Hello familia,

Things are going well here in Pachuca, It has gotten really cold in the mornings and nights here. Elder Nuñez and I are working hard and praying hard.

Right now our main investigators are a family, including the grandmother and her sisters family too; and two young men around 20 years old named Ramon and Cesar. We have a family home evening tonight with the family, and it’s in the house of some members who live on their block. I am really excited for it! 

Training is going well, I feel like I’m probably learning as much as I am teaching!!!

Oh I mailed 2 CDs of pictures today… it was only $7.75, I thought it would be more. they said normally it takes 15-20 days but could be 8 at best and 31 at worst.

I already know when I leave I am going to miss the people allot… and the food too. My favorite food here is called “tacos al pastor” or Shepherds tacos. mmmm ¡Muy rico! [very delicious]

Heather, that is awesome you are going to Tahiti, have an amazing time and say hi to Bob for me. 

The dedication of the Temple is on the 16th it is going to be amazing. The Prophet and Elder Eyring are going to be here. I get to help at the Temple 2 days of the open house and participate in a cultural presentation on Nov. 15th with more than 1000 other missionaries from 6 missions. I can’t think of what else to write… questions are good.

Love you all,
Elder Packer

[Related link: Mexico City Temple Opens Its Doors to the Public]

Hi everyone,

Things are well here in Pachuca. My area is so far from Mexico City. So last miercoles [Wed.] we took a bus to Mexico City at 5:45 am to the Temlpe and MTC to hear Elder Jeffery R. Holland who came to our mission to speak. It was amazing, I love how he speaks with such great boldness and authority. He started by telling about how Preach My Gospel came about and ended by talking about the importance of having obedience to do the Lords work His way.

We went to Mexico City again on sabado [Sunday] with 6 of our investigators to El Centro de Visitantes at the Temple. It was good, we watched Testaments and took a short tour.

Mexico is interesting the houses are all concrete and stucco and they don’t really creen en la basura [believe in trash cans] :6 The food is great, and I haven’t gotten really sick from it or the water yet

Any hoo, hope to hear from ya’ll soon. Adios.

Love

-Elder Bryce Packer

[Pachuca is a city about 40 miles NE of the edge of Mexico City]

All is well with the MTC. They finished cleaning the temple so I get to go again today. I’ve been looking for Elder Mann but have not been able to find him so far. 

Starting today I have no teachers so most of my time will probably he spent in the Media Referral Center, which is an amazing experience. We answer and follow up on the TV ads as well as host the online charts from Mormon.org. I get to make calls in Spanish, too. Its great. I understand about 1/8 of what’s being said, but they are so patient and receptive to the message. We also might start teaching the younger districts, too. That’s always fun.

Hola me familia ¿Como estan? ¿Como le va?

So I’m supposed to be in Mexico in 6 days! however the visa thing isn’t looking too well. All is well what ever happens though!… maybe I’ll get to see the Manns when Justin comes in next week.

So a typical day for me starts between 5:45 and 6:30 depending on my schedule for the day. I have three 1 hour study blocks personal study (spent studying the scriptures, my patriarch blessing, and writing talks), companion study (usually spent practicing teaching lessons and reviewing principles in Preach My Gospel) and language study (grammar, looking up vocab for words I’ve been trying to say,translating question and principles for lessons, translating talks,etc.) as well as some Missionary Directed time to study what ever I need the most that day.

Sorry if my spelling has gotten even worse, because it is so easy to spell in Spanish and its got me a little confused!

So a lot of days I try to speak only in Spanish, but for the last week(s) I am only speaking in Spanish. It will be more of a challenge and I know it will help a lot.

I have gym five days a week for 50 min. (every day except preparation day [today] and sunday) and we have 4.5-5 hours of classroom instruction split between our two teacher Hno. Sáncheznd Hna. Mears. Preparation days I get to go to the Temple except today, because it is closed for cleaning, also every Tuesday night we have a Devotional, usually be a member of the Quorum of the 70. Everyone in the CCM looks forward to this! sunday nights we have a fireside as well which is usually a little more casual.

On the forth we had a special fireside where we played songs on chimes made from pipes it was neat w/ 3000 missionaries. Then we watched the BYU fire works from the parking lot, they were neat with my glasses off : ) Oh I don’t know if I mentioned my companion is District Leader so we have stuff to do with that. AHH my computer time is up. I love you all every much…I’ll try to write a letter today if I have more time. Thank you all for your letters.

Love you,

Bryce

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

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