Hello!
     Life is good here in Carson City. :)  Cute old people keep giving me their clothes that they don't want and it is the best thing in the world.  I love these people here and already feel at home so that is a huge blessing!
     We are teaching this lady named Teena and she is the coolest ever.  So she has been coming to church off and on with her friend who is a recent convert and just 2 weeks ago she decided that she wanted to meet with us.  The first lesson she told us that 2 days before she realized she needed to get baptized and she has been running ever since!  During our lessons and at church she takes notes and she has had no problem with anything we have taught.  We were a little nervous to teacher her about Word of Wisdom because she smokes and drinks coffee, but she was totally on board and is willing to do everything she can to quit.  Yesterday she got a powerful priesthood blessing for strength and it was wonderful :)
     I have been thinking a lot about how as missionaries we are called to invite people to repent, basically- and how often I get nervous or am hesitant to do so.  The natural man in me who hates contention is always thinking oh what if they get angry or what if they dont want to do it and then i was thinking.. man, I need to pull it together because when people aren't living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are forfeiting happiness and blessings that they could have!  So i was sitting this morning in personal study thinking about this and I said a little prayer for help and motivation to be better at calling people to repentance and then I opened my scriptures and this is what I opened to:

 18 Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance,that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down andcast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewndown and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon themagain a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they arecut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.

...yikes. So basically, I have a lot to work on.  Haha but it really is a privelege to be able to invite people to learn how they can live more in harmony with Christ and how they can experience the wonderful blessings the gospel brings :)  I really have no idea whats happening in the world, but I feel like lately we have been hearing more and more about how crazy the world is getting.  Now, more than ever we have to stay true to what we know and to be bold in our testimonies and standards and never apologetic.  Anyways- there is my rant.  I invite all of you to repent :) haha!  Im so grateful for the atonement and the knowledge that because of our Savior we can repent, always, no matter what.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I love this work!  Have a wonderful week :)

Love,
Sister Paul

Happy 4th of July and happy birthday to Nixon!!!

     We are hiking to the C on a mountain today and then having a ward bbq and watching fireworks so that is super fun.  :)  I absolutely love it here.  It  has not taken long for Carson City to feel like home and now I never want to leave!  We have met the coolest people who are so prepared by the Lord and is has been the best experience.

Heres some of the cool people:

Latisia is a young, single mom who actually had experiences with the church when she was in jail- members of the church would come sing hymns with them and she has always remembered the spirit that was there.  She has such righteous desires and wants to changer her life- she is working towards baptism this month!

Lindsey is a sweet lady who got baptized 8 years ago and hasnt been active since- she has gone through a whole lot and turned away from God for a longggg time.  She is now regaining her faith and prayed for the first time yesterday and felt so much love from the Savior!  She has came to church the last 2 weeks, her countenance has completely changed and she is wanting to work towards the temple.  So sweet!

Ashley is around the same age as me and has also gone through a whooolleee lot- she has had 2 miscarriages and has a little boy who she hasnt seen in a long time.  She also turned away from God when she had a miscarriage because she didnt understand why that would happen.  She just found out she was pregnant 2 weeks ago and sees this as God giving her another opportunity to be a mom, so she is diving all in to the gospel.  We taught her the Plan of Salvation yesterday and she loved it!  It has been so cool to teach her because she is the same age as me and we are able to relate a lot!

Billy... oh man, hes the coolest.  Hes this old black guy who drives a '73 orange car (not sure what its called but it looks cool and looks like some kind of convertable? who knows)  Anyways, he is SO converted.  He recently got a restraining order against his girlfriend because there have been a lot of struggles there and he wants to follow Jesus Christ.

Needless to say, the gospel is amazing and Jesus Christ changes lives.  It is so cool to the hope He brings to individuals, especially those who have gone through a lot and have suffered with a lot of temptation and pain.  He brings hope to all no matter where they have been!  I know you probably dont care too much about these people, but I love them soooo much and they are all I think about right now!  I loveeee being a missionary and I love this gospel  :)  The Book of Mormon is true and it has the power to heal the wounded soul.  Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Paul

P.S.  We got two referrals for the spanish elders the other day....... IN SPANISH.  spanish online is coming in handy ;)

1. MLC with some of my fav elders who are going home :(

Right to left: Elder Palmer (current zone leader), Elder Nieves (ely zone leader and AP), elder cox (Reno Zone leader)

2.  My companions super cute!

3.  Sister Beh and the APs