Nov. 17, 2008

Hey Mom,
I'm doing good. Transfers were last week. My new companions name is Elder Nelson. He's from Rigby, ID. He's a really interesting guy. We just had Tommy's baptism yesterday. Which is awesome. He's been waiting a long time. The work is going good. That puts me up to 3 baptisms. And We're hoping that Brandon will get baptized when his mom and grandparents get back into town. Yes mom i'm staying warm enough. The members make sure of that. Send one medium and one large space bag. And I'm still in Sterling til maybe Dec. 21. Thats when transfers are again. I miss and love you all.
All my Love,
Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

10/20/2008

Hey Mom,

Everything is going good here. The only reason why i say things are good instead of great is cause this last week we had to go to two funerals. Which wasn't fun at all. But we're working hard and teaching people so.

And No mom I haven't gotten the package yet. I only got one letter this entire week and it was from Tiffanie Jenkins. But it was great to hear from her. Did you tell Jake he needs to write me back? Tell me how things are going on back home with everybody? I love you and miss you!

All my love,
Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

Pictures from Sterling

Please Send Letters

As great and easy as email is, poor Elder Hoffman only has once a week that he can actually check his email. It seems that he hasn't been getting many, if any, letters throughout the rest of the week.

So, Elder Hoffman has requested that we please send letters! Such a small request. Let's help our missionary out :)

Here is his current address:

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman
37925 Tessa Circle
Box 1524
Sterling, AK 99672

~Tiffany

Random Phone Call

***10/22, I just remembered his name is Brother Reidhead!! Thank you caller ID!!!***

So last night I got the most random phone call from a gentleman in my ward. (Now I've never met this guy in my life and he is just randomly calling me??? Am I getting a ward calling? A stake calling???)

Anyways, he preceeds to tell me that he had the wonderful opportunity this past weekend, of meeting Elder Hoffman in Sterling Alaska.

Apparently he has a son that lives in Sterling, and they were up there this past weekend for their granddaughters baptism. He explained to me that his son and daughter-in-law like to help take care of the missionaries and so had invited them to dinner with their family. He said he sat down next to Elder Hoffman and just started up normal chit-chat. He learned that Elder Hoffman was from Newton, UT and that he had 2 sisters, one older one younger. This gentleman then asked Elder Hoffman if either was married and learns that the older sister is married. He then asks where they're living to which Elder Hoffman replies Springville, UT. The gentleman (sorry I can't remember his name right now) then says, "I'm from Springville, what's their last name." Upon hearing our last name he says he knows that name, his wife then pipes up and says, we have Tenneys in our ward! "Oh yeah, Nick Tenney. Do they Live with their in-laws?" Elder Hoffman replies, "Yes, the Caras!!" "They're in our ward!!"

It was such a random call, but I was so grateful (almost moved to tears) to hear what a great and special missionary my brother is. And to know that he's doing well was all we needed :)

Thank you so much for sharing that story with me, it's one I'll treasure forever!
~Tiffany

New Pic

Cody mentioned in an earlier letter that he had run into our neighbors Alison and Robyn at his ward in Alaska. Here's the picture that they took, just wanted to share it with you all.

~Tiffany

September 22, 2008

Hey Fam, Everythings going good here. We have gotten 4 new investigators seens I last wrote home. We finally have a person on date to be batized in the first week of October. And We should have another here soon. I haven't gotten to learn hmong. But, I have learned a few words in choopic. Thanks to our investigator Don. He's really awesome. He's the other one that will be on date soon. He just has to got tell his mom. Its a respect thing that his people from his village do or something. I dont know. But, We're having alot of fun. We went fishing with the zone leaders to day. It sucked. We didn't catch anything. The highlight of today was going to the beach. It was fun but i didn't take any photos. Yeah, so whatz all been crack-a-lacken at home? Oh, mom could you send that second pair of pants. Its hard to wash one pair when you don't have a back-up pair. And my one pair are muddy and sticky from fishing today. The wheather has been really good. It was funny this one day we were tracting in the rain. and we were walking up this ladies driveway and she was standing on the porch. As we were walking up there was some thunder and Lightning. It was funny cause they very rarely get thunder and lightning. It was awesome. Transfers are next p-day so i don't know if im staying in sterling or what not. so I'm not sure if my mailing address is going to be the same. So for this week you might want to put the other address on the mail you send me. If you send it with the address i'm at right now its ok it will just take longer to get to me. Well I better get back to work. I love and miss you all.

All my love,

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

09/08/2008

Dear Mom & Dad & Fam,

Things are going great here. We're struggling finding people to teach, but we're having fun. The people are really nice. We've only had two days of clear sky and sunshine. The rest of the time it's cloudy and looks like it's going to rain. But it's still all good. Saturday we went to one of the Kenai Elders' baptisms. It was awesome. It's cool cause on Saturdays we get to play basketball with the investigators and members. It's way fun. Last P-day Elder Call took me fishing on the Kenai river. i caught five or six pink salmon and one silver salmon. We didn't keep any of them because pinks aren't good tasting and the silver was almost dead, so it wouldn't have been good to eat. But it was a lot of fun.....I am finding enough food to eat. The photos were great. And those wallet size photos aren't any good if I don't have a picture thing in my wallet. Please send one! Sorry my letters aren't long, I'll try to do better next week. And I'll try to write separate letters.

All my Love,

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

P.S. I saw Robyn and Alison at church on Sunday in my ward. It was cool!!


***Side note: Robyn and Alison were our next door neighbors for years until their family recently built a new house. But we've all grown up together, and have been great friends for years.***

~Tiffany

08/25/2008

Hey Family,

The flight was good. We stayed at the mission home the first night. i got to try muck-tuck which is whale blubber. It looks discusting, but when i tried it, it tasted like watermelon. Weird!

Then the next day we got assigned our areas and companions. It was exciting. When President Dance said who my companion was going to be. This cowboy looking guy with a hard hat on and a cardboard sign that said Sterling or Bust! ran straight at me and grabbed me. His name is Elder Call. He's a really great guy. He's from Pocitello, Idaho.

Its just so beautiful up here. Course the i spy game gets boring cause mostly all you see is trees.

The first day with Elder Call was good. We live in a members basement. They're really cool. I also think im not going to run out of suit pants or shoes. Cause Elder Calls last companion left alot of stuff there. Elder Call had fun with me the other day. we left from our dinner appointment early and he said we had time to do some tracking before our next appointment. Well we parked in this parking lot for appartments. And we went up to this lady and started talking to her, she was upset and was sick of the missionaries always coming by so she told this guy to take care of us. and then all of a sudden she says to get off her sidewalk and get in her house. It ended up that it was our next appointment that was with these people. so that was his joke on me.

But we're doing really great and I'm so glad to be serving in Sterling. I about hurt one of the Zone leaders that day too. Elder Call was giving me a chapel tour and one of them came from behind me. He > grabbed me and took me to the ground and i grabbed him and flipped him off my back. It was interesting.

Mom could you send more of the vacum bags.

All my Love,
Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

P.S. I'll send photos in my next e-mail if i don't forget my cable to my camera

Safe and Sound

My parents got a call from Cody's Mission President last night to let us know that Elder Hoffman arrived safe and sound in Anchorage. He had his first tracting experience and was just sitting down to dinner. God be with you til we meet again Elder!

~Tiffany

Off To Alaska

Off to the land of ice and snow...
Our beloved Elder is about to go...

Haha, had to get some rhyming in :)

Well, Elder Hoffman is leaving for Anchorage Alaska today. *As a side note, this is his first flight EVER! I hope he's not nervous (probably not)...I know I freaked out my first ever flight. Anyways. Safe Flight Elder. We love you and you're always in our prayers.

~Tiffany

08/19/2008 #2

Hey Fam,

I have some cool news. I might get to learn how to speak Hmong in Alaska. That would be so awesome to speak. I'm so fat know i think the scales broken cause it tells me. i've only gain 6 pounds. but i feel like i've put on 20 pounds. lol. mom those inticials RC= Referal Center, TEC= Teaching Evaluation Center, and TRC= Teaching Resource Center.

All my love,
Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

08/19/2008

hey fam,

Everything is going good. my leg has stop hurting. But now my arm is hurting. I keep joking that they should just cut it off. I'm not sure if i need anything right know except for uncle Ron and aunt Lories address.Well i've got to go love you all.

All my love,Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

08/16/2008

Dear Mom, Dad, and Little Sis,

....I'm doing great...I'm learning so much and enjoying being with my district. They are the best group of people at the MTC. i'm going to miss them all when we leave next Wednesday. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you.

All my love,

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

08/12/2008

Hey Everybody,

I'm doing good. I'm living in building 14M. My companion is awesome, he's the district leader for our group and he is the most spiritual guy. There was a change so we have another sister in our district. But our district is the best. I don't know whatelse to say so. Except send me more letters than e-mails. I'm not really going to be using the e-mail as much so I would like a lot of letters.

All My Love,

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman

1st Letter Home

(in case you can't read it)

Dear Mom & Dad & family,

My first day was great. I learned a lot of stuff. We got to take a tour of the campus. And got to listen to a lot of people talk. My companion Elder Bjorkman is a great guy. He's from Idaho and was made district leader and senior companion. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. Oh, I forgot to pack a family photo, so if you could send one that would be great. Perferrably a new one. The other guys in our room are great too. Atleast I'm not the shortest one, I love you and miss you all. But I have to get to work.

Love,

Elder Hoffman

1st Week at the MTC

Well, Elder Hoffman has been at the MTC for just over a week and we really haven't heard anything from him (not surprised). I'm sure all is well, and he's getting excited to leave for Alaska. We'll post an update as soon as we hear something.

~Tiffany

Dropping Elder Hoffman off at the MTC

Addresses

Here are the various addresses for Elder Hoffman:

MTC: Elder Cody Lee Hoffman
MTC Mailbox #250
AK-ANC 0820
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Anchorage address for packages (after Aug 20th):

Elder Cody Lee Hoffman
Alaska Anchorage Mission
12350 Industry Way Ste 218
Anchorage, AK 99515

1 Day Left

Our mom has taken Monday, Tuesday and of course Wednesday off in order to help Cody make sure everything is ready for him to leave. They spent today buying those last few items needed and will pack everything tomorrow and if there's anything forgotten get it. I can't believe that on Wednesday we'll be dropping my "little" (funny to say that since he's towered over me for the past several years) brother off at the MTC. Time has flown so quickly, and I'm not sure how to feel. When he gave his talk at church on Sunday it still wasn't real to me. I haven't cried yet, but I'm sure there will be plenty of tears on Wednesday. It's also kind of sad because he goes into the MTC the day before McKenzie's 3rd birthday, when he gets back she'll be 5!!! I've only ever dropped a cousin off at the MTC and I cried then, so I can only imagine what it will be like when I drop off my brother. But I want Cody to know again, how proud we are of him and his decision to serve the Lord. I know he will be a great missionary, and is a great example to our family. RWH!!!

Farewell Info

Here are the details about Cody's Farewell Talk:

DATE: SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008

TIME: 11:00 AM

PLACE: Newton 1st Ward Church House
100 West 100 South
Newton, UT 84327

Getting Ready To Go

So I guess that I've been put in charge of posting the goings on...and so far not much is going on, lol. Cody is just about ready to leave (from what he tells me) and only needs a few more things. I can't believe that we're getting so close, it seems like just yesterday he got his call, and now he's within a month of going.

I'm really impresses by how much he's matured over the years. Don't get me wrong, I've always love my brother, but he just seems different to me. Maybe it's because I don't see him everyday now, and so I don't mind the little imperfections. But I feel in my heart that he will be a wonderful missionary and will touch many people's lives.

Cody, I want you to know how proud we all are of you and your decisions to serve the Lord. You're always in our thoughts and prayers. We love you!

~Tiffany

Dear Elder Hoffman....

...you have been assigned to labor in Anchorage Alaska!