Imitating Christ and Jason's Baptism (Week 18)

Jason, me and Sister Burnier at Jason's baptism!

Hi everyone,

The most exciting thing this week was Jason's baptism!  It was really awesome.  There were at least 37 people attending.

The baptismal font fills!

Sister Bernier had the idea of passing out cards while Jason was changing.  People could write something to Jason on it.  We collected them.  We plan to buy a photo album and put them in it with a picture of Jason with his family and give it to him.  I think it is a great idea, and I plan on using it for future baptisms.

Jason and his family celebrate his baptism

Sister Sorenson, the RS president and Jason's mother-in-law, bought a lot of food for refreshments afterwards.  Jason asked his father-in-law to baptize and confirm him.  His family also gave the talks at the baptism.  Jason is really close with his family, which is great.  Brother Rodney wasn't able to make it to the baptism, which was sad, since he is one of Jason's good friends.  But he was able to be in the confirmation circle.

Jason and his immediate family

At our district meeting I gave the spiritual thought from the New Testament reading.  I used similar thoughts for the letter I wrote President Berry.  I wanted to share that letter with you:

"I can draw nearer to Christ by imitating him.  In Ephesians 5:1, it says we need to follow God.  The footnote on followers says another translation from the Greek is imitators.  I've heard people say that the highest form of flattery is imitation.  Therefore, the highest form of worship is imitation.  I worship God and Christ by trying to be like them.  Christ beckons us to come, follow him.  He's not asking us to follow him in body, but he asks us to strive to emulate the things he did.  These thoughts remind me of what President Monson said, '[P]hysically walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking as He walked. Emulating His actions and following His example are far more important than trying to retrace the remnants of the trails He traversed in mortality.'  

"I want to study who Jesus was from the scriptures.  Then I want to develop the characteristics in myself.  That is how I am going to come closer to Christ. ~Sister Pack"

Cereal Boxes can come in handy...

I made a scripture box out of a cereal box and duct tape for the pocket-sized scriptures I bought.  The tiny scriptures are because I want to take scriptures around with me.  The iPad is nice, but I really need some physical scriptures.  I think it will help me to use more scriptures in lessons.  The box is so if it rains, and it will, that the scriptures can stay nice and dry.

New scripture box with mini-scriptures!

Part of this week was disappointing, because we had five member-present lessons fall through. :(  However, we were still able to work hard and see miracles.

Miracle:  We went to go see a less-active member, Dougan.  We were able to teach him and his renter, Maddon.  Maddon became an investigator.  Her other lesson, during the week, fell through because she wasn't feeling well.  However, it was still a miracle to find her.  Brother Dougan is less-active due to health, but he wants to come back to church.  He has a strong testimony.

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

P.S. I am putting together the "My Family" booklet. I believe Mirth had one at some point.  President Berry wants all missionaries to fill it out, so we can have the spirit of Elijah.  He also wants us to set a second baptismal date with people to get them to the temple for baptisms for the dead.  He wants us to set the second date even before people are baptized.

Baptismal Dates and Cold Florida Nights (Week 17)

My new blouse!

Hi Everyone,

Last Monday we went shopping during the after Christmas sales.  I got a shirt, a skirt, and a jacket (which I really needed since I didn't plan for the cold days here).  I know what you all are thinking, "It's not that cold in Florida."  You're right; it's not.  Right now, it is in the 80s.  I know back home it has been really cold.  I'm not complaining, but sometimes it been pretty cold especially when you aren't wearing anything to keep you warm, and you're in a skirt.

The new jacket -- for those cold Florida days!

District P-day was today.  We first went to Yellow Dog Eats, which is a restaurant.  It is super weird.  Elder Davis and Elder Armino (I know that is spelled wrong) kept talking about the hair and beards each had before their missions.  It sounds like they looked terrible.  Elder Pelo says, according to Elder Holland, if a missionary comes home and grows a beard then he didn't learn anything on his mission.  I think Elder Pelo might have made that up, but I think Elder Davis and Elder Armino could learn something from it.

Preparation Day with my District

We then went to the church and played Mafia.  I won the second game.  I was the only surviving Mafia left.  It was fun.  I still haven't been able to play the Great Dalmuti.  I will sometime though.  Maybe next week.

The current sisters in my district

We are teaching Laura, but she is really slow.  She doesn't get the concept of time very well.  She said she would be awake on Saturday morning, but she wasn't.  We texted her later that night.  Then, on Sunday night, she thought we came by that morning for church.  She wants to learn, but we aren't really sure how best to help her.  I think I have a better idea than Sister Berneir, because I struggled learning to read and have worked more with people who have learning disabilities.  If you have any suggestions, please tell me.

Jason is getting baptized on Saturday.  He had his interview yesterday.  I am really excited.  We have a lot to do to make sure it is planned properly.  We had it announced in Sacrament meeting yesterday, so I hope there is a good turn out.  I think will we call people as well as ask them to come.

A special treat for New Year's!

On New Years Day, I fried tostones (green plantains or, in Spanish, platenos); it was fun.  [Dad: This is a food our family enjoys from my mission in the Dominican Republic.]

Yummy tostones (plantains aka the banana thingie)

Miracle:  The Arald family has accepted a baptismal date.  We taught a lesson about baptism, and then we asked them if they wanted to be baptized.  They said they did, so we set February 21, 2015 as the date to prepare for.  It was super cool.  We just need to get them to church.  Crowley and Gundar want to come, but Baron wasn't feeling good.  Erak said he was going to stay home with their dad to make sure he was all right, since he has lots of heath concerns.  Then Crowley and Gundar said they also wanted to take care of their dad.  It is good they want to do that, but Halt, the oldest, who hasn't been part of the lessons, could have helped their dad.  I really wish they would come to church.

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

My new skirt!

Christmas Treats & the Gift (Week 16)

My study area -- across from my Sister Bernier's!

Hi Everyone,

Christmas was amazing.  I loved talking with my family on Skype, and I'm sure they loved it too.  I have to admit getting off Skype was the most homesick I've ever been on my mission.  Thankfully, it didn't last long.  I went and talked with Sister Holman until Sister Bernier was done with her Skype call.  She had some problems getting Skype working, so she started later than I did.

Brownies are ready to go!  (And, no, these are not Colorado "special" brownies.)

On the 23rd we made brownies (for Seanie, of course).  We planned to give them out to some investigators, less-active members, and recent converts on Christmas Eve and Christmas.  One of the pictures is of all the plates we prepared and another is the note we gave out with the brownies.

I want to thank everyone who sent me a gift or a card for Christmas.  Each of you made it a wonderful day.

Despite being the week of Christmas, we were able to make our goal of five lessons with a member present.  Yeah!!!

Even more treats to distribute!

We went to a baptism for a family in the Ocoee ward.  The baptism was great, but I think the service could have had more planning.  Sister Bernier and I agree that we are going to put more planning into Jason's baptism.  We want to make sure it is a good one.  Anyway, it is still planned for the 10th, but things can always move.  He needs to have his interview this week, since they need to have the interview about ten days beforehand.  I'll keep you updated next week about the baptism.

I've been thinking about eating healthier.  I need to stay away from milk.  I've been pretty good about staying away from dairy on big scales, but not so much on smaller ones.  I'll have butter here and there and chocolate a few times a week.  I've decided to go completely milk-free, and I'm hoping it will help me to feel better.  The reason I'm telling you this is because I need your help.  I love everything people send me.  However, I have been sent chocolate (which I absolutely love).  What I am asking of you is to not send me anything with milk in it.  If you could, that would be fantastic.

Non-dairy gifts for those we meet to remind all of the real gift of Christmas!

Miracle:  I think the highlight of this week was the Arald family.  Crowley said he read part of the chapter we gave them to read.  He didn't make it through the whole thing, but at least he was trying.  Also Crowley said he wanted to go to church.  However, their landlord was having someone deliver a fridge to their house, since the old one was broken.  Baron said Crowley could still go, but Crowley wanted to stay home to make sure he could help his dad when it came.  Baron is blind, so he needs a lot of help from his children.  Anyway, it was too bad he didn't come to church, but I admire Crowley for helping his dad.  Also Gundar said the opening prayer, and in it he thanked God for answering his prayer about the Book of Mormon.  After the prayer, I asked what the answer was.  He said it was that it was true and he knew because he had a good feeling come over him after he asked.  Crowley and Gundar are the youngest, but I hope they are good examples to their older siblings.

I love you all so very much, but I'm really happy to be a missionary.

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

Comics and Exaggerated Transfers (Week 15)

Soaked after biking in the rain... 

Merry Christmas!

My new companion is . . . (drum-roll) . . . Sister Bernier.  She is a super happy person.  She laughs when things get rough, which is really nice as it helps lighten the mood.  She is really awesome.  I am glad she is my companion.

Sister Bernier and I sport our Christmas Colors!

One day Sister Bernier called me "domestic" because I cooked split pea soup and beans using the crock pot.

My mini-crock pot brimming with Split Pea Soup

Another day she called me a tomboy because I love guns, archery, backpacking (without showers), and other things.

Anyway, she is so funny.  She is also very dramatic and likes to over-exaggerate all the time.  She even told me she'd be like this right away.  One day I commented about it, and then she was like, "What?!  When have I ever exaggerated?"  I replied, "I'll just let you think about it."  She then said something to the effect that we are going to get along great.

Saying goodbye to Sister Taylor at the Transfer Meeting

We had a awesome Christmas devotional last Friday.  I played the violin for a musical number.  We had lots of missionaries sing.  Sister Taylor sang the second verse in Chinese.  Elder Yates played the celo.  The song was "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful."  It was lots of fun to play the violin again.

Meeting my MTC companion, Sister Fairbanks, at the Transfer

We were able to see lots of our good friends, since all the missionaries where there.  There is a picture of me and my new companion, Sister Bernier; a picture of Sister Fairbanks and me; and another of Sister Burnette, Sister Lewis, Sister Fairbanks, and me (the MTC roommates).  Sister Taylor and I also got a picture.  I had a lot of fun that night.

My MTC Roommates:  Sisters Pack, Fairbanks, Burnette, and Lewis

You should all check out the video, "Good Tidings of Great Joy: the Birth of Jesus Christ."  You can find it on the Mormon Channel.  Anyway, we have showed it to some families if they have already watched "He Is the Gift."  I really like the video, because it combines the nativity and words from the First Presidency.

A week before transfers Elder Nakatsuka called us to find a phone number, so he could say goodbye, since he had served in Winter Garden.  He asked what he could do for us, so we told him to make a comic, and he asked the same of us.

Defensive driving with Sister Taylor

A nice caption to his comic by Elder Nakatsuka

Sister Taylor and I made a parody of "Love Is an Open Door" for Elder Nakatsuka, since he became obsessed with the songs from Frozen.  We gave it to him at the transfer meeting.  He is now off his mission and in Japan.

Our comic parody of "Love is an Open Door" for Elder Nakatsuka

The parody is --
Missionary: All my mission has been a series of doors in my face, but then, suddenly, I bumped into you.
Investigator: I've been searching my whole life to find my own faith.
Chorus: Christ is an open door.

Miracle: We were able to make contact with Gilan!  We set up a time to meet with him this week, because school is out he shouldn't have anything else come up.  Anyway, he said he has read all of 3 Nephi, and he wanted something else to read that would help him change from being Methodist to our religion.  I thought of the Joseph Smith pamphlet, so we gave one to him.  We also found out that he is moving, but he wanted to know where a chapel is in the city he is moving to.  He commented on how beautiful the temple is, and he knows the chapel won't be the same.  Anyway, I really am excited to meet with him this week.  I hope the other missionaries in his new area will be able to follow up.

P.S. Reminder to remember Christ on Christmas!

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

Day isn't Complete without Beardless John (Week 14)

One of the Walker girls, me, and Orman Morgarath

Hi Everyone,

Sister Taylor gets transferred tomorrow, and I'm staying.  I'm excited to no longer be training, but I am sad to say goodbye to a friend.  Anyway, I am also excited to get to know another great Sister.

A funny picture of my whole district

One of the things I love about Sister Taylor is that she makes me laugh.  She isn't too serious, but she is serious when she needs to be.  I think I really needed a trainer who likes to have a fun time.  Two of the fun things I've had good laughs about are "beardless John" and "the day isn't complete."

Our Christmas Tree!

Beardless John: In one Bible video, John is the only apostle who doesn't have a beard.  In two different artworks showing Joseph Smith getting the priesthood from Peter, James, and John one of the angels doesn't have a beard.  It must be John!  Also, we know it isn't Peter since the beardless one isn't in the middle.  Sorry, Dad, but I guess Johns just don't have beards.

The Day Isn't Complete: The day isn't complete in Winter Garden until we hear an ambulance or a police siren.  Almost every day we see or hear a siren.  Recently, when one goes by we say, "Sister, the day is complete."  It's been lots of fun.

Sister Taylor, Jason, and me

Jason is amazing.  We taught him tithing this morning, since Sister Taylor wanted to go over to say goodbye.  He was already planning on keeping the law, since he talked with his wife.  We need to teach him only a few more things before he can be baptized, but I think he needs to feel more ready.  Anyway, I love Jason, and I am thankful I have had the opportunity to teach him.

Sister Berrigan, her tree, and me

Oh, I almost forgot.  Christmas is coming up.  I am allowed to talk on the phone or use Skype for 30-40 minutes on Christmas.  We need to coordinate a time.  Let me know anything that doesn't work.  I'll talk with my companion, and we'll let you know what works for us next week.  Sister Berrigan has already offered to allow us to come over and use her phone.

Bishop Malcolm and his family

Miracle:  Our plans to help out the Baron family (that's the family with the single dad and five kids) fell through, because we couldn't find a female to come with us, so we tried to find something else to do.  We ended up going to see some people.  All four of the houses are right in a row.  Either they weren't home, or they didn't have time to talk.

Sister Ulf and me

We were feeling a little down, but as we walked back to the sidewalk, there were some of the people who we had tried to go see.  They are sisters and had just gotten home from visiting their husband's graves.  Anyway, both of them are sweet old ladies.  One of them is less-active, and the other is the ward librarian, so we get to talk to her often.  It was a miracle, because we needed our spirits boosted.

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

Christmas Party, Popcorn Balls, & Baptism for the Dead (Week 13)

Santa's Reindeer -- Donner and Blitzen?

Hi everyone,

Today, we had a white elephant gift exchange for district preparation day.  I got a mine-craft cow.  We did it before we emailed.

Transfers are next week, and we find out the details on Saturday or Sunday.  However, we already know Sister Taylor is getting transferred, because President Berry called and asked her to be a STL (Sister Training Leader).  She'll move to a STL area.  Our president asked her to come to MLC (I'm not sure what it stands for, but the STLs and Zone Leaders go to it).  [Dad:  If it follows convention, I suspect it means Mission Leaders' Council.]  We had to miss district meeting for her to go.  I think I'll stay in Winter Garden, but I'm not sure.  Since 20 Sisters are going home and only 5 are coming out, they need to shut some Sister areas down.

The stage decorations for the Ward Christmas Party.

The Ward Christmas party was extravagant.  I don't really know how to describe it.  They brought in a cupboard for a decoration.  Basically, there was way too much effort put in.  Mostly it was the Relief Society President and her family. We made rice crispy treats for it.

Our deluxe Rice Crispy treats -- eat your heart out, dad!

We also helped bring out the food, and we helped clean up afterwards.  Each table had it's own Thanksgiving meal.

The dining area for the Christmas Party

There were also lots of activities.  I'll send some pictures of it so you know what I'm talking about.  Anyway, it was nice, just too much effort.  I think it stressed out the RS president.

The dessert tables!

After the party, they gave the Elders and us these popcorn balls.  We didn't really want them, so we stuffed them in Elder Uber's backpack.  The next day, after church, we saw the popcorn balls on the hood of our car.  We visited a recent convert on the Elder's side to borrow a violin for me.  We saw that the Elders had left their bikes there, and decorated them with some of the popcorn balls.  After that, we found mormon.org cards on our car, so we took the cards and two popcorn balls and put them in their helmets.  It was fun.

I liked the singers.  They are really good; one is an opera singer.

This week we helped a family move from a hotel in Winter Garden to a house in Winter Garden.  We were able to teach them one lesson.  We have another appointment scheduled.  Arald is the father.  He is almost blind and is disabled.  He is a single parent.  Halt is 15, Mara is 14, Erak is 13, Crowley is 12, and Gundar is 11.  They all are very creative.  They play instruments, write, read, draw, and the boys play video games.  They are great.  I'm looking forward to going back, even though they are a bit of a handful.

Miracle: We had a lesson with Jason about baptisms for the dead.  He said he would do it for his brother, who passed away.  During the lesson his attitude about baptism changed.  He agreed to work towards January 10.

-- 
~Sister Aurora Pack

Miracles and Too Much Food (Week 12)

Okay, the best thing that happened this week was the Thanksgiving Miracle, but you'll have to wait until the end to read about it.

Sheets mom sent -- to list some of the things we're thankful for!

On Thanksgiving we went over to Hermie's house for her pie breakfast.  It is her tradition to invite her neighbors over on Thanksgiving morning to eat pie for breakfast.  One of her guests is this old man and his wife.  She has Alzheimer’s.  Anyway, I've meet him before.  When he heard I was from Colorado, he called it the "pot state."  When his wife needed to go home, since she was falling asleep, he went with her.  He then came back to give me and Sister Taylor Sacagawea necklaces (she's the Indian lady who went with Lewis and Clark on their expedition) .

We also ate lunch with Hermie.  She gave us most of her leftovers, since she doesn't have room in her fridge.  Sister Taylor and I were like, "what are we going to do with so much food?"  Anyway, we then went to our dinner appointment.  We had too much food on Thanksgiving.  Although I feel like we didn't eat too much at each meal, it was just the number of places we got food.

Hermie's extra food.  What will we do with it all?

I got the box you sent, mom.  I love the Chex Party Mix.  It was funny -- the day it came in, someone had asked us what was the thing we would miss most about Thanksgiving at home.  I said, "My family's Chex party mix."  I was secretly hoping you would send me some, so thanks.

I love "He Is The Gift."  If you haven't seen it go watch it at Christmas.mormon.org.

Could you pray for my toe?  It is fine right now, but it looks like the toe nail ripped in the middle.  I don't want it to catch on any skin.

Temple service was a blast.  It was raining, and we got to pull bushes out, so they can plant something new.  The lightning got close, so we took cover in the grounds crew building.  We had lunch early, waiting for the storm to pass.  Once we got in the building, we got a text with a tornado warning.  It was so much fun.

Thanksgiving with the Clarke Family

The Thanksgiving Miracle:  We knew no one would want us knocking on their door on Thanksgiving, so we tried to set up service and a lesson with the members.  We offered to wash the dishes after their meal.  Sister Clarke said we could come over the day before.  When we showed up on Thanksgiving, she said there were no dishes to wash.  At first, I thought she had already washed them, but then I saw a table set up.  She said her son threw up, so the person who was going to come over with the food decide not to, since she didn't want her children getting sick.  Sister Clarke was about to leave to go buy some food.  We were able to give her the food Hermie gave us.  We stayed for the dinner, and we were able to teach her friend who came over after we ate.  Sister Clarke said she had prayed a little before we came over, because she didn't want Thanksgiving to be a sad day.  I am so grateful that the Lord allowed me to be there for this miracle.

-Sister Aurora Pack
#sharethegift

The Clarkes and the Sisters!