Friends and family hellooo :)

     So Sister Wilkins and I were just driving down the road last Tuesday, and her nose started uncontrollably bleeding.  We pulled over and she leaned out of the car and let it all come out and I swear it was like 2 full cups of blood!! So I was freaking out but she was like totally calm and saying that it happens all the time..  Anyways, I started joking about how it's a good thing neither of us react badly to blood and then next thing I know I wake up on the street with my shoes off?? I was so confused and immediately asked Sister Wilkins if she was okay and if her nose was still bleeding and she was like uhhh are YOU okay? You just fainted! hahaha so yes that was interesting and we think I got a slight concussion because I went from standing straight to the concrete but we were able to get back to the work just a little over an hour later and ended up having a very rewarding week!'

     We have a baptism this Friday!! It's for a couple who are in their 60's and they love hunting and are SO cute! They ended up moving their baptism to an earlier date, and they are so prepared and ready it's amazing.  We were able to watch the restoration movie with them last night and it was wonderful.  That and reading "Our Heritage" has really built my testimony of Joseph Smith so much, there's no way that all those people would have done so many bad things to him and the Latter Day Saints then if they didn't feel threatened by the truth of the Book of Mormon and the rest of the teachings. I really appreciate all that was done so that we would have the gospel here on earth today, and learning about them helps me to be reminded that I can do this and it will be so worth it.

     We were meeting with another cute old man who has recently became active again in the church, he was able to receive his patriarchal blessing this week and it was so cool to talk to him about it.  At one point, he was talking about how he was surprised that in it it didn't mention anything about how the Lord was dissappointed in him for falling away for so long, or how it didn't mention any negative things about his life.  Sister Wilkins reminded him that the Savior is forgiving and always positive and hopeful for us, never degrading- I loved that so much because its so true! The Savior doesn't focus on what we've done wrong, but what we do good and how we can improve.  This is why it's so important for all of us to do the same when we find ourselves thinking badly of others or of ourselves.  Look for the good in everyone, we are all His sons and daughters!  I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week.  Let me know if there's anything I can do for you!

Love,

Sister Paul xoxo

Friends and family-

     I finally feel like a missionary now, which is very good.  I was unsure if I would ever get used to putting a tag on every morning and waking up at 6 am to spend the day teaching lessons and talking to random people- but now it just feels like normal life and I am very grateful for that.

     I have met some very interesting people here in Ely, but they are all wonderful.  Its a good thing I got over my fear of dogs a while ago because I get one handed to me probably twice a day at least.  The other day we were teaching a little girl about family history, but she was paying more attention to her dog than us.  For some reason my brain told me to ask her if shes ever wondered where her dog came from and then she asked if you could do family history for your dog and then I realized that probably wasnt the best question to ask- I still have a lot to work on when it comes to teaching skills.  I've also gotten two lizards placed in my hand and on my shoulders so yeah.

     Sister Wilkins is still great.  A wise man once told me to make sure to remember to have fun while i'm out here (thank you Jon Arnett for that piece of advice), Sister Wilkins and I always make sure to do that.  We make it a competition to see how many people wave to us in a day, sometimes we volunteer each other to sing a solo or do dishes mid-lesson, and the other day she parked right next to a sprinkler on purpose so that there was no way I could get out of the car without getting sopping wet.. so that was cool.  Cut don't worry- we are always striving to be exactly obedient and making sure never to waste the Lord's time.  

     Yesterday was so solid.  We decided to do a car fast and walk everywhere, but of course it turned out to be the one day it rains all day.  We were so tempted to get our car and people kept offering us rides but we wouldn't give in because we were determined to see miracles, and we did!!  We received 2 member referrals (members rock our world), a new investigator, and a lady who hasn't came to church for like 30 years came! AND her nonmember husband invited us to come over and make homemade enchiladas this week.. so yes the church is very true.  

     One thing I've really been trying to work on is trying to see everyone as the Lord see's them, even when they may look different or kind of scary, because they are all children of God and deserve to have the opportunity to accept and reject the gospel.  I encourage you all to do the same and I hope that you have an amazing week!  Let me know if there's anything I can do for any of you xoxox

Love,

Sister Paul

Friends and Family, 

     So at about 7:30 AM on July 8, another sister and I set off on a long car ride along highway 50 (the loneliest highway) to what would be our new area.  Shortly after leaving we realized we only had 1/4 tank of gas and that we would need to stop for some at the nearest gas station- little did we know there is no gas station or any type of civilization for at least 100 miles on highway 50...  We ended up running out of gas about 5 miles from the closest city and were stranded on the side of the road who knows where.  Luckily, it was a nice 65 degrees outside, a nice man ended up bringing us some gas and it wasn't hailing grape sized particles which ended up happening a little later down the road, (looking for the positive ya feel).

     ANYWAYS, we finally arrived to the small town of Ely, Nevada, where every home has dead animals on the wall and the only place I recognize is McDonalds.  I absolutely love it here.  The people already have my heart (especially the cute old couples) and everyone has been so nice and loving to me.  My companion and new trainer, Sister Wilkins, is seriously everything I could ever want- she's so nice and cute, loves to eat healthy and work out with me, and is always working hard and striving to be exactly obedient.  I was blessed with the best and I am SO grateful.  Also.. we match on Sundays.

      I am sunburnt.

      Let me tell you a little bit about a miracle we were able to experience yesterday.  We had to drive 3 hours to a meeting in a city called Elko and at one point there was construction so we had to stop.  The lady holding the stop sign came up and started talking to us- she ended up telling us a a lot about her life and she's been through a lot, including recently getting divorced and her mom and one of her sons killed themselves.  It was crazy.  After we left her we wrote our testimonies and a quick note with our phone number in a Book of Mormon and prayed that we'd see her on our way back and WE DID! She was amazed that we would take the time to stop and talk to her and she started crying because she's felt so alone and unimportant lately.  We talked to her about how much her Heavenly Father loves her and how much she is worth to thim (D&C 18:10).  She was eager to take our Book of Mormon and said she would start reading it and praying and that she would call us when she drove through Ely so she could come talk to us.

      This is why i'm on a mission, there are so many people out there like this lady who feel so alone and lost.  Coming unto Christ and accepting His gospel helps us to feel so loved and important, because we ARE.  We're all princes and princesses in His eyes and He is waiting with open arms for us to come to know Him.  What the music video "Come Unto Christ" youth theme- it's wonderful.  I love you all and you are all very important.  Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.  Have a wonderful week!

Love, 

Sister Paul

P.S. HAPPY YESTERDAY BIRTHDAY TO QUINNY POO I HOPE IT WAS GREAT XOXO

P.S.S.1144 Ave D

Ely, Nevada 89301 

Friends and family, 

     Hello! I hope that you all had a wonderful 4th of July.  We got to stand in the parking lot and see the top of the Stadium of Fire fireworks behind some trees- you could say we're living pretty crazy lives, (just kidding we went to bed before the actual show because we were tired lol).

     I'm exhausted, to say the least.  The other day my companion and I were reading the Book of Mormon out loud switching off each verse and at one point I read 3 verses in a row without realizing it and another time I cut in and started reading in the middle of the verse she was reading.. That might have not made any sense at all, but anyways.. I'm so tired, but I am SO happy.

     We get to teach people that are acting as investigators here and it's so cool.  I always heard missionaries talk about teaching compltely by the spirit and having their mouths filled with words while they're teaching and let me tell ya- getting to experience that is the best thing ever.  My faith has grown so strong here as I have felt Heavenly Father helping me out with literally every single thing that I do.  The love He has for us is incomprehensible and I am sooo excited to help people come to know this and come closer to Christ.  

     I leave for Nevada tomorrow bright and early, i feel like tonight is going to be very similiar to what it's like on Christmas Eve, I can't even tell you how excited I am.  I'm so sad to leave part of my district though, they've become my best my friends and it's pretty much going to be like I'm saying bye to my family all over again.  I've been very blessed and haven't been sad or emotional since I've been here (besides your occasional spiritual cry), but it might all go downhill tonight when I have to say bye.  But it's okay- half of them are coming to Nevada with me and we're all going out to do the best thing we've ever done in our lives.  

     Watch the mormon message called "My New Life", it's about the couple who got burned in a plane crash and it's so sweet.  The family who's in it come to the Provo temple every Sunday to take pictures with missionaries and we got to see them! (mom & dad thats the picture you saw)

    The church is true guys, I know this more now than I ever have before and I am so grateful for the happiness and blessings it has brought me, and for the opportunity that I have to be out here helping others to come find it.  Thank you all for the emails, I absolutely LOVE hearing from you.  Please let me know if there's anything I can do for any of you, I hope you all have a wonderful week and keep pressing forward.

Love,

Sister Paul

P.S. Zanna, Delaney and Jacqueline- Thank you so much for the package!! That cake was delicious and your sweet letter made my day. You guys are the best!! xoxox