to me

Week 4, September 11,2015

 

 

 

The Atonement in my life

The atonement has been the biggest part of my life these past 7 months. I was a lost kid and a sad kid. I didn't know where I was going in life and was angry at everything! But one morning Heavenly Father literally reached down from the heavens and showed me the path he needed me to take. I saw the lives that I would and will touch by cleaning myself up. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy because I was going to have to drop all the friends that I had. That was really hard on me and a lot of people really hated me for changing my lifestyle but I didn't care because I knew Christ and his gospel  were the most important things I could be a part of in my life. I changed my life around 100% and was a new man. I felt so ready to go on a mission and was excited. But through these past 4 weeks I have grown so much and I have seen that God NEEDS me to be better than what I am. I know that he has a special plan for me. That I will play a big part in his plan of eternal happiness for everyone, and saying that he needs me to be 100% worthy and be full of his spirit and power to do the work he needs me to do. He's shown me that I will be able to fulfill my purpose in my life as long as I will just hold steady to the rod and not give up on myself because he will never quit on me! He won't let me be that missionary that just goes through the motions and holds things on my back in my mission, He requires more out of me. And I'm okay with that because I want to be the best that I can be for him. So I will go and do the things required to become that man that he needs me to be. I know that times will get challenging and not everyone is going to believe me or like me for what I'm doing BUT that doesn't matter. All that matters is that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. I know that he will help me in those times of need and times of sadness. Satan has no power over me as long as I stay close to my Father in Heaven. I know because of the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made in his life was so that us humans who sometimes are dumb and make childish mistakes can be forgiven and be exalted on high in the power of Christ's Atonement. I know and testify that this is 100% true and that I will go and finish this repentance processes and become that man that he needs me to be. I'm sad that it took me this long to figure it out but I'm thankful that I went and found out what I needed to do to become the person I want to be and the person my Father in heaven needs me to be.

 

 

Week 3 09/03/2015

This week has been a crazy one that's for sure. The MTC has gotten
really old at this point and I'm definitely excited to get to Nihon
already. This week we had to say goodbye to our Senpai and wow that
was so sad but really cool for them at the same time. I'm going to miss
seeing Clark and Stout Choro everyday. They helped me out so much over
the fist week I was here. I was lucky to get close to them and truly
make some amazing friendships. Elder Dance and I were talking and we
decided that it's completely crazy how close your friendships get with
your comp and your district in a matter of 3 weeks. I feel like I have
known these guys forever and they truly are some of my best friends.
Hayden still owns my heart though lol, I got a letter from him, He's
kiling it out there in PR. I'm so excited to hear all of his stories
and share some of my amazing stories. Elder Fonoimoana got us all
lava lavas and that's what the picture I sent you is all about. He's the
one in the middle with me. I don't get called Elder Packer... everyone
calls me Elder Roids or Elder Pecks. It's kind of funny. I got to go the
to the outside world the other day. We have an Elder who has been
really sick for the past couple weeks and just isn't getting better, So
the other morning I told his comp that I would stay with him so he
could go to class cause he hasnt been able to because of his sick
comp. And Elder Hogan had to go to the pharmacy to get meds so we got
to walk and go get that! it was sooo nice. I'm already losing weight...
I feel like my muscles are slowly disappearing... It's really sad...
its okay though, the Lord doesn't need swole missionaries.  but if he
did that would be sick, the MTC should have like a supplement bar :) I
hope all is well back in the 801, I'm not a fan of Provo. every time we
are walking back from the Temple or the field we see Cougar stadium
and I just want to throw up the U!!!!!   Our zone is pretty much empty now
because the Senpai left... but at least we are Senpai now, We`ll get
new Kohai in 2 weeks I think. We got to host this week!!!! I got to
host Bryce Young so that was really nice to see his family , he's my
buddy that is going Fukuoka, It'll be nice to have him rooming by me
and in the same building for class. I don't want to say that my Nihongo
is coming along great because I'm sure that tomorrow or sometime I will
be super frustrated again, but we did our weekly trc which is where we
get to basically do a family home evening in Japanese with local
members . Elder Halverson and I decided that we were just going to go
in there with a english topic and not use any dictionaries or any
resources  in Nihongo so that we were forced to have a conversation
and a good message from the top of our brains without writing  down
the sentences in Japanese.  And wow the Spirit was so strong and the
gift of tongues is so real. It felt amazing, I truly could see the
progress  that I had made in the Nihongo  and I loved it, I actually
saw a speck of hope saying Cj you'll learn this language I promise.
It was really nice and my comp and I walked out of there feeling like
a million bucks!!! So yes the gift of tongues is very very real. The
MTC is like a huge dish of sickness, I feel like I am constantly
fighting off something, I'm sick  but not to bad. I love all of you
guys and thank you so much for all of the amazing support you guys
give me! Kazoku wa jinsei desu.  Thanks for the written
letters, I love getting them, it's like a little Christmas present.
Tell Owen and his family thanks also. The spirit has been such a blessing
lately. It's helped me through so many hard times lately. I noticed
something the other day that made me really open my perspective, I
literally hold the happiness and peace of families and individuals in
my words and in my hands. The thing I cherish more than anything on
this earth is my family, and I can give and show that same love to
family's and individuals all over Sendai. I love you guys more than I
can even start to express, this truly has been the hardest thing I've
ever done in my life, but I know with my whole heart that it's worth
it and that I'll fall in love with serving the people of Japan. I just
have to push through and work hard in the pre season (mtc) and then I
get to go bless lives and have my own life blessed. It's crazy how
much patience and faith I've gained over the past weeks. I love the
man that Heavenly Father is molding me into, he's truly saved my life
and brought me back to the right path. I'm so beyond thankful for
that. I just want to bear my testimony that I know without a doubt in
my mind that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true
and that if we just hold tight to the rod and take one step after
another that Heavenly Father will hold us up and guide us. I love you
guys so much!!!!

As I lay here in bed missing home like crazy I really started thinking hard about a lot of things. The first thing I thought about is how thankful I am for my family and how blessed I truly am to have the amazing parents that I do. They have given me everything I could have asked for and more. We would always joke that they couldn't say no to any one of us 4 but looking at it now, its not that they couldn't say no, its that they didn't  want to, they always wanted us to be happy. Mom, Dad, I want to say thanks for being the most selfless people I know. I've really tried to turn outward more here in the MTC even though at times it seems as if turning inward is the only thing I can do because Satan is working SO hard on me. He puts so much doubt and fear and uncertainty in my head. He makes me feel as though I should be home and that I will only be happy when I am home. But he's WRONG and I know he is. I look around and see kids that don't really miss their families much and at first I thought wow I wish I was like that, but after a few weeks here at the MTC I came to a conclusion, I would much rather be missing my family than not because that means 1 thing, that we are close as a family and that I love you guys more than anything else on this earth. And to think that I  hold that eternal love and happiness in my hands and in my words for some other family brings me great joy. because I want every one to have what I am so blessed to have and that's a loving family that will  be together for life and all eternity. This thought brings me a ton of peace and joy, all though it doesn't take away me missing my family it helps knowing that I am going to be able to help some one else find that love and peace with their family and with their loving Heavenly Father. I ask myself this question a lot "Why does something this amazing have to be this hard on me?" I didn't understand for a long time. but I've started to get it. Nothing that's worth it is easy. that answers that question entirely. I want to thank you guys for being such a HUGE influence on the man I am. I'm not nearly the man I want to be but I'm on the right path and its all because of Heavenly Father and my family. I love you guys more than words can even describe and I thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for being members of this amazing church. 

-Baki aka Elder Packer

Week 2 08/27/2015

This week had a crazy roller coaster of emotions and thoughts. Sunday we had an amazing devotional and it got me thinking a lot about home and my family. I hope all of you guys are doing good. Most days the MTC feels like a prison well actually almost everyday it feels that way! But I'm putting my head down and pushing through the tough times because it's definitely something I need to do. I've already grown so much as a man over the past couple weeks! I'm so thankful for the chance to serve our Heavenly Father and to teach the amazing people of Japan. I was able to have the amazing opportunity to teach Junichi Maeda and to talk with him for 2 hrs. We had the most amazing spirit there with us while we taught him and discussed our church. He's a non member from Tokyo that is living here for business right now. Dad he really really wants to meet you haha. He said when you guys come to get me he's going to come meet up with us and say hi. This experience teaching him really opened my heart and mad me realize that the MTC will end.  Things will get so much better and I'll be out there doing what I do best, talking and relating to people! This journey is going to have it's tough points and it's going to have it's struggles but I'm not here for me! I'm here to serve the Lord and to bring people back to the fukuin (gospel). I'm beyond excited to be out in the field. The other day we did this English gold tag and everyone came back to the room saying wow that wasn't any easier than teaching in Japanese, and I just sat there and was thinking okay that shows that everyone has the weaknesses and their strengths. because I thought the English was amazing and I was able to teach and get to know Sydney our investigator very very well and I could sit and teach her all day.  Nihongo (Japanese) doesn't come easy to me, that's okay though because I know it'll come and the Lord called me on this mission for a reason! I'm so thankful for the role that Heavenly Father plays in my life, and everything that he's done for me. I hope you guys are all doing amazing! I love and miss you guys. Oh and my new companion is awesome! He played football at Bountiful and we connect very well. We are learning Japanese together and helping each other a lot with learning it. We work really well with teaching and doing all that stuff so that's really nice. I'm good on food, my room gets so many packages a day it's crazy haha!! I love when I get hand written letters. I keep them all on top of my closet by my bed. and re read them very often. Choy and Tyson: please keep working hard, that's all I ask of you guys, don't give up on your dreams and don't ever think your dreams are to big. If there is only 1 thing you guys choose to learn from me please please please let it be your work ethic. I took a lot of pride in my work ethic and still do. I hope you two will do the same. It'll bless and help you guys in every bit of life. Also please WRESTLE it's the greatest thing I've ever done with my life. KIA KAHA always and forever. I was able to see Aunt Julee at the Temple today!!! Wow what a Huge tender mercy that was!!! Felt like I was hugging Grandma again and it felt so amazing.  ai shittemas Kazoku ( I Love You)

                                                   Cj and his new companion and Junichi

                                            Elder Cj Packer and Elder Crosby Gull

                                            Elder Cj Packer's district

                                                        Cj and Don

Week one down     08/19/2015

Trials are a compliment to the soul. Either God is trying to strengthen you for his purposes,or, Satan is trying to Destroy you for his. in either case, it shows you are important and worth fighting for!


My P day is today (thursday) we went to the temple and that was amazing. It made me miss going with you guys a ton though. I have had a lot of really cool experiences these past couple of days. Yesterday our zone leaders forgot about a gold tag investigator (non mormon) and he's from Tokyo, I happened to walk out into the hall right when he was about to leave and he said Packer Choro can I talk to you for a sec. He was like I come here every week because I love making the missionaries feel like I like them hahaha. He loves hearing from the missionaries. Him and I talked for probably about an hour about the church and my family. He took a ton of photos with and said he was going to email them to you. I gave him dads email. But he was so kind and loving, he said the Japanese people love it when an American is trying to speak Nihongo so not to worry about learning it good at all. and some of them speak english. I'm starting to get more comfortable here, I just get home sick a lot and miss you guys. I get really frustrated with the language because I'm not good and it and seem to not be getting it very well at all. I'm just keeping my faith is Christ that he will teach me what I need to do to fulfill my purpose. I get my Ipad tomorrow so I'll be able to see your emails anytime so that'll be really helpful and nice, plus I can look up talks and everything. IT's crazy that Choy is driving, I think he needs to drive beasty and workout at treehouse to keep that packer swag going because we all know I repped it hard :) I wish Japanese was easier haha. I now see why people say this is the hardest thing they have ever done in their lives. I guess its probably because this is something completely different than what I am used to doing. I know it is the right thing to be doing though. I get to workout everyday, sometimes we play soccer or volleyball but most times i just go and get SWOLE AF, so tell Choy he better pick it up because I'm still lifting!!! but the heaviest dumbbell they have is 70 :'( it's kind of sad haha.  Dont send anymore food haha I'm trying to watch my weight, I love letters and emails though!!!!! The food here sucks.... We ate at the temple today and that was like a gift from heaven!! I did laundry and I think I even did it right hahaha!!!! I find myself praying every second it feels like, asking for strength, patience, hope, and Christ like love. I get frustrated with myself a lot if you cant tell. Me and the zone leaders are already so tight!! I played football against one of them and we talk a lot about that, Their awesome guys. I love you guys so much 

I'm getting of the computer now, but just know I love you and thank you for being the best mom a son could ask for. Ai shitemasu pristene 

 

 You are already wonderful missionaries!  I know Japanese people will love and appreciate you very much!!

Hope to see you again at the MTC!!

あなたの友達（ともだち）、

前田　純一
Junichi

Cj and Junichi

Cj and his Companion Elder Reber

First Email from Elder Packer       08/12/2015

I love you guys so much!! The first day might have been one of the hardest days emotionally for me in my life hahaha. I cried like a little baby at night. but I know what I am doing is right and its what I should be doing. Mom I cant find my black belt... where did you happen to put it? Japanese is crazy, it's a lot of fun to learn though and I couldn't be happier with it. I saw so many buddies that it was hard to count. Nick Beard and I had a good talk about how hard it can get at times and how all you want to do is give up. I already miss you guys like crazy! I seriously was hold my coin in my hand yesterday screaming in my head Kia Kaha "Be Strong". Its going to take some getting used to that for sure. My companion is  a really cool kid from Springville Utah named Reber Choro. HE LOVES TO TALK... more than me. yes that is possible. as you can imagine I'm a little quiet with everyone. Please tell Choy ( Braxton) I love him and that he better get his but into the gym NOW.   Love you guys so much. Talk to you soon. I might get to email you tonight too, I was suppose to watch this whole video and then leave the lab but obviously I was going to send a quick email ;) Love ya guys, keep it trill in the 801