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, June 27, 2016

Se va el tiempo

Hello yall:)

This week went by super fast, sorry I don't have a lot to say. We had a couple exchanges, and got some renewed animo, it was awesome:) This week we get a new mission president. He comes in today and tomorrow President Maluenda leaves. We're all going to miss him a lot, but we're excited to see what the new mission president has for us as well. 

What I really wanted to share this week was about love. I really love my mission. I love serving the people here. I love hearing about people lives and doing what I can to touch their hearts and change their lives for the better. I really love hearing about their lives, hearing them open up, mourning with them, feeling their pain as an ache in my own heart, and esforzandome tanto to be able to help them out. That's probably my favorite part about the mission. 

Along with that, I've set a personal goal to touch the heart of at least one person a day. Its really not that hard, all you have to do is try. I intend to keep that goal after the mission, and I want to challenge anyone who reads this to do the same this week. The boy scouts have a saying; do a good turn daily. It's like that, but make sure it's for someone in specific. 

I love you all, hope you have a great week!

Elder Packer

1. Elder Castillo and Lake 
2. Me brushing a member's barbie's hair....don't ask questions haha 



Monday, June 20, 2016

Rain

Hello yall!!

So this week was pretty good. We got caught in the rain once or twice, but it was pretty fun, I love getting caught in the rain haha. Sounds weird, but it's really exciting. On Friday we had our ward Father's Day party and that was super fun, everyone showed up late, but when it finally got started we had a lot of fun, good food, good music, good people. 

We also did a lot of service this week, on Saturday we almost did nothing but service, but we had stake conference too haha. We first went to a member's farm and helped her pick up from some of the recent storms. it was pretty fun, we got to see some animals such as a HUUUGE pig, some donkeys and goats and chickens and things, it was cool. Afterwards we went to a different member's house and helped them wash an RV they had, and that took a lot longer that it seems. It was crazy. But then we had Stake Conference, which was really good. President Elkins went super hard on service for the adult session, and then about callings during the other. He is one of those who speaks very straightforward. It was good. 

That's the majority of my week, I hope yall are having a great one, and happy late Father's Day to those who I didn't get to tell, namely my own Dad and anyone else who would like to claim it hahaha. I love yall!! Have a great week!

Elder Packer







Monday, June 13, 2016

Greener Pastures

Buenas tardes mis amados!

I hope you all had a great week, mine certainly was pretty great. We had some fun on Monday with the other missionaries in the Zone, and Tuesday we did an exchange. I was with Elder Felix, we taught some cool people and the Senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Clark, brought us ice cream. 

Skipping to Friday, we had a good weekly planning and such, and we went out and worked a bunch. Saturday we had zone service at the Daniels house to help them clean out their garage and we had a blast over there even though it was like a thousand degrees. I was also on exchanges with Elder Castillo on Saturday, and we biked to the edge of the gaping depths of my area, which took a while, and we found out that the member we were looking for lived on a different street with the same name that was actually on the other side of Harlingen...right next to our apartments. But we made the best of the situation, it wasn't too bad haha. 

Sunday I gave a talk on Missionary Work and The Atonement. I thought it went pretty well, I really enjoyed studying for it. 

That was basically my week. Presidente Maluenda has only 15 more days in the TMM, and then we will be getting Presidente Torres. I'm excited, but I'll definitely miss the Maluendas. anywho, I love yall, hope you have a great week!!

Elder Packer 




Monday, June 6, 2016

Ajustandome

Hello everyone!!
Recap; I'm back in Harlingen, this time in a spanish area, and a bike only area, and my new comp is Elder Lake. He has about 8 months on the mission, and he's 6'6". Taall dude. 

So this last week was pretty crazy. I emailed I think on Wednesday, and that was the day we did some shopping and things, and we didn't get too much done outside of organization. Friday we went and had Valley Conference with President Maluenda, the last conference we're going to have with him as our presidente. Him and his family leave the 28th of June, it's gonna be hard, but good. And this whole weekend it was pouring rain. That and I got a flat while biking and we ended up walking home for about 1.5 miles, until a member came to the rescue and drove us the other mile haha. It was actually really fun though, just biking/running in the rain. I don't know why, but we really loved it haha. 

That's about it for this week, I hope you guys have an awesome week, I love yall!!
Elder Packer



Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Guess Who's Back

Happy Wednesday everyone!!

Sorry I'm emailing so late, the library was closed on Monday, and yesterday was transfers. I'm back in Harlingen! But this time I don't get the luxury of a van, I'm on puro bike. It's gonna be a fun summer hahaha. 

So I don't really know what to say, the past few days have been pretty crazy. We said goodbye to a bunch of people in Portland, Harker was lucky enough to stay. I really wanted to stay, but the Lord had need of me here, so I guess that's where I'll be. 

I did take a bunch of pictures, so yall can look at those, but that's really all I've got for today, sorry! I love yall, don't ever lose your testimony!!

Elder Packer

1. Muhammad Family
2-5. Birkeys