February and March

February 17, 2014

we had p-day with the other sisters... Brazilians aren´t that great at basketball... 

i was proposed to again, probably one of the best proposals i’ve gotten until now, he listed all of these great attributes i don’t really have then said `i know you want to marry me´how he knew i have no idea(jokes). it must be pretty close to carnaval because there are less people in the streets, the the people who are out are drunk. but we met a guy Claudiano, he was drunk but we talked to him a bit about the church then told him to dump out his beer. he actually did it... it was really cool, he went to church yesterday and we are working with him to be baptized next week:) we also have a former pro soccer player that will be baptized next week too. we are seeing the fruits of our labors, next month we have two weddings planned and are working to put that all together. it´s really fun, i love the mission, love my comp, i’m learning lots of new things everyday. 

this week my awesome thought comes from Amanda, a member who goes out with us each week. we we´re talking with a recent convert, who is having a hard time with family and such, and Amanda said `we need to be grateful for our trials´ we need to look for the positive/the blessings in our lives but also when we have a trial it means God wants us to grow and learn and he´s giving us this opportunity, so be grateful:)

transfers are next week so i wont email till wednesday.  love ya.

Sister Leonard

Feb 26, 2014

hooray for transfers só que não.... i got a new companion again, sister hunt is my new comp. she american. seems really great, haven’t really had much time to talk with her.  Hildemar was baptized this week... i asked him how he felt after wards, `i feel light, clean, great, happy´ makes me happy when people decide to follow Christ, i can only imagine how our Heavenly Father feels, to see His children choosing the right.

That's about it for now. Hope all is well in your world. Thanks for all the valentines cards really loved it. 

talk to you next week

sister leonard

March 3, 2014

Fez Tempo né? So this week was really good. Sister Hunt is a Trabalhador! I´m excited to work with her in this area. this week is Carnaval, which means everyone has left for the beach... which means the streets are deserted and there are a lot of drunk people. makes it kinda hard to find new people to teach. but the work is going great:) i finally got all the valentines cards... just about died laughing... thanks, i’m feeling the love:) i don’t have too much to report but i´ll try to be adventurous this week so i have something to write. I´ve been reading the bible... i’m reading about Moses right now, i like reading about prophets because the more i read the more i learn that they were men, they had flaws, they were called of God and Heavenly Father qualified them for the work. Also i was reading a talk by Elder Holland this week that talks about how after Moses saw and talked with God, Satan came and tempted moses saying `worship me´ and elder holland talked about how after we receive revelation or have a really spiritual experience satan will come to temp us to try to make us doubt the things we experienced, to make us doubt what we know to be true. we need to stay strong, recognize the things of God and follow his counsels. if it was right when you prayed about it it´s right now. God loves us, don’t be discouraged, keep looking forward, read D&C 58:2-4. 

love you all, keep up the good work. 

Sister Leonard

March 10, 2014

this week was great. i’m learning a ton of things from my companion:) she is a super hard worker. together we are rocking it here in natal. there actually isn´t anything super duper exciting that happened this week other than a ton of walking, sweating, and testifying. it´s the best. probably one of the best things about sister hunt is she mixes things up... she doesn't like the same thing over and over again so we are exploring and learning together. this week should be even better. loving Natal, loving the mission, thanks for all the love and support:)

sister Leonard

mom; it´d be cool to see some pictures:

March 17, 2014

i hope you eat corned beef and cabbage today;) Amanda Egan is engaged? what the heck? why did i think she was on a mission? if she is tell her congrats from me. this week was really great, we worked hard. had lots of rain... turns out i don’t like rain here because i cant stay in side drinking hot chocolate... we still have to work, so i guess we´ve finally hit the wet part of the year.... i think that´s how they know its winter....winter doesn’t exist. This week i say monkeys running on the power lines, it made me happy. Edgilma and Roberto went to the .... i don’t remember the word in english... Cartário to get married... that´s been an adventure, needless to say i’m thankful the mormon world is small and full of connections. they´ll get married conference weekend, and baptized right after:) we are excited! this week marcelo got baptized, he was pretty prepared, we met him on the street and when we met him we invited him to be baptized and he accepted, probably the best thing about the people here are they are really open to hearing the gospel and receive the missionaries. He´s really funny, when we taught him about the word of wisdom (he drinks coffee) we made a deal with him, if he would give up coffee, sister hunt would give up coke... she´s pretty addicted haha or its more tradition for her and sister Cabral to drink coke every day at 4 o´clock... so i’m proud to say both Marcelo and sister hunt are firme forte in there commitments:)

so that´s my life. or a part of it. love you all. thanks for the love and prayers.

love 

Síster Leonard

March 24, 2014

this week has been busy. sorry i wasn´t on earlier we had an emergency transfer, sister Arévalo left and sister f. de Oliviera came to our lovely abode, then we played basketball with the other missionaries in our district... don’t worry dad my team won. this week was pretty full of highs and lows. on tuesday we had zones conference. with all the zones here is Natal, that was really inspiring and uplifting and long, but really great. we have been working really hard here in Natal finding and teaching and such. the brother of Marcelo (who was baptized last week) was killed this week, so that was pretty hard, but Marcelo is amazing and super strong. he´s been loving the book of mormon, he´s been devouring the stories from Nephi. he is awesome. Hildemar blessed the sacrament this last sunday, and Manoel received the Priesthood, both are recent converts as well. we are really enjoying all the blessings that the lord is giving us.hope you are all well, and if you´re not happy recount your blessings. the lord is helping us every step of the way. love you all, thanks for all the love and support:)

sister Leonard

Adventures

Not a lot of info in a letter this week, but lots of pictures!

Brazilian wildlife:  Big 'ol Ant

More wildlife, monkey in a tree

Hiding at the dunes

visit to the ocean.  At the dunes

My sisters and myself!

Nothing says I love Brazil like a flag painted on the street

a miniature "christ the redeemer"

Hangin' with my favorite home boy

Happy

Feb 3, 2014

Baptismo!

So M was baptized yesterday, you´ll see how happy he is in pictures, when i got here he didn't have this smile. Now he´s always smiling. Also yesterday an investigator got up to share her testimony and she just talked about how happy she was in this church and how much the missionaries had helped her find joy. When other people are happy i’m pretty happy:) and the gospel makes me happy. Share this happiness with your friends. You just need to say “hey i like you and I want you to have more happiness in your life, can I introduce my two friends”...then the missionaries will help do the rest. It´s selfish to keep all these blessings to our selves so pray specifically who you can share the gospel with this week, fast if you´re lacking inspiration... I don’t really have a whole ton to say this week other than this. Today we´ll climb the dunes so next week i´ll have cool pictures and stuff:)

love you all

Sister Leonard

Look at the 'People Crossing" sign.  little person has a book of momron! Already dressed in white!

Baptism pic of M

Six Months!

Weird to think I’ve just about completed a third of my mission. Tomorrow will be my one year mark (which means I have one year left) but I’m not focused on that, I have work to do:) 

This week was really great. After I talked to y’all last p-day sister O and I headed to the Dr to have him look at my foot and get cleared to work as normal. So he wasn't in his office and we were with Bishops wife and she wanted us to see how beautiful God´s creations were. So we went to the beach:) Don’t worry we didn't leave the car, just went for a nice drive on the coast, it was pretty sweet.  I´ll send pictures:) Then this week we worked hard. 

I want to send a shout out to Sister Bagan (forgive me if iI spelled your name wrong) and other seminary teachers who enforced scripture mastery. It saved our investigator. So what happened is we have an investigator that has some problems (who doesn't really?) but anyway we were reviewing the baptismal interview questions and asked if he´d live the 7th commandment... lei de castidade:) fun. Anyway he didn't have a lot of faith in himself that he could change, he didn't want to promise anything when he knew he wouldn't keep his promise. Anyway it broke our little hearts and we ate our feelings in açaí and encountered a young man who is very interested in following Christ so we´ll be eating açaí more;) But anyway we we´re pretty sad about this other guy, he already has a testimony of the book of mormon and he wants to follow Christ but `the flesh is weak´anyway i read a couple of the good ole scripture mastery verses in D&C and wow:) We focused on the atonement and the love of God. Literally we are his children and he doesn't want us to suffer the same pain he went through. So we shared the scriptures with him explained our role as missionaries is to call repentance to the people, I cant even really describe this lesson really. Just that it was directed by the spirit completely. Anyway we made goals:) yay goals, every missionary loves goals! we put the title `minha salvação´ my salvation, and we made a list of things we can do instead of sinning; pray, read the scriptures, go to church, avoid dangerous situations, and be baptized:) So he´ll be baptized this week. woohoo! 

So my words of wisdom for those who want to serve missions, or help missionaries, or want to be happy (I think that covers just about everyone) read over the scripture mastery scriptures, even if you don’t memorize them have them in mind, these verses we´re selected specifically because they are simple, powerful and answer any doubt anyone could have. The church is true. I love you all. Keep praying and writing;)

Sister Leonard

Viewing God's beautiful creations

See my tosies??

I am my mother's daughter

January 20, 2014

I am my mother’s daughter

So this week was good. Crazy as ever. I really like this new area:) it´s nice and hilly. We taught a few people, I’m just kinda learning the area still so I don’t have too much of an update on the work, just that its working;) 

Umm some cool facts about my area, the soccer stadium is in my area and the giant christmas tree is right next too our chapel and our chapel is the very first chapel in the rio grande do norte (the state I’m in) so that´s legit. I live with three of the most legit Brazilians ever. My companion is a boss. Love her to death:) I was proposed to for the first time on the mission.It was super romantic. We contacted Peter Simon, invited him to church and he responded `Im looking for my 4th wife, and i want it to be you´ pointing at me... awkward. We told him there were lots of single ladies in the ward... he said he would go just to date... flirt to convert? acho que não. 

So what else happened. Ah i remember, I fell this week. But don’t worry I didn't break my foot, we got x-rays :) So i really didn't do too much because I wasn't allowed to walk. So yesterday, Sunday we did divisions so my comp could work, and I was babysat by bishop´s wife... she had 6-8 little girls over playing with her kids basically I became there new project. They made a menu of activities to do, they did my nails, make up, hair, put on a show for me, everything. It was pretty fun. Exhausting but fun, I now have the nick name of Sister Barbie... great. 

But other than that everything is pretty chill here. Its a lot cooler in Natal than Mossoró.... still hot but i think i’m pretty close to the coast;) (its on the other side of the dunes). the church is true, share the gospel with all your friends, if you’ve already tried try again, this is a new year and now they are ready to follow Christ. 

love you all:)

Sister Leonard

The new companionship

Sister Barbie 

I mustache you a question

The final results

It's tough being a life-size mannequin

This is where it happens

Transfers

January 15, 2014

So I got transferred. I’m in Natal... google Natal look at the really big sand dunes…I'm right next to those... we´re going to visit one of these p-days. Last week was pretty normal, I learned how to build a wall:) and mix cement. Everything has been pretty tranquil. With transfers it’´s usually pretty stressful and hectic but this transfer was pretty cool. I´d been praying to follow the Lord´s will and not worry about what I want.  I had been in Mossoró for 4 1/2 months and I love the area and the ward is fabulous! So I had a pretty distinct impression I wasn't going to have another 6 weeks in Abolição, so i tried really hard to seek inspiration. I thought of the cities I could be going to and well I could only think of Natal, there are 4 zones in Natal its pretty big. In the midst of all this revelation I have the thought `you´ll be going to Elder Basil´s zone’ (he was recently made a zl) anyway long story short Elder Basil is my ZL and I’m in Natal and its really awesome how the Lord answers our prayers and how we can receive personal revelation. Search the scriptures, pray and fast, seek to encounter someone you can share the gospel with. The Lord loves his children and wants them to be happy. I’m really excited for this new area, also I’m living with 3 Brazilians now, so if my english is horrible its because i don’t use it ever. Love you all. Stay safe. Keep praying for the missionaries:)

Love 

Sister Leonard

Hi

Jan 6, 2014

This week was rather uneventful compared to the last crazy month, but it was really really nice to just work how missionaries should. We had a blast new years eve, we went to a members house to eat some BBQ because that´s what they do in Brazil, then at 920 we got a ride home from a member and greatly enjoyed yelling “happy new year go to church!” then we decided what things we wanted to change this new year Sister Francis and I decided our hair would be a good idea:) I´ll send pictures:) ah we also had a hammock party:) because that´s popular here too:) all in all we are healthy and smiling and enjoying the work here. Next week is transfers so I wont email until wednesday or thursday. love you all:)

love 

Sister Leonard

ps write me

Sister Aleah Leonard

Missão Brasil Natal

Av Interventor Mario Câmara 2066

Dix-Sept Rosado

Natal -RN 59062-600

Brasil

The new look for the new year!

The birthday sister!

All the girls