Saturday, September 22, 2012

Letters dated July 22, 2012

Dear Mom!
How's it going?! I hope all is well! Everything is GREAT here!:) Exceept for last night I was cooking a stew, and I bought onions, garlic, and what I thought was a small green bell pepper, but was actually a small green pepper. So I came home, chopped everything up and cleaned the seeds of the pepper out with my hands. Now after I finished I started to fry them. About this time, my fingers were on FIRE!! It seriously felt like I was placing my fingers over a fire! But I couldn't cool them down or get it to stop! So from 9 pm to aroung 1 a.m. I was awake trying to get my fingers to get cool! I'd rinse them in cold water, then 1-2 mins later they'd be back on fire and I'd have to do it again! NO BUENO!!! But as for my week, it was great!:) Monday after football (soccer) and emailing, we went to Bro. Angelus's house and had fufu, sooo good!!:) and FHE it was great! Tues District meeting was okay. lol But the rest of the day went great, met a new girl named Natasha, 19, super smart, Americanized, she's cool. Been teaching her! Weds. was good, taught some good lessons then had PEC it was a good day. Thurs was great again! Saw Natasha, Solomon, and Aban, all over 18, smart people. Friday saw Elizabeth 24ish, and James, and it was good, great lessons! The work here is alot slower than that of Mankessim, but it's okay. Saturday was a bust, all of our appts fell through. So we just met new people and talked to them, it was good!:) Church was good. taught 2 good lessons, both on faith. Great day! My stew that I made last night is really good, so I'm happy. Thought it'd turn out too hot, but it didn't, it's good!:) I love you mommy, and miss you tons!
Love,
Elder Cody Randall

Dear Dad!
How are you?! I hope all is well back at home! Everything's great here! Enjoying!!:) Again, told Mom all about my week, so share. lol. So this week my personal study was great. (like always). Read Mosiah, I learned in 23:7 how it says no man is greater than another man! And basically, all of it talks of how we need to always repent and give thanks to the Lord. Chapter 26:18, 20-23 are great talks about missionary work! and only by Jesus Christ can we be saved. 26:24-28 kinda sad, but its a warning to us. 26:29-32 talks more on repentance and 26:35-36 what happens if you don't repent (change) 27:25 I like 27:36-37 missionaries. I'm now about to start Alma. I've been deep reading alot and it's fun! I'm loving it and enjoying it! I love you dad and feel free to ask me any questions you have:) Love to hear then! I love you! Be safe and hug and kiss EVERYONE for me!
Love,
Elder Cody Randall

Letters dated 7/15/2012

**First, an apology from Cody's Mom, who has been terrible at updating the blog. The mail hasn't been very good lately, recently receiving 8 letters in 1 day, then going a month with nothing.:( So, I will strive to do better**

Letter 7/15/2012
Dear Mom,
How are you?! I hope you're getting all of my letters! Hey, so guess what? I love you! So this week has been great. Monday, nothing too exciting, just went to Takoradi and pulled out money and went to the Internet cafe. And I got to email you!:) Tuesday, district meeting then we went and I took all of my pants to the "sew man" to resize, and then we taught 3 people. It was great! Weds. was dead, no appointments stuck, they all fell through! But it's ok. Pec and Ward council were good! Thurs. was great, saw a new investigator and a girl and boy, preparing them for baptism. Friday, saw another new investigator, one lesson fell through but it's ok, we saw another new investigator and Justice, a recent convert who's moving to Accra. Saturday was great! Went out and saw another new investigator, then we organized activities at the church. It was sweet! almost all of the youth came and 2 or our investigators came and didn't want to leave LOL it was great!:) Sunday was great! I was asked to give the opening prayer, then we taught 2 of our investigators, it was great! Today was a good day. I made some no-bakes and a new stew and mmm the stew is yummy! Fried onions, green peppers, garlic, yummy, and ya, my "taste buds" have changed!:) So how is everything? Still wanting handwritten letters from you all! Oh, and pictures, too! I love you mommy! and I miss you all so much! I'm doing great and loving it here! I can't tell you how grateful I am to you and dad for everything! I love you!
All my love,
Elder Cody Randall

Dear Dad,
I Love You! pu paaaaa pu! (very much)
I told Mom all about my week, so you can read it there. LOL. This week I've been reading Mosiah and D&C and wow! King Noah was a wicked man! Chapters 15 & 16 are great chapters testifying of Christ and how we can be with him again. I learned alot in them. Seriously, my book is like a coloring book, I think it's quite funny!lol Chapter 18 is good as well, talks about Alma and his conversion and where he was. Do you know who baptized him? Read 18 and you'll find out! I've also come to find out that that Doctrine and Covenants was going to be called the book of commandments. Crazy, huh? But I came to know through study that verse 6-7 in section 1 are like a preface to the D&C. Verse 9 is self explanatory, and 16 talks about how we should have our priorities straight and go on a mission....................Anyway, I hope everything's going great at home! I love and miss you all! And I'm letting you know I'm great!:) I am growing in aspects I didn't even know were possible! I love you, be safe daddy!
With all my love,
Elder Cody Randall

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Letters dated 7/8/12

Hey Mom!
How are you? I hope you've been getting all my letters and the kids all my pictures! I'm doing GREAT, feeling well, and having fun!:) This week was great! Went to the island in our area and had a baptism. Sweet, right?! But, first, I've got some sad..bad...I'm very unhappy about news...my..Camera..is..broken!!:( idk how or what happened, but last Sunday, no Weds, I was looking at pictures then all of a sudden it just turned off. I recharged the battery and then put it back in and it didn't turn on! I'm so mad! I couldn't take any pics of the island or the baptism! Sorry mom! :( What should I do? Any ways...good news...Sunday church was great! Monday P-day was great, Cape Coast came to Takoradi and we played soccer then went to the beach, it was alot of fun!!:) Then Tues. we didn't do anything. We were told Monday we were getting new phones and our phones wouldn't be on. So we sat in all day and studied all day. It was sweet! lol. Then, Weds. we went to a landlord's house and cleaned it. They don't build houses like they do at home. Dad would have been mad if the job looked like the house. Thurs was sweet, made sure our baptismal candidate was ready and taught some sweet lessons! Friday was good as well. Taught more lessons and getting closer with the ward:) Saturday we woke up, got ready, and left around 9 to go get our ward mission leader, Bro. Angelous. We then made our way to the boat and had to take it to go to the island. It was cool, 25 min boat ride to the island, welcomed with smiles. Then we went to a member's house out there and he fed us! WOW, so much, I ate 3 coconuts, some new food. Ewaye is what they spoke so new. Different food, So much of it: fish, talapia, and crab, FRESH! Then we came home and went to Sofokrom and baptized Ruth Abaka, 13 yrs old, speaks French and Fanti. Baptism was good though!:) I'm doing great, everything is great! I love you all and miss you! And I can't say, express, or write how grateful I am for all of you, and you mom!! I love you! Be safe.
Love,
Elder Cody Randall

Hey Dad!
How's it going? How's work? I hope all is well! This week has been great and alot of fun!:) I told Mom all about it, so you can read hers, LOL, I don't wanna repeat myself. But I am doing great and am having tons of fun! Tues was a scripture study day, it was sweet! I read from Jacob 7 to Mosiah 25. It was a sweet reading. Jacob ch 7. shows how powerful of a man of God he is. Then Enos and his repentance. Then Jarom tells us to listen to "our fathers" his and ours, and about the Lamanites & Nephites. Then Omni, without looking, how many people wrote in the book of Omni? If you don't know, go and look:) The answer is 4! That's alot LOL. Then the Words of Mormon is like a history of how Mosiah received the plates and about King Benjamin. Then Mosiah. Oh Boy, Mosiah, he's cool. LOL. Ch. 1 talks about how we'd be without the plates, the language of the plates and Ch. 1 vs 7 is good! Chapter 7 is King Benjamin's proclamation stating Mosiah is king and what the Lord wants his people to hear. And what we shouldn't do, ch 2 v 33, and verse 41 is great! Chapter 3 talks on how we should be, Jesus Christ, it's a sweet chapter! Then ch 4 is like a chastisement to everyone. It's a sweet chapter. And ch 5 v. 8 made free by Jesus. How awesome to know and to read these things. People know of God and the Bible and Jesus. But not how and what he really did for us! Without him we would all die, through him we can repent and live again. The Atonement talk by David A. Bednar is awesome! Everytime I see grace, I replace it with "enabling power", because through Jesus Christ's grace, or enabling power, all things are possible! I love you Dad and miss you alot! I'm so happy to be where I am, don't really want to be any where else!:) LOVE YOU!!
Love,
Elder Cody Randall

Letter dated June 25, 2012 (received 8/2/12)

Hey Mom!
How are you doing? Hope all is well back at home with all the kids being outta school and their activities they're doing! My life  here in Ghana is great! The other night I was laying in bed trying to sleep while my mind was racing- no bueno! But, I was just thinking (for some reason unknown to me) "I'm in Africa right now, on my mission, what I've dreamed about since I was little and I'm really here! I'm not in America, I'm in Africa, half-way across the world! I'll probably never see these people again until the next world. I'll never be in this moment again!" Just some thoughts that were running through my head  it was crazy! I've been in Africa almost 8 months already, time flies! Seems like just yesterday I was waking up at 5 a.m. and getting ready to go to the airport to come here. I LOVE THIS PLACE! THERE'S NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE SERVING! The people here are amazing. And I'm so blessed  to be in their lives. I can truly see how much the gospel has blessed my life, without it I honestly have no idea where I'd be right now! So thank you and Dad for EVERYTHING you've done for me! The things I'm doing now and what I'm preparing to do and who I'm preparing to be, I never would have guessed in a million years I'd be doing them. When I'm home we'll have some great talks!!:) So you better start to prepare your questions for me. I'll be expecting millions!!!:) I love you mom, and again, thank you for everything! Have a great week and send my love to everyone.
All my love,
Elder Cody Randall

letters July 1-3, 2012

Letter dated July 1, 2012

Dear Family:

Wow!! Can you believe it’s already July?!! It seems as though just yesterday we celebrated New Year’s. WOW! Well, I hope all is well and everyone is great! I love and miss you all very much! So this past week was amazing! Last Monday we played soccer in the rain it was so fun! Tuesday we had some good lessons and then the AP’s (President’s assistants) called us and said to meet them right then, they had an assignment for us. So we went and they gave us something called the “MAGIC PACKAGE”. To help us strengthen our relationship with the ward, so we were excited! Wednesday we prayed on which families we should visit and who would be happiest to see us. Thursday we went and saw the Oseis, a family of 6. We went and asked them to pray for our investigators’ hearts to be softened and that new people as well will be softened. It was really cool, the spirit was there! Friday, the AP’s came on splits with us. Elder Alba went with us and Elder Nzuki went with Nketsiakrom. The day was amazing, we could tell the families we asked to pray have been praying. We taught 3 lessons, all very very powerful. The day wasn’t over. We received a referral or a “who do” and then went to another family, the Cobbinahs, to ask them the same things. Now this visit was inspired! The mother, Sis. Cobbinah, was sick and last night had a dream about Elder Alba. 4 missionaries surrounded her as she sat in a chair. She couldn’t understand what they said but she said she felt really really good. Now all of the missionary faces looked like Elder Alba and WHITE! So we sat down and tried to figure out what the dream meant. My first thought was “give her a blessing”, but I thought, naw, there has to be more meaning! So I continued to think about it, but “blessing” wouldn’t leave my mind! So I looked at Alba and said, “Maybe we should give her a blessing”. All he did was turn to me and smile. He told me after that he felt the same way, but pushed it from his mind thinking it was more. But when I said “blessing”, we all knew what it meant! So we went inside and gave her a blessing. It was a sweet prayer! After the prayer, Alba looked at me and said, “I have no idea what I just said. Was it good?” I laughed and said, “YES!” We then sat down and gave the family the magic package commitment! The day ended with us going and buying a fan ice and talking. GREAT DAY! Saturday was great as well! We went to the island in our area, WOW it’s beautiful!! We also went and saw a less active family with the Bishop and 2nd counselor. It was great. We ate some coconuts. Struggled, but was able!J It was an awesome day. We then visited the Oseis to thank them for praying and to continue. It’s helping a lot! The church was so full today. We had 6 powerful investigators come to church, 5 new investigators! Wow, it’s crazy to see the ways of the Lord! I LOVE YOU ALL BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE.

All my love,

Elder Cody Randall




Letter dated July 2, 2012

I just finished reading some dear elder letters and the card that had the tuna and Lauren’s pictures in it. WOW! She’s getting so big! I feel like I’m missing so much! But I just wanted you all to know that:

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!!!!

You guys are so amazing. I seriously couldn’t ask for a more amazing family!! I love you guys all sooo much and am so grateful for everything you all do and have done for me! And, yes, mission may be hard, but it comes with endless growth, strength, and love. You learn so much here, and I’m not even done yet! I can’t wait to see what else the Lord has in store for me. I just hope I can be good enough for Him! I can’t lie, mission is the best 2 years for your life! There are many sayings I’ve learned to say to continue! Forever Strong! KIA KAHA! Again, I miss you all so much and am so grateful, sooo very grateful, for everything you do! I love you, remember that!!!
Send my greetings to the ward and all our friends!

Love forever,

Elder Cody Randall



Letter Dated July 3, 2012 to his brothers

HEY BOYS!

How’s it going?! I hear you are both busy in some sports! How are they going? Everything is going great here in good ol’ Africa! Finally learned how to pray in Fanti. LOL It’s cool! Even last Sunday, “fast Sunday”, I got up and bore my testimony in Fanti. It was sweetJ

I love you both and I miss you guys a lot! When I get home we’ve got a lot of catching up to do!! So be aware, that when I come home we’ll have some good ole brotherly timeJ I love you guys again and miss ya. Take care!

Love,

Elder Cody Randall

June 17, 2012 letters


 

Letter dated June 17, 2012

Dear Brent My Great Father!

How are you doing dad?! I miss you! This past week was sweet, a lot of fun!J As you’ve heard, I’ve got a new companion, he was in the MTC the same time as me and his name is Elder Mbeson from Nigeria. He’s really cool. I like him a lot, we are having fun!J And thank you so much for the packages!J They’re amazing and I couldn’t ask for any better, more amazing parents. Thank you again so much! This past week was great! Had fun! Been raining a bunch! It’s raining as we speak! CRAZY! How are things at home? I hope they’re all great! The past couple of days we’ve been having deep doctrinal discussions before bed. It’s awesome!J Some questions, “What are the names of the 12 disciples in the Book of Mormon, or for the Nephites that Jesus called?” “Did the apostles get married?” “Did Moses die?” “Why are we called Elders and we aren’t married?” “Who was the prophet after Jesus?” “Do angels have wings?” I know the answer to these questions, do you know them? If you don’t, feel free to ask!J I love you Dad, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Cody Randall

(P.S. read Mom’s letter, its for the familyJ )

 

Letter dated June 17, 2012

Mom! OMGosh THANK YOU!!

You’re amazing! The music, pop tarts, candy, chocolate chips, carne asada! Holy crap! I opened that thing and I almost cried! Thank you sooo much!!! The America food tastes sooo good! I forgot what a poptart tasted like. LOL. Thank you for everything! I can’t thank you enough! And thanks for the Conference talks, I hope they weren’t too much. No letters though…next timeJ So this week was super eventful. Monday, P-day, didn’t do anything till the evening, as you know, I emailed you. Came home and went to family home evening. It was soooo awesome!J Then came home and watched Elders Akpan, Edwards, Ayang, & Nwoko (Nigerians) all cook a dog. Yes, sorry, a dog. Tuesday after district meeting, we all came to our apartment and at dog & rice. **(Yes, mom is getting sick to her stomach right about now)** It was hard to eat cuz I knew it was dog. But it tasted like roast beef, so it wasn’t bad, once I got over the fact that it was dog. Wednesday I woke up at 3 a.m. to get ready by 4 a.m., left to Takoradi to go and get Nwoko’s Patriarchal blessing. Then we went to the STC station to send Nwoko to get his new companion and for me to get mine. It was a long time. Sat there 6 hours waiting! But the rest of the week was normal, hard missionary work. Enjoying I am!J I love you mom, and thank you so much for everything! I’m so grateful! Tell me all about how everything is back at home!! I love you and miss you all! Have a great week and know that I love you!

Love,

Elder Cody Randall

letter dated June 10, 2012


Hey Family!

Man I am tired! This week was really cool. Monday we went to the beach and played football, ultimate Frisbee, and soccer. It was sweet! Then Tuesday was a good district meeting! Wednesday we were super busy and had PEC. Thursday we taught some sweet lessons and committed 2, soon to be 3 people, to baptism. It’s awesome!J Friday we walked a bunch and we were going to visit a family and share a scriptural thought with them and to get to their house you have to go through a school for the deaf. So as we passed through the kids were on recess and ran at me laughing and smiling. I didn’t know how to react cause they couldn’t hear me and I didn’t know how to “sign” so I just embraced them with a smile and hugs!J Waving and dancing to make them all laugh! We went to see the family and it was a good lesson. Then we made an appointment for family home evening next Monday and they taught me how to “sign” “How are you?” “I’m from America” and “I am SUPERMAN”!J lol. So as we left the kids ran to me again and I asked as many as I could how they were they all replied “I am fine”. Then I said I was from America and that I was SUPERMAN! They all smiled and laughed and continued to smile. It was such an amazing and humbling experience!J I LOVE IT here! Saturday we walked tons again and saw a lot of less actives to tell them to come to church! And Sunday was sweet! Church was good! I should be sending another memory card full of pics againJ soon! I love and miss you all!

Love,

Elder Cody Randall