February Is Here

Well hello family, friends, and everyone reading this! 
This week was superb! got a lot of good work done and as usual everyone is progressing greatly! the weather here was great until yesterday, I woke up went outside and it was like winter decided to show up hahaha! but were still fine. On Wednesday we had exchanges so Elder Reid came to my area and Elder Beals went to their area with elder Williams! it was a great day, I kind of got to show the District Leader what I have learned but I always ask for advice from everyone! because feel like I need to improve always, I never want to plateau as a missionary, because if I do I wont be working to my full potential! I love the people here so much, it's really to the point now where it feels like a family environment. Probably the funniest things that have happened here so far is that everyone has so much trouble pronouncing my last name its hilarious and when they do, they start treating me like im in the mafia because I say it's Italian! hahahaha, so yeah and for January I focused on one scripture in particular and It was 3 Nephi 9:14 and it just talks about Christ and how he is extending his arm of mercy and promising us eternal life and endless amounts of blessings and I took some time to think of how I can take his arm and use his mercy and you can do that through faith in him and doing all things through him! AWESOME right???! I love this mission ans everything it's done for me! and hey if you like my music, apparently a song I wrote a while back was released this week so you can check that out! this month im focusing on charity and love since its February after all hahaha  2 Nephi Chapter 22 is great! and transfers are on Monday, so we find out if Elder Beals is staying or going, were all pulling for him to stay! He's been such a solid and fun trainer! Love the guy to death! love you guys also! stay warm wherever you are!

Life in Meridian

hey fam and friends! its good ol' elder p here! had a great week here in meridian. elder beals and I are putting in work! and also having a lot of fun! this week had a lot of good progress I am meeting more and more families and I am getting the area down, we had a couple of really great trainings this week! one was the missionary broadcast and then the other was the new missionary training. I learned a ton from both, but mostly just tried to focus on how I can strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father! Those were great! 
Our lessons this week were solid! I'm trying to contribute more and get out of the fresh missionary mode. I'm having a great time out here, I wouldn't give this up for anything! 
I hear the cards lost - that stinks but hopefully the broncos will win it - I want peyton manning to finish out on top! 

Miss you guys! Idaho is awesome and kinda cold!  here are some pics hope you guys have a stellar week! 

meridian worldwide!

hey friends, family and dogs. (josie)

I have recently realized that my emails have been super unorganized and really confusing so lets see If I can fix this problem early in the mission hahaha. 

It was a great week here in the Meridian South Stake. Both wards we cover are progressing amazingly and we are teaching a couple of really awesome people. Still teaching Kai as he awaits his baptism. Progressing with Danielle. Amazingly both times when we have taught her we have had so many people in the room and it's kind of intimidating but super fun. One cool experience was that I was able to bare a full testimony of my knowledge of the gospel. I mean I've done little testimonies here and there but this was super powerful and I'm glad I had the chance to bare that to Danielle.

Otherwise the teaching this week was a blast! It was Elder Beals' birthday on Friday and we did so much fun stuff. Had my first Zone Meeting that day which was really interesting and eye opening and I loved how we got to work together as a zone. We then visited more people and then headed over to Bro. Andersons house for some cake and played games and had a lot of fun! He's such an awesome guy, amazing stories and probably the funniest person I have met in a long time. But yeah Elder Beals' birthday was awesome and he's super stoked for Alabama to beat Clemson! ROLL TIDE!

We have been working out at 5:30 in the morning on our bikes and its freezing but such a good experience  hahaha. One funny experience happened this week - my comp said we were going door knocking and so we did and we knocked on this guys door and he answered and it was my job to get in the home and share a message but it was going so awful and I just said " well it was nice meeting you have a good one" and then my comp goes, "PRANKED" and the guy was a member - it was super funny ahahahaha good stuff!

Have a great week guys! Can you believe its almost been a month? 

Questions of the Week

1. So are you still in a car or on Bike Now ?  

Bike

2. If you are on your bike, how is it ? Do you have everything you need ? 

It's super cold and I might need a face mask so my nose doesn't fall off

3. How large are the wards that you cover ?

Our wards are about as big as Mountain View, maybe a little bigger, it is a lot like back home

4. Do you meet in Stake Centers or Ward Buildings ?

We meet in two ward buildings 

5. How many missionaries are in your zone ? When do you have zone meetings ?

we have about 10 in our district and 20 in our zone. What we do varies for every meeting, there never usually the same

6. What did you do for PDay ? What are your plans today ? 

We usually play sports and go shopping. I got a haircut today in Boise at this barber college. It was sweet reminded me a lot like Portland

7. Tell us about some yummy things you have ate ?

Probably the best thing so far was cheesy fried potatoes . 

8.What do you do for lunch and breakfast ?

We have to buy all our food so I just buy some smaller snacks, cereal and then stuff to make quesadillas, Our room is about the size of my room back home

9. What types of service have you done this week ?  

Because it is so cold outside we have just done service of helping people move furniture inside

The Land of Meridian

HEYYYYYY guys! 
Hope your New Year has started off great, you know mine has!
The families in these wards spoil me so bad and feed me way too much, but I'm working out a lot so hopefully it transforms into mucho muscle.
I've met a bunch of really awesome people here so far and my trainer is awesome! 
I've been reading "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard its an awesome book and I have learned soooo much already. 
We have been meeting with this kid who is about to be baptized, his name is Kai he is 10 and probably the smartest person I have met here so far and the best part is his favorite part of the scriptures is Revelations! Kid is a genius, probably knows more about the gospel than I do. 
The mission has felt like 3 days and its already been half a month! I miss you guys so much. I don't really have any pictures this week but I'll be sure to take some today and the rest of the week so look forward to that.
It's kind of weird - I actually really miss the MTC and all of my zone! 
I have been so lucky for this chance to serve a mission and everything that has happened during my mission so far, I'm really happy here and I feel like I'm at home.
I love you guys so much and hope you have a good week! 
Remember the power and importance of prayer and how when you pray it will continue to grow your faith with Heavenly Father and blessings are in store! 
Keep a smile on your faces and go cardinals? I think they are pretty high in the ranks as the playoffs start. I don't even know what happened to the colts. 
Well good luck with your weeks as some of you start school. 

Peace, Elder Paolacci

Meeting the Mission President

Dear Missionary Parents,

How thrilled Sister Winder and I were to greet your son and to welcome him as a full-time missionary in the Idaho Boise Mission.  What a blessing it will be to our mission to have him serving here to the assigned field of labor.

After arriving at the mission office and conducting a brief orientation of the mission, I had the opportunity of interviewing your son in an effort to become better acquainted with him and to feel of his spirit.  As a result of this interview, I felt impressed to assign your son, as a companion, to one of the most obedient, most skilled, and hardest working missionary in the mission.  You can be assured that this companion is one of our mission’s very best.

We are confident that your son will have a very positive experience while serving in the Idaho Boise Mission.  We know he will strengthen his skills, increase his knowledge and testimony of the gospel, and establish an increased measure of love for all of our Heavenly Father’s children he will assist in teaching.

We have attached a picture of your missionary with Sister Winder and myself and also a picture of him with his trainer, Elder Beals. The Lord’s choicest blessings be with you as you sustain your son and pray for his continued welfare.

Faithfully yours,

President John Q. Winder

Idaho Boise Mission

Update from the Mom :)

After two incredibly amazing weeks at the MTC Elder Paolacci has arrived in the mission field. When Sister Peterson sent me a text tonight with this picture letting me know he was there safe & sound my heart about burst. He is in Meridian, Idaho serving in the Locust Grove and Sherbrooke Wards. His trainer is Elder Beals. Ready for our first of many "it's a small world stories" ? Elder Paolacci will be living in the basement apartment of Brother & Sister Peterson (who by the way know my grandparents. They used to live down the street from them and they used to be in their ward) I am excited for him !!!