Week 8 in Big Spring.......

Hey Mom! Whats up?

 So I had a pretty good week I guess (: Elder Cutler and I are working a lot harder on our comp unity, I think we are really starting to get a flow, so thats good. This week was stake conference, so we got to drive to Midland and hear from our Mission President and the Stake President and some other speakers, there were a lot of people there!! I was surprised. The people of West Texas... if I had to describe them in a sentence, I would say that they have solid back bone. They really work hard for what they have, and they stick to their beliefs, which is something I really admire about them. As far as investigators go, I am pretty excited! We kept meeting with Mike, and we finally met his girlfriend Brittany. It was pretty scary to teach that chastity lesson....haha but they have both been doing so great. They have kept all our commitments, and I feel they truly are ready....when we first met Mike he talked all about change. He had been in jail and done some things that he really wanted to get away from. The way out of guilt and strife is always the gospel, and he has truly latched onto it. Soooooo this weekend they are both being baptized, and before the baptism they are getting married!!! Haha so I am a wedding planner now! To get baptized you must be living the law of chastity, and they decided that they were both ready for marriage, but more importantly, ready for the Lord. Haha I am pretty excited. Its just going to be a little ceremony at the church, our bishop is going to marry them. And then we are going to walk down the hall into the baptismal font and get them baptized, all on the same day! Haha how about that! I am stoked, hopefully all goes well!

This gospel is a gospel of change. President David O Mckay once said that the purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good and make good men better. I have seen both sides of that spectrum while being out here...his statement is so very true. GOD IS GOOD 

Tell me more about how you guys are doing, how is the puppy? I want to hear it all. I love you guys so much, hope you had a great week!

Love, Cody

Wrong Roads

This Mormon Message that came out shortly after Steve lost his job was good timing for us. 

Week 7 in Big Spring

Hey Mom!

Firstly, thank you for the letters, it is always great to get something in the mail (: So my new comp is Elder Cutler.... He is 18 as well, and he is finishing up my "training" Haha he loves to correct me, which seriously I really need because I am far from a perfect teacher, but, I am trying to train him to be a bit more obedient when it comes to mission rules, so I guess we are both learning stuff (; Haha it really has been kind of a tough week. Hard work out here in the wilderness.  Our investigator Daniel really just needs to pray, we had a good lesson with him Saturday, then he didn't come to church on sunday.  Boo!!  Mike brought his girlfriend to church, she is also committed  to baptism, and they are "thinking" about marriage.  I have been thinking a lot about what you said about putting God before everything...thats a phrase we hear a lot but something very few of us actually do. I am trying very hard to do that now. You definitely learn a lot about yourself out on a mission. You really learn what your made of and what your true desires are.  But really, I am enjoying it out here. I miss you guys like crazy. I wish I could have taken more advantage of our time together as a family...you don't realize the little things until they are gone, but I have definitely realized how lucky I am to have a family like you. Tell me more about everybody's week, I love to hear about it all (: I love you Mom, I hope you have a fantastic week. I love you guys so much.

Love, Elder Backus

Oh my goodness I miss this boy...........

Each and every day I miss Cody, but the last couple of weeks have been a little harder for some reason.     So, when we got this post card in the mail today, it was just what I needed.......

Elder Checketts and Elder Backus in Big Spring

Hey Fam!

Thought you guys would enjoy this pic of Elder Checketts and I.  I just want to let you guys know how much ya'll mean to me.  While being out here, I really have realized the importance of a Christ-centered home.  Thank you for providing that for me, every one of you has helped create that.  I love you guys!  Cassidy and Christine, be nice to Mom and Dad!  It took me 18 years, but I finally figured out that they're right.  

I love you guys so much!  God Bless!

Love, 

Cody

20th Anniversay

20 years ago today Steve and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

(I thought this pic was most telling of personalities :))

Shortly after our wedding we talked about going to the Holy Land for our 20th Anniversary and for a few reasons that did not materialize this year.

However, I have reflected a lot on what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and how the Atonement has made such a difference in our marriage.  Steve and I both, have come to understand that when we have challenges in marriage (and we all do), we can't always rely upon our mortal selves to fix things.  We have found that there is truly an enabling power (grace) which can give us patience, love, long suffering, brotherly kindness, humility (sound familiar?) when we need it the most - if we seek for it.  We've had hard times that were pretty miserable because we failed to seek for His enabling power, and we have also had hard times that were made light as we sought for It.  This past 6 months has been one of those hard times where His enabling power has given us the strength to carry on with peace.  I have learned after 20 years of marriage, that the Atonement has the power to strengthen your love for your spouse, and I can honestly say that I love Steve today more than ever.

Week 6 in Big Spring

Cody's district....

Hey mom!! So heres the scoop. Elder Checketts has actually been transferred to New Mexico, but I am staying here. I get a new comp on tuesday, and I have to tell him all about the area and stuff. Im scared. Haha thats good to hear about Jake and Easton!! Tell them that I miss them so much, and I want them to email me once they get their calls!!!! So our car has been in the shop this week, so its been all biking, my bottom hurts sooo bad. Plus i crashed into a pole on the first day hahhaha i felt so dumb. Yup. I looked pretty darn dorky hahahah but hey jack what can you do. This week of mission work was pretty slow really. We are still working with Daniel, he has some word of wisdom and law of chastity issues, but he really does want to make a change. Oh man, the Law of Chastity talks...those are always fun.  We met a guy named Mike who actually followed up with his commitment and came to church yesterday!!! We are preparing him for baptism on the 1st of Feb, but we might have a few hiccups with his GF (girlfriend)...they are living together..... More Law of Chastity. Sweet. I will send you a pic of me and Checketts and my new comp next week.  I miss you so much to mom. Living on your own is hard sometimes but I am defintely learning on the fly!!! Justin is doing great, I am not sure about Dylan though, I think he goes to Korea this week! I am always praying for you and dad and the girls. Tell me more about them, how is Cassidy doing!! I will write you guys a letter soon, I am still waiting for one back form you (; I love you mom. Know that I am doing great out here, I really am enjoying it. i love you so much mom. Have a great week!

Love, Cody 

We Love You!

A couple of days ago Cassidy, Christine and I spent a few hours putting this great puzzle together that mom sent us for Christmas last year.  I do love puzzles and wish I would take the time more often to work on one, especially with my daughters.

It was interesting how some family pictures were easier to put together than others, the Neeleys and Randy gave us fits.  At a couple of points we wanted to throw in the towel but it just didn't feel right to leave anyone 'undone', so we kept at it until the whole family was complete.  Now it sits on our coffee table with no desire to take it apart.  I know it was just a puzzle, but putting it together made me feel a little more love for the family that I was born into, and the family that became mine through my marriage and the marriages of my siblings.  

These names are my parents, Steve's parents, our siblings, our nieces and nephews and their children.  We have lots more names we could add to that family list, but my chalkboard wasn't big enough...and that's a good problem :).  We really do love our family!

Week 5 in Big Spring part 2

After I posted his email today, we got a letter in the mailbox!!

Dear family,

I just wanted to write you and the family to let you know that I am doing great.  So far this week has been going pretty well.  We just keep looking for people to teach.  We find it all here in Big Spring.  There is over 70 different churches here!  The other day we met a guy who told us he didn't want to hear from us because he read that Joseph Smith talked with goats......it doesn't give us any answer to that in Preach my Gospel. :).  One thing that is upsetting is the way a lot of people who don't know anything about the church talk about Joseph Smith.  They call him names and cast false judgements against him on subjects they know nothing about.  For as long as I can remember, I have never once doubted Joseph Smith.  I have always had a firm testimony of his life.  He had more courage than any mortal man in the history of the universe, and he gave up his life for the truth.  And when people tell me he was a confused, devil-worshipping, idiotic, blasphemis, wicked man, I get pretty upset and probably respond with a bit too much fire.  But I know that he gave everything for the truth, and I am trying to somehow do the same.

Well family, just know that I love you all so so much.  You guys are really amazing, and I love the way that our family works.  We are all imperfect people but as a family we are perfect.  Thank you so much for your prayers, I feel them every day.  I can't wait to hear back from ya'll.  I love you guys!!

Love,
Elder Backus

Week 5 in Big Spring

Beautiful sunsets.....

Like father like son, pics all over his wall :).  

 Hey Mom and family,

 So this week was definitely an interesting one! You see it all out here in good ole Big Spring. Hahaha we met this old cowboy, he was crazy. He definitely wasnt interested in our message, but he sure loved to talk about him and his 34 year old wife.....he is 81!!!!! 8. 1. She is 34. 47 year difference, people are crazy. And then we decided to get real brave and talk to this biker gang, they were called "X-iled"  We talked to guys named Low-life and Scum about the Book of Mormon.... they took a card with some info on it, but that was about all we could get out of them.

 But on a more serious note, we have a couple named Daniel and Crystal who live out in a small town in our area called Coahoma. We have been teaching them for the past few weeks, and they have been reading in the BOM and they have always been respectful to us. We went to teach them Friday night, not really knowing what to teach them. We started to read with them 2 Nephi 31 and talk about the importance of baptism, but then Daniel asked a question that totally changed the direction of the lesson. He asked if we as LDS are required to forgive people. Daniel's Dad was murdered about 4 months ago in Big Spring. He was beaten to death by some bad people that he was involved with. Daniel knows those people, they have been involved with his dad for years, and he knows that they were the ones who killed his dad, but the police can't find any evidence, and the investigation is stalling. Those murderers will probably end up not having to serve any sort of penalty. When he shared that and asked me what we believe about forgiveness, I had no idea what to say. I looked to my companion as like a lifeline, hahaha he just was staring blankly back at me. Haha so as best as I could, I tried to explain to him why we need to forgive. I told him that I couldn't imagine going through what he goes through, seeing the people who killed his father around town. I shared with him some of Christ's words, hanging on the cross: Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. I told him that forgiveness of that magnitude can be very difficult and tedious, but I told him that God promises us the entire world if we only obey him...haha heavy stuff. I am just an 18 year old punk kid from Utah, what do I know about the trials that these people go through? How can I tell a grown man to forgive the people who murdered his father when I have never experienced anything like that? ....It all circles back, it is all based upon one thing, one man. Jesus the Christ knows all about every kind of hurt that there is. My job is to merely introduce these people to Christ, then he carries them the rest of the way.

Please know that I love you all so so much, and that I am thinking about you all constantly. I know that we are all being blessed because of our obedience. I hope you a ll have a great week, I want to hear it all!

Love, Cody