Drum Roll Please….

Dear Family my favorite and best family in the whole world,

So this week we had changes right and I have had six months in this area and so it was reasonable that I would be leaving this past Wednesday....but the Lord answered my prayers and...I get another six weeks!!!!! I am so happy and blessed for this! Which means I got to baptized The familia Flores!!!!!! You have no idea how happy I am and such a blessing it was to be a part of that and see them change and the gospel fill their lives! They made some huge changes from not drinking cafe or beer to even getting married!!! Ya that is right I got to have a wedding here in the mission! That was so freaking sweet! Then we baptized them the same day! The baptism was super and just to see them come out of the water and start their new lives together and with the Lord is something that has forever changed my life!

I did go to changes though folks so that was even crazier that my companion Elder Toro went so fast..now the crazier part is who I am with here now...so in my last area which was Ilobasco, there were six missionaries and there was one that we always joked that we would be companions here in the mission that it would just be so sweet and you talk about craziestness...cause it has happened!! ELDER SMITH and ELDER LEATHEROW. He is from Missouri yes he is a greengo folks!! We are having a great time so far and are working really well. It was so cool to baptize with him cause this is his FIRST baptism in his whole mission so it was a blessing for me to be with him and to hear his excitement and talk with him! 

The other thing I need to say is that you have no idea how freaking awesome you all are!!!!! The package you guys sent was perfect! I loved it so much, and I can`t thank you guys enough for it!!! Except the t-shirt of Oscar the Grouch are you trying to say that I am grouchy as well?!?!? Just kidding no matter what I love it! Also I wore that tie that Dad has the same one on the day of the Baptism and so as my mother and father have helped complete our family and make those convents that they passed that example on I am helping other families do the same! So thank you guys for that example and that tie was great and means a lot to me!!! My companion loves it too, he is trying to steal it from me(; 

Well folks that is about all I have for this week I am going to go so I can try and send some pics and what not to ya! Thanks for everything seriously!!

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

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!!! Con mucho amor

Elder Leatherow 

Baptism

Loving the tie

I asked Wes if he was hot wearing a long sleeve dress shirt and his reply made me smile ~ that is my boy always the fashionista, "it was super hot but we had a wedding and a baptism and I think the long sleeves look more professional and dressy"  

Oscar the Grouch, really? 

I was quick to point out that the shirt was to remind him that even if someone seems grouchy their grouchiness disappears with the appearance of muscles.  Besides the green fabric was light weight. 

Taking pictures in church? ~ Wes is looking very serious ~

and preparing and making the famous pupusas ~ he says he enjoys them A LOT.  Can't wait for him to show me how.

Celebrating

Making sure to take Ster with him every day

We were all very curious as to how Wes takes his best friend with him every day.  Question answered. Love it!  

Ready or not I will Go.

Dear Family,

This week was a roller coaster of days and emotions and it continues as I am writing this letter home.  I am praying that I won`t get changes that I will stay here one more change, one beacuse I seriously love the people here and the work is great! I have a baptism this weekend and what's even cooler -  I am going to get them married first then we are going to baptize them!!! They are a great family, and he is one of those that was a answer to my prayers. His name is Hydro! He lived in the states for 25 years and knows English but we hardly speak it because then it leaves my companion and his wife out of the converstaion. The way he found me was I was walking down a long dirt road and we had a horrible day we couldn`t get into anyones house to teach, I then literally looked up into the sky and said a prayer that I would find someone,  "what more do you want me to do Father?"  Five minutes later he drove up from behind and started to talk English to me and asked how long we had been visiting this area and what not. Come to find out he went to the church in the states and he wants his family to know of God and learn these things! It was rough start because his wife is super young she just turned 18. So for her to change everything and what not has been a struggle but incredible the difference in their home and their family is amazing! He is seriously one of the reasons I feel I came on the mission! They have helped me so much and I leanred so much from this family! I just am praying I can see it through this Saturday!

I have pictures of two other Families I have been visiting since I got here who are Menos activos, who I have help reactivate, and they also have made my mission complete! We have had some amazing spiritaul teaching moments that touched my heart and theirs! They have completly came back to church. One changed his job plans and everything to be able to go to church! The one with three boys hadn't been to church in three years and now the oldest is preparing to serve a mission! 

I love this area and it will kill me to have to leave if I do! I know with the change I will only grow and help other people, its just hard when I have had the success and met the people I have here!!! 

It sounds like everyone is doing great though and really loving the summer time and enjoying a break from school and from work a little more often!! Which I am so glad to hear! Colt and Heidi ~  I would like to wish you both a HAPPY BIRTHDAY this wednesday! I hope it is a great day for you both and you guys receive a giant cake!!!!! 

I also decided I couldn`t go three years without Stergirl!!! So I bought a little Colorado and I put it on every day, and know that Ster is here with me as well! I am sorry it's a little long this week, I will let you guys go for the week, have a great week everyone! 

I love you all so much, especially my mother who I love to the moon and back and then some!!!!! Con mucho amor

Elder Leatherow

Elder Leatherow tried to upload "fotos" this week but the computer would not cooperate so hopefully we get "foto" overload next week.  Wes' email came thru while G and I were waiting for Stephanie's funeral to begin so it was perfect timing ~ G got to tease him and get teased it was nice to see G smile.  What kind of teasing you ask?  Just the normal ~ you're gay, no you're gay ~ I am the big brother so I am cooler, no I am the little brother so I am cooler….you get the idea.  LOVE my boys to the moon and back and then some more.
And just in case anyone is keeping track ~ today marks 11 months

Happy Fathers Day

Dear Family,

First things first, I need to wish the best dad in the whole wide world a HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! Thaks dad for being the best day and the best role model for me, you are awesome and I couldn´t of asked for a better father!!! I hope Sunday treated ya good and you had a great day!!! Also happy fathers day to all other fathers that are my uncles, or grandpa or cousins. 

Second the weather here...well its weather in El Salvi you never know when its going to rain you just know its going to rain at some point in the day! Some days we get lucky and its the end of the day other days not so lucky and it turns into perfect duck hunting weather! 

G-Ray what the freak bro?!?! Football already?!?! Dang where is the time going!! I can´t wait to hear the stories bro and hear about all the Sacks you are about to have this year!! Tear it up bro!!!!!!

This week was good for us here is Usulutan! We got a part of our area taken from us because its far away and they want us to focus closer, so that made it tough because we lost a family, that were literally more ready and prepared by the Lord than any other family or person I have found here. They even came to church this week and they are over half an hour in bus and then 15 minutes or more walking! They even asked when I would come back to teach them more! So it was so hard to say we can´t, we are trying to get members to go teach them for us and what not and then check on their progress every week at Church and what not so we will see what happens.

I went and taught a family that seriously is in the middle of no where  - I have to cross to large fields that open fields where cattle are, and go under barpwire fences to get to them, and the funniest thing happened. This kid who is the son come and sat and listend to us while we were teaching the dad, he asked the dad for a quarter probably to go buy a treat or something and the dad said no. So after a couple minutes of thinking the dad would change is mind, and he didin´t he went into the house and came out with a sling shot in his hand and left into the field and trees and then came back about 20 minutes later. Right as we were leaving I turned to see him walk up and he had killed an Iguana and came back to eat it! I watched him skin it and then cut it up! It was so freakking awesome!!!!!!! He then asked if I wanted some! It was so funny! The igauna wasn´t huge it was only about a foot and half long but the tail it like 8 inches of it. I didn´t eat it cause we didn´t have time to wait for it to cook but I told him next time I come I will bring my camara and I want him to go kill another one and I want a picture with him and the Iguana! It was so cool!! It's probably my biggest temptation is not to go hunting for iguana with the kids here!!! The things in El Salvi folks!!! You have got to love it!! 

Well that is about all the stories I have for ya this week, I love you mom to the moon and back and then some! 

I love you all so much and thank you for your support and love while I am out here serving the Lord! 

Take care and I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the cool weather!!!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Leatherow

No pictures again this week….don't know what I am going to do with this kid.  We did get to chat with him for a bit…

DAD: Hey bud,I forgot to ask ya, but with you coming up on hump day, is there anything you are needing? Wanting? Shirts, slacks, socks, Shoes.....anything.

Also, Do you know your release date next year? I am wanting to plan something for when you get back and before Colton leaves, but need to know the window that I have .
Thanks Bud. Love Ya

Wes: Ya but its not for sure or anything its just a idea of when you will leave. Mine is 14 of July but who really knows, its still so far out I don´t think about it. 
DAD: It is a long ways out. But I am excited to see you
WES: I am way excited to see you guys too, probably will wonder who I am with how fat and the beard I will be able to grow!
DAD: I am tryin to put together an ATV ride in a couple of weeks with moms family. I hope that we can make it work
WES: where to?!?! That should be fun well dad I have to go I love ya and take care this week, go to the doctor and check yourself out!!

WES: Hey mom! How is the head feeling today?? Better I hope!
MOM: All better ~ I believe as silly and stupid as this may sound but I believe I had a piece of popcorn stuck in my tooth and it was giving me a toothache/headache but once I was able to get it out I felt so much better!

Thanks for checking on me ~ you are so thoughtful. 

 WES:Good I am so glad to hear that you are doing better it brings me a lot more relief thats for sure!!! (:   How was your week mother???

MOM:It was fantastic!  No complaints ~ the weather has been fantastic.  Cool, sunny and just perfect.  In fact a bit on the cooler side.   How about you!

WES:Good I am so glad to hear that! Pretty good, I would have to say I only got completely soaked one time this week the other times were just a little bit so I would say good! (:

MOM:  Rain and possible snow in the higher elevation; yep.  It is really been a crazy weather pattern.  We have only used our A/C three times….

WES:What the Heck?!?! Send me the AC then(; I sure could use it!!!!! Even with all the rain its still so hot!

MOM:I bet you could. We think about you ALL the time when we start to complain about the heat we catch ourselves and think about  you and all the other missionaries serving around the world.  Even Josh in Texas is SWEATING

 WES:ya its horrible but its all good!! I did get a way bad heat rash this past week though so that was so gross!!! 

MOM: Heat Rash!  YUCK.  Would you like me to send you some powder in your package?  I will be sending you your “hump” day package in the next week….

To My Family

Dear Family,

How is summer going for all of you? I hope you all are enjoying the summer and the heat and living it up! So what are your guys summer plans? You guys going some where? 

I am so ready for this world cup thing! Solo I can`t watch it I can only hear the scores through people...so that really sucks so please live that up for me as I will have to wait another four years to watch it! I would have to say though its going to be between Germany, Argentina, or Brasil to win it, if I had to put a team! 

Colt man how was your DC trip? What did you learn and see? That is freaking sweet and I am so glad that you went and you will never regret it I promise you that!!! I would love to go there some day if its in my cards to go. 

The sports thing sounds pretty sweet mom, and you two will do great things and you will have some awesome success just stick with it and be patient sometimes the best things take time and ¨tweeking¨ and you will get a great number to come out! I am praying for ya mom and Ali! 

See please let Andy A. and Cristian G. know that I will be home to help them, with questions they might have, I am not perfect though nor do I know a whole lot but with the Lord they too will find the truth! I am so stoked Ster is out here with us and Serving the Lord and he and his family will be so blessed for this desicion he has made!!

As for me here in the jungle, it has been so frustrating and the Satan is sure trying so hard to make sure my investigatores don`t get baptized next week. This whole week we couldn`t find them and I went and searched their house three or four times this week, so it's so hard because they need this and this family is so great and has helped me more than ever!!!!! So we will do what we can this week, I also found a family so ready it was insane! They are reading the Book of Mormon and are half way through primero nefi, and they have so many questions and that just scream, "I am ready help me find it!" So we will continue with them, I feel they are super positive and one to watch out for and could make great leaders for this rama here!!

Well family, sorry its short it's the life of missionary and sometimes it's not what we all expect and it has its up and downs just like anything but one thing is for sure, I will never look back over my shoulder and think different and want to do something else! This mission has forever changed my life and will continue to influence my life for years to come! 

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

Have a great week, continue to pray and look for those that need some thing whether it be a smile, a Book of Mormon, for you to share your testimony, a shoulder to lean on, a hug, etc. There is so many ways to share and help people! Please pray for these opportunties, and I promise you that as you do so, the Lord will bless you and the spirit will fill your life more than ever! 

Have a great week!!!

con mucho amor,

Elder Leatherow

I have LOTS of questions

So family...

How did the roof turnout? Were you guys able to get it all done and what not? 

How is Dale doing? Is he out of the hospital? 

How was the senior trip for Logan? Congrats to Logan and Mariah on their graduation and double congrats to Mariah for graduating Seminary also! That will help her so much in the long run I promise that! 

The big question is and I can`t believe you guys didn`t even forward me emails of these or what is THE DRAW RESULTS??? What the freak?!?! It is killing me people!!!!!!! Who drew what??? Where is everyone going and when and with who? How are the herds looking this year? Have you been out to practice shooting?!?! Please give me the details!! I need to know that something is getting killed even though I am gone for only one more hunting season!! (; 

Also congrats to Ali Lundell on the baby girl that is super exciting for them! 

Please also let Sherrie Abbott know that I said hello back and hope Slade is kicking some butt in coach pitch this year!!!!!

Okay enough with the questions, sorry I just need some answers people (: 

This week for me was super rough week, we found some great families to teach but getting to teach them was the hard part. Because of what is going on here with all the gang violence and what not. You need not worry mother I am in the hands of Lord and you know me I can talk to people(; It was just normal week here in El Salvi pretty much! I am learning a whole ton as I am helping my companion get use to the mission life! 

One thing I have to say is thank you so much to Debbie Winterbottom for the Ensign! You have no idea how much of a blessing that was! I am reading it right now and seriously I can`t put it down -the talks are incredible! I am loving them and learning so much! So thank you so much Debbie!!!! 

Well family and friends, I love you all so much and I do apologize its not the most exciting report you have read. 

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

I hope you all have a great week and are enjoying your first few days of summer vacation!!!!

Con mucho Amor,

Elder Leatherow

DAD: Hey bud,
Chad and Steve were the only lucky ones I know of. With their deseret deer tags. Colton and Garett drew muzzleload deer for Mantua. But they have a new hunt for cow elk up there so I may put them in for that. I haven't talked with Blair yet on whether he drew anything. Dale didn't put his kids in for buck, but says he is going to for antlerless. I did not draw antelope. That's about it so far. I thinks herds will be good. A lot of snow up high but mostly rain down low so they should be good. Sorry I thought I had told you

WES: okay sounds good, only you had said about Steve and Chad and the Desert hunts so I was just checking about everyone else. Thank you so much! My dreams have been pretty crazy with not knowing and thinking we will be going together this year to hunt but only one more year, and then we are going to kill some monsters together, so I hope you are ready dad!!!!