The FIVE-year-old

This week has been a lot of bit legendary! On P-day last week we put a gentleman on date who has been taking the lessons for A LONG TIME! He’s had trouble with Coffee, and smoking cigars. 

But he’s finally clean. And he is set to be baptized on the 4th of next month. We are super excited. We also put a a boy on baptism right after thanksgiving! He’s 14 and a total stud. 

He actually reminds me a lot of my little brother.....like. A LOT. So it’s been weird and cool working and teaching him. 

We also had Friday the 13th in October!!!!! The day I’ve been waiting for! I was so excited. And to celebrate. Our ZL’s decided to break into our apartment while we were gone and steal all of our lightbulbs. Yay! 😡 

And then to top off the celebration we accidentally flooded our kitchen! What an amazing day! 

Lol! It was actually pretty funny! And I can’t believe the transfer is almost over. I feel like I just got here. But apparently It’s almost done. 

You guys. We had a dinner appointment with a legendary family. We first show up, I introduce myself and go through that whole process, and then this little 5 year old boy asks me if i want to play checkers with him. Now, you have to understand. I was expecting to play a casual game of checkers, and them let him win. But when we got all set up, and he played his first move, I knew he knew what was up. This little boy straight wrecked me in checkers. I mean just obliterated me. 

Then his dad (who is one of those smarty people) proceeded to tell me how this 5 year old son of his LETS his dad win in chess. This kid is so good. He LETS his dad win. What the heck? Who is this kid? It gets better. 

I start just kinda strumming a song on the ukulele. And this boy jumps up and grabs this mini cello. Listens for a bit, and starts playing with me. 

I lost it. I couldn’t even handle it. 

Here is the frosting on the cake. After dinner and desert. We do our dinner message, and his mom asks this boy. “Evan can go finish up the dishes really quick?” 

“Yes mother.” 

Gets up and does the dishes. 

This kid is 5!!!!!

I couldn’t even handle it anymore. This kid was nuts. It was super cool. 

I’ll try and get a picture with him. Because he’s super little. And doesn’t even look 5. 

And I’ll send it next week. 

I know that our Heavenly Father has given each one of us talents and abilities and also weaknesses and struggles. And I know that as we develop our talents and share them with others it will help those overcome their struggles in life. One of my favorites parts of being a missionary is seeing people overcome their problems and turn to help others with theirs. 

It’s so incredible to see. 

I love you all and have a fabulous week. 

-Elder Cody Poppleton 

Back in Anchorage!

This week has been pretty crazy!!
Sunday night we slept on the chapel benches to check it off our bucket
list of things to do when you live in a church. Then we took off on
the ferry early Monday to Whittier. It was about a 7-8 hour boat ride,
then drove up to Anchorage.
Saying goodbye to Cordova was pretty hard. The people there are so
amazing, and they have helped me learn and grow so much! I am so
grateful for the opportunity I had to serve there.
It was amazing, and it was a super beautiful drive, especially in the
fall. We have been staying with the Klatt Elders here in Anchorage all
week and will be there until Wednesday. It's been super fun serving
with them.
Friday night we got our transfer calls......IM STAYING IN ANCHORAGE!!!!!
I got called to serve in the O'Malley ward, and Elder Moala is going
to be my companion. He just finished getting trained, so I'm super
pumped to serve with someone who still has that greenie fire.

I know that the Lord is directing this work, and I'm excited to serve
under his direction in Anchorage again. It's gonna be legit.,2 legit to quit.

I love you all

-Elder Cody Poppleton

The Accident!

So this week we were able to have a pretty interesting experience.
We were on our way in for the night. And we were driving down the road
that the church is on, which is a little ways out of town, and were
about half way down the road, and there were a couple of trucks in the
road with their hazards on. So as we got closer one of the trucks
moved so we could get by.
I rolled down my window to see what was up, and there was a white
pickup truck that had gone of the road and into the ditch, and hit a
tree. When I looked in the cab, there was blood EVERYWHERE. there was
two guys standing on the road and their faces where super white and
kind of in shock at what they were seeing. I asked if they had called
the cops and they hadn't. So I told one of them to call the ambulance.
Then I flipped my hazards on and got out of the truck.
I walked over to the truck, and asked the man in the cab of the truck
if he was ok, arms he turned and looked at me, and his nose looked
more like a blob of silly putty than it did a nose.
He said he was face,  but that his face hurt.
So I just started talking to him for a little while, and he reeked of
alcohol, and had a few empty pill bottles in the cab.
While I was talking to him, the cops showed up and he said "oh no!!!"
And began to say very colorful things.
The cops took him away in the ambulance and that was that.
So it was an interesting experience to say the least.

The people of Cordova are amazing. I love them so much.
I had a lady tell me today the Book of Mormon came from the pits of hell.
So I was able to share my testimony with her of the divinity of the
Book of Mormon.
She didn't want one but that's ok.

The work of the Lord will not be frustrated and will not be stopped.
And I'm so glad I can participate in progressing the work here in
Cordova.

Miracles

Miracles are brought by faith, and miracles happen everyday here in Cordova.
One of the biggest miracles I've seen here were the baptism of
Greithly, Yagnnesis and Ashantee.
They are three Dominican girls that are good friends with some of our
members children.
And so with prayer, some revelation, and a sleep over to get them to
come to church, with an invitation to be baptized started an
incredible adventure, not only for the girls but for us as
missionaries as well.
It was incredible to see that as they were taught the lessons they
were so willing to change. They were so excited. The mom was also
super excited which was a miracle as well.

The lord has provided a way for his children to do as he commands.
Whatever it may be.
I am so grateful that I can assist the lord in doing his work, and
bring his children unto the savior, so that they too can receive the
blessings that come with these ordinances.

I love you all, and I hope you have a legendary week
-Elder Poppleton

Called to Serve

These last few weeks have been super fun! The weather has been nice and the work has been good. The community is really nice, and friendly. This week ends transfers and begins a new one. I get to serve another six weeks here in Cordova with Elder Smith.

There are 12 missionaries going home on Tuesday, and seven coming on Wednesday. We also get a new Mission President on the first of July. So its really exciting because there are going to be a lot of changes in the mission. 

In my studies this week week, I decided to focus more in the Doctrine and Covenants. 

and in the 4th section it says that those who have desires to serve God are called to the work and that really hit home for me. It's not just missionaries, or church leaders. It is everyone who has a desire to serve the Lord that is called to His work. 

As missionaries we are promised that there are people prepared to receive the gospel that we need to find.  Well, that promise isn't just for the missionaries. it is for everyone who is called to the work.  There are people everywhere who are ready to come unto Christ. 

Member Missionary work is so important. It is vital. 

I'm excited to see what happens here in Cordova over these next few weeks. Fishing season is in full force this time of year, so everyone is gone a lot on the water, but that won't stop the work from progressing. 

Stay Swell,

Elder Cody Poppleton

Cordova in June

Nyob Zoo!!!
These last few weeks have been super crazy!!
The last few days, the Salvation Army has been selling all of their
stuff because the store is closing down. We have friends with the
pastor there, and so he asked for our assistance in helping move all
of the heavy furniture and such, and putting it into people's cars.
It's interesting to see how regular human beings, can turn into
ferocious predators in a matter of seconds when they find out things
are like 90% off. 😂
When we finished, the pastor and his wife took us out to get some
pizza, and we had an amazing "conversation on religion" (they had no
idea I was teaching them the lessons)
Well long story short, they are now going to read the Book of Mormon!! #awesome
It was an incredible experience.
We also were able to have a zone conference this last week, and we had
a special guest presiding at this meeting. It was Elder Russel M.
Nelson. President of the quorum of the twelve apostles.
It was cool to hear from him and his wife as well as Elder Gong and
his wife. We actually got to hear from the security guard too. That
was awesome!
Being a missionary in the bush of Alaska...you kind of get forgotten.
So receiving a package from my mom this week made my whole mission pretty much!
I was so excited. Helps me know I'm not totally forgotten. 😁

The People of Cordova are AMAZING!!! Even if they literally have no
desire to learn or talk about religion. They still want to talk to you
and be your friend.
Total 180-degree from anchorage. In anchorage everyone pretty much hates you.
But here people like the missionaries for the most part and they talk
to us, and we get to know them, and do service for them. Its amazing!
I love the people of Cordova with all of my heart, and I pretty much
never want to leave.

President Nelson in this last General conference said something along
these lines.
Disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be
different from the rest of the world.

I LOVE THAT!!!
I know that as we become truly converted to the gospel of Jesus
Christ, we will not be afraid to Stand out, speak up, or be different.
And that all starts with the Book of Mormon.
So if you aren't reading every day. Please do so.
The prophet has asked us to do that as well. And whatever excuse you
may possibly have to not read it everyday is invalid. Because there is
no excuse.
If you have time to check Facebook, you have time to read.
If you have time to eat, you can listen to it while you do so.
If you're too tired, suck it up. And read.
Its so important. When Christ asked Peter "do you love me?"
He is also asking you that question. And if your answer is yes. Then
keep the commandments.
Because is says "if you love me, keep my commandments." And we are
commanded to read the Book of Mormon every day.
And I know that as you do so, your testimony of the savior and the
prophet Joseph Smith will increase. And that the lord will bless you.

Anyways, ✌️

-Elder Poppleton

First Week in Cordova, AK

So I have been Transferred to Cordova Alaska. My new companion is Elder Smith. and I freakin love it here. 

There is a small branch here, and the members are amazing. 

but I think my favorite part about Cordova, is how beautiful it is. 

Everywhere is just breath taking. I cant even handle it. 

One of my first days, we went around so I can kind of get an idea of what area I will be serving in, and we watched as this gigantic dog, ran across the road. well, as we got closer to it we soon realized that it wasn't a dog. It was a wolf. a huge wolf. It was beautiful. it was white with a kind of goldish tint along its back. 

There are bald eagles EVERYWHERE! it is so amazing. I think the only downside to Cordova is the fact that it rains....every day...all day. But i will gladly take the rain, for the beauty of Cordova.

Another fun part of Cordova, is the fact that we get to live in the church building. Our beds and dressers and stuff are in one of the classrooms. We use the kitchen and the Bathrooms, and my favorite part is that we get to shower in the baptismal font! IT IS AWESOME!

When I got here, there was literally no work...we had a lot of potential investigators, but that was about it. So we went to work. We set some goals, and hit the streets. 

We went boat trackting, and ran into one of the few potential investigators that we have. 

His name is Seth, and he wears these awesome rose tinted glasses. 

We had an amazing discussion about Isaac and Abraham, and the sacrifice, that Abraham was willing to make. 

His excuse to not coming to church this last Sunday was because he liked to go play pool, and socialize on Saturday late into the night. 

I then decided to ask him, what was he willing to sacrifice to our Heavenly Father. and he replied that he was willing to give his life if he was asked. 

I then pulled the representative of Jesus Christ card, and told him that God asks him to come to church on Sundays. and that meant sacrificing a night of fun, to make it to 9am church the next day. 

He thought for a moment, and agreed to coming to church. 

haha unfortunately he never showed up, and he texted us later and apologized. 

I learned a lot from that lesson though, and it really got me thinking. 

What am I willing to sacrifice for my Heavenly Father? 

as I contemplated this, I have realized how much my testimony of the Savior has increased. 

I challenge all of you to ask yourself the same question. 

what are you willing to sacrifice? 

find it, and do it. even if it is just putting down the phone for like 10 minutes to read your scriptures. that is a huge sacrifice to some of you ;) but you can do it.

I know that as we sacrifice things, we will get something better in return! 

--

 

Elder Cody Poppleton