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

Friends and family,

     Hello!  I don't have much time today but I just wanted to tell you all that I was driving the other day and almost hit a deer.. luckily I was not driving very fast and was paying attention so I was able to stop just a couple feet before it.  That was the first of about 5 that we saw on that car ride so that was very thrilling!  My companion is wonderful and I am learning so much from her!  She asks so many questions and I love it because it makes me think more and question things which has helped my testimony grow so much.  I want you all to know that I love this gospel so incredibly much.  I have taken advantage of so many aspects of it and have not realized how blessed I have been to have it be a part of my life.  It can literally help any pain or sorrow that we have in our life and is the only way for us to experience true happiness and a fullness of joy.  Never hesitate to share the sweet goodness that comes from it to anyone! I love you alllll, have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Paul xoxo

Friends and family;

     So if you're wondering we did go hiking last week. The elders just started driving up this mountain and so I followed and I could not figure out how they were going so fast and not getting stuck in all the dips because we got stuck like 5 times.. Turns out there's a cool thing called four wheel drive that helps with those situations. Hahaha.  So now whenever we go jeep life off roading I am pro, I just need to figure out how to drive when it starts snowing because there are all kinds of steep hills.  So yes that will be interesting lol.

     This week my testimony was strengthened of the Plan of Salvation- it has always been one of my favorite aspects of the gospel, but I have gained such a strong appreciation of it after introducing it to investigators for the first time.  We taught it to one of our investigators a couple days ago- she's from New Zealand and is progressing so well, we hope to set a baptismal date with her today!  Anyways. when we taught her the Plan of Salvation she was in such awe, she kept saying how it made so much sense and she even got emotional when we talked about the Atonement.  

     We have another investigator that we've been working a lot with who I love with my whole heart.  She just came from an abusive relationship and has close to nothing, but her boyfriend is in jail and so she's taking this opportunity to turn her life around and start fresh.  It has been so amazing to see her transformation- she has been caught up in a lot of bad things and addictions and this last week we've been trying to help her through and we introduced repentance.  The next time we saw her she was like a completely different person!  She told us that the night before she had broken down to Heavenly Father and asked for forgiveness, and the next day she felt so much better- she got up and got ready and wasn't tempted to go straight to drugs.  She took the day to clean her house and focus on her little boy.  Simple things that have been so hard for her to do and that we take for granted I think. 

     The Plan of Salvation and the Atonement are so real.  They make perfect sense and are the key to us feeling pure joy here on earth, I am so grateful for the knowledge that I can be forgiven and progress forward everyday if I put the effort in and trust in the Lord.  I love this gospel and I love all of you!  Thanks for the support- let me know if there's anything I can do for any of you!!

Love,

Sister Paul

this is my cute friend from the MTC Sis Anderson and a pic from our hiking adventure

Friends and family,

     General Conference was so gooooddd! I have like 5 billion things to talk about and so little time but I still love being a missionary!  I picked up my new companion fresh out of the MTC and she is wonderfull!  Her name is Sister Landgrave and she is from Colorado- I was pretty nervous to see who I would be training but she is so awesome.  She's here for the right reasons and she has such a strong desire to work, I've been learning so much from her it's like she's already been a missionary for a while!  

     All week we have been preparing for and talking to people about General Conference.  It was a miracle because one of our investigators who we haven't been able to meet with in a while contacted us and we were able to meet, we promised her that if she watched General Conference and went in with a question, that she would receive an answer from the words of feelings that she had while watching.  Last night we got a text from here that said: "Wow. Today was intense! Listened to five brief speeches in about an hour and that was enough.  Russell Nelson (if I remember his name right) seemed to be speaking directly to me.  See you Saturday, have a great week!"  Isn't that so cool??  The power of the prophet and his apostles is so strong, I wrote down like 10 questions and names and received answers to every single one of them. There's too much that I loved but I wanted to share a few things that stood out to me the most:

1.  The importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and delighting in it

2.  The Lord needs disciples of Christ now more than ever as we are constantly being attacked by the adversary.  We must always hold on to the iron rod and never allow ourselves to let go!

3.  Ponderizing a scripture each week.. do it!

4.  We must always be growing in the gospel, so it is so important for us to be asking our Heavenly Father what we need to change in order to progress- "What lack I yet?"

     I am so grateful for a modern day prophet and his teachings, I felt the spirit testify to me so strongly of his power and authority as he was speaking.  I hope that you all were able to watch and feel that for yourself- if not, please go back and read/watch each session!  Thank you for all that you do and let me know if there's anything I can do for any of you!  Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Paul xoxoxo

P.S. I finally got my zone to go hiking with me so even though its been raining we are going hiking in a little bit YAY and then after we are going to get ice cream cones and flu shots WOOOOO

Letter from the Mission President...