Welp, here we go again!

 Hola,

Well, I finished the first week with the new transfer. I feel like I got so complacent with the way things were and now things are different again. But change is good I guess. Last week I talked about the details of the new transfer but living them is even weirder. I'm training a new missionary and I'm driving around in a Tacoma. Life is pretty good! 

So I got my new missionary Wednesday and his name is Elder Wheeler. He's such a good guy and an even better missionary. Orientation with him reminded me of Orientation when I got trained by Elder Rehkow. That feels so long ago. It's interesting. It was pretty cool being on the other side though. Elder Wheeler is from Virginia but he moved to Germany right before his mission so he tells everyone he's from Germany. I think it's so hilarious. People think he's like some German guy and it gives us so much clout. He is a super nice and friendly guy too. Can't wait to keep serving with him. 

My new companion

Yeah the truck is pretty sweet, not going to lie. Finally getting off a bike and having a truck is so sweet. Basically, I'm like the designated driver for everyone though. I feel bad for a lot of guys on bikes so we give them rides around. Having a truck is so convenient. I can't even describe how awesome it is. I'm a pretty terrible driver though. I'm still getting used to driving again so I'm pretty terrible and make some pretty sketchy decisions. I'm sure I'll be fine though. 

My new roommates are Elder Stutz and Elder Boyce. They're good missionaries and are super funny too. They're always out among the people so I'm glad that they're being a good example to Elder Wheeler. I really want Elder Wheeler to work hard and see fruits of his successes. Elder Stutz and Boyce are Spanish missionaries so I'm glad to practice Spanish with them. Elder Stutz has been out for longer than a year and he has always been in a Spanish branch. I'm super jealous. I really hope one day I can serve in a Spanish area. I hear of some missionaries here who don't serve in Spanish areas til the very end of their mission. I guess that may be me haha who knows. My Spanish has definitely improved but still not fluent. I wish so badly to be fluent. 

Training has been interesting. I basically have to explain everything in detail and sometimes I forget Elder Wheeler doesn't know some things. I really like it though and think it'll be a good experience for me. Elder Wheeler doesn't speak Spanish though so I'm training an English missionary. I really wish I could train in Spanish so that way my Spanish could improve too but I guess my Spanish isn't good enough. Maybe president doesn't think I'm ready for that or whatever haha. I don't know. Life is good though and I'm just taking one day at a time.

We had a pretty sweet miracle the other day. Elder Wheeler and I have been trying to hand out his first BOM but we've been having some trouble. I handed a Spanish BOM and referred a guy while Elder Wheeler was here, but we couldn't get him to give out an English one. Eventually on Friday, we found a lady named Connie. It was so cool and she asked us to sit down and she told us her whole life story. Then she accepted Elder Wheeler's Book of Mormon and said she'd pray about it. It was so sweet. I really want to be a good trainer for Elder Wheeler and leave a good impression on him. I hope he looks back on his time with me and say he enjoyed every bit of it. 

So I got some bad news that I was a little upset about. So last week I talked about I had the opportunity to go to the temple with a recent convert and I was super excited about it. He asked me to escort him through and I was so excited. But then I talked with my mission president this week and he said that I can't go to the temple with him. It wasn't a good use of missionary time. So I couldn't escort him through the temple. I was pretty bummed about it and I vented pretty hard to Elder Wheeler and so that sucked. But Elder Wheeler was super chill and gave me some advice and love so it helped me release some tension I had. Hopefully I'll be able to go to the temple another time before my mission ends but we'll see. I was talking with one of the senior couples about it who went to the recent converts temple session and was confused why Elder Wheeler and I weren't there. They were a bit confused too but they gave me some advice and all that so I got over it pretty fast. 

Anyways I love the mission and my new companion. I can't wait to serve with him and make a new friend. I'm so thankful you read my letters, I appreciate it. This week was pretty short but a good one. I'm excited to train and I know I'm ready.

Love you all,

Elder Pack 

My district leader and I during our calls

I'm Training!

 Hola otra vez,

This week so much changed. I feel like things are going a totally new direction but also I'm excited. I have a weird mix of emotions. First of all, I got my transfer details for this new transfer and I'm so excited. Good news is Elder McGee is finally going to his original assignment: Toronto Canada! But the bad news is I'm losing a good friend. I've loved working with Elder McGee. He is so funny and he works hard which is fantastic! He made being on bikes in 117 degrees so sweet. I'm going to miss him. He is going to Canada pretty soon so I'm getting a new companion in the Cheyenne ward. I will be training a new missionary in the Cheyenne ward! Apparently we're getting 37 new missionaries this transfer so I basically already knew I'd train. Plus President Reese told me already. I'm excited to meet my new companion and I look forward to working with him. I don't care what kind of person he is or whatever, I'm going to be patient and loving with him. 

Finally, the best thing ever happened... I got a car. I'm no longer on a bike under the sun getting skin cancer. I have a car, not just any car, but a Toyota Tacoma. I'm driving a flippin' truck around! This transfer is going to be so sweet. Finally I have nothing stopping us from visiting whoever we want. My new missionary and I are going to go off. I hope I can be a good example and trainer for him. I've been praying every night that I'll be a good trainer and my trainee will be patient with me as well. I've been ready to fully train for quite a while now. I knew my time would come eventually. I really wanted to be in a Spanish area but I guess the Lord doesn't want me there yet. I think after these couple transfers I'll ask president if I can be in a Spanish area. What's the worst that could happen? He says no? I'm down for whatever but I feel like a useless Spanish missionary if I never use the language. All these reassigned missionaries to Chile and Argentina or wherever get first priority to the Spanish areas so I'll just have to be patient I guess. 

A lot has changed this week. Elder Llontop left and so did Elder McGee. A lot of other people left too. Elder Llontop really taught me good Spanish and I love him so much. He is so awesome and I can't wait to see him after the mission. His English is going to be perfect haha. We had to close down Elder McGee and I's old apartment this week too. The Bloom apartment complex was just horrible and that apartment was pretty bad. It was the oldest one in the mission and had some issues. The other elders bathroom didn't really have a toilet seat or lid or a lot of other things so they ended up just pooping in a hole doing the sausage squat for 12 weeks. Our bathroom wasn't too bad though. Yeah so we closed down the whole apartment and moved everything out of there and Elder Child and Llontop parted ways. It was super sad. Elder McGee and I ended up getting moved to a two man apartment for four days which was pretty interesting. That moving day was such a long day. We were in service clothes almost the whole day and moved a member into the ward and then moved ourselves out. It was definitely a long day. Our two man wasn't too bad. It was a nice apartment. Turns out a couple days before we got there a man was stabbed to death outside next to our apartment. We love Vegas. They had to repaint our whole walkway because of it. But the apartment itself wasn't horrible. 

Behind our stove. Ewe!

Some ties that Elder Llontop wanted to give me. 
They are custom made from Peru! I got the pink one.

Before we left we said our goodbyes to Elder Child and Llontop. Elder Llontop pulled out a Venezuelan drink he really likes that his family sent him so we all celebrated by drinking that. I straight up wanted to puke after drinking it though. Elder Llontop loved it but that thing was horrible. Turns out it was non alcoholic alcohol and it was so bad. I didn't have the heart to tell him though so I drank it and told Elder Llontop is was really good. 

Me and Elder Llontop

A t-shirt I made with my district

Elder McMahon and me

Turns out a year ago I opened my mission call on September 2nd 2020. I remember that day pretty well. It was such a sweet day and I remember getting off work and rushing home to open it. I was so curious on where I was going to go, I would've never expected Vegas. I'm glad I got sent here. This is a sweet mission. Super fun. Can't believe it's been a year since then. 

I'm so excited to go off in the Cheyenne ward. Apparently some seriously crazy stuff has happened in this ward. But hey, I'm glad to be here another transfer to hit the grind here with my new missionary. It's so sweet that we have a Tacoma. 

Our ward mission leader

A family in our ward that really helped us.

Here is a fun story that happened this week. It was around 7:00 pm and Elder McGee and I were praying on where we needed to go. We were just standing at the end of this neighborhood trying to find a place to go to talk with some people. So we said a prayer and waited for an idea as we looked at this map. Usually I feel an impression on where I need to go but I didn't feel anywhere. Elder McGee didn't have any ideas either. We just stood there looking at a map focusing on some place where the spirit could tell us where to go. We probably waited there like 10 minutes when suddenly a garage door opened up behind us. We turned around and a family came outside and we started talking with them. Turns out they're a part member family that hasn't been to church in a while! It was a pretty cool miracle that happened just because we just stood around waiting for a garage door to open. It was pretty sweet. The spirit works in really weird ways sometimes. 

Last miracle that happened was this past Sunday. The family of Wyatt surprised us and all the males in the family got the Aaronic priesthood! Even his dad! It was so sweet and the look on Elder McGee's face was priceless when he told us that they were getting the Aaronic priesthood. It was so cool. Elder McGee and I were allowed to participate in the circle as we gave them all the Aaronic priesthood. I am so proud of them! Seeing them progress these 12 weeks has been so sweet. Like seriously so cool. I have a feeling that because of Wyatt's example, the whole family is going to stay active. I love this family so much and I am excited to keep working with them. 

Wyatt's Family and us

The spirit was so strong and I have so much gratitude for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen people's lives change and people find true happiness. I know that this work is the MOST important work in the history or the universe. What I am doing is that important. I love being a missionary, I love the Lord, and I can't wait for the future. 

Sincerely,

Elder Pack