week 8

Hey Everyone!How is everyone doing? Thank you so much for the letters you send me every week, its great to hear that there is still a real world out side of the compound. Things have been going great here! I got my flight plans this last Thursday, and i am SOOO pumped!! We leave Tues. morning at 4:00am, and land in Rome at 12:30 in the afternoon. Umm yeah can any one say Dramamine? I have a hard time driving to River Bend, I have no idea how I'm going to stomach such a long flight. But i sent a bunch of pictures in the mail today, along with my flight plans so you all can see and check it all out. I'm pretty excited because we stop in London, and have a 2 hour layover. I also have a 4-5 hour layover in Chicago, which is when i want to call everyone. I talked to our Mission president and he actually recommending we call in the airport while were waiting. SO i would love to talk to the whole family, but i need you to to do one thing, i need you to try to get me a calling card by Monday. SO if your going to mail it, it needs to be in the mail by Thursday morning. I would love to talk as long as you'd like so try to get an hour or more and that way i could talk to everyone. If things don't work out don't worry, I'm sure i could find a change machine or a phone that takes a debt card. So that's pretty much been the big exciting news this last week. Yesterday i taught in the TRC for the last time, and i taught the second lesson in Italian. It was such an amazing experience. We have been working SO hard this week to make our last teaching experience a good one. We even made a sweet puzzle to go with the lesson. All i want is to get to the point where i don't have to think about how I'm going to say things, but rather what I'm going to say. And this time in the TRC, that's exactly whats happened. I been praying so hard this last week for help with the language, and i can testify to you all that God's hand really is in all all that we do. As we went in to our teaching appointment we prayed as a companionship before, then i said a prayer in my heart and Asked heavenly Father to fill my mouth as i made the effort to teach his Gospel, and we went in and taught the best lesson I've ever taught here. Not because of me, or because of my companion but because the lord Filled my mouth and guided our lesson by the Holy Ghost. I have never ever ever understood or or spoke the language like i did in that lesson, not once did i get stuck looking for a word in Italian. It was such a testimony builder to me. But my times out so i need to go go but i love you all. Anziano Koozer

Week 7

Ciao Famiglia!Hey how is everyone doing!? Ive been doing great. Thank you so much for the letters you sent me, they totally made my day! I'm sorry i didn't get to call on Mothers Day, I guess they don't have enough phones here or something, or at least that's what they told us. I hope you had a wonderful Mothers day Mom, i love you. This week has been a pretty great week. On Tuesday night ELder Russle M. Neilson came and visited us. We have been so incredibly lucky, because we've gotten 3 apostles since I've been here! usually missionaries are lucky to get one. So yeah, he came and spoke about the importance of our call and we worked on meeting people with enthusiasm, and good character. I really enjoyed listening to him speak. Yesterday i taught the 2nd lesson in Italian to an investigator in the TRC. It wasn't as scary this time but i still struggled through it. My companion and i sat down last night and set goals that we want to achieve before we leave the MTC, and also set weekly and daily companionship and personal goals. I really think it will help us bang through these last 2 weeks. I'm so thrilled that i get my flight plans this Thursday. But at the same time there is a sense of urgency in everything i do now. I only have 2 more weeks to learn everything i can, and then its game time! And I thought it was a rush waiting for a football game....haha yeah I'm starting to get pretty darn nervous! Dane keep up the Piano i know its not fun to practice, but i promise it will pay off. Emmett how are your classes going, are you going to get straight A's again this year? Cade how did track season go? that is so exciting you get to Toro Camp! Just totally bust it every practice and you'll do great! And yes soccer is actually really hard, and takes a TON of running. I usually don't touch the ball much, and just run around and push people over who have the ball then pass it to a good player. My district loves it when i play Defense for them. But of course now that I'm a missionary i Pick up the people i go against and give them a hug and apologize if they fall over. haha but anyways i love you all and hope things are going good for everyone! keep the letters coming! PS. oh yeah i blessed the sacrament in Italian this week it was so Cool!Love Anziano Koozer

week 6

Hey everyone!Its been another week in the MTC, and I'm starting to Get cabin fever!!!!!Ahhhh get me out of here! hahaha oh man i just want to be in Rome RIGHT NOW! But only 3 more weeks, and in 2 weeks ill have my flight plans. Everything has been going great , i taught in Italian for the second time yesterday to an investigator in the TRC, and it actually went really well! the spirit was so strong while we were teaching. The man starting crying, and i just hope it wasn't my terrible Italian. But its amazing how much we've been learning, especially with the help of the spirit. You all know me, i brown nosed my way through high school, but now I'm speaking and teaching in Italian after 6 weeks! I realized here i actually need to learn, and not just Kiss up, But it will be nice when i can brown nose in Italian, haha hopefully it will get me in some doors. ok, so mom i got your email, and I'm doing good with the money, and when we get ready to leave, they help us exchange for euro at the airport. So no worries about money. All the older Anziani have left and were the oldest now and its really weird and so exciting at the same time. We get a new group in tomorrow and hopefully we'll get some Romans. The majority of all Anziani are going to Mulan, its about a 5/1 ratio. Oh yeah, on Tuesday Elder M Russell Ballard came and spoke to us and he told us we were to email you this week mom and dad and tell you thank you on behalf of the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve. He gave an amazing talk. It was about having a fire of a desire to serve the Lord and to spread the gospel to the world. I was so fired up by the end!! he should make special guest appearances and speak to football teams before they play, haha he's awesome! But anyways i love you all and hope all is well. I miss you guys like crazy, but I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. Keep the letters comin!Love Anziano Koozer

week 5

From:
Charl Koozer (Toro97@myldsmail.net)
Sent:
Tue 5/05/09 7:11 AM
To:
hmkoozer@msn.com
Hey Everyone!Thank you so Much mom, bailey, and pheobe for the awesome package you dropped off for me! my new favorite snack is Reeces dipped in Nutella! hahaha oh man im gonna be so fat if i keep this up in Italy! But anyways, everything has been gowing great, my classes are getting pretty hard. The teachers only teach in Italian now, and if were caught speaking English in class its 5 pushups a Word. hahaha lets just say ive gotten pretty dang strong! I taught my first discussion in Italian yesterday to an "Investigator" at the TRC. I was scared out of my mind but its actually wasn't too terrible. I love this Gospel so much and one of my favorite things is teaching it. But in Italian its so frustrating because i cant answer the questions they ask yet. Not becuase i dont know the answer its just i dont know how to say it in Italian. Oh yeah all us Italian's have been getting soccer lessons out at the big field. I used to think that soccer was a wussy sport buts its AWESOME! haha man its actually really hard, and super competetive! But yeah they are teaching us becuase every P-day in the mission fied the missionaries have Soccor time were the community is invited to come play soccer with the missionaries and they use to find investigators and to get to know the community better. And i guess the last few missionaries that have arrived in Italy have had no idea how to play and the Natives have been getting kinda frustrated. So now its part of our MTC ciriculum. Its so Awesome! But everything has been going good. I love you all and hope everyone is doing good. I love you all!oh ya P.S.- Iplayed the Piano in Sacrament meeting this last Sunday, and actually pulled it off. haha they are pretty desperate for someone who can play the piano. But For now im it.... haha yeah should have practiced those hymns more!Love Anziano Koozer

My MTC experience

pictures from MTC

Letter and pic's from Buddy 4/23/09

Bongiono Famiyla!
Hey family! How is everyone? Thank you so much for the package, it was great! So this week has been so awesome! On Monday my companion and I taught the first lesson again to an "investigator" in the teaching center. It went so good! Now that we actually know the material and the scriptures it makes things so much fun! I've learned that it is not just spitting out a bunch of information, but finding out the needs and questions of the person you are teaching - teaching them according to their needs. I've also learned and am still working on teaching through the spirit and consistently testifying of every principle I teach. It is amazing how powerful a tool the spirit is and what a blessing. After the Teaching Center, we were taken to the Referral Center for the first time. The Referral Center is a big room filled with computers and phones and people all over the world call and ask questions about the church and what we believe. We can also send missionaries and free materials and church media to peoples homes. We all got a 5 min. tutorial on how to use the program then we were kicked into the system. The first couple of calls were SO scary! HAHA I completely froze up on the first one and just hung up on a lady. I felt so stupid! My teacher called the lady back and answered her questions, and sent missionaries to her house. He was just laughing at me!
On Tuesday, I had the 2 coolest experiences ever! My companion and I decided to go back to the referral center for round 2. So we jumped on the phone and I almost immediately received a call. I answered the phone and it was a woman, and she started telling me how she had been praying for an answer and then she saw the commercial for the church on the t.v. and called. She said God answered her prayers by showing her the commercial and she asked me why she was crying when she saw it. I testified that it was the Holy Ghost testifying to her that she needed to become a member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. I asked her if she would be baptized...and she said "Yes!!" I couldn't even believe it! I would have never said anything about baptism, my job is to answer peoples simple questions. I know I was prompted to say what I did, these weren't my words! So anyways, I sent missionaries to her home with all the information of our conversation on the phone, and last I found out she has agreed to be baptized. It was such a testimony builder to me!
THEN... That night, my companion and I felt like going early to our fireside. We showed up and sat in the 3rd row. We thought it was strange that the speakers name was not posted like usual. Then some guy got up right before it should start and said, "for those of you who have never done this before, when the Prophet or an Apostle enters the room, you stand in silence." and right then there was an explosion of excitement in the room! They quieted the room, then walked in Elder Jeffery R. Holland! I couldn't even believe my eyes! As soon as I saw him my heart started racing and I could feel the power that man held just by looking at him. He walked in and shook hands of everyone on the front row then smiled and waved at everyone else. He gave the most powerful speech I have ever heard in person. He is actually in charge of the whole missionary program, and is one of the most passionate people I have ever seen when it comes to the gospel and esp. missionary work. I have a study journal that I've been keeping and I have 3 pages of notes just from one hour of speaking. By the end of his talk, there was not a dry eye in the entire room, he had almost every missionary bawling. After the meeting, our district met in our classroom and had another hour meeting just about the notes we took and what we felt. I will never forget my experience of seeing an Apostle of God. Oh and earlier that day we had gone to the Temple and did a session, it was so great!
I just can't even believe how strong the Spirit is here at the MTC. I LOVE IT! My classes are getting really tough in Italian. They totally load it on every single day. I am slowly starting to get it. On Thursday we had a huge snow storm! I am so disappointed cus we were going to use the field next week, but there is no way we will now! It was a complete white out! Thursday morning I saw DJ Lemieux when I was walking to breakfast. I guess he is a teacher here now. It was cool to see him. At the gym last week, I jumped on the super cool digital heavy duty scale, and I have gained 10 pounds!! HAHA I think the buffet 3 times a day and the sitting all day long is starting to catch up to me! My companion and I have decided to only eat one entree a meal now, and no more ice cream in the mornings. Hopefully that works!! I hope you like the pictures - I am having so much fun here. Thanks for the letters - keep um comin!
Love, Anziano Koozer
P.S. Make sure Tia sees these pictures!

Week 3

week 3‏
From:
Charl Koozer (Toro97@myldsmail.net)
Sent:
Tue 4/21/09 6:19 AM
To:
hmkoozer@msn.com
Bongiorno Famiglia!!Hey How is everyone doing? Im doing great! I have a long letter and a bunch of pictures that im gonna send in the mail. They give us a ton of time on sundays to write letters so if there is any way you could just tpye out the letters you get and post those on the blog or whatever, it might be a little more interesting for everyone, cus im terrible at typing, and dont really have time to email all the cool stuff. But anyways, i had to go get my last shot this last wed. and it cost 67 bucks! but now at least im totaly done with all my immunizations. I have my first baptism! all the details will be in the letter you get, hahaits so awesome! oh and i got to meet Jeffery R Holland too, he came and gave us the unabridged version of his talk from conference, and also taught us about missionary work. It was absolutely amazing!Classes are going a lot better, things are finally starting to click. I have to teach the first discussion this next week in Italian to a volunteer investigator in a scenario that is set up for me and my companion. im super nervous about it, but im sure ill get it down. SO like most of the Italian zone is leaving today. they are shipping out 23 Anziani, and Sorelli. The majority of them are going to Mulan. Its gonna be so wierd to be be the older group now. We should get a new batch of Anziani tomrow. But yeah i found out from the group leaving that when we get to the airport we have time to call our family and friends!!! i couldn't believe it, but our mission pres. said its ok for us to call and say goodbye to anyone we like before we take off to Italy. I thought , if we were going to be able to call it would just be family. So we'll have to make sure you guys are near a phone the day im flying out. We also got the weight and size requirments for flying to Italy, and im almost positive im gonna have to ship a bunch of stuff home. My carry on can only be 15 pounds if i go through Germany! But anyways i love you all and hope everything is going good! Loro l'amore, Anziano Koozer! Ciau

Week 2 for Anziano Koozer

Hey Everyone!Ya i got your email reply, but i would kinda prefer a written letter something cus im on the clock just reading my mail. this computer kicks me off in 30 minutes. But anyways, thank you SO much for the awesome package!!! i was attacked from everyone in my dorm as soon as i walked in with it. But Yeah my companions name is Anziano Poulson, he is prob more normal than i am, he's a really great guy with an awesome testimony. i love working with him! Classes have been getting pretty intense, my teAcher told us in the 9 weeks were here were are taught the cirriculum of 4 semesters or 2 years of a lanquage class taught at BYU. Its a total system overload by the end of the day. But i love the constant spirit i feel here and for the the oportunity i have to be serving the lord. You should have a letter coming in the mail today or tomorow. they give us time to write letters on sundays so thats what i think im gonna start doing from now on. I hope you guys had a great EAster, i missed being there to look for my basket. But hey i got to hurry and get off cus im the one typing this time and my time is almost out. but i love you guys SO much and really miss you alot. I hope everything is going good for the family, and oh yeah, tell dad im stepping it up and am being a team leader! Thanks again for everything, i love you! Anziano Koozer

Communications with Bud

I have another site to look at if you want to see Buddy's letters. It is called MissionSite.net/elderkoozer/main - I will post his pictures and letters here each week. I did post his email on this site, however he said he would prefer to get letters through the mail or through http://www.dearelder.com so he does not have to spend his one hour of computer time reading his emails -( he says he is slow at typing and needs that time to type emails.) Dearelder.com is a great site because if you are like me, you don't always have stamps and envelopes around anymore. This site lets you type your letter and they print it and send it. While he is in the MTC he will usually get it the same day. If you will send me your email address I will put you on the list to get an email when I post anything new on http://www.missionsite.net/elderkoozer/main.

Anziano Koozer at the MTC

It was snowing and cold in Provo as we prepared to leave Buddy at the MTC. We spent the morning with him doing sealings in the Provo Temple. Because of the storm outside and the warmth of the spirit at the Temple, we choose to stay there for lunch. We went straight down the hill to the MTC where things were run like clock work. They tell you exactly where to park, walk, drop off luggage, take pictures, which door which person goes into and they have kleenex sitting out everywhere and people directing you down each hallway. Complete order- like they have done this a few times. It really invited the spirit and made what could be and should be very hard, a bit more comforting.

MTC Address for Elder Koozer until June 2, 2009

This is the official address of Elder Koozer. This is the one they handed us when we dropped him off. That was a crazy experience. We were so excited and happy for him and at the same time it was so hard to let him go. I started crying when they sat us down right in front of the sign that said, "Families Exit Here"....everyone had told me about that sign and now I had to look at it the whole time. We sang "Called to Serve" and Hal and I cried. Buddy sang and just looked straight ahead. After a short meeting about where they would need to be later in the day, they told us to hug our missionaries and it was best to treat it like a band aide and do it quick. I kept sending Buddy to hug his Dad one more time and he would turn back around to go and I would hug him again. He finally caught on to my tactics and said, "Mom, I've got to go!" I let him go and watched him push his way through the crowd to the "Missionaries Exit Here" sign. He did not look back. He was focused just like he was when he was going out to play a big game. I also think he did not want to cry. I love him and miss him, but the spirit is strong and I know helping me through this.

Elder Charl Ron Koozer
MTC Mailbox #223
ITA-ROM 0602
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

Buddy's first e-mail from the MTC 4-7-09

Hey Everyone!So ive survived week one of the MTC! This has been such an amazing week. Im in classes all day long which has been a big adjustment. But the spirt is so strong every where we go. I love my new companion and the othe elders in my room. I can already pray, and bear my testomy in Italian, and we have already taught the first discussion. I have a really fun district, and my teachers are great. Its going to be kinda weird getting use to this computer thing, my companion is actuly typing this letter, haha ya. Next week ill try to download some pictures, cause im running out of time. But i love you all and hope everything is going well. Anziano Koozer

Elder Koozer's Mission address

Thanks again to every one who has helped us to get to this point. We are grateful for all our friends and family for the support in every way. We had a wonderful gathering last Sunday for Buddy's Farewell. We will never forget the crowd we stuffed into this Maricopa house!
We will be taking Buddy to the MTC in Provo on Tuesday Morning. He will check in on Wednesday at Noon. He will be in the MTC for nine weeks. This is his address there and I'm sure he would love to hear from everyone during his stay:

Elder Charl Ron Koozer
Italy Rome Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604


There is a great and easy way to send things to missionaries in the MTC.
Check out dearelder.com!

Get well Soon Taylor

Our sweet Taylor (one of my young women who is also in Hal's seminary class) was in a bad car accident this week with her brother,Cameron. They were on their way to school on Monday when it happened. They were both life flighted out to two different hospitals. They have been through some rough and scary days as we have been watching and waiting to see small improvements each day now. Cameron is home with some broken vertebra, and Taylor is still in the hospital with a broken pelvis and some other complications. They were really worried about her because she did not respond the whole first day after the accident. I did get to run up to see her Tuesday morning, and she hugged me and Hal, and quietly told us of her memory of the accident. A very spiritual experience that I am sure will give her the strength to endure this trial she will now face as she will have to take the time to recover. We want to wish her and Cameron a speedy recovery and send them all our love. We are here for you! I know all the girls in ward are fasting and praying for you and your family at this time. Good luck!

These are some cute pictures I had of Taylor and Jen and Madison when they came to my house to make this great cake for a YW recognition night. We had a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday Jolene!

Happy Birthday Jolene!

This is Jolene George. Since the first day that I moved out here to Maricopa,
she has been amazing. She calls me her best friend and I really needed one. I have always
been very close to my sisters - and I still am - but when I moved further away then I have ever been
from any of them....I was feeling lonely. Knowing she would include me with her circle of friends so willingly was so kind. Then when I realized how thoughtful and kind she is, I am so proud to call her my best friend. We have had a blast the past several months. Our families have so much fun together. Jolene and I work out together, we go walking (she even puts up with me taking big Louie - our great dane). Our kids are in sports together, so we get to hang out and cheer and take pictures. We help each other with events at church and when our husbands are around, we are usually laughing continually. Jolene is so organized and crafty. She is so talented and caring. She is also fun and spontaneous. We can call them at any time of day and make instant plans for dinner or a trip into town or a FHE. I just can't say enough good about her and her family. She makes me happy and I want to wish her a very Happy Birthday!

Kevin's Fan Club

We all had a great time at the game. So much family and fun!

Phoebe and Baby Ruth

Family at Kevin's Game

Birthday Memories '09

A night made for a couple of princesses, and a lot of other crazy family!(whom I could never live without!)

Birthday celebration in New Mexico. An all night drive to Sarah's house with all my crazy sisters, my nephew Josh and we met my brother there too.

All these smiles are just proof of all the fun shared at mine and Sarah's birthday celebration!

Birthday