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

Well this is going to be a short one as I’ve been trying to prepare a small package to send you all for Christmas.

First of all the Christmas call… you can call me on the 25th in the morning at my office number. I’ll confirm the time with you next week.

I’m sick with a sinus/throat infection, however it hasn’t been too strong.

This week was our Christmas conference and we got to enter into the temple with President and Sister Bulloch. It was AMAZING. I learned and forgot so many things, not having entered since a year ago. I love the temple.

The mission Christmas conference was split into two days, so I was in charge of organizing the transportation for the parts of the mission that are a little far, like Pachuca. I also rented rooms in the CCM (MTC in Mexico). Then the President asked if I could spend the night to make sure that everything went over well. 64 Elders and 11 Sister missionaries for a Christmas sleepover. Yah, you can imagine—it was a night.

Oh, I also finally bought a new suit! It was a really good deal and is great quality.

Well I love you all and you are in my prayers…talk to you soon!

-Bryce

Good morning my family,

I hope you are all doing well and are happy. Christmas time is coming soon and with it a new financial year… so I’m really busy making lots of reports and closing out the finances for the year. I got a letter from Heather and a package for the family, however I haven’t had a moment to look at them.

I went to the airport on Sunday night to pick up a missionary and I spent the night with Elder Fillerup (the assistant), because his companion finished his mission two days before. One Monday we picked up the other new missionaries from the C.C.M. (MTC in Mexico) and then spent hours in traffic going to the mission home. We trained the new missionaries, and the next day in changes meeting we received a new companion (Elder Lopez Hernandez) to replace me. Just kidding, to replace Elder Lechuga (the Visas secretary). I knew before hand, because I make all the financial changes, like who gets the rent, etc. ahead of time so I usually know what’s going to happen with the changes a few days before. However, all my companions were surprised.

We also had the Zone Leaders council yesterday, it went really well. I’ve been getting the feeling that I’m going to be in the offices for a long time. But that’s okay. I am learning lots and working hard. It really makes me treasure the time I have to proselyte.

I’m really excited to get to talk with all of you at Christmas time! I keep forgetting that it’s coming so soon.

I love you all!
-Elder Packer

Hello my wonderful family,

Things here in the mission are well! The stress of a new cycle… receiving and training new missionaries, buses for the changes meeting, and all that is over. So that’s nice. Really, it wasn’t so bad this time because I made a system the cycle before, so it went rather smooth.

I’m doing really well, really well! I’ve been learning so much and working hard and have been able to serve others. Really, I just feel blessed, happy and Blessed. It’s amazing how well things work out, I guess really it’s amazing just how well the Lord knows us and gives up the experiences we need to progress. And he loves us enough to give us things that are hard for us, but necessary. Man, the mission is hard, but NECESSARY… and not just for the people who don’t have the gospel!

So, two neat things happened the other day. Well, lets just say it’s a challenge to just a document notarized in Mexico. You have to go to see a special person and [very expensive]. So I was thinking to visit the Church Lawyer, whose office is right next door… he doesn’t have a notary’s seal in Mexico, and told me that the only way would be to go to the US embassy. So guess what I did? When we got to the embassy they told me that notarizations were only by appointment for 2-4 pm (it was 10:30 am). By four we are in our area, and let’s just say the Embassy isn’t close, and we had to go in public transportation because of parking. So they said we could go in and ask for more info, and after passing through security they repeated that we needed an appointment and gave us the website where we could go to do so. We still asked if we could go in and ask. When we got to the notary’s desk he showed us a long list of the appointments he had scheduled for the day and asked if we could come back another day. I, of course explained it would be difficult because of the distance and the hours of operation and asked if he could make an exception. Well, he was member! And let’s just say that was a big blessing! So I got the papers notarized.

Now while we were there we took advantage and took some photos of El Angel de Independencia [The Angel of Independence] and while doing so we started a conversation with the security guard. It ends up that she lives in my old area, about 3 hours away, and was interested in our message so I was able to give her directions to the closest church and the hours of service. She knew exactly where it was. Pretty neat, huh?

Well I love you all so much and hope it’s a great week for you all,

-Bryce

So, everything went well as far as receiving and training the 16 new Elders and sisters that came into our mission this week and the transfers meeting (of which I was in charge of arranging the bus transportation for the whole mission). It has been a weeeeeeeeeeek! We haven’t had a lack of rain either! Actually, the highway and streets have flooded almost every day and has caused so much TRAFFIC!!!! The other day I was driving in traffic and we found out it was caused by protesters in the street (protesting for water). Pretty ironic since it was raining. So anyway, because of that we got home that night at 12:15 am. :/

Well, here is the email I sent to President Bulloch last week. I also wanted you to read it.

What a week! As you know we’ve been all over the mission: opening houses, arranging the buses, going to the airport… While driving, I had a whole lot of excess time to think and reflect. While doing so, I remembered earlier in my youth how I almost constantly felt lost spiritually and emotionally. I didn’t understand so many of the questions that many youth seem to have and remember feeling so much confusion and bitterness towards life. I also remember when the desire began to want to make a positive difference, but not knowing how, which in turn created feelings of helplessness and discouragement. None of those feelings exist anymore and I know when the turning point happened, a little before my 22 birthday when I started reading The Book of Mormon for the first time. I remember after reading for the first time a strong doubt, could this be true? Reading once lead me to read again, which lead me to pray (for the first time in my adolescent life). A little time after and I began attending church, every Sunday. I began attending institute, where we were studying The Book of Mormon. The more I studied that book the more I began to comprehend and consequently my life began to change and fall in harmony. I began to create a relationship With my Father in Heaven and Savior. All of those feelings and doubts began to fade from my life.

When my mother and brother asked me what made me come back to the church, I couldn’t explain, I just told them I knew it was right. Now I know it was a result of reading The Book of Mormon, feeling the spirit and the love of God contained within, finding the answers I longed for. That’s what made me come unto Christ; that’s what began and continues the change in my life. The fruit of the word of God. That book is a miracle and I have lived many miracles because of that book. It is because of The Book of Mormon that I know to what source I may look for a remission of my sins. And nothing brings greater peace and joy than that.

I love every one of you and all of you individually are in my prayers. I know that God also loves you and through the Book of Mormon he will bless each of your lives in profound ways. It was written for each one of us and our individual needs. STUDY it prayerfully every day!

Love -Elder Bryce S. Packer

What a week. First we have been driving all over the mission to open up new apartments for the 16 missionaries that are coming in on Monday. Ten left yesterday and so that means we open five new areas in the mission! I’ve been driving a lot too, traffic, rain, pot holes and cracks in the road… its been a long week.

Yesterday was such a crazy day that I can’t even write half of what happened. Just a couple of the big things… we ended up having to drive across the city from the offices to the airport to change vans…drive back across the city to the house, load up beds, furniture, etc… got to the house and we didn’t have keys…I “broke” into the house… the keys weren’t there… I had to “break” back out of the house (that was a lot harder. … We drove back across the city (in heavy traffic) to get the keys… back to the house in traffic… got the stuff…drove back across the city (now night time and still in traffic)… out of the city (still in traffic and still night time)…into the state of Mexico…got really lost…still really lost…LOST… yep thats about how yesterday went.

Today we went all the way to Pachuca and just got back about an hour ago. Driving again was fun at first… now I’m just tired!

Have a great, safe, fun week!!!

Love
-Bryce