Hello my lovely family!

So I was working under the refreshments tent at the Mexico City Temple open house on Saturday, and I saw someone I thought I knew. Weird right, so I stopped and thought if it could really be this person and figured, should I go over and find out? sure!, If it’s not them they will think I am a weird gringo, esta bien [white man, but that's okay]. It was who I thought is was!  So I saw Bro. John Marin from Merrimack, he was my Young Mens President. It was crazy, and we were both a little emotional.

The open house has been really busy, but successful; and the Temple is really beautiful. ahhhhh I am out of time. The internet has been having problems today.

Lots of Love, Bryce

[Editorial: John Marin emailed Shayne and sent a couple of photos.]

We came to Mexico City for the Temple open house and ran into Bryce, what a surprise. I was a great joy to see him as a missionary. Here are the pictures we took with Bryce Saturday. I’ve subscribed to Bryce’s blog… John

Bryce and John Marin

Bryce and John Marin's family

So…I’m still in Provo. Friday the consulate for Mexico stopped seeing people, because he was mad that parents kept calling him, so he put everything on hold. We just found out yesterday 10 of the 60 delayed Elders are going to Salt Lake tomorrow to get visas, the rest are going to be reassigned to Utah missions for 3 weeks or so. I’m one of the lucky 10, so I will probably be flying out Monday. 7 of the 10 Elders in my district are getting reassigned, but they’re happy just to be getting out of the MTC… so look forward to a call soon everybody [family]!

Well, I finally saw Elder Justin Mann 3 or 4 times now [cousin]. He is looking sharp and was excited to get out to New Jersey. I think he left yesterday. Also, you’ll never guess who I saw yesterday… Elder Gregory Pavone [from N.H.]. Ha ha ha I hardly recognized him. He was actually the one that saw me and stopped me. He is doing really well; just got in last week and says the MTC is a bit of an adjustment. He has been going to a military school in Maryland and is serving a mission in Korea! It was a really big surprise to see him and it made my day, even more than getting my visa. Elder Pavone also said Devin Burns [from N.H.] is serving in Africa.

Oh yea Dad, guess what my [second] cousin [John Reed] from Queen Creek, AZ, who is going my same mission is best friends with Elder Solomon, one of my really good friends in my district who is going to the Mexico City West Mission. He showed me a picture of him, small world. Thanks every one for the letters… Mom I can’t believe you made that stationary it is the sweetest. Kerry hang in there bro while your family is in Peru! Wish I could write more, I’ve got more packing to do. Next week it will be from Mexico!

I Love you all very much!

Elder Bryce Packer

Himno [of the week]: 159 Con valor marchemos (Onward Christian Soldiers)

Quote [of the week]: “Don’t think about what you’re doing, think about what you’re becoming.”
- I really like this quote because it can be applied in many ways. One is to be conscious of the consequences of your actions or who you become as a result of your decisions, and another (the context I heard it in) is to persevere and keep the end result in mind, every day you work towards your goal, you are that much closer to becoming what you desire to be.