[from Bryce]
Today we got our hair cut. My companion called his family (in México, Mother’s day is always on the 10th).

I also did some last minute shopping. I also started to dejunk some stuff and packed. Tomorrow is District Class, so I still have to prepare that [Bryce teaches the class]. On wednesday, we will be working hard, and on Thursday, we will work and visit all my converts to say good bye and take pictures.

Friday morning, I will go to the temple in the morning with a brother from the ward and my companion will stay here with the Assistants. All of my generation [missionaries going home Saturday] will enter the temple for a session, and [afterwards] we will have some activities and a class on the perpetual education fund. Then in the evening [with the mission president] we will go eat tacos at La Onda! mmm… TACOS!!! I probably won’t sleep at night, and early Saturday — like around 5:45 AM — we will head to the airport.

I know that this week is just going to fly by so I am going to work harder than ever to do all I can while I’m still here, and in my last few days of full-time service!

Have a great week! I love you all and I will see you are talk to you soon!

-Elder Packer

Well, I’m excited to talk with everyone on Sunday! [Bryce gets to talk with the family for Mother's Day!] I can’t believe how the time keeps flying. Today we went to El Centro, which is downtown Mexico City. It has been a hot 97 degrees! Yesterday we had some major miracles in the church, and next week (my last Sunday in the mission) we are going to have 3 baptisms. I still don’t feel it! And I am sure it won’t hit me till after next Sunday! MAN IT’S HOT! Well, I think my brain is melting, because I can’t think of what to write you. However, I do love you all very much! Talk to you sooooon!

-Elder Packer

Well, just to update on the video last week… [See last week's email Fun Stuff about having their computer editing program crash while creating a training video. ] …It was lost and we tried until the night to recover it, however no luck. Oh well, we did all we could!

Yesterday was nice because of Margarita’s baptism she is a sweet, dear hearted lady who reminds me of mom! It was Elder Fernandez’s first baptism and he preformed the ordinance perfect. I also had him confirm Luis who we baptized a few weeks ago… so now he is getting more confidence and experience. I have been trying hard to teach him how to be a leader, accepting responsibility and participating in every aspect of the work.

I spoke in Sacrament meeting about Missionary work, of course, with an emphasis on the importance of members. It went alright; I was about 12 min. into my talk and about 2/3 of the way finished when the bishop said I’d gone over time. So… I guess I’ll be able to use the 20 min. Bishop Abbot is giving me to talk on ‘Obedience to God’s commandments’ just fine. I really can’t believe its coming to an end. I’ve just been working hard to keep finding investigators and trying to help them to overcome their fears, etc. to come to church and prepare them for baptism and teaching my kid how to do the same. We got some good investigators, and with lots of help from the Lord, they’ll soon be converted. Please keep praying for me, my companion and our investigators these next few weeks!

Dad, I’m super excited that they changed the date for the father and sons campout! About a party, you can invite whomever you want, and either Saturday or Sunday would be fine for me. If you want to put some photos on a slide show, that great, but I don’t want to stand and narrate anything.

Emily, you are just looking huge… and just to let you know I’ve gotten real fat the past few months! I’ve been suckin’ my gut in to the pictures J.

Have a great week! I love you!

Elder Packer

…by the way, just kidding, I’m not fat!

Mom, about the money, that should be great. Thank you so much!

Well, I am beat! I have been spending the whole day with the assistants making a video for their capacitation (training) … tomorrow. And so pressure has robbed my memory after planning the video, then filming, we have gone on to editing… for 6 hours and 40 minutes now! And about 35 mins. ago the editing program froze … and we forgot to save, so we might be starting the editing from scratch. We are now just praying and waiting for some computer guy who is going to come and try and save the file.

Sorry this is probably going to be a very lame letter. The great news is this week Elder Fernandez (my greeny) is going to have his first baptism! He is very excited. Her name is Margarita and she is a nice middle aged woman whom we found contacting a micro bus (which has about 50 passengers). Pretty neat! When we brought her to church she seemed to be struggling to understand what was going on, till Gospel Principles class, where I presented her to Anna, one of our recent converts… it turns out that they knew each other years ago. So Hermana Anna has been accompanying us to our teaching appointments. It has been amazing to see the power and the spirit that this new convert has! I know that working with members is the best way to do the Lord’s work. I hope that you are all striving to have real missionary experiences!

…Well, the stress is still here, so I’ve got to go!

Love you all!

-Elder Packer

It has been a nutty week. My new companion is Elder Miguel David Fernandez Perez, He’s from Chetumal, Quintana Roo. It’s super far from here! [in the Yucatán Peninsula] This week was a bit of a trial at first since my companion is a greeny, but he is really humble and not afraid of working + he has learned really fast. The Lord couldn’t have blessed me with a greater companion! Funny story: I talked him into waxing his unibrow today… tell you all about it later. Oh, yea another funny story last week with Elder Padget: we were sharing the [story of the] first vision, when all four of the legs of the chair our investigator was sitting on flew out from under her. It’s been said that all sorts of distractions will always come up in the first vision, but this was a funny first.

I was reviewing my notes on General Conference again and noticing how a big part of the theme was doing our duty to God.

This week we had a family of 9, 6 in baptismal age who were going to get baptized, however the father decided that he doesn’t want to get married so that was a hard blow! However we had an interesting fast and testimony meeting… because we share the ward with the assistants and it was General Conference last week we had 12 confirmations, then 2 baby blessings, one of which was the child of one of the families that was confirmed. So in the end there were only 4 or 5 very brief testimonies shared before the service ended. Plus there are a few other pending confirmations and if they would have come like planned, I’m sure that it would have only been a confirmations and baby blessings meeting. I hope our investigators who came for the first time don’t get weirded out by their first experience!

Well, I’ve got to run!

I love you all so much! Take care and make the best decisions this week!

-Elder Packer

P.S. ¡¡¡¡Attached is the new mission photo!!!!

I hope you are doing great!

…and to everyone, Happy Easter!

It is SO hot!!! I am sweating like a pig! And to think it’s only going to be getting hotter…

It’s been a strange and busy week. I have been serving with Elder Padget (a new American missionary in my district) since Thursday and it has been a pleasure, even though he can speak very little Spanish and can not pronounce the “R” to save his life, the people react in a special way to his warm spirit and positive attitude. I’ve learned a lot from him, and one of those many things is what pure motives really means.

So… I am going to get a greeny! Yep. I’m going to be training my last cycle! I’m excited, and nervous, because I know that means that I will be even busier and that means the time will be going by even faster. However I am grateful for this new opportunity to serve, teach and learn. As before, I am sure I will learn more than I teach. I often wonder why the Lord is so good to me and all of us.

General Conference was wonderful and I am grateful for the guidance I and others received. It is incredible how the Lord can answer my specific prayers and those of millions of other in the same moment. I love the Lord! I also found it incredible how all of the talks where so in line, even though there were no assigned themes. I felt that two of the strongest themes were prepare the children and protect the youth. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my notes with me right now to share all of my favorite thoughts, however I do remember a few.

Joy and happiness don’t come from circumstances, but faith in the Lord. That is a lesson that I am learning more and more, its not where we are, who we are with or the blessings or trials that we are going through that determine our state of happiness. We need to be creators of circumstances not creatures of our environments. As Elder Bednar clearly stated, we are to act not to be acted upon, and faith is not merely believing, but acting. It is our works, that are in accordance with the teachings of Christ that determine our state of happiness! I love the clear example stated that if we are struggling and turn instead and focus on the needs of another rather than our own needs, than we will quickly become happier and our burdens will become light. I know that  this is the truth and that we will be happy and at peace in any season in any place and with anyone as long as we follow the teaching of the Master!

I am grateful for the teachings and the works of Jesus! For his perfect example and mercy. May we all exert ourselves to be more like Him is my prayer and hope.

I love you, my family! I pray for you and desire your well being!

-Elder Bryce Packer

Well, it’s been another quick and fruitful week! Axel and Luis were baptized yesterday, which was great! We found Cinthia and Sandra, however they both will be waiting a little longer to get baptized. I think Cinthia will be getting baptized on the 11th. We found a great family the other day when we contacted a bus, after we contacted the bus and had talked with all of the passengers we sat down and began to make some plans, however we couldn’t help but notice the family of nine who got on so we contacted them and made an appointment, we visited them several times throughout the week and they came to church on Sunday! All of the kids are super excited for their baptisms as they stayed the 3 hours and for the baptismal service after. The Lord has continued to bless us in our efforts!

It’s my companion’s last few days; he goes home on Thursday, so I feel kind of weird and sad. Next Tuesday I’ll get a new companion… I think I might train again, who knows. Anyways, it will all be great.

Mom asked me…

“Have you made any plans for when you get home? Or any idea about what you want to do with your life now?”

Well, I’m still tying not to focus too much on that, however I promised Heather I would help her and the kids out for the next year, so that is really the first and most important. Obviously I will need to get a job, if the Ogdens don’t have work, I will find a job using my Spanish, possibly at a bank or in the airport. (Mom, maybe you have some sweet connections.) I’m going to buy a motorcycle (it costs less and saves gas + I’ve always wanted one). As far as plans, I want to be an inventor/architect, however will probably do all of that on the side and study to be a teacher, which is where I feel I will really be able to make a difference. Plus, it would be nice to get married within a year of being home… if you know anyone

Well, I hope you all are doing amazing! I’ve been praying for all of you!

Love,

-Elder Packer

Thanks, mom, for the questions, after a tiring week it helps the not so creative mind.

1. Your place in Mexico City was very nice it seemed. What is you housing like now?

My apartment right now is nice, its very small, however clean (now) and in a very central location I my area, which helps.

2. Do you live with 1 or 3 other elders and who are they and where are they from?

I only live with my companion, Elder Alcantar, who is great! He is from Torreon, Cuahuila, Mexico.

3. What is your area like now? poor, wealthy, middle class etc.?

It’s a little pueblo on a hillside, next to the volcanos. There are lots of dirt roads here and adobe houses. It’s nice, I would say it is my favorite area of them all. So many of the people here are receptive to the Gospel.

4.  We are hearing lots of information about violence etc. tied to drug wars have you seen that type of things going on?

Nope, thats all in the north of the country like in Ciudad Juarez.

5. What did you buy for your birthday?

To be honest, I spent most of the money sending that package home. However we are having a shirt and matching rings made, and I will probably go to Mexico City my last week to buy a couple of keepsakes.

6.  Do you need some more money? if so about how much?

Well, because of the package, it might be nice to have some money to buy a couple things at the end as well as some stuff for the family. If you could send a little for that I will pay you back.

7.  Where do you email from now?

An internet cafe close to the house.

8. Are you on foot now?

yep

9. Who are your investigators and how are they coming along?

Well, we just had a baptism yesterday of a sweet old woman, Maria, who is 80, however she is still sharp. It was a very special baptismal service. This week we are going to be baptizing Luis, the son of a recent convert who didn’t want to go to church before, but now is very excited about the gospel. Axel is a youth who is super intelligent and reading the Book of Mormon and bunch (we have really seen how the gospel has brought a brightness in his countenance); and we also have Cynthia and Sandra who were supposed to get baptized yesterday, but fell off the face of the earth over the week end, so we’ll see what will happen with them.

10.  What are some of your duties as district leader?

There are not that many really, the most important are baptismal interviews, which are a lot gratefully. Then district class, receiving and giving key indicator reports on Thursdays and Saturdays, delivering pouch on Sundays.

11. How many companionships do you have in your district?

My companion and I and two other companionships, so 6 Elders, 3 companionships.

12. What are your worries this week?

Not finding Cynthia and Sandra for their baptisms this week.

13.  What  gave you joy this week?

Maria’s baptism, not being sick anymore (my companion and I had bad colds for a few weeks), and my district class went well.

14. Do you get to watch General Conference live or as a rebroadcast?

Live in our chapel, because it’s the stake center. The chapel is kind of far away, its the same word, but in another area.

I hope that keeps your curiosity tied over for the week, I’m looking forward to reading all you letters!

Well congratulations Emily beforehand on your deliver date. you asked me about my release date… Well, I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you but since I was in the offices still when they bought my plane ticket, I am coming home on Saturday, May 15th… and if I remember correctly, I fly into Dulles around 3:30 pm.

…but we’ll worry about all of that later!

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!

-Elder Packer

My companion asked for an extension on his mission, however he didn’t get it because it was less than 30 days before his release date. I love being a missionary and am trying to live and work every day of it to the fullest. However I just haven’t felt the desire to ask for an extension, even though I know I am going to miss serving full-time and hope I don’t go into shock when I get home.

I’m sorry this is kind of a short dry letter, however I just don’t know what to write about. It’s like I blinked and another week has gone by.

Take care! Love!

-Elder Packer

It has been another glorious week in the work of the Lord, in the which he has blessed us greatly. My companion and I worked diligently and hard the past two weeks, however at the end of last week our overall impression was that we needed to be more humble and rely more on the Lord, so that is what we’ve been striving to do this week. The Lord blessed us greatly this past week in being part of the baptisms of two amazing people, Laura and her daughter Susi. They are wonderful people who have received a true conversion to the Gospel. He also blessed us in being a means by which 14 investigators attended church services yesterday. I feel very grateful! Actual its funny our ride fell through and we had to rent a public transportation van, so everyone could come. I’m sill working to recognize that success in this work comes from the Lord and rely on Him for guidance and strength.

Coming to this area, I’ve just felt blessed and full of energy and excitement to work hard and make the Gospel flourish here like it never has before. My initial excitement is what got me going, however the Lord has been showing me along the way what it is I need to do (change) to keep going. Being humble and relying on Him is part of it, now I have felt what I need to do is work hard to just really truly love the people and desire their salvation. I love the two people who were baptized yesterday and am so happy to see how the Gospel has made them happy! And that is my motive, that was (and is) the motive of Christ and His mission, the great cause of the Gospel.

When we allow pure motives (the well being of others) to motivate us to act (service) and we repeat these actions to the point that they become habits, our deepest desires become converted to that which is pure, righteous and godly. The strength, energy come as needed and God teaches us along the way what more we must do (change). What we love we will seek, and what we seek we will obtain.

I know that Christ lives and that He loves us. May we seek Him and His pure love and may it motivate us to loose ourselves in the service of God’s children even as He has done.

I love you all and pray that God will bless and keep every one of you!

-Elder Packer