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! 

Time if Flying

Hey guys - it's Elder Paolacci here

We couldn't email yesterday because it was MLK Day so we kind of just did all of our other P-Day stuff. It was a pretty great week - our investigators are progressing pretty well and I'm getting pretty comfortable in the area. I'm starting to recognize a lot of people here and everyone is starting to remember me hahaha. The worst thing so far is probably how poorly the streets are planned out here and how they are building sooo many houses here but still super small streets. Then there's no numbered streets - they all have weird names and there is like two or three of the same street. It is just super confusing - but I'm getting used to it - kind of. 

It's not as cold as it has been usually here - it hit 50' yesterday and we are all so stoked about it hahaha. AZ is probably around the 70's now. 

This week something pretty funny happened we had this special zone meeting and everyone thought it was for iPads and the first thing Pres. Winder says when we get there is that we aren't getting any! But he did a great training and called on me to bear my testimony in front of like 50 missionaries (that's the mission life I guess)

We are walking a lot here and having a great time, Elder Beals is stoked because Bama won! It was so cool to see his face when he heard they won! ah man what it would feel like to have a winning team :) But go cards - they are totally going to beat the Panthers! 

Remember to Pray - it is such a powerful tool in your life and Heavenly Father only wants the best for you! 

I love you guys!

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? 

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

Pictures

Provo Temple

​ My District with our awesome teacher Brother Stanley (to the far left),

 this man changed my life

Christmas In The MTC

Imagine celebrating Christmas Day with your mind and heart focused on Jesus Christ. Coleton got to experience what few missionaries or even any members of the church will ever experience -- spending Christmas with a General Authority. We were able to talk to Coleton on the phone in the afternoon and he had shared with us the amazing experience of just having the opportunity to be in the same room and listen to David A. Bednar and he spoke to and instructed the missionaries. He spoke of the spirit that was felt and the message he shared. This is a once in a life time experience and a Christmas he will always remember and cherish.  Although he was not able to be with us this Christmas, he would not have chosen to be anywhere else. He was truly happy - he had the remarkable opportunity to spend his entire time reflecting upon the Savior including his birth, perfect life and infinite atonement. I could not imagine a better way to spend Christmas. Coleton shared his testimony with us and his love for the Savior and the blessings that Gospel brings into our lives. 

Is This Real Life !!!!

Wow guys this has been insane, wish I could just show you guys how much I've learned here in just 9 days and I know if I keep up at this pace I will continue to strengthen my faith with Heavenly Father and try and fulfill my purpose as a missionary these next two years will be as easy as these past 9 days. 

Hey shoutout to all you missionaries who had to learn a language I feel for you.

So yeah guys my comp never showed up and I'm in a tri companionship with Elders Selli and Schwendiman they are super great missionaries and we are like brothers now. We are in a dorm with just us three and its super nice, like we are all so organized and its really great. Waking up isn't that hard, the hardest part is trying to get everything done before you get to bed. 

I'm really trying my best to devote every second of my day here at the MTC to learning because its the best place you can be to learn. 

So how is everyone? Do you know God loves you? I'll be talking to some of you tomorrow which is nice so I'm trying to keep this a little shorter. It's super chill here, I've made some lifelong homies and they are all devoted missionaries which is sooo amazing and I love every one of them.

Selli is serving in Oakland - San Fran and Schwendiman is serving here at the MTC in the referral center which would be the coolest mission because you're working so close with the MTC president who awesome! 

Elder Nielsen spoke and it was such a great talk and it talked about being truly converted before you can help lead someone to conversion. The spirit is so strong here and my teachers are sooooooo good Brother Stanley and Brother Aston. They are such great teachers and they are here truly because they know our potential and want to help build that! 

Is homesickness a thing? hahaha the mission is so awesome why would anyone want to go home? 

Well I leave the MTC on Tuesday and hey Merry Christmas! 

I want you to all think about what the true meaning of Christmas is and think about all that Christ did for us WHICH IS A LOT! 

Hope star wars was good, probably was.

I'm so glad I am here for only 12 days, if I was here 9 weeks I'd probably go a little crazy. Most missionaries learning Polish and Tagalog are here for 9 weeks and they are so funny they know everything here. 

Its way cold here but its cool because its snowed like 4 times and I kinda like it, people keep saying Boise is colder but I hope its false I'll send pics in another email so look out for that! I love you guys! 

3 Nephi 9:14:  "V  

"Verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

Quick Note

This was a hand written letter we received today. He sent it on his first day in the MTC

Day 1 in the MTC . . .  Here is my first report home . . . please understand it is breif due to lack of time. I will be able to write more next Thursday on my pday. My Branch President is Micheal Taylor of Branch 67, Brother John Chambers is his 1st counselor and Brother Allan Neilsen is his 2nd Counselor. My district has 4 elders and 2 sisters. My companion isn't here yet so I am currently in a threesome with Elder Selli from Virginia and Elder Schwendiman from Rexburg. So the good news is we call on Christmas - so be ready for that. It is pretty cool here. It does not feel real. Everyone I have met is so incredibly kind and you can see and feel so much love here. I have already seen Junior (Elder Siale) he is a district leader. My Zone Leaders are super cool. They have only been here a week and they seem like pro's. It is all good here. Just going with the flow. I love you all - be a missionary at home. It is so easy. Just love the people. Don't stress about rejection God will help you through and through.

He has arrived at the MTC

So grateful for such tender mercies from the Lord. I know that my Heavenly Father loves Coleton and that he has so many great things in store for him. We have seen and felt the Lords hand abundantly. There have been so many tender mercies poured out upon us and specifically Coleton. A few of the tender mercies are - the mission call of Boise, Idaho which has such a tender spot for me as a mom. All of my family is from Idaho and my 93 year old grandma whom I love with all my heart lives right in the center of the Idaho Boise Mission. Coleton was able to attend the temple for the first time with two of his best friends. Coletons report date was the same exact day as one of his best friends Connely so they were able to travel together. And the ultimate tender mercy came today as our oldest son Dylan was on a business trip in Provo for a day and was able to pick up Coleton and Connely from the airport, take them for lunch at his favorite pizza place in Provo "Slab Pizza"  and then take them to the MTC. I am so very grateful for the Lords hand in our life and I know he hears and answers mothers prayers. Tears keep flowing and I am trying so hard to stay busy. I am so excited for my boy.

Thank You For All The Love and Support

Thank you to all the family and friends who have supported Coleton. Wish we would have gotten pictures of everyone. We are grateful for the love and influence of each of you ❤️