Hola mi familia,

What’s new back home? The training center is great. The idioma is coming along, it gets easier each day. This Sunday the new Mission Presidents come in for training so a bunch of the Apostles will be here and some will speak during the devotional, I’m very excited for that. Elder Covington and I have started to teach the Message of the Restoration in Spanish… I can’t believe I’ve been here for a month! Wow my testimony is growing so much. Elder Arnold of the Quorum of the 70 spoke last week (remember he is the one who spoke at our stake conference 8 months ago…and asked me if I was going on a mission). He is amazing.

Today I’m working on memorizing the fist vision in spanish I already have the first half memorized. After almuerzo we get to go to the temple, which is always something to look forward to. My district is awesome, and my companion just became the new district leader. The other elders names are Elder Weston King (whom we share a room with) Elders Solomon, Hoyt, Elders Kodra, Ropelato, Elders Roylance (who used to be district leader) and Sperry. Well its time I wish I could write more. Thanks for all of you letters, please write again soon!

Love,
Bryce

Hey Family,

I only have 20 min. to email so it might be short… if so I’ll try to write later. The MTC is crazy, the first few days were pretty rough to get used to, but things better. The district I am in has 9 other Elders 2 of which are going to my Mission the other 7 to the Mexico City West Mission. My companion Elder Covington is from Cedar City, UT and he is the nicest/happiest Elder. The food is differently not your cooking mom, but we don’t go hungry, so don’t worry. I feel like it has been one long day… and that I haven’t slept yet! Its pretty neat to be around so many missionaries. Spanish is coming along, I’m kind of learning slower than everyone in my district though :/ I can’t believe how much don’t know about the Gospel. Oh, I can only email parents in the MTC and Family in the Mission field. It is actually better if you guys use DearElder.com because I have to pay to print and read my emails, plus I get the DearElder letters faster : ) How are things back home? Can Isabella say my name yet? Soccer is fun. El perro corre. I love you all a lot! Write soon PLEASE!

Love,
Elder Packer

My companion is Elder Covington from Cedar city, Utah. He worked construction before his mission, too. His boss sounds really cool….He built a house off the grid. My roommates are Elder Weston from Mesa, Az and Elder King from Lausey, New Mexico, population 70. They’re pretty cool.

So last week the Prophet’s daughter came and spoke to us, it was amazing. I have a larger testimony and sense of gratitude because of her. Well life at the MTC is great (the busy/hard work kind of great). A day here consists of waking up at 5:45 (to get a shower) breakfast at 7:00, personal study for one hour, companion study for one hour, language study for 1 hour. 1/2 hour of missionary directed study, then lunch. Classes till 4:30 which is dinner. Then classes again till 9 p.m. From 9-9:30 is planning for the next day, then 9:45-10:15 prep for bed. The order is different everyday of the week and somewhere in there is 45 min of gym. Tuesdays are prep day and I get to go to the temple. Would love to write more but I’m short on time.

Love, Bryce

Hola mi familia,  [the day after Bryce arrived at the MTC]

Things are going well at the MTC. They already have us speaking and writing in “Spanglish”. My companion Elder Covington is great, he too is the youngest of five children and we are getting along great. I can’t believe how much I still have to learn! Its a good thing I’ll be hear for a while…We’ve been hearing that a lot of the visas to Mexico are delayed and some Elders have been here twelve plus weeks. I’m sure that will clear up by the time I’m ready to go though. Tell everyone I say hello.

Love, Elder Packer

On May 14th, 2008, Bryce entered the MTC (Mission Training Center) in Provo, Utah for 2 months. Then he’s off to Mexico City.

A couple of days earlier, he had a picnic with relatives in Utah.

Be sure and read the About Bryce page.

Bryce’s most recent mailing address on his current address page.