The Week of Being Tired

December 15, 2014

I was just really tired this week, short tempered, impatient, grumpy, and a butt. I never claim to be perfect. I'm grateful for all these experiences to teach me how to get through tough situations.

 

I'm also over-dramatic (only when I'm tired), so don't worry. I'm really fine. Christmas time is coming! I've received Christmas cards, pictures, and a present! I'm still waiting for my siblings to step up though. Come on folks. Go outside and take a picture and then email it to me. I want to see your faces.

 

Mom sent me a tangerine and I about wet myself with excitement. The peel was crisp and the juices quickly perfumed the air and it tasted SO GOOD! You should do that again Mom :)

 

We saw Wei and Yali again this week and we were talking about the Pre-mortal existence and how we can experience "deja vu" because we've met people before! Yali looked at me and said (in her broken English), "I knew you before. Party is the word I use!" I love her so much. I can see in her a face a yearning to change and to be "forgiven" and let go of the past. I believe she will be baptized before I leave this area. She feels it!

 

We had our atheist friend try to convert us to atheism and so we're not sure how to move forward because he made us watch an anti video and I'm never doing that again. It was absolutely terrible. And I view this family in very high esteem regard so I was quite surprised they showed us something so......vile, degrading, rude, and just dumb. They've gone on vacation for 3 weeks so we'll see what happens when they get back.

 

Jerry is the best! We've briefly chatted 2 times before but this week we were able to teach about how the Gospel has been restored and that there's a Prophet once more! He was leery because he's always been taught that no one can see God face-to-face (I wonder why?) but we asked if he had ever prayed about it. He's been reading the Book of Mormon, and he said, "You know, that's one thing I have NOT done. I haven't prayed about it." So we asked him to read the Testimonies at the beginning and pray about it and then give us an answer. I know he's wanting to follow God. I know what kind of answer he'll get.

 

Folks, I have a companion preparing to go home in February. She has not seen a single baptism during her mission. Prayers for miracles are what we need. There are people here waiting for us to find them. Help us by giving us some extra spiritual "umph" so we're not just "try"ing anymore :)

 

I want you all to know I miss you a whole dang lot. I'm being trunky. That doesn't help my moodiness. I need to be better. I'm going to be better. This Christmas season please send a letter or email to the missionaries you know. Even if you don't know them very well. Please. And if you need some ideas I have a missionary in mind you could hit up ;)

 

Crazy that I'll be able to some people's faces in just a few days. I don't know how it gets set up or what's going to happen. Mom will know and pass the word along. Just to be safe. Email me your Skype accounts and then maybe some Christmas miracle will happen :)

 

-Sister Packard

 

Best:

1. Christmas music :)

2. Chocolate Oranges.

3. Our zone is making a workout video.........it's gonna be great.

4. "He is the Gift" is the best missionary tool in the world. Not just for full time missionaries. It was created so members could have an easy method to do their missionary work!

 

He Is The Gift

Worst:

1. I'm a grumpy butt.

 

The Week of Becoming a Spanish Speaking Missionary!!!

December 3, 2014

From the Mom:

Several people have asked for this:

Sister Sarah Packard

1060 Madison View Drive APT 106

Forest, VA  24551

From the Missionary :)

So! It was Thanksgiving, we got food poisoning, I'm gonna speak Spanish, He is the Gift was launched, and miracles are coming.

 

Thanksgiving we had 3 "meals" and even though we really didn't eat that much it felt like we did.

 

We've been trying to walk a lot more and Saturday we walked for 3 1/2 hours and went to the gas station to treat ourselves. Delved into some beef jerky. Ate a few pieces then pulled out a softball of mold......we thought we were going to die.

We spent the rest of the day moaning and groaning and not feeling too good. Sunday we sang in Sacrament so we kept praying to get through that, then come what may. I lasted til about 5 o'clock when we were sitting at a members house. All white furniture and carpet. 

We got out of there fast and I spent the rest of the night sitting on the floor by the toilet. Went to bed at 8, didn't wake up til 8 (12 hours of sleep is wonderful) and then we both got blessings and spent the whole day Monday at home.

Once I finally think I've got my health figured out........man. But I hear I'm not the only cousin having health problems. I love you both. Life is hard. People are mean and hurtful, but God understands. And so do I :)

 

I'm going to be a Spanish speaking missionary before I come home! I've been reading from the Spanish Book of Mormon every night for 30 minutes. We got stocked up with Spanish Church material! My zone leaders are fluent and working on organizing a Spanish Branch. And the Assistants to the President told me the first Spanish speaking Sister we get I will be companions with. BOOM!

I'm praying for the gift of tongues. And of course once I started studying and praying for opportunities to use it, we haven't seen a single Spanish speaker..........

Heavenly Father is funny sometimes.

 

Have you seen "He is the Gift" yet?

If not, stop what you're doing and watch it!!!!!!!!!!

 http://www.mormon.org/christmas 

As missionaries we see how this is going to change lives! Especially being so close to a Baptist college. We have already seen attitudes and spirits change. We met a professor at Liberty who said she would share it with her classes.......

 

We also had some great teaching moments this week. The Spirit has been strong and wonderful. We found out how dumb we are though. We've been having lessons with members about missionary work and we always ask what they want from us.

One sister said, "I think it'd be awesome to have lessons in our home, but I don't know. Is that allowed?" ARE YOU KIDDING!?!?!?! That's all they want us to do! So if you haven't already, Tell the missionaries they can teach in your home. It will work.

Offer to have them over for Family Home Evening and let them know they can invite investigators. Be more involved. And for goodness sakes feed them. It's the Holidays. They're lonely enough. Please don't make them sit at their apartment alone.

Trust me, it's not fun.

 

I can't talk much about the investigators.   I know, it's so different from the last area. But lots of these people are very Baptist and involved with Liberty in some way. And don't want the association with the church on their record :) That will change though.

 

Sister Lopp is leaving me, a whole 10 minutes away! She's nervous but we've been having so much fun lately. Laughter seriously is the most important thing.

 

Hey guess what!!?!?!?!?! I'm 1/3 done with my mission! I'll be home in a year!!!!!! You miss me yet? :)

 

-Sister Packard

 

Best:

1. He is the Gift.

2. Chocolate oranges :)

3. New boots.

4. Laughter.

5. CHRISTMAS!

6. Dreams :)

7. Conference talks about family relationships. I can't get enough.

8. Starbucks doubly chocolately chip frappuchinos :)

9. I like, don't even sweat anymore!

 

Worst:

1. Gnats. EVERYWHERE in the apartment!

2. I think I'll always be cold for the rest of my life. And I'm starting to like it and get used to it.

The Week of a Tonsillectomy

November 24, 2014

So they're not out but they're coming out because they're going to have to come out. So the Mission Doctor said, "We've got one year to get you kissing sweet. Lets get started." 

I thought that was a little weird but I went with it :)

Life is good out here in Forest, VA. Transfers are next week so we'll find out if Sister Lopp is leaving or not. 

I feel fairly confident that I'm staying because I have a Doctors appointment..... :)

I feel like all of our investigators are slowly knowing truth. And one knows it, he just refuses to admit it. 

We've been working on being bold. And that's fun :) I like to be bold. 

And we've been focusing on how Christ responded to the situations we're in.

So I've been reading the Old Testament because everybody quotes stuff and I hate feeling lost. Oh my gosh. First of all, people who think they know the Bible don't. And what the crap happened in the Bible?

Please excuse my language. 

People can't believe Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ........but everything that happened in the Bible is real???? And so many people have been saying, "It's historically true.".......................

So is the Book of Mormon. So why can't people believe that? It's just been very interesting.

We went to Tree of Life Ministries and that was a PARTEY! No WONDER people think our church is boring. 

That church is pretty huge though. And they announced we were there. Sister Lopp turned and waved. She was like a Princess in a parade, it was so cute. But the sermon was really good. Except for when he put digs in about our church. But I don't think any else caught them. But we had MANY people come up to us afterwards asking about our church and we found some solid opportunities to share the gospel.

And that's pretty much it I guess. Sorry my letters are so lame now. You'll get over it though :)

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Sister Packard

Best:

1. Being inspired throughout the day.

2. Priesthood blessings.

3. Ward members starting to love missionary work :)

Worst:

1. Holidays away from home.

2. My boots disintegrated......Walmart