Chicago Letter #1

Leshelle with first missionary companion Hermana Maughan along with Chicago Mission president & his wife, President & Sister Doll.


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The Dolls are great. They don't settle - they have high standards and expect a lot, but they are relaxed. Sweet people.

Guess how I acquired a large tear in my skirt on the first day in the field??? Well, it just so happens that I am in the area of the only sisters on bikes full time!!! My legs are going to be amazing! We ride rain, snow, sun, sweat, whatever. Already I've experienced all but snow. Oh, let's not forget wind. I have nearly been knocked over by the wind twice already. It's powerful - the windy city. We're in the heart of downtown Chicago. I fell asleep to sirens and the train. Not to worry - I had no trouble getting to sleep. Our area is really segregated by race and socioeconomics. Chicago is fascinating. This gal is accustomed to bike riding in the open spaces and mountains. It's busy here: cars + pedestrians + wind + weather + not a city girl = lots of fun experiences. I'm getting better every time. The soreness has not given up yet. I'll conquer that someday. Also: wind + skirt = I love bike shorts and leggings (thank goodness for the dress code change that allows them).

Oh, here is another math problem to work out: Bike all day + missionary = HUNGRY all day! It's so funny. I like food a lot, anyway. But, man! I am hungry! If anyone gets bored and wants to send some healthy snacks, I would not send them back...

Okay, I have another bike math problem: Humidity + my hair + helmet = (this one is for someone to win a prize for the best answer). Let me know what you think.

My companion is fun. She's from Arizona, laid back, and her first name is Timothie. No joke. She is really easy to talk to. She says she struggles with Spanish, but I think she's pretty good. We speak more English than I'd like, but I'm working on that.

We visited Irma last night, and her two cute girls. One is four months and one is two. Irma is 19. She lives with her parents. Between Irma and her mom, they take care of her sister's three kids because her sister split. Irma was involved in gangs and lived a rough life. Serious trouble. The Gospel changed her life completely. She was baptized the day before I arrived. It was neat to meet her. Her older daughter, Maria Victoria LOVED me. I guess I have a funny face because she kept laughing at it. I was told by Hermana Maughan that Victoria has never really liked anyone. Maria stayed with me during our entire visit.

I can hardly believe I am actually here. It's so unreal. Hermana Maughan has only been in this area for 6 weeks. She never navigated around the city - her previous companion did that! So, we've had some adventures biking through Chicago.

We are guessing that I'll be in this area for 12 weeks because my incoming group of missionaries is a pilot for a new training program. Likely, I could be a trainer after only 12 weeks! The new program is really different. If it takes off, they want to implement it throughout the entire mission, which would use some of us as trainers potentially. That's a bit terrifying, given I currently know so little.

The weather is crazy here. I get hot riding a bike, while my hands and legs are cold. It's humid and almost warm at times, then it will get really cold - rainy in either the warm or cold weather. President Doll said it rains at least once a week year round. So much for ever doing my hair. More time to study and learn, I say.

Photos: Arriving in Chicago

Hermana Hoer & Hermana Delis: companions for the last time.
Hermanas Delis & Hoer: Chicago, here we are!
Touring Downtown Chicago before going to the Mission Home for assignments.

MTC Letter #8

Hermana Hoer with fellow missionaries at the Provo LDS Temple




Begin the countdown! I've got one week left!!! I cannot think of two months that flew by so fast as these.

I am not sure what to say (that's not a Leshelle quality...). I'll share the most valuable thing I learned this week.

Growing hurts. It is not easy. It is not always comfortable. However, without the work, we don't get anywhere. You don't make the team without the sweat, you don't make the grades without the time and effort. Life in general is no different than school or sports. Work is tough, but work gets us somewhere. I have experienced a lot of things that are not comfortable-they are totally out of my comfort zone. However, it is because of those things that I have experienced joy in ways that I have not before.

When I get in these situations, the uncomfortable and difficult, my natural reaction is to back away or be discouraged. So, here is my remedy for discouragement:

1. Pray!
2. Seek help (from heaven and earth)
3. Simply, go to work!

With those three steps, I can accomplish more than I'll ever accomplish on my own.

Heavenly Father wants to help me. He wants to help you. Let Him; just ask, then do.







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¡Hermana Hoer!
Reading your letters make me want to be a better person. Your words are really inspiring and they are coming from your heart-a place where you know things are real and true. I love your perspective and and how I am brought into feeling a piece of what you're feeling there in the MTC. You are amazing to us. We love you. Keep up the good work!
~Angelique & fam <3

MTC Letter #7

I had a really difficult week. Really difficult. I am not sure how to convey just how tough. However, in the very same week, I experienced the most incredible thing I have experienced since I've been here. It would battle to be one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. It is very special to me, and I am going to keep it for myself. However, I'd like to share this much:

"And whosoever receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. ~ D&C 84:88. This scripture shares much of what I experienced. Christ is literally involved in His work that I am taking part in. His angels truly are here. Angels come in various forms-often in ways and forms that we neither expect nor realize. His Spirit is in us as we do His work. It enables us to do things that are beyond explanation, to speak words that are not mine, to perform miracles without even recognizing they are miracles. I personally know all of that. I personally experienced all of that this week. In that experience, I felt joy that is not just in my mind or body, but in my spirit-in my entire being!

In a Devotional this past week, Robert C. Oaks shared this: "that is the power of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ: changing lives." That is exactly what it does. It changes anyone for the better. It changes the course of a life into a completely different direction. It redirects a life to a course which literally leads to the arms of Jesus Christ. And Christ is there every step of the way.

MTC Letter #6

I love General Conference! How incredible it is. I listened to a living, breathing prophet of God. That is such a blessing. People all over the world listened to his words; yet, each can receive individualized instruction, peace, and comfort through the Spirit. God loves His children. He knows His children. A prophet and General Conference are proof of that. Because I've known my whole life, I forget how incredibile it is that we have a prophet. It is amazing! How it changes my life all the time.

Our weekly Sunday devotional was unique from all of the rest. Our speaker was Vai Sikahema, the pro-football player. He is from Tonga, and played for the 1984 championship BYU team after he served a Church mission in South Dakota. He then played for the Cardinals, Packers, and Eagles. Since his football career, he works for NBC out of Philladelphia as a sports director and anchor.

He is such an example of living what he believes. His faith and religion are part of his career and forefront in his life. My favorite story was about baseball (of course!). He organized a "Mormon Day" at the Philly's when they played the Cubs (Chicago...YAY). He arranged for LDS missionaries to sing the national anthem. At this point, the players usually go into their clubhouse. One stayed, watched, walked out to the middle of the field, and shook the hand of each of the 60-ish missionaries. His name? Sammy Souza. Vai ran up afterwards and asked Sammy why he had done this while all of the other players had left. Get this: Sammy Souza's response was that as a kid in the Dominican, he played baseball with Mormon missionaries.

How incredible is that!?!?!? There are people running around today (okay, likely walking) who played baseball with Sammy Souza and they probably don't even know!!!

Vai also told of a program in Philadelphia for orphaned kids. Each Wednesday they highlight a new child in hopes to find them a good home. In a board meeting, his boss asked for suggestions regarding a logo. It's already called Wednesday's Child. Vai was considered a genius for his contribution that is so common to us in the Church: "Forever Family". Now, all over Philladelphia on television, billboards, etc. is displayed "Wednesday's Child looking for a Forever Family". How wonderful is that! Because it's true! It is possible. Our families can be together forever, through the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Vai brought with him a man that he had taught on his mission 28 years before. Together, they told the story. It was so neat to see the friendship they share, and to see the family who changed because of Vai's mission. Bob Dole was working in his dad's store when he saw the missionaries and commented that he'd never known two guys who both had the first name "Elder". Figuring the clerk was being a smart alek, Vai responded "if you had any sense, you'd know those are titles, and you'd have us over to tell you about them". Vai was shocked to hear the clerk say, "How 'bout Thursday?".

Bob shared his experience. He really had a desire to know if what these kids were telling him was true. If there really was a prophet of God on the earth, he needed to know. He prayed to know. He said he did not receive a huge manifestation but that he felt very strongly that he needed to try it out in order to find out. He did. He was baptized three months after he met Vai. Bob's wife wasn't too excited. Years later (10 actually) Vai found a picture of Bob and tracked him down. Bob's wife answered the phone and informed Vai that she had joined the Church about a year earlier, and only one month before the phone call, the Dole family had been sealed in the Temple as a family. Forever.

The entire Dole family was at our Sunday devotional at the MTC. It was wonderful to hear from them, and see how their lives changed because they joined the Church. It was incredible. I can't write it all. I wish I could. It's one of those things that words simply wouldn't cover adequately.

This week has been monumental for me in ways that are very personal- ways I won't share. I'll be satisfied to say this: God knows me. He knows what I need and what I desire. This week, through ways that cannot be mere coincidence, prayers of years past have been answered. I know, through the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ is my Savior. We have a prophet -Thomas S. Monson- on the earth; he leads this, God's Church.