August 17, 2021

Hey everyone! 

Hope your week has been going good. Things have been good here. Nothing really notable but it's been a good week nevertheless.

I figured I should share a quick scripture with you all because otherwise, this email would be too short haha. Mosiah 14:5, in the Book of Mormon, is my favorite scripture. The prophet Nephi is quoting Isaiah when he says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

That verse is talking about Jesus Christ and his atonement. Because of what Christ willingly went through (his stripes), we can be healed of our problems and sins. It's a pretty awesome blessing in my opinion.

Well, thanks for all of your support everyone! I appreciate it. Things are going good here in Casper. 

Thanks!

Elder Pack

PS:  Ethan says nothing is happening but here is the real story...

They had greenie conference last week. That's when all the greenies and their trainers meet with the Mission President.  The trainers are trained on how to train and the greenies are trained on how to be greenies. Ethan is training so he and his companion drove almost 3 hours to another companionship's apartment to spend the night.  Then a group of 6 of them drove to the greenie conference.  

They took a van and Ethan volunteered to drive it.  He said it had more oomph than the little car they have been driving so it was fun to drive.  On the drive, they learned what it was like when we used to go on car trips back in the olden days.  They didn't have entertainment so they had played games to entertain themselves.  Ethan said it was really fun and played a few with us.  They don't play the license plate game or the alphabet game.  No, they play games where half the people know how to play but half don't.  Those who don't, have to figure out what is going on.  One was "How to make the perfect burrito".  The 3 trainers knew how to play but the greenies didn't so they had to try and figure out what was going on. You'll have to ask Ethan to play with you when he gets home. Ethan also told them the joke "What hangs on the wall and sings?"  He said it was hilarious although he told them the punch line was "apple pie."  Apparently, it doesn't matter what type of pie you hang on the wall, it will still sing. 😉 It's a Pack thing.

The greenie conference was good. Ethan said it was good to get a refresher on what he should be training his greenie on.  This time around, training has been going better.  Ethan said he is more mature and knows more about the mission so he is more relaxed in his training.  They are getting along and his greenie is doing well.

The Church has asked the missionaries to wear masks in public places.  Ethan was kind of confused because they got an email saying they had to wear masks inside unless it was just with their companion, which included inside vehicles.  The next day they got another email saying that they only had to wear masks in public where they can't socially distance but, inside homes and vehicles they didn't have to wear masks.  He was kind of bummed to be back to masks but really thinks it's a small thing to do to be able to continue teaching people and to show love for others.  I thought that was a cool perspective.

Ethan has been exercising a lot on his mission.  They go to the gym most days, play basketball with the youth twice a week, and play volleyball on p-day.  He is keeping really active and he is loving it.  He isn't sure what they are going to do today for p-day.  They have one elder who has to go to Los Angeles for the day to figure out his visa to go to his original assignment.  His companion is staying at the mission office, so they will be down to only 6 elders today.  Ethan didn't know if they would do anything.

Ethan has been loving the weather in Casper.  It gets into the 60s overnight and then into the 80s during the day.  That is going to change for a couple of days this week.  It will be in the 60s and low 70s. We are hoping he actually gets to experience a real winter this time.  Last year he kept missing the big storms and, where he was in Wyoming, didn't get a lot of snow.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that he gets the cold winters everyone talks about.  

Thanks to everyone who writes, sends packages, and prays for Ethan.  I know he feels it.