April 26, 2022

Hey everyone!

This week we had a funny phone conversation with Ethan.  He and his companion rearranged the furniture in their apartment.  They put some chairs in one of the corner and it turned into a little chatting area.  So they started making videos "In the Corner with Elder Pack."  Ethan shared a couple with us.  He is a funny kid and I'm so glad his personality comes through in his missionary work and that others see it too.  He said they share these in the chats and that people think they are funny.  

The missionary work has been going well.  They found some new people to teach last week and one even came to church.  Ethan said that was a welcome change.  It was a mom and her daughter.  The little girl was cute because she left Primary and said she loved Primary and wanted to come again tomorrow.  She had a little cup with sunflower seeds in it and told Ethan that if she put dirt on the seeds they would grow.  He said she was adorable.  They are hoping to teach the mom and get her to commit to working towards baptism.  Hopefully, it will work out.

They haven't been able to teach Donna any more lessons this week.  She has been busy but Ethan is hoping they get in touch with her this week and get her progressing again.

Ethan and his companion went to MLC yesterday with all the other Zone Leaders in the mission.  He is lucky that he is close to the mission office so he doesn't have to drive too far to go to the meeting.  He said the mission, as a whole, has been struggling with some of their goals.  They have Zone Meeting this Wednesday so Ethan and his companion are going to teach on effectively dropping people so they can find more to teach.  

They got to do some service yesterday, in their suits because they didn't have time to change after their MLC meeting.  They got to rip up carpet and haul it out of a house.  Ethan thought it was a lot of fun but they only had an hour before they had to leave so they didn't get a ton done.  He is happiest when he is doing something with his hands and service.

Next week the entire mission is going to Martin's Cove again.  They did this last year and they get to do it again.  They go up with tools so they can do clean-up projects while they are there.  Ethan said they will probably have to drive separately so they can take wheelbarrows and stuff because they have a truck.  They will probably have to leave around 5 am.  He really enjoyed going last year so he is excited to go again.  I'm glad they have those experiences.  Ethan said it's also really fun to see old companions and friends that have been transferred.  So far, Ethan has only had 2 companions who have finished their missions.  He trained and his other companions have less time in the mission than he does.  We had a good laugh about that this morning.

Bryan always asks Ethan the same question each week: What are your plans for the day?  Ethan said they are going to play frisbee golf, go bowling (Ethan is going to watch because he doesn't have the money for bowling and he also enjoys it better when he isn't playing), eat lunch, and then see what the other District is doing so they can crash their party. Next week he is probably going to have a bit of time on Monday to do laundry and buy groceries because they will be gone on Tuesday to Martin's Cove.

Ethan got his "My Plan" information last week.  That is the thing all missionaries are given when they are 9 weeks from returning home.  It helps them plan what they are going to do when they get home and helps them make plans to continue in the way they have started.  That was kind of weird.  He said it is making it kind of real that he will be going home soon.  He still has 2 months, but he only has 1 more transfer before he is transferred home.  Crazy how time flies by.

Well, that's all we have from Ethan today.  He is happy and doing well.