Letter from Syracuse

Dear Mom, Family, Friends, and other amazing people I love!

Life here in the 'Cuse! (Syracuse) This past week has been a very interesting one that is for sure! I really think Elder Evans and I are getting sick or somthing cause, we wake up every morning, sore (soon to be explained), Super Tired from no sleep (as well as to be explained), and have head aches, stuffed nose, and feel like major poo poo. Other than that, things have been pretty alright!

Elder Evans and I have never been so sore in our leg, and feet area for a REALLY LONG TIME! Walking from the bus to appointments is not the bad part. It's when we miss the bus, or there is no bus for us to get anywhere so we have to walk. So far, from our apartment, we have walked 10+ miles up and down hill. (mostly up) That has been with in the last couple days. Mixed with strong winds, heavy snow, snow mixed with rain, it has been a very ruff week when it came to walking. We also had most of our appointments cancel on us today especially yesterday. We only had one appointment after church (for us is 6 hours of church and an hour of meetings each Sunday) and we were gonna hit some houses on the way that were referrals and what not, and she cancelled on us. So we got dropped off at the bus hub to find a way home by the sisters, and found out (after they drove off) that I didn't have my bus pass on me (so I had to buy another one, an extra 15 bucks) and that we had to wait an hour for the next bus to get home. I will NEVER EVER ride the bus on a Sunday for the rest of my life. That is defiantly when the crazy people come out and do stuff. So that is my rant for the week! haha

Today I do get to go on my first exchange with our Zone Leaders, Elder Hussey, and Elder Simmonds! I don't know who I am exchanging with quite yet. Not much else has gone on out of the ordinary, besides the fact that we are reminded everyday how crazy people are here and its very scary sometimes, the Ghetto is a very very scary place to walk around in during the day, and especially at night 0.0 But things will be ok cause we are missionaries and the lord is on our side :)

Oh our mailing address for letters and packages (packages through Fedex and UPS are a different address) is:

P.O Box 149
Whitesboro, NY
13492

That will be my address through out the rest of my mission! :D
Well the computer says I have 10 mins let on my time on the computer and I have to still write the President! So tata for now!

Love you all with all my heart, and may the lord be with you always.

-Elder Anthony D. Zenger

Word from President Wirthlin Jr.

The pictures aren't cropped the best; however, I blame it on illness, payroll, and emotion - bleh.  I was so excited and grateful to FINALLY get something from the mission home letting me know that Anthony had arrived safely, etc etc.  I scanned these in at work, but the scanner was being funky - I was supposed to be balancing payroll sheets -_-, and than I spilled WATER all over them! AHHHHHHHHHH.  Fine, whatever.  Here what you see is what you'll get, especially with me hanging around these days. =P  
The top picture is of Elder Evans and Elder Zenger - they will be companions for 12 wks!  Elder Evans is Anthony's trainer, and his district leader.  They also have the priveledge of opening up an area in Syracuse South that has never had missionaries before.  They are very excited, very nervous, and needless to say - a little frazzled since it all hit at once. :)  That's okay, they will do fine.  I love that Elder Evans is bigger than Anthony.  I think it will remind him of hanging with Nic - and my new saying of putting the "big white boys down in the ghetto".  :)  They will be amazing.  

The last picture is of the two missionaries and President & Sister Wirthlin Jr.  I will scan and post his letter after this.  We are getting a box ready to head to New York!  We missed Valentines so a little bit of that, a little bit of the Irish-cuz we are, a new T-shirt (of his old one), and yep - SPICES.  I know if he is having to cook he's going to be wanting some.  I have to send him some oils anyway - so they will be fine shipping together.  I don't need him getting sick like we have been here. 

First week in the field.

Moviegeeks are moving out...Max's farewell (Anchorage AK) is this Sunday and Nic's is Mar 10th (Leeds UK).  FUN!

Anthony's camera died shortly after the first week in the MTC.  He shipped home his SD card so that we could pull pictures off of it, I think he had over 100 on there from his 3 weeks there.  I have tried it in my computer, Dean's laptop, and 2 camera's - I think it was a bad SD card instead of his camera.  He is sending it home this week so we will be able to figure out what needs to be done.  We did his taxes and he is receiving a whopping $38 from Federal and WAHOO $1 from the State of Utah. (eye roll)

I've been a little stressed since he flew out last Tuesday - no phone call from either airport and no msg or picture from the Mission President saying "Your son has arrived safely".  AHHHHH!!!!!
Yesterday was a holiday, THANKFULLY, there was somewhere open so he could access a computer and get his poor mom a message.  Here it is...........

Dear Family, Friends, and everyone else!

That's good to hear that Abby got my letter and the SD card. I'm sorry I didn't send it to you I just figured she would share cause she is awesome like that haha I haven't recived a letter from her yet, but it might take a while to get here since she might have sent it to the mtc, who would forward it to the Mission home, and then to the apartment I am staying at. So I hope I get it today (Monday) so that way I can write her back. I'm also going to try and send off my camera today so that you guys can see what we can do with that. :D (oh also I need to know when Abby's B Day is in March. I have her card and was going to send it the first week so that I know it got to her. Thank you!)

I'm sorry I didn't call at the airport or anything! :P Everyone and there dog where on the phones at the Saltlake airport, as well as the Detroit Airport.....so I couldn't call with out missing my flight. I DID MAKE IT SAFLEY HERE! :D It's very nice up here and isn't as cold or anything like everyone says haha. I did get my boots you sent me and they are HUGE but very aweomse! :) Thank you much!

Well my first week as a REAL missionary in the field has been.....very very.....not normal....haha my new companion and I (Elder Evans) got assigned to the an area called, Syracuse City South! We are actually opening this new area by our selves. -.- (with the small help from our awesome Zone Leaders, Elder Hussey, and Elder Simmonds) My companion is gunna hit his year mark on the 22nd of this month! This is his first time in the Syracuse area, a first time trainer, and a first time district leader as well. So our first few days and week have been a head ache and then some haha but things are slowly coming together and getting on track! Our area is a walking area and our ENTIRE area is the literal GHETTO! 0.0 It's not to bad or scary in some parts, but in other parts its pretty sketchy. :P but the lord will bless us and protect us as Elder Evans and I walk and preach the gospel!

On our first day out in our area, Elder Evans and I met our first Progressing investigator that the Zone Leaders gave us. Their names are Donny and Tatianna. They are a young black couple who are very interested in the church. We also got to meet our Less Active, Recent Convert we see each week named Doug! We went with the Zone Leaders on the second day and met him, and read in the B.O.M with him. It was AWESOME! My favorite part of the week so far, was when Elder Evans and I were walking from Dougs house to the Bus Hub, we saw a dead cat on the side of the road, (pretty bad lookin) and saw a pair of dress shoes sitting next to it. Yes, Elder Evans did indeed pick them up and take them home with us. haha He took them home and polished them up and cleaned them up and they look sexy and brand spaken new! You find some pretty cool, Valuable, and some pretty scary stuff here on the side of the road that is free for grabs. The ghetto......is a very interesting place to serve haha but it will be a very good experience to be here!

Yesterday (Sunday) Elder Evans and I went with the Zone Leaders to another Progressing Investigators house. She lives with members of the ward named the O'conners. Very nice people. Her name is Nicole and she actually has a baptismal date on March 9th! :D and she just got handed to us by the zone leaders and counts as our first baptism! :D :D We had dessert with the O'conners and Nicole last night. Sister O'conner made her famous OREO CAKE! ^.^ It was AMAZING! haha she even made us a seperate cake for us and the Zone Leaders to take home! People here in the Ward and the Singles Branch, are amazing and so so friendly! WE already have dinner tonight with the bishop of the ward, dinner tomorrow (tuesday) with a member in the ward, and another dinner on the 27th with another member in the ward! FOOD!!!!!!!

On this last Saturday, we got to be at a baptism for a Recent convert that the Zone Leaders got to baptize and we now get to teach! Things are ruff but are slowly coming together! :) It's good to see pictures of Dan on his mission and I can't wait to send you pictures when I can take them! haha hope everyone is doing alright still and the lord is always there for each and everyone of you, especially then it seems like he isn't around at all. I learned that and am still learning that as I am trying to get our work done so we can have a full day OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT as well as trying to stay positive about you guys at home. I think about all of you constantly each and every day in the morning, in between appointments, and in the evening as I write in Abby's Journal as well as my personal one. The lord is on our side constantly, the reason we feel the way we do about things that have happened, changed, or even is we are just upset and or depressed. It is satan trying to tare you apart from your heavenly father and to make your life miserable. Each and everyone of us has the power to crush satans head and to be happy like the lord wants us to be. I have noticed how hard it is to be happy, positive and just have an awesome feeling about being here. What helps me is think of all the good things/blessings I have seen so far this ALMOST past month as I have been out. I have seen many blessings that are going on at home and as well as with me while im here. As Pres. Gordon B. Hinkley said in one of his talks, "Always think to yourself, Things are ok, Things will be alright." With the lord all things are possible. Everytime I say a prayer and ask to help protect you guys and to make sure I can stay focused on the work. That quote pops into my head EVERYSINGE TIME! Things will be alright, and things will be ok. I know so and will always know so. Things happen for a reason, things happen to make us stronger and to help us come closer to our heavenly father and the people we love.

Well that's about it all I have for today! OH WAIT! I lied, With the package you send me, I hope there is a picture of you guys (the family) in there as well. I want my 2 most favorite things in the world to be with me while im here. (ok 3) The lord, my family, and my bestest friend in the entire world. With out any of them, I would not be out here today, trying to bring people closer to christ.

I love you all dearly and whole heartedly!

By Now!

-Elder Zenger

An Email? Cool!

hey mom,

 

Im really glad Shannyn is doing well! I actually put her name on the prayer roll at the temple when we went on PDay. I would like you to also ask her/tell her that I would like to hear from her if she wants to write me. I think its awesome that you got that photo done! :D I did write abby a letter that I am sending tomorrow (Monday) that said for her to pick out her favorite photo of the two of us and for you to do the same thing with it if thats ok. PLEASE PLEASE Dont forget my shirts, pants, and belt with that package :) I would like them...a lot haha 

 

I willl write another email on thursday ( our last PDay at the MTC) I don't remember what my box number is.....haha They gave us a card that has it on it and i have it with my letter stuff in my room.

Until thursday, Much love to everyone and keep me updated! :)

 

 Love you

Elder Zenger

If you are interested in writing him while at the MTC you should do it soon!  He flies out NEXT Tues - yes NEXT Tues - wow that three weeks went by FAST!  I don't have his boots yet! UGH.  I hope you can hear his love, excitement, and joy in his emails.  What a great blessing.

#2 Email 1/31/13 =] WAHOO!!!

Hello,

I didn't know that, It didn't show up in the email you sent. I hope she is doing ok and will continue to recover. I tried sending more but it said the files were to big :P so I will try and send as much as possible but I have to delete some before I do. and I can't do that till we know more about my camera. With the shirts, I would like to (if you can) so send me not only the FB shirt but the shirts that you know I wear all the time please :) I love you!!! :D

I will try to do my best to write Sister Adams ASAP. The elders in the pictures are in my district, they are (going from left to right) Elder Crainer, Elder Duckworth, and Elder McPeterson. The one in PDay cloths is Elder Mecham who is in my district and roommate.

We have a total of 23-25 of us going to NY Utica on the 12th, Everyone in my discrict (including my companion) is going to utica as well as the other disctrict next to us. (thats the disctrict Elder Crainer, Elder Duckworth, and Elder McPeterson are from.)

Tell Reba that I got her letter and sent her one in the mail today as well as one to Nic, Max, and my friend Autumn from EFY. Nic told me that you invited Abby, Him and Max over on Friday to do something......are you feeling ok? haha Abby is always welcome to head over any time but.....Nic and Max? haha Just make sure they don't mess with my stuff in my room ;) haha

I hope Terry and William are doing ok as well as Susan and Lyman! I miss being at home alot, but what keeps me going is a quote one of my MTC teachers told us yetsterday. He asked,

"Do any of you feel homesick, depressed, sad or upset? Do you know why you feel that way? It's because it's satan trying to get you to leave your mission and to go home. You already upset hime by being here today, don't let him get to you while you serve on your mision. DON'T LET HIM WIN! The lord will and already has blessed not only you, but all the family and friends that are at home supporting you and loving you."

That has changed my mood and my look on things since that day I got super super homesick (which is explained in the hand written letter you are going to receive). Now I feel like nothing can stop me, because I am doing the lords work and he has blessed me so much, so that I can go out and bless the lives of others to come unto Christ and to have them return to their Heavenly Father once again. I know that this is what I am supposed to do, that the lord has blessed me with this work. I have never felt so close to my heavenly father before in my entire life, and I get to feel this way 24/7 if I keep reminding my self why I am here, and that the lord will bless the people I love and care about at home. Then I am ready to go out and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the poeple of Utica. I love this Gospel and continue to grow that love for it everyday I am here and while im out in the feild. I have no doubt in my mind that it is true and that this is what the lord has planned for me.

I hope that if you put this (or peices of it) on facebook, that no one on facebook or at home over misses me. I hope that if they do, that they will feel not only my love for them, but that the lord loves them and will protect me while I serve and will bless them for my service.

I love and cherish all of you, and encourage you all to please make sure that everyone who wants to write me, gets the opprotunity to. There is nothing better than haveing the district leader come back to the classroom with letters that are for you that came from the people that you love and care about so much. :)

Until next time, Peace, Love and Happiness to your life and all your lives! :)

-Elder Anthony D. Zenger

Email Arrived 1/31/13 - 1st PDay

Hey mom!

I know I know, I am focused! I promise! :) I didn't forget about talking about brother Adams, I don't know what I want to say just yet. I have been praying for what to say. I don't know ANYTHING about shannyns Accident....No one told me. So i'm sorry and I hope she is ok and the sister adams is doing ok. The lord has blessed me with so much comfort and peace its amazing! I feel the spirit and am super happy to be here and just love being here and doing what im doing :)

I am sending you a few pics from the camera with this email. I turned on my camera this morning, and the screen is completly BUSTED! It turns on and still takes pictures, I just cant see what im taking a picture of :P I don't know what happened or how that happend. but it did :( Email or write me back for what I can do or what to do haha
If you could send me the jeans I left behind with my belt and couple of the shirts I have,(the ones like my facbook one and such) that would be AWESOME! I did check and ask them about the belt and the shirts and they said its ok as long as I wear them only to gym and on PDay. :) I love being a missionary and feel how much fun and how much I feel the spirit each day! I love getting mail from you guys and a whole ton of friends! Its such an amazing day when you get mail and or see people get mail from home :) Words can't discribe how much I love it here and love what I am doing :)

Give everyone my love and blessings! Talk to you all very very soon!

-Love Elder Zenger

These don't appear to be his roommates, it might be Mecham with his arms over his tag but I have asked for clarification and names on all these young men.  The bottom picture is for his dad - it took me a minute before I realized and laughed - he, his dad, and Ben watched "Finding Bigfoot" every Sunday at 8.  For Christmas the boys got their dad "Squatch hat & mugs".  I'm sure this Elder showing up in a Squatch shirt made Anthony's day as I'm sure it will make his dads as well. =]

First Letter of the Mission

He's very homesick for Abby, if you couldn't tell. I will admit I sent a "Howler" telling him to knock it off the next day. I know, I know, its only been 3 days and yes, we love Abby to death BUT he needs to focus elsewhere right now and trust the Lord and his family to take care of her.