Week 94 in LA--Dinner w/Lindsey Stirling, Sickness and Warner Bros.

Zach called yesterday. He called a lot earlier and I could tell immediately that something was wrong. I asked him what was wrong and he said that he was sick and had been since Saturday. He didn't know if he had a stomach bug or if he ate something that gave him food poisoning. He said he thought it might have been food related because a member took them to Home Town Buffet for dinner. He said at that moment he had body aches, chills, fever and a severe headache. I asked him if they stayed home and he said no. He still pressed on and did missionary work. He told me that the ward mission leader of the Studio City ward took them on a private tour of Warner Brother's Studios yesterday and that he felt like garbage but he didn't want to pass up such an amazing opportunity. I told him to take some Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help with the fever, body aches and headache, get a blessing from his companions and then to lay down and rest for 1-1/2 hours. They were supposed to take some investigators to the visitors center at 5:00 so I told him to rest as much as he could before they had to leave. I asked him about dinner with Lindsey Stirling and he said it was really good. She took them to a place called Collard Greens and I asked if it was southern food and he said no, it was healthy food. He said she is really nice and that they had a good time. We only got to talk for 13 minutes but I needed him to rest.

So, we hung up and about 10 minutes later he sent me a text and said that it was a stomach bug because Elder Hill was now sick. They called the mission nurse and she gave them mandatory bed rest for the night. Zach said that he wanted to text for a while so I sent a few texts and then heard nothing. He called me 5 minutes later and said that he was in the bathroom so that's why it took some time for him to respond and that it was easier to call than to text. 

He was able to take some Tylenol, thank goodness Elder Hill had some because all Zach had was Excedrin. He was starting to sound better as the Tylenol started to kick in and he said that he was actually feeling better, at least his head and body aches. He told me all about the Warner Brother's tour. The guy that took them on the tour works for them in the DC department in the movie/TV part and his wife also works there but in a different department. He said that he learned a lot from him about Looney Tunes, DC super hero's, Harry Potter, etc. He said that they were there a long time but still didn't even get to see everything. He said that it was a very cool experience (there are lots of pictures too). 

He talked about some of the best places they have been taken to eat. He said that they went to Mexican food and he ordered tamales. This place wraps their tamales in grape leaves instead of corn husks and he said they are out of this world (there is a picture of one below)!! He said that they were also taken to Four N 20 and it was expensive but so good. He is looking forward to taking us to some of his favorites when we go in December. 

He talked about some of his areas he's served in. When he was in the Wilshire Ward, I had NO CLUE that part of it was South Central. I guess it's a good thing he told me later or I would have been a train wreck that entire 6 months. He said that when we go back to visit, for a lot of it we will just view if from the car and not get out. 😨 He said that across the street from his apartment was a vacant lot and there was a guy that basically lived there and smoked crack. He also told me that the one guy on the bus that told them he was Jesus or whatever, also had a large knife that fell out of his bag and he told them to be quiet about it. HOLY SHIZ!!!! It's a good thing I'm just hearing about this stuff now.

He really likes his areas and hopes that he finishes his mission there. They are getting a new mission president this week so who knows what will happen. He said that it would be so nice not to move, packing and moving is not fun. But whatever will be, will be. He said that they are working hard and they had 2 baptisms scheduled for July 6th but they didn't come to church on Sunday so they have to push the date back. It's kind of a good thing because Ted Ball, from his last area, is getting baptized that day. Zach sent him a text last week asking him how things are going and if the baptism is still on. He told him things are great and that yes, it was still on. Zach told him he would be there and Ted told him that was good because if he wasn't there, he would have stopped the whole thing and gone out to find him and bring him there. He is having a good friend from Utah baptize and confirm him but he asked Zach to be a witness. This all made Zach so happy and humbled that Ted cares so much about him. 

We talked about a bunch of other things too (because we got to talk for 1-1/2 hours) but I'll end here and post all of the pictures.

Pictures
1 Zach and Lindsey Stirling
2 Selfie of Zach showing me how good his face is looking (acne has been a struggle out there)
3-8 Warner Bros--Wonder Woman
9-15 Warner Bros--Superman (original cape) and Batman (first Batman mask was Christian Bale's and the second one was Micheal Keaton's)
16-28 Warner Bros--Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts
29 Warner Bros--Mars Attacks
30 Warner Bros--Alley were Newsies was filmed as well as the infamous upside down kiss in Spider-man 
31 Warner Bros--bad guy costume in Aquaman
32 Warner Bros--hat and trombone from Music Man
33 Warner Bros--Bugs Bunny and Iron Giant drawings
34-35 Tamale wrapped in grape leaf and menu from Four N 20

Week 93 in LA--Everything is Good in the Hood

Zach called on Sunday and on Monday. Sunday he talked to Matt and my dad for Father's Day (he also talked to my mom and I for a bit 😉😂). He is doing great! He gets along very well with both of his companions and they work hard covering both areas. He said that the people in both wards are great and they feed them as much as possible. He said that the weather has turned HOT, like 105 degrees hot. 

We talked a lot about college and jobs. He is anxious to find a job right a way, which I'm sure he will. He doesn't sound as unhappy about coming home anymore though. I'm sure it's going to be hard for him to leave, he loves Cali and serving, but I am also sure that he will adjust and things will be just as they should be. 

He said that he still wants to go to Astro Burger to eat after the airport and then he'd like to be released and then he'd like to sleep. He said he'd love 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. But then he also said that his body is so used to getting up at a certain time so he'll probably wake up early anyway. 😂😂

He said that it is going to be interesting listening to music and watching movies/tv again. He said that it will take some getting used to. He can't wait to listen to real music, a lot of his companions like country and he has listened to a lot of country gospel music (YUCK 😖). I told him I was able to sign him up to help work at USANA and he was happy with the concerts he can work.

He said that for P-day that day, they went to a bunch of little shops in Burbank and had a great time. They went to Porto's for lunch and he ordered a Cubano and a slice of Mango Cheesecake. He said that the food there is delicious!

We didn't talk as long as usual, which is fine because we said all that we needed to say, because he was waiting on a call from Lindsey Stirling to tell them where to meet her for dinner. I told him to make sure and get pictures!!

Pictures:
1. Last Wednesday, a young couple, the Contardi's, fed Zach and his companions in their tiny little apartment. She sent all of us mom's a picture.
2-4. Zach, his companions and Zone Leaders
5. Zach in the gym 
6. Zach on a tank pinata (they were walking past a party and he was able to pose on the pinata)
7. His district got ahold of the tank picture and........
8. Lunch at Porto's

Week 92 in LA--1 Companion, 2 Companion............

Zach called on Monday night. It was later so I was wondering if he was even going to call, but he did. I asked him how his week was and his response was, "Crazy!" I asked what he meant by that and he said that on Friday he was given another companion, Elder Hill. So now he's in a trio. Elder Hill's companion had to go home so they had to re-assign Elder Hill and they put him with Zach and Elder Laybourn. So on Friday, they had to go to Elder Hill's apartment and pack up all of his things and then move them to their apartment. So now they cover 2 area's and wards instead of 1. The new ward is the Studio City Ward and Zach said it's pretty big with a lot of young couples/families. He said that luckily their church meetings are at different times, but they do overlap each other a bit. They went to sacrament meeting at the one ward and then went to the other ward's sacrament meeting and Sunday School class. He said it's all good though. He really likes Elder Hill (they came out into the field together) and that all 3 of them get along great! (Whew!!)

I asked him if he's seen/met any celebrities now that he's in the heart of LA (his 2nd area is by Universal Studios as well as many other movie and music production companies). He said that he hasn't but that he did meet a church celebrity. I was like, huh? Who would that be? And he said that they met Lindsey Stirling. He said she was really nice and that she is taking them out to eat on Monday. Cool!

Last week we talked about crockpot meals that he could throw together and put in so their dinner was ready at 4:00. I asked him how they were and if his companion liked them and he said that they didn't even need to cook because they had dinner appointments all week. I asked about that because I thought that was a no more thing. He said that if the members are willing to feed them at 4 or if they eat with a less-active family they are good to go. That's a huge help for my wallet and for Zach and his companions!! He said that they are all set up this week with dinner appointments as well. Yay N. Hollywood and Studio City wards!!

I asked him about his feet and he said that they are almost completely better! He said that the gel stuff works really well and the new socks and shoes do too. I was super happy to hear that!!

He said to be prepared for a crazy airport homecoming with so many missionaries coming home with him to Utah (or at least to the SL International Airport). I told him I was ready no matter what (I don't love big crowd of people but I won't care that day)!! He said that he was thinking he wanted to go to Astro Burger for dinner after. But who knows, he may change his mind?!?!

We had 4 minutes left and so I said my goodbyes and so did he because he was going to use those last 4 minutes to send me some pictures. Guess what?!?! That didn't happen. 😂😂 It's a good thing I love him!!

Week 91 in LA--New Digs

Zach called again this week. He sounds fantastic!! He said that his companion is nice and they get along really well. He said that his apartment is really nice and the best part is they have a washer and dryer so no more paying to do laundry!! He said that the ward is small and has quite a few Hispanic and Polynesian people in it. He said that there is a Spanish branch in their building but most of the people choose to go to the ward he is serving in. He said that everyone is really nice and he is excited to get to work. He said that there are a lot of inactive people in the ward so they have a lot of work to do.

He is a district leader again. He is over himself, his companion, Elder Laybourn, another Elder companionship and a sister companionship. He is the only one from Utah and he only knew 2 of them before hand, but he said they are all great and he really likes each one of them (pictures and names to follow).

We talked about college and work things. He wants to get a job pretty fast after he gets home so he can start saving money. He has decided, after much prayer and thinking, that he is going to do the Pathways program through BYU-I for a year to finish his associates degree (he already has 10 credits towards it from High School) and then transfer to whatever school he decides is best for him and his degree (which he is still trying to decide about). We told him that we support whatever he decides to do and will help him with things no matter what his choice. 

It's very interesting talking to Zach now. He has matured and grown so much over this past 2 years and I really like the man he is becoming. He has a good head on his shoulders, he has already set standards for himself for when he gets home. He's got a plan and it sounds like a dang good one so I am excited for this next chapter in his life.

We were able to merge my parents in on the call so that Zach could wish my dad a happy birthday. It was great listening to him talk to my parents and tell them that he loves them. Zach says that a lot now (I love you) and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

We received an email from President and Sister Haynie telling us that Zach was again called to be a District Leader. This is the letter:

Dear Brother and Sister Cox,

Elder Zachary Matthew Cox has once again been appointed as a District Leader in the California Los Angeles Mission. This assignment comes to him again because he continues to exhibit high qualities of leadership, to demonstrate his excellent teaching skills, and earns and retains the trust of his fellow missionaries.

Sister Haynie joins me in once again extending to you our sincere appreciation for your fine son. We realize that your example, training, and love have contributed greatly to his success as a missionary. Thank you for your continued support and for sustaining him through his earlier leadership role.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Haynie

President

California Los Angeles Mission

As a district they went to Universal Studios on Monday, but not in the park. They went to the part that is like Downtown Disney, which I think he said is called Studio Walk. He said that they had a good time and it was a first for a lot of them (not Zach). 


Pictures
1-3 Zach and his District 
(left to right)
Companion--Elder Laybourn from Idaho
Elder Russell from Maryland
Elder Sands from Florida
Zach
Sister Shay from Canada
Sister Vera from Brazil