Elder Leonard

Well Family! I will write as much as i can in the next 26 minutes. I am so glad to hear that you are all doing well. I get choked up everytime i read your emails and think about how good the Lord is to our family, and really to everyone out there. I can not wait to share this message with the filipino people. I lave the Lord with all me heart and honestly tear up all the time thinking about how good the Lord is.

 

This week has been a rough one. I had a mental breakdown...twice...this is ridiculous! ha jokelang! that is how to say just kidding or joking in tagalog. Makes things pretty easy ;) well, this language is so hard and we are all struggling with it so bad. I know it is the Lord testing us, and really humbling us so that we really do rely on him and realize that there is no way that we will ever get this language down without his help. So the first time i had a breakdown i looked like a little baby. I went into an empty classroom with my kasama (companion) and pretty much just cried. One of the missionaries that had been here for 7 weeks came in and helped me feel better. Then my district leader, Elder Kauvaka came in and i talked with him for awhile. I was just feeling overwhelmed and stressed...i asked him to give me a blessing and he gladly did. That night i knelt down to pray and seriously gave a complete and sincere prayer in Tagalog. I'm telling you, the Lord is amazing, i still do not really enjoy the way he is chosing to humble me ;) ha just kidding. I just am not a fan of having mental breakdowns. The second time i broke down was just four days later, i'm telling you, the spirit kinda has turned me into a baby. I was having the same issue, but this time it was my investigator celso, who is not an investigator but is now one of our teachers, anyway! he was there to talk with me and to help comfotrt me.

 

I love using me priesthood! The two sisters in my district had a come apart the other day. The trials of learning the language were just overwhelming to them. Just like it has been with the rest of us. So after one of their lessons with their investigator they just could not take it anymore. My district leader and i took them into an empty room and had them just talk to us. we let them vent for like ten minutes and then offered blessings. First Elder Kuavaka gave sister Walker a blessing, and then i had the opportunity to give sister Schuhmann a blessing. She and i have become very good friends and so she asked me to do it. The worst part is not being able to just give the sisters a hug. You guys know how i am! I love being able to comfort others and help them...but i can not do that anymore. I wont lie, it is a little bit annoying.

 

thank you so so much for the box of food and other stuff. It was so nice to get all of those letters from you. I am so blessed to have you guys and for everything that you are sending me. Please keep it coming, the letters are like gold in this place :)

 

Well! I heard that you are all trying to learn a bit of Tagalog over these next two years. So! Let me help you out. To pray you start with this: Ama po namin so langit. (our father in heaven) and then you say nagpapasalamat po kami (we are thankful) para sa ebanghelyo (for the gospel) para sa pamilyo ko (for my family) nagpapasalamat po kami para sa pagbabayad-sala ni Jesucristo (for the atonement of christ) Paki-basbasan (please bless) po ninyo kami ng patnubay (us with guidance) paki-talangan (please help) po ninyo na maramdaman ng Espiritu Santo (us to feel the spirit) nagpapasalamat po kami para kay Thomas S. Monson (we are thankful for thomas s monson) sa pangalan ni Jesucristo (in the name of Jesus Christ) Amen

 

Just try it out, it is kinda fun to say. You roll the r just like in spanish. And you ng like nang...you guys can figure out the rest. I love you all and know the Lord is blessing you all. Remember to thank the Lord and keep a journal of all of the blessings that he gives you. i will write a letter to tell you guys everything else.

 

Mahal ko kayo! (i love you all)

Elder Leonard