Hello Family

Well I guess I'll start off answering your some of your questions.
First off, the weather here is insanely weird, it can rain for 4 days straight and the next 3 days can be like 100 degrees. But I think I'm alright so far as far as clothing goes. If I ever get transferred to cerro that might be a different story. Then I am going to need warm clothes

Living conditions (hahaha).... well for the first week, because we are opening a new area, we had nothing in our room, just our suitcases and two sleeping pads on a cement floor. Nice !!!  haha it was interesting, but now we are fine because our beds, desks, and closet got here Friday! we live in a second story of a building. but the only people that live there are us and a member that owns it. its alright. we have a shower but the water is insanely cold, I am not sure you could even imagine what life is like taking a freezing cold shower everyday. It is like ice. We have a toilet that is close to impossible to clog so that's nice haha.
so ya the room is alright. We make do.

Our pension is great. Her food is amazing. haha we actually have like 2 pensionistas because her sister lives there too and helps her out. but ya even tho hermana blancas (the pensionista from manchay) food was terrible - i still miss her like crazy. It will be a happy day when I can go see them again. I love that family. but i do love our new pension. she has two little daughters that are just relentless but way cute.

My area is one ward, pedro puelles. They are the process calling a brand new bishop and some new leadership so that makes it kinda rough. And since we are brand new to the area we are just trying out best to support them as they all get settled into their new callings. but it reminds me a lot of a ward from the states. 90 percent of the guys are return missionaries so they help us alot. and the ward is really active and everyone has really strong testimonies, its really cool. not sure if i told you but its the oldest ward in huanuco.

So ya when I got to Huanuco the split it into 2 zones. It was kinda a bummer because there are a ton of elders that i wanted to be in my zone  but they got put in the other zone. But ya Hermana Matheison is in my zone. She's cool. She's from Canada.

So ya we should have 3 baptisms Saturday. We were gonna have two yesterday but they got postponed.  We have had alot of cool experiences. Sometimes it is so hard to express in words how awesome these experiences have been. Definitely ones that have increased my faith. Just a real  quick story -   we are teaching a couple that lives together but aren't married (gotta be married to get baptized - just a minor detail) and they live in the part of our area where you have to hike up a mountain to get to them - so for every appointment with them it is an intense hike. They want to be baptized and have felt the spirit at times when we have been teaching them but they haven't really had the motivation to do the things they needed to do to be baptized.  But one day this week while it was raining really hard they thought we weren't gonna come. But when they saw us at their "door", soaking wet, they realized that we are actually there because we want to help them and we were committed to helping them have a better life and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. They realized that we REALLY do care about them and we are willing to make these little sacrifices so they can have a lifetime of happiness. Long story short - now they are getting married and baptized the 19th of this month. pretty cool.

Here is my letter to president
Hola Presidente! Ya pues este fue una buena semana. Hemos puesto 4 con fecha pero uno lo perdió porque no pudo ir a la iglesia. Ibamos a tener 2 bautismos domingo pero su mama les llamo de lima y dijo que quiere venir sábado para verlo. Entonces debemos tener 3 este sábado y tenemos muchos que se pueden bautizar este mes. Estamos enseñando a algunas parejas que están convivientes y una pareja se va a casar y bautizar el 19 de este mes. Estoy bien animado para empezar este mes porque sé que vamos a tener éxito. Muchas gracias por la charla que nos dio sábado, usted ayudo mucho a nuestros investigadores. Estoy aprendiendo todavia como ser mayor, pero ha sido una experiencia tremendo.
Elder Paolacci

(GOOGLE TRANSLATION) Hello President! This was a very good week. We had 4 with a date for baptisms, but one postponed because he could not go to church.  So we have 3 this Saturday and we have many more that can be baptized this month. We are teaching some couples who are living together and a couple getting married and baptized on 19 this month. I'm rather encouraged to begin this month because I know it will be good and many people will be opening their hearts to the gospel. Thank you very much for the talk you gave us Saturday, you helped a lot of our investigators. I'm still learning, but this is such a tremendous experience.
Elder Paolacci

So I'm glad to hear everything is going well at home. and I'm way happy to hear that you guys want to come pick me up. That helps me so much. I can't even explain what a relief it is. I promise it will be worth any and all sacrifices you have to make if I can just share with you a fraction of the happiness I have felt here. I'm really excited. Make it happen pleeezzee.  I already miss Manchay sooooooo much. But knowing that I will get to go back and see those people that I love so much again helps me. ahhh it was way hard to leave, but Huanuco is great too and I am sure I am going to develop relationships here that are going to be just as hard to leave. I just don’t see how in 18 months I am going to be able to leave Peru. I love it.

um as far as tips for kelly about the mtc...bring lots of ugly ties, its fun, tell him to just wait and see. Tell him it is so important to be friends with your teachers. as far as the suitcases go, if i remember right there is room in the rooms if they don’t fit under the beds, but its better if you can fit them under the bed. AND DONT PACK TOO MUCH! you can buy stuff in south carolina if you need to. the worst night in the mtc was the night before i left checking the weight of my bags and having to leave stuff behind. He is lucky he can get stuff mailed to him pretty quick. So if he doesn’t think he will need it at the mtc or the first couple weeks in the field have him leave it at home and have aunt Karen send it to him. He doesn’t want to have overweight bags. Tell him good luck with the packing - this will be the fastest 3 weeks of their lives. It is gonna be awesome. He will be there over general conference Sunday which will be awesome also.

Well fam - Conference sounds as if it was amazing. I printed Uncle Steve's talk and I am excited to read it. I hope you are doing all your supposed to - can't emphasize enough to the boys and karleigh how much they need to study and read the scriptures. There are so many answers to be found inside. I promise that you will see the blessings of heaven unfold as you put the world aside and put the gospel front and center. I have seen miracles here that I would never imagine. If people only would realize that so many of their problems would vanish if they live the gospel. This is an amazing work. I love ya all so much !!!

gotta go! love ya all!
Elder Paolacci

p.s. im sending a picture cd today.....i hope


Elder Paolacci

Pictures from Huanuco, Peru

Some of the other missionary moms shared some pictures of Huanuco with me. These will have to tide us over until Dylan sends some of his own.

Huanuco

Well........
Got transferred :(
Didnt wanna leave manchay, but thats the mission for ya. I got transferred to Huanuco, in the area of Pedro Puelles. I am senior comp and im opening the area. its really hard. And its even harder due to the fact that i didnt wanna leave manchay. The daughter of the pension there in Manchay got baptized saturday and i couldnt be there. i was really sad because i seriously love that family like it were my own. It is all part if growing I guess. I am so happy for them. But the plus is that i heard shes super happy in the church and shes going to all the activities. also elder vizcarra told me that betsabe (a convert from like a month and a half ago) started to cry when she heard I got transferred because she missed me. so ya the seperation between me and manchay has been quite hard, im pretty sure its the best area in the world, and im definitely looking forward to going back someday......hopefully in 18 months. So ya while we are on that topic, i really really really want you guys to come pick me up when i finish so we can visit my areas. Goals are good - set that goal and see if you can make it happen. pleeezeee

So ya about pedro puelles, its a great ward. it seems like a ward from the states. all the members are really strong and they and they are way excited to help us get the work going in their area. its a really small area.
like 100th the size of manchay, but half of it is a huge hill that is like hiking when we go to appointments. the bishop is new and also the ward mission leader so everyone is excited to help us. but ya huanuco is pretty dang beautiful, its the polar opposite of manchay. But in the six short months I have been here I have learned that it doesnt really matter to me if its pretty or not, just as long as i have investigators that i love teaching its all good. The work is amazing. And believe it or not we  already had a baptism saturday, and we possibly could have two more this saturday. we have alot of investigators that live together here but arent married and that makes things just a little hard, but apparently its easier to get married here than in lima. but ya its a great area and im excited to work, but i still would have loved  one more transfer in manchay.

so my new comp is elder barboza. and he looks exactly like leandro barbosa! haha its really funny and he has no idea who that is.
he has 6 months in the mission too. hes from colombia and his spanish is ridiculously hard to understand. some have told me its the hardest of all in the mission

elder norris got sent to my last zone, capps is in cerro de pasco, rider is in a lima zone training and opening an area, and sheridan is still in his same area.

so heres my letter to president
Hola Presidente! Mi primero cambio de area. Fue un poquito difícil porque yo amo tanto a Manchay, pero estoy bien animado para estar sirviendo en Pedro Puelles. Es un gran lugar, los miembros apoyan y estan animado sobre la obra. Siendo mayor y abriendo fue un sorpresa, a veces yo estaba pensando que no pudiese hacerlo, pero he estado orando mucho y he recibido bastante guia y ayuda. Gracias por este oportunidad para crecer y mejorar, y me comprometo hacer lo mejor que puedo Elder Paolacci

(according to google translate - I am sure it is a little off but we get the jist)

Hello President! My first change of area. It was a little difficult because I love both Manchay, but I'm rather encouraged to be serving in Pedro Puelles. It is a great place, members are supported and encouraged the work. As more and opening was a surprise, sometimes I was thinking that I could not do it, but I've been praying a lot and have received considerable guidance and assistance. Thank you for this opportunity to grow and improve, and I pledge to do the best I can Paolacci Elder

hey mom a small favor, ive been having to get money these last few months for the bus and stuff for me and my comp and i dont wanna get too low in money, can you deposit some more money on my debit card.

Also, mom just wanted to wish you happy birthday for wednesday! thank you for all the support you given me over these 6 months, it has helped me alot. i love you so much and hope you have a great birthday!

Hey tell karleigh I just got her letter, thanks soooo much for writing. Tell grandma and morgan thanks for the letters also. I will write more next week I promise. I am out of time and I gotta go, love ya all, and have a great week. keep me in you prayers, haha i need it!

--
Elder Paolacci

That was fast huh !

woohoo! 6 months!!!!! haha  that was fast huh.

well first off HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY! you should officially be in missionary mode. And enjoy your last month because it goes by so quick and soon it'll be time to work! You are gonna love it !

well i havent heard much about transfers yet but ive heard that elder diaz is the new assistant. pretty cool. but im nervous to see what happens tomorrow, i really dont wanna leave manchay but it seems like thats how things are gonna turn out. Not sure if you remember but we changed our pension like a month ago, and that change was 100 percent inspired by the lord, and at the time i had no idea.

when we changed we had no idea she wasnt a member (hint hint). her whole life she hasnt been receptive to the gospel, and her two kids were quite rebellious. but practically her whole extended family have accepted the gospel, one is even called nefi (nephi in spanish). but missionaries have visited her a few times and she has never been receptive. well when we started eating there she said she started to feel a peace in her home and everyone was always happy when we came over. she then started listening to us and really started thinking about things. slowly we saw her changing, her family saw her changing, and especially her kids noticed that something was changing in her and in their home. well long story short, she got baptized friday, and i got to do the baptism. she is a completely different person now and is gonna be a great member. but the real surprise is with her kids. one is a guy and hes 17. he was always hanging out with the so called gangsters and was pretty rebellious, and said he would never go to church. well this sunday we dragged him along to see his mom get confirmed, and he felt something. he decided to stay for the other classes and told his mom he wants to be like us.  It is an amazing story and I know i cant really explain this story as well as i would like because its impossible to do through email  and you be able to feel what is truly going on here , but the point is that people can change. i have been fortunate to be able to serve in a place where the people are very humble and loving and they have a  willing desire to change their lives for the better. The work is amazing !!!

hey so here be the letter to prez

Hola Presidente! Ya pues, este fue una buena semana. Hemos visto los milagros que puedan llevar a cabo por medio del ayuno. Domingo ayunamos por muchas cosas, pero mas que todo que podemos encontrar mas personas y que pueden ser conversos dignos. Ya pues sabe que, tuvimos 2 bautismos este semana que estabamos esperando tener. Y van a ser buenos miembros de la iglesia. Fue lo maximo en verdad. Estamos viendo cambios en las vidas personas que yo no sabia que era posible. Yo amo manchay y estoy feliz para tener este tiempo para servir el señor. Gracias por su ayuda.

Elder Paolacci

(google translate - not sure how well it is translated - but we get the jist - he had a great week) 

Hello President! Since then, this was a good week. We have seen the miracles that can be carried out by fasting. Sunday fast for many things, but most of all we can find morepeople and can be converted worthy. And knowing that, we had 2 baptisms this weekwe were hoping for. And they'll be good members of the church. It was awesomeindeed. We are seeing changes in the lives of people I did not know was possible.Manchay I love and am happy to have this time to serve the Lord. Thank you for yourhelp.

Elder Paolacci

so ya im really sorry to hear about johns dad, let them know im praying for the whole family. but not to worry too much because theyll have plenty of time to see him after this life. Isnt that one of the awesome things that we have is the knowledge that families can be forever !!!

well thats really cool to hear about elder foglemans connections. he is definitely on my list of people to find.

 t hanks for getting the newspaper and the dvd. cant wait to see it in 18 months !!!  I gotta go - my time here is short - if I am leaving tomorrow I gotta make the best of today !!!

love ya guys!  k eep being awesome ! get ready kel!

love

Elder Paolacci

Happy 6 month missionary mark to Elder Sheridan, 

Elder Norris, Elder Paolacci, Elder Rider & Elder Capps . . .

Seems like August 11th was just yesterday !!! 

18 months to go !!!

We Are The Champions . . . .

hahahahaha!!!!!! PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my goodness im so happy!! ah geez why do they decide to win while im in the mission?!!!
Ah wow so awesome! DAD,COLETON AND LOGAN......TOLD YOU SO!!!! hahah way cool, im so glad they won. i didnt know cameron was a pack fan before i left but all the better, we gonna be celebrating the victory in 18 months!
Ah so ya this week has been pretty good. Right now in peru its a time called carnivales. Its when everyone, 24 hours a day, decides to throw water balloons, or shoot squirt guns at every person they see. ah its crazy. makes tracting pretty interesting haha. weve gotten completely soaked a few times haha.
heres my letter to prez

Hola Presidente! Ha sido una buena semana. Estamos encontrando buenas personas y enseñando mucho. La única desafio, como siempre, es que nuestros investigadores no pueden ir a la iglesia. Ese es difícil porque podemos poner bastante trabajo, pero si no van a la iglesia no pueden progresar. Estamos esforzando para poner en practica las cosas que no enseño durante la capacitación para solver este, entonces tengo fe que cosas van a cambiar.
Elder Paolacci

Hello President! It was a good week. We're finding good people and teaching a lot. The only challenge, as always, is that our inestigators can not go to church. This is difficult because we put a lot of work, but if they do not go to church they can not progress. We are working hard to put into practice the things that were taught during the training to solve this, by doing so I have faith that things will change.
Elder Paolacci

well we didnt have any baptisms this week but we have some people progressing in that direction. its way cool seeing these people change their lives. The change that takes place when you are fully living the gospel is amazing. i dont think 2 years will suffice for me. Now I see why missionaries do not want to come home at the end of 2 years. There is so much good you hate to see it end.

hey so when does kelly leave again? tell him to send me an email on how hes doing. Hope he is studying hard and preparing for the best 2 years of his life. I can honestly say this has been the best 6 months of my life. 6 months - how crazy is that ????? Next week I will have already served 1/4 of my mission. It is going by way to fast.

so ya sorry about last week, i had 10 minutes to email, and 8 of those are occupied writing president. so ya i wasnt sad, just rushed.
so ya about the super bowl t shirts, you dont need to send one for my comp, but if theres like a package with the championship shirts, hat and towel that would be amazing, would make some sweet pics in peru haha. so ya size large should do the trick.

so ya gotta go guys! love you all! told you aaron rodgers is the most amazing man on earth.

Tell Morgan I hope she feels better. Have faith in her blessing and all will be well with time. Remind the boys and karleigh to do their best with their school and gospel studies. It truly is preparing them for life. Keep reading your scriptures. I love you so much. Tell everyone I really do appreciate the letters and emails.
love,
elder paolacci!

Hola Familia !!!

hola familia!
I just have a few minutes to write this morning. first off CONGRATS karleigh, thats so cool about the talent show and i want to see a video as soon as possible! second off happy birthday to marissa, aunt melissa and uncle rob.

so heres my letter to prez

Hola Presidente! Todo esta bien en manchay. Hemos tenido una semana de bastante éxito. Hemos averiguado los investigadores en que necesecitamos enfocar mas, y tambien hemos encontrado aglunas que son bien buenos. Estamos esforzando mucho para poner las cosas que usted nos enseño y estamos viendo los beneficios. Es lo maximo. Siempre estamos esforzando para enseñar y encontrar, y esta trayendo mucho éxito. Estoy tan agradecido pormi tiempo aquí en manchay. Yo he puesto todo que tengo por estas personas y estoy amando la mision. Muchas gracias por su gran apoyo presidente.
Elder Paolacci

Translation
Hello President! All is well in Manchay. We have had a very successful week. We have found that our invstigators are more focused. We are working hard at the things you taught us and we are seeing the benefits. To the highest. We are always striving to teach and find, and it is bringing much success. I am so grateful for Manchay and my time here. I've put everything I have into for these people and I love the mission and the people here.  Thank you very much President Leyva for your great support.

So ya my time is running out here in manchay. its really sad. elder mercado my district leader said that president told him im gone this next transfer.
so ya just let everyone know i love them. tell austin to write me i wanna hear a little about his mission. um go packers. and i guess well talk next week.
Chow
Elder Paolacci