Final Day in Provo MTC

Hey Family!

Today isn't my p-day but I got to send an email before I take off tommorow. They said I could call in the airports tommorow so if you guys want I can call 2 times. I get into Dallas at 9:45 Dallas time, and i get into Miami at 2:25 Miami time. So just be expecting a call all day. I fly with my roomies and Elder Sheridan and his comp. I met Elder Sheridan about 2 days ago, he is way nice. I'm really excited about the people I'm serving with, they are all nice. Especially me and my roomies, we are like way good friends already.
Today is my packing day, so it's pretty much like a p-day except I had class in the morning. Haha - its crazy how time feels here. Each day seems to fly by, but the weeks seem to take FOREVER. It feels like I've been here for 3 months. We keep saying its like being in limbo from Inception. (the movie) This place has definitely been the hardest thing I have ever done. Just imagine how happy I am to wake up at 6:30 every morning (haha) But I have definitely grown and learned alot here, it's has been absolutely awesome.


(*****Disclaimer - we have heard of funny stories that missionaries have done at the MTC and we are not suprised to hear Dylan got one in before he left *****)

So I have a funny story. Saturday night I got called up to the front office, and everyone was teasing that my visa got denied. But it just ended up being the contacts you sent me. I was so releaved when I got there and there was a package for me - becuase there are some missionaries who have had problems with their visas. But Elder Norris and I decided to fake that my visa did get denied. So we told our roomates what we were gonna do and they were totally in on it. So we got this one guy to come in our room who we are way close with and I acted like I had been crying. We said my visa had to get resent because someone used my social security number and that I would have to be in the MTC for 3 more months. He totally fell for it! We played it off the whole night and the sad part was that he was being way comforting to me and he said that night he even prayed for me. (then I felt totally bad) but the next morning my roomate Elder Capps went and told him I wasnt getting up because I wanted to go home. So he came in and tried getting me up and thats when I told him. He was a good sport and thats what made it even funnier. Definitely the funny highlight of my mtc experience.
Oh and idk if I already told you but Elder Capps is the one we saw in the distribution center before you dropped me off. He is so funny. Haha I love that guy. Elder Rider, my other roomie imformed me that he's also a really good skier, so I have decided everything I love he is pretty much pro at.
I am gonna miss my teachers like crazy. We had the two best teachers by far in our zone. I loved them. They helped me so much and becuase of them I have grown and learned so much in these 3 weeks.
Well, I only have 5 more minutes so lets see what I can get in this email -
My spanish keeps getting better and better, expect a letter in spanish within a month. I can already give the first couple of discussions in Spanish and I can converse pretty well.
I'm really, really excited for Lima. Like I said, we leave tommorow and we have to report to the travel office at 3am! We get into Lima around 9 and get to the CCM probably around 11. It is gonna be a long day, but I am so excited. I'm nervous about how much my bags weigh - I am cutting it close and I'll be sending stuff home.
I'm going to try to leave Matt Campbell a letter, but I'm not sure how (haha) I'm really excited for him and I'm bummed I won't be able to see him.
I think Coy is giving me a taste of my own medicine cause I havent gotten a letter back from him yet and I wrote him my first week, BUT I am learning patience here (haha)
Well be expecting calls from me tommorow! Try to make sure the kids and dad can talk too !!!!
I Love You All -
Elder Paolacci

PERU MTC

Centro de Capacitacion Missional
Elder Dylan Paolacci
Ave. Melgarejo #159
Urb. Camp Blanco
LaMolina Lima 12
Peru

just put a .98 cent stamp on it and stil it on the mail - he will be at this address for 3 - 6 weeks

Or you can still send him letters for free through http://www.dearelder.com/ and this time choose PERU MTC

2nd Week in Provo MTC

Well my email isn't working today so I guess handwritten letters is how it is gonna be this week.

I got my travel plans for Peru. We leave for the airport at 3am Wednesday (Sept 1) morning and we get to Peru around 9 pm Wednesday night. We have two stops in Dallas (9:45am) and Miami (2:45pm) It is gonna be a LONG day.

Totally bummed I will not be able to see Matt - so crazy that I leave the MTC on the same day he enters.

Oh, so I saw Chris !!! I first saw him as he walked into the cafeteria and I almost flipped !!! I am sooooo happy he is here. It is so cool to have friends here - the other cool thing is that his room is right down the hall. One of my roommates, Elder Rider (the BYU soccer player) is like a celebrity here. Everyone knows him - it is crazy !!!! The other thing about Elder Rider, besides soccer, he skis and apparently he is really, really good - so I might not look really, really good next to him. All of my roommates are really awesome and I can definitely tell we will all be lifelong friends. We all just get along sooooo well. It's so awesome !!!!

My Spanish is still going really well, I have already past the point I was in high school. I can almost carry on a full conversation in Spanish. It is insane how fast you learn here, and I know it is because I have been totally dedicated and praying really hard to have the spirit with me at all times. The MTC is one amazing experience after another. It is crazy hard, but the benefits are amazing.

I just got your package delivered - ha, ha, thanks for the ties - everyone here is into UGLY ties, it is really kinda funny. Oh and thanks for all the candy - it is awesome too !!! The electric razor works goods - just saves me from having to really shave with a regular razor everyday !!!!

Well last night we had an amazing devotional. This was the first time all the missionaries were together since I have been in the MTC. For the opening song ALL the missionaries sang "Called To Serve" - it was powerful and amazing.  You will never guess who the speaker was  ??? Jeffrey R. Holland !!! It was AWESOME !!! We got front row seats. He is such an amazing speaker. He spoke of how we have signed on to serve a mission and we need to be sure we are doing it the Lord's way. This is God's Church and we are teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This isn't a fast food joint and you can't always have it "your way". For the next 2 years we have promised to do it the Lord's way. He spoke for an hour and a half. It was definitely the best, most intense talk I have ever heard in my entire life. Definitely touched me and made a profound impact on my life.

I loved the card of Tobias - still a little disappointed I won't see him as a puppy, but oh well.

I am doing really well so far as to no getting homesick. Tho I do miss you guys - I am just keeping myself busy and focused on the work. I love you all so much and even though I miss you I know I am in the right place and I am doing the right thing by serving a mission and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Love, Elder Dylan Paolacci

August 18, 2010 - First Week In the MTC

Hey Family!
The MTC is an amazing place and I'm loving it here. Even though I really hate waking up at 6am I'm making it through and it's getting better everyday. My companion and district are so awesome! We are really close and it's crazy to think it's only been a week. My spanish is going really well and I'm a little ahead of everyone which is relaxing. So far I can pray, bear my testimony, and sustain a short conversation in spanish. I memorized the baptismal prayer and the first vision in spanish, and hopefully by the end of the week I want to memorize both sacrament prayers. On Saturday we gave the first lesson in spanish and I barely had to use my notes, it was really cool. I know the only reason I would be able to do all of this is because of the spirit. I've been praying soooo much and I have tried to keep the spirit with me as much as possible. It's totally amazing how much you can rely on it and if you do it will always be with you.
My roommates are amazing! Elder Capps is the funniest guy ever! Elder Rider is so incredibly nice and he's on the BYU soccer team (so I am definitely not the best at soccer here). And I guess you could call me and Elder Norris twins. I Love these guys so much and it's making all of the stress and worries so much easier to deal with when you have three really close friends going through the same thing. I just feel so blessed to have these guys in my life. I could not have picked more perfect friends for myself if I tried. And learning and growing together make it such an amazing experience here at the MTC.

Sundays here are probably the best days, they are so relaxed. In the morning we have priesthood session with our zones (about 30 - 40 elders), then we have study time, then sacrament meeting with our zones, then the temple walk (nap on the grass - haha), then Sunday night devotional. I really love Sundays so far and I thought it was funny that you asked how they went because they are simply amazing.

That's so cool you guys got a dog! I'm kinda disappointed I wont see it as a puppy but that's alright. Haha you guys should call him Elder Tobias. I'm sure Maggie and Tommy are in love with him! Probably not Darla (haha)

I really miss you guys alot but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am doing the right thing and that I owe this to the Lord and the people of Peru. I have gotten so immersed in the work that haven't really been homesick yet and I feel that that is a blessing, because I do need to be focused on learning the spanish and perfecting my knowledge of the doctrine of the church.

Tell the boys and Karleigh to have fun with school and if they get discouraged tell them that if I am serving a mission and working 18 hours a day they can deal with school.

I love you guys so much - until next week

Love, Elder Paolacci

First Letter Home . . . .

(Delivered by good ole US Mail on Saturday August 14, 2010)

Dear Mom -

It's the first night at the MTC. So crazy ! There are SO many missionaries here! Oh and Elder Norris is my MTC companion, I thought you would like that. He is really cool. So let's see . . . Today we met our teachers, zone leaders (really cool guys), the MTC President and a bunch of other people I can't remember. Today was crazy busy. It seems like it is going to take alot of work, but I am super excited. We do start learning Spanish here in the Provo MTC. Pretty much everyone in my zone (dorm floor) is speaking Spanish, it is crazy. Fortunately, I can understand them for the most part. Today was my p-day so I will email next Wednesday.

Well, I don't have alot of time tonight so I have to cut it short. Tell the boys and Karleigh I love them. Tell the rest of the family I love them and I am doing great. Tell Dad I love him and not to worry about me because I am gonna be fine. I love you so much.

Love, Elder Paolacci

Reporting to the MTC . . . .

We left for Provo Tuesday morning August 10th. On our way we stopped to hello to the Armstrongs and we also went over to meet Trac Norris and his family who also live in Panguitch. Trac recieved his call to the Peru Lima East Mission on the same day as Dylan and will be reporting to the MTC tomorrow also. It was nice for Dylan to meet him so that he will know a familiar face when he gets to the MTC. Trac and Dylan share alot of the same interests and I am sure they will become friends on their mission.
We arrived in Provo Tuesday evening and Dylan was able to meet up and have dinner with his friends that were at BYU.  Matt reports to the MTC on September 1st - so it was a 2 year 3 week goodbye

Dylan, Matt, Ali, Zoe, Raquel, Aliese & Erin

Tuesday night we went and stayed with some friends, Geri (Bulman) Driggs used to be in our ward and now lives in Sandy. After a good nights sleep we headed back to Provo Wednesday morning to eat breakfast at ihop. Missionaries eat FREE at ihop on the day they report. In fact we found out missionaries eat free almost anywhere in Provo on the day they report. Village Inn, Olive Garen, Fudruckers, ihop and the list goes on.

While at ihop we met a missionary going to Cleveland, Ohio and another going to New York North Spanish Speaking. One of the men asked Dylan where he was going and when Dylan told him Peru Lima East Mission the guy got a HUGE smile on his face and said "That is so awesome - that is where I served and it was so awesome - the greatest mission"

We then ran a few errands and stopped at the distribution center were we met another missionary going to Peru Lima East Mission and we also ran into Trac Norris and his mom there.

Then we were just trying to kill time until Dylan's 1:15 report time and as we drove past the MTC we saw two things - the Provo Temple and a field of missionaries playing soccer - two things Dylan loves - the temple and soccer. I could hear him say "This is going to be awesome".

There was a bunch of construction going on and so we couldn't get any pictures by an MTC sign. Even though it was a sad goodbye - it was amazing to know that my son has worked all his life to get to this point and he was found worthy to serve a mission for the church. Keeping yourself clean and unspotted from the world is a wonderful thing for a 19 year old young man.The MTC was simply amazing - they have a fine tuned program running there and the spirit felt there was one like no other - how hard it was to let him take this journey on his own - but that is what growing up is all about. I know there is no college in the world that will prepare him for life the way a mission will. He will learn more in the next 2 years than some learn in a lifetime. He was so excited and so ready. I cannot wait for the first email - I miss him so much already !

Here is our AMAZING MISSIONARY at the beginning of his journey !!!!!

PROVO MTC MAILING ADDRESS

Please start sending letters/packages to . . . . .

Elder Dylan Thomas Paolacci

MTC Mailbox # 287
PER-LIME 1013
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

He will recieve mail at this address until approximately August 31st.