The Week of "A WHOLE NEW WORLD!!!"

A whole new world!!!! A new and interesting point of view. Everyone tells us no, and WHERE to go. And says we're only dreaming!

Lynchburg, VA! Home of Liberty University (Baptist college). Home of huge honka houses.

People here are LOADED. Everything is brand new. And it throws me off. I don't know how to teach these people! But I'm working on it.

Sister Lopp is lots of fun. Reminds me of Kylie Foote so we have quite a bit of fun ;) And she's really cute.

But it's always really hard to adjust. I've had more people here get in my face in these 3 days I've been here than the 4 1/2 months in Dublin. I don't know what to do. I just shut down. I can't argue. Cuz then I'll want to punch people, and that might not be the best way to "hasten the work". It's a good thing Sister Lopp is so excited and can find ways to end on a happy and good note with provoking people cuz I just want to say, "Have a nice day!" and walk merrily on my way. I'll figure it out. I don't really have a choice, because there's no avoiding it :)

Adjusting to anything new is weird and hard, but leaving is harder. The Martins drove us to Blacksburg and we got to hang out for a few hours waiting for the bus to come. We had so much fun and they spoiled me rotten with gifts. My favorite is the sign Dylan picked out for me :)

And then the bus came. And Dylan cried and cried, and I cried and cried. I love that kid like you wouldn't believe. That was just hard, and in retrospect, not the best idea for anyone.......too many tears. BUT I did leave. Eventually. I really didn't want to.

I miss my home in Radford Ward. I keep comparing everything to it. And I fear I always will! There's lots to be done here in Forest though. There are currently 3 wards and a branch in Lynchburg and they're pushing hard to be able to become a Stake. So that's our focus here. What can we do to turn this area into a booming Stake!

Thank you for all the ideas and support about the headaches. I found from some people that Lynchburg is the WORST place for allergies and sinus problems......so yeah. It's been real fun.

I don't really know what else to say..........I haven't been here very long.

-Sister Packard

Best:
1. Own closet and bathroom. SAWEET!
2. I'M SERVING WITH ELDER LOPEZ AGAIN!!!!!!
3. People in the other Ward know lots of family in Washington.
4. It can only go up from here.

Worst:
1. People get up in my personal bubble.
2. People complaining about money problems.......oh, they have no idea (yes I'm judging).
3. Most people talk properly here.....BORING! I've turned hick too soon :)
4. I miss my Dublin home and family members.

The Week of Tears :(

Oct 22, 2014

The feedback about my arranged marriages was........entertaining, but Nana's response certainly takes the cake! "I am glad you have such a variety of husbands to choose from; that always helps....."

Ugh it's so hard to say goodbye! I'm moving back here.......I WILL live in this Ward at some point.

This week has been CRAZY and I had my first experience with the Holy Ghost yelling at me. Wanna hear?

It was about 8:00 and pitch black. We've been really struggling finding good uses of time when our plans fall through, and it's so dark and not very safe. But we had the bright idea to go visit less-actives, perspective Elders, and part-member families. We started driving to a home and I thought out loud,

"It's probably not the best idea for us to be going this late to homes that we don't know anything about."

2 more minutes up the road we both get this feeling of absolute unsafe-ness. I don't even know how to describe it. We both hear

"TURN AROUND." 

So we look at each other and say,

"Let's not go there."

So we turned around and pulled over to talk about where we should go instead, and at the exact same time we both hear, 

"MOVE NOW." 

And that same crazy scared feeling came, so we started driving pretty fast. But it was only about 8:15 at that point so we headed towards an investigators house because we wanted to be good misisonaries. As we pull up we get that same feeling and this time it was, 

"GO HOME." 

So we got home, turned on all the lights, prayed, turned on happy music, and called President :)

I've never had an experience like that. And I will never forget it.
The Holy Ghost protects us from danger. We will never know what we were being protected from, but from the feeling I got I'm really glad we were :)

Everyone just makes me cry and not want to leave! I'm going to miss Juniper's baptism by 3 days!!! But that's ok.

Oh yeah! Wanna hear where I'm going?????? It's just a little different from Pulaski. I'm headed to one of the nicest areas in the mission. It's the nicest apartment in the mission. I'm headed to Forest, Virginia in Lynchburg! A nice rockin family ward. It's also right next to a Baptist college. So that'll be fun. I'll be serving with a missionary who came out right after me and supposedly we're very similar and should get along great.....that's always nice to hear.

But Dublin will always be dear to my heart. The Morgan's sent me off with a bonfire of course! And the Martin's came :) Cuz they love me too. And they're all best friends now :)

Kathy's brother Sammy is awesome!!!!!! We spent some time teaching him this past week and a half and he wants to be baptized! I'm sad I won't be able to be there for the rest of his teaching and growing, but I'm excited for them all. Kathy is jumping out of her seat every lesson and so excited to share what she knows :)

Michele and Joe sent me off with a bang. I GOT TO RAKE LEAVES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! And then the yard was full of leaves again 2 hours later (we drove by and checked). Everyone makes fun of me but it's not my fault! Leaves don't fall in California.

I also have been using and umbrella and wearing boots. Like a lot. It's COLD!

(Brother-in-law)   Spencer was in Blacksburg again and dropped off a goodie bag at our door :)

Which brings me to my next point. People. I love sweets, we all know that. I'm getting fat. I don't want to get fat and then with 6 months left be a standard missionary and have to think "6 months to sexy." It's a real thing. Missionaries starve themselves. Don't make me fat! No SWEETS! Please? We all know how I am. I can't just eat one and have moderation. I sit there and eat until I'm sick, then I eat a piece of bread or something, wait 15 minutes, then shove it in again. They're just so delicious......

But if anyone wants to send anything the address is

888 Oakwood Rd Suite 310, Charleston, WV 25314.

Anything sent there will get to me.

LOVE YOU ALL!

-Sister Packard

Best:
1. Kathy's deep fried oreos (it's a problem people).
2. First Saturday night session of Stake Conference EVER.
3. I'm pretty much all packed.
4. I lost my scriptures, but because of that a less-active gave me a brand new pair and I know that sounds weird, but it was big for him. His daughter told me later that I had to take them because she's never seen him care about anything like that so it's important.
5. I RAKED LEAVES.
6. Everyone in our zone except the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders will be training brand new missionaries this next transfer. Because it's rocking and rolling here!

Worst:
1. I'm leaving Pulaski.
2. Kathy's driving me to the bus tomorrow and going to make me cry.
3. My head hurts....... :(

The Week of Arranged Marriages, and a Baptism!

October 13, 2014

It is cold and rainy and wonderful! The leaves changing is probably the coolest thing ever and just makes me that much more determined to live here one day (sorry Mom, but yes I want to live out here). I'm adjusting to the weather and the need for boots and a real winter/rain coat. You can't rock flats here. 

I finally got to have a Doctors appointment this past week and this is what I learned. I have the rockin Packard sinuses times 10. So my sinuses are just completely closed off and I'm getting headaches from that, which are turning into migraines. Solution? Nasal spray and allergy medication (I'm really cool like that). Results from said medication? HIVES. For the first time in my life. Miserable. I'll have to just accept the pain and get over it I guess because I'm obviously not meant to get better. I'll just be that missionary that's sick their whole mission.

Let's talk about people in Pulaski County shall we?

KATHY IS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!! Oh she is just so excited! In the bathroom before going in the font she grabbed my face in her hands and pulled me close to say, "This is all because of you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you." And then she kissed me on the cheek. Ray and Dylan were just bawling (Ray because of joy, Dylan because he's not 8 and can't be baptized yet). 

Then she received the Holy Ghost yesterday during testimony meeting and Dylan had me go up with him to bear his testimony. 

"I'm so proud of my mom being baptized and that we know this is the true church, because it is! And if you don't know it? (looks at the crowd condescendingly)" 

He went on and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. I can't adequately express how close to the Spirit this child is. After teaching about temples he prayed that when he went with his mom and dad he would feel the arms of those who have died hugging him in the temple. I will cry when I can't go with them when they're sealed. But they promised to come when I get married so I guess I'll have to take what I can.

We're still working with Sandra and trying to help her understand the importance of being baptized by the proper authority, but the poor thing has been so sick we haven't seen her in a long time.

Bobbie Sue finally got a job! But of course it's a weekend job and we don't know when she'll be able to come to church again. We pray for her so often because she's already going inactive and we hate that! It's hard because it feels like we didn't do enough or aren't to keep her coming to church.

Michele has been very sick as well so we haven't been able to see her in a while, but Thursday was Jo's birthday so we're going over this week with his present and a treat.

Roxy came to church with sweet 2 week old Preston and we've visited with her several times this week. She is a wonderful mother and that sweet boy just kills me. I just sit with my face right next to him and use all my will power to not scoop him up and love on him. Scott is still working like crazy but we're hoping he'll move up in management soon or something will change so he can be coming to church again. 

Juniper is still set to be baptized the 25th! She's got one more lesson and she's ready to go. It just kills me because if I get transferred out it will be on the 23rd and I'll just miss it, and that would be hard.

All right, arranged marriages. I've got 2 offers from members in the Ward for their sons. One is 33 and working on his Masters. The other is 24 and comes with a dowry of a life-time supply of cheese slaw (spicy cheese dip deliciousness). Then they found out they both were offering their sons and the offers and incentives have gotten better and better each week. It's good to know they love me enough to want me in their family forever. I really do want to move back to this Ward. It's killing me to know I'm going to have to leave at some point.

I miss you all a whole lot! The Gospel is true. And sometimes I think the best part of being a missionary is being able to see how much it's the member's duty to do missionary work, and missionaries are just their to help them. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. And I never realized that, or had any idea how to be an everyday missionary til being out here. It's amazing to see how much you really can do.

-Sister Packard

Best:

1. Teaching about Eternal families to a family who wants nothing more than to be Eternal!

2. Rain!

3. Chinese food. Enough for 6 people. For just Sister Wahlin and I :)

4. Red trees. They're wonderful.

Worst:

1. Migraines.

2. I'm always so cold!!! I used to always be the one giving off body heat and being too warm. Now my hands are always cold.

3. I might be leaving next week........

The Week of EXCITEMENT!

Oct 5, 2014

How cool was General Conference??!?!?!?!?!?!

But let's jump straight to the good stuff.

Good ole E.H. has moved to California to be with his older brothers. This is SOOOOOO good for him because they are stalwarts in the church and it will give him time to really focus on his testimony and growing stronger. He's changed so much in these 3 months I've known him and I really love that old guy. He gave me one of the most precious gifts I've ever received and I just bawled like a baby. He's gonna do great!

Kathy, Ray, and Dylan are doing WONDERFUL! Kathy is still on track to be baptized this Saturday! Ray has been working this week but Kathy teaches him everything we teach her and they are really connecting with members of the Ward! Dylan is best friends with the Morgan's kids now and it's been amazing to see the friendships growing. Kathy is my miracle baptism baby. We were teaching and she looks at me and says, "It's all your fault." I didn't quite know what to say and she kept going, "You broke down my wall. And now I'm here. It's all because of you." She cried, I cried, Ray cried (we cry a lot at their home). It's amazing to see the change in their lives. They absolutely trust everything they're taught. No questions, they just do it and are excited about it. They've been such a blessing and example of truly loving the Gospel.

Dominick is also doing really well and enjoying learning everything again with a new mindset. I don't know how long it will take him to be able to move forward and be baptized but I do see his testimony growing, and that's the important part. 

My lovely Juniper is progressing wonderfully. We're still planning on October 25th with her and she just gets cuter every day! Her knowledge always surprises me. I'm excited to have a lesson on temples and encourage her parents to start to really think about being sealed as a family. It's amazing to see how far they've come as well.

Being a missionary is pretty cool sometimes. Those are my top stories. Everything else is going pretty good. I got some major prescriptions from the mission doctor and it seems to be working pretty well. Hopefully this will get knocked out once and for all!

-Sister Packard

Best:

1. Dylan crushing Kathy's cigarettes.

2. 2 couples with great potential!

3. CONFERENCE PRAYERS WERE AMAZING!

4. Being able to hear people say, "There's a reason you're here."

Worst:

1. Always those emotional highs and lows.