If anyone is feeling sad, stop. Forget about yourself. The only times we really are sad are when we're thinking about ourselves.
When we focus on others, that's when happiness comes. Everything is a choice. Literally. Everything.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Navidad

Hey everyone!

First off, thank you to everyone who sent me things for Christmas, it was so appreciated and it made my Christmas so much better. Secondly, my Christmas was awesome!! We had lunch at a members house (super good tacos and cookies for desert) and then went over to Skype our families, and the lady whose house we were using also fed us some spicy turkey and stuffing, that was really good too. And then we had another meal appointment with a family in the English ward who has a huge house and some pretty nice cars (especially for what is around here.) I ate so much that day, it was nuts.

So Christmas was super great, and the days following were also pretty awesome as well. We talked to a lot of people, and have three progressing investigators who all seem pretty solid to get baptized in January. Our zone goal for December was 13, and as of today we have 12 baptisms, we just need to get one more before Thursday! It's gonna be a struggle tho, hopefully everything works out.

Outside of that, nothing super special happened. This week we have to be in by 6:00 for New Years Eve, but we get to watch Frozen!! A bunch of missionaries are super excited about that because a ton of them still haven't seen it. So that should be a pretty fun night as well.

I'm super grateful for those who have supported me thus far, please know that I appreciate it so much. One thing I'd like to challenge everyone to do with this new year coming up is make at least 3 resolutions that you will actually try to work on. We have a lot of goals as missionaries, broken down into things we can do every single day. So find three things you want to improve on in your life, with at least one of them being centered in Christ. Then at least once a week, assess how you've been doing with that goal, and make plans and smaller goals to accomplish during the week. Do this, and don't forget to ask the Lord for help. He can do all things, so why not help one of his children reach a goal?

 I hope you all have a great year, this is the only one where you won't see me in person throughout the entire year! Strange....but anyways, make it a great one, and I hope that you all can accomplish something you want to do this year.

Elder Packer


Monday, December 22, 2014

¡¡Merry Navidad!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I am so grateful for all the people who have sent me letters and packages and who have been supporting me, it is so appreciated, you really don't even know. Thank you all so so much.

This week has been really cool. We had a zone Christmas conference and that was really cool, we got our packages and some other random presents from the mission home and it was really fun and I had a blast. Then the day after that we had a zone exchange and I was paired with Elder Latu. He's a Tongan beast and is planning on playing college football when he goes home in 6 months, and he's freaking hilarious. I was laughing so much with him, he's great. 

That day was pretty good, we had a lot of fun, and saw miracles happen in our work. It was great. We had a zone breakfast that was super awesome and I took a picture by the border fence that happens to be about five minutes from where we live. It was a super fun week.

I can't wait to hear from my family and more of you guys this Christmas, it's gonna be a great week coming up, I'm super stoked. I hope you all remember Christ this Christ más and that you never forget what the reason for his birth was. (hint: THE ATONEMENT). I love you all, have a very Happy Navidad!! #texmex
 
Elder Packer
 
(our zone leaders took those signs and stood downtown for a couple hours passing out cards, it was super funny)




Monday, December 15, 2014

Greenie Week 2

Thank you to everyone who have written me letters and supported me, I appreciate it so much. I love you all.

So, this week has been a freaking awesome week.

We talked to a lot of people, met some really cool ones and a lot of people are wanting to learn and hear more about Jesus Christ. It's amazing.

I went on my first exchange this week, and we went to lunch with the Castillo's and guess where they took us....RUDY'S!!! I was so excited, I ate so much and it was amazing. I love Rudy's. 

Other than that there wasn't really a whole lot of other important things that went on. Except that I had my first Baptism, I guess that was pretty cool. I baptized two twin 9-year-old girls who's mom is less active, but my comp has been teaching them for a couple months and we finally got them to be baptized, and I got to perform the ordinance. And it was in Spanish, which makes it just a little bit cooler. I love baptism, it's great.

Other than that it's really just been fun I guess. It's work, but the people down here are super nice and friendly, they feed you whenever they're having dinner and you come by, and there has been a lot of good stuff down here, including some things I didn't like or want to try before I left. It's been great.

I hope everyone back home is doing good, S.O. to my broseph who went to the Christmas Dance, I bet the ladies were all over you. #killin'em

Anyways, I love you all, remember that Christ is always there for you and that He will help you in every trial or situation you have in your life. Just remember to pray and ask for revelation to know what you need to do. Love you guys!

Elder Packer




Monday, December 8, 2014

Alive and Well in Texas!!

Hey!!! 

Texas is awesome. I love the US. The last week at the CCM was so amazing, but the first day in the Dallas Airport was great, because I got my first McDonalds in forever, and a random Brother from North Carolina bought all three of us lunch. It was awesome.

Anyways, this week has been so great!! I got my first area (Los Ebanos, Brownsville) and I'm living with my companion and the zone leaders in one of the only 4 houses in the mission. My bike is freaking awesome, even though I haven't gotten a chance to ride it yet because we're in a car area, but I still love it. 

My first day we had a lesson with James Piña, and my comp told me he had a baptismal date for next Sunday, and we needed to teach him the word of wisdom because he had a drinking problem. So we went over there and taught him some stuff about the word of wisdom and asked him to quit drinking, and he said he would only if we have one last drink with him. 

My comp and I looked at each other not really knowing what to say, and he went and pulled out three glasses of what he said was tequila and pineapple juice, with salt around the top. He handed us the glasses and before we said anything he said cheers and started drinking. I looked at my comp and he looked at me, shrugged, and started drinking too. I had no idea what to do, so I just sat there and looked at the glass, until the two of them busted up laughing. 

Apparently James was a member for ten years and went on a mission, and the drink was really just Pineapple soda...it was pretty funny, even for me.  So that was the day one prank they played on me. 

I've already gotten about 40 ties from people that don't want any more ties because they're sick of ties. Did I mention ties? They are pretty huge down here, they know brand names and stuff and trade and all sorts of things that I have no idea about, but it's cool. 

I've been doing really well (according to my comp and zone leaders) managing my money and eating, and they've stuffed me full at a bunch of members houses. We went shopping for groceries my first day, and I got a 3 liter of Dr. Pepper...I love Texas... It's been great. 

I can't wait for the rest of my mission, it's gonna be great.
Elder Packer