It sounds like things are [happening] all over there. Heather and mom improving the everything, dad in Seattle [visiting Emily's family], and Kerry and Ceci getting ready to go to Peru. What excitement!

Nothing too crazy has happened in the past week. This week we are marrying a couple, and on thursday, we have to go to Mexico D.F. for a conference for all of the leaders in the mission.

Today I got a call from the Mission President, telling me that the grandfather of one of the missionaries in my district died (luckily I was in the church with that missionary when the Pres. called) so then President talked with him and told him. That was kind of rough, because his grandpa lived with him his whole life so he was like his dad. We went for a walk together and talked and he seems to be handling it well, which is good.

We also had a zone council in the morning, brainstormed together and made some great goals for the zone and our districts. I’m pretty excited to start with that. Tomorrow is our last day in our program to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days… I’m a little behind; however, its been great. I have found answers to so many interesting questions while reading El Libro de Mormón [The Book of Mormon] this time and strengthened my testimony of this book so much. I hope all of you take time every day to study it… if not, start now; it will make a difference that will bless your life. Several times while studying, later in the same day someone would ask me a difficult question that I answered with scriptures that I had read that same morning, questions I didn’t know the answer to previously (little miracles). It has also been an amazing guide and director in my life helping me understand what I really want and guiding me daily to accomplish those things…

¡Ya me voy! ¡Cabó el tiempo! [I already have to go! It's time to end!] I love you.

-Bryce

Okay, so changes [transfers] happen tomorrow and neither I nor my companion have changes…it will be the longest time I will have been with one companion, however I am excited, we are having lots of success.

Yesterday, we baptized a woman named Matilde Noyola and her 17 year old daughter Gabriela. They are great and have family that live near and came for their baptisms; so now we will start working on the family.

I love you all!

Bryce

Hola! ¿como están todos? [Hello.  How are you all?]

Estaba reflexionado mucho este semana en las Palabras del Presidente Monson, y buscando gozo en el trayecto y como a veces tenemos el habito de pensar todo va a ser mejor y mas fácil en un tiempo futuro, y no vamos a tener problemas y desafíos como tenemos ahora. El nos dijo que, estas pensamientos son mintieras y este tiempo es una  ilusión nuca va a venir y debemos seguir adelante con dificultades, si no nuca vamos a ser felices. Estés es verdad y recuerdo pensando “todo va a ser bien cuando estoy en la misión” ja ja ja y ahora entiendo mejor que la vida y la misión nunca van a ser bien o fácil, y que necesito hacer lo que necesito hace ahora y disfrútalo porque así es la vida y así progresamos. Es difícil en verdad, pero es posible si confiamos en el Señor, El nunca dijo que “va a ser fácil” pero “va a ser posible” y va a ser para nuestro beneficio. Yo se que este es verdadero y en las palabras de un Apóstol “venga que lo venga, y disfrútelo”. [This week I have been thinking a lot about the words of President Monson, and finding joy in the journey, and sometimes we have the habit of thinking that everything will be better and easier at a future time and that we will not have problems and challenges like we do now. He told us that these thoughts are lies and that (this future imagined) time is an illusion and that it is never going to come, and we must move forward with difficulties. If not we will never be happy. This is true and I remember thinking, "everything will be fine when I am on the mission." ha ha ha And now I understand better that life and the mission will never be good or easy, and I need to do what I need to now and enjoy it, because thus is life and thus we progress. It is difficult and true, but it is possible if we trust in the Lord. He never said that "it would be easy" but rather, "it would be possible" and it will be for our benefit. I know that this is true, and in the words of an Apostle, "Come what may and love it."]

Adversity is always present in life and its always necessary. Two examples I’ve been reflecting on and trying to work out in my head the past few days are these… One is the kite. Wind is what causes the kite to have lift. The string, however is what keeps it down, with out the opposing force of the string the kite will fall (or can not fly in the first place). The same can be stated if there is not wind. The string can represent difficulties and adversities; the wind represents faith (including actions, hope, etc.) Our faith can never be put to the test, or will become dormant (cutting the string) without opposition. And if there is not wind (or faith) to give us lift, our trials will only bind us down. However, if we have faith sufficient, its lift will overcome the drag of our oppositions and we will rise (or progress). The more oppositions we have and are overcome by sufficient faith, the higher we fly (like letting out all the string in a strong wind).

I’m still working on it… and forgive me, Spencer, if I don’t use the most correct terms.

I don’t have time to get to the other, sorry… However, I hope that we can all remember that the difficult time will always come, but we must be determined to blow strong, and remember it is all for our benefit. Look for what there is to be gained from every experience, especially the hard ones! I love you all so much and this is my prayer for you!

-Bryce

[A very crazy week]

Hola familia! [Hello family!]

¿Como estan todos? [How is everybody?] Espero que bien bien! [I hope well!]

This week was a little nuts, however it went by super fast, so that’s good. First we had a zone meeting on Monday morning (early and far away). Then on Tuesday we went to the D.F. [Distrito Federal, Mexico City] to the temple to take the photo of the entire mission, (I already got my copy!) and to have a multi-zone conference. Lastly, we had an open house in our church on Saturday. (The Visitors Center from the temple came with four sister missionaries and put on a portable version of their tour). It went really well we had 192 people go through, and 130 were non-members, 60 of them asked for more information and visits from the missionaries… and about 40 of them live in our area. So we have lots of work this week, which is really good!

We baptized a man yesterday who was contacted by the missionaries many years ago however never followed through then and now he was ready. His name is Pedro and is really nice he’s about 45.  His 4 kids and his wife are really Catholic and don’t want to listen to us so we have work there too. He is trying to help his family come to church on Wednesday for a ward activity; I really hope they come. It seems like we find lots of women that want to receive the Gospel, however their husbands don’t and then when we find a man who is interested his wife isn’t. :/ I guess that’s the way it goes.

There was an earthquake in Puebla on Friday and we felt it. We were eating lunch and I thought that my companion was shaking the table with his leg.  Then I looked up to see that everyone’s heads were bobbling. It actually put a crack in the concrete wall of the house we were in, however that probably says more about the quality of construction than how strong the quake was.

It’s been raining every night here and there is still a lot of dust and dirt and now mud. Our road is dirt and last night is was a muddy river that was pretty deep in lots of  areas, so we had to hop rocks, jump, hang and climb on things to get home. Oh the adventures of Mexico! Today I spent the whole day cleaning the house which was much needed, so I feel really tired now but good. Okay I guess I’m starting to ramble because I am tired… its time to go.

I love you all, take care.

Bryce

Well, I’ve passed the peak and completed a year and four days as a missionary… its been long, but gone by fast. I can’t imagine what more there is to learn or experience. However, I guess that’s why life is so hard and exciting, because there is always something more we need to learn and always experiences we lack (most of them not easy.)

That’s why the Gospel is such a blessing! Without the hope of obtaining mercy or obtaining the peace that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and without knowing or understanding our purpose in this life or throughout the moments of our life, the trials and burdens that come are more than difficult, but nearly unbearable and can destroy us. However the beauty of Christ’s Gospel is not only that we are enabled to change from who we once were, but He has shown us how we must change or who we must become, by His own example. Obtaining freedom from a bondage that is very real and is only the first miraculous part in itself, however maintaining our liberty is as equally difficult, made known and possible by disciplining ourselves to become like Christ, developing the attributes he possesses. It takes time and is very difficult! However, He never promised it would be easy; He promised it would be POSSIBLE! I know that anything of TRUE value is difficult to obtain. Therefore, the miracle of forgiveness, being the thing of greatest value (and the greatest of all miracles), is the most difficult thing to obtain!

More than anything, these are the things I have learned in the past year. They are of priceless value and I know that they are true! I believe, I hope, and I pray that we may all receive continual liberation through the power and mercy of our Deliverer, our Savior from everlasting bondage, Jesus Christ.

I love you all, and this is my greatest desire for every one of you.

Elder Bryce Sterling Packer

[Editor's note: The family got to have a phone call with Bryce on Mother's Day. Each person got to take a turn asking Bryce questions while the others listened.]

Hola. Era maravillosa para hablar con ustedes ayer! En verdad estoy un poco triste que va a ser hasta Diciembre cuando podemos hablar otra vez. ¡Ni modo!

Cuidense mucho. ¡Les Amo muchísimo!

Elder Packer

Hello. It was wonderful to talk with you yesterday! In truth, I am a little sad that it will be December when we can talk again. Oh well!

Take care. I love you very much!

Elder Packer