New Companion - Elder Pack (12/17/12 Letter)

Hello family and friends !!!

This week went well.  I keep learning that patience is not my strongest attribute. I do have to say that it is a lot better than at the beginning of my mission, but it is still very far from being perfect.  This week I have been trying to figure out why all of our investigators and also the less active members have stopped progressing. I know that all I can do is invite them, but at the same time I should and need to be able to identify the problems that they have and help them knock them down.

So Cesar is having problems still, and I think that it's because he has basically reached a peak and now is rolling backwards. It is sad that this happens.  I want to help him but it hasn't occurred to me how we can help him.  This goes for many of our investigators, but that won't make me give up because really there is no time to be crying about what could have been.

We had changes today and even though I thought with all my heart that we were not going to be getting new companions, I was wrong.  President always does things that I don't expect.  I have a new companion from Honduras.  I'm his second companion.  This is the 3rd person that I have been the 2nd companion to.  I think that president is telling me something ha ha ha.  His name is Elder Espinal.  I haven't gotten to know him at all yet.

Being with Elder Nicholson was good.  It made me learn self control, and I got to see the advancement of my Spanish.  I saw many other things that have progressed.  I hope that I can feel and see a bigger change at the end of my mission to tell you all the truth.

I hope that you all have a great day and week!!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

VERY HOT!!!! - Sister Pack (12/17/12 Letter)

Hey Fam,

So to start off, today has been extremely hot.  We didn't have lights for about 2 hours.  I took a shower to try to cool down but I wasn't sure if the moisture in my hair was from sweat or the shower.  That was a lot of fun. I had a lot to write but because I fried my brain pretty good in the last few hours, I'm not sure what I am going to write lol. So this week has been extremely tough like really tough, but I am really surprised at the way I have changed, and how I can support situations that hold out forever.  God is teaching me lots and lots of patience. We didn't end up having the baptism of Alejandro.  It's really sad because he is really rocking and wants to be baptized (but his dad went from saying "we will see" to "no").  The worse part is when we try to pass for his dad he doesn't want to talk to us... ahhh... but its ok patience lots of patience. Well this week was a great week in the church.  There had been a hermana who hasn't been coming to church. We eat with her every Thursday.  On Saturday, I got the distinct feeling to bring one of my skirts to her. We did that and on Sunday there she was with the gypsy skirt mom sent lol. It's a testimony that god is really intent about his children. We have a busy week this week. We have the baptism of Roberto.  Let me tell you how prepared this grandpa is.  He said to us the other day, "Hermanas, why are we waiting for my baptism?  Just throw me into the water."  I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS.  He then said, "If I am going to be Christian, let's just do it."  So to say the least, Heavenly Father gave us a huge present this Christmas. I know prayers work.  He was the fastest response to my prayers.  Well, I will be talking to you guys this weekend. I cannot believe how fast it is going.  I have news but you guys have to wait till I talk to you hahahaha.  Well, love you all.  Hope to hear from you guys and pray you are all safe this Christmas.

Love you all,
Hermana Pack

Christmas Hymns - Elder Pack (12/10/12 Letter)

Hola Familia y Amigos!!

This week was fun.  I had to go on divisions with another missionary.  It was a great time.  We talked about all sorts of things.  He is from Mexico City and his name is Elder Camarillo. He's avreally good missionary. He helped me a little.

So I need only one thing from the people that read this letter! Please include Cesar in your prayers.  He is having a hard time quitting tobacco, and he is stopping his progress. It's making me a little sad.  I really like this sir and I want him to make the change in his life so as to make everyone happier in his family and also himself happier.

This week went by very quickly and I am having a great time singing the Christmas hymns.  Last year I didn't sing many and I am asking myself why not.  I want to sing them more and more!!! I'm really quite happy that we are in this time of year once more. Its a great time to show someone else love and help them...showing them charity!!!

We found new people that we will be teaching.  It makes me sad that we have to let go the ones that don't want to progress but it's necessary.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

LOVE ELDER PACK

Lesson on Patience - Elder Pack (12/3/12 Letter)

Hello family and others!!!

I love the way in which the Lord works.  It makes little sense to us sometimes, but it happens to happen just at the right time and in a way which we can never comprehend.  Today we had to learn a little about patience which was interesting, but He made everything work out just like it was supposed to.  We had our activity for the district, and it was little but we had a good time.  The activity left us with little time for much else, so we came back after going and buying things for the week and found out that my companion forgot the keys to the house in the house of the other elders.  He got really angry but the funny thing is at the beginning I didn't feel anything.  I knew that there wasn't much that we could do about it.  I wasn't really frustrated the whole way riding back to the Elder's apartment, but when we were on the way back I did start to feel that my patience warring out a little because I was thinking about what time it was and then about the other things that we had to do before it was time to go out and work.  We had only 20 min before our first lesson.  We were a little far away from our area, I hadn't been able to write my letter or even finish washing our clothes. When I realized that these thoughts were starting to affect me in a negative manner,  I had to stop and say a pray for strength so as not to lose my patience. I know that the Lord was ready to help me and He did...haha!!

So we had some success.  Some people are going well and starting to show fruits of repentance. We are working hard and trying to help others!!!

I had to go on changes with another missionary and try and help him this week.  It was fun.  His name is Elder Calpulalpan and he is form Puebla Mexico. We had a good time and I think that we both took things from our time together.

I have no time sorry!  I love you all and I hope that you have a great week.

ELDER PACK

Roberto - Sister Pack (12/3/12 Letter)

Hey Family!
   So this week has been awesome.  Some really amazing things are happening here in the heat of Formosa.  But first off, there is some news! I have a new mission president. Elder Di Giovonni from the 70´s is my new mission president at least for right now. The Hermana Heyman had a stroke a few months ago and was in Buenos Aires for a while.  She recuperated enough to go back to the states.  They went back so she can get better and then after they are going to return I believe.  Not too sure but I think it will be after I get released. This week we found a miracle.  His name is Roberto. Everything was falling through last Monday like how it goes usually on fediados.  No one wants to receive us because they are with their family. But we saw a man sitting outside, and I was about to walk pass him when the littlest nudge pushed me towards him. We greeted him and sat down and it was like a miracle.  He wanted to be baptized on Sunday, but we told him that we needed to help him a little bit more in understanding the gospel of Christ.  He is committing too, but let's just say we will be having an amazing baptismal service for Christmas.

Also this last week I celebrated my one year mark here in Argentina in CORRIENTES with Hermana Lythgoe.  It was an AMAZING experience. We talked, laughed, cried, and saw how much more grown up we are. I am so grateful, and so in debt to my Savior for the things He is doing with me everyday. I am so grateful for my mission and the person it is creating me to be. I love you all very much and CONGRATS to CHARITY! and the twins! I absolutely love info like this. Well, till next week!

                                                                             Hermana Pack

 mistake letter telling Dena that she doesn't come home until June....ha ha!!

Follow the Spirit - Elder Pack (11/26/12 Letter)

Hello People of Las Vegas,

How are you?

This week we have been having good times and have been trying to find new people.  We had a meeting with a 70 and he helped our stake see that they need to do more because really they haven't been doing what they need to be doing. On Sunday Pres came to our ward and got some references out of the members.  It worked well.  We just got 9 references and now president is pushing us to get our work done hahahaha!

I learned something about myself the other day.  Sometimes I still let my thoughts take preference to my feeling.  I haven't become 100% reliant on the communications that i receive.  I need to become better at this to tell you the truth!!!!!!  I'm working on that.

A sister, who is a really good member and person shared a personal experience with us about not being obedient to the word of the spirit.  She helped me understand more fully that the spirit will give us warnings to try and help us stay away from places that we shouldn't be near.  I was happy for her testimony and experience.

Well I hope that everyone has a great day!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

Week of Miracles - Sister Pack (11/26/12 Letter)

Hey family!

This week has been a week of miracles.  First off, Yoselin got baptized! whoot whoot! I cant believe it.  We had a few hard moments right before her baptism, but I know that the Lord is a lot stronger than the diablo (satan). Hermana Colque and I have been here for a whole month together!  Time is flying by so so so fast. I remember when I got here to Formosa again. We didn't have a thanksgiving.  I actually forgot that it was thanksgiving! That's what happens when your here in the heat! haha.  See you guys in alguno meses!

Love Hermana Pack