Give Thanks

Thanksgiving was at the Labit's house this year......

Elijah shared with us that Thanksgiving dinner was a little awkward without the Paynter's there.  I'm not too sure what to think about that because he does NOT seem like the kind of kid that would ever feel awkward about anything :).......

After dinner we went to see "Catching Fire", for some of us it was the 2nd time in a week :).  Two thumbs up!!

Cody told us that the doughnuts Grandma Backus sent to the MTC would be the best food he would probably eat on Thanksgiving Day (I guess some of the food at the MTC is unidentifiable and sometimes undercooked).

Cody spent his last MTC P-day at the Mexico City Temple.  Here is a short message from Tuesday:

Please send all of my love to the family this thanksgiving. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve, and of course for the most awesome family in the world. I have learned so much about myself here in Mexico, but I just can't wait to get to Texas. I am going to have so much to tell you guys in the next couple weeks, so be ready!! 

Advent Calendar

Thanks to everyone who helped put together Cody's advent calendar.....

Cody will arrive on December 2nd, so the calendar starts then.

This is Bishop Anderson, the father of our ward, and somebody that Cody looks up to and loves.

Christine loves and misses Cody and is certain that Buddy constantly has tears in his eyes since Cody left.

Cassidy is taking over Cody's car and his spot at Murray High.  It's a good thing he left a good reputation behind :).

Maddie is one of Cody's good friends who went with him to the temple often and then took a Mission Prep class with him at BYU.  

Alex is another good friend who Cody went to Junior Prom with.  She now cheers at Utah State and included the mascot in her picture.

This is Josilyn who just happened to be in Sydney, Australia, so she took her picture in front of the opera house.

Emma has been a great support to Cody for many years and chose to embrace the Texas spirit!

James is the student body president this year and went on many double dates with Cody and Justine.

This is Cody's 'little brother' and friend Andrew.  Andrew knows Cody well enough to know what would make him laugh....  

Kelton knows Cody's favorite player is Alex Smith, so Kelton photoshopped his face over Alex's face.  Cody will love this!

The Seattle fans had such an impact on the success of the team in the 1980's that Seahawks President Mike McCormack retired the number 12 jersey on December 15, 1984 forever.  A tribute to the best fans in the NFL.  Thanks Tyler, Camille and Ashley!!

Angie in Olympia for Thanksgiving and watching channel 13 KCPQ.

Digger and Steve at what looks like Home Depot (or something like it).  

Randy is at the Forward Operating Base Gambari in Afghanistan, covering the future of US troops in the country.  I asked him to have Richard Engel take his picture :).

The Labits and Buddah #2!!

This is Cody's good friend Justine.  When she asked him to Spartionian Ball, Cody answered by painting on this door, "Justine, you are a-door-able! I would love to go to Spartonian Ball with you".  Justine took the same door and painted the number 17 on the other side.  I can't say enough good things about this girl.  

Kathleen, Bob, Mallory and Bethany.  Cassidy thinks she needs to spend a year at the Woolf's as well...

Cody's brothers from another mother, minus Brady :).

 Cindy and her new friend.  We will be seeing Cindy and this little guy over the holidays :).

Grandma and Grandpa Backus have kept Cody stocked up on treats while in Mexico City!

Grandma and Grandpa Brown now have 3 grandchildren out on missions!

Buddy and Cody are close....I don't know what goes on in the mind of a dog when suddenly someone you love doesn't come home anymore :(.  

I spent 1 Christmas in the mission field, and I can honestly say it was one of the most meaningful Christmas's of my life.  The distractions of the world were left behind and I was able to daily share my belief in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.  Steve and I miss Cody as well, but there is no place we would rather him be at this time in his life :).

Love for Him is what makes it possible for young men and women to leave their homes for 2 years and for their families to let them go.

GOODLUCK

Last year for Christmas the Woolf's gave us this missionary plaque to hang in our home.  It originally had a bow tied at the top, but I switched it out with this horseshoe that I bought while shopping with Kathleen a few years ago which I never could find a good spot for.  In light of Cody serving in Texas, I thought this was the perfect spot and then attached this family picture that we took right before he left. 

 Horseshoe means GOODLUCK. It is considered very lucky and used to be hung in many homes to protect and attract good fortune for the family residing inside. 

(Whoever came up with this superstition, I am holding you to it :)!!)

Young Women In Excellence

On November 13th our ward held our annual 'Young Women in Excellence'.  This year the girls were asked to learn more about one of their ancestors and then come to the program prepared to talk about them.

Christine learned more about her Great Grandma Berrett.  She was surprised to learn that Grandma and Grandpa went to get married at 12:00pm and didn't leave the temple til 5:00 pm and at 8:00pm Grandpa left to serve a 2 year mission to the Southern States.  I guess that is one way to avoid a 'Dear John' :)!!

Cassidy learned that Great Grandpa Brown had been called as the ward magazine rep, and because of his great work ethic and commitment to his calling, it wasn't long before everyone in the ward had a subscription to the "Era".  He wore a pink satin tie with green glitter that said "Era".  It certainly got people's attention :)!!  The church at that time offered the top ten magazine reps a trip to Salt Lake to have lunch with some of the general authorities, and he had this honor for ten years.  At his funeral, the man who gave the eulogy referred to hime as "Mr. Era".

The girls brought pictures of Great Grandma Berrett  (13 years old), and Great Grandma Brown and Great Grandpa Brown.  I did some reading through their histories as well and wished I had known them better.  I am inspired by the admirable qualities they possessed.

At the beginning of the year our Young Women were challenged to read the Book of Mormon by Young Women in Excellence.  This was their reading calendar which included the 2013 YM/YW worldwide theme.

The girls that completed the Book of Mormon each received a christmas ornament with a mod podged reading calendar on it.

Because I am the 1st counselor in the YW program, I had the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon with my girls.  I have said this many times.....there is a power within it that I feel over and over and over again.  That power motivates me to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be the kind of person He would want me to be.

In Moroni 7:16,  Mormon says, "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

That is how I have come to know the Book of Mormon is of God.

Week 4 from Mexico City

Since I have got here, I have really found out how useful the scriptures are...such amazing tools!!! My first couple weeks, honestly, I was struggling. I just couldnt really figure it out, why was this so hard, it was what God wanted me to do right? I was really struggling with that, and then by his grace, the luck of the Lord I guess, I came across D&C sections 121 and 122. The sections contain the conversation between Joseph Smith and Heavenly Father while Joseph was in Liberty Jail....never has any block of scriptures ever, ever, ever meant more to me. The first line, the first verse in 121 just hits me so hard. O God, where art thou? And then throughout the rest of the sections, especially verse 7 in 122, just give me the chills. We always talk about how the path is straight and narrow...but I think we also need to realize that that path is also steeply uphill. But thanks to this gospel, I now understand why. 

I am so excited for the field. While I know I am not totally prepared yet, I know that I will be. The language is getting better, it is getting faster. There are still times when I am teaching a lesson and I just have a brain cramp and stumble, but I learn a lot each day!! Right now, I have been switching back and forth between 3 Nephi, The 4 gospels in the New Testament, and Jesus the Christ. I need and love to learn more about the life of Christ. Jesus the Christ is AWESOME, it goes into such great detail. Comparing Chirst´s sermons in the Americas and in the Holy Land is really interesting, they gospel is the same everywhere you go, even in the scenic plains of west Texas! I love this work just like it loves me, and I will work until I stick to it like it sticks to me. Thank you so much for preparing me for this, you guys mean the world to me. Thank you for all your love and support, you have no idea how much it helps me. I love you all so very very much!! Ser arrojado! 

Love, Cody

The Spirit is the teacher....

This is a partial letter from Cody today.  

The President here, President Pratt, is definitely a stickler..but hes called to do his job, so i give him the benefit of the doubt. On saturday, one of the hermanas in our district asked me for a blessing for comfort and patience....I had no idea what to do. I hurried and looked up what to say in the mission handbook, and then i had to just do it. It was one of the most nerve racking things i have ever done. But after i started, the words just came. I really dont even remember what i said, but i do remember sharing a verse form Luke, chapter 9 verse 24. It was awesome. It was just such a humbling experience. Im just a medium here, I dont do any of the real teaching. When we do have to teach our investigators, it is very difficult. Our first investigator, me and my companion did a pretty good job at! My companion, Elder (keeping this blog private)  is honestly very bad at the language, so i carry us most of the time. Its very hard, but every day is a new day and i learn and gain experience. Like i said, i do enjoy it here, even though the food isnt very great, but i seriously cant wait to get to texas. Forget that foreign mission. Im read for the states! I will send some more pictures next week. How is Brady doing? What about Lindsey and Wilson? I heard its snowing there....ouch. Mom just thank you so much for everything that you do. Even after two weeks of being out of the house, I already appreaciate the things that you have done for me even more. How is everything else going?? I miss you all so so much. I know you pray for me every night, just remember that I am doing the same. I love you all so much. I cant wait to hear back from you!

Love, Elder Backus. Or Cody.