WOW! - Sister Pack's Last Letter (4/8/13)

Hey Family!

So how amazing was conference!? Seriously. It rocked. I loved Pres. Monson and his talk on obedience. If there is something I learned in my mission it is that obedience is what brings happiness. I am happy that all enjoyed conference.  Now we all need to make plans to apply it to our life! I started this morning with some personal goals.

The twins got baptized! It was one of the most spiritual baptisms I have seen. I am so happy that I got to see a family unite in the cause of Christ.  So now we are getting ready for some baptisms this weekend so there is no time to breath to be honest. haha.

So all want to know how I feel.... I know I can´t act like it's not coming but I´d like to... haha. but this is how I feel:

¨Wow¨
 A year and a half has come and gone I am not sure how to feel at moments. I choke on my tears of the sadness thinking about leaving these people that I have grown to love so much. To leave all the moments of service that I am able to give in the day. However so happy and grateful that our Heavenly Father has at least given me the CHANCE to try to be like his Son...to be His representative.

 A year and a half ago, I walked in the halls of the MTC scared out of my mind unsure how to be someone worthy to be a representative of Christ. How can I wear a badge when I am nothing like Him.  By the end of the 9 weeks, I felt a little bit better that MAYBE I can be who the Lord was asking me to be. At 2 months I was scared out of my mind to unsure what was waiting for me in Argentina. How could I preach to people that I can hardly speak to was my thought? However through this year and a half I have learned something so important. Jacob 4:7 and God gives us debilities so we know He lives. And as we turn to Him, He ALLOWS us to become the best persons we can be (VS10). Seriously this has been one the best experience for my life. The hardest with out a doubt... But I am the person I am today because the mission has changed me. It gave me the opportunity to realize the dreams I have always had. I honestly have no idea how to pay back my Father in Heaven and my family.

Thank you for your love and support during all the hard times and the happy times I had in the mission.

I love you all.

Hermana Pack

Feliz Pascua - Sister Pack (4/1/13)

FELIZ PASCUA!

  This week has been good.  The only sad part is that it has been a lot of holidays and today on p-day we can't find a grocery store where we can buy our food.... Argentina and its Holidays! hahaha So this week has been really interesting.  It has been a week of learning and growth. My companion and I spoke with the Mission President about an investigator, and he taught us about how the repentance process works.  I couldn´t believe how much I didn't understand.  It keeps me humble as an old missionary. haha.  However, we have had a good week. Our new convert, Aurora, has been going through some really hard things since her baptism, so we are going to bring a cake for her daughters today who just turned 8 and will be getting baptized next week =).

 This last few weeks, I have finally felt I am getting a hang of the mission... hahaha great timing no? But like someone said, "It´s when you understand the calling that comes the time to release you." This week I have been reading in the New Testament and Jesus the Christ about his last week of ministry. One thing stuck in my mind that I learned. He sorrowed... he was so sad about what was going to be done but knew it needed to be done. What patience he had. It is so important for us to remember to have patience in those moments when we think it's not possible because he did it. He did it so he can succor us. So he can support us in those moments. I know that Christ lived to save us, and it is our responsibility to help others understand his work and glory. I am so grateful the Lord has given me the opportunity to be his representative in this moment...one extra Easter. I know that he has blessed me tremendously. I love you family. Hope all is going great in the good ole USA.
                                                                                      Hermana Pack

A Great Week- Sister Pack (3/25 Letter)

Hey all,
   So everything is great here in Argentina. This week passed by so fast! And this next week will pass by even faster! Eliana will be getting baptized this week. She's a girl we have been working with since I have gotten her. It is so amazing to see the growth in her since about 3 months ago. She has had a real conversion to the gospel. I am so proud of her and her achievements. Today we ate Mexican tacos in a house of a member! (that's what happens when there are two Mexicans in the branch) they were so good!! ahh. lol

It has been a great week.  We saw some amazing things happen, and I am so grateful for the way the Lord opens our eyes as missionaries. I read a talk this week that hit me really hard. It was by Elder Bednard from the past conference. It talked about the difference between testimonies and conversions.  All should go and read it.  The thing I learned is that it's so important to push ourselves. Sometimes I am not sure how to push myself, but I have realized in the mission that the response is found on my knees. I am so grateful for the atonement.  Seriously I imagine who I would be without it. I hope all enjoy General Conference and find something that is written for them. Love you all so much.  Thank you for all of your support through this journey.
                                                                                                                                        Hermana Pack

Cataratas - Sister Pack (3/4/13 Letter)

We just got back from the Cataratas and I am soaked, but it was an amazing experience. It was so weird to see signs in English and a lot of people talking in English too.  Sadly, they didn´t understand me too well... my companion said I was speaking in Spanglish.  We found a member of the church there! She served her mission in Argentina a year and a half ago, and she ended up spending a good amount of time with us! It was so awesome! Also there were some students from Notre Dame there, and one of them told me that his cousin is serving in Italy. He joked and said "Do you have a Book of Mormon," and I actually did!  I tried to give it to him, but he is Catholic.

We had our baptism for Aurora! We are now preparing her twins to be baptized at the end of this month. That is so exciting for their family.  I can hardly believe that next year the twins (David & William) and Kate will be getting baptized!!!!!  Some big news happened in my mission. They are splitting the mission! Crazy, right!?  So where I am at right now will be a whole different mission in July.  Many things are happening very fast these days. New missions opening up, lots of new missionaries going out, and activity in the church is stronger.  We are having a big conference the next week with ALL OF THE MISSION.  So, for the first time in all my mission I might see Elder Gifford.  If so, we will take a picture don't worry mom...That would be awesome lol.  Anyways so this is my life. Working hard in the Lords work.. I love you all.

Hermana Pack

Mission Conference - Sister Pack (3/11/13 Letter)

So this week we had our mission conference, and I saw Elder Gifford and Elder Butta for the first time in all my mission.  It was so weird.  We were talking about everyone from home and how everyone is married or going on missions.  It's amazing how life changes in a year and a half! haha.

So we sang too. It was really awesome and the lord blessed us because we were 6 different sister missionaries from different states... our pianist did an amazing job. :D President Heyman said he was going to put pictures on his blog.  So you can check them out here below from his blog.

There is not a life as a missionary without getting really sick.  This week I have been dying... but I still went out and worked. On Sunday, I literally couldn't get out of bed, but I knew I needed to and did.. don't worry. This brought me to the thought ¨so this is what it is like growing up...¨AHHH hahaha.  My sacrifice paid off. We had 7 people in church! It was a glorious day.  Now we just have to work with each of them to gain a testimony and be baptized.

Well this was my week.  I love you guys!

Hermana Pack

182 missionaries from 5 provinces all together in one place! 

Where is Dena? (Second row right behind the mission president and his wife)

I am in Paradise - Sister Pack (1/28/13 Letter)

Hey family!

So I know you are all getting ready for the big return of Elder Pack, and I am so stoked for him! Please remember to read your scriptures and invite the spirit so when he comes home it's not a hard change for him!

So I have some really big news. Well first off I am almost a hundred percent sure that Hermano Colman got baptized this week! That is the best feeling but there is something much greater. I moved once again! To MISIONES! the paradise. (well of beauty not so much baptisms.) I am in Eldorado Misiones and you guys can look it up and find out a lot about this place.  It is really close to the falls (well 2 hours or so). The sad part is that I won't be able to go... they made a new rule that we cant go... =(((( but maybe I work some magic and see if pres. will let us.  Like 3 weeks ago I told my companion I wanted to stay in Formosa, and when I least expect it, Heavenly Father put me here. Crazy i know. Anyways there is more.

HERMANA ESPINOZA IS MY COMPANION AGAIN! I could not believe it! When the LZ´s told me I thought they were joking seriously. But they called back again and told me my travel plans, so it wasn't a joke... hahaha. It has been an easy transition. We are working our tails off. This is the first time that I have seen trees or hills in a long time. Dad would absolutely love it here. We walk a lot... a lot and the whole town is hills and not little hills so my legs are pretty much mush. lol. Yesterday we had to walk 45 minutes in the forest to get to the house of a member. I couldn't believe it. But I love the Branch.  The president is awesome and my companion is rocking. Heavenly Father has blessed me that is for sure. Well love you all. I will send pictures maybe....

Love you tons and tons,                                                                                                                              
Hermana Pack

Red Mud - Sister Pack (2/19/13 Letter)

Hey Family,

This week has been really good we have been working hard. IT'S BEEN RAINING like crazy! I swear I look like the kids that we see in the street playing at the end of the day. It was funny the Hermana Espinoza freaked out one night saying your bleeding your bleeding all of your leg is bleeding... it was just red mud. hahaha. Well some good news. I am GOING TO THE CATARATAS the week that comes! I am sooo stoked. I was soooo scared to call the president but got the courage and he said yes! We are working hard this week so we can enjoy next week. I love my companionship.  We work so hard together and just do what needs to get done...no drama! lol.

Hopefully next week when I write I can say that we had our baptism. There are some big obstaculos, but we are working hard with the spirit to make it happen. Well, I love you guys and hope all is well in Las Vegas.

Hermana Pack