He's a Missionary.

It came really fast.  From Nov 18th when he sent his papers in to Jan 23rd at 2pm when we took his luggage out of the car, gave him a final bear and kisses to hopefully last both of us for two years.
He had shaken Abby's hand before he got out, I missed that part but that's okay - it was for them.  His cousin Amber met us at Olive Garden, didn't eat anything but sat with us and chatted - hugged Anthony goodbye.  His cousin-in-law, Sarah (above - married to Johnathan) came up from AF with her kids to say a final goodbye. 

I don't think my son, even though we tell him often, he doesn't realize what an impact he has on people that are around him.  He has never believed that he was influential, yet every teacher has told me that he is and the affect he has had on classmates.  Many calls from Young Men leaders when he was at Band Concerts wishing he and Max were at YM to help with the other boys.  He will be a great missionary, as with other missionaries out there, his power to reach out and touch others is beyond what he knows yet it is great.

It was a somber and solemn night at our house and on the way home.  Abby slept most of the way, Olivia cried a little, Ben sulked and tried had not to cry, Dean and I tried not to look at them or we would start.  The house is definitely quieter.  I went down and folded his laundry left on his futon, stripped his bed, and started more laundry.  =]  Typical Anthony, didn't Abby say, whenever he leaves he always leaves something behind. =]  My baby.

Continuing Information

Dean contacted the New York mission home today and we found out some fun stuff.

This is the snow at our house.  They said it's a little higher in NY, about knee deep.  I'm thinking maybe I will get his boots to him at the MTC or have them waiting at the mission home.  While he can tread around here without boots on, he isn't walking 12 hrs in it here or doing multiple service projects.

We found out that he can have LDS music like our favorites by Jeff Goodrich. =]  We have at least 4 discs of Mormon Tabernacle Choir already loaded onto his MP3 player; therefore, he will have plenty of choices with his companion if they want to listen to music.  

We found out that he will be in the MTC for 3 weeks.  We thought he might be in only for a week and a half; however, the mission president stated they are not expecting the missionaries until the 12th of Feb.  I guess I was right,  I was thinking he'd be there around Valentines.  The President said that they are busy expanding the mission, getting apartments, etc.  They are expecting 19 other missionaries with Anthony on the 12th. =0  Than another 26 the following month.  Holy Cow!  My friend Tom who said he hadn't seen the missionaries anywhere in Utica or in his town; I believe that is about to change!

Yesterday, we were treated to a Farewell Dinner to Anthony by David and Linda Polugar.  David is a fantastic chef and we feasted on Parmesan Chicken with salad and Red Velvet Cake for dessert.  We've known Linda for about 15  or 16 yrs.  She's pretty much watched Anthony grow up.  In the past 5 yrs David and Linda have become pretty much my kids God-parents - if we were Catholic that is. ;]  David is a big scouter and very helpful to getting Anthony done with his Eagle.
 
We are down to the final hours - I have work Monday and Tuesday to finish my payroll and balance.  Tuesday night will be spent getting everything in his suitcases, crossing off his lists - leaving out only what he needs for the next morning.  I'm sure we will head to lunch before our 2:00 pm deadline at the MTC. 

Getting the Gear for Cold Weather

I was going to wait until I got the video from Linda Wilcken; however, I decided I would post pictures now and the video on Monday after I receive it from Linda.

We went and got Anthony the three-in-one 3/4 length coat for the missionaries.  Outside is a rain coat, inside is a fleece coat.  They can be worn separately or together for extra warmth.  It has lots of pockets and a removable hood.  We bought him a separate hood, scarfs and gloves so hopefully his head should be toasty. =]

Yep, he's looking like a missionary, just missing his tag.

He was showing his mission bag also.....his grandparents bought him both the coat and the bag.  Thank you Thank you THANK YOU.  His bag has a bladder to hold water during the hot, sweaty months; a rain fly that he can unvelcro from the bottom that covers his entire bag.  He is very excited and its only luggage!

Only his boots are left.  We are considering ordering those online and having them delivered to the mission home so that they are waiting for him when he arrives.  We aren't sure how long he will be staying at the MTC as we have heard anywhere from 1 1/2 wks to 3 wks.

Additional Information

Found the website  http://mtc.byu.edu  which told us that Anthony is to report to the MTC on Wed., Jan 23rd at 2pm.  Times are always good to know.

For those wanting to send him email his address will be:  anthony.zenger@myldsmail.net .

For those sending him snail mail his MTC address is:

Elder Anthony Dean Zenger
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604
United States

The mission mailing address is:

Elder Anthony Dean Zenger
New York Utica Mission
PO BOX 149 
Whitesboro NY 13492-0149
United States


PACKAGES are to be sent to:

Elder Anthony Dean Zenger
New York Utica Mission
8439 Clark Mills Rd
Whitesboro NY 13492
United States


We have just a few incidentals left to get - small things for everyday and extra stuff not in the usual first aid kits.  He has finally cleaned his room out!  Wow it looks bare.  He has a week left so there will be a little bit of clothing and some games I'm sure to put together after he is gone but that is fine.  

No one gets his room - he had taken over my office space - itsy bitsy teeny tiny.  Turned it into his man cave.  There are things that can't be removed until he moves out moves out and that is totally fine.  He's still my baby, he still has space at my house, he's simply being loaned out to the Lord for 2 yrs.  Ben and Olivia have their own rooms so the man cave will now turn into the "entertaining" room for Ben, Olivia, and Cherisa. =]  For times when they don't want to "hang" with the rest of us, or its visiting teaching, home teaching appointments.

Farewell Sunday

Wow, its here, farewell Sunday.  He leaves in 10 days....way too fast.   Anthony was supported by family, friends, and ward members like nothing I expected.  It was overwhelming to me to see all those people in my house and not everyone who wanted to could make it.  People have truly blessed us, come out of the woodwork to show their love of my son.  People that have watched him grow up - we moved here when he was turning 5 - that have called me or dropped off cards, cookies, texts, books, and support that just say how much they love my son and just as proud of him as I am. Wow.  That definitely makes this mom emotional.
Anthony's only living grandparents were unable to make it down for his farewell due to weather.  We were sad for that but understood and would greatly like to have them still around than risk their lives driving over in bad weather.  For their sake and anyone else who wasn't able to attend Sacrament Meeting with us, I have summarized Anthony's talk.  He did a great job.

"I was given the subject of Teaching the Saviors way by teaching by the spirit.  I found a first presidency message by Elder Eyring where he talks about relating to the people you teach by knowing what they need to hear.  When I enter the mission field  I won't have my Dad, Mom, or friends to lean on or turn to for answers, I will only have my companion and the spirit.  In D&C 8:2 it reads:  Yea, behold I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you, and which shall dwell in your heart.  When my buddy Dan, who's already in the mission field, left on his mission he made it look easy.  I've come to realize that there is a lot more work that goes into it than I realized.  I now understand his comments of "sorry dude, I can't hang, I've got things to do."  I thought it would be buy this stuff, put it together and than have time to hang with friends and family, in the past two months since I received my call, I know that's not the case.
While watching "The District", one of the required assignments before my mission, I more fully realized that it won't be like teaching by the spirit with my friends and family that I know and know what they need.  I won't know these people or have a connection to them.  Therefore, I will need to have a prayer with my companion first, before we leave for the day so that we will be prepared and can listen to the spirit who can tell us what these people need.  I've learned from my buddies, Elder Saunders (Dan) and Elder Lund (Taylor), as I've read their letters and emails, that they do their teaching from the spirit every day and so far, it been the best time of their lives.  I wanted to give my talk, like Elder Lund at his farewell, where he stood at the pulpit with his subject and his scriptures and the spirit.  I highlighted items on the talks I found, items that I thought needed to be repeated and said.
I'd like to close by bearing my testimony that I know the gospel is true, that I am supposed to be on my mission.  There was time when I hadn't decided whether to go or stay; yet as the past 2 months have gone by and I've received blessings by financial support, etc, I know that this is where I am to be and when.The Lord has been preparing the way for me to help the people he has prepared.   As my buddy Dan said, "The worst part of a mission is being dropped off at the MTC, but than the next day you wake up, forget it, get filled with the spirit and set about to do the work."  The spirit comforts and guides us.  This is what the Lord has planned for me.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Wow.   My little boy really has grown up.  He stood there confident, happy, and at peace.  I don't know anyone that could have looked at him that didn't know that he understands, accepts, and believes in what the Lord has planned for him.  

We had a large gathering afterward at our tiny home lol - 10 degrees outside and we OPENED a window!! I have never seen so many people in my home at one time.  Wall to wall to wall to wall.  I have wonderful sisters and sisters-in-law who took over and set up before I got home and had everything all taken care of.  The brought soup, rolls, veggies, fruit, soda, sweets, and willing hands and hearts.  I couldn't have made it through today without them. (Cherisa too - she's not a sister though) Linda was able to make it up after having some personal issues we spent a pleasant afternoon giggling, visiting, and taking kid pictures.  She video taped me taking pictures of my children, you wonder why we don't go out?  we don't need to.  >.< I have a house full of hams, oh brother.

Different neighbors have drifted in and out today to tell Anthony congratulations and goodbye in case they don't see him in the next week.  He's feeling overwhelmed and  tired but is being gracious enough that though he may disappear for a minute or two, he reappears and stays with the company until they depart. =] Makes a momma feel good when their boys remember their manners. ♥
 

It's SNOWED

Friday, Jan 11th.

The first MAJOR snow storm of the season has hit Utah.  It has snowed before but this one lasted 2 1/2 days and we ended up with a good 20 inches.  Anthony, in true Eagle Scout - Pre-Missionary, fashion tackled our driveway and the sidewalks, including the neighbor who isn't home (with Nic's help) and than came with me to work and proceeded to shovel out my sisters drive way and sidewalks.  None of this would be a problem except that we refuse to replace his shoes (leaving for mission in 10 days) and he has outgrown his boots.  Therefore, my son, Mr Helpful, is out in the snow in tennis shoes with HOLES in them.  You can freaking see his toes.  Ugh - head shake - pitiful.  However, I am grateful that he likes to help others and does so willingly, it will assist him while on his mission.

While at my sisters house we put together little scripture books (2 chocolate nuggets, with Anthonys favorite scripture printed on the top, stuck to a cookie biscuit with a licorce rope bookmark) for people to take with them after the get together, and we put together the missionary bear. =]  My sister made a missionary bear for her daughter when her boyfriend at the time (husband now =D ) left on his mission to the Phillipines.  Anthony wanted to leave a bear for his best friend Abby.  We went to Deseret Industries on Thursday and got everything (except belt) that we needed and bless Susie's heart, she fixed the shirt, pants, and belt - I made the name tag and we have the cutest missionary bear!

Anthony was like, "His feet are HUGE"  mhm, and have you looked down lately child?  Mr size 13.

Mr Mac Adventure

It's getting way too close for comfort for me, this deadline of 19 days.  His farewell is only NINE days!!!!!  Holy Freaking....breathing.....breathing..... =].  Okay.

Oven starts firing up tonight and the cookies and lemon squares start pumping out and into the freezer.  Anthony's cousin is getting baptized tomorrow so that will take some of the time Saturday but THAT is a well worthy purpose and activity to take time for. =]  Anthony and his siblings even get to sing! ;] Niiiiiiice.

I stayed late at work last night so that I could take today off and take Anthony to Mr Macs down in Salt Lake at City Creek.  We'd never been there - parked over at City Creek and WALKED - lol - the entire mall to the other side where Mr Mac is located.  Roughly about 2 blocks plus crossing the street.  I love the fact that they've incorporated the 2 malls together and it is SO beautiful!  I love the creek that they dug up, the over head shelter in the one mall. 

Thanks to the benevolence of a loving and giving ward member, we have the majority of what Anthony needs.  The suit coats fit very nicely and we've done tuxes at David's Bridal - these fit better.  He has a black and a charcoal brown suit with 2 pants, 2 sets of occasional pants, 7 long sleeve wrinkle free white shirts, 2 new ties, and 2 sweater vests.  What a blessing and miracle for us.

We also stopped at Wal-Mart, I know, I know, Dean's he** place but it had what we were looking for.  Thanks to a loving aunt, Anthony was able to get all his underwear, thermals, and winter outer wear.  A russian style hat (cuz baby its gonna be COLD outside), a scarf, driving gloves, shoveling gloves, new belt, and new athletic shoes.  He was very happy with our finds today.  Everything is downstairs in his one suitcase, we will start packing when we get everything together, his other suitcase and carry on. 

The alterations (hemming) on his pants will be completed by next Friday, so he will have his mission outfit totally on for his farewell on Sunday the 13th.  =] 

Mom note:
My boy is grown up.  I can't avoid it anymore.  He told the man who helped us at Mr Mac that he felt like he was 5 as I was helping him put on a sweater vest, etc.  I told him that for the next 2 weeks he is...just for me.