I leave for the field tomorrow, AAAHHH! - April 25, 2011

I can't believe I leave tomorrow. Six weeks have gone by here so fast, wow, it's been about two or 3 months since I began. Time is going by so fast. I think that it will go even faster in the field. My español has improved so much. I think the first couple days in the field will be scary but I will do OK. Just need faith and confidence. I really enjoy the letters from you and Nana and the family. They help a lot. Tomorrow I leave at 8am on a bus to Reu. It doesn't seem real. President Steimle of the CCM here has been so wonderful and helpful and I know President Maravilla will be great too. I can't believe you are still having white outs and snow. Your weather there is not improving. Sounds feo (ugly). I get to call you very soon, a week I think. I'm so excited for that and I get to finally send home some pics. Really excited for you to see some of them. I had to pack today and I really do not like it. I can't remember how I made it work before. Glad I don't have to fly though. That is awesome that you are going to the Philippines with the Beus'. I'm really jealous of the diving time you get. But I'm really glad. That will be lots of fun and I really like the Beus'. I hope you and them get my letters soon. Seems like they are taking a long time. I have had some good experiences this week, but I can't think of them all right now. I taught my last lessons here with Elder Dold on Saturday. Every time we taught our teachers have always commented on our incredible unity, that made me feel real good. When we are not teaching we get along but we bicker with each other a lot. I like Elder Dold and really like our teaching together. It has been good for me to try and do better. I try new things and be more Christlike everyday. My goal is to keep improving everyday and give my all to every min of my mission. I'm learning how to work with people better and how to be a more loving, patient person. I'm not saying that I'm not any of that right now but sometimes I could do better. I really do feel this mission is going to change me for the better into an amazing man and disciple of Christ. I'm really excited too because a lot of my friends here at the CCM live in Utah and attend BYU in Utah so we are planning a big reunion awesome get together after our missions. I have made some friends that I will have for life I think. I hope you are surviving the weather, it sounds really nasty. Glad I don't still have to be in that snow and cold, sorry. Hope you are doing well. The pool sounds like it's getting a great start. I'm going to have a lot to tell you about my first week in the field. It will be an experience for sure. Love it here and I am learning a lot of Spanish and about the gospel. How is your Spanish coming along? Love you so much and think about you and the family a lot. Keep you in my prayers and my thoughts. Oh can you mail me my Hymn Revival cd by The Lowered Lights and the Joseph Dream Coat cd that are in my room in the black cd sleeve I think. That music would be sweet. Let me know if you can. They can go to the mission home but don't write Elder on the package. Talk to you soon. Love you Mama.
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Mailed Letter Written April 6 & 7

Mama,

What an interesting week it has been. I can't remember if I told you this or not, but I ran out of email time so I will write this and an email next week. Only 3 weeks left. That's crazy to me, time is flying by. So Elder Ordonez was my Latin companion for meals and meetings. Elder Dold is my North American companion. He is from Washington. We do well with each other. So a typical day for me is wake up 6:30 for sports, usually volleyball or soccer. Desayono (breakfast) at 8:00, Personal study time 8:30-9:30, Companion study 9:30-10:30, Language study 10:30-11:30, Practica Espaniol y teaching 11:30-12:30, Almuerzo (lunch, which is always good same with dinner) 12:30-1:00. Class 1:00-5:00, Dinner, Teach investigators (teacher) 5:30-7:00, Class 7:00-9:00, Plan then quiet time 10:15, lights out at 10:30pm. Sundays are different with Priesthood and Sacrament. Sunday night we usually watch a church movie. I like it. On Saturday and Sunday we watched conference. The Latinos watched in one room in Espanol and we watched in the cafeteria on a projector. It was so good. I loved so many of the talks. I laughed a little when they kept talking about marriage and here I am on a mission where I can't think about that. I can't wait to read the talks. Lots talked about being an example which was good. I'm so proud you watched all 4 sessions. It is spiritual, uplifting, and does bless us. I have had some talks with my teachers about not getting discouraged because who knows what seeds you plant. Tuesday was awesome. We went on a trip to a topical map 15 minutes away from the CCM. The map was made a long time ago of Guatemala and it's huge. 100x100 and it showed mountains to scale. My mission has some of the biggest mountains and lots of low areas by the coast. Next we went to the market and saw a bunch of goods and food for sale and haggled for some trinkets. I got a cool red hoodie thing. Our last stop was this mall that was so incredible. We ate normal food not saying food here is bad cause I love it and gained 10 pounds, but I had Dominoes Pizza. There is a museum attached to the mall call Miraflores. They have a giant grass mound that's a ruin right in the middle. Awesome stuff about Myans. It was a great day. I got new Latino comps because the others are only here for 3 weeks. I got 2 more tonight besides Elder Dold. I didn't know you have been to different churches. I agree that the feelings are strong and can't be denied. I talked with some teachers and knowing the truth just comes with time, prayer, and study. I will know how I know in time. That's awesome you are enjoying the missionary moms. I can't think of what I would need. Maybe those socks with the copper wire for bacteria control, a pair or two, and some gummy bears. Also maybe a pocket English only dictionary and some clear page protectors for my binder. But I'm ok with only letters and I want more thoughts from friends and family. That was nice. So today is now the 7th. This letter is taking 2 days to write. Tonight I met my mission president at the CCM. He only speaks Espanol but he is way awesome. He is loving and funny. I am so excited to go serve with him. I wanted him to take me tonight. I really look forward to meeting him more. I also had the opportunity to give my first blessing to someone. One of my roommates was sick and they asked me to do it. It was in English but I really enjoyed it. It was powerful. I look forward to seeing the miracles more of these blessing can do. I forgot to tell you two things. In between conference sessions something funny but embarrassing happened to me. We were outside playing hackie sak, about five of us. The wind blew and I felt something fall on my shoulder. I looked to see what the wind blew on me and guess what? It was bird poo. POO! No birds were in the sky and I got pooped on. How silly. On Wednesday we went to the temple and I did a session in Espanol. It was pretty awesome. I could say a few things on my own. But I needed a bit of help here and there. I love you so much Mom and appreciate all your support and help. I'm eternally grateful you are my Mama. Best Mama ever. I will write again soon and share more experiences.

Love,
Elder Cox (your son)

P.S. I am including a couple other letters if you could get them to the right people I would appreciate that. Love you, again.

Oh, I also thought of a tie rack that might be nice. It has a hanger then many hooks for your ties and it spins.

One Week Left in the CCM - April 19, 2011

One week left in the CCM. That's crazy. I'm excited but scared at the same time. I think the first week might be pretty tuff. Sorry I'm writing today. They switched our pday this week with no notice so we can't tell any family. I'm doing really well. We had a meeting with President Steimle of the CCM and it was about Spanish. My Spanish according to the rating on the presentation is a lot better then I thought. Made me feel really good and confident. I really like President Steimle, he has a sailboat and knows how to sail. I really want to learn how to sail after my mission. Yesterday we went proselyting again. I can't explain how much better it was this time. I could understand people so much better then before and I could say more of what I wanted to say. I had more confidence and we were able to get 9 references. I heard a really good talk in one of our meetings on Sunday. The video was from Elder Bednar I think but I can't remember. It said that when we teach the gospel be yourself. I try to remind myself to do that but I need to make a better effort of it. I am here because I have the personality and skills to reach the hearts of people here and it's what they need. So I need to be my fun loving self and have my personality come out in every teaching appointment I have. Then I will really be affective because I'm me and I'm excited about my message and more personal and loving. I'm trying to develop better personal study habits, things I can do to remember more and get more out of it. Things are good though and I can't wait to write about my experiences in the field. Look out Guatemala here I come, and I am going to bring the gospel and the spirit. I love you so much Mom and I am excited to call you soon for Mama's Day. I keep you in my prayers and I am so grateful for your love and all your support. You really help me be lifted up and do better. I like that you are getting more involved with the gospel and the church. Makes me want to share more about families with the people here. I already do that, but I will do even more. Love you and think about you a lot. Hope the weather is better and you are being the wonderful mama I know you are. Talk to you soon, and from the field. YAY! Tell the family hi also.

Guatemala CCM - April 6, 2011

Only Two Weeks Left in the CCM - April 13, 2011

I know you love me and I look forward to Wednesday so much. I sent you a letter but I will highlight a couple things. Our fieldtrip was to this giant map of Guatemala outside with scale size of mountains. I had no idea how tall some of the mountains are in my mission. I'm so excited to go there. Only 2 weeks left that's crazy. At the map we talked about rumored areas where Book of Mormon things happened. It was awesome. Next we went to a market and got to see all kinds of goodies and some different food. Last stop was a mall called Miraflores with a museum and a hill of earth right next to it. The hill is a ruin. The museum was way cool learning more about the old culture and ruins. Then we ate at the food court in the mall which was yummy, The mall was so nice, nicer then Utah's malls. Last Sunday we had 4 general authorities come. Our three area presidents and Elder Hinckley. It was so powerful to hear them speak. Heard some really good stories about some personal experiences Elder Hinckley had with his father President Hinckley. When his wife was almost passing away it was right around conference. President Hinckley said, " I cant go through conference if you pass away so hold on." She held on through both days of conference and then he had one last meeting she made it through. After the meeting he said, "OK now you can go and I will see you again." And she passed away. I loved listening to them and hearing how to be a better disciple of Christ and a missionary. I also got to meet my mission president. I don't know if I told you that. He was here with all the other presidents for training. He only speaks Spanish but I can tell he is so loving and awesome. I wanted him to take me with him that night. I can't wait to talk and work with him more he is awesome. I am doing much better this week. My Spanish is really improving. My teachers said that I really know a lot and I need to be more confident in myself. I appreciate your letter and the letters from family.It has really helped me. I feel the encouragement. I love you so much and I am excited for you to read my letter. Missionary Moms sounds great I want to hear more. I wrote to Jessica (sister) so give her the letter when you get it, also Nana, and Lois. Love you and miss you. I get to call you very soon too for Moms day, that's exciting. Love you Mom and look forward to more of your letters. I forgot to mention. If you or anyone sends me an actual letter, tell them to send it to my mission home. Also go to www.guatemalaccm.com for my CCM website and my picture with the people here.

What Happened to Wednesday - April 6, 2011

I will write an email explaining more of what is in my letter I am sending. Yesterday was a field trip and they changed our email but next week is normal. Love you and think about you a lot. I'm sending a letter for you and including one for Nanna, Lois, and Beus'. Love you and look forward to writing more.

One Day Early Email - April 5, 2011

I had an awesome day today and an incredible conference. I ran out of time for email so I will write you and include a letter to Nana and Grandpa, Lois, and the Bues'. I love you so much and am so grateful for you in my life and the support and love you give me. You are the best mom in the world and I am proud to talk about you a lot. I hope you are doing well and I'm glad Jessica is off the oxygen. Only 3 weeks left here. How crazy. Food is still super amazing and I am doing much better this week. Last week I was feeling down and struggling but this week I have new confidence and I am learning a lot. Went out on the town today to see things will write about it in letters. I love you so much and love writing you. Bye Mama.