A Long Wait

What a week! Or two! Or ... a few more than that. Sorry about the wait, but it's been a good few weeks. I've said goodbye to Elder Jarman, and I'm now serving in Sloan's Lake. It's an interesting area; the missionaries that were here last transfer were taken out because the members were encouraging them to disobey some mission rules, so we get to go in and reopen the area. It's been good so far; this area has a ton of potential, but I'm still on bike. Seems I'm destined to stay that way my entire mission. Lastly, as I read through the beginning of Helaman, I read how after the wars with the Lamanites there was some contention among the Nephites, but by preaching the gospel they converted thousands which ended the conflicts. This was only possible because the Nephites were "continuously rejoicing" because of the gospel. I have found joy in keeping the commandments. I have found joy in coming to understand the character and love of my Savior. I encourage you to do whatever you need to in order to have that for yourself. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

All my love, 

Elder Leary 

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Nate hasn't been great about keeping us up to date with emails or phone calls. He is serving in a mission where his Leary grandparents have a cousin serving there as a senior couple. They will take photos and post to their blog. I am grateful for them and for any bit of information I can get about Nate. The photo above is a photo I was able to grab from them. I think this was a training meeting for trainers. Maybe he is now a trainer?? Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow in an email or phone call.

Sweet 16! Finally!

This girl has waited forever for this birthday which fell on a Sunday making it a little tricky to try to make it a great day. Last year her 15th birthday came a week after quarantine COVID hit and I'm sure she never dreamed this birthday she would still be dealing with the ramifications.

She invited a few friends over the night before for a little hot dog roast and cake.

Sunday she got her favorite meal . . . steak, and we had our first family siesta in over a year which included Grandma and Grandpa and aunts and uncles and cousins.

That is her trademark saying although she didn't find the shirt very amusing.

I think it wasn't the birthday she quite imagined, but a month later things have really started looking up for her with a lot of firsts: first date and first ACT test under her belt, braces off

new job at FiiZ

and finally getting to drive in that driver's ed car and pass her test for her driver's license. She looks pretty happy, doesn't she. That smile looks good on her.

A Few Weeks

Hey! 

It's been a few weeks, which I'm sorry about, but they've been good weeks. Transfers came and went, and I am still in Aurora, but I'm now with Elder Jarman, who's an absolute stud. His words, not mine. He really is a cool guy, he's from Washington, and he was just serving in our Mission President's ward, so I think so far it's been a little less stressful for him here. 

We had interviews, which was awesome. I have so much respect for President Blake, and just being able to sit there and talk with him one on one is cool. It's not every day that you have the chance to talk to the CEO of Frito-Lay, so I enjoyed that. 

A little update on those we're teaching: Caroline was not baptized yesterday like she should've been, she's in quarantine after being exposed to Covid. The Oroy twins are no longer scheduled to be baptized on the 8th, their dad asked them to stop meeting with us even though he was ok with it earlier. That one was hard. Donna is still on date to be baptized in the 8th, but a family emergency prevented her from coming to church yesterday. Felix is scheduled for the 15th, and he came to a baptismal service on Saturday, but he didn't show up to church and we couldn't get ahold of him. Kyle accepted a date yesterday to be baptized on May 22, but he's still a little unsure if he's ready. It's been going pretty well, and May is looking like it'll be a crazy month. 

The last thing is I had Korean food! A Korean member made us dinner one night, and it was the same food that we have for Christmas dinner every year! Maybe not exactly the same, it seemed a touch more authentic, but it was really good. 

Love you all,
Elder Leary

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He's back . . . sorta. I get the feeling he won't eat much and those clothes might stay the same for awhile.