Packard and McKellar take on Manhattan

No, it's not a cougar....imposter!
At Kansas University, 1/2 mile from their apartment

Dec 22

This week was really good, we saw a lot of progress in the area. We had the zone mission Christmas party here in Wednesday. Just our zone and Salina zone so about 30 missionaries. Ugly sweaters, and a huge tie trade.

Then we were on exchanges with the assistants after the Christmas party and the whole day afterwards. It was a lot of fun, I was with Elder Budge again. Honestly of all the people in this mission, and even though I have never served with him nor near him very long, he is one of my best friends here. We had a lot of fun together. It's funny, he was my zone leader last summer when I was in Guymon and when Elder Garnett went home he had about two weeks before transfers, so he was with me and Elder Downs in a trio for a bout a week. It was one of the best weeks of my mission, but we were together our year mark, and our year and a half just a bout this last week. And of course we began in Mexico together, so he is just a good friend. But he and Elder Arend and myself and Elder Mckellar, all my very best friends in the mission together, we together in our apartment on Wedneday night.

It snowed about 4 inches on Wednesay night, but it has warmed up since then its in the high 40's today, so its actually pretty nice out right now. All the snow is melted. There is talk of a whole bunch of snow on Christmas eve. We will see.

Our investigators are all doing really well. I love it here so much. It was hard adjusting to English, but I really have enjoyed it. And every opportunity that I get to speak Spanish I take it. Elder Budge and I and Elder McKellar and Elder Arend went to this sweet Mexican restaurante that we found, it pretty legit too, they sell elotes that are SUPER good. But there are a handful of Puerto Ricans that are in the army here, most of them are black, not so hard to spot, but we talk to those guys in Spanish. But honestly the work in the east is mostly part member families, and less actives, not much street contacting nor tracking. So its a bit different. 

We live about 1/2 mile from KU campus and are covering all of Manhattan first ward. 

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Dec 15

These past two weeks have been really good though. The weather has been awesome for mid December. in the 50'.  So it's been nice. Elder Mckellar and I have been working really hard, with a whole handful of people. It is fun being here, a lot of energy in this town, with all the army and university people. It's fun. 

On Wednesday of last week we went to Wichita for our MLC. IT was a good meeting. It was sweet, one of the Elders--Elder Jones-- is in the Marine Reserves so he can get into any armed force base so on Wednesday morning of last week, before our meeting we woke up really early and went to The Air Force base in Wichita to the gym there. It was really cool, and a lot of fun. I love President Bell so much, he is a good example of being a leader but also be able to relax and be a friend, but knowing when it is time to do the two.

He went for a shirtless run with us on the Air Force base, and then later that evening he was taking some cake out to the dumpster outside the church, and he tripped and dropped the cake on the sidewalk. And the first thing he did was start to throw pieces of cake at everyone, even at the sister missionaries! it was super funny. 

But everything has been good here in Manhattan. We have a lot of meetings. And drive a lot but I enjoy it. Being here near the army, base has really opened my vision to joining, the Navy or Airforce. Doing the ROTC program at school, and then doing active duty for a few years in one of those branches. There is a member here that was a Navy Diver. I have talked to him a lot. And even talking to president Bell about joining the Airforce is really appealing. I think I'm here learning about it for a reason. It's not just chance I was sent here at this point of my mission. 

So Elder Mckellar and I obviously know each other, but there is Elder Whitaker here from Tuscon Arizona that coincidentally was best friends with Hailey Elsworth, and Jason Davis in college, and even before. We found out that all three of us were at the same Mormon prom at one point. Pretty funny. He is actually an incredible Gymnast, and before going out on his mission this last summer, he was a cheerleader at BYU. That's how he met Jason. But he cheered with Jenna Schneider, the daughter of the guy that you worked for, Jenna was also a cheerleader at  BYU. But anyways, I  was on exchanges with Elder Whitaker last week. He serves the 2nd ward and we serve the first, so we seem him everywhere. all the members are surprised to have so many people from AZ. It's funny. And actually another coincidence. Elder Whitaker's Uncle lives in Guymon, and I was really tight with his Uncle, and his uncle served as companions with Bishop Dahl on his mission. Small world. 

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Charles has been temporarily replaced

Elder Ahern and mystery kid

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December 1

This week was pretty crazy, I left liberal on Tuesday morning, rode out to Wichita, then went north with Elder Mckellar to Manhattan (they call it the Little Apple). Didn't get back until about 6 or  7.

Its been quite a culture shock though. Here it is hilly, out west there aren't anything but ant hills. And here it is actually really pretty. It is just a lot of rolling hills, and all the buildings are pretty new. So there is Kansas State University here, and a giant army base. So mostly everyone falls into one of those two categories. A lot of army people in the ward. Here in Manhattan there are two wards and a university branch, and 6 sets of missionaries between the three units. We cover Manhattan first ward full time.

The environment is just so different here. Out west it is just got a good farming feeling, everyone is pretty much uneducated, and hard -working people, and on top of that is was a Spanish area, and mostly Hispanic at that. Here is English, but there are surprisingly a lot of Chinese people here for some reason. But English, and like I said, a lot of students and army people, so just kinda a different culture. Not as relaxed I guess as Liberal was, but it's got a live feeling to it, that motivates you. It's kinda cool. For example the weather this week until Sunday was awesome, like highs of 65 -- 70, just the perfect weather. 

On Saturday KSU (us) played KU Kansas University, in Lawrence Kansas, but you can imagine they are huge rivals.

The game was on Saturday, and there were SOOOOOO many people out and about. We live a stones throw away from campus, literally like on block, and the stadium is a half mile. It was pretty cool, the whole place has got a live feeling to it. Its a lot of fun being here.

Being Elder McKellar's companion is awesome, but honesty doesn't surprise me all that much, so many things in our lives have led us up to this point, I kinda already seemed to know it would happen. I remember my first interview with president last August, him asking me If I knew Elder McKellar, and then saying that maybe one day we would be zone leading companions together. It's awesome, it like being with your best friend all the time, but it doesn't get in the way either, It just feels easy to work more, and harder, because you get along with your companion so well. 

Thanksgiving was awesome, I ate a TON and we played in a turkey bowl.

October 2014/Lucky to live in America

 42 degrees in Phoenix? its below 20 degrees here in the mornings! I must have gotten used to it. But, I still do not like it at all. 

I'm getting transferred to Manhattan with Elder Mckellar! So I will spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's with Elder Mckellar, we are zone leaders together. I'm super excited. But pretty bummed to leaver western Kansas. Periodically in my mission  I have had a dream where I come home. But I always wake up crying and feeling terrible because I knew I left something unfinished.

Love, Elder Packard

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Nov 24

Wow sounds like y'all had a good week. we did here too. To tell you the truth, I do not look forward to coming home very much, except for the fact that I see that many of my friends would accept learning about the gospel. And I can't wait to share it with them. It is just so real that some of our closest friends can become members of the church. That's hilarious about Charles, isn't he only 10? I honestly can not remember how old any of you are. I haven't played soccer in a while, great that Charles can. At least not like I used to in Guymon. Man it's already been 3 months since I left Guymon!

Well this week was really good. Just have had some super good teaching experiences. On Friday, we met this guy on the street named Kory, who is visiting his girlfriend, he's from Wichita, and she's from D.F. Mexico (Mexico City). We met them Friday, and had the most incredible lesson Saturday and they  came to church on Sunday. There is no greater feeling on earth, that walking out of a good lesson of people that you just found. No greater feeling. they are just so humble, and needing of the atonement in their life. Kory wants it so bad, and the incredible thing is that it's all available-all the healing or whatever it is that he needs. My testimony grew a lot.

Man, Sundays are dangerous! Any house that you get it, you can't leave unfed. We only got in 4 houses after church on Sunday, and we left everyone of them fed. Some really good food too. We had some caldo de res, and caldo de pollo, and pisole. All good Mexican food..

This week was good weather actually, in the high 50s and low 60s everyday. It was awesome. I forgot how fast the weather changes around here.

This week is transfers, and Elder Budge is the new assistant. So that's so exciting. Any you will never guess where I'm getting transferred! I'm going to Manthattan Kansas, to be with....Elder McKellar!!!!! 

Budge, McKellar and me at conference

I just knew this would happen. I've known for a very long time, but it's still so cool that it's happening. Yes, we finally will be comps! Completely different area though. Manhattan is a college town. It's where Kansas State University is. (KU). So that's pretty nuts, we are to be zone leaders together. I'm excited but also pretty bummed I'm leaving the west. Its just too bad, I've been out here since March. There is no place on earth that compares to it. Super ugly, but the people here are just so good. I don't know if I will get the opportunity to come back out west. I only have 5 transfers left. But I will probably be out east for the rest of my mission. I've gotten more than my fair share out here. So it's me and McKellar in an English area together.

Lupita's baptism

Here is the picture of Lupita's baptism last weekend. Too bad I'm leaving before Saturday, an investigator asked me to baptize him this Saturday, but looks like I'll be Gone Johnson.

une 25th.

I've got the hookups here in Liberal if we ever wanted to go Pheasant hunting.

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Nov 17

This week was pretty crazy! Elder Schwitzer, came to the mission, so we had a mission leadership council with him present in Wichita on Thursday, so we drove all day Wednesday and came back Thursday night. Then on Friday Elder Swiezer had a mission tour, so as soon as Elder Clark and I got back from Wichita we  had to drove another 3 hours to Great bend, Kansas, on Friday morning and Friday night, drive back. half the mission was in great bend. Then It snowed 4 inches Saturday night, and church was cancelled! WE only had sacrament meeting, and only a handful of people came. It was a pretty crazy week. A lot of driving.

On  the way to Wichita on Wednesday night, we completely ran out of gas on the side of the highway, and we had to flag someone down to take one of us to go buy some gas. WE drive to Wichita with the Garden City Zone leaders, Elder Brown from Australia, and Elder Talauenga fro Hawaii, and myself from Arizona, and Elder Clark from Utah, but we were outside of the car trying to push it off the side of the highway and it was about 15 degrees, so three of us were freeeeezing! but we got gas, and got back just fine.

Also on Friday, Elder Schwitzer came, he interviewed a handful of random people after the meeting, and he chose me. It was pretty cool to be interviewed by a General Authority. 

Lupita got Baptized on Saturday. It was an awesome service. And they showed up on Sunday regardless of the  snow, so I had the opportunity to confirm her. It was awesome!

It has been pretty cold lately, usually around like 18-22 degrees. And it's very icy today, the snow only half melted.

Since it was ward conference on Sunday, but it got canceled, some of the members had made food for the potluck afterwards, but it also got cancelled, so after church yesterday we ate sooooo much. We ate at the Meza's house, don't know if I have told you about them, but it has got to be the best Mexican food I have ever had, and she just makes soooo much food, they got baptize a year ago, when we go on Tuesday I will take a picture) but we ate a ton of Mexican food with the Mezas. And then later that night, we ate with The Lopez Family, that's Richie's family (the one we baptized a month ago) and she made some super good posole. and then we had dinner with the bishop, and we brought Kole with us(Kosovo Kole) and ate there too. I was super full.

Kole, our Yugoslavian investigator

Kurt was supposed to be baptize this Saturday, but he smoked one cigarette this last week, so he is on for the 29th. And we are still visiting out Liberian friend. He is also trying to quit smoking. I find myself loving the people I serve more and more. All these people that we work with mean so much to me.

Our mission right now has a challenge to read the Book of Mormon before Christmas. I'm through first Nephi, and I'm reading it Spanish, I finished the new testament in Spanish a couple of weeks ago. 
 I learned so much from Elder Schweitzer this week. Just about the book of Mormon, and about how to really love and shepard the people we work with. I liked it since I've felt myself doing that a little bit already it the past couple of weeks.

If I get transferred this will be my last week In Liberal. President keeps making comments that I've been here in the west for a long time, so  I'm pretty sure I'm Gone Johnson. Probably to and English area. We will see. But I love it out here  so much. Out here the people are real, and genuine, and humble. Not like any where else I've been.  It is going to be hard to leave.

November 10

This week was pretty crazy. Just a lot of travel. To Wichita and back. And after our meeting in Wichita I went on exchanges with assistants in Wichita, and we wended up driving back to liberal Thursday afternoon. at like 4. It was a really crazy week. But being in Wichita for two days was cool. The meeting was good, and then in the morning we (myself and Elder Arend) Went with President Bell to the air force based to the gym in they morning, at 5AM. It was fun-nice gym. President is and ex- colonel in the Air Force, so we just went in his car. I guess he is pretty high up there because all the soldiers at the entrance saluted him when he showed them his ID. A lot of driving. A lot of meetings. On Sunday we had a meeting with the stake president and his counselors just to talk about the missionary work in the 4 units of our zone. It was an interesting meeting. I had never been to one of those before.

One of those oil rigs. They are everywhere!

 We have another meeting in Wichita on Thursday. Elder Schwitzer of the Seventy is coming to visit the mission, so all the zone leaders go to Wichita for a meeting with him. And then Thursday right afterwards we go straight to Great bend Kansas where  he will address the whole western half of the mission. Great Bend is about 3 hours from liberal. Wichita is 4. A lot of driving again. But it is supposed to get super cold here this week. Staring tomorrow, the high doesn't get above 38 degrees, and the low above like 20. So it's winter again. Not super excited about that.

We are having  a baptism this Saturday for Guadalupe Bernardino. Excited she's getting baptized. She finally made the decision to do it, we've  been teaching her for a little bit.  

Nov 2

This week was really good. It was out of the area for 2 days, on exchanges in Guymon and Dodge City. On Tuesday and Thursday. I just love this part of the earth, western Kansas, everyone is so good out here. It was good to be biking the streets of Guymon again. Yes is still have my bike, but I do not use it as much as I would like. We have a car. But I still need it for exchanges and all sorts of other things. I call called the police people in Guymon to see If I ever got restitution for the bike, I it turns out the guy who stole it got 5 years supervised probation. He must have done some other stuff too. 

Richie and his family

Elder Gomez goes home on Tuesday. Too bad, I will miss my Guatemalan companion.

I think my time out in western Kansas is running out, I'm pushing my luck. Ive been in this zone for 9 months now, and most missionaries just would die to come out here for a single transfer. I might be in an English area after this. This is the only Spanish zone leading position that exists. I would prefer not be a zone leader and be Spanish Elder again though. but we will see, maybe I will stay another transfer. I only have 5 left.

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10/26

This week was pretty good! it is cooling off here, it will be cold here pretty soon I'm sure. This week was pretty monumental actually, first time my whole mission I got Guatemalans to church!!!!!! We are teaching  Guatemalan family, super prepared, and they came to church. Most Guatemalans are just sooo unaccountable. For example we met this Guatemalan family yesterday, husband, wife, and three kids, and we asked him if he would like to have an eternal family. Classic reply of "si pues mas al rato"  WHAT? In "a little bit"? I just can't figure them out! You invite them to church or to do some small commitment like pray and they say " Si Dios quiere" or "Primeramente Dios" --What do you mean if God wants???? I'm telling you as His representative that He wants you to pray and go to church!!!!!!

But... We got this family to church, and they loved it! They are just a lot more responsive than most Guatemalan people. Its a husband, wife, kid and cousin. They walked across the desert for 6 days to get across the border because they got lost. Well, they run at night, and hide in bushes in the day. All with a 2 year old kid! Pretty crazy.

I realized this week, of just how many immigrants live here in this part of the earth. Right now we are teaching a family from Yugoslavia, a few guys from Sudan, a guy from Liberia, and a whole bunch of Guatemalans, and Mexicans. Its cool getting to know all the traditions and customs and culture.

The Guy from Liberia is actually really solid. It's crazy what these people go through to get here. This guy's name is Phillip, just one of the most humble guys you've met. lives in a real beat up trailer with no beds and no furniture, tons of flies and cockroaches, and we sat down on is floor and taught him about Jesus. His eye lids are split on the top half, because of civil war in Liberia, they made him to watch his wife get raped and children killed. And even in terrible living conditions here he is still living much better than in his home country. There is guy who is in our ward whose been of his mission for a year, but served in Liberia, and he was telling us all about the country. And he is going to start teaching Phillip with us. It's pretty Exciting.

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10/19

Thursday we had one of the biggest miracles perhaps that I have experience in my mission and my testimony grew so much because of it.

About 5 weeks ago we got this text from someone named Erika, that said that she really wanted us to visit her, and she was asking why we hadn't come. And just a few days before we had met an Erika, and gave her a Book of Mormon and everything, and so that who we thought it was. So we tried contacting her and calling her but we just couldn't get a hold of her. It was pretty frustrating. So we kind of forgot about it. 

On Thursday we had to leave the jeep at some dealership to get checked and the weather was super nice so we just went out waking around in this neighborhood tracking, and talking to people on the street, everyone was outside because of the weather. And we decided to knock on this one door, that had a sticker that said " no me triagas chismes, Hablame de Cristo"  ("Don't give me rumors/gossips...talk to me about Christ") and we laughed and decided to knock it, because it basically asked us to, and this young lady answered the door that we had never met before, and she was crying when she answered. we just started the normal conversation, and then she told us her name was Erika the one that had sent us the message a few weeks, ago. She said the missionaries used to come over, but they had stopped sometime during the summer. Miraculously we had just found where she lived, and when she was home.  So we committed her to baptism in November and set up an appointment on Saturday. then we asked these recent converts, Hermano and Hemana Meza to come out with us. And when we got there on Saturday it turned out that sister Meza knew Erika from work at national beef, they both work on the kill floor. And sister Meza told us afterwards that she when we invited her to come out with us she just felt that she already knew the person we were going to visit. And it was Sister Mezas first time ever coming out with the missionaries. but we had a super good lesson, The spirit was more than strong,  and Sister Meza and Erika were both crying. It was just so cool, that knocked on the door, right when Erika needed us, and just everything fell in line perfectly, It strengthened my testimony on he principle that God really does know us.