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

Awesome week in Eldorado - Sister Pack (2/4/12 Letter)

Hey family!
   So its been an awesome week in Eldorado. We have been working really hard trying to help the
Lord's gospel spread here in Eldorado. We have a few part families we are trying to help become full families in the gospel and hopefully one day GET SEALED! But one cool story is that in our first week together, we were talking about the families that are inactive and we came to the conclusion to visit one family in particular. We passed by on Saturday night and within 10 minutes the Mom was telling us how she wants to come back to church. After that, the dad said he will come back! We are now working with this family to help them come back to the fold. The coolest part is there are two kids who haven´t been baptized yet, so we are fulfilling our job as missionaries and helping the branch.

    My companion and I are doing a program together called "Feel the spirit more in your lives." We are now in the second week of this program, and it has been truly interesting. I feel like at times now Satan works harder because we are working harder to understand the spirit. One thing that I have grown to know is that the Lord truly knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what will make us the happiest and just depends on us giving into His will. How do we learn to be humble and give into His will? Through reading the scriptures daily, praying and fasting. I am so grateful for my mission and what it has taught me. It has truly prepared me to be a defensor of the truth - I do not regret it for anything.

     Well hope you guys are enjoying Tyler! and I WANT MY PICTURE FROM THE AIRPORT WITH YOU GUYS AND HIM! lol. I love you guys tons and hope your week is great.

Hermana Pack

Still being perfected - Elder Pack (1/21/13 Letter)

Hello,

Well I'm not going to say all that much because I'll be home soon.  I want to be able to tell you things from the last 2 weeks.

Some things that I have learned this week is that I haven't become perfect in my mission.  I have a long way to go in becoming more patient.  I have had an experience lately that showed me I have been learning patience, but that I have much still to learn.

Well, love you all and I hope that you have a good day!!

LOVE,
ELDER PACK

Miracles Come - Sister Pack (1/21/13 Letter)

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

I think??? lol. So this week has been great. I have been learning so much about myself, and how I work with the spirit. We had an amazing experience the other day in a lunch with a part family.  This family is basically all members except the dad. He hadn't been baptized because of his mom... she is a strict Catholic.  We had invited him to be baptized a few months ago with the Hermana Espinoza, but he turned us down.  At lunch on Wednesday I was sharing a scripture and got a distinct feeling to invite him to be baptized. I thought this is crazy, but I did it and everyone was staring at me with eyes really wide.... including my companion... lol. He said, "It's time. I need to get baptized"  The Hermana started crying and each member of the family shared their feelings of what this meant and all said we are going to the temple to be sealed as a family the year to come. SO GREAT NEWS!! WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!  This family waited ten years and now he wants to be baptized the fastest possible way he can. This is what missionary work is about. Listening to the spirit, doing the Lords will, and helping families become eternal. I am so grateful to this gospel. Grateful for my family. I love you all. Hope you enjoy time with my little bro.

SEND ME A PICTURE from the airport!

I love you all.

Hermana Pack

Coming to the End - Elder Pack (1/14/13 Letter)

Hello Family & Friends,

How have you been?

I have been good and this week has gone a little slow, but something awesome happened.  Rocio, an investigator that we have, has changed her job and now she is planning on getting baptized.  It's awesome. Although I won't be here when she gets baptized because she has a baptismal date for February 9th.  It's strange to be putting all the baptismal dates for after I am out of the mission, but if I do it like this I can still "pick up" baptisms while home hahahaha.  I'm enjoying just helping people take the discussions to come to Christ.

This week the other missionaries had a baptism and the gentleman that was baptized is going to help us in the lessons with Cesar.  He also is a member of AA, so this might give us a better idea in what Cesar is going through.  We hope that it all goes well.

My companion turns 20 tomorrow.  I think I'm going to do something for him!!!! But what should i do?? I'll think about it.

So how has everyone been? I hope well and that all is going according to plan.

Love you all and hope that you all have a great day!!!

LOVE,
ELDER PACK

Who Is Getting Old in the Mission - Sister Pack (1/14/13 Letter)

Dear Family

Who Is Getting Old in the Mission?  I AM haha. But luckily my heart is still young, and the joy that comes from the work still renews me everyday and takes away the pain from the sore muscles! lol. So it's been some really good weather luckily. LUCKILY because our air conditioner broke last week, and we have been without it for the last 4 days.  We have been sleeping on the floor with our two fans surviving the heat. I couldn't imagine if it was hotter so I am extremely grateful to my father in heaven for his mercy on us. I am also grateful to my Dad for teaching me how to be tough, making me work in the yard in the middle of summer, and taking me on camp outs that I truly didn't want to do.  They have all helped me to see these little things as easy! haha. So this week we have been working hard with two of our investigators to get them ready to be baptized at the end of this month. This week has been a bit slower, but during the slow times we learn patience.  I am so grateful for all this that I am learning. Grateful for God changing me little by little each day! Well got to go to see if we can get our air fixed so we can have a more comfortable study session.

Love you guys,
Hermana Pack

Miracles Happen - Sister Pack (1/7/12 Letter)

So I am in a new cyber today... and there is a kid yelling from excitement.  He's playing a game that looks like the games that Tyler use to play. haha The good olé days. So this week has been absolutely amazing enserio amazing. We did divisions and I went to the area of Hermana Lythgoe. I realized how fortunate I am in my area. I seriously think I have the best area of this zone for hermanas. So something really cool happened this week. During weekly planning, the other week my companion and I felt that we could have a baptism for this Friday (04).  We didn't know how but just got the feeling and had the faith if we did everything in our power it was going to happen. Well, when I was in divisions, my companion called me telling me about some problems that were going on with one of investigators that was to be baptized the 12th. I got a distinct impression that we needed to move it to Friday.  So we did and she ACCEPTED! We worked our tails off Wednesday till Friday for the baptism of Maria. It was absolutely beautiful! I cried. I was running around a bit trying to get everything ready for our activity after. We watched 17 miracles.  It was absolutely amazing! Yadira and her husband came!! Her husband has been her stumbling block to get baptized. HE THEN CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY! Seriously the Lord does wondrous works. We will be meeting with them on Tuesday to talk about their wedding! It has been one of the coolest experiences.

Well that has been my week working hard to bring my brothers and sisters to our savior. I love you all.
Love Hermana Pack

Happy New Year - Elder Pack (12/31/12 Letter)

Hello Family and Friends,

So this week went by really quickly, and I'm thinking that this week will also go by the same.  We haven't had too much success this week, but I'm hoping with my heart that some things will work together.  Well, they seem to be going in that direction today.  We got a referral, and they say that the person is interested so we will see!!!!

So I enjoyed the phone call home even though I couldn't talk to my mommy.  It made me a little sad, but sometimes in life you don't get what you want.  It was very short but to tell you the truth I don't mind because I will be able to see them in another month!! It's strange to say that because I remember back to when I was about a month away from going on the mission and it felt like 2 years would never end.  But now I feel the end growing closer.  It also makes me a little sad because I have come to love the people of Mexico. I cherish the friends that I have made and also my companions.  I'm having a hard time putting my head around all this information to tell you all the truth.  It's hard to grasp that the end has come and now I only have 1 month more to serve my Lord as His called servants.

To those that take up the call...love it please because I have loved it so far and I know that I'm going to miss it.

This week we went to a sister's house to eat Christmas feast.   It was good and I enjoyed it.  The sister is a loving sister that wants only the best for the missionaries.  It has been awesome this Christmas.  My companion and I get along great and we were able to enjoy ourselves.

We played soccer last Tuesday because all were quite busy sleeping or with families.  Tomorrow we will be having another activity.  No worries, President told us to do it hahaha.  All the mission is having activities because everyone is going to be having a hang over tomorrow and the members are going to be sleeping.  So it's better that we have fun in our zones.

Love you all  and hope that you have a great new year!!!!

LOVE ELDER PACK

Happy New Year - Sister Pack (12/31/12 Letter)

Hey family!

So this week has passed by extremely fast! I can't believe I am at the end of another Pday! Feels like yesterday when I talked to you guys! It was so amazing talking to all of you guys and seeing that all is well there in Vegas. I hope you all have received my letters that I sent for Christmas. I am glad to hear from my best friend too! Seriously it gave me so much energy to get out there and work and find someone like Tess to baptize! lol. So this week has been a lot of work.  We have been trying to find new investigators. It's been a week of miracles.  We found a huge AWESOME like REALLY AWESOME family.  There are 6 of them and the dad greeted us with open arms.  Seriously it's been so great.  It's hard to find where the man of the home is ok with the Gospel and doesn't drink and smoke and party.

Speaking of Christmas parties, here is SO DIFFERENT.  There are fireworks and people dancing in the streets till 9 in the morning. We will see what will happen tonight lol. ALSO something really put me trunky this week.  We found a man who lives in Long Island that is here on vacation. He is extremely interested and speaks in ENGLISH! It was like I was home for one minute. We are teaching them and preparing them to go back to long Island to be baptized. Hopefully I will have a sealing to go to there in NYC! lol. God works in mysterious ways.  Well, that is all.  I am happy that everyone is doing well and pray that all are making good goals for the year to come!

Love all of you,
                                                                                                                                                                          Hermana Pack

Merry Christmas - Sister Pack (12/24/12 Letter)

Hello Family and Friends,

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Pools where ever you go... mosquitoes eating you alive. Dere in all the corners of the streets. The air a blasting high. The missionaries topped with their sombreros. yep that is Christmas  lol.

This week has been crazy!

We had a good time with the baptism of Roberto. I swear there is no such thing as a free baptism with Satan. We were trying to find him all Thursday with our zone leader to do his interview... after on Friday it rained all day..... well the morning and afternoon.  And when it rains here in Argentina, no one leaves.  During this rain also the bomba for the pool of baptism broke... to take out the water and yep... we had to take out the water by hand, but I am going to ruin a whole story for the call home.  Ask me about it and I'll tell you but you have to remind me!

It's amazing that most of you are feeling cold weather while I am getting sun burnt everyday. Seriously it is so hot! Also mom I received your package like a few weeks ago and have been using the dress the last few weeks! ITS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! Thank you. I get lots and lots of complements, so if you want to send one more... jkjk.

Here in Argentina the people celebrate way different.  Tonight we will have a dinner and after they will do lots of fireworks till 1 o´clock. Then sleep all of Christmas.  It's so funny and different than ours but I am grateful I get to experience a different type of Christmas.

So this week I just wanted to share a quick scripture from John 3:16.  "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all that believe in Him can have eternal life." This has been our message for the last week to all. It says that God GAVE meaning it was a present. I am so grateful for this present and grateful that Jesus Christ gave His life so I can grow and get better and that I can enter the kingdom of God. I have decided what my gift to God and Jesus Christ in return.  I hope all stop for one moment to think about what they can give to our Father in Heaven and Christ for all they do for us.

I know this is the church that Jesus Christ guides. I know that is what brings happiness, without a doubt. I know families can be eternal.

Love you all. Hermana pack