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, May 23, 2016

TheCountdown

Hello everyone!
So this week was pretty good, we did a lot of good stuff, had a lot of fun, and it was very interesting. Monday we did just hung around Portland for p-day, it was really nice and relaxing, and then Tuesday I had an exchange with Elder Sanchez, that was pretty fun, we got a lot of things done, it was great. Jared Dement also came over Wednesday morning and showed us the way they planned down in Argentina, it was pretty cool. We did some big planning and adjusting of the area, and now we're super ready to go out and work haha. 
This is the last week of the transfer, so we're on the countdown to seeing what happens next transfer. I don't know what will happen, but I've loved my time here in Portland and would love to stay. But whatever happens I know it's the Lord's will. 

That's all I really have to say haha sorry I don't have too much. I love you all, have a wonderful week!!

Elder Packer



Monday, May 16, 2016

GoalsPlansLetters

Hello Humans!!
So this last week was pretty awesome, we had a lot of fun times and lots of good things happened. The most memorable/exciting thing was probably the return of Jared Dement, our Ward Mission Leader's Son who was serving in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. He served an awesome mission and is still pumped to help the Elders here in Portland. 
On Sunday he gave his homecoming talk and it was awesome, he shared some really cool experiences, including a letter that he wrote to himself on the plane to the MTC. He held on to it for the whole 2 years, and then read it on the plane back from Argentina, where he gave himself a bunch of advice. He read about half of it and then decided to talk to the woman he was sitting next to on the plane for the 15 hour flight, and told her all about what he had been doing for 2 years, bore his testimony that he knew this was the only true church of God, and that he wanted to give her a Book of Mormon. She read the introduction and the testimonies, and then he read the rest of his letter, where in the last paragraph he had told himself that he needed to share the gospel with whomever he was sitting next to on the plane. He felt the spirit, started bawling and told her, and testified again that it was God calling out to her. He is hoping to soon see a picture of her getting baptized or with the missionaries. Super cool!
I didn't write myself a letter when I left the MTC, but I decided to do that today, even though it's more than halfway through. I'll still read it when I am on the plane, and intend to still talk to the people sitting next to me on the plane. 
Anywho, we made some really awesome plans this week and we're hoping to see lots of success from them. All I can really say is that the spirit guides. He is real and wants to help, we just need to be looking and listening. 
I love you guys and hope you have a great week!! 
Elder Packer
1.Wednesday
2.SuperCoolPicturebyGregOlsen
3.Another
4.HarkerBeingHarker
5.Cheesecake:)




Monday, May 9, 2016

PostMothersDay

Hello yall!
This week has been pretty good, we did a lot of random stuff, I was on exchanges for a couple days, we had some meetings, and then we skyped Sunday! It was good to see my family, I'm glad they're doing so well. 
I don't really have much to say because I spoke with them yesterday, but I do have a bunch of pictures, so I hope you guys enjoy those haha. I love yall!:) 
Elder Packer

Selfies on the exchange, a santa hat we found, and me burning my pants!!!








Monday, May 2, 2016

Por Tantas Bendiciones

Another Monday!
The weeks keep going by faster haha. Anywho, this past week was really good, we got a lot of things done in the area, met a lot of new people, cleaned up some records, and are still loving it in Portland. The people here really remind me of my ward back home, it's the closest one I've been to that has been really fully functioning in the way it should be haha. 
I don't have too much to say this week, I just wanted to comment on Mother's Day prep. Kids, have fun showing your mom how much you love her this week. Husbands, love your wives. Do what you can to help them out, not just on Sunday but every day, especially this week. Set a goal to do one nice thing for your wife every day this week that you don't normally do. And wives, be grateful for whatever the men do, we aren't perfect but we try haha. 
Now to make my mom cry a bit I'm going to share how grateful I am for everything she's done for me. I wouldn't be out here if it weren't for the faithfulness of my mother. Every day she would hound us to do scripture study, even when I was literally walking out the door. She made sure that we knew that she knew that was something important. And if it hadn't been for that example, I don't really know where I would be right now haha. That, and I'm thankful for all the times you've done my laundry....really, really grateful hahah:) love you!!

I hope yall enjoy this week and have a wonderful Mothers Day! 
Elder Packer 
1-2. Harker and I this morning
3. A picture my dad sent me that makes me laugh every time hahaha