Christmas and DL

Hey Family,

So I am sure you are all on the edge of your seat just wondering what will happen to me with transfers..... (If that applies to you, you may want to get a more exciting life) 

Soooo….. I got the transfer call Sunday afternoon and I will be leaving Girrawheen. I will be opening an area that has never been opened before in North Perth. But that's not all I will also be the District Leader of the Dianella District. But that's not all I will also be training a fresh missionary off the plane as well. I am pretty nervous about all of this. I finally get a change and my whole world down here is turn up side down and changed but I know that as long as I rely on the Lord and get on my knees often I can make it through this and still hopefully train this missionary well. 

Elder Kay will be staying in Girrawheen and he will also be training. 

Well not much has happened since Saturday when I talked to you. 

By the way thank you for everyone that came up sorry about calling early my bad on that I miss judged the time. 

I really do not have much to talk about because I just talked to you but mostly because I am a really boring person. So I hope all the pictures I send home this week will make up for the short email. 

I love you all and please if you need anything that I can help you with please do not feel afraid to ask.

Love,

Elder Leatherow

 Teaching the Good Word to all

Emus!

Christmas Morning with the Vincent Family

Hi again!

Just an updated photo of your boy with us at his last day in Madeley Ward. 

He has moved to the chapel at the Stake Centre which is right next to the temple, so he will be able to see it so much more. We have really grown to love him & while we are happy he gets to enjoy more of Perth, we are sad to see him go. Our little girl, Zara has become quite attached to him, so I hope the new missionary enjoys kids!

His new ward is not very far from us & in the same stake but now he gets to see a little more of Perth & train other missionaries, which is fantastic!

Anyway enough rambling!

Sending love from afar

Jamie-Lee Vincent

I feel like Ammon now ~ where are some bad guys so I can cut off their arms?!

Saving the Wildlife

Hey Family,

Well this is weird to talk to you again so soon. I hope my email is not too short.Sa 

So lets start off with a funny story.... So while driving to the chapel the other morning to play basketball there was a duck crossing the road and I may have hit it. We turned around to go get it since the other Elders were convinced since I'm a hunter I  could make a mean meal out of one duck. I went to go grab it but it was still alive! I checked it over to make sure it did not have any broken bones from being hit by the car but it was all good. We put it in the car though and took it with us because we wanted to take it to a pond so it did not get hit again. The same day we had a Zone blitz in an area called Swan View about 30 minute drive away. We took the duck with us (it was inside a box by this time  don't worry we put holes in the box.) Once there we asked the elder's who are in Swan View to take us to a really cool pond to release it. Once we released it we figured out that although it had no broken bones it's wing feathers were just too messed up to fly so now this duck is grounded permanently but at least he gets to live the rest of his life at a really nice pond.

 The duck swimming in our wash tub

We had a great baptismal service for the other elders in my district investigator! We had a great turn out and through it some of his family is now willing to take the lessons! Yesterday we got spoiled the relief society president had us over for lunch then the Bishop had us over for dinner so I was so full by the end of the day! I also had exchanges this week. I was with Elder Lafo'ou. We had a cool experience too. While walking down the street a man pulled over and asked if we were Mormon we said yes and he asked us a couple questions about Joseph Smith. We answered his questions then we taught a quick over view of the restoration he was really interested and wants to learn more. We also went and saw a family that I taught at the beginning of my mission with Elder Ho. They were super excited to see us. This family has been seeing missionaries for years like I think at least 5 or more. We taught the restoration and the 12 year old boy just kept saying it is true. He really wants to be baptized but the ward and us feel he should wait until someone else is closer to being ready for baptism since he is only 12 so it is hard to rely on him to come to church consistently because he is still reliant on his family.and the family is from Africa and the parents don't speak English. We really hope his older sister who is in her 20's will make progress so that they both can get baptized together. 

Well that wraps up my short week. 

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

I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas!

Love,

Elder Leatherow

 Elder Maughn being himself

We received the following email from the Relief Society President

Hi Bro & Sis Leatherow

Just letting you know Elder Leatherow is currently serving in my Ward, Madeley Ward.   I am currently the Relief Society President and I just would like to share with you a small Video I took of Elder Leatherow along with the other missionaries in our Ward.  I have sent through a Friends Request on your Facebook so if you accept me I can forward this video to you via Facebook.

Elder Leatherow is doing really well and really growing.   In a very short time he has grown and he will continue to grow.   What an amazing excitement to see when he ends his mission.  Its possible he could get transferred on 31^st December and if so all good because he will grow even more.   He knows he is here for a purpose and that is to bring souls unto Christ.   You be proud of your son of what he is about to become.

Nice getting to know you.

Love Sis Tupaea

Annette Tupaea

5 Redgate Lane, St Andrews Estate

Sister Tupaea is having a hard time getting the video to us; we will post once we receive it.

Finally P-Day!

Hey Family,

Well this last week and a half has been good but I can honestly say adjusting to having a P-Day on Wednesday has been tough because it has shifted everything we do around for the week and plus the rest of this week looks to be full of meetings so it will be busy. That is okay because I love it when I have busy days! 

So I have some great news then some really sad news that goes with it so be ready for a rollercoaster. We received a referral from another set of Elders a few weeks ago. We have been trying really hard to contact him; we were finally able to and we were able to teach him the Restoration and invited him to be baptized.... He accepted and we set a date for the 23rd of January. We were really excited but about 20 minutes after we left we received a text message from him informing us that his parents would not allow him to meet with us anymore and that he was not going to be able to be baptized. This was hard to hear and wrap my head around because he is 18 years old and should be able to make his own decisions but becasue of his culture (African) he still really does not have a say on that type of thing until he has moved out. It was a pretty hard blow to take. But we got through it and pushed on. 

On Monday we had a family home evening to go to with the the YSA of the ward. It was really fun and we were able to have a great lesson with them and the other Elders (Mirrabooka Elders)  investigator was even there so it was a great opportunity. Did I mention that this fellow is getting baptized this Saturday!  

Other than that my week was pretty normal knocking doors and contacting and teaching lessons. 

I hope you all have a great week and that you all are safe on those snow covered roads. ( By the way I am really jealous of the snow that you guys got I miss it) 

Love you all!

Love,

Elder Leatherow

This is Tony, his mom is a member and we are currently teaching his dad

Just me and Carlos

and you may caption this one.  

Some Creative Heading

Hey Family,

Well this week went by way too quickly and the days seem to merge together. 

So last Monday for our Zone P-Day we went to Kings Park and did the Amazing Race on our bikes. It was super fun and Elder Kay and I think we may steal the idea kind of for our District P-Day coming up. 

You know it's a mission car when you have this many bikes on the back

After P-DAy one of my favorite ward members had us over for dinner. He was in town between flights because he is a pilot and he decided to have us over. 

I had exchanges with the Zone Leaders this week as well. I went with Elder Tapumania to his area (Lockridge). We had a blast we did service most of the day but it was great. I was able to meet some great people and help some people out that truly needed help. 

We had interviews with the President this week as well. That takes up a huge chunk of our day because he never is running on time with interviews so you plan to be there for about an hour and a half and you end up being there for like four to five hours but it is great to be able to talk to President Fife. 

On Saturday we experienced a miracle,  we decided to go see this referral we got like three weeks ago...... to our surprise he was home and we were able to teach him a lesson and he wants to learn more and invited us back this week. Our drought seems like it may have ended  ~ we were able to find three new investigators this week so that was super cool. 

We also had our ward christmas party. The theme was "A Night in Bethlehem". It turned out great. We turned the gym into a Isreal open market and had traditional Isreal food (by the way it was delicious maybe if your lucky I'll make some for you because knowing me I got the recipes). 

Yesterday was great. Church was good and after church we were invited over for a massive feed! I love going to poly feeds.... I come out 10 kg heavier! 

Well thats my week 

I love you all and hope you have a great week

Love,

Elder Leatherow

Our Christmas Tree

Blessing in the form of a Watch

So quick story,

I broke my watch about two months ago while messing around with another elder on p-day. So I have been without one. A less active who we visit twice a week noticed it right away. He was always telling me to get a new one. well we went and saw him the other day and he brought out a G-shock. He told us he bought it for $15 at the flee market earlier that day. He turned to me and said I'll give it to you for $40 I said okay becasue it was the best deal I had seen in a while. We got home and were looking at the the adds later that night and the watch is worth $200. I talk to the less active and told him how much it was worth and how I did not feel right to only pay $40 for it. He said in reply to me its worth $15 becasue thats how much I paid for it so to me I got above market value and said he would not take it back. I was extremely blessed. Just though I would share that with you.

Received the following email and picture from a wonderful couple who take good care of our missionary.

To the Kay and Leatherow families,

Dear Gordon & Michelle,  Shar & Tom,

Greetings from the most remote capital city on earth ! Perth Western
Australia (see D&C 122:1) :)

 My wife Trish and I want you to know how impressed we are with your sons. I
believe we dropped the Leatherow's a note some time ago -  We had the
missionaries come by for about an hour last night, for an ice-cream
milkshake and biscuits (cookies)  FYI,  biscuits in Oz are called scones
:)

They are mature young men,  who brought a lovely spirit into our home.  A
real credit to their families.
They left a spiritual message, Trish and I were both prompted to choose a
street (we chose the same one without knowing each other's choice ) which
they will tact - we are confident they will meet someone to teach next week.


I had just returned from San Diego, where I spoke at a memorial service of a
dear friend killed in a helicopter accident (google Wayne Lewis, Palomar
helicopter crash) - and 3 weeks earlier I was in the US as I was invited to
assist hosting some Australian interfaith leaders at the World Congress of
Families in Salt Lake. So I am a bit jet lagged still.

All the very best for the Christmas season -  we are looking forward to a 90
degree day, blue skies and a delicious cold meats and salads for lunch,
plus Pavlova  (google :) )  Your sons will pop in during the morning for
pre-lunch nibbles.

Love from the Baker's  ,  PHIL & TRISH 

PS  I am President Fife's exec sec   - I served a mission in So Calif and
Arizona,  even drove through Snowflake once,  :)   have dear friends in Show
Low (the Owens who own the mortuary at Prescott etc) 

Want some Carrot Juice?

Hey Family,

So based on what I have heard from everyone you all had a great thanksgiving! I am so glad you all had a great one! 

For me Thanksgiving was just another day. 

The New Balajura District!

We had Zone conference from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm that day then after we had a ward missionary correlation meeting so I was unable to celebrate it soooooooo that means the first one I'm back for is going to be BIG,  like usual. Not to but any pressure on ya but there are like 1,000 elephants weighing on it. So not to much pressure…. 

Elder Kay and I were able to get our hands on a juicer this week and with the Asian market just around the corner we took advantage  of it. We bought a ton of fruits and veggies which were super cheap since we were at the Asian market (shop smarter not harder). Fresh Juice is the best in the morning can I just say that. 

My favorite juice is apple and carrot!

Elder Kay and I have also taken over one of the Sister's investigators because they need to learn English and two fresh as Filipino sisters trying to teach them is not at all effective. So now I not only teach the Gospel I teach English. It is a lot harder to teach English than the gospel so if you have any pointers I would love to hear them! The people are really nice they are from Vietnam. They have a couple kids so it is a really energetic environment we teach in but I love it. 

We also met a less active who is really cool. He lived in Utah for 16 years his family is really big back home I think I may of heard of them before the last name is Felt. He has a 1964 Cadillac from Boston which is super cool I will include pictures. 

He also has a 5 month old Doberman. Celeste I will get picture next time I am there of the Doberman because it is a super cool dog some would even say cute;) 

We had a ward talent night for the youth to raise money to be able to go on their annual fsy retreat it was super fun. I can also say really funny we could not stop laughing. There was a donation to get in and they sold food. It was a huge success! 

We have also found a couple part member families that we have begun to teach which is really cool. 

I love you guys and hope your week goes great!

Love,

Elder Leatherow 

And don't forget the ducks tis the season

Rain, Ducks, and Dinosaurs?

Hey Family,

Well the Lord does hear and answer prayers ~ we had a rain storm come through which cooled everything down for most of the week.  The heat has started to come back but it is getting closer to summer here so that is expected. 

We have had a pretty slow week on the finding front. We have found a couple of potientials and hope to be able to go back and teach them a lesson early this week. We visited a lot of less actives and members this week. It was really nice to be able to get to know the members a lot better. A lot of the older generation in the ward are converts themselves and have shared their amazing conversion staries with us. 

Last night Elder and Sister Comb, the senior couple missionaries serving in our area had us over for dinner. It was a great meal and was really nice to be able to get to know them. They are from Canada but Elder Comb is originally from Perth. 

After dinner we went to a really cool park to do some contacting. Sadly nobody was interested in our message we had to share but we had a great time. 

Just feeding the ducks

 Hello from your favorite Elder

 I did some duck hunting ~ I shot them with the camera!

 Taking a nap?

I just wanted to share my message….I'm Sorry!

 Ride'm Cowboy!

We dropped Elder Tafilipepe off Wednesday and picked up Elder Maughn. At transfers I was able to see a couple of people I came in with that I have not seen since so that was nice to be able to talk to them. Sorry my week was so boring I hope yours was not as boring as mine. 

I love you all and have a great week!

Love,

Elder Leatherow

This past week Elder Leatherow hit his 3 month mark!

Thank you Darbie for the wonderful countdown photos!  Keep them coming.

Transfer #2

Hey Family,

Well to sum up this week all I can say is "where did it go?" I don't feel like it should be Monday already but I'm happy it is. 

The baptism for Arol was changed about 3 or 4 times before we finally drew the line with  it and set it for 10:30 Saturday morning. It was a great baptism and the other ward that uses the building had a child of record baptism a half an hour before so they invited us to their lunch and we all had a great time. Arol was confirmed the next day in sacrament and given the Aaronic Priesthood in Priesthood meeting. 

Elder Kay and I were blessed to be in a three way companionship for a couple days. Elder Nuku's companion had an accident and had to have surgery and be on bed rest for a couple days so Elder Nuku came with us. Don't worry his companion has made a full recovery and they are both back to work in their area. 

Elder Nuku and Elder Lafo'ou got my camera.

We had district meeting Tuesday. Its was Sister Rechter's last one. By the way Sister Rechter is my missionary "mom" (that means she was the sister in the district who had been out the longest when I came in. For her last district meeting we had a huge feast after. We all made some dishes and brought them to share. We had a great time and I had a great feast. I better be carful though or else I'm going to start putting on some kilos. 

Last of all the transfer calls!!! ................ Elder Leatherow....... Will be staying in Girrawheen with Elder Kay for at least one more transfer. We only had two changes in our district one we expected due to Sister Rechter going home but Elder Tafilipepe leaving was totally unexpected. President Fife has said he wants to keep missionaries in an area for a long time so I don't expect to be transferred anytime soon. 

Well that wraps up my week. 

Hopefully I will have more time this week or at least feel like I have more time in the week.

Love,

Elder Leatherow 
A few photos of the week:
Its so hot and we can't afford real hats so we make our own.  For real it got up to 40 degrees C!  (104 degrees F)

The Balajura District!

A member gave us some prawns (giant Shrimp) to cook up!

MOM:  I would have loved to taste those!
C: For me to prepare them and tolerate the smell was a small feat!  But I conquered it
DAD:  How many did they give you?
C: A lot ~ about 2 kilos!

Elder Kay was a little sick and Brother Reeday was taking no chances! It was hilarious!

Finally had my first meat pie down here!

MOM:  How is the ketchup in the land down under:
C: was weird at first but I am used to it now.

Colton has found a new obsession/addiction ~ he LOVES clothes, dress clothes to be exact!  He is having a great time!