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.

Spring Break

You know you planned a good one when your 16 year old says that it far exceeded her expectations.

Our trip began with a stop to visit Grandma and Grandpa Ellis. Grandma and Erik kept having the same conversation about Erik's mission and where he served. She was ecstatic each time she learned they had served in the same area. It was so good to see them again.

Then we went to Grandma's in Ferron.

And took a few side trips.

Tyler had not been with us when we did Little Wild Horse slot canyon a few years back. So we did that and instead of turning around, we hiked the entire 8 mile loop.

And on our way home, we stopped by the Wedge otherwise known as the Little Grand Canyon. 

Ash: "I can't believe this is right by Grandma's house!"

Erik: "This is the coolest place."

Ash: "I can't believe we have never been out here in all the years we've come to Grandma's."

All these places were places I would go for school field trips . . . Arches, Goblin Valley, the Wedge. So glad my kids can experience them also.

Also, we go to Grandma's for the dog. This boy loves that dog.

Nate's Latest

3/29/2021
Conference is Coming!

Good morning everyone!

This week we had a mission tour with Elder Valenzuela, the second counselor in our area presidency! We had three devotionals with him, and he joined different companionships for study sessions, teaching appointments, and some district councils. It was so cool, and we learned so much about our purpose and how to find people that are ready more effectively. He also shared some cool stories from his mission, as well as about some of the apostles he's interacted with.

I want to share a talk with you all that my mom shared with me. It is called Unleashing the Dormant Spirit. He gives us many thoughts at the end that we can use to access the Spirit better, and I want to share two.

• Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

• Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church

I know that gratitude, combined with an eternal perspective, will change every hard situation into feelings of peace. We cannot sink lower than where Christ has gone for us. I challenge each of you to prepare for General Conference this week like you never have before. Prepare your hearts and minds to Hear Him, and you will find all you need to continue pressing forward. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

All my love, 

Elder Leary 

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4/5/2021
Easter

The highlight of this week was definitely conference. I loved Elder Corbitt's talk in the priesthood session as well as Elder Bednar's about abiding by good principles. My favorite part is that they announced 20 new temples! 

If you aren't prepared and excited for temples to be reopened to full capacity then I'd encourage you to do what you need to to be ready. There's a great BYU speech called “As Long as the World Shall Stand” by Elder Bednar about the early saints and their opportunity to receive temple ordinances before their westward trek. Listen to it if you get the chance. I know that the Lord's work is moving forward on both sides of the veil, and I'm so grateful for that. I testify that missionary and temple work both bring great joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

All my love, 

Elder Leary 

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Nate's not so good about sending photos. Maybe he doesn't take them, but I did get this one forwarded to me in an email this last week from a very distance family member who is also serving in the Denver area and working with the missionaries in come capacity.

This is Nate with his companion Elder Rosenlund.

Peace and Hope

Last Sunday President Nelson posted a short 5-minute Easter video. In this video he shared a dramatic and unexpected experience he had while traveling on an airplane to the inauguration of a university president where he was to give the opening prayer. Partway through that flight, an engine exploded causing the plane to catch fire. He felt certain he was going to die. But amazingly he felt at peace and was calm. He knew he had been sealed to his wife and children. He knew that in the event of death, he would see them all again. However, the spiral put out the fire and the pilot was able to land the plane, getting President Nelson to his destination not only alive but on time.

Another dramatic, unexpected, and similar experience occurred just a few days after the posting of that video. The Utah Jazz players were on their way to Memphis, and shortly after takeoff, their plane hit a flock of birds causing one engine to lose power. The players heard an explosion as the plane tilted to one side. They say it felt as if the plane was falling apart. Some saw a fire in the engine. No one knew what was going on for 5 to 10 minutes. Many players believed this might be the end for them as they quickly sent last minute texts to family and posted praying hands on their Twitter accounts. 

All ended well. The plane landed safely back in Salt Lake and the team was soon on its way again to Memphis minus a player who was too rattled to get back on a plane.

In comparing these similar stories, President Nelson used the words peace and calm while several Utah Jazz players used the words afraid, scared, helpless. Those are not comforting words. We will all encounter dramatic and unexpected life experiences. Having a knowledge of God's plan and knowing our lives are right with Him will ensure that we will come away from those experiences feeling calm and peaceful and having confidence to get back on that "plane."

Quasi cabbage patch kid dolls and 3rd grade memories

1985 was the year of the Cabbage Patch Kid doll.

And every girl had to have one. And every girl brought them to school to put back by the coat rack. That was the doll of my dreams that year when I was nine and in Mrs. Jones's (Miss Leslie to start the year) 3rd grade class. 

My mom knew what was on my wish list that Christmas, but we also couldn't afford the price tag that came with it. Instead, my sister Angie and I got replicas. I took that doll to school with pride, and each night we both put them to sleep in their "beds."

This memory came back to me as I've watched several little girls across the hall at school bring their "babies" to school each day.

That 3rd grade year we could become part of the I.C.M.M.C. which stood for I Can Manage Myself Club. I don't recall exactly what we had to do to be a part of this club hosted by my teacher, but I did get a laminated card to prove I was a part of it. I carried that card for many years.

She also would post our classroom jobs by coming up with funny names. I remember coming into class one day to see Ocean Man next to a class job. I figured out that it must be me since my last name was quite similar -- Seamons.

This was the year I thought it would be funny to pull the chair out from underneath my classmate who sat next to me. As they went to sit, I pulled the chair, causing them to fall hard to the floor. I was reprimanded quite sternly for that.

Many of my friends came back from Christmas break with pierced ears. I would listen to them explain the process of a gun that would shoot a needle into your ear. I imagined someone standing 15 feet away and aiming this device at my head and hoping they were a good aim. To this day, I still haven't pierced them.

One day Mrs. Jones had her back to the chalkboard. The entire class began to snicker at the rip she had in the seam of her pants showing off her pink underwear. A safety-pin took care of that until she came back after lunch wearing a different pair of pants.

I happened upon an old Bible in our basement and took it to school. Whenever I finished an assignment and had some free time, I would pull that Bible out to peruse and read. I'm sure I was the only student to bring such reading material.