Book of Mormon Miracles (Week 36)

Tennis as exercise!

Hey Everyone,

Last Monday we bought some tennis balls.  We found three tennis rackets in the apartment.  There is a tennis court next to our apartment.  We decided to play tennis in the mornings as our exercise program.

It has been a lot of fun.  We both are not very good, so our goal is to become half-way decent.

Cole is getting baptized this Saturday.  We are really excited; he is too.  He was so worried he wouldn't pass the interview.  We tried to reassure him he would be fine, and, of course, he was.

Thanks Dad and Grandpa for the scriptural references regarding my resurrection question.

We went to find a potential investigator, but they weren't home, so we knocked a few doors in that area.  A boy, named Eric, answered the door.  He said his parents weren't home, so we gave him a card to give to his parents.  Later, we said a prayer with another potential investigator, and had a brief lesson, and it turned out Eric was friends with her son!  They live somewhat close, but not right next to each other.  What are the chances that the boy we talked to earlier would come by later?  We don't think it was a coincidence.

Elder Norton drew the district as Greek Gods (good thing no one takes this pantheon seriously any more so we can just enjoy the stories as mythology)

Essix is doing really good.  She still needs to heal to make it to church.  She loves the Book of Mormon.  We leave her with one assigned chapter, and she will read more.  Right before we come she re-reads the chapter we gave her.  She said whenever she reads, she just wants to read more.

 

The Elders come to the end of Preparation Day (not looking too much like the cartoon)

Sister Sebastion gave herself a date to start doing the things she needs to get back to the temple.  I am so happy for her.  I know she can do it.

 

Sister Aurora sports her short hair!

Miracle:  I got a haircut last Monday.  I wanted my hair longer than it already was.  I just wanted a trim [to help it grow].  I have decided to only get a haircut from someone who speaks english fluently or, if I ever learn a language, we can go with that one.  She spoke English, but there was still a language barrier.  She cut too much of my hair off.  It still looks okay, but I had a hard time with it being a lot shorter.  At first I told myself it was fine, but one night I just broke down in tears.  I went and filled up my water bottle in the fridge.  As I walked back, I felt like I should pull out my iPad and read from the Book of Mormon.

I picked a place randomly and started reading.  It calmed me down.

Afterwards, I felt peace.  I still want my hair longer, but I was no longer upset about it.  I love the Book of Mormon.  It always can bring the Spirit who brings peace.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

P.S. Here is something I made with my iPad.  Elder Hunt showed me the basics, then I messed around with it until I made what I wanted.  Sister Fricke suggested that I turn the bottom upside down to make the mirror.

The Detroit Temple meets Sister Pack's iPad

Mission Grandma & Mother's Day (Week 35)

Newel and all of his missionaries!

Hey everyone,

It was great seeing you on Mother's Day.

One of the highlights of the week was Newel's baptism.  Every companionship in the ward taught Newel.  First, we taught him, then, after one lesson and his coming to church, we passed him off to the Elders, since he lived in their area.  Then they passed him off to the Spanish missionaries.  He is so awesome, and he has a great testimony.

Another highlight of the week was Zone Conference.  Elder Clarke stayed for it.  It was so sweet. There were a lot of good things, but I will mention one.  He talked about being a Preach-My-Gospel Missionary, which is a missionary who follows the spirit, obeys all the commandments (including ones found in the Missionary Handbook), studies the scriptures, and applies what they learn.  All
that can be found in the introduction to Preach My Gospel.  He said we can't expect our investigators to keep commitments if we can't keep the mission commandments.  He also said that missionaries should study the scriptures in the role of a missionaries and parents should study the scriptures in the role of a parent.  He said that when he became a seventy he was told to buy a new set of
scriptures and to study it in the role of a seventy.

Just so you all know.  Wawa has the best sandwiches.  I don't think we have any in Colorado.

While we were weekly planning a thought came into my head to bring Essix's mom a Mother's Day card.  We did that, but we just left it taped to the door.  Later during the day, Essix told us it was a beautiful note and thanked us.  She also said, this morning, that it meant a lot to her since she wasn't able to get her mother one, as the doctor still doesn't want her out of bed.  I am glad I followed the spirit and did that for them.

We also brought three other people Mother's Day cards.  Tammy, who is a mother, but isn't in contact with any of her children.  She is a grandmother to us.  Sister Sebastian, who has a son in heaven and one in the military, but also is a mother to us.  Sartan, who is in a nursing home, that we visit every week; she also a few children.  I don't know how often they visit her though. It is kinda sad that those three women couldn't see their children yesterday, but I am glad we could brighten up their lives.



Tammy on Mother's Day

Mom, you would be so proud of me.  I cooked curry your way.  Your way is to read the ingredients off a package then make your own thing.  I did that.  I didn't measure anything, and it tasted awesome.  Thanks for teaching me how to cook.

The picture with the boxes is for Iridal.  She is blind, and she is moving to Maryland.  They needed help shipping her Braille scriptures.  Because she is blind, the post office ships it for free.  It was quite an adventure getting them shipped.  We did what Iridal said to do, but the post office wouldn't take them.

We later found out that we needed a stamp to prove it was for blind people.  We went and got Iridal's stamp; thank goodness she had it.  At the post office, after talking with them to make sure we had it right, we went to go get the nine boxes from the car.

Iridal's Braille Scriptures

There was someone who was whistling at people.  Whatever, we were just going to ignore him, but he came up to us.  He was offering to help carry the packages inside.  We were getting creepy vibes from him, so we told him we could handle it on our own.  He said it was an insult to his culture from Puerto Rico.  We kept telling him no.  When we talked inside, I made sure to lock the car.
He stayed by our car.  We then talked to someone who works at the post office to help us.  He went and talked to him, asking him to leave.  He walked away from our car, but he wouldn't leave the parking lot.  Anyway, I saw the employee call the police.  If the police came, we weren't there.  Good news is that the boxes
with the scriptures in them shipped, and I have a crazy mission story to tell. :)

Mirth, in one of the pictures mom sent me, I saw your blanket.  I approve.  I love Hiccup and Toothless.  Sister Fricke named her bike, Charlotte, so I decided to name mine Toothless.  I should send you a picture.  I don't think I have ever sent a picture of my bike yet.  I know mom asked for one, so I probably should.

Miracle: After Elder Clarke, Sister Fricke and I decided to change some things, so we could be better Preach-My-Gospel missionaries.  We wanted to work harder and be more obedient.  Not that we were very disobedient, but making sure we got
to studies at 8 am instead of a few minutes late.  Making sure we ask to leave our area, even if it is to see a less-active in the ward.  Anyway, we worked harder, but didn't see too much success.  However, God blessed us for improving.

On Sunday, Trian just showed up to church.  She isn't a member, and she lives in our area, so we are going to start teaching her.  She is super awesome, and I am excited to get to know her more.  All this shows me is that missionary work really isn't in our hands.  There is nothing we can do, but God will let us teach the people who are ready if we show him that he can trust them to us.  I
think this week we showed God that we were willing to work hard and so he saw that we would take care of Trian.

~Sister Aurora Pack

Tammy and the Red Noses

P.S. We took Tammy to Essix's lesson.  Tammy bought red noses for each of us.  Essix said she liked it.  The other picture is of Tammy and I on Mother's Day.  We brought over a Mother's Day card for her.  We told her that she is like our mission grandma.

Word of Wisdom Miracle (Week 34)

The Sith Zone Leaders use the force!

May The Fourth Be With You,

We had a great district p-day today.  It was Star Wars themed.  It was tons of fun.  Most of the things we did I included pictures of.

Using the force to repel all clone attackers!

Okay, so yesterday we had this huge meeting for the entire mission.  Everyone who had a calling that is part of the ward council was invited.  Three stakes met together in the stake center by the temple, and the rest got a broadcast out to their stake centers.  We went to the one by the temple.  There Elder Clarke of the Seventy talked to us.  It was really great.  I liked a lot of what he said, but one thing that stood out to me is: it isn't about someone else's, it is about yours.  Most everyone has someone less-active in their family.  Everyone has or wants to send someone, a child, grandchild, or someone else, on a mission.  He said it is the ward's responsibility to take care of the missionaries and give them the experience they deserve.  The experience that will help them stay active.  He said if we reach out to someone else's missionaries/relatives then God will help someone to reach out to ours.  The way to help our loved ones is to help someone else's.

The kittens are getting bigger!

While there I talked to Elder Vaughn.  He is still serving in Winter Garden.  He said Rue got baptized.  She was someone who I was trying to teach.  She was a friend of one of the youth and he, Denny, baptized her.  Elder Vaughn also said that Jason was ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood.  He said he is doing really awesome.  I am so happy for him.

Sister Fricke with the kittens!

So a less-active we have been working with is taking leaps and bounds.  Samah is on the road to repentance and the temple.  It is so awesome.  She sees a difference in her life and with her children.  I am so happy for her.  Sister Fricke said, when they started meeting with her, she had no desire to go to church, but now she doesn't want to miss one.  Anyway, she is awesome.

One night Sister Fricke and I both weren't feeling good, but we went out anyway.  We met some cool people.  Three of them were from Puerto Rico, and they were returning the next day.  They asked why we came from California and Colorado to Florida.  He answered and said we came here to meet him.  It was really cool.

We know where you live -- a nice note from the Elders!

I told Jera and Jonathan Kyle that I challenged someone to read the Book of Mormon everyday for two weeks, and he read it all in that time.  Jonathan then decided he would do it in a week. Jera wanted to beat her brother, so she said she would do it in one day.  We convinced her to do it with her brother in a week.

Miracle: I taught Essix the Word of Wisdom while on exchange.  Essix was okay with the whole no drinking and smoking, but she really wanted to keep her occasional coffee and tea.  We kept trying to show her that the lord would bless her for it.  Finally, she agreed, but I felt it was begrudgingly just to get us to stop talking. 

Anyway, the miracle came the very next day.  Her doctor arranged some things for her that she had been praying for.  Essix connected it as a blessing from the Word of Wisdom, so she is totally on board with it now.  This was an experience that made all the bad ones worth it.  I thought during the lesson that I would go through my whole mission to help Essix.  Anyway, it was great.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

During podracing, we wiped us out!

P.S. For our Star Wars p-day we did podracing (wheel barrel race).  We just struggled getting over the line, so this is me celebrating.  The other picture is the Sith Zone Lords winning.

The Sith Zone Leaders show the force in the podraces!

For the clone wars we had different sides and some of us were Jedi and others were droids.  The droids threw the balls and the Jedi had the lightsabers.  It was lots of fun.

Jedi vs. Droids

Me sa jar jar binks is you have to put marsh mellows in your mouth and say me sa jar jar binks each time one goes in.  If the marsh mellows come out the you lose.  Whoever gets the most wins.  Elder Jennings won with 13.

Me sa Jar Jar Binks!

P.P.S. Sister Gonzalez sent everyone from District Deltona this picture.  It made my day, so I thought I would send it on.

District 12 (aka Deltona) rides again!

Sick Days 😵 (Week 33)

A group of ducks decided to follow us!

Hey Everyone,

I hope things are going great with you.  As for me and Sister Fricke, we are fine now, but, this past week, Sister Fricke was sick.  ;(  It wasn't any fun for either of us.  It lasted three days.  Two of the nights we were able to get out of the apartment and do some missionary work and, the remaining day, we did weekly planning.  Each day wasn't a complete waste, which is nice.  While Sister Fricke slept, I cleaned the kitchen, cooked, but mostly I read.  In two days, I read the entire book "Daughters in My Kingdom."  It was great, but reading so much in such a little amount of time fried my brain.  After I give it a rest, I think I am going to read it again.  I also watched the movie on Thomas S. Monson.  It was really good.  You can find it in the Gospel Library.

When you're sick, you say, "Peabnut Bubber!"

We also watched this movie, that we found in our apartment, called the Last Leaf.  It had the church's logo on it, so that means we can watch, but I am not really so sure about it.  It was just so cheesy (since it is so old), and it has a really weird ending.  It is supposedly an Easter parable.  Anyway, you can check it out, but you have been warned.

Things are going good with Essix.  She told us that her prayers were answered with the insurance approving physical therapists to come to her home.  Yeah, she will be able to get out of bed soon!

When we went to go see Essix we took Tammy with us.

No one was home, except Essix, who wasn't able to come to the door and unlock it, so that lesson fell through.  However, Tammy is a rock star, and she went with us to find people who other missionaries have talked to before, but we have never met.  A lot of people aren't willing to do that.  She is so cool.  She even knocked on someone's window, because the doorbell didn't work, and we couldn't knock on their door since there was a locked gate in the way.

Brother Tevor bore his testimony about how he recently came to know that the church is true.  It was super cool, because he has been less-active and, whenever we go to their house -- since I have been here, he hasn't joined in the lessons.  We go over to the Tevor house most weeks since the teenagers are recent converts.  Also, they have been getting into reading the scriptures, thanks to a super awesome member, TG.

Missionary Meme

Samah is another returning member.  She just recently found the joy of reading the scriptures.  She has also been reading with her children, Jace and Dalton.  She has also been doing Family Home Evening.  She has more of a desire to come to church.  She has been thinking about names for her son, who is yet to be born.  She has thought of Alma.  We tried convincing her to name him Ammon.  Her mother suggested Moroni, Benjamin, and the name of someone who she likes (Samah wasn't a huge fan of that one).  She really likes Moroni, but she also wants to make sure that people can't twist the name into something horrible, since kids can be mean.  We read Alma 18 to show her how awesome Ammon is.  She really got into the story.

Miracle: Mira is progressing so much.  She is returning to activity.  She has a nine-year-old son that we are teaching Cole who is going to b baptized at the end of May.  Cole has been reading the Book of Mormon Stories, and he is actually enjoying it!  I also want him to read from the Book of Mormon, but one step at a time.  Anyway, Mira told us the struggle she had of getting to church yesterday.

She said she thought about not going, but then she thought, "No, I need to go to church."  She came late, but she still came, which is what matters.  She also told us that Cole invited his dad to his baptism, and she wanted to make sure he could come since he isn't a member.   We cleared the confusion up.  Yes, he can attend; family members are encouraged to come and see what it is all about.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

 

P.S. Dad, didn't you say that, when we are resurrected, we are resurrected with the body of the type of glory we have?  Anyway, I mentioned it this morning and Sister Fricke wants to know where that is found.  I don't know, but I said I would ask you.  Thanks.  [Dad:  See 1 Corinthians 15:40-44; Daniel 12:2-3;D&C 76:78; and Matt. 13:43.]

 

The Super Smash District has a Baptism! (Week 32)

Sister Aurora Pack and Tammy

Hi Family,

God really does answer prayers!  Sister Fricke and I are staying together!  So far Sister Fricke is my favorite companion.

Sister Fricke and Tammy

Tammy got baptized!!!  I don't know how much I have told you about her.  Sister Fricke found her while she was homeless, but when she found a place to stay it was in the Elders' area.  We still helped her out, so I am really close to her.  We made sure she came to the Women's conference, and we sat by her in general conference.  She is like our grandmother.  She called us today to let us know it was going to storm tonight.  Anyway, I love her so much and in some ways she feels like she was my investigator, since we visited her a few times.  I sent a picture of all four of Tammy's missionaries.

All four of Tammy's Missionaries

Do you remember Newel?  Anyway, I saw him Tuesday.  We were at the church for a Relief Society activity, and he was there being taught by the Spanish Elders.  It was great to see him, and he said he hadn't been able to make it to church again because of work.  However, he showed up at church on Sunday.  We heard from the Spanish Elders that he quit his job to come, so he could keep the Sabbath day.  He is so cool, and he is going to be baptized on May 9th.

Tammy is like our grandma!

Essix is now at her house, which is in our area, so we are now teaching her again.  She is so awesome.  I am excited to be able to teach her more.  Tomorrow, we plan on going over there and bringing Tammy with us.

On Friday, we went to a memorial service for Helen Mainer.  She was the person we went to visit when we met Essix.  She died last week.  The memorial service was nice.  Sister Fricke and I sang "I Believe in Christ."  I didn't know I was singing until I arrived.  I think we did okay for short notice.  The song was good, because it was one of Helen's favorites, and she believed in Christ.

After church each week we visit a women, Soama, in a nursing home.  Her roommate has told me that I look like Jhi.  We gather that Jhi is a good friend of hers from her childhood.  She has now started calling me Jhi and talks to me like I am her.  No matter how many times I tell her who I am, it doesn't change anything, so I just go along with it.

Playing the Great Dalmuti and Sleeping Queens

Last Monday was district p-day.  It was fun.  We went to a park and grilled hot dogs.  A lot of the missionaries played soccer and sand volleyball.  We played Sleeping Queens.  Elder Hummer won both games.  It was fun.

Elder Norton shows off his district cartoon

We also played the missionary mad libs that Sister Fricke made.  It was so much fun.  The people who played the mad libs are Elder Hunt, Elder Hummer, Elder Norton, Sister Fricke, and I.  Elder Norton drew a picture of the best parts of the mad libs.  It is so funny, but you would have to have been there.

Elder Norton's mad libs illustration

Miracle: We went biking to a street that is quite far away.  Anyway, while biking, we were coming up to this guy, and I am thinking we need to talk to him.  So right before I pass him I stop and start talking.

The Super Smash district gets an image!

It turns out he speaks Spanish, so I was about to give him a card in Spanish with the Spanish Missionaries phone number on it and head on our way.  He wanted to speak to us more.  He indicated that he understands a little English, so we spoke English and he spoke Spanish.  Sister Fricke was able to understand him a little.  I believe during the time we talked with him we enjoyed the gift of tongues.  I even understood a little.  I got that he, Rollan, had some family back in Ecuador that are members of the church.  He wanted to know what time church is and where it meets.  We gave him the information, and he said he would come to church.  Sister Fricke also told me that he said he had a Book of Mormon.

Anyway, two days later Rollan showed up at church.  He talked to Elder Lindsay and Elder Issacson.  Someone came and told us that someone who was talking to the Spanish Elders wanted to speak to us.  With the Elders translating, Rollan told us thank you for talking to him and inviting him to church.  At this ward both English and Spanish are spoken, and there are people who translate.  We told him that it was just the spirit who guided us to find him that day.

We found out from the Elders later that he is only here for less than two weeks.  Then he is going back to Ecuador.  He isn't a member, but we think he wants to join.  We plan on getting his address and sending a referral.  I know the Lord was guiding us that day, so that we could speak to him.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

P.S.  I am sending a box home.  It has Christmas gifts for everyone, Mother's Day gifts, Rose Marie's program and picture, and things I want to save, but don't need on my mission.  In the box I have a note to mom about which items are gifts and who they are to.

Aurora can smile -- her Christmas and Mother's Day shopping is done!

Joseph Smith is a True Prophet of God (Week 31)

Sister Fricke on her bicycle!

 

Hey everyone,

We are doing awesome over here.  We got three new gators this past week.  Two are awesome; the other already dropped.

Visiting the Relief Society President's cool house!

The first one, who dropped, seemed at first like a miracle.  Some other elders meet him and, at the end of the first lesson, he said he wanted to be baptized, but he later called them and said no.  We then decided to drop by and see him to figure out what he heard that made him change his mind.  At the second time we meet with him, we asked him to read from the Book of Mormon, and he said he wouldn't.  We tried explaining why he should and asking him to give it at least a chance.  Nothing we said made a difference.  He kept talking about false prophets, indicating that Joseph Smith was one.  Whenever we asked him questions, he didn't answer us, and he even told us that he was a member and he attended for about four years.  Either he is lying or is insane, because, if that was true, he would have told the Elders that when he met them.  What is weird is that he likes a talk that President Monson gave about Obedience.  He found it on YouTube.  It is sad to me that he won't give the Book of Mormon a chance.  I know how much it would help him in his life.

Also, no matter what he says, I know Joseph Smith was called of God to be a prophet.  I don't understand everything about his life, but I do know the Book of Mormon is true and the one who translated it did so by God's power.

Celebrating Pigeon's birthday

Last Monday we went to a bookstore called "Books A Million."  It is pretty cool.  I bought the games Blink and Sleeping Queens.  I haven't played Sleeping Queens before, but it is a card game that can be played with 2-5 players.  It looked like it would be fun.  I have read the rules and played it with Sister Fricke; it is pretty fun.

More birthday fun!

I have decided to memorize the Living Christ.  I plan to spend six minutes every morning on it.  It is fun and awesome.

One of our other new investigators was also a referral by the same elders.  They were lost, and they saw her outside, so they got out the car and talked to her.  After dropping by her house a few times without her being home, we finally met her.  Briggan is so cool.  She, unlike the other person, said she would read the Book of Mormon.

One day we labeled our sandwich bags with the meanings of our names!

Miracle: okay, so a few weeks ago we meet this awesome person, Meilin.  I don't know if I wrote about her.  Anyway, we called her up to see how she is doing.  She said she was painting her house right then.  We offered her our help, and she said yes, so we came over the next day and helped paint one of her rooms.  She told us that she had just prayed about how she would manage to get all the painting done that she needed, and, a little bit later, we called.  That is so cool to see that God had us call at that time to answer Meilin's prayer.  It was really fun to help her paint.

~Sister Aurora Pack

Discovering Easter Eggs, Exchange, & Conference (Week 30)

Sister Jacklin & I at One Sweet Sita

 

Hello and Happy Easter Family and Friends,

On Tuesday we had interviews with President.  They were good.

Each of my personal studies this week was studying the things that happened that day before Easter.  It was really great to do.  I also watched the Bible videos that went along with it.

We had exchanges.  I stayed in my area and welcomed Sister Jacklin for the day.  She is super good at contacting people.  It was fun to spend the day with her.  For lunch she really wanted to go to this sister restaurant that she saw downtown of our area.  We were already planning on being there to go finding, so we went.  It is called One Sweet Sita.  It is a super cute place.  The walls were pink.  The food was good, but the desserts looked really good.  Each day they cook the desserts in the morning.  They may or may not have a particular thing any given day.  The cheesecake looked really good, especially the one with blueberry swirl.  I really wanted it, but I decided that my body didn't need it, so I resisted and went away empty-handed, but my belly was full from lunch.  Sister Jacklin got a cute cupcake.

Brand new kittens!

During part of the exchange, we stopped by this potential investigator.  Her name is Casey.  Sister Fricke and I met her when we tried to see and someone else who doesn't live there anymore.  Casey said to come back on Saturday, and when we did she wasn't there.  Sister Jacklin and I tried again.  We meet her sister who was in town visiting for Easter.

From her sister we discovered that she is a really strong member, but that Casey has fallen away.  It was crazy to learn that she was really a less-active member.

Sister Fricke with the new kittens!

This week we passed Essix off to the Elders.  :(  They will take good care of her.  I know that, but it is still sad, because I would love to stop by a lot to see her and teach her.  She is staying at a member's, who we went to go see a lot.  So we still see her, and, of course, we won't ever abandon her.  Yesterday, we were invited over for Easter and Uraza, the member, almost offended Essix.  I helped fix it by explaining that other churches have truth, they just don't have the priesthood authority and aren't complete.  I mentioned the General Conference talk about how all faiths agree on the importance of families.

One morning we saw a bald eagle from our apartment window!

I met a senior couple.  I forgot their names, sorry.  They know Grandma and Grandpa Pack.  The couple knew I was their granddaughter.  It was fun to talk to them for a little bit.

Conference was amazing.  I loved so many things.  It would be hard to mention them.  I noticed that President Monson didn't give opening or closing remarks, like he normally does.  I hope he is feeling well.

If he isn't, and he passes on, I know God will take care of him and that his mission next will be on the other side.  At least he will be able to be with his wife again.  We will miss him here though.  I trust God whatever happens.  [Dad: Nothing appears remiss with President Monson -- don't know where she got this idea!]

Our favorite Easter eggs were the investigators who came to conference (like the hidden surprises in computer and video games)!

Tammy came to all the sessions of conference.  It was fun to see her excitement about it.  And it was good to spend time with her.  I love Tammy so much.  It is always great when we get to see her.

Miracle: Cole and his mother, Mira, came to general conference for the last session.  It was awesome.  I am really grateful the talk about the Sabbath day was at the one they attended.  Mira is a member, but she just puts so many things above coming to church.  Cole is nine and wants to be baptized.  We just need them to come to church.

✨Sister Aurora Pack