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, July 25, 2016

Birthday and Extension

Hello!!

First of all, thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday, I loved it. As well as for all the awesome birthday cards, that was really awesome:) but I do have to say that my Mom takes the cake for best present, she had pizza delivered to my door from across the country!! Thanks for coming in clutch mom:)

Anywho, for those that don't already know, I have a story! Tuesday morning we were driving to District meeting, and I got a call from one of the sisters in the office. She first mentioned that my release date was in the computer as Oct. 22, and my mind immediately went to thinking that this was the 90-day call that missionaries get when it's 90 days until they go home. However, she told me that because it was in the middle of a transfer, President Torres said I could choose to either go home normally on October 5th, or extend until November 14th. At first I just told her October, because that was in the plan, I was just expecting on going home in October because that's when my 16th transfer ended. But after thinking and praying for a bit, I called her back and told her that I would like to extend until November 14th. I figured that if God wanted me to go home on time, he would have just made it so I would go home normal like every other missionary. So I'm excited to see what I need to learn and do for my extra 6 weeks in the Texas McAllen Mission!!

That's really about it for the week, that definitely was the main part haha. I love you guys so much, I hope that you have a wonderful week!! 

Elder Packer

1. Army of Helaman (bike edition)
2. The border of Mexico, a Mexican family, and Bro Richens
3. Harker and I on the Border
4. Pizza from Mommy😁






Monday, July 18, 2016

No Dry Weekends in Laredo

Hey everyone!! 

So this last week I got transferred, now I am in Del Norte in Laredo! It's super fun, 4th whitewash in a row hahaha. The members are super cool, even though they are few in numbers, but I love it here. My new comp is Elder Harker!! Not the same one I was with in Portland though haha, different one, but kinda funny right? 

Laredo is full of milagritos. Our first night we were just walking around because we didn't know anyone and we ended up getting pick up by a member and he got us Sonic haha it was super cool. so many little things like that happened this week, it was awesome. We've got a lot of potential in this area, I'm loving it. Elder Harker is a beast, he's got a great attitude and is always ready to work, he's awesome, so much faith. 

That's basically all I have to say about the week, I don't have too much time, but I wanted to tell you all that I love you a lot!! The mission is the single greatest thing to ever happen in anyone's life, at least up until they start a family. If you're debating about serving, or even just thinking about it, do it. It's the best decision you'll ever make. I love you all!!

Elder Packer 

1. Last apt pic 
2. Shirts we designed last transfer
3. Elder Gonzales (I aduated with him from Viewmont)
4. Random Statue of Liberty
5. Korean food from a Japanese member haha. 







Monday, July 11, 2016

Otra vez vienen las transferencias

Bueno!! 

How is everyone? I hope everyone had a wonderful week, I know mine was pretty great, and also really quick. 

This week was the last week of the transfer, and we had a bunch of appointments, so it was pretty exciting. We found quite a few people to teach, which was great, and we brought people to church, something this area hadn't done since August of last year. But it was super cool. We got to meet with some people from my last area in Harlingen, and we spent a lot of time doing service. But last night we got transfer calls, and apparently I'm leaving after only one in this area. I'm a little sad, but it's alright, I feel like I did a lot with the organizing of the area, and I left it much better than I found it. I still don't know where I'm going, but I'm excited to see what the Lord has for me in these next few months. 

That's basically it for this week, I hope you all have a wonderful week!! I love you all!!

Elder Packer 

1-2. Pictures at "Crazy Monkey Lady's" house (she's got a dozen or more monkeys)
3-4. Kassie and I after her confirmation and the baptism of her step-sisters. 





Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Dia de independence!

José, puedes ver?

Hello everyone, I hope you've all had a wonderful day and week! This last week was a pretty fun and exciting one for me and my companion. We had exchanges, and I was sent to La Feria with Elder Sheehy, where we had a pretty good time and did lots of service work. We got back on Thursday where we also had interviews with Presidente Torres. He's a really awesome guy, super inspired, and he got us all really excited for the work. He's a lot like President Maluenda, but he's definitely got his own style. He wants to go proselyting with each of us, so that's definitely going to be interesting haha. He's got a crazy story, he was almost ordained a high-priest before he left on his mission, but they found out he wouldn't be able to go on his mission, so they waited until after, where he became a Stake President at like 23 or something like that. He also baptized 50 people in 3 months while he was on his mission. Crazy high faith.

So, for those of you that don't know, my companion, Elder Lake, wants to be President of the United States. He has a lot of great love for this country, and I honestly think he will do it, he's got some good plans. But with yesterday being the 4th of July, he was definitely on a high point all day haha. We had a lot of fun celebrating the birth of America, and he has shared with me some pretty cool plans and talks and things about America. 

But because of his goal to be president, I was thinking about goals I have. He's convinced me to be part of a political movement to help the country, so that's one of my goals now too. But I wanted to challenge yall to think of a long-term goal (2-5 years) and a short-term goal (1-3 months) and then plan for it and put those plans to action. They can be financial goals, educational goals, or spiritual goals, but just make sure you don't overcomplicate the plan. I am a big believe in small and simple things. I love yall a lot, and hope you have a great week!! 

Elder Packer 

Sorry, I forgot to mention the baptism picture. On Sunday I was privileged to baptize Kassandra Larios, the daughter of one of the members in my last area in Harlingen. She's adorable, she taught me the whip and attempted to teach me a front walkover hahaha. They're recent converts from just before I got to the area, so it was pretty great to see them continue their progression and prepare for the temple. Her parents are Eliza and Carlos Mares, and she's got a younger sister that's 2 who she is being a great example to. They're all buen gente, I love them haha.