¡¡¡Happy Birthday Heather!!!

I hope you are doing great!

…and to everyone, Happy Easter!

It is SO hot!!! I am sweating like a pig! And to think it’s only going to be getting hotter…

It’s been a strange and busy week. I have been serving with Elder Padget (a new American missionary in my district) since Thursday and it has been a pleasure, even though he can speak very little Spanish and can not pronounce the “R” to save his life, the people react in a special way to his warm spirit and positive attitude. I’ve learned a lot from him, and one of those many things is what pure motives really means.

So… I am going to get a greeny! Yep. I’m going to be training my last cycle! I’m excited, and nervous, because I know that means that I will be even busier and that means the time will be going by even faster. However I am grateful for this new opportunity to serve, teach and learn. As before, I am sure I will learn more than I teach. I often wonder why the Lord is so good to me and all of us.

General Conference was wonderful and I am grateful for the guidance I and others received. It is incredible how the Lord can answer my specific prayers and those of millions of other in the same moment. I love the Lord! I also found it incredible how all of the talks where so in line, even though there were no assigned themes. I felt that two of the strongest themes were prepare the children and protect the youth. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my notes with me right now to share all of my favorite thoughts, however I do remember a few.

Joy and happiness don’t come from circumstances, but faith in the Lord. That is a lesson that I am learning more and more, its not where we are, who we are with or the blessings or trials that we are going through that determine our state of happiness. We need to be creators of circumstances not creatures of our environments. As Elder Bednar clearly stated, we are to act not to be acted upon, and faith is not merely believing, but acting. It is our works, that are in accordance with the teachings of Christ that determine our state of happiness! I love the clear example stated that if we are struggling and turn instead and focus on the needs of another rather than our own needs, than we will quickly become happier and our burdens will become light. I know that  this is the truth and that we will be happy and at peace in any season in any place and with anyone as long as we follow the teaching of the Master!

I am grateful for the teachings and the works of Jesus! For his perfect example and mercy. May we all exert ourselves to be more like Him is my prayer and hope.

I love you, my family! I pray for you and desire your well being!

-Elder Bryce Packer

Hola Famila!

Well, it’s been another quick and fruitful week! Axel and Luis were baptized yesterday, which was great! We found Cinthia and Sandra, however they both will be waiting a little longer to get baptized. I think Cinthia will be getting baptized on the 11th. We found a great family the other day when we contacted a bus, after we contacted the bus and had talked with all of the passengers we sat down and began to make some plans, however we couldn’t help but notice the family of nine who got on so we contacted them and made an appointment, we visited them several times throughout the week and they came to church on Sunday! All of the kids are super excited for their baptisms as they stayed the 3 hours and for the baptismal service after. The Lord has continued to bless us in our efforts!

It’s my companion’s last few days; he goes home on Thursday, so I feel kind of weird and sad. Next Tuesday I’ll get a new companion… I think I might train again, who knows. Anyways, it will all be great.

Mom asked me…

“Have you made any plans for when you get home? Or any idea about what you want to do with your life now?”

Well, I’m still tying not to focus too much on that, however I promised Heather I would help her and the kids out for the next year, so that is really the first and most important. Obviously I will need to get a job, if the Ogdens don’t have work, I will find a job using my Spanish, possibly at a bank or in the airport. (Mom, maybe you have some sweet connections.) I’m going to buy a motorcycle (it costs less and saves gas + I’ve always wanted one). As far as plans, I want to be an inventor/architect, however will probably do all of that on the side and study to be a teacher, which is where I feel I will really be able to make a difference. Plus, it would be nice to get married within a year of being home… if you know anyone

Well, I hope you all are doing amazing! I’ve been praying for all of you!

Love,

-Elder Packer

Hola querida familia! Hello dear family!

Wow it’s been a busy busy amazing week! We had our Zone leaders council meeting this week in the mission house; it was over the course of two days. One of the most spiritual and amazing things that happened during the council is we studied the Book of Mormon together with President Bulloch. He was one of the 7 head people in CES [Church Educational System] before he was called to be a Mission President, so to say the least he is a very spiritual man who really knows his scriptures, how to ring them dry and apply them to himself. Something I have been trying to work on.

I just bought the new Bible in Spanish, which is really exciting for the members here. Although I don’t know how much I’ll use it since we try to focus on the Book of Mormon with all of our investigators. Still it truly is an amazing time to be here in Mexico serving the Lord and building His kingdom! “Now is the time for Mexico” is what the brethren of the church have been saying.

I love you all so very much, I am so grateful that we have the Restored Gospel to guide our lives. I know that Christ lives, I have experienced His profound love in my life. He is the only way to true freedom and that is what everyone really wants and needs! Live a week that worth living. May God’s grace be upon every one of us!

-Bryce

[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

[A fast note]

Bueno tuvimos otro bautismo esta semana y tenemos dos por la siguiente!!! El bautismos era una muchacha se llama Laura que estaba viviendo con un miembro. :/ Entonces tuve mi primer matrimonio en la misión. Y como testigo ellos ponen un nombre falso por mi porque soy gringo entonces yo firme Gerardo Lopez Salazar como 6 veces! Bienvenidos a Mexico!

Mil disculpes no tengo mas tiempo. Todavía estamos en proceso de cambiar la casa, etc.

Les amo tanto!
Bryce

Well, we had another baptisms this week and have two more for next week!!! One of the baptisms was a girl named Laura who was living with a member. :/ And I had my first marriage on my mission. [Some couples just live together in common law marriages but they must be legally married before baptism, so the missionaries usually help with this process.] I was one of the witnesses but I had to put a false name because I am a gringo, so I signed my name as Gerardo Lopez Salazar like six times. Welcome to Mexico!

A thousand apologies but I am out of time. We are still process of changing houses, etc.

Love you lots.
Bryce

[Tacos al pastor yummm. You want to learn Spanish? I hope so!]

¡Hola mi bonita familia!

Todo esta muy bien aquí. yo y mi compañero están trabajando duro y tuvimos nuestra primer bautismo ayer. voy escribir todo de esta carta en español para ser chistoso y ayudarles aprender y sentir mas como siento diario. suave ¿si?

Bueno hoy cambiamos nuestra apartamento porque el apartamento interior era bien chafa (¡este es Mexicano) si la luz esta pirateado con una cable y era muy baja… pero el nuevo es chidicimo!!! (mas Mexicano) entonces por el momento estamos muy contentos. Este semana tuvimos nuestra conferencia de zona y entrevistas con el Presidente, que siempre me gusta. Después la conferencia compramos (la zona) 15 kilos de tacos al pastor. estaba llenísimo!

Algo raro que paso aquí es el templo (capilla) de Los Testigos de Jehová es en el mismo calle de nosotros, son copiones. y mucho de gente aquí nos confunden con ellos.

Tuvimos discursos en la semana pasada y en este semana voy a empezar a dar clases de Ingles en la capilla en los miércoles en las 7 pm. ojalá todo va a ser bien porque nuca di clases antes, sin embargo estoy animado!!!

Bueno ya es tiempo! Ojalá ustedes disfruten este carta y no están confundidos o enojados …muchas gracias por sus cartas! ¡Les amo muchísimo!

con amor
-Elder Packer

…Oh, también recibo su paquete de mi cumpleaños (en 26 papa, pero no tu carta) muchísimos gracias por todo!! encanta todo! espero que voy a recibir el paquete de Kristi de navidad pero no creo. también recibí una carta de navidad de la Familia Smith y El Obispo Arnold. Gracias eran muy bonitas.

[The following was translated by Kerry in its entirety, except for a couple of slang words, which Cecilia figured out.]

Hello my beautiful family!

Everything is very good here. Me and my companion are working hard and we had our first baptism yesterday. I am going to write all of this letter in Spanish to be funny and to help you all to learn and feel more of how I feel every day. Cool huh?

Well, today we changed our apartment because the inside of our other apartment was ghetto, yeah, the light was pirated from another apartment with a cable and was hanging really low… But our new apartment is sweet!!! So, for now we are very content. This week we had our zone conference and our interviews with the President, which is always a pleasure. After the conference the whole zone bought 15 kilos of Tacos al pastor. I was super full!

Something strange here is that the chapel of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is on the same street as our chapel, they are copycats. And many people confuse us with them.

We had some discussions last week and this week I am going to begin to give classes for English as a second language at the church on Wednesdays at 7 pm. I hope that everything will be okay because I have never given English classes before, although I am excited!!!

Well, that’s time! I hope that you all enjoyed the letter and that you are not confused or upset. Thank you very much for your letters. I love them very much!

With love,
Elder Packer

…Oh, also I received your birthday package (on the 26th, but not your card, dad). Thank you very much for everything. I loved everything! I hope that I receive Kristi’s Christmas package, but I don’t think so. Also, I received a Christmas card from the Smith family and Bishop Arnold. Thanks, they were very beautiful.