Mission update 7/21/2024

 This week we finally have all of our new mission presidency here. The Howes got here on Thursday from Australia after waiting and waiting for their VISAs to come through. They will speak at our morning devotional tomorrow along with the other counselor and his wife so we'll get to know them better. 

Our mission choir director has been home in Iowa for a few weeks getting her house cleaned up after flooding in her area. They had a couple feet of water in their basement so it was a lot of work. We're all hoping they get back this week because the choir is supposed to do a patriotic/pioneer program in a week. We're sort of getting ready for that...

After church today we went up to the University of Utah Hospital to practice a musical number we're doing next week for the branches there and at the Huntsman cancer center. Apparently we'll do the opening hymn for one group and then run over to the other building and do the closing hymn there. As long as we have a guide to get us back and forth we might make it. 

Yesterday we had lunch with Bill, who has been renting the basement apartment in our North Logan home for many years. He is moving to Oregon to be with his sisters and we're going to miss having a steady, quiet, pay on time renter. 

Gary, Bill and Billie and Jody Reese (Jody is Gary's cousin and his wife Billie worked with Bill for years)

Students are getting more frantic for their interviews the closer we get to September. We wake up every morning to a dozen or more messages. Some of those students we can interview, some need other help. But, once they find a person who will respond they are just happy to get any help they can. 

I talked with a Russian man this week who is working on a software degree. He's been a surgeon in Russia but wants to leave and will have to get more education to do anything outside of Russia. So, he's making a rather big career change. Another student told me she was really excited because she learned to put together a resume in her Pathway Connect class and then that resume got her a job to help her as she finishes her classes. 

Tuesday we were driving home from the temple and noticed about a dozen Temple Square sisters all in various shades and styles of yellow dresses. Then we looked across the street and saw 4 or 5 all in red. The next day we ran into two sisters in orange and asked about the whole color matching thing. They told us that on zone meeting day, the various zones all try to dress in their zone's color. Fun!

We didn't get the whole yellow group but here are a few

Our grandson, Thomas, gave his mission "farewell" talk today and also played in a quartet with his Dad (Jeremy) and two of his brothers. We got to catch at least part of it thanks to video broadcast and he did wonderfully. It will be so fun to watch him serve and grow over the next two years. 

We got to "be there" for the setting apart

From Gary:  We always have amazing conversations with these BYU Pathway Worldwide students all over the world!  They love to share how much Pathway has changed their life in a positive way!  This week I had two students send us pictures from their baptisms when they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  I talked with one a couple of weeks ago, and one just last Tuesday when they mentioned they were going to be baptized soon!  He got baptized today!  The timing is great because we can finish their Ecclesiastical Endorsement as a non-member before they become a member of the Church!  

Here are the pictures:

We are loving our mission!  And we are especially excited that our first grandchild is now a set-apart missionary at the same time as us!  What a wonderful time to serve God's children!

Love you all!

Elder and Sister Pack