Where in the World is Hermana Pack? - Sister Pack (9/24/12 Letter)

Sorry I haven’t written for a while! Things have been way crazy! We had Elias’ baptism this last week! I couldn’t believe it but finally the hard work of Hermana Lopez and I paid off. However, I have been moved again! I am BACK IN FORMOSA! When I received the call I couldn’t believe it! I was like your joking no? lol But here I am and ready to work! It has been great! A LOT DIFFERENT! We had 5 in the church this last week! That was like a miracle, but that is Formosa for you. hahaha Anyways, my new companion is Hermana Espinoza de MEXICO! The city! Cool right! First thing I asked is if she knows how to make tacos haha jkjk.  But I am learning all the slang words so I can understand Ty.  We are doing great, and it IS HOT here!  Sorry, I am going to be saying that in every letter like last summer!  Who is ready for another summer in Formosa, I AM! lol Well, love you fam!

Love Always,
Hermana Pack

Rain in Mexico - Elder Pack (9/17/12 Letter)

Hello Family and Friends!

Well this week was interesting and fun I guess.

So I forgot to say that last Monday we went to Madero for an activity.  It was supposed to be activities then after eat something, but they tried cooking steak and well they didn’t plan all that well.  They ended up cooking for like 2 hours while my companion and I played soccer. It was fun but even more fun when they finished and we played a game.

Well this week on Tuesday we had a meeting and well things are still changing.  Every time that we talk to the zone leaders or with president there are either more rules or there are new changes.

So another thing that I forgot to mention in the last email is that we had zone conference and well the message was great.  It was held the day of the birthday of my beloved sister missionary.  It was about having the courage to stand out and be different.  It was a good message, and they also used a talk from Elder Holland, “Remember Lots Wife.”   It’s a great talk.  I have read it many times before.

In this week, it rained 3 days straight.  It was awesome.  I’m also glad that God has blessed us not to get sick because we had to go walking in the rain.  A big ditch area was filled with the lot of water.  I’ll have to send a picture. They won’t be playing soccer there for quite some time hahaha.  The people were all nervous for their homes because the rain crumbles the homes that are made of mud bricks.  Mom said that Vegas had a bunch of rain and well the same here.  This area is not accustomed to having much rain.

They had a Mexican holiday, and we saw the fireworks from our house it was cool. I don’t remember which event it is, but I think it is for Independence Day.  That day we didn’t really get any work done because well nothing came through like it should have and also we had to be in the house at 7.  I don’t know why, but that’s what the president wanted and I will be obedient.

The festival was Saturday night and that meant that no one came to church Sunday.

Well that is all the time that I have.  I love you all and hope that you all have a great day!!!!! and week!!!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

Thank you for the Birthday Wishes - Elder Pack (9/10/12 Letter)

Thank you to everyone that wrote to me on my birthday and that also wrote about the time of my birthday.

So nothing to special happened this week.  It was fun to walk the railroad tracks that take us to another small town close by.  It took us about an hour to get there.  My companion’s feet hurt from walking on the rock that was in the center on the railroad tracks.  The lesson that we had out there went well and the husband of the member came to church.  We have also been teaching Christina.  She came to church on Sunday as well.  She is preparing to be baptized on September 22nd.  We are helping her understand the things she needs to know.  The best part of her conversion comes from the family that gave us the reference.  They are doing a great job helping her feel good in the church building and helping her feel the spirit.  A less active member came this week.  It made us so happy because we have been visiting with them for quite some time.

I have been learning a lot about the part members play in welcoming new people.  If those who are active in church don’t visit with less active members or new investigators, then they don’t come back... even if the missionaries visit with them for long periods of time.  They need to feel love from the members.  They can say " oh it’s the missionaries and well there just doing their job…it doesn’t matter if we don’t go.”  It makes me sad to see and talk to people who say “why does it matter if we don’t come to church…The members haven’t come to visit us in the last 8 years of 3 years or who knows how long it has been.”  If we just visit every week or every other week to show them that we care and that we want the best for them, then they are more likely to come back to church.

It’s funny that the mission has tried to fix the problems that the wards and branches have and well from what I see the people haven’t seen the change.  Sometimes we are very hard of hearts.  We need to be changeable, and we need to let the Atonement of Christ enter our lives so we can really help others.  Some people do let it happen.  Others don’t and those that don’t let it happen don’t value the gift of repentance as they should. I’m not really sorry if that hurts anyone’s feelings to tell you the truth because that’s how I really feel about the matter.

For my birthday, we bought a cake and invited the missionaries from San Pedro to come over to have a piece.  It was fun to talk to them and share the love of my family with them.  Thank you family.  From the talk that I had with Elder Perez, I feel so old in the mission.  He has almost 21 months in the mission, and I’m getting to 20.  Our conversation was about things that have happened over the last year and a half since we have been in the mission.  It shows the time we have had and it makes us see that it’s all coming to an end.  But, we will not go down without a fight!!!!!!!

Thank you again for those that wished me a happy birthday. I hope that all have a great week and that they allow Christ into their lives so that he can make a great change for them!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

Third Companion for a few days - Elder Pack (9/3/12 Letter)

Hello Friends and Family,

How are you all doing?

This is the week in which my sister grows 1 year older in life…oh, how old she is getting.  But that also means that I should be having a birthday right?  It’s amazing to think that it’s here again.

So this week has been busy with walking and more walking.  I have recognized the spirit more in the last few lessons than others that I have been having.  Feeling this helps me to understand why some people do and some don’t have a feeling or desire to find out whether the Book of Mormon is true or not.  Some of the people that we are teaching at the moment have a hard time praying.  It makes me sad that they don’t always have the desire.  So this will be the focus of my studies this week, in how can I help them pray.

Other than that I saw a great missionary go home this week.  It has made me sad.  The last few days I have been in a triple with a new American, Elder Grossen.  He is from Sandy, UT.  It has been fun trying to help him learn Spanish because it takes me back to my first weeks in the mission when i couldn’t speak Spanish worth anything.  We had to go to 2 different wards and it was interesting to compare and contrast the differences and see all the different people and their level of faith.  Elder Grossen is waiting until his companion gets here and then he will be going off with him so that they can work.  I know that his new trainer is a great one, and is lucky that the president thought everything through.

So this is all that I can really remember at the moment.  I hope that you all have a great day, and I hope that your weeks go great.}

LOVE ELDER PACK

Spring Is Coming - Sister Pack (9/3/12 Letter)

Hey Fam!

  So this week has passed by bastante fast! We are into September! Meaning we are just starting Spring here but bad winter doesn’t understand that that means it should be warm.  But it’s ok.  What doesn’t kill me will  only makes me stronger!  Today I put away all my long sleeves and tights and pulled out the bug repellent and sombrero.

This week has been a great week.  We are now preparing for the re-dedication of the Buenos Aires Temple this Sunday!  The family I reactivated will be participating with us! I am so excited! I haven’t seen a temple or been part of a temple in 10 months! It will be rocking! I will be celebrating your birthday Ty in the re-dedication, no worries! Happy Birthday Bro!

Well this week has been full of things but to be honest I can’t remember... and I haven’t been writing in my journal.. uh oh.  But I am alive (bien vieja), content and doing the lords work.  Talk to you soon!

                                                                                           Hermana Pack (3 Nefi 5:13)
“Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.”

Walking A Lot - Elder Pack (8/27/12 Letter)

Hello people of the world!! (as if I was that cool.... :) hahahha)

Wow it’s strange to think that Elder Webster and I both have 19 months, and it’s even stranger to think that the mission is on its last leg.   People are always trying to kill the missionaries... well, not literally kill them because that would be just wrong... but get us to start thinking more about home and how our missions are about to be done.  They ask us if we have an idea about what we are going to study and well I’m sure you can think of all the comments!! Hahahha, They always ask and then start telling us that the next few months are going to fly by and then we will be back home hahahha!

How is the weather? I am hopping better because we are about to enter into the birthday month!!!!!!! Well, the month of my birthday and that’s all that matters hahahhahahaha (also Dena and Trent, Heather Scoby, and a few others that I know).  

So this week went well.  The members are actually starting to work and we had many new people in the week.  We didn’t have anyone in church but sometimes that happens.  We have been working hard walking like mad-men.  My companion and I work really well together.  This next week, we hope to find out how to help these people go to church.

So apart from the work, we’ve been having fun walking on the trail tracks trying to stay balanced.  I’m sure one of these days we will be playing chicken with the train hahahaha (no worries mom I’ll let it win... hahaha).  We are also trying to figure out how to fly so that we don’t have to walk so much.  I mean seriously, we have been crossing our area a lot lately. So figuring out how to fly is one of our first priorities hahahaha.

I love you all and I hope that your week goes great!!!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

Book of Mormon - Sister Pack (8/27/12 Letter)

Hey Fam!

   So I hope everyone is doing great out there in the summer! All are getting ready to head back to school this week how exciting! I am not jealous. haha. This last two weeks have been full of work. Working with Matias and his drinking problem and helping an investigator understand the Book of Mormon. This investigator has put my testimony to the test. He is a practicing Protestant and he doesn’t believe the Book of Mormon was written by prophets. We have had many charlas with him and he challenged us to pray about the Book of Mormon again. I decided why not. During my studies one day I was a little worried about something and I really needed the Lord’s help. I had been praying to reaffirm my testimony of the Book of Mormon and in this study the Lord gave me the answers I needed. I was given revelation. This book is so precious and I am grateful for the opportunity to read and talk about it every day of my life. I know it is a book from our Father in Heaven. I also know that everyone of us can have this response.  We just need to put the invitation to the test. I invite all of you to read the Book of Mormon every day.  Put it in your life and pray if it is true.  If you haven’t already received an answer that it is true, then pray again to know if it is true and the Lord will give you a reaffirmation.

 Grateful for my mission.  Grateful for the mercy of the Lord, and Grateful to be a missionary for the Lord.

                                                                     Hermana Pack