Elder Pack

Hey everybody! Ethan's p-day was switched to Monday so we got to talk to him last night.  He said that the Church is trying to standardize p-days across the world so all missionaries will have p-day on Monday.  He doesn't know exactly why or how this will affect transfers or incoming missionaries but...he doesn't have to worry about that anymore.  He said they could start mailing greenies to the mission.  haha! Ethan's District went to Estes Park with his mission president to go on some hikes and enjoy the great weather.  They got to drive the transfer van so they went all in one van and got to talk and ask questions of their mission president.  He is finishing his time as president on July 1 st  so they asked him questions about the incoming mission president (President Sorenson) and how the transition of keys works.  It is interesting. They hiked the Emerald Lake trail.  This was the hike they did the last time they went but it wasn't as sn...

Hey everybody! We got to talk to Ethan for a little while on Mother's Day.  He didn't want to tell us all that had happened over the past week because he needed to save something for Tuesday, but it was fun to chat with him. When we talked to him on p-day, he filled us in on his adventure to Martin's Cove.  They woke up at 4:30 am in order to get ready and drive from Windsor, CO, to Martin's Cove in Wyoming.  It was a long drive.  Once they got there, they were split into groups to do service projects around the area.  Ethan's group put up signs in the camping area.  When they were finished they ate lunch (sloppy joes and brownies) then they went on a hike. Ethan said it was fun to hang out but most of the missionaries he knows well have gone home.  The district went to Laramie for dinner and then drove home.  Ethan said it was the scariest drive of his mission.  It was raining slush and they hydroplaned a few times.  I'm glad I was hear...

Everyone! Ethan had an exciting day and has been busy so he didn't write but we got to chat with him for a little bit so I'll pass along what he told us.  His mission president took the district to Rocky Mountain National Park.  They met at the mission office at 7:30 am and loaded into one of the transfer vans.  They were going to do a hike and hang out together.  There was snow/ice but the mission president went prepared.  They went on a hike and he had crampons for all the missionaries so they could hike on the ice.   They did the Dream Lake hike which was about 3 miles round trip.  Ethan said it was really pretty and they had a lot of fun.  He took his nice camera and had the opportunity to take some pictures.  He said it was very nice of these birds to fly down and let them take pictures. They spent about 4-5 hours there before coming home.  He said they had a great time and I'm so glad they got to do that with their mission pre...

Everyone! Ethan didn't write a letter this week so I'll let you know what we chatted about this morning.  Ethan is in a trio of missionaries right now.  A missionary went to his original assignment so his companion was transferred from Laramie, WY, to be in a trio with Ethan and Elder Howard.  Elder Ray was Ethan's district leader when he was in Wyoming. So they are having a party.  Ethan said it has been really good and they are getting along great. Last p-day they went to Estes Park.  Ethan was really excited to go there.  He and Elder Howard wanted to leave at 4 am so they could watch the sunrise but everyone else wanted to leave at 10 am.  So they left at 10 am.  They got to go inside a haunted hotel where the movie Dumb and Dumber was filmed and also the Shining.  They got to watch taffy being pulled by a machine and they hiked (and fell while hiking) for a little bit.  They had a great time. Today they got up early so they could ge...

Everyone!  Once again, I'm just going to share what Ethan told us when he talked to us on the phone.  I'm really only doing this for family history's sake.  Ethan is still serving in Loveland, CO.  They just had transfers and all the District had changes.  In fact, the District boundaries changed and they are all car areas now, which Ethan is glad of.  He is still with Elder Bateman and training is going well. Many of the other missionaries in the District are also training. Last week, Elder Bateman found a really cool YSA guy through Facebook finding.  They had a great lesson with him and found out that he is in a different area.  They had a "pass off lesson" with him and the other elders only to find out that he isn't in those elder's area either so they didn't really pass him off.  Ethan and Elder Bateman are still teaching the man and are going to pass him off later.  But the man is already talking about baptism so that is great....

  Everyone! Ethan has had a busy day and so I thought I would pass along what we talked about today with him. First, Ethan got to go to the Temple!!  The first time he went through the temple was November 3, 2020, and the second time he went through was November 2, 2021.  Every couple of weeks, his mission president takes a couple of zones (who are within 100 miles) to the temple.  Ethan hasn't been close enough until now.  He was excited and had a great time.  Hopefully, he will get to go more now that he is closer.   Ethan is on the left: Ethan is on the left: Ethan is in Loveland in the Boyd Lake Area.  He hasn't met too many people in his ward because a lot of them have been out of town this week, but they went to the ward chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat.  They were able to meet people there, although Ethan said he doesn't remember all their names. They live in a nice apartment, one of the nicest in the mission.  It has 2 bedr...

He y everyone! Hope all is well with you guys, wherever you are. This week was pretty good. Thanks for all of your prayers for Troy and Michael. They both watched General Conference and really enjoyed it. And we had a good lesson with Michael.  So I'm really seeing how the gospel helps him focus and make him happier in his life.  Speaking of Conference, it was awesome! If you haven't watched it or are curious about what the prophet and apostles talk about, you should check it out. Every single talk focused on Christ. I don't really have anything else to talk about. I'll send some pictures that I took though.  Thanks for all of your prayers and support!  From, Elder Pack PS.  Here is some info about the pictures, at least what I know.   This picture is from last week when the elders went to check out the cave.  This definitely isn't a cave to go to if you are a fat man (haha).  Ethan wanted me to know that everyone got home safely before he se...

  Everyone: Ethan didn't write a general email this week so I thought I would share the pictures he sent to me and some things we talked about. Last month, Ethan's district tried to find a cave that was on the Casper mountain.  They never found it but a member in the stake went up and dropped a pin for them so they could find it the next time they looked.  They spent this p-day hiking up and exploring the cave.  I was nervous but Ethan said they "explored it in a very safe manner, so don't worry."  😉  The leaves were changing and Ethan said it was "super pretty."  I love it when he sends us pictures he has taken of nature.  He has a great eye for design. Ethan was asked to play the piano for their district conference.  He knows one hymn - Sweet Hour of Prayer - so that's what he played for them to sing.  Ethan said he did really well and they were able to sing along without a problem.  He doesn't know other hymns but he has been wo...