Mission update 12/8/2024

 The week started out with two rather overwhelming days of non stop student questions and problems. It was a lot to handle but there were a couple of bright spots that saved our sanity. Monday evening we got to have dinner with Gordon and Maria and had a great time with them. They always make us happy. Then Tuesday we went to the Temple and it was a much needed hour of peace and calm! 

Tuesday evening we went to dinner with President Mitchell (Gary's Hong Kong mission president) and another couple. It was a wonderful time and President Mitchell is great at making us feel so loved and appreciated. People who can do that are very much needed in the world!

The second half of the week was calmer as far as student issues went but non stop busy with our schedule. But, as we've discovered many times before, the busier you are, the more you can see the miracles of time just seeming to stretch out and give you what you need to accomplish all that needs to be done. It's a rather wonderful miracle and one of those things that reminds me that God is very aware of me.

Thursday and Friday night we went to Savior of the World with a different missionary couple each night so we got to see both casts of the show. It was absolutely wonderful both nights. It is such a beautiful way to celebrate the Christmas season and I love waking up in the morning with music and thoughts from the show going through my head. My favorite line so far this year has been one that Zacharias, Elizabeth and Thomas all say about not giving up their hope but giving up their demands of God. Basically, letting God prevail. 

Yesterday we went to a granddaughter's dance recital which was fun. Then, later in the day we had our ward party. The youth did a Nativity presentation with the wise men following the star around the gym to the Christ child on the stage. They did a great job and took it quite seriously. The rest of the party was making ornaments, eating good food and visiting. It was a good balance of planned activities and unplanned visiting.

Today has been very busy but so good. We got to teach our Primary kids about baptism and the Sacrament which they quite enjoyed discussing. They are a very smart bunch of kids and it's fun to see that they know the stories from the Book of Mormon. 

After that we went to my cousin's house for the post church gathering for her daughter who just got home from her mission. It was great to catch up with some of my Mom's side of the family. We got home in time for a quick snack and then headed off to practice and record some music for a devotional. It went much better than we thought it would, thank goodness!

Tonight we went to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional which was wonderful. We both loved Sister Ruina's talk, such a great way to start off the meeting. The other talks were great, the music was wonderful and it was so great to have the whole presidency there. We got to sit on the side close to where they come in so that was the best! Afterwards we met up with my sister's daughter, Kristina, who is going to school at BYU this semester before heading out on her mission in a couple months. 

This next week we have lots and lots of students to interview, several parties to go to and some Christmas shopping to finish. It should be a great week.

From Gary:  What a week!  It was wonderful to see the Savior of the World and the Christmas Devotional! The Savior of the World production has a lot of meaning for us.  I pulled up the history of this production and found out it was created for the opening of the Conference Center and was first performed in the year 2000 when the Conference Center opened.  It has been running in the Conference Center Little Theater ever since then each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Back when we lived in Layton, our Stake decided to put this production on twice!  I was in it both times with several of my children joining me in the cast.  It has always touched me to the point of tears as I see it and when I participated in it.

I love the underlying song that is done throughout the play called Come, Lord Jesus, Come.  It is sung by the angels before his birth, when they invite Him to come to the manger and be born.  It is then sung again before his resurrection to come and save us from our sins.  Then it is sung at the end after His ascension into heaven as an invitation to come back to the world for the second coming.  

Our October Missionary Conference Choir sang that song for the first time in Conference since it has just been added to the new Hymns for the Church.  Here is a link to hear us singing it:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/songs/2024-10-come-lord-jesus?crumbs=music-from-october-2024-general-conference&lang=eng

So my thought for this week is about having us looking forward to Christ's presence in our lives with absolute faith and enthusiasm!  We should all be praying that Jesus will come into our lives and be part of our existence every day!

Also, for those who can come to Salt Lake City, we know that there are no more tickets available, but we can tell you that standby seats are available for every performance, so you can get in if you come!  The cost is always free too!  We plan on going more times before it is done this year!

And the First Presidency Christmas Devotional was wonderful!  We were only about 50 feet from where the First Presidency entered the Conference Center and came onto the stage.  We are so glad to have living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators among us!  

Have a wonderful week as we all prepare for Christmas! 

We love you all!

Elder and Sister Pack