Friends and family,

     I hope that you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!!  My companion and I decided to only go to two of our dinners because we were soooo full after the first one and were trying to save our lives haha but it was so yum!  Theres this salad that a couple people have made here and its like mandarin oranges and cookies and cool whip and some other things and oh man it is so good but anyways not important lol. 

     On thanksgiving in my studies I was thinking about gratitude and how we should not only be thankful for our blessings, but also for our trials.  I found a scripture in 2 Corinthians 4:16 and it says 'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'.  If we did not have trials there would be no point in us being here on earth, our trials are there to help us learn and grow and mold us into the person that our Heavenly Father knows we can be- which is just like him.  I was reading in a general conference talk and it said "Now is the time for us to prepare to meet God, not the time for us to receive all of our blessings" We are here on earth to be tested and tried and to prepare, and although we will receive many blessings here on earth as we have faith and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, there are so so many blessings that await us later- an eternal weight of glory.  I am not going to lie- as a missionary it is very tough sometimes, but it is so comforting to know that Heavenly Father is always there helping and as I continue to push through, I may not see the blessings right away but they will come- whether that is tomorrow or in 10 years or after my time on earth. 

     I got to go to a wedding this week and it was so cute and happyyyy :)  The best part was that Jessica (the one getting baptized on Saturday) was most excited about getting married because that would mean shes now eligible to get baptized!! So sweet.  Its wwaayy cold here- so our zone has been coming up with all kinds of things to do that don't require us to be outside.  On thanksgiving we played chair soccer, pacman, fugitive and football- I scored two touchdowns!! (probably only because the elders wanted me to feel good about myself so they let it happen but not important).  I lovee being a missionary and I love all of you! I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy this fun Christmas season :)

Love,

Sister Paul

1. Chair soccor lol

2. Warm and cozy for fugitive

Friends and family-

     Happy thanksgiving!!! Holy wow I have so many things to be thankful for and I have come to that realization more than ever these last couple of weeks.  Let me just start by telling you some of the circumstances of a couple people that we met with this last week.  One of our investigators had to call the police on her son and watch them take him to prison.  One of our less actives in Eureka who is not able to work because she got attacked by a dog found that she wouldn't get any money for disability and that she would be losing her house and possibly her truck so she would pretty much have nothing.  We met a 21 girl who is an only child and has lost her mom and all of her grandparents in the last 2 years, she currently is taking care of her dad who was told in October that he only had 2 weeks to live.. so its pretty much just a waiting game and she never knows what day will be his last.  It breaks my heart and is so humbling to meet and come to know people like this.. I have been SO blessed in my life and have literally no excuse to complain about anything ever.  It is also so comforting to know that even amidst all the trials and hard times there is always a light and hope and that is through our Savior Jesus Christ and this gospel.  No trial is too big or struggle too hard that we cant find peace through Him.

     I am SO grateful for this gospel and the knowledge that it is the way that we can experience eternal happiness.  I am grateful for a wonderful and loving family who have always been so good to me and for the fortunate circumstances I have been brought up in.  I am grateful for all of my friends and the people in my life who have made such a positive impact.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary at this time and for all the trials that give me the opportunity to learn and grow.  Most importantly- I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for all that he has done for me.  I know that I should be this grateful all the time but I am grateful for thanksgiving to help me be a little better!  Our ward is so good to us- we have 3 thanksgiving dinners tomorrow... sos.  We get to start out the day with a football game with our zone so im super excited for that and for the planning we get to do! haha well I hope that you all have an amazing thanksgiving and hold on to the grateful spirit even after tomorrow because there is so much to be grateful for :)  Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Paul

1. terrible angle lol but this is my cute new zoneee

2.  my companion took a picture of me and some delicious cinnamon rolls yum enjoy

Friends and family,

     Best week eveerrr!  We were able to get through it with no injuries (besides a couple of slips on ice) and Tali got baptized!  It was so special and the spirit was so strong.  Tali is an elementary school teacher and so we asked some of the parents of her past students to put together a musical number for inbetween the talks.  She has no idea it was going to happen and about 15 lds kids got up and sang 'When I am Baptized', oh my goodness... It was the most precious thing and she cried so much and I cried so much and then of course I was the next speaker hahah.  It was perfect though because I was speaking on the Holy Ghost and so I was able to share how the good feelings that everyone had when those children sang was the Holy Ghost touching their hearts.  It was the best experience and Tali was so happy and grateful after she was baptized and completely clean.  

     Another sweet miracle happened yesterday- there was this guy that we street contacted at the beginning of the week that we left with a Plan of Salvation pamphlet.  We didn't think too much of it but we ended up stopping by his house later in the week to invite him to church and he came!! We're just like sitting their in sacrament meeting and we see him sitting in the crowd!  He ended up staying for our gospel principles class and then going to the beginning of priesthood and even agreed to help split wood with the high priests group this weekend.. is that cool or what?  He is one of the many people who has said "I can't go to church the roof will fall through'  You have no idea how many times people say that and how many times we remind them of President Uchtdorfs talk- church is for sick people!  It is not for perfect people- if that was the case there would be absolutely no one there.  The gospel is their to heal and help anyone in any type of situation they might be in- and I know without a doubt that it can and will do just that.  

     I LOVE this gospel.  I know I say that probably every week and probably 50 times a day but I cannot say it enough.  It is perfect and makes so much sense and I am more and more grateful for it everyday.  If any of you are considering and unsure about serving a missionary.. do it! It is the best decision I have ever made.  I love all of you- have a wonderful week :)

Love,

Sister Paul xoxo

P.S.  Thank you SO much to the young women girls who sent me a package.  I just got it today and it was the best thing ever- all of my favorite things (especially the french fry socks) :)

     

1. Tali got baptized!!!

2. What Ely currently looks like sos

Friends and family,

     I'm staying in Elyyyyy!  Im so happy- Sister Landgrave rocks and there are so many great things in store this transfer!  Our whole district is changing quite a bit so thats kind of sad but I will be the oldest here which is super weird!  This week flew by, yet again.  We are super stoked because Tali Vinsen will be getting baptized this Saturday!!  I started teaching her my first transfer and it has been such a blessing to be able to see her progress and grow to love this gospel so much- it has definitely helped my own testimony to grow!  

     So yesterday I was very humbled and realized that I am not prepared to be a mom and need to learn how to handle bloody situations better.  Sister Landgrave and I were trying to be all healthy and we were making this nice salad..  She was cutting an avocado and ended up slicing her whole finger open!  So with all of my background on first aid and also fainting with blood I had absolutely no idea what to do- we ended up calling the elders (so grateful for them) and they came over and were going to super glue it but it was too deep so we ended up all going to the emergency room and she got 7 stitches!  Not sure why these things keep happening but it definitely keeps things more exciting and is always an adventure! haha

      The regional broadcast that we watched yesterday was sooo good!  It's amazing to see how inspired the speakers are because it was exactly what I needed.  I feel like 'simplify' is something that has been mentioned a ton lately- and it has definitely helped me to know how to be a better teacher.  This gospel is so perfect and really is so simple.  As human beings we often get so caught up in looking for the bad or trying to find wrong in things that we don't realize how great what we already know and have is!  I am definitely going to work on living more simply and not questioning so often.  The truth is the truth and anyone can know that by the Holy Ghost and a real desire.
      So for anyone who might not know, it is my mamas birthday this week!  I just wanted to take the time to publicly express how grateful I am for such loving parents who have been such a good example and anchor for me.  I have always loved the story of the stripling warriors- before because I always wanted my husband to be like one lol but now because I realize that the reason they were so strong was because of their moms.  "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; nd they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.  And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Alma 56:47-48.  This is one of my favorite scriptures to share with moms- and it never fails to make me think of how wonderful of a mother I was blessed with. :)  

      I hope you all have an amazing week!  Look for the good and put away the bad and Heavenly Father will shower you with blessings :)  

Love,

Sister Paul

Friends and family;

     Helloooo!  I hope that you all had a fun halloween.  We spent the day driving home from a sisters conference that we went to in Sparks and then got to pass out hot chocolate at our wards trunk or treat!  The whole community here pretty much just comes to the trunk or treat because no one really passes out candy at their houses.. not complaining at all- it was a solid opportunity for some missionary work ;).  Also elders got me a princess crown so that rocked hahah.

     We have 3 baptisms coming up in this next month and I am so excited!  Tali (from New Zealand), Amanda (from Australia), and Ana (from the Philippines)- the foreign people love us I guess.  Just kidddinng, Heavenly Father has been placing such amazing people in our path though and I am so grateful.  One thing that has really been on my mind lately because of general conference and because we've been teaching it so much is the commandments.  We are promised in the scriptures that as we keep the commandments, we will be happier.  Looking back on my own life and observing the lives of so many other people that we teach I have been able to grow such a strong testimony of that.  Heavenly Father does not ask us to do anything to limit us, he asks to do things because he LOVES us and knows they will set us free and make us happy!  Every time I have ever found myself unhappy- it is because I am not keeping the commandments the best I could or being as obedient as I could.  I know that will be the case for anyone!  Mosiah 2:41 says it well. 

     We have transfers this week and I am praying with all my heart that I get to stay here in Ely- but one thing I have learned is that Heavenly Father always gives us exactly what we need, whether we realize it at first or not.  He loves us and knows us perfectly and I am so grateful for that knowledge!  This gospel is perfect- every single aspect of it.  I love it and I love being a missionary!  Thank you for all the love that I receive.  You are all wonderful human beings!  have a wonderful week and always let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you :)

Love,

Sister Paul

P.S. I got pulled over this week for the first time in my life and it was for no reason.. the police officer claimed I had a headlight out and i didnt lol also its supposed to snow this week sos at me drivinggg!

1. happy halloween from the ely zonee
2. 3 generation pic from sisters conference