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

Hospital Connections & #GirlsCampMiracle (Week 29)

Hi everyone,

This week was awesome.  However, myldsmail is acting up, and we can't log into it, so no pictures this week.  The good news is that we have iPads, so we can still email. 😃

The Women's Conference was great.  I really loved it.  Tammy, who was our investigator, until she moved into the Elders' area, came and really enjoyed it.  She is looking forward to General Conference this upcoming weekend.

Scot came to church yesterday!  Last week he went to the wrong church.  He went to the Baptist church that is close to ours.  So that fact that he found the church was a miracle.

Belinda went to Girls' Camp.  All of her family are members, but she did want to be baptized when her siblings were here a few months ago.  She bore her testimony at Girls' Camp.  Now she isn't sure about getting baptized.  She knows the church is true, but she has some other concerns.  She came to church with her family.  #GirlsCampMiracle

It was sad -- a person, who some other Elders found, who lived in our area had a baptismal date.  We were going to meet him to start teaching him, but he went to his church and was given some anti-Mormon things there.  Now, he doesn't want to meet with us.  We want to meet him to try and clear up what is (and isn't) true about the things he heard.

We met someone, who at first wasn't interested, but she let us share a message.  As we talked with her, she softened.  Summer said she is looking for a church that she feels right at.  She asked us to come back, but she didn't know when a good time would be since she currently doesn't live there.  She is in the process of getting ready to move in.

Miracle: The best miracle this week was that we got to meet and start teaching Essix.  We went to the hospital to see Abeke, who is a member.  Another member was there visiting her.  At the end of Abeke's lesson, Uraza said she had another friend in the hospital who she wanted us to visit.  We said goodbye to Abeke and followed Uraza to Essix's room.  We shared a brief lesson of the restoration and, while Sister Fricke shared Joseph Smith's own words, Essix felt the spirit.  We visited her one more time while she was in the hospital.  She is now out and living at Uraza's place while she recovers.  She is confined to her bed, so we explained that she can watch conference on her tablet.  She is super cool, and she wants to go to church when she can.  I know we were meant to visit Abeke at that time, so Uraza would also be there.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

Awesome Companion, iPads, & Phones (Week 28)

Hey everyone,

This week has been kinda crazy.  We had Zone Conference, which was totally awesome.  There we got the new iPads, the ones the missionaries bought and own.  They also gave each companionship a new phone.  The phones were old and needed to be replaced.  The new phones also have new numbers, which makes for a crazy transition.

With the new iPad, it has taken some time to set up and have everything downloaded that I need.  I am still in the process of downloading videos on Gospel Library.  With the new iPads, some of the rules have changed.  It used to be that we could only connect to WiFi at libraries or church buildings, but now we can connect to any WiFi for missionary purposes.  For emailing home, we need to be at the church or library.  Also, we can now read email sent to us throughout the week as they come in.  However, we still can only send email on Monday.  This means you can email me, and I will have time to read it without using the hour I have each week to write email.  Please let me know what is going on with your life.  I would like to know, even if your life seems dull to you.

Something that was really cool this week was, after dinner, we were teaching a quiet lesson.  I started speaking, and it made sense as I said it, but it was the first time I had ever thought about it.  I know the spirit was working through me.  We were talking about how fear and faith are opposites.  I mentioned how love is also an opposite of fear (perfect love casts out all fear, 1 John).

The sister we were teaching said that hope is also an opposite of fear.  I then started to say that the opposite of fear is faith, hope, and charity, which is love.  There is a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants that I read that morning that says without faith, hope, and charity we can do nothing, which means if we have fear then we can do nothing.  My mind was totally blown when I had said that.  It was really awesome to have the spirit work through me.  I also want to add that in 2 Timothy 1:7, it says that "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear."

Marie thanks for your letter.  I love the song from Hunter Hayes, Love Too Much, as well!  I am glad you found it and are enjoying it.

We are emailing at the church, so no pictures this week. 😞 Sorry.

I have been thinking about you guys moving to Michigan.  I will miss Colorado and particularly Parker. 😢  However, looking on the upside, Michigan is a lot closer to Southern Virginia University.  😉 Also on that subject, when Dad gets his apartment there can you let me know the address, so I can mail things to him.  Thanks.

One of the new booklets we received is titled "Missionary Work in the Digital Age."  In it, it lists the missionary library.  Daughters in My Kingdom is part of it.  I have never seen it listed as part of the missionary library before.  I think one of the reasons they added it is because there are a lot more sisters going out.  I have access to it on my iPad, but I would like a physical copy.  I don't know if I had a copy before.  If I did could you send that to me?  Thanks.

Okay, my mom has been telling me of all the Bighorn staff trainings my sister is going to.  I just wanted to say to anyone that I know through Bighorn who reads this that I miss you all.  I love Bighorn, and you mean a lot to me.  Bighorn has changed me for the better.

Also, just so you all know, I have the best companion in the whole world.  Sister Fricke is the best!  We have so much fun together.

David, when I told her that you are a brony, she said she likes you even though she doesn't know you.  She also likes My Little Pony.  She has also read How To Train Your Dragon.  She didn't know there were other books after the first.  She hasn't seen the movie yet either.  I told her she needs to when she gets home.  I know she would love it.  She loves cats, so she would love Toothless.

Miracle: We went into this retirement community to visit some people who had met the missionaries before.  One of them was sick, and the other one wasn't home.  When we walked away, Sister Fricke had a feeling that we should knock this one door.  We did it, and while we were waiting for the person to answer, I was trying to figure out what to say.  There was an Easter decoration on the door, so I thought about offering to share Because of Him, the Easter video from last year.  However, I thought we should just offer to pray with her.  She said "yes," and invited us in.  She isn't interested, but I know it was a good experience and was what the Lord wanted us to do.  It is so awesome -- the spirit works.

✨Sister Aurora Pack

Sister Fricke and Pleasant Hill South (Week 27)

Sister Fricke and Sister Pack

Hey everyone,

Things are going great here in Pleasant Hill South (my new area).  My new companion is Sister Fricke.  She is so cool and awesome.  She just finished training, so I am her first companion after her trainer.  It is weird to be companion of someone who has been out less than I have.

Goodbye to Torina!

It is also weird to think that last Tuesday was my six-month mark.  I have completed a third of my mission.  It sure doesn't feel that way.  I feel like I am just starting my mission.  I have decided to break up my mission into every six months.  There is a beginning of my mission, which I have completed, the middle of my mission, which I just started, and the end of the my mission.

Goodbye to the Famous Mormon Message Star (and Selfie King) Elder Godinet

I love Sister Fricke and this area so much.  It is awesome.  Sister Fricke and I have a lot of similar goals, which is nice so that way we are unified.

We got to teach this super awesome guy named Newel. He is awesome.  He first met missionaries a while back in the summer, but nothing happened.  Then, before I got here, he called and wanted to meet with us.  He also came to church yesterday, and he said he wants to come again.  Awesome, right?  It is, but we found out he lives on the Elders' side, so they are going to teach him.  It is too bad we don't get to teach him, but I am happy he is going to be taught -- that is what is most important.



A tombstone I made for Sister Nelson to celebrate her going home

We were also able to teach someone named Scot.  He is pretty cool.

I met up with my trainer, Sister Taylor, at the transfer!

During the week, we felt like we should tract this one street.  It turns out it was really far away.  It took a while to bike to it, but the best thing happened.  It wasn't on the street or tracting, but on our way there.  We passed by someone.  His name is Michael, and he recently moved here from New York.  He is looking for a church.  I know we felt like we should go to the street, so we were able to meet Michael.  We never would have passed him otherwise.

Miracle: We were biking to a member's home, who lives on the same circle we live on.  It is a huge circle.  We started going one way, but then Sister Fricke thought it was closer the other way.  We turned around.  We passed Warren, who was super cool.  We were able to talk with him.  It turns out we went the long way around the circle, but we were able to meet Warren, so it is okay. I know the Spirit was guiding us to turn around.  It is funny how the Holy Ghost works sometimes.  This time it made Sister Fricke think we were going the wrong way. I am grateful for the Spirit in the work.  We wouldn't be able to get anything done without it.

✨Sister Aurora Pack



Sisters of District Deltona

P.S. The STLs (from my last area) had to clean up their house, since their area was getting shut down.  There was a lot of random things there, so they gave gifts to everyone in the district.  It was lots of fun.  It was kinda random, but fun.  My favorite thing was the pass along card that say Family Happiness Can Last Forever.  They wrote underneath it #DistrictDeltona.  We are a family.

Good bye to the beach and to Aaron!

They gave a lot of people Christmas music, because we won't be home for Christmas.



Beware of STLs bearing gifts!