weeks of area proselyting. Unbelievable :) I love VC though it is a blessing to serve there. Only one more transfer to go til I go back to the promised land!

We had a great week with many many member present lessons. We have about 4 investigators that are progressing but they all have issues that are holding them back to committing to a baptismal date. The members in this ward are great and its so important having them in these lessons because their testimonies are powerful!

I don't even want to talk about myself cause I am just so proud of Aust! I was bummed yesterday thinking I missed his farewell but I know it was amazing. I love you all so much and miss you like the dickens. 

Love, 

Sister Leavitt

The best Congolese sister and I

Hayward 1st is always a party

Hayward district