Saturday, December 27, 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

It was so great to talk to you yesterday! I love you and I love my mission! Merry Christmas!

 

This happens too often...

Mary and Joseph on Christmas morning

South 2 District 1

Our Christmas set up :)
 
White Christmas!
Sister Garcia is the best!
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Dear Famry,
   Sorry if this email is kinda short I have been feeling rather sickly. My good friend Sister Tan has been hacking all over the apartment all week and lo and behold I am sick now :( but its all good. I am definitely not surprised to hear that Elise is sick I think I would be more surprised to hear if she wasn't sick. Why do you have such baby germs Leese? So it is kinda strange not being home during Christmas time but it is also nice because this is definitely a year that I have focused the most on the Savior. I know that I will only get 2 Christmas' to be on a mission and it is a blessing to be serving the Lord at this special time of year.
   Wow so only one more week until I get to speak with y'all! Woop! I will actually just be calling and I signed up to call at 11 so it will be 10 your time is that good? The call will be like 40-50 minutes so lets not get crazy. I have had a great week just adjusting to the new transfer. Sister Garcia is just the sweetest thing. Just 5 minutes ago she asked me dead serious, "What does it mean to be a straight up G?" I was dying laughing I love the questions I get here. She also thinks I am hilarious so I approve. We have been getting along great we just haven't got to spend too much time together because she is district leader so she goes on a ton of exchanges with Sisters for meetings and what not. Yeah, so there are three different apartment complexes that the church owns around Temple Square that all us Sisters stay in. I am on the same floor as Sister Cardus, Sister Sughroue, and Sister Rajah so we all exercise together in the mornings and it is the best, i love it.
   Our investigators are doing well. Unfortunately, Charles' date has been pushed back again. He is having a hard time with the coffee situation but we will keep praying that he will be strong enough to quit so he can be baptized asap. We were able to put another lady named Stephane from Texas on date. I met her when she called in a couple months ago to receive a Book of Mormon. We are looking forward to skyping her baptism on January 10th!
   So thanks again for putting those packages together for my companions. I would ask that you put something more special together for Sister Garcia. Just a few days ago she told me that she lost her mother 4 years ago to breast cancer. She was just 16 years old. Her father was left alone to take care of her and her 5 siblings. Her and her younger brother have blessed their family so much because they are both serving missions right now. She expressed to me how grateful she was for the one package she received last year from her father with a scarf and a note. She said how big of a deal that was for her dad to send a package because her family is very poor. When I heard this story I went into the bathroom and just cried for a while. The people that are here in this mission are humbling me and changing my perspective on so many things. I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the wonderful gift that he is to all of us. Let us all take some time to truly embrace the gift this Christmas. I love you and look forward to speaking with you soon. Mewwy Chwistmas (Dr. Brayden voice.)
♥ Sister Leavitt
P.S. Who wants the gizzard? Meeee! TOO LATE!! That would be mine...!
 
 
Temple Square Guest Services, this is Sister Leavitt
 
Selfie for the Christmas card

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Hi! Just a quick email I do not have too much to say since it has only been a couple days. I am glad I could resolve the disagreement though. It is comforting to know that at least one of my parents can recognize me.
     So Tuesday was my last day at Welfare. So sad! I will miss it but I am sure I will get to go back and cover and maybe I will be called there again. I learned so much from serving there it was truly a humbling experience. Yesterday was transfer day and it was crazy! I had to fly out of the nest and out of mama Cardus' tender wing ;( Both Sister Rajahs companion and mine were coming back from outbound so of course we seized the opportunity to go on exchanges with each other yesterday! It was the best. I just love her so much! We weren't able to be together for long though because we were asked sort of on the spot to "babysit" a few new sisters while they waited for their trainers to return from outbound. So it was similar to what a sister had to do for me while I was waiting for Sister Cardus to come...make sense? It was so fun! I just helped a new Sister from Texas move into her new apartment and get things situated. I can't believe I am in my third transfer now time is really flying. Sister Garcia got back from New Mexico around 4 yesterday! It was so nice to finally meet her! She is very very nice and I know that she is going to teach me a lot and how to be nice and stuff. It is going to be a grreeatt transfer I just know it :) She is our district leader and is going to do a really good job. Thank you so much for the Christmas package! Our apartment was definitely lacking in the Christmas decoration department so thank you so much. So are you all ready to hear from me on Christmas?! Wahooo only a couple more weeks. Would the house phone be best to call? I will get to talk for like 45 minutes. Anyways, not much to report today but we are still looking forward to Charles' baptism on Sunday! I love you all. Peace and blessins.

xoxo, Sister Leavitt ♥

Monday, December 8, 2014

Monday, December 8, 2014

Heeeyy!!
     So I feel like I need to address this first thing. I see what picture you are referring to on the blog and that is not me. I repeat that is NOT ME. It really does look like me and Sister Cardus though but unfortunately it is not.
     The second thing I need to address is the transfer changes. WAHOOO. We had transfer conference this morning and I felt like I was going to cry and throw up all at the same time. My nails are bitten down to nubs which makes it impossible to scratch my bed bug bites. So stressful. I already knew I was not going to be with Sister Cardus another transfer because we found out yesterday that she is a new Zone leader! Yay, shes so great. Thats my trainer everyone. Sooooo I have another foreign companion annndd she iss.........Sister Garcia from Spain! Mucho espanol. I have actually not met her yet though because she left to go outbound to New Mexico when I got here so on Wednesday will be our first time meeting. Everyone says she is super nice though and I am excited for this new transfer. Also my P-day has been changed to Thursday. Its a super random day I know but I get double P-day this week so that's legit. For the new transfer I will no longer be at Welfare Square :( but I do have a new assignment at guest services. My new companion and I will be assigned a couple days a week to basically be the receptionists for Temple Square. We will schedule V.I.P tours and stuff so it will be good. I am happy to have an assignment again. Sister Cardus is moving just down the hall so if I ever need my mom she will be close. I am also living in the same bed bug apartment haha but its okay I am glad I don't have to move and my Thai BFF Sister Tan is staying in the same apartment as me so its all good. So the new transfers will start on Wednesday and then I will get to email again on Thursday so I will let you know how everything goes.
     This week was crazy though. As you know, Charles had a baptismal date for last Saturday the 6th. We were all excited and were getting everything set up for Saturday when suddenly he dropped of the face of the earth. Noooooooooooooo! It was the worst. He would not answer our phone calls any more and he didn't show up to our appointment so by Saturday when we still hadn't heard from him we were super sad. I thought we were being punked by the whole situation because he really is too good to be true. His baptism was scheduled for 1pm on Saturday and at 12:50 we get a call from Charles when we were in the middle of the tour. This was the first call from him of the week. "Hey where are y'all? I'm at the church its almost time for my baptism." No way. I honestly cried. He said he was really busy all week helping out his old friends from the baptist church! Unfortunately because it was so last minute we were not able to baptize him this week but he is on date for next Saturday and Sister Cardus and I plan to go together. I have grown a strong testimony that fasting works! I have never fasted so hard in my life but I know the Lord blesses us for our efforts.
      On Thursday we had a special Relief Society meeting in the Relief Society building with all of the General Relief Society Presidency. So much Relief Society in one sentence. It was such a blessing to hear from them!  I admire these women and their powerful testimonies. They asked us, "What are some of the words that come to mind when you think of Relief Society?" Sister Cardus and I were whispering back and forth to each other words like shalls, back problems, casseroles, and vanilla scented perfume. But I was also thinking of words like love, charity, and service! It is such a blessing to be a part of the largest women's organization in the world and also the largest sister mission in the world.
     Speaking of our mission we broke the record last month for the highest amount of baptisms in one transfer in the history of the mission. The Lord blessed us with 160 baptisms last transfer! President Poulsen was happy. So naturally, we celebrated with pizza today.
       It is a great time to be alive. The Lords work is hastening and it is a blessing to be apart of it. I love you all and will talk to you in like 3 days! #sharethegift
Love, Sister Leavitt <3
 
 
Yesterday, I went on exchanges with Sister Toa (Vanuatu) and Sister Kang (Cambodia) to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional :)
 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Hey Fam,
aksfjal;sfkj
I never know how to start these letters but it has been another amazing week!
    I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Mine was really good. A stake in Bountiful was assigned to have all us Sisters for Thanksgiving. We didn't know it until we got there but we actually got assigned to the Stake Presidents house so I guess we were really lucky. His name is Dan Lake and his wife's name is Chris. It was their "off year" for Thanksgiving for all their kids were at the in-laws so they were really happy to have us. They said they were going to send you an email of a picture we took but I don't know if they did yet. It was just me, Sister Cardus and another companionship of Sister Steenhoek (Kaylee's roommate from college) and her companion Sister Chau. It was really nice and relaxing we just talked a lot and after dinner we watched Ephraim's rescue. We were there from 12-6 but I wish we could've stayed there forever it was so nice. I miss being in homes and stuff. I know that there is nothing that will make us happier faster than counting our blessings. "There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter...we can be grateful" -Dieter F Uchtdorf.
Here's a list of things I am grateful for:
1. my mission
2. Jesus Christ
3. my fam
4. home cooked meals
5. my companion
6. my investigators
7. Ben&Jerrys
       Last Tuesday we got the news about the "He is the Gift" promotion. "He" meaning Jesus Christ of course. It is such an awesome title and the apostles (Bednar and Nelson) who put this together were truly inspired. I am not sure if you have heard about it but so far it has been really awesome. It is all based around a video that was made by the church about how Jesus Christ is the true gift of Christmas. I'm sure grandma can tell you about it since she was here but it is kind of the theme this year in all the visitors centers around the world. If you haven't watched it yet you definitely should and then share it with the world! That is what we are trying to do. The church even bought out a portion of youtubes homepage for December 7th. The "He is a gift video" is expected to have millions of views by the end of that day. WHOOP. It is so exciting to be a part of it!
     This week we have been continuing to teach Charles. He is always like 40 minutes early to our appointments its hilarious. He is the easiest person to teach I will probably never get this lucky again in my mission he is just so awesome. Here are some of my favorite quotes from him
1."Love casts out all fear"
2."Life aint gonna be a bowl of cherries"
3."Thats true right there!!"
He is teaching me a lot actually. Like on Wednesday I was reading him a scripture in the Book of Mormon when right in the middle of me speaking he snatched my Book of Mormon out of my hand and said, "Now quote me a scripture Sister Leavitt." He said, "You can sit there and read me scriptures all day but it is not until you memorize them and lock them in your heart that you can truly apply them into your life." uhhh....wut. I just stared at him speechless like an idiot. Needless to say I have been trying to memorize scriptures every day since then. He is getting baptized this Saturday! I can't wait!
       Even brighter than the lights that are here on Temple Square are the people. Most people. I am talking about the people that sing along with us Sisters when we are trying to invite the spirit and the people who absolutely beam when they walk up the ramp and see the statue of Christ. However, I am not talking about the people who "romantically" dance with their significant other while the Christus narration is playing, and that actually happened by the way. I was trying so hard not to laugh when I saw that yesterday. One of our assignments is at the Christus and because of the massive amounts of people we have to let up about 40 or so at a time. We are there for about an hour and I can tell you that there is no greater experience than sharing your testimony of Christ over and over to large amounts of people! I am truly blessed to get to spend so much time here especially at Christmas time.
      I love you all and hope you have the best Christmas. Happy Birthday tomorrow dad, you old fart!
Love, Sister Leavitt <3
      

Thanksgiving with the Lakes in Bountiful

Sister Steenhoek. Kaylee's roommate from college

This is my district leader Sister Truscilio from Italy!

West 2 District 2!

Gabriella and Johnathon's baptism on Saturday. Check out how tall that elder is!

Our Thai roommates clogged up our sink with their stinky food. Soooo nasty!