[Editor's note by Bryce's dad: My wife and I had a fun Mother's Day phone call with our son, Bryce, who has 5 more days left on his mission in the Mexico City East Mission. We are so excited to have him come home!]

[from Bryce]
Today we got our hair cut. My companion called his family (in México, Mother’s day is always on the 10th).

I also did some last minute shopping. I also started to dejunk some stuff and packed. Tomorrow is District Class, so I still have to prepare that [Bryce teaches the class]. On wednesday, we will be working hard, and on Thursday, we will work and visit all my converts to say good bye and take pictures.

Friday morning, I will go to the temple in the morning with a brother from the ward and my companion will stay here with the Assistants. All of my generation [missionaries going home Saturday] will enter the temple for a session, and [afterwards] we will have some activities and a class on the perpetual education fund. Then in the evening [with the mission president] we will go eat tacos at La Onda! mmm… TACOS!!! I probably won’t sleep at night, and early Saturday — like around 5:45 AM — we will head to the airport.

I know that this week is just going to fly by so I am going to work harder than ever to do all I can while I’m still here, and in my last few days of full-time service!

Have a great week! I love you all and I will see you are talk to you soon!

-Elder Packer

Editor’s note: Bryce’s mother, Tanda, sent Bryce a set of questions. Below are his answers.

Thanks, mom, for the questions, after a tiring week it helps the not so creative mind.

1. Your place in Mexico City was very nice it seemed. What is you housing like now?

My apartment right now is nice, its very small, however clean (now) and in a very central location I my area, which helps.

2. Do you live with 1 or 3 other elders and who are they and where are they from?

I only live with my companion, Elder Alcantar, who is great! He is from Torreon, Cuahuila, Mexico.

3. What is your area like now? poor, wealthy, middle class etc.?

It’s a little pueblo on a hillside, next to the volcanos. There are lots of dirt roads here and adobe houses. It’s nice, I would say it is my favorite area of them all. So many of the people here are receptive to the Gospel.

4.  We are hearing lots of information about violence etc. tied to drug wars have you seen that type of things going on?

Nope, thats all in the north of the country like in Ciudad Juarez.

5. What did you buy for your birthday?

To be honest, I spent most of the money sending that package home. However we are having a shirt and matching rings made, and I will probably go to Mexico City my last week to buy a couple of keepsakes.

6.  Do you need some more money? if so about how much?

Well, because of the package, it might be nice to have some money to buy a couple things at the end as well as some stuff for the family. If you could send a little for that I will pay you back.

7.  Where do you email from now?

An internet cafe close to the house.

8. Are you on foot now?

yep

9. Who are your investigators and how are they coming along?

Well, we just had a baptism yesterday of a sweet old woman, Maria, who is 80, however she is still sharp. It was a very special baptismal service. This week we are going to be baptizing Luis, the son of a recent convert who didn’t want to go to church before, but now is very excited about the gospel. Axel is a youth who is super intelligent and reading the Book of Mormon and bunch (we have really seen how the gospel has brought a brightness in his countenance); and we also have Cynthia and Sandra who were supposed to get baptized yesterday, but fell off the face of the earth over the week end, so we’ll see what will happen with them.

10.  What are some of your duties as district leader?

There are not that many really, the most important are baptismal interviews, which are a lot gratefully. Then district class, receiving and giving key indicator reports on Thursdays and Saturdays, delivering pouch on Sundays.

11. How many companionships do you have in your district?

My companion and I and two other companionships, so 6 Elders, 3 companionships.

12. What are your worries this week?

Not finding Cynthia and Sandra for their baptisms this week.

13.  What  gave you joy this week?

Maria’s baptism, not being sick anymore (my companion and I had bad colds for a few weeks), and my district class went well.

14. Do you get to watch General Conference live or as a rebroadcast?

Live in our chapel, because it’s the stake center. The chapel is kind of far away, its the same word, but in another area.

I hope that keeps your curiosity tied over for the week, I’m looking forward to reading all you letters!

Well congratulations Emily beforehand on your deliver date. you asked me about my release date… Well, I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you but since I was in the offices still when they bought my plane ticket, I am coming home on Saturday, May 15th… and if I remember correctly, I fly into Dulles around 3:30 pm.

…but we’ll worry about all of that later!

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!

-Elder Packer

¡Bienvenidos al campo misional! [Welcome to the mission field!]

Hola Familia,

Here I am, very happy out in Bautizaluca (Ixtapaluca)! [Pronounced eextapalooka. South-east of Mexico City.]

San Francisco is the name of my area which is a soon to be branch of the ward Los Heroes (which is the Assistants area). And it is amazing here! My companion, Elder Alacantar, and I are working harder than I have ever worked in my whole mission! It is his last cycle in the mission. He is a really exceptional missionary, we’ve been running in the mornings, studying hard together and have contacted thousands! Really I feel great and can say with 100% there is nothing more I could have done! I love being able to give that type of an accounting to the Lord at the end of every evening! And that’s what we’ll keep doing everyday!

Our district is the “dream team”; two of the best zone leaders are in my district as trainers. Ixtapaluca is the most successful part of the mission and President just wiped it clean and put in some of the best missionaries to just explode the place. It’s just nuts, nothing like this has ever happened in the mission before. Our district includes: Elder Carretero and Elder Padget in the Aylotl ward, and Elder Winters and Elder Cordova in the Izcali ward. [Bryce is the District Leader.]

“Todo por el Señor” [Everything for the Lord] is my theme for this cycle. I will stay humble and 100% focused and know that the Lord is going to support us in our goals and give us the strength and the inspiration to complete them.

Well, take care all, we’ve got to get back to working! I love you!

-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

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

Well today and tomorrow are Independence day in Mexico, so I have to be in the house by 6pm. We spent the morning cutting the grass in our very small back yard. It was good. On Wednesday we had a combined zone conference where we learned about positive affirmations in the mission from the church psychologist for all of Mexico. Affirmations are amazing.

[Tanda] I had asked Bryce some more questions (in italics). His answers follow.

Where in Mexico is your companion from?
San Louis… its north of here

Was he born in the church or is he a convert?
born a member

How many are in his family?
he has 2 brothers and 2 sisters he is the oldest

How well do you get along?
We are getting along very well (it is a process and a choice)

What is your daily schedule like?
leave the house at 11, work, eat with a member at 2ish, work, return at 9

What do you usually eat?
corn tortillas, soup, pasta, rice, tacos, enchiladas, etc; the tacos, etc. are very different here

Is the money you get enough to cover your expenses if you are careful?
yes, I am getting very good at budgeting

How is the Spanish coming?
poco a poco [little by little]

Have you taught any lessons in Spanish yet?
every day now, whether they understand what I am trying to say…?

What is the ward like where you meet?
very small …its a Ward

Have you had to speak or pray in Spanish at the church yet?
I spoke two weeks ago …every 3rd Sunday is mission Sunday

What is the Mexico City temple like?
it’s closed for remodeling, it will be rededicated in November I think on the 16th… the Prophet will be here!

Are the Mountains rough like the Rockies or more like the ones in the east?
Kind of in the middle, lots of volcanic rock, the mountains are big

Is the area desert or green? You said it rained a lot, but the pictures I saw on line looked like it was very rocky and dry?
its green, but there are rocky and earthy parts too

Are you happy?
I choose to be every day

Oh, Edwana Klaasesz accused me of having your face again. It’s a great face, I’m glad that we share it!
I AGREE! however I have your face, you had it first.

Well I’ve got to go. Love you all very much and thanks for all of your emails!

Bryce