A Christmas Phone Call

We waited all Christmas Day for Cody to call and finally at 12 we got the pre-phone call phone call to tell us that he would be officially calling us later to actually talk to him.  He called around 3:30 and we got to talk to him for about 30 minutes.  He and his companion were back at their apartment after a busy and very filling day.
Since Christmas Eve was on a Monday, it happened to be their P. day.  Cody said they played some basketball after going to the Family History library to do their emails since the public library was closed.  That night they had a dinner appointment at Sister Anderson's house.  She is an amazing cook he said and he thinks that she is a pastry chef or something. She made them an incredible meal of fancy things that we don't normally eat around here.  He said the main dish was a lamb and brussell sprout something and there was some sort of baked lemon pudding.  I hope to get more details in a letter.
This morning they had a breakfast appointment at 7:30 and were there until around 11:30 he said.  There was a huge breakfast feast with stuffed french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and grits.  I can't remember where he said they were for breakfast but they sure took care of them!  Each elder was given his own Christmas stocking filled with personal items:a tie, pens, paper, gift cards, etc and then each companionship was given a great big stocking but I can't remember what was in that.  THEN they each got 5 or 6 wrapped gifts too!  He said that he would send a picture!  After breakfast they had a lunch appointment where they had a huge Christmas dinner.  This is where he called us from the first time.  The sister whose house they were at called me first and wished me Merry Christmas and said that she was so thankful to us for allowing our son to come on a mission.  She said that he had been entertaining her family and joining them in quoting movies all afternoon.  Then he got on the phone and said that he would be calling us later from his apartment.
After that lunch appointment they had a dinner appointment and were treated to another Christmas dinner.  He said they were so very very full!  They headed to their apartment after that and then he was able to call.  He seemed so very happy and in good spirits.  He is loving his mission and has lots to say. He told me of a few things that he wants and needs but otherwise he is in great shape.  He did buy a bike the day after he got there and they use the bikes every other week when they have to trade off with other elders for the car.  They really don't have to bike that much though because the members carry them wherever they need to go.
Cody talked to his dad, his brothers, Grandma Dottie and of course his mama.  It was a great Christmas phone call and I am so very grateful that he is being taken care of so well.  I am sure that makes it so much easier on the transition from normal life to mission life.  He said that there is a sister there who will take their memory cards from their cameras and download them to her computer.  She then will make discs for the missionary, the family and a backup.  He said that she will do that every Wednesday when they have district meetings or something so hopefully we will have some pictures in a few weeks.  He did say that the humidity makes it so much colder but that it is not as suffocating as it was when he first got there.  We will look forward to his emails on Mondays and another phone call on Mother's Day.

December 24, 2012 Email

Hey Mom!

 

I have plenty of time on my preparation day to email if you'd like to just email instead of physical mail me now, so its up to you! First off, yes I did get all THREE packages. Wow. I did not expect so much and look forward to opening those packages tomorrow. Thank you so much! As far as calling home is concerned, we're planning on about 1pm here, so I think that is like 10am there? We can't skype because we're not allowed to use members' computers so maybe by Mother's Day or something it'll change! Also! Whenever anyone writes me make sure they send it to the mission home or mission office (whichever was in the packet) instead of to my current address. That's just something we've been asked to do. Also, also. Make sure you address things to me with my first and last name. There are THREE Elder Adams serving in North Carolina and they just forward to mail to wherever we're at and have to just try their best to guess which is which.

 

I'll certainly write Elder Bishop today. I love that Elder and he'll be a wonderful missionary so thank you for letting me know how he's doing.

 

I love it here. I'm really not homesick, though tomorrow (Christmas) I'll probably be feeling a little bit of it. I just know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to be with Elder Johnson. I'm supposed to be in Kinston. And I'm supposed to be here with these amazing people. Its such a blessing to just love every single one of these people we meet. And we've already had some miracles in my first week! But I'll just give you everything chronologically.

 

Monday, we had to get up at 3:30 am to get to the buses and up to Salt Lake City for our 7:30am flight. I called you that morning and then we flew into Georgia, had a layover for about an hour, and then finally got into Raleigh that afternoon. And WOW at the humidity. After having been in the dry winter of Utah, Raleigh was almost suffocating. The humidity felt so strange. President Bernhisel, his assistants, and his wife picked us up and we were off to the mission home. Sister Bernhisel is just about the sweetest woman in the world and she's quite funny as well. We got into the mission home and helped Sister Bernhisel make "spaghagna" (spaghetti-lasagna) which was basically baked spaghetti with a wonderful layer of cheese and sauce on top and good old banana pudding like Mawmaw makes it--but not quite as good. We ate and were each interviewed by President Bernhisel. Wow. What an amazing man. He's just so in tune with the Spirit and knows exactly what to say and what you need and it was just a wonderful interview. We had a little devotional that night and then the four sisters slept in beds upstairs and all 12 of us Elders broke out some (suprisingly) soft mattress pad things to sleep on in the basement.

 

Next day we got ready, had a wonderful breakfast, took a big group picture and were off to learn some more orientation stuff and to the transfer meeting! Tuesday was so overwhelming. Actually, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were SUPER overwhelming. I still hadn't gotten used to the humidity and there was so much new information and new places and it was just crazy. But Elder Johnson and I loaded up into Brother Hollowell (a ward missionary)'s car and were off to Kinston. Now, Brother Hollowell is probably the kindest old man ever. He's 75. Never been married. No kids. But apparently he's super rich. He will go with us to any appointment anytime we need. He'll drive us around anytime. And if we are ever with him around meal times and we don't have a dinner appointment he'll take us out to eat--refusing to listen to us tell him no. And he apparently eats out literally every single meal every single day. I've been told he's made a single egg in the past year and that's it. We had a lesson that night and we just got started with missionary work! I love it!

 

Wednesday the work just continued and its been wonderful. The members love us here and we always have dinner appointments if not lunch appointments.

 

We had so many experiences but last night, Sunday night, we were in an appointment with an investigator we had met before. His name was James Murphy and Leslie Jones. They had a friend over--Sister Moore. Now Sister Moore refused to hardly acknowledge us when we got there. She gave one-word answers and her body language was totally closed off to us. But as the lesson continued she started to brighten up. And she started to turn towards us. And then she started smiling at us when we looked over to her. We extended an invitation to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it to each of them individually. First Brother Murphy, who said yes, then Sister Jones, who said yes, and last Sister Moore and she gets this surprised but excited look on her face and she says yes. At the end of the lesson, I asked her to give the closing, kneeling, prayer. And she said yes. And she started to pray. And then she started to cry. And cry. and Cry and cry and cry. We were kneeling for so long she couldn't finish from crying. And she kept saying over and over "teach me, Lord, teach me." It was amazing. She felt the Spirit so strongly. It was an amazing experience. I look forward to teaching those people. As we were leaving Brother Murphy--who we asked to be baptized but he declined-- says to us, "I dont' want to lead you astray or tell you wrong about being baptized, but don't give up on me. Don't you give up on me." All three of these people are going to baptized. I know it.

I love these people so much. Its so amazing to be here. All these members love us and its just been wonderful. Its not easy. Each day there are moments of discouragement. But then I remind myself, "what an absolute honor and privilage it is to serve the Creator of Heavens and Earth." I feel like if God asked me to go dig a ditch, that'd be an honor. So to do God's work--to teach His children and to share His gospel, and to have His help and His guidance in it? Along with the power and authority He grants us to accomplish it?!?! Wow. This is the greatest honor we possibly could be given. I love my mission. This is where I'm suppose to be.

 

All the effort I went through to get here was so very worth it.

 

I love you all!

 

Write me! Put on my facebook my mission home/office address so people know where to write to and make sure they know that they need to address it to "Elder Cody Adams" so I can get it!

 

Merry Christmas! Talk to you around 1pm our time tomorrow!

 

Love you!

 

Love,

 

Elder Cody Adams

Cody's Companion

On Tuesday morning after Cody got to Raleigh they had a transfer meeting at the Stake center.  A lovely sister from there who I know only through a missionary mom's email group knew that Cody was going to be there that day and so she sought him out to get a photo of him to send to me.  I was thrilled to get it!  This is his companion/trainer, Elder Johnson.  Cody and Elder Johnson will be serving in the Kinston 2nd Ward, Kinston, North Carolina.  Kinston is about 1.5 hours from Raleigh. 

Hello From Provo

This is Cody's district at the MTC.  They were able to go to the temple Monday morning December 3.  Notice he is on crutches.  He sprained his ankle really bad the Thursday after he go there and was on crutches for a few days.  His companion is the tallest boy on the left.  His name is Elder Bishop and he is from Beaver.  The mom who sent me the picture said that her son is between the P and the V.  He is Elder Del Nero and he helped give Cody a blessing that night after he hurt his ankle.  

MTC Arrival

The last photo at Grandma's.

Driving into the MTC gates.

The Elder that helped him unload.

A big hug for dad.

One last look back!

On Wednesday morning we loaded up the car with Cody's luggage around 12:00 and then did the last of all the photos and hugs we could with Grandma, Granddaddy, Aunt Suzanna and her kids and Aunt Calley.  We sang Called to Serve on the way down to the MTC.  It was quite difficult to get through with out numerous tears!  On the way down we saw many families outside on the temple grounds taking their last photos.  One of those families was a friend of Cody's from high school, Ryan Garlic.  We didn't stop to say hi but it was fun to see someone we knew.  There are 3 other elders from our valley entering the MTC before Christmas.  One is going to Raleigh as well but Spanish speaking.  We dropped Cody off at the MTC at 12:30pm.  Grandma's house is about 5 minutes from the MTC.  We left her house at 12:21 and were back to her house by 12:36 after dropping him off.  It took us longer to drive to the MTC than it did to unload him and say goodbye.  After a final hug from mom, a final hug from dad and then a final final hug from mom he was off and so were we.  It was a good day with the sun shining brightly and not too cold.  We love out missionary!

Load 'Em Up

After our big family breakfast Wednesday morning we loaded Cody up and took him to the MTC.  We took many photos that morning.

Bon Voyage Breakfast

We had a big breakfast for Cody the morning he went into the MTC.  He wanted french toast, bacon, grits and bagels.  Dad went out early to Einstein for the bagels.  Aunt Suzanna, Ella and Owie, Uncle Chris and his family and Mawmaw of course came up for breakfast and to see Cody off.  After a few last minute computer things and double checking all the luggage we loaded up!

Setting Apart

Tuesday night, November 27, we had family dinner of pizza from Papa John's and then got ready for Cody's setting apart. I wasn't sure if we were all supposed to be in our dress clothes but with a few phone calls we found out that it was a good idea for everyone to be dressed up.  Aunt Suzanna's family, Uncle Chris came and Mawmaw.  Aunt Anne stayed home with the kids because they were all super sick.   The stake president of Cody's singles ward was the one that set him apart. It was a very spiritual experience-other than Kyle being especially noisy and the phone rining.  Atleast it was Brigham Young that called in the middle of the blessing-the University that is.  I also made two of Cody's favorite desserts:snow tunnel cake and jello cake.  Cody had lots of phone calls and visits from friends all that day and into the evening.

Family Night Visit to Temple Square

On Monday night, November 26, we went to Temple Square to see the lights.  Our first stop was City Creek mall.  Calley and Cody had been there before so they knew their way around.  We went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner and then walked across the street to see all the lights on Temple Square.  We listened to the Nativity and went inside to see the Christus.  We wondered around the grounds for a while and saw all the beautiful lights and then went over to the Conference Center for a super speedy tour.  Connor and Kyle were getting tired and wanting to go home.  It was not a very cold night thank goodness but a nice last FHE before Cody left.  Calley took alot more pictures but I haven't actually gotten them yet!

Family Photo Fun

 On Sunday November 25 Cody spoke in his singles ward.  We all went as well as Mawmaw and Grandma Penny.  Cody gave and outstanding talk, similar to the one he gave in Logandale the week before.  There were two other sister missionaries that spoke.  Afterward we had a family photo shoot in the grandma's backyard.  The top two pictures are what we used on our family Christmas cards this year.

I Love To See the Temple

Cody went through the Mount Timpanogos temple on Saturday October 27. We had a big crowd of mostly family to support him.  Afterward we went to Brick Oven for lunch.  It was a lovely day.

Called to Serve.....

After many months of work and worry, Cody received his mission call on Thursday, September 27.  He was still up in Provo after having returned from Logandale to celebrate Kyle's first birthday.  Mom got the call from the post office around 8:30 that morning and she contained herself until around 12 when she finally went down and picked it up.  Dad had just left the day before for Dallas and of course Cody was 300 miles away so we had to wait and assemble everyone so he could open it.  It ended up working out just fine because dad was able to get him a flight home around the same time he was coming in so dad just brought him home.  We waited until around 5:30 so others could come join us and so that the family in Utah could all assemble as well so they could skype with us.  After a prayer and a rousing chorus of Called to Serve, Cody opened his call.  He is called to serve in the Raleigh North Carolina Mission, English speaking, for 2 years, reporting to the MTC on November 28.  It was a special night even though the family up north ended up missing the opening because our Skype cutout.  The Prays, Ms. Dally, The Zundels and Grandma and Grandpa came over to share the special night with us.  Mom made a texas sheet cake to celebrate!