I love getting letters. I
love getting pictures.
HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOO
outside world!
This week has been so
much fun but also sad. We had an awesome zone P-day for the last time before we
lost (wait for it) half of our Elders and Sisters in the zone.
I'm sure all the
new ones are great but it's still not fun, especially when it was several I've grown close to. Like Elder Lopez!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Stone and I have no doubt that
Elder Bingham and Elder Lopez spent Saturday night bawling because we did the
same thing. How silly that we get so emotional, but we've worked with these Elders so much! Sunday morning we had breakfast at the church before ward council. Elder Lopez said the closing prayer in Sacrament
meeting and everyone in the Ward was crying! Even Bishop almost broke down at the podium. (SIGH) I do know why people have to change and leave but it's
still sad ok?!
Sister Stone and I
found this awesome older couple who investigated in 2011 but it never went
anywhere. We've been helping do yard work and mostly that's been building a
stone/brick/cinderblock wall in their back yard. It's so much fun and at first
they were hesitant but now they LOVE us and feed us lunch after ;) She is an
ARTIST! I mean, amazing artist in all mediums and loves to draw and paint and
whatever all sorts of things! So of course I've commissioned her to do a
picture of the Salt Lake temple. For several reasons:
-I love the Salt Lake
temple and have always wanted an awesome picture of it
-she will now have to
do research on the temple and look at pictures of it for hours a day while she
decides and then does the artwork
-most of the pictures
I am giving her are from General Conference Ensigns so hopefully she'll end up
reading talks and stuff
I may not be super sneaky,
but I can be a little smart sometimes. I am so excited for this thing. I'll
send pictures as she gets started and what not. We always have great
conversations with them while we're eating about gospel related things so we're
excited for the potential there.
The family with mother and daughter planning on getting baptized is doing great! Some people back home are confused and slightly annoyed
as to why I don't use names. I know this gets forwarded out a lot and is also
put online. I don't want to get too personal for privacy reasons. But mom is ready
to be baptized next week! Her interview is Friday and she is busting and ready
to go!
They've been having the scriptures playing online for the whole house
and also MoTab playing a lot and that's been a lot of fun. Dad is now
expressing interest in coming to church and being baptized. He joined us for
the Law of Chastity lesson and really enjoyed it, but usually stays in the
other room (but we know he's still listening because mom texts us after to let us know they're talking about the lesson and he's asking her questions).
Son is doing well and determined to be
baptized August 16th if it kills him! He's doing pretty dang well and
is down to 1 cigarette a day! Daughter is getting frustrated and doesn't want
to take lessons right now. I don't really blame her. Mom is trying to force it
on her and as a 13 year old she feels entitled to being stupid and angry for a
few more years. I think she recognizes that things about her attitude and
what-not will change and she's scared of all the things that will be different.
We have confidence that as her mom and brother love her and show her that
example she will figure it out eventually and want to learn more. Dad told us
if we can find a ride for them this week ALL of them will be at
church!!!!!!!!!!! YYYYYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! He told us he feels so
much of our love and concern for them and that's why he's ok with it. I love
them so much. I even have a picture of son dumping out his sweet tea after our
Word of Wisdom lesson. We didn't even have to ask him. He just got up and
luckily I got there in time to take the picture. Good things ahead.
We're still struggling
to find new investigators but we have hope and trust that IT WILL HAPPEN! One
way or another it will!
Sister Stone broke our
car. There was a sewer ditch covered in grass she didn't see and when the front
wheel went over the car slammed down and made a really loud crunchy noise. Now
the door doesn't open all the way and we're not sure what's gonna happen with
getting it fixed or if she'll be revoked her driving privileges. She's so
mad.
Last thing! So I was
reading in Preach My Gospel about the importance of investigators reading the
Book of Mormon and then sincerely asking if it's true and if Joseph Smith was a
true prophet. Then it says that as missionaries we should pray to have our
personal answers re-affirmed to us about the truthfulness of the same thing. I
read it and was thinking and realized something weird and kind of embarrassing.
Did you know that I've
never prayed about the Book of Mormon being true or to ask if Joseph Smith was
a true prophet........ :) Obviously I know, because I wouldn't be out on
a mission if I didn't. But it struck me as so strange that I've never actually
done it. I guess that as I started to truly read the Book of Mormon 2 years ago
that testimony just came over time just from me seeing the blessings that came
from reading it.
So I'm going to be
doing that! And I'd like to challenge everyone who reads these silly letters to
do the same thing. Read it every single day for a week straight and tell me
your life isn't different because of it. And then pray and ask God if it is a true book
and His words. And when he tells you it's true (not if, but WHEN) you will also
know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that he restored Christ's church
on the earth again. You will know that everything he ever said, and everything
the prophets since him have said, is not just their personal opinions but
direct revelation from God. You will know that this church and everything we
teach is true and you will want to be a part of it.
I challenge you ALL.
Even those who have
already received their own witness that it is true.
-Sister Packard
Best:
1. The ducklings that
follow us on our morning walks looking for bread :)
2. My biscuits and
gravy.
3. Sunsets.
4. The bug sprayer man
came to our apartment this morning.
5. Sister Stone and I
are staying together another transfer!
6. Getting pictures of
nieces and nephews and all other loved ones at home!
Worst:
1. Elder Lopez is
leaving :(
2. I punched Sister
Stone in the face (she tickled me and I reacted!).
3. I'm missing Jon and
Shelby's wedding this weekend. And yes, MANY tears have been shed about that
fact.
4. I can't send
videos.
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