I keep getting an error message when I try to post the pictures Leah sent with this email...I'm probably just suffering from computer-stupid-itis.  Anyway, I'm sorry, but they aren't included with this post.  When I figure it out I will post them.  FYI, though, the picture she mentioned about the alligator?  Wasn't in her email!  So, at least that one wasn't my fault. :) -- Leah's Mom

2-23 

OK, I'm sorry you guys, but I don't have a ton of time to write back because I had to take time to write my mission president.  Therefore, I probably won't respond to everyone's emails in this email, but I will write my responses later today.  Is that OK with you guys?

 

OK first off, I'm in a tri-panionship!  I am getting trained with another girl I knew in the MTC by one of the best trainers EVER!!!  Not only that, but we're in one of the hardest areas of the mission.  It's actually an area where the mission president swore he would never send trainees again.  But now there are two of us!  Our area is basically the UCF campus (University of Central Florida).  We bike there every day and proselyte to all of the students!  It's super hard, but it's so much fun at the same time!  We're outside basically all day, every day because of the area that we're in so I'm going to have a SPLENDID tan after I'm done in this area.  It's funny because all of the missionaries know who is in the UCF campus area because they are the darkest missionaries of them all. 

 

I'm adding some pictures also in this email.  I hope you like the alligator one!  The one with me and another girl is a picture of me and my companion Sister Sheffielt at the MTC.  I'll also send one of my MTC district because they're all awesome, and a picture of my new companionship. 

 

Oh my gosh I am LOVING it here!  It can be really hard and stressful but the people here are wonderful.  The ward that I am serving in is a YSA (young single adult) ward and they are CRAZY but awesome at the same time.  I'm definitely not in Utah anymore!  The humidity might kill me off, but I also love the sun and the warmth at the moment.

 

I am so grateful for my companions!  Sister Conant is the sister training with me and she is such a wonderful, funny woman.  Sister Staley is our trainer and she is just so great!  She pushes me, but I don't feel overly stressed because that's just how she is.  She is funny and loves her life.  She's been out for a while now and only has three transfers left counting this one.  Also, she may end up leaving us after this transfer because there are so many sister missionaries that are coming out that there aren't enough trainers!  It is very likely that I will be a trainer immediately following my own training and I am so nervous about that!  If Sister Staley has to leave after this transfer, then Sister Conant and I will finish our training by training each other.  Also, my trainer is going to the temple on Tuesday so she's actually leaving Sister Conant and me to teach so many people by ourselves!  We have several appointments set up already and we also have on the spot contacting.  It's intense but I am so grateful for these experiences!

 

I'm sorry, I'm out of time, but I love you all and thank you for your letters and emails!  There are definitely appreciated!  Family, I'll send you hand-written responses today.  I love and miss all of you!

 

With love,

Sister Leah R. Ward

2-19-13

Oh my gosh I made it here!  My mission president and his wife are incredible and I have heard that they spoil the sisters rotten which is comforting to hear.  ;-)  I am so excited to be here!  I'm sending an attachment to go along with this as well.  This is my mission president and his wife the day we flew in.  Love and miss you all!

 

  1 Attached Images

2-15-13

Leah wrote a bunch of family stuff that you probably won't be interested in reading, but I thought I would include the end of her letter:

I just want to end this with my testimony.  Family, I am so grateful to be here.  As I've been in the MTC, I can clearly see why the Lord wanted me to serve a mission.  I know that this gospel is true.  The Spirit has testified this to me countless times in the past 2 weeks.  I could never deny that this gospel is true because of the experiences that I have had here!  Joseph Smith DID restore this gospel in this last dispensation.  He saw our Heavenly Father and His Son, my brother, Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon is ANOTHER doctrine of Jesus Christ and I know that it speaks the truth.  Lastly, I know that Heavenly Father loves me, and He loves ALL of His children.  The trials and tribulations we go through are because God wants us to learn and grow, but He will NEVER give us more than we can handle.  He knows us, and He knows our deepest desires and needs.  He truly loves us all.  I hope you all know this too.

I love you all and I miss you so much.  When you write me next, I would recommend you mail the letters to Florida since I'm leaving the MTC in 4 days!!!  I hope to hear from all of you soon!

Love,

Sister Leah R. Ward

2-8-13

So I have to share with you an amazing experience!  It was so great and I just continue to grow in my love for the Priesthood.

So this past week, I've been sick with a horrible cold.  I started feeling symptoms last Thursday and it's just been getting worse.  Anyway, on Wednesday night, I was so frustrated because I knew that I was unable to learn and focus to my full capacity.  Don't get me wrong, I was progressing, but I knew that if I was healthy I would be doing even better and progressing further.

Finally, on Wednesday night, I was just so frustrated, I hadn't had a full night's sleep in the last week, and I was STILL sick!  I finally broke down in tears and all the sisters in my room were super concerned (it was so embarrassing!).  Anyway, the zone coordinating sister is in my dorm room and she asked me if I would like for her to arrange for me to receive a blessing.  I ended up telling her that I would like two of the elders in my district to give me the blessing.  The next day, those elders approached me and gave me a blessing.  My favorite elder (Elder Carter) annointed me and his companion (Elder Mayberry, my other favorite elder) blessed me.  Both of these boys are 18, and it was just so cute.  They both took a minute to allow the Spirit to be with them and I loved how they weren't experienced.  But here's what was really amazing; they blessed me to get better and all, but my favorite part was this:  "Leah, turn to your scirptures.  for not only will you be strengthened mentally, but also physically."  How cool is that?!  It was just so powerful to me and I HAD to share it with you!

My companion is awesome, she's a great example to me and she pushes me when I don't feel like it anymore.  I think that we even each other out.  What I'm weak at, she's strong and helps teach me.  The same goes the other way as well.  Plus, we are now comfortable enough to tell each other what we think the other needs to improve on.

I love you and I miss you so much.  But I am so grateful to be here and experience this.

Love,

Leah

Well hello everyone!  How has everything been the last couple of days?  Did you get my letter?  Things have been going well here. All of the missionaries say that we just have to make it until Sunday and then it gets easier from there.  So far, things have gone pretty well.  The first couple of days have been filled with a lot of information that the new missionaries have to take in and I think that I've handled it pretty well.  My companion is good and so far we've gotten along quite well.  I feel like there's something missing in our companionship though and I am trying to figure out what that is in order to be the best companionship we can be.  I totally love my district though!  We hit it off really well and it's fun to be together.  The elders are hilarious and the sisters all get along well with each other and with the elders.  So far, we've all been getting along really well besides 2 elders who are companions but they've even done well with keeping their issues out of the way when they are with everyone else.  I think I caught the cold that the younger kids had though because I got sick the day after I came into the MTC.  Needless to say, I am exhausted because I have not had much sleep the past couple of nights because of it.  But hopefully I get better soon and can then fully concentrate on the work that I'm doing here in order to teach the best I can once I'm in Orlando.

 

I can definitely feel my testimony strengthening even though it's only been a few days since I've been here.  Constantly praying and keeping a prayer in my heart has helped me feel the Spirit constantly and I know that the Lord loves me more than I have ever known before.  I'm excited to see what happens next week and to continue to learn and grow in my testimony and knowledge of the gospel.  I'm excited to teach and help people come unto Christ.  It is truly a blessing to be here and I am so excited to see what comes next.  My companion and I taught our first lesson last night and I hope that we can quickly improve on our teaching skills and gain confidence in ourselves and our abilities to preach the gospel. 

 

I'm sorry that this isn't a very long email.  We're pretty limited on computer time and I had to take extra time to think because I'm SO tired.  But I love you all and I miss all of you!  Hugs and kisses to you all!  Thank you for your letters, prayers, and support.  Your love is definitely felt while I am here and I can feel your support constantly.  Love and miss you!

 

With love,

Sister Leah R. Ward