The BEST FAMILY EVER!! (his words)

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is doing better this week, and are able to get back into the routine of things and that you have been able to feel your Heavenly Fathers love that he has for each one of you! I thank you all for your love and support you have shown me this past week. I have felt it and it means a lot! You need not worry, I am doing good and am working harder than ever!!

This week was another week in the mission field, between fighting off wild beast with a bamboo stick, or trying to find people to teach and share this great blessing that the Lord has given to all that are willing to accept and follow His Will! 

We had changes this past Wednesday, but we lucked out and we get another change together in our area!! Which I am so happy and blessed about, because I didn`t want to change and I don`t want a new companion! Elder Hernandez is freaking great!! We get along so well, and we both enjoy the work which makes it so nice!! As my spanish is progressing we can make jokes and tease each other and understand one another, which is when the work really gets fun and interesting! He is a huge blessing in my life, and I have already learned a ton from him. We are planning on baptizing a family of 5 this month, which is going to be great, and the family is awesome!! The will be such a great family to have in the Branch here in my area. 

How is everyone doing? With work, school, sports, etc. I want to hear it all! 

I love you all so freaking much and miss ya like crazy but the time is flying by and I will be home before we even know it and then I will have bigger problems! But I still got time that I need not think about that. How is the weather? Seeing lots of rain or even snow I hope?!?! 

I know that this is the true church; the Church of Jesucristo! That our Savior lives and He knows how each one of us feels and knows what we need and He is there for us! Please don`t any of you think you are alone because we are never alone, He is alaways there, and He wants us to ask Him for help! All we need to do is get on our knees and ask Him in prayer and He will listen and answer our prayers! I know that this is where I need to be and even though it is tough, that I am so blessed for this mission and that I am learning here! I leave this with you in el nombre tu hijo Jesucristo, Amen.

I love you all so much, and I love you mom to the moon and back and then some!! 

I hope you all have a great week, and enjoy yourselves!!

Con mucho Amor!

Su hijo, amigo, jungle Missionary,

Elder Leatherow

 Ready to lead my troops into battle

 El Salvador National Bird

yep, I chop these coconuts open with a HUGE knife, no big deal

Tom was able to chat with Wes for just a minute this week:

DAD:That is so awesome that you and your comp get to stay together. What kinds of beasts are you fighting off? Do you get to eat it?

Love Ya

Wes: Wild dogs, cats, lizards, you name it  -  I kill it!!! 

Families are Forever

Tom and I spoke with the President Glazier, the mission president, on Friday morning and told him of Shon's passing.  We asked if we could tell Wes and he said that in his experience it was best that he tell him.  So he did that.  He waited to tell Wes early this morning and we as parents were a bit unsettled to say the least.  We knew that the time Wes would be emailing we would in the middle of the funeral but we still had the email open and waiting.  I had told Wes in an email that the nephews and niece were going to do a tribute and this is the email we recieved.  Tom immediately passed the phone to Colton and asked him to read the following.  As I listen to Wes' sweet testimony my heart was full and I knew without a doubt my son was OK.  That is was in a good place and that Heavenly Father would wrap his arms around my son in my absence.  

You guys remember that time when Shon called cause he recieved his special needs permit to shoot deer? and how excited he was? Or how frustrated he would get when the Jazz weren`t doing so hot, or how he had his great plan to have this great nice ring for Sam?? This man meant a whole lot to me, and we all can learn a lot from him and his great example he was!  How every Friday night was temple night and he was ALWAYS there!! The one thing I will never understand though is eating potato chips with Ketchup?!?! He always had the best and latest information on sports and the great outdoors and I will never forget that laugh of his that was just so contagious!  The best part is through this gospel we have the opportunity to see and hear his laugh for an eternity! I can`t begin to express my love for the Savior and His willingness to giveHis Son to us, to have the plan and His Atonement so we can have that opportunity! It is really hard for me to know exactly how you all are feeling, but like it says in John 14: 16-18 that He gave all men the gift of the Holy Ghost, to all that accept and follow Him for in these times of sadness and sorrow, we can feel His love and find peace. We all can live with this great man again and see him in a physical body without imperfection again, I know that without a shadow of doubt he is sitting with our Heavenly Father in the Celestial Glory and all of us can be with him if we choose to accept the gospel, and those who have but have lost their way, this is your chance to really reflect and think do you want to see and live with this man again and all those others who follow his example that Shon set for us by following the Savior. I testify that God lives and His Son Jesus Christ lives and knows each of us, that Shon is in a better place, and without health issues; waiting for us all! That through prayer we can feel the Saviors love and He can truly help us, because He knows each of us personally. I love you all so much! This is a time of sadness but its also a time to see and be grateful for the Great Plan that Heavenly Father has provided for us! I leave my testimony with you in the name of the beloved son Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all so much and we all can get through this time together! I am hear to listen to all that need to talk! 

 hope you all have a great week! 

Mom I love you to the moon and back and then some!! 

Con Mucho Amor!!!! 

Tell Sam I said that she can see him again, she can feel his love and presence when she goes and does temple work and you all are in my prayers!!

Su hijo, amigo, jungle missionary

Elder Leatherow

El foto de su conferencia de zona con Elder Duncan. Les amamos mucho.

Let's be honest is he not the best looking elder in the photo?  Miss his guts!

El Vida Misional

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? I am so glad to hear that Stake Conference went so good for all of you and that it will was such a great spiritual experience for you all! I am so blessed to have a family so spiritually in tune and is willing to live and love the gospel! 

Dad, how is work going? I hope it is going better for ya and those problems have been resolved and you guys are back to working good with one another! I am really sorry that happened, that is always rough but don`t give up keep pushing forward with a steadfastness in Christ and it will get better, I promise it will!! 

G-Ray my man!! Congrats on the game of a life time last week!! That is freaking awesome bro, you make me so proud to be your older brother, keep it up bro and tearing up the court!! 

The same goes for those Smuin boys, sounds like you guys are the force to be reckened with out there is Roy!! Keep it up boys and know that I am out here supporting and cheering ya on!! 

Tell Liam the Chinese thing is so cool! There is a kid here who arrived a month ago who did that but with Spanish and he is already way ahead of the game than I am! So that will help him so freaking much!!!!! 

I am so glad to hear the Grandparents on the Hill are doing good!! Tell them I said hello, and that I can`t wait to see the man cave when I get back!!! 

Thanks mom for the hearts each day! Those always make my day when I pull one out to put on my wall above my desk!! 

So this week has been a roller coaster for us, some days are insanely good, others are so bad it makes the mission life difficult! But I guess thats the mission life and I am loving every minute of it, even the bad times!! I had a crazy cool experience though, that I would like to share with you guys. So about a week and ahalf ago, there was a old gentleman who called us over to talk and asked what we were doing so we explained, and he was pretty sick, so we asked if we could come back in a few days when we had some time and he agreed. So we went back and he was even worse off, He could barely talk, walk or even breathe, we were thinking he was on his death bed. So we offered to give him a Priesthood blessing and we gave him the blessing and then went on our way. We went back a few days later to check on him and this time no one answered so we kinda of thought he had past on to the better life. Two days ago we were walking in the street and we saw an old guy walking down the street and we were like no way!! So we walked up to talk to him and it was him!! He was walking with a cane but walking he could talk just fine and hear and function and everything!! It was absolutley incredible!!! I want to testify of the power of Priesthood, that every worthy 12 year old boy up can hold and act in the name of the Lord! That with faith and living the ordainces and commandments that we can perform miracles! That with great power always come great responsiblilty. That you should never take this for granted because it is truly a blessing to have this power to to help those in need of sickness or comfort that you can to perform miracles! I leave this with you in the name of Jesucristo. Amen. 

Well Family that is about it for me and we are working hard and have found three new families so I am so excited to get to help them prepare for bautism so they can recieve the blesses we have to live with one another for an eternity!! 

I love you all so much especially you mom to the moon and back and then some!!! 

Take care and have a great week! 

Con mucho Amor!

Su hijo, Amigo, jungle missionary,

Elder Leatherow

I was once again able to chat with this cute elder for about 3 mintues but I LOVE those 3 minutes and yep he had me in tears!

Wes:  How are you doing? Still sick??

Mom:I am doing good finally feeling whole again.  I am hanging in there ~ you know good days and bad days but some AWESOME days too.

How are you?

Wes: Okay good! I am glad hang in there I know you can do it, you are my mom you can do anything your SUPER MOM!!!!!!!!!

Mom: Super mom?  That is a tall order my man.    But I sure try.

Wes:  I only speak the truth! I can`t lie its agianst the mission code and law, so it must be true if it comes out of my mouth!!!

Well mom I love you like crazy and miss you so much, but time is flying and I will be home before you know it, have a great day and tell everyone at the bank I said hello, and I will be into visit real soon!!! I love ya mom!!!

Hooray for packages!

Bendito Mi Familia,

Thank you so much for the present you have no idea how much that means to me!! Everything inside was exactly what I needed, and those fotos(pictures)!!! Heck ya they were the freaking best!! I love how everyone did their own thing, it describes each family too and their character and I love it!! Thank you so much to all!! Tell Debbie thanks for the letter and picture too, that was so freaking nice of her!!!

How is everyone feeling?? I am hoping better??? Take care of yourselves and if you need to take a day to relax and let your body fight it so you can get better sooner!! 

G-Ray, dude you are my hero for already being a missionary and helping others come unto Christ with your friends!! I can`t express the joy and the feeling of proudness in my heart when I read that you were helping the Conleys with missionary lessons. Keep it up bro!! Also, with basketball bro, know that I am here cheering you on from El Salvi!!!

Dad keep going, I know life gets tough and sometimes it seems over whelming, one thing I can say is thats life, but also sometimes just pray for the engery and the desire to push and I know the Lord will help. Also, take a minute and sit down drink nice cold glass of Mountain Dew and think about all the good things and memories we have had. You can do it, if anyone can do it dad, I know you can!!!!!! 

This weeek well, we are just walking around the jungle with bamboo sticks slaying wild beast that are in our way of saving people! No just kidding!!

As for me this week, it was a rough one we are in the process of finding and setting our investigadores up for bautism, so days are super long with what seems like just walking around finding and talking to people and then those moments when you can see that spark of light starting to glow within someone and they are getting ready for the gospel!!! 

Well I love you guys!! Sorry its short nothing much happened, we did go to a lake today here that was cool -  so I will send Pictures!!! 

I love you mom to the moon and back and then some!! 

I love all of you and hope you have a great week!!!

Con mucho amor!!!

Elder Leatherow

Hey I see you!