Weeks 80 & 81 in LA--Phone Call and Video Chat

Well, it seems that Elder Cox likes the fact that he can call rather than email (which is great for me but not so great for the mission blog). Last week he called from a bus. They were headed back from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and we had a really nice conversation. This week he video chatted with us from his old stomping grounds, the Wilshire building. Zach is doing GREAT!! He looks and sounds amazing. He said that he has grown (crazy) and as of the other day, he is just under 6'6". WOWZA!! He said that he can no longer wear a size 12 shoe because his feet have grown too. He now needs a size 13. He absolutely LOVES his mission. He is sad that it is almost over. He loves his companion, Elder Reid. He said that they get along so well. I have been able to meet and talk to Elder Reid the past 2 weeks and he seems like an outstanding young man. I was also able to talk to one of my all time favorites, Elder Seipel, on Monday and I loved that so much. Zach loves LA and the people he serves. He loves the ward he is serving in so much! He is really hoping and praying that he gets to stay there another transfer. He loves being a Zone Leader. It has taught him so much. I asked him to send me some pictures and he said that he would and guess what?! I got one and only 1 picture. 😂😂 But lucky for me, it was ZL training on Tuesday and his mission president's wife posted 2 pictures with Zach in them (yay). So, here are the pictures:

Week 79 in LA--Video Chat

Just when I was starting to think we were going to get a last minute email again, HE CALLED!!!! We talked on Facebook messenger and then he switched over to a video call once his connection was better. They were sitting in their car using the WiFi from Starbucks. I was getting my hair dyed but I didn't care one bit!! We got to meet his new companion, Elder Reid, who seems like a really nice guy. Zach said he is doing great and LOVES his mission. He said that it is going to be really hard to come home but I will be happier than all get out (haha)!! He told us that the weirdest thing he has eaten is cow tongue but it was in a taco so it wasn't too bad. 😂😂 He said that it is 63 degrees in LA and he's freezing cold. That's a huge change from living at home in Utah. He is the senior companion and is training Elder Reid to be a Zone Leader. He said that they are over 19 other missionaries and that they basically have little to no time because they are so busy. He thinks he will stay in that area another transfer so we'll see what happens in mid-April. He looks and sounds AMAZING!! He is having some trouble with his feet and has to see a podiatrist as soon as he can get in. He will be getting a new mission president 1 month before he comes home. He is sad that President Haynie won't do his last/exit interview but he's excited because his new mission president is currently serving as a general authority in the seventy.  Hannah told him she was going to Disneyland on tour and he said she would be going in his mission when they go to the beach and play. She told him to be a missionary spy and sneak down and see her. He won't because he follows the rules to a T!! It was so great to see and hear him and feel his spirit. It was awesome to see how much he loves his mission! They are teaching several people but they still have a ways to go so pray for them!!

Pictures from video chat (don't mind me with a towel on my head 😂😂)
1. The whole family
2. The siblings with a great photo bomb by Elder Reid
3. The siblings
4. Zach and Hannah

Week 78 in LA--Long Time No Email!!

Sorry about the past couple of weeks, they have been pretty crazy! But transfers just came in and I am staying and training a new elder to be a Zone Leader. His name is Elder Reid. He is from Illinois just outside of Chicago. This week we have done a lot of cool things. 

We helped a man move out of the ward he has super cute dogs we we grabbed a picture with him. 

We do service at a food pantry and we took some more pics with them. 

We had a lot of cool contacts on the street and had a great zone meeting and got the zone ready for March! We also visited some cool members and yeah. It's sad to see Elder Leavitt leave but he is going to Redondo 2nd one of my past wards. It's super cool because Eric, if you remember him from a long time ago, he got Baptized a year ago this month. 

That is all the time I have so talk to you all soon! 

Elder Cox

1. Our Zone Leadership Council

2. My new companion

3. My apartment this last transfer and the pink ties! (I got a haircut right after the meal hahaha) 

4-5. The dogs

6. Man we helped move

7. More people from service

8. Service

Week 77 in LA--This Week Brought to You by Elder Leavitt

Zach sent me a few messages in the afternoon, all about college, and then radio silence. 😂😂 He then sent a few more messages and asked how life was and if I got the picture file Elder Leavitt sent and then he said he didn't feel like sending an email (big surprise 😂😂), and then radio silence for good. Elder Leavitt did send me a file with pictures and his mom forwarded his email to me as well. So, this week we hear from Elder Leavitt instead of Elder Cox but I'll take what I can get. So, here is what Elder Leavitt had to say about this past week:

Hello beautiful people that I love!

      This week has been pretty cool! We had a fantastic Zone Conference on Thursday where Elder Cox and I gave a training on how to teach that God is our Loving Heavenly Father. We also got knew tiwis in our cars and I talked to Brother Dibb during lunch. Hes in charge of all church vehicles so he came to reinstall the tiwis. And it's cool because he is Ann Dibb's son and President Monson's grandson! He said in all the missions he went to, which was most of the west coast I think, I was the only one who made the connection! Can you believe that? Not one missionary asked if he was Ann Dibbs son, and he even looks like her! 

     On Tuesday we made some cookies and lemon bars and went to deliver them in the evening. We decided our first stop should be Sheri and Burt who live all the way down Topanga canyon. It's about a 30 minute drive to their house. We got there and found out they were living in the small house next door while they remodeled the entire house! Sheri is a member but not active, and no one else in the family is a member. They were so happy to see us even though they were super busy. We had probably an hour long conversation and Burt had so many questions! We basically taught the Restoration and half the Plan of Salvation. Burt wants to read Jesus the Christ so we got him a copy. They have a really shy 12 year old daughter named Katelynn who is super sweet. Burt said to her "do you know why you feel comfortable around them? It's because they're good, they would never do anything rude or hurtful" I'd have to say, the best feeling in the world is having no feelings but Christlike love for people. And its evident when it's there and when it's not!

     Something cool probably happened on Wednesday, but I can't recall.

     Friday morning all the Elders got to go do service at the temple involving some invasive plant removal. No better place to remove invasive plants! Then we had District Council and I went to Elder Oswalds district. That man is literally an angel on Earth! I could probably punch him in the face and he wouldn't even react. 

     Saturday we had Zone Service at Operation Gratitude! It was a blast! Most the Zone goes there on different days of the week and they asked if we could come help teach volunteers  how to stuff bears. We split up at tables with about 200 volunteers and got to talk with a small group for 2 or more hours! What more could a missionary ask for?! It was so cool! I sent a referral named Roxana to the Granada Hills Elders.

      On Sunday Virg drove us and Jose down to the VC to a fireside by the 13 Crowns, the Wolfgram family Band! The Dad was in the band The Jets. 

     Gotta go! Love you all, have a great week! May your hammer be mighty, and go love someone who needs it!

Love Elder Leavitt 

And here are the pictures that Elder Leavitt sent me:

Week 76 in LA--Phone Call

Zach didn't send an email yesterday because WE GOT TO TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE!!!! It was so amazing to hear his voice!! I am so grateful for a living prophet who listens to our Heavenly Father to know what is best for the church. I am so grateful that I get to talk to my missionary (which he said is so much easier for him than writing) and hopefully next time video chat with him. 

A few things he said during the call: We mostly talked abut college because he only has 6 months left and before they leave the mission, they have to have their life plan filled out--which is a great thing in my opinion. We talked about several different options and Matt and I are going to do some research for him (since he only has P day's to do that kind of thing) and talk again next week about what we find out (did you just read that--TALK AGAIN NEXT WEEK this is seriously the best thing ever). He also said that they are teaching a few people but none that are really committed (so pray for those he is teaching). Transfers are March 5th and he thinks Elder Leavitt will be transferred since he has been serving in that area for 6 months and that he will stay. We will see what happens. He said that his body is able to handle gluten again. It took a while but he "can eat bread without getting wrecked". He is doing so, so good and loves being a missionary!! 

He did send me some pictures with 1 minute to spare (typical) 😂😂. I am super grateful that he had time though since that is how I "see" him. 

Week 75 in LA--P Day

Hello!!! How is everything? 

This week I got to go on a lot of exchanges with other missionaries and learn a lot of things. I went with Elder Maya one of the assistants to the president (he is super cool). Then I went with Elder Dehlin (a super awesome guy from Apline) and then with Elder Meraz (he is an awesome missionary)! We got to have our P day today because our Zone is going to the Getty Museum which is super exciting. We are also going to this super cool classic car museum and I will take some pictures to send to grandpa and dad. I don't have any pictures to send today so I will write my weekly and I will send it with some Pictures from today! For my birthday i was thinking of getting a pair of huaraches which are cool hispanic braided leather shoes. They are only like $35-$40. Almost every Elder in the mission has a pair and I think it would be cool to have a pair to bring home to wear. (Because my mission pairs are like getting wrecked). Then if you want to I can also get people things from here if you want. But other than that just add some more money to the savings account. I was also thinking about college and I might take the semester off but I have been told that it is harder to adjust that way. So I will keep thinking about it. Love you a lot! 

Elder Cox

**He didn't have time to send a group email and promised to double up next week (we'll see about that). He did end up sending pictures from his P day yesterday though (yay).**

Week 74 in LA--It's Rainin'

This week has been pretty well. It's wet and we don't have much time to email. So this week was well but nothing too cool happened. We are doing stuff for college but I'll send a better email next week. 

Elder Cox 

Pics 

Exchanges in the rain