You say goodbye, I say hello.

Dear family and friends,

Bus season is upon us!  Yesterday while serving at the Visitor’s Center, we had 6 tour buses stop and visit.  They were filled with travelers from Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Greece, Tonga and Africa.  Who would have guessed that little St. George would become a mecca for international travelers!  Everyone who came was so friendly and genuinely interested in the messages we had to share, and in most cases we had missionaries who could speak their language if needed.  Thankfully those from Botswana spoke English and we had just enough copies of the Book of Mormon in their native Tswana language!  Where else in this world could we be where we could “teach all nations” as it says in Mathew.  I know the Lord is “on our right side and our left” in this great work and He is directing these special people here to our beautiful temple.  I absolutely LOVE serving at the Visitor’s Center.  I LOVE being with the young sister missionaries and feeling of their sweet spirits and testimonies.  I LOVE sharing my own testimony of Christ.  It makes me happier than anything else I do.  

This has been a bitter sweet month of hellos and goodbyes………..

The Sweet…..  We were blessed to have close family and friends come visit.  Our two daughters, Rachael and Minta w/ granddaughter, Mia, and our son, Billy, as well as my dear father and sister, Andrea, spent four days with us.  It was so wonderful to share what our mission life is like with them.  It was a particularly meaningful trip for Minta as she served as a missionary here at the Visitor’s Center in St. George exactly 10 years ago.  Minta’s daughter, Mia, wasn’t feeling well for the first few days, but her bright eyes and gentle, happy spirit melted our hearts every moment we were with her.  We cherished our time with each of them!

Also, our closest friends of over 40 years, Jon and Becky Rands and their kids and grandkids came as well.  We had so much fun hiking Snow Canyon, showing them the historic sites we serve at and catching up on life.  Check out the picture of the Rand’s daughter doing a handstand at the top of the canyon.  I secretly sooo wish I could do this!! Our mission would not have been possible without the help of Jon and Becky as they have bravely and effectively taken the helm of Mamma’s Hands while we’ve been away.  Speaking of….we are so grateful to those of you who are planning to attend this year’s dinner/auction to support the House of Hope.  Thank you so very much!  We were also thrilled to have Jerry Carlson and two of his sons come visit.  Jerry is also a board member of Mamma's Hands and working hard in our absence and we are very grateful to him.

The Bitter…..  We said good bye to three missionary couples who we’ve served with these past 7+ months and have now completed their missions.  Each couple had hearts of gold and were dedicated and valiant missionaries.  Having experienced so many spiritual moments together, I understand more fully the phrase that reads: “and their hearts were knit together in unity”.  Though miles will separate us, we will always be connected in spirit and will be forever friends.

We also say goodbye to the historic Tabernacle as it closes soon for two years of renovation.  It has been a sacred place to serve.  It was at the Tabernacle that we as missionaries shared the story of the 309 families who were called by Brigham Young to come to St. George and grow cotton.  Leaving their comfortable homes in Salt Lake they came to a dry barren desert and endured years of hardship, sickness and hunger.  Most of those families remained steadfast and today this valley is thriving and beautiful and covered in steeples and towers as Brigham prophesied it would be.  My favorite spot inside the Tabernacle was standing at the pulpit where every prophet of the church except Joseph Smith has stood and spoken and then sharing the story of Lorenzo Snow and his talk on tithing. I am grateful for the many personal spiritual experiences I’ve had in that building as well as the inspiring lectures and performances by some of the very best.  It truly was sacred ground.

At the request of the director, Denny has written several more songs for the mission.  One song is about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young which is currently called “Carry On.” It is a powerful music video that will be played at the closing ceremony for the Tabernacle.  Here’s the link if you’d like to see it: https://youtu.be/_gAraAkX-nU

ART ENTHUSIASTS:  Right now in the Visitor’s Center we have an amazing exhibit of 18 art pieces by Julie Rogers a celebrated Utah artist.  Her impressionistic portrayal of pioneer life and our Savior’s love is so moving.  Each painting has a real life story behind it which makes the pieces so much more meaningful.  I have attached a picture of a favorite painting and story of mine about 2 young boys who traveled west as part of the Willie Handcart Company.  The plaque below the picture reads:

“Eleven year-old James Kirkwood had a great responsibility to look after his five year-old brother, Joseph.  When Joseph couldn’t take another step, James picked him up and carried him for 27 hours over Rocky Ridge.  James brought his little brother into the camp and set him down gently.  He then collapsed and died from exposure and exhaustion.  With determination, James had faithfully carried out his task and saved his brother.” 

This is just one of dozens of paintings Julie Rogers has painted depicting the struggle and sacrifice of the Mormon pioneers.  It is a story that needs to be told and I’m so glad someone is doing it in such a creative and beautiful way.

I continue to feel like Denny and I are in the best place we could be right now, doing exactly what the Lord wants us to do.  While we are away from family and friends we are touching lives every day in a way I never thought possible.  There is nothing greater than being able to testify of Christ.  It doesn’t matter if the person you are talking to is touched and in tears or is ignoring you, it feels good every time!  I know too that Denny and I are simply instruments in the Lord’s hands, we are weak on our own but w/ Him we truly can do all things.  

I love you and wish the Lord’s greatest blessings on you all,

Denny and Leslie