Christmas time is hard to be away

It was a bit tough to get Kodren's email today, it is obvious that he is struggling a wee bit and in a further message to me, he admitted that it is tough to be away from home at Christmastime. He is working hard to stay upbeat and I am so proud of him for his efforts. Here are his words:

"I just got things set up we are calling from our bishop’s home so that should be good, glad that’s figured out! I’m so excited to talk to you guys!!!!!

Umm, in other news we got a new investigator this past week, which was great after we got paused on one baptism, haha. She is hopefully going to get baptized in late January. Her son and his wife are members and she really likes the way they are living and how happy they are so she wants to learn more and that’s our job is to teach so I’m really excited to teach her.

Also I’m getting a new companion today. Eldrer Cousineau is now a zone leader and Elder Kligge is going to finish my training so that should be good. He is from Ohio, he seems pretty cool but I don’t know him very well. He just seems like a great missionary. I am going to miss Elder Cousineau. We just started to really get along and work good together and now I have to get to know someone else but it will be good.

I did get the packages. Every day on a mission something changes and you get out of your comfort zone more and more every day. It’s really hard but it’s good. I will always be tired no matter what it sounds like. The food and candy you sent was amazing. Two years is so long, how am I gonna do this? It’s been six weeks and some days it feels like its been forever. I’m trying my best but everything is different and scary as I look ahead. Two years is a long time. I just wish I could be with my family and loved ones to fight these battles cause some days it feels like I’m fighting alone but I know I’m really not. Thank you for your support and everything Mom. I will continue to try my hardest."

A SANDWICH?!

Here I sit on a Monday, waiting to hear from my missionary son and hoping to finally get a photo of him. Well, I get a picture alright and...and...and...we get a photo OF A SANDWICH. So, I will offer Kodren's words here and echo his reminder that he is not going to be changing any time soon...(Thank heaven for great ward members who text me photos now and again when my son has dinner over at their home).

Umm…this week has kinda sucked honestly. The work here is hard and we don’t get a lot of people to teach and Willy had to push her baptism back and we are not sure when she will get baptized now. That was really hard and so we are not sure what to teach her now but we will keep trying. We have another young man who is very interested in hearing our message so that will be good. His name is Chris, he is friends with all the young men in the ward and he knows all the young men from the ward that are on missions and that are leaving soon on missions so we are having the young teach him with us.

I’m serving in the Woodcrest ward. We don’t have any problems with the fires.

I sent out an actual letter and some pictures for you guys for Christmas. Sorry that it’s not very much but I hope it makes you happy. I miss you guys so much! I love you all!

I’m doing okay with all the news from home. Poor Bailey. I miss our little town. It’s just sad to see things like that happen in our small town again but we must have faith. Alma chapter 32 has helped me a lot. I will read Alma 13 if you will read Alma 32, deal?

We are working to have the Christmas spirit in our apartment, glad you like our tree, it’s not a real tree but it was free.

I am sorry that you got a picture of a sandwich instead of a picture of me but that sandwich was so good! It’s from Arby’s secret menu, an item called the meat mountain. It has all the meats on it. What can I say, I’m still me hahaha. I won’t change too much I will always be me.

I want to say thanks Mom and Dad. I was raised right that’s why I’m out here doing this, so thank you. Our family is funny and crazy and I miss all of you guys so much! I love you all!

Love the irony

Woot! I found Kodren's mission president's blog that he is keeping to document his experiences as a mission president and I found another picture of Kodren on one of his posts! The irony comes in when you realize that the photo is of Kodren with his new bike, the bike that he has not yet even sat on. The bike that sits forlornly in the corner as Kodren works to maneuver a Toyota Corolla (known in our family vernacular as a "pancake car") through the California streets. But, I am glad to have another photo regardless. For anyone who might be interested in sending a package to Kodren for Christmas, we are told that they must be there at he mission home by the 10th or they cannot guarantee that they will have them for Christmas. Here are Kodren's thoughts from this past week...

Hey mom! I’m just here livin’ the high life and trying to work as hard as I can. I miss everything and everyone so much its crazy but I’m doing pretty good things are moving along. It’s still hot but I got your packages and the short sleeve shirts are a lifesaver. I still hate driving and I still hate the Toyota Corolla. Yes, I got your long email. Dang, there’s a lot going on. I feel so bad for my little hometown! How much more can we handle? You can just send me food for Christmas, I’m always hungry hahahahaha.

I’m doing good, still tired as always. We only have one investigator and her name is Willy and she is a 74 year old Indian healer so that’s interesting. She still wants to get baptized on Christmas Eve. She says she likes us and she says that she enjoys when we teach her. She really likes to talk about horses, she has a retired race horse named Bob. She is reading the Book of Mormon slowly but surely. She is gaining a testimony very fast and it’s cool to watch how fast she has learned in this short amount of time. Sometimes she is not completely sure if wants the commitment of baptism yet but then she says she does. She has her doubts but hopefully we can help her.

Other than that, nothing new. I’m doing all right, elder Cousineau is a good trainer, he drives me crazy sometimes but we are making it work, I’m sure I drive him crazy sometimes too. The members are nice they feed us good, which is nice haha. We did have a big meeting in the mission and I got to see all my old friends from the MTC, which was really fun, and it was cool to hear some of their stories and things they are learning.

I love my family! I love you mom!!