¡Hola mi bella familia! [Hello my beautiful family!]

Our area is going well, despite opposition. I feel like our companionship is strong and well. We have been working hard to keep our teaching pool full of investigators, elect investigators.

This week, Marcela is going to be baptized and she is a miracle! Her husband, Fernando, was baptized a year ago and because of it they have been separated for the past year, however we had been teaching her daughter, Fernanda, and she was baptized last week (by her father). During her baptismal preparations her mother was present, even though she wanted nothing to do with the church previously. The spirit has worked with her and a week and a half ago she asked if she too could be baptized. Her husband who has been a faithful and active member since his baptism last year will be preforming the ordinance. This is a hard work, but it makes it all worth it!

I am sad that I will be leaving this area and the people here behind! However I am very excited to have the opportunity to work all day long teaching the Gospel!

I hope you are all doing great and staying warm in all the snow you’ve been getting! I’m sure you haven’t left the house much, but make sure to be safe driving!

All my love!
-Elder Packer

We’ve been having a great week and have been really blessed. It’s been raining a lot (and we’ve been having lots of challenges like I wrote last week), however we’ve been working hard and being obedient to do our part with faith that the Lord would do His, and that’s what’s been happening. I know that difficulties mean blessings are close if we keep our faith.

Today we have a baptism and we have two for next week (one of which will be completing a family) and in the weeks to come we have several families that will be getting baptized. I feel so blessed to share the joy these people have, now that they have embraced the restored gospel. I can see the changes in their faces daily. I pray that we can all continue in our adversities with faith and patience!

I love you all and thank you for your prayers, I need them!

-Elder Packer

I wanted to share the letter I wrote to President Bulloch.

We’ve been having some pretty difficult days where our appointments have all fallen through, and I’m not going to say it wasn’t difficult. Especially so since we’ve been working hard every day these past weeks to become “misioneros de exito” [missionaries of success] and not just working hard and being exactly obedient, but going the second mile, hablando con TODOS [talking with ALL] testifying of the truths of the restored Gospel, exercising at 6:30 am on preparation day, etc.

Yesterday all eight of our lessons fell through, however we contacted in the street, knocked doors, asked for and contacted references, even visited part member families… and at the end of the day—nothing. It was frustrating and I thought maybe we’ll go eat tacos or I’ll go to bed early, I was a little discouraged and ready find a little comfort in something.

After a comment my companion made, I remembered part of the letter I wrote myself: “Trials come that they may prepare you for the blessings or spiritual experiences you are working for. After the blessings come trials, that we may be prepared to receive again greater blessings.” As missionaries, we teach every day that one of our purposes in life is to be tried, to prove to the Lord that we are really His children. Isn’t it the same as missionaries? Now I know it. If we are obedient, working hard and love the people when everything goes well, great! Who doesn’t? However, I believe it’s when everything goes wrong yet we still give our best, that determines if we are truly “misioneros de exito” and representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that the Lord has great blessing in store for me, blessings that He cannot give if I don’t pass the test. I’m going to do it!

-Elder Packer

mmmmmmmmmmm… Happy happy birthday Isaac, and Spencer, and Kristi! I hope you all had a special day! January is just a happy month full of birthdays in our family. And I’m sure it will be even more so since I plan on having 12 children, which means it very probable that at least one of them will be born in January.

Kerry, how’s it back in Peru? ¡Escríbeme! y dígame ¿como estas? Quiero saber que está pasando con mi carnal, que son sus planes. [Write me! and tell me how are you? I want to know what is happening with my family, what are your plans?]

How’s the pregnancy going Kristi? You were looking pretty big in the picture you sent me a few weeks ago! When is your delivery date?

Emily, that’s unfortunate to here that your offer was one upped, that’s okay though, it just means that there’s something better. Keep up the search!

So, the training with Elder Cambria continues to go well; he is learning fast. It’s always a little hard to be in a trio, however I have two of the best companions possible so it’s gone rather well. The work is progressing in our area and we have been spending the whole day in the area on Fridays which has helped us to keep focused on why we are here.

Yesterday we went on divisions with one of our converts, Jerry, who was baptized about 5 months ago and is excited to serve a mission. All of the appointments that we had fell through so Jerry got to learn a little about how missionary work is hard.

I know that this work is hard, however I am excited to be able to go back into the field and work all day long! One of the reminders I wrote myself in the letter I received from myself last week was to stay focused and continue working throughout the last months and days of my mission, because there are specific things that the Lord has prepared for me to accomplish during the remainder of my mission, and I know if I don’t accomplish them, I will regret it forever. And regret is one of the worst feelings possible, so I think I’ll do without thank you.

Have a great week! I love you all!

-Bryce

Bryce’s parents maintain this website for him while he is on his mission in Mexico City.

When Bryce sends digital photos home, we add a page to his online photo albums. His photos are in albums—one for each of the areas where he has served. There is also an album of the movies he has made. We have just added more photo albums. The current albums are:

• Mission Prep
• MTC (Mission Training Center)
• Pachuca (first area)
• Chimalhuacán (Ciudad Alegre)
• Mission Office (as financial secretary)
• Movies (last 3 areas)

Bryce will soon be transferred to his final area in Feb. 2010. When that happens, we will add an album for it.

Click here to see Bryce’s latest mission photos albums. You can always get to his photos by clicking on “Mission Photo Albums” on the right sidebar.

When Bryce writes letters or emails, we add a blog post. [Our editorial comments are enclosed in square brackets.]

- Shayne Packer (Bryce’s father)

Hola Familia,

Well, it’s been another eventful and busy week (just like I like them). Among the many things that have happened are: First, we received 12 new missionaries on Monday and spent the day training them. Tuesday was the big changes [transfers] meeting; all went well with the busses so I was relaxed. I also bought new pillows for all of the missionaries, so they were really happy to receive those.

On Thursday, we moved the assistant’s house to Ixtapaluca (which is really far away) then closed and opened two houses. So I was driving and hauling all day. During this long travel we experienced a miracle as I almost got into a serious car wreck, however I don’t know how, we did not wreck with the car who abruptly stopped in front of us, or flip the van, or hit the bridge, or run over a man selling food in the street… all of which almost happened. I thank you all for your prayers and know that, YES, the Lord is protecting us!

Thursday I completed 20 months in the mission! And that’s helped me realize we need to be wise how we use it. The same day I got a letter I wrote myself on the 16 of July 2008 (18 months to the day). I wrote it in the MTC and my instructor mailed it to me. It’s pretty interesting! And if I can later, I will share some of it with all of you.

The other thing that happened is because of some special changes that need to be made. I received my replacement as Financial Secretary! It’s Elder Cambria from Philadelphia, PA. He’s a really excellent and humorous missionary! So that’s going to be exciting! In 5 weeks I’ll be out in the field full time again!

Well, last and best of all is we have a baptismal service today at 5 pm, His name is Gerardo and he is a miracle conversion… he used to be an Evangelist preacher, and is a very knowledgeable, but sincere and humble follower of Christ. I am grateful to have been able to be part of his conversion!

I love you all and thank you for your love and support! May the Lord continue to bless and protect you!

-Elder Packer